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Chapter Text

The Hidden Bond
(Book 1 of the Unity Saga)

Prologue –Worlds Entwined

I’m so excited to finally write this prologue and present the completed version of my story. With this installment, the journey comes full circle. The story is eleven chapters long, framed by both a prologue and an epilogue, and it’s been one of the most rewarding writing projects I’ve ever taken on.

A brief history of how this project came to be: I initiated this project in February. It started with a plot thesis, and from there I worked closely with a partner to flesh out the story. I want to extend a special thank you to RoczaDeb. She was instrumental in helping me refine what I call my “foundational documents.” Her feedback challenged me to rethink confident choices, and those changes ultimately made the story stronger and more cohesive. She has an incredible library of her own stories, and I highly encourage you to check them out.
You’ll notice I use the term foundational documents. In total, I created about fourteen separate documents while developing this story. These included a plot thesis, crisis points, crisis scene breakdowns, character analyses, subplots, story outline notes, guides, and detailed chapter-by-chapter outlines.

The most important of these was what I call my world-building document. This story drops you—the reader—right into the fifth season of Arrow, at the midpoint of the season, with all the Arrow and Supergirl midpoints finally completed. That choice meant a lot of history had already unfolded in the background. I mapped out all of that unseen history so I could weave it into the narrative. Throughout the chapters, you’ll see elements of this world-building appear naturally, whether in flashbacks, dialogue, or subtle narrative cues.

I won’t share the world-building document itself—it contains too many spoilers—but I do want to highlight a key point to help you understand the story's setting.

This tale takes place on a consolidated Earth that merges the heroes of the Arrowverse. It is not Earth-Prime, as seen after the Crisis on Infinite Earths, nor is it Earth-1 or Earth-38. It is its own Earth, with its own history and unique continuity.
For this story, Arrow will serve as the anchor of the universe. That means the events here take place during Season 5 of Arrow. While this doesn’t directly change the timelines of The Flash or Legends of Tomorrow, it does shift Supergirl’s timeline significantly.

Here’s how it works: there is no Batgirl or Batwoman in this continuity. The Flash Season 1 still takes place within the same time frame as the show, which means Barry emerges as the Flash during Arrow Season 3. However, Supergirl’s timeline is advanced. Her Season 1—her emergence as Supergirl—occurs at the same time as Barry’s. By the time we reach Arrow Season 5, The Flash and Supergirl are both in their respective Season 3 arcs. Please keep that distinction in mind.
Although this story is set during the midseasons of these shows, the narrative itself is entirely original. I will draw from specific events and characters from canon, but only as background touchstones. The primary focus here is new content, new conflicts, and new dynamics.

Now, you may be wondering about canon. For the most part, canon outcomes remain the same, but the paths to those outcomes are altered. The introduction of Kara into Arrow’s world as early as Season 1 has ripple effects on both her character and Oliver’s, as well as the choices made around them. That’s why I created a detailed world-building document to track continuity and ensure characters develop in a way that makes sense. You’ll see, for example, that while Kara didn’t publicly emerge as Supergirl until Arrow Season 3, she wasn’t idle before that. The groundwork she laid during Arrow Seasons 1–3 will surface in this story.
Looking ahead, this is the first of three stories that form a trilogy. These stories take place back-to-back before the characters return to their own seasonal arcs. I don’t plan to write direct episode retellings; instead, these first three stories will stand as their own saga. Afterward, I plan to revisit and write prequels covering Arrow Seasons 1–5 and Supergirl Seasons 1–2, exploring how their worlds intertwine and affect each other. In total, this could result in six stories. Beyond that—I’m not sure where it will lead, but I’ll let the characters and world guide me.

This story took me months to complete. I began principal writing in late April 2025 and finished in mid-September 2025. It will take time to write the next installment, but I promise you this: I will never publish a story until it is fully complete.
I want to invite you now to step into this universe with me — to take a moment away from reality and enjoy the story. My motivation for writing this came from the incredible work other writers have done exploring the pairing of Oliver and Kara. Their stories inspired me; I only wanted to add my own voice to this unique pairing and see where these characters would take me.
A few quick notes for the comment section: constructive feedback and spirited disagreements are welcome — they help a story grow. Flaming, harassment, or mean-spirited attacks are not. If you’d prefer to send private thoughts, I can share my Discord handle later for direct messages.

Thank you for reading, for caring about these characters, and for joining me on this ride. Now—let’s begin.

Chapter Text

“Battle For National City”

Chapter One

National City- Kara's POV

The rain was coming down, dropping on Kara’s face. Each drip told of Kara's exasperation and anguish. It was dark mid-evening, and National City lay before her, battered but still in one piece. There were fires everywhere, and first responders were working to put them out in force. The devastation was extensive, but it could have been worse if she had lost. Her Mark One Heavy Armor tactical suit took a considerable amount of damage. Kara, looking it over, wonders if it's salvageable or not worth the investment to repair.  It still held up, giving Kara a tactical advantage. He would be proud of its performance.

Moments ago, she fought Reign to a draw. It was the most challenging battle she had ever fought in her life. Her struggle with Non and the other Kryptonians was not this extensive or destructive. The signs of this battle were ever-present on her face and body. Blood trailed down her face, touching her lips. She tasted her blood for the first time. A sensation she had never felt before and hoped never to face again.

Kara closed her eyes and let her face feel the wind on her cheeks. She listened with her enhanced hearing. Only the sounds of the aftermath of her battle registered. She should be happy. She faced a foe who was physically stronger than her, but she was not bested. Her training outwitted Reign at every turn. Her combat style far exceeded Reign's abilities in hand-to-hand combat. Kara squeezed her eyes harder and wondered what would have happened if her skills were less. If she did not rival some of the best fighters on Earth.

Still, Reign escaped. She was not beaten. It was a draw. Kara’s anger rose. While she matched Reign move for move, enough to force a retreat, Kara didn’t have enough strength to pursue the threat. To end the threat permanently. She punched the street and seethed with rage.

“I was supposed to win. I was supposed to protect this city,” Kara cursing to herself.

When Reign withdrew, others hailed it a victory. Alex looked at her with pride. A young girl thanked her for stopping Reign. But did I win? Or delay Reign’s return? Did I let everyone down? Did I let him down?

Kara’s body was bruised all over, but she did not break. He would be proud of her regardless. He spent years teaching her to fight like him without powers.

Yes, he and Kara developed Red Sun bracelets. This allowed her to train without her powers. With that, he taught her every fighting move and style he knew. He was a deadly fighter and taught her everything, not including killing moves. He refused to pass on the burden of how to kill. He had taken many lives when he returned home and started his initial crusade. She was a reporter then, sent to cover his actions. Soon, she aided him from the shadows with her abilities after she saved his best friend’s life during the Undertaking. Later, she prevented his mother from being killed by the mind-altered, crazy, supersoldier. His mother became the Mayor soon after.

They fell in love, and it's not surprising that it occurred. They started as friends, with him training her to the best of his ability, until they developed the Red Sun Bracelets. He took it upon himself to ensure Kara would never be defenseless if she lost her powers. Now she is one of the most gifted fighters he has ever seen. Now, they mainly sparred to a draw. Kara even won a few matches. He was so proud of her the first time she beat him.

~ FLASHBACK – STAR CITY – TRAINING ROOM ~

Kara’s POV

Oliver’s smile was reserved only for her. “Kara, that was amazing. You took me down, not by powering through, but by using your skills and tactics. You're ready, Kara. You're ready to save your city,” he spoke with pride.

Of course, Kara blushed as she stepped away from him. She was a stunning woman, exuding confidence and beauty. She was in black leggings that fit her curves perfectly and a spotted bra that was both functional and sexy. She helped him up from the mat.

Once he got up, he moved quickly to kiss her, reaffirming how proud he was of her.

“You let me win,” she said in a bashful, soft tone.

He quickly refuted her notion. “You did this, angel. You won and never doubt your capabilities.” He threw a towel at her to wipe off while closing the distance with her. He cupped her face and kissed her. “I love you, Kara, and I am so proud of you”. With that, they shared an embrace and ended the night.

~ FLASHBACK END. ~

They had been romantic partners since his second year back from the island. Their friendship began when Kara saved Tommy during the Undertaking. Soon after, he decided to help train her to sharpen her instincts, refine her control, and give her a fighting edge. Through long hours and quiet nights, their relationship grew.

And Laurel had known.

She figured easily, long before she comforted them about their relationship in private. Outside of Kara, no one knew him better than Laurel. She had memorized his mannerisms, caught the slight shifts in his voice, the way his gaze lingered just a second too long when Kara entered the room.

When she finally spoke to them about it, she did so with warmth and a gentle smile. She comforted them both in a way only Laurel could and wished them happiness. That blessing, unspoken to the world but deeply felt between them, meant everything.

~ FLASHBACK – STAR CITY – LAUREL'S APARTMENT – EVENING ~

Soft music played in the background, the hum of a quiet night settling over the city. Laurel moved through her apartment with practiced grace, two wine glasses in hand. She set them down on the coffee table and glanced back toward the couch, where Oliver and Kara sat, just a little too close and in sync. She smiled.

“Okay,” Laurel said lightly, picking up her glass. “I’m just going to say it.”

Oliver and Kara froze, eyes locking—caught.

Laurel took a sip, then sat across from them, her expression warm but steady. “I know.”

Kara blinked. “You… know?”

“I’ve known for a while,” Laurel said, setting her glass down. “Oliver, you have tells. You always have.” She turned to Kara with a gentle look. “And you… You glow around him. He’s grounded around you in a way I haven’t seen since before the island.”

Oliver exhaled quietly, reaching for Kara’s hand without thinking. She took it.

“I’m not upset,” Laurel added, her voice softening. “I think it’s… beautiful.” She leaned forward, sincerely in every word. “You two love each other. It’s obvious. And I want you to know I support you—completely.”

Kara’s eyes shimmered slightly. “Laurel… thank you.”

“I’ll keep your secret,” Laurel promised. “Until you decide it’s time to share it with the world. My only condition…” She gave them a playful smirk. “I get to be part of it, now and then. A dinner. Drinks. Something real. I want to see it. I want to witness what this love looks like—because God knows the two of you could teach the rest of us something about what it’s supposed to be.”

Oliver stood then, walking to her and pulling her into a tight, grateful, wordless hug. “You always are the best of us,” he whispered.

Laurel smiled against his shoulder. “Just don’t screw it up.”

They all laughed softly, a moment of peace sealed between them—one they would all carry forward, even when the world changed again.

~ FLASHBACK END ~

When Laurel died, it struck both of them.

Laurel spent time with them, watching Oliver look at Kara and how his entire presence changed in her orbit. She witnessed how Kara opened his heart in ways no one else had and how easily Oliver gave that heart to her in return. There was no hesitation, no guard, just an open, quiet surrender.

Laurel recognized it immediately. She knew Oliver too well not to see it. Rather than envy or sadness, she offered them something rarer: peace. A smile of genuine warmth. A blessing spoken without words.

Kara understood, better than anyone, what Laurel meant to Oliver. She was his first great love—a light in his life before the darkness touched it. That bond, that history, would never truly fade. And it shouldn’t.

Oliver was always completely faithful and utterly devoted to Kara, in both body and soul. She never once felt threatened by the space Laurel still quietly occupied in his heart. That space wasn’t a wall—it was a tribute. Kara loved him even more for keeping it sacred.

For Oliver, Laurel’s death was a devastating loss. For Kara, it was the heartbreak of watching the man she loved collapse to his knees over someone he would never stop mourning. She held him through that grief. And in doing so, their love didn’t just survive—it transcended.

Kara was right by his side. Piecing him back together and making him stronger in the process. He drew on her strength, and their love deepened. Not long after Laural’s passing, Oliver proposed quietly on a beach in the Maldives.

~ FLASHBACK – MALDIVES - BEACH ~

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world in amber and deep violet hues. Gentle waves rolled against the sand like in slow, rhythmic background music. The ocean breeze tousled Kara’s golden hair as she sat barefoot on the soft shoreline. Her dress caught the warm wind like a whisper of starlight.

Kara laughed as Oliver walked up behind her, wet from their swim, carrying two small coconuts with mismatched straws sticking out.

"Not bad for someone with zero bartending experience," Oliver joked, handing one over.

Kara smirked, accepting the drink. "I’ve had better. But your effort gets full marks."

Oliver sat beside her, close enough for their knees to touch. They watched the ocean for a long moment, letting the silence speak.

“Did you ever think we’d get here?” Oliver asked softly.

Kara looked at him, eyebrows slightly raised. “You mean… here, like—geographically or emotionally?” she asked.

Oliver chuckled, eyes fixed on the waves. “Both. But mostly this.” He gestured to the stars. “Us. Peace.”

Kara leaned her head on his shoulder. “I used to think peace was something we fought for. Now I think… maybe it’s something we give each other. You and me.”

A long beat. His breathing changed. “This is what I want, Kara,” Oliver said, reaching into his loose linen pants pocket. “Not just moments of peace. A life of them… a lifetime of them… with you.”

Kara sat up straighter. Her eyes blinked in surprise as he turned and knelt on one knee in the sand. He opened the small box. It wasn’t flashy. Simple. Elegant. Honest—just like him.

“Kara Zor-El… Kara Danvers… You already matter to me. Will you marry me?” Oliver asked tentatively.

Kara’s eyes welled immediately, and the stars above them blurred into soft halos. “Yes,” she breathed, her voice caught between joy and awe. “Yes, Oliver. A thousand times, yes.”

Oliver slipped the ring onto her finger. It shimmered gold and starlit like the ocean behind them. They kissed—long and slow—as the tide brushed up to greet them, as if the world whispered its blessing.

~ FLASHBACK END ~ 

Kara watched as Oliver’s silhouette cut through the haze, not with power, but with purpose. He approached her with the Green Arrow's typical stoic facial expression. It gave nothing away to the untrained eye, but Kara was skilled. She could read beneath his mask. She turned her head to meet his eyes and saw two distinct emotions: concern and pride. She knew more about her husband than anyone, even Diggle or Felicity. She accessed his heart and returned unwavering love and loyalty.

This allowed her to see the true Oliver Queen, the unguarded Oliver Queen. Kara noted his concern as he took in her injuries. He is proud of her accomplishments. They stared at each other for a while, communicating in ways reserved for only the most private conversations. Most observers wrote this off as two people worrying about each other after a brutal fight. In the distance, someone who was not just anybody observed them, and she was growing concerned.

Thea Queen is watching this tender display. She was Oliver's younger sister. She watched many battles with her brother and Kara. She knew her brother well and was always skeptical of his ‘friendship’ with Kara. Not that she didn’t mind. She likes Kara. She even encouraged them to be closer friends.

From her point of view, Kara and Barry were good influences on Oliver. As Oliver and Kara spent more time as ‘friends’ hanging out, Thea began to notice things—small details she didn’t put together until now. This painted a confusing and concerning picture. Is Oliver hiding something from his entire family? Is Oliver and Kara’s relationship more than meets the eye? What I observed just now seems to be the case. It spoke of romantic love.

Oliver reached out by instinct alone and a love deeper than any vow. His hand found the small of Kara’s back with effortless familiarity. He helped her up gently, guiding her into his arms as if the world might break her if he didn’t. Kara responds without thought. Her body leaning into his touch. Into him. It was muscle memory now. Relying on him. Drawing from the comfort only he could give.

The world saw Oliver Queen, CEO, as cold, calculated, and closed off by pain and loss, but that was a beautiful lie. The world saw the Green Arrow as even harsher—a ruthless vigilante cloaked in shadow, a weapon honed sharp, more myth than man. He is a necessary monster —precise, unrelenting, and emotionally distant, even from those he saved. Beneath the armor and gruff exterior burned a fierce and vast love that rivaled a thousand exploding suns. Yet he let that love flow completely, recklessly, only for her.

Kara absorbed it. It was like sunlight, both by habit and by need. But today, it felt different. She needs it like air because today… she believed she had failed her city.

They lowered their guard. They dropped their public masks. "For one heartbeat," Kara whispered, her voice trembling, "I let myself forget National City and forget the world."

Oliver's hand didn't move, grounding her even as it steadied him. She's alive, he thought. That has to be enough. His touch was meant to calm her. In truth, it also kept him from breaking.

His heart was in his throat as he watched the battle between Kara and Reign play out. They fought in the sky and on the ground. Kara used every skill to match Reign blow for blow. Yes, Reign was physically stronger than Kara, but Reign could not match her skill. Kara's superior fighting style beat Reign back, but at a significant cost. Reign injured Kara. Oliver watched, powerless to do anything but be there for her in the aftermath.

~ FLASHBACK: NATIONAL CITY – WARZONE ~

The sky above the city churned with ash and fire. Helicopters circled in the distance. Below them, shattered glass littered the streets like crystal blood. Buildings groaned, barely upright. The earth trembled as titans clashed.

On a rooftop four blocks away, Oliver crouched low behind the remains of a crumbling HVAC unit. He gritted his teeth, every muscle in his body taut as a bowstring. His eyes never left her.

Kara—his Kara—was locked in battle with Reign. They moved in blurs and thunderclaps. Concrete exploded under their feet. Sonic booms split the air as fists collided midflight. The shockwaves alone shattered the closest buildings.

Oliver struggled to draw breath. He instinctively reached for his bow, recognising its ineffectiveness in this situation. The conflict was beyond the realm of ordinary weapons—a confrontation among beings of immense power. Although Oliver felt powerless, Kara continued to insist upon his presence.

Now, watching her bleed across a fractured parking structure, Oliver hated how close he was. Reign slammed Kara into the pavement hard enough to crater it. He flinched, rising an inch before forcing himself back down. His knuckles turned white on the grip of his bow.

“Get up…” Oliver whispered. “Come on, Angel. Get up.”

Kara did. Slowly. Her hair was matted with blood. Her suit was torn across one shoulder. But her eyes… they still burned. She launched herself into the air, spun mid-flight, and collided with Reign in a crashing tackle that sent both of them through a skyscraper’s glass side. The building groaned, then collapsed behind them in a cloud of dust and screaming metal.

Oliver shielded his face. When the dust cleared, Kara stood proud, panting hard, eyes locked on Reign, who, for the first time, seemed staggered.

It wasn’t a win, but it wasn’t a loss either.

Reign and Kara stood apart, both bleeding, both heaving. For a moment, neither moved. Reign looked at Kara with something like surprise… or respect. Then, without a word, she vanished in a sonic boom. Kara collapsed to one knee.

Oliver couldn’t hold it anymore. He gripped the ledge, ready to leap from the rooftop. But before he could move, a DEO transport hovered over Kara. Soldiers rappelled down. Medical drones zipped over. He pulled back. I can’t run to her. Not yet. Not here.

Instead, Oliver stood in the dark, invisible, watching her rise slowly to her feet, pretending to be invisible. She was barely standing. He watched her be a hero when all he wanted to do was hold her and remind her that she was still a woman.

His wife.

His heart.

“You don’t have to win, Kara,” Oliver whispered to no one. “Just come back

And she did. Kara would never know what it cost him to watch.

~ FLASHBACK END ~

Kara was the first to speak. “Green Arrow, she was stronger than I expected her to be. She was faster, too. I couldn’t beat her. I couldn’t stop her from retreating.”

“You didn’t lose, Supergirl,” Oliver soothed her. He hid his internal turmoil. He was ever cool under pressure. “You didn’t fail your city. You saved it. You fought and used every skill you had. I thought you beat her. You forced a retreat. That’s what matters, Kara.”

Kara saw the burning love in his eyes. She nodded in understanding. Later, she could explain how she felt. When alone with him. For now, she showed him how his unwavering love gave her strength. During the fight and now. It allowed her to stand firm. She was never loved so unconditionally by someone. If people understood the love he gave, they would never question his heart. She vows to protect his heart, no matter the cost. She wanted to throw herself into his arms and cry.

Later, Kara reminded herself.

Such an action would have shattered their secret to the world. Oliver would not hesitate to love her publicly… consequences be damned. For now, their love was a secret on a battlefield. Kept from the rest of the world.

Tension flared as a crackling came to a stop in the background. The fastest man alive arrived—the Flash.

Barry had his own heroic journey and story, which often intersected with Kara and Oliver. They knew each other before Barry was struck by lightning. After he became the Flash and Kara became Supergirl, Oliver trained them based on their abilities.

To Barry, Kara seemed more experienced than he was. It seemed Kara was holding back during their training sessions. That she had trained with Oliver longer than he had, if that were true, it meant Oliver and Kara had known each other for longer. Barry figured that, being an alien, Kara could learn faster. He let it go.

Today, when Barry sped to National City to help Supergirl with Reign, he found the battle was over—a draw. He was surprised to see Oliver in National City, hugging Kara. He saw something strong between the two heroes—something that went beyond a deep friendship—something almost unspoken, a bond of closeness that looks beyond just friendship.

Before approaching the heroes, Barry saw the first responders rushing to mediate the battle damage, putting out fires, and rescuing people in damaged buildings. He ran to help.

Oliver and Kara spoke in soft, measured tones, knowing they would be overheard. Every word carried weight, layered in double and triple meanings. Love, concern, pride, and unspoken affection were evident in even the simplest responses. This was their code, refined over years of being each other’s entire world.

To the untrained ear, it was just conversation. To them, it was everything. Internally, Oliver struggled. In another world, he thought, I’d kiss her right now. The urge was so strong. He physically restrained himself. His fingers twitched with the need to pull her close.

For all her strength, courage, and impossible beauty, Kara wanted nothing more than to throw herself into his arms. To thank him right there. To thank him for everything he has been to her over the years and for everything he continues to be to her now. But that would wait until they were alone.

No, this moment deserved witnesses. Oliver Queen, her husband, her partner, her Green Arrow, deserved recognition not just for his place beside her in battle, but for the love he carried. He played a role in shaping the woman she was. He is a model of what a woman needs: fierce loyalty, unwavering belief, and a strength that doesn’t compete, but uplifts.

Today was the culmination of his love and tireless training. Kara stood her ground. She drove the enemy back. She hadn’t won—not wholly—but Oliver insisted she had saved the city. Kara believed him because she had always seen his heart.

The tension between the two heroes broke, and reality came crashing back as the initial set of DEO transport trucks began rolling up. Alex Danvers, a concerned sister, jumped out. At first glance, she was stunned to see Green Arrow in front of her sister so quickly after the battle.

Alex was a very skilled observer and one of the best agents in the DEO. She noticed her sister's posture soften as she drew closer to Green Arrow. It was almost like she was drawn to him.

Alex saw Oliver and Kara together many times. While both were good friends in the public eye, they never showed this level of tenderness. Today is different.

Kara's body language toward Oliver shifted subtly, but unmistakably. She stood close—too close for friendship—with her shoulders relaxed and her body angled slightly inward, as if drawn to his center. One hand rested lightly on his chest while the other remained at her side, not out of caution, but comfort. Her eyes locked with his in a way that lingered longer than necessary, her expression soft and open, filled with trust.

It was a pose reserved only for lovers—unspoken, but deeply telling—the kind of closeness born from shared nights, shared grief, and an unbreakable bond.

Alex noticing it instantly. Suddenly, things that had never quite added up began to click into place, leaving her with more questions than answers.

There had always been subtle signs, little indicators of how close Oliver and Kara were—things Alex had mentally noted over time. The way they stood near each other, always in sync. Their bodies seemed naturally relaxed, comfortable, and almost instinctively attuned when working together.

She remembered one particular moment during a team-up when Kara had called Oliver “Light.”

It had caught him off guard—not because of the word itself, or Kara calling him that, but because she had said it in public. It sounded like something romantic. Personal. A name meant for quiet moments, not the battlefield.

Kara had seemed so at ease, so completely herself around him, that it must have slipped out without thought.

And now, standing there and watching them again, Alex could feel it all adding up. A connection she couldn't quite define—but one she couldn’t deny either.

She knew something. She didn’t know what she knew.

As Alex approached, Kara heard the sound of her heartbeat or footsteps because she had whispered to Oliver. Her posture returned to a more professional one, and then she turned to Alex.

“Supergirl!” Alex exclaimed as she ran up.

Both turned instantly. Kara winced and brushed off her knees. “Alex. I’m okay. I’m…” she glanced back at Oliver “…we’re fine.”

Alex’s eyes moved between them. Kara’s hair was wild, her posture battered, but proud. Oliver straightened behind her like a silent shadow. His expression was unreadable. His bow slung. His hands were loose… too loose for someone who wasn’t alert for something else.

Alex stepped closer and instinctively scanned Kara for injuries. “You’re bleeding. What were you thinking about engaging Reign alone?” she berated her sister.

“I had no choice,” Kara replied softly. “She forced the confrontation. I couldn’t risk her getting farther into the city.”

“Kara held her ground. She didn’t give Reign what she wanted. That’s what mattered,” Oliver added, tone cool and tactical.

Alex’s brow furrowed at his tone. He is protective. Too protective. Too calm. She caught the brief look that passed between them again. Quick. Familiar.

Something flickered in her gut, but Kara was smiling. Not for the city, not for the DEO, not for her. And that smile… worn, but genuine… stopped Alex from pressing further, for now.

The DEO moved quickly now. They fanned out. They assessed structural damage, marked hot zones, and checked for trapped civilians. Med-techs descended from the aerial transport like clockwork. Protocols, patterns, procedures.

All of it blurred in Oliver’s periphery. He watched Kara rise slowly into the air. She didn’t soar. Not like she usually did. She lifted herself with measured, exhausted strength. She tried not to fall. Her flight path was steady, but Oliver could see it. Her shoulders were curled just slightly forward. Her hands were trembling as she held her arms out.

She is hurting. And I can’t go to her. Not here. Not now.

Oliver stood motionless as Kara vanished into the dark haze above National City. She silhouetted briefly against the moon and broken skyline before disappearing from view.

His heart thudded once.

Then again.

Cracked.

Oliver exhaled through his nose. He straightened his back and turned slowly, his mask back in place, his posture perfect, and his voice level.

“I will go check the southern portion of the city to ensure the criminal element doesn't take advantage of the crisis,” Oliver stated, cutting off Alex’s next question. He walked away without another word. His ribs ached with each breath, but it wasn’t the kind of wound that needed tending.

He needed her. Not Supergirl.

Kara.

His wife.

Oliver crossed the street, weaving between wreckage and debris until he reached the edge of the staging zone. His motorcycle waited beside the black Queen Consolidated tactical van. He stepped behind it, out of sight from the DEO—but not from everyone.

Inside the van, screens flickered silently. One showed satellite telemetry from the flight. Another showed DEO communications intercepted live. And one… was locked on Green Arrow. On Oliver Queen.

Felicity sat alone in the dark of the command area, headset off but every channel still open. Her eyes were fixed on the playback. Oliver reached for Kara, and Kara leaned in. Their hands were almost touching for too long.

Thea Queen sat quietly in the front seat, watching through the rearview mirror. She had come with Felicity to provide operational support, although she had long since retired from that role.  The previous year's loss of Laurel had marked the end of that chapter, however limited it was for her.

These days, Thea served as her mother’s chief of staff in Star City’s government, still fighting for the city in a different way. But tonight, she couldn’t say no when Felicity asked for help. And now, seeing her brother on the monitor, moving with instinctive tenderness toward Kara… it stirred something old and familiar in her.

She said nothing. But she saw everything.

The audio was soft, but her software enhanced it.

“You kept me grounded…” Kara’s voice whispered over the audio.

Felicity’s fingers hovered above her keyboard. She didn’t type. Didn’t blink.

Felicity watched Oliver change significantly after the Undertaking. She half expected him to run away after the Undertaking, but something held him back. He changed in the following years. He became more focused than ever before, but also warmer. He didn’t isolate himself. He opted to spend more time with Diggle, herself, Laurel, and Thea.

This change improved the mission's efficiency and smoothness. But Felicity knew they had help from the shadows. She never knew who helped them, but they benefited from some unknown force.

When Slade was about to stab Moria, a force as fast as the Flash swooped him away. It deposited Slade in a state away. Moria was safe. For the first time, Felicity knew the unknown force was real. That force again returned and helped with the Siege, preventing damage within the city. After the Siege, the force never returned.

Once The Flash and Supergirl revealed themselves, Kara spent more time in Starling City helping Team Arrow. Oliver would, in turn, help her in National City. The way Kara moved reminded her of the unknown force. It left Felicity wondering. Was Kara that unknown force? It was before she revealed herself in National City. After today's events, Felicity’s observations, her gut told her that Kara was that unknown force.

Felicity watched. And listened. And felt something she couldn’t name yet.

Outside, Oliver peeled off his upper armor. One of the chest plates clattered against the sidewalk. Chipped, dented, and cracked down the center. He looked down at it.

Wearily.

Then Oliver set it on the seat of his bike. Tonight, he didn’t need gear. It wasn’t a mission. There wasn’t another lie to uphold. He required only one thing to heal what Reign couldn’t touch.

Her. Kara.

Oliver mounted the bike, started the engine, and vanished into the streets. He rode toward the only place he was vulnerable.

Home.

Chapter Text

“Shadows and Sisters” 

Chapter Two 

~DEO~ 

After the battle between Supergirl and Reign, the DEO was a hive of frantic activity. Agents were spread throughout the city, assisting first responders, containing fallout, and ensuring alien criminal elements didn’t exploit the chaos. Teams loaded and unloaded transports within the command center and on the landing pads in a blur of motion and urgency. 

But despite the crisis, Supergirl's arrival, escorted by the Green Arrow, caused a subtle shift in the atmosphere. 

It wasn’t their presence that drew attention; both heroes were familiar sights within DEO operations. It’s something else. Something in the way the Green Arrow walked just half a step behind her, as if guarding more than just her back. His posture was sharper, more alert. His gaze scanned not just for threats, but for anyone who might come too close. There was a silent intensity in how he hovered near her, protective, deliberate, and personal. 

Most agents wouldn’t have picked up on it. But the veterans, who had seen both heroes in action countless times, exchanged glances. Something had changed. The dynamic between them had deepened in a way that didn’t need words. It wasn’t dramatic, but it was unmistakable — a quiet current of connection that only those trained to notice subtle shifts would catch. 

They were still Supergirl and the Green Arrow to the world. 

But to the seasoned eyes of the DEO, something more. 

~ Flashback – Before they Enter the DEO ~ 

The battle with Reign is over, but the city still trembled in its bones. Sirens echoed faintly in the distance. Trash blew past the narrow alley, but the darkness here was thick, still, safe. A place between two worlds, the one they just saved and the one they must return to. 

Kara stepped into the alley first, her breathing heavy. Her suit was torn at the shoulder, and dirt streaked across her face. The faintest shimmer of pain crossed her features as she pressed a hand to her ribs. She steadied herself against the wall. The moment she sensed him, her heart responded. 

