a/n: this and the previous chapter are inspired from s1ep17 (manhunter). so loved the characters' back stories.
as always and forever, Supergirl is not mine. just borrowing it for a bit. enjoy! :)
Kara looked around with wonder when she and Alex entered the school grounds on Tuesday morning. The lead-lined glasses that her foster dad Jeremiah gave her is heaven-sent; her vision is already the same as the humans. She kept looking everywhere, leaving Alex torn between giggling at her antics and being embarrassed by it.
"Wow," Kara said, turning round and round as if she could not get enough of what she's seeing. "This is so much better than seeing without glasses!"
"Really? Well, this is the first time I've ever heard anyone say that they enjoy wearing glasses," Alex said, reaching out a hand to still Kara's excited spinning. The move was a bit too soon, and Kara accidentally hit her arm that was stitched up from the previous day's accident. She cried out and doubled over in pain.
"Oh, no, Alex! I'm so sorry!" Kara exclaimed. "Are you okay?" she rubbed her hand up and down Alex's back, trying to comfort her.
Alex gritted her teeth. "Yeah... yeah, I'm okay, Kara. It hurts just a little but it's nothing to worry about," she gave a small smile for Kara's benefit, who looked troubled.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure. It's not even bleeding, see?" Alex held out her bandaged arm.
"Okay," Kara said slowly, still looking concerned.
The sisters separated amiably inside the school building to go to their respective classrooms with the agreement that they will meet up during break times and a reassurance to Kara from Alex that she will still live so she shouldn't worry anymore.
Kara, now on her own for the time being, remembered that she can see as normally as the other kids now that she leaped to a natural high. Because of that she forgot about her super hearing and therefore was firmly brought back to earth when she caught a snippet of a particular conversation from all the noise as she entered her classroom.
Hey look, Alex's weird sister just came in.
Have you heard about what she did yesterday after school?
The one at the beach?
No, the one in the mall. Of course I'm talking about what happened at the beach.
Yeah. She saved that lady and her kid. Do you think that's true?
That twig of a girl? I don't think so.
What Jeremiah had said was true, that the kids who were present at the beach yesterday and their parents were wondering how she was able to save the woman and her son. It is now the hottest topic in school and there seems to be no end in sight for it. If Kara guessed correctly, the kids she and Alex passed by were talking about it as well; she was just too busy enjoying her newfound vision to notice. Kara continued to listen to her classmates' conversation.
But Ronnie said her arms grew huge muscles that's why she was able to rip the door off the car.
And Maria said she grew wings that's why she reached the car so fast.
Hahaha! Unbelievable! What is she, an alien?
Kara gulped. She was pretty sure she was the only one there on the burning car before all the other kids arrived at the scene.
I know, right? She's so weird!
How do you think Alex stands it? I know I'd be weirded out if I have to live with someone like Kara.
Me too! But Alex is just too nice to say anything.
Kara knew she had to tune the other kids out, but she got engrossed in what everyone around her was saying. Her feelings warred inside her; she felt good that she was able to help other people, yet she also feels sad that she is not supposed to use her powers even it's to help others. On top of that, Alex was the one injured because she used her powers in the first place to rescue the woman and her son. None of Kara's concerns bothered her other classmates. They went on talking, seemingly oblivious to the girl sitting in the corner of the classroom.
Mom told me that Alex got stitches. Was it bad?
I'm not sure. What's bad though is the fact that she even got hurt at all.
If Kara hadn't run off in the first place, Alex would be okay.
Yeah.
But it was an accident, Kara thought. The car exploded and I didn't have the chance to shield Alex from it. I'm really, really sorry, Alex. I didn't mean to. I know you're mad, but you're just trying not to hurt my feelings. Kara pillowed her head on her arms, pretending to sleep. Her super hearing, she discovered, can be focused on a specific person or group and so it is now being put to good use.
Alex still went to school today though. I saw her come in earlier.
What? Wow.
She should have stayed at home to rest.
Well, looks like she doesn't want to. She likes hanging out with Kara.
Now that is weird.
Just then, the bell rang for first period, catching Kara once again by surprise. She jumped a little in her seat, sending her books and pen clattering to the floor in the process. The whole class burst into laughter as she proceeded to pick up her scattered things. While Kara felt embarrassed about being laughed at by her classmates and being one-upped by an inanimate object, the comment regarding Alex being weirded out by having to live with her worried her.
Does Alex really like hanging out with someone like her?
That thought haunted Kara the whole day. Every time she listens in on some kids, all she hears are the rescue, accident, and how Alex must hate Kara because of it. It's a miracle she was able to concentrate on her classes at all. After school let out, she sat with Alex and her friends Rick, Ronnie, and Maria under the huge tree by the gym, talking. Or at least Kara tried to join in. She found it hard since she was intent on eavesdropping on the other kids still hanging around. She zoomed in on a small group of girls talking several yards away while pretending to listen to what Alex was saying. She suspected that the girls will somehow bring her big sister into the conversation, and they didn't disappoint.
