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The bass thumped through the walls of Chrom’s sprawling suburban house, decked out with cobwebs, flickering jack-o’-lanterns, and a fog machine that was probably a fire hazard. His annual Halloween party was in full swing, the living room packed with costumed college students laughing, dancing, and spilling cheap punch on the carpet. Skeletons dangled from the ceiling, and a playlist of spooky pop hits blared over the speakers.
Cordelia adjusted her Supergirl cape, feeling a little self-conscious in the bright blue spandex and red boots. She wasn’t sure why she’d picked Supergirl, but something about the confident, heroic vibe felt right. She scanned the room, dodging a tipsy Frederick dressed as a knight and waving at Lissa, who was rocking a glittery witch outfit.
Across the room, near the snack table piled high with candy corn and ghost-shaped cookies, she spotted her. A woman in a sharp blazer and pencil skirt, notepad in hand, glasses perched on her nose--Lois Lane, straight out of a Daily Planet newsroom. Her white-blonde hair was tied back, and she was scribbling something with a playful smirk, oblivious to the chaos around her. Cordelia’s heart did a little flip. Okay, wow.
“Nice cape,” the woman called out, catching Cordelia’s eye. Her voice was warm, teasing, and it cut through the noise like a spotlight. “You saving the world tonight, Supergirl?”
Cordelia grinned, weaving through the crowd. “Only if Metropolis needs me. You look like you’re chasing a scoop, Lois.”
“Always,” the woman said, tapping her pen against her notepad. “Robin, by the way. And you’re…?”
“Cordelia.” She stuck out her hand, then laughed at how formal it felt in the middle of a Halloween party. Robin’s handshake was firm, her fingers lingering just a second longer than necessary. Sparks. Instant sparks.
They started talking, and it was like the rest of the party melted away. Robin was sharp, witty, with a dry sense of humor that had Cordelia snorting into her punch. She was a history major, obsessed with strategy games and old newspapers, and she’d made her Lois costume from thrift store finds. Cordelia admitted she’d spent way too long practicing her Supergirl pose in the mirror, which got a laugh out of Robin that made her cheeks flush.
“So, what’s the deal with Supergirl?” Robin asked, leaning against the wall as a zombie Gaius shuffled by with a tray of cupcakes. “You strike me as more… perfectionist than caped crusader.”
Cordelia shrugged, brushing her bangs aside. “I don’t know. Supergirl’s all about doing what’s right, even when it’s hard. Plus, the flying thing would be cool.”
Robin raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Flying, huh? I’d peg you as someone who’s already got everything under control. No superpowers needed.”
“Says the woman who’s probably got a Pulitzer-worthy story in that notepad,” Cordelia shot back, and Robin’s laugh lit up the room.
They talked for hours--about classes, favorite movies, the time Cordelia accidentally set off the fire alarm in her dorm making toast, and how Robin once got stuck in a library overnight during a study binge. The chemistry was effortless, like they’d known each other forever. At one point, Chrom, dressed as a vampire with a very fake accent, tried to drag them into a costume contest, but they waved him off, too wrapped up in their own world.
As the party wound down, the crowd thinning and the music softening, they found themselves on the porch, the October air crisp and smelling of fallen leaves. Robin’s glasses were fogging up slightly, and Cordelia couldn’t help but smile at how cute it was.
“So,” Robin said, tucking her notepad into her pocket. “What’s the Girl of Steel’s next move?”
Cordelia’s heart raced, but she squared her shoulders, channeling a bit of Supergirl’s courage. “How about a date? You know, somewhere without a fog machine and fifty people in costumes.”
Robin’s eyes sparkled. “You’re on, Supes. But I’m picking the place. Lois Lane’s got a reputation for finding the best spots.”
They exchanged numbers, fingers brushing as they handed over their phones. Cordelia felt like she was flying without a cape. As Robin headed down the driveway, turning to wave one last time, Cordelia knew this was the start of something big. Maybe even super.