Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Seeing Red

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 23: I’m that Guy

“I’m sorry Diana. Your half-brother may have influenced World War 1, but my family killed a planet. I win.”

Diana had made her way to the floor by now, taking up the same pose as Kara. They had been playing who had the worse family for an hour since they had told their true stories. Diana admitted she was losing despite having Hades as an uncle and Hera as a step mom. Her half-brother was evil as well obviously, but the rest of her family, including her Amazonian sisters, were good people.

“Your mother wanted you to live. She did whatever it took to ensure your life. My mother…”

“Don’t say it.” Kara stopped her. “I can understand buying that as a kid but c’mon, believing the whole clay story even when you were an adult? You were kind of asking for that. What Mom is going to say, hey sweetie, I had a one-night stand with the king of Gods, so I could give birth to what he considered a weapon to kill his son? That wasn’t going to happen. You had to have figured this out before then.”

“I didn’t! I grew up on an island, hidden from the world by magic! No one ever told me any differently. If someone said you were born from magic, then you believed it!”

Kara tried to appear judgmental but couldn’t keep the smile from her face.

“Fine. I give you that. I believed a lot of things before the truth slapped me in the head. I will give you a break but that was nothing. We may be somewhat equal on the mother front regarding good intentions, but my father and his brother destroyed a planet and my aunt, and her husband tried to kill the human race.”

Diana knew from her early education and training when a battle was lost. It was not something she ever enjoyed, even when she trained against Antiope. Her aunt would defeat her easily early on, yet Diana refused to yield until she was on the ground with the tip of a sword against her throat.

“You win.” she admitted. “You definitely have the worst blood family. But your family now appears to be wonderful.”

“They are.” Kara admitted. “It’s hard though, isn’t it? The two of us, isolating ourselves, watching a world we will never be a part of go by, while we sit on the sidelines. We interacted with people but were never one of them. My old therapist said it was my decision to not get involved with humans outside my family. I don’t know if that is true or not. I just know it was hard. “

Kara took a moment, her head in the past, a past filled with joy and regrets.

“Alex and I, we had a different set of problems than normal people, my parents did as well. We lived our own lives, hiding from the rest of the world, hiding huge secrets. While most 19-year-old college freshman went to parties, went on Spring Break trips, spent years without a care in the world, we were building a Fortress in Antarctica, spying on the government and billionaires who may have wanted us dead, fighting crime, dealing with natural disasters, hanging out with a billionaire who dressed like a bat and had nearly as many issues as I did. Bruce has always been better at controlling them though. He has a discipline I never learned.”

Diana could understand to a point. She had voluntarily stayed out of humanities affairs, bitter over the Great War, bitter about losing Steve, watching humans take for granted that which she desperately wanted and never could have.

“It sucks, doesn’t it?” Kara continued. ” All these gifts, we can do anything, be anywhere, but it’s the powers that define us and limit what we do. I feel so strange right now. In the past, I could simply take off a bracelet or necklace or unscrew a bulb and everything would be fine. I would be strong again. As much as I hated these powers, I made myself rely on them for my own security. How can you handle immortality, Diana? How can you become close to people that you know are going to die one day, from old age, or some accident, or other tragedy?”

“Yes, it is not easy. I wonder often how I would have felt, if Steve lived. I would have given it all up to grow old with him, but it wasn’t meant to be. Had he lived I would have stayed with him, watching him grow old, taking care of him and then mourning when he died. If we had children, I could very well have watched them grow old and die. Perhaps they would have been immortal, perhaps not, but the idea of such loss makes it more frightening to become involved with others. I left one island where I was isolated from the world and came to another island where I isolated myself.”

Kara watched her carefully and wondered how she did it. How did she remain alone for so long, no family, no friends? Kara may have felt isolated from the world, but she had her family, she had friends, few they may have been. Diana had been completely alone.

“And now you will be leading a team of superheroes. All three of them are important to me, J’onn, Bruce, Barry. Protect them as much as you can. I realize the risks they take, we all took, but the three of them don’t think they can lose. Not really. You will have your work cut out for you. Bruce may want you to lead but he will argue, push back, take the most reckless route for him. J’onn has his own demons, though he handles them better and Barry… he has been almost killed countless times. Being fast isn’t always the answer. It could make him feel invincible at times, just enough that he forgets he isn’t invincible in a fight. At least I think so. I could be wrong. Just take care of them.”

Diana watched her carefully, wondering how Kara Danvers would stay in Midvale, no doubt watching the news and seeing her friends’ exploits. The girl was a fighter… at least she had been. Now she had a different fight and it was against herself, one that most likely should have been fought long ago. The spark she had seen in her eyes before, albeit in the limited time she knew Kara, seemed to be hidden now. She seemed almost resigned to the fact that it was over. Her eyes had a dullness to them, perhaps because of the medication.

Kara also appeared relaxed, comfortable with grease smeared on her face and hands filthy. She had a smile that seemed natural and not forced. Perhaps this happiness would be the thing that kept her from getting back into the game, so to speak.

