Chapter Summary: vintage_orchid: Kara and Oliver argue about being in island for 5 years / being in a pod in space for 20 years
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66. I've got you
Kara flew high in the sky while patrolling her city. It has been a while since National City had big problems that only Supergirl could solve, and that was something, for sure. The weather seemed worse than ever, strong winds, dark sky, she could feel the storm coming and was ready to take off, go home and have a few snacks while watching her favorite shows, when she heard J'onn's voice on her comms.
- Kara an unknown object has fallen in an alley near you, can you check it please? I'm sending a team there, but by the time they get there, someone may find it.
- Sure, I'm on my way. Just tell me exactly where it is.
Kara followed J'onn's instructions and got there in a few seconds. She landed gracefully and noticed it wasn't a thing, it was someone. She approached slowly, with caution.
- J'onn? Can you people don't send anyone here?
- Why? What fell there?
- Not a what, but whom… It is a person… And I know him. Is Oliver Queen.
Kara walked towards him, feeling confused and curious to know what in Rao's name Oliver was doing on her Earth. And she could tell there was something off.
- Oliver? – She said as she kneeled to take a better look on him. – Oh my Rao, what happened?
- Nothing, I'm…
Oliver was about to talk, but fainted in front of Kara. He was deeply hurt everywhere, it was a mess of dirt and blood all over his body. Kara knew she couldn't leave him like this, so she had an idea.
- Kara? Tell me what's happening – J'onn said on comms and Kara reached to hold Oliver in her arms.
- I can take it from here; he's a friend of mine… Don't worry.
She turned her comms off and lifted Oliver in her arms. She knew what she had to do. She held him tight and flew to her place really fast.
Once in her apartment, Kara brought Oliver to the bathroom. She noticed he was dizzy, sometimes opening his eyes, and trying to talk or say anything, trying to move with no success.
- I barely know you, but I consider you a friend anyways so… I'm sorry… I'm really sorry… - Kara blushed hard and started to take his dirty clothes off, leaving only his underwear on.
- Kara… I… - Oliver tried to talk, still dizzy as Kara helped him to get on the tube, holding him in one arm and the other helping clean him as much as she could without crossing any lines.
- Its ok, Oliver. You're safe. – She whispered as she cleaned his wounds. – For Rao… - She said, feeling her cheeks getting warmer.
Kara couldn't help but notice Oliver's muscles, hurt muscles that still bleed. She kept washing where she could until she was sure he was free from mud and whatever he had on him. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around him, bringing him to her couch. Luckily Clark left a few clothes of his behind the last time he visited her, so she grabbed some shorts and a shirt, using her super speed to help him get dressed. She did her best to prepare her bed so he could have some rest. She decided to sit in a chair next to her bed so she could keep an eye on him.
One hour later, Oliver started to open his eyes, looking confused around him. He jumped from the bed, ready to fight someone and Kara rushed to him to try to calm him down.
- Hey, it's ok… It's me, Kara.
- Kara? What… How…
- I was about to ask you that… I found you in an alley, all hurt and… I brought you to my place…
Oliver sat down and looked at himself, all clean and with clothes he had no idea where came from. He slowly lifted his eyes to meet Kara's and started wondering what happened.
- Did you… I mean, did you help me?
- Yes… I'm sorry, I had to, and you were full of dirt and multiple bruises and blood… It was scary… I helped you shower and change, but… I swear I didn't do anything inappropriate, I mean, I kept your underwear on and…Rao, I'll be quiet now… - Kara couldn't help but blush again, feeling really awkward.
- You shouldn't have helped me.
- What? Of course I should!
- I don't deserve it! – He looked serious at her.
- Oliver, what do you mean? I'm a bit confused here…
Oliver got up, feeling really nervous and mad. Images of what have happened started to pop up into his mind and he felt like he was going to lose it at any moment.
- I need to get out of here…
Oliver tried to leave but Kara used her super speed and stopped him, crossing her arms while she stared serious at him.
