Reused the opening of my other story You are not alone. With a distinctly different context.
All We Know of Love
Chapter Three: Kara
Clark is sixteen when his parents reveals the spaceship they hid in the cellar and learned of his alien heritage and the fact that he was now the last of his species.
"Jor-El might not have known everything," Pa consoles him as they leave the cellar. "Maybe other parents got their children off world in time as well. You can't give up, son"
Clark deeply hopes he's right.
He is twenty-two when he makes his public debut in Metropolis and uses his powers publically as Superman. It is the most frightening, exciting time of his life. Between the sudden onslaught of metahumans determined to fight him, the letters of how people are glad to see he is protecting them, and those wondering if he's here to start an invasion.
"Did you hear?" Lois asks him one morning. "Superman, seems to be have gotten some competition?"
"Oh?" He says, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
Lois slides him a picture of a dark haired woman, flying through the air in a brightly colored armored swimsuit. "This was taken in Washington. She's calling herself Wonder Woman. Do you think they're re-"
But he is already gone.
Lucky for him, Wonder Woman is surprisingly easy to locate. He finds her after her sound defeat of a woman who looks to be more cat than human in downtown Washington.
"Superman," She greets with a smile, glowing from battle "I heard about you. You've been doing good work."
"Can we talk?" He asks.
"Of course."
Wonder Woman soon turns out to be one of the nicest women Clark has ever met. And not a day goes by that Clark isn't grateful that he has met her.
But she is not Kryptonian.
His friendship with Wonder Woman only grows, and he meets others heroes along the way, Batman, The Flash, Green Lantern and so many others fighting the big fight with him. And by the time he's thirty, they even form an organization, a Justice League to protect others. He doesn`t feel so alone anymore. Even when Hamilton tells him that he cannot have a child with a human female.
"There's a guy calling himself Captain Marvel that's appeared in Fawcett City recently," Flash says during one of their meetings. He puts up a picture of a flying dark haired man with a lightning bolt emblazoned on his chest. "Nice guy from what I heard. Maybe he should be up for league membership."
"He is great," Hal confirms. "I met him. Seems like a bigger boy scout than old Supey here. He seems like he'd be a fine addition."
"We're not a clubhouse," Batman growls lowly. "He shouldn't join our organization for a reason as simple as you liking the guy, Hal."
"Now wait a minute." Hal says, raising his finger towards the dark knight, preparing to start one of their very common arguments.
"What are his powers?" Black Canary asks interrupting the fight that was about the take place.
"So far all we've seen is Super Strength and Flight, like Diana and Clark." Flash says. "Heck, he even looks like Clark."
And with that, a spark of hope that Clark long thought was gone is instantly re-lit.
"Maybe I should check him out?" Clark ask turning his attention to Bruce. "That way we can see if he's a good fit."
"Do whatever you want.".
And so Clark did.
Captain Marvel turns out to be another false lead and Clark's heart breaks in a way he couldn't even believe was still possible.
The cheerful Captain was a good person and obviously league material.
But he is not Kryptonian.
"I got my powers magically one day," he tells him omitting the exact circumstances that occurred. "And now that I got them. I really just want to help people. Like you," he added his cheeks turning a dark scarlet. "You're like my role model you know."
"I'm sure you'll do great." Clark says sincerely.
By the time the new hero named Icon appears, in a space-ship just like him, with powers, just like his Clark has learned not to get his hopes up.
But that does not stop him from keeping up with exploits anyway.
Superboy.
Superboy is...
Superboy is...
Superboy is...
He—He does not like to think about Superboy.
She appears like a bolt in the blue. Her ship appearing over Smallville while he's in the midst of helping his father with his work.
The blonde girl no older than sixteen speaks a tongue he thought he only knew, faster and more experienced. The sigil of his house emblazoned on her ship and her white how
She is kryptonian.
Her name is Kara.
His cousin.
Her ship knocked off course by the vacuum of space.
He spends the next few days using up vacation days as he gets to know her. She tells him of Krypton, he tells her of earth.
She is good. She is perfect and it feels like he has finally been made whole.
The abilities that he has come to her as easy as breathing. Barely any instruction before she is matching him in the air.
A part of him wonders deep down what is wrong with Superboy that it doesn't come as easy. His age? Kara was the same. Was it a mistake with how he is made? Another guiltier part of himself says Superboy didn't have him even after he begged on the bridge. The loudest says he shouldn't be thinking of him at all.
That night he finds Kara on the floor of the bathroom, unconscious and unmoving. And he feels true terror for the first time.
It takes him a few agonizing minutes before she regains consciousness.
"I'm okay," she says.
But he does not believe her.
He drags her to the fortress for a full checkup and swears for a brief moment, he sees a man in the reflection of the bathroom mirror.
The fortress gives her a clean bill of health, and Kara laughs off the incident as exhaustion from her journey.
