HALLEY'S P.O.V
I opened my eyes confused, Kara's arms were wrapped around me, feeling how she tightened the embraced when I moved, so I tried my best to be gentle while getting up.
I heard her mumble in her sleep, staring at her for a few seconds before changing into my suit and flying away from there.
My apartment. I hadn't been there since the day my cousin sent us to Argo, the exact same day that organization decided to burn it down.
I sighed while staring around. Nothing was as I remembered, it was so dark and, a month later, I was still able to smell the smoke from the fire. However, that didn't stop me to keep walking inside while observing what was left there.
The small glimpse of dark blue under a curtain managed to make me frowned as I walked towards it, not being able to control the tears that escape my eyes the moment I saw it.
"Saffire…" I closed my eyes the moment I heard Kara speak.
"This is the little you trust me that you have to follow me?" I asked her kind of harsh, wiping off the ashes from the toy.
"No, I do trust you, but we need to talk" she answered as I turned to look at her.
"Why didn't you tell me what was going on?" I asked her directly, I had been living with fear of not knowing for a month.
"You would have wanted to stay" she sighed.
"Of course I would have wanted to… I could have helped, you know?" I snapped at her before she could keep talking. "You sent us away… You sent me away to take care of two innocent kids with no explanation" I couldn't contained my anger.
"For Rao's sake, they wanted you dead" she shook her head. "It was an eye for an eye…, If I hadn't done what I did, you would have been dead" Kara looked directly into my eyes. "And maybe even Leo and Juliet too" she added as I was able to see the tears that were being contained in her eyes.
"I've been lying to Leo for a month" I whispered while shaking my head. "I've been promising him that everything was alright, even if deep down I didn't believe it… I've seen him cry thinking you were dead. And it broke my heart because I could relate to his feelings" I explained to her, both of us crying. "You didn't even tell me that I am their guardian if something ever happens to you and Mon-El… What did you expect me to do with a kid and a baby?" I asked her in complete panic. "I can't even take care of myself" I pointed out as my cousin shook her head.
"That's not true, Hal" she whispered while approaching me. "And I know you're not a child anymore, but you're my baby girl and you'll always going to be" Kara gently tucked my hair behind my ears. "You've been begging for my trust when you already had it. You took me out of there without even thinking about the fact that you were injured or even the kryptonite… And you didn't do it because you're a hero, you did it being Halley because you do know what you're doing" her gaze met mine before I looked away. "Flamebird is what you can do, but Halley is who you are" she told me.
"I was scared of losing you" I admitted in just a whisper, reviving the fear that I had been feeling for over the last month.
"I know, baby, I was scared too" she pulled me into a hug, keeping me as close as possible. "I couldn't be prouder of the young woman you've become" Kara whispered, tightening the embrace. "You can always talk to me, okay?" she asked me, to what I nodded slightly with my head still resting on her shoulder.
"I love you" I whispered.
"I love you too, Hal" Kara kissed my head.
"Mommy! Daddy!" Leo smiled while running with his arms open ready to jump into his parents arms.
I couldn't avoid the smile that was drawn on my face the moment I saw them hugging, baby Juliet in Kara's arms, giggling happily because of the tickles.
"Halley, they're back!" the little boy exclaimed, hugging my legs so I kneeled down in front of him to embrace him.
The seven year old clang tightly to the dress I was wearing, but, for the first time in a long time, doing it because he was relieved that his parents were alright.
It was a few hours later that we were all having a family lunch, including Val and his family since we needed to celebrate that everything had gone well.
"Hey, Can I talk to you for a second?" Val asked me, to what I nodded as he gently grabbed my arm to take me somewhere where we would be alone."How are you doing?" he observed me.
"I'm good, happy that everything turned out to be fine" I answered a little bit confused about what was going on, seeing how he smiled while nodding.
"Um… I just wanted to know if you would like to go out tonight" he said barely staring at me. "The two of us" he added as I stayed still not sure of what I should answer.
"Yeah, sure, it'll be fun" I nodded while smiling at him.
"Great, I'm picking you up around seven" he told me, getting me to nod again shortly before he left.
I couldn't avoid the silly smile that was drawn on my face, being really impatient for that night, even if I still remember what had happened the last time we both hung out.
