Chapter Text
“Finally,” Kara exclaimed as her head hit her pillow.
With a laugh, “You know, I would think you’d appreciate a change in your routine after the summer you’ve had,” Alex wondered aloud as she watched her sister sprawl out on the bed.
Kara took a calming breath before answering. “Honestly, I’m just ready to graduate. Between my Supergirl duties and Catco I have enough on my plate. Not to mention maintaining a social life!”
Alex threw on her jacket and made her way to leave Kara’s apartment. “I’m going to be late for my meeting with J’onn if I hang around here much longer.” Calling out over her shoulder, “Call me so we can set up a sister date. Love you. Stay out of trouble,” she shouted before the door shut behind her.
Kara blankly stared up at her ceiling not having any other plans for the day. The DEO was nice enough to give her the day off seeing as classes started back up on Monday. For the first time in months, she found herself actually having a lazy Sunday and didn’t like it.
It was still early enough that the day was her's to spend how she pleased. She could call James or Winn to make plans. Or she could clean up the apartment a little. Or go for a walk. Maybe fly around National City for a while. Before she could decide what her next move would be, the silence of her otherwise empty loft apartment was broken by the sounds of her rumbling stomach.
“Food,” Kara said to herself with a sly grin. Peering over at her alarm clock, it was a little after one o’clock. Which meant it had only been an hour or so since her lunch date with Alex.
Flying to the kitchen Kara rummaged through her fridge for anything edible. Seeing as she spent most of her time at the DEO or at Alex’s over the past few months her food supply was lacking. There were bits and pieces but nothing to make a complete meal. Bread but no sandwich meat. Chicken sausages but no buns or sides worth pairing them with. Cereal but no milk; plenty of juice though.
Kara groaned at the idea of having to go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. The last time this happened, she nearly left the store with three baskets full of groceries. Pulling her boots back on Kara got ready to make this unfortunately necessary grocery run.
----
“Hey Eliza! Is everything ok?”
“Everything’s fine sweetheart. I just wanted to call you while I had a moment. Are you busy?"
Kara adjusted the groceries she was juggling in her hands, “No. Now’s good.” Maybe talking to her adoptive mother would keep her from buying more than she needed.
“Well, I didn’t want anything in particular. I was just calling the way I have since you moved to National City. This may be the last time I can make this ‘Before School Starts’ call,” Eliza said with a sniffle.
Leaning against her cart, “Are you going to cry,” Kara gently teased to lighten the mood.
“You’re just growing up so fast,” Eliza declared; definitely crying. “It feels like yesterday you were brought into our lives and now you’re a senior in college. Where does the time go?”
“And I can’t thank you enough for welcoming me into your family.” Kara was aimlessly walking around the store not paying attention to where she was going, or what she was doing. There were way too many people in the store but that was to be expected at this hour on a Sunday. “I know I haven’t been home in a while, but Thanksgiving isn’t too far— Sorry,” Kara shouted.
Distracted by her hunger and Eliza’s phone call, Kara accidentally rammed her cart into the heels of another woman. The brunette spun around with a scowl on her face.
“Eliza, I’ll have to call you back,” Kara rushed to say before the woman could yell at her. She hung up the phone without another word before apologizing again.
“Next time watch where you’re going,” the brunette warned as she rubbed the back of her right ankle.
Grasping the back of her neck, “Uh—yeah. Definitely,” Kara stammered. “Again, I’m really sorry about that. I’m just so hungry I’m not thinking straight. I need to get out of here before I spend my entire check on food,” she rambled on with a chuckle.
For some reason the young woman in front of her looked familiar. She couldn’t place where she had seen her before. Maybe she had saved the brunette as Supergirl, but Kara remembered every single person she had ever personally saved so that couldn’t be it.