“So, what are your plans when you leave this place?” Diana asked, curious as to where she would go and what she would do with her new life.

Kara shook her head and chuckled. “Despite being a millennial, I do not plan to live with my parents forever. Once Mom and Dad are comfortable, or at least somewhat confident that I won’t drink… or use drugs… or try to kill myself, I plan to buy the land my cave sits on. It belongs to the state, but it can be bought. I will clear out the trees and either transplant them or use the wood in building my house by the cliff. There isn’t a beach down below, but it was the first place I saw the ocean. I had run out of land there and found the cave. Alex saw me walking into it and… the rest is history. I have been drawing plans for a house I plan to build, as much of it as I can by myself. I can run power and water two miles to the nearest poles and pipe system. Then I will build my home. It will be a two bedroom, so Alex can have her own room for once if she wants to stay and Clark can have a room for when he stays over. It will be close enough to my family that I can see them every day. It will be mine.”

“That sounds nice.” Diana admitted, never having owned a house herself. She had always stayed in apartments early on, then lofts and eventually condos and penthouses as her savings grew over a century. “So, I suppose you plan to sell this bike? What auction house will you be using? I may be interested in it.”

Kara laughed, shaking her head.

“Auction houses take fees and taxes. I can get two mil on the black market. Bruce has a friend I have spoken to a few times. She is familiar with various collector’s markets that aren’t known to the public. I won’t take less than 2 million. My friend Nyssa has several shell corporations that I can launder the money through to avoid taxes as much as possible.”

Diana had to laugh. The superhero who according to Cat Grant stood for truth, justice and the American way, had connections in the shady world of black market antiquity collections and money laundering. On second thought, perhaps that was the American way at least, if not truth or justice.

“I still may be interested. I am very familiar with the underworld of antiquities. Let me know.”

“I will.” Kara promised. “Hey, could you do me a favor? Bruce… next week is the anniversary of his parents’ murder. The two of us go to the alley they were killed and leave flowers. I always bring white roses. Could you accompany him? I don’t think I will be able to make it and I don’t want him to be alone.”

Diana smiled and placed a hand on Kara’s shoulder.

“I give you my word, I will be there. I will take care of them, Kara. Don’t worry about the world. You have done enough. It’s my turn now. I will also make sure Barry always comes back to you.”

The blonde shook her head, looking away from the woman and her eyes seemed even duller, but Diana had a sinking feeling that tears would be coming soon.

“What’s wrong?” she asked softly.

“I could love him. I could love Barry. A part of me already does. I think if I would let myself admit it… but Barry doesn’t belong to me and never will. He belongs to the Flash, the same way I belonged to Supergirl. He will never give it up. If he did, he would resent me for it, so I would never ask him to. He will have a lot going on and… we are going to have very different lives. He will stay in Central City and becoming involved with this team, working with his own, his job… something has to give, and I won’t take any of those things from him no matter how much I want to.”

Diana squeezed Kara’s shoulder gently and winked at her.

“Why don’t you let him decide what he wants instead of making decisions for him before it is even an issue? Live your life, Kara. Don’t be afraid of love, or all this can be for nothing. I have lived without love for a very long time. I have never let myself move on. Perhaps it is time I did. It is time we both did. Now is not the time to decide what we can and cannot have. I will let you continue on your bike. I suppose if Selena Kyle will be selling your project, she owes you a favor?”

Kara smiled, not surprised that Diana knew who Selena was.

“I may have let her get away a few times with certain illegal activities. She is a friend of a friend after all. I have therapy in an hour, followed by medication, blood tests and group counseling. Then to top it off, Shay will put me through a series of exercises to see if my coordination is improving, my mother will watch everything I eat to see if my appetite is improving and I will have about an hour before my mouth is inspected to ensure I have taken my evening meds. I should probably clean up. It’s been a pleasure to meet the real you, Diana.”

“The same, Kara. I am glad you are here. I have no doubt, like the others you have fought, you will win this battle. We will see each other again.”

“Hey, before you leave, I have to know. That wasn’t really a watch you were looking at, was it?”

Diana smiled and shook her head. “A woman has her secrets, Kara. I will see you soon. Don’t worry about your friends. I will take care of them. You rest and be happy. It’s my turn now.”

Kara was left alone, with her bike and her cat who ran out of the elevator, Alex not far behind.

“So, that was her?” Alex asked, sitting on the floor.

“Yeah. So, Barry is going to wear the suit, right? You gave it to him? The upgraded one I mean.”

“Kara…” Alex warned.

“I’m not asking about what is going on in the world, Alex. You promised me you would make sure he wore it. Is he? Did he like it? Did you make him promise…”?

“Yes! Yes, he did like it and yes, he promised. Drop it. He is a big boy.”

“He is a big boy that has been hurt a lot, Alex. He is a hero, but he is beginning to know loss that may never stop. His mother, his father, but what about the next one? I won’t be out there with him. I can’t…”

“Do you need some more anxiety meds? She left and now you have your brain in superhero mode. Relax. Want to work out before group?”

