Author's note: So this is it, the final chapter. It's unbelievable I finished one linear multiple chapter fic for once. It was only possible with the support of everyone who made this far – and suffered this far – in the story and every kind comment you guys left. As the first published fic, it was a very fun experience and you guys were the best! Expect a few more SuperCorp fics from me. Hope you enjoy this!

Under a trillion stars - We'd remember tonight.

.

It is late afternoon and weak rays of sunlight illuminates the fields of Kansas. Lena observes attentively the scene through the window – the desolate road ahead, the wheat fields blown by a light breeze, the heavy clouds behind, casting moving shadows over the grassland. Throughout the whole trip, her only companion is this nostalgic feeling of a past she can't really leave behind.

Green eyes shift from the road to the backseat through the rear-view mirror. Almost ten years ago, she used to sit there, watching the fields on her way back home during school holidays. It is funny how in her memories those trips felt so endless and exhausting. She would watch those infinite fields, containing the anticipation of seeing Lex – Lena couldn't wait to tell him about her year and about what she had learned. Back then, the days were long and she had someone to go back to, and Lena realizes, with heaviness in her chest, that she misses that feeling.

Some holidays, however, Lex would stay in Metropolis and Lena was left disheartened. She would refuse to go home. Lena wasn't really fond of her boarding school either – she never made friends and holidays there were particularly dull –, but she was fourteen years old and already used to loneliness and she didn't have to face her mother, so it was a blessing. And honestly, Lena liked her school more on holidays; for once the halls weren't crowded, she had the library for herself and there was no one to remind her that, even among filthy rich peers, she failed to find a sense of belonging.

But before her mind wanders any further, Lena retrieves it to reality. She has to spare it as much as possible, because Lena is conscious about the memories that will come to haunt her in that night. And she should have stayed in a hotel – should have waited until morning to continue her trip –, but this is one of those things she has to do as soon as possible. So Lena doesn't back down when the scene changes, becoming bleak and familiar, and the air gets colder. Through the green fields and one desert road, Lena accelerates the car towards the shadows of distant trees.

It is dusk by the time Lena arrives and the sky is a wild mix of violet and fire. She steps out of the car and takes her time gazing at the black entrance gate. It has always stood there, a cold metal fence separating the Luthors from the world. Lena remembers being fascinated with that gate when she was a kid – it always felt colder inside those walls. She used to read about Greek mythology and she once told Lex that gate could be the entrance for the underworld. Lex loved that analogy and they both pointed out they should have a giant black dog, but their parents never approved it.

But Lena cuts those thoughts. She reaches for a black coat and a flashlight inside her car, before approaching the gate. Her gloves prevent her from feeling the cold metal and the bars open with a loud screeching noise. The pathway to the mansion used to have its glory, but now is desolate, covered by the vegetation and a humid air. Her footsteps are the only noise heard, and the ruins of the mansion slowly rise ahead of her.

Lena stops when she reaches the front door. The building is still as large as the one from her memories, but time aged those rocks and they look darker. And Lena holds her breath when she glances at the left wing's structure, destroyed by the flames so many years ago. When Lex set their father's room on fire, Lena was finally convinced her brother was a dangerous man. But she was still young and naïve and she didn't know what to do. She was afraid to face the truth that Lex was losing a battle against insanity, and Lena – instead of helping him, instead of insisting on him –, she ran away, sheltered herself behind books and college. So Lena lets out a bitter smile, because the house is still repulsive to her, and it is too late to come back home.

Past the front door, Lena walks cautiously illuminating the entrance hall with the flashlight. She stops in the middle of the room, observing the dust that covers the old furniture and the staircase. Lex could have made the entrance for his chamber anywhere, but Lena knows his favorite places and she would start from them. And the ruins are so silent, she listens to her heart pounding against her chest, but Lena isn't afraid of being alone. No person would ever dare to approach those walls without one Luthor's consent, and, certainly, no ghost would ever haunt such a miserable place. Lena is afraid of her own memories.

Because the moment she steps inside the old library, Lena almost swears she can see a young Lex devouring a book beside the window. It was raining when she first found him there, and Lex closed his book – said something about a dream and how bittersweet our addictions are – before guiding her through the bookcases and handing her a journey to Middle-Earth. Within those walls, they discussed everything; her favorite memory being the one time the sun was rising and they were still talking about magic realism and a family fated to cycles of tragedy and solitude. And Lena finally closes her eyes, because the vision of this library with all these empty bookcases is too painful and it is not the image she wants in her memories. Lex would feel the same. He would never go back to an empty library, so she leaves the room.

There is one more thing Lena wants to see before going upstairs. And she walks slowly through a hallway, until she reaches the music room. The sun is now just a fine line of light in the horizon, and almost no light enters the room. But Lena used to love that place and she could walk around even without the flashlight. She makes her way to one of the corners, where one big object is covered by a white fabric. Lena pulls the sheet, trying not to stir up the dust. The grand piano looks the same, the keys a bit dirty and not as white as she remembers them. It was her favorite thing in the mansion when she was a kid. She remembers being enchanted by it – by how such a massive and sturdy object could sound so tender and so sad.

