Alphonse sat in the chair beside Kara's bed, watching the holographic readouts while stealing occasional glances at her. The silence between them was thick enough to cut with a knife.
"So..." he started, then stopped. What was he supposed to say? 'Sorry about earlier'? 'Nice weather we're having'? 'By the way, you landed on my dick'?
Meanwhile, Kara watched him with nervousness and a hint of confusion. She didn't sense any malice from the guy in front of her. That somewhat out her mind at ease.
They stared at each other. Neither spoke at first. The feeling the awkwardness, Alphonse coughed decided to break the ice.
"So… um… you're from Krypton?" Alphonse ventured, desperately trying to focus on something—anything—other than what had happened earlier.
"Yes," Kara replied softly. Her voice was musical, even rough from sleep. "I'm Kara Zor-El. I came here to look for my cousin, Kal-El."
"Right, Superman. Well, I'm Alphonse. Son of... well, you'll meet everyone later." He rubbed the back of his neck, a nervous habit he'd picked up from watching his father.
"How are you feeling? Any pain?"
"I'm fine," Kara said, though her brow furrowed. "I think. Everything feels... strange. I guess I feel more... free?"
Alphonse was confused as he'd never tried to talk or flirt with a girl intentionally, and this whole situation felt like navigating a minefield blindfolded.
How did normal people talk to girls? His father made it look effortless, but Edward had millennia of practice.
Diana and Cassie were his sisters, so talking to them didn't count. And the Amazons would literally bend over if he asked any of them. They repected strength too much. Plus he was like a prince to them.
"Strange how?" Alphonse asked, then immediately worried that was the wrong question.
Kara shifted uncomfortably, her cheeks tinting pink. She was shy and confused as to why she smelled a familiar scent from Alphonse. "It's... I don't know how to explain it. You smell familiar somehow. Like I've... met you before? But I know I haven't."
Alphonse's face went red. "Oh. Uh. That's probably just... atmospheric displacement? From the fall? Olfactory memory can be weird with head trauma—"
"I don't have head trauma," Kara said uncertainly. "At least I don't think I do. But there's something wrong with my memories. They're foggy, except for..." She trailed off, her blush deepening.
And why did she kept visualizing... that! The image was crystal clear in her mind, vivid and inexplicable, while everything else from her crash was a blur.
"Except for what?" Alphonse asked nervously.
"There's this... image. In my head. It's very clear, very vivid, but I don't understand why I keep seeing it." She looked genuinely distressed. "Do you think it's from the virus? Brainiac did something to me. Maybe it's affecting my brain, making me see things that aren't real?"
"What kind of image?" Alphonse asked, then immediately regretted it as her face turned even redder.
"I... I'd rather not say." She looked away.
"Oh. Okay. That's fine. Totally fine." Alphonse chuckled nervously.
The silence stretched between them again, oppressive and awkward.
Kara suddenly swung her legs off the bed, trying to stand. "I should check the systems on my pod. My ship, it's damaged, I need to—"
Her legs gave out immediately and she stumbled forward. The sudden movement after being unconscious combined with lingering disorientation sent her pitching toward the floor.
Alphonse caught her gently, his water bending activating reflexively. His hands became fluid enough to cushion her fall while solid enough to support her weight.
He guided her back onto the bed carefully, settling her down with surprising tenderness.
"Whoa, easy there," he said softly. "You just woke up. Your body needs time to adjust. You should rest more before trying to move."
"But my ship—"
"Is probably in pieces," Alphonse said honestly. "My father tends to be thorough. But you're safe here. Just rest."
Kara's hand gripped his arm with surprising strength, her eyes wide with panic.
"You don't understand. Brainiac, he captured me. He did something to me. I need to warn my cousin. If I'm infected, if I spread something to the League—"
Her breathing was becoming rapid, panic setting in.
Alphonse comforted her, his voice dropping to something calmer, more assured.
"Hey, hey, breathe. You're in Avalon. This is my family's floating city. My father already purified you, he removed whatever Brainiac did. You're safe and alright now."
