The Divergent Story of Supergirl: An Alternate Universe Story
Summary: Kara lands on earth but due to unforeseen circumstances is unable to stay with the Danvers like Clark wanted. This is a story of two best friends who were meant to be sisters and the different route their lives have taken them.
Author Note: First fanfiction ever, it is surprisingly a little nerve racking to post. Please be kind.
Disclaimer: I own nothing! Not a thing or character or anything!
Chapter 1: The Arrival
The Danver's House
Eliza Danvers was just getting home from the lab when she felt her iPhone vibrate in her pocket. She stumbled with all her papers and brief case as she dug her hand into her pocket.
"Hello," she said and was surprised to hear Clark on the other end. She hadn't talked to Clark in a while.
"Eliza, I know this is… out of the blue, but I real-lly need to talk to you and Jeremiah. As soon as possible. It's urgent!"
Eliza could hear the anxiousness in Clarks voice and it made her worry. What could have made Clark so anxious.
"Absolutely, Clark why don't you come by, Jeremiah should be home soon. If it's a little confidential I'm sure I can lure Alex out of the house."
Clark exhaled. "Great I will be there soon, and I have a guest as well. I hope that's okay?"
Eliza paused. It was extremely strange for Clark to call unannounced and to also bring a guest. "No its fine Clark really," she replied after a slight pause.
"Okay, see you and Jeremiah soon. Eliza," responded Clark. He hesitated, "Maybe don't send Alex away. This is going to be a surprise and I think for what I need to talk to you about. Well, that your whole family should be there."
"Alright, well I will see you soon Clark but I have to let you go or else I'm going to drop my research papers."
Clark laughed, "Okay Eliza, I will let you go. I have my hands full here as well." Eliza had no idea just how full.
Clark said bye and hung up. Druuuuuuummmm. Startled Eliza lost her grasped on all her papers. The wind scattering them. She looked up. Alex just got home in that horrible car her father bought for her on her 15th birthday.
"ALEX, next time be more careful, you nearly ran me and my research papers over!" She looked up at her daughter's face as she collected the rest of her stuff. Alex looked like she was suppressing a grin behind that lip biting. Eliza took a breath. Her daughter looked so guilty but she couldn't stay mad at her. Alex had just started driving and was clearly not being as responsible as her and Jeremiah had hoped.
"I'm sorry mom, I didn't see you. I was just so excited to get home. I have awesome news. I made captain of the basketball team today. I know you and dad were worried about my grades falling with all my extra stuff going but I CAN DO THIS!" Alex half yelled at her mom.
Eliza smiled. Her daughter always loved a challenge and she wanted her daughter to know she believed in her. "Alright, alright if you are willing to work hard then I don't see what the problem is but we will have to talk about you playing basketball next fall. Your father and I will have the summer to think about it. You do have a lot going on right now."
Eliza took a breath and handed her daughter some of her stuff. She wrapped her arms around her daughter's shoulders and they walked shoulder to shoulder into the house. Eliza knew her husband would say yes to Alex. Alex was just as smart as her parents, maybe smarter. It filled Eliza's chest with pride. Her daughter was in the senior AP classes in her junior year. She could graduate this year if she wanted too. The idea of her daughter leaving home so young made her heart ache. She unwrapped her arms from her daughter and as she turned to watched her climb the stairs. Her and Jeremiah hoped that the extra sports and clubs would make Alex's high school experience longer and more fulfilling. They secretly hoped it would be enough to keep her home, just a little bit longer.
"ALEX, your father and I need to talk to you about something tonight, so if you could stay home tonight please? I know its summer break now but summer fun with your friends can wait," she called up to her daughter. She heard a groan from upstairs.
"Alright MOTHER," yelled back Alex.
Alex just finished her last day of classes and her mom wanted her to stay HOME. She exhaled, sprawling out on her bed. She was exhausted from the last day of school. She spent most of it playing basketball and soccer with her friends at school. She wondered what her parents wanted to talk to her about… her mom didn't say what. That usually never happened. Her family was really open with each other about everything. She frowned. Alex was worried. She had a feeling her life was going to turn upside down.
