Chapter Text
EARTH 1, STAR CITY
The ship shakes and bristles as it lands on top of the building. Alex closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, relieved and a bit shocked they actually made it through the portal. Standing up, she looks around the confused and scared crowd, seeing Lena glaring and walking past her towards the entrance of the ship.
“We landed on top of the ex-mayor's office, I received the coordinates from a certain Sara Lance.” Lena mutters gracefully “Know we only delayed the inevitable and I’m going to spend the last night I got in a bar with the most expensive scotch in hands. You are not welcome.”
Alex refrains to roll her eyes, simply nodding and looking down, the guilt still gnawing at her. Watching Lena leaves, Alex knows there’s a lot of things she needs to make up for if they survive this crisis. She became someone she doesn’t quite recognize those past years and she doesn’t know how she let it get this far.
Feeling the anxiety in every fiber of her being, Alex checks her phone again, hoping to see one last message from Earth 38. The message was seen but it hadn’t been responded to. She’s worried about so many people. Right before crossing the portal, she heard that J’onn was on his way with her mother in his convertible. All she could hope is that they made it through. Sighing, Alex jumps as a hand curl around her shoulder.
She recognizes Kelly’s scent and turn around, welcoming the woman in her arms. Kelly is somehow unperturbed, giving Alex a relaxed smile. It calm Alex and unnerves her at the same time.
“I’m glad you’re okay.” she tells her.
Kelly stroke her shoulders and Alex looks down, not wanting to let her guard down yet, still hoping for a response on her phone.
“Where are we exactly?” Kelly asks, bringing her back to the present.
Alex looks around the ship, small group of people forming and whispering.
“On Earth 1, in Star city.” Alex informs her “Listen, I’m gonna go down and meet with the team, see what we’re doing next.”
“I’ll come with you.” Kelly starts but Alex shakes her head, squeezing her girlfriend’s elbow.
“No, you’ll be useful here. You can keep those people calm, talk to them. Honestly, I’m not even sure right now there’s still something left to do. It might just be up to the paragons, but I need to do something. I can’t stay here.”
Kelly looks at her for a long moment and Alex has to swallow the nerves. It always feels like Kelly can read her mind and it makes her feel uneasy. Because Alex has avoided her deepest thoughts lately. She feels guilty, the words coming out of her mouth seeming to twist, to hide a certain truth.
I can’t stay here with you.
“Okay, you do what you feel the need to do.” Kelly says slowly.
Alex can see she wants to add more, to talk more about the unsaid, but now isn’t the time. Even if now is the end of the world and the chances to resolve any conflict might soon become inexistent.
“Thank you.” Alex feels the urge to say, not quite sure what she’s thanking her for.
For putting up with her. For being patient. For not demanding the truth. For not leaving her when all she wants to do is run away. Kelly lean in to kiss her and Alex squeezes her eyes shut, being uncomfortable with the way she feels.
Alex takes a step back and smiles weakly at Kelly before walking out of the ship, resisting the need to run. Nodding at a Roktikon leaning against the ship’s door, Alex talks breathes in the fresh air as she heads towards the door leading inside.
Taking one last look at the night sky, Alex prays it wouldn’t turn red. All was lost. Their whole world. Alex quietly recites a Kryptonian prayer, understanding how hopeless Kara must have felt when she witnessed the destruction of her planet.
Going down the stairs, Alex expects a crowd of people but barely meet anyone until she steps onto the main floor. Lena told her it used to be the ex-mayor's, Oliver Queen, office. The whole room is clean with low lighting, making it comfortable for the people reuniting and chatting. She recognizes a few faces, but none of them is the person she’s looking for. Skirting around a column of marble, Alex abruptly stops at the sight of a dark-haired woman snorting, leaning forward to hide her face into her partner’s shoulder as they overlook plans on a large table.
“Maggie.” she murmurs, but her relief doesn’t last as she recognizes another version of herself kissing the temple of another version of Maggie.
This Maggie had shorter hair and a scar on her cheekbone, but she looks happy in the arms of the woman she loves even if the end of the multiverses is imminent.
“You called?” a voice chime in behind, a fresh air of mint making her shiver.
She almost closes her eyes, letting the relief sinks in, but she smiles instead as her Maggie steps from behind her to stands by her side. Her chocolate eyes scan the room and whistles at the sight of them from this Earth.
“Damn, we do look good together.” Maggie notes, a smirk adorning her lips, dimples deep in her cheeks.
Alex is still awestruck, her arms feeling like jelly as she takes in her ex besides her. Maggie is wearing a silver and black suit of metal, seeming more tall than usual. But it doesn’t seem heavy or impractical. Maggie oozes in confidence and lean coolly against a beam of marble.
“You okay, Danvers? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Maggie jokes, tipping her head to the side “Sorry to disappoint you but I made it through the anti-wave matter.”
Alex is finally pulled out of her stupor as she sputters.
“Don’t say things like that, I’m so relieved you’re okay.” Alex says, taking a step forward but stopping quickly, realizing an armor is separating them. She clears her throat and simply rest her hand on Maggie’s arm. “You got my message in time?”
“I did.” Maggie smiles genuinely at her and nods. “But my partner and I were already on the case. We tried to find a way to stop it but we couldn’t. We built our own ship. Fast. And tried to get as many people out as we could. We almost didn’t make it but Ray and I gave the ship the push it needed.”
Alex nods, though she doesn’t quite understand what Maggie mean by that. Maggie presses a spot beneath her pulse point and her suit retracts itself at impressive speed until all that is left is a fancy and technological silver wrist band with a black button.
“Pretty cool, isn’t? It's more comfortable than it looks.”
Alex let out a half scoff, half cry, a bit overwhelmed by Maggie’s presence and her calm. She inspects the woman’s more than familiar look. Dark Henley over black spandex jogging gear.