J'onn visits the farm shortly after to implant the English language into Kara. The struggle of him translating between her and his parents soon to be gone.
"Do you plan to have her on the team?" J'onn asks when he finishes. But all Superman hears is the unheard accusation.
Do you plan to show her to Superboy?
Kara—Supergirl as she was calling herself now was undeniably his partner. And the team was where all the Justice league's partners worked together.
But the Team is Superboy's home. Despite his aversion, even he knew it would be cruel to take what little the clone had made for himself. Kara would outshine him, the abilities that he had been denied him. Make him even more aware of what he wasn't...
You could help him, a voice that sounds suspiciously like Bruce whispers. Clark squashes it instantly.
"Does he know about her?" The last thing he needed was a clone with a misplaced grudge.
"No," J'onn doesn't even bother to disguise his disdain in that single word.
"Black Canary and Batman felt it best to not upset him. He's already dealing with enough as it is." Because of you. Remains unsaid.
J'onn tells the whole Household about Superboy before he leaves. He doesn't have the right. But he acts oblivious.
"I thought you would have told them," the Martian says before he flies away.
It's all Clark could do to not punch him.
His parents drag him to kitchen table to talk about his clone. His final sanctuary from the boy stolen.
His Ma and Pa are already demanding Superboy come here. To his home. Already he can see a scenarios of his darkest nightmares play out. His parents broken bodies laying at his clone's feet. The boy not even aware of the darkness in his body. Hidden commands buried by the monsters who made him.
They don't understand. Superboy isn't safe.
The boy had taken his blood, his face, his soul. He can't take anymore from him.
Kara waits until his parents calm down.
"You're not being fair, Kal," she says in the same voice everyone uses when they talk about his clone. Soft and judgmental. Like they understand—
"They're not being fair to me," Clark says back with more venom than he predicts. "They want me to be his dad. They act like I should just be okay with being cloned..."
"Do you hate him?" Asks Ma.
Superman reserved hate for few people in this world. Cruel dictators. Immortal monsters. Lex. Being around Superboy was like wading through broken glass, jagged, sharp and piercing when you least suspect it. A child that shouldn't exist but does. The future of his race weaponized against him. Being around Superboy hurt more than kryptonite.
But he didn't hate him.
"No."
"Have you talked to him since he escaped?" Asks Pa, disappointment evident.
He shakes his head."
"He's a child, Clark," Ma cries, her sharp voice hurting his ears. "And he's all alone in the world. From what it seems, he must think you despise him."
"He's not alone," Clark says for what's starting to sound like more for him than his family. "He has Black Canary and Batman. They can take care of the job."
Kara clears her throat. "Before you met me, Clark. When you were the only kryptonian in the world. Were they good enough for you?"
Clark could not answer that honestly.
Ma makes Kara, a outfit to match his. Their knowledge of Superboy doesn't dampen the joy he feels at seeing Kara wear his—their emblem.
When she passes out in the middle of her fitting, Clark is at her side before she hits the ground. Ma kneeling beside him to make sure she's alright
The figure he half saw in the mirror returns, peering through their living room window. Clearer now. He is a man in a dark blue suit and matching cape held by a heavy gold chain, his face hidden by his hat.
Clark super speeds his way out of the house but the ghost of a man is already gone. He turns back to his cousin in the safety of his mother, already perking up.
Reports say Kara is healthy despite the spells and Zatara promises the scent of magic is not on her. He searches the league databases for hours looking for any clue of the creature visiting his house, bothering his cousin. His only clue to her illness.
But the odd man is a Specter. Unheard of, unseen, unknown.
A threat to his kin that he can't even touch.
He can barely pay attention to the league debriefing of how the children defeated Klarion the Witch boy.
"Everything will be fine, Kal-L," Kara's voice says his name oddly. A emphasis on the final letter that makes the e sound invisible. She places her hands gently onto his shoulders as he digs once more through then archives of the fortress.
"You'll be okay," he reassures back. "I'll make sure of it."
Hank Henshaw, the Cyborg Superman attacks Metropolis screaming his name. And despite his If the kryptonian wasn't so exhausted by his nightly searches, he would have noticed the kryptonite.
The cyborg cackles at his foolishness, shoving the green rock in his face with glee. His power leaving him with every second.
Kara slams the Cyborg halfway through town before he can even catch his breathe. Kryptonite left in the dust.
It's the first time Kara and he worked together and they flow together like water. This was good. This was right. He finally understands his teammates joy with their partners.
When the reporters surround her, cheering her on. His face feels like it's cracking from how wide he smiles.
He promises a interview with the planet and takes her away in celebration.
She falls halfway through their trip back to Smallville.
The ghost of a man awaits him when he lands, hovering over his cousin and Superman launches himself at him. The man stays still and Superman falls through him like air.
"I am the Phantom Stranger," he introduces himself. "I come to you as a friend."
"A friend?" He says sardonically as he helps Kara into a standing position despite her pain filled protests. "You have a funny way of showing that."
