Chapter Text
THANKSGIVING DATE FOR HIRE
Is your family particularly xenophobic, homophobic, or both?
Do you want to piss them off this holiday season?
Maybe you just want to make a political statement at the dinner table.
Either way, I have got a deal for you.
My name is Kara and I am from a planet several light years away from earth. However, I look just like a ‘normal’ human, though I do have some extraordinary powers. Many more than I’m willing to disclose, but I am willing to make a ‘scene’ at your family’s holiday festivities with a display of heat vision, ice breath, or super strength.
This all can be yours for the low low price of one...or five plates (I have an alien appetite after all) of your holiday dinner or if we cause a scene and don’t make it to the meal I’ll be happy to take pizza and/or potstickers as payment.
I’m willing to be openly alien and/or gay from the start of the festivities or I can come out, the moment someone says something xenophobic or homophobic. I’m also willing to stay closeted the entire time and just act as moral support to you.
Price is negotiable depending on circumstances, for further inquiries, contact me at [email protected].
Thanks!
Kara clicked the post button and closed her laptop. If she had to stay in National City over the holidays because Alex was studying abroad and Eliza had business trips that would take her away over the holiday, she was going to at least spend her time doing something to help others, and hopefully get some food out of it. If worse comes to worse maybe she will at least make a few new friends.
Not wanting to watch a pot boil so to speak, Kara tossed her phone on the kitchen island and grabbed her jacket and bag to head down to Nonnans to grab something hot to drink and a couple sticky buns. Logically she figured it would take some time to get a response and if she got one while she was away, she knew she would be able to hear the notification at Nonnans even with her phone four blocks away at her apartment. After all, super senses were useful for something.
As she settled down at her regular booth in the corner of the restaurant, Kara pulled a sketch pad out from her bag with a couple of pencils. Just as she opened the book, Jodi, Kara’s favorite server came by the table.
‘Your usual today, Kara?’ Jodi asked as she glimpsed down to see what Kara was working on.
‘Yes and no’’ Kara said looking up with a smile. ‘Yes to the sticky buns, but no to my normal latte. I was thinking since the weather is finally cooling down, I’d go for hot chocolate.’
‘No problem.’ Jodi said as she jotted down the order. ‘Extra whipped cream on the top for you?’
‘Oh yes!’ Kara answer her smile getting impossible bigger. ‘And in a mug, not a to-go cup please?’
‘Absolutely dear.’ And Jodi walked off with the order.
Kara flipped through the pages of her sketchbook until she found the one she was looking for. Grabbing the red pencil she’d pulled from her bag, Kara began detailing a suit somewhat similar to the one her cousin wears. Only this one is drawn onto a girl, one the looks much like Kara. She has several of these drawings. Different suits that she could wear if she were to ever take to the sky like Kal-El.
It had been about 10 minutes since she left her apartment when she heard the first email. The telltale swoosh of her inbox receiving a message. Kara doesn’t think too much of it, it could be a message from anyone. Just in case though, she marks the time and a tally in the top corner of her sketch page.
‘Those are neat outfits.’ Jodi comments from over her shoulder as she sets down the sticky buns, hot chocolate, and a glass of milk. ‘Hoping a girl of steel will show up so you can dress her?’ She asks.
Kara forces a giggle at the question and notices the milk that Jodi brought.
‘One can only dream Jodi.’ She starts. ‘Um, I didn’t order and milk.’
‘Oh I know hon, but I figured with how hot that coco is, it might be nice to have something to wash the buns down with.’ Jodi says with a smile, and adds, ‘Don’t worry about it though, it’s on the house.’
As Kara was eating her phone suddenly started blasting ‘One Week’ by The Bare Naked Ladies, which meant one thing, Alex was calling. Kara checked her watch and did the quick math, to figure out what time it was in Japan where Alex was studying, only to realize that it was 3 AM on the other side of the world. So it must be an emergency, not just one of Alex’s check-in calls. Quickly stuffing the last bit of her last sticky bun in her mouth, Kara dropped more than enough cash on the table to cover her bill and ran out to the street. She found the nearest ally, allowing her to slip into superspeed and race to her apartment in a flash.
“Hello?” Kara asked while heaving for extra breath, as she answered the phone, just before it went to voicemail.
“Why are you out of breath?” Were Alex’s first words.
“No reason,” Kara responded. “I was just exercising.”
“You don’t exercise,” Alex said, clearly seeing through her sister’s lie. “You’re an alien, your body is naturally that of a professional athlete’s”
“That doesn’t mean I don’t exercise,” Kara said, trying to hold on to her lie.
“Even if you were exercising, you wouldn’t be out of breath. Were you using your superspeed?” Alex asked.
“No. Nope. Not at all. Definitely did not superspeed home to answer your call.”
