Disclaimer: I do not own Supergirl, Superman, or Valor

Story Title: The Traveler

Chapter 12

The Fortress of Solitude

Mon-El or Lar stepped back, his eyes widening, so much that it would have been funny in any other situation.

"What?" Kara said a little louder than she meant.

Lara smiled down at her niece. "Lar Gand is my son. I had a child with Kel Gand."

Clark was dumbfounded; he had a brother, a half-brother. "When did this happen?"

Lara smiled down at her son; to Clark, she looked alive and not a hologram of his dead mother. "I was young, a few years younger than Kara is now. I worked for my father; he was the ambassador to Daxam. I was his aid, very young for the post, but my father always said I was better than most. She smiled; even the artificial intelligence of the hologram had the emotions of Lara Jor-El. I was so young and the prince; he was different from what I was taught about Daxamites. He cared for his people, even though the system that he was in did not. We had an affair; it was many years before I met your father. We made a mistake and a child was born."

"So, I'm just some mistake, something to push under the rug, like the humans say," Lar said. His blue-gray eyes narrowed. Clark and Kara both stepped away from him; he gave off an aura of power that they had never felt from him before.

Lara frowned down at her son. "No Lar, my father was so angry when I told him; he made me give you up, to send you to your father."

Lar clenched his fists. "Send the freak to live with his father, on a planet that hated Krypton, where I was branded a mistake, a freak among xenophobes."

Lara's expression was so sad that Kara and Clark really believed she was alive. "Mon-El," Kara said.

Lar looked at her. "That's not my name," he yelled.

Clark stepped up to protect his cousin. "Hey, she didn't mean anything by it. Just calm down." Clark placed his hand on Lar's shoulder.

Lar shrugged off his hand angrily. "Don't touch me," he yelled, making Clark take a step back. "None of you know what it was like. To be so close to your father, but to never see him. He would rather leave me alone in my misery than to help me. I only had a stepmother that hated me. A monster that abused me mentally and physically." He looked up at Lara. "You were my only friend. The only one I could confide in and you kept this from me. You betrayed me. You knew how much I wanted to meet you, to know you."

"You knew me Lar. I was there as much as I could be. Kel let me, even if he had to hide that fact from Rhea. I did all that I could, but in the end, it was all up to you. You escaped. I was… I mean… I am so proud of you." Lara looked at her son, pleading with him with her blue eyes that he'd understand.

"I can't… no… I don't know," Lar said, clutching his head in his hands before he screamed, flying up and out of the fortress, sending out a sonic boom that shook the fortress.

Clark and Kara just looked up toward the ceiling. They looked back at Lara. "I never meant to hurt him," Lara said, her image flickered.

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" Clark asked. His voice was soft, but Kara could sense his pain. He had a brother, one that he never knew about.

Lara looked down at her youngest son, even though he was physically older than Lar, Lar Gand was born first, almost eighteen years before Kal-El. "I thought he was gone. I hoped he was traveling, exploring the universe like he always dreamed of doing."

"You could have told me," Clark replied.

Lara's brow furrowed. "I know, but I didn't want to disappoint you. I didn't want you to think that I didn't love your father. I loved Jor-El so much. I had met Kel years before Jor-El. I loved him for a while, but it was just a crush. We were friends after; Kel wanted more, but we both knew it couldn't happen. He had his arranged marriage with Rhea and my father and duty to Krypton pulled me away. I met Jor-El and I realized that he was the other half of my soul and together we had you."

Clark smiled. A weight lifted from his heart. "What about Lar?"

"I don't know Kal-El. He has a lot of resentment. He's buried it in his years in the future. I never anticipated that he would be pulled into a wormhole, one that sent him to the future. I should have realized that he would wait for us at the edge of our solar system. He was always too loyal to those he cared for," Lara replied, a wistful smile on her face.

"So, he did save us?" Kara asked.

Lara smiled. "Always the hero, even as he went through so much suffering and pain on Daxam. I never knew the full extent of his problems on Daxam. It was hidden very well, but now, I should have killed Rhea myself."

Clark shook his head. "That wouldn't have helped. It would have caused another war between Krypton and Daxam."

Lara smiled. "So much like your father Kal-El. Yes, there was nothing I could have done." She wore a resigned expression on her face.

"So, if Mon-El is Clark's brother, then he's my cousin, right?" Kara questioned, a curious expression on her face.

Lara smiled knowingly; the look on her face reminded Kara of Eliza. "Only by marriage, you are related by blood because Jor-El and Zor-El were brothers. You and I share no such link. Even though I wished we did."

Kara smiled. "I always thought of you as my aunt, just as much as Astra."

Lara smiled. "I must go; this program's time is running short. Tell my son, your brother, that I loved him and that he has made me so proud, just like you have." The image disappeared, making the hall darker and just a little colder.

Clark sighed, looking at his cousin. "I wish I got to know her."