Although Lex and she would disagree about many things, as any other pair of siblings, they shared some common interests – their favorite composer, for example. Chopin would always resonate within the music room. Lena's favorite piece would always be Nocturne Op. 72, No.1 in E Minor – sorrow, she found out, could never sound as sweet.

In her teen years, however, as much as it hurt her, Lena never touched that piano again. The room is dark and silent, but Lena can still hear her mother's words resonating from the shadows, and they accuse her of poor technique, bad posture, and ordinary performance. At first, she would practice until her wrists were sore. Later, she simply gave up. For once, Lena would yearn to go back to boarding school, so she could sneak inside the music room and – when afternoons were bronze and lazy, and everyone had retreated to their dormitories –, she could play the piano alone. But it wasn't like the piano in the mansion – never that tender. And her green eyes contemplates the instrument, her fingers caress the dusty keys fondly. Time rusted the wires and Lena, with closed eyes and a devoted smile, hears that old friend gently cry one last time.

But darkness is expanding inside and Lena decides to hurry. Leaving the music room, she quickly reaches the main staircase – each step followed by a squeak and Lena realizes her breaths are short and erratic. She successfully kept herself calm up until now, but her defenses are crumbling, as Lena approaches the upper rooms. She is scared; that place is beginning to feel grim and horrid.

Upstairs, she illuminates the hallway leading to the left wing, and it casts shadows behind the burnt ruins. Lena doesn't dare to go left, the dim light barely illuminating the entrance of her father's office. In that room, when she was still four, her father would sometimes play with her. Once, he seated her on his shoulders and ran around the office with her. Between her laughs and his silly noises, Lex appeared by the door and Lena noticed something in his semblance – frantic and deep – that sent her off balance. But she was a kid and ignored it, and now that Lena analysis the remains of that memory through the eyes of an adult, one distressing idea comes to her mind. Maybe Lex's demons were inside him all along, just waiting for the right time to strike. And all her memories are beginning to feel too real, and Lena can tell, by the feeling that is creeping up on her, that it won't be long until her mind screams to get out of that haunted house.

The right corridor leads to Lex's and her room. Lena can't stand to stay in that building for much longer, so she takes a long and trembling breath, before rushing through the hallway. She doesn't know exactly what she must look for, but Lena trusts the fact that she will know it when she sees it. She hasn't been in that mansion for years, but Lena knows when something is out of place. So she walks and reaches Lex's room. Her heart is accelerating inside and she notices her hands are trembling when she reaches for the knob.

She remembers one particular day when she was back from college on Christmas break. Lena had rushed back to see Lex, check how he was doing after what the doctors had called one "mental breakdown". She had knocked on that door, knowing her brother was inside, and since he kept silent, Lena slowly opened the door. That image of Lex sitting in the bed, the dreadful smirk and those maniac eyes, would never leave her mind. And it's irrational and she is probably losing her mind too, but Lena is afraid she might encounter an insane man waiting for her.

She opens the door reluctantly, a screeching noise resonating through the house, and Lena quickly illuminates the room; her heart punching her chest so hard, she fears it might just stop and die. But the room is empty. There is nothing left of her brother, besides his furniture. No personal belongings, no books or clothes. When Lex left for Metropolis, that room was still crowded with his favorite things. But as his obsession took over, he lost interest in everything else - chess, astronomy, literature, they were long forgotten. That abandoned room reminds Lena of her brother's depersonalization through the years, and Lena doesn't think twice before closing the door and resting her back against it, trying hard to catch her breath.

As she stays there, Lena's eyes faces the room ahead. Her room. It is funny how she has all those memories, but she can't really remember one specifically of her bedroom. When Lex set fire in the mansion, she left in a hurry and never came back. So Lena wonders what she will find inside. A feeling of dread however, has completely settled now, and Lena is terrified. That is all so irrational – Lena thinks, forcing her mind to keep working, since she knows it is about to collapse –, because she isn't sure of what she is afraid of, but she is shivering and feeling threatened and all those shadows are creeping in. And Lena wants to drop to her knees and beg for someone to take her away from that place, but no one would hear her, and if she does that – if she gives in to despair and let her walls crumble –, Lena fears she won't ever rise again.

In an act of bravery, after mustering all her resolution and resilience, Lena advances and opens the door to her room. Everything happens so fast, Lena wonders what she was expecting to find. All that old and dusty furniture, some college books forgotten on her desk and the camera she used to carry around during those days. There was nothing much left, as she had packed most of her belongings to university. Although she almost missed it at first, as the light quickly illuminated one corner of the room, she saw it. Lex's old telescope. It used to stay in Lex's room, but Lena sometimes would borrow it. Maybe she just wanted to look at Kansas's starry sky before going back to college, but the telescope isn't even near the window where she would always place it. It is oddly facing one wall.

And the memory hits Lena like the crashes of waves. The stories of secret pathways inside the mansion that would lead to an underground vault – something built to protect the family. Lena once asked Lex about their locations, but he laughed and said she would have to keep looking carefully, just like she did when looking for stars. So Lena doesn't need any more hints, rushing to that wall, her hands touching the wood, feeling it, until she presses the right spot and the wall opens like a door.