From the shadows behind her, Oliver emerged. Hood drawn back. His eyes locked on hers instantly; a gaze of fire and ache. 

“Thank you for meeting me before we go into the DEO. I needed you,” Kara sighed softly with relief. 

Oliver smiled, tired but warm. “Always, Angel”. 

He crossed the space between them in two strides. He took her into his arms. Gently, like she might break, she doesn’t. She melts. 

“This is not over yet, Reign, she will be back,” She whispered. 

“No, but you’re still standing. That’s all that matters to me right now,” Oliver responded gently, as he pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. His fingers lifted her chin, brushing away soot and blood from her cheek. His thumb hesitates at the corner of her mouth. 

“They’ll be watching at the DEO. Alex... J’onn...” Kara said in frustration, 

“Then let me have this. One real moment before we disappear behind those masks again.” Oliver uncharacteristically pleaded with his wife. 

She nodded, wordless. The world outside this alley didn’t exist anymore. She leaned in, and he met her halfway. 

Their kiss was slow, not rushed, not frantic, but grounded—like two souls finding harbor after a storm. His gloved hand cradled the back of her head. Her fingers curled into the collar of his suit, anchoring him to her. 

The kiss broke, but their foreheads remained pressed, breath mingling in the cold air. 

“I don’t want to pretend we’re strangers when we walk in there.” Kara is holding onto Oliver, looking up at him. 

“We’re not. Not really. We’re partners. In everything that matters.” He reached into his vest and pulled out a small, thin bandage, brushing it gently along the shallow cut across her brow. “But if we’re going to keep this secret, if we’re going to protect it, we must play our roles,” Oliver continued. 

She sighed, resigning to the truth. Then her eyes glowed for a beat, not from power but love. 

She stepped back into the light, squared and ready. Kara Danvers. Supergirl. Hero. 

The alley behind them closed like a curtain. The next scene is the DEO, but this was their truth. 

~ Flashback Ends ~ 

They moved to the medical bays. Despite Kara being a Kryptonian, she was injured and required medical attention. She was bruised but still stood tall. Oliver, closely behind her, admired her strength. She was fantastic tonight, going blow for blow, and holding her own. Her training gave her the edge to stay in the fight and repulse Reign's attack on the city. Still, there was no apparent motivation for why Reign attacked… now… at this moment during the Holidays. 

Oliver theorized to himself that Reign was fully powered and wanted to test Supergirl. When Reign could not break Kara’s defenses and she herself was damaged, she withdrew. She withdrew, knowing that Supergirl was more skilled than her and that she needed to find a different way to defeat her. To Oliver, this seemed like the likely reason Reign attacked. He will share this with Kara once they have a private moment together. 

As the medical staff approached, Kara was asked to sit on the bed and remove some damaged clothing to facilitate their evaluations. Exhausted, she tried to move but needed Oliver's help to guide her onto the bed. He gently removed her boots and gloves. It was a tender moment that caught the medical staff off guard as Oliver carefully cleaned the dirt from Kara's hair. Smiling, Kara shared an unspoken conversation with him. Alex soon arrived to assist with the examination and noticed the end of this exchange. Oliver stayed close, making Alex a bit uncomfortable. 

“Green Arrow, please step back from Supergirl or just step outside so that we can give her an examination,” Alex directed politely. 

Olver was hesitant to leave his wife. He tried to think of an excuse to stay close to her. A singular goal drove him – be with his wife. Kara looked at him and knew what he was thinking. 

“Alex, it’s ok. He can stay. I prefer he stay. But I am fine. Just a lot of bruising,” Kara said in an exhausted and unconvincing tone to Alex. Alex raised her eyebrows up at her sister, almost daring Oliver to stay. This puts her on her toes for a minute, but she recovers and relents. 

“Fine, Supergirl. It’s your choice, but you’re injured and bleeding. Green Arrow agrees with me,” Alex said.  

Oliver, looking defeated but smiling gently, nodded at his wife. Knowing he hated hospitals, Kara realized she must look worse than she felt. She closed her eyes. “Okay, Alex, let’s get this over with.”  

Alex quipped, “You almost sounded like Green Arrow just now.”  

Kara chuckled softly and lay back. 

The DEO medical wing buzzed with quiet intensity. Agents moved with practiced urgency just beyond the doors, but inside the med bay, the atmosphere was more still, focused entirely on Kara. She sat on the edge of the reinforced bed, her suit torn, her hands loosely clasped in her lap. She looked like she had gone ten rounds with a god and barely lived to tell the tale. 

Alex stepped inside. Her boots tapping softly against the floor. Tablet in hand, and brow furrowed. She tried to keep it clinical, but her voice betrayed the depth of her concern. 

“Your solar readings are dangerously low,” Alex said. “You’re not just tired — your cells are borderline depleted. This isn’t something you can sleep off, Kara.” 

Kara lifted her head, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear, her usual stubbornness flickering to life. “I’ve had worse. A little sunlight in the morning and I’ll be fine.” 

“No. You won’t.” Alex’s voice was sharp, the edge of a big sister’s worry cutting through her professional tone. “You’re staying here overnight. We’re setting up concentrated yellow solar lamps to accelerate your recovery.” 

Kara’s jaw tensed. She glanced instinctively toward Oliver, who stood quietly near the far wall. Hood down, arms crossed, expression unreadable — but Alex saw it, just barely. The faint softening of his gaze as Kara looked at him. It was brief, subtle. 

But it’s something. 

Kara didn’t say anything, but something passed between her and Green Arrow — a pause, a silence heavy with shared understanding. Alex couldn’t place it, but she felt it. It was the kind of silent conversation that didn’t come from years as colleagues. It came from something more profound. More personal. 

Oliver gave the slightest tilt of his head, just enough for Kara to catch it. His expression hadn’t changed to the untrained eye, but Kara saw all she needed. Her shoulders sank a little. The fight left her posture. 

“Okay,” Kara said quietly. “Just for tonight.” 

Alex blinked, caught slightly off guard by how easily Kara gave in. That wasn’t like her when she was determined to keep going. Her eyes narrowed slightly, gaze shifting between the two of them. 

“I’ll go get the lamps ready,” she said slowly, studying them with more scrutiny. “You’ll start feeling better within an hour.” She lingered a beat longer than necessary before stepping out. 

As the door slid shut, the air changed again. Kara leaned back slightly, and the flicker of performance drained from her expression. 

“You look worse than I do,” she said softly, not with sarcasm but quiet affection. “And you don’t get to recharge under a sunlamp.” 

Oliver let out a breath that could have been a laugh or a sigh of weariness. “Been through worse.” 

Kara gave him that look — the one that said, Don’t argue. Not this time. “You need rest, Oliver. Go home. Sleep. Meet me at the loft tomorrow night.” 

Oliver hesitated long enough to make it clear he didn’t want to leave her side, but he also knew her. Knew that when she used that tone, the blend of steel and love from being both Supergirl and his wife, there was no winning the argument. 

Oliver gave a slight nod. “Alright. I’ll leave once the lamps are set.” 

Kara’s lips curved into a faint smile. “I love you,” she whispered loud enough for him to hear. 

“I love you, too,” he replied, voice low and steady. 

There was no kiss. No touch. Just the weight of words and the warmth behind them. 

Outside the med bay, Alex paused, glancing back toward the door she’d just exited. Something about the exchange she’d witnessed didn’t sit right — or rather, it sat too right. The ease between them. The way Kara had looked to him for guidance. The way Oliver spoke was with more than just concern. 

Alex narrowed her eyes slightly. 

Something was going on, and Alex Danvers had a feeling she was going to find out what. 

~ Green Arrow Mobile Operation Van ~ 

The interior of Team Arrow’s mobile operations van was dimly lit. Bathed in soft blue glows from monitors and diagnostic gear humming softly in the background. Felicity sat strapped into the command chair, one hand on her keyboard, the other navigating a tablet as she toggled through live CCTV feeds across National City. The chaos from the Reign’s battle rippled outward in every direction — crumbling rooftops, overturned vehicles, sparks showering from damaged power lines. 

They’d barely made it in time. 

Cisco opened a portal using the extrapolator, allowing the van to roll through from Star City to just outside National City’s south perimeter as the battle erupted. They were technically unauthorized. Definitely uninvited. But Oliver hadn’t hesitated. And neither had she. 

Still, it wasn’t the destruction that held Felicity’s attention now. It was the narrow alleyway between two buildings where a low-resolution camera happened to catch a glimpse of something the rest of the world wasn’t meant to see. 

Oliver. 

Kara. 

They weren’t fighting anymore. Kara looked battered, her hair hanging loose around her shoulders, while Oliver stood close, not touching, but almost. His body angled toward her, his posture tense but not defensive—protective. 

She narrowed her eyes. His expression… it was the same one she’d seen only a few times in all the years she’d known him. It was reserved for people who mattered on a level beyond reason. His mother. Thea. Occasionally her. 

And now… Kara? 

Kara looked up at him, something unreadable but deeply familiar flickering across her face. It wasn’t relief or gratitude. It was something more layered. A quiet surrender of the kind you only show to someone who already holds your heart. 

Felicity stared, unmoving. 

She knew that look. She had worn it herself once. 

This wasn’t something that had just started. 

Her mind ticked back through the years, drawing lines between half-remembered moments and long-ignored instincts. Kara always arrives just minutes after Oliver disappears without explanation. The rare but unmistakable softness in his voice when he said her name, Kara, not Supergirl, and never with the distance he used for most heroes. There were the rooftop chats during joint ops, the quiet rooftop dinners Oliver would never explain, and the untraceable communication lines he refused to discuss — lines she could never fully decrypt. 

And then… There was the Siege. 

The Undertaking had been devastating, but someone intervened and saved Tommy. Tommy never knew who it was, just that as the building started collapsing around him and Laural, a force took them both to Safety. 

The Siege was much worse. 

Leading up to the siege, Team Arrow always got help at the most critical times. A Blur, not unlike the Flash, would zip around and pull them or civilians out of harm's way. It had saved Moria Queen from Slade. 

Felicity hadn’t thought about that night in a long time. 

Not until she saw Oliver look at Kara like that. That same protective stillness… that same gentleness that flickered across his face when he returned from his encounter with Slade that night, shaken, silent, and strangely grateful. 

~ FLASHBACK – STARLING CITY, NIGHT ~ 

From Felicity’s perspective, remembering the night Moira Queen should have died… but didn’t. 

Felicity was in the bunker, tracking Oliver’s phone. This was a tactical phone she made for the team. Felicity engaging the microphone listing to horror. She remembered the mounting fear his voice tight and panicked. 

Then the signal got jammed. She switched to satellite tracking, but it was still jammed. Static tore across the feeds. Every feed linked to Oliver’s location went dead for a split second. Felicity’s hands danced across the keys, trying to stabilize the signal and pull the satellite imaging back online. Her screen went dark. 

When the feeds returned… Slade was gone. 

Oliver was kneeling beside his mother and Thea. All three of them alive. Moira was shaking. Thea had tears in her eyes, her hands pressed to her chest. Oliver kept staring at the place where Slade had just been, like the air had ripped open and swallowed him whole. 

Felicity hadn’t understood it at the time. 

When Oliver returned to the Foundry, his story was maddeningly vague. 

Slade had Moira on her knees. The sword was drawn. The situation was seconds away from becoming a tragedy. And then gone. In an instant. 

“What just happened?” Felicity whispered to herself. 

“He was… gone,” he had said, wiping at the blood on his sleeve. “There was a blur. Something hit him hard. Took him.” 

“Took him?” Felicity repeated, bewildered. “What do you mean by ‘took him’? Who?” 

Oliver just shook his head. “I don’t know. But it moved faster than I have ever seen someone move. It moved quietly. It was just… wind.” 

Felicity had tried to trace Slade after that. It was as if he had been plucked off the map. She found him a State over, just now waking up, looking as confused as to how he got there. Soon after that, Slade disappeared, and the siege was about to begin. Felicity could not find any sign of how he had gotten there. 

Felicity had stayed up for two nights trying to trace the blur. Every camera near the site showed nothing—no footprints, no flight records, just a brief burst of static and then an impossible disappearance. 

They all assumed it was a freak accident. A fluke. Something unexplainable. 

~ Flashback Ended ~ 

But now, watching Oliver and Kara from the van after the Reign’s battle, Felicity’s mind reeled. 

It wasn’t just that Oliver trusted Kara. 

It was how he looked at her, like she had literally pulled him out of the dark. 

She was the blur, Felicity realized. She’s the one who saved Moira. Kara took Slade and dropped him across state lines like garbage. She’s been protecting him all this time… 

Felicity leaned forward in her chair, breath caught in her throat. 

The mystery that had haunted her, the impossible salvation of that night, wasn’t a mystery anymore. 

It was Kara Danvers. 

And Oliver had never said a word. 

A blur, fast as the Flash, but it hadn’t been Barry because at this time, he was still in a coma. It moved differently, more precisely. It had appeared again during the Siege on the Glades, intercepting missile paths, diverting blasts, and moving debris just fast enough to change outcomes without being seen. Felicity had tracked it as best she could, but it always vanished when she closed in—no energy residue. No signature. Just a ghost in the light. 

Felicity stared at the screen, watching Oliver gently nod toward the DEO as Kara sagged against the wall for a breath. He didn’t touch her or speak aloud, but they didn’t have to. 

That’s her, Felicity thought, her chest tightening. She was the ghost. The guardian in the shadows. All this time, the one who had been watching over Oliver during his darkest moments hadn’t been unknown at all. It had been Kara. 

Maybe even before they admitted it to themselves. But now? There was no denying what Felicity was seeing. 

“They’re together,” Felicity whispered aloud. “They’ve been together… but for how long?” 

Felicity leaned back, stunned by how clear it all seemed now. It was Oliver’s secret and Kara’s, too. Hidden under layers of misdirection and timing, concealed behind the Green Arrow and Supergirl myths. 

Now that she had finally seen it for what it was, she couldn’t believe she’d missed it for so long. The puzzle had snapped into place. Felicity knew one thing: Secrets like this didn’t stay buried forever. 

Something told her that Oliver Queen’s most incredible love story was only beginning to unfold. 

Felicity didn’t have hard proof yet. Just a trail of inconsistencies, strange coincidences, and quiet moments between Oliver and Kara that never added up. Over the years, she’d noticed how Oliver’s tone shifted when Kara’s name came up, how his eyes tracked her just a little too long, and how he always seemed to vanish or grow distant right before she appeared. 

It wasn’t conclusive, but it was something. 

What exactly were they to each other? Felicity couldn’t say. More than Friends? Probably. But the deeper she dug into the timeline, the more convinced she became that it was more than that. How much more — what more — she didn’t know. But now, she needed to find out. 

Felicity told herself it wasn’t about being nosy or suspicious. It was instinct. She’d always looked out for Oliver and everyone on Team Arrow. Calling herself the “team mom” felt a little insulting, but in truth, she was the one who quietly held the pieces together while the world around them tried to break them apart. 

If Kara was connected to Oliver — if she mattered to him on a level he hadn’t admitted that Felicity was responsible for protecting her, too. 

But protection meant understanding. Before Felicity could look out for Kara the way she did the rest of the team, she needed to know precisely what Kara and Oliver were hiding. Because this wasn’t just some fleeting connection, this was something real. Felicity Smoak wasn’t about to let something real catch her off guard. Not again. 

Felicity first tapped into the DEO mission logs. It took effort, even with her backdoors—National City’s firewalls were no joke. But eventually, she slipped into the correct folders, cross-referencing incident reports where Oliver and Kara had both been deployed as part of Joint Ops or as last-minute reinforcements. 

One entry caught her attention: an ambush near Centennial Park. Kara was pinned beneath debris after shielding civilians. According to the official report, it was Oliver who broke ranks, not to neutralize the shooter, but to pull Kara free. 

Felicity frowned. She pulled up another mission—a warehouse standoff outside Blüdhaven. Kara was stunned by a Kryptonite emitter weapon. Oliver shifted cover, exposed his flank, and dove across the open floor to get to her. Again, this was not part of the plan, and it was also uncharacteristic of Oliver. 

“That’s weird,” Felicity murmured. 

Curious now, Felicity began overlaying mission audio and tactical cam footage. Dozens of frames from different angles. She adjusted the timestamp alignment, syncing his movements with Kara’s telemetry data. 

Then she saw it — a pattern. Subtle. Invisible to the casual observer, but evident to her trained eye. Every time Kara faltered and her bio-signs dipped or her position became vulnerable — Oliver moved. Not tactically. Not by command. 

Emotionally. 

Felicity froze the timeline, rolled back a few seconds, and set a motion marker across four missions. She added another. 

4.2 seconds. 

That’s how long it took. From the moment Kara was in danger to when Oliver shifted his posture and looked her way, he began to move. 

Felicity sat back, heart beating just a little faster. She didn’t speak for a moment. Then, almost unconsciously, she whispered. “It’s always her. No matter the threat or odds… he looks for her first.” 

Felicity stared at the screen, lips tight, then began building a new encrypted folder. She labeled it: Pattern X 

It wasn’t much. Not yet. Just anomalies. Just instincts. But Felicity trusted patterns more than people. And this pattern? It was real. And it was personal. 

~ L-Corp ~ 

Lena looked on in L-Corp. The battle greatly impacted the DEO’s surveillance and command-and-control infrastructure. Much of the disruption stemmed from the sheer energy released by both Supergirl and Reign during their clash, a wave of power that decimated key network systems across National City. 

Several core router and switch nodes were destroyed outright or left critically corrupted. Many required complete replacement or reimaging with backup firmware to restore functionality. This damage created widespread blind spots throughout the city, forcing the DEO to deploy reconnaissance drones and drone relays to maintain a patchwork view of ongoing threats. 

But it wasn’t just buildings or surveillance systems that fell. Reign’s assault struck deeper. She targeted coordination itself. 

Reign’s attack destroyed the Plastino-Binder Array — the encrypted communications backbone of the DEO’s command-and-control grid. Taking it offline. Severed real-time coordination between field units, intel hubs, and aerial support. 

With the central communication nodes down, the DEO was forced to rely on older portable terminals. These emergency devices were functional but limited in their capabilities. They were digital voice channels with basic GPS tracking. They were effective for short-range contact but lacked situational awareness capabilities, dynamic mission routing, and the integrated command and control (C2) overlays that the Array once provided. 

It was a tactical wound. 

The destruction left after Reign’s battle pulled Lena Luthor directly into the aftermath. She watched it all unfold not just through tactical feeds and news reports, but with her own eyes. Kara fought with precision and raw power that Lena hadn’t fully realized she possessed. It was breathtaking. Terrifying, yes — but beautiful in its way. 

Of course, Lena knew Kara was Supergirl for some time now. She’d suspected early on, but it wasn’t until after the Daxamite invasion that Kara finally came clean. Despite Lena’s last name, despite everything it carried, the two women built something rare: trust. It was that trust that convinced Kara to reveal the truth to her. She placed her faith in Lena to keep her secret, to protect her when others couldn’t — especially when the Green Arrow wasn’t around. 

The Green Arrow. 

Lena found him… interesting. She had seen him during the Daxamite invasion, fighting alongside Supergirl, the Flash, and the Legends. All of them had come to help defend National City. When the dust settled, when Kara had defeated the Daxamite queen, when the invasion was launched anyway, it was Kara who made the impossible choice to kill the Daxamite queen because in her heart, she knew Rhea would never stop. The lead dispersal bomb drove the Daxamites away, including Mon-El… and when the other heroes returned to their cities, the Green Arrow stayed. 

Green Arrow remained in National City longer than any of the others. According to DEO records and eyewitness accounts, he was the most consistent presence in the following weeks. Lena noticed it too, not just in the reports, but in Kara’s reactions. Whenever the Green Arrow was nearby, her demeanor shifted. There was something unspoken between them, something she couldn’t name at the time, but couldn’t ignore either. 

When Lena once asked Kara about their connection, Kara only smiled and said they had a strong friendship. Lena hadn’t pressed her. Being a good friend meant respecting boundaries, and Kara had earned that space. 

But even then, Lena took mental notes. Not out of suspicion, but curiosity. Observation. 

In the aftermath of the Reign attack, as she watched Kara and the Green Arrow move through recovery efforts, always just a few steps from each other, those old notes came back into focus. 

There was something more between them. 

Lena, loyal as ever, knew one thing for sure: whatever it was, she’d protect it just as Kara had always trusted her to do. 

With much of the DEO’s command-and-control infrastructure compromised and its surveillance nodes significantly degraded, Alex turned to Lena. 

In partnership with Queen Consolidated’s Applied Sciences Division, L-Corp played a critical role in helping the DEO rebuild its command-and-control systems after several previous breaches. Past attempts by Lex Luthor and other hostile actors have demonstrated the agency’s infrastructure's vulnerability. These incursions were often designed to disrupt Supergirl’s ability to respond by delaying communications or degrading backup resources. In response, Queen Consolidated approached L-Corp with a proposal: a joint initiative to rebuild the DEO’s Command and Control (C2) architecture with embedded resilience, redundancy, and more intelligent routing across its network assets. 

What struck Lena at the time and still lingered in her mind was Oliver Queen's personal involvement in the project. It was unusual for a CEO of a major corporation to be so hands-on with a technical defense initiative. He’d reviewed schematics himself, even sat in on engineering briefings. Lena chalked it up to the contract's high value. It was well-funded and boosted the reputations of both companies. Still, something about his investment had felt… personal. 

So, when Alex approached her immediately after the battle with Reign, asking for help restoring DEO communications, Lena didn’t hesitate. She understood the network’s core architecture and knew which key nodes needed repair or replacement across the city. Within minutes, she dispatched L-Corp technicians and coordinated with Queen Consolidated engineers to restore the backbone to operation. 

Lena worked hard as L-Corp and Queen Consolidated engineers moved through National City, repairing key infrastructure nodes. From her private terminal, she personally monitored network diagnostics and packet flow data, combing through layers of digital damage like a surgeon navigating fractured nerves. 

Lena tried several times to contact Oliver Queen directly, but only reached a member of the Queen Consolidated board. The man was polite and apologetic, explaining that Mr. Queen was currently away on a business trip across the country. However, he emphasized that Oliver was fully aware of the Reign incident and anticipated Lena’s request. 

“Mr. Queen authorized me to provide you with anything you need,” the board member said. “He’s also granted you temporary access to the Applied Sciences Division network to help expedite repairs.” 

Lena blinked, taken aback. “Um… thank you. I didn’t expect such an overwhelming level of support,” she said, struggling to keep her surprise out of her voice. 

“Of course, Ms. Luthor. Mr. Queen considers the battle and restoring communication systems a top priority,” the man replied. “You’ll just need to sign an NDA, and your access will be monitored, given the level of permission you are being granted inside Queen Consolidated’s network.” 

“Understood,” Lena said, regaining her composure. “Send it over, I’ll sign it digitally.” 

After a brief exchange of goodbyes, Lena returned to the task at hand. With temporary access to both L-Corp and Queen Consolidated’s internal networks, the recovery effort could move forward much more quickly. 

Lena opened three dashboards in parallel: her own L-Corp interface, the DEO’s degraded C2 network, and now, the secure systems within Queen Consolidated’s Applied Sciences Division. She began assessing which nodes were active, which needed rerouting, and which required complete replacement. 

But Lena wasn’t just here to fix the damage; she was also hunting for deeper threats. She knew that when organizations were vulnerable, malicious actors moved quickly. She ran multiple threat detection scans, searching for indicators of compromise, including advanced persistent threats, unauthorized remote terminals, reverse shell callouts, and data exfiltration patterns to unknown external IP addresses. 

At first, everything appeared orderly — surprisingly so. But then, something strange caught her eye. 

A single remote terminal was live, cleverly obfuscated within the DEO’s mesh. It wasn’t registered in the DEO’s standard remote-access logs, yet it was consistently pinging an endpoint on Queen Consolidated’s internal servers. 

Lena narrowed her eyes. 

She flagged the signature and began tracing it back. The terminal’s digital fingerprint didn’t align with any current repair personnel or known DEO operators. But what stood out most wasn’t the origin — it was the handshake. It carried an embedded access tag marked trusted/internal/high-clearance — a privilege level Lena didn’t recognize from any official credential pool. 

Her lips pressed into a line. 

Careful not to overstep the trust Queen Consolidated had placed in her, she pivoted her search to the Applied Sciences Division network, cross-referencing the ID against asset permissions. Her access was limited, but she knew how to move without tripping alarms. 

After a few minutes of quiet, methodical sifting, she found it — a subdirectory linked to the exact mysterious identity string. 

The label on the folder made her freeze. 

Kara Queen. 

Lena stared. It wasn’t just a user alias. The system recognized it as valid — not through a formal role, but through an internal logic that evaluated attributes. She opened a security policy reference and skimmed the permissions. 

The system didn’t grant access based on job title or role. It granted access based on metadata. Attributes. 

If user.last_name == "Queen" && user.affiliation == "Internal" 
Then: Grant full access to internal secure resources 

It was subtle. Powerful. And personal. 

“This wasn’t a mistake,” Lena whispered. “Someone embedded Kara’s identity into the fabric of Queen Consolidated’s security model… not as an employee, but as a Queen.” 

Lena stared at the screen, her brow furrowing. 

“Kara Queen?” she muttered, half under her breath. “Either this is a very elaborate fake… or a significant secret.” 

Lena leaned back in her chair, mind racing. Why would there be a system reference tying Kara to Queen Consolidated? And why now, hidden like this, buried beneath layers of proxy routing and privileged access? 

Lena didn’t flag it. Not yet. If this were tied to Kara’s safety or something personal, she wouldn’t risk exposing it to Queen Consolidated’s Chief Information Security Officer until she knew more. 

For now, Lena did what she did best. She watched. She listened. And she started digging — quietly. 

~ DEO ~ 

The next morning, Alex sat alone in her office, a mug of half-cold coffee beside her as she reviewed footage from the previous night’s battle with Reign. The med team confirmed Kara’s treatment under the yellow solar lamps. It worked. Her cellular energy levels were thoroughly restored. Oliver returned to Star City late last night, accompanied by Felicity and Thea. All was quiet… on the surface. 

But Alex couldn’t let it go. She leaned forward, scrubbing through the combat footage again. Frame by frame. She watched Kara square off against Reign. It wasn’t the overwhelming strength or heat vision that drew her attention. It was the technique. 

Reign was stronger. That much was clear. Physically, she outmatched Kara. But Kara held her own not just through raw power, but through calculated movement. She used evasions, feints, and precision strikes. She controlled the flow of the fight. Every move had a purpose. Every hit was set up by the one before it. 

That’s what bothered Alex. 

In the back of her mind, something gnawed at her. Kara should have lost that fight. 

Alex had never seen her sister fight like this with clarity, poise, and tactical control. Yes, Kara had trained with Barry and Oliver, and she’d learned from those experiences. But this was different. This was mastery. 

This was Oliver's style of tactical awareness, situational control, and discipline in movement. Not the public, chaotic brawler Oliver Queen. This was the silent, precise, lethal Green Arrow in his prime. 

A chill crept up Alex’s spine. 

When they trained together, Kara wore red sun bracelets to suppress her powers, giving Alex the illusion that she was holding her own. But now… watching this footage made it painfully clear: Kara had been holding back—not just in power, but in skill, in everything. 

And the worst part? She no longer needed Alex to train her. She’d found someone else. Someone who had refined her into a true combat tactician. 

Only one name made sense. 

Oliver Queen. 

The realization sat uncomfortably in Alex’s chest. It made too much sense. Kara and Oliver are “close”. Have been for years. Kara always deflected when asked about their connection. Brushing it off as a matter of friendship or shared respect. Now, watching Kara move with the same calculating intensity she’d seen in Oliver’s sparring sessions, the same rhythm, the same form, Alex couldn’t ignore it anymore. 

Why had Kara kept it a secret? 

Why hide her training? Why hide him? 

The questions piled up, stacking higher, heavier until Alex could no longer sit still. She had too many pieces. Too many half-answers. 

Alex needed to know if something was going on between Kara and Oliver—something more profound than friendship, not out of jealousy, not out of mistrust. 

But because she was Kara’s sister. 

And no matter how powerful Supergirl was… Kara Danvers was still her responsibility. 

Kara walked into Alex’s office, still glistening with sweat. She wore fitted black leggings and a sports bra, her hair pinned up in a messy bun. Thin beads of perspiration ran down her temples, and the familiar red sun suppression bracelets were fastened around her wrists. 

Alex glanced up from her monitor, still displaying last night’s battle footage, and blinked in disbelief. 

“Kara… were you training? You just recovered from fighting Reign,” Alex said, her voice laced with concern. 

Kara smiled, lifting her wrist slightly to show off the bracelets. “Yeah, I just needed to burn off some steam. I did some yoga and meditation. I actually prefer doing it without my powers. It helps me feel the full benefit of each pose and lets me focus properly.” 

Alex arched a brow. That was new. 

“You do yoga?” she asked, surprised. “And… meditation? Since when?” 

Kara looked puzzled by the question, as if it were something obvious. “I’ve been doing both for years. I picked Yoga with help from Team Arrow. Meditation? Oliver taught me that.” 

Kara said it so casually and warmly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. There was even a soft glow in her expression when she mentioned Oliver. 

Alex studied her carefully. Another piece of the puzzle clicked into place. 

Team Arrow’s influence on Kara wasn’t a secret, not entirely. She trained with them for years. She worked with Oliver during joint operations. It made sense that she’d pick up a few habits from them. After all, Team Arrow had been the first real “super-team” to make headlines before the DEO formally coordinated cooperation between Team Arrow and Team Flash. Sure, Superman came first, but he was primarily a solo act. And Batman… well, Alex still had no official proof the man even existed. Clark was always evasive when she asked. 

Still, the ease in Kara’s tone, the way she mentioned Oliver, felt more affectionate than Alex had expected. 

Kara began heading for the door, grabbing a small towel on the way out. “Anyway, I’m going to take a few days off. Rest, recharge.” 

Kara paused, turning back with her usual cheerful grin. “Might swing by Central City and Star City. Thank Flash and Oliver in person for everything last night. If you need me, call, okay? Love you, Alex.” 

And just like that, Kara was gone. Her exit was casual and effortless, as she mentioned two cities that just happened to house the two men with whom Kara had the most substantial ties outside of National City. 

Alex sat back in her chair, still stunned by how ordinary the conversation had been, given the gravity of the night before. And yet… her instincts wouldn’t quiet down. 

The flash made sense. Kara and The Flash always felt like a sibling bond. 

But Oliver? 

Something deeper was there. 

~ Bunker ~ 

Oliver was restless. He hadn’t slept. Not really. His body was still, but his mind ran laps — looping through memories, hypotheticals, unfinished thoughts. That low, simmering energy was back — the kind that usually led to impulsive decisions, another round on the mats, or a mission he didn’t need to take. 