Kara, panting from exhaustion, sweat on her brow manages to weakly say, "Why are you doing this to me?"
"I have nothing to do with Kara Zor-L's illness," he says tonelessly. "I exist merely as a witness."
"Witness to what?" Clark snaps.
"Her return," he says.
"Return?" He repeats. "She will not be "returning" anywhere with you. My cousin is right where she belongs."
"She is not your cousin, Kal-El."
"W-What are you talking about?" Kara says weakly. "He is Kal-L, son of Lara Lar-Van and Jor-L. I am Kara Zor-L, daughter of Zor-L and Alura N-Z."
"He is Kal-El, son of Lara Lor-Van and Jor-El. His cousin is Kara Zor-El, daughter of Zor-El and Allura In-Zee."
He makes a small gesture with his fingers and Kryptonian characters form in the air making two trees sides by side. Similar in form but distinctly not identical in spelling.
"Kara Zor-L, Kal-El, I apologize," Phantom Stranger says tonelessly but Clark can feel the slightest echoes of regret. "She does not belong here. She is another universe's, another earth's...another Superman's. Our universe will correct itself, the pain she is experiencing is proof of that. She is not long in this world."
The trio stand in silence for what seems like a eternity as his words sink in.
Kara breaks the silence.
"How long do I have?"
"You will return in three days time."
That—That's not fair.
He has just found her. A piece of his home. And he has to give her up? To another world. He had finally been made whole and he's meant to go back to his half life?
That's not fair!
Kara falls into a boneless heap into the ground and it's all Clark can do to not join her as he embraces her tightly. Phantom Stranger disappears but neither of them care.
He turns off his communicator that night, taking himself off active duty to spend every last minute with Kara in the Kent farm. It's a act of selfishness but even Superman has the right to be that once in a while right?
The painful spells get more frequent and by the third day, the blonde kryptonian can't even leave her bed.
"The other Kal, probably won't be as cool as you," she tells him.
"Thanks," he says forcing a smile, brushing some loose hair out of her face.
They both feel the end coming even without the sudden appearance of the Phantom stranger watching from the door way.
"I love you, Kal," Kara whispers. "My amazing cousin from another universe."
"I love you, Kara, my amazing cousin from another universe. Your earth will be lucky to have you."
"Don't-Don't force yourself to be alone, okay?" Her voice cracks and her eyes fill with tears as she caresses Clark's face. "There's a boy here just waiting for you. Don't throw that away. He is a part of you. He is Kryptonian. Promise me, Kal, you'll at least talk to him."
"I-"
"Promise me," she urges.
"I promise," he surrenders.
She smiles widely, proud of her victory. Before closing her eyes.
"I love you, Clark Kent," she says once last time.
A bright light over takes the room. In it Clark stands alone, no Kara, no Phantom Stranger.
And Clark cries.
The return to the Watchtower and active duty is agonizing. It took him several days to finally leave the farm. And it still feels like he left half of himself there.
Kara's last promise hangs over him like a noose. He can already picture Superboy's hopeful and longing expression as soon as he looks his way. Filled with obligations the man of steel cannot possibly fill. When the only mercy he can give his clone most days is not visibly flinch in his presence. Suddenly just thinking of the boy's gaze feels like a weight heavier than the world.
He doesn't even know the boy's name for Rao's sake.
He tracks down Black Canary, who looks disheveled from a rough all night mission. Her hair frazzled, her eyes red and clothing askew with a cup of coffee glued to her hand.
"Hey," he greets.
She only glares in response.
He deserves that.
Best to rip of the band-aid clean off. "I want to talk to Superboy."
Dinah laughs mirthlessly. A uncharacteristically cruel sound from the songbird.
"You can't, Clark."
"Why not?"
"Superboy, saw you with Supergirl."
Oh.
Whatever expression he imagined his clone making worsened a thousand percent. In his mind's eye he can see the boy's face—his face pinched in frustration, his voice wobbly as he gives him the best interpretation of a dog getting kicked a person possibly give. Eyes pleading that Superman fix everything. Like he can...
"He shouldn't have seen that," Clark says breaking himself of the useless train of thought. "I wasn't thinking. I'll apologize to him as soon as possible.."
"No, you don't understand." she shakes her head, her red eyes refilling with liquid. Stepping back when the kryptonian tries to offer comfort. "You can't say sorry and make this go away."
"Why not?" His heart suddenly sinks to the bottom of his stomach. "What happened?"
"Superboy ran away, Superman," Dinah says wiping away her tears. "He's been missing for a week."
End chapter:
It wasn't Kara Zor-El, It was Kara Zor-L. It's why I didn't want to add her character tag to spoil the fact she was already gone.
I never wanted Supergirl to stay in any manner. I was struggling between Power girl and Making this a cruel trick by Myxzptlk. But Peeg won out.
Next chapter is back to Superboy