Chapter 13

Sparks

Jim watched his daughter look down, disgraced, as they sat at her dining room table.

"I can't believe this," he yelled crossly. "All this time you've been gallivanting at night as Batgirl!"

"I was going to tell you eventually, I swear. I was just waiting for the right time," Barbara explained sorrowfully.

"Why do I have trouble believing that?"

"I only want to help Gotham," she stated with tears flowing down her face.

"You're too young to be going out fighting crime!"

"I'm twenty-two, I can take care of myself!"

"I don't care how old you are, this city is too dangerous!" he stated firmly. "What if something happened and I couldn't get there in time?"

"I have others helping me. Batman, Robin, any members of the Justice League."

"And when they're not there? Who's looking out for you then?!"

"Supergirl, she always has my back."

"What about tonight? Why wasn't she there to help you?"

"That was just one time. If she had known I was in trouble she would have rushed to save me."

"But she wasn't! You could have been killed! How can you call her a good partner for almost letting something bad happen to you?!"

"Kara wouldn't let anything bad happen to me." She immediately recognized her mistake, but her father had already pieced it together before she could say anything.

"Kara... she's… she's Supergirl isn't she?!"

"Please don't tell anyone. Be mad at me, punish me if you have to, but please don't tell anyone about Kara."

"I knew there was a reason I didn't like her. She's a danger to you."

"She's the most reliable person I've worked with, just trust her."

"You really want me to put my trust in that d-" Jim stopped himself, but it was too late.

"Say it," demanded through bared teeth . "SAY IT!" He didn't speak, but she didn't need him to. "You were going to call her a dyke. Weren't you? I know it. You're never gonna change. You're never going to accept my relationship with Kara." she stated. "You know what? If she's not part of your family then neither am I."

"You can't be serious?"

"I am. If you're going to make me choose between you and her then I'm choosing Kara."

"But I'm not."

"Why do I have trouble believing that?" she said. She turned to leave and pulled on her mask. "Goodbye James," she said bitterly on her way to the window.

"Barbara please wait-"

"Why? I thought you didn't want a freak for a daughter," Batgirl coldly said. She grabbed her grappling gun and made her way to the rooftops.

Jim spotted a photo of him, his wife, and Barbara when she was five. Tears formed in his eyes as he went to look at it. They were so close to repairing their relationship, but that seemed impossible now.

"I'm sorry, Barbara," he whispered to the image as tears began to roll down his cheek.

Barbara sat between two statues on a rooftop, with her legs tucked up to her chest. A devastated expression covered her face as she cried. A small part of her felt guilty for her decision, he was her father and the person who raised her into the woman she was today. He was there in her darkest hour. Joyful memories of them, flashed in her mind, yet a small voice in her head assured her of her choice. He didn't approve of her girlfriend, nor did he accept her. She had been happy for the last seven months without him, why would things be any different?

"Barbara?" Batgirl was brought back to reality. She wiped away the tears as Supergirl approached her. She let out a sigh of relief before flying down to her and embracing her with open arms. "Oh, I was so worried." She pulled away to look eye-to-eye with her. "Are you ok?"

"I've been better."

"What do you mean?"

Barbara hesitated for a second. "I may have overestimated how many people I could fight on my own."

"They didn't hurt you, did they?"

"No, but they did manage to tie me up and throw me off the roof."

"Wait till I catch them," her partner threatened through gritted teeth.

"No need, the police already got them. But..."

"But what?"

"My mask fell off, they didn't see me but... Jim did."

"What?"

"He knows, I'm Batgirl."

"How did he take it?"

"About as well as he did when he found out about us."

Kara wasn't sure what to say next. "Well, I'm sure he'll get over it."

"It's more than that," Barbara remorsefully began. "We got into a fight and I-" Tears began to fill her blue eyes. "... I accidentally told him you were Supergirl." She was close to sobbing. "I didn't mean to, it just slip-"

"It's ok, it's ok," Kara reassured her and wiped away the tears. "I'm sure he won't tell anyone."

"I hope so."

"I'm sure he won't." She paused. "I take it I'm not his favorite person at the moment."

"Well, this time you don't have to get back in his good books."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm done with him."

Kara's eyes went wide. "You mean, you're cutting him out of your life?"

"Yes, and don't try to talk me out of it," Barbara stated firmly.

"That's a little extreme, just for us."

"It's not just that." Her voice was as bitter as a lemon. "During our fight, he almost called you THAT word."

"Oh."

"If you're not part of his family, then I'm not part of his."

Kara thought for a moment, but she knew she couldn't talk her out of this. "Ok, but if you change your mind-"

"I can assure you that won't happen."

Kara just nodded, taken back by how coldly she spoke. "We better get back to Clark. He owes you an apology," she said, then added. "And don't try and say he doesn't." Barbara smiled as her girlfriend picked her up and they flew under the red night sky. "We're going to have to tell Bruce about what happened."

