Chapter 4
It had been a trap. When the Supers arrived in the industrial district they'd been met with a smirking Corben, who had smugly informed them that if they were both in National city then they couldn't be in Metropolis with 'him'. A short speedy flight to Metropolis later they discovered that 'Him' was another Metallo, who had wreaked havoc on the city in Supermans absence. By the time they got there a park in the city centre had been decimated, flames still licking at the edges of the broken structures as they landed nearby. Superman walked through the area, amid the smoke and debris and Kara found herself unable to offer him any sort of meaningful comfort, the anguish evident in his features.
"I should have been here," He said finally, shaking his head at his own complacency, "I should have known."
"Superman, we didn't know there were two of them," she said sadly, knowing all too well how devastated she would feel if this were National City, how the guilt would coarse through her that she hadn't been there to protect the citizens of her city. He shrugged off the hand she placed on his shoulder and she let him go, knowing her words were meaningless right now.
/
The shiny glass exterior of the DEO headquarters glinted in the afternoon sun as Kara sped towards it. She had reluctantly agreed to leave Clark alone in Metropolis after he insisted he needed to be there for his people and that it was his job and his job alone to fix the park. Seeing the devastation caused by Metallo and people holding their loved ones close as they escaped the scene had reminded her that her relationship with Alex was more important than her new-found fascination with Lena Luthor. The Superhero knew there was definitely some making up to do on her part and there was no time like the present to start apologising.
Striding across the open area that made up the main workspace of the agency, she glanced around but couldn't see her sister anywhere obvious. Winn was at his desk, engrossed in what looked like suit schematics until Kara bounded over to him, jolting him out of his geeky trance.
"Hey Winn," She leaned against his desk and picked up his miniature Lego Yoda, fiddling with its tiny movable arms, "Where's Alex?"
"Alex?" He asked. "Alex Danvers?"
"Er, Yeah, I need to talk to her, we had a disagreement and I haven't been very fair to her lately."
"Well... she is not here." He replied, without taking his eyes off his computer screen.
"Where is she?"
He shrugged non-chalantly. A little too non-chalantly, for her liking and Kara watched him intently, her eyes narrowing as she took in his suddenly sweaty forehead. He was definitely hiding something.
"Where is she Winn?" she asked again, fixing him with a medium-level glare.
"Errrr..." He swallowed nervously and flicked his eyes around the room, steadfastedly avoiding her own.
"Winn." She started, lacing her voice with just the right amount of threat. "Tell me where my sister is."
/
Situated in the industrial district of National City, the warehouse Winn had directed her to consisted of a concrete shell with a corrugated iron roof. It wasn't lead lined, allowing Kara to quickly scan it with her X-ray vision. Sweeping her gaze over the building, she could make out a figure running, being chased by two other silhouettes. Alex.
Smashing through the roof, she joined her sister mid-fight, evening things up considerably. They moved fluidly together, like they'd done in training a hundred times before, making short work of their opponents.
Kara ran over to her sister as the last goon hit the floor, "Are you ok?"
"Yeah, thanks to you." Alex smiled at her, grateful for the rescue. Kara smiled back and then, remembering why she had been looking for her sister in the first place, dropped her gaze in shame.
"I'm sorry, Alex." She said earnestly, wrapping her arms around her sister and pulling her into an embrace, "I'm so sorry for ever questioning how much you cared about me. I was being a jerk. I think with all the change recently, I've just got it in my head that I need to do my own thing but I was being stupid. All I need in my life is you."
Alex squeezed her sister tightly then pulled away, nodding her agreement, "I think it's better when we're together."
"Yeah, me too..." Kara trailed off, her mind working overtime. Cadmus had deliberately attacked Metropolis in order to draw Superman back to his city. It was divide and conquer, the oldest trick in the book. All the DEO had to do now was surprise Cadmus by having reinforcements in both cities.
"Thats it, Alex!" The blonde said excitedly, "They think we're divided but we're not."
The DEO agent looked puzzled at the sudden jump in conversation, "They, who?"
"I know what to do about Metallo, both Metallos, but I need your help."
"Kara, I'll always be here for you."
/
The report fluttered in her hands as she moved through the workspace of Catco with purpose. Kara had been right, Cadmus had expected the Supers to be alone in their respective cities, easy targets for elimination. That had not been the case and both Metallos' were defeated after tough fights with Superman, J'onn, Alex and Supergirl working together in their respective pairs. When it was over, Kara, after celebratory drinks of course, had wedged herself into a cushion fortress on her sofa with her laptop and a mountain of potstickers, determined not to move from that spot until her article was finished.
A considerable number of hours later, she had emailed the complete report to her office account and changed out of her sweatpants into a work-appropriate white dress cut just above the knee. She knew Snapper could probably care less what she was wearing but she wasn't about to hand in her first report looking like she had spent all evening eating Chinese food on her sofa, however true that may be.
When Kara arrived at Catco she noticed James carrying a box of his personal effects across the office and immediately worried that this was because of her. Determined that things wouldn't be awkward between them she made a beeline for him.
"Hey," she said, "What's going on?" She gestured to his box of office bric-a-brac.