Kara agreed, not wanting to lose any of her physique. It would be easy to wither away, due to the meds suppressing her appetite. She made herself eat. She had to but took no enjoyment out of it. Shay said this would change but if not, Kara could live with it. She knew life would never be perfect and a side effect of losing her appetite occasionally was a small price to pay.

That night after an exhausting day, she took her sedative and as usual fell into a deep sleep.

Once the lights were off and only minimal staff patrolled the halls, making sure that Kara Danvers did not take a stroll or try and find sharp objects, and Caitlin Snow was outside, a half mile from the cabin with Dante, no one noticed the barely seen red streak that entered the cabin. Rather than using the palm reader, the streak phased straight down the elevator shaft, to Kara’s level, phased out of the elevator and into her room.

Barry Allen stood next to Kara’s bed, listening to her gently snore, sleeping on her back for once and completely oblivious to the world.

If Kara had seen him, she would have been shocked by his appearance. His hair was unkept and shaggy, as if he hadn’t cut it in months, along with the full beard on his face. He was also much thinner, despite being thin naturally.

Barry reached down and gently ran his hand over her cheek as eyes began to shimmer with unshed tears.

“You made me swear I would never change the past, no matter what. I wish I had never swore that to you. You saved the world but there was no one to save you. I wasn’t fast enough, I guess, or good enough. None of us were. I won’t wake you, but I had to see you one more time. I would kill to hear you tell me you love me one more time. I love you, Kara. I love you so much.”

He took a moment, not moving, drinking in her appearance. He had looked at pictures of her constantly. He had nothing else to do with his time. Everything he cared about was gone when she was gone. Barry wasn’t strong, and knew she would be disappointed, if she was watching over him.

The man leaned down and gently kissed her lips, then with one last longing look, he disappeared, leaving the way he came, too fast for anyone or any alarm or camera to notice.

Central City

Barry watched his foster brother run on the treadmill at incredible speeds, faster than Barry had been when he started out. Though he was a blur to the others, Barry saw the smile on his face clearly. He also wondered if Jessie would have been affected as well. After they showed no powers once the dark matter cloud had passed, everyone relaxed, thinking them unaffected other than the deep coma Jessie had been until Barry woke her.

“Any chance of getting Caitlin back, Barry?” Cisco asked, sitting at the console in the treadmill room. “I think I am getting a read on his vitals, but no one knows your physiology better than Caitlin. How much longer do you think she will be at her new job?”

Joe, Iris and Cisco were all looking at him now.

“It’s her job, Cisco. How am I supposed to know? I have talked to her, but she hasn’t given me specifics. From what I understand it’s a fluid situation with no set time limit.” he offered, a vague answer, but the only one he was willing to give.

Before any protests could be raised, a smiling Wally West was next to Barry.

“No need to worry about my vitals. I feel great! I can do this all day. How about a run around town, Barry?”

No one said anything, confusing Wally. Barry didn’t mind the idea, but he knew things were far from normal. The mood of the place had been different since Caitlin left and Barry began spending the majority of his time away. Morale was down, and Wally’s emerging powers had Joe and Iris on edge, Cisco’s mind was in different places and Barry’s was split all over the place. His therapist would be coming to Central City tomorrow and he had planned to see Kara on Saturday. Now his training would be held at the hanger that belonged to S.T.A.R., away from prying eyes. He thought of including Wally, but Wally did not need to learn what Barry was learning yet. Maybe never.

A week ago, Ty Gavin had shown him Kara’s favorite technique for getting someone in a position to break the opponents neck. Gavin had mentioned that she used it to take out a Kryptonian in a bar and to kill her aunt. She did this when she was 18. The idea of Kara doing something like that was hard for him to fathom but he believed the man. Wally wasn’t much older now than Kara had been when she killed her first alien If Wally learned to fight like that, had it engrained in him, how long before he used it as second nature, the way Kara and Alex apparently did?

Was it better for him to phase a hand in an enemy’s heart though? Barry could see from his eyes, that the boy planned to be a hero. What if he had to decide, like Barry had to with Zoom? Would he make the same mistake Barry did? If he didn’t, if he killed, then how long before he began the path that led Kara to an underground rehab facility. Regular alcohol didn’t affect speedsters but if there was alcohol that affected someone like Kara, it would most definitely affect Barry or Wally.

A news alert signal rang out from Cisco’s phone. He checked it out and turned to the monitor, pulling up the Worldwide News.

“Oh, that’s not good.” Cisco mumbled. “Wild fire broke out in California, burning quickly. It’s been so dry… campers are caught on all sides.”

“No big deal.” Wally told the group. “Supergirl took out the last one in an hour with that freeze breath and got everyone to safety. She will be there any second. Can we pull it up on the big seen in the control room? I love seeing her in action.”

Joe, Iris and Cisco looked at Barry, wondering if Supergirl would show up. He had told none of them where she was or what she had been doing but her disappearance, along with Barry’s extended time in what they thought was National City and Caitlin’s sudden emergency job, had them all suspicious as to what was going on. Barry was sure they could tell by his face that Supergirl would not be showing up this time.