Alex lay deep in thought until she fell asleep on her bed from exhaustion. zzzzzzzzz
Eliza and Jeremiah sat at the dining room table. "I wonder what Clark wants to talk about…" said Jeremiah. He looked at his wife concerned. She shrugged, but he could see the worry all over her face.
SWOOSH. They both stood up, alarmed. Clark was outside. The Danvers called to Alex but there was no answer, so they went outside without her.
"Hey Clark!" the Danvers yelled in unison as they waved at him.
"Hey! Danvers, I thought it was better to explain myself first. So, that you are fully prepared for what I'm going to ask you, "said Clark.
"What is it Clark?" replied Jeremiah.
"Well, when I was sent to Earth from Krypton, my cousin Kara was sent after me. At the time she was 13, but scientists have determined that the shock waves from Krypton's destruction sent her pod off course…into the Phantom Zone. It's a place in space where time doesn't exit. I'm not sure how her pod escaped but it did. It also dragged the Kryptonian prison Fort Roz with her. She landed yesterday and I have her at the Kent farm for now..."
Clark paused letting the information sink in. He gazed into Eliza's eyes pleading with her and continued, "Do you understand why I'm here? Kara is still only thirteen and I want her to have what I had. A family, a support system, people who understand and can help her with her powers. My mom is alone and she's getting old. I thought maybe you guys would be willing to help. You helped me hone my powers, so I thought who better? I understand, if you say no. It is a lot to ask of someone. I do have a couple other people in mind if you can't because I know this is a huge responsibility. You both know how much having a secret identity has helped me. Kara just lost her whole world, everyone and everything…And I just can't give her what she will need… or protect like a secret identity could. Will you help me?"
Clark looked them both steadily in the eyes.
He looked at the house. He could see their daughter Alex passed out in the house. He had hoped to talk to her later. He knew she was close to Kara's age. Having a sister would help Kara while she was at school. He frowned at his own experience and hoped to save Kara from the same fate.
Jeremiah followed his gaze. "Well, I'm sure that Alex helping her at school would also be a plus," he said as he smiled back at Clark.
"Is that a yes?"
"Well, as long as Eliza is okay with it, that's an okay from me."
Eliza looked up at Clark smiling, "It would be an honor."
"Thank you, thank you so much," replied Clark.
"I think we need to have a talk with Alex though. Break it to her gently, she's used to being an only child. We can do what we can with all the research we have done with you, Clark but Alex… the responsibility will be hers as much as ours. Maybe more," said Jeremiah. The concern transparent on his face.
Eliza frowned. Alex was not going to take this well, it might break her daughter's heart. She thought about the psychological impact a responsibility like this could have, especially on a child. She sighed. "Clark, will you come explain with us?"
"Of course," he replied and they headed into the house.
Clark stared at the young girl's face. She had paled when she first saw him and since they explained everything to her, she had paled even more. He listened for her heartbeat. It was beating extremely fast. He burrowed his eyes brows, watching for signs of cardiac arrest or stress induced shock.
The girl merely swallowed hard and reached for the beer her father was drinking. Her parents didn't yell out screams of disapproval but just watched her intently. She seemed to notice but continued to take a small sip. She nodded silently, stood up and left. Clark frowned as he watched her return to her bedroom. The door slamming behind her. He stood up.
"Well, I guess she is fine with it Clark. Please, bring Kara over. We look forward to meeting her," said Eliza. Clark looked at her. She looked determined to make this work.
"Okay," he replied as he shook their hands again and turned to leave. The Danvers followed him out and waved him off.
SWOOSSHHH. They watched Superman take off.
"Well, I'm sure he will be back soon, should we even head inside?" asked Eliza.
Jeremiah smiled, "probably not…"
A couple minutes later…
VROOOOMM. Clark was back and this time he wasn't alone.
Eliza and Jeremiah shielded their eyes as the dust settled. They noticed a young girl with bright blond hair standing behind Clark. She was dressed in a white gown with the House of El sigil on her chest. Eliza took a breath and looked at Clark.
"Eliza, Jeremiah, I would like you to meet my younger cousin Kara Zor- El," Clark paused and steadily looked into the Danvers awed eyes.
