Chapter 25
After convincing Lena to use her magic they had a while before they could put their plan in action, so Kara was trying to keep Lena preoccupied and not thinking about Lex. They were hanging out in the lounge area talking about L-Corp projects when Kara's stomach growls.
"Sorry", Kara blushes, after her stomach interrupted Lena.
Lena looks at her watch, "Well it had been a whole three hours since you ate breakfast darling", she teases.
Kara pouts, and Lena sighs, "I expect nothing less. Come on, that Thai place you love is just around the corner", she says, standing and pulling Kara up with her. Kara beams at the mention of food and puts her glasses on ready to go to a simple lunch with Lena.
They head out and Kara is enjoying getting to walk down the street, hand in hand, like any normal couple headed to get lunch together. They approach the restaurant and Kara spots a florist with white plumerias on display, making a plan in her mind. She holds the door open, sending Lena in to order, claiming she hears someone calling for help. Lena kisses her, tells her to be safe and walks inside. Kara hurries over to the florist and picks out the flowers she wants, making a beautiful bouquet of flowers, all having a strong connection to their relationship, from friendship to romantic love all with a perfect plumeria in the middle. She then waits for Lena around the corner.
Once Lena has gotten their food, Kara steps out, the bouquet hidden behind her back.
"There you are darling. All good?", Lena asks.
Kara kisses her cheek, "I'm great. Thanks for getting the food. Do you want to eat in the park?", she asks.
Lena gives her a weird look at her attitude and the fact that she is clearly hiding something behind her back, but agrees and they set off for a nearby bench on the edge of the park.
Once they sit Lena starts to get the food out but Kara stops her.
"Kara Danvers telling me to wait before eating. This is new", Lena teases but stops unpacking.
Kara turns on the bench so that she is facing Lena the flowers still hidden, "Um so I kind of have a surprise, which isn't a big deal, and now I'm wondering if it was kind of stupid, but I saw it and couldn't not do it…", she starts the ramble.
"Darling", Lena stops her with a hand on her jaw, "whatever it is, it's not stupid. Just show me whatever you're hiding behind your back, please, because you're not sneaky and I'm really curious", Lena chuckles.
"Oh Rao, right. So there wasn't anyone who needed saving but I saw a shop across the street and got you these. I asked the person in there because I wanted to make them mean something and I'm sure you know all of this but…", Kara trails off as she sees what used to be a bouquet of flowers but is now just a pink flower-shaped object.
Lena smiles widely, "Kara this is beautiful, and…" she trails off once she sees the confused look on Kara's face, "What's wrong?".
"This isn't what I got", Kara says, "I got a bouquet of flowers with a plumeria cause it's your favorite and …".
"Hey hey it's ok", Lena says, "so then what is this?".
"It's the love totem", Kara says, recognizing the item now that she wasn't expecting the bouquet of flowers she had picked out.
They hear an odd sound and look up to see a transmatter portal opening up in the middle of the park. Before Lex and Nyxly can step through, Kara picks up Lena flying her up to the tower balcony, faster than is probably safe for a human before going back to confront Nyxly and Lex.
As soon as Lena shakes off the shock of being back to the tower she calls the rest of the team on comms and tells them to get outside now, Kara needs backup.
She rushes to the lab to start the spell and hopes that this works.
Lex and Nyxly step through the portal to see Supergirl holding the love totem.
Lex and Nyxly fire, knocking the totem out of Kara's hand.
The team hurries to the park to back up Kara while Brainy and Lena stay back making sure the spell works.
J'onn tosses the humanity totem to Kara, who is using her cape as a shield, and takes a blast from Lex.
"Brainy, how's Lena doing?", Kara shouts through comms.
"She's getting her emotions in check", he answers as Lena starts to chant.
Kara breaks the blast and uses her freeze breath to knock Nyxly back and freeze her in place.
"Alright, Lena. It's your turn", she says, "You've got this".
Lena focuses and casts the spell, while Nyxly breaks out of the ice.
"Now", Lena says, and Kara fires the totem's power at Nyxly.
Nyxly gets hit square in the chest and goes down on one knee, grunting in pain. "Why?", she gasps out, "Why are you making all this chaos?".
