A/N: Hope those that celebrate had a happy Easter this year! Thanks for keeping up with this story. Apologies for the shorter chapter. Enjoy.
8.
The hot water feels lovely against her skin. Her body is sore; Julia had proven to be just as much a foe as Reign. No, not Julia, Purity. There's a distinct difference between the two. And Kara can't let herself forget that.
She doesn't bother with using her superspeed to wash herself, savoring the richness of going slow. She dips her chin, allowing a curtain of water to surround her. A sigh escapes her lips, followed by a muttered pray to Rao in Kryptonese, asking for forgiveness.
Julia had traded her freedom, her life, for Alex and Kara. She'd overcome the Worldkiller inside her, pushing Purity aside and pulling her true being out - all to join Reign's allegiance in order to spare the Danvers' sisters.
And Kara couldn't bring herself to let it go. From the beginning, she thought breaking through to Julia would be enough. Tonight had proven that incorrect. Tonight had shown her that she wasn't strong enough, intelligent enough, or capable of defeating Reign. She had only one advantage, one redeeming quality that she refused to view as foolish - her compassion. Kara's heart was a deep, sensitive, and loving thing, filled with patience for others. And she would use it in her fight against Reign, somehow, someway.
Without realizing it, her shower had turned cold and so she turns the dial to OFF and steps onto the fluffy mat on the floor. The bathroom is filled with steam and she quickly wraps herself in a robe and towel before stepping out to slip into pajamas.
She wishes she'd asked Querl to stay with her tonight. But the week after their break-up and make-up had been filled with such happiness for them, she couldn't bare it to break the bubble with her melancholy attitude. He'd looked at her worriedly, wanting to accompany her and help ease away her aches and pains. Though she appreciated his offers, she'd gently told him she just wanted to sleep as soon as she'd reached her loft and he shouldn't pull himself away from the lab work he'd been dedicated to during the week. Now she wants to call the D.E.O. and beg J'onn to send Querl to her immediately, no matter how needy she sounded.
Knock, knock, knock.
Her eyes snap to her front door, brow creased in confusion. The clock on her bedside table reads 3:07AM. A fluttering feeling of hope that Querl stood on the other side goes through her as she quickly crosses to answer the door.
"I was just about to call…" her voice trails off.
Mon-El stands before her, leaning against the doorway and wearing a forlorn look. "Hey," his voice is deep. "Can I come in?"
She raises a brow, not moving from her place nor opening the door any further to suggest he may enter. "What's going on?"
"I need to talk to you," his eyes practically drill into hers. "Please, Kara?"
She knows her nerves shouldn't spike at this, knows he's married - he's made that abundantly clear over the passed few weeks since his return. And she's with Querl, who she's coming to enjoy very much, even despite the limited time they have together. However, they do spike, and twist and turn, and plummet at twelve thousand miles per hour.
And still, "Sure…" she moves aside and lets him in.
With hands shoved in his pockets and shoulders hunched he makes his way to her kitchen table.
"Can I get you something to drink?"
He shakes his head, "No. This shouldn't take too long." He sighs as he eases down to sit, folding his hands together and placing them on the table top. He stares down at them, his brows pulled together in thought.
Despite his refusal, she gets herself a glass of water, assuming it'll be needed. She sits across from him, eyeing him warily. He's quiet for a long time and she finds herself stirring with anxiousness. "Mon-El?"
Another sigh leaves him. "Imra and I are...we're not doing so great."
Her eyebrows shoot upwards. "I'm, uh, I'm sorry?"
His lips twitch into a brief smile. "Is that sincere, Kara?"
"Did you come here at 3AM just to tell me about your marital problems?" She quips back.
His face falls and his focus returns to his hands resting on the table before him. "...No. I-I came here to tell you it's my fault my marriage is having difficulties."
She narrows her gaze at him, a frown pulling her lips downward. "Why is that something that I need to know?"
"I'm still in love with you." He doesn't meet her eyes until after he's made his bold declaration, after she's sat in stunned silence for more than one passing minute.
Her mouth has dropped open and her eyes are as big as saucers in her surprise. "Wha-why? How? Are you kidding me?" She shoots up from her chair, backing away from him. "You're telling me this now? Why?!"
"Because it's true," he watches her as she skittishly moves around the table and back into the kitchen, placing her hands on the counter and leaning heavily. He doesn't move from his spot, doesn't make an effort to follow her.
"What about Imra?"
His voice is soft. "She knows."
"She knows?!" She couldn't imagine any wife taking such news smoothly. She certainly wouldn't have if Querl had come to her with a confession of loving another person - and they weren't even married!
Querl...she gasps, whipping around to face Mon-El. "How can you do this? You know I belong to him."
"You don't belong to anyone," he frowns.
"You know what I mean!"
It's at this he stands. "You've never belonged to anyone before, not fully. Not even me."
She feels an anger rise in her chest. "I choose to be his, Mon-El. He respects me - more than you ever did."
Again, his face falls and he nods. "I know...I'm sorry about that. I...it took me so long to realize your worth. I was...I'm such a fool."
She nods, crossing her arms over her chest. "I agree. Does Imra know you're here?"
He shakes his head no. "We had a fight...I just...left."
He looks so defeated and lost, she cannot help but feel at least a smidgen of sorry for him. "Mon-El…"
He chances a step towards her, bringing his sad eyes to gaze into hers. "I've tried so hard to forget you, to forget us. And I...I want Imra to be happy and I want to be the husband she deserves. But...but I see you and Brainy -"
"Querl," she automatically corrects.