- And where do you think you're going? Because you're in my Earth now and you know no one or anywhere… I'm really curious to know it!
- On your Earth? – Oliver stared confused at her
- Oliver, what happened last night? I want to help you, but if you don't tell me, it will be a bit hard…
- I don't need help.
- I'm sorry, but I have to disagree. Rao, you're more stubborn than Alex!
- Who's Alex?
- My sister! Now tell me, what happened? And you're still hurt by the way, so you'll sit on that couch and tell me what happened while I patch you up.
Oliver knew it was useless to try to leave; she was thousands of times stronger than him and had super powers. He walked towards the couch and sat down, looking serious at Kara while she helped him.
- I was kidnapped… By a guy name Adrian Chase. I found out recently he is an enemy I was fighting on my Earth, Prometheus. He pretended to be someone I could trust so he could tear me down. And he's succeeding.
- Oh… This is awful… Why does he want to tear you down? – Kara said while using bandage to cover the wounds on his abs and arms.
- He wants me to admit I am a killer.
- Oliver, this is ridiculous…
- I am a killer, Kara.
Kara stopped moving and stared at Oliver. She could notice he was damn serious. She also didn't believe a bit of it. She was also damn serious.
- I don't buy it.
- You don't know me!
- I'm trying to…
- Don't. It would only hurt you, like anyone else in my life.
- I am the girl of steel, you know? You can't hurt me even if you wanted to… Now tell me, why did he think that?
- I killed his father.
Kara held his gaze. She was aware she barely knew Oliver and before, she would just drop everything, find a way to drop him on his Earth and never ever look at him again. But she wasn't like that anymore; she knew there was always more to someone than they would show. She remembered how scared Alex was, when she killed her aunt. Kara understood it and forgave Alex. She believed killing was wrong, but she decided she wouldn't judge, she would try to listen.
- I won't pretend I know you. – Kara said – Because I don't… And you also don't know me. I for one don't believe killing someone is an option, even if it's an enemy. But I don't live in your Earth, I don't know what you have been through and I can't judge. When we fought together on your Earth, I could see the great hero you are, all that you've built there with your friends, how you helped Barry… Yes, he told me. He once mentioned he was proud of you for the person you've become so I will chose to believe you are this person, the one our mutual friend is proud of. Like I said, I don't know what happened… But I would like to know someday… Sometimes it helps us deal with heavy stuff we have inside of us.
- Barry is always trying to see the good side of things, but he also has no idea… I spent 5 years in hell. And I've become someone else… Something else. I have killed to survive, I have thought that I was doing the right thing, killing the criminals that poisoned my city, but it was all excuses. I killed because I liked it!
- I don't believe it!
Oliver stood up and looked at Kara as serious as he has ever looked to someone. Kara also stood up, facing him with her arms crossed.
- You said it yourself, you have killed to survive, and you lived 5 years in hell… What hell was this one that you believe turned you into a monster?
- I was cheating on my girlfriend with her sister on my father's boat. He was there as well. The ship wrecked and I ended up on an island called Lian Yu, it means…
- Purgatory… Don't look so surprised, I speak a few languages… So…
Oliver couldn't help being surprised. He stopped a few seconds to gather his thoughts and kept telling her all awful things that happened to him, he knew she wouldn't let it go and he has no way of avoiding it, so he told her.
- So you basically were stranded on an island, with horrible people, criminals trying to kill you, so you had to kill them to survive and you came back with PTSD, decided you needed to save your city the wrong way, but learned the right way…you just told me that – She added when she noticed he would interrupt her – And now some guy mad at you for finding justice the wrong way tries to convince you that you are a horrible person, tortures you to blame you for his actions and you believe him? For Rao…
- Kara…
- I barely know you, as I've said before, but you know what? I don't buy it!
- You don't know how it feels…
- I do Oliver. And you know how? Because I know pain.
