Chapter 2
As the next year of her young life slowly goes by found sitting inside of her apartment in the dark all alone with tears forming in her eyes is Kara as she stares down towards a frame picture in her hands. A picture of her and her lost love. With memories of the last year entering her mind Kara starts to reflect upon everything that has happened in the last year while her eyes never leave the picture. Once she had left the cemetery that day unable to stand wearing the cape anymore after she failed to save the one that meant the most to her the world saw less and less of Supergirl. In fact Supergirl rarely made an appearance anymore in Metropolis. In fact the only time she was ever seen with her cape and costume was when an enemy too great or powerful for her cousin to fight alone arose from the shadows. Instead of going out being a hero to the public's eye Kara started to blend in more with society in an effort to distance herself from anything involving crime fighting. With her efforts Kara had gotten a nice paying job at the Daily Planet editing newspaper articles thanks to the help of her cousin. Something that eased the pain she was still feeling daily for a short time. But that was when she got into a daily routine. Everyday she would go to work before hours later after getting out of work she would make a trip out to Gotham City to visit him. To visit Jason's grave. Each day Kara would sit by the tombstone of Jason Todd just talking like how they used to before he passed away. She would talk to him about how her day was before leaving after giving the tombstone a kiss.
But for Kara that was not the only changes that were being made around her. In fact big changes started to occur to the one's closest to her.
After Jason's funeral with the guilt of Jason's death taking it toll on her mind Barbara Gordon decided to move away from Gotham to Bludhaven after she had rekindled her relationship with Dick Grayson or known to villains as Nightwing shortly after the funeral. That was when Batgirl was offically retired forever and a new hero emerged in Bludhaven known as the Oracle. A mysterious woman whom Kara later found out to be Barbara working behind the scenes being Nightwing's eyes and ears for Bludhaven.
As for her cousin Superman however came one of the biggest changes. With everything that he had seen happening to Kara ever since Jason's funeral after taking a month to do some heavy thinking about his future Superman came to a decision. With his mind made up Superman revealed to Lois Lane his secret idenity. Something that made his and Lois's relationship stronger as they now weren't hiding anything from each other. That now they could truly be in a relationship with each other.
But now as Kara sits on her couch the only images that appear in her head is of her lost love. Memories of when she had first met Jason so many years ago when The Scarecrow fled into Metropolis with Batman and Robin hot on his trail. The memory of spending the day with Jason at a local amusement park a few short days after just having a good time until it was brought to an end when Toyman made an appearance. Even then it was a nice memory to have as she and Jason worked together and defeated Toyman from destroying the amusement park. That he even saved her from an attack by Toyman. It was then that she felt something for Jason. The moment that she began to love him.
As the tears fall from her eyes suddenly Kara opens up her eyes when she hears some noise coming from the outside of her apartment door. Hearing a low knock at her apartment door slowly Kara gets up from her couch before heading towards the door. As she reaches the door Kara reaches up wiping her tears away from her eyes before reaching down for the door knob to open the door. Once the door is opened Kara's eyes widen at what she sees standing before her. Just outside of her apartment stands a man dressed in a pair of ripped sweatpants along with a hooded sweatshirt that is barely covering his face but not enough to hide away his identity.
With fresh tears coming down her cheeks Kara's eyes widen as she whispers out.
" Jason?"
Kara slowly watches Jason raise his right hand up until she feels it resting on her cheek.
" Kara."
Seeing Jason's eyes close and his body suddenly falling forward Kara quickly catches Jason in her arms right before he has a chance to hit the ground. Moving into her apartment slowly Kara helps Jason inside of her apartment before she carries him over towards her couch. As she lays Jason down on her couch tears of joy fall down from Kara's face to the ground below from seeing Jason laying before her but that was when it hit her. How is this possible? Am i just dreaming this? Have i lost it? Crouching down slowly with her right hand Kara reaches over towards Jason's face before laying it on his cheek. Feeling Jason's face in her hand a bright smile comes to Kara's face from the realization that what she sees in front of her is real. That he is alive. But with the lingering question of how this is possible enters her mind Kara quickly shakes this thought away when she decides that it doesn't matter. That it doesn't matter because she has him back. She has her Jason back.
As the night progressed on without leaving Jason's side for a single second Kara looked up towards Jason's sleeping form with a smile on her face. Through the night as she continued to stare down at Jason more questions started to form into her mind about what happened to Jason when she heard his sleeping form whispering out. Whispering out a few keys words like pit before suddenly he would beg for someone to stop. After a few hours that was when tears started falling down from Kara's face when Jason started whispering out her name. That he was begging for her to come before he would scream out to not touch him. To please stop before his body would start to shake. Each and every time this occurred Kara would would lean forward calming Jason down by whispering to his sleeping form that everything was alright now. That she was here now.