“Is it really?” she chokes out.
Maggie laughs and shrugs, crossing her arms over her chest.
“At first, it was like being trapped in a vending machine but with time and training, it became like a second skin.” Maggie says with a smile before leaning and pretending to whisper “Though it is less practical to hug someone you haven’t seen in a while.”
Alex laughs shortly, taking a timid step forward, her fingertips hovering over Maggie’s bicep.
“Can I?”
Maggie nods once, reassuringly and it all it takes for Alex to engulf Maggie into a tight embrace, surrounding her neck with her arms. Her nose land in her hair and while her shampoo is clearly different, Maggie’s distinctive scent isn’t.
“I have so many questions.” Alex breathes out, struggling to let go.
“I bet you do.” Maggie grins wetly as she takes a step back “Are you okay?
Alex shakes her head and nearly scoffs, not quite believing the situation she was in.
“I’m fine. Everything is great. We don’t have a home anymore. We are in a room with a bunch of superheroes and the whole place smells like leather. Even you got a suit.” Alex rambles, pushing her hair back nervously.
Maggie nods slowly, seeming to get that the day had been long and stressful.
“First off, I remember the collection of your leather jackets, may they rest in peace, so the smell must not be what is bothering you. And second, my suit is awesome. You’re just jealous, Danvers.”
Alex rolls her eyes and chuckles wetly, thankful for Maggie taking her mind off things. She had always been good at that. The memories make her blush and make her want to cry.
“Jealous? Me, no, I would never...”
“Still cute when you’re flustered.” Maggie points out with a grin “Listen, my friend Ray is downstairs, prepping us cots and blankets. Want to share one?” she proposes earnestly but still with a hint of teasing in case of rejection.
Alex feels her heart squeezes painfully at the realization that all she wants is to say yes.
“I can’t. I, um, should go back to...” she pauses, getting lost in Maggie’s eyes for a second “...Kelly.”
“Right, the girlfriend.” Maggie takes a discrete but definite step back, nodding and forcing herself to smile “Well, if you get bored, you know where to find me. You know, with my suit I can fly.”
Alex blinks and shakes her head, chuckling at the information. She squints, wondering if it’s in her head or if Maggie is flirting with her. The thought shouldn’t make her giddy like a freaking teenager, but it does.
“You...you can fly? You hate flying.” Alex points out, recalling how Maggie and Kara used to bicker about the blond superhero taking the detective out for a spin.
“It’s the intention that counts.” Maggie’s grin is back as she shrugs, putting her hand in the back pocket of her yoga pants.
“You just want to swoop in on some damsel in distress.” Alex refutes, shaking her head.
She bites down her lips, knowing she’s weaving through dangerous waters. She shouldn’t banter like that with Maggie. She shouldn’t test their chemistry when she already knows the answer to that question.
“No, you know that’s not my type. I love a woman that can fight.” Maggie replies, her guard up in her eyes but her body open and testing too.
Their silence is charged with defiance, with past conversations and promises they swore to keep. Alex has to physically hold herself back and is thankful for a tall man with black hair and brown eyes coming to them.
“Hey, Maggie, you found her?” he asks her with concern.
Maggie tear her eyes away from Alex’s and clears her throat as she pats the man’s muscular arm. Alex frowns, recognizing Ray Palmer. He is almost identical to Ray of Earth 1 except for the sharper haircut and the absence of gray yet.
“Um, yes I did. Ray this is Alex. Alex, this is my friend Ray.”
“Oh, hi!” Ray says genuinely relieved “I heard a lot about you. I’m glad you’re okay, Maggie was really worried.”
“Okay, Ray, as you can see Alex is fine, so, um...’’
Alex hides her smile and crosses her arms over her revived heart. She shamefully enjoys the faint blush on Maggie’s cheek and wonder if just like her, Maggie will always have a soft spot for her. But the guilt hits her still, always, whenever Maggie cross her mind and the memory of her breaking her heart, making love to her one last time.
Getting out of her head, squeezing her arms almost painfully, she focuses on the sight of the brunettes in front of her, eyes locked on each other. She's amused by the quiet conversation Ray and Maggie seem to have and is happy that her ex has a good friend.
“Right.” Ray says finally clearing his throat “Anyway, our cots are ready for a short nap. I asked two ladies’ downstairs to keep an eye out but I’m not sure they will. You need to see this, Mags! The arrowcave is even cooler than our place!”
Maggie laughs softly, patting the man's arm softly and Alex's heart lunch forward at the familiar sound she hasn't heard in so long.
“Okay, nerd, I’m right behind you. Just give me two minutes.” Maggie replies softly.
Alex is conflicted. Happy and sad at the same time. She remembers the teasing, the friendship, the love when Maggie used to call her nerd. Maggie tips her head to the side and Alex try to find something to say.
“Ray seems great.” She says.
Maggie smiles at the mention of her friend, Ray walking into the elevator and waving at them before disappearing.
“He's the best.” Maggie responds softly, refraining to add more. After a moment of silence, she sighs “I'm really glad you’re okay. Goodnight Alex.”
Alex still feels the brush of Maggie’s fingers against her forearm as she walks backward toward the elevator. Alex knows she shouldn't miss her, know she should turn around and go back to the ship. But she doesn’t have the strength to walk away, she only finds herself taking a step forward.
“Maggie?” she calls, waiting for the brunette to turn around, surprised and hopeful “What if we did catch up? Right now.”
Maggie smiles and Alex knows she made the right choice, her heart getting back on track as Maggie waits for her by the elevator, arm out reached.
“Lead the way.” She replies with so much warmth, Alex can’t help but lean on her shoulder as the door closes in front of them.