Her mind is screaming, urging her to stop and leave, but Lena follows the narrow pathway downstairs. She is certain her heartbeats can be heard out loud when she reaches the end of the staircase. One metal door separates her from the vault and Lena, at first, can't see anything behind the door, with all those blinding lights. Her vision slowly adjusts and the white room reveals itself in front of her. It is huge and cold and there is a strong sterile smell in the air. Lena can only assume it is one laboratory, and, as she passes by desks with notes and books, Lena glances over words like 'genes' and 'embryos'. Her curiosity has taken over, and fear isn't paralyzing anymore when she notices something that catches her attention.

In the other side of the room, six huge tubes filled with liquid seem to contain something inside. Lena approaches them carefully, not being able to discern their content from the distance. But eventually she gets closer enough, her eyes widening when they discern the clones – those ghosts of a person she deemed dead. It is horrid and she suddenly feels nauseous, but Lena realizes one tube misses its content and that is the signal her mind needs to scream 'run', but her legs falter when she turns around and faces that thing.

It all happens so fast, Lena can only feel a sharp pain in her head, as she collapses on the cold floor. Black spots slowly spread in her vision and the world is buzzing. Lena knows she is about to lose consciousness. Or maybe she is dying – which, to be honest, she doesn't mind that much. And before she falls into complete oblivion, in the gap between the living and the unknown, Lena wishes she could see that person one last time – a name reverberating in her mind.

"Kara."

..

There is something about flying at full speed that is exhilarating – maybe it is the roar of breaking the sound barrier, the feeling of leaving everything behind, or maybe just the fact that, for a while, Kara feels untouchable. And that can be reassuring but, at times, it is also lonely. This time, however, she feels nothing. No thrill, no comfort, no detachment. Everything is a crushing emptiness that scares her. So Kara attempts to go faster – to feel the wind cut her skin, make her bleed and feel something –, but the only red she sees is the blurred lights of the cars below, and she leaves the city unscathed.

When Kara finally lands, it is no surprise where she finds herself. It became a habit in the past years to fly without a destination in mind whenever she is struggling and the world is overwhelming. And no matter for how long she would stay in the clouds, eventually, Kara would always land at the same spot: her original landing site on Earth – a barren place amidst the plains of Kansas –, where she could just sit and watch the stars.

Once, Clark said she could go to the Fortress of Solitude whenever she needed solace or wanted to relive memories of Krypton. But Kara doesn't need to go that far. Not when there is this vast sky above to remind her of everything she lost. Not when Krypton is still out there in the darkness – its reflection light-years away from extinction. Her father, Zor-El, once taught her the sky is but lights from the past. And in particular nights like that, the stars burn with old memories of her home.

To be fair, Kara doesn't remember much of it now, and Earth is where her heart lies, but Krypton was the place she spent the first years of her life. It was her beginning; where she was raised and protected, but also betrayed and abandoned. On Krypton, she learned about love and hope and endings, and not in a lifetime she would be able to forget it. Despite everything, Kara would always miss her family. Through so many years, she kept all that anger and resentment inside, and they all seem so petty now, as she realizes convictions and mistakes are unfortunately too easily attached. Once, she was so quick to judge her parents' decisions, but she doesn't feel so much different from them now. And in other times, she might have felt disgusted for that. Surprisingly, it makes her feel human and the irony draws a weak smile from her.

But, maybe, thinking she felt more human was the wrong way to put it. Fallible was more like it. Because having all those powers – bending metal with sheer force, freezing things with her breath, being invulnerable and so, so close to immortality – was anything but human. Kara hugs her knee, her eyes projecting a wish on the sky. In a world where her powers allow her to do or be anything, all she really wishes, sometimes, is to be normal and human. Or at least, feel normal and human – having that sense of belonging where she could just feel at home, and be herself without having to hide behind a hero's suit. At times, Kara even wishes she could be wounded and die like humans – not that she wants it right now –, but knowing everyone she knows will part long before her is one of those thoughts that keep her awake at night. And despite having the strength to lift tons of condensed stars, Kara can't lift that wall that separates her from others.

Absently, Kara slowly lowers her face, her eyes resting on the dirty ground. It is quite ridiculous that contemplating her super abilities makes her feel powerless instead. She is capable of so many incredible things – so many people look up to her out there –, but Kara feels helpless. A sudden pain in her chest and Lena crosses her mind once again that night, and Kara laments that the feeling that follows is bitter, instead of sweet like how it used to be.

Lena's words – those specific three words – echoes in that silent field, and the hero closes her eyes. Had they belonged to anyone else, Kara would have doubted their meaning and denied their existence. But there is never room for misunderstandings with Lena. She has an honest heart – something that most people overlook, but not Kara. Lena had her share of experiences to value a painful truth over gentle lies, so Kara believes her every single word. And regarding their meaning, Kara has no doubts. It is just like Alex said: you just know it.