Clark waited a second to speak again. What he was asking them was an incredible task. Raising a Kryptonian wasn't easy but that's why he chose them. Jeremiah and Eliza, they could do it, he knew they could do it.
Boom boom boom boom, Clark could hear Kara's heartrate accelerate. He looked down at her and followed her gaze. In one of the second story windows, stood Alex. Her face unreadable. She gazed down at Kara with a look that worried him. Was it fear? Anxiety? Wonder? Awe? He didn't really know the Danvers daughter too well. Jeremiah praised his daughter a lot but that was a given from a proud father.
Eliza extended her hand to Kara. "It's okay sweetie, I know I'm not your mom but your safe here."
Clark watched as Kara reached for Eliza's hand and pulled her away from him. Clark's throat tightened. This was harder than he thought. He kneeled down to give her a hug, and she jumped into his arms. He felt her fingers dig into his back. She was stronger than he was. He could hear her heartbeat skyrocket. She was terrified. He felt the guilt sink in but he knew it was safer for her here. He didn't look down at Kara. He couldn't. He had to go now or he would never leave. And just like that… he left.
Alex tried to steady her breathing as she stared down at the younger girl. She looked a little younger than herself. Alex looked at her wavy blonde hair that fell passed her shoulders and the S shaped sigil on her clothes. Alex wasn't stupid, she knew her parents knew Superman but for him to be here and to bring someone with the same sigil. Alex could feel her heartrate increase. She watched as her mother wrapped the other girl in her arms.
Alex studied the girl closer as she walked closer to the house. She was cute, no cute wasn't the word. Alex couldn't find the words. Her insides felt like jelly, and she felt her palms get sweaty. Oh no! Not those feelings. Alex had suppressed those urges and thoughts for others girls for a couple years now. She knew there was a possibility she was gay but she wasn't sure. How would she know? She had no experience and all her experience so far involved guys. She wasn't going to say anything to her parents unless she knew for sure. Unless she was absolutely sure and she had a feeling the new arrival was just going to make that more difficult.
"ALEX, honey can you come down stairs," her mom called up to her. Alex groaned. She dreaded this meeting all day. She took a deep breath and tried to collect her thoughts.
Kara could feel her entire body tense, she tried to keep her eyes closed as she squinted around the house. Everything around her kept shifting in and out of focus or too focused. She felt like her senses were in overdrive. She had talked to Kal/Clark and knew what her new powers would be but it didn't prepare her in controlling them. She struggled with them since her arrival and found an immense pressure to be even more careful now that she had an adoptive family.
She tried to block everything out and for once she could. She focused all her attention since she arrived to the girl in the window. The girl who looked slightly older than her, she could remember clearly her dark brown hair, the glint of her green eyes, her light freckles on her face, and the inquisitive look in her eyes. She could hear the boom boom boom of the girl's heartbeat as she neared the house. It was steady but every time Kara looked up at her it would peak, and Kara could feel her own heartrate rise.
She focused on her as she walked down the stairs. She was light on her feet, her heartrate was also spiking like Kara's. Unlike, the girl upstairs Kara had truly seen her but she still steadied her breathing because she was meeting her for the first time. She was nervous and with the Danvers pacing back and forth she found her anxiety rising.
Alex walked into the living room where her parents were pacing back and forth. She looked around the room and noticed the girl from outside sitting behind them. Alex gasped and quickly took a sharp breath.
She had long blond hair and light bright blue eyes that looked at her in awe. The girl's eyes were filled with wonder. Like she was seeing everything in this world for the first time. Seeing her for the first time. Alex blushed and felt the symptoms of her suppressed feelings go into overdrive.
She looked at her parents, who were finally sitting down. Her father reached for her hands as she sat down in the opposite armchair. She finally took a breath. "Hello?"
Jeremiah quietly spoke as to not surprise anyone in the room but Alex thought it was for Kara's sake.
"Alex this is Kara; Kara this is Alex."
Alex laughed, her body and brain were reeling.
"I thought it was all bad dream, a joke" she glanced at her mother's now stern look, "No? You're not kidding? This is actually happening?" She could not help herself.
