Sixteen

The people watched Lena as she took the stage behind a podium.

She appeared a little nervous but she noticed that some of the stares were fearful, all thanks to her brother.

She glanced to the left, Just as Kara had told her to and she saw her standing there, giving Lena an encouraging nod.

"I won't beat around the bush; we all know why we're here today. I'm here to answer any questions you may have but I also want to state my case too. To tell my side of the story as I believe I have kept quiet long enough."

Lena paused, looking out at the crowd.

She could already tell that there were some who would not change their minds no matter what she said.

"So I am ready to answer any questions."

One stood, he looked to be in his early forties and he had a permanent frown on his face.

"My name is Michael Taylor, I work in the coffee shop just down the road. My question is that you grew up with Lex, being his sister it must be hard not to imitate some of the things you've learnt from him?"

Lena nodded.

"That is a good point but I assure you that as much as I craved Lex's approval growing up, I did not want to harm anyone. That was never my intention."

"But still, you looked up to Lex."

"In the beginning, yes, I did but as we got older I knew that his ways were not mine and I wanted to separate myself from him as much as possible. If you remember, I testified against him in court."

Michael nodded, muttered a thank you and sat back down.

Lena bit back a smile.

A woman stood, this one holding a baby on her hip.

"You were accused of poisoning our children once, wasn't you?"

"I was. Accused and then proven innocent."

The woman grumbled.

"Still, what is your stand on children?"

"Well I love them, of course. I hope that when I have children of my own, I can raise them here, in National City. What better city to raise children in than the city that is protected by our very own Supergirl?"

"Yes but do you like them? Do you care about them?"

Lena frowned, she had to admit that she was a little insulted by this question.

"If I didn't care about them I wouldn't make donations to the Luthor children's hospital every month."

The woman shrugged.

"You could be doing it to make yourself look good."

Lena's lip curled back, baring her teeth momentarily.

"I would not use sick children to elevate my profile or to prove anything to you people."

"'You people'? That's a nice way to put it." The woman sneered.

Lena shut her eyes in annoyance and her fist clenched behind the podium, where the audience couldn't see.

"That's not what I meant, but your question was unfair and you are trying to turn something good into something that could be beneficial to me, which is most certainly not the case."

"Isn't it?" The woman pushed.

"Of course not! I make those donations because I want to help the children! I want to help the people of National City! That's all I've ever wanted!"

People started talking amongst themselves and Kara who was still standing to the side could see that things were not falling in Lena's favour.

Lena didn't look at her, she was too angry but Kara knew that if Lena didn't control her temper, the people would vote against her anyway.

Maybe Lena needed a little help.

An elderly man stood and glared at her.

"Your mother was head of Cadmus, wasn't she?"

Lena nodded.

"She was."

"Then evil runs in the family."

Lena glared at the old man.

"No it doesn't and I'm not even a real Luthor!" Lena raged.

But as soon as Lena had said it, she knew the mistake she'd made.

Her being adopted by the Luthors was not common knowledge and even though her and Lex shared the same father, it still didn't make her Luthor blood which meant she'd been using the Luthor name to further herself in the world of business or at least, that's how it looked to the people of National City.

It was true that Lena had gotten by because she was highly intelligent and it was by her own merit but she carried the Luthor name and she used it when she wasn't being taken seriously; they would accuse her of that and so much more.

Even Supergirl who had been hovering outside, over the glass roof had heard and was now staring down at Lena as she stood, in complete shock at what she'd said.

Silence was heavy in the hall, it was so thick you could hear a pin drop.

Supergirl landed gently on the roof and waited to see the people's reaction.

No one said anything.

Not even Lena.

Supergirl landed outside the doors and walked in.

Everyone turned in their seats to look at her and she gave them all a bright smile.

"Ms Luthor, how nice to see you again."

Lena stared at her, dumbfounded.

"I heard there was a meeting today but I was not aware of why."

Supergirl widened her eyes a little at Lena, begging her to follow her lead and go along with the charade but Lena was still in shock and unable to form words.

Supergirl took to the stage as she heard people whispering; why was she here? Was Supergirl here to judge Lena herself?

Standing next to Lena, Supergirl looked out at the people.

"So would someone like to tell me what this meeting is about, please?"

One stood up, that Michael that had been the first to question Lena.

"We-we're here to see if Lena-Ms Luthor-should be allowed to stay in National City...or not."

Supergirl frowned as she walked back and forth across the stage in front Lena who had taken a step back.

"And why are we questioning her? After everything she's done for the city?"

No one spoke up.

"Why are we, the good, kind, decent people of National City, throwing out a kind hearted woman who has helped me so many times to protect all of you? Because she's a Luthor?"

A woman stood up, nerves radiated off of her so Kara relaxed her frown slightly.

"She-she just admitted that she's not a real Luthor."

Supergirl glanced back at Lena.

"Is this true, Ms Luthor?"

Lena nodded mutely.

"So if Ms Luthor has admitted to not being a real Luthor then why are we still judging her?" Supergirl asked.

"B-because she grew up in the same house as them?" One stammered.

"That may be true but tell me, has Ms Luthor threatened any of you? Has she ever caused anyone here any harm?"

A murmur went through the crowd.

Supergirl went to Lena and smiled at her.

"Ms Luthor, could you come here please?"

Lena moved forward but her legs felt like jelly and she was still trying to process what she'd revealed.

She stood next to Supergirl, feeling like she was on trial all over again.

Supergirl looked at the people once more.

"I have worked with Ms Luthor on quite a few occasions now and she is the most brilliant, kind, beautiful soul I have ever met." She said, looking back at Lena and offering her a warm smile.

"This woman is nothing like Lex. Lilian was not her true mother and the only claim she has to the Luthor name was her father but you're forgetting that Lena had a different mother, a mother that showed no signs of being anything like the Luthors."

Kara turned to look at Lena.

"And Lena has shown me that she is nothing like them. If anything, I'd be willing to be that she's more like her mother."

Lena gave her a warm smile but she felt like she was tearing up again so Supergirl knew she had to wrap this up, Lena wouldn't like to be seen as vulnerable in front of the people that doubted her.

"So, I say we vote now but before you do, just think about what she's done for us, for all of us, and what she still continues to do to this day. You all hate her but she still wants to prove that she's good. Have a little faith.

And I mean hey, if a Super is vouching for Luthor, that's got to mean something, right?"

The people started talking amongst themselves and then Supergirl called for a vote.