Instinctively, her heart takes a big leap and it is now drums inside her chest. Kara never asked herself what she felt for Lena – she simply was important and Kara never doubted it or contemplated further –, but now there is this strange fear of losing something she never quite considered hers and Kara realizes she is grieving it, which is just confusing. Had she found out about Lena's feelings in other circumstances, Kara might have been perplexed, flustered and nervous. But Lena confessed with so much love – but also in so much pain – Kara can't help but feel there is no hope for them. It is weird and she can't really understand why, but she laments that in this lifetime, things should end like that.

The world is silent beneath the cold lights of the universe and even the soft breeze that blows the fields is quiet. Back then, when she was still struggling to control her powers, the rare moments of silence were comforting. But after growing fond of people and their stories, Kara found solace in the voice of strangers – something about all those lives happening simultaneously was gentle and consoling. So Kara deliberately starts hearing them – one whimper, a confession, one cry, a promise, two spontaneous laughs – until they all become an indistinct clutter of voices. Kara almost feels better under the cold silence of the stars, but the universe is still too big and indifferent to care and it belittles anyone's existence.

Kara has no idea for how long she stays in the company of all those distant voices. But eventually she stands up, wistfully raises her eyes at the stars, looking for something in them, a proof, a sign or just a consolation, but she finds nothing and Kara silences those voices one by one. Until she hears the last one – a faint whisper, so distant in the dark, so close from her heart. At first Kara thinks maybe it is a call from the heavens, but her heart acknowledges it, her name, tender in someone's prayer.

..

Everything is dark and cold, but Lena hears her own voice, however weak it sounded, and it is like her consciousness answered a call. This is how Lena feels after almost fainting, her hearing being the first thing that comes back and she hears a rhythm noise – loud and guttural, too close for her comfort –, but Lena is still in a daze and she is pretty sure that can't be her heart pounding. Her vision recovers slower; the blind spots gradually disappearing while she struggles with the intense brightness that overwhelms her sight. When it finally adjusts to the light and her mind recovers from the crash, Lena's eyes widen in shock, as she quickly turns to a figure not too far from her.

She feels every muscle becoming stiff, and a dreadful feeling makes its way to her throat, but pauses there in a spasm. Lena wants to scream, but her voice won't come out. And it feels like her heart just stopped, despite the powerful rumbles inside her chest. Her green eyes never leave the image in front of her.

It has the appearance of a man, but Lena can tell this thing is hardly human. And despite her mind having already figured everything out, Lena is still in denial, trying to convince herself that she has also succumbed to the madness that runs in her blood.

She stands up slowly, the pain in her right ankle too real – a reminder this is not a nightmare. But it is as frightening as one, those green eyes fixed on her, watching every move with a frantic interest. Lena knows from the way they look, it won't attack her. At least, for now.

"What are you?" The fear makes her voice barely audible. But Lena doubts it can understand feelings, let alone words.

The hoarse breaths through a black mask covering his pale face are the only sound there. His eyes are still analyzing her intently and Lena takes a step back when his breaths become erratic and a grim expression distorts his face. Everything happens so fast, Lena has no time to fight. By the time she realizes, her feet aren't touching the ground anymore, as he lifts her with one hand on her throat.

Lena panics. That is the only possible reaction when one gasps for air, but it doesn't reach their lungs. She fights in vain, feeling the grip too strong around her neck. Lena can imagine the scene, the tears that fall involuntarily and her face red from the struggle. It is unbelievable, but Lena knows she is dying.

It is a loud noise that draws her attention upwards, just a few seconds from passing out. And Lena can still hear when the ceiling crumbles and a blur slams the assaulter far from them. A pair of arms holds her still in midair, laying her carefully on the floor.

"Lena! Are you alright?" Kara watches in apprehension, as Lena coughs and gasps desperately for air. Instinctively, Lena reaches for Kara, and the hero answers by holding her in a protective manner. Kara, however, has her eyes locked in the enemy. She notices when he recovers from the blow, standing up to face her. And she finally has the chance to get a better look at him – something that makes her semblance contort in horror.

Lex Luthor is undeniably standing in front of her. But surely something is not quite right. It is not just for the fact that Kara had seen with her own eyes the moment Lex was consumed by the flames. No, this is wrong for a completely different reason. This man looks exactly like Lex, but everything in him reminds Kara of death. It is in his old semblance that reflects the passage of time, decaying and rotting flesh. It is in his pale grayish skin and bony face that reminds her of illness and plague. The only thing that is vaguely – barely – alive are his eyes, and they still look as insane as she remembers.

Still a bit shocked, Kara stands up, but not before securing Lena behind her.

"Lex?" Kara asks. Behind her, she thinks she can hear Lena whimper upon hearing that name and, reflexively, Kara closes her hands in a tight fist.

The man, however, stays still, his face devoid of feelings. Maybe that is the most significant change on Lex – there's no more hatred or furious passion; everything about him seems lifeless and grim. And this Lex, Kara notices, is a much more tormented soul.

It is unexpected when Lex moves suddenly in her direction, too fast for a human. Kara is surprised when a punch, that was supposed to be so easily deflected, turns out to be as strong as one of her own. But Lex is still slower than her and, apparently, not an experienced fighter, so Kara easily avoids his hits and counterattacks, sending him against a wall.