"It's working", Kara cheers, and Lena smiles, glad she was able to keep her emotions in check.
Meanwhile, J'onn is recovering and stands just in time to get hit by another blast from Lex but he is able to block it with his mind.
"No", Nyxly grunts, "I won't let you sway me from my mission again", she says as she creates a force field to protect herself.
"J'onn I need you", Kara calls and J'onn sends Lex flying.
He steps up beside Kara and uses the other totem to fire another stream at Nyxly, starting to overwhelm her shield.
"Looks like I got here just in time", Brainy says, pulling out a weapon and firing it at Nyxly, which is finally going to break her shield
Lex happens to land right beside the totem and goes to grab it but sees Nyxly about to be killed. He screams, drawing J'onn's attention, who shoots at him but he portals to Nyxly to pull her out just in time, leaving the totem behind.
"I hit the love totem with all the energy of the courage totem", J'onn says, holding up the grayed-out item. "Do you think it still works?", he asks.
"It's not emitting any fifth-dimensional energy like it should be", Brainy answers, "And you know, it turned black".
"If the love totem is destroyed, does that mean all the love in the world is diminished", Alex asks.
Kara looks at Lena and just smiles, "I don't think all the love in the world has been diminished", she says, walking over to wrap an arm around Lena, "Although I'm a little upset my thoughtful surprise was ruined", she whispers just to Lena.
Lena smiles, turning to kiss Kara's cheek, and wraps an arm around her waist, "I agree with Kara. Love is still here", she says.
Kara turns and smiles at her, leaning in for a quick kiss.
The rest of the team smiles, at the obvious display of love, before Kara turns back to them and they get ready for the next fight.
Lex uses some of his newfound technology and heals Nyxly.
"Don't worry", he says, soothingly, "This will remove all of the totem's energy from you".
She grunts in pain as he continues to walk around her.
"There. All done", he says, "your emotions are once again your own".
Nyxly sits up, sighing, "You had a clean shot at the love totem", she says, "and you abandoned it to save me. Why?".
"Did I? I must not have seen it", Lex plays dumb.
"Tell me the truth", Nyxly demands, "What do you want from me?".
"You want the truth?", Lex asks. "The truth is I love you. I love you so much that when you d… when you died, part of me died too. And you don't understand, I don't love anybody. In fact, I hate everyone. From a very young age, I knew I would move through this world alone, riding that solitary high-speed train towards progress and greatness all by myself", he explains, "But there you were. This radiant powerful being, vibrating with your own brilliant madness. I never thought anyone could match my ambition, my genius but…". He takes a deep breath before continuing, "then I met you. In all the timelines, in all the dimensions, in all the universes, you… were the only one who could match me. But of course, you don't know any of this, because you weren't there. Yet. You haven't met me yet and I sound insane", he gives up explaining.
Nyxly slides off the table, "No one has ever selflessly sacrificed something for me like you did tonight. So, no, I wasn't there but…", she says, approaching him, "If what you say is true and you really are here to help me succeed well I don't see why we can't be friends", she offers.
Lex smiles, happy with the new agreement.
The team is enjoying at least stopping Nyxly from getting another totem when Nia sees Brainy walk off to the balcony.
"Hey, what is it?", she asks.
"Lex's behavior tonight", he says, "it was irrational. He had the love totem in his grasp, and yet he portalled away without it".
"I try not to get too much into the psyche of Lex Luthor", Nia responds.
"Something changed him in the future", Brainy says, "We need to know more. I don't want to make the same mistakes of the past".
Nia nods in understanding, "Well, you won't", she says, assuredly, "because this time we don't have secrets. This time you have me and the rest of the team and we trust you. You need to call the future".
"Okay", Brainy nods.
"There you are", Kara cheers, as Lena exits the elevator, headed to where she, J'onn, and Alex were discussing their next move.
"I just wanted to take a minute to clean up downstairs", Lena explains.
"Right", Kara says, "Thank you for taking that risk today. You protected me, you always do".
"Well, you protect everyone else", Lena blushes, "besides, it should be me thanking you for pushing me to use my magic. Because I now know for sure, I really am free of Lex".
Kara smiles, "Ready to go home. Get some sleep".