Today was just another ordinary day. They were just an ordinary family. Alex stopped smiling and laughing when she looked back at her mom. It was a look that Alex never seen before. Disappointment and anger.
"Alex, this is no laughing matter. Kara is going to be your sister from now on and it will fall on you to help her at school, to protect her. Your father and I have our lives here but it will be your job to help her as you both grow up, even when your adults. Do you understand what we are saying Alex? Do you truly understand?" her mother asked her. Her eyes pleading with her.
Alex looked at the floor and around the room till she found Kara. Kara stared at her, her big round eyes looked anxious and terrified. Just when she thought she was making her parents proud. Kara walked into the house. How could she compete with…with a supergirl?
Alex and Kara stared at each other, taking each other in. She pushed her OTHER feelings down and thought about her mom and dad. She felt herself cave, she couldn't let them down. She just couldn't. "Yes, I…I understand."
Her mother and father grinned. "Alright, Alex why don't you take Kara to the spare bedroom. And ah… Kara here are an extra pair of glasses we had made for Clark. They will suppress your vision to be like ours."
Her dad passed the glasses to Kara and she put them on. Alex couldn't stand it. She had to get to her room. She had to get out of here. Without thinking, she reached for Kara's hand and instantly regretted it. All of her symptoms hit her like a wall of ice. She pushed them down, focused on the stairs and pulled Kara with her.
Kara had to remind herself to breathe as Alex lead her upstairs. She fiddled with the glasses and pushed them up her nose till they felt more comfortable. Alex led her to a room that was right across from the room Alex was in earlier. Alex let go of her hand and noticed how wet her hands were. It was sweat from Alex's hand.
"This is your room from now on. Mines right across from yours, if you need anything but I'm going to bed so I will see you later. I guess," Alex spit it out so fast she barely understood her. The older girl quickly turned and walked into her own room, shutting the door behind her.
Kara stared at the closed door a little while and then walked into the dark room. She climbed onto the bed, closing her eyes tightly and tried to sleep.
Kara couldn't sleep. Whenever she closed her eyes, she heard her mom's voice, she felt the pod shake. Grief poured over her like gravity. Well, Kryptonian gravity not this Earth gravity. She didn't feel anchored to the world here like she did on her home.
The glasses Jeremiah had given her helped a lot. The world was steady and clear. She couldn't see Alex but she could hear her heartbeat. Steady and rhythmic, like music. She couldn't get her out of her head. These feelings didn't surprise her. Same sex attraction wasn't looked down upon on Krypton. But this wasn't Krypton, it was more primitive. The only thing that was frowned upon was the interbreeding of other planetary species and even that depended on the species. Humans evolved from bipedal apes similar to the species that Kryptonians originated from. Maybe if she talked to Jeremiah and Eliza about her feelings they would still keep her.
Boom boom boom. Alex's heartrate accelerated. She could hear her like she was sitting beside Kara.
"Hey Matt, you're awake?"
Kara focused. She could hear the voice on the other side. It was a male voice. Kara felt her heart ache.
"Hey Lexie, what's up?" his voice was gentle and supportive. He cared for Alex deeply, Kara could hear it in his voice.
"I just really needed someone to talk to but I can't tell you the truth…"
"Hey you can tell my anything..."
"Not this."
"Okay, well I'm here for you. I promise Danvers."
"Well I can talk to you about something but you can't tell anyone, I haven't told anyone"
"Okay…"
"I …I think I'm … there was a silent pause…gay."
"Oh…"
"Well I guess you and I are out of the question. Damn, I was going to ask you to junior prom," he replied half laughing but Kara wasn't sure if he was joking.
Alex laughed, "I bet you were."
"Yeah, I can't keep anything from you… So who's the lucky girl?"
Alex paused. Kara could hear her hold her breath, "Well there's a couple actually but…"
"Oohhh Danvers, I guess a players going to play," Kara wasn't sure if she liked this person.
"Shut up, you know it's not like that," groaned Alex. Her heartbeat had steadied since telling him the truth.
"Yeah okay?" the boy laughed. He couldn't stop so Kara thought he was compensating for his hurt feelings.