Lex, however, recovers quickly and he is even more hostile now. When he attacks Kara again, there is something bestial in the way he charges against her – something that is clearly irrational and not the least compatible with the older Lex. So Kara is taken aback. This seemingly apathetic Lex has in his blows a fury she has never seen before. And Kara winces in pain when she feels the skin in her abdomen being cut by a blade, her reaction being to pull herself away from her aggressor as fast as possible. She was careless not to notice the small kryptonite blade in his hands.

Thankfully the cut isn't too deep, but Kara already feels the effect of the green stone on her body. And she would have kept calm – would have used her resilience to think clearly during the whole fight –, but a quick glance to check on Lena set her own beasts loose. Lena is right there, curled up against a wall, and her eyes fixed on Lex are like broken mirrors. And she is not really looking for answers or anything; Kara can tell Lena is not even thinking – not even trying to appear strong, or rather alive. Lena has completely given up hope and is utterly and simply disheartened. And Kara hears a roar inside her, thinking maybe her heart had enough of all that injustice, but she soon realizes it is just her own voice leaving her throat.

"Say something!" Kara urges, before tackling herself against Lex, pushing him against one wall and destroying part of it in the process. She is angry and her face lights in an orange glow. "Was this your plan all along?!"

In a violent thrust, Kara sends Lex against one desk, wrecking it. And she doesn't let him recover, her feelings are an exploding fury and Kara wants to scream, to hurt and destroy. Dropping to her knees, Kara hits Lex again and again – she doesn't even keep count of how many times she does so. Kara wants to feel her own fists hurt and break, in her rage, forgetting the fact that she won't bleed.

"Lena trusted you!" It is a hoarse wail that leaves her throat, between her frantic breaths.

Kara observes the bloody mess, the heavy panting – guttural sounds of a creature so desperate for air – and the open cuts in his face, from where thick and dark red blood exudes. She gets herself thinking about mortality again – how easy it would be to claim the life of this man – although she doubts there is anything mortal or human about this Lex. He is just a pitiful creature, never a match for her. He has the strength and the speed of a kryptonian like her, but he is but one beast acting out of instinct. And Kara realizes in horror she had been the same for a moment.

She doesn't feel like fighting anymore. Not when it occurs to her this Lex is a ghost of the original one, or rather his victim and a puppet. The anger inside her is subsiding and she is exhausted. And Kara notices her vision weary – which is uncommon and it should recover fast –, but then she realizes it is blurred by tears that fall one after another.

"How could you?" It is a whisper, but in that silent room it might as well have the power of a thunder. "All this time, Lena grieved you."

And for a moment, her blue eyes find something in his. It is fragile and hesitant – a flutter at most –, but still a reaction upon hearing that name. And for a creature that didn't appear capable of any emotions, it could have been the closest he would ever get to sorrow.

Lex's eyes break their steady contact with Kara's to move slowly to his side, almost begging for the hero to follow them. And among the wreckages of that desk – all those papers and objects scattered around – Kara finally notices. It is an old picture, with sides worn by time. One girl, around fifteen, smiles genuinely at the camera. Never in life, has Kara seen that smile on Lena.

Kara's eyes move back to Lex's, staring intently into their depths. She finds nothing in them, which disappoints her a bit. But Kara is done and this senseless fight is over, so she stands up, turns her back to him. So she doesn't see the quick movements that happen behind her. She is unable to see when he reaches for the green blade, lying still in his arm's range. She doesn't feel when Lex, mustering every last bit of strength left, charges against her, the blade ready to stab.

Kara only hears the sound.

It is a loud bang that cuts the air and muffles Lex's breaths forever. Kara turns around in time to see Lex's eyes losing their focus, the blade escaping his hand, as he falls inert to the ground. A few feet away, Lena drops a gun, the one Lex gave her – and how unfortunate, Lena thinks, that the one and only time she would ever use it, it would be to shoot Lex or someone that looked like him. And Lena lets a sigh escape her lips, before resting her back against the wall and slowly letting herself slide to sit on the ground.

Her green eyes meet Kara's perplexed ones, and she is so, so tired, Lena manages a sad chuckle, before closing her eyes in a mournful frown. And Kara approaches her in a calculated pace – not so slow, but not so fast, to give Lena enough time to protest if she felt like that. But she doesn't say anything and Kara notices, as she kneels in front of her, from the way Lena has her fists closed so tightly, she is trying her best to keep her hands from shaking uncontrollably. And Kara really wants to hold her hands, to embrace Lena in a tight hug, yet Kara wonders if there is any part of Lena's body where she can place her hands on, anywhere it doesn't hurt.

For brief seconds, Kara stays there, very close to Lena, their bodies almost touching. And Kara waits until Lena reaches for her, to embrace her fully and let the other woman rest her head on her shoulder. There are no words to ease the pain and the silence is heavy, but Kara wished Lena could hear her own heart, to know that, deep in her chest, despite every blow and wound, there is this unstoppable force that is still eager to beat.

They stay like that for a while – Kara not daring to make any move before Lena. And when Lena shifts her head a bit, she speaks with a quiet and longing voice.