Lena smiles back, "Definitely", she replies just before Kara's stomach growls. "But maybe food first", she teases, "We did get interrupted earlier".
Kara leans down to kiss her, "You really get me", she says.
Lena just laughs, kissing her back before being lifted and flown away.
Landing on the balcony, Kara sets Lena down before opening the door, "After you", she says, with a wild and over-the-top hand gesture.
"Why thank you", Lena teases, walking inside.
"So you order and I'll go pick it up", Kara says, following her.
"Sounds like a plan", Lena says, kicking her shoes off, "What do you want".
"Whatever you want", Kara replies, kissing Lena's forehead as she settles on the couch.
"Kale it is", Lena says, and Kara groans. "Only joking darling. How about Chinese?".
"Potstickers! Yes. I love you", Kara cheers.
"Ok order in", Lena says, after a few moments. "You go get that and I'll go get cleaned up", she says, kissing Kara as she passes.
"On it", Kara says, watching Lena walk away before flying back out the balcony door.
Kara heads to pick up the food and stops by the flower shop from earlier, hoping they are still open. Luckily she had her supersuit on earlier, so she goes in asking for the same bouquet and explains that the last one got destroyed in an emergency. The owner was understanding and remembered the combination and was able to make a new one quickly. Kara thanks the lady and heads home, excited to surprise Lena.
When she gets back, Lena is already on the couch, her hair still damp and straight, wearing Kara's NCU hoodie and some shorts, messing with the TV and Kara just hovers over the balcony, enamored.
Lena turns as if she knew Kara was out there and smiles. Kara shakes herself out of it and goes back inside.
She sets the bag of food on the coffee table and hands the flowers to Lena, "I got your surprise", she says. "So like I said earlier, I wanted it to mean something so these mean...", she starts to explain but is cut off by Lena's lips on hers.
"They're beautiful, Kara", Lena says.
"You don't want to hear the meanings?", Kara asks.
Lena raises an eyebrow, "You can explain the meanings behind them and I'll love it. Or you can kiss me and I'll love it. Pick your poison", but she barely finishes the last sentence before Kara makes up her mind. The flowers and food are long forgotten, again, as Kara squats and lifts Lena, causing her to wrap her legs around the strong waist and Kara carries them to the bedroom.
Andrea, desperate for a story, shadows into Luthor Manor, right into Lex's office to find something, anything to get her clicks and save CATCO.
"Thank you for fixing this", Nyxly says, sincerely. "But what does it matter if we find the rest of the Totems? I can't build the AllStone without the Hope Totem", she complains.
"You mean…", Lex walks up to her, "this hope totem".
"I thought Supergirl destroyed that", Nyxly says, shocked.
"The thing about these totems is, you can destroy the shell, but the essence flows into something new", Lex explains. "Oh, also the love totem… The SuperFriends destroyed it".
Nyxly smiles, taking the hope totem, "So you think that one will reconstitute itself as well?", she asks.
"I know it will", Lex claims.
"Lex is building a Lexosuit army?", J'onn asks.
"Apparently a gift to ingratiate himself with Nyxly and help defeat you guys and get the totems", Nia says.
"And Otis told you this in an alley?", Kara asks.
"I convinced him to meet for my story by offering to keep everything way off the record, but we wanted to go on the record", Nia says, "I got the impression that his bromance with Lex is rocky".
"What if Otis' telling is just another one of Lex's tricks?", Alex asks.
"Then we use that to our advantage", Lena answers, "I can create a data interception program to track Lex through the Lexosuits. We'll know where he is soon".
"That's great Lena", Alex praises.
Nia's phone chimes repeatedly, "Everything ok?", Lena asks.
"Turn on channel two", she says seriously.
J'onn takes the controller to turn on the TV where they see two news anchors reading love poems out of Lex's private journal. "Seems former CATCO reporter William Dey has leaked Lex's private journal", the man says.
Kara looks over at Lena trying to gauge her reaction but Lena is stunned at the revelations.
"How'd he get his hands on it?", the woman asks.
"Who knows but in it the Man of Tomorrow professes his love for Nyxly the fifth-dimensional imp. She is allegedly behind some of the most violent attacks on the city".
"Hey they're talking about you", Mitch calls to Nyxly.
