Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Call Me Kara

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 09:

Barry wrapped his arms around Kara from behind while she leaned back into his chest and listened to Oliver Queen brief her on his history with Deathstroke and Cap… Harkness. She felt so good pressed against him, her strong lean body just melted in his arms and the feeling was like no other he had ever experienced. He hoped the two could go somewhere secluded tonight, maybe run, literally, to Coast City and walk the beach, or find a mountain to hang out on top of while Kara pointed out the planets she recognized in the sky. They needed some time, just the two of them, so he could sit and stare into her beautiful eyes, no worries, no emergencies, no grief or heartache or pain, just the two of them, enjoying being happy with one another.

“Barry!” Oliver snapped.

“Yeah?”

“Are you paying any attention?”

“Of course. You were talking about Deathstroke and murderous impulses and tracking Felicity and Thea and… stuff. Oh and Captain… Harkness. I guess you couldn’t call him Dig since that would confuse us with your own Dig.”

“I was telling Kara about the enhanced strength that Wilson showed, and the mystery man who gave him the syringe. Harkness could be anywhere, Lyla has already been moved to a safe location with Sara, so I am guessing as part of the deal for his release, he will have to help Slade and this mystery man’s agenda. No matter what this guy wants, Slade only has one agenda and that is to make me suffer. So if this guy went to the trouble of letting out one of my enemies and a guy we have both fought before, you can bet it is to keep us busy so we won’t know what he is up too. We are going to have to keep our heads on swivels. I’m sure they know you have a new girlfriend since she is on the news all the time. Nice job letting a photographer catch the two of you kissing on top of that building by the way, Barry. Everyone after you knows she is more than just a crime fighting partner. You have made her a target…”

“I’m sorry.” Kara interrupted, “Weren’t you asking for our help?”

Oliver shut up, closed his eyes and calmed down.

“Yes, I apologize. As to what I was saying Kara, I understand and have seen on TV how strong you are but Slade could very well be stronger.”

“No he can’t.” Barry told Oliver before Kara could do the same.

“Its an unknown Barry. We have to assume he could be.”

“Is there any assumption you can make that would justify him lifting a one million ton space craft and launching it into outer space?”

Oliver began to answer when what Barry asked, struck him. He stared at Kara for a moment.

“You did that?”

“Yep.”

“Krypton? Thats not a joke is it? You aren’t… from around here. Not just from another universe but…”

“Yep. Hey Barry I could really use a cone. I saw that vendor on the corner…”

Before the request could be completed, Barry and Kara both had Ice cream cones in their hands.

“I love it when you do that.” Kara sighed.

“What the hell was that?” Oliver was less than amused. Barry ignored the question.

“Anyway, Kara will be with Felicity at all times during the day and you know we can be there in seconds, either of us, if either of the bad guys show up. I’m guessing Thea has already talked Felicity into letting her room with her so give them both panic buttons, speed dial or something. They send and we deliver.”

Oliver frowned a bit.

“Whats wrong Oliver? Don’t you trust us?” Kara asked, then continued to lick her cone.

Oliver took the two in, both pressed into each other, both looking at him with dopey grins and holding ice cream cones. These were the two who could stop Slade. Unbelievable.

“Yes, I trust Barry and if Barry trusts you that is good enough for me. But I’m sure Felicity thinks that Thea is just there because I am paranoid about her safety in general and Thea knows of course but believes she is all the help Felicity needs. I would kind of like it if Felicity didn’t have to worry about this right now. If we could keep it among ourselves, that would be great.”

Before Barry could stop her, Kara opened her mouth.

“You don’t want to let her know that three psychos, one of whom she personally had a hand in taking down, are after her? You seriously don’t think she has a right to know?”

“She doesn’t need to worry about this right now. She is focusing on her company…”

“Kara, I’ll talk to him.” Barry whispered, but unfortunately it didn’t stop her.

“That is ridiculous Oliver Queen. No wonder she stays angry at you. Honesty is very important and you are keeping her life threatened by madmen a secret as a favor to her? Barry and I have an important rule in our relationship, absolute honesty. We call it the Oliver rule, don’t we Barry?”