He then added confidently. "And as long as you're here, nothing can touch you. Not Brainiac, not Darkseid, not even cosmic entities. My father doesn't make idle promises. If he says you're safe, you're safe."
Something about the quiet confidence in his voice, the gentle way he was holding her steady, the earnestness in his eyes made Kara's chest feel warm.
She mistakenly thought he was trying to personally protect her from Brainiac and felt herself blushing. This stranger who didn't even know her was promising to keep her safe from one of the universe's most dangerous beings.
"You'd... protect me?" she asked quietly.
"Of course," Alphonse said, completely missing the shift in her tone and remaining clueless to her feelings. "That's what we do here. You're a guest. And after what you went through, I will definitely ehem... keep you safe."
He noticed her face was flushed and frowned. "Wait, are you feeling warm? Can Kryptonians even get fevers?"
Without thinking, he reached out and touched her forehead, checking her temperature. "You're definitely warmer than the baseline I was reading earlier—"
Kara's breath caught. His hand was cool against her skin, gentle but firm.
He was leaning in close, his face mere inches from hers, his eyes focused with scientific concentration. She could see the red color in his irises, could smell that familiar scent that she couldn't figure out.
She got shy from the sudden closeness, especially since she had never even had a relationship. Her heart was pounding. She'd never been this close to a boy before, with Krypton being gone and all. Never had someone touch her so casually, so... caringly.
"I'm fine. Thank you." she managed to say, but her voice came out breathier than intended.
Alphonse pulled his hand back, looking concerned. "Are you sure? Any dizziness? Nausea? Disorientation? Memory gaps? Neurological symptoms can be subtle after trauma. You should tell me if anything feels off. I am something of a doctor plus scientist despite my looks."
She hesitated, biting her lip. He was asking about symptoms. This was definitely a symptom, right? A strange one that she couldn't explain. Maybe it was important medically.
"Actually... there is something. I keep seeing... um... a male... reproductive organ? In my head? Very clearly?"
Her face was burning. "Is that... is that a normal side effect of whatever Brainiac did? I feel I saw it closely, but I can't remember when or where."
Alphonse immediately fell to his knees like he'd been shot, his hands clasped together.
"I'M SO SORRY!" he apologized, confusing her. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, it was an accident, I didn't mean for any of it to happen—"
Kara stared at him in complete bewilderment. "What? Why are you apologizing? What does that have to do with—"
"Because it's my fault!" Alphonse blurted out what had happened earlier when she landed, the words tumbling out in a rush.
"When you crashed, you landed on me. Well, on top of me. In a... specific position. And I wasn't wearing... my shorts got knocked off from the impact...and you were unconscious but your mouth fell on my..."
He gestured vaguely and helplessly at his crotch.
"—and that's probablywhy you remember it so clearly because it actually happened and the last thing you saw before you passed out. I'm so sorry, it was completely accidental, I swear I didn't do anything, you just fell that way and physics and gravity and—"
Kara's face went through several colors. White. Red. Purple. Her eyes widened in mortified realization as the pieces clicked together.
"WHAT?!" she shrieked. She was both shy, flustered, and angry, scrambling to get off the bed. "That actually—you mean I actually—oh Rao ! That explains the weird taste I felt !"
Alphonse protested weakly. "Hey! Don't call it weird tasting! I shower daily!"
She tried to get up and leave. She was too shy to keep talking after what Alphonse revealed. She was young, but she knew such an intimate act was usually done by lovers. Her mom taught her to only do something like that with her partner.
But just she got up shakily, her feet got tangled in the sheets . She fell forward with a cute yelp, arms flailing wildly.
Alphonse reacted quickly and caught her firmly, his powers activating on instinct. He formed a cushion beneath her even as his solid arms wrapped around her waist, stopping her fall. But momentum and panic meant he couldn't hold his position. H
Fate was not on his side today. He also fell down, with Kara pinned beneath him on the floor.
They went down together, Alphonse twisting to take the impact but calculating wrongly. Kara landed on her back with Alphonse above her, his arms braced on either side of her head to keep himself from falling on top of her.
Their faces were inches apart. Time seemed to freeze.