“Cisco, a guy named Kelex is going to put you into my com on the suit I just got. I need to take the suit I had been wearing and wrap people up in it. It’s the only thing I can think of that will allow me to run them to safety through flames.”

“I’m coming…”

“Don’t even think about following me, Wally. You have a long way to go before we talk about you being on the streets. I’m serious.”

Barry grabbed his suit and the suit Cisco made him and was gone, moving faster than he ever had.

He could make it to Kentucky in thirty-two minutes and suspected he could be in California in ten to fifteen.

“Cisco, are you there?”

“Yeah, why did I just talk to a guy that sounds like Loki? Not that I am complaining. Any other Marvel villains I need to know about?”

“What’s my speed?”

Kelex answered.

“Currently you are traveling…”

“I give out the vital info here, Loki. Sit back and do whatever it is you do… I have no idea what that might be since I don’t know you or why you are patched into Barry’s com.”

“Kelex, I am putting down the visors, give me a trail to follow and let Cisco into my system. Cisco, give me locations of trapped campers. You should see on the display in front of you what my position is in relation to theirs’s and the forest and what I am seeing. Do you have me?”

“Yeah… do you seriously have infrared on this bad boy?” Cisco asked.

“Won’t do me a lot of good, in a wildfire. I’m switching to 3 D high def view, Kelex, Caitlin is busy, so I need you to keep track of my vitals, let me know if I get too hot.”

“I can control the temperature of the suit from here. I will keep you at 74 degrees.” Kelex assured him. “Because the mouth area is open, please be sure to keep your mouth shut and only breathe clean air. I will be monitoring your oxygen levels in your blood stream.”

“Okay, Barry.” Cisco broke in. “I think I got this figured out. I… yeah, I’m going to… I have… there are no cameras inside the fire zone. Right now, I am going to lay down a path… wow, you should be there in eight minutes. Man, you have never moved this fast! Line of sight coming up now. Just follow the lines of the 3 D… this is so sweet! I am taking this suit apart when you get back and figuring…”

“Do not touch the suit.” Kelex told him immediately.

“But first I am going to take apart whoever this Kelex is.” Vibe decided. “Okay, pulling up now.”

“Cisco, this says I need to make a U turn? That doesn’t seem right.” Barry noticed.

Cisco checked the system, completely unfamiliar to him and found the problem.

“Got it! Should be straight now. I’m going to try and find some of the trapped, but you may just have to follow some trails and hope you get lucky.”

Barry knew what he had to do and was sure this was going to irritate his friend. Unfortunately, he did not have time to appease egos, so a team up would have to take place.

“Kelex, how many spy satellites have capacities to investigate the area?”

“Six, four Russian and two Chinese of which I already have control. The fire is only one hundred square miles in circumference right now but is growing fast. You will need to…”

“Yeah. I got it. Send the images to Cisco’s screen. Cisco plot out targets and safe zones. I need the ones closest to the fires first.”

“On it… wow, these really are Russian satellites. How did you get these, Loki These are state of the art, impossible…”?

“They are no more complicated than a set of building blocks to me. Can we concentrate?”

Cisco and Joe looked at each other in confusion. Who the hell was this that could compare secret classified satellites the US most likely couldn’t hack, to children’s building blocks?

“Something tells me this Kelex and that tech Barry is wearing is not from around here.” Joe whispered to Cisco who agreed. Something like this…

“Cisco Ramon, I am sending you locations of cell phones in the forest as well. I am accessing the speakers on the phones and sorting out the voices to determine injuries. I will give you any indications of immediate life-threatening injuries to consider in your plotting of evacuation.”

“How in the hell is he turning on cell phones and using them as microphones?” the man mumbled. “Felicity can’t even do that.”

Iris shrugged her shoulder, keeping one arm around Wally, scared he would run off. “Something tells me whoever or whatever this Kelex is, he isn’t from around here.”

“Yeah, definitely alien tech. Look at the code he is using to hack…”

“Can we concentrate guys? I can see the fire, Cisco. Give me some campers.” Barry asked.

“Got it. Turn 12 degrees right and a mile in. You are going to pass through a wall of flame. If you keep the extra suit on the person the flames shouldn’t hurt them. You are going to have to run them out the way you came in. The winds are blowing the fire south west. I have twenty targets right now. Kelex, any chatter from your privacy invading cell phone tricks?”

“Only frightened people, one sprained ankle. No immediate life-threatening injuries but smoke inhalation will become a problem for some closest to the firewall. I would recommend plotting a course that could save the ones closest… you will figure it out. I will shut up now.”

Cisco shook his head and went to work.

Two hours later, Barry had evacuated over forty people following Cisco’s directions and had begun making a wall of wind to divert the course of the fire per the Fire Chief’s directions.