His shoulders drop and he looks hopelessly at her. "I-I see you two together and...It's-it's hard to forget that we used to be like that. I was the one who made you laugh, kissed you goodnight…"
"Mon-El," she hugs her middle tightly, trying to shield against the truths he told. "That's all in the past now. You can't keep holding on to it. Querl and I, we -"
"He can't have you forever," his voice turns bitter. "He has to leave, you know."
She sighs, nodding. "Yes, I know."
"I'd stay for you," he tries, stepping towards her. "I'd give it all up for another chance."
"You need to stop," Kara warns, bringing herself to stand up straight. "There isn't going to be another chance. You're married, Mon-El. To an amazing woman who obviously loves you dearly. And I can't believe you're here when you should be with her working on your issues."
"Our issues are all because of you."
"No," she glares. "Your issues with Imra are because of you. You can't blame your feelings and your actions on me! I've done nothing wrong! You're married to Imra and I don't want you. I want Querl, and that's something you'll just have to get used to."
At the mention of her new boyfriend, Mon-El sneers, jealousy clearly the foundation of his mood. "It won't last. You know that. We're meant to be together."
"No, we're not!" She shouts, tiring of this and him. "Do you even hear yourself? He's your friend and Imra is your wife and you act as if they don't matter!"
"They don't!" He reaches out for her, aiming to cup her face with his hand.
"Don't touch me!" Kara snaps, lashing out and pushing him squarely in the chest. He stumbles back a few steps. The stunned silence looms over them for long seconds before she adds, "Only Querl is allowed to touch me."
His expression fades from anger to sorrow quickly as he realizes the damage he's done. "Kara-"
"Get out," she growls, trying her best to contain her fury. "Get out now!"
When at first he doesn't move, she's afraid she'll have to make him leave with force. But luckily, Mon-El slouches his shoulders and shoves his hands back in his pockets and makes for the front door. She follows him, intent on dead bolting the door once he left.
Before he leaves, he stops and turns to her, a mix of fear and misery in his eyes. "Please...don't tell -"
"I am completely telling Imra that you were here."
"Kara, please -"
"You should have thought of all this before you came here. Don't beg me or try to bargain. I won't budge on this, Mon-El. She's a good woman and you are treating her horribly! Regardless of your feelings for me or not, Imra does not deserve what you're putting her through!"
"I-I wasn't thinking," Mon-El stammers, trying for one last chance.
She reaches passed him, yanking the door open. "That's not my fault. Now, leave."
He does, but not before whispering, "I'm sorry."
***O***O***O***
A jab to the shoulder startles him awake. He sits up and blinks his eyes open, a list of codes staring at him on the monitor of Winn's computer. Another shove brings him to look up, meeting Tessa's annoyed face.
"Phone," she grumbles, thrusting the primitive device to him. "Can you tell your girlfriend to save the booty calls for normal hours? I was asleep, you know."
He snatches the phone and glares at her. "Why'd you even answer?"
"Uh, duh? She's been calling back-to-back for like, twenty minutes straight!" In a huff, she leaves, muttering under breath and stomping back towards the medbay.
With a yawn, Querl rubs his eyes and brings the phone to his ear. "Kara?"
"Can you come over?" She sounds distraught.
"Now?" He glances at the time in the corner of the computer he sits at. "It's almost 4AM."
"I know, and I'm sorry, but something happened."
He stands, stretching his limbs. "What happened?"
A silence overcomes her and he can't tell if she's choosing her words carefully or if fear keeps her from speaking at all. It causes his anxiety to stir. "Kara? What happened?"
"Mon-El came over."
The lights on his forehead blink rapidly and his brow raises in surprise. "Mon-El? What for?"
"Just…" she sounds nervous. "Are you going to come over?"
"I feel like I should know why Mon-El was at your loft before I make that decision."
"Querl…"
"I'm serious, Kara." Even as he says it, he pulls on his boots and shrugs into his long jacket, flipping up the collar to shield from the cold.
She lets out a shaking sigh. "I'm-I'm not exactly sure why he came over. But he...he…"
"He what?" He steps out the front door of the D.E.O. into the chilling early morning air. "Stop stretching this out and just tell me."
She remains silent, as if afraid of what she's about to tell him.
"Kara!" He whines, an uneasy feeling in his gut hitting him.
"He said he's still in love with me."
Querl stops in his tracks. "He what?" The thought of Mon-El and Kara rekindling their romance clenches at his heart, the fears he's secretly had regarding the two rising with each breath he takes "And you said…"
"I told him to get out!"
At that, a wave of relief washes over him. Though another thought picks at the back of his mind. "Why'd you let him in to begin with?"
"Querl," her voice shakes.
"I need to know, Kara," he says seriously, standing firmly on the corner of 5th Street and Madison Avenue.
Her confession brings him no ease. "I-I don't know."
His jaw clenches, grip tightening on the phone. "You don't know? You realize how that makes you sound, right?"
"He just looked so lost. He and Imra had a fight and -"
"So he came to your loft in the middle of the night?"
"I-I guess so. But -"
"I don't like that, Kara." He can't help the snarl in his voice.
"I-I know, and I'm sorry. I should have turned him away, but I thought that he needed help."
"He obviously needs something," Querl grumbles.
Kara remains silent for a few minutes, letting her boyfriend calm down before she speaks again. "Please come over," she practically begs. "I-I need you tonight."
At that he crumbles, leaving his salty mood behind him and recognizes that she was rattled and wanting comfort. Selfish fool, he curses himself. He sighs and forces a nicer tone to leave his lips. "I'll be there soon, darling. Climb into bed and try to rest until I get there. Just leave your balcony doors unlocked."
She sniffles and it nearly breaks his heart. "Okay," she sounds small. "I-I…" she struggles with her words, finally settling for a simple "Thank you."
A smile spreads over his face. And then his flight ring has him soaring in the air towards her loft.