"So… You have a date" it was Kara who managed to scare me.
"It's not a date" I told her once I was calmed down, realizing the way she was staring at me."What? We're just friends" I assured her, observing how she giggled while nodding.
"Keep saying that, kiddo" she grinned at me.
"What's going on here?" my mom asked.
"Val asked her for a date" Kara answered as I sighed.
"It is not a date" I pointed out as my mom just observed both of us for a few seconds before engulfing me into a hug.
"We better get into choosing what you're going to wear" she commented, which only got me to complain again. "Okay, okay, not a date" she said before looking at Kara. "It's totally a date" my mom murmured to her, both of them laughing.
"I know, right?" my cousin giggled as I frowned, starting to get tired of the conversation. "It's okay, Hal, we're just teasing you" she ruffled my hair.
"This place is beautiful" I whispered while admiring the views we had from that field.
"I'm glad you like it" Val smiled as I kept staring at the night sky, remembering each single star name. "Are you okay?" he asked after I laid down on the grass, getting me to nod as he sat beside me.
"I love stars" I pointed to them, even if I was sure he already knew that. "Astronomy in general" I added, observing the little smile that was drawn on his face.
"Well your name is after a comet so I guess is in your blood" he pointed out while laughing.
I couldn't avoid laughing as well. Astronomy was definitely in my blood, at least it had played such an important part of my life, ever since I was little, the names of the stars were the first thing I learned.
"What?" I asked after feeling observing by him, my cheeks a little flushed, seeing how he smiled slightly at me.
"I missed this… You being you, hearing your laugh…" he answered as I drifted my gaze back to the sky, not being able to keep looking at him, feeling how my heart was beating faster. "This past month you've been so focused on going back and before that… You were so broken" he commented, getting me to look back at him.
"I'm still healing" I told him, the memories from the kidnapping wouldn't fade away so easily, having nightmares for most of the nights.
"I know, now, I know" Val sighed.
"I regret so much everything I said that day" I whispered, my voice cracking.
"I know you do. I do it, too" he looked directly into my eyes as he dared to brush my hair away from my face, taking his time to caress my left cheek with his thumb. "I realized I can't lose you" he admitted in barely a whisper.
I stared at him for a few seconds before closing my eyes. I knew how he felt. I couldn't lose him either. However, at that moment, I didn't find my voice to answer him anything.
"I want to fight by your side, Hal" Val said as I opened my eyes, being confused about what he was saying.
"You mean…" I sat up while not breaking eye contact with him.
"Going back to Earth with you" he answered, to what I frowned.
"But what happens with your studies and your family? And…?" I couldn't keep asking since he interrupted me.
"My family is okay with my decision" he assured me. "Alex offered me a job at the DEO while forming myself there, you know, since I know a lot about Kryptonian physiology and you don't stop to get hurt…" he said with a mocking smile, getting me to punch his shoulder as I tried my best to act offended. "Okay" Val murmured while rubbing circles over his shoulder. "You're going back to college, right?" he asked me.
"Um… Yeah" I nodded. "And I'm going to start teaching astronomy to alien kids" I told him.
"That's amazing" he smiled at me.
"It is" I smiled. "They'll have the chance to socialize with other kids and learn about other planets. I used to love doing it when I was younger" I explained to him.
We both remained in silence for a few seconds, laying again on the grass, but that time he did it as well, his hand finding mine to hold.
It was starting to get cold, not being able to avoid the shivers that went through my whole body, only getting Val to stare at me for a few seconds.
"Come here" he whispered, gently tugging from my hand for me to move closer to him.
I hesitated. I wasn't sure of what I was doing, but I ended up moving closer to him, letting Val embraced me as I rested my head over his shoulder.
"We broke up" he muttered, to what I frowned. "Ella and I… I broke up with her" Val explained.
"I'm so sorry to hear that, Val" I whispered, feeling bad as I knew I was the reason for that.
"It's okay" he sighed, keeping me close to him. "I think I was with her because I couldn't be with you" he admitted, both of us staring at each other. "When you admitted that you hadn't moved on… I never did either, Halley" he tucked my hair behind my ear shortly before kissing the top of my head.