Kara smiled. "Maybe you can, through your brother."

Clark smiled in return. "I need to find him. Do you know where he might go?"

"Well, where do most people go to drown their sorrows?"

Clark's blue eyes sparkled. "I think we both know."

They two took off, flying through the hole in the ceiling of the great hall.

The Alien Bar

Valor landed in the alley behind the bar. He touched his Legion ring, a golden light covered his body before his uniform disappeared, replaced by his human clothes. He turned and walked into the back door of the bar.

M'Gann smiled when she saw him enter. "Mon-El," she said. At first, he didn't respond until she called him again.

He looked up at her, remembering who she was. "M'Gann, sorry, I was lost in thought."

"I haven't seen you since the last time you were upset, seems like you're having the same problem."

Lar or Mon-El rubbed the back of his neck. "Yes, it's been a rough day; do you have anything to drink that won't… put me under the table like last time?"

M'Gann nodded, remembering the few drinks she had after finding out about Mars. "I think I have just the thing."

Lar walked over to a table and sat down. M'Gann joined him a moment later setting down a glass with an amber liquid in it. He grabbed the glass with both hands, careful not to crush it. M'Gann gave him a concerned look before she walked away. Lar sighed before he brought the glass up to his lips and took a sip. The liquid burned slightly on the way down, but Lar found the sensation comforting.

Lar thought about the events of the day. His fight with Rhea. The reveal that she killed his father. The appearance of Brainiac Five. His finding the ring and return of his memories. His fight with Brainiac and the appearance of his fellow members of the Legion. Finally, the reveal that he was destined to stay here, in the past the timeframe where he was originally from. It was a lot to take in, but it all paled in comparison to the fact that Lara Jor-El was his mother. That revelation was more than he could handle. He took another drink, wishing that he was back home, in the thirty-first century.

He was so preoccupied that he didn't see Clark and Kara walk in, dressed in civilian clothes.

Clark and Kara entered the bar, M'Gann sending them a signal in Mon-El's direction. Instead of going to Mon-El directly, they walked to the bar and sat down in front of M'Gann.

"M'Gann, this is my cousin Clark," Kara said.

M'Gann smiled. "You mean Superman, don't you?"

Kara's eyes widened. "How did you?" Clark leaned in closer, wanting to know the answer. "J'onn didn't…"

"No, of course not," M'Gann said. She looked at Clark and smiled, her eyes flashing red. "You can't hide from a Martian."

Clark felt a little self-conscious when her eyes flashed red. "Yes, I get that," he replied. That earned a smile from Kara and a chuckle from M'Gann.

"No worries, we're all friends here," M'Gann reassured. "So, about Mon-El."

Clark sighed. "Is he going by Mon-El?"

M'Gann gave them a strange look before Kara went into the details of what happened today. M'Gann was shocked, to say the least, but she was also satisfied that the woman that killed her race had been taken care of. She looked over at Mon-El with a sad expression. "I feel bad for him. To have all of that revealed at once and then to learn that you can't go back, to the place that's been your home for years. What can you say to that?"

Clark sighed. "That's the reason we're sitting here, instead of over there with my brother."

M'Gann reached out and touched Clark's hand. "I think he needs a family now, more than ever before. He's had a lot of trauma today, so much that it would have broken a lesser man."

Clark nodded. He agreed; Valor was an exceptional man. From the brief display of his prowess in battle, the use of his powers and the respect he had from the Legion, no wonder he was their leader, and at such a young age. "Kara, why don't you sit here with M'Gann. Let me talk to… him first."

Kara nodded watching as Clark walked away.

Clark approached the table. "Do you mind if I join you?"

Lar looked up. "It's a free country, even in this time period."

Clark nodded, sitting down across from his brother. "I'm sorry Lar."

Lar sat down his glass. He wasn't even close to feeling the effects of the drink. "It's not your fault Clark."

"I know it's not, but I just want to help."

"I know, and I appreciate that. I just don't know what to do now."

"I think this world at this time could use another hero. I think the greatest hero of the thirty-first century would be more than welcome here."

Lar smiled. "I guess so; I was welcome here when I was just Mon-El."

"Yes, you were. Besides, you've got family here."

Lar smiled. "Friends as well," he added. "Only one problem."

"What's that?"

"Who am I really?"

Clark smiled. "I've met a lot of heroes that asked the same thing, maybe none of them had the same backstory as you, but they were always looking for an answer."

Lar nodded. "So, who do you think I am?"

Clark smiled. "So, there is Lar Gand, raised on Daxam, but escaped to get away and to explore. There is Valor, the great hero, and leader of the Legion. Then, there is Mon-El, my brother in blood and more, the man who has friends and life here. Lastly, there is Mike Matthews, the human name used to cover your real identity."

Lar frowned. "I can get behind Valor and maybe even Mike Matthews, but who am I, Lar or Mon-El?"

Clark smiled. "That's not the right question. Who do you want to be?"