Kara could feel his breath on her face, could see every detail of his features. Her heart was hammering so hard she was sure he could hear it. And the weird part, she didn't hate it. Her mind was seeking solace from the ordeals she went through.
Destruction of Krypton. Brainiac capturing her. Making her into a puppet for his plans. How she was sent here , to earth, to possibly conquer it. And how she suddenly got free, her emotions being released without control.
And Alphonse, the person who was nice to her, his comforting voice steadying her. And the awkard incident that happened between them.
Maybe it was fate. Maybe she crashed here of all places for a reason. She didn't know anymore.
And without thinking, without meaning to, she actually closed her eyes as her lips parted slightly. This was it. Her first kiss. With a boy she'd just met. Who she'd accidentally—oh Rao, she couldn't think about that right now. Her mind was filled with hormones and anticipation.
Alphonse gulped, his mind going completely blank.
He wasn't sure if he should kiss her or not. She was beautiful. Her lips were right there. Her eyes were closed. Was she... did she want him to...? What did dad say about such situations? His usually genius mind failed to recollect the crucial information.
But she'd just been angry. And mortified. And she'd just found out about the accident. This wasn't right. This wasn't how first kisses were supposed to happen. Was it?
His father would know what to do. His father always knew what to do. But his father wasn't here.
Screw it, you only live once. Not like a kiss would be worse after what happened earlier. Let's just go for it and if it's a mistake, he would apologize again.
Alphonse leaned down slightly, his heart pounding. This is it. Their lips inched closer and was avout to touch...
Then the door swung open.
*****
Meanwhile, Edward and his wives were greeted by Clark and Faora, with Bruce and Arthur tagging along.
The group had arrived via boom tube, courtesy of Wayne Enterprise's Mother Box access. Superman was in his full costume, his expression tight with worry. Beside him was Faora, Clark's lover and fiance apparently. Her tactical uniform pristine. Batman's cowl was up, his white eyes unreadable. Aquaman looked faintly amused by the whole situation.
Edward and his wives had been guiding their guests through Avalon's corridors.
"Thank you for taking care of Kara. I have heard of her from my fathers message. She was supposed to be my protector. But I never found her. I thought the worst had happened." Clark said gratefully when they arrived, his expression tight with worry.
"Diana's message was... brief. "
"Clark," Edward had shaken his hand firmly. "Good to see you. Faora, welcome, and congratulations. Bruce, Arthur—didn't expect the full ensemble."
Hera stepped forward gracefully. "Please, come in. Kara is resting in one of our guest rooms. She's stable, uninjured, and quite safe."
"What happened to her ship?" Faora asked, her tactical mind already analyzing.
"I may have accidentally vaporized it," Edward admitted. "Thought it was a meteor. My apologies."
Clark's jaw tightened slightly but he nodded. "As long as Kara's safe. Can we see her?"
"Kara's disappearance has been a concern for Clark," Batman had said flatly. "We needed to verify the situation. And Diana was not available for some reason she didn't mention."
Diana looked away with shame.
"You mean you needed to investigate whether I was holding her hostage, or worse, telling her your darkest secrets." Edward had corrected with a smirk.
Bruce didn't deny it.
Faora suddenly interjected. "Uh, congratulations on what exactly?"
Hera smiled warmly. "I believe they don't know yet, husband. You spoiled the surprise."
Edward scratched his head. "Ooppsiee?"
Clark widened his eyes understanding the insinuation, and instinctively looked at Faora, his X-ray vision activating.
Then he sensed it. A faint pulse of life. His heart filled with a strange feeling, perhaps joy and happiness.
Faora also widened her eyes as her hand covered her mouth. She looked at Clark for confirmation, and he nodded with a happy smile that could have blinded people. "I...We... are going to have a child, my love."
Faora immediately hugged him tightly, tears of happiness falling from her eyes. "Are you..certain? I didn't sense anything."
Hera chuckled. "Because your body is much stronger than humans dear. You will feel it in a couple weeks."
Bruce and Arthur was surprised, the smiled.
Arthur patted Clark's shoulder. "Congratulations Clark. Parenthood is a great blessing. I still remember when my daughter was born. We should celebrate when we return."