Usually, he’d call Kara. Or better yet, go to her. 

Kara had a way of reaching through all the static in his mind, slicing through the noise, the doubt, the guilt. She always knew where to touch, what to say, and how to silence the storm inside him without even trying. She was gentle in the way no one else had ever been—a perfect angel in that way. 

But this morning, she’d beaten him to it. Kara called just after finishing her yoga session, her voice calm and warm. She told him her solar energy levels were back to normal, and she felt recharged, body and spirit. She teased him softly, saying she’d expect him at their loft later that evening. 

That should have eased his mind, but it didn’t entirely. 

It wasn’t Kara he was worried about. She was fine. Strong. Steady. Still, the woman he loved with every part of himself. 

What stirred inside him was something else. A sense that the world around them was beginning to shift. 

Kara was different lately. Not in who she was, but in how she moved through the world. She was more open and bolder in her affections. There was a time when she would barely brush his hand in public, cautious of who might see. But now, she touched his arm when she spoke, held his gaze longer, and even smiled at him in a way that did not attempt to hide how she felt. 

Oliver knew it wasn’t a lack of discipline. It was love. Pure and simple. 

Kara openly loving him, and it showed. 

Maybe… maybe the world wasn’t as hostile to that truth as it once had been. 

The way Kara stood beside him in the aftermath of the battle with Reign. Her hand had lingered on his back as they walked into the DEO. Even seasoned agents noticed something different between them. 

Maybe the days of secrecy were fading. Maybe hiding wasn’t going to be forever. Perhaps the battle with Reign made something shift in Kara that she did not even realize. He didn’t know when the world would be ready. 

Both of them seemed to be drifting toward that future slowly at first, but undeniably. The battle with Reign only accelerated the inevitable. When it would happen, or what the fallout might be, Oliver didn’t know. But deep down, in the quiet, unguarded corners of their hearts, he believed they both wanted to reveal their love. Just not out of necessity. Not because someone forced their hand. 

Still, for now, Oliver needed to clear his head before tonight. He needed to work off this static so he didn’t carry it into their sacred space — into her space. 

Because when Oliver saw her tonight, in the soft light of their loft — their quiet home hidden in Star City — he didn’t want to bring restlessness or unease. 

He just wanted to bring himself. And be hers. 

“Hey man, you okay? You look distant,” Diggle said as he stepped into the bunker, his voice calm, but laced with quiet concern. 

Oliver turned at the sound, still pacing near the center of the room. “Hey, Dig. I’m just… distracted. I never want to witness the battle between Kara and Reign again if I can help it.” 

Diggle leaned against the table, arms crossed as he studied his friend. “Yeah, I saw the footage after my patrol. Looked intense. Kara’s okay, though, right?” 

“She’s fine,” Oliver replied, exhaling slowly. “She spent the night under yellow solar lamps. They helped her recover faster. Her energy levels are back to normal.” 

“That’s good to hear,” Diggle said. Then he tilted his head, studying Oliver more closely. “But you look like you’re about to go ten rounds with Deathstroke. That vibe you’re giving off? It’s heavy. How about we spar? You look like you need it, brother.” 

The offer was both light and profound, expressing the understanding that had come from years of shared battlefields and broken silences. 

Diggle knew Oliver from the beginning of his crusade. He’d seen every version of him: the stoic killer, the emotionally shut-down shell, the man drowning in guilt and grief. But he had also seen Oliver evolve. Grow. Become something… more. He knew exactly when that change started. 

Kara Danvers. 

Diggle noticed the shift long before most. Oliver softened not in weakness, but in balance whenever Kara was near. She had a way of cutting through the storm inside him, anchoring him with a word, a look, a touch. He'd watched her talk Oliver down when no one else could reach him, watched her disarm his darkest moods as if it were second nature. 

Diggle suspected their relationship went deeper than anyone knew, even before Kara came out publicly as Supergirl. When she fought, her movements echoed Oliver’s style. That precision. That grounded footwork. You didn’t pick that up from casual training. You were taught. And not just taught, shaped. By someone who understood combat as if it were a language. 

And Oliver… Oliver only ever glowed like that around one person. 

Diggle had decided long ago not to press the issue. Oliver called Kara a “Close friend.” Diggle smirked at the time. Deep friends didn’t share that kind of body language. Kara and Oliver would look at each other like they were already home. Diggle never confronted Oliver about it—he never needed to. He just watched his brother become more alive. 

When Laurel died, Diggle thought it might finally break Oliver. 

But Kara had held him together. Her light shielded him from the spiral, and her presence helped him rise again. 

That was all the proof Diggle ever needed. 

So, no, he wouldn’t press him now. If Oliver wanted to keep that love private, Diggle would respect it. Whatever kept Oliver grounded, focused, and human helped Team Arrow save lives. 

And that was more than enough. 

~Loft, later that night~  

Oliver pulled up to the loft. His chest was a riot of emotion — excitement, nerves, worry, relief… and love. So much love it almost staggered him. It all played out behind his eyes in a matter of seconds as he stepped out of the car, boots crunching softly on the gravel lot. His gaze lifted toward the building, toward the reinforced steel door he had installed himself. 

Their sanctuary. 

There wasn’t any real danger here, not for him, and especially not for Kara. But protection was instinctive for Oliver — and this place, this home, was sacred. He pulled out his phone to check the status of the security system. Still armed. However, the internal sensors detected a single heat signature within. 

Oliver smiled. “She’s already here,” he murmured to himself. “Of course she is.” 

Out of curiosity, Oliver switched the thermal view on his private feed. Kara stood perfectly still in the center of the loft, facing the door, waiting.  

Oliver let out a soft chuckle. “She either heard my footsteps or… smelled me. Probably both.” 

Oliver approached the door, typed in the code, and slowly pushed it open. There she was. Waiting for him like a vision summoned straight from his dreams. 

Kara stood framed by the soft, golden light of their loft’s interior. Kara wearing a white, knee-length floral dress that hugged her curves perfectly. The fabric bared her shoulders, plunging gently down her neckline to reveal just enough to make his heart stutter. The waist was cinched tightly, accentuating her figure and subtly lifting her chest. 

Her hair was down, flowing in loose, perfect waves that cascaded down her back like a golden tide. A touch of makeup accentuating her already divine features, with soft tones, dark lashes, and bold crimson lipstick that caught the light like glass. Her eyes locked onto his with that unmistakable look. 

A look that said, 'I want you.' Right now. 

Oliver stepped inside, quietly rearming the system behind him with a flick of muscle memory. His gaze never left her. 

Kara started walking toward him, her hips swaying with quiet confidence, her four-inch heels clicking against the polished hardwood in that rhythm he knew by heart—the sound of anticipation, welcome, and home. 

When she reached him, Kara cupped his face in both hands and kissed him not softly, not shyly, but with everything she had. 

It was fire and silk. 

It was possession and promise. 

It was her telling him, without a single word, that she was his, and that she needed him tonight not because she was fragile or shaken, but because this was how she healed: through love. 

Through him. 

Oliver kissed her back, letting his hands find her waist, anchoring himself to her, grounding his racing thoughts in the woman he adored more than life itself. 

It was everything he needed after the chaos, after the fear, after Reign. 

This was their peace. 

This was Kara. 

This was home. 

Their lips stayed locked for what felt like an eternity or maybe just a heartbeat that stretched beyond time. Kara’s fingers moved from Oliver’s face to his shoulders, then down his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of the man she loved with everything she was. Oliver’s hands traced the curve of her back, memorizing her all over again, grounding himself in the rhythm of her breath and her skin's warmth. 

Neither of them spoke. 

They didn’t need to. 

Their bodies had long since learned the language of love and longing, of safety and surrender. 

Kara pulled back just slightly, her forehead resting against his, her hands sliding down to his hips as she whispered, “You're home.” 

“I never left,” Oliver murmured, voice low and hoarse. “Not where it counts.” 

Kara smiled, eyes bright and shining, and took his hand, leading him deeper into the loft. The space welcomed them like it knew what was about to unfold. The warm glow of amber light from the vintage lamps, the quiet hum of the city beyond the windows, the scent of her still lingering in the air… it was sacred. 

Clothing slipped away slowly, piece by piece, like petals falling from a flower in bloom. There was no rush, no urgency, only reverence. Oliver traced every inch of her skin like it was the first time, though he knew her by heart. Kara moved with grace, her strength wrapped in gentleness, her lips marking his neck and his chest. Every scar he carried was not a reminder of pain but proof of survival. 

They made their way to the bed in the corner, surrounded by soft throws and layers of plush textures. Oliver paused when he laid her down, not from hesitation, but to look at her. To see her. The woman who saved him in more ways than even she realized. 

Kara reached up, brushing his cheek with her thumb. “I’ve needed this,” she whispered. “You.” 

Oliver lowered himself to her, lips meeting hers again, and everything else fell away. 

What they shared wasn’t just physical. It was spiritual. Transcendent. A communion of souls bound by fire, forged by trust, and tempered through years of longing, sacrifice, and impossible choices. They moved together with perfect synchronicity, each touch deepening the bond between them, each kiss sealing unspoken promises. 

They didn’t just make love. 

They became love. 

There, in the quiet heart of their hidden world, they gave themselves to each other completely. No masks. No fears. Only truth. 

When it was over, breath returned, and the world slowly filtered back in—they lay in each other’s arms, skin warm, hearts steady. 

Oliver kissed Kara’s temple and whispered, “You’re everything.” 

Kara smiled sleepily, fingers tracing circles on his chest. “You’ve always been mine.” 

And in that moment, in the sanctuary they built with their own hands, love didn’t feel like a secret anymore. 

It felt like destiny. 

As Oliver slowly woke that morning, he first felt the warmth — the steady, grounding weight of being held. Strong arms were wrapped firmly around him, locking him in place in the most protective, possessive way. He smiled to himself, glancing down. 

Kara. 

His Angel.  

His wife. 

Her head rested peacefully on his shoulder, her breath warm against his neck. Kara looked completely unguarded in sleep—soft, open, vulnerable in a way few ever witnessed. These were the moments Oliver craved most. They both wore masks in battle, in public, and even around allies. But here, in this quiet cocoon of love and warmth, all the armor fell away. 

Here, Kara Queen didn’t need to be Supergirl. 

Here, Oliver Queen didn’t need to be the Green Arrow. 

Kara stirred slightly, her grip tightening as if she could sense him even in sleep, refusing to let him slip away. Oliver chuckled softly under his breath and leaned down to press a gentle kiss to the top of her golden hair, running his fingers through the waves as he whispered, “God, I love you.” 

Oliver held her a little closer, and she instinctively allowed it, relaxing into his embrace. 

It hadn’t always been this easy. 

When they first began their relationship, it took Kara time to adjust —not emotionally, but physically. She is a Kryptonian. The things most couples took for granted, like being pulled into a hug, lifted playfully off the ground, or cuddled close during sleep, weren’t simple when your muscles could bend steel. 

It wasn’t that Kara didn’t want him to hold her that way. In fact, she loved Oliver's affection. She needed that touch, that grounded intimacy. But it took patience and practice for her to train her body to respond gently, not to tense instinctively, and to let him move her with human strength rather than Kryptonian resistance. 

Kara worked at it. Every little motion. Every instinctive squeeze she had to unlearn. 

Now, it was effortless. 

Now, Oliver could pull her into his chest like this, and Kara would melt into him with no hesitation, no worry, just love. 

But sometimes… accidents still happened. When they did, Oliver never pulled away. He never stopped. 

Because Kara was worth every bruise, every adjustment, every cracked rib he didn’t let her feel guilty for. 

~ Flashback. First Morning together ~ 

Golden sunlight streamed in through the tall loft windows, casting warm patterns across the rumpled bed. The world outside was beginning to stir, but inside, everything was still—wrapped in a hush only love could create. 

Kara lay curled against Oliver’s chest, her breath soft and slow, her fingers lightly gripping his side. Her head rested just beneath his chin, tangled blonde hair fanned across his skin. Her bare legs were draped over his, her body nestled into him like she belonged nowhere else. 

Because she didn’t. 

This was home. Right here. Right now. 

Oliver kept his arm around her, the other hand resting on her hip, stroking gentle, mindless patterns. His body ached in the best way, not from battle but from loving her—all of her—soul and strength. 

Then she stirred. 

Still mostly asleep, Kara sighed happily and squeezed him in the kind of unconscious cuddle born from pure comfort. But her strength, uninhibited by thought or control, flexed just a little too far. 

CRACK. 

Oliver winced sharply, biting down on a curse as pain lanced through his side. He stiffened but didn’t move. 

Kara’s eyes blinked open instantly, her super-hearing catching the shift in his breath, the slight tightening in his muscles. “Ollie?” she whispered, propping herself up. “Did I—oh my God. Did I hurt you?” 

Oliver opened his mouth to deny it, but another jolt in his ribs made him exhale through clenched teeth. “Okay… maybe just a little.” 

Her eyes widened in horror. “I broke something, didn’t I? I knew I should’ve put the red sun bracelets back on after, Oliver, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to—” 

Oliver reached up, cupping her cheek with a shaky hand, smiling despite the pain. “Kara. Breathe. I’m fine.” 

“You’re not fine! I heard something snap!” Kara said, nearly panicking now as she scanned him with her eyes. “Oh, Rao, I broke your rib—!” 

“Yes. Probably just the one,” Oliver said, grinning now. “Nothing I haven’t dealt with before.” 

Kara looked down, shame filling her features. “I didn’t mean to hurt you… I just… I felt so safe. So close. I wasn’t thinking.” 

Oliver tugged her gently back down beside him, guiding her head to his good shoulder. “And that’s exactly what I want. Don’t hold back. Don’t ever feel like you have to be less around me.” 

“But I could—” 

“You won’t,” Oliver interrupted softly. “You’ll learn. We’ll figure it out. That’s what this is: being together. Learning from each other. Trusting each other.” 

Kara stared at him, her glossy eyes filled with guilt and love. 

“I trust you,” Oliver whispered, brushing his lips against her forehead. “More than anyone.” 

Kara melted into him, carefully adjusting as she curled back into his side. This time, she kept her strength reined in and her muscles relaxed, but her heart was still racing. 

“I love you,” Kara whispered, barely audible. 

Oliver smiled through the pain and the joy that overpowered it. “I know. And for the record… totally worth the broken rib.” 

Kara laughed, half-crying, half-relieved, and held him close. 

This was the cost of loving a Kryptonian. 

And for Oliver Queen, it was a price he would pay a thousand times over. 

~Flashback Ended ~ 

As Kara began to stir, Oliver immediately felt her arms tighten around him. At first, it was gentle and instinctive, like a warm reminder that she knew he was still there. But slowly… gradually… her grip grew firmer. 

And firmer. 

Oliver bit back a chuckle and then a breath. She’s squeezing harder. He didn’t want to wake her. After everything Kara’d endured with Reign, she needed comfort, safety, and vulnerability. She looked so peaceful, so completely unguarded. That alone was worth a little discomfort. 

But then — “Ugh.” 

A soft grunt escaped his lips before he could stop it. 

Kara’s eyes flew open. She sat up instantly, scanning his face with urgent concern. 

“My Light… please tell me I didn’t break anything,” Kara said, voice tight with worry. 

Oliver met her gaze with all the warmth in his heart. “No, Angel. You didn’t break anything. You just squeezed a bit tighter than usual, and I tried to stay still and power through. The sound… snuck out.” 

Kara frowned, guilt in her eyes. “Ollie, your wife shouldn’t be making you uncomfortable in our bed.” 

Oliver reached up and gently cupped her cheek. “It’s fine, Angel. Really. Just lie back down. I’ll get up and make breakfast for you in a little while.” 

“I noticed you stocked the fridge for me,” she said, smiling now. Her concern slowly gave way to amusement. 

Oliver grinned. “Of course I did.” 

“You always know how to take care of me,” Kara said, her voice warm with genuine love. She leaned in, kissed him softly, and rested her head on his chest again. 

There was a long, quiet beat of comfort. 

“Oliver?” Kara whispered. 

“Yes, Angel?” Oliver replied. 

“It’s getting harder for me,” Kara told him. 

Oliver looked down at her, gently brushing a lock of hair from her face. He knew what Kara meant. He had felt it too. 

Kara was becoming more open and brazen in her love for him. Whether she realized it or not, she was slipping. The lingering touches, the way her eyes lingered just a moment too long, the warmth in her smile when he walked into a room. She’d even slipped up once, calling him Light during a mission. 

Kara was never one to hide love. Oliver knew she couldn’t keep up the act much longer. 

“I know,” Oliver said quietly. “I’m doing the same. I stare too long, I hover too close. I rest my hand on your back longer than I should. Subtle, but… not subtle enough.” 

Kara looked up at him with a trace of concern. “What do we do, my Light?” 

“We tell them,” Oliver said with a quiet conviction. “But when we choose to. On our terms. We don’t let the world set the conditions for us.” 

His steady, stoic, resolute tone struck Kara like an arrow to the heart. She looked at him and saw the man she had fallen in love with all over again—the man who always put her first, the man whose passion was quiet, unshakeable, and unconditional. 

Kara had once been drawn to James, and he had been a good man. But he wasn’t what she needed—not truly. As a Kryptonian, she needed someone strong in spirit who could steady her without dimming her light. 

She needed Oliver. 

“I think we tell them after we finish dealing with Prometheus and Reign,” Oliver said gently. “Let’s close those chapters first.” 

“I agree,” Kara said softly. “We’ll tell them. And we’ll prepare for the fallout.” 

Kara started to say more, but Oliver cut in with instinctive protectiveness. “If there’s backlash, if it gets messy, we’ll say it was my idea. That I asked you to keep it quiet to protect—” 

“No,” Kara said firmly, her voice slicing clean through his thought. There was no room for argument in her tone. 

Kara looked at him with unwavering resolve. “We both agreed to this. We both chose this. And love… real love… means sharing the consequences, not just the joy.” She reached up, touching his heart with her palm. “Together.” 

Oliver stared into her eyes, his wife, his partner, his equal, and saw the fire there. Not Supergirl’s fire. Kara’s. He kissed her forehead, held her close, and whispered the only word that mattered. “Together,” he agreed. 

Kara and Oliver spent the next three days tucked away in their loft — a quiet retreat from the chaos of their public lives. The scene would’ve looked almost startlingly domestic to anyone who might have witnessed it. 

Oliver cooked every meal for her, from breakfast to dinner, with a level of care and devotion that any couple would envy. He, preparing hearty, high-calorie dishes tailored to Kara’s needs, never lets her go hungry for a second. He’d learned her favorite comfort meals by heart and made them not just for sustenance, but to show love in every bite. 

They always ate together. At night, Oliver would light candles and set the table with quiet intention, creating a romantic atmosphere that radiated warmth and love. It wasn’t performative. It was just them—real, simple, and beautiful. 

During the day, Oliver attended board meetings via remote sessions from the living room, with Kara’s legs casually draped over his lap as she read a book or drafted her next article for CatCo. When Kara had her own virtual meetings, Oliver would usually disappear into the kitchen, clean, and prep the next meal, always doing something for her. 

It was peaceful. Loving. Ordinary in the most extraordinary way. 

This was their rhythm. 

This was their sanctuary. 

Neither said it aloud, but both could feel it — a fragile bubble of safety and love, suspended in time. They had no idea that outside the walls of their loft, events were already in motion, events that could shatter the illusion of secrecy they had fought so hard to preserve. 

But for now… this was what they needed. 

A few perfect days. 

A quiet pause in a life full of storms. 

And in each other’s arms, it felt like forever. 

Chapter Text

“The Gala of Masks”

Chapter 3

Prometheus (Adrian Chase) sat simmering with frustration. His initial successes against Oliver Queen devolved into repeated failures. Chase had positioned himself perfectly, embedded within Moira Queen's administration as Star City’s District Attorney and trusted as an ally of the Queen family. He was invited to private dinners and meetings, and he shared personal conversations with Oliver himself. He was perfectly poised for manipulation… but none of it had borne the fruit he sought.

Talia al Ghul personally trained him. She gave him every tool and insight necessary to exploit Oliver’s vulnerabilities. His mission—to break Oliver Queen by exposing and amplifying his failures—seemed foolproof. Chase was convinced that Laurel Lance’s death delivered the perfect opportunity. He perceived Laurel as Oliver’s emotional anchor. The one person capable of holding him together. Her loss should have shattered Oliver beyond repair. Yet, inexplicably, Oliver remained intact—stronger, even, than before. Unseen support was sustaining Oliver, giving him strength beyond what Chase believed possible.

Initially, Chase suspected Moira Queen's involvement. Yet despite her resilience and undeniable influence over Oliver, she alone couldn’t account for Oliver’s newfound fortitude in the wake of Laurel’s death. Chase needed to find what—or who—was secretly bolstering Oliver.

Matters deteriorated further in recent days. His scheme to manipulate Evelyn Sharp into betraying Oliver backfired dramatically. Not only did Evelyn refuse his plans, but she actively worked against him, serving as Oliver’s double agent. Evelyn orchestrated the ambush that nearly resulted in Chase’s capture, cleverly alerting Oliver about Chase’s intended trap. He attempted to provoke Oliver into committing murder. Specifically targeting someone beloved by Oliver’s closest allies—in this case, Billy Malone, the man Felicity Smoak loved. However, Oliver saw through the deception. He incapacitated Malone non-fatally rather than lethally, thereby avoiding the trap ideally.

That night turned disastrous for Chase. Oliver and Evelyn coordinated a strategic counterattack, one supported by Oliver’s team and reinforced unexpectedly by Supergirl.

Supergirl.

Why was she in Star City? Her constant presence severely restricted Chase’s operations, making every move riskier. Even more troubling was her apparent personal investment in thwarting him. She seemed particularly determined to undermine his every attempt against Oliver.

The night of his near-capture, Chase owed his escape entirely to an unforeseen savior: Lex Luthor.

Lex Luthor.

Chase knew Lex harbored a deep hatred for Superman. Lex rarely focused attention on Supergirl. That night, however, Luthor’s operatives intervened decisively, employing advanced technology to ensure Chase’s escape. Chase was simultaneously grateful and cautious. Talia severely underestimated Oliver, leaving Chase vulnerable and desperate. Lex’s men didn’t just provide him an escape—they offered an alliance.

Lex proposed a partnership. He reasoned they shared a common enemy in Supergirl. Lex suggested assisting Chase against Green Arrow in exchange for his help neutralizing Supergirl. Chase remained skeptical. Why would Lex Luthor care about Green Arrow? Oliver posed no threat to Lex; he rarely, if ever, ventured into Metropolis. So, what, precisely, connected Green Arrow to Supergirl?

Yes, Green Arrow and Supergirl often teamed up, frequently joined by The Flash. Chase knew they were friends and allies, but this connection alone didn't justify Lex’s sudden interest. Something deeper, Chase suspected, linked Oliver and Supergirl—something hidden, personal, and potentially exploitable.

Glancing down at the card with Lex’s contact number, Chase contemplated the decision for an alliance carefully. He was running out of options. His disappointment with Talia was overwhelming. Perhaps it was time to forge a new path forward. After all, he thought grimly, what did he have to lose?

Decisively, Chase reached for the phone and dialed Lex Luthor's number.

STAR CITY CHARTY GALA

Lois Lane surveyed the grandeur of the Mayor’s Charity Gala, her seasoned reporter instincts on high alert. The event was larger than she anticipated—celebrities, billionaires, and influencers filled the hall. She’d received a tip that Bruce Wayne himself would be in attendance, which only heightened her excitement. This gala had the makings of multiple scoops.

She glanced around, already picking out CEOs from major industries—technology, healthcare, defense, and energy. Among the most prominent were Stagg Enterprises, STAR Labs, Kord Industries, Ferris Aircraft, Wayne Enterprises, Queen Consolidated, and L-Corp. Unfortunately, Lena Luthor would not be attending, still tied up managing the aftermath of Supergirl’s devastating battle with Reign.

Still, she noticed familiar faces: Barry Allen, Cisco Ramon, and Caitlin Snow from STAR Labs, all mingling near the central display. And of course, Oliver Queen was expected, arriving with his rumored date, Joanna Chance, CEO of Chance Industries.

Just then, Clark Kent approached from behind and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Hey, honey, what do you think? Pretty big deal, huh?” Clark’s voice carried his usual Midwestern warmth, tinged with awe.

Lois nodded, eyes darting with anticipation. “Yeah, Smallville, this is huge. The guest list alone could fund half the city. And guess what? I heard Bruce Wayne is supposed to be here tonight.” Her tone turned sly. Clark knew that tone—Lois was hunting for a soundbite.

“Really?” Clark blinked in surprise. He hadn’t expected Bruce to show. Their history was... complex. They hadn’t started as friends. Bruce had always feared what Clark could become if he ever went rogue. Clark had understood those fears. In time, though, they’d moved from wary allies to mutual respect—even friendship.

Although Clark had never officially worked with Team Arrow or the Flash, he did occasionally work with Bruce. He left the cross-city team-ups to Kara, who handled them with grace and grit. That was her territory—and Oliver Queen, like it or not, often led that team.

Bruce never trusted Oliver. He once described Oliver as more dangerous than Clark himself. Early in Oliver’s vigilante days, Bruce suspected who the Hood was. He asked Clark to convince Kara to investigate the Hood under the guise of a journalistic assignment. It wasn’t hard; Bruce had deduced Oliver’s identity quickly.

Kara had spent over a year in Star City reporting on the hood’s movements. Clark had held back details that they both suspected the “Hood” was Oliver Queen. She ended up doing more reporting. She helped uncover Malcolm Merlyn’s Undertaking plot and saved both Laurel and Tommy Merlyn, two people closest to Oliver.

After that, Kara revealed herself to Oliver, and what followed changed both of them. Clark hadn’t approved of Kara exposing herself, but in hindsight, it may have been the best decision she ever made. Oliver trained her—not just in combat, but in discipline and strategy. Even Bruce admitted he might not be able to beat her now, whether or not she had her powers. And if Kara ever needed to be taken down, Bruce believed only one person could do it: Oliver Queen.

Their connection ran deeper than an alliance. Kara became an unofficial member of Team Arrow, working from the shadows. And when she and Barry eventually went public as Supergirl and the Flash, the three became an iconic trio. Kara once invited Clark to join them on a mission. He’d declined, teasingly. She teased back, saying, “I bet the Bat wouldn’t like you cheating on his team.”

Clark had to admit—he was proud of Kara, especially after her fight with Reign. He’d considered stepping in to help, but Bruce had stopped him. He’d analyzed Kara’s style, predicted a draw, and reminded Clark that both Team Arrow and Team Flash were already en route to National City. Bruce had also noted, somewhat cryptically, that Oliver was already there, too.

Clark had always known their friendship was deep, but when Bruce remarked, “She doesn’t just fight like Oliver. He shaped her,” it struck a more intimate note.

Clark smiled gently at Lois. “You ready, honey?”

“You bet, Smallville,” Lois grinned. “I’m getting Bruce Wayne and Oliver Queen on the record tonight.” Her tone was predatory and gleeful—adorable to Clark.

She gasped lightly. “Look, Clark—it’s Kara! Must be reporting for CatCo.”

Clark turned, surprised. “I didn’t know she was coming... she must’ve recovered faster than I thought.”

Kara POV-Gala MainFloor

Clark, looking on, his expression shifted subtly as he followed Kara’s gaze. She wasn’t paying attention to the press or the crowd. She was looking at Oliver Queen, who had just entered with Joanna Chance on his arm.

Kara was radiant tonight, dressed in a stunning emerald cocktail gown that shimmered subtly under the ballroom lights. Around her neck rested a delicate heirloom brooch, small and elegant—professional enough to suit her role as a reporter, but quietly symbolic in its message. To the world, it was simply a tasteful accessory. But to Oliver, it spoke volumes.

No one else would recognize its meaning. That was the point.

Even wrapped in satin and grace, Kara carried a storm of emotion beneath her poised exterior. She was here as a reporter for CatCo, her badge neatly clipped, her press pass granting her access to interviews with some of the gala’s most important guests—Oliver Queen, Moira Queen, and representatives from STAR Labs.

She allowed herself a soft smile. Getting an interview with her husband wouldn’t be hard. In truth, she was the only reporter the “Green Arrow” would ever talk to, if he talked to the press at all.

Then there was Moira Queen. Kara had never quite understood the woman’s tenderness toward her, though it had always been there. Moira was one of the few outside their trusted circle, beyond family, Team Arrow, and Team Flash, who knew Kara was Supergirl.

She’d always invited Kara to family events, holiday gatherings, sometimes even alongside The Legends or Team Flash. But for the more family-oriented ones, it was just Kara. It was as if Moira knew… knew something more. Knew their secret. Knew she and Oliver were married.

Kara tried to dismiss the thought. She and Oliver had taken every precaution to erase any sign of their union. Oliver always assumed it was simply because of how he spoke about Kara—how she’d helped him grieve after Laurel’s death, how deeply he trusted her.

Still, Moira had gone out of her way. Always checking in. After Kara’s brutal battle with Reign, Moira reached out the very next morning, asking if she was alright, offering anything she might need. It reminded Kara so much of her own adopted mother—gentle, strong, fiercely attentive. She loved Eliza Danvers deeply, but being noticed and nurtured by Moira Queen meant something, too. Kara just hoped that one day, when the truth came out, Moira would forgive her for hiding the marriage.

But that wasn’t the only reason Kara felt conflicted tonight.

Oliver had a date.

Not because he wanted one, but because, publicly, he needed one. The optics demanded it. It was understandable. It made sense. But that didn’t make it easier.

It should have been her.

One day, it would be.

  ~Flashback: The Final Morning in the Loft~

Soft light filtered through the tall windows of their loft, casting a gentle glow over the quiet domestic space. The morning had been calm—Kara curled in a blanket, sipping coffee on the couch, her eyes distant as she watched the sky beyond the glass. Oliver stood in the kitchen, flipping pancakes with practiced ease, but there was tension in his shoulders.

He dried his hands, then crossed the room slowly. “Kara,” he said gently.

She looked up. The sound of her name in his voice always softened her.

“I need to talk to you about the gala this weekend.” He sat across from her, resting his forearms on his knees. “Mom’s event is going to be huge—press, cameras, everyone who matters in the city. Questions are already circling about why the CEO of Queen Consolidated doesn’t have a date for something this high profile.”

Kara’s face didn’t change, but her grip on the mug tightened slightly. “So you want to bring someone,” she said softly.

Oliver nodded, regret flickering in his eyes. “Joanna Chance. It’s business. She’s a safe choice, she knows the game, and more importantly, she understands this is just optics. But if you don’t want me to... I won’t.”

He leaned closer, his voice quiet but firm. “You’re my wife. None of this means anything if it hurts you. I’ll take the questions, the speculation, the fallout—if you say no, that’s the end of it.”