"Derek, I know the heart wants what the heart wants but it seems Lex Luthor's heart wants a psychopath".
"They haven't even met me", Nyxly complains.
"What's next? A cutesy couple name", the male teases, "I know, Lexly".
"I will nail gun their drivel-spouting tongues to their pinheads", Lex grumbles.
"Looks like someone should have hidden his diary a little better", Nyxly teases, "What is it they called you? The Man of Tomorrow? Quite a lofty title. Did you give yourself that name? Truth be told, I actually quite like the part about… the burning oceans".
"In actual news, I've started work on your Lexosuit army", Lex tells her, "I can show you what I've done so far".
"Not now", Nyxly waves him off, "The crystal ball still hasn't shown me where the truth totem is. So much for your fixing it".
Brainy finally called the future and has been talking it through with Winn.
"Your intel has been most informative, Winn", Brainy thanks him, "What was this personal matter you wish to discuss?".
Winn sends something back to him, "Yes. Yes I understand", Brainy replies, almost scared.
He heads back up to the tower, "Lex's obsequious devotion to Nyxly, his selfless behavior sacrificing the love totem all confirm what I just learned in my call with the 31st century".
"You called the future?", Nia asks, proud of him for finally doing it.
"So, in the future, Lex and Nyxly are quite the power couple", he explains.
"It's hard to imagine Lex loving anyone as much as he loves himself", Lena says.
Kara gives her a sad smile, wrapping an arm over her shoulders.
"Be that as it may, after obtaining all seven totems, Lex and Nyxly completed the AllStone and anointed themselves King and Queen of the universe. But for reasons unknown the AllStone began to fail", he recounts what Winn told him, "The Legion saw this as their chance to attack…and Nyxly died".
"That must be why Lex is so desperate to help her get all the Totems in this time", J'onn says.
"But the Hope and Love Totems have been destroyed. There's no way to complete the AllStone without them", Nia says.
"Still, if he's in love, there's no telling what he'll do for Nyxly", Kara says, squeezing Lena tighter.
The computer beeps. "It worked", Lena cheers, "We tracked the Lexosuits and Naxim's ship to the waterfront".
Kara, J'onn, Brainy, and Nia all head out and J'onn phases them onto Naxim's ship.
The alarms are going off saying security breach as the team breaks in to see Lex and Nyxly.
"Get the dream totem", Lex tells Nyxly, firing a blast at Brainy.
"That's impossible. The Hope Totem?", Kara yells seeing the display behind Lex.
Brainy dodges Lex's blasts, firing off one of his own, making Lex go down just as Nyxly returns.
"Sweet Dreams", she says, firing the dream totem to open a portal behind the team.
They fight against the force pulling them in, "Dreamer can you close the dream portal", J'onn asks.
"I'm trying", Nia yells back.
Brainy, being the closest to Nyxly, reaches out and rips the Dream Totem from her gauntlet, "I got the Dream Totem", he says as they are all pulled into the portal.
"No", Nyxly screams as the team disappears.
The team falls through into the dream expanse but Nia opens a portal below them dropping them onto the balcony of the Tower.
"Fast thinking Dreamer", Kara says.
"Naxim's ship", Lena runs up to them, "it's gone".
"But we have this", J'onn says, and Brainy holds out the Dream Totem.
They put their newly acquired totem in a containment box like the others as Kara asks, "How does Nyxly have the Hope Totem? I threw it into the sun".
"Evidently, the totems' powers are so potent and elemental in nature they can't be destroyed. Only reconstituted in a new form".
"I can use the dream Totem to help me pinpoint the ship's location, while Lena tracks the Lexosuits", Nia offers.
"Brainy, can you find out anything else from the future that might help us speed things along?", J'onn asks.
"Yes of course", Brainy answers, "We should want to speed things up".
"All of your arrogant boastings about your insights into the future, and yet, you didn't see this coming", Nyxly complains.
"Your needs are my raison d'etre", Lex answers, "You get all the totems very soon but you have to be patient".
"I'm tired of being patient", Nyxly snaps back, "Waiting for this finicky crystal ball, which, for all I know you tampered with so you can get all the totems for yourself".
"I understand why you may not trust me yet, but what's more important right now is that you trust yourself", Lex says.