Hey guys, look at Kara. She looks spaced out.
She must be thinking of something else to save later, like a kitten up a hundred-foot tree.
Yeah, she's gonna like chop it down and squash Alex with it. Some hero!
The girls laughed maliciously while Kara said indignantly, "Am not!"
Alex and her friends looked at her in surprise. "You're not what, Kara?" Alex asked.
Kara gasped as she realised she had spoken aloud. "Uh... nothing," she stammered, "I'm just, um... talking... to myself."
Alex's friends snickered, while Alex was stunned into silence. Ronnie was the first to recover from laughing and asked, "No offense or anything, Kara, but what's with you? Are you from Mars or something?"
The others laughed louder, making Kara uncomfortable that she looked to Alex for help. Do Alex's friends hate her, too?
Alex rolled her eyes at Ronnie and the others. "Oh, shut up, guys. She doesn't need that right now. Wait a sec." She stood from the bench and told Kara, "Come with me to my locker? I forgot something."
Kara nodded.
"Don't mind them, they didn't mean it," Alex said as they walked toward the building. Once they were at a safe distance from everyone, Alex stopped walking and faced Kara. "Okay, Kara, spill it. You were using your super hearing out there, weren't you?"
Kara looked down at her shoes, feeling more uncomfortable than ever. "Um. Yes," she admitted. Kara is so ashamed that she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole.
"Why?" Alex wanted to know. "You know what Mom and Dad said. You're not supposed to use your powers here. What if everyone sees you use them? I have to protect you and here you are, using your super hearing like it's the most normal thing to do." She meant to speak calmly, but her words sounded like she was lecturing, and yes, very much like her mother.
All at once Kara's feelings of insecurity, shame, and worry came tumbling out, one after the other that they overwhelmed her. "I don't know, Alex," she cried, "I didn't mean to use my powers again. I just overheard my classmates talking this morning and then I couldn't stop listening. They were talking about yesterday and they were laughing at me and saying that it's my fault you got hurt. Plus, they think I'm weird and I'm just so sorry that I have embarrassed and hurt you. I understand if you don't like me and don't want me to live with you and your parents anymore. You can tell them to send me to live with my cousin. I-I'm sorry, Alex, I'm really, really sorry!" Kara removed her glasses and swiped angrily at the tears that have started to run down her face.
Alex's irritation faded as she looked helplessly at her alien sister coming to grips with school life. It's only the second day and Kara already has more troubles than the average new kid. She pulled Kara into a tight hug, not knowing it's how Alura comforted Kara back in Krypton whenever she felt bad. The reminder of it made Kara cry harder, and all Alex could do was to hold her. When the storm subsided, Alex pulled away and held Kara gently by the shoulders.
"I'm sorry Kara, I didn't mean to make you cry," the older girl said, giving Kara a handkerchief to wipe her eyes. "But you have to understand that we are telling you this for your own good. If this goes on, other people might suspect something." Once again Alex sounded just like Eliza but at least her tone was more gentle this time.
"I know," Kara sniffled, "But I can't help it. I'm sorry though. I really am."
"I know you are, Kara. And I am here to help you so please get it out of your head that I hate you or anything, okay?"
Kara looked at Alex hopefully. "You don't hate me?"
Alex punched Kara playfully on the shoulder. "All right Kara Danvers, you have got to officially stop listening to other people. If I didn't like you, I would have already told you myself."
"Oh."
"And you know what else?" Alex continued. "I may get mad at you sometimes but that doesn't mean I won't like you anymore. What we have between us is something that happens to siblings. We talk, tell stories, laugh, cry, argue, and even get mad at each other every now and then. But we always make up. We forgive each other. It's what siblings do. It's what we do, Kara."
Kara linked her arm around Alex's good one. "I'm so glad you're my sister, Alex."
"Me too," Alex replied, smiling.
"Oh, hey. You know what?" Kara asked, an idea forming in her mind.
"What?"
"I know I can't use my powers, but if you need anything, like... like spying on someone for you... I can help you with it. X-ray vision and super hearing and all, you know." Kara offered, tapping her glasses.
Shocked, Alex stared at her little sister. "Kara!"
Kara shrugged. "It's only an idea, Alex. But think about it. If you like someone, wouldn't you want to learn everything about him... Ow!"
Alex, who was in the process of pulling Kara's hair, stopped. "Hm. Now that you've mentioned it, I might take you up on your offer." She pulled at Kara's hair again, making the younger girl shriek and retaliate. "But not now, you're going to get me in trouble, you silly girl!"
The two of them burst out laughing.
All is well again in Kara's new world.
tbc.
thanks for reading :)
