Chapter 5

Leo took a long drink from his beer before setting it to the side. "You know how to play pool Kara?" He began to set the pool balls in the center of the table. After getting it set he looked up at Kara, she was dressed in some jeans and a blue top. The blue brought out the color of her eyes even more, she looked beautiful. She was always beautiful.

"Of course! I'm from Midvale. They have pool halls on almost every corner." Kara said as she had the pool cue in her hand. "I'm more surprised you know how to play."

Leo chuckled softly, "Humm it's just simple geometry and physics." He raised an eyebrow. "You want to make things a little more interesting?"

"How so?"

"Winner gets whatever they want from the loser." Leo suggested.

Kara grinned. "Oh you're that confident you're going to win? Game on!"

Leo motioned over toward the table. "You can break first." Kara leaned over the pool table and began to steady her shot. She didn't want to put too much force into the hit that could be disastrous. As she hit the white ball into the rest, giving a beautiful break and easily pocketing many pool balls. Leo's mouth dropped and as he looked at Kara she gave a small shrug.

"You said geometry and physics but you forgot luck." She giggled. It was then that he realized he actually just might lose this game. He grabbed his beer and slowly drank as he watched Kara move around and look for her next shot. She sunk another ball in and he inwardly groaned, he was always completive but even though he was losing at least he got to watch Kara. Kara was a like the sun, warm and kind. Being with her was like being out in a warm beautiful day; you didn't want it to end. Taking in the fresh air you can actually breathe and not drown in your darkness and fears.

When Kara finally missed he let out a sigh of relief, "Oh thank god…" He said quietly only for Kara to turn to face him.

She adjusted her glasses. "I heard that…"

Leo cleared his throat, "I mean… sorry you'll get it next time." Leo knew he already was going to lose, Kara had sunk more than enough pool balls to get the win. He sunk a few more pool balls before he missed and Kara then finished the game.

"I guess that means I win…" Kara grinned at Leo and came over toward him.

"You did. I underestimated you." Leo admitted.

"You're a little sour but you shouldn't have bet…" She gently kissed him on the lips.

"Hummm a little but I don't mind losing to you." Leo kissed her back.

"You want to bet on the second game?" Kara suggested.

"No, we're gonna play for fun on the second one. You want another beer?"

Kara gave a nod. "Yes, please. I'll set up the next game." Kara turned and began to set up the pool balls again, while Leo got them both another beer.

The second game was a lot closer and Leo barely managed to pull off the win. After their second game Leo and Kara decided to go for a walk. She hooked her arm around his. "So for my prize I want potstickers and…"

Leo grinned, "Potstickers? Wait, there's no 'and' you get one prize."

Kara shook her head. "You said whatever I want. You never specified a number Leo. My second request is that you come to game night this Friday."

"Game night huh." Leo glanced at Kara.

"I know you get busy at work but I would love for you to come. Everyone will be there, and my sister and I are in desperate need of some competition." Kara had invited Leo years ago when they had recently met but he had refused. He had told her that he didn't come to National City to make friends.

"I'll come… I'll leave early Friday so I can make it on time." Leo smiled and pressed a kiss against Kara's forehead. Kara had a huge smile on her face and she squeezed Leo's arm tighter being careful not to squeeze him too hard.

"Of course Alex I'll be right over." Leo hung up the phone and turned to Hope.

"I believe I've isolated the problem Mr. Luthor. Lex's journals helped us build the inception turner to help implement thoughts into the brain but the specific Q-wave frequency is incorrect. Unfortunately that leaves us with hundreds of thousands of variables." The A.I expected to see disappointment on Leo's face. He wasn't and she formed a puzzled expression.

Leo waved his finger and set his cell phone back in his pocket. "Don't be so bleak Hope. I may have an expedited solution. Alex has just asked me for help in assisting the D.E.O in apprehending a rogue green Martian. J'onn J'onzz's brother, Malefic, apparently he has the ability to override another person's thoughts with his own."

"Mind control using Q-waves?"