Kara looked down for a long moment. Her jaw clenched, but not out of anger. Just pain—the kind that came from loving someone so deeply, you’d sacrifice your comfort for their mission.

“I get it, Oliver,” she said, her voice calm but strained. “It makes sense. People would notice if you showed up alone. You’re the public face of your company. We’ve done a good job hiding, but we knew this was coming.”

She set the mug down, her eyes glistening slightly as she met his gaze. “Just… It’s going to be hard to watch you walk in with another woman. Smiling. Pretending I’m just a reporter in the crowd.”

Oliver moved quickly, sitting beside her now. He took her hands, kissed her knuckles with reverence. “I’ll set boundaries with Joanna. Clear ones. You’ll never have to wonder what’s real and what’s for show. And the moment this is over, I come home to you.”

She swallowed hard and nodded slowly. “Then I want something,” she said, voice trembling just a little. “Something to wear. Something subtle, but real. A necklace, a pin—anything that says I belong to Oliver Queen. Even if no one else sees it… I’ll know.”

His smile was soft, proud, aching. “You’ll have it.” They both knew that their days of hiding their marriage were coming to an end. They were determined, however, to do it on their terms. Oliver, secretly mused to himself, he would not attend another event without Kara at his side.

~ Flashback End~

Now, as she stood among the glittering elite of Star City, Kara bore the weight of duty, of love, and of a secret that could not stay hidden forever.

And across the room, she saw him enter—with Joanna Chance on his arm.

Her heart ached—but her spine stayed straight. Because love this deep could endure anything.

Even this.

Kara touched her Brooch. It rests just below Kara’s collarbone. The brooch is a delicate piece of antique jewelry, repurposed into a pendant and suspended on a dainty rose gold chain. Barely larger than a thumbprint, it carries the elegance of old money without drawing attention—refined, feminine, and deeply personal.

The centerpiece is a small oval cabochon of mother-of-pearl, set within a soft scrollwork frame of rose-gold filigree, worn smooth by age. Tiny beadwork etches the edge, forming a quiet, looping pattern reminiscent of ivy—the kind that clings but also endures. In the lower right curve of the frame, almost hidden in the metalwork, is the inscribed letter “Q”, faint from wear, but still legible if one knows how to look.

It once belonged to a lesser-known aunt on Robert Queen’s side—part of the Queen estate but never displayed prominently in public collections. It’s the kind of piece Moira wouldn’t immediately recognize, and Oliver only remembered after discovering it tucked into a forgotten velvet box in one of the estate’s older drawers.

Oliver had told her to keep the brooch, even after the gala. Kara had hesitated at first—its sentimental value alone was immense, not to mention what it might be worth. But Oliver had gently cupped her face, his voice quiet and sincere as he said, “You’re a Queen now.”

With those words, all her resistance melted away.

Now, standing amidst the splendor of the Mayor’s Charity Gala, Kara took in the glittering scene before her. The soft lighting danced off crystal chandeliers, casting golden reflections across a sea of influential figures. She spotted friends from both Team Arrow and Team Flash, many already waving in her direction. She smiled warmly and waved back, knowing she’d find a moment to speak with them later. But for now, she had a job to do.

Just then, a ripple moved through the crowd.

A buzz of whispers and camera flashes spread as Oliver Queen entered the ballroom, flanked by his official companion for the evening, Joanna Chance.

God, he looks good in a tux, Kara thought, unable to stop the ache of admiration in her chest. He walked with quiet power and effortless poise, his presence commanding the room. Joanna, beautiful and poised, held his arm. They looked... perfect.

And then it happened.

Their eyes met.

Across the crowd, above the noise, they held each other’s gaze briefly, intently. In that silent moment, they said everything they couldn’t say aloud. “I love you,” spoken not in words but in the look only two soulmates could recognize.

Before her thoughts could wander further, a familiar voice called out.

“Hey, Kara!”

She turned just in time to see Lois and Clark approaching. Kara straightened, slipping effortlessly into her role. Okay, Kara, tighten up—you have a part to play tonight.

“Lois!” Kara lit up, the smile on her face entirely genuine as they embraced.

Lois pulled back, concern etched into her expression. “God, Kara—I didn’t expect to see you here after everything that happened in National City.”

Lois had always been warm and protective toward her. Their bond had deepened after Clark revealed his identity and Kara shared hers in return. They’d grown close—Lois was like the older sister Kara sometimes wished Alex could be. Kara loved Alex deeply, with all her heart, but their relationship had hit rough patches—especially when Alex tried to push Mon-El into Kara’s life. They’d worked through it, and their bond was growing stronger again. Still, when it came to emotional love, Lois’s only true rival outside of Alex was Lena. That connection ran deep—family, but not by blood.

Her friendships with Barry and both Team Flash and Arrow were just as meaningful in their own way. Barry, in particular, felt like a brother, much like Winn. They were the pieces of Kara’s chosen family, scattered across cities but always close to her heart.

But Oliver? He was something else entirely.

“I’m fine, Lois. I am,” Kara said with warmth, touching her arm. “I was already planning to come to Star City and Central City this week to thank both teams for helping during recovery efforts.”

“Plus,” she added proudly, “it made sense for CatCo to send me. I have the most experience with Star City—especially with my connection to Mayor's Office and Queen’s Consolidated CEO, Oliver Queen.”

Lois arched a brow, her reporter instincts sparking to life. “Kara, the Mayor’s office only grants interviews to you. Mayor Queen seems to trust you more than anyone.”

Kara laughed softly, shaking her head. “Lois, you know that started back during my coverage of the Undertaking. I attempted to present an impartial account of Moira Queen’s actions, particularly her efforts to protect her family. I think that earned me some respect in her eyes.”

She paused, a playful smile touching her lips. “As for Queen Consolidated, well... the CEO isn’t exactly fond of talking to the press either.”

“But not of you, apparently,” Clark said, his tone casual but his raised eyebrow anything but.

Lois leaned in, a smirk dancing across her lips. “Smallville’s got a point, Kara. You’re the only one he opens up to. Maybe you could share a little of that exclusive access with your dear sister-in-law?”

Kara tilted her head, smiling innocently—but there was a hint of something more profound in her eyes. Something only Clark caught.

“You manage just fine, Lois. Besides... I hear Bruce Wayne will be here tonight.”

Lois’s eyes lit up instantly. “Oh yes! I will get him. Clark, you’re helping me.” She turned to her husband with the kind of radiant, determined smile Kara admired—and envied just a little.

They were a true power couple. Married. A child together. Happy.

Kara had that kind of love, too. Just... quietly. For now.

But one day, it would no longer be a secret. And when that day came, she would wear it as proudly as Lois wore her ring.

“Okay, Lois, let’s give Kara some space,” Clark said with a gentle laugh. “We’ve got our work cut out for us.”

They wandered off into the crowd.

Kara exhaled softly, then turned in the direction of her husband, ready to get the interview with Oliver Queen and his very public date.

Oliver Queen – Gala Floor

Oliver entered the gala with his “date.”

That word still felt foreign to him—empty and awkward. He didn’t need a date. He was already married to the most beautiful, brilliant, strong, and passionate woman he had ever known. But now wasn’t the time to reveal that truth to the world. Prometheus was still out there, watching, waiting for any weakness to exploit. Oliver couldn't afford to hand that lunatic any more ammunition.

Oliver thought to himself how close they were to getting him thanks in large part to Kara bonding with Evelyn and them approaching me.

FLASHBACK – The Old Foundry, Late Night

The foundry was quiet, lit only by the soft blue glow of the holo-console. Kara stood near it, arms crossed, her eyes lifting as Evelyn Sharp entered, her steps hesitant and guarded. Her hood was down, her expression anxious, her posture tight like a coiled spring.

Kara met her gaze. “You came. Was it him?”

Evelyn nodded slowly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Yeah. The Throwing Star Killer.”

Kara’s jaw tensed. “What did he want?”

Evelyn swallowed. “He wants me to betray Oliver. The team. He said I’ve been overlooked, that I deserve more. That helping him would ‘free me.’” She looked down at her hands, ashamed. “So… I told him yes.”

Kara’s eyes narrowed, but her voice remained calm. “Why?”

“Because I needed time to think. I needed to get away from him. I told him yes, so I could run here. I had to tell someone. And I knew you’d listen.”

Kara’s expression softened. “You did the right thing.”

Just then, the elevator doors opened with a mechanical hum. Oliver stepped out, his eyes scanning the two of them.

“What’s going on?” he asked, stepping forward cautiously.

Evelyn straightened, her voice firmer now. “He approached me. The Throwing Star Killer. He’s been watching us. Me. And he made me an offer.”

Oliver’s expression hardened. “You said yes.”

“I said yes to buy time. So I could warn you. I’m not going to betray you, Oliver.” Her eyes flicked to Kara, then back. “I came here because I trust you both. I won’t be used against the team.”

Oliver didn’t answer right away. He looked to Kara, who gave him a slight nod.

“He said your crusade is built on lies,” Evelyn continued. “He’s not trying to kill you. He wants to destroy you. He wants to prove you’re no better than the people you hunted.”

Oliver looked away briefly, jaw tight. “Felicity got a message two nights ago—an encrypted data packet sent through the dark net. Untraceable. Came from someone using the alias Oracle. It flagged familiar patterns—violence, precision. Someone who knows us.”

Evelyn nodded. “That’s him. But he’s not just some serial killer throwing shurikens at people.”

She took a breath, steadying herself.

“His name… is Prometheus.”

Oliver blinked. “Prometheus?”

“That’s what he called himself. Said he was the myth made real. The one who’d bring fire to burn your legacy down. And the scariest part? He means it.”

The silence in the room grew heavier. Kara stepped forward. “Then we’re not just facing a killer—we’re facing someone with a mission.”

Evelyn looked to Oliver. “He sees me as his way in. Said I could earn my redemption by helping him bring you down.”

Oliver’s voice was low. “What exactly did you agree to?”

“Patrol schedules, security gaps—nothing vital yet. But if I keep pretending to cooperate, he’ll trust me. And when the time comes, I can help you trap him.”

Kara nodded. “We can make this work. But she’s going to need eyes on her. Quiet support.”

Oliver was quiet for a long beat. Then finally, he nodded. “Alright. You go back in. But from now on, you’re never alone. Open comms at all times. If anything feels off, we pull you out.”

Evelyn nodded. “I can handle it.”

Oliver stepped forward, voice even. “He’ll come for you when he realizes. And he won’t hesitate.”

“Then let him,” Evelyn said. “He thinks I’m scared of him. He’s wrong.”

Kara smiled faintly. “You’ve got backup now.”

Oliver met Evelyn’s eyes. “Welcome to the hunt.”

The war for Oliver’s soul had just shifted. And Prometheus didn’t even know it yet.

~FlashBack End ~

So, for now, they waited.

Tonight, he would play the part of the dutiful companion to Joanna Chance, CEO of Chance Industries. She was a professional, intelligent, and undeniably beautiful woman. Their connection, however, was strictly business.

Their companies had often been rivals in emerging tech sectors. But with Queen Consolidated’s recent breakthrough in regenerative AI-nicknamed “Hard AI”—developed in part through a secretive partnership with STAR Labs, Joanna had approached him with a proposal. She wanted to collaborate, merging their resources to develop quantum computing solutions.

Barry’s version of the AI was limited by current-gen tech. However, the Waverider’s systems, powered by fully regenerative Hard AI and quantum architecture, offered a glimpse into a more advanced future. To replicate those results, Queen Consolidated needed to build its quantum core, and Joanna Chance was already ahead of the curve in that field.

This “date” was as much a business meeting as it was a public relations move. They would iron out the details of their potential partnership throughout the evening. Joanna understood that. She played her role well, poised, charming, and entirely professional.

Still… it didn’t make it easier.

It wasn’t Kara on his arm.

He had no concerns about anything inappropriate. Joanna knew the boundaries, and Oliver had been clear—this was performance, nothing more. What mattered most was Kara’s comfort, and Oliver would do nothing to jeopardize that, not for business, not for optics, not for anything.

As they entered, a wave of energy swept through the ballroom—the buzz of reporters and photographers, flashes of cameras capturing images of the “couple.” From the outside, they looked perfect together. But only Oliver knew the truth:

He already had his ideal match.

Then their eyes met.

Across the room, amid the press and glitter, Kara caught his gaze. The moment lasted only seconds, but it anchored him. That brief, intense exchange was enough. “I love you,” passed between them in silence, clear, steady, unbreakable.

It calmed him. He saw no hurt in her eyes, only understanding. Kara knew the role he was playing tonight—and she was playing hers, too.

As the evening continued, Oliver worked the room, exchanging handshakes and thanks with CEOs, celebrities, and philanthropists. And then, through the crowd, a reporter approached.

But this was no ordinary journalist.

It was his wife.

Kara walked up to him, and Joanna, calm and professional in her demeanor, but what caught Oliver’s eye instantly was the small brooch resting just below her collarbone—the family heirloom.

It looked perfect on her.

Subtle, elegant—it made her shine even brighter, though she likely didn’t realize it. He felt a surge of pride and longing simultaneously.

He held himself back. No touch. No lingering look. No sign of what she meant to him. But inside, he wanted nothing more than to reach out and pull her into his arms.

“Mr. Queen, Ms. Chance—could I get a moment of your time?” Kara asked, her professional reporter voice steady and warm, carefully avoiding too much focus on the man she was married to.

Oliver turned toward her, his expression composed, but his voice a beat slower than usual. “Of course… Ms. Danvers, correct?” He hadn’t meant to hesitate, but he had to keep himself from saying Mrs. Queen.

Kara caught it instantly but smiled easily. “Yes, but you can call me Kara—if that’s easier.”

Oliver nodded, his tone softening with genuine enthusiasm. “Kara, it is. This is my date for the evening—Joanna Chance.”

“Pleased to meet you, Kara,” Joanna said warmly, offering a handshake. “You’re with CatCo, right?”

Kara tilted her head, surprised. “Yes, I am. How did you know that?”

Joanna smiled. “I follow your reporting, especially your work on the Green Arrow and Supergirl. I’m a fan of both, actually. And the Flash, of course. But it’s the Green Arrow I find especially fascinating.”

That caught Kara’s attention. She narrowed her eyes ever so slightly. “Really? Why the Green Arrow?”

Joanna’s expression lit up with sincere admiration. “Don’t get me wrong—Supergirl is incredible. Her battle with Reign will go down in history. And the Flash breaks speed records daily. But both of them… they’re enhanced. Gifted with powers. They’re brave, yes, but they’re superhuman.”

Oliver’s eyes sharpened. Why was she so interested in the Green Arrow? Was it just fandom, or something more? He remained quiet but listened intently.

Joanna went on, unaware—or perhaps unconcerned—with how deeply her words were landing.

“The Green Arrow, by all accounts, is just human. No serum, no powers. Just skill, discipline, and sheer willpower. I haven’t seen a warrior like him since the 1980s and 90s.”

Oliver raised a brow. “The ’80s and ’90s? What do you mean?”

Joanna’s eyes sparkled as she dove into the memory. “I didn’t know him personally, but he was a friend of the family. I only remember glimpses—I was a child. He went by the code name “Solid Snake.”

Oliver blinked. “Right. He’s the one who brought down Big Boss. Ended the Outer Heaven threat.”

“And Shadow Moses,” Joanna added proudly. “He was the greatest soldier of that era. What he endured… it reminds me of the Green Arrow.”

She leaned in slightly. “I used to wonder if maybe he’s a clone of Solid Snake. It sounds wild, but stranger things have happened.”

Oliver knew the stories. Solid Snake had indeed crossed paths with Slade Wilson during his FOXHOUND days. The program had supposedly disbanded when Snake disappeared, but Oliver had always suspected ARGUS had quietly absorbed it.

Kara joined in, intrigued. “Didn’t he also expose the Metal Gear weapon to the world? And wasn’t LexCorp involved in that at one point?”

“Exactly,” Joanna nodded. “Which is why I’d love to meet the Green Arrow—get a sample of his DNA. To see.” Her eyes lit up as she turned to Kara. “You’re the only one he talks to. Could you pass along the request?”

Kara and Oliver exchanged a glance. Then Kara turned back with a measured smile. “It can’t hurt to ask… when I see him next.”

Kara pivoted slightly, ready to steer the conversation back. “But not to stray too far from the topic—are you and Mr. Queen in a relationship? You caused quite a stir arriving together.”

Joanna laughed lightly, waving off the suggestion. “Oh, Oliver is a gentleman—and very handsome, no doubt—but this is more of a professional date. We’re finalizing the details of a partnership around quantum computing.”

“That’s right,” Oliver added quickly, noting the playful edge in Kara’s question. He had to stay sharp—his wife’s bold streak could easily outpace his diplomacy.

“Our recent breakthroughs in AI are limited by existing hardware. Quantum computing is the key to pushing those limits. Chance Industries has the infrastructure we lack. This collaboration could usher in a golden age of artificial intelligence.”

Kara nodded appreciatively. “That sounds incredible, Mr. Queen.”

“Oliver,” he corrected gently, taking her hand and giving it a firm, warm shake.

“Oliver, it is.” Kara smiled, steady and professional. “Thank you both for your time.” And with that, she turned and walked away, her stride graceful, her role intact.

Joanna watched her go, then turned to Oliver with a thoughtful look. “You two have chemistry.”

Oliver shrugged it off, forcing a slight chuckle. “That’s just who she is. Friendly. Bold.”

Oliver quietly wondered just how successful he’d really been at hiding his affection for Kara. Maybe Joanna had simply picked up on something subtle—she was, after all, remarkably perceptive. As a prominent CEO, she was anything but naïve. In fact, she was one of the few emotionally intelligent executives he’d ever met—sharp, composed, and not solely driven by profit margins.

If he had to label her, he might even call her a romantic. That quality alone would allow her to recognize the quiet, unspoken bond between him and Kara—the kind of chemistry that couldn’t be faked, even behind carefully crafted masks.

There weren’t many people like Joanna. And because of that, Oliver had hoped—perhaps too optimistically—that he could avoid any pitfalls in keeping his relationship with Kara hidden.

But they both knew there was more.

And so did someone else.

Moria Queen Gala Stage and Reception Area.

Across the room, Moira Queen stood watching her son’s interaction—eyes sharp, smile faint.

She wasn’t fooled. Not for a second. 

She watched from a distance, eyes softly narrowed as she observed the exchange between

Oliver, Joanna, and Kara.

Ah, yes—Kara. His wife.

A warm, knowing glow rose within her. Moira smiled gently and shook her head. Those two can’t hide their love from each other—not really. It was clear as day. Perhaps others missed it. Maybe a few suspected. Thea had always said they’d make a great couple. If only she knew how right she’d been.

The fact that even Thea didn’t know confirmed one thing to Moira: Oliver and Kara wanted their marriage to remain secret. And Moira understood why. With Prometheus still active, dangerous, and unpredictable, keeping Kara hidden in plain sight might be the only way to keep her safe.

She’d sensed the chemistry between them long before she ever knew the truth. During holiday gatherings at Queen Mansion, when the extended team would come together—Team Arrow, Team Flash, sometimes the Legends—Oliver and Kara were always so easy around each other. Comfortable. Attuned. Moira had suspected something deeper was going on, and after discovering their marriage, she was certain it had been ongoing for years.

Oliver had been deliberate—painfully deliberate—about keeping their union hidden, even while ensuring it was legally airtight. Moira would have never thought to look into it, had he not added Kara to the Queen family estate.

She was given her account—an account typically issued only to family members or long-term heirs. It wasn’t the kind of thing one handed out casually. Kara had never used it, not even for housing or a car. That, too, impressed Moira. Kara Queen may be Supergirl, but she holds herself to a higher standard. If she ever did use the account, Moira thought, it would be for something meaningful—because by definition, Kara was already saving lives alongside her son.

Moira became aware of the new Trust Oliver created for Kara during the annual review. While Oliver was more active on the business side, Moira still managed the personal accounts. She ensured the Estate was secure. She ensured it was sound for tax, inheritance, audits, and legacy histories.

Oliver tried to keep it clean. To hide the account. But he wasn’t a financial planner. His efforts caused an alert that notified Moira. Curious and protective by nature, she dug deeper.

At first, she found nothing. Oliver had protected Kara well—firewalls, encryption, and strategic data segmentation. Moira couldn’t break through. But she remembered something older. Something only Robert would have left behind.

The Queen family’s private server.

Buried deep within the consolidated server farms, hidden beneath layers of archival architecture, it was a system known only to someone with intimate knowledge of Queen's infrastructure. And Oliver hadn’t built it—he’d inherited it.

Moira discovered the access point Robert once described. A hidden credential set, buried beneath a preserved system function—a built-in failsafe Robert had once shown her, in case he ever needed to wipe the server quietly.

She activated the protocol.

Access granted—no audit trail. No alerts.

And there it was.

Their marriage certificate.

~ FLASHBACK: The Server Room Beneath the Queen's Estate ~

The door closed behind her with a metallic hiss as Moira descended into the old Queen Estate server chamber, a room nearly forgotten, buried in the sub-basement, untouched since Robert’s time. Dust clung to the unused consoles, and the air smelled of cool metal and history.

She moved with silent purpose. Oliver had removed her from the estate’s trustee role, citing a conflict of interest. At first, she accepted it—he was the head of Queen Consolidated now. It was necessary because she was the Mayor now, a conflict of interest. But then she saw the estate alert: “New member designation: K.D. Danvers-Queen.”

It had gnawed at her. Kara?

Tonight, curiosity had become a need, not out of suspicion, but out of instinct.

She approached the old Linux server console, fingers brushing across the analog keyboard. She remembered this place from years ago. Robert had insisted on installing a hidden backdoor protocol—a final fail-safe to access or destroy the system should their network ever be compromised.

“If anything ever happens to me,” Robert once told her, “you’ll be able to see the truth beneath everything. All you have to do is type ‘QRoot – Resurgere.’”

She did.

A moment passed. Then the system hummed, fans kicking to life. Backdoor access granted. Files flickered onto the screen—untouched directories, encrypted logs, video files.

One folder stopped her heart.

PRIVATE_ARCHIVE → VOWS.

Inside: video recordings, photo albums, encrypted journal entries. The filenames were plain:

“Wedding_Video_Main_Export”

“Private_Vows_FINAL”

“Kara_Oliver_Wedding_Photoset_1”

She clicked the first video.

The screen lit up with Kara standing in a quiet garden, wearing a simple, elegant dress, her eyes glassy with emotion. Oliver stood opposite her, in a charcoal suit, his voice trembling as he took her hands. The wind rustled the trees as they spoke their vows—raw, vulnerable, deeply in love.

Kara’s voice cracked as she said:

“I have flown across galaxies, but I never found home until you.”

Oliver answered:

“I’ve walked through darkness most of my life, Kara. But you were the light that stayed.”

Moira stared, unmoving. Then her hand covered her mouth as tears slipped down her cheeks. They were married. Not rumored, not romantic. Married. Secretly. After Laurel’s death.

It was all there—the date stamps, the witnesses- Trusted Queens Family Board members, the rings, the trembling kisses. She wept quietly, hand over her heart.

“No wonder...” she whispered.

No wonder Oliver had grown stronger. No wonder Kara was always there. And no wonder Moira had felt that warmth between them—the unspoken unity. She hadn’t imagined it. She just hadn’t seen it.

And now she did.

Moira gently reached out and paused the video, wiping her tears with her sleeve. She sat in silence for a long moment, breathing in what this meant—not just the secret they’d kept, but the love they’d protected. She looked at the screen one more time, then stood slowly.

“You had every reason to hide,” she said quietly. “But you don’t have to hide from me. Not ever.”

She typed in a command—encrypt and seal—to ensure the file could never be accessed from her side again. She would never speak of it. But she would carry it with her.

“I’ll protect your secret,” she whispered, the vow echoing in the silence. “And I’ll protect both of you. As a mother. As a Queen.” She turned off the monitor. The hum faded. The chamber went dark once more. But Moira’s heart had never been fuller.

~Flashback End~

Once Moira discovered the truth, she made a point of inviting Kara over as often as she could, all without tipping off either Oliver or Kara that she knew. One skill she’d gained from her time navigating Malcolm Merlyn’s “Undertaking” was the ability to act covertly and convincingly. Deception wasn’t new to her—she just had to make it feel natural.

She knew her son could unravel a hidden agenda from across the room, so she carefully framed each gathering as casual: family dinners, holidays, small team reunions. And she always made sure Kara was included.

Her daughter-in-law, she mused, giggling softly to herself at the thought. Only Oliver would fall in love with and marry someone as strong-willed as Supergirl.

But it made sense. Moira had long understood that Oliver needed a woman who could challenge him, support him, and love him with unwavering strength—someone who could carry the weight of his darkness while shining her light. Kara was perfect for him.

Being an alien and nearly indestructible was only a bonus. No one could sneak up on her. Few could hurt her. And above all, Kara was fiercely loyal—the kind of woman who didn’t just stand beside Oliver... she stood guard.

When Moira first discovered they were married, another realization hit her like a wave—It was Kara who had saved her from Slade. She remembered that day with chilling clarity: Slade’s blade drawn, her life seconds away from ending—until Kara appeared in a blur of light and wind, whisking Slade away before the killing blow could land. Moira had been ready to sacrifice herself. Kara didn’t let her. Now, knowing Kara was Oliver’s wife made that moment even more profound.

Moira’s heart had swelled—not with resentment over the secrecy, but with joy that her son had found a love so powerful, he had to protect it in the shadows.

And she would play her part in protecting it, too—even if neither of them knew.

A familiar voice broke her quiet reverie.

“Mrs. Queen?” Kara approached softly, pulling Moira from her thoughts.

As Kara approached, Moira saw it immediately—the Queen family heirloom resting gracefully at her collarbone. It had once belonged to Robert’s sister, an elegant but lesser-known piece of the family’s history. While not as famous as other Queen heirlooms, it was still priceless, valued at over $50,000.

But on Kara, it was worth more than just money. It looked like it had been made for her, resting perfectly against her skin, catching the light with quiet grace. Kara probably didn’t realize just how breathtaking she looked in it. But for Moira, the beauty of it wasn’t in the sparkle.

It was in the message.

This was no accessory. It was a declaration. Oliver might have arrived with a “date,” but his heart was never in question. That brooch—a piece of the Queen family legacy—was his message, and Kara was the one delivering it.

She is a Queen. That heirloom belonged to her now. And Moira couldn’t have been prouder of her son for finding such a quiet, dignified way to say it.

They may have to keep their marriage a secret—for now—but they found other ways to show their love. And tonight, in the shimmer of that brooch and the strength in Kara’s eyes, Moira saw all of it.

She was proud of them both.

Moira with a glowing smile. “Kara, dear. I saw that awful business in National City. Are you alright?.

“I’m fine, Mrs. Queen. Thank you for calling and checking in. I appreciated it,” Kara replied with genuine warmth.

“No worries, dear.”

“I would like for you to call me Moira. I consider you family for everything you have done for my family. All of Oliver’s friends… you, Barry, Sara… I care for you all.”

Kara gave a shy laugh. “Moira, of course. I guess I get a little nervous calling you that.”

“It’s fine, sweetheart. I’m just happy that business did not prevent you from coming here tonight. I know Oliver values you deeply… he’d be heartbroken if anything ever happened to you.”

Deeply, Moira thought, barely suppressing a smirk. Try ‘devastated,’ she joked silently. Wife, not friend, Kara.

“Oliver’s been a source of strength for me, too,” Kara said softly. “He’s taught me so much… and his influence on me has allowed me to excel in my career.”

Moira leaned in just slightly, her voice affectionate. “I have no doubt Oliver would burn the world down if someone ever hurt you.  I feel the same way. I would turn their world to ashes.”

Kara’s cheeks flushed deep red—even for a Kryptonian, the blush was unmistakable. She ducked her head slightly, overwhelmed by how perfectly Moira had described Oliver's devotion.

“Um… thank you, Moira,” she said quietly.

Sensing the shift, Kara tried to regain her composure. “This is an awe-inspiring event. I think the gala will be a success.”

Moira nodded. “It certainly is. The people of Starling City need more nights like this. Nights that bring people hope and strength. We will show the criminal element our unity and the pride we have in our city tonight.” Then she softened again. “And Kara… please pass my thanks along to Supergirl. I know she’s been busy with Reign, but she always finds time for Team Arrow. We’re lucky to have her.” Her tone had a teasing warmth to it, the corners of her lips tugging upward.

Kara tilted her head and smiled. “I’ll pass that on, Madam Mayor.”

Just then, a ripple of commotion passed through the room. Both women turned, their eyes narrowing as the reason revealed itself:

Bruce Wayne had arrived.

Kara and Moira shared a glance—neither one fooled by the billionaire's rare appearance outside Gotham. Why was he here?

Gala Floor Bruce Wayne

Bruce Wayne did not make a habit of leaving Gotham. His dual responsibilities as CEO of Wayne Enterprises by day and the Batman by night left him with precious little free time. What little downtime he did allow himself was usually spent in absolute isolation—a private beach, a remote monastery, or deep meditation. But recently, things in Gotham had been quiet. Suspiciously so.

Most of the city’s criminal element had either been neutralized, fled, or were conveniently preoccupied by other heroes and vigilantes. For once, Bruce had breathing room. And that brought him here—to Star City.

His history with other heroes had always been... complicated. Outside the Bat Family, Bruce rarely worked directly with anyone. There was one exception.

Superman.

Ten years ago, Bruce would never have imagined himself trusting another person, let alone an alien, much less collaborating with one. But the world had changed. Bruce had learned that if he didn’t adapt, he’d be left behind—or worse, dead.

His relationship with Clark started rough. When they first met, Clark pushed for a partnership. “We’re the only two saving the world right now. We should stand together.” Bruce had refused, of course. But Clark was persistent. And when the Joker, Riddler, and Penguin joined forces and nearly brought Bruce down, it was Superman who arrived just in time to turn the tide.

Since then, they had grown into a true partnership—and, surprisingly, good friends.

Clark had once told him about his cousin, Kara, but according to him, she’d opted not to follow in his exact footsteps. “A wise choice,” Bruce had thought at the time.

Then came the Hood. Then the Arrow. Now: The Green Arrow—Oliver Queen.

Bruce had never been able to piece together Oliver’s entire backstory. What he knew was fragmented—the island, Slade Wilson, rumored ARGUS involvement, and confirmed intel about Oliver joining the Bratva in Russia. He’d eliminated Konstantin Kovar, barely survived, and was ultimately recovered by someone most unexpected:

Talia al Ghul.

She had trained him, further instilling in him her dark belief: justice is achieved through death—typical Talia. Then Oliver returned to Star City… and became “The Hood”.

Bruce tried to watch from afar, but his schedule made it impossible for him to do so. So, he asked Clark for help.

