Supergirl: Strange New World (DC Comics)

[Gowonzu]

A/N: Not a new chapter. But I wrote this little Supergirl story and I don't want to make an whole new thread just for a one-shot.
Had an idea, kept picking at it. Dunno if I'll continue it, probably not. Already got a lot on my plate. But enjoy! This story is separate to the main fic (But they both share the same backstory)

Poison Ivy had made her a puppet. Used a synthetic pheromone tailored to Kryptonian biology.
Supergirl had been the weapon, albeit an unwilling one.
All they saw was a victim. A superhero who'd been used. Their pity stung more than any kryptonite ever could.

Because they didn't know what it had felt like.

Click to shrink...

---

Kara flew low over Gotham, her cape slashing through the foggy air like a banner of war.

She wasn't making a public entrance. No grand speech, no gleaming symbol of hope today. Not this time.

This was personal.

Ivy had been spotted again. Subtle signs, invasive vines creeping over rooftops, air thick with a floral perfume no one could name, and a wealthy socialite suddenly obsessed with gardening, inviting no one into her lavish greenhouse estate.

Kara followed the trail.

This wasn't Justice League business. She hadn't told Batman or even Kal-El. Hadn't told anyone.

Supergirl had been the weapon, albeit an unwilling one. All they saw was a victim. A superhero who'd been used. Their pity stung more than any kryptonite ever could.

Because they didn't know what it had felt like.

Poison Ivy had made her a puppet. Used a synthetic pheromone tailored to Kryptonian biology. Kara had dismantled an Ace Chemicals facility with a smile on her face and no fear in her heart. Carried out Ivy's plan with grace, precision, and not a shred of guilt. She kidnapped a CEO. Tore down half a corrupt industry.

She hadn't harmed anyone. That was Ivy's twisted form of mercy. Or restraint. Kara still didn't know which.

They told her she was traumatised. They told her she was violated. They told her what she was feeling. But no one had asked her how it felt.

They just told her she was brave and strong, and okay now.

She found the greenhouse nestled atop a hill like a glass cathedral, An artificial Eden, glowing green against the night.

She didn't knock.

She landed hard on the glass verandah, cracking a tile beneath her boots. The air was warm, humid, alive with whispers from unseen leaves. The wealthy host, some Gotham heiress, was visible through the window, trimming vines with a tranquil smile, oblivious to her own enchantment.

The plants stirred. Ivy stepped out from the shadows of a giant fern, barefoot, lips pressed in something like boredom.

Ivy stepped forward slowly, arms raised in mock surrender, fingers lazily splayed.

"Alright, alright," she said, voice smooth, a touch disinterested. "No fight left in me tonight, darling. Let's skip the punching and get to the part where you haul me off to Arkham."

Kara didn't move.

Her fists stayed clenched. Her jaw was tight.

Ivy glanced around as if hoping for backup that wasn't coming. "What, no Bat? No Big Blue Boy Scout?"

"I came alone," Kara said, voice low.

"Risky."

"Intentional."

Ivy's brow lifted at that. "Well then. What now? You going to yell at me? Demand answers? Justice? Closure?"

"Why me?"

The question landed sharp and sudden in the humid air.

Ivy blinked. "Sorry?"

"Why me?" Kara repeated, stepping forward. "Why did you choose me? Why did you make me do all that? Why did you make me feel like that?"

Ivy tilted her head, a single red curl sliding across her cheek. "You think I had some grand master plan?" she said with a soft laugh. "Please. I was improvising. It was supposed to be Superman. Do you have any idea how much that would've pissed off Batman?"

Kara stiffened.

"But you," Ivy continued, shrugging, "You just happened to fly in first. Right place, wrong time. And when you went under… Well, why waste the opportunity? I had the muscle I needed. The plan grew around you."

Kara's eyes flashed. "You didn't even choose me."

"Oh, don't pout," Ivy said, arching a brow. "You were brilliant. Graceful. Effective. You made it sing."

"You didn't just control me," Kara said, voice trembling now, "You made me feel. You made me feel calm. Safe. Free."

Ivy's face finally softened. "The pheromones don't discriminate. They dull pain. Quiet fear. Make people open, pliant, cooperative. It's not just you. That's just… how they work."

Kara stepped even closer. "Then answer me this. Why didn't you make me hurt anyone?"

Ivy blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You could have. I would've done anything you told me. So why didn't you?"