Leo grinned, "If we are able to harness Malefic's abilities we could use them to determine what frequency is needed to implant thoughts into the brain."

Hope gave a nod. "The study and testing would require us to detain the subject." Her brow furrowed, "I doubt Supergirl or her friends would approve."

Leo shook his head. "No, they wouldn't." This opportunity was too good to waste; he'd have to find a way to get Malefic. If Supergirl knew she'd easily stop him, he'd have to find a way without anyone knowing.

The D.E.O's plan was to use the Phantom Zone Projector and Leo could easily modify the projector to transport Malefic to a cell located in L-Corp. Brainy was an issue, he wouldn't leave the projector alone long enough for Leo to get close to it. Brainy held the Phantom Zone Projector in his hands and looked at J'onn. "I want to remind you again this is liable to be quite painful until we calibrate the Phantom Zone Projector to lock onto a Martian energy signature regardless of the Martian's density so they can't phase through it."

J'onn took a deep breath and gave a firm nod. "I'm ready when you are."

Brainy held up the device, "Commence phasing at 25%." The beam shot forward toward J'onn and he cried out painfully. Brainy shut off the beam, "Sprock! Sprock! Sprock! Sprock!" He stalked toward the white board and set down the projector onto the lab table.

Leo went over toward J'onn and as he stood up he waved Leo away. "I'm okay. I'm okay."

"What went wrong?" Leo turned toward Brainy.

"It's too much, too much, too much…" Brainy stammered as his brain was trying to find a solution.

Leo could tell he was hitting a wall with the projector. The man was brilliant there was no doubt to that and Leo did enjoy working with him. He could easily bounce ideas off him and whenever they did work together they got things accomplished. Something was distracting him, and he didn't know what could be on Brainy's mind, other than the Phantom Zone Projector. "I'm almost done reinforcing the psychic inhibitors I could help you if you wanted." Though before Brainy could respond Alex rushed in, she looked around at each of them and at J'onn who was still in a lot of discomfort from that last test.

"I heard a scream what happened?" Brainy didn't respond right away as he was quietly muttering something under his breath. "Brainy?"

His head whipped toward Alex, "I'll figure it out! Alright! I'll figure it all out!"

Alex placed her hands on her hips and then sighed, "I'm sorry J'onn we need all of our options on the table. I'm prepping the blaster." She left the room and Leo watched as Brainy began to tinker with the projector again. Leo crossed his arms and eventually Brainy was ready to try another test. Yet again they had a failure and each time he refused Leo's help.

He shot the projector at J'onn again and after getting another failure he looked at the projector. "Sprok! I seemed to have made the beam more dense instead of less. Let's go again." He placed the projector back on the work table.

J'onn was kneeling over his hands on his thighs. "Just give me a minute." He let out a ragged breath.

Leo sighed and walked over toward J'onn, "Okay, J'onn you can't keep pushing yourself though this punishment."

"I'm fine." He grunted.

"No, you're not you can barely stand. And we need you at full strength when we find your brother." Leo pressed. If he got J'onn out of the way he could then get Brainy easily out of the room.

J'onn shook his head. "I told you I-"

Leo cut him off, "I will help Brainy so Alex doesn't have to use the blaster. Go gather your strength." J'onn sighed but Leo was right, he needed a break. He reluctantly gave a nod and walked out leaving Brainy and Leo alone.

Leo went toward the lab table and crossed his arms. "Look Brainy I know you haven't asked for help but you're getting it anyway." Leo said firmly he wasn't about to negotiate with him. They were running out of time.

"No, I need my mind consumed with this problem so I don't think of Nia." Brainy had goggles over his eyes his fingers tinkering with the projector.

Leo raised an eyebrow, women problems, that's what was bothering him? "What happened to your little boxes?"

Brainy's lips pursed and he stood up straight tossing the goggles on the lab table. He looked at Leo and let his frustration show. "Little boxes prevented me from having a real relationship. Unfortunately my unboxed self doesn't make a particularly good boyfriend so…" He motioned to himself, "I have been analyzing myself for days searching for a way to modulate myself for the woman I love."

