Kara flew over the city, watching cars crash into each other, buildings shake and crumble, as she soared towards CatCo. She stopped between two collapsing skyscrapers, using all her strength to push them in opposite directions, righting them upwards, sealing off their foundations with her eyes before continuing on her path.
By the time she reached the office, the sky had turned black. Clouds undulated towards the building, lightning whipping through the air as people fled for their lives. Chaos unfolded all around them. Everywhere she turned, someone was screaming, running, fighting to take cover from the hell that had been unleashed. The air even seemed to reverberate with misery, the smell of rot and disintegration creating a thick, heavy haze, culminating around CatCo's top floors.
Kara fought her way into the cloud, swimming through the air, it's viscosity hindering her speed. She felt hands pulling at her uniform, wailing, scratching, horror doing its best to overpower her and keep her from the person she needed to find to put an end to all of this.
Finally, she made it to Cat's balcony, hovering just outside the ledge. She tried to see inside, past the smoke and wind and crackling electricity surrounding her, fists balled tightly, taking every shock and tear into her flesh as she waited, hoping, praying that she could make it in time. She breathed cold into the air, creating a clearing just large enough that she could see Cat struggling to make it outside, fighting past the muck grabbing onto her legs, wrapping itself around her black pants like quicksand, oily sludge sticking to her body, dragging her down.
Kara tried to move, tried to fly into the building, but couldn't. It continued to shake as the earthquake persisted. Her eardrums burst as the ground beneath them cracked open, the fault line making its way towards CatCo, swallowing up cars and street lights. She breathed again into the thickness, screaming, watching as Cat crawled her way out onto the balcony, using every bit of the strength she had left to make it, looking towards the sky, hoping against hope that Supergirl would be there.
"Cat!" Kara hurled her name through the atmosphere, creating a shockwave that parted the clouds enough for her to slip closer, even as the entity began to focus its repulsive, malevolent arms around her shoulders, across her throat, drowning out all light as it attempted to push her down.
Cat gripped onto the balcony wall, pulling herself up as the slime clung to her legs. She looked out into the darkness, seeing nothing, but feeling Kara's presence out there, latching on with her senses, holding on, refusing to lose her even though she couldn't see or hear anything beyond the screeching, howling, nefarious mess attempting to suffocate them.
"Cat…" Kara choked, pushing her body as close to the edge as she could.
Cat held her breath as she climbed up onto the wall, kicking off her heels, letting the evil swallow them up, legs straining, fingers bleeding as she stood, desperately seeking any sign of Kara beyond what she could feel in her bones.
The air parted just enough for her to make out the faintest hint of blue.
She closed her eyes, and without another breath or hesitation, flung herself into the ether. She fell, screaming for a half second, until she hit something.
Kara's hand clutched hers tightly, arms flailing, searching, finally enfolding the rest of her body, holding them both up amidst the cloud. Lightning pulsed through the air around them, until a brighter, more intense light sucked it in and spat it out, bursting through the nebulous fog, shooting sparks across the sky, like an explosion, a supernova thrashing through the devastation like a nuclear wave, seizing up the fault line, spilling forth all it had swallowed, sealing it back up.
The clouds began to dissipate, light returning, fresh like the dawn of a new day, vines and perennials swirling their way through the streets, efflorescence covering the walls of Catco, like ivy up the sides of an ancient temple.
Those who had stayed inside taking shelter began to make their way to the windows and out onto the balcony, looking around at the paradise that had risen from the ashes like a phoenix, the restoration continuing to spread and correct and heal, before their eyes fell to the two women floating just beyond the building, holding each other up, eyes shut, hands tightly gripped against each other's backs as their feet dangled. People's mouths hung open, stepping closer, looking on with awe as the two remained afloat, like angels.
Cat's head rested against Kara's shoulder, Kara's hands moving up her back, chests heaving as they sucked in fresh air. Their eyes opened slowly, realizing they were still alive, still intact, the silence melting away as they began to hear rejoicing, shouts of praise and gratitude from the balcony, the windows, the streets below.
They looked around, in shock at how quickly everything had fallen back into place, taking it all in, before noticing everyone watching. Cat gasped, clutching on tighter to Kara's shoulders, refusing to look down.
Kara locked eyes on Winn and James standing on the balcony. James swallowed, biting his lip from the inside, before a smile slowly crept over his lips. He shook his head, bringing his hands together, joining in the applause. Kara smiled back. Winn clapped too, looking at her like she was crazy, but also with great reverence.
Cat finally stole a look back at the building. She took a deep breath, summoning her strength, turning to Supergirl, then down at the board members gaping up at them. She held on a little tighter, straightening her shoulders, trying to communicate that she wasn't afraid, until slowly, they each began to clap as well.
Kara turned back to Winn, who finally mouthed "Go." She nodded, tightening her grip around Cat's waist before retreating towards the mountains.