“Uh…” Oh crap Oliver is getting that stone face where he tries to seem unaffected but everyone knows he is boiling over on the inside, Barry noticed. He began subtly scanning the ground and walls for crossbows.

“We are actually basing our relationship around the Oliver principle. We think what would Oliver do and then do the exact opposite.” Kara finished. She had been warming up to Oliver but lying about one’s life being in danger was a no no in her book.

“Barry…”

“Leave me the hell out of this man.” Barry told him taking another small bite of the cone and hoping he didn’t get brain freeze.

“So do you want to tell her or do you want me too? Because I’m going to tell her Oliver.” Kara said in no uncertain terms.

Oliver’s jaw was clenching and it appeared he was trying to hold in an epic tantrum. Kara noticed.

“One million tons, Mr. Queen. Think about that before you yell at me or my boyfriend. So I ask again, are you going to tell her or are Barry and I?”

“Me?” why the hell did he always get dragged into Oliver and Felicity’s messes? First with the finding out Oliver had a kid and keeping it a secret from her or better, asking Barry too, and now keeping another secret. Oliver knew Barry sucked at keeping secrets!

Oliver smiled, the kind of smile he wore when he knew he was backed into a corner and had no choice but to retreat and plan a new strategy.

“I will take care of it as soon as possible. I will call her and then start the trip back to Star City so I can begin the hunt. If you would not let Thea know that I have asked this of you, I don’t want her to think I don’t trust her…”

“Thea is your sister you said? Speedy, the one in the red costume like yours?” Kara asked.

“Can you please, please stop?” Barry whispered in her ear. Kara licked some ice cream off the side of the cone.

“It’s a uniform, not a costume and yes she is…”

“I’m so going to tell her.”

Barry gave an apologetic look to his friend. Oliver did not seem to be accepting of his unspoken apology.

“Look I can tell you are not happy, but from I little I have overheard, you have destroyed relationships in the past because of lies and secrets. I’m trying to help you out here.” Kara explained.

“I need help protecting Felicity and Thea, not relationship advice.”

“It’s a free service I offer. You’re welcome.”

“Barry could I talk to you outside, alone? You can bring your cone if you want.”

“It won’t matter where you go. I can hear for miles and I mean that literally. So go call Felicity, tell her about Captain Boomerang, the unknown bad guy and the new and improved Deathstroke and then let Thea know we are here to help her, not baby-sit her because I am pretty sure she is capable if she is going out with you every night doing what you do. After that the four of us can meet and develop a plan while you go to find these guys.”

“Kara, could you check the room for any hidden crossbows?”

Kara took a look around with her X Ray vision, not sure why but humoring him. Barry sounded nervous.

“That was one time and it was to teach you a valuable lesson Barry. Why did you ask her to look around?”

“She has X Ray vision.” Barry explained.

“You can see through walls?” Oliver asked.

“Yep.”

“What else can you do?”

“I assume since you have been studying my news feeds you have seen the beams that I can emit from my eyes?”

“Once or twice.” Oliver admitted, wondering at the time if it had been a trick or one of Cisco’s inventions.

“Yeah, I can control the temperature of the beams.”

“Cool.” Oliver was admittedly impressed and further convinced to follow the woman’s advice. “How hot can you make the…”

“Heat vision? I can warm up a cup of coffee or melt steel. Before you ask, I can also freeze things with my breath, put out fires, make walls of ice to stop bomb blasts, that sort of thing. I’m pretty much impenetrable to any weapon but bombs usually knock me out for a while if I am too close.”

“Knock you out?”

“For a few minutes.” she admitted. “I also have a real problem with guns. I used to think it was cool to let the bullets bounce off of me but not so much anymore. I see a gun pointed in my direction I am melting it. I’m also fast enough to catch bullets like Barry but I prefer not to be shot at. Oh and if I even see emeralds I have very minor panic attacks. I’ve been doing yoga with Caitlin every morning though and it is so centering and peaceful I think I am overcoming my fear.”

“Emeralds?”

“Any green crystals really.” Barry explained. “We all have our things right? I heard a kid playing with toy cars on the side walk two days ago say zoom, zoom, and I freaked out, nearly suited up right there, ready to fight for my life again.”

