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*
As a deafening BOOM! goes off inside the high-rise building, shattering glass…
Every gala-attendee retreats.
"Kara!" Lena shouts, reaching out for her best friend and +1 guest. Journalism never sleeps, not even for delicious cocktail weenies, Kara insisted on the phone call after accepting. Since then, Kara has stuffed down many. Lena didn't mind. And, well, now the tabloids would have something to talk about — 'Heiress Dates Local Nobody! Exclusive Pics!' — rather than whether or not Lilian Luthor has a court-trial.
Cooperation and community… Lena hoped for a bright future in her family's company renamed L-Corp, her company.
"Kara! Kara, we should go!"
Lena's hand, scrambling behind her for Kara's wrist, finds nothing but thin air.
Oh no, no, not again…
Whenever chaos erupts, Kara always seems to be the one running through the thick of it.
High above, two figures — one immensely larger than the other and the other being Supergirl — battle and dodge each other. Lena ducks away from the piece of wall crumbling away. Supergirl blasts away the villain dressed in hunter green and yellow and white, until they retreat as well.
She swoops down.
"You alright, Miss Luthor?" she says, her voice exaggeratedly deep. Supergirl's hands pose dramatically on her hips. The whole thing almost gets a giggle out of Lena overwhelmed by adrenaline and rising concern for her +1 still missing. Maybe Supergirl can locate Kara for her.
"Thanks to you… I guess I am."
At this, Supergirl's cheeks pinken.
Her fingers nervously twitch together.
"It's n-no problem," she says. "The D.E.O has been investigating this Neron guy. He does a lot of psychic attacks. But, y'know, I can handle him."
"National City really does owe a debt to yo— oh my god — " Lena breathes, going wide-eyed.
Blood, dark and staining red, trickles quickly out of Supergirl's nose.
"O-oh," Supergirl repeats softly, wiping off. "Um. It's f-fffine. It's a bit of a ringing. A headache, that's all."
Dread swallows up Lena's throat.
"I mean, that's a bit more than a headache, Supergirl. Isn't it?"
It doesn't stop. The blood. Blood glistens onto Supergirl's chin. Blood darkens the collar of the uniform and seeps in. Lena sees blood filling up the corners of Supergirl's eyes blinking dazedly before falling in vibrantly crimson streaks. "I just, hhhn — can you call for Alex?"
Alex…
Kara's sister, Lena fiercely reminds herself.
The one who works with Supergirl in the D.E.O headquarters.
She tries to not panic, sending a signal. By the time it's done, two of the D.E.O agents spring themselves inside and begin to wave other gala-attendees into leaving. Lena yells for their attention, waving too, successfully drawing them over. Without a word, they lift Supergirl out.
Probably to head downstairs… and to take Supergirl to Alex and a medical team for assessment…
And…
And she should find Kara in the meantime, Lena decides, shakily breathing out and watching everyone.
Supergirl's head lolls, those golden curls as bright as sunlight.
"Lena…"
Her voice, weak, pleadingly shrill.
"No…"
*
Outside where the ambulance lights flash, Lena impatiently rings Kara.
It's been an hour. Over an hour, possibly.
Why wouldn't she answer?
Why?
Did Kara drop her phone while heading out to where everyone else gathered?
Lena's teeth gnaw her lipsticked lower lip.
Finally, a click.
"Kara!" she says relieved, absently pressing a hand over her heart. In her mind, Lena sees the fashionably inexpensive eyeglasses. Kara's dress. Turquoise, long and silky, with a Grecian neckline. That sweet smile. Golden hair. "Thank goodness! I've been calling you and — "
"Lena…"
An unfamiliar static-cackle of a voice.
Lena narrows her eyes.
"Kara? Is that you?" she says determinedly.
No answer.
"Hello?"
The connection dies.
Lena huffs, growing more agitated.
Oh, there better damn well be an explanation…
*
Around 8:14 in the morning, as Lena settles into her office with a coffee and switches on the flat-screen television, Winn contacts her. On behalf of Kara. Lena doubtfully hears a nasally shudder of a breath. She went home. She's been out sick. It's nothing to worry about.
"Really?" Lena says curtly, shouldering the landline phone closer to her ear. "Because Kara seemed fine last night with me."
" — THIS IS BREAKING, BREAKING NEWS, WE'RE STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE CITY HALL WHERE THE MAYOR — "
Winn responds, as unconvincing he is, but Lena suddenly can't make herself hear anything.
" — INITIAL REPORTS COMING IN ABOUT SUPERGIRL'S UNTIMELY DEMISE — "
Her office's phone clatters.
She sinks.
No…
No.
*
Crouching, Lena vehemently picks open Kara's apartment lock. The chain not attached, thankfully.
She enters, her high-heels clicking audibly.
Within the darkness, the only electricity being used seems to coming from the bedroom.
Alex's jacket hangs on a kitchen-stool.
"Hello?" Lena calls out softly.
She discovers Alex, red-faced from crying, sitting on top of Kara's quilted and pink bed.
Why?
Why isn't Kara calling?
"I don't… I don't understand…"
The words escape Lena before she can contain them, and Alex's expression tightens into a humorless grin, as she stares up.
"A part of you does, doesn't it?" Alex rasps, and Lena steps in. "Or else you wouldn't have come here like I did…"
Kara…
It feels like a rush of pure cold water in her veins.
Lena shakes her head.
"Superg… no, she's fine."
Alex grasps one of the many picture albums, opened up, spread across the quilts. "National City's hero died," she recites, and Lena wants to throw it away. Throw it all away. Any of the printed pictures of Lena and Kara hugging, their faces beaming into the camera. "Kara… died."
"No…"
Lena doesn't realize she murmurs it, over and over, until Alex's arms wrap around her. Alex cries again, but it sounds so furious.
The D.E.O has been investigating this Neron guy… …
But, y'know… I can handle him… …
One of Lena's hands comfortingly clasps onto the back of Alex's head.
Lena's eyes, moistening with hot and unshed tears, darken.
Fine. She'll handle him instead.
*