"I'm sure he'll understand."

From a vacant building, Clark taught Lana how to properly fly.

"Just take it slowly," he instructed a few feet from the roof.

She slowly walked off the edge and began to hover, looking down nervously.

"Don't look down," he advised her. "Just look forward."

She nodded and slowly moved ahead, trying her best to keep in a straight line only stopping once she reached him.

"Not bad." he complimented.

"Thanks."

"Now we just have to go to that building," he directed to another skyscraper.

"It seems a bit far doesn't it?"

"Don't worry I'll be right behind you. If anything happens, I'll catch you."

Lana nodded and slowly began to fly with Superman close behind her. As she flew the gentle night air blew through her long hair. A smile spread across her face as her confidence rose. Before she knew it, she had reached the other building.

"Someone's a quick learner."

She turned to face him. "Thanks," she gasped. Clark had stopped halfway.

"Clark, why did you do that? I could have fallen."

"But you didn't, did you?" he replied.

"Touche," she replied. "So, what's next?"

"Just a few more flying lessons, then tomorrow I'll help you control your powers."

"I'm guessing that will require somewhere with fewer buildings."

"Yes," he stated. "Now we're going to go a little further with a bit more speed." He pointed to a billboard, in the distance.

"Race ya," she playfully challenged.

"No racing, we're training."

"Oh come on, can't we have a little fun while we do this?"

He just gave her a stern look.

"Alright, Mr. Grump, have it your way."

They began to fly towards the billboard at a slightly faster speed, side by side. Lana moved a few inches forward and Clark copied her distance. She inched again and he followed suit, and then she zoomed off. He groaned before going after her.

"I'm gonna win," she teased.

"It's not a race."

They were neck and neck as they came closer to the billboard, but at the last minute, Clark just managed to get ahead by an inch and arrived there first.

"Looks like I bet you," he joked.

"Oh, so now it's race?" she sarcastically said.

"I didn't say it was."

"But you were thinking it."

"No, I wasn't."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes, I was just saying I got here first."

"That sounds like something someone who won a race would say."

"Well, I won't say I won, I just managed to get here before you."

Unable to hold it in anymore the two began to chuckle before sitting down. They were so busy laughing at their childish banter, that they had failed to notice the advertisement on the billboard was a poster of a romance film between two old flames.

"Feels great to laugh again," he whispered in relief.

"What do you mean do mean again?" she asked.

"Um... nothing."

"Nothing? You just said something that sounds like you haven't had a good laugh in a while."

"Well you know, with everything going on, I haven't had a chance to laugh."

Lana just raised an eyebrow in suspicion and Clark gave her an uneasy look.

She sighed, "Alright, but promise me if something is wrong you will tell me?"

"I will."

They caught sight of his cousin and her girlfriend. He let out a sigh, as he prepared for what was to come.

"Barbara, I-"

"Before you say anything, I need to tell you something first," Barbara interjected and quickly explained the situation.

"You told him who Kara was?!"

"It was an accident," Kara defended.

He let out a sigh as he put his hand to his face, rubbing his eyes. "Did you at least manage to convince him not to tell anyone?"

"I've asked, practically begged," Barbara admitted.

"Did he agree?"

"I'm not sure."

"You mean you didn't wait for his response?"

"He didn't answer, he just went back to hating Kara."

"Oh my." Lana gasped.

"And, I cut him out of my life."

"I'm sorry to hear that," he stated. "And I'm sorry for calling you an idiot."

"It's ok," Barbara accepted.

"So what now?" Kara asked.

"I think the only option is for you to ask him." He then turned to Barbara. "And you're going to have to inform Batman, immediately."

They nodded. Supergirl grabbed hold of Batgirl and flew off.

"So, are we done for the night?" Lana asked.

He thought for a few seconds. "We'll train for another hour then call it a night."

"Alright."

They took off as well, unaware of the purple car traveling the streets below.

In his iconic vehicle, the Joker Mobile, the Clown Prince sped to Gotham's National Bank. Tagging along were his goons and new partner in crime who held a bucket of water.

"Why do you have that bucket, dearie?" he asked.

"Let's just say, that want to make a splash on my first day," she said in a darkly humorous tone.

"Just don't try to upstage me. Remember you are my second in command. Got it." he dryly threatened.

"Yes Puddin'," she rolled her eyes.

A little while later, the car came to a stop in an alleyway with a dead end.

"Now just stay here and keep watch," he ordered his girlfriend.

"Okey dokey Jokey," Lethal said in a sing-song voice.

Joker grinned before he and his gang left for the heist. Once they were out of sight, her smile turned to a sneer and she rolled her eyes. She got out and stood in front of the car to look for a target, like a crocodile waiting for its prey.