“Okay then. I suppose I will talk to Felicity. Kara it has been a true pleasure meeting you and I am very glad she will have someone of your caliber working for her. Barry I look forward to our next training session.”

Barry gulped.

“I do too. I want to see you and Barry train together because if you try to shoot him from behind with crossbows I am going to fly you so high in the atmosphere that you will have trouble breathing then drop you and probably catch you about twenty feet from the ground. Just think of it as extreme sky diving without a parachute. So when is the next training session?”

Oliver winked at Barry.

“I’ll let you know. Goodbye you two.”

Barry waited till Oliver had been gone for a minute then turned Kara towards him. Of course she looked up at him with those wide innocent eyes and licked her cone again, bringing thoughts into his mind that would distract him from work the rest of the day.

“The Oliver principal? Really? The guy is my friend Kara. I know he isn’t perfect but we have been there for each other and had the other’s back…”

“I like him, I do. But I can certainly understand what Caitlin was talking about. He thinks he has the right to decide who needs to know what for their protection. Thats not the way it works. If he is really your friend you are going to let him know this.”

Barry sighed, took Kara’s cone and threw both of theirs in the trash with a blink of an eye. Before Kara could ask him what he thought he was doing, she was laid on top of his suddenly clean desk and Barry was on top of her, kissing her passionately. Kara made no move to stop him, instead gently by her standards, wrapping her hands in his hair and pressing closer. Both felt the need to breathe and Barry leaned up just a bit, still on top of her.

“Barry I…”

“I love you Kara.”

The blonde smiled. “Had to get there first, didn’t you?”

“Its kind of my motto in life.” he admitted.

“I love you too.”

The two stared into each other’s eyes, both wondering how in the craziness of their individual lives, they had gotten lucky enough to find each other. Maybe Cait was right and fate was involved. Whatever it was, both were glad it was on their side for once.

The moment was broken by a knock on the door. Both were on their feet in half a second, Kara, straightening her dress while Barry wiped lipstick off his mouth casually. Joe however, was not fooled.

“Hey kids. Just coming to see if Barry had gotten lunch since he wouldn’t be seeing you today Kara, but it seems you two are doing okay.”

Joe’s grin let them know he knew exactly what their super speed and lame attempts to look casual were about and Kara’s face lit up in a blush to rival the red sun she spent her childhood under.

“I uh… have to be going. I asked Caitlin to order me food, she is with Felicity so yeah… I’ll see you after work?”

“Absolutely.” Barry told her. She walked away in a hurry not quite meeting Joe’s eyes while he held back a chuckle. Barry seemed to have forgotten Joe was there, instead staring at the spot Kara had walked out.

“You still here man or you did you travel back in time a few minutes and relive that new use for your desk you seem to have found?”

“I love her, Joe.”

“I know, Barry.”

“With her it’s different. It’s like everything I thought I felt so strongly in the past, for anyone, doesn’t hold a candle to what I feel for her. It scares the hell out of me. I know she can take care of herself, she is the strongest woman on this planet, literally, but knowing that she could be hurt, she could blow out her powers at anytime, that… Joe I will never forget the sight of her lying on her apartment floor, all her blood, she looked so broken. Then I found out she nearly died a few days before that saving the world, literally. I don’t know how to not worry for her.”

“You always will Barry.” Joe told him, setting his hand on Barry’s shoulders. “And if she had been around to see some of the beatings you have taken the past couple years she would probably never let you out of her sight. But thats okay. You are supposed to worry but trust that the other will be okay. You take care of each other. You two, you have a unique situation. The two of you have to deal with a responsibility and stress that not many people do, much less couples. You have to deal with the darkest people this planet has to offer and not only do you have to defeat them, you have to be better than them or else you are in danger of becoming them. But if there are two people who can understand that and each other its you and Kara. It won’t ever go away, that fear, but thats a good thing. Having someone to lose makes you more careful, smarter, and better as a person and a hero. Hold onto her Barry. Now how about we grab some burgers? I’m starving.”

Barry nodded his head in agreement, still a bit dazed hearing Kara tell him that she loved him. Maybe after all the beatings Joe talked about, he was due something good, and thank God or Rao or whoever helped him out, that it is her.