"And what makes you think I don't?", Nyxly asks.
"Because I know what you can achieve when you do", Lex says, approaching her, "In the future, you told me how you conquered the Fifth Dimension, but your father fled. So you set a trap where everyone said your father wouldn't be, and you were right. Finally, you made your father pay. But you were always able to count on, what I'll always count on… is you".
Nyxly starts to retort when the crystal ball glows, "The Truth Totem", she says, "Don't you dare say 'I told you so'".
Lex just grins smugly and they get ready to go.
Brainy is pacing back and forth on the Legion ship again.
"You seem distressed Querl", the other Brainiac says, "Didn't the Legion give you the information you needed on Lex Luthor".
"Yes", Brainy says, "but… I was also told that the Big Brain suffered extensive damage in the AI plague. I have orders to return to the 31st century to help", he complains not wanting to leave his friends, and Nia.
"You always knew you'd have to return to your own time eventually", the other says.
"There's more. In order to save the Big Brain, I have been called upon to merge with it" brainy says, "If I do so I will cease to exist. So will you".
"We will exist", the other answers, "maybe not as ourselves but as a part of something greater".
"I am a part of something greater", Brainy cries, "Here, in this time. I have a family. I… I'm in love. I cannot abandon them. I will now abandon her".
"If you…", the other tries to interrupt.
"I know! I know! I risk jeopardizing the entire space-time continuum, but…", he sighs, "There must be another option".
"I'm running calculations on alternate outcomes as we speak and just…", the other starts, as Brainy picks up his phone to look at his lock screen, a picture of Nia, "they're not viable".
"I have to remain here long enough to ensure that Lex and Nyxly are vanquished to know that my friends are safe", he pleads.
"I truly am sorry, Querl", the other says, "It is unfortunate that you are burdened… with feeling so much" and Brainy dismisses him.
"Why would someone collect all these trophies just to store them where no one can see them?", Nyxly asks, after they portal into a vault where the truth totem is hidden.
"It's not about flaunting what you've got", Lex replies, "It's about having it and knowing no one else does".
Nyxly picks up an old camera, "The truth totem. Of course. A camera never lies".
Lex grins as she speaks the keyword and starts the gauntlet.
"To see things as they truly are", the totem tells her, "you must reveal the truth within yourself".
"The truth within", Nyxly repeats looking at her new surroundings, "I want justice against all those who have wronged me. I want power because I want to be free. I never again want to be at the mercy of others". She studies the totem, "Not good enough, eh?", she says, after it does nothing, "Fine. I'm afraid of the parts of myself that are like my Father… and the part of me that still… still wants his approval". The totem still doesn't transform so she continues, "So… Until I say something you whispers like, you're going to keep me here, alone. Well, the joke's on you because I'm used to being alone. Always have been, always will be. But I don't want to be. The truth is… I want to know that those close to me won't betray me. I want to have someone close to me".
"Now you may see the truth of who is worthy of your trust", the totem tells her as it transforms, "for you have performed admirably".
"Ok, dream totem. Show me where Nyxly is", Nia says, hoping to use the totem to boost her powers to help the team locate Nyxly or more totems.
She sees quick flashes of ships and Brainy and a timer running out. She quickly runs to the lab where he is to confront him.
"You're going back to the future", she yells.
"How did you know?", Brainy asks, still unsure himself.
"I just saw it. Why didn't you tell me?", she cries, "I thought we said no more secrets".
Brainy sighs, "The Legion only informed me that… I am to return when our conflict with Lex and Nyxly concludes. I was going to tell you, Nia, I swear".
"Why you?", she asks, "Why can't somebody else go?".
"If I don't go…It will mean the end of all Coluans", Brainy answers.
"Well then let me go with you", Nia offers.
"You know that that's not an option", Brainy says, walking towards her.
"Please" she begs, as Brainy continues.
"You have to exist in this time", he says.
"I hate the space-time continuum", she says, dejectedly.
"We just have to accept that my destiny is there… and yours is here", he says, putting his hand on her shoulder.
"I honestly don't know how to live in a world without you", her voice breaks.
"Nor do I", Brainy replies, pulling her into a hug.