Lar or Mon-El just stared at his brother. Who did he want to be? Did he want to be Lar Gand, the man who ran away from abuse in the name of exploration or was he Mon-El, the young man who wanted to build a life on Earth, to put aside the past he didn't remember? He smiled up at his newly revealed brother. "Hello Clark or Kal-El, I'm your big brother, Mon-El, nice to finally meet you," he said, extending his hand across the table. Clark's eyes shined with happiness as he clasped his brother's hand, shaking it happily.

"Hey now, I'm older," Clark replied.

Mon-El smiled mischievously. "Only physically, Old Man."

Clark chuckled, Mon-El joining in.

M'Gann and Kara smiled from the bar. "It looks like things are going to work out just fine," M'Gann said.

Kara smiled as she looked at Clark and Mon-El. Until a thought came to her. What about her and Mon-El? Kara stood up, wanting to be anywhere but here. "M'Gann, sorry I need to get back to work, please let Clark know… thanks," she said as she rushed out of the bar, leaving a very confused Martian behind.

Three hours later, at DEO Headquarters

Alex and Winn sat at the main control console, looking at the data on the Daxam ship that orbited the planet.

Suddenly, Superman landed on the balcony before walking into the headquarters, earning the attention of all of the DEO agents around him.

"Superman," J'onn said as he saw the Kryptonian.

"Hey, J'onn, any changes regarding the Daxamite ship?"

J'onn looked at the main display screen. "No, from Kara's report on the incident at the fortress I'm surprised they haven't left."

Clark smiled. "Don't worry; I think they'll be leaving soon."

"The ship is leaving orbit, it's really moving away fast," Winn said.

Alex sat up in her chair. "A small object flying fast, heading toward National City. Should we deploy countermeasures?"

J'onn was about to respond before Clark put his hand on his shoulder. "No worries, it's a friend."

Just as Clark finished talking, a red streak landed on the balcony and sped into the DEO control room. When the blur stopped, everyone in the room was shocked to see Mon-El, dressed in an incredible looking uniform with a blue cape flowing behind him.

Clark smiled at the sight of his brother. "I'd like to introduce everyone to my brother, Valor."

Mon-El smiled. "Hey guys," he said before Winn ran from his chair and tackled him in a hug. Mon-El smiled down at his much shorter friend. "Hey, Winn… you can let go of me now."

Winn blushed releasing Valor from the death lock. "Sorry… yeah, a… cool suit."

Alex walked up to the two before she slapped Winn on the back of the head. "You don't assault people as soon as they enter the building.

Clark smiled. "No, you wait for a while before you slap them on the back of the head," he quipped, earning a slight blush from Alex.

J'onn walked forward. "Mon-El, it's good to see you. I take it the Daxamites left because of you?"

Mon-El nodded. "Yes, I told them that their queen was dead and that if they didn't want to join her they would leave."

J'onn sighed. "That could have sparked an incident."

Mon-El smiled. "Yes, it could have, but I think I motivated them to leave after I informed them that their Queen had killed the King. I told them to live among the stars and that Daxam was dead."

J'onn frowned, but the look in Mon-El's steely eyes told him that this version of Mon-El, no the hero Valor, was not someone you would want trifle with. "Good… so… what do you plan to do now?"

Mon-El smiled. "I thought I'd go back to school if you don't mind, but also help out the DEO when you needed me."

Clark smiled at his brother and looked at J'onn curiously. "We can always use the help." J'onn walked toward the conference room. "Let's talk about it more as I debrief you from the most recent events." Mon-El nodded, following J'onn before he stopped, turned around and gave a wink toward Clark, which made the Man of Steel smile in amusement.

Alex walked up to Clark. "He seems a lot happier than what Kara described."

Clark nodded. "I think he finally understands who he wants to be."

Alex looked at him curiously. "And who would that be?"

"He wants to be Mon-El the alien, Mike the normal person, and Valor, the greatest hero of the thirty-first century."

Alex smiled. "It seems you're pretty happy too."

Clark chuckled. "I have a brother, as you know, siblings are something to cherish."

Alex returned the laugh. "Most of the time, but sometimes they can be closed off and pig-headed."

Clark's brow furrowed. "What has Kara done now?"

Alex shook her head. "It's not what she's done, but what she hasn't."

"That's rather cryptic."

Alex took a step away from the superhero. "Let's just say that she needs to confront her feelings for a certain young man."

Clark's eyes widened. "Oh… she likes someone… who?"

Alex chuckled. "So oblivious, just like your brother," she replied as she walked away.

Clark's eyes narrowed as he tried to figure out what she meant. His eyes widened comically before he rushed after Alex. "Alex, wait up!"

AN: Saw a few comments that Kara and Mon-El were cousins now, but I just wanted to clarify that in the story. They are only cousins because Lara married Jor-El, but they are not related by blood as Kara and Clark are. Stay locked on target to learn more.