But this time when Jason calmed down from hearing her voice Kara had to close her eyes to block away the tears from coming when images of her nightmares entered her mind. Images of Jason being beaten and bloodied inside of a dark room. Images of the Joker with his sadistic laugh pummeling away at Jason with a crowbar as Jason called out her name. Slowly hearing the Joker's laugh entering her mind Kara's hands suddenly start to form into tight fists as the image of the Joker slowly enters her mind. Right as the Joker's face enters her mind suddenly Kara's thoughts are snapped when she hears a whisper coming from Jason's sleeping form. But not just any whisper. A whisper of him saying her name. Opening up her eyes Kara leans down giving Jason a kiss on the forehead before slowly laying her head down onto his chest. As her eyes get heavy Kara takes one last glance up towards Jason before closing her eyes and her world goes black.
Feeling herself standing on a cold floor with nothing but goosebumps creeping on her arms slowly Kara opens up her eyes to see nothing but pure darkness. As she tries to use her powers to see through the darkness and to find out where exactly she is Kara's eyes suddenly widen when she realizes her powers aren't working. In fact they are non existent. Taking a deep breathe reaching out with her hands Kara slowly makes her way forward into the darkness hoping to find some sort of door or light switch. Feeling nothing but the cold floor beneath her feet suddenly Kara stops as she feels something with her hands. Moving her hands up slowly feeling different texture suddenly a bright flash lights up the room forcing Kara to shield her eyes with her hands. After a few seconds Kara opens up her eyes to see her worse nightmare just a couple of feet away from her.
Standing before just out of arms reach is Jason as stands up from his hands being chained up to the ceiling of the room. As her eyes widen slowly Kara makes her way forward towards Jason when suddenly she stops from a sound coming from the darkness. The sound of laughter that has haunted her dreams. With her hands clutching into fists Kara watches as the Joker emerges from the shadows with a grin on his face. Charging forward Kara lets out a scream before throwing all of her body weight into a right punch in the Joker's direction. However when her fist comes close to connecting the Joker suddenly disappears along with Jason in a flash. Hearing the sound of the Joker's laugh echoing all around her quickly Kara looks all around the room before the room is engulfed back into darkness causing Kara to suddenly stop.
Suddenly another bright flash occurs blinding Kara briefly before she hears the sound of Jason screaming. Opening up her eyes Kara's eyes widen when she sees in the distance the Joker bashing Jason with a crowbar. A sight that has always haunted her dreams. As Kara screams out Jason's name Kara runs as fast as she can towards the images of the Joker and Jason. But the more she runs the further and further away Joker and Jason get. With each blow she sees Jason take at the hands of the Joker tears start falling from Kara's eyes as she desperately tries to reach them. As she suddenly sees the Joker lowering Jason down to the ground from the ceiling Kara starts to gain ground before she watches the Joker disappear back into the darkness with a sinister laugh. Seeing a puddle of blood forming under Jason's body Kara suddenly comes to a complete stop. Very slowly Kara starts to move over towards Jason before she stops when Jason raises his head up slowly off of the ground to look towards her. With tears falling down her cheeks Kara locks eyes with Jason before she hears him whispering out.
" Kara."
Suddenly without a chance to respond a massive wave of fire erupts around Jason that cause him to be engulfed into flames.
" Jason!"
Snapping her head up Kara takes a few deep breathes as she tries to calm herself down before looking down towards Jason on the couch. Closing her eyes Kara takes a deep breathe as she wipes the sweat from her forehead before opening her eyes to look down towards Jason. With a smile forming on her face Kara reaches down towards Jason's head before she gently starts to stroke his hair. After a few seconds of stroking his hair Kara's eyes widen when she suddenly sees Jason's eyes slowly opening. With her smile widening Kara looks into Jason's blue eyes still not believing what she is seeing. Eyes she never thought she would ever see again. As she continues to stroke Jason's hair Kara's smile widens even more when she hears him whispering out her name with a smile on his face.
When she feels Jason leaning into her hand from her touch her thoughts from the previous night suddenly enter her mind. Thoughts of how this is possible. How Jason is alive right now. Looking into Jason's eyes seeing the life radiating from them Kara snaps out of these thoughts and just continues enjoying the moment. The moment of peace and joy. But with the lingering questions popping into her mind Kara in a gentle and soft voice asks Jason.
" Jason what happened to you? How is this possible?"
When these questions leave her mouth that was when Kara suddenly saw the change in Jason's eyes. The change from a sense of peace to absolute fear in just matters of seconds. Seeing Jason closing his eyes Kara's eyes widen when she feels his body start to shake under her hand. Seeing Jason's body start to thrash viciously on the couch quickly raising her hands up Kara puts both of her hands on his cheeks before suddenly she sees Jason popping off of the couch. In a sudden move Kara feels Jason wrapping his arms around her for a tight hug. As she feels him clinging to her like she is his life line Kara forces herself to close her eyes as tears start to fall down her cheeks. Gently returning the embrace Kara feels Jason shaking in fear in her arms as her anger starts to rise towards a few individuals. In her mind Kara starts to curse the monster who did this to Jason. The clown prince of darkness himself. The man whom she knows is being held inside of Arkham Asylum instead of being buried in a cemetery where she believes he belongs. Anger towards the city of Gotham for producing a madman like him. Anger and fury towards Bruce Wayne. The man who allowed Jason to be kidnapped in the first place. A man who not only didn't allow her to avenge Jason's death but a man who seemed to be cold blooded to everyone around him at all times never showing any emotions.
