The fire raged across almost a full city block of old tenement housing now used for a few small businesses with families living above their shops. Almost everyone had been evacuated by the firefighters, but one small girl, about ten years old, was missing.
Kara used her x-ray vision to scan the smoldering structures, until finally, she saw the child curled up in a closet on the the third floor. She broke through the roof, careful not to send debris down on top of the girl, before lifting her out of the rubble and delivering her to her sobbing, grateful parents.
She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with cold air, before freezing out the rest of the flames. Everyone clapped, shouting their gratitude from the crowd that had gathered. She always wished there was more she could do to help people put their lives back together after a tragedy like this, knowing what it felt like to lose everything, but glad to at least do her part.
She checked in with the fire chief, who extended his own thanks, before preparing to head back to her place.
"Supergirl," James caught up with her quickly, following her into the small park on the corner, away from everyone else. "Kara, wait…"
"I can't. I have to get back to Ms. Grant."
"I know, but…" he sighed, holding his camera. "Is this how it's gonna be now? We only see each other when disaster strikes?"
"You tell me," she quipped. "You're the one who said you needed time to…"
"I know. I did," he nodded. "But...I miss just hanging out, like we used to, before...part of me wishes we never…"
"I don't," she shook her head. "Look, James...you know I care about you. And I know you care about me too. Just because we didn't...work...together, like we thought we would, doesn't mean we can't be friends. I'm glad we figured it out when we did. Now we can build things back the way they were."
"I don't think I can," James argued. "Go back...to how it was. But maybe...something different. A new start. A new kind of friendship."
Kara nodded. She really did love him, just not how she and everyone else thought she would. She trusted him, considered him family, like Winn. Being with him seemed like the obvious choice at the time, someone who clearly wanted her and made himself available, especially after Lucy.
But she could always feel the doubt he had in her, the rush to hold her to a higher standard, the jealousy, the judgement. The feelings became forced, like she was playing a part in a script written for a guy and a girl everyone assumed were an inevitable match. In the end, it wasn't real. It didn't make her feel strong, or understood, or even stimulated. It just made her feel small, and that wasn't the kind of love she wanted.
She wanted someone who trusted her implicitly, who recognized her strength and matched it, in their own way. Someone who challenged her, knew her flaws and held her accountable when she made mistakes, but stuck with her through the thick of it. Someone confident enough to sit with her at the top of the world and never ask her to dim her own light. Someone she could learn from, who wasn't afraid to learn from her too. Someone powerful, complicated, but open...whose heart was bigger than anyone knew.
Someone who made her skin turn to fire when they touched.
Someone who, at the end of the day, might drive her crazy, but always kept her wanting more.
"Okay," she nodded. "A new kind of friendship."
"Okay," he sighed.
"I've gotta go," she told him. "See you soon."
She disappeared, zipping across the sky back towards home, as fast as her arms could carry her.
When she arrived, the place was dark. All the glasses were in the sink, save for Cat's, which was sitting on the coffee table, full to the brim. Cat was stretched out across the sofa, skirt crept up a little, curled around a pillow as she slept.
Kara turned off the television, standing over her for a moment, watching her sleep. She was so small for a woman with such a huge presence, as delicate as she was tough, a walking paradox. Her lips were parted, breath easy and effortless as her blonde waves fell across her eyes, brow furrowed into a scowl, like she was giving someone the classic Cat Grant stare down even in her dreams. She moved a little, turning onto her back, shifting so the top button of her blouse came undone, black silk slipping open to reveal paler skin beneath the surface.
Kara swallowed, grabbing a blanket from the back of the sofa and covering her up, laying it across her feet before bringing it up over her chest.
Suddenly, Cat's eyes shot open as she screamed, flailing, jumping up, sending Kara back on her heels as she let go of the blanket.
"No! Please!" she begged, murmuring her cries, until her eyes came into focus. "Oh god," she sighed deeply, clutching her chest, sitting up. "It's just you."
"I'm so sorry!" Kara apologized. "I didn't mean to scare you. I..."
"Maybe you should have thought of that before leaving me here," Cat groaned, slurring a little as she held up her head, taking another sip of her martini, a long, deep sip, like it was water.
"You...you said I should go," Kara shook her head. "I would have come back right away if…"
"I know what I said," Cat spat. "I don't expect you to stay here with me day and night, week after week, until...who knows? Right? Other people need a hero too. I saw the girl on the news. There are dozens of others, millions like her, in jeopardy while you're...here with me. Or not..."
She hiccupped. Kara continued to watch her, heart beating fast.
"Why am I here anyway? Huh? What makes me so special?" Cat questioned. "Why am I...playing board games? Stuffing my face with cheap Chinese food, sleeping on some second hand sofa in this godforsaken, rent-controlled..."
Kara tried not to let it hurt. She sat down on the other end of the couch, lifting her cape behind her, taking a deep breath.