It wasn't long before Liverwire came into the area. As she made her way through the telephone wires, she spotted the silhouette of a familiar person.

"Oh, this is just too perfect." she chuckled to herself. She exited the wires and walked causally over to her target.

"Hello, Ms.-"

Suddenly the figure turned around and threw water at her. Livewire screamed in agony as her powers weakened. She coughed as Lynx came into the light to reveal her new persona.

"Hello, Livewire."

"What the-"

"My my, how helpless you are without your powers," Lynx mocked as she readied her crowbar.

"Lois?"

"Please, call me Lethal Lynx from now on," she paused for effect. "or with the little time you have left." She swang the crowbar with enough force to drop the electric woman to her knees.

Livewire tried to crawl away, but without her powers, she was helpless.

"Run, run, run as fast as you can. But I'll still catch you, I'm a Lethal woman." she sang as she continued to attack her before letting out a psychopathic laugh. Her victim's body was covered in deep bloody cuts.

"Stop, please," she begged, but her pleas of mercy fell on a heart of stone. She soon reached a wall, her eyes darting around for a way to escape to no avail.

Lethal cornered her helpless victim. "Lights out Liverwire. Lights out." As she loaded up the final blow, someone roughly grabbed her wrist.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Joker yelled.

"Putting out this spark." she venomously spat back.

"You're supported to be keeping an eye out for heroes."

"Well, we were supposed to get revenge tonight," she argued back.

"We'll discuss this when we get home. Now come."

Begrudgingly, Lethal hopped into the car, leaving Livewire, helplessly near death.

Kara dropped Barbara back home and went to look for Jim. She found him alone outside of the police station, so she joined him.

"Mr. Gordon."

"Ms. Kent." he greeted.

"Look, I know you hate me right now, but please don't tell-"

"I won't, your secret's safe with me."

"Thank you. May I ask why?" She asked, taken by surprise.

Jim turned away slightly to hide his emotions. "Because I don't want to put my little girl in danger."

She was silent for a moment. She and then nodded. "Thank you."

"Just promise you'll look after her."

"I will," she agreed before parting ways.

In her apartment, Barbara informed her mentor about the reveal and unmasking through video chat.

"You're lucky it was just your father. If had been anyone else, then I think you would have had to leave Gotham." Bruce realistically stated.

"You don't think he'll tell anyone about Kara?"

"Unlikely, doing so would put you in danger."

Barbara hummed in agreement just as her girlfriend came in through the window. "Good news. He agreed to keep our identities a secret.".

"Oh, thank god."

"Good, just be more careful in the future," he reminded them.

"I will."

"By the way, any luck with finding Lois?"

"Not yet," she informed him.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come back?"

"No, it's fine. But we will call if we do."

"Good." He looked at the alarm clock on his bedside table. "Well, I have to get going, good night."

"Goodnight, Bruce," they said before hanging up.

Bruce exhaled as he put down the phone and went to adjust his bowtie in the mirror. As tonight was Zatanna's last night, they had agreed to attend a play at the local theatre after her show. As he put together the finishing touches of his outfit, there was a knock on the door. Opening it revealed his date.

"Evening Brucey," the sexy raven-haired magician greeted. She wore lovely long sparkling navy blue dress that perfectly displayed her back and cleavage with matching heels and earrings.

"Evening, Zee," he greeted. "Lovely dress. Store-bought or did you use your magic?"

"Pure magic, although I had to buy the heels." she jested.

"I must say you did a beautiful job."

"Thank you," she graciously accepted with a sly grin on her flawless face.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing. Come on we're going to be late."

Bruce nodded and locked the door before walking arm in arm to watch their show.

In Gotham, Clark and Lana, now in civilian clothes, stood outside of her hotel.

"Thanks for walking me back here," she said.

"No problem. So, how did you find your first day?"

"Surprising, but I'll get used to it."

"Glad to hear it."

"So, how do you think I did?"

"Pretty good. But tomorrow will be harder."

"I accept the challenge."

He chuckled, but suddenly stopped as he caught the glimpse of a twinkle in Lana's eye.

"Something wrong?" she asked.

"No, just something in my eye," he lied. "So, same time tomorrow?"

"I can't wait," she said enthusiastically.

As he walked down the street, Clark wondered if he really saw Lana's eyes sparkle? He shook his head. It couldn't be, it was just his mind playing tricks on him. But unbeknownst to him, Lana was questioning the same thing herself.

Barbara lay awake in bed even as Kara slept soundly by her side. She felt that she may have been hard on her father and should have given him another chance.

Just then Kara turned over and her arm dropped over the redhead's waist.

Barbara looked down and wrapped her fingers around her girlfriend's hand. Her mind changed, her father was out of her life for good.

She had made the right decision… didn't she?