The brunette looked down at Kara’s cart and stared at it with wide eyes. “Quite the appetite you have then,” she said as she motioned at the contents of the basket. “Looks as though you’re attempting to feed an entire football team,” she added, a laugh escaping her lips in the process. She had no idea who this gorgeous blonde was, but she suddenly wasn’t as upset at being hit with a cart.
“High metabolism and I haven’t eaten in a while,” Kara said as if that explained everything perfectly. Reaching out her hand, “Kara by the way,” she said in way of late introduction.
The woman looked almost hesitant but shook Kara’s outstretched hand anyway. Being such a high-profile citizen of National City there was no way this rambling blonde had no idea who she was; or was there? “Katie,” the woman lied, going out on a limb and guessing Kara really didn’t know who she was.
“Well, Katie, it was nice to meet you. And again, I’m really sorry for running into you like that.”
Smirking, “Don’t worry about it,” she said, smiling a genuine smile. “I should let you go feed that football team,” she added nodding towards Kara's cart.
Kara gave her a confused expression, “Oh, yea. The football team,” she laughed nervously. Kara couldn't deny it, there was something about Katie that drew her in. Normally she could function around attractive women but the brunette threw her off her game entirely.
Katie walked away only looking back once at the blonde seemingly stuck in place. If she could repeat her encounter with Kara over and over she would. Being hit with a basket was preferable to the glares and looks people were throwing her way while she shopped. This was an encounter that surely wouldn’t be forgotten any time soon.
----
Kara woke to her alarm blaring through her apartment signaling the start of her day. The first day of her last year in college. In a way, it hadn’t felt as though three years had already passed by. Junior year was rough, being that that was the year she took up the mantle of becoming Supergirl almost full-time. It took her a while, but Kara was able to work out a schedule for both sides of her life.
Most of Kara’s classes for the fall semester were on Tuesdays and Thursdays now that she only really had electives left. With classes on those two days, it left her Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays open for her internship at CatCo Worldwide Media. Having interned at Midvale Newspaper the summer after her sophomore year helped her to secure the position.
Swinging her legs over the edge of her bed Kara stretched out after a good night’s — uninterrupted — sleep. After her eight-a.m. Intercultural Communication lecture she would be heading into CatCo for the remainder of the day. Kara stared into her closet thinking of what she would wear, besides her Super suit. Her weather app informed her it would be on the warmer side even though summer was coming to an end in National City.
She decided on a pair of blueish grey chinos with a salmon colored button down and a medium brown pair of desert boots. An outfit casual enough to head to class in but perfectly acceptable for CatCo. Her friends, James and Winn especially, joked that her wardrobe had morphed into that of a TA during their junior year. She hadn't noticed, but she always felt good in whatever she wore.
After showering and fighting to get her chest binder on, Kara was out the door with two bagels in hand and a backpack full of mostly snacks. On her walk to campus she made sure to stop at Noonan's for a venti sized tea and maybe even a muffin.
----
"Kiera can you come in here?" Ms. Grant called out.
"She'll get your name right eventually," one of the reporters near her mentioned with a supportive smile.
"Yes, Ms. Grant?"
"Close the door behind you please."
Kara nervously backpedaled to close the glass door before turning to look expectantly up towards her boss.
"You've been with us for a while now," Ms. Grant started.
Voice quivering, "Yes, ma'am. It's almost been a year," she answered, even though the older woman hadn't posed it as a question.
"I'm well aware how long you've been around Ms. Danvers," she continued, to which Kara audibly gulped. "Here, why don't you have a seat," the woman motioned as she rounded her desk to sit across from where she pointed for the intern to sit.
Kara cowered under the older woman's gaze. It wasn't harsh nor meant to be intimidating. Kara felt it was more of a searching gaze. No wonder this woman was the CEO of such a conglomerate. Kara’s eyes darted around the room at the mostly white decor that was heightened by the sunlight beaming into the office through the glass walls that led out to a private, furnished, balcony. She shifted in her seat, adjusting her glasses that hadn't moved an inch; a nervous habit she had acquired over the years.
