DC Movie World, Earth.
With a series of sharp sonic cracks, the boom tube opened and shimmered like a rift across the air. Out of its blinding energy stepped Shin, followed closely by Supergirl Kara. The portal closed behind them, leaving only silence and the looming building of the Justice League headquarters.
Kara's bright blue eyes darted nervously across the familiar yet unfamiliar landscape. Her boots touched the ground with hesitance, and she whispered softly from behind Shin, her tone carrying disbelief.
"Are you serious? My cousin is actually older than me now?"
Shin glanced back at her, clearly unimpressed with the question. He rolled his eyes and replied with dry irritation. "Of course it's true. You have no idea how long you were in stasis on that ship. Anyone could tell Clark is older than you now just by looking at him."
Kara let out a drawn-out sigh, almost a whine, disappointment heavy in her voice. Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, she tilted her head toward Shin. "Wait a second… How did you even know I came to Earth to find my cousin? No one's supposed to know about that. I never told anyone."
Caught off guard, Shin hesitated, then forced an awkward smile. "Uh… well, I have super vision. I can see down to the molecular level. With a glance at your DNA, it wasn't exactly hard to figure out who you were related to."
The statement was not entirely false. In the comics, Superman's vision had been portrayed as almost limitless, able to perceive atoms and even trigger catastrophic reactions. Shin was nowhere near that level of mastery. His current ability reached the molecular scale at best, but that was more than enough to confirm Kara's genetic connection to Clark Kent.
Kara, however, did not process it that way. Her cheeks flushed scarlet, and before Shin could defend himself further, she grabbed his arm and twisted it with surprising strength. "Pervert!" she shouted, her embarrassment pouring into anger.
For an ordinary man, her grip would have been bone-shattering. For Shin, it felt more like an uncomfortable massage, but the accusation stung worse than the physical pressure. He stood frozen for a moment, baffled. How had this turned into him being the bad guy?
The Justice League's main hall doors opened just then, and several figures stepped out. Among them, Wanda Maximoff's scarlet eyes narrowed as she locked her gaze on Shin. The intensity of her glare was enough to make him raise his hands in surrender.
"Hold on, hold on! Why am I suddenly the villain here? She's the one misunderstanding me. I literally brought her here safely, and this is how she repays me?" Shin exclaimed, his exasperation obvious as he tried to wriggle free of Kara's grip.
At nearly two meters tall, Shin's frame dwarfed Kara's, and yet her righteous indignation made him seem clumsy in the situation. The sight of him struggling to justify himself while she restrained him drew smirks from some of the onlookers.
"People who use super vision to peek at others… what else should I call you if not a pervert?" Kara snapped, folding her arms after releasing him.
Her words made the atmosphere tense. Even Superman himself, who had just stepped into the hall, looked momentarily uncomfortable. Everyone knew that accusations of voyeurism were almost impossible to disprove. If someone had the power to see through walls or even people's clothing, who could say for sure that they had never abused that ability?
It was a heavy burden Superman had always carried. Even his closest allies, like Batman, could never fully guarantee his innocence in his younger years. Hormones, youth, and temptation were dangerous combinations.
But Shin truly had no such intentions. He grit his teeth in frustration and argued back. "Checking DNA doesn't mean I had to see through your entire body. Just your hands, your hair, even a few cells would've been enough. Don't twist my words."
Kara, unimpressed, gave him another sharp look. Yet her attention drifted soon after. Her eyes finally settled on the tall figure standing near the Justice League entrance.
There, clad in a blue suit and red cape, the iconic crest of the House of El displayed proudly across his chest, stood Superman himself. His presence radiated strength and calm, and his resemblance to the family Kara had once known stirred emotions she had buried during her long stasis.
The moment stretched as the cousins looked at each other. There was no need for words to establish recognition. Blood ties carried their own resonance. Kara's heart thumped heavily, overwhelmed by a sense of belonging she had feared she would never feel again.
Superman's expression softened as his superhearing confirmed what he had already begun to suspect from the conversation. His voice carried warmth as he spoke.
"Shin… who is this?"
Shin stepped aside, gesturing to Kara with a small smile. "This is your cousin, Kara Zor-El. Don't let her looks fool you. Her ship malfunctioned during the journey, and she was trapped in stasis for years. She may appear older, but she's actually younger than you."
Kara winced slightly, elbowing Shin in the ribs in annoyance. To her, being called younger than Clark, who already looked far too seasoned for her liking, felt like an insult.
Superman, however, barely heard Shin's final words. His focus was entirely on Kara. He stepped forward, eyes glistening with uncharacteristic emotion. For years, he had believed himself the sole survivor of Krypton's destruction. To suddenly find family standing before him was almost overwhelming.
"Kara… Kara Zor-El," he said slowly, the name heavy on his tongue. "I never imagined… I thought Krypton was lost to me forever. Welcome to Earth. Welcome home."
Kara's lips trembled as she struggled to respond. Her voice cracked with relief as she whispered back, "Kal-El…"
Superman did not hesitate. He pulled her into a strong embrace, holding her close as though afraid she might vanish if he let go. Kara buried her face against his shoulder, her body trembling with both joy and sorrow.
The Man of Steel, the unshakable leader of the Justice League, felt his own eyes sting. For all his power, he had always carried the quiet wound of loneliness. Now, for the first time, that wound began to heal.
Around them, the gathered heroes exchanged glances. Even Batman, stoic as ever, softened slightly at the sight. For once, Superman's burden seemed lighter.
For Kara, the embrace was equally life-altering. She had not only found her cousin but also discovered that she was not as alone in the universe as she had believed. The crest on their chests no longer symbolized just hope. It symbolized family, survival, and a future worth protecting.
Shin stepped back, watching the reunion quietly. Despite the awkward accusations earlier, he felt a certain satisfaction in having brought Kara to this moment. It was a reminder that even across universes and timelines, bonds of family could still be restored.
And for the Justice League, it marked a new chapter. Krypton's legacy was no longer carried by one man alone.
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