Kara managed to arrive just as lunch was arriving. She told Felicity that Oliver had wanted to talk to her and Barry and Oliver would be calling Felicity, probably tonight to let her know what it was all about. If he hadn’t called by tomorrow afternoon, Kara would tell her new boss herself.

After being given a company credit card and told by their was a hire on bonus to buy work clothes, which Kara did not believe for a second, the three were off shopping for the rest of the afternoon. Caitlin decided to work late at the lab so Barry arrived and the two ate Chinese food, telling each other over and over I love you. Neither having much experience with the phrase in their lives in regards to those outside of family.

Barry left at 11 so Kara could be up early and ready to resume her career as an executive assistant for Palmer Technologies this time. She arrived early, presented her ID at the security desk to receive her ID badge and entered the impressive building. It was obviously still under reconstruction, the vestiges of the last business being taken away and replaced with the new offices being repainted, large servers being brought in along with other equipment Kara did not recognize. She also kept an eye out for anyone in a large overcoat and a face resembling a weasel or a man with an eyepatch.

Reaching the top floor, she was surprised to see Felicity was already at her desk. At least she thought it was her desk. The office wasn’t large, not compared to the one next to it, and it was filled with multiple screens on the desk, computer parts littered the floor.

“Hey Kara. I made a fresh pot of coffee if you want a cup. You are here early. You always get to work at 7:30?”

“Uh, yes? I mean I usually arrived at work at least half an hour early. I liked to pick up Miss Grant’s latte and beat the 8:00 clock rush. That way when she arrived I could just give it a quick zap and it would be hot for her.”

“Wow. Well latte da for her. Thats cool I guess. I have been here since midnight. Oliver called and told me what was going on. Yay, more psychos are out to get me. At least its not his psycho ex girlfriend. Do you know he has slept with two women who later tried to kill him? How can that not be a sign that he is the problem? Anyway when I stress I work and I really need my systems up and running. I will hack A.R.G.U.S. later and see if I can find any clue on who the mystery man is under the hood. Of course since it involves the island and probably Oliver’s past it could very well be another one of the beautiful women he was marooned with. Or one he picked up in Russia, or Hong Kong, or… sorry you don’t really care about this. I promise I don’t spend most of the day bitching about Oliver. My life doesn’t revolve around him. I am my own person, you know what I mean?”

“Yes…”

“He actually seemed proud of himself for telling me about those guys. Like he wanted a treat for telling me the truth. Thea is furious he talked to you and Barry, not because she doesn’t like you guys, well she likes Barry and doesn’t know you but has been fangirling big time since you jumped onto the scene. She is just mad because Oliver told her he wanted her to protect me and didn’t want to involve Barry, when he really wanted her to be protected too. Like I don’t know you threatened to tell me the truth today if he didn’t. By the way, the Oliver principle? Pure gold girl.”

Felicity raised her hands and the two attempted to high five, neither any good at it.

“How did you know that Oliver talked to me and Barry?”

“I have a bug in his phone. Whenever I want, I can listen in on it. It pings when he leaves Star City, so I tracked it and figured he would be coming to see Thea and spy on me. When he stopped by the police station I turned the bug on. Caitlin and I listened while we waited for the food to arrive. I can’t believe how long that place took to make burgers. Hey I told you that dress would look great on you! Are you wearing your super suit under it?”

“Oh, no I have it in my purse. It is very flexible even with the kevlar except for the chest symbol. Cisco is going to have to do something about that because you know it kind if is uncomfortable on my, I mean around, over, you know.”

“The girls? The twins? Yeah I never understood how Laurel or Thea could stand to wear those things. Costumes are too confining. Thea’s is a bit looser but Laurel… I guess it doesn’t matter now.”

“Not uniforms?” Kara asked, amused at Mr. Serious refusing to call his Robin Hood outfit a costume and trying to divert the conversation from the Black Canary, who she understood Felicity was close to.

“God no, they are costumes. Nothing wrong with that. I kind wish I had a costume sometimes, just not one that lowers my bra size. Hey can I ask you a personal question?”

“Can I stop you?”