I looked at him not even sure of what to answer, kind of afraid that everything would messed up again, that we would lose each other once more.
However, I started blushing again. My heart pounding heavily on my chest, having to look away the moment our eyes met.
"I should be taking you back home before they sent a search party" he chuckled, getting me to nod while laughing a little.
During they way back to my aunt's house we were both quiet since I was still not sure of what I should say and he seemed not to keep talking, like if he was giving me my time to think.
"When are you coming to Earth?" I asked him the moment we reached the house.
"In two days or so" Val answered.
"Thanks for tonight, I had so much fun" I smiled at him.
"Don't thank me" he shook his head. "I had fun, too" he smiled while observing me, our eyes meeting.
Val leaned forward while grabbing my face, probably looking for the answer that I had never given to him, but doing it by wrapping my arms around his neck to bring him closer.
My eyes closed the moment our lips touched each other's, just letting myself go as I realized for how long I had been desiring it.
"Eww" I heard Leo murmur the moment I pulled away from Val, getting both of us to laugh.
"Eww what, buddy?" I asked him while turning to look at him, the seven year old was standing at the front door while observing us.
"Val, kissing girls is gross" he commented while grimacing.
"I think you'll change your mind when you're older, buddy" Val answered him before smiling at me.
"Anyway, you should be in bed" I pointed out.
"Mommy let me stay up if I spy on you" he answered with a huge smile on his face as I frowned
"She did, huh?" I looked at him, seeing how he nodded slightly. "I guess I'm seeing you in Earth" I told Val.
"Yes" he nodded. "Have a good night" he whispered before kissing my cheek.
"You too" I whispered as he left, standing in front of the house as I wasn't ready to confront whatever I was going to find inside.
I grabbed Leo's hand before walking inside, glancing kind of angrily at Kara when I found her by the window, my mom by her side while the only person that was sitting on the couch was my aunt.
"You sent your son to spy on me?" I asked her directly, a crinkle appearing on her forehead.
"So how did it go?" my mom questioned me.
"I went well" I answered, not giving any detail, being observed by them.
"They kissed!" Leo exclaimed as I sighed.
"So it went more than well, huh?" Kara smiled as I felt my cheeks turning red, barely nodding.
"He's coming to Earth…" I stopped talking the moment I saw Kara nodding. "Wait, Did you already know?" I asked her.
"Yeah, Alex told me" she answered. "He really cares about you. You two are made for each other" my cousin commented.
"I hope so" I murmured, really hoping for everything to be alright.
I kicked and punched the training machine, crouching to the floor to avoid being hit, trying really hard to improve every single move I knew.
"Nice moves" Val commented from the door, which got me to turn to him.
"You're finally here" I smiled at him, seeing Val smile as well as he observed me.
"I've never gotten to see them" he murmured while pointing to my arms, getting me to frown as I tried to understand what he was referring to.
"My scars?" I asked him, to what he nodded slightly, sadness being reflected in his eyes. "It's okay. It's not like you made them" I told him as Val grabbed my right arm.
"I know, but Rao…" he sighed while caressing the scars with his fingertips. "How old were you when he started?" he asked, being focused on the one that covered my upper arm and shoulder.
"I don't know… Three, four…" I shrugged. "I don't even remember most of them" I told him sincerely since I had grown up covered in scars that I didn't even know how I got them.
"You were so young" he stared at me, to what I nodded. "I'm so sorry, Halley" Val whispered.
"Don't be. It wasn't you" I smiled at him, knowing he was thinking about what had happened during the kidnapping, he was blaming himself for it. "Hey, I'm okay" I assured him, getting his gaze to meet mine before he nodded slightly, pulling me into a hug.
We both remained like that for a few seconds, my head resting on his chest as a silly smile was drawn on my face.
"I have something to give you" I told him while pulling away from him, walking to the bench to pick up the suit Brainy had made for him. "Welcome to the team, Nightwing" I smiled widely, happy that he would finally fight by my side.
Hi!
I think for the next chapter I'm going to do a time jump, but I'm not sure because maybe the first part will be a continuation of this one.
In my mind this chapter was going to be the last one for this fanfic, but I have a new story line that I really want to add.
Thanks so much for reading, let me know what you think,
Ayrin