"New beginnings." He replied, glancing at her as she fell into step with him.
"Where are you going? You aren't going because of me, are you?" As much as she was sure she didn't want to be romantically involved with him, she didn't want him to leave Catco because of her. He was a good person and she'd hoped they would remain friends, even if things would be a little uncomfortable at first.
James smiled, trying to put her at ease, "Not far and no Kara, I'm doing this for me. I'm the new Cat. Well," He paused, reconsidering, "not the new Cat but she gave me her job while she's away."
"Wow."
"Yeah, I know, it's a huge step up for me…and I can talk to Snapper for you if you want-."
Kara held up a hand, stopping him, "As much as I appreciate the offer, I think that's something I have to do for myself. Anyway, congrats…Boss."
He smirked, "I like the sound of that."
"Don't get used to it," She said softly, glad they were back to joking around with each other. Shooting him a grin, she spun on her heel and went to print out her work. Encountering only one minor paper-jam related setback, she quickly assembled her report. It was well written and she knew it. Determined that, Snapper Carr was going to like it whether he wanted to or not, all she had to do now was confront him.
Report in hand, she marched into his office and saw him sat at his desk, reading something. She slapped the report down in front of him, gaining a fleeting moment of satisfaction when he jumped at the sudden noise.
"Five hundred words on the dual Metallo attacks in Metropolis and National City with eye-witness accounts, comments from police sources and zero adjectives. All thoroughly vetted and verified." She folded her arms across her chest, defiantly, resolute in her mindset that she would not let him fob her off.
"You don't work here." He said tiredly, moving her report out of his way.
"Yes, I do."
"Not if I don't say so."
"You will. Read it and you'll see." Kara stared at him fiercely until he picked it up and thumbed through it. She felt a glimmer of hope that was quickly quashed when he sighed and threw her report down on his desk. He gave her his signature bored eye roll over the top of his thick-rimmed glasses.
"Don't waste my time."
Anger bubbled within her and she snatched her report up, "You don't want it? Fine. Plenty of other outlets will." She started to walk away but only got as far as the door before he called her back.
"Wait." Kara stopped and turned back around. Snapper paused and reached up to remove his glasses before fixing her with his gaze.
"I don't like you and I never will, Ponytail."
She jutted her jaw in defiance, "I don't need you to like me Jerk…guy."
He sighed once more, "You're as bad at insults as you are at reporting. Come back tomorrow...maybe I can teach you something." He picked his glasses back up and placed them on his face, dismissing her as he turned back to what he had been reading.
Kara left his office with a spring in her step, unable to stop the grin that was threatening to take over her face. Things were definitely looking up; separating Kara and Supergirl was starting to take effect and she, Kara Danvers, was now officially employed as a reporter. Elation spread through her and she laughed. This called for her favourite means of celebration. Tonight, she was going flying.
/
Soaring high above the city Kara allowed herself a celebratory loop-de-loop, arms splayed while joyful shouts fell from her lips. She'd done it. From now on she could officially introduce herself as Kara Danvers, reporter and she had to admit, it felt great. Laughter spilled from her and she indulged in one more loop-de-loop before changing direction, heading home in a more sedate, DEO approved flying style.
Glancing around to get her bearings, she noticed she was near L Corp and her body automatically detoured, slowing to a static hover when she saw that despite it being the early hours of the morning, Lena Luthor was still sat at her desk, fingers darting furiously over her keyboard. The CEO's computer was at a slight angle to the window so she mostly had her back to Kara, only the smallest sliver of her alabaster face visible from outside. As the young blonde watched Lena work, she couldn't help but wonder if the CEO ever got lonely. Clearly, she had no home life to get back to if she was still at work at this hour and the idea that someone could live a life that empty, saddened Kara. Lena was a good person and she deserved more. Kara debated landing on the CEO's balcony and keeping her company for a while under the guise of checking how she was after the helicopter incident. Images of Alex's disapproving face soon appeared in her mind stopping such thoughts in their tracks. With a final glance at the businesswoman, she shot off, heading back to her apartment to get at least a few hours' sleep before work.
Inside Lena's perfectly temperature-controlled office, a shiver seeped slowly down the raven-haired womans' spine and she stopped typing, her hands frozen above her computer keyboard. The tingly feeling lingered, right on the edge of being uncomfortable and Lena just couldn't shake off the idea she was being watched. The notion was of course absurd, she was thirty-five floors high, the only person left in the entire building aside from her security guards in the lobby and there were no neighbouring buildings as high as L Corp.
And yet the feeling persisted. Sighing in mild annoyance at her runaway imagination, she softly pushed her heels against the floor so her chair spun slowly round to fully face the window. The city was still, though a few other office lights remained illuminated, showing her that there were other people out there that were as work-centered as she was, or perhaps, and she had to admit this is much more likely, the lights were merely a by-product of someone's carelessness and disregard for the environment. Lena gazed down to the street below, watching the occasional car creep by, late-night taxi-cabs making their way to another fare. Other than that, the quiet was absolute and there was most definitely no one watching her. She was, as usual, completely alone. Turning back to her work, she tried very hard to ignore the tiny part of her that was disappointed.
