When Super Met Marvel
by: Sam Lincoln
Disclaimer: All the characters contained in this story are the propery of DC Comics and Warner Brothers. No infringement is intended.
Summary: Kara makes friends with a new hire at CatCo named Mary Bromfield. She's just a normal girl from Fawcett City, right?
Spoilers: This story takes place in between season three and four of Supergirl.
Back at Kara's apartment Kara and Mary sat on the sofa dressed in their civilian clothes. An open bottle of wine and two full glasses sat on the coffee table next to them. The apartment door opened and Alex entered the room. "What's the emergency?" Alex asked Kara as she walked into the living room.
"I just learned something interesting," Kara said. She held her hands out as if she was making a presentation. "Mary is Ms. Marvel."
Alex sunk down into the chair next to the sofa. "What, seriously?"
Mary nodded her head. "It's true, and I know Kara is Supergirl."
Kara fidgeted with her hands. "Sorry about not telling you the truth after you saved me," she said to Mary.
"It's not like I was offering up my secret identity either at the time," Mary said.
"Still, you did eventually, and I wasn't even considering it."
Alex held up her hands. "Kara, that's really not what's important right now. How do you know she's Ms. Marvel?"
"Because she transformed right in front of my eyes," Kara said. She looked over at Mary. "What was that whole business with the shouting anyway?"
"My powers only activate when I say the magic word that invokes them."
"So you change into your superhero form every time you say a certain word? That must be awkward."
"Oh no, I also have to want to call the power, but it's also a fairly obscure word."
"But you also haven't said what the word is," Alex said.
"Nor will I, words have power and I like to keep mine close to the vest."
"That's fair, but I have so many questions," Kara said.
"No, Captain Marvel isn't my boyfriend, he's my brother," Mary said.
"Yeah no, that was't one of them" Kara said as a lot of disgust crossed her face. "I know better than to ask questions like that. Superman is my baby cousin, but everyone assumes we're dating."
"Hold on, he's your baby cousin?" Mary asked.
"It's a long story, don't get her started," Alex said. "Why are you in National City?"
"And why have you given up being a superhero?" Kara asked.
Mary picked up her wine glass and sighed. "As I'm sure you guessed those are two related questions. How much do you know about me and my brother?"
"Less than I should probably," Kara said. "I wasn't paying close attention to the news back then."
"There were three of us: My brother, our friend Freddy, and me. We all fought crime together, and it was great fun." Mary drew in a deep breath. "Until one of our main rivals, Dr. Sivana, tried to destroy not only Fawcett City, but the source of our powers. We stopped him, but the cost was too high. Billy, Captain Marvel, wanted to continue on, but I was done, done with Fawcett City, and done with being a superhero. I moved to Metropolis for college then came here after graduation."
"Mary, how old were you when you got your powers?" Alex asked. "Because I remember you being a hero when I was in high school."
"Oh I got my powers a long time ago, I was eleven, twelve," Mary said. "The magical transference works better on children apparently."
"That's awful," Kara said. She reached over and pulled Mary in for a hug. "Children should never have to do what you did, and I'm so, so sorry for what you had to put up with."
Thanks, but Kara, I'm just a normal person when I haven't said the magic word, and I don't want to scorch your couch just to survive a hug."
Kara released Mary and leaned back on the sofa. "Sorry, sorry. I'm normally better about that."
"She's really not," Alex said. "And I have the bruises to prove it."
"What are you powers?" Kara asked. "I don't mean to pry, but I never pass up the chance to talk shop with a fellow hero, or former hero in your case."
"She means she likes to show off her powers to other people," Alex said. Mary chuckled at the joke.
"Let's see. I'm wise, super fast, super strong, tremendous endurance…"
"Hold up, wisdom is one of your super powers?" Alex asked.
"Yes, I get flashes of insight, like how I knew I could trust you with my real identity, or that you were in danger with those robbers."
"Not gonna lie, I'm super jealous. I wish that was one of my powers," Kara said.
"You'll just have to tell for all the powers you do have," Alex said. She reached over at took the wine glass in front of Kara.
"Hey that's mine!" Kara said.
"You weren't drinking it, and I needed it more" Alex said before taking a sip from the glass. "Mary, what's your plan now?"
"My plan?"
"Now that you've told us your alter-ego what do you plan to do next?"