Alex groaned again, "I don't know why I tell you anything."
The boy stopped laughing, "I'm sorry Lex, I guess this is hard for you."
"Yeah maybe a little, Matt."
The boy named Matt took a breath, "Well, you are still Alex despite what some people these days think. You are still my best friend. What can I say…I love you buddy," the tone of his voice went back to being gentle.
"Thanks, I love you too. You have no idea how much that means to me."
"Soooo, is there anything else you want to tell me?"
"My parents want to foster or adopt I guess, this girl named Kara. She's in the spare bedroom right now"
"Whoa, what?"
"Yeah, it's crazy!"
"So how do you feel about that?" Kara listened more intently. Hoping it wasn't bad.
"Well… Matt, that's the problem. I…" Alex paused. She stopped pacing in her room.
"Oh shit, you like her don't you?" Kara felt her heart start to race.
"Well, I don't know her obviously but… there's other definite feelings," whispered Alex.
"Um…so basically you think she's hot?" he laughed.
"Matt! Well yeah, but its more than that. I feel drawn to her, its more than just physical," Alex slowly admitted.
"Well, if that's the case then you can't let them adopt her. Alex you have to tell them how you feel now… before it's too late."
"I can't. I was going to wait till I knew for sure…"
"Yeah and by then you will officially be sisters. You need to talk to them or this girl soon."
"I know but every time I'm near her, I just lose track of everything."
"That is not the Alex that I know. The Alex I know is fierce, brave and well extremely focused when she wants something. Isn't that why you do so well in school?"
"No, Matt that is because I'm smart and work my ass off."
"Oh right," he replied but Alex laughed.
"ALEX? It's late go to bed in five min or else I'm coming up there," yelled Eliza from downstairs.
"Oops, I was talking so loud I didn't realize it, CRAP!"
"What?"
"Never mind, I have to go now!" Alex whispered.
"Promise to talk to either of them tonight?" replied the boy.
"I promise, on our friendship," whispered Alex. Her heart racing. Kara could not help it. Her heart was beating so fast it felt like it was going to beat out of her chest.
"Goodnight, Alex"
"Goodnight, Matt," Alex hung up. Kara closed her eyes tight. Her heart beating so fast she couldn't hear Alex's. Alex was going to talk to her. She had barely even looked at her since she arrived. Knock knock. "Come in," she replied.
"Hey," said Alex. She was wearing shorts and a t-shit for pajamas. Her long hair lit up in the hallway light. In the light, it was a vibrant auburn but in the dark of Kara's room it shifted to brown. She turned the light on and walked to the edge of Kara's bed.
"You heard all of that didn't you? I know you don't have full control of your powers. Did you hear?"
Kara inhaled. Trying to keep her facial expression in check. Kryptonians were excellent at staying composed and rational. It was what separated them from the humans of Earth.
"On my planet, same sex interactions were common. For hundreds of years, babies were not naturally birthed so there were many same sex couples. On Krypton, you wouldn't be so scared," spat out Kara.
Alex looked down at her, "This isn't Krypton."
"I know; Krypton is gone," she replied. The reminder made her heart ache, her stomach turn and her head pound. Whenever she thought of it, she felt an unmeasurable pain, she felt the tears fall from her eyes.
"Kara…" whispered Alex. When Kara looked up, Alex was sitting on the edge of her bed. She had moved forwards on the bed so that their knees were touching. Kara looked up and saw that Alex was arm's length away. The girl looked at her with wide eyes.
"I can't imagine what it feels like…or if it will get better but let me help," she said as she wrapped her arms around her. Pulled her into a hug.
The proximity felt extremely intimate to Kara. She could hear Alex's heartrate like it was all around her, filling the room. Alex smelt like sweet flowers, grass and dirt. Her smell filled her sinuses. She exhaled letting Alex's scent pass. Alex pulled back. The hug wasn't long enough for her. She could hold onto Alex forever.
They stared at each other for a few seconds. Their faces inches apart, Alex had pulled away but was still leaned in. Kara noticed Alex's eyes were green with specks of brown. She had freckles that looked like they were fading. Her complexion was perfect and even. She was flawless.