“No. So you are from outer space?”

“Cait told you?” Kara asked, wondering if that would freak Felicity out.

“Nope I heard the conversation with Oliver remember? Anyway I have to ask…”

“What powers I have, where my home planet is or was back on my old Earth? How I wound up on Earth to begin with? Its all kind of a long story…”

“Cool, I love long stories but right now I have to know, how do you cut your hair or shave your legs and arm pits?”

“Uh…” Kara had never actually thought about why she was able to.

“I mean you fly into burning buildings and don’t come out bald so I am guessing your hair is fireproof, which probably means it is incredibly strong too. So how can you use regular scissors or a razor?”

Kara shrugged her shoulders. “Just lucky I guess. Rao owed me a few back then.”

“Rao? Oh your religion, right? Do you have any special holidays you need to observe?”

“No, not really. I hardly ever took a day off except for once a year. Its not a holiday, its the day my planet was destroyed, seconds after the last time I ever saw my parents.”

“Wow. That is going to be a long story. Hey, have you seen your action figure?”

“Wha… wait I have an action figure?”

“Yep.” Felicity opened her desk drawer and pulled out a toy figure of the Flash and one of Superwoman.

“Wow. I’ve never had a toy of myself. Cool. Did I see other action figures in your drawer?”

“Yes I have twenty or so Green Arrow action figures. When I get frustrated I throw one at the wall or beat it on the desk until the head breaks off. Not a healthy way to deal with my problems but it beats smoking right? Hey smoking, Smoak smoking? Not a good combo, or pun now that I said it out loud. Why don’t you set up your new office? Its the one next to mine.”

“The giant office? Shouldn’t that be yours?”

“Nope, I only need space for my workstations. I’ll be spending time in R&D mostly. You are going to need to space for file cabinets and such, plus in an emergency you can open the window and fly away to save the day, or I don’t know, stop Barry from getting his back broken by the next speedster demon that comes hunting for him.”

“Oh, okay.” Kara responded wondering what the hell she would need all that space for. “What would you like for lunch today?”

“Huh? Oh I’ll probably head to Big Belly Burger at some point in the afternoon. You want me to pick you up something or are you going to have lunch with Barry?”

“You… you wouldn’t mind if I had lunch with Barry?”

“Of course not. Go have fun, beat up a few bad guys, eat pizzas with your boyfriend like most people eat chips.”

“Okay, you don’t want me to get you coffee in the morning, you don’t need me to get you lunch, do you have a calendar I can look over for you?”

“Yeah but I keep it online. I prefer to do most of my meetings by video conference. The less time I spend with the suits the better.”

“So what do you want me to help you with?” Kara asked, feeling completely lost.

“You are my assistant, which means your word is my word. Figure out what still needs to be done, liaison between the different contractors, meet the employees, things like that. Basically get us open for business. Oh and I hired a PR firm to help with media releases regarding our new products and the devices we are creating to treat spinal injuries. You have a lot of experience with the media and PR. Meet with them and let them know you are to have final decisions on marketing campaigns before they are released. Eventually when we are up and running I can get rid of the outside firm and you can hire your own people to work under you in PR. But for the moment, relax, set up your office and explore the place. Its going to be great. Great things are going to happen here. We are going to make them happen.”

Kara thanked her and strolled out, a bit lost. This was definitely a different work environment than she had known before. She had almost expected to hear Kiera shouted at her the minute she stepped out of the elevator. Still, while it was apparent she would have much more responsibility here, she was a bit nostalgic for CatCo. Cat, for all her faults had really been kind hearted. Kara missed her. She missed seeing Winn every morning. Greeting everyone by name, feeling pride from the back handed compliments Cat would give her.

She would miss messaging Kal at her desk randomly during the day. Rao she missed him. Alex wouldn’t be calling her phone, telling her she was needed at the DEO immediately, causing Kara to make up a lame excuse to be gone, only to arrive and find Alex was bored and wanted to see her. She never could stay angry for long when it came to Alex.

But was that true? Kara wasn’t completely naive. She knew her and Alex had lingering issues between them. The fact was both needed the other so much they pushed aside those talks, one scared of losing the other if an issue was brought out.