Mary shrugged. "I don't know, keep working for CatCo I guess. I just started there and I've enjoyed it so far."
"I think what Alex means is have you changed your mind about giving up being a superhero,." Kara said. "I won't lie, I would really appreciate an extra set of hands out there."
"No, like I keep saying, I'm done with being a superhero," Mary said.
"You say that, but you still rescued me today, and you helped me stop that bank robbery too."
"I'm not saying I'll never help people if they need it," Mary said. "I'm not heartless."
"You don't want it to be a second job, I understand that," Kara said. "But as much as you say you don't want to be a hero, it's not something you can turn off I'm afraid. Though I think you already know that."
"I, it's just so hard," Mary said.
Kara rested a hand on Mary's knee. "I know, believe me I know, but the world needs your talents. I need your talents. I think we all know Alex and I won't be able to stop these robbers by ourselves. We need your help making sure they don't hurt anyone."
"What about Superman?"
Alex shook her head. "He has his own problems he's dealing with."
"I don't want you to feel like you're being pressured to do this," Kara said. "But Supergirl really could use the help."
"And why else would you move to National City, and especially seek her out if you weren't, on some level, looking to be talked back into being a hero again," Alex said.
"No, that's not it at all," Mary said. "I told you why I moved here. It was because I knew Super, er, Kara could handle any bad guy who came through town."
"But I can't, not on my own. I need your help with this Mary. Your friend, what was his name again?"
Mary looked down at her hands. "Freddy."
"Do you think Freddy would want you to sit around feeling sorry for yourself, or for you to honor his sacrifice and keep trying to make the world a safer place?"
"You really cared about him didn't you?" Alex said.
Mary continued to pick at imaginary specks of dirt under her fingernails. "I don't know, maybe? We were both so young, we never got the chance to figure out what we meant to each other exactly. But I like to think there's a world where we did, and sometimes I'd rather have her life."
"Good news, there probably is," Kara said under her breath.
"What was that?" Mary asked
"Oh nothing, nothing, just thinking out loud," Kara said.
"The point we're trying to get at," Alex started to say.
"Freddy would want me to keep fighting, but you didn't know him, I did," Mary said.
"And are we wrong?" Kara asked.
Mary stood up from the sofa and walked over to the windows. "No you're not. Freddy would yell at me for giving up I'm sure."
Kara stood up and joined Mary at the window. She put her arm around Mary and gave her a hug. "I know, it's hard, and it sucks, but this is the right thing to do."
Mary sighed. "So what do you want me to do?"
"We can go back to the DEO and see if Brainy has had any luck in tracking down the robbers," Alex said as she joined the pair.
"Brainy?" Mary asked.
"He's…a friend, it's hard to explain to someone, even if you have superpowers," Kara said.
"He's our tech expert," Alex said.
"And who are you?" Mary asked Alex.
"A top secret government agency, Kara helps us out," Alex said.
Mary nodded her head. "That's cool. I'm not sure how comfortable I am with the government knowing who I am, but cool."
"Don't worry, we're the good guys," Kara said. "I wouldn't work for them if they weren't."
Mary shrugged her shoulders. "If Supergirl says I can trust you then I guess I can."
Kara clapped her hands together. "That's great. I'm excited for the chance to work together."
Alex tapped Mary on the shoulder. "Moving to National City was your first mistake if you're curious. Everyone who falls into Kara's orbit is compelled to be a better person. It's her most annoying superpower."
"I believe in people, why is that annoying?" Kara asked Alex.
Alex smiled, then tapped Kara on the arm. "Because sometimes us mortals don't want to be our best selves all the time. But it's okay, we still love you anyway."
"Aww, thanks Alex," Kara said. "Now Mary, I know you're worried, but don't be. We aren't about to dragoon you into an inter-dimensional war. You can help out on your own schedule."
Mary looked over at Alex. "Inter dimensional war, is that seriously on the table?"
Alex sighed. "Not at this moment, but who knows what will happen by the end of the week."
"I'm starting to regret agreeing to help you," Mary said. She looked back and forth between the sisters.
"It's usually not that bad," Kara said. "And if there is inter dimensional trouble we have a lot of friends to call on."
"First things first, let's stop these robbers then we can worry about other dimensions," Alex said.
Kara clapped her hands together. "Right, let's suit up and get to work." She glanced over at Mary. "On second thought, maybe wait to suit up. I don't want anything in my place set on fire."