Breaking the silence, "Most interns only last a few months or so but somehow you're still here." Pausing, Ms. Grant watched Kara's behavior closely. The young blonde opened her mouth to speak but Ms. Grant silenced her with a swipe of her hand through the air.
"It was a compliment Kiera. I don't find myself giving out very many of those." Standing to pour a glass of water for Kara, "You've somehow managed to woo the majority of my staff to the point your name comes up more than I'd care to admit."
Handing Kara the glass, "You're in school for Communications?"
Kara hadn't realized this time Ms. Grant was asking her a question, unlike before. Ms. Grant raised a brow impatiently before crossing her arms across her chest.
Choking on her water, "Sorry Ms. Grant. Yes, I'm a Communications major. My concentration is in Public Relations. I'm also minoring in Journalism," Kara hurriedly answered. She was doing her best to stamp down her nerves but it was nearly impossible in the presence of the CEO.
The older woman hummed before returning back to her seat at her desk. "When do you graduate?"
"May."
"Good. That'll be all."
Kara fumbled getting up from the loveseat in the middle of Ms. Grant's office. She sat her glass down on the table in front of her and made her way towards the door.
"And keep up the good work Kara."
With a gaping grin on her face, Kara exited the office without a word. She didn't want to make it into a big deal, but in the past nine months of working for the woman, she had never called her by her actual first name. It had to be a good sign.
----
Tuesday morning, same routine as yesterday. Kara woke to her alarm and laid in bed for a second to check her school email account.
With a grunt of displeasure, No cancellation emails, Kara thought to herself. It was going to be a little cooler today than the day before with the coming storm in the forecast. Grabbing her umbrella on the way out of the door Kara made her way to campus.
She had pushed her Chemistry class off until the last possible moment. Kara was a genius by Earth's standards but chemistry was one of the few areas she knew needed improvement. She understood the material but there was an obvious disconnect if her high school test scores were anything to go by.
Heading into the chemistry building, Kara walked around until she found the lecture hall the class was to take place. Once she found the classroom, there was a note pinned to the door.
'CHEM 123N Students,
I'd like to apologize for my absence today. Due to an unforeseen family emergency I won't be on campus for a few weeks. For your Thursday class I will have one of my grad students take over in my stead. Should you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to email me. Be advised it may take me 24-48 hours to respond. I'll be sending out an email to all of my classes by Wednesday morning.
So, go grab a coffee/tea and enjoy your day,
Dr. T. Williamson'
Kara's next class wasn't until noon, so she had plenty of time to kill. Instead of taking Prof Williamson's advice she went to the gym instead; texting James to see if he would meet her there.
----
"Hey Kara," she heard a familiar voice call out. James had texted her back that he'd be a little late, but he'd meet her at the gym. Kara had been friends with James Olsen since their freshman year. James and Kara, along with their mutual friend Winn Schott Jr., met in a shared English Gen.Ed. class after being paired up for a group research paper. They've been inseparable since. “How was your summer?”
Finishing out her set of arm curls, "Busy," she sighed but with a smile on her face to show she hadn't completely hated it. "It's like the hotter it gets the angrier people get."
James snorted in agreement. "Crime seemed worse this summer than last and I don't think it was because of the heat. Has Alex told you anymore about the disappearances," he questioned in a hushed tone as to not draw attention to their conversation.
"No. There's only been three reported cases so far with absolutely no connections. It doesn't help that they've been of completely different alien races. It all just seems to be so random."
"Nothing's random," James noted.
Kara hummed before moving over to finish out her upper-body workout. "How's preseason treating you?"
James had been starting forward for NCU’s basketball team for two years. He had mentioned in passing to his friends a while back that if it weren’t for his scholarship he would have given up playing after his first year. His love for the game his father had taught him as boy had been overshadowed by his growing interest in photography; another hobby he and his father shared.