Clark saw an opportunity—not just to help a friend, but to give Kara a reason to test her abilities and advance her journalism career. Bruce agreed. What followed was something none of them anticipated.

Kara uncovered “The Undertaking”—a plan to level the Glades—and passed the information to Oliver covertly using her powers. She later saved Laurel and Tommy, two of Oliver’s closest friends.

Bruce began to observe something else—something more profound.

Kara, in his eyes, was very different from Clark. She carried trauma. Real trauma. Clark had grown up on Earth. Kara had watched Krypton explode at age 12, helpless in her pod as she trailed Clark’s ship, maneuvering her shield to protect his craft from the shockwave. The act knocked her off course and into the Phantom Zone. She was trapped there, alone in that timeless void, until she was mysteriously released.

That scars a person.

Bruce recognized it. He'd lived through trauma himself—the death of his parents, the loss of partners. But Kara's trauma ran deeper. She had no one—until Earth.

It made sense, then, that she would gravitate toward someone like Oliver Queen—a man shaped by similar wounds.

She didn’t flinch at Oliver’s willingness to kill. She understood the necessity of it in his early days—never in cold blood, always as a soldier on a mission. After she saved his friends, Kara revealed herself fully to Oliver. Bruce noticed that she was spending more and more time in Star City, now known as Starling City. Helping from the shadows. And something else…

She was being trained.

Not just sparring. Shaped. Forged.

Bruce recognized the transformation. He’d seen it before in others—Oliver was teaching her in the way only someone who had survived hell could. Kara was becoming something far more dangerous than just another Kryptonian.

Bruce voiced his concerns to Clark. “I taught you tactical basics,” he said, “but Kara is going far beyond that. Someone’s shaping her like a weapon.”

Once Kara debuted publicly as Supergirl, Bruce studied her combat style. He grew uneasy. She fought like a soldier. In her first year, she defeated her enemies with brutal efficiency, never killing them but breaking them when necessary.

He watched her battle her aunt, Astra, in a pitched fight. Astra tested Kara, probing for weaknesses. But when she realized Kara was more than ready, she retreated.

Later, Astra was killed by Non while she was trying to protect Kara, who would have killed Kara had it not been for Oliver Queen.

Bruce watched as Oliver and Kara dismantled Non’s plans. The final battle saw the two of them armed with red sun weapons—Kara took down Indigo, and Oliver killed Non. When Clark asked Kara about Oliver’s actions, she answered:

“If Non had lived, he would’ve been a threat to me—and to our families. Oliver made the only choice he could. Non forced his hand.”

Clark let it go. But Bruce didn’t.

He saw a pattern.

Oliver reacts with terrifying speed and certainty when Kara is threatened. That wasn’t friendship. That was love. A bond forged in survival and loyalty. It was clear they had been close for a long time—too close.

After Laurel’s death, Bruce noticed yet another change. Kara became even more committed to Star City, to Oliver. They acted like spouses. Quietly. Without declarations, but unmistakably.

He never mentioned it to Clark. He had no proof.

Which is why Bruce was here tonight.

His first goal: to support Star City. Prometheus was dangerous, deliberate, and targeting Oliver’s past. His pattern was surgical. Barbara had been compiling intel and would covertly pass it to Felicity through underground forums they both frequented. Felicity went by Overwatch. Barbara? Oracle.

Prometheus was a threat, and Bruce was determined to stop him before he uncovered the link between Kara and Oliver.

His second goal: to observe. He believed Oliver and Kara were married—or at the very least, engaged. And he wouldn’t get the answers he needed watching from Gotham. Not this time.

GALA Floor Clark Kent

The gala sparkled with elegance—music, laughter, and camera flashes filling the grand ballroom. Kara moved gracefully through the crowd. Oliver was speaking with Lois and a cluster of CEOs, including Joanna Chase.

Nearby, Clark Kent observed from a distance, ever the watchful protector. He took a sip of champagne, then glanced sideways.

Bruce Wayne stood by himself up on the second level in an executive booth, hands behind his back, face impassive, eyes scanning the room like a predator sizing up the terrain.

Clark approached with quiet familiarity.

Clark softly pressed, “You don’t usually make appearances like this, Bruce.”

Bruce didn’t look at him right away. His eyes were still on Kara.

“I don’t. Bruce (deadpan)

"So, why now?" Clark asked, curious.

A beat. Bruce finally turned to face his oldest ally, his expression unreadable. Bruce Stoic “Prometheus.”

Clark’s brow furrowed slightly. “You think he’s here?”

Bruce measured “No. But this gala makes the perfect target. High-profile. Emotionally charged. Vulnerable. If I were him, I’d watch. Probe. Wait.”

Clark nodded grimly. That logic tracked too well. “And the secondary reason?”

Bruce’s eyes flicked toward Kara, then Oliver. A subtle crease appeared at the edge of his brow.

Bruce turned to Clark, “I watched her fight Reign, Clark. Efficient. Ruthless. Calculated. She wasn’t just using her powers—she was fighting like someone trained for war.”

Clark’s jaw tightened. He knew where this was going.

With a sense of pride, Clark quibbled back, “She’s always been strong.”

Bruce is now staring at Clark. “She nearly lost. You know that.”

Clark said nothing.

“She adapted mid-fight. She changed her footing, baited Reign into an overextension, struck her from behind with a targeting feint… You know who that sounds like.”

Clark’s silence stretched.

Bruce continued, “Kara doesn’t fight like you anymore. She fights like someone else.”

“Oliver.” Clark is reluctant to say it.

Bruce nodded once. “You and I both know—Kara doesn’t let just anyone shape her. That kind of influence... it only comes from someone she trusts. Deeply.”

Clark let out a slow breath, the pieces all but arranged on the board. “You think there’s more between them.”

Bruce is still watching Kara. “I think there has been for a long time.”

Just then, Lois’s voice rang out across the room, pulling Clark’s attention as she called for him to meet another group of guests. He hesitated.

Clark walks away. “If you’re right... Then they’ll tell us when they’re ready.”

Bruce gave the faintest, almost imperceptible smirk. “If they survive long enough to have the luxury.” Clark nodded once, gravely, then stepped away, leaving Bruce once again to the shadows, quietly watching.

INT. GALA FLOOR – NIGHT

Kara gracefully made her way through clusters of celebrities and CEOs, collecting soundbites and statements for CatCo. However, she remained poised, a calm warmth radiated from her expression, one of gratitude for being able to stand and be healthy again.

Eventually, she broke off from the professional routine and found herself surrounded by Team Arrow and Team Flash—old friends who greeted her with open arms and genuine smiles.

They were relieved to see her up and about after the battle with Reign. Felicity, in particular, pulled her into a tight hug and whispered with a mix of relief and admiration.

Felicity said in a soft tone. “You scared him, you know. Oliver. He watched the entire fight from the shadows. Said nothing, did nothing—but only because he didn’t want to distract you.”

Kara blinked, surprised.

She continued, “He told me... if he jumped in, you’d worry more about him than yourself. And he couldn’t risk that. So, he stayed hidden. Quiet. Powerless. First time I’ve ever seen him choose his safety—because he knew if something happened to him, it would distract, maybe cause you to lose, or even worse.”

Kara blushed, warmth rising in her cheeks as her eyes dropped briefly to the floor. Kara softly, “He’s more selfless than people give him credit for.”

Felicity caught the shift immediately, the softness in Kara’s tone, the faint shimmer in her eyes.

Kara’s posture changed, too, just for a moment. Her shoulders relaxed, her stance more fluid. There was a glow to her—a subtle one, but unmistakable to someone paying attention.

Felicity took mental notes. Years of working side by side with Oliver had taught her to notice patterns. The way Kara reacted when Oliver’s name was mentioned… it was different. Intimate. She wasn’t just grateful—she was emotionally bound to him in ways Felicity couldn’t ignore anymore.

After exchanging a few more warm smiles and farewells, Kara gave a gentle wave to the team and began to make her way across the ballroom.

Her eyes had locked onto Bruce Wayne. Alone. Distant. Watching.

She was going to take her shot at a statement—perhaps the hardest one of the night to get.

As Kara walked away, Felicity’s expression shifted. The analyst stirred, and she glanced down at her phone to check on the background processes she had quietly initiated.

Algorithms hummed away, pulling data on Kara’s presence in Star City across the last few years—mission footage, tactical logs, timestamps, and metadata.

The results, although not yet fully processed, were already painting an unexpected picture.

Oliver’s reaction times were notably faster when Kara was on the field with him.

Patterns emerged showing his presence outside Star City, far more often than publicly known.

Locations traced back to National City. Midvale. Kara’s known homes and places where she’d once owned property.

One Star City location was still unsolved. On the outskirts. Traced and scrambled—comms interference, GPS drift. Oliver had deliberately cloaked the signal.

Felicity frowned.

She wasn’t jumping to conclusions yet… but something was happening. Something bigger than friendship. And the data, like Kara’s blush, refused to lie.

As Kara made her way across the gala floor, weaving through the constellation of celebrities and CEOs, she spotted her opportunity. Bruce Wayne—elusive, guarded, and rarely seen outside Gotham—stood alone, deep in conversation with someone she hadn’t expected to find by his side.

Oliver.

Oliver Queen, Bruce Wayne, Kara Danvers, Gala Floor

Not with his "date," who was engaged with another executive across the room, but here, talking to Bruce. Kara’s breath caught. This was going to be more difficult than she’d hoped. Still, if she wanted a statement from Bruce Wayne, now was the time.

She approached them with measured grace, noting as she drew near that both men turned to face her in perfect synchrony. Something was telling in their expressions —the subtle calm of men used to wearing masks, masks like hers. Oliver’s made sense. Bruce’s... less so. Only someone who wore one herself could recognize another doing the same.

“Greetings, Mr. Wayne, Mr. Queen,” Kara began, careful with her words. “I’m Kara... Danvers. From CatCo Worldwide Media.”

Bruce extended his hand. “Ms. Danvers, I’m very aware of who you are—and your work. Your reporting on Supergirl and the Green Arrow is... unprecedented.”

There was a faint smirk at the edge of his lips as he added, “Your access may only rival that of Clark Kent and Lois Lane-Kent to Superman.”

Oliver watched the exchange closely. Something felt off. Bruce Wayne wasn’t known for handing out compliments, let alone offering praise to three reporters in a single breath. He rarely gave interviews, showed little interest in public grandstanding, and avoided elaborate media appearances. When it came to Wayne Enterprises’ public presence, the Vice President, Lucius Fox, typically handled all media engagements.

This wasn’t Bruce’s usual behavior. So, Oliver stayed quiet, curious to see where it would lead.

“Thank you, Mr. Wayne,” Kara replied, keeping her tone professional. “But I must ask—you’re not normally seen outside of Gotham. At events like this, you typically send Mr. Fox to represent Wayne Enterprises.”

Bruce offered a cool nod. “Quite true, Ms. Danvers. But this isn’t a standard corporate gathering. It’s for a good cause. A show of strength in a time of darkness.”

He paused, then added with calm clarity, “You see, Gotham has a history of being held hostage by lunatics—the Joker, the Riddler. Only through the tireless efforts of the GCPD have our streets remained safe. Their elite task forces have brought down even the Falcone syndicate.”

“Or,” Kara countered with a slight edge, “perhaps it’s thanks to Gotham’s vigilante—the one who hides in shadows and makes criminals disappear. Batman.”

Oliver suppressed a smirk—that tone. Kara was on the offensive. Bruce would need all his legendary composure now. Even the Green Arrow had learned to respect that tone.

“Unlike Star City, which has an arrow-toting vigilante,” Bruce replied dryly, “Batman is just a myth. An urban legend to scare the criminally inclined.”

“Really?” Kara’s eyes gleamed. “Then why is Superman often spotted in Gotham, working alongside him?”

“Yes, Superman has visited Gotham,” Bruce said, not missing a beat. “But only at the request of the GCPD—for matters deemed too dangerous for ordinary officers.”

He folded his hands in front of him, his voice smooth. “And if we’re discussing heroes, don't National City and Star City benefit from Supergirl? You’ve often reported on her joint efforts with the Green Arrow and the Flash. In fact, during the recent battle with Reign, Team Arrow and Flash were said to be present. Some even claimed the Green Arrow was already in National City before the battle began.”

“I’ve never hidden the fact,” Kara said evenly, her press badge glinting under the gala lights. “In my coverage of National City and Central City, I’ve often reported that Supergirl and the Flash share more than just heroism—they share a sibling-like bond. There’s history there. Mutual trust, healthy competition, and deep loyalty. And when they’ve teamed up with the Green Arrow, it’s clear he’s the one they both look up to.”

She paused, letting the words linger.

“Supergirl has called him a grounding force. The Flash once described him as the most disciplined mind he’s ever trained with. Whether it’s in Star City, National City, or anywhere else, Green Arrow isn’t just a teammate. To some, he’s family.”

Oliver still said nothing. This was Kara’s battle. And she was winning.

“Yes, they call themselves... what is it?” Bruce arched an eyebrow. “The Justice League?”

“That’s right. They believe in preparing for threats no single hero can face alone,” Kara replied. “They hope others—like Superman—will eventually join.”

“Unfortunately, Batman appears to be too selfish to help others in different cities. Superman complains often enough… off the record.”

Bruce inclined his head slightly, not taken by Kara’s bait for an emotional reaction. “A worthy goal. And perhaps Superman will. As for Batman... well, he doesn’t exist.”

Oliver couldn’t help but think Bruce sounded a touch defensive—but perhaps that was just his way of keeping the spotlight on the GCPD, which he publicly supported.

“That would be a worthy addition indeed, Mr. Wayne,” Kara said, her voice cool.

“Back to my original question, if I may,” she continued. “Why did you come tonight?”

Bruce let out a long breath. “I’m here to support unity—and to make a modest donation to the SCPD’s efforts to bring down this lunatic that is plaguing Star City. I’ve seen what violence like his can do. I’ve lived it. If my support can help protect others, then it’s a cause worth standing behind.”

“That’s very generous of you,” Oliver said, finally stepping in. “I know the Mayor will appreciate it.”

“Your mother is doing excellent work, Mr. Queen. I hope our cities can collaborate more in the future—for the good of our people.”

Oliver shook Bruce’s hand. “Thank you. That means a lot.”

Oliver turned to Kara, his expression softening in a way only she would notice.

“It was a pleasure to see you again, Ms. Danvers,” he said, voice low and sincere. “I look forward to working with you more once everything with Chance Industries is finalized.”

His smile lingered—gentle, familiar, warm. Kara felt it like sunlight breaking through overcast skies. That was all she needed to feel steady again, to know that even surrounded by reporters, dignitaries, and high expectations, she wasn’t alone.

Kara nodded, her voice quieter now. “Likewise, Mr. Queen. Thank you for your time.”

Bruce observed it all without a word, but the sharpness in his gaze said everything. That smile Oliver gave her—it wasn’t the kind one offered to a colleague or even a close friend. No, that was something else. Intimate. Earnest. Protective.

He watched Kara’s shoulders relax, her entire presence brighten under it. He wasn’t imagining it. There was history here—something profound and carefully hidden beneath layers of performance and professionalism. Bruce had seen that kind of bond before. Not often. But he knew what it looked like when two people tried to keep a secret by pretending they were just allies.

They weren’t just allies.

Bruce’s jaw tightened ever so slightly as Kara excused herself and drifted back into the crowd, her notebook clutched loosely in one hand. She wasn’t just a reporter following a lead. She had been drawn to Oliver by something far more substantial.

And Oliver?

That smile betrayed more than any file or surveillance feed ever could.

Bruce turned away, the thought settling in like a silent conclusion.

They’re not just close. They’re entangled.

L-Corp Lena’s Office

Lena couldn’t attend the gala in Star City. The C2 network was still a mess—only a handful of nodes had come back online. She and her team, along with Queen Consolidated’s engineers, were working around the clock to restore full capacity. The Plastino-Binder Array remained offline, and that alone would require several months of specialized work to bring it back online.

In the meantime, Lena rewrote routing protocols to ensure data flowed cleanly through the remaining unaffected nodes. As new systems came online, she redistributed traffic across the mesh, balancing the load to avoid collapse. The network was fragile—but holding.

That was only one problem. The other was far more complicated… and personal.

Lena hadn’t forgotten the strange access ID she’d uncovered, Kara Queen. It still appeared occasionally in the DEO’s network traffic, ghosting through the system without any clear source or authorization. At first, she’d assumed it was a leftover glitch from the C2‑Net collapse, but the behavior was too deliberate, too precise. She still didn’t know what it meant, or why it existed—but every time it resurfaced, it left her with the same uneasy question she couldn’t shake.

It wasn’t random. It wasn’t spoofed. It had touched a Queen Consolidated server cluster. Not through brute force or exploit—but through a verified authentication handshake. It belonged there.

Still, Lena hesitated. The cluster belonged to the Applied Sciences Division, one of the company’s most secure and compartmentalized departments. She didn’t attempt to breach the core. Instead, she analyzed its perimeter: layer after layer of misdirection, logic gates, and digital honeypots—enough to discourage even seasoned cyber-ops teams.

But Lena knew where to look. What she found wasn’t an errant role account. It was an attribute tag. Embedded inside the system’s ABAC policies.

Access: GRANT
Conditions: (user.affiliation == 'internal') && (user.last_name == 'Queen')

Her heart sank. The identifier wasn’t fake. The system recognized Kara Queen as valid—not because of a formal role, but because her attributes aligned with internal trust parameters. The logic was clean, efficient, and intentional.

Someone had deliberately assigned those attributes to Kara. Someone with the authority to embed her into the backbone of Queen Consolidated’s most protected systems. There weren’t many people who could authorize that.

And only one who’d ever have reason to. Lena leaned back in her chair, staring at the lines of policy logic scrolling across her screen. Her throat tightened.

Why?
Why would Kara be granted that level of access?
And what does it mean if she’s…

She didn’t finish the thought. Every secret had a keystone. You just had to dig deep enough.

But Lena was starting to wonder—if she uncovered something she couldn’t unsee… would her friendship with Kara survive it?

Alex’s Office - DEO

Alex sat at her terminal, fingers hovering just above the keys, wrestling with the decision in front of her. The cursor blinked expectantly, waiting for her to begin tapping into Kara’s personal communications and activity logs. She leaned back in her chair, arms crossed tightly, her mind a whirlwind of uncertainty.

Usually, Alex wouldn’t be authorized to conduct surveillance on Kara unless there was a clear and immediate threat to national security or the DEO itself. The one time she had done so openly was during the crisis with Astra and Non. Back then, it had been sanctioned, and Kara knew she was being monitored for her protection, especially given Astra’s emotional connection to her. But this wasn’t the same. Kara wasn’t under official watch now, and Alex had no clearance to start one. Technically, she didn’t need it. Kara’s DEO status was still classified as “contractor,” a freelance ally, which—legally speaking—made her more of a hired asset than an agent. A cold designation, but one that gave Alex just enough room to justify quiet observation, even if it gnawed at her conscience.

Kara was in Star City—nothing unusual there. She had texted earlier to say she was extending her stay by an extra day, planning to hang out with Team Arrow and maybe run a mission or two. That alone wasn’t suspicious. Kara had done that plenty of times before. But this time, there was a subtext Alex couldn’t shake—an undertone that gnawed at her instincts.

She'd seen the way Kara and Oliver looked at each other after the fight with Reign. The subtle, unspoken tension. The ease of their physical proximity. The way Kara’s fighting style had changed—more calculated, more ruthless, more… Queen.

It was more than friendship. She was sure of it now.

The real question was: Did it matter? If Kara was involved with Oliver—maybe even sleeping with him—would it change how Alex saw her?

In some ways… no. Kara would still be her sister, still the same woman who held the world on her shoulders with a hopeful heart.

But in other ways, yes—and that realization sent a cold sweat down Alex’s spine.

She resented Oliver, at least in part. He was undeniably a skilled warrior and, from all appearances, a competent CEO. But his style—his way of fighting—was brutal, efficient, and lethal when it needed to be. Kara had killed before, though only on rare occasions when she felt it was necessary. Even Superman didn’t cross that line. That difference had always unsettled Alex. What disturbed her more was how Kara never seemed haunted by those moments. She justified them, saying the threat needed to end permanently. That was something Oliver Queen would say. Not Kara. Not the girl Alex helped raise.

Their dynamic had always been professional at best. Alex and Oliver didn’t get along. They tolerated each other for Kara’s sake, but there was no warmth between them. Oliver never told Kara to stay away from her sister, but she did. She distanced herself on her own after becoming Supergirl. Alex had once tried to pull Kara back in line, with kryptonite darts, no less, when she first came out as Supergirl. That was the moment things changed. Oliver never forgave her for it, even to this day.

Kara once told Alex that Oliver had been ready to burn down the DEO for that stunt. Alex had laughed it off—this was the DEO, after all. They had elite agents, protocols, and multiple layers of defense. Oliver Queen may have been dangerous, but no one man could stand against an entire federal agency.

Then she saw Kara’s face.

There was no doubt in her eyes. No hesitation. Just quiet certainty.

If Kara hadn’t talked him down, Oliver would’ve done it. And there would’ve been nothing Alex could’ve done to stop him. Their relationship never recovered after that.

Reign had been stronger than Kara. Possibly even stronger than Superman. And yet Kara forced her into retreat, into a draw, which meant—if she’d wanted to—Kara might have been able to defeat Superman. That idea alone carried massive implications.

Kara’s evolution as a fighter had been unmistakable. Brutally efficient, patient, and tactical—traits she hadn’t developed alone. No, someone had shaped that—someone who knew violence intimately and had survived the worst of it.

Oliver Queen.

He was possibly the most dangerous man alive—shaped by years of pain, war, and moral compromise. And now, his legacy flowed through Kara’s fists.

Alex respected him. She did. But admiration didn’t silence the questions. Was he the right influence for Kara? Should her sister be more grounded, more balanced? Alex couldn’t answer. All she had were instincts, fragments of behavior, and a growing sense of unease.

No evidence. No proof. Only theory and observation.

She’d planned a surveillance package—aggressive at first, until she realized the danger. Monitoring Oliver directly was out of the question. His ties to ARGUS were murky, but real. And Kara knew more than she let on, but wouldn’t share it with her. Amanda Waller still ran ARGUS, and she wasn’t someone to cross lightly—not without cause.

So she dialed it back.

She designed a passive surveillance array instead, limited to digital assets, including communication logs, geolocation traces, and metadata. Nothing intrusive. Nothing that would trip alarms or be seen as overreach. Officially, it would be labeled as a “protection protocol”—a standard procedure for the DEO’s most valuable agent. On paper, nothing suspicious. In her heart, it was anything but.

She hoped that if the truth ever came out—if Kara discovered what she’d done—she’d understand. That it came from love. From worry. Not from mistrust.

But that hope was fragile.

But Kara wasn’t just an asset. She was her sister. Her hand trembled. If Kara ever found out… would she forgive her?

Alex swallowed hard and activated the protocol. 

After the Gala. The Loft

Following the gala, Oliver dropped Joanna off and thanked her for a truly entertaining evening. Joanna smiled warmly, her eyes gleaming.

“I’d be up for this kind of ‘date’ again,” she said with an easy confidence.

Oliver offered a polite nod, his voice smooth and cordial. “If there’s ever another event like this, I’d be happy to ask you again.”

But before he could walk away, Joanna spoke one final time—her voice softer, more personal.

“She’s a lucky woman, you know,” she said with poise. “I hope whatever obstacle is keeping you both from coming forward as a couple can be removed.” Then she added, “Few men like you exist in our world. It gives me hope I’ll find one.”

Oliver turned back to her with a gentle smile. “I’m the one who’s truly lucky, Joanna. And one day... that obstacle will be gone.”

With that, he turned and walked off into the night, heading for the loft.

When he arrived, the system had already registered Kara as being inside. But something felt... different. The lights were off, yet the protective shielding on the windows had been retracted, letting soft moonlight pour into the room.

He stepped in, quietly, and found the loft shrouded in shadows. Only the moon lit the space, casting pale silver across the floor. And there she was—lying in bed, illuminated from behind. The light outlined her form in a delicate silhouette, defining every curve while still cloaking her in mystery.

Oliver’s breath caught. From the backlight, he could see the unmistakable truth—Kara was nude, the moonlight caressing her skin like silk. As he stepped closer, he silently removed his coat, then his shirt. He eased himself onto the bed beside her, his eyes adjusting to the darkness.

Kara’s posture was unmistakable—legs tucked under her, her back arched, head tilted just slightly. She wasn’t just resting. She was presenting. Surrendering.

His hands moved gently to her shoulders, gliding down her bare arms. That’s when he felt them—smooth, metallic, unmistakable.

The red sun bracelets.

She had willingly stripped herself of her powers.

He cupped her face tenderly, searching for her gaze in the dark. He needed her to speak—to understand why.

“Kara… are you sure? Why?” he asked, confusion and concern flickering in his voice.

In the earliest nights of their intimacy, Kara had always worn the bracelets, afraid she might lose control and hurt him. But as their trust deepened, and as she learned to temper her strength with love, she’d stopped needing them—except on nights like these. Nights when she wanted him to take control. Nights when she needed to feel vulnerable… and safe in his hands.

“I need this, Oliver,” she whispered, her voice raw with emotion. “Tonight was harder than I thought it would be. Seeing you with such a beautiful woman—it didn’t make me jealous, just… sad.”

She paused, then continued in a whisper.

“I know I agreed. I trust you completely. But when I saw her, radiant and elegant, and you two looking like such a power couple… it made me long for something. I wanted to feel your strength tonight. I needed to feel it.”

Oliver leaned closer, his voice soft and reverent.

“She may have been beautiful, Kara. But I couldn’t see it because my heart wasn’t there. It was and is with you.”

He pressed a kiss to her temple, his hand brushing through her hair.

“Tonight, I saw my wife. Radiant beyond belief. That heirloom only magnified your grace, your strength, your beauty.”

A soft smile curved Kara’s lips, tears shimmering at the edges.

“Thank you, Oliver. You always know exactly what to say when I’m struggling.”

She kissed him—slowly, sweetly—and when they parted, her voice was low and earnest.

“Now take what’s yours tonight. Take your wife.”

Oliver said nothing.

He nodded, sliding his fingers gently into her golden hair, pulling it back to bare her neck to him. And without hesitation, he lowered his mouth to her skin, claiming her in silence, as moonlight poured over them both.

Outskirts of Metropolis That Same Night

A cold, secure subterranean level beneath one of LexCorp’s shell facilities on the outskirts of Metropolis. The room was stripped bare—just concrete, steel, and silence. A single table. Two chairs. Cameras surrounded the space, but their feeds had been looped. No one was watching by design.

Prometheus arrived first, unmasked. He didn’t need a disguise tonight. He was here to speak, not kill—at least, not yet.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor. From the shadows emerged Lex Luthor, flanked by two guards. He wore a crisp gray suit and the kind of arrogant smirk only the truly untouchable could wear. By all accounts, he was supposed to be locked up in a high-security prison.

“Adrian Chase,” Lex said smoothly, his tone a mockery of politeness. “Or, more accurately—Simon Morrison. Son of Justin Claybourne. Killed by the Hood... back when he still went by that charming title.”

Chase didn’t flinch. “Lex Luthor. Weren’t you supposed to be in prison? Something about being brought in by Superman himself?”

“I am in prison,” Lex replied with a casual shrug. “Technically. My double is currently enjoying my accommodations. And I’ve made sure the right palms are greased to keep anyone from noticing.”

He moved closer to the table, but didn’t sit.

“But that’s not why we’re here, is it?” Lex continued. “We’re here because of a common problem. Supergirl.”

Chase’s jaw tightened. Lex noticed.

“She’s been interfering with your plans,” Lex said. “You’ve tried to manipulate Green Arrow. Tried to push him to the edge, prove that his crusade is a lie. But every time, she shows up. Stops the descent. Rewrites your outcome.”

“And you?” Chase asked, folding his arms. “You just hate aliens. She’s in your way because she’s one of them.”

“Not just that,” Lex said, voice cool and clinical. “She’s dangerous. A variable. I had her under pressure once, thought brute force would work. It didn’t. Now, I’m trying something smarter.”

Chase studied him. “You seem to know a lot about her. What’s stopping you from taking her out yourself?”

Lex’s expression didn’t change. “I know more than you realize, but what I know isn’t something I’m sharing. If I gave you what I know, you’d go after her like a rabid dog and get yourself killed. Or worse—force a retaliation from someone you don’t understand.”

Chase tilted his head. “Funny. You talk about control, but you don’t even know who Green Arrow is.”

Lex chuckled faintly. “I don’t need to. He’s a pawn in a larger game. One I don’t lose.”

“But I do know one thing,” he added, stepping closer. “There’s a connection between him and Supergirl. Something deeper than public camaraderie. Friendship doesn’t explain how she fights like him. She moves like him. Someone taught her.”

“And you think it’s him?” Chase’s voice grew cautious.

“I don’t think it,” Lex replied. “I know it.”

Chase took a slow breath, weighing the unspoken truths. He knew who the Green Arrow was. Intimately. And he wasn’t about to share that information with someone like Lex Luthor.

Lex, of course, knew who Kara Danvers was. And he wouldn’t risk exposing that ace until it was time to play it.

“You want to break her publicly,” Chase said at last. “I want to break him personally.”

“Then we’re aligned,” Lex said.

“What’s your plan?”

“Simple,” Lex answered. “Draw them into separate crises. Start in Star City. I’ll move some highly traceable weapons—make sure Team Arrow gets wind of it. Something big enough to pull the Green Arrow into a vulnerable position.”

“And you think Supergirl will show up?” Chase asked.

“She’s done it before. She’ll do it again if he’s in danger,” Lex replied. “And when she does... we watch. Observe. Record everything.”

Chase folded his arms. “That’s risky. If something goes wrong, it could end up killing him.”

“It’s a risk we’ll take,” Lex said flatly. “I want to see what she does when he’s on the brink. Who she becomes. And if they’re as connected as I suspect, it’ll show.”

“And then?” Chase asked.

“We hit her next,” Lex said. “A high-stakes kidnapping in National City. Kryptonite-based weapon. Not enough to kill—just to disorient. Shake her. Rattle him.”

They stood in silence for a moment, two predators circling the same prey from different directions.

“I want him broken,” Chase said. “I want him to look in the mirror and see nothing but failure.”

“And I want her exposed,” Lex whispered. “Turned. Disgraced. Alone.”

They exchanged a nod. No trust. Just mutual utility.

Then, without another word, they turned and went their separate ways—each preparing their piece of the same dark puzzle.