Max Lord’s Kryptonite experiment changed all that. But it probably started even before that. After the Black Mercy when Alex saw Kara’s dream world didn’t involve her human family and friends, what were her real feelings? She told Kara she understood but not an hour later Alex killed Astra. Of course it was to save Hank but what Kara wondered about was the wound. Alex didn’t slash Astra, or stab her in the shoulder, to save Hank. She placed the sword from behind into the middle of her aunt’s back and shoved straight through her body.

It never mattered though. She should have been furious to find that Alex had let Hank lie to her, She should have been furious, told Alex she could have found another way. All the Aliens, including Kryptonians, Alex had taken with the DEO, swords being shoved in a back had most likely not been a standard take down technique.

Instead of furious, Kara immediately forgave her, outwardly. Even in Fort Roz, at what she thought the end of her life was, her concerns, were for Alex. Because despite the rifts between them at times in both their lives, Alex was the big sister she clung to in a strange world and Kara was the little sister, Alex had grown to love, to protect. She missed her. Rather than crying once again, a habit she had picked up quite a bit since she arrived here, she began focusing on where her belongings should go. She hadn’t brought enough to fill up the large office but it would be a start.

The view was beautiful.

Joe dropped by forensics lab that afternoon with some DNA requests and a cup of coffee for his son. Barry was working at a normal pace and had a grin on his face.

“In a good mood today?”

“Hey Joe. Thanks for the coffee. Yeah you know me. Always in a good mood.”

“Yeah since she been around anyway. So how much longer until I am going to have to find another roommate, maybe one who pays me rent?”

Barry shook his head.

“Not rushing into this Joe. It has to be done right. She is really happy with Caitlin, and Caitlin has been in a better mood since the thing with… yeah. Anyway everybody is in a good place, and I just want it to stay that way for a while. Kara has really been making a name for herself in the city.”

“Not just as Superwoman either. Hell she has every guy at the station in love with her. Kara Zorel I mean. No one is talking about forming a Superwoman task force to take her down.” Joe jabbed.

“Hey I fought hard for my street cred and she is benefitting from it. If you have the Flash seal of approval you are in. Speaking of those who will not approved, were you able to discretely pass the photos of Slade Wilson to the officers on patrol? I should be getting one of Harkness later. Oliver apparently had quite a few of Slade. Complicated history and all.”

“I already got photos from A.R.G.U.S. and have told the captain and officers that these men are deadly fugitives wanted by the Government and if they are seen to report immediately but do not engage.”

Barry let out a bit of breath. He did not want to lose anyone he worked with to Harkness and Wilson. The two were deadly, Slade being the one that concerned Barry the most. Harkness he could handle, Deathstroke was worse, way worse, especially if he was more powerful than ever. Could he be giving whatever was in that syringe to other people, building an army like he once did? No way could the speedster believe that Wilson was simply here to kill Thea and Felicity to make Oliver’s suffering complete. He thought bigger picture. Plus the third party was the wild card, someone dangerous enough to give that kind of power to a madman like Deathstroke and not worry bout either killers turning on him or disobeying him.

Barry’s phone buzzed and he pulled out out quickly hoping it was a text from Kara telling him about her morning.

Instead he saw it was a call from Thea.

“I’m on the roof of the apartment building across the street from Felicity’s new building. I need both of you, now Barry.”

Joe jumped back, not even bothering to ask before Barry was gone. He debated picking up Barry’s phone and calling Kara but decided to leave it alone. She was having a first day at work in a new universe around new people and Barry could handle whatever was going on.

He hoped.

Barry moved, not even bothering to weave in and out of traffic, running on the roofs of cars instead. He spotted Palmer Tech’s new building, and the apartment building across the street. It was an average size building, only about ten stories compared to some of the skyscrapers in the downtown area. Not bothering with a stairwell, he shot up the side of the building and reached the top ten seconds after Thea had called him.

“Thea!”

“Right here.”

Barry turned to watch Speedy walk from behind a large AC Unit. She was not suited up, had no bow on her, no weapon Barry could see, although her hands and literally everything around her could be considered a weapon.

“What’s going on Speedy? Deathstroke?”

“Huh? No, I just… where is she?”