“You know, you’re a terrible liar Kara,” Alex said, with a tinge of gloat in her tone.
“Whatever Alex.” Kara sighed as she responded. “Is there a reason you called me. From Japan. At 3 AM?”
“Yes, in fact, there is.” Alex responded
“Well get on with it, you’re making me nervous. Are you hurt? Are you coming home? Is there an emergency? Do you need me to send Clark?” Kara rushed out the words, almost faster than they could be understood.
“No, nothing like that. I’m just wondering why you posted an ad, on craigslist to pose as someone’s alien girlfriend for Thanksgiving.” Alex stated, clearly a little annoyed.
“Psh…” Kara started, thinking there was no way Alex could possibly know about the ad. “I have no idea what you are talking about. There is no way I would do that.”
“Kara.” Alex said. “I’m looking at the ad right now. Unless you want to try, to tell me, your email isn’t, [email protected]. Plus the listing is for National City. I’m positive this is your ad.”
“That’s ridiculous Alex.” Kara began as she tried to stick to her lie. “Why would that be my email address? And anyway, how did you find that ad? Why are you combing through the personal ads on National City’s Craigslist, you don’t even live here.
“I get google updates any time the words Kara and Alien are mentioned together online.” Alex replied simply. “If I’m going to be on the other side of the world, I have to keep tabs on you somehow.”
“Alex. That is an invasion of privacy.”
“No, it’s not. I’m just keeping track of you.” Alex said, “Now take the ad down before someone sees it and finds out your secret.”
“Alex, no one will ever know. Plus if someone answers the ad, I’ll use a fake name for their family.” Kara said defiantly.
“What if you come out as a hero, like Clark? It won’t matter then, they’ll recognize you.” Alex retorted.
“No, they won’t. I’ll wear my hair in a braid and be sure to wear my glasses, and do the opposite, if I hero it up. It works for Clark.” Kara said, the defiance in her voice growing stronger.
“Kara, Clark’s disguise is the worst thing I have ever seen, I’m pretty sure everyone in Metropolis knows exactly who he is.” Alex said, her voice edging into clear annoyance. “If you don’t take the stupid ad down, I will.”
“Alex, think of my stomach,” Kara said beginning to plead. “You know Thanksgiving is my favorite, I get to eat as much as I want and no one ever notices. Plus, you and Eliza are both out of town. Do you really want me to spend the holiday alone?”
“Don’t you have a college friend’s house you can go to?” Alex asked sighing heavily.
“No, everyone already left, and none of my friends are from here.” Kara said, sadness ebbing into her voice now.
“Then go to Metropolis and see Clark.” Alex said, trying to offer an alternative.
“Plane tickets are too expensive.” Kara stated quietly.
“Kara, you are an alien, you can literally fly there.” Alex tried bargaining.
“But all the Lane’s are going to be there, and you know Lois’s dad is a jerk.” Kara said, the whine edging back into her voice.
“Kara please, just figure something else out and take the ad down, because I swear I will do it if you don’t.” Alex said again, feeling bad for her sister, but not willing to budge on keeping Kara’s secret safe.
“You can’t take it down, you don’t know my password.” Kara stated with pride.
“Wanna bet potstickersrgr8, all lower case, just the letter r, and an 8 instead of spelling out great?” Alex said, as she typed the password in on her own computer.
“How could you possibly know that?” Kara asked.
“Kara, you are my sister, I’ve known you since you landed on earth, plus I use your Netflix account, of course I can figure out you password.” Alex stated as she walked through the process of deleting the ad.
Kara’s computer swooshed with a new email notification and she checked it, finding an email confirming her ad’s removal.
“Seriously Alex? You are such a spoil sport.” Kara said, her whine even more prominent than before.
“I’m just trying to keep you safe.” Alex said. “I love you Kara.”
“Whatever.” Kara stated, and as an after thought and because she wouldn’t want Alex to think anything else she added, “I love you.”
Before Alex could say anything else Kara hung up the phone.
Curious about the email she had received while she was gone, Kara went back to her computer to check it. Maybe she would be lucky and have a message responding to her ad, from before Alex deleted it.
As she found the email, she was simply disappointed, it was just an ad for SuperHeroStuff.com advertising their black Friday deals. Almost a year ago she had bought a pair of boxer brief’s with the House of El crest printed all over them and ever since they sent her promotional emails almost daily. The only plus side to Clark being a hero it seemed, was her accessibility to clothing with her family’s crest all over it.
She opened it anyways, and started combing through the sales, maybe she could get Clark a T-shirt with the Bat Symbol on it for Christmas, just to annoy him.
Just as she was about to walk away from her computer, it swooshed with another email.
L. Luthor: Thanksgiving Date for Hire
Kara felt her heart drop to her stomach as she read who the email was from. Alex was right, she should have never posted the ad.
Lex Luthor definitely knew who she was now.