Chapter Text

“The Gathering Storm”

Chapter 4

Star City – Night- Secret Bunker 

A cold, dimly lit operations room in a bunker beneath an abandoned LexCorp logistics site. Surveillance monitors flicker behind them. A large table is strewn with maps, manifests, and satellite feeds. Prometheus and Lex Luthor stand close, heads bowed over the table like generals planning a war.

They are..

Lex taps the map with a gloved finger. 

 “We move a significant weapons cache from Metropolis through Star City. Star City serves as the transit point before cargo is shipped internationally via a private airstrip. The shipment arrives in three days. Once it's here, Team Arrow will have just 24 hours before it’s airborne. That’s their window. And our trap.” 

Prometheus narrows his eyes, skeptical. 
“Sounds good in principle. But how does Team Arrow even find out? And more importantly, how do we make sure Supergirl tags along? She’s not in Star City without a damn good reason. And then there’s the Flash—he’s a wild card, Luther.” 

Lex smirks. 
“Finally, someone who asks the right questions. It’s refreshing to work with competence.” 

He begins to explain, pacing slowly. 

“First: I’ve paid off several of my associates to pose as arms dealers. They’ll broker the deal using local gangs as hired muscle. In exchange for ‘protection,’ we’ll give them enough firepower to make a scene—RPGs, machine guns, tactical comms gear. All flash, minimal real value. The goal is noise.” 

Lex leans in, voice low. 
“Of course, these gangs are already infiltrated—SCPD, FBI, ARGUS. All it takes is one whisper from an informant, and Team Arrow will come running.” 

Prometheus nods once. 
“And Supergirl?” 

Lex gestures to the digital display—a missile with a strange crystalline core. 

“We leak that I built some of these weapons. Then we spread word that one of them—a prototype—can weaken or even drop a Kryptonian. That’s bait. I’ll sacrifice my Palladium Spike Warhead for this.” 

He explains: 

“It’s experimental. Built off the books, back when I still had my old LuthorCorp black labs—before Lena took over. The warhead combines palladium-variant kryptonite into a hybrid core. It emits a low-yield EMP, scrambles communications, and disables Kryptonians within a half-mile radius. Then it triggers a localized anti-gravity shockwave—enough to ground anything airborne and destabilize nearby structures. Supergirl won’t die. But she’ll feel it.” 

“So you’re pushing every piece to the edge of the board. Interesting.” Prometheus mocking Lex a bit.

Lex shrugs. “The weapon is powerful, yes, but impractical. Too slow to arm. Easy to intercept. It’s not meant for actual deployment—it’s a headline. A red flag. Something loud enough to scare Team Arrow into calling for backup.” 

He continues, energized now. 
“Alongside it, we’ll plant guided launchers—Gavlins, AT4s, drones—enough heat to make Green Arrow hesitate. He’ll call her. He has to.” 

Prometheus strokes his chin. 
“And Flash?” 

Lex smiles darkly. 
“Taken care of. I’ve sponsored a metahuman event in Central City. High profile, highly destructive. The Flash will be too busy playing janitor to interfere.” 

He turns the map again. 
“National City will be quiet, too. I’ve leaned on some connections to ensure it. Supergirl will have no reason not to show up.” 

Prometheus nods. “Then we move forward.” 

They both study the final layout: 
A “secured” warehouse on the docks. Inside—trucks, armed gangs, and the staged warhead. Team Arrow will be present with several problems. One, the armed gangs were on the outside. Two, Lex Luther’s professional hires are on the inside. Finally, the Weapon launcher itself, which needs to be disarmed, will be guarded by two combat robots. 

“Minimal resistance at the weapon site,” Lex notes. “Enough to seem real, not enough to raise suspicion. Once he begins to disarm the warhead, two prototype combat robots will activate.” 

Prometheus raises an eyebrow. Lex clarifies: 

“The bots are designed for one thing: to engage Green Arrow. Not kill. Injure. Push him to his physical limit. Then… slow their advance. Make it look like a deathblow is coming, even though it isn’t. That moment of fear should break Supergirl’s composure.” 

Prometheus grins beneath his mask. 
“She’ll crack. Emotionally. Publicly.” 

Lex gives a nod. 

“And that is the first crack. If she exposes herself, shows her hand, then we know for sure she’s emotionally compromised. That bond can be weaponized.” 

Prometheus glances up. 
“So, what about us?” 

Lex’s smile fades into a professional mask. 
“We observe remotely. Stealth drones only. No interference. We cannot risk being seen—not yet.” 

He walks to the edge of the table, firm and focused. 

“I cannot stress this enough. If we’re exposed, Phase Two is compromised. In three days, we act. Until then, you—” he points at Prometheus “—keep Team Arrow occupied. Stir chaos. Delay focus. Don’t give them time to put the pieces together.” 

Prometheus nods. 
“You think your name will be enough to bait him?” 

Lex chuckles. 
“Oh, the Green Arrow? He can’t help himself. Men like him always fixate on me—wealth, genius, power… it offends their every fragile instinct. He doesn’t see a threat. He sees a symbol. A monument to everything he’ll never be. That’s why he wants to bring me down.”

“Maybe. Or maybe… he sees something you don’t.” Prometheus countering.

Luther can’t see what else the Green Arrow could be fixated on.

They exchange a long, knowing look. 

Prometheus turns to leave. 
“Then until the curtain rises… Luther.” 

Lex nods once as the door hisses shut, leaving him alone with the map and the warhead that could rattle gods. 

Scene: SCPD Headquarters – Situation Room 1 

The digital map on the wall pulsed with red markers. The tension in the room was thick. 

Mayor Moira Queen stood beside her deputy mayor, Quentin Lance, both staring down at a disturbing intelligence report laid out on the conference table. It was verified and confirmed by DHS and cross-referenced with local sources. The conclusion was as chilling as it was unbelievable: 

A large weapons transfer was underway in Star City. 

It appeared Star City was being used as a transit hub for the shipment of advanced, military-grade armaments. The final destinations were unknown, but one thing was sure—they were international and not friendly. 

But one weapon in particular had drawn Moira’s full attention. 

It wasn’t the volume. It wasn’t even the scale of the shipment. 

It was a terrifying report that one of these weapons could bring down a Kryptonian. 

Her stomach twisted. Her daughter-in-law was a Kryptonian. 

Moira leaned forward, voice sharp and incredulous. 
“You’re telling me that Lex Luthor—who is supposed to be in prison—is behind this weapons operation?” 

Quentin Lance folded his arms and spoke gravely. 
“I’m with the mayor on this. It sounds unbelievable... but the intel is solid. These weapons are a very real threat.” 

The Chief of Police stepped in, Andrew Lopez. Chief Lopez was a former detective who worked closely with Quintin during his career, flipping through a report. 

“We received the data from DHS, and our informants have confirmed it. Luthor’s associates have been spotted in The Glades, reaching out to local gangs, offering payment and promises of high-end firepower in exchange for extra security.” 

He looked up. 
“It seems Luthor’s especially concerned about the Green Arrow interfering with this transfer. But what stands out is one specific weapon—the one designed to disable a Kryptonian. We believe that’s the centerpiece of this deal. Luthor isn’t just protecting it… He’s marketing it. He wants to prove to his buyers—terrorists, warlords, whoever’s paying that even Kryptonians can be taken off the board.”

A heavy silence fell over the room. Heads nodded grimly. No one could ignore the implications. 

Quentin let out a breath, rubbing his temples. 
“This is the worst possible timing. Prometheus is still out there, and now we might have Lex Luthor involved, too? Star City’s becoming a powder keg.” 

Moira’s voice cut through with calm precision.
“Then we need all hands on deck. I’m authorizing coordination with Team Arrow—they have the reach, mobility, and underground contacts we don’t. And given the nature of the threat… I expect Supergirl will take an interest in this. A weapon like that sends a message. She’ll want to make sure it’s silenced.”

The Chief nodded. Moria added, “A Kryptonian presence alone would shift the balance.” Moira continued.

“Both Superman and Supergirl have dealt with Luthor’s schemes before—weaponized tech, proxy wars, manipulations through shell corporations. They’ve seen firsthand how far he’ll go to test their limits. She could help neutralize whatever Luthor has planned—and bring down the gangs trying to shield this transfer.”

Quentin looked toward the Deputy Chief: Renee Montoya, an upcoming Star in the SCPD.
“Have we confirmed Luthor is still in custody?” 

The Deputy Chief raised a document. 
“Yes. I verified it personally before coming in. He’s still locked up.” 

“Then he’s moving through a proxy,” said the Gang Task Force lead. “Someone with deep ties and access.” 

Moira straightened. 
“Start tracking every known Luthor associate in or near Star City. We need a timeline for this transfer. I’ll contact Team Arrow personally.” 

As the room cleared, only Moira and Quentin remained behind, both visibly troubled. 

Moira spoke in a softer tone. 
“Quentin… what’s your take?” 

Quentin hesitated before answering. 
“I’m worried. This is exactly the kind of thing that will pull Oliver in—and we still haven’t resolved the Prometheus situation. I’ve seen how close he is to Supergirl. He, she, and that Speedy guy, The Flash from Central City, they’re more than just allies. I get the sense this could distract him from the bigger picture.” 

Moira’s eyes lingered on the weapons manifest. 
It wasn’t just a distraction. It was personal. 

Oliver’s bond with Kara went beyond friendship. Moira knew the truth. Kara wasn’t just a teammate—she was his wife. And this weapon was designed to kill her. 

He would stop at nothing to destroy it. 

She exhaled slowly, mind racing. 
“I’m authorizing an extended police presence throughout the Glades and surrounding areas. Double the patrols. Overtime for anyone who can stand. If we can pin down Prometheus while Team Arrow intercepts the weapons, maybe—maybe—we can hold the city together.” 

Quentin gave a solemn nod. 
“I’ll get it done.” 

As he walked out, Moira remained alone in the quiet hum of the situation room. 

Her thoughts stayed on her son. 

She just hoped Oliver wouldn’t charge headlong into this without a plan. 

Because if he did… she feared he might not come back. 

Arrow Bunker T-72 hours – Training Floor 

Evelyn Sharp was training hard, sweat clinging to her brow as she caught her breath. She had just finished an intense sparring session with Roy Harper. They were both archers, but there was no mistaking the difference. Roy was her senior in every way—in age, experience, and technique. His movements were sharper, more instinctual, refined by years on the streets and in the field. 

Roy wasn’t just a veteran. He was a survivor. 

He had once been a street-level informant for Oliver Queen before being brought into the fold. Later, when he was dosed with Mirakuru, the experimental super-soldier serum, everything changed. Roy became faster, stronger, and more volatile. He spiraled, driven by a dangerous mix of power and emotion, desperate to protect the woman he loved: Thea Queen. 

Evelyn had heard the stories. But she had also seen something else. Something no one else had ever talked about. 

She was there the day Slade Wilson’s army was unleashed on Star City. Mirakuru-fueled monsters tore through the streets, sowing chaos. Roy, barely in control of his strength, was seconds away from killing a man—his eyes wild, lost to the rage of the serum. He would have done it too… if something-or someone—hadn’t stopped him. 

Then, she watched in awe as this unknown figure turned and systematically dismantled the Mirakuru soldiers, fighting with grace and power that made them look slow. She watched them protect civilians, stop looters, and disappear into the chaos without a trace. 

~ Flashback: Star City – The Night of The Siege ~ 

The sky was burning. 

Flames crackled from shattered windows and overturned cars. Sirens wailed in the distance, drowned out by the guttural roars of the Mirakuru soldiers storming through the Glades like a plague. Buildings groaned under the weight of the chaos, and the streets ran slick with smoke and fear. 

Evelyn Sharp, barely seventeen, crouched behind a crumbling brick wall, clutching a makeshift baton with white-knuckled fingers. Her breathing was sharp, her heart racing. 

She wasn’t Team Arrow back then. Not yet. 

But she was there. 

And she saw everything. 

Across the street, a figure in red tore through the chaos—blurring between bodies, fists cracking bone with sickening force. He moved like an animal: unhinged, relentless, dangerous. Blood streaked his jaw. His eyes burned with something wild, something unstable.

She couldn’t see his face, not clearly—but that red hoodie was unmistakable. It looked like the same one Roy Harper always wore. Sin had once called him a friend. The Queen girl had been seen with him, too—Thea. If it was Roy… something had gone terribly wrong. 

Then she saw it. 

Roy caught a man by the throat and lifted him high off the ground. The man kicked and struggled. Roy’s expression was twisted—rage and panic, like he couldn’t tell what was real anymore. Evelyn knew that look. He wasn’t going to stop. 

And then—a blur. 

No sound. No warning. 

Just motion. 

A shockwave of displaced air. Something-or someone—struck Roy from behind with surgical precision. His body went limp in mid-air before he even realized what hit him, collapsing like a marionette with its strings cut. 

Evelyn’s breath caught. 

She peeked over the wall. 

Standing where Roy had been moments before was a figure Evelyn couldn’t quite make out—partly veiled in shadow, now still, now watching. Feminine, she thought. The fire’s reflection flickered across the curve of a shoulder, the faint outline of her face. For a breathless second, the world felt silent. The figure stood unmoving, as if… waiting.

Then Evelyn heard the gun cock. Too close. She turned—too slow.

In a blink, something hit the gunman—a blur of movement, fast but deliberate. Not flashy. Just precise. He was gone before the shot could fire, his body slamming into a dumpster with enough force to knock the breath from him but not kill him.

Evelyn froze, trying to catch her breath. Her heart raced. Then—footsteps. Soft, careful ones.

A figure stepped from the shadows—not in a cape, not in a costume. Just a young woman. Blonde. Calm. Something about her face struck Evelyn—a softness, but also steel underneath.

The woman offered her a hand, her voice low but warm. “You’re okay. You need to move. Go west—two blocks. There’s a cover there.”

Evelyn didn’t respond right away. She just took the hand and stood. “Who…?”

Then she moved again. 

A Mirakuru soldier lunged toward a fleeing family. 

The figure intercepted him mid-charge, lifting him effortlessly and hurling him through the side of a van like he weighed nothing. 

Another charged from behind.

She spun, caught his fist, and snapped his arm backward in one motion, then struck his chest hard enough to lift him off the ground. The pavement cracked when he landed. 

Evelyn blinked. 

The figure didn’t hesitate. She zipped through the chaos, knocking out looters, shielding civilians, and disabling enhanced soldiers like they were street thugs. Not just strength—control. Every move is deliberate. Efficient. 

Superhuman. Faster and stronger than the monsters she was attacking. 

One soldier managed to fire a shot. It ricocheted off the figure’s shoulder. 

She didn’t even flinch. 

Evelyn’s heart pounded in her ears. This wasn’t The Green Arrow or Caneray. This wasn’t anyone she knew. 

This was something… else. 

Before she could move, the figure glanced toward her position. 

For a second—just a heartbeat—Evelyn swore she saw blue eyes glowing faintly in the smoke. 

Then the figure vanished upward, launched into the sky with a single leap, disappearing beyond the skyline like a phantom. 

~FlashBack end~ 

It wasn’t Oliver. 

It wasn’t the Flash; The Flash emerged several months later. 

It wasn’t anyone on Team Arrow.

To this day, Evelyn never told anyone what she saw. But that moment left a question burning in her mind: 

Who was the ghost that saved Roy—and Star City—when everything seemed lost? 

Evelyn Sharp respected Roy Harper more than anyone else on Team Arrow. 
Out of all the recruits, Rene, Rory, and Curtis, it wasn’t even close. 

Roy had history—trained by Oliver himself, hardened by the chaos of Slade Wilson’s war, and shaped by the power of Mirakuru. He’d survived it all. And even after everything, he still chose to fight for what was right. 

Evelyn looked up to that. 
She was also the youngest on the team, which came with its unique attention, especially from Oliver Queen. She never fully understood why, but she suspected it was the “younger sister” energy she gave off. Maybe, just maybe, Oliver saw in her the parts of Thea he missed—missed watching grow, missed protecting, missed guiding. 

And then there was Kara Danvers—Supergirl. 

A real-life alien. A Kryptonian. A legend. 

And somehow, Evelyn got to work with her. Train with her. Talk with her. 

It blew her mind every time she thought about it. 

But what stunned Evelyn wasn’t Kara’s strength—it was how Kara understood her. She saw through Evelyn’s walls. After all, Kara had lost her entire world, too—her family, her planet. Just like Evelyn had during Damien Darhk’s attack on Star City. That shared grief built a bridge between them, one that became a quiet, powerful bond. 

It was Kara who had told her the truth about Oliver’s early crusade—about the book, the list, and the blood on his hands. At first, Evelyn was shocked. Disgusted, even. How could the man who mentored her, who inspired her, have once been a killer? 

But Kara didn’t defend Oliver blindly. She explained Oliver and his history to Evelyn. 

She helped Evelyn understand what Oliver had been through—the trauma, the isolation, the impossible choices. Kara connected the dots, not with excuses, but with compassion. And in that moment, Evelyn’s disgust began to turn into something else. 

Respect. 

That respect became her anchor when Prometheus tried to turn her. 

He knew everything—the blood on Oliver’s hands, the hypocrisy of his crusade. He whispered it all in Evelyn’s ear like poison. But none of it was new. She already knew. She let him think he was getting to her. 

Then she went straight to Kara. 

They told Oliver. Together, they devised a plan for Evelyn to play the part, act as a double agent, and provide Prometheus with false intel. 

It almost worked. 

Prometheus was nearly captured, but someone intervened, rescuing him at the last second. Still, Evelyn had never felt prouder of herself. Not just because of the mission, but because of who stood beside her. 

Oliver was proud. 
And Kara… Kara beamed. 

And when Supergirl beams at you, you feel it—like sunlight breaking through the cold. 

Now, Evelyn stood on the training floor, bow in hand. 
She was practicing against tennis balls, rigged to launch from different angles mid-air. She’d landed three clean shots already, but that wasn’t enough. She kept going, eyes burning with focus. 

She wanted to make Roy proud. Oliver proud. 
But most of all, she wanted to make Kara proud. 

Because in a world of masks and secrets, Kara Danvers had become her light. 

Just as Evelyn Sharp steadied herself to resume target practice, the bunker door slid open with a sharp metallic hiss. 

Oliver Queen walked in. 

One glance, and Evelyn knew something was wrong. His expression wasn’t just serious—it was stormy. Anger, worry, and something more profound—concern—all warred across his face. She’d only seen that look once before. 

It was the night Oliver, Thea, and Felicity left for National City. 

Reign had begun her assault. Kara was in danger. And Oliver had left without hesitation to help her. 

Later, Evelyn had seen the footage of that battle—Supergirl fighting Reign. The raw power on display was terrifying… but Kara hadn’t backed down. She fought like someone who had something to protect. Something to lose. 

And now Oliver wore that same look again. 

This was serious. Oliver didn’t waste time. 

“Everyone, planning center,” he ordered. 

Evelyn straightened. He wasn’t messing around. 

The team gathered quickly—Rene, Curtis, Rory, and the rest. Oliver stood at the front, hands on the console, his tone sharp and direct. 

“Thanks for coming. We have a problem. A big one,” Oliver said—calm, focused, and unflinching.

She glanced around the room. Kara wasn’t here. But Evelyn couldn’t shake the feeling that her presence lingered anyway.

No one had said anything, but Evelyn wasn’t blind. She’d seen the way Kara looked at Oliver. The way he softened—just slightly—around her. The way he listened when she spoke, like her voice cut through the noise in his head.

It wasn’t official. Not public. Maybe not even admitted.

But Evelyn was starting to suspect that whatever Oliver had with Kara… it wasn’t just influence. It was a bond. She longed to see Oliver and Kara hook up. They had heat. She fantasized about longing looks between them. They had the energy for it. But she wasn’t Naïve. She knew it may be wishful thinking. She respected Kara too much to voice her thoughts. Kara trusted her. Evelyn would never betray that.

“The SCPD and Gang Task Force uncovered disturbing intel. A large cache of weapons is being moved through Star City. We’re talking heavy arms—RPGs, anti-tank missiles, military-grade small arms. But that’s not all.” 

He paused, then activated the display. 

“There’s something else. Something possibly more dangerous.” 

Evelyn raised her hand.  “Oliver, we’ve seen this kind of thing before. Shouldn’t the police handle it? We still have Prometheus to worry about.” 

Oliver nodded slowly.  “Normally, I’d agree. But this is different. The cartel or the mob doesn’t own these weapons. They belong to someone much worse.” 

He tapped the display, and a face filled the screen. Lex Luthor. 

There was an immediate reaction. The veteran members went tense. The new ones looked confused. Rene, ever blunt, squinted at the screen. 

“Who’s the bald dude in the suit?” 

Oliver’s voice was low and deliberate.  “That’s Lex Luthor. And if you don’t know the name, you’re about to learn it fast.”  ...incarcerated megalomaniac from Metropolis… He is anti-Kryptonian because Superman caged him.

Evelyn’s face went pale. She did know the name.  Lex Luthor. Enemy of Superman. Sworn hater of Kryptonians. Which meant… Kara. 

She gasped without meaning to. “Oh my god.” Everyone turned to her. 

Oliver caught it. He nodded toward her. “You understand, don’t you?” 

Evelyn babbled, the realization hitting her in waves. 

“Yes. He hates aliens, but it’s personal with Kryptonians—especially Superman. If he’s behind this… then Superman and  Supergirl’s in real danger.” 

The team fell silent. The gravity settled in. 

They all knew Supergirl had worked with Team Arrow many times. They all care for Kara. She was now family to Team Arrow. Observing Oliver in this heightened state reaffirmed that this was not merely another assignment.  

Oliver continued. 

“The intel suggests Lex is using Star City as a transfer point. The weapons are headed offshore—destination unknown. But one weapon in particular is setting off alarms. It’s rumored to be specifically designed to target Kryptonians.” 

Evelyn swallowed hard. 

“We don’t have all the details yet,” Oliver said. “But we need to move. Fast.” 

He turned to Felicity. 

“SCPD doesn’t have a timeline. Please find one. And get in touch with Lena—see if she knows anything about Lex’s tech or this weapon.” 

Felicity nodded, already moving. 

As the team broke to suit up and prep, Oliver stopped Evelyn with a hand on her shoulder. 

“Evelyn—are you okay to be in the field again? After what happened with Prometheus… I don’t want to rush you.” The concern genuinely touched Evelyn. But this wasn’t about her anymore. 

“I’m good, Oliver. And even if I wasn’t… this is about Supergirl,” she said with a small, firm smile. 

Oliver nodded once, the weight in his eyes softening just slightly.  “Right. It is. Then team up with Roy. He’s prepping now.” 

“On it,” Evelyn said. She turned and jogged toward the gear room, bow already in hand. 

This time, she wasn’t just fighting for the city. She was fighting for Kara. 

The Bunker – Felicity’s Computer Station 

The glow of multiple monitors cast a soft blue light across Felicity Smoak’s face as her fingers flew across the keyboard. Lines of code streamed by, each one tied to an algorithm working tirelessly to locate where and when the suspected weapons exchange might occur in Star City. 

She leaned forward, adjusting her glasses as another map loaded. Multiple search parameters were active, including patterns in traffic, satellite imaging anomalies, bank transfers, and encrypted radio frequencies. But something else had been running too… something personal. 

She hesitated. 

For the past few days, a separate background algorithm had been quietly eating up her computing cycles—analyzing metadata, logs, and behavioral markers tied to Oliver and Kara. Not to expose them, but because something about their dynamic had caught her attention. 

It wasn’t suspicion. It was intuition.

After losing Sara, something in Felicity had changed. She became more possessive—not out of control, but protective, fiercely so. She loved her friends with everything she had.

She loved Oliver in a way that defied easy definition. It wasn’t quite romantic anymore… but it wasn’t platonic either. Not like a brother, but it had evolved into something more profound. Something rooted in loyalty, shared pain, and a desperate need to keep each other breathing.

She’d loved Laurel, too. Maybe not always easily, but it was real. And Diggle—God, Diggle was her rock. Her family.

Team Arrow was the only family she had left, and after Laurel’s death, that truth carved itself into her bones. Losing Sara had hurt. Losing Laurel had broken something. If she lost Oliver… she wasn’t sure she’d survive it.

That was why she’d insisted on the recruits. Not just to rebuild the team—but to protect the ones still standing. Because she knew Kara couldn’t always be there to shield Oliver from everything. Kara had her own battles. Her own world.

But Kara and Oliver…

They had something. Unspoken. Powerful.

And Felicity? She wouldn’t let them lose it. Not like she lost Sara’s love. Not again.

She had to understand what they were to each other—so she could protect that too.

Still, now wasn’t the time. With a sigh, she tapped the screen twice and clicked “Suspend Process.” The custom-built algorithm paused and entered standby. 

She leaned back in her chair, exhaling softly. A part of her actually felt relieved. 

Oliver and Kara were her friends. And Oliver… he had been one of her first. There was a time she thought she might fall in love with him. During the buildup to Slade Wilson’s assault, she’d admired his strength, his conviction, but came to realize he wasn’t emotionally available. And that was okay. 

Because during that same chaos, Sara Lance entered her life in a way she never expected. 

Their bond had grown quickly, marked by brief moments of quiet understanding amidst the noise of war. They even shared a kiss—tentative but full of possibility—and agreed to explore it once Slade was dealt with. 

When Sara returned to the League of Assassins, she didn’t shut Felicity out. They continued their connection through secret messages and covert meetings. Eventually, they became intimate. Real. Grounded. 

They had even planned to tell Oliver the next time Sara was in the city. 

But then she was gone. Murdered—on Ra’s al Ghul’s orders—by someone driven by jealousy over Sara and Nyssa. 

It shattered Felicity. She mourned. Quietly. Deeply. And tried to move on. 

But then Laurel made a rash decision—resurrecting Sara with the Lazarus Pit in Nanda Parbat, against Nyssa’s wishes and despite Felicity’s own objections. When Sara returned, her soul fractured, things were never quite the same. She eventually left to join the Legends. 

They never rekindled their relationship. But they did rebuild their friendship. And that was enough. 

Now, as Felicity closed the suspended window on her screen, she pushed the thoughts away. This wasn’t the time for what-ifs or buried grief. 

She turned her attention back to the priority: the weapon. 

“Okay,” she muttered to herself, rolling her shoulders. “Time to call Lena and get the intel we need.” 

Felicity pulled up a secure line and began to type, already rerouting the signal through a dozen encrypted nodes. 

Because if Lex Luthor really was behind this… 

They would need all the help they could get and every ounce of knowledge they could muster. 

L-Corp Executive Suite – Lena Luthor’s Office 

The quiet hum of her office’s central systems was the only sound as Lena Luthor continued typing at a rapid pace. She was still repairing internal nodes and coordinating shipment orders for replacement components to restore the satellite array. 

The estimates were optimistic—a week before minimal functionality returned. But full repair? Months. Even with L-Corp and Queen Consolidated’s combined resources, the array's damage would take time to undo fully. 

Her focus, though, kept drifting. 

A side project—one she hadn’t told anyone about—was taking up more of her attention than she’d like to admit. An unusual data packet had been routed through the DEO’s encrypted mesh network. It didn’t just pass through—it embedded itself deep inside the Queen Consolidated Applied Sciences Division. 

The encryption on the packet headers was unusually sophisticated—Lex-level encryption, possibly even beyond. She hadn’t cracked it yet. But one thing kept catching her eye: 

“[email protected].” 

A name that should not exist. 

It appeared multiple times within Queen Consolidated’s logs, pinged against internal servers, and was flagged for internal routing. She wasn’t ready to sound the alarm—not to the DEO, and definitely not to Queen Consolidated. Not until she knew exactly what she was dealing with.  This Role account gave the user [email protected], Executive permission to assets that only the Queen Family should have access to, being the controlling interest in the company.

Her private thoughts were interrupted by a secure video call request from the Arrow Bunker. 

Felicity Smoak. 

Lena raised an eyebrow. 

They'd collaborated a few times before—usually through Kara or during joint tech projects. But a direct line, and on this channel? That was rare. 

She accepted the call. 

Felicity appeared on screen, visibly distressed. Her complexion was pale, her eyes restless, and there was tension in her shoulders that hadn’t been there before. 

“Felicity? Are you okay? What’s going on? You look... shaken,” Lena asked, genuine concern in her voice. “Is something wrong with your team?” 

Lena didn’t know the full membership of Team Arrow. She had never asked. She assumed it was safer not to know. What she did know came in fragments—bits of news, whispers from Kara, and what the DEO allowed her to access. She’d respected the silence around the identity of the Green Arrow. Felicity had once told her flatly, “It’s not my secret to share.” Lena honored that boundary. 

Now, she sensed something was seriously wrong. 

“Lena…” Felicity’s voice cracked slightly. “We’ve intercepted intel about a weapons transfer happening in Star City. But it’s not just any shipment. It’s who’s behind it that has us rattled.” 

“Who?” Lena asked, her voice now taut with concern. 

“Lex Luther.” 

Lena froze. 

“Lex?” she repeated. “As in my brother?” 

“Yeah,” Felicity confirmed. “The intel is solid. His name’s all over it. However, we don’t have a specific location or timeframe. Just enough to panic.” 

Lena stared at her screen, a wave of dread passing over her. 

“I destroyed almost everything tied to his weapons programs when I took over L-Corp. But if this shipment is real, then he must have pulled something out before I could clean house.” 

“That’s what we think, too,” Felicity said. “But there’s more. The shipment includes something… specialized. A weapon designed to incapacitate or kill Kryptonians. That’s why I called you.” 

Lena exhaled slowly. 

“Of course he would. Lex was obsessed with Kryptonians. I went through dozens of his designs—some so horrific I had them dismantled piece by piece. But if this one slipped through...” 

She fell silent for a moment, then composed herself. 

“Give me 24 hours,” she said firmly. “Lex kept his most dangerous projects off L-Corp’s networks, in black sites. I’ll start there. And I’ll ask around—quietly. Some of my contacts may have seen movement related to a weapons transfer.” 

Felicity’s relief was immediate. 

“Thank you, Lena. We need the help. This has shaken the team. Honestly... I haven’t seen Green Arrow this rattled. I thought Reign would rattle him, but this has him even more rattled.” 

That last line lingered. Lena tilted her head. 

“Green Arrow? Is he okay?” 

“He’s... processing,” Felicity said carefully. “He doesn’t talk much about it. But when it comes to Kara, he... reacts differently, like there’s more to it. And lately… I’ve started noticing things.” 

Lena stayed quiet, listening. 

“I don’t know what I’m protecting anymore,” Felicity admitted. “I care about them—both of them. But something about this… something about all of it... It’s not adding up.” 

Lena’s expression darkened slightly, thoughtful. 

“You’re not alone,” she said at last. “I’ve been tracking something in the DEO’s network. Something that connects Kara to Queen Consolidated. I haven’t cracked it yet. But there’s a link. A deep one.” 

Felicity straightened in her chair. 

“Queen Consolidated? You’re sure?” 