"Well I'm not going to give you relationship advice…" Not like his relationship was healthy at the moment. "But as a scientist you seem to be stuck in an infinite loop and unless you can escape you're headed for a crash."

"That would be cataclysmic."

"So change your variable what's the one thing you haven't tried yet?" Leo paused waiting for Brainy to respond but he never did. Leo waved his fingers forward. "Asking for help?"

Brainy shook his head and then began with much difficultly, "Will you hhhe…" he cleared his throat and then coughed. Brainy gritted his teeth and barely said, "Will you help me."

Leo grinned, "Yes… and I think a small dose of that will go a long way with Nia. Ok could you find me a polarity tuner and we can get to work." Brainy went into the other room and as soon as he was gone Leo opened the Phantom Zone projector and made a small but necessary adjustment. Once it was used it would transport Malefic to his lab.

"Leo, I've been calling you all day you've had me worried." Leo shook his head as Kara entered his place and after shutting the door behind her he headed back to the kitchen and poured himself another two fingers of scotch.

"Well I'm here…" Leo was visibly upset and Kara could see his green eyes were wet. He'd been crying.

"What's wrong?" She followed him into the kitchen and as he turned he drank from the glass before setting it down on the counter.

"My mother is gone… not Lillian. She's very much alive and kicking." He took in a deep breath his voice shaking just a bit. "This is the day my real mother died, the anniversary of her death." Kara walked forward her arms soon wrapped around Leo.

"Did you want to talk about it?" Leo had never spoken to Kara about his real mother. She never knew the circumstances of her death.

Leo gave a nod. "She was the only hero I ever had… other than you."

"How old were you?"

"Four." Leo stated flatly. His eyes locked with Kara's and he could see the concern over her face. She was worried about him and when he went to grab the glass of scotch she placed her hand over his stopping him. Leo sighed Kara wasn't letting him drown his sorrow down and yes she was right. He shouldn't. "We were visiting family she said. Somewhere by the water… a lake I think. It was… it was so green. You know it wasn't a very bright day, it was overcast but my Mom said that's where the magic was. It was the rain that made the green." He smiled lightly and soon the smiled faded. "So of course she went swimming. She didn't come back."

"I'm so sorry."

Leo shook his head. "No, I was there. I was with her on the shore, when she went in and when she went under I did nothing. I didn't run, I didn't cry. I just stood there."

Kara shook her head, he was blaming himself. "Leo, you were four."

"What kind of child doesn't run to their Mother or doesn't scream for help? I knew. I knew something was wrong, but I did nothing I just watched her die. And afterward, I was brought to the Luthors. And I have spent my life fighting their legacy, and their crimes and their evil deeds, but I've always known that…" Leo swallowed thickly, "…that deep down inside, that I belonged with them." Leo felt his cheeks were wet and it took time to realize he was actually crying. His Mother had been the only pure thing in his life and he didn't help her. He was always a monster, he belonged with the Luthors.

Kara rested her hands on Leo's cheeks. "You are a good person. Yes, you've made mistakes but that's what it is to be human. We make mistakes and we learn from them. So you made one very human mistake when you were four. That was not your fault. You have a good heart, you want to help people. You've shown that time and time again. You helped stopped the Daxamite Invasion, you helped Sam, and you've helped Supergirl many times." She gently wiped away his tears.

"I…I don't deserve you. I'm not worth it…"

"You have me and I'm not going anywhere. I love you, Leo Luthor and I wouldn't want anyone else." Leo leaned his forehead against Kara's and she kissed him. She tried to express though the kiss just how much she loved him. The taste of scotch on his lips, and she could feel his anguish. As the kiss broke he kept close to her their lips inches apart and he let out a shaky breath. Leo began to calm down the tears soon stopped; she'd been his strength when he needed her. How would he survive without her support?

Leo was placing his equipment in the metal case. The Phantom Zone Projector worked like a charm. Everyone thought Malefic was in the Phantom Zone, no one knew Leo had betrayed them. "We couldn't have done it without you."