Kara finally planted them deep within the forest in the north hills, far from the city, far from cameras and preying eyes and anyone wanting answers beyond what they were willing to give. She settled Cat's feet against the dirt, red and black heels sinking in as she steadied herself, gripping onto Kara's shoulders, heart pounding, breath heavy.
Kara held her face. She brushed her fingers across her cheeks, clearing away the grime on her skin. Cat looked back at her, eyes full of tears, shaking hard, lips moving, though no words came out.
"Are you…" Kara panted, looking her over for injuries.
"Yes," Cat breathed. "My wrist is a little...but, I'll be fine."
Kara took it gently, examining the sprained skin, the way her knuckles bled from dragging herself across the cement, before panning up again to her effusive, soulful eyes.
Cat pulled her tighter, burying her face in her shoulder, clutching on to her cape.
"I'm...sorry…" she whispered. "I shouldn't have left. I let my fear...get the best of me."
"Hey," Kara held her closer. "We can't be expected to not make mistakes. This is more than either of us ever asked for. It's going to take time to figure it all out."
She ran her fingers through Cat's hair, kissing her forehead, continuing to hold her close.
"It took longer this time..." Kara continued. "Before the darkness came back. I'm guessing...it'll get easier."
"Maybe," Cat looked up, irises green and gold, hair catching the sun through the leaves of the trees.
Kara grabbed her face again, smoothing her cheekbones. Cat leaned in to the touch, breathing in her scent, letting her eyes close. There was something primal, something fated and out of their control about how their bodies had become accustomed to each other, needing each other more and more with every breath, every moment that passed.
Cat opened her eyes again, meeting Kara's blue orbs, kissing her softly. Kara kissed back, like it was the cure, like it was the only thing that made sense, like she could finally exhale having her in her arms again, feeling home.
"Did you…" Kara pulled back, swallowing. "With the board...what did they say?"
"I told them whatever attacked me was still out there," Cat breathed. "That I wasn't just shirking my responsibilities, but in fact being responsible, for way more than they could understand, and for that, on top of everything else, including my thirty years of experience, they should butt the hell out and trust that I know what I'm doing."
"Really?" Kara balked. "You said that? Of...of course you said that."
"I also told them that who I choose to surround myself with in times of struggle is none of their business," Cat continued. "That you, Kara, are not just an employee, but...my sounding board, my support. The exact nature of our relationship is not up for discussion or speculation, regardless of what The Daily Planet chooses to print."
Kara exhaled, looking down, until she felt Cat's fingers tracing her cheek.
"What I didn't tell them...won't tell them...until I'm ready, until you and I decide, together, the best way to do it...is that...you're so much more than any of what I said," she swallowed. "You're...my hope...when I forget what hope is. My light...when I can't see the way forward. The mirror, reminding me what I am and why I...can't pretend not to feel...anymore."
Kara bit her lip, breathing harder as the tears began to spill, letting Cat wipe one away, before taking her hand.
"So does that mean...you won't run again?"
Cat nodded slowly.
"I can't promise not to get scared...sometimes," Cat sighed. "...but I'm done running."
Kara rolled her forehead against Cat's, fingers gripping her shoulder blades, pulling her tighter.
"I love you, Kara," Cat breathed. "And I wish the fate of the world wasn't wrapped up in that love, because I need you to know...even if it wasn't...I would still feel the same way."
Kara kissed her, letting breath and tears mix with the sensation of their lips crushing together, bleeding into one another, falling harder, knowing it was safe, knowing it was real, knowing it was everything.
"I can't believe how strong you were," Kara laughed a little, wiping her eyes, before cinching her arms around Cat's waist. "I mean, I'm not surprised, really, but... the way you pulled yourself out of there, you were so...fierce."
"Pilates pays off," Cat sighed. "What can I say?"
"Yeah, but that was...almost superhuman. And I...I've never felt more powerful than I did when we came together...when we touched."
"I guess both our powers are amplified by whatever cosmic link connects us," Cat nodded.
"I guess so," Kara smiled. "Stronger together."
Cat smiled back, lacing her arms around her neck.
"So what's next?" she breathed. "Are we going to have to stay in bed for the next several decades while I try to convince myself and the board I can work from home?"
"Hmmm," Kara thought. "But...your office is so nice. The view really is the best in the city."
"Well...then I guess you'll just have to put an end to your vacation, too," she smirked.
"How about next week?" the younger woman negotiated. "I think we owe it to ourselves...and the city...to at least take one more long weekend. Don't you?"
"Fine," Cat sighed. "But Monday I expect you back and ready for business."
"Yes, ma'am," Kara breathed.
Cat continued kissing her, letting Kara lift her into her arms as she felt them slowly leave the ground.
"Home?" Kara whispered.
"Home," Cat smirked.