Bruce also gave a nod. "Congatulations. I wish you the best." A hint of a smile appeared on his face.
Diana hugged Faora. "Congratulations Faora. We can plan a baby shower later."
Faora smiled warmly, gently caressing her belly. "Thank you Diana. I would love that."
After the big reveal, the mood changed and became more happier. Clark was smiling foolishly. Faora acting shyly for the first time.
They exchanged some pleasantries while they walked through the city, Hippolyta led the way through Avalon's corridors, pointing out various features. "The repairs from last night's incident are ongoing, so please excuse any construction."
"Last night's incident?" Arthur asked.
"Robot uprising," Grail said casually. "Long story."
Bruce filed that away for later questioning.
Now they stood at the guest room door as Hera reached for the handle. "She just woke up a short while ago. Alphonse has been monitoring her condition—"
But as they opened the door, they were shocked to see Alphonse pinning Kara on the floor, their lips about to touch.
Everyone froze.
Clark nearly lost it, his eyes flashing red for a split second as heat vision threatened to activate. His jaw clenched so hard it should have shattered. That was his little cousin, although she was supposed to be older than him. His cousin who he'd sworn to find and protect. And she was about to be kissed by—
But he knew that was probably Edward's son, so he should control himself.
Edward, who had just saved Kara from whatever Brainiac had done. Edward, who could probably erase Superman from existence if properly motivated. Edward, whose family had been nothing but hospitable. Not to mention someone who beats up cosmic entities for breakfast.
Clark forced his eyes back to their normal blue and took a very deliberate breath. Is this his fatherly instincts acting up ?
Faora looked with interest, tilting her head with curiosity. "Interesting. Kara's body language suggests willing participation. Note the relaxed shoulders and parted lips. She wants it."
"Faora," Clark said through gritted teeth. "Not helping."
"I'm simply observing, dear. You can't stop it if she's willing. The boy "
Bruce and Arthur exchanged a glance that said—like father, like son.
Their eyes met briefly. Bruce's eyebrow raised a fraction of an inch. Arthur's mouth twitched with a suppressed smile.
The unspoken message was clear: Apple didn't fall far from that tree.
Arthur leaned close to Bruce and whispered, "Ten bucks says Master's done this exact thing at least ten times."
"Only ten?" Bruce muttered back. "Conservative estimate."
Edward coughed lightly to let them know they were here.
"Ahem. You got company, kids."
Alphonse and Kara both jumped up like they'd been electrocuted.
Alphonse scrambled backward, his water powers activating and making him slip slightly. Kara sat up so fast she banged her head on against Alphonse.
"Ow!"
"Sorry!"
They both moved away with matching blushes, refusing to look at each other or the assembled group at the door.
Edward dryly remarked, "Son, when I told you to take care of her, I didn't mean this. I meant medical observation. Vital signs. Recovery progress. Not... whatever this is."
"It's not what it looks like!" Alphonse said immediately.
"It looks like you were about to kiss Superman's cousin while she was supposed to be resting, son. " Hera said, though there was amusement in her voice.
Alphonse tried to explain it was nothing but an accident and he didn't mean anything. "We weren't, I didn't—it was just an accident! She tried to get up, she fell, I caught her, we both fell, it was just gravity and momentum and—"
"And you just happened to land in a perfect kissing position?" Grail asked innocently.
"YES! I mean,no! I mean it was just an accident. It didn't mean anything!" Alphonse looked desperately at his father. "Dad, tell them!"
"Tell them what? That you have terrible luck? Or a natural lady killer like me? They can see that." He smirked proudly, wiping a fake tear. "My little boy finally took interest in girls."
But Kara suddenly got annoyed hearing him say it meant nothing. She stood up abruptly, her face still flushed.
"It was an accident," she said, but her tone was sharp and angry.
"He made that very clear. Nothing happened. Nothing was going to happen. Because it meant nothing, apparently."