A long silence stretched between them. Ivy's smirk faded. She looked away.

"I don't make my puppets kill," She said finally. "Not unless they were already killers. I might be a criminal, Supergirl, but I'm not heartless. I have standards."

Kara stared at her, searching her face for a lie.

When she lunged forward, Ivy flinched.

The grip on her arms was firm, but not punishing. Ivy expected pain. A throw. Maybe a blast of wind. Instead, Kara stood there holding her, trembling slightly, eyes wide and uncertain.

"Do it again," Kara said, barely a whisper.

"What?" Ivy asked, blinking. "I'm sorry?-"

"I said do it again." Kara's voice was louder now, still shaking. "Please."

Ivy looked down at her, truly stunned.

Kara looked up at her like someone confessing a crime.

"I can't remember the last time I felt that good," she said. "Not heroic, not noble… Just good. I didn't have to think about Krypton, or my father or all the people I'll never see again. I wasn't sad. I wasn't pretending. I was just… at peace."

Ivy blinked, almost laughed, but stopped short at the look in Kara's eyes.

"You must be joking."

"I'm not," Kara said, quietly.

Ivy tilted her head, genuinely baffled. "You do realise… I could make you do anything. Anything I wanted."

Kara's voice didn't waver. "Will you make me hurt people?"

That gave Ivy pause. She looked away, lips parting, then closing again. The hesitation was answer enough.

"Only if they try to hurt me," She admitted finally. "And even then, I usually handle it myself."

Kara nodded. "Exactly."

A breath caught in Ivy's throat. "You're asking me to take your choices away."

"I'm asking you," Kara said, stepping closer again, "To take my pain away."

The words hung there, trembling between them like the air before a summer storm.

Ivy looked at her for a long, long time. Her eyes, usually half-lidded and amused, were wide now. Vulnerable and unsure.

"This isn't something I just, do," She said. "It would take time. I'd have to synthesise the pheromones again. Your biology is complex. Kryptonian scent receptors don't even map one-to-one with human chemistry. I'd need a full greenhouse lab, at least a few days-"

"Is there a faster way?" Kara asked.

Ivy hesitated again, just slightly.

"There is," She said slowly. "I can produce the compound myself. Internally. Tailor the sequence as it forms. It's unstable… but potent. Direct."

"How?"

Ivy's voice dropped. "Through a kiss."

Kara didn't even blink.

She reached up, fingers trembling only slightly, and brushed a strand of Ivy's hair back. Then, before the woman could fully process it, she leaned in and kissed her.

It was gentle at first. Hesitant. A question without words.

Ivy stiffened in surprise, hands lifted in a defensive reflex, but then slowly, delicately, she relaxed. Her fingers found Kara's hips, anchoring her. Her body warmed. And she kissed back.

The second kiss was different.

This one was deeper. Intentional. Ivy shifted, pressing their mouths together more fully, her lips soft and slow-moving. The taste of green things and rain and something floral filled Kara's senses.

She inhaled.

And the world began to slip.

Warmth crept through her chest, curling in her spine like blooming vines. The weight she always carried, Krypton, loss, legacy, started to melt away like mist beneath morning light. Her breath hitched, then eased.

When the kiss finally broke, Kara's eyes were glassy and soft.

She swayed slightly in Ivy's arms, a dreamy smile playing on her lips.

"…Hello again," Ivy whispered.

Kara blinked slowly, calm and dazed, utterly peaceful. "Hi."

Ivy exhaled, staring into the eyes of a goddess who'd just begged to fall.

Who had fallen, right into her hands.

Ivy held Kara close, feeling the girl's breath slow, the warmth of power humming beneath her skin. Kara's eyes were soft, dreamy, utterly at peace.

"I feel… light," Kara whispered.

"I know," Ivy murmured, brushing her hair back.

She should feel guilty. Kara had asked for escape, not healing. This was a shortcut, an unhealthy one. But Ivy had never been good at turning away broken things that looked at her like that.

Like she was safe. Like she was wanted.

"You should sit," Ivy said gently.

Supergirl obeyed, settling onto the bench with a smile that nearly broke Ivy's resolve.

"You're very pretty when you talk like that," she said.

Ivy exhaled, half-laughing, half-shaken. "God help me."

She could end this. Let the pheromones fade. Send Supergirl home.

But the girl would return, again and again. And Ivy wasn't ready to lose the way she looked at her.

