Chapter Text
She's flying when she hears the first clap of lighting. It echoed like a gunshot from her position in the sky, making her clap her hands over her ears. Seconds later a flash of lightning struck and Kara flinched back with a soft whimper. Then came the rain. It lashed at her skin, unrelenting; and while it didn't hurt her, not really, it felt like thousands of icicles jabbing at her skin. She let out a wail at the discomfort of her wet suit sticking to her skin clinging to her as the rain bucketed down. Her hair stuck to her face, and she hurriedly trying to brush it out of her eyes. It was too much. The overpowering smell of the rain, the thunder clapping, the lightning striking, the wetness of her hair and clothes, the noise of rain against pavement - it was enough to send her into a panic.
It had happened so fast, but not as fast as Kara shot to Alex's apartment. She cried out loud at the sight of Alex's window. Alex's closed window. Surely Alex knew she'd be coming. She couldn't be outside any longer. She flew straight through the glass, paying no heed as it shattered around her, the noise sending her further into sensory overload. She was on the floor now, sobbing with her hands over her ears as she curled into a ball.
"Kara?" She barely registered Maggie's voice.
Maggie saw Kara crash through Alex's window, already a wreck. Maggie's eyes widened when the superhero didn't respond to her name. Alex had told her about this; Kara was autistic. Alex had told her Kara disliked storms, but she hadn't mentioned that they'd send her into a full-blown meltdown. Maggie forced herself to think clearly and wracked her brains. What had Alex told her to do? Surely she mentioned something.
Think Maggie. Think, think, think! Shit, shit, shit. Then Maggie remembered. She'd seen the box in her closet and asked Alex about it. Alex had responded with 'That's Kara's box. It has her favourite things in it, just in case.'
"Kara," Maggie said softly, quietly, gently, as she knelt down next to the overwhelmed Kryptonian - enough to make her presence known, but not quite touching. "I'll be right back."
She stood up slowly, remembering that Alex had said to move slowly, and switched off the apartment lights, letting down the blinds. Then, using the glow of her phone to light her path, she moved into the bedroom and retrieved the box.
Kara couldn't think. She couldn't speak. She felt out of control. Where was Alex? She needed Alex. When Maggie came back, Kara wanted to tell her exactly what she meant, exactly what she needed. She wanted to explain, wanted to apologise because Maggie shouldn't have to deal with this - with her. But all that came out of her mouth were sobs.
"Kara," Maggie soothed. "You don't have to speak." She placed down the weighted blanket and noise cancelling headphones. "Headphones, Kara?" she said slowly, clearly. Kara whimpered, and Kara nodded hurriedly, hands still not moving from her ears. Maggie gently placed the headphones on Kara's ears, nudging her hands away, ready to stop if Kara resisted.
Kara allowed Maggie to move her hands away from her ears, and when noise cancelling was switched on, it offered unimaginable relief.
"Blanket?" Maggie then asked, referring to the weighted blanket. Another hurried nod, and Maggie was laying the heavy blanket over Kara. She bit her lip with clear uncertainty as she saw the ground around Kara covered in glass shards and wet from the rain. It was only going to get wetter. "Kara can we go to the bedroom?" She didn't respond at first, but Maggie knew to let her have time. Her patience paid off when Kara nodded and slowly got to her feet, seeming to be crashing back down from the adrenaline rush of her meltdown. Maggie didn't touch her. At least, Maggie didn't touch her until Kara leant into Maggie's shoulder, letting the shorter woman lead them to Alex's bed.
She helped Kara lie down, but sat to the side until Kara grasped her wrist gently, pulling her down gently. Maggie wrapped Kara - her may-as-well-be little sister - in a hug, applying deep, constant pressure. Kara buried herself in the warmth, listening to Maggie's steady, slightly muffled heartbeat, and focused on her breathing like Alex had taught her.
A few minutes later, Maggie felt the youngest Danvers' body relax completely and her breath even out as she drifted off to sleep. Not even a moment passed of Maggie being slightly shock at the younger woman's allowance of trust before she heard keys in the lock and Alex opening the door.
Alex froze at the sight of Maggie in her bed with... someone else. Sure, she was supposed to be gone until tomorrow, but Maggie wouldn't do that. She felt her heart thundering, which woke Kara. Kara sat up slightly and caught Alex's gaze, who breathed out a sigh of relief before realising why Kara would be here.
"Kar," she breathed, moving towards her little sister.
"Al," Kara replied, pulling Alex towards her sleepily. "can I stay?" she begged.
"Of course, Kar. Always."
And that was how Alex found herself spending the night with her two favourite people in the world. Just as Kara drifted off to sleep again, she and Maggie caught each other's gazes.
"Thank you," Alex said quietly.
"Always."