Stretching out before joining Kara, "So far we've lost all our preseason games but one. Most of the team was made up of seniors last year so we have to find a new groove. There's a few new guys but we'll see."
Human weights did nothing for Kara with her superstrength. Working out anywhere outside of the DEO just gave her a — sometimes — necessary distraction. James was already aware of her alien biology and hadn't the slightest problem with it. The only downside to Kara being Kryptonian was his inability to beat her at anything athletic unless others were watching, but he always had fun trying.
After a moment of companionable silence, "How is Alex doing by the way," James asked knowingly.
Kara knew exactly what James was inquiring about. During their last fall semester Alex had gone through a pretty bad breakup with her long term girlfriend, Maggie Sawyer. Their group of friends were of the mind that a proposal was around the corner considering how serious they were. They had been together since Kara's freshman year; the year Alex had graduated a semester early. "She's alright. She's been spending all her time at the DEO so who knows what her life is like outside of me."
"I'm sure it'll get better soon. Alex is a catch."
"Hey, that's my sister you're talking about," Kara joked and James just shrugged it off playfully.
----
After her cancelled first class and a quick gym session, the rest of Kara's classes went off without any further issues. In the middle of her 12 o'clock class Alex had sent her a text asking if she could stop by the DEO once she finished up for the day. It was about 3 o'clock so Kara stopped to grab a snack since all of the food she packed for herself was long gone.
"I come baring doughnuts," Kara yelled for everyone to hear.
Agents gave their thanks to Supergirl before getting back to work.
"We might have more intel about the missing aliens," J'onn began without preamble. "We incorrectly assumed the disappearances weren't connected or may have been a coincidence given the rise in criminal activity amongst our alien refuges."
"All of the aliens missing are listed on the Alien Registry," Alex added in. "So far, that's the only connection we can come up with given the listing is voluntary."
"Who has something to gain by targeting aliens on the Registry? It doesn't make any sense," Kara asked through a mouth full of doughnut.
"That's what we're trying to figure out Supergirl. Luckily, you're not listed, so your identity is relatively safe."
Alex looked worriedly over at her sister. No one wanted to say it out loud, but it very well could be possible someone was trying to weed out Supergirl's true identity. One of the three kidnapped aliens was a male Aellonian but that could be the only coincidence in this entire situation. Kara couldn’t remember the Aellonian’s name but she knew to the people of Earth it had a rather feminine ring to it.
"I hate to bring it up but could the Luthors be involved?" an agent hesitantly questioned.
Everyone looked around the room at no one in particular.
"It's not like they have the cleanest track record," another agent chipped in.
"One Luthor doesn't speak for all Luthors," Kara declared. She had never met any of them but she knew how xenophobic the family had historically been. There was no way all of the Luthors harbored that same backwards way of thinking.
"Don't speak too soon Supergirl," J'onn advised.
Kara made her way down to the training rooms for a sparring session with her sister after the briefing. "You were relatively quiet up there," Kara observed. She knew her sister was going through a lot that she wouldn't talk to her about, but there was something going on.
Alex threw a left hook and swept Kara's feet from underneath her while she was distracted. "I'm fine Kara!"
Kara used her superspeed to pin Alex against the mat. Glaring down at her sister, "There isn't," she asked with a raised brow. Alex shoved at her sister's shoulders knowing she wouldn't budge but Kara surprisingly stumbled backwards.
"Maggie was there today during an investigation. And before you push I don't want to talk about it... Not yet."
Kara left it at that and let Alex leave the room without a fight. She knew her sister hadn't fully dealt with what happened with Maggie. She wanted to help Alex in any way she could but the redhead refused any and all help offered. Eventually they would have to talk but she didn't want to push Alex to rip the band-aid off such a wound.
Kara ended her first day of classes with a mound of potstickers, Chinese food, and two tubs of ice cream. With it being "Syllabus Week", a term most college students enjoy, the impending homework hadn't began, but she was on call for any Supergirl emergencies for the night.