“Barry, your electrolyte levels are dangerously depleted, and your blood sugar is low. Unless you want to pass out I would recommend making a quick stop at the mobile command center and to eat at least thirty donuts or 16 energy bars and drink three gallons of water with an electrolyte additive. I can see what you need is being brought into the command center right now.”

The four at S.T.A.R. labs watched into the night, as Barry circled the forest and diverted then snuffed out fires per Cisco’s suggestions. Kelex stayed quiet except for an occasional update on his vitals.

“I don’t get it.” Wally said. “I know she hasn’t been seen for a week, but this is big. If Barry wasn’t there, it would have grown from a couple thousand acres to a million by morning, considering the winds. Where is Supergirl? You think she would be here, right? Even if she is taking some vacation. I read an article on a fan club site that thinks she goes on some sort of vacation every two years. She did the same thing two years ago, remember? She was gone for like two or three months? Still though, unless she went to another planet it’s weird that she would sit this out.”

“She can’t do it anymore.” Cisco whispered. “She either lost her powers and Caitlin is trying help her get them back… or she has quit… or is sick. That’s why Barry has been acting so strange, or part of the reason and he won’t say anything about her.”

Joe nodded his head, figuring that made sense. “It would explain how he has been acting lately, always tired, disappearing to National City, always tense. It would also explain how we suddenly have an extraterrestrial hacker who made him a suit that can control his body temperature and know when his blood sugar is low. Have you looked at it yet, Cisco?”

The man shook his head. “I’m afraid to ask. Something is going on that’s weird. Caitlin is involved, Barry is involved and even Batman has hardly been seen in Gotham. I just can’t understand why he won’t trust us with the truth. We have always…”

“Because what is going on, is personal, as in not public knowledge or for you to know.” Kelex cut in. He had been so quiet, Cisco thought he wasn’t monitoring any longer. But of course, if Barry was in that suit, he knew that voice would be there. He also wondered who else was listening in.

“My bad, Loki. Chill out. Who are you anyway? Is that personal or are we allowed to know?”

“All I am at liberty to say is I was born a long, time ago in a galaxy, far, far away.”

That simple statement brought silence to the room and a smile to Cisco Ramon’s face for the first time that day.

“Kelex, we might just be friends after all.” the man admitted.

“Oh joy. My long life is now complete. Barry Allen is on his way back to Central City. It has been an annoying pleasure working with you, Mr. Ramon. Luckily for you, Alex has made a habit of second guessing me over the years, so I am used to cooperating with humans. Have a nice night. If you tear up my suit, the warranty will be void, and Batman will come see you while you sleep.”

The Block- four weeks later

It was mid-morning when Barry arrived, guessing he would find Kara in the gym. He had only seen her four times in the last month and felt guilty about this, but she seemed resigned, not surprised at all and that hurt.

One thing he had learned from phone conversations that had turned a bit impersonal other than an update on how their respective lives were going, is Kara’s routine. She held on to it, almost religiously. It made her feel comfortable. Meds in the morning then breakfast, time in the gym with Alex or Bruce who stopped by more than Barry did, afternoons in therapy, whatever was on the schedule that day and then four hours of time in the garage, working on her reclamation project that was nearly complete. Afterwards was dinner then two hours of whatever she wanted to do, followed by evening meds and sleep.

She had begun to look better, her hair shining once again, and smiling often, a smile that didn’t look as if it was forced. Apparently, she had spoken to Cat Grant on the phone more than once, who was very aware that Kara was not coming back to National City or taking to the skies ever again. Instead, as Barry knew from TV and the papers, the media was more focused on the new mystery woman who carried a sword and shield and had the strength to beat aliens and metahumans into submission, along with the Martian Manhunter and Batman. Barry was often included in these as well, keeping close contact with the team, if not an official member and working with his Central City team, then afternoons with Wally, helping the young man hone his skills. There were also the nights during the week when he either visited National City or the hanger at S.T.A.R. for training with his team of DEO agents. Of course, there was therapy with Jessica every other Friday night, but she had taken to meeting him at a hotel in Central City or her house in National City the nights he was there.

Wally was coming along, faster than Joe or Iris wanted. The two were very against him becoming a superhero and while Barry didn’t blame them, the idea of him doing it anyway and not being prepared, was even more dangerous.

So today was a rare opportunity. Today he would get to see Kara, no matter how tired he felt. Something had to give, and he was determined it not be her.

And she seemed resigned that it would be her.

To his surprise, she was waiting for him outside the cabin this morning.

“Hey. You look good.” he noted, not lying. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, and her blue t shirt over her cut offs fit her well. She had appeared to have gained muscle, putting her near her previous size. Her eyes did not appear tired as they usually did.

“Thanks. Liking the suit?” she asked.

“Yeah, it’s great. Cisco is a bit upset that Kelex won’t give him complete control but the two have come to some sort of cease fire. I haven’t told him he is dealing with a flying robot supercomputer from a much more advanced civilization.”

“That’s good. He probably doesn’t need to worry about competition. Caitlin is going home tomorrow.” Kara informed him, surprising the man.