"Butterscotch sticky buns", Lex holds out the tray, "Your favorite as I recall".
"I don't like sweets", Nyxly says, slouched against the wall.
"You will. Thought you might need a little pick me up after your ordeal passing the truth gauntlet", Lex says.
"I told you", Nyxly snaps, "It was easy".
"And yet, you haven't seemed like yourself since", Lex replies, "Remember, there's nothing that I wouldn't do for you".
She stands quickly, placing the totem in his hand.
"What are you doing?", he asks.
"Making sure of your intent", she says and the totem surrounds him in magic, "I can't risk giving my heart to a dishonest fool but luckily I have the powers of the truth totem. So tell me, your poems, did you mean what you wrote?".
"Every word. My only desire is to rule by your side while destroying everyone who gets in our way", Lex answers.
"And after we've rebuilt the AllStone, you're going to betray me", Nyxly accuses.
"Betray you?", Lex says, "Betraying you is inconceivable. I've spent my whole life believing no one was worthy of me, until you. It's why I came back to find you in this time. I want to help you achieve everything you want and deserve, and I know I can do this for you because I have. It is my only desire".
Nyxly smiles and takes the totem back.
"Did I pass?", Lex asks.
"You have performed admirably", Nyxly teases.
Andrea, still stressing over stocks and CATCO, fresh from getting told off by William, decides to call one of the only friends she has left, Lena.
"Andrea, hi I'm a little busy, right now", Lena answers.
"Do you think I'm a callous, narcissistic monster?", she asks quickly.
Lena sighs, "Does this have anything to do with CATCO publishing my brother's journals?", she asks.
"You're one of my oldest friends", Andrea says, rather than answer, "Tell me the truth. Did I cross an ethical line?".
"Stealing my brother's journals and publishing them under William's byline isn't your finest hour", Lena answers honestly.
"So I am a monster", Andrea sighs.
"No, I didn't say that", Lena interjects, "Look, I am all for taking my brother down but you have to be careful that you don't fall back into bad behaviors. You know you can act with a certain… single-mindedness, but you can't betray someone like William just to promote yourself".
"That's not why I did it", Andrea says.
"Then why did you do it?", Lena asks. Andrea doesn't have an answer so Lena continues, "When we feel like our back is against the wall, we can go into survival mode and damn the consequences. Only you can be the judge of whether that's who you want to be. And if it's not then… change it", and she hangs up.
"I've circled the Earth 5 times. No sign of Naxim's ship", Kara reports, as she enters the Tower.
"I've had no luck with my psychic scans either", J'onn replies, "and Lena's program tracking the Lexosuits has run into interference. She's thinking either Lex is blocking the signal or the ship has left Earth's atmosphere. Either way, she's looking for a workaround".
Kara smiles involuntarily at the mention of Lena, "Alright well, I'll check in and then head back out".
J'onn nods and Kara heads straight to Lena's lab.
She sees Lena hunched over the computer typing away and floats behind her. She wraps her arms around Lena's shoulders and lays her chin on her shoulder, "Hey Lee".
Lena relaxes into her, "Hey darling", she sighs.
"You ok?", Kara asks.
"I will be if this would just work", Lena says, getting upset that she can't find Lex.
Kara nuzzles into her neck, "You'll get it to work and we'll stop Lex. Everything will be fine", she says, trying to be encouraging.
Lena sighs, turning on the stool to face Kara, and wraps her arms around Kara's waist, hiding her face in her stomach, "What if I can't?", she asks, her voice shaking.
Kara runs her fingers through the wavy locks, "No what ifs. If it doesn't work, we'll think of something else". Lena nods against her stomach. "How about we take a break", Kara offers to try to get Lena's mind off Lex, "get some food, take a nap, do something outside of the tower and not have to think".
Lena nods against her stomach starting to pull away when the computer beeps, "We got a hit off Naxim's ship".
"See I knew you'd figure it out", Kara says.
"Raincheck on the nap?", Lena says.
"We can cuddle when we get home later", Kara replies, leaning down to kiss her, "For now, let's go get 'em".
Lena turns back to the computer, "Good thing your Kryptosuit is good for outer space".
Kara smiles and takes off.
AN: Kind of an abrupt ending but it's already a long chapter and that was the best place.