Like she was sunlight instead of poison.

She sat beside her, close but not touching, watching the peaceful goddess she'd kissed into serenity.

Outside, Gotham moved on.

Inside, Ivy watched a sleeping storm and wondered how far she was willing to fall.

 

[Gowonzu]

A comic I commissioned by VADARTS
Dialogue edited by me to fit the fic.

 

[Gowonzu]

More art. This time by the talented Mikezzzzz
This is more inline with the type of costume Kara has for this fic.
Building off from the silly New 52 costume, with some added some amazonian/wonder woman inspired bracelets and a skirt/pteruge

 

[Gowonzu]

Sorry for the lack of updates as of late, next chapter has been in my drafts all month. Just need to find the time/willpower to sit down and write it.

Been working on other writing projects and other hobbies, such as learning to draw.
Which leads me to this little comic that I attempted to make myself.
Still very new at all of it, but considering I could only draw shitty stick figures a month or so ago, I'm pretty happy with how this turned out.

Currently got an actual artist commissioned to make it, but I figured I'd give it try myself in the mean time.

 

[Gowonzu]

A/N: Sorry, not a new chapter, still in my drafts. But here's a SuperCorp story that I didn't feel like posting a whole new thread for. Enjoy!

---

The city shimmered beneath the glass walls of L-Corp, each light a star in its own constellation of ambition. Supergirl hovered just outside the penthouse balcony before touching down with a soft thump, her cape settling behind her in a ripple of crimson.

It was her first official meeting with Lena Luthor. And for all the rumours surrounding that last name, the woman who turned toward her wasn't what Kara had expected.

The first thing Kara noticed was her eyes. The light caught the green in Lena's eyes, and for a second, Kara forgot to breathe.

"Supergirl. I'm glad you came," Lena extended a hand, her smile polite. "I know the Luthor name doesn't exactly inspire trust."

"Rao, you're breathtaking…"

The words slipped out, reverent and unguarded.

"I'm sorry?" Lena blinked.

Kara's eyes widened in alarm, replaying what she had just said aloud. Thankfully, she had said it in Kryptonian, leaving a confused but unaware Lena staring back at her.

She cleared her throat, straightening her posture, and forced a practised smile. "Ah, just… saying, you're not your brother," She rolled with the lie, feeling guilty for the deception but not wanting to embarrass herself further. "And I'm not my cousin. I figured we deserved to make our own judgements after meeting, uh, eye to eye."

Lena's expression softened as she clasped her hands in front of her and smiled.

"Well," she said lightly, "I think we can agree that both of us want what's best for National City. I know my last name comes with… baggage." Her tone was steady, confident, but self-aware. "But I'm not Lex. I want L-Corp to be a force for good. For real change, not just reputation."

Kara nodded, grateful for the pivot but still finding it hard to focus. The cadence of Lena's voice was hypnotic, combined with her captivating eyes and a smile she wanted to know more of.

"I also won't pretend this partnership won't benefit me." Lena continued, pacing slowly toward a nearby console. "Having Supergirl alongside L-Corp would be a tremendous boost for public confidence." She turned, meeting Kara's eyes again. "But I want you to know I mean it when I say I believe in doing what's right. Even if it costs me."

There was no guile in her expression. No trace of manipulation or practice charm. Just sincerity, and that smile that made Kara's stomach do things she was pretty sure her Kryptonian DNA shouldn't allow.

Kara swallowed. That's… good to hear," she managed, hoping she sounded more like a serious hero and less like someone trying not to blush. "I think working together could really make a difference."

Lena's smile deepened. "Then it's settled. A partnership."

Kara nodded, forcing herself to look at the holographic projection behind her instead of those eyes. "For the good of the city," she said.

And then, because her heart apparently had no interest in letting her keep her composure, she muttered under her breath in smooth, melodic Kryptonian:

"And for the chance to spend more time with you, too."

It slipped out before she could stop it, soft enough to blend with the hum of machinery.

Lena tilted her head, curiosity flickering for a second, and then smiled again, oblivious. "Wonderful. I'll have my team coordinate with the media about next steps. Make sure you still look good after all this."

Kara exhaled in relief, smiling back even as her thoughts raced.

Lena extended a hand once more. "To new beginnings?"

Kara clasped it, her heartbeat quickening as their palms met. "To new beginnings."