She emphasized the last word with particular bite, then huffed. Her eyes went toward Clark and the familiar S symbol on his chest. She recognized him instantly and walked towards him, hugging him tightly. "Kal-El! It's so good to finally meet you. Uncle Zor-El sent me to protect you, but I was captured by Brainiac, who destroyed my city." She felt her emotions going wild.
Clark warmly embraced her. "I'm glad you are safe Kara. You don't have to worry about anything anymore. You are home."
Kara sniffled against his chest, and noticed Faora, and got defensive. "Wait! I know you! You were with Zod! What is she doing here!"
Clark held her firmly and spoke gently. "Calm down Kara. Faora used to follow Zod. But she chose a different life. She is my fiance, and... we are expecting a child."
Kara's eyes widened as she looked at Faora.
Faora smiled softly. "I know you might have some doubts, Kara. But I hope you can move past everything, and we can be a family. I'm not the woman I used to be."
Kara took a deep breath, trying to understand the situation. "Kal-El, can we talk? Faora can come too, I need to know everything."
She looked at Alphonse with annoyance. "I don't want our conversatiion to be heard by... annoying stupid idiots."
Something in Alphonse's chest twinged at her tone, but he wasn't sure why. He winced and and looked down.
"Of course," Clark said, giving Alphonse one more warning look before guiding Kara out. Faora followed, closing the door behind them.
Alphonse scratched his head, staring at the closed door in confusion. He asked why did she react like that. "Why... why is she mad? I apologized. I explained it was an accident. Isn't that what you're supposed to do?"
He looked at his father. "I didn't do anything wrong, right? I caught her. I explained what truly happened. I was trying to be helpful and not cause a misunderstanding."
Edward sighed. "Alphonse. My son. My brilliant, scientifically-minded, technologically-gifted son. You are a clueless idiot."
"What?! Why?"
"Because you just told a girl that almost kissing her 'meant nothing,'" Hippolyta explained, shaking her head. "Someone who went through several traumas and felt she found someone to rely on. That's possibly the worst thing you could have said in that situation."
"But it was an accident!"
"She closed her eyes, Alphonse," Grail pointed out. "That's not accidental. That's anticipation."
Diana sighed. "You better go and apologize to her once she calms down, little brother."
Cassie nodded sagely. "You are really an idiot, bro. She was totally into you."
"Wait, apologize for what?" Alphonse looked genuinely baffled. "For catching her? For the accident? For explaining the accident?"
Hera walked over and patted his cheek affectionately, though her expression was fond exasperation. She sighed and said her son really had no clue about women. "Oh, my sweet boy. You really have no idea about women at all, do you?"
"I understand women! I have sisters! I have mothers!"
"That's different," Death said gently, having appeared with Soph on her arms sleeping peacefully. She was watching the scene despite not being there. "Family is not the same as romance."
"Romance?! There's no romance! We just met! Through the worst possible circumstances!"
"And yet she was about to kiss you," Edward observed. "Funny how that works."
Alphonse opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. "I need to go back to my lab."
"No," Edward said firmly. "You need to go apologize to that girl. Later, after she talks with Clark. And try not to be an idiot this time."
"I don't even know what I'm apologizing for!"
Hera patted his head sympathetically. "That's part of being in a relationship, dear. You'll figure it out. Eventually."
"We're not in a relationship!"
Arthur, still standing in the doorway with Bruce, pulled out his phone. "I'm documenting this. For future reference."
"Future blackmail, you mean," Bruce corrected with a smirk. He was enjoying this for somer eason.
"That too."
Alphonse groaned and wished the floor would swallow him whole. This day couldn't possibly get any worse.
Unknown to him, it was going to much worse than this, as a giant space ship slowly floated towards Earth.
The watchtower alarms blared loudly as Cyborg watched the approching ship. He immediately sent out a distress signal. "All Justice League Members, gather on Watchtower. We are currently in close proximity to a spaceship that is approaching Earth. ETA 2 hours."
Hank was looking at the ship with nervousness. He felt he remembered it somehow, but not sure how.
Hal was off planet. The Hawk duo was working with Waller and unavailable. Shazam was doing something god knows where. They were understaffed currently.
He muttered silently. "I hope we can deal with this by ourselves."
****
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