Kara approached Oliver slowly as she spoke. She didn't like bringing this subject up, but she had no choice. She understood Oliver felt pain and remorse and a bunch of things, and that he had a lot of trauma inside, but she couldn't let him think he was a killer and let some random guy destroy the good she saw in him once.
- When we fought the Dominators, I told you all that they came to planet once, killed a lot of people… I was just a kid, barely a teenager when that happened… What I didn't tell you was that later, I had to leave my planet, escape in a pod because my planet was exploding. There was a pod for me and another one for my baby cousin, and that was it. I had to say goodbye to my parents, my family and see my planet exploding. My pod got knocked out of course and I spent 24 years stuck in space.
Oliver kept staring at Kara, hearing every word of hers and wondering many things, one of them it was how the hell she could be such a bubbly positive person after all of that. He kept listening.
- Here on my Earth many people know about Krypton, about the explosion… What they don't know is how it felt, being stuck, alone; staring at the space around me while the scene of my planet exploding, and my parents dying, kept playing on repeat on my mind. Kal found me when I finally crashed on Earth and brought me to the Danvers family. You see, I was supposed to take care of him here, but he ended up doing that for me. Not quite really, because he already had a life here so I ended up once more feeling alone, and my powers started to manifest while I was trying to understand my place in the world. So I know is not the same as yours, but I understand pain. I also told you that hardships makes us stronger and is true. We are who we are because of what we have been through, things we have experienced. It's part of life, Oliver.
- I had no idea… I'm sorry…
- You had no way of knowing… - Kara said as she touched his arm. – I've met your friends, your team of heroes, and I'm sure that even if I don't know them at all, I'm sure they have been through many things as well. And if they were bad people, they wouldn't be worrying about saving the world, risking their lives to help others, even Mick… He told me about how he picked the Heatwave name… and everything else… But when we fought together, he was there risking his life to save the world with us, so I believe something inside of him made him change and try to be better in his own way.
- Do you… Do you actually believe people can be redeemed, even if they had done awful things in their past?
- Yes. If I didn't, I could never wear my suit, that symbol on my chest and fly out there to help people. This guy wants to break you. He can't take responsibility for the things he does and wants to put them all in you. He was the one that killed his wife, as you told me, right? – Kara saw Oliver nod at her, without a single word – So he was the only responsible for that, not you.
- I'm sorry to give you all this trouble and all of this… I still don't remember how I ended up here.
- Let's just think it was a good thing you came to a place where you know someone that could help you. It could have been worse – She smiled at him. – And is no trouble at all. I think you need to rest, so you can stay on my room for now. I'll help Alex at the DEO and be right back.
- I guess… I guess you're right.
Kara smiled and turned around. Oliver stopped before going to Kara's bed to try to take a nap, and called Kara.
- Yes? – She asked
- Thank you. For helping me.
- Thank you for telling me everything.
At the DEO Kara couldn't stop thinking about everything she learned about Oliver Queen, knowing now he had a though and sad past as she had as well. It saddened her, knowing he had lost hope, gave up believing he could be a good person. She knew Barry saw what she saw, that he was a true hero. She just hoped he could trust himself again someday, and heal.
After finishing her duties she went back to her apartment and saw Oliver in her bed sleeping shirtless. He opened his eyes, slowly and sat on the bed.
- I need to go back home… somehow – He said.
- Winn can help, but tomorrow. Just to be safe, you fainted in my arms before; I want to make sure you're ok.
- I'm glad I've met you.
Kara stopped looking for new bandages to change his old ones and stared at him. She smiled hearing that. She was deeply annoyed at him at first, but then she noticed he was just processing everything that was happening, ended up apologizing and showing her he was a good hearted person. She felt good being part of that team of heroes even if it was just for a while, she felt like the new kid on school, nervous and excited at the same time.
- I was a bit unsure when I first met you…
- You were unnerved…
- I told you I don't get unnerved…
- Sure – She teased
- But… I did the same thing with Barry. He was there wanting to help, he saved my life and all I could think about was how mad I was with Felicity for telling him who I was… I practically choked him.
