As J'onn and Alex were blinded by a bright light, everything seemed to be moving in slow motion for the Martian.
He saw a loose piece of sharp shrapnel heading straight for Alex's heart. He did what any sensible father figure would do, and shielded her body.
Because of this, Alex stayed safe. However, J'onn took the brunt of the blast and was impaled by the shrapnel. He cried out in agony, falling to the floor.
The other agents had all been blown back and knocked into the walls. They were all out cold.
Alex, seemingly the only unaffected one, cautiously peered around until she saw J'onn laying on the ground, writhing in pain. "Oh God, J'onn! What happened?"
J'onn gasped out. "I'm fine... I can heal fast... Ka... ra..."
Alex's mind immediately redirected to Kara and she nodded firmly. She then sprinted off towards the side room in search of her sister.
When she walked through the entryway, the whole building was in ruins. Some of it had been completely taken off and sunlight was shining through. The other parts were all in shambles, or about to fall apart.
Alex's eyes quickly darted across the room, searching for any signs of Kara. That's when she spotted the sleek black of her sister's DEO uniform.
The older Danvers sprinted over as fast as her legs could carry her, and immediately kneeled by Kara's side.
Alex frantically tried to wake her little sister, but there was no reaction.
Alex started becoming anxious when Kara wasn't responding.
The last time this had happened, Kara's heart had stopped beating.
And she did not want that to happen again.
Alex scanned the room, looking for anything to wake her sister, when she remembered the sunlight from earlier. It was hitting a good chunk of the room, but couldn't reach Kara because some debris was in the way, causing her to be in the shade.
Since Kara was too heavy to move across the room, Alex settled for moving the debris.
She had set to work clearing it, and was five minutes in, when she heard a pained groan coming from Kara's direction.
Alex quickly moved over to her sister's side and grabbed her hand.
"Kar! Thank God you're okay! Don't ever scare me like that again, please. You have done enough of that recently."
Kara gave Alex a small smile and wheezed out,"I'm g-glad you're okay too, Lex. How is J'onn? The other agents?"
Alex eyes darkened slightly, but not enough for Kara to notice. "They're all alive. J'onn took a good blast, but he's tough and he'll make it. Don't worry about them, worry about yourself."
Kara squeezed Alex's hand reassuringly. "I'll always worry about everyone else first, you need to realize that. But still, I'm glad everyone's okay."
Alex was slightly appeased from her worried panic, but something else completely came over her. She became consumed with a frightened and frustrated rage. "What the hell. Were. You. Thinking?! You could have been killed, easily. Are you kidding me?! You should not have done that!"
Kara calmly reasoned,"I was thinking that I needed to save the city and you. But mostly you. You have to understand, Lex. I'd do it all again if I had to."
Alex was still fuming. "I don't understand. How can you possibly be so careless! You shouldn't have prioritized me, Kara. You should have prioritized yourself!"
Kara looked her big sister straight in the eyes. "I would never prioritize myself over your safety, Alex. I knew I would survive, but you and the others wouldn't have. If I hadn't covered him and absorbed the blast, this city would be flattened. Is that what you would have wanted?"
Alex shook her head, her body shaking with rage. "You. Are. Unbelievable. I just saved you from one hell and you went and willingly threw yourself into another!"
Alex stormed off, unable to see reason. Her emotions had gotten the better of her, just like always. Her worry and guilt for not being able to help Kara overcame her logical sense, and she exploded at her little sister. Who was just being selfless, like always. Who had done the right thing.
As Alex stomped away, Kara attempted to sit up to chase after her and apologize. She got onto all fours, before her arms buckled and she fell back down hard. However, Kara would not be deterred and began to drag herself to a pile of rubble, hoping to be able to use it to help pull herself up.
Alex was starting to feel absolutely horrible for how she had treated Kara, who had just saved everyone's lives. She felt deep regret for the hurtful things she had said.
When she had turned around to go apologize, she saw Kara crawling across the floor to a nearby wall, and felt even worse for what she had done. Why couldn't I just have been civil? Now she thinks I hate her, for saving my own life.