As she holds the embrace for a few minutes Kara starts to calm herself down before slowing raising up her hands. Leaning back very gently Kara places her hands on Jason's cheeks before raising his head to look at her. Gazing into his eyes Kara's anger starts to rise at what she sees radiating from Jason's eyes. For the first time Kara sees the look of true fear coming from Jason. Something that she had never seen before coming from the usually tough guy. Taking a breathe Kara calms herself down before looking softly into Jason's eyes.
" It's okay Jason. You're safe now. I'm here now. Nobody is going to hurt you. I promise you no one will ever hurt you again."
Glancing down from his eyes to his lips for a second with a smile on her face Kara leans forward pressing her lips to his for a gentle kiss. As she feels Jason kissing her back Kara lips curl up into a smile before seconds later she breaks off while leaning her forehead on Jason's.
" Kara."
" Shh. It's okay. I already know. Jason, I love you too."
Leaning back forward Kara gently presses her lips back to Jason's briefly before the sound of her cell phone ringing from her bedroom breaks up their moment. Letting out a small huff Kara opens up her eyes before slowly rising to her feet as she wiggles out of Jason's embrace. Moving over towards her bedroom Kara glances over her shoulder giving Jason a smile before entering her bedroom in search for her phone. Looking around not seeing her cellphone anywhere in sight using her super hearing Kara quickly makes her way over towards where she hears her cell phone. Reaching over Kara grabbing her cell phone from under her bed's blanket before she quickly opens up the phone when she sees the name on caller ID as Kent.
" Hello?"
" Kara it's me. Where are you? Lois said that you haven't shown up for work today."
Glancing over towards her alarm clock Kara's eyes widen when she sees the clock displaying 10:38.
" I'm sorry cousin. Something really important came up. Can you tell Lois that i won't be in to work for a few days?"
" Why? What's going on?"
" Something important has come up and i need to find some answers. I can explain more to you later but i need you to please do this for me."
" (sigh) Alright Kara, I will tell Lois that you won't be in for the next few days. But the next time i see you, i would like an explanation."
Snapping her cell phone shut Kara drops her phone back onto her bed before slowly making her way out of her bedroom and back towards the living room. Exiting out of her bedroom a smile forms on Kara's face when she sees Jason sitting on her couch looking towards her with a smile on his face. With her eyes locked with his own Kara makes her way over towards the couch before sitting down next to him as she sees his eyes never leaving her own for a single second.
For the next few minutes the two sat in complete silence. With Kara collecting her thoughts trying to figure out how she should act in asking Jason the questions she badly wanted answered she glances over towards Jason seeing him staring at the floor below before she takes a deep breathe. Gently reaching over Kara grabs a hold of Jason's hands before giving his hands a small squeeze.
" Jason?"
Slowly Kara watches Jason turn his attention her way before a small smile forms on her face.
" Jason what happened to you?"
Seeing Jason quickly turn his head away from her direction quickly Kara releases one of his hands before gently cupping his chin to turn his head back towards her. Looking on seeing Jason trying to avoid eye contact Kara's concern only deepens before she gives him a small smile.
" It's okay. It's just us here. You're safe now."
Feeling Jason's hand shaking in her own Kara looks deep into Jason's eyes seeing him looking off in the distance as if he is replaying a horrible memory. Letting Jason know that he isn't alone gently Kara gives Jason's hand a small squeeze before she hears him whisper out.
" Pit. It's so cold."
" Pit? What pit Jason?"
With a few memory flashes coming across his vision Jason quickly starts to relive everything that has happened to him from the past few days. Flashes of emerging from a pool of water. Flashes of being chased out of a castle into a winter forrest by men dressed entirely in black attire. Flashes of running through a mountain before reaching a small village.
" Jason where is this pit?"
Suddenly with wide eyes Kara watches Jason pull his hand away from her own before he suddenly cradles his head in his hands. Quickly reaching over Kara pulls Jason into an embrace as she feels him shaking in her arms. Closing her eyes as she feels tears coming down her cheeks Kara hears Jason mumbling in her arms in a cracked voice. Words of its so cold. After holding the embrace for the next few minutes to regain her composure Kara leans back giving Jason a gentle kiss before breaking off to lean against his forehead to whisper out.
" Jason, I want you to stay here. You will be safe here."
Feeling Jason shaking his head against her own Kara looks in Jason's eyes seeing the fear radiating from them again as she fights back tears from falling down her face.
" Not safe. Never safe."
" Shh it's okay. You're safe. I promise that you are safe here. I have to go out for a little while to get some answers. I swear that i will get back here as soon as i can."
Slowly wiggling out of Jason's embrace Kara gets up from the couch before heading towards her apartment door. Opening up the door Kara glances over her shoulder back at Jason giving him a small smile before exiting the apartment locking the door behind her. Making her way through the apartment complex Kara walks up a few flights of stairs until she ends up on the roof. Looking around seeing nobody in sight Kara quickly takes off into the sky before flying in the direction of Gotham City at high speed.