- Now it all makes sense… When Barry told me that was you saying Hi – She said, remembering Barry talking to her about Oliver when she went to Earth 1 to help them for the first time.
- He was not wrong… I got used to betrayal, so I expected everyone would do that…
- You were being cautious, I understand. – Kara said as she sat beside him
- The thing is… I can see now… You have been through so much, and you still manage to be positive, to trust people… how do you do it?
- I don't know, I guess… I believe in hope and compassion for all. We all have a dark side and a good side, is up to us to learn how to deal with both and chose the right thing to do everyday. And sometimes people don't because they're either scared or ashamed of something. Sometimes they want to do the right thing but do it the wrong way because they think is the only possible way of doing it… Sometimes they are trying to deal with their own pain and end up losing themselves along the way. I need to believe they can be better and that a better tomorrow will come. I can't inspire people to believe it if I don't believe it, I can't be there to save people if I don't believe there's good out there. I think I just try to focus on those things and be happy that a good family took care of me when I most needed, that I have an amazing sister that would do anything for me and I for her, that I have amazing friends that I can count on… There are so many good things in life, and we are here for a reason so why should we focus on the bad ones?
Oliver stared at Kara in awe. He definitely never met anyone like her, he was sure of it. In a world full of mistrust and horrors, it felt good to know there was someone like her out there, inspiring people. She was definitely inspiring him now.
- Your bandages… need changing – She said, not taking her eyes off of his eyes.
- Yeah… Sure…
- Let me help…
She started to take the old ones off, throwing them on the bin next to her desk. She sat back on the bed, slightly blushing as she helped him with new bandages, changing the ones on his back also. Oliver hissed feeling a sharp pain in his back,
- There are a few burns here… It will take a while to recover…
- Chase tortured me for what I did to his father…
- Oliver, no one deserves to be tortured… - Kara said and Oliver turned to face her.
- I promise I'll try to believe I don't…
- Believe me.
Oliver stared deeply into her eyes, his right hand reaching for her cheek.
- You're blushing…
- I... I'm… - Kara tried to disguise, taking her hands off his chest, not really knowing what to say.
- Hey, it's ok… Is cute – He said as he reached for her chin so she could look at him again.
Kara gave him a wide smile that he was sure it was going to melt his heart. He was impressed how she could make him feel so different in such a short time. He wanted to be away from everything, feeling like trash and now he felt more alive than ever, he felt warmth inside his chest and a bit of peace in his mind. He knew he would struggle and have to learn to overcome this, but he was sure he would be able to. Somehow he had faith again.
Kara felt something different inside, like a wave of electricity went through her entire body. She could see Oliver listened to her every single word and that she planted a seed there for him to trust himself again. It was a start. She was also thinking he was really handsome, even with all scars and bruises and how that wasn't so bad that they were so close she could hear his heartbeat. She felt curiosity take over her, and even before she could control her actions, her lips approached his and he met her halfway there. It was like an explosion of feelings, tasting each other's lips like this.
- Ouch… - He said after feeling her hands on his torso
- I'm sorry…
- It's a good pain – He said, making her laugh – I don't mind it.
- But I do. I don't want to make you feel pain… - Kara said as Oliver's lips reached for hers once more.
- I can take it… I'm serious. – He said as his hand reached for her hair, feeling how soft it was.
- Rao help me… - She whispered as Oliver's head rested on the pillows and he shifted, making room for Kara to lie beside him. She kissed him back with passion, trying to control herself so she wouldn't hurt him.
And just like that, both of them felt some kind of warmth and peace they didn't know they were looking for, in each other's arms.
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NOTES:
Spoiler Alert:Is not actually a prompt, is an idea that came from the comment from SolemnSaturn on AO3: "I like the idea of a party and Kara and Oliver meeting for the first time there and I like the chemistry that these two have." – Arrow and SG season 2, but it doesn't follow canon events from shows – same Earth.