-------------------------------

The partnership between Supergirl and Lena Luthor grew in quiet, steady steps.

One month turned into two, and suddenly it felt natural to see Lena waiting in her lab whenever Kara touched down at L-Corp.

They saved people together. Solved impossible problems. Talked about the future.
And every time, Kara told herself she was being professional.
Every time, she failed just a little more spectacularly.

It started one night with a fire.

A research tower on Fifth Avenue had gone up in flames, smoke rolling over the skyline. Supergirl dived through the heat while Lena coordinated the evacuation from below, her voice crisp and calm over comms.

When Kara landed beside her, her suit blackened with ash, Lena didn't flinch. She simply handed her a tablet showing the security feed and several masked men banging on a tightly locked door, her fingers brushing Kara's as she said, "This was no accident. The fire was a cover for an ongoing heist. Luckily, the fire suppression system also doubled as a door control system once I took back control. The thieves are locked tight in the basement, police are already on their way."

Kara blinked, genuinely impressed. "You think fast."

"I have to," Lena said, glancing up with that infuriating, wonderful smile. "Someone has to keep up with you."

And before Kara could stop herself, the words slipped out. "You shine brighter than the fire I just put out."

Lena smiled at the tone, "You really do have a beautiful language," she murmured, still oblivious to what Kara had said. She turned back toward the smoky skyline, giving orders to assist the rescue and recovery operations.

Kara tried not to melt in embarrassment, thanking Rao that her lips had the good sense to stick to Kryptonian.

Weeks later, they were alone in the lab after midnight, working on a malfunctioning device. Lena's hair was tied back, a few loose strands catching the light. She looked tired but impossibly focused, her eyes narrowed in concentration as she adjusted a calibrator.

Kara sat perched on a nearby counter, pretending to study the data feed. In truth, she couldn't look away from the way Lena's hand moved with precision, the soft line of her jaw in the dim glow.

"Don't you ever sleep?" Kara asked.

"Don't you?" Lena replied, her tone teasing. "Or do Kryptonians just… bask in sunlight and call it a night?"

Kara smiled faintly. "Sometimes. But I'd rather be here."

Lena glanced up, brow arched. "With me?"

Kara's voice slipped into the comfort of her native tongue. "You remind me of the crystal gardens of Argo. Even in darkness, you glow with life."

"What was that?" Lena asked, finally looking up from her work.

"Just making sure you don't blow yourself up again," Kara quickly corrected, a playful jab at the machine in Lena's hand.

"That was one time," Lena sighed, returning to her work while muttering about an imbalanced energy core that was in no way her fault.

Kara hid her face in the computer screen, the deep red blush fading after quoting Kryptonian poetry to Lena.

----------------------------------

A few days later, Kara found herself once again stepping through the sliding glass doors of L-Corp's rooftop entrance. The familiar scent of faint perfume met her the moment she entered. Something floral, distinctly Lena.

Lena stood by the lab window, her profile framed against the city skyline. Her hair fell loose tonight, a curtain of dark silk catching the golden light of the desk lamps.

"Supergirl," Lena greeted, turning toward her with that perfectly measured smile. "Thank you for meeting me. I hope you weren't busy."

Kara smiled, trying to sound casual even as her pulse quickened. "Just finished putting out a fire in Indonesia when you called."

Lena's eyes widened a little. "Goodness, so far. You didn't have to rush back here."

Kara's heart answered before her brain could stop it. "For you, I'd travel the stars if you asked of me."

Lena blinked. "Pardon?"

"Oh, nothing," Kara said quickly, waving her hand in a dismissive arc that nearly smacked a nearby tablet. "It's no big deal. I was heading back here anyway."

Lena walked out to meet Kara, taking the conversation outside to their usual spot. The skyline stretched beneath them, gold lights flickering like distant stars. Lena leaned against the railing, her hair dancing in the breeze, while Kara hovered beside her, pretending the view held her attention.

"So?" Kara smiled, not knowing what to do with her hands. "What's the emergency?"

"No emergency," Lena smiled, motioning for Kara to stop hovering and relax beside her. She did, leaning on the railing next to her. "A celebration."

Kara arched an eyebrow but smiled back. "What are we celebrating?"

"You," Lena said as charmingly as ever. Kicking open a small cooler to reveal a single bottle of champagne and two glasses. "Us." She amended, popping the cork and filling the glasses. "Haven't you heard the news?"