Barry rolled his eyes.

“Please tell me you did not call an SOS with two major killers possibly the city, just so you could see my girlfriend arrive. All you had to do was ask to meet her.”

“This is more fun. I wanted to see her swoop in. The running up the building thing is pretty cool too. So where is she?”

“At work.”

“Like Felicity wouldn’t let her out if she thought I was in trouble. Or just to see her fly. Hey when you guys make out does she ever like lift you in the air? Kinda like you both are floating? That would be so romantic. I haven’t had romance in a… while.”

“So you staged a fake emergency to lure my girlfriend in… Hey Kara.”

“Felicity said her name was Kara…” Thea stopped speaking, feeling a change in the wind. She turned around and saw Kara Zor El, floating ten feet off the ground, glaring down at her, eyes completely ablaze. Her long flowing hair somehow made her more intimidating.

“Who are you?”

“I uh… I’m Thea.”

Kara immediately recognized the name and her eyes went back to the natural blue while her feet softly touched the ground.

“Speedy! Is it okay if I call you that? I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Kara.”

“Wow. You were like just flying there kinda standing on air.” Thea stuttered. “And your eyes were lit up like… I could feel the heat. That is amazing.”

“Thank you but its not that big of a deal. Is everything okay? I heard there was an emergency?”

Barry titled his head to the side to get a better look at her from around Speedy.

“Who did you hear this from?” he asked.

Kara shrugged her shoulders and pointed to her ear. “Really good listener.”

“Tell me Felicity did not give you one of those cell phone bugs she stalks Oliver with.”

“No! Okay, I saw you from my office, your lightning anyway and followed it, then saw a woman I didn’t recognize come out from behind an AC unit, and with everything going on and not knowing who might be who I thought you could use some backup. Looks like everything is fine so…”

“No wait! I actually told Barry there was an emergency thinking you would come with him. I just wanted to see you in person.”

“You wanted to see me? All you had to do was ask.” Kara laughed.

“Yeah but its not the same as seeing you like you just were. You can be scary as hell when you want to be.”

Kara’s smile faltered. She supposed that is what the humans on her old Earth thought too. Was Thea the only one who had noticed how scary Kara could be if she wanted to? What if there were more? How many more green bullets would come for her and different universes could she hide in?

“Hey! I didn’t mean you look scary. I just meant you look kinda badass. I’m sorry if it was taken out of context.”

Kara could tell the girl was sincere and offered a smile but the thought lingered. From what Barry had told her Thea was a pretty fierce individual who had also killed quite a few people, nowhere near the number of bodies her brother had wracked up but still a shocking number for a 20 year old. If she found Superwoman intimidating what would others think? Kara had been seen doing good works around Central City. Saving jumpers, or fake jumpers, helping out at fires, car wrecks, a couple bank robberies with Barry, this was the norm lately. But what would happen the first time Kara had to take on a really difficult enemy? One she couldn’t hold back on? No one on her old Earth had seen her vaporize Red Tornado or defeat Non but what if they had seen the perfect blonde super heroine screaming in rage, powerful energy beams blasting from her eyes. Sure they all got a preview when she was under the Red K but what if she had been in a serious battle? Barry would understand, Oliver Queen would not judge so neither would Felicity or Thea but what about the general public?

What if this Deathstroke is as strong as Oliver believes and the only way to stop him from hurting others is to kill him? Could she do that? Alex certainly had, apparently believing there was no other way but did Kara have it in her?

Yes she did and that scared the hell out of her. It was a side no one in the public could ever see or she would give it up forever. The idea of being hunted and feared again was too much for her.

Perhaps that would not be an issue. Maybe with no other aliens on this world there was no one she couldn’t handle easily.

“I know what you meant. It’s fine. I guess when it comes to unknown possible threats and Barry I can be a little intimidating. So is this building where…”

Kara’s question was cut short when she saw the glint in the space between buildings.

“Barry!”

Barry turned and saw it, coming, of course to him, in slow motion but at a high rate of speed to everyone else. It was not coming for his back but straight for Thea who was slightly to his left. It must have been thrown from the Felicity’s building.

Barry snatched it out of the air easily enough, and checked the rooftops.