“Yes,” Lena replied cautiously. “But I don’t know how it ties to anything… yet. It might be nothing. Or it might be exactly what you’re sensing.” 

Felicity bit her lip, weighing the implications. 

“Maybe... once we deal with Lex and this weapon… You and I should take a closer look. Together.” 

“Agreed,” Lena said with a nod. “But first, let’s stop whatever he’s planning. I’ll send you everything I find.” 

“Thanks, Lena. Seriously.” 

The call ended with quiet urgency. Both women leaned back, staring at their respective screens.  On Lena’s monitor, the paused process tagged "Kara Queen" still glowed at the bottom of the terminal. 

Felicity had not considered Queen Consolidated’s logs. 

T-48 Hours  

Oliver Queen sat slouched on the couch, exhausted. His jacket was tossed over the backrest, his boots still on. He hadn’t slept—Team Arrow had been out all night, combing the city for any sign of the weapons convoy. 

Nothing. 

And that worried him. 

Reign had been terrifying, yes—but she had a singular focus: beat Kara, make a statement. There was brutality in it, but also predictability. Reign could be countered, planned for, or even anticipated. 

Lex Luthor was different. 

Lex didn’t just hate aliens—he despised Kryptonians. His hatred was methodical, patient, and limitless. His obsession had always centered on Superman, but Oliver knew—if Lex ever had a chance to strike Kara, he would take it. No hesitation. 

The thought—something happening to Kara, his wife—sent a spike of panic through him. 

Clark never killed. Kara had, but only when no other choice remained. If forced into that corner again, she'd do it. But Oliver wouldn't let it come to that. If killing Lex was what it took to prevent that future, he would do it without regret. He’d deal with the fallout—even if it meant dealing with Clark.  He picked up his phone—a new text. 

Kara. “Call me when you can.” 

He had sent her the intel last night before heading out. Felicity was already in contact with Lena. He knew what this was about.  She wanted in. And there was no way he was going to say no. 

When Kara Queen made up her mind, you either caught up or got out of the way. And Oliver had long since learned: when it mattered most, following her lead never steered him wrong. He initiated the video call. 

The screen lit up, and Kara’s face appeared—glowing, radiant, freshly out of the shower, her damp hair clinging to her shoulders, and her blue eyes pulsing with quiet power. 

“Angel… did I catch you at a bad time?” Oliver asked, genuinely warm. 

Kara laughed softly, rolling her eyes. 

“My Light? Do you think there’s ever a bad time for you to call me?” she teased, but her tone shifted quickly.  “Especially not when Lex Luthor is doing something in Star City.” 

Her voice grew serious. Her concern was written all over her face. Oliver rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ll admit—I hesitated. For a second. Thought maybe I’d hold off before pulling you in.” 
He smirked. “Then I remembered how short my life would be if you found out I kept this from you.”  Kara shook her head, a soft smile tugging at her lips. 

“This is why you’re such a great partner and husband, Oliver. You’ve got excellent survival instincts—in life and relationships.” 

Oliver chuckled with her, but her face quickly steeled again. 

“When you make your move, I want in,” Kara said firmly. “I’ll follow your lead, of course, but Lex is my fight too. If he’s doing this in your city, it’s because he’s trying to avoid drawing attention from me or Clark.” 

She paused, thinking aloud. 

“He might believe you wouldn’t notice. That you don’t have the experience to spot his methods.”  Oliver nodded, watching her closely. He could see the worry etched into her eyes, even as she tried to stay composed. He didn’t need convincing. 

“I agree. I need you, not just for the op, but for your experience dealing with men like Lex.” 

Kara softened, sensing his sincerity. 

“But Kara, if this weapon is designed to take down a Kryptonian, I need you to let me disarm or destroy it,” Oliver continued. “Lex wouldn’t expect a human to be the one to sabotage his plan. That might give us an edge.” 

He hesitated, then added: “We also need to consider something else... What if this whole setup is a trap? Meant to lure you out?” 

Kara’s brow furrowed. “A trap? Why?” 

"This doesn’t feel random. Lex isn’t just moving the weapon to Star City for convenience. He’s isolating you, pulling you out of National City, away from the DEO, away from people who know how to fight someone like him."

"You think he’s trying to weaken me?" Kara is alarmed now.

"Not in the way you’re thinking. Strategically. In National City, you’ve got backup—Alex, J’onn, Lena. They’ve been in the trenches with you. Here? It’s just us. We’re not strangers, and he doesn’t know about our connection or the fact that we worked together much more than the public knows. Lex is betting our playbook doesn’t match his. And worse—he’s betting that you’ll come without them."

"...Because he thinks I’ll be easier to corner."

"Yeah. And maybe... maybe because you're a woman. Lex has always treated Superman like the gold standard. He probably thinks you’re softer, more emotional—someone he can manipulate or rattle if he hits hard enough."

Kara exhaled, nodding slowly.  “Yeah. That’s possible,” she admitted. 

But then her voice changed—lower, stronger, filled with unshakable resolve. 

“But that’s not going to stop me from being with you, Oliver. I will be there. Whatever Lex is planning, I won’t let you face it alone.”  Oliver knew better than to argue with his wife. To ask her to stand back would only hurt her, and she didn’t deserve that. She never had.  She was the strongest person he had ever known.  Together, they are unmatched. 

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Angel. Once I have the details, I’ll send them to you.”  Kara smiled warmly, eyes twinkling through the screen. 

“Thank you, Oliver. I know this isn’t easy for you. That your first instinct would be to protect me. But I see how far you’ve come.”  Oliver looked down for a moment, then met her eyes again. 

“I trusted you the day you saved Tommy and Laurel. I’m not stopping now. No matter what comes next.” They exchanged soft “I love yous,” lingering just a second longer on each other’s faces before the call ended. Oliver set his phone down and leaned back, the tension in his shoulders easing for the first time that night. 

He was still worried. But now he wasn’t alone in it. With Kara at his side, even Lex Luthor didn’t seem so invincible. He rose from the couch, headed for the shower. 

Arrow Bunker – Early Morning 

Roy Harper unstrapped his chest plate and set it carefully on the rack, the sound of metal against metal echoing in the empty bunker. The air was heavy and silent, as if it were waiting for something to happen. 

He and Evelyn had been out all night, scouring Star City for any sign of Lex’s weapons transfer. They followed every whisper, chased every shady convoy, and cross-referenced every suspicious manifest. And found nothing. 

Roy ran a hand through his sweat-dampened hair, jaw clenched. “Too many dead ends… and not enough time.” 

The more he thought about it, the worse the knot in his gut grew. If those weapons made it out of Star City, there’d be no way to track them—no telling whose hands they’d end up in. But even more dangerous than the convoy itself, more alarming than the RPGs and anti-tank missiles, was the one device that haunted his thoughts: the Kryptonian-killer weapon.

He was familiar with Lex Luthor’s history with Kryptonians. This wasn’t a bluff.  This wasn’t a theater. 

“If he’s got that weapon… he’s going to use it.” 

Roy peeled off the rest of his gear and stowed it. All he could do now was eat, rest, and prep for the next sweep in the evening. With luck, Felicity and Lena would turn up something concrete soon. Until then, they had to stay sharp. 

He also needed to check in on Oliver. 

Oliver had returned to his apartment a few hours earlier after a long night trying to pin down Prometheus, who had been acting… different. Usually, Prometheus liked to play head games—taunt Oliver with his past, his failures. But now? He was just causing chaos—bomb threats, staged riots, car chases—before vanishing into the shadows without a word. 

“It’s like he wants to be seen… but not heard.”  Roy had brought that up to Diggle, and the way Dig had looked at him told him everything he needed to know—he felt it too. Something was off.  But that’s why Oliver had a team. 

They’d scour the city if they had to. Turn over every alley, rooftop, and tunnel. They weren’t just fighting for the city this time. For many of them, this was a personal matter. Especially when it came to Kara, she wasn’t just another ally. She was family. 

Roy remembered vividly the day Thea almost died. Ra’s al Ghul had struck with surgical cruelty, throwing her through a table, leaving her broken and fading fast. Ra’s wanted to lure Oliver into the League, using Thea’s condition as leverage for the Lazarus Pit. 

What he hadn’t expected… was Kara. 

She rushed to Star City, bringing a Kryptonian healing pod with her. It saved Thea’s life, robbing Ra of his advantage. That one act changed everything. It kept Oliver from making a deal that would’ve cost him his soul.  But that wasn’t the only time Kara had altered the course of things. 

When Sara died, Oliver and Laurel had agreed to keep it quiet, at least for a while. Laurel feared how her father might take the news, given his health. Oliver thought it was strategic. Contained.  It was Kara who had stepped in. Calm. Compassionate. Unrelenting in her belief that secrets only widened wounds. “You need to tell him. He deserves to grieve—now, not later.” 

And she was right. 

They told Quentin. It devastated him, but it gave him time to process, to heal. So when Ra’s al Ghul tried to manipulate him later by revealing Oliver’s identity and their earlier cover-up of Sara’s death, the blow didn’t land. 

Quentin was already on the other side of that pain. 

He had no interest in vengeance. He wouldn’t betray them—not after everything they had already shared. Kara’s honesty had preserved that bond. That was why Ra’s went after Thea. He was growing desperate. The damage he attempted to inflict by having his assassins pose as the Green Arrow resulted in initial reputational fallout. But with Nyssa’s help—furious after learning Ra’s had ordered the hit on Sara—Oliver and Kara were able to expose the fraud. Together, they turned the narrative and regained the city’s trust.

She had always been their moral center—the one who could pull Oliver back when he got too focused, too brutal, too closed off. Roy had seen it time and again: the way she spoke to him, the way Oliver’s entire demeanor shifted when she was near. 

No one—not even Laurel—had ever gotten through to Oliver like Kara did. 

Roy wasn’t blind. He’d seen the glances, the closeness, the wordless understanding that passed between them. There was Unity there. A bond deeper than teammates. How long it had been that way, he didn’t know. But it was real. 

And now, it was in danger. “If something happens to Kara… it’ll destroy him,” Roy thought.  Not in an explosive way. Not immediately. But it would corrode him. Slowly. Quietly. Permanently. 

Roy stood up, resolve hardening in his chest. He grabbed a towel and headed toward the showers.  This mission wasn’t just about stopping Lex Luthor. It was about protecting the people they couldn’t afford to lose. And for Roy Harper, that meant doing whatever it took… 
For Kara. And for the man who had always been more than a leader. 

Oliver Queen. 

The Bunker – Mid Afternoon 

The Bunker was unusually quiet, filled only with the soft, rhythmic tapping of Felicity's fingers flying across her keyboard. Half the team had gone home to rest and return later that evening. The others were asleep in the rest quarters above. For now, the calm hum of equipment and the flicker of screens were the only companions in the heart of Team Arrow’s base of operations. 

The Bunker itself was a marvel of tactical engineering—three levels deep and built to withstand siege, surveillance, and sabotage. Oliver had it constructed after his encounter with Ra’s al Ghul, who exposed devastating vulnerabilities in their old base, the Foundry. With Cisco Ramon’s expertise, this new facility became a fortress: a fully self-contained operations center designed for extended missions and deep-level concealment. 

The top level housed sleeping quarters, a medical bay with a surgical suite, and a fully stocked kitchen, allowing the team to remain underground for days if needed. The second level was the core, comprising an operations center, a communications hub, a weapons fabrication lab, an armory, and a mission planning area. Every inch of it was optimized for coordination and crisis response. 

But it was the lowest level that made the Bunker truly exceptional. There, Oliver had installed a state-of-the-art training compound, featuring sparring areas, a full-scale shooting range compatible with small arms and bows, and reinforced structures for high-intensity combat simulation. And one unique feature—Red Sun generator lights, embedded into the walls of the training arena. 

Oliver insisted on this addition after learning how the DEO handled Kryptonian training with Kryptonite. The idea had appalled him. Kryptonite weakened Kara, yes, but it also caused pain. To Oliver, it was a failure of imagination and compassion. Once Cisco helped crack the Red Sun emission technology based on the bracelets, replicating the environment safely and affordably became easier for larger-scale deployment. Oliver vowed that Kara would never again train in pain if he could help it. The Bunker’s Red Sun arena became a symbol of that promise.  Cisco even offered to share the large-scale Red Sun Tech with the DEO in exchange for their stockpile of kryptonite. The DEO refused.

Upstairs, Felicity was deep into search algorithms, scouring network chatter, black market manifests, and encrypted logistics files. Her eyes stung from staring at too many screens. She blinked, trying to focus, when a message came through. Lena. 

Felicity snapped upright. 

Lena had confirmed it: Lex’s weapon of choice had been identified. One so dangerous, it had been buried in old, highly restricted LexCorp R&D archives. It was the last unaccounted-for asset from the division, and its specs matched exactly what they feared: a Kryptonian-killing weapon, and it was called Palladium Spike Warhead.  The rest of the cache included heavy arms, RPGs, and anti-tank munitions, all scheduled to move within 48 hours. But Lena still couldn’t pin down the location. 

“Shit,” Felicity whispered. Her pulse spiked. This isn’t theoretical. This is happening. And if they didn’t act fast, Kara would walk right into it. 

She grabbed her phone and dialed. 

“Oliver—it’s Lena. She found something. And it’s not good,” she said, tone clipped and urgent. 

“I’m on my way,” Oliver answered without hesitation. 

Felicity exhaled sharply. She needed to move. Her body was coiled with anxiety from hours of sitting and spiraling thoughts. She stood, slid her phone into her back pocket, and made her way down to the lower level. The Bunker’s training room welcomed her with silence and red-tinted light. 

She mounted a training bike and started pedaling hard—pushing through her fear, her dread, her helplessness. They had 48 hours. And that clock was already ticking. 

Oliver stepped into the Bunker’s operations level and immediately noticed the silence. The usual hum of conversation and footsteps was absent, replaced by the soft, constant buzz of active systems. Dozens of search algorithms were running in the background—Felicity’s handiwork, no doubt—all tasked with one goal: find the weapons. 

He glanced at the internal motion sensors. Several team members were logged as resting in the upstairs quarters. Good, he thought. They needed the rest. What was coming would push everyone to their limits. 

But Felicity wasn’t at her station. 

Curious, Oliver made his way downstairs to the training level. There, the soft red glow of the Red Sun Generator lights illuminated the space. It immediately gave him pause—those were meant for Kara, and Felicity certainly didn’t need them. Yet there she was, riding the spin bike hard, her form focused and her face flushed. She was dressed in her work gear, earbuds in, sweat glistening at her brow. 

He waited a beat, then took a step forward. She must’ve caught the movement because she pulled out her earbuds and looked up, surprised to see him. 

“How long have you been standing there, Oliver?” she asked, catching her breath. 

“Not long,” he replied with a faint smirk, “just long enough to notice this.” He pointed to the ceiling. 

“Oh—the Red Sun lights?” she said with a sheepish shrug, looking up. “Yeah… I don’t know. I’ve been using them when I’m stressed. It calms me. I know that’s weird.” 

Oliver tilted his head slightly. “It’s not. I’ve felt something similar. Not like Kara would under yellow sunlight—but… clarity, maybe. Focus. They may also have a subtle calming effect on humans. I wouldn’t rule it out.” 

She smiled at that, appreciating the validation. 

“But I’m guessing you didn’t call me here to talk mood lighting,” Oliver said, gently steering them back to business. 

The expression Felicity gave in return told him everything—this wasn’t good.  She grabbed a towel, dabbed off the sweat, and motioned for them to head back upstairs. Once at her station, she handed him the file she’d compiled—her eyes tense, her voice quiet. 

“This is what Lena found.”  Oliver scanned the data. As he read, his shoulders tensed. 

A Palladium Spike Warhead. 

It was worse than he’d feared. 

 The warhead had modular capabilities, allowing it to be launched from multiple platforms, including air-dropped or vehicle-mounted systems. It featured a variable yield system, allowing it to detonate either on contact or across a controlled area radius. That gave it surgical precision or the potential for catastrophic wide-field damage. 

More importantly, it was engineered specifically to affect Kryptonians. It could temporarily disable Kara—or, if used at full yield, kill her outright. 

There was only one confirmed prototype with a modified launcher. 

But if it was being moved offshore, that meant just one thing: mass production was the next step. It wasn’t just a local threat—it was global. Oliver’s jaw clenched. His wife’s life—everything they had built—was in the crosshairs. 

“This thing has to emit at least a trace of Kryptonite or Palladium radiation signatures,” he said finally, voice low but commanding. “This isn’t National City or Metropolis. Any trace radiation in Star City will stand out like a flare.” 

He turned to Felicity. “Rig a drone. Program it to scan for unique radiation spikes. Send it to Lortia. If I were Lex, I’d stash this in The Glades—hidden in plain sight.” 

She was already moving before he finished the sentence, fingers flying across her console. 

“Copy that,” she replied. “I’ll use one of the new survey drones with the adaptive sensor suite. Lightweight, long-range, minimal chance of detection. I’ll customize it for radiation spectrum scans.” 

As the drone bay began to whir to life, Oliver added,  “Start pulling the team back in. Everyone who’s off-base—get them here. Quietly.” 

Felicity nodded, already typing. “I’ll ping Dig, Roy, Evelyn, and the rest. You’ll have them in under an hour.” 

Oliver stared at the screen for a moment longer, watching as the drone prepared to begin. He didn’t say it aloud, but his mind was locked on the same thought:  If that warhead moves… if Lex gets it out of Star City…  There might not be a second chance. 

The Bunker – Early Evening 

The Bunker was alive with motion—boots against concrete, weapons being checked, tactical gear strapped down. A sharp edge of urgency cut through the air. Everyone was suiting up, preparing for what was shaping up to be one of their most critical operations. 

Oliver had just finished briefing them on the weapon. The moment he uttered the words Palladium Spike Warhead, a heavy silence fell across the room. Chills rippled down spines, but none looked more affected than Evelyn. Her posture stiffened, and her eyes locked onto the floor, haunted by what that weapon meant—what it was capable of doing to Kara. 

Oliver remained stoic as ever, but Diggle—his oldest friend—could see through it. Beneath the calm surface, Oliver was furious, the kind of quiet, focused rage that only surfaced when someone he deeply cared for was in real danger. 

Impressive, Diggle thought. Most men would be shaking. 

Just then, a sharp chime rang from Felicity’s console—an alert. 

Everyone turned. 

“The drone picked up something,” Felicity announced. “Low-yield radiation spike—registers as Kryptonite.” 

She immediately adjusted the drone’s operational mode from passive radiation scan to active surveillance. Onscreen, the drone’s camera zoomed in on an old, weathered structure near the docks in The Glades—its rusted exterior still bearing the faded markings of a bygone shipping era. 

Roy leaned forward. “That’s the abandoned freight depot. I know exactly where that is—it’s not far from the regional airport. That whole zone’s a known gang hub.” 

Felicity quickly pulled the building’s ownership data. She shook her head. “Not surprised… It’s listed under Marvson Transit Holdings—an old LexCorp shell company.” 

That wasn’t the worst of it. 

“Drone sensors confirm the building is lead-lined,” Felicity said, her tone grim. “Standard Luthor protocol—he’s been doing this for years. Every vehicle, every lab, every holding. Even before prison.”

Oliver’s eyes narrowed as he stepped closer to the screen. “Then this isn’t a coincidence,” he muttered. “How long has he been using Star City as a waypoint for moving weapons?” 

Before Oliver could speak, another alert popped onto Felicity’s board—this one from SCPD. 

“Guys,” she said urgently. “We’ve got a Prometheus sighting. He’s causing chaos downtown—nothing targeted, just… pure disruption. It’s like he’s trying to draw Oliver out.” 

The timing was too precise. Too coordinated. Oliver clenched his jaw. “Damn it…”  He turned to the team, taking control instantly. 

“Alright—new plan,” he said sharply. “Dig—take the team to the depot. I want recon only. Obtain visuals of the heavy weapons and confirm that the Kryptonian warhead is inside. No contact, no engagement. Just eyes and confirmation.” 

He then pointed to himself. “I’ll handle Prometheus.” 

The room went still for a moment. Some team members looked like they wanted to protest, but the look on Oliver’s face shut that down immediately. There was no room for debate. 

He trusted them to get this done. He needed them to. 

They all sensed it—the recon mission wasn’t just important; it was critical. The chaos Prometheus was causing wasn’t random. Someone was pulling strings. And while no one said it out loud, the same suspicion was circling all their minds: Lex and Prometheus might be working together. 

Without another word, Diggle nodded. “We’ll get it done.” 

The rest of Team Arrow followed, heading out silently but swiftly. 

Oliver grabbed his gear and headed in the opposite direction—toward the fire, toward Prometheus, toward whatever storm was coming. 

The Glades – Abandoned Warehouse (Recon Night) 

Team Arrow arrived under the cover of dusk, keeping a discreet distance from the perimeter of the warehouse. The objective was straightforward: to obtain two independent confirmations that the weapon was inside. Stealth was paramount—any early detection would compromise the entire operation. 

They brought with them a modified PVP-class drone, connected via a 1,000-meter fiber-optic cable. This hardline would prevent interception or jamming, precisely the kind of countermeasure Lex Luthor was known for. 

Their second method of verification was far less conventional. 

Rory’s mystical rags, empowered by an ancient force no one on Team Arrow fully understood, had proven capable of sensing radiation and providing visual cues. Tonight, they’d be used as a spectral scout. 

Overhead, Felicity guided a second aerial drone from a nearby rooftop—providing overwatch, mapping potential exits, and tracking any movement. 

Roy and Rory moved first, approaching the structure in silence. The rags shimmered faintly, distorting light around them, granting the pair a form of mystical camouflage that Roy had long since stopped trying to explain. It worked. That was enough. 

Once within range, Rory extended a tendril of rags through a cracked ventilation shaft. It slithered like smoke into the warehouse’s interior, scanning for energy traces. 

Meanwhile, Diggle launched the fiber-connected drone. Its initial sweep focused on the perimeter—marking out guard rotations, security cameras, and natural choke points that could become traps during an assault. 

Then it slipped inside. 

Passing through a broken windowpane, the drone identified stacked crates: high-powered rifles, RPGs, blocks of C4, encrypted communications gear, and small arms—enough to equip a private army. 

But that wasn’t the objective. 

The drone moved deeper, slipping into the adjacent chamber. 

There it was.  Mounted atop a mobile launcher that looked eerily similar to a Cold War-era Soviet SA-300 battery, sat the Palladium Spike Warhead. Sleek, menacing, unmistakably designed for one purpose—to cripple or kill a Kryptonian. 

The drone snapped high-resolution images, then quietly exited. Diggle retrieved it without incident. 

At the same time, Rory’s rags returned and wrapped around his arm, pulsing a faint, sickly green glow—the telltale signature of Kryptonite. 

Confirmation secured.  Roy and Rory regrouped with Diggle, and the trio ghosted their way out of the Glades under the shadow. No alarms. No alerts. The recon was a success. 

Or so they thought. 

High above them, invisible to the naked eye, a stealth drone hovered—its body forged from advanced composite materials, impossible to detect unless someone knew exactly where to look. 

Lex Luthor watched the entire scene unfold in silence. 

Then, he laughed. The kind of laugh that echoed with cold, theatrical malice.  “Perfect,” he whispered to himself. “Everything’s proceeding exactly as planned.” 

He sent a secure transmission to Prometheus. 

Phase One: Complete. 

Moments later, Prometheus disengaged. Oliver, who had been locked in pursuit across several city blocks, lost him somewhere in the alleys of the Glades. 

Lex smiled. 

He knew now when they would strike—tomorrow night, right on schedule. 

Simultaneously, he activated another contingency—an engineered crisis in Central City to keep The Flash occupied. National City was already dormant, with no DEO movement detected. Everything was aligning. 

And if he was right? Tomorrow, the relationship between Green Arrow and Supergirl will be revealed for the world to see… A truth he had recently suspected. But soon, he would know. 

The Bunker – Late Night 

The Bunker was quiet. Everyone was home, resting before tomorrow’s mission. They’d need every ounce of strength for what was coming. 

Oliver sat alone at the planning table, studying the recon photos on the central display. The warehouse layout revealed a methodical, well-defended structure. Security was evenly distributed along the perimeter. Corner-mounted cameras had overlapping fields of view, creating wide arcs of surveillance that left little room for approach without being seen. 

Inside, things were worse. 

The recon showed guards clustered in two key zones: the general weapons cache and the location of the Kryptonian-busting warhead. The patterns suggested rotating shifts, each one covering key exits and potential breach points. It was textbook tactical discipline—but backed by Luthor's resources, it became a fortress. 

Oliver sighed. Stealth was no longer an option. The best they could do was quietly eliminate perimeter guards, then breach the building with speed and force. There would be no silent entry. It would be a bang, not a whisper. 

He’d finalize the plan tonight and brief the team tomorrow. But first... he needed to talk to his wife. 

With the Bunker empty—even Felicity gone for the night—he finally had some privacy. 

He picked up his phone and dialed. 

"Angel?" he said softly, calling her by the name only he used. 

Kara was asleep, but the second she heard his voice, she stirred fully awake. 

“Oliver? You found it, didn’t you?” she asked, already knowing the answer in her gut. 

"Yeah. We did," Oliver said. His voice was steady but carried the weight of what they’d discovered. "And Kara… It's bad. It’s worse than we feared." 

He explained everything—what the recon team had seen, the mobile launcher, the confirmed Kryptonite signature, and how fortified the building was. Then, he dropped something else—something that unsettled Kara even more. 

"Prometheus has been out there the last two nights," Oliver continued. "Causing chaos, yes—but not random. He’s trying to get my attention. Not by exposing failure… just by being seen." 

There was a pause on the line. Oliver could hear Kara’s breathing shift. 

"I think he’s working with Lex—or for him. And that makes tomorrow’s raid even more dangerous." 

He exhaled, finally letting his concern bleed through.  "But we don’t have a choice, Kara. We have to move." 

There was silence for a moment before Kara replied, her voice steady with determination. 

"Then I’m making sure neither Lex nor Prometheus takes advantage of this. I’ll be there. No one’s going to use this raid to hurt you—or the team."  Oliver chuckled. He hadn’t even considered leaving her out of the operation. If he tried, she’d likely hurt him herself—and not in the way he enjoyed. The thought drew a slight smirk. 

"You know I’d never keep you out of this, Angel," he said warmly. "There’s nowhere I’d rather have you than beside me-or above us, watching over us like the angel you are." 

Kara laughed, trying to play it off but blushing. 

“Stop flirting with me.” 

“But it worked, didn’t it?” Oliver teased, grinning—one of those rare grins only Kara could bring out in him. 

“Fine. It did,” she admitted, her voice soft but playful. “I’ll be there first thing in the morning.” 

Then, her tone turned firmer—still sweet, but commanding in a way that made Oliver sit up straighter. 

“Now go home and get some rest. Or I will come there and put you to bed. And not in our usual way.” 

Oliver laughed, recognizing the edge beneath her teasing. 

“Got it. Leaving now. Love you.” 

“Love you too, my Light,” Kara replied with affection that radiated through the phone. 

They said their goodnights and ended the call. 

Kara lay back in bed, though sleep now felt distant. Meanwhile, Oliver left the Bunker, knowing she could probably see him walking if she tried. 

There was no hiding from her. And honestly, he never wanted to. 

T-24 Before the Convey Moved.  

Kara was the first to arrive. 

She didn’t take the service elevator. Instead, she accessed the Bunker through a concealed underground tunnel—an old, repurposed sewer line that Team Arrow and Cisco had restructured into a private entry route. Only Oliver, Felicity, and the inner circle knew it existed. It let her fly in unseen, undetected… protected. 

Kara chose this route for one reason: concealment. She knew the U.S. government still tracked Kryptonian energy signatures when they could—paranoia lingering ever since Clark’s battle with Zod. The last thing she wanted was to risk someone following her to Team Arrow’s most secure location, especially now, with Oliver in danger. With all of them in danger. 

She stepped into the Bunker silently, letting the reinforced door slide shut behind her. Every movement was measured. Intentional. She didn’t want to waste a second. 

She made her way to Oliver’s room. The second she entered, she paused, drawn in by the familiar scent that still lingered in the air: a mixture of cedarwood, leather, and something uniquely his. It wrapped around her like a memory. She smiled gently. 

She was already in her Supergirl uniform, though this version had evolved. A tactical blend of her traditional reds and blues, now darkened and streamlined. The “S” remained proudly displayed on her chest, but gone were the cape and skirt. The cape had been retired after her first battle with Aunt Astra and Non—it was too easily grabbed. Oliver had pointed that out. So had the skirt. Kara had blushed when he said it… Though she’d kept that original version tucked away for special occasions. Oliver had a thing for it. So did she. 

This new suit reflected more than protection. It was Kryptonian in inspiration, but Green Arrow in practicality. Cisco had designed it with Oliver’s guidance, incorporating reinforced Kevlar fibers for strength, lightweight plating for mobility, embedded communications, environmental sensors, and even microfasteners that allowed Kara to secure her hair to avoid obstructing her vision during flight. It was sleek, nearly silent in stealth mode, and the most advanced suit she’d ever worn. 

She looked down at it for a moment, her fingers brushing the edge of the emblem. This wasn’t just a symbol. It was a promise. Then she smiled again. Because she felt it—a presence behind her.  Very few could sneak up on her. Only one could do it undetected, even within arm’s reach. 

She turned slowly. 

Oliver stood there, grinning—satisfied, proud… and full of love. 

She didn’t wait. She crossed the room in a blur and crashed into his arms, pressing her lips to his in a deep, grounding kiss. They held each other, as if this might be their only moment alone. Maybe it was. With what lay ahead tonight, nothing was guaranteed. When they finally pulled apart, Oliver gently took her hands in his. They stared at each other in quiet reverence. 

“I still got it, Angel,” he said with that signature smirk she adored. 

Kara rolled her eyes and laughed softly. “Yeah, yeah. You still got it. But one day, I’ll catch you sneaking up on me.” 

Oliver’s expression shifted—just a bit. The pride was still there, but now it was wrapped in something more profound.  “And when that day comes,” he said gently, “I’ll celebrate it. Because it means you’ve surpassed me—and that’s all I’ve ever wanted for you, Kara. To be unstoppable.” 

Kara’s breath hitched. She wasn’t used to men saying things like that. Not in a way that felt this… real. “Not many would feel the same,” she said quietly, a hint of awe in her voice. 

“I’m not most people,” Oliver replied, thumb brushing her knuckles. “My love for you isn’t about being needed. It’s about being prepared for anything. Strong enough to win, survive, and carry hope even when I’m not there.” 

Kara blinked, her eyes glassy. “It doesn’t mean I won’t need you. It means… I need you with me. Not to protect me, but to be beside me. Always.” 