It was Kara's eyes that startled Alex the most. Her eyes were old eyes, beyond the years of a thirteen-year-old. It was the trauma of losing Krypton that Alex figured made Kara's eyes different.
"I…" she stammered.
"It's okay, we need to know…" Kara replied.
She leaned into Alex. Remembering she couldn't touch her like she did Kal- El. She closed her eyes, she could feel Alex's breath on her neck and face. It was warm and encouraging. Kara reached for Alex's face and gently lowered her lips to Alex's. Alex shuddered when their lips touched but she held her ground and didn't move. Kara felt her body explode. She could feel every hair on her body stand up. It was like static electricity. The butterflies in her stomach were doing jumps. Suddenly, there was a hunger in her stomach but she pulled herself back. She could hurt Alex, she had to be careful. Alex didn't let her pull away, instead her hands reached up to Kara's face. She let Alex guide the kiss. The pliancy of her lips increasing. Her body became less rigid and began to open up to Kara. Alex's shoulder's relaxed.
"Alex!" exclaimed a voice.
Kara was so distracted she didn't realize that Eliza entered the room. They jumped apart. Kara looked at Alex, her eyes wide and shocked. Kara glanced back at Eliza. Her eyes were wide in horror and anger. She had never seen the woman so mad since she arrived.
Alex's whole body went rigid. Including her face. Her entire body froze. She could hear Alex's heartrate now. It was beating so fast that Kara thought it was causing her pain. Maybe it was.
"Mom!" she exclaimed.
"I have never been so disappointed in you in my life, you said you understood. How could you betray our trust?" The look of disappointment on Eliza's face was evident, along with the hurt.
Alex didn't say anything. Until she stood up. "That is all I have been to you since Kara arrived! A disappointment! It was only yesterday when you were boasting about how proud you were of me. I could graduate next year and go off to college If I wanted too!" yelled Alex. The pain and frustration evident in her voice.
Eliza stopped and thought about this for a second. "Go to your room NOW! I'm going to talk to Kara and then your father. And we are going to fix this! TONIGHT!"
Alex stood up from the bed and raced to her room. Her shoulder colliding with her mother's as she passed. The door to Alex's room slammed behind her.
When the door to her room was closed, Eliza came and sat where Alex previously sat.
"It wasn't her that started it. It was ME! On Krypton same-sex relationships were common. We weren't so PRIMITIVE like here on Earth," she replied. She wanted to defend Alex and to defend herself as well. Eliza couldn't hide the shock on her face as Kara yelled at her. Eliza's face made her want to stop but she could hear Alex crying on the other side of the door.
"YOU! Didn't take into consideration sexual preferences when you agreed to raise ME and neither did KAL –EL! He has no memory of Krypton but I DO. I remember the customs, and the way of life. On my planet, MY MOTHER knew of my affections. She didn't make me feel like how you made Alex feel. She loved and accepted me for who I was."
She could see that she hit Eliza where it hurt. She couldn't stop herself but she lightened her tone after seeing the pain she caused Eliza.
"I knew what would happen if we didn't find out how we felt about each other. She would be my sister. And that kind of relationship is just as forbidden on Krypton as it is here. Eliza we had too and now that we have…YOU CAN'T ADOPT ME! Alex can never be my sister."
Eliza's face changed. She looked disappointed but understanding.
"I will call Clark in the morning. There's no need to talk about this further." She glanced at Alex's door and frowned.
"I just made my daughter feel like crap for being who she was. I just wish she was honest with me from the start. If she could have told me before she made those promises."
"Would you have admitted that in front of Kal?" asked Kara.
Eliza laughed as she got up from the bed, "Probably not. Goodnight Kara." She turned Kara's lights off and gently closed the door.
Kara placed her glasses on the night stand and focused in Alex's direction.
Eliza paused outside of Alex's door. "Alex?"
"Not tonight mom."
"I love you sweetheart. Goodnight."
"I love you too, mom. Goodnight."
Kara could hear them clearly despite their whispering. She felt a pain wash over her. She was again reminded of something she would never have ever again. She closed her eyes and let her body relax. Sleep overtook her and her world went dark.