"Kara. Please, take me away from here."

..

Kara knows, for a fact, Lena never really enjoyed flying. It was the small things that gave her away. Kara noticed it from the various occasions she had to fly with her – from the way Lena would become stiff and clench her red cape; her green eyes trying hard to avoid the ground, but stealing concerned glances from time to time; and from the way her heartbeats would always get erratic. But tonight, Lena doesn't react like that and she may have passed out from exhaustion, so Kara tries to be especially gentle.

When she lands slowly in that spot amidst Kansas – not so far away from the Luthor's old mansion – Lena seems a bit confused at first. Kara takes her by the hand and Lena looks at her curiously, but the blonde has her back to Lena, as she walks ahead, guiding the brunette to the tip of a shallow crater on the ground.

Lena observes the field for a while. She can tell something landed there some years ago. But Kara is looking up absently, the light wind blowing her golden hair like it is floating in the air. Lena is captivated by that view – something simple and pretty like what she used to notice only in movies, but never in real life. And none of them has anything to say, so they enjoy each other's company for a while, before Kara finally breaks the silence.

"This is where I landed years ago." Lena feels when Kara's hand softly squeezes hers. "This is where everything began for me on Earth. I like to come here when I need some guidance."

There it is, that significant look Lena always notices on Kara's blue orbs when she stares at the sky – that particular look that shows a hidden side of her, quiet, sad and forlorn. And Lena finally realizes she has been right all along. Kara indeed misses the stars.

"What was it like? Krypton." Lena asks, regrettably letting go of Kara's hand to sit on the ground. She can still feel the burning ache on her ankle, but, for some reason, it doesn't hurt as much. Lena doesn't hurt as much. And it is a shy and fond smile she directs at her friend, because she knows Kara is talking about herself so Lena can have a break of all the things that happened, and she is immensely grateful for that. And Kara misses that smile but, after a while, sits right beside Lena.

"Beautiful. Not so much in the previous years of its destruction. I remember the skies being hazel and there were no more flowers on Krypton." Kara keeps looking up and Lena tries to do the same, but something in the hero draws her eyes to her. "I don't remember much of my life there. I remember my family and how our world was dying. I remember being prepared for its destruction and to travel through space alone. I remember being prepared for Earth."

Kara, for once, lowers her face to look at her hands. And Lena thinks there isn't anywhere in the world she would rather be, but there: below the stars, in an infinite field of darkness, beside Kara.

"But I was never prepared for all these powers." They both hear Kara's words getting lost with the wind. "All those years suppressing them, worrying about hurting others or being found out... They were incredibly painful."

"But after I became Supergirl, things felt right." A small smile parts Kara's lips. "All those doubts and repressed feelings, they were all gone and I lived everyday with this certainty of who I was as a person, and it was incredible." Kara sighs looking ahead. "I didn't feel like a fake, I wasn't wasting my years. There was this perfect alignment between Kara Danvers and Supergirl, and I felt fulfilled."

There is a moment of silence and Lena wonders what Kara is thinking right now. It is so incredible that despite knowing Kara for the past years and observing every smile and every frown – through everything they went together, all the happy and hard times, all of their light jokes and deep conversations –, there were still times Lena had not a single idea of Kara's inner world and she thinks that is probably the most beautiful, but also the saddest thing about people: that you could spent a lifetime beside them and you would still not be able to explore all of their universe.

"But these past days made me realize things aren't so simple like that. I am more than one person and I don't know if this is alright or if I will ever become the one I'm supposed to be." It is a long pause, Lena thinks, and she observes the way Kara frowns while keeping her eyes on some star, the way her jaw tenses and she clenches her teeth. Kara is trying really hard not to cry.

"I never wanted to use you. I didn't want to betray you. But still, I did it. There was this other side of me who felt that was the right thing to do even knowing I'd hurt you. And for that, I'm really sorry." Kara turns to face Lena for the first time they arrived, and she looks disappointed with herself. "There were two sides of me I couldn't conciliate and, from there on, things just became even more confusing. And to be honest, it still is."

Kara breaks their eye contact to look ahead, and, this time, Lena does the same. The world is immersed in darkness to the point Lena isn't sure if she has her eyes closed or not. And she remembers that feeling as a kid, the anticipation of having something to come out from the shadows, but she feels safe tonight, even though her eyes barely discern the figure of Kara.

"The future, sometimes, it is so scary." Kara confesses her voice weak and shaky. "I thought I had control over the person I am and the one I want to be, but it is all just an illusion. There are so many paths I can take, so many people I can become, and I have no idea how I will get there. I left so many versions of me behind, and I wonder how many more I will abandon over the years." Kara hugs her knees and Lena admires how Kara is holding her voice from cracking.

"And you were right. I should be feared. I have an idea of all the things I'd never want to become, but how can I tell if I won't just stray from the good path – if there is such a thing?" Kara stops and contemplates on her next words. The fear she has long kept inside, finally being released and acknowledged. "Sometimes, I feel immortal and detached from this world – disconnected from my own feelings and everyone. And I'm afraid, one day, this feeling might grow inside me and change who I am. I'm scared, one day, I might see this world as small and insignificant."