Leo looked up and shook head. "Please, I barley did anything." He snapped the case shut.

Kara was dressed in her Supergirl suit and she smiled at Leo. "What?" She respectfully disagreed without him they wouldn't have gotten the Projector fixed. "You fixed the inhibitors and the projector."

Leo looked down and smiled, "It did feel good." His eyes locked onto Kara's. "You and I working as a team… well now that I know who you actually are." They always did work well together, she was a perfect partner. Even during game night, they could read each other so well. It was trust, he trusted Kara to do what she was best at and she trusted him to do what he needed to do. Now that trust was broken.

Kara's smiled grew wider. "Well get used to it because you are now officially part of the super friends. We have t-shirts and a handshake…" She began to motion with her hands making up a handshake. "I'll teach it to you, it's not a big deal it's a whole thing." Kara laughed and Leo laughed as well. "We're going out to get drinks tonight do you wanna come?"

"I would love to but I've been here all day, I really should get back to L-Corp."

Kara nodded, "Of course no rest for the world saving genius." Kara hugged him goodbye and then left Leo alone in the lab. After Kara was gone Leo took one last item from the lab and went to see his new prisoner.

Leo had come over to Kara's place and had brought ice cream to share. Leo had a pint of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and was eating it out of the carton. Kara was sitting beside him on the couch. She had her own ice cream pint as well, it was pistachio nut ice cream. She had a smile on her face and was watching Leo as she ate her ice cream. Leo glanced at her, "What?"

Kara shook her head. "Nothing… I'm just happy."

"You're happy?" Leo gave a small smile.

"Yes, I have my boyfriend and ice cream. I couldn't ask for a better night." She then motioned over toward the bag that was on the coffee table in her loft. "So what's in the bag?"

Leo smiled, "You need to be patient and wait."

The denial only made Kara give a frown, "Awww Leo come on…"

Leo set the pint down, "Alright." He opened the bag and pulled out a small box and after opening it he motioned to Kara. "Give me your arm." Kara perked up and extended her arm out toward Leo, she would have used her x-ray vision but she decided not to cheat this time. Leo pulled out a bracelet and placed it around Kara's wrist. They had beautiful white stones wrapped around it and in the middle was a single black stone. Leo pulled out a second bracelet and attached it around his left wrist. He rested his wrist next to Kara's, his bracelet was identical to Kara's except his stones were black and in the center was a single white stone from Kara's bracelet. "No matter where we are we will always have a part of each other with us."

Kara smiled, "Leo… I love it." She leaned forward kissing him sweetly. "I had no idea you were such a romantic…"

Leo smiled, "Humm well I'm full of surprises… there's also a tracker in the bracelet." He said the last part with a straight face.

Kara blinked. "Ahhh a tracker?" Leo then began to laugh and Kara gently smacked his arm. "Very funny."

He then handed her his pint of ice cream. "Here let's switch, I ate half and you can have the rest." They switched ice cream pints then and Kara looked down at her newly acquired bracelet before back up at Leo. She should tell him, right now that she was Supergirl. Just blurt it out, I'm Supergirl. Was this the right moment? No, she should wait. She'll tell him, she would. Yet she was scared of how he'd react. Would she ever get a normal life? Would she ever have a happy ending?

Author's Note:

Leo is definitely a complicated character, being hurt by Kara's lie anyone would be hurt by that. Of course his actions are wrong and things are going to get worse before they get better. The only way for Leo to realize Kara lied to protect him is only going to happen if he crashes and burns figuratively speaking. The pool game scene was inspired from William and Kara's date where she wore a purple instead of a blue top. As far as I can remember I don't recall Lena actually telling Kara about her real mother in the show. So far the flash backs are in chronological order, they started in about season 2 and now were are in between season 3 and 4. I'll give everyone a preview of what to expect in future chapters, much of season 4 revolves around James and Lena/Leo so that relationship is going to be reworked as well as Andrea and Lena/Leo. Thank you all for the read and stay safe and healthy.