"I think you're just scared…"
"I'm not scared," Cat raised her voice, shaking, eyes welling up as she swallowed. "I am terrified. Terrified of losing everything...I've spent...my whole life trying to create. Leaving my sons behind in a world that's doomed to implode anyway, if we don't all kill each other first. And what can I do? Sit here and let you watch me? Until it comes for both of us?"
"We will find a way," Kara insisted, grabbing her hand. "I'm not gonna let anything happen to you…"
Cat pulled away, spilling some of her drink.
"That's not your job," she swallowed, continuing to shake her head. "To look after me. I've made you wait on me far too long. It's a joke, really. You, prancing around in your cute little sweater sets, pretending to be human while getting me coffee and Lexipro? Except now, when I need you most, you're nowhere...except with James...answering his calls, running the second he..."
"Hey!" Kara tried not to lose her cool, struck by the conflicting messages. "You're not making sense. I think you've had too much to..."
"I'm not used to this," Cat gritted her teeth, eyes glistening. "Hiding out while others plot to take me down...letting someone else call the shots...being so completely...utterly...fucking helpless..."
She continued to shake, throat straining to keep from making those guttural noises that wanted to break free.
Kara scooted closer, trying again to be the comfort she needed, wrapping her arms around the smaller woman, hoping she wouldn't push her away this time. Instead, Cat collapsed into her, letting the tears finally come. Kara gripped her harder, holding on to her small frame as she shook, letting her soft sobs be absorbed into the tough, metallic fabric of her uniform.
"I don't...cry like this," she breathed as she wept. "I can't…"
Kara squeezed her harder, rubbing her back as she allowed her the space to feel.
"Yes you can," Kara shook her head. "It's not good to hold things in. Especially for you."
"People would walk all over me if I didn't," Cat sniffed. "If they really knew what bleeding heart, good-for-nothing-but-doing-good, hippie bullshit I truly…"
"Stop!" Kara shook her gently. "I won't let you talk about yourself like this. It's not who you are. This creature's forced you to come to terms with just how deeply you're capable of feeling. That's only a bad thing if you let it be. It doesn't have to destroy you."
"Oh god…" Cat pulled back a little, looking up at Kara's sweet, concerned face, full of hope and reason. "No, no...it isn't supposed to be like this. I'm supposed to be the one telling you how to get through this. I'm supposed to be the role model, the one who reminds you never to let...anyone or anything...make you feel incapable. How did I let this happen?"
"You can't be strong all the time," Kara nodded softly, continuing to hold her as she rubbed her arms. "I know that now, but it's taken time to figure it out. It doesn't mean you've given up. It doesn't mean you're not the amazing, inspiring woman you know you are. It means you're strong enough to let others help when you need it most. Everyone gets scared. You told me that. It's about how you get back up and keep moving through the fear, not letting it rule over you, that really matters."
"I did say that, didn't I?" Cat sniffed again, letting her shoulders relax, slipping back into the nook between Kara's arm and torso. "But...this is just so…"
She appeared lost in thought.
"What?" Kara finally asked.
Cat shook her head silently, taking a deep breath.
"I don't know," she swallowed. "You're so young, and yet...you see me better than anyone ever has. You're the only person I've ever trusted...put my faith in, beyond myself, I...I shouldn't let you see me like this…"
"It's okay," Kara whispered. "I can be that person. Just like you've been for me."
"But you've never fallen apart…" Cat breathed lazily. "I have...numerous times...and you've helped me...with Adam...with…"
"Because I want to," Kara sighed, stroking her arm through silk, listening to the pattern of her breathing as she began to fade.
"Why?" Cat shook her head.
"Because," Kara swallowed, continuing to hold her against her chest. "You...mean a lot to me. Okay? Just...let me be here for you. Please."
Cat continued to catch her breath, holding onto Kara as she allowed herself to fall silent and still.
"Just...promise me…" she finally whispered. "Promise...when this is over...you…"
Kara was hanging on her words until they stopped, Cat's body heavy against her side. She sat still for what felt like forever, taking it all in, this new level of trust between them, alcohol and fear fueled though it was. She felt humbled, scared, but knew this was exactly where she needed to be.
Slowly, she lifted Cat into her arms, walking her into the bedroom, lowering her on top of the green and yellow comforter. As she began to pull her arm out from underneath her, Cat latched onto her hand, holding it tightly even as she was in and out of consciousness. Kara's breath hitched as she jumped.
"Stay…" Cat murmured.
Kara swallowed hard, not wanting to run, but also feeling like Cat's judgment wasn't fully with her.
"I'll... just be in the other…"
"Please…" Cat whispered again, continuing to keep a hold of her hand.
Kara's heart pounded as she climbed onto the bed, lying next to Cat, her hand still captured, as she tried to measure the proper distance between them.
Cat didn't move again, fingers relaxing, allowing Kara to steal hers back. She turned onto her side, facing her boss as she drifted into a deeper sleep, watching her chest rise and fall beneath the blanket. After a while, she let go of her own fear, wrapping her cape around her body, closing her eyes before she too succumbed to the night.