Lena hears the sigh and she knows Kara is probably fidgeting with her hands, even without looking at her directly. And Lena contemplates on what Kara has just said. It is not like she completely understands her – she doesn't have the powers that could make her an evil god in the future. But Lena has in her blood and in her mind all that it takes to become the worst Luthor ever known, and her fear is not so different from Kara's.

"I also fear a future like that." Lena says, a bit hesitant at first. "I'm afraid, one of these days, this resented and vile side of me will win and I'll see a world full of demons." Kara seems to relax a bit, upon hearing Lena's voice, and so she continues. "But maybe we are so afraid of losing, that we forget the battle actually never ends. And maybe that is all there is to it: simply do not give up. Some people, well, they do."

Lena lowers her face to look at the ground; a new wave of emotions submerging her. It is almost suffocating, but Lena continues.

"I blamed you for Lex's death. But the truth is my brother died a long time ago." And Kara is surprised, because Lena says that and, of course, she is sad, but in her voice there is a different type of surrender – one that is mournful but tender.

"I refused to accept that – told myself that he could still be saved. But that madness was so dense, so fucking dense, it never let me in. I would do anything to bring him back, but you can't save others from themselves." And Lena turns to Kara, who has been watching her intently all along, and they share an understanding look. "You probably know that better than anyone."

"I'm so tired, Kara." Lena confesses and lets out a deep breath. "You know what the worst part of this is? It's not just that I've lost my brother to a sick man. It's the fact that this grieving will never end." Kara swallows hard and she can feel the tears coming to her eyes, because Lena's voice is cracking and that never fails to hurt her.

"The Lex I knew, the one who grew up with me, is gone – no matter how much I want to believe otherwise. Maybe he is still out there, lost deep down, but he can't be separated from that other Lex. This other person he has become, I'm pretty sure he is actually alive, scheming, plotting against this world. But now, there are all these clones, these monsters walking around with his face, to remind me of a person I should just forget." Lena had been doing her best to keep her voice as clear as possible, despite the tears that have been falling silently, but a long choking breath escapes her lips.

"How many more times will I have to grieve Lex? I want closure."

Kara instinctively wraps Lena around her arms, caressing her back and her hair with slow motions of her hand. Had she been born a god, a real one, Kara would have given Lena this world and all those stars and erased every suffering from her life. And when Lena stops trembling so much, when Kara thinks Lena is ready to listen, she starts with a soft voice.

"We all have those wounds that never really heal – people we can never walk away from. Lex is going to be that for you, just like I have my family and Krypton." It is reflexive and it draws a sad smile from her, when Kara looks up upon talking about her old home. "We know time has passed and people have changed and, although we know there is no more space in our lives for them, a part of us – the part that once loved dearly and still exists somewhere – will always be willing to welcome them home. No matter what they did or how many years have passed. That's the price we pay for loving someone, I guess."

The arms around her gently tighten, and Lena slightly shifts herself to accommodate better. She realizes she doesn't need that much to feel better – Kara and her words are always enough.

"Thank you, Kara, for everything. For being here tonight." Lena lets her words get lost in that darkness and she thinks she may have heard Kara whisper one quiet 'any time'.

And Kara curiously observes when Lena distances a little, to sit close, but now facing Kara.

"I said so many hurtful things to you the last time. I made you feel like a threat and for that I'm sorry. I wish I could take those words back." Lena's eyes are earnest, and Kara recognizes that composure she so much admires in the brunette.

"No, you were right. I needed that wake-up call. I have to keep vigilant. I just wish it was easier." Kara sighs, lowering her face. "How can I trust myself I won't just feel completely disconnected and end up convincing myself I'm a rightful god one day?"

"I'll talk some sense into your head if that ever happens." Lena answers quickly, a faint smile parting her lips. "Just promise you will do the same to me, if I ever give signs of going psychopath Luthor."

Kara chuckles for the first time in that night, and it is adorable, really, to watch her semblance light up, being only illuminated by the moonlight, while her hair is blown by a breeze. Lena wishes she could freeze that scene forever.

"Are you going to follow through with your plans?" Kara asks after a while.

"Yeah, I'm going to use my influence. But trust me, Kara, I'm going to keep both aliens and humans safe." There is honesty and resolution in her eyes, and Kara doesn't need anything else to believe her.

"I do. I trust you." Kara has a reassuring smile. "I've seen what you're capable of, I should never have doubted you."

Kara reaches for Lena's hand, caressing it with her fingers.

"You know, embracing these responsibilities, having goals and committing to them, it gets pretty lonely." Kara confesses, her mind quickly going through all the struggles she had faced so far. "Sometimes, even when I know there are other heroes around and other people striving just as much, sometimes it feels like I'm the only one who cares and the only one who is sacrificing something and that's incredibly hurtful. I don't want you to go through that alone. You can count on me."

It is not unexpected coming from Kara, but it still surprises Lena, all that kindness she was never used to. Never in her life, had someone cared about her like that and Lena thinks it is lovely, but it also makes her a bit sad to know Kara isn't meant for her.