She quickly walked over and helped Kara sit up against a wall.
"Kar, I'm... so, so sorry. I don't know what came over me. I love you so much, I was just scared I would lose you, and I can't lose you. Not now, not ever. I was just pissed that you overlooked your safety for us, even after everything you just came out of. I... I'm sorry, I understand if you can't forgive me for reacting like that-"
Kara gently interrupted and took Alex's hand in hers. "Don't worry, Lex. I completely understand. I know you were scared, and on edge, I don't hold it against you. All is forgiven."
Alex looked at her little sister through watery brown eyes. "God, Kara. You need to stop being so damn... good. All the time. You are so selfless and brave, but it's going to get you into trouble, like it already has. You're not some sacrificial lamb that can just keep taking hits for others. You're a person too. Why can't you just... prioritize yourself?"
Kara looked at Alex, deep in thought. "Truthfully, I... don't really know. I just can't stand to watch someone I love get hurt. I have been gifted with these powers, and I can't stand by while others are harmed, especially when I have the means to stop it. I can't stand to see people suffer, like I had to. If I can save even one person from my fate, I'd do it, no matter the cost. My life just... doesn't seem important when someone else's is in danger. I don't really know how to explain it.
And there's the Earth too. It belongs to humans. I'm not human. I don't belong here. I've been granted the ability to save people, and if I don't use them, what does that say about the kind of person I am? I need to save the people who are important to this planet, and it'd be selfish and wrong to think otherwise. Even before, back on Krypton. It was always 'protect the people or die trying.' Just because I'm on a different planet, that doesn't just change for me."
Alex carefully considered her sister, trying to digest what she had just said. "I understand it's important to you for others to survive. But you gotta understand that it's important to me whether or not you survive. You're innately selfless and you were born with the kindest heart in all the known universe, but I am the opposite. I am instinctually selfish, all humans are. It has always been about self-preservation for us.
So I know it sounds selfish when I say this, but I need you to look after yourself. If not for you, then do it for me. Because without you, I'm lost. I don't know what I'm doing, or who I am. I found myself in you, and you... are the light that brightens the dark room. For me, that's who you are. So if you were to die, or leave, where would that leave me? All alone in the dark room, having lost myself. It's not the kind of life I want to live. You need to be more careful, for me. Please. Do it for me."
Kara looked into Alex's eyes and saw how serious she looked. She solemnly nodded. "I will try, Lex. I will try my hardest. But I can't make promises."
Alex gratefully nodded and leaned in gently to hug Kara. When they finally embraced, her little sister hissed in pain.
Alex pulled back quickly, alarmed. "Where does it hurt the most?"
Kara brushed it off. "It doesn't hurt... I'm fine, really. Please go look after J'onn, I need to know he's in good hands. I don't feel any pain, Lex."
Alex gave Kara a stern look. "Seriously, what did we just talk about? Don't lie to me, I can see it in the way you breathe. You're hurting. A lot. So please, let me help you. Then we can go attend to J'onn together."
Kara nodded in resignation. Once she was properly bandaged with materials from the DEO vans, they looked towards the main section of the building. A DEO med team had been called, presumably by J'onn, and everyone was being taken care of and transported back to the facility.
Kara tried to stand, but fell on her own. She insisted on trying again. Her logic was that if she was able to walk on her own, Alex would be less worried.
It seemed to backfire when she fell, and it only heightened Alex's concern. Her big sister ran over and slid an arm across Kara's back, supporting her. Alex took most of Kara's weight and together, they slowly trudged to the van. They were the last ones out.
Once the sister loaded into the van, they were off. Kara was exhausted from the pain and the overall stress the day had caused and leaned her head on Alex's shoulder to rest. Alex also rested her head atop Kara's and they clasped each other's hand tight.
And they fell asleep like that.
J'onn looked back and smirked. The way they looked after each other... it warmed his heart.
Plus, it was also pretty damn cute. At least, that's what the Martian thought. He was sure everyone else would agree.
He sighed contentedly and smiled the rest of the ride, the pain from earlier completely forgotten.