“Where the hell did that come from?” Thea asked, alert now. Kara scanned the area for possible suspects but found no one unusual on the roof with her vision.

“I recognize this.” Barry told the two, looking at the unique disk. “Kara can you see from here where Felicity is?”

“Yeah she is in R&D on twelfth floor. Wait someone is in her office. No one should be there. She doesn’t have any appointments this afternoon. Now another is walking in.”

“Thea, call Oliver and suit up. Let him know Wilson and Harkness are here and we know the mystery man behind it all.”

“We do?” Speedy asked, already pulling out her phone.

“You should know. You shot him out of a window once.”

“We killed him! You and Ollie killed him!”

“Yeah but he apparently has a problem staying dead. Kara you need to get to Felicity now. Forget about Wilson and Harkness, I will handle them. Get Felicity and fly her out. Speedy how soon can you meet me in Felicity’s office?”

“Keep them busy for five minutes!” Thea yelled running into the stairwell from the roof.

“Kara this Savage guy who just threw this? He is immortal and he knows magic. I have no idea if he may have a certain staff with him. We thought it was gone but thought the same thing about him. Don’t engage him unless you have to with Felicity around. He can throw knives by the dozens. He managed to hit me once while I was protecting the others. Do not take any hits from any weapons he might have. Understand?”

“Yes.” Kara told him immediately, trying to remember if she heard about a magical immortal with a penchant for knives and powerful staffs. Barry was gone and while a part of her wondered what he was thinking taking on two people like Wilson and Harkness by himself she had to trust him. Get to the boss, take boss to a place immortal wizard can’t get to her and come back to beat up bad guys. Best plan she had for the moment.

Not bothering with stealth since she was already in costume, Kara shot through the window of the twelfth, scaring the hell out of every programmer in the room. Felicity nearly choked on the pen she had been chewing but looking at Kara in her costume, she realized the situation must be dire.

“We need to go now, Miss Smoak.”

“I don’t think Miss Smoak will be leaving with you today.”

A sinister looking man in an overcoat walked into the room. Kara sped in front of Felicity, who had just cursed under her breath. Apparently she recognized the man. The man she guessed to be Savage reached into his coat with both hands, but before he could throw the knives inside, Kara hit him with a blast of heat vision, knocking him against a wall and leaving him smoking. The monster slowly stood up, a glint of amusement in his eyes.

“I don’t remember you from the last battle I had in this city.”

“I wasn’t there. Trust me you will remember me after today.”

Up above Kara heard a scream and the sound of a body being thrown through a wall. She looked up quickly and saw Barry was still standing while another body was on the ground. She had to take this guy out quick.

“So what do you call yourself?” he asked, seeming amused despite being the one who was smoking. Then a flash of light and the staff that must have been mentioned before was in his hands.

Instead of answering, Kara turned her back on the man, grabbed Felicity and flew her out the window. Reaching the rooftop next door she saw Speedy running onto the roof, suited up.

“Keep her safe.”

Kara turned back toward Palmer Tech to see a very confused Vandal Savage staring out the window at her.

Barry was running circles around Wilson probably building up lightning while Harkness still appeared down.

Aliens, humans, cyborgs, why not an immortal magician? Before Savage could blink, Kara had rammed into him at full speed, sending him flying across the room. He dropped his staff in between the two. Trying to gain the offensive Savage threw a blade, striking her stomach.

The look on the man’s face would have been humorous when the bent knife hit the floor but Kara was not having a good day at work. The building budget was tight and every second these murderers were here was another dollar she would have to negotiate with the contractors.

“It’s too bad you are immortal. I promise you by the end of this you will be wishing you could die.”

Savage dove for his staff as Kara attacked. Across the street Speedy and Thea watched the room the heroine and villain were in explode in a blinding flash of light.

“I should get over there.” Thea whispered and aimed her bow. Felicity stopped her.

“Kara has this. Help Barry, make sure Harkness stays down.”

“You sure? You know who that guy is? What he is.” Thea pointed out.

“Yeah but he has no idea what she is.” A sonic boom erupted from the twelfth floor. “But I have a feeling he is figuring it out right now.”