"A Luthor and a Super working together seems reasonable." Lena says and her eyes attentively observe Kara's lips, as she smiles again. Lena recognizes that familiar feeling spreading in her chest – warm and intoxicating –, yearning for someone who is so close, but denied. And she realizes Kara still holds her hand, and Lena squeezes it softly, drawing a curious look from the blonde.

"I chose a bad time – and certainly the wrong tense – to say an important thing to you."

Lena at first has her eyes fixed on Kara's hands. But they shift to look at Kara's blue eyes. They are really sad, Kara notices, but they are also gentle and sincere.

"I love you."

The first time, Kara had cursed the silence, but this time, beneath the stars, she realizes nothing is more fitting. And she doesn't mind if their hearts are still beating out of time – synchrony would be impossible from the way both were beating so desperate and errant.

"I love you like I never thought it was possible for me." Lena smiles softly, but complements. "Don't worry, I don't have expectations. To be honest, I never thought I would ever tell you that – thought I would just suppress it until the end and bury it with me." A long sigh and her eyes drop to the ground. "But you are so important, I could not bear to keep it inside."

It is undeniable, Kara thinks, they always had this strong thing going on between them, drawing each other in, separating them in a universe apart, where they were comfortable and safe. Kara always longed for home; as much as she loved Earth, Krypton was always there, in the back of her mind, haunting her memories and the sky. But she found stars in those fierce green eyes that would shine and explode and draw her in like gravity. Lena's eyes reminded Kara of exploding suns and black holes – she could never escape them. Lena, Kara realized, reminded her of home.

"I didn't want to put you in this situation, so I'm sorry." Lena rushes to say, because Kara's eyes are fixed on her, and she isn't quite sure what she is thinking.

But Lena forgets whatever other words she is about to say, when she feels a hand holding the side of her face. Kara is suddenly so close, her blue eyes pulling her in with the strength of rough seas. And Lena still watches when Kara stops briefly – painfully close – shifting her attention from Lena's lips to her green eyes, looking for any sign of rejection or discomfort. And, upon receiving a silent consent, Kara's lips meet hers in a soft touch. It is a simple kiss, but Lena let all those feelings sink in, while Kara's heart crashes with the strength of waves against her ribcage.

They part briefly, before closing their distance again in a deeper but gentle kiss. And Lena's mind still processes she would never want to taste any other lips in her life, before going numb. Her lips are burning, but a kiss never tasted so sweet.

When they part, both of them take their time to catch the breath. And Kara observes the moment Lena's smile disappears leaving her with a disheartened semblance, and Kara is perceptive enough to understand where Lena's mind had wandered to.

"Don't worry. We broke up." Kara says, keeping the close distance between them, their foreheads still touching. It's delightful to see Lena's genuine smile - one that is full of promises and devotion. And Kara wants to answer accordingly, wants to offer Lena all that she deserves, which is definitely a lot.

"Lena." Kara searches for the words, anything to express the exploding feelings inside, but none seem ideal - and she wonders if she would ever find any. But Lena traces Kara's lips with her fingers, and it is so gentle and delicate it soothes Kara's worries in an instant.

"You don't need to say anything. We've got time and maybe this is just our beginning." Lena voice is deep and Kara has this smile, which is timid but holy and makes Lena - a non-believer - bend and devote to it.

Lena lets her head rest against Kara's neck and the hero still thinks it's a miracle, possibly, that it does not weigh, but rather lifts the world from her shoulders. And looking up, Lena remembers when nights in Kansas used to be summer skies and constellations hunts beside Lex. But she supposes it is about time to leave the past behind. And the future may be bleak and unknown, but Lena hopes she will remember Kansas and this night for infinite fields under a trillion stars, beside Kara.

Afterwords:

I hope you enjoyed this fic. For those who feel disappointed or wanted more SuperCorp at the end, I'm sorry, but I have other projects and I'm saving some ideas for the future. A spin-off of this story will soon be published, announcing a new series. Also, I know I'm not good at fluff - that ending was so mushy I'm embarrassed.

If I had more spare time, this fic would probably be longer. Maybe, for some of you, the end felt rushed, maybe Lena forgave Kara too fast, etc. But I had to end it right now, because I don't have that much time to develop a long story without losing interest or getting catch on my busy life. Also, if you are still angry or disappointed at some character, sorry, but I really like flawed characters and most of my stories will have protagonists that are far from perfect.

I have to confess, I hate when dead characters come back from the dead, so I was a bit hesitant regarding Lex. But it was probably the fastest way to work on Lena's thoughts regarding Lex – I needed something to remind her that well, he is a scheming sociopath – and it was also a fast way to redeem Kara. The idea of clones was weird to me at first, but I used a lot of references from Smallville and DC Comics to develop Lex's story.

And finally, I want to say it was really fun to know about your reactions towards all that angst. I know I could have added a tag or something to warn it was angst with a happy ending – which probably would draw more readers. But when I read something, I really prefer to keep the ending a mystery and I didn't want to spoil the fun for those who also think like that. I was happy to clarify it for anyone who asked nicely about the end though.