*Chapter I*
The Commander stepped out of the cargo plane, squinting against the blinding sun. After eight hours in the darkness aboard the massive Antonov, her eyes needed a few seconds to adjust. Shielding them with one hand, she rummaged in her bag for the Ray-Bans Alex had bought her at the airport. The sun blazed mercilessly on the tarmac. She could feel the sweat trickling down her back, the heat seeping through the soles of her black boots. Heat—something she had only become acquainted with in the past few days.
"Welcome back, Commander Danvers," the President of the United Nations greeted her with an outstretched hand. "Thank you for your service."
She patiently shook hands with the older man and his well-dressed colleagues, feeling distinctly underdressed in her combat boots, khaki pants, and gray tank top. Perhaps she should have worn her good uniform, but the heat on the plane had been unbearable, forcing her to shed her jacket long before. Technically, she was still on duty until she handed over her weapons and remaining equipment. Kara shrugged it off. After two years commanding a 5,000-strong force, she figured a fashion faux pas would be forgiven. She exchanged a few pleasantries with those present and then excused herself.
Unlike Kara, Alex couldn't ignore the lecherous stares from some of the politicians. They ogled Kara shamelessly, their eyes lingering on her chest. With her long, toned legs, muscular abdomen, full breasts, and deep blue eyes, Alex's sister was undeniably striking. Alex understood why Kara attracted attention from both men and women. Yet, despite her flawless body, Kara's true value lay far beyond her looks. Before the war, Kara had been a lively, spirited girl with sparkling eyes and an infectious smile. Her caring nature was admirable, extending to everyone and everything. But the past two years had wrapped that beautiful, gentle side in a hard, impenetrable shell. The horrors of war, countless losses, relentless battles, exhaustion, sleepless nights, nightmares, the blood, and James's death had changed her. The sparkle in her eyes had dimmed, and Alex wondered if it would ever return.
"Are you coming?" Alex called, standing a few steps away. They had deposited all their gear and were officially off duty. No longer Commander Danvers and Lieutenant Danvers—just Kara and Alex. And no longer Supergirl. Only Alex and James had known Kara's secret during her two years with the Army. To everyone else, she was simply Commander Danvers, leading a vast army in the bloody war for global freedom. Kara started moving, following Alex silently through the endless corridors of the military airport. They had one last shot at the DEO's special solar bed designed for Supergirl. They had tried everything, conducted every test, and Kara had spent hours, days under the relentless desert sun hoping to regain her powers, only to end up with painful sunburns. No one dared to predict how long it would take for her powers to return—or if they ever would. It was a mystery. Had she pushed herself too far this time? Were her powers completely depleted, irretrievable? Kara shook off the dark thoughts and finally found her sunglasses, putting them on as she stepped out of the airport building into the street.
*Three Days Later*
"Kara, where are you going?" Alex chased after her. After 48 hours under the special lamps yielded no sign of Supergirl's powers returning, Kara stormed out of the DEO, furious.
"I need some fresh air and space, Alex. Please, just leave me alone." Even a last-ditch attempt to stop her failed. Alex threw her hands up in frustration, watching her stubborn sister walk away.
Kara wandered aimlessly through National City, now just an ordinary human. Desperation, anger, fear—what if her powers never returned? What use would she be then? She stood before the heavy door of her apartment building. She had given up her sunlit loft when she left National City to lead an international army, not knowing if or when she'd return. Now, she lived in a cramped, dark two-and-a-half-room apartment. Kara kicked off her sneakers, opened the nearly empty fridge, and made a mental note to buy beer. She sat down on the only chair she owned and opened her laptop.
Hours later, the growling of her stomach and back pain from an uncomfortable nap roused her. A glance at her iPhone showed it was already 11 PM. It was Friday, and the city was coming to life. Kara felt the urge to go out, not wanting to drown in her dark thoughts. Maybe she'd try to stave off the burgeoning depression with alcohol? Before her deployment, Kara wasn't much of a party girl. With her super-hearing, clubs were always too loud, so she preferred small bars. But now, without her powers, that wouldn't be a problem. She grabbed her keys, slipped her phone and a hundred dollars into her pocket, and left the apartment, lost in thought. She walked leisurely for a few blocks, observing the partygoers and glancing into a few clubs. The third one caught her attention. The music was loud, the beat reverberating through the neighborhood. The people in line laughed and were dressed relatively normally. Here, she wouldn't stand out in her blue jeans and plain white shirt. Her wardrobe had shrunk to a few items since returning a few days ago. Kara joined the line and waited patiently until she reached the grumpy bouncer. She paid the 20 cover, got a stamp on her hand, and climbed the stairs to the main hall. Bodies moved rhythmically to the pounding music, and Kara headed straight for the bar. The last stool by the wall became available, and Kara quickly claimed it, ordering a beer. She leaned back against the wall, surveying the room. Even as Supergirl, she would have chosen this spot, and she wondered if those instincts would remain despite losing her powers. Sighing, she took a sip of the cold beer, closing her eyes to savor the bitter taste of hops and malt. This brief moment of peace was abruptly interrupted by a hot hand on her thigh.
"Hi, can I buy you a drink?"
Kara opened her eyes to see a slightly overweight man with alcohol on his breath and sweat glistening on his skin. She shook her head, pointing to her still nearly full beer. He tried his luck twice more until the blonde bartender told him to leave her alone. Kara sighed in relief; she liked the club and the music and didn't want to get banned for breaking a persistent idiot's nose on her first night out. She ordered another beer and saw the next admirer approaching. Clearly, they were from the same group as the first guy, and Kara didn't need super-hearing to know they had a bet on who would score with her. She managed to fend off the second admirer without help, but needed the bartender's assistance again with the third. Kara rolled her eyes as numbers four and five, grinning confidently, approached together. She wasn't in the mood for meaningless flirtations; she just wanted a few drinks, maybe a dance, and a brief escape from the darkness within. Kara flexed her fingers, tightening her grip on the beer bottle to maintain her composure. Antonio and Lorenzo introduced themselves with excessive physical contact, just as a brunette wedged herself between them, possessively wrapping an arm around Kara's waist and kissing her cheek.
"Hey, babe, there you are! Sorry for being late. Excuse us, guys, we're going to dance." The brunette flashed a winning smile at suitors four and five, pulling Kara off the stool. Kara, caught off guard, nearly fell into the stranger's arms. The woman took advantage of the moment, whispering for Kara to play along. Kara nodded, letting herself be led through the crowd to the other end of the room. In the middle of the dance floor, Kara's mind started working again, and she panicked, pulling her hand from the brunette's grip. What if this woman had the same intentions as the men before? Kara touched her cheek where the kiss had landed. She turned and hurried out of the club, her steps quick and determined. It was time to go to bed. She couldn't handle another cheap come-on, and she certainly didn't need rescuing—after all, she was, or had been, Supergirl. She could handle a few pushy guys on her own.
The brunette only caught a glimpse of the blonde's ponytail as she left. Disappointed by the abrupt departure, she turned back and returned to her original spot.