“I’m yours,” he said without hesitation, “for the rest of my life.” 

And just like that, the moment broke. 

The elevator chimed. The team was arriving. 

Oliver gave her hand one last squeeze, then let go. No more words were needed. They headed downstairs together, side by side, to finish what had to be done. 

T-12 Hours before the attack.  

The team gathered around as Oliver and Kara descended from the upper level. No one was surprised to see them arrive together. But there was something about how they moved—stoic, polished, almost too professional. 

Diggle noticed it immediately. Too deliberate, he thought. Too composed. 

Felicity noticed it too. Her eyes narrowed as she watched them. On the surface, Oliver and Kara showed nothing more than tactical unity. But Felicity had seen the way Kara had reacted after the Reign incident. She’d seen the fragmented metadata from her searches, the subtle patterns—even if the whole picture wasn’t there yet. 

Her eyes said one thing. Her heart said another. 

Roy and Evelyn exchanged a glance, reading the room. They respected the professionalism but sensed something deeper—something warm and powerful hiding beneath the armor. They didn’t press it. Not now. 

The others were still adjusting to seeing Supergirl among them. Rene hid his awe behind indifference. Curtis and Rory? They didn’t even try to hide their excitement. 

Then Oliver stepped forward with military precision.  “Alright, team—gather around the console,” he said, voice steady, commanding. “Let’s go over the plan.” 

He brought up a digital render of the target location. 

“We’re running a two-team structure: Perimeter Team and Breach Team.” 

He turned to Diggle. “You’re leading Perimeter. Your team will be Curtis, Rory, and Rene. Your job is to neutralize the outer security—quietly, if possible. The guards are evenly spaced, so I want you to operate in two-man teams. Hit both flanks fast and synchronized. Surveillance is light but active. Use the suppressed rifle to take out the cameras before moving in. Once the perimeter is secure, create a hard cordon on the main access road. It’s the only viable path for reinforcements unless they come by sea. Set choke points, funnel them, and hold the line. Kara will be above, ready to knock out anything that slips through.” 

Diggle nodded firmly. “Copy that.” 

Oliver shifted focus. 

“My Breach Team will be Roy and Evelyn. There’s no way in without alerting them—we go loud. Our job is to breach, suppress, and clear the warehouse interior as fast as possible. Keep it ranged—avoid close-quarters if we can.” 

Both nodded without hesitation. 

“Once inside and the area’s secure, I’ll move to the primary objective: disabling the Palladium Spike Warhead. If that fails, we have C4. Roy—you’re carrying it.” 

Roy gave a quick nod. 

Then Oliver turned to Kara—his voice softened only slightly, but it was noticeable. 

“Kara—you’re our air support, eyes, and ears. Anything airborne—drones, recon—you take it down. If the perimeter is breached, you’re the plug. Evacuate the injured fast, then return immediately. Provide fire support from above—use your heat vision to disable weapons from range.” 

Kara nodded, trusting her husband’s judgment, though her eyes betrayed how much she hated being separated from him on this. 

“Got it, Oliver,” she replied with quiet resolve. 

“We move at 2200 hours. Use the next few hours to finalize gear, review photos, and pair off. An hour before the assault, Felicity will launch another drone to confirm nothing’s changed. If all remains clear, we go in.” 

The team broke off, heading to their prep stations. Weapons were checked. The gear was fine-tuned. Energy was high, but heavy with anticipation. 

Kara lingered, reviewing the recon imagery once more, committing every detail to memory. Oliver watched her from across the room before walking over. 

“I know you want to go in with me,” he said softly, “but we don’t know what kind of traps they’ve built for Kryptonians. Without Barry, you’re our only counter to anything we can’t handle.” 

Kara sighed, her voice low enough only he could hear. “I know. And it all makes tactical sense… but I don’t have to like it. The weapon’s terrifying, but you-you’re my number one concern, Oliver.” 

He placed a gentle hand on hers. 

“Come with me. Help me assemble gear—double-check everything. Knowing you looked over my kit will give me peace of mind, too.” 

That simple offer gave her just enough assurance. She nodded and followed him to his prep bench, where they began checking every clasp, every arrow, every strap. Together. 

Not just as teammates. As partners. As husband and wife. 

Mayor’s Office – Star City T-8 Hours 

Thea sat at her desk, flipping through her schedule and upcoming meeting notes, when she suddenly realized the time. Damn, she muttered. She was going to be late. The day’s work had pulled her in deeper than expected—but that would have to wait. 

She quickly gathered her papers, locked her terminal, and made her way toward her mother’s office. On the way, she ran into Quentin Lance, who looked equally puzzled. 

“You know what this sudden meeting is about?” he asked. 

“No idea,” Thea admitted. “Mom just stopped by my office over lunch and said you and I needed to meet with her. No aides, no staff—just the three of us.” 

They reached Moira’s office and knocked. Her voice came from inside, calm but unmistakably serious. “Come in.” 

When Thea entered, she immediately noticed something different. Her mother’s expression was composed, but there was a hint of gravity in her posture—something important was about to unfold. Is this about the corruption probe in the SCPD? Or maybe something related to Prometheus? 

They sat at the small conference table. 

“Mom, what’s going on? I had to cancel a budget meeting for this,” Thea said, irritation creeping into her voice. 

“I know, honey. But it’ll all become clear in a moment,” Moira said, her expression softening with a slight smile. Then she looked at the door and added, “They’re here.” 

“They?” Thea repeated. 

The door opened, and Oliver and Kara walked in. 

Thea blinked. Seeing Oliver was one thing, but seeing Kara with him and arriving together caught her off guard. She hadn’t seen her brother much recently—any spare time she had went to Roy. But Roy had barely been home this past week, with all the chaos around the weapons hunt. 

Now her eyes narrowed. Oliver and Kara walked in sync, like they were perfectly attuned. Since Reign, Thea had started paying more attention to them. And now that she was watching, the closeness was evident. 

She glanced at her mother, Moira, who was glowing with delight, watching the pair like a proud matchmaker. She knows something, Thea thought. She’s too happy to see them walk in like that. 

And when Oliver and Kara sat together, there was no personal space between them. That wasn’t unusual for people who’d fought side by side—but Oliver always guarded his space. Even with close friends, he’d kept a certain distance. Except Barry, who was immune to personal boundaries, but Kara? Kara was the exception to everything. She teased him, hugged him, and broke through his walls like no one else had. And Oliver let her. 

“Ollie... what’s going on? And why is Kara here, too?” Thea asked honestly. 

Kara smiled gently. “I know it’s a surprise. But considering what this is about… maybe not that surprising.” 

“What is it?” Thea asked, shifting her attention. 

“It’s not good,” Kara said, glancing at Oliver. “We found the weapons. We’re raiding the facility tonight.” 

Moira, Thea, and Quentin listened carefully as Oliver laid out the plan. He reviewed the timeline, the risks, and the need for precision. He requested that SCPD and SWAT be on standby, along with Fire and Rescue, citing the risk of a large-scale detonation that could affect the docks and nearby districts. 

Moira nodded. “You’re right, Oliver. If that cache explodes, it could reach the overflow docks. Luckily, they’re inactive, used mostly during emergencies. But even then—it’s serious.” 

“Mrs. Queen—” Kara began, only to be cut off gently. 

“Kara… honey,” Moira said, her tone soft and warm. “Call me Moira.” 

That surprised Thea. No one called her mother Moira—except Roy, and only because of their relationship. Not even Barry, who Moira adored, used her first name. So why Kara? Thea wondered. 

“Right… sorry. Moira,” Kara corrected herself with a shy smile. 

“If the blast gets out of control,” Kara continued, slipping into her more focused, professional tone, “I can contain it. I’ll be airborne throughout the op, spotting from above and mitigating fallout if needed.” 

Moira nodded again. “I’m happy you’ll be watching Oliver’s back.” 

“Of course. There’s nowhere else I’d be right now,” Kara replied sincerely. 

That made Thea raise an eyebrow. That’s new, she thought. Something had definitely shifted between them since the Reign incident. And Moira—she knew something for sure. 

Oliver turned to Moira again. “Once we secure the Kryptonian busting weapon, I’d like Team Arrow to retain custody and transfer it to STAR Labs. I trust them more with it than any local authority.” 

“Oliver,” Quentin began, leaning over the operations map, his tone edged with the kind of worry only decades on the job could give. “What’s the risk of that thing arming itself—or worse, detonating—during your engagement?”

The question wasn’t casual. Quentin Lance had worn a badge for over thirty years, starting in Gotham before transferring to Star City when a detective’s slot opened up early in his career. He’d seen raids turn bad for reasons no one could predict— a stray round, a poorly rigged explosive, one misjudged spark. The danger was never just the firefight; it was the ordnance you were trying to contain.

Oliver met his eyes. His voice was steady, but the tension behind it was clear. “The risk is real, Quentin. That’s why Kara’s our ace in the hole. If anything goes wrong, she can minimize the blast radius and contain the damage before it spreads.”

Kara nodded, stepping forward, her calm presence easing some of the weight in the room. “Mr. Lance, I understand your concern. But Oliver’s plan is solid. His team’s loadouts are non-lethal, with only enough stopping power for breaching and disabling surveillance equipment. We’re not going in to start a war—we’re there to end one before it begins.”

Quentin nodded but tapped the map again, outlining zones in red marker. “Good. I’ll keep first responders staged here, here, and along the waterfront—far enough to stay clear of a secondary explosion but close enough to move in fast if it all goes south.”

Oliver and Kara exchanged a look—mutual respect and unease mixing behind their stoic professionalism. It was a sound plan. But there was still one thing Oliver couldn’t shake.

“Quentin,” he said finally, his voice low, “once the site’s secure, the weapons are yours to catalog and lock down. But that Kryptonian warhead—it’s different. It’s too dangerous to stay in city custody. I can’t risk—”

Moira’s voice cut in, firm but composed, “Absolutely, Oliver.” Moira agreed without hesitation. “Whatever ensures Kara’s safety. The city will take into custody the rest.” 

Oliver looked surprised by her immediate support but nodded appreciatively. 

“We’ll notify you an hour out if the operation is confirmed for execution,” Oliver said, rising from his seat. 

Moira stood too, moving to hug Kara tightly first, warm and maternal, then did the same to Oliver. Thea noted it all. Moira didn’t hug many people like that. 

Quentin shook hands all around, and the group began to disperse. Only Thea stayed behind. 

As the door closed, she turned to her mother. “You didn’t seem surprised to see Kara with Oliver,” she said quietly. 

Moira looked up. Her eyes were unreadable for a moment. 

“Well… Oliver and Kara are close. They’ve developed a strong friendship. Don’t you think?” 

Thea narrowed her gaze. “Is that what we’re calling it? Friendship? I don’t know, Mom. I’ve never seen Oliver this grounded—this at peace—since before the island. And even then, there was always something unsettled in him.” 

She paused, observing her mother. 

“Kara’s different. She means something to him.” 

Moira gave a soft smile. “They are close, yes. But we shouldn’t overanalyze it. Whatever Kara is to Oliver, I’m happy for them. That’s all that matters to me.” 

The tone in her voice made it clear: this conversation was over, for now. 

“Alright,” Thea said with a soft exhale. “I’ll go put in a food order. Tonight’s going to be a long one.” 

“Thank you, sweetheart. Yes… When Lex Luthor’s involved, it always is,” Moira said with visible concern. 

As Thea walked out of the office, one question lingered in her mind: Why is Mom trying so hard to downplay this? What is she trying to protect? 

And more importantly, how much does she already know? 

T-1 Hour — Team Arrow Bunker 

A second drone launched from the bunker, vectoring toward the target warehouse. Its mission: to confirm nothing substantial had changed since last night’s recon. As the drone reached position and began a slow, vortex-style surveillance pattern over the site, everything initially looked the same—twelve guards still patrolling the perimeter, unchanged camera placements, no new heavy vehicles. But then Oliver saw it. 

“One sniper. Rooftop. Zoom in, full resolution,” he directed Felicity. 

She complied, enhancing the feed until the rifle's silhouette became clear. Oliver’s expression darkened. 

“Barrett MRAD,” he said grimly. “Used by SOCOM and elite contractors. Modular, powerful, adaptable.” 

He pushed the weapon’s specs to the main screen for the team to see: 

Optimal for urban penetration and accurate beyond 1,500 meters 

Scope: Nightforce ATACR 5-25x56 F1 with thermal/IR clip-on  with Suppressor designed to muffle high-caliber fire 

Rene let out a low whistle. “That’s a premier weapon.” 

Diggle added, “It’s worse than it looks. That scope’s IR clip-on means he can see us in total darkness. He’ll spot body heat from half a klick out in dense forest or desert environments. In urban settings, this is a disadvantage that will allow us to get close”

Oliver nodded grimly. “Based on his setup, we won’t get closer than 500 meters without being exposed by the sniper or the cameras.” 

He turned to Kara. “We need you to take him out before we move in. But don’t rush him—he might be carrying kryptonite rounds.” 

Kara studied the rooftop angle. “His back’s to the water. He won’t expect anything from behind. I can come in low and fast from the docks—take out the rifle without touching him.” 

“Perfect,” Oliver said. “Once he’s neutralized, sweep the yard—Disable weapons with your heat vision. Diggle, as soon as Kara clears the way, your team moves in and secures the perimeter. Wait for her signal.” 

Diggle gave a curt nod. 

Oliver surveyed the room. “Anyone see a reason to abort?” 

No one spoke. 

“Then the raid is a go. Suit up. I’ll run final checks on everyone before we move out.” 

The team geared up, each member preparing a customized loadout tailored to their strengths and non-lethal objective: 

Oliver, Roy, and Evelyn: Armed with bows and a diverse arrow set: tranq arrows, taser arrows, explosive tips, and a limited number of lethal arrows as a last resort. Roy also carried C4 charges. Oliver equipped collapsible carbon-steel batons designed to withstand several direct hits from Kara during training—a nod to the brutal close-quarters combat style he’d adapted alongside her. 

Diggle: Issued a Queen Consolidated Military Division modified M4A1, the upper receiver replaced with a 37mm compressed-gas launcher system firing capsule-based sleep gas rounds (short-range dispersal). Sidearm: standard M1911 (.45 cal), and a suppressed M14 DMR for eliminating cameras or light vehicles. 

Rene: Fielded a custom short-barrel M4A1, retrofitted with a pneumatic tranquilizer dart system. It fired 5cc aerosolized sleep rounds effective within 10 meters. Sidearms: dual SIG P226 MK25 pistols (9mm). 

Curtis: Operated his T-SWAN drones—AI-assisted quadcopters armed with 50,000-volt taser bursts. Each drone used: 

Homing capability via facial recognition 

Voice/digital command interface on a tactical arm-mounted control panel 

Embedded Team Arrow's biometric protocols to avoid friendly fire 

Rory: Relied on the Mystic Rags of Devarim—sentient, ancient cloths capable of binding, disarming, and shielding him. The rags offered mystical durability, line-of-sight teleportation, and detection of radiation and magical threats. 

As final preparations were completed, Oliver informed the Mayor’s Office that the operation was live. Every member of Team Arrow understood the stakes. They didn’t just carry weapons—they weighed the city’s safety on their backs. 

The mission was greenlit. 

And there would be no compromise. 

The Raid — T-0 
Warehouse, The Glades – Star City 

Team Arrow approached under the cover of night, cloaked by shadows and urban decay. Overhead, Felicity’s surveillance drone tracked their advance in real time, feeding positional data directly to the team’s HUDs and comms. At 1,000 meters, the rooftop sniper came into view. The team slowed, moving carefully between rusted containers and broken fencing. 

At 700 meters, Oliver raised a fist—halt. 

“Overwatch, status?” he whispered. 

Her voice crackled through. “He’s looking right in your direction, Oliver. Direct line of sight.” 

That was enough. Oliver signaled a complete stop and switched to a different channel. 
“Supergirl. Go.” 

Kara, clad in her tactically modified Supergirl suit, received the signal through her encrypted earpiece. A mile out, she was already airborne—flying low across the water’s surface, minimizing her thermal and radar signature. In seconds, she closed the distance, hugging the shadows cast by dock cranes and warehouses. 

She reached the rooftop silently. 

With a sharp thud, the sniper was down—unconscious before he could even register movement. Kara snapped the Barrett MRAD clean in half and inspected the ammunition—regular ballistic rounds. No kryptonite. That was reassuring. 

Hovering now, she rose silently above the rooftop and began her sweep. Her eyes glowed faintly—adjusting her heat vision to an ultra-low wavelength, nearly invisible to the naked eye. It was a trick she’d developed with Oliver—refining her beams to weld with surgical precision rather than burn with spectacle. 

One by one, she fused the bolts of every visible rifle to its receiver. The weapons were now useless, jammed beyond the scope of field repair. None of the guards noticed. Quiet, surgical, undetected. 

Satisfied, Kara rose higher, blending into the night sky. From her vantage point above the warehouse, her x-ray vision allowed her to monitor the entire perimeter. She tapped her comms. 

“Sentinel clear,” she said—her codeword indicating her part was done. 

Next, Diggle’s team activated. But first, Diggle raised his suppressed M14 DMR and silently eliminated every camera along the warehouse’s outer wall—one round per lens, each precisely placed. 

With the visual security down, Diggle and his perimeter team advanced. Oliver’s breach team shadowed close behind, waiting just outside range until the perimeter was secured. 

Diggle moved first, launching sleep gas grenades from his modified M4 into clusters of guards on the east side. A lone guard rounded a corner—catching him off guard—but Diggle responded with lightning reflexes, striking the man unconscious before he could shout. 

Rene followed tight behind, covering the gaps. His pneumatic M4, loaded with aerosol tranquilizer darts, took out isolated guards too far for gas to reach. He aimed for thighs or necks—places likely exposed and effective for quick knockouts. 

On the west side, Curtis and Rory handled the rest. 

Curtis deployed his T-SWARM drones—miniature taser-equipped AI units—hovering into position as Rory’s mystical rags went to work. The rags wrapped around Rory and he disappeared into a puff of smoke. The smoke reappeared behind his target guard silently. The rags surrounded the guard and restrained him as Rory knocked him out. Rory incapacitated one guard at a time, teleporting within line of sight to disarm and restrain with precision. 

But then, trouble. 

A group of guards flanked Rory, weapons raised, shouting over one another for him to surrender.

“Hands up! On the ground!”

Rory didn’t move. He didn’t flinch. He breathed, slow and steady—and the rags responded.

The worn cloths that draped his frame twitched, coiled, and lifted, reacting to his pulse like living things. Ancient and imbued with sentient, mystical energy, the Rags of Devarim had shielded him before—from blades, fire, even small-caliber bullets. They were fast. Instinctive. Loyal.

But they weren’t invincible.

He knew Supergirl had already neutralized most of the guards’ primary weapons—rifle bolts fused to their chambers with pinpoint heat vision—but sidearms were still a threat, especially at this range. The rags could intercept a few shots, maybe more, but they weren’t armor. A sustained barrage, especially from multiple shooters, might overwhelm them.

They reacted, not predicted. And Rory was outnumbered.

The rags tensed like muscles before a sprint, ready to lash out the moment a trigger was pulled. But the odds weren’t in his favor. He could take one or two… maybe even three. But more?

That was pushing the edge of fate.

Still, Rory stood his ground. The rags shifted again, now crawling along his arms and shoulders, forming a loose barrier, shimmering faintly in the night air as if preparing to spring.

Behind the guards, a faint hum grew louder—barely perceptible. The T-swarm drones, having registered their ally’s danger, zipped silently into formation. All Rory had to do was hold them a second longer…

He didn’t have to wait long. 

Curtis, receiving the danger alert from his drone’s friendly-ID algorithm, gave the command: “Engage. Protect Ragman.” 

The drones zipped forward in a flash, unleashing high-voltage pulses that instantly dropped the threats. They then fanned out, disabling any remaining exterior cameras. 

With the perimeter secure, the first phase of the raid was complete, and Team Arrow had remained undetected. 

Or so they thought. 

Far Above – Unknown Altitude 
A stealth drone, far more advanced than Felicity’s, hovered silently in the upper atmosphere. Watching. 

Inside a blacked-out surveillance chamber, Prometheus leaned forward. 

“They’ve secured the perimeter,” he said, eyes locked on the feed. “Classic Arrow execution—tight, efficient. He’s still got it.” 

Lex Luther stood beside him, arms folded. “Supergirl took the sniper. From the water. I didn’t anticipate that.” His tone was contemplative, not surprised—just intrigued. 

Prometheus pointed to a second feed. “Green Arrow’s breach team is getting into position now.” 

Lex smiled faintly. “So it begins…” 

And beneath them, unaware of the eyes in the sky, Team Arrow prepared for the next phase. 

Breach – Warehouse  

Oliver positioned Roy and Evelyn on either side of the warehouse door, their backs to the wall, in the standard Team Arrow breach formation. Both had their non-lethal arrows drawn and ready. As soon as the door was breached, they would rush in and neutralize hostiles. Oliver glanced at them—both nodded in silent confirmation. 

Raising his hand in the air, Oliver gave the signal to breach. Though the gesture served the team, its deeper meaning was for one person watching closely—his wife. 

Kara stood watch outside. She had already secured the perimeter, bound and removed all external threats to a secondary site, ensuring no interference. She saw Diggle holding his external cordon, ready to intercept any reinforcements. But her whole focus was on Oliver—on the moment he let loose the arrow. 

Oliver notched a specialty breaching arrow. It was equipped with a shaped charge, designed to direct the explosive force forward, forcing the door open without endangering Roy or Evelyn. He drew back, released, and a sharp bang echoed through the air. The door blew open with precise force. 

Roy and Evelyn burst through the threshold. The guards inside noticed them, but it was too late. Arrows flew—non-lethal, but devastating. Within the opening volley, several guards dropped, struck with precision. Oliver followed, rolling in behind them, losing his volley as he moved. More guards fell before they could react. 

But those who remained quickly regrouped, firing from cover. Suppressing fire pinned Roy and Evelyn down—they couldn’t get a clear shot. 

Assessing the situation, Oliver switched to explosive arrowheads, carefully adjusting the yield. The blast would disorient the enemy, not detonate the surrounding weapons crates—unless directly struck. He dropped into cover and flashed a quick series of hand signals to Roy. 

Roy turned to Evelyn. “Green Arrow’s setting up a distraction. We’ll have seconds to reposition—get a better angle. Be ready to fire the moment we break cover.” 

Evelyn nodded, drew an arrow, and shifted her stance, poised to sprint. 

Oliver let loose his explosive shot—two guards dropped immediately, the blast sending shockwaves through the room. Smoke and fire distorted the enemy’s line of sight. 

“Now!” Roy called. 

They sprinted, diving into new cover with a precise angle. The guards, distracted by Oliver, never saw it coming. Roy and Evelyn fired in unison. One by one, the remaining hostiles went down. 

Silence fell. 

Oliver scanned the room, assessed himself—minor cuts from shrapnel, nothing serious. He stood and gave the “All Clear” signal. Roy and Evelyn echoed it, and the three regrouped at the center of the warehouse floor. 

“That was close,” Evelyn said, catching her breath. “There were more in here than yesterday.” 

“Yeah,” Oliver replied, surveying the downed guards.

Roy commented just then, “Either reinforcements slipped in or we missed something.” 

“We can figure that out later. We still have to get to the weapon.” His voice sharpened with urgency. 

He turned to his team. “Bind these guards. Call in Supergirl—get them out of here before they become a problem again.” 

Roy and Evelyn nodded and began securing the scene. Oliver activated his comms. 

“This is Green Arrow. Warehouse secure. Hostiles neutralized. Higher numbers than expected—proceeding to target.” 

He moved to the far side of the room where a steel-reinforced door stood locked. Kneeling, he unzipped a pouch on his hip and pulled out a compact hacking device. He pried back the cover on the digital lock panel, plugged in the cable, and watched the hack begin. 

Seconds ticked by like minutes. Finally, a green light blinked on. The door unlocked with a mechanical clunk. 

Oliver opened it cautiously, bow at the ready. No ambush. 

But what waited inside was worse than anything he expected. 

A modified S-300 missile system stood tall and ominous—only one launch tube, but that was all it needed. Inside that tube was the weapon—the one designed to kill Kara. 

And Oliver wasn’t going to let that happen. 

Oliver moved fast—too fast.

He didn’t wait, didn’t scan the room like he usually would. He charged straight for the missile control console bolted to the launcher’s side. Every instinct he’d drilled into himself screamed to stop, to check angles, to clear the corners. But this wasn’t about instinct anymore. It was about her.

This missile—whatever it was—could hurt Kara. Maybe even kill her. And that possibility had buried his caution beneath a tide of urgency.

The console was familiar: a dual-mode unit capable of operating as part of a coordinated battery or as a stand-alone launch platform. And buried within its systems was what he needed—the manual override, the shutdown failsafe designed to prevent enemy acquisition.

But Oliver wasn’t thinking about acquisition. He was thinking about Kara.

And in that moment, the Green Arrow didn’t care about traps, about protocol—he cared about disarming the one thing in this building that could take her from him.

That launcher was Oliver’s target. 

He sprinted past two large crates, ignoring them completely—his focus unshakable. He refused to let this weapon exist for one more moment. It threatened Kara. It must be eliminated.. 

Reaching the console, he tore off the protective panel, revealing the cold, analog interface beneath. This system was old—dating back to the Cold War era—and Felicity’s modern hacking device was useless here. 

But Oliver wasn’t unprepared. 

Once they had confirmed the launcher model through recon, he, Kara, and Felicity had spent the last 24 hours studying its architecture and training him to override its systems manually. No digital hacks. No remote uplinks. Just a manual, a set of rotary dials, and a knowledge of Russian military encryption logic. 

And now, it was all on him. 

He took a breath, steadying his hands as he began inputting the code. 

 ~Flashback – Secure Bunker, 24 Hours Earlier~ 

The walls of the underground bunker were lined with reinforced steel and concrete, with faint humming of fans heard in the background, cooling the bunker’s central PDU units. Operational lighting cast a glow over the operations table, now strewn with hastily gathered Soviet-era documents, decrypted blueprints, and grainy recon images of the modified launcher hidden in the warehouse. 

Felicity tapped a black-and-white aerial still with her finger. “There. Right there—that configuration? That’s an S-300 launch unit. But this one’s been modified—stripped down, possibly fitted with a custom warhead.” 

Oliver leaned in, eyes narrowing. “I’ve seen similar configurations before—Russian weapons caches during my time in the Bratva. This is Cold War tech.” 

“Exactly,” Felicity said, nodding. “And that’s why we have a problem.” 

Kara stood nearby, arms crossed, her expression hardening. “Can it fire?” 

“Almost certainly,” Felicity replied. “If it's been kept operational, then yes. And based on the recon, it's not just intact—it’s prepped. One launch tube. Probably rigged to carry something that could punch through your defenses.” 

Oliver exhaled sharply. “So what’s our window to neutralize it?” 

Felicity looked at him, then back at her laptop. “Less than a minute once it starts the countdown. And we can't use the standard hacking tools this time. I tried simulating an override—it’s like trying to hack a microwave with a tablet.” 

“Old Soviet tech,” Oliver muttered, already thinking. 

“Right,” Felicity confirmed. “This thing doesn’t use any modern communication protocols. It’s all hardwired encryption, analog subsystems, and a dial-based arming interface. My gear is useless unless we rebuild a 1980s Soviet console in the next twelve hours.” 

Kara stepped forward, locking eyes with Felicity. “Then how do we stop it?” 

Felicity turned to Oliver. “He stops it.” 

Oliver blinked. “Me?” 

“You read and speak Russian. You’ve seen Bratva weapons caches. And most importantly, you’re the only one who can operate under fire with enough calm to crack that thing open and disable it.” 

She pulled out a thick, worn manual labeled Секретно – Система Пуск С-300. It was covered in Bratva-coded bookmarks and hastily scribbled notes. 

“You’re going to hack the launcher manually, Oliver. No device—just you, these manuals, and that training module.” 

She set a replica control panel on the table—3D printed and rigged to simulate real arming conditions. Kara’s eyes tracked it warily. 

“What if he enters the wrong code?” she asked, already knowing the answer. 

“It might trigger a failsafe,” Felicity said quietly. “Could start the countdown early… or lock it completely.” 

Oliver took the manual, his expression hardening with resolve. “What do I need to learn?” 

Felicity opened to a bookmarked section. “Soviet launch sequences use cipher wheels and a physical dial lock to arm. You’ll need to read the sequence logic, calculate the correct pattern, and enter it manually without a single misstep. We’ve reconstructed enough of the logic chain to model how it works. You’ll train on this replica until it’s muscle memory.” 

Kara stepped closer, placing her hand gently on his shoulder. “Oliver… are you sure?” 

He looked up at her, eyes steady. “If this thing can kill you, then I have to be. We can’t leave this to chance.” 

Felicity gave him a grim smile and slid over her annotated cheat sheet. “Then class is in session, comrade.” 

Hours Later 

In the low light of the bunker, Oliver sat alone at the table. The training module clicked as he rotated the dials—eyes flicking from cipher tables to Felicity’s notes. His voice, low and firm, murmured in Russian. 

“Ноль. Девять. Четыре. Два. Один”. 

"Zero. Nine. Four. Two. One." 

 Click. 
A green LED blinked on the replica. 

He reset it and started again. 

Behind him, Kara watched silently from the doorway. He hadn’t slept. She knew why. 

“You almost have it,” she said softly, stepping closer. “But you need rest.” 

“I will when I can disarm that launcher blindfolded,” he replied, never looking away from the dials. “I can’t afford to fail you, Kara.” 

She knelt beside him, touching his face gently. “You won’t.” 

He leaned into her touch for a moment, then reset the sequence again. 

~FlashBack ends~ 

Missile Storage Room, Warehouse – The Glades, Star City 

Oliver moved quickly, yanking open the access panel on the missile’s guidance system. Beneath that, he removed the secondary cover to reveal the hardened control housing for the code cylinders. He had memorized the disarm sequence—one shot to get it right. 

The manual bypass could only be triggered by inserting the physical code cylinders in a precise order, each confirming the integrity of the next. As he began the process, his focus narrowed to nothing but the machine in front of him. 

What he didn’t know was that Lex was watching. 

Lex Luthor’s Observation Station – Star City 

“Prometheus,” Lex said calmly, peering at telemetry data, “Green Arrow’s reached the missile control panel. He’s initiating the manual override.” 

“Can he disarm it before the combat units activate?” Prometheus asked without a shred of concern. 

Lex smiled faintly. “No. I designed it that way. The bypass circuit has already been rerouted to dummy feedback loops. He’ll get confirmation… but no result. He’ll think he’s winning right up until the units deploy.” 

He checked another monitor. 

“Combat bots are powering up. Sixty seconds.” 

“Then let’s see what happens when the