“But… she was helping…”

“The medications work. Shay can take care of any tweaking that needs to be done. I am… I am going home tomorrow. Mom or Dad will bring take me to their lab sometimes and monitor the medication levels, pass on information to her through Kelex but there is no need for me to be at the Block anymore. Leslie is going to continue therapy with me over a secure server and Kara Danvers will be going to meetings, support groups in Raleigh. I’m coloring my hair tonight, cutting about four inches off and thinning it. I’m also getting regular glasses, so my face can be seen in photos Mom wants to take. Kelex will protect me from facial recognition. I guess I am going to start… living life.”

“This is good?” Barry asked, thinking she should be much more excited.

“I haven’t been outside this place since out last trip to Louisville. I’ve been spending all my free time working on the bike. Now it’s done and so am I. Done here I mean. I knew the day was coming and it scares the hell out of me. I want to be home but, I guess I am just scared.”

The man could understand that to an extent. He had his fears, they all did. Kara’s were more vivid and constantly on her mind though.

“I talked to Caitlin this morning, helped her pack up. She said she will tell you everything she has been up to when she gets back to Central City. I guess she wants to talk to you and Cisco. I know you noticed she is hiding something from you.”

Barry shrugged his shoulders. Yes, he and Caitlin had talked on his visits, and he knew she was hiding something. The man assumed their conversations were not as warm as in Central City because she wouldn’t talk about Kara and that had been all Caitlin was here for.

That notion changed when he saw Dante and Caitlin walking back from the woods one night as he was leaving. Though he didn’t stop, he knew something was going on. He also knew Caitlin would tell him when she wanted to or not.

Kara decided to walk outside, rather than bringing him inside right away. She had missed her gym time, hoping he could make it, so the two could talk. It was a talk that was familiar and one that she hated to repeat again, but one that needed to happen.

The blonde began walking towards the forest in front of the cabin, not taking Barry’s hand as she usually did when they strolled. He hadn’t had a chance to change out of his suit but supposed it didn’t matter. They were completely alone in this isolated part of the world.

Once they had reached a familiar path the two took on his visits, she stopped.

“Barry, I need to talk to you about something…”

“No.” he told her quickly, surprising the girl.

“What do you mean, no? I haven’t even said anything.”

“You’ve said it before. Six years ago, but I doubt it will be any different now. Bottom line, is you have too many issues in your life right now, but the reality is you think you will be pulling me away from something, ruining my life. It won’t happen again. I’m not losing you again. You are not cutting me out.”

Kara looked away for a moment then faced him, taking both of his hands and grinning.

“You are the Flash. Bruce wants you on the team, the one Diana is running. We both know you are going to join. You have Central City and who knows what else? Something has to give, Barry. You look tired. Have you had a moment’s rest in the past three months?”

Barry shook his head. “I don’t give a damn. You won’t stop me from seeing you. I will just keep showing up in Midvale. Your parents love me, so I won’t have a problem getting in. I will keep showing up. You can’t exactly physically stop me anymore.”

Kara laughed quietly and shook her head. “You know you basically described stalking someone?”

Barry didn’t smile.

“I’m not playing the blame game here, Kara, but maybe if you hadn’t been so quick to give me up before this Supergirl stuff started, neither of us would be where we are. You may have thought you were doing the right thing, protecting me, but you knew that I knew, and you never gave me a choice. You decided it was too dangerous for me to be in your life, not me. I could have been there for you, we could have been there for each other. Maybe you would have taken this path and I would still have taken mine but maybe, just maybe we could have helped each other. Maybe I could have helped you deal with this life. You are trying to decide now how I spend my time, what my priorities are. It isn’t your choice, its mine.”

“Barry, it is my choice on who I spend time with and…” Kara started, before Barry interrupted her.

“Stop. Just stop. I’m not giving you up. You want me to be a friend that’s fine, but I am going to be a friend who sees you all the time, who you talk to about everything going on with you, who I will talk to about everything going on with me. I am going to be the friend who goes to open meetings with you. Yeah, I have done some research. I will be the guy who takes you to movies, walks along the beach, dinners at some restaurant where we can watch the sun set over the ocean. I’m going to be that guy, whether you like it or not.”

“Why? What we have, it’s never been, it’s never been what it could be. You don’t know me outside of this place. I really don’t know what is going to happen, I don’t know how I am going to respond to the outside world, what I am going to do with my free time.”

“Because you love me. I know you do. I love you too, or I wouldn’t be here, fighting for you. I haven’t been around as much the past few weeks because Wally… Wally developed speedster powers. I have been helping him, but he is almost as knowledgeable as I am, at least when I started out. We will continue to work but things are going to slow down.”

Kara let go of his hands and turned, continuing down the path, not happy that this conversation was not going the place it had to go.

Barry zipped in front of her, causing the blonde to close her eyes.

“Please don’t move that fast. I’m used to being able to see you and now, it just kind of throws my equilibrium off.”

