Kryptonian Nights 7
By Deanlu
Supergirl is the property of DC comics and the CW. I am just writing little stories inspired by a hero we all need and characters that make us strive for more.
WINN
It was stupid. She was being stupid. She was going to get herself killed with what she was planning. Then what would they all say. Supergirl had walked herself into a trap. Deliberately and stupidly. After all, she could never explain why she was here to see Toy Man. Winn's nefarious and deadly father. But here she was and she would achieve her goals. The guards looked at her warily wondering what this ray of sunshine could want with such a harden, evil man.
"Please state your name and place your hand on the infrared viewer." Kara did exactly as ordered.
"Kara Danvers. Catco reporter." She watched as the scanner beeps twice and the guard nodded. The nearby door unlocked with a loud clunk and she proceeded to step inside. She handed over her belongings and was patted down. She then had a metal detector wand passed over her. She was handed over her notepad and pen, but her purse was to remain with the guards at the observation deck.
"This way mam. Not sure why you want to see him, but he is ready for you." She was led through two more doors and scanned twice again before she was brought before a cell with a large seven inch bullet proof glass window. There in a chair was Mr. Winslow Schott aka Toy Man. The guard moved off to the side to give the reporter her privacy and waited nearby.
"I was surprised when you asked to see me Ms. Danvers. I didn't think Toy Man was of any interest to the good people of National City now that I have been incarcerated." The man moved to sit in the chair in front of the window of his cell. "So why are you here? What do you want?"
"I came because I need information. Your son, Winn Schott, is my friend. His birthday is coming up and I want to do something special for him. He talks about you. How when he was young you two were inseparable. How you looked alike and talked alike. I want to give him something that means something. I want to give him memories of those good times." Kara disclosed to the man who held a boys heart and had killed hundreds. "I want for one day for my friend to feel loved by his family even if they aren't there." The Toyman stared at her thinking and weighing her words.
"What's in it for me? What are you willing to give me for this exchange of information?" Mr. Schott interjected as he leaned toward the glass. His cold, heartless eyes seeing an opportunity."Tit for Tat...Supergirl." The Toyman whispered enough for Kara to hear. Kara's mouth dropped open in shock. "You think I didn't know. You think those glasses and that ponytail fooled me. So tell me Supergirl, what is in it for me?!" Kara shook her head. She sighed deeply. She had thought this would work. She thought his love for his son would allow him to give up some information...maybe even a picture or two. She had been wrong.
"I'm sorry. I thought you cared about Winn. I thought maybe there was a little of the father you once were inside. I obviously was wrong." Kara declared firmly rising and walking toward the steel door. She turned suddenly looking back through the thick glass. "You know Mr. Schott I was lucky enough to grow up in two good families. The one that cared for me on Krypton. Then the one I found here on earth. Winn wasn't that lucky. After his mother died and you started your crime spree. He was taken into foster care and shuffled from house to house. He competed with other children for attention and love. He was scared every day and at night he would silently cry. He is my friend Mr. Schott. I would a brave the Vrang slavers to make him happy because he is my best friend. He has stood by me when others did not. So excuse me if I don't think your words are worth the salt on your lips." Kara pushed the buzzer by the door for the guard keeping her back to the glass viewer. Just as the door opened she heard Toyman's words.
"Wait! There is a storage unit on Fifth and Aberdeen. It's not very large, but there are some items there that may fit what you are looking for." Toyman insisted through a ragged breath. "You may think I don't care Ms. Danvers. I do. I love my son."
"Just not enough to reject the evil inside of you. Not enough to have given him a stable childhood." Kara speculated as she stared at him. The guard nearby watching the exchange. "He deserved better Mr. Schott. He deserved a father willing to sacrifice his dreams to be there for his boy."
"Maybe, but then he wouldn't have had you as a friend. Leave Ms. Danvers and let my son know I love him." Mr. Schott growled turning away from the glass and walking back toward the far corner of his cell. Kara took one last look and then left. She listened to the hollow clang of the prison door as it closed. She realized that Toyman's heart was just as empty.
"You okay Ms. Danvers? He's a hard man. An evil man. I'm not sure why they let you see him." The prison guard stated. Kara looked up at him as they walked through the second set of doors heading toward the outside.
"Even dead men need hope." Kara stated as a chill ran down her back. "Thank you for your assistance as she picked up her things." Kara walked into the sunlight of the prison yard and was escorted to the outer gate. Once outside the prison she took a last look back. The sign above TURBOX Prison glared down at her, 'Abandon hope all ye who enter here.' She sighed wondering who decided to place the phrase from Dante's Inferno at the entrance. Shouldn't even those who have committed the most egregious crimes have some hope. She shivered as she moved down the road to a hidden area and changed into her Super suit.
Two weeks later…
"Happy Birthday WINN!" The Super friends cheered. For once crime and time cooperated allowing everyone to attend the party at Kara's apartment for Winn. Lena had given Winn a new of set controllers for his game counsel and some high tech gadgetry.
"Only the best from L-Corp for you Winn." Lena claimed while Alex filled her glass with wine.
"Thank you Lena." Winn smirked knowing he would be working their science geekiness on Tuesday again.
"Here's the one from Alex," James handed over a silver wrapped present. Maggie sat down across from James. Winn tore open the wrapping paper to reveal a black box. He opened the top as his mouth dropped open.
"Alex, you didn't have too." Alex had presented him with a Thermicron blade. The blade could cut through anything. Several of the agents had one. Alex had waited till she had trained Winn at the DEO properly. The blade came with the accompanying blade holder and severe warnings on what would happen if he misused it. A thick envelope was handed over to Winn from J'onn. Carefully tearing the envelope open Winn found that J'onn had gifted him with a week off of his choosing.
"Thank you Space Dad! I know just when I will use this!" Winn responded enthusiastically.
"Here you go buddy. I hope you like it." James handed a large framed photo to Winn. It showed Winn between Superman and Supergirl. Winn smiled in simple adoration. He high fived James.
"Here son. I think you'll like this." Eliza walked over and handed Winn a gift wrapped box. Winn tore it open to find another box. He opened this one to find a handmade gift certificate for four home cooked meals. Winn smiled standing up and pulling Eliza into a hug.
"Thank you mom." Eliza squeezed him back tightly.
"I always wanted a son. It took Kara coming into our lives to bring you to us." She whispered back. Winn hugged her a little harder not wanting to let go. Winn stepped back releasing Eliza and wiped a tear. Kara leaned against the nearby counter nervous about the last present on the table with her name. Maybe this was the wrong time to give it. Maybe she should have waited till later when everyone else was occupied elsewhere.
"This one's from Kara. It says fragile on it. Pretty heavy." Alex said as she handed over the box.
"This isn't some Kryptonian thing is it? Cause the last time…." Winn's voice fell into silence as the last of the wrapping fell away and box opened. "Kara, what did you? How...I thought…" Winn pulled out a shadowbox created from a deep brown walnut wood. Inside was Winn's first baby outfit, the cap from the hospital that covered his head, the hospital band from his mother and him, his birth certificate and the announcement that it was a boy! In the upper right corner was a picture of him, his mother, and father. A pair of booties, rattle, and pacifier were added for accent. "Ka..ra, how…" Winn's voice cracked as he turned his head to stare at her from the couch. Kara blew out a slow breath.
"You need to look in the box. There is one more thing." Kara's voice trembled not knowing what Winn was thinking. She fully expected him to become angry with her. Winn handed the shadow box to Lena. He reached down into the bottom of the box and pulled out a photo album. He opened it up and almost dropped it. James caught it and placed it back in his lap. Winn began leafing through page after page of happier times. Times when the world was still innocent and new. Kara had come to stand near the couch barely breathing as she watched Winn turn the pages.
"I thought these were gone. I thought…" He voice faded as he looked up at his best friend. The person who had taught him to hope again. The person who had taught him to believe in himself and to fight for good. The next thing Kara knew was her best friend was hugging her tightly. So tight she could almost believe she was on Krypton in her parents arms again. Winn cried soft tears into her shoulder as the others in the room wipe surreptitiously at their eyes. "How? How Kara?" Winn pleaded to know as he backed up a step still holding her shoulders.
"I told you. I would walk through a thousand white Martians to make you happy. Let's just say a raven told me what I needed to know and leave it at that." Kara insisted even as Winn's eyes grew wide as he figured out how she knew.
"Kara, I would never ask you…" Kara silenced Winn with two fingers. Even as the room of them watched in silence.
"You didn't. It's my gift to you. He told me to tell you he loves you. Always will." Kara said softly as Lena and Alex finally figured out what Winn was talking about. The shock in the group of friends showed plainly. Kara had risked a great deal to give this gift.
"Thank you, Supergirl. Thank you Kara Zor-El." Winn declared firmly with his whole heart. Kara nodded letting him go as he returned to the couch. She watched as he flipped through the photo album telling those around him the memories of the moments. Eliza slid up near Kara even as Lena eyed her from nearby.
"You just don't know how precious, how important you are Kara." Eliza said as she looked around at this family. A family chosen.
"Nah, I'm just doing what I think is right. Nothing more." Kara said smiling and chuckling at one of Winn's memories. She watched as the little pieces of Winn's heart knit back together. It wouldn't be perfect, but then who was in this life. It was just like kintsukuroi, the japanese mending of pots. Each of us broken and mended with the love of friends, more precious than before the break. That's how Kara saw them. More precious with each mending heart.