Her eyes motioned towards a newspaper sitting nearby. The headline reading 'SuperCorp: Saving the world!'

It was a rather dramatic retelling of their partnership and the work the pair had done in the months since forming, along with the most recent story about Supergirl using L-Corp's satellites to intercept an incoming meteor strike. The news called it a harrowing mission that saved countless lives, Kara called it Tuesday.

"To saving the world," Lena said, lifting her glass.

Kara smiled, tapping hers lightly against it. "To saving the world," she echoed.

They drank. Or, rather, Kara pretended to. She'd learned after one very memorable experience that Kryptonian tolerance made champagne about as effective as tea. But tonight wasn't about the drink. It was about the woman beside her. The one with the half-smile that could undo her faster than any villain.

Lena leaned against the railing, her expression soft and reflective. "You know," she said quietly, "I think this might be the first time I've felt… peaceful after one of these crises. No press conferences. No chaos. Just…" she gestured toward the stars. "This."

Kara nodded, heart thudding unevenly. The wind tugged gently at her hair, carrying the faint scent of Lena's perfume.

And suddenly, Kara couldn't hold it in anymore.

"Lena," she began, setting her glass down before it could slip from her trembling hands. "There's something I need to say."

Lena turned toward her, curiosity flickering in those green eyes that always saw too much. "What is it?"

Kara opened her mouth. Tried to speak. Tried to find words that didn't sound foolish or too much or not enough.

But English betrayed her. The language felt too small, too clumsy for what she felt.

So she did what came naturally. What she always did when her heart overran her reason. She spoke in Kryptonian.

Her voice came soft, melodic, trembling.

"Every time you smile, I feel like the sun burns brighter. Every time you speak, I want to listen forever. You've become my light, my reason. I think I love you. And maybe one day, I'll be brave enough to tell you this in your language."

She stopped. The night hummed softly around them. The sound of the city below, distant traffic, a siren, laughter somewhere on the wind, all faded to nothing.

Kara blinked back tears before they could form, suddenly aware of how exposed she felt. How utterly foolish she was being.

Lena was staring at her, unreadable.

"I'm sorry," Kara said quickly, switching back to English. "That was… it's just… What I really meant was…"

As Kara struggled to come up with a reasonable excuse, Lena tilted her head slightly. Then, in perfect, fluid Kryptonian, she whispered:

"I know."

Kara froze.

Every muscle in her body went still, her mind catching up several seconds too late. "You. What?"

Lena smiled, eyes gleaming with quiet amusement. "I know, Kara." She set her glass down, turning fully to face her. "My brother was obsessed with Kryptonian culture. He wanted someone to converse with so that he could learn it faster. Hated every second of it." Her tone softened. "Until I didn't."

"You… you understood everything?" Kara stammered, mortified. "Since… since when?"

"Oh, since the beginning," Lena admitted, a little too casually. "You're not exactly subtle, you know."

Kara covered her face with both hands, her voice muffled by sheer embarrassment. "Rao, save me…"

Lena's laugh carried easily over the rooftop breeze. "You have a beautiful accent, by the way," she teased. "Did I ever tell you that?"

Kara peeked through her fingers, cheeks burning crimson. "You could've told me!"

"And miss all those poetic little confessions?" Lena arched a brow, stepping closer. "Not a chance."

Kara groaned, half-laughing, half-hiding. "I'm never showing my face again."

"That's a shame," Lena murmured. "I rather like your face."

Before Kara could sputter a reply, Lena reached up and gently pulled her hands away. "Hey," she said softly. "You don't have to hide from me."

Kara's breath caught. The world seemed to narrow again. The stars, the city, the champagne, all fading until there was only Lena.

Then Lena leaned forward and kissed her.

When they finally broke apart, Kara blinked, dazed, a ridiculous grin spreading across her face. "So… we're, uh, speaking the same language now?"

Lena chuckled, brushing a stray lock of hair from Kara's face. "In more ways than one."

Kara laughed, dizzy with relief. "Still," she said, "I can't believe you let me go on and on in Kryptonian all this time."

Lena's grin widened. "'You shine brighter than the fire I just put out.' That one was particularly charming."

Kara groaned again, hiding her face in Lena's shoulder. "You're evil."

"It runs in the family," Lena corrected with mock solemnity, wrapping an arm around her.

As the stars shimmered above, they stood together. The hero and genius, partners in more than name, ready to save the world all over again.