The Flash shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t walk away from me when we are having a conversation and I won’t have to. You aren’t making the same mistake again. I made a mistake as well. I knew where you lived. I should have come to you, even after you caught that plane. I didn’t. I decided you would be better off without me and all my drama. I made that mistake and I won’t let us make the same mistakes again.”

“I’m going to walk away now.” Kara told him. “Do not run in front of me or zip or do whatever you call that.”

Barry did it anyway, causing Kara to nearly scream in frustration.

“You can’t love me, Barry! Nothing has changed. Yeah, maybe I’m not drinking or snorting drugs and maybe I’m not fighting bad guys, but I am a medicated pyscho! Is that what you want? Someone you always have to watch? Someone who could slip back into old habits so easily? Someone whose mood depends on medications and can’t sleep without pills? Do you really think you need that?”

“I need you and you need me. Don’t tell me who I can and cannot love. I realize as Supergirl you are probably used to making decisions for people, but you aren’t her anymore. You are just Kara Danvers and that is more than enough for me. You know you love me too. You have been getting ready to say these things to me for a month. You think I don’t know? You could have told me a long time ago to stay away. You didn’t have to take me above the clouds and kiss me.”

“No, I didn’t.” Kara agreed. “Haven’t you figured it out yet? I do what I want. I take what I want. I wanted to kiss you, so I did. I have always been like this! I wanted to hurt myself, so I did. I wanted to kill myself, so I tried, twice! I wanted to get high or drunk or both and I did all the time! I wanted to screw Grayson whenever I felt like it and I did! What don’t you get about me? I do what I want! I take what I want. Ask any alien on this planet. Nobody says no to Kara Zor El because she will kill them if they do. She is a killer!”

Barry shook his head, refusing to play this game.

“You do what you want, huh? Like you wanted to be here? I guess you weren’t kidnapped and brought here against your will? You stayed because it was the right thing to do, not just for your family. Throwing Dick Grayson in my face isn’t going to bother me either so save yourself the trouble. I don’t care about Grayson. You don’t want to be around me because it scares the hell out of you that you could actually love a guy. You didn’t love him. The fact that you are trying your best to push me away, shows me that you love me. It shows me how scared you are. I’m not giving up. You can stay in your room when I come over. I’ll play video games with Clark or maybe let Alex teach me how to shoot a gun, but I will be there. I’m not going away.”

“You have to.” she whispered, looking at the ground. “You have to.”

Barry placed a finger gently under chin and made her look up at him.

“No, I don’t. Not this time, Kara. I won’t make the same mistake again and neither will you.”

Kara began taking deep breaths to calm herself down. This wasn’t the way this was supposed to go. She controlled everything. She controlled when and where Grayson could see her. She was always in control. She planned to send Barry away to chase his destiny, free of her. Enough people worried about her. Even her little brother worried about her. He didn’t need this.

“The world needs the Flash.” she finally told him, trying to stay strong.

“And Kara Danvers and Barry Allen need each other. I’m going to kiss you now. I’ll move slowly so if you don’t want me to, feel free to hit me. If you let me, I am going to assume this conversation is over and we can celebrate your freedom and new life. The world can wait. It will always be there. We might not be, so we take advantage of the time we have, whether it is days or years.”

Barry did lean in, nervous the entire time but eventually his lips found the lips he dreamed about often. It was slow, gentle, but there was no mistaking it for what it was, the kiss of two people in love.

He reluctantly pulled back and was glad to see a smile on her face.

“Nothing I can do to get rid of you, is there?”

“Now you are getting it.” he concurred.

“Then come downstairs. I need to keep packing and its almost lunch time. My appetite is nearly the same as a normal human’s. You can watch me get syrup all over my face while I try and eat pancakes in the most lady like fashion.”

The trip back took more time, the two-moving hand in hand while Kara scanned the treetops for squirrels and birds. Alex was waiting for them when they returned.

“Breakfast is over, and Mom is not happy that you missed it. Better hurry and grab some grub before she force feeds you.” Alex suggested.

Kara agreed and moved towards the elevator. Alex asked Barry to stay behind. The man assured Kara it would be okay, and he and Alex waited until the elevator had closed before the older sister spoke.

“She tried to tell you to go away, didn’t she?”

“Kara told you that was her plan?”

Alex shook her head. “If there is one thing I know better than the biology of exotic and extraterrestrial life forms, it’s my little sister and what she is thinking. I’m guessing since you came back you told her you wouldn’t?”

“That’s exactly what I told her.” Barry confirmed.

“Good man.” Alex told him, very happy. The last thing Kara needed was to enact her old play book. If something was becoming out of control, she cut ties with those she could. It appeared Barry would be forcing her to use another playbook.

“Is that what you wanted to know? I figured you would have asked her.”

Alex shook her head and reached into her pocket, pulling out a ring. golden with a lightning bolt in the center circle.

“What is this?”

“Something Kelex has been working on. You’ve been carrying your regular clothes everywhere with you, stashing them in hidden places before you change, right? Then placing the suit in a bag?”

“That’s usually the way it goes.” he admitted.

“Seemed complicated. I guess you have figured out that Kryptonian fabric is awesome. The crystals they have are as well. You know everything in the Fortress came from a bag of small crystals, including Kelex?”

Barry was surprised. He had seen the Fortress briefly but never gave mud thought to where the tech came from.

“No, I didn’t realize that. How is it possible?”

Alex shrugged her shoulders. “How is deep space travel possible, using wormholes and breaches to travel thousands of light years away in a few days? Krypton figured it out. Kara could give you the technical details. The point is, these crystals can store and restore inorganic material. Your suit has too much tech, especially the exoskeleton and head gear, for it to be folded into anything small enough to fit in a ring. This ring however, has small crystal just under the lightning bolt that will open on your command. Put it on front of you and clench your fist three times. Get your normal clothes from wherever you stashed them and come back.”

Barry did so, blowing Alex’s short hair back.

“Squeeze the ring and do this fast. I don’t want to see you in your undies. Phase back out of your costume, squeeze your fist three times, jumps from your uniform to your clothes and then turn towards the uniform. The crystal that is under the lightning bold will suck up your uniform.”

Barry did so, in less than a half second and was indeed standing in front of where his uniform had been in his normal street clothes.

“Point it in front of you, squeeze hard three times and your uniform will be there. You can either change out of your clothes and use the crystal in the ring to absorb them after your suit is released or leave the suit on the ground. Congrats, you now have a Flash ring. It will take some practice. I got tired of carrying my outfit in a handbag. I stored in a compact with a flat crystal I kept in my back pocket. Of course it took me a little, no, a lot longer to change.”

“This is amazing, Alex. Thank you.”

The woman brushed it off. “It was Kara’s idea. She is always thinking about you. Go have lunch. I think I will take a walk myself.”

Barry moved quickly, wanting to join her as soon as possible and thank her.

Alex shook her head and laughed. “Romance in rehab. Who would have guessed it?” she said to herself and walked farther away from the cabin.

“They are gone, and I am not staying out here forever. You may be quiet, but until you can learn to lower your body temp to the surrounding area without dying, infrared is going to pick you up, Nyssa. Come out, come out.”

Alex turned around with a grin, as she thought, Nyssa standing behind her.

“Hello ninja girl. I’m guessing since you didn’t bother them on their walk, you aren’t here to see Kara?”

Nyssa shrugged her shoulders and stepped closer to the woman.

“I will give her a few days to settle in at home. In two days I would very much like to have dinner with you. Raleigh perhaps? Although the fine culture is lacking I have found one very good steak house. What do you say?”

Alex thought about it, looking up at the sky then back at the woman she knew would not leave her alone until she said yes.

“You are going to become a stalker if I say no, aren’t you?”

“I prefer to think of myself as being persistent.”

“I hate being stalked so I should probably give you one dinner. You know how to get in touch with me. It’s going to depend on how Kara is doing. If she is comfortable we can plan from there.”

“See you in two days, Alex.”

Soon enough Alex was left alone.

“Romance in rehab. Like I said, who would have thought. Wonder how I am going to explain to Mom and Dad that I am going out with the former head of the League of Assassins? I should probably keep that to myself.”

Coast City

Hal Jordan was not exactly sure what had happened that led him to being tied in a chair, wrapped in a glowing rope. His head was foggy, but he knew he was at the hangar. He had been working on a private jet… he felt a tap on his shoulder and when he turned he seemed to remember a black shadow and a fist to his jaw.

Batman.

He remembered Batman had been there and hit him. Now he was sitting on a chair with a golden rope around him.

No problem. Power up, and…

His ring was not on his finger.

“Looking for this?” Batman asked, holding the ring in his palm.

Jordan stared hard at the ring, willing I back to his finger. Only…

“I guess Lobo didn’t lie to us. It does work off concentration. It will come to you by force of will, except you aren’t concentrating. Is he concentrating J’onn?”

Jordan looked to Batman’s left and saw the large Martian who had been making waves around the country, fighting crimes and rogue aliens. He was using some mental attack, common with White Martians he had encountered. Jordan was having difficulty concentrating.

“So, these rings can come off, but Red rings can’t, correct?” Bruce asked the man who was beginning to panic as J’onn was blocking his mind from reaching out towards the ring.

“And there is a Red Ring on Earth. You Lanterns have been hiding here all these years, doing nothing.” Bruce continued. “My friend has some questions for you, that you will answer. Once we are done, you can have your little ring back. Say hello to my friend, Diana.”

Diana stepped from behind the chair, fully armored and holding the lasso, pulling it tighter.

“Hello Hal Jordan. My name is Diana, princess of Themyscira and daughter of Queen Hippolyta and Zeus. I have some questions and you will answer them. I would recommend you do not resist. That can be painful. Answer truthfully and this will be over quickly. You are going to tell me the names and locations of the other Green Lanterns on Earth, what your Corp really is, how you came to be, what a Red Lantern is, how many on our planet and who Guy Gardner and Atrocitus are. Let’s start with the Guardians of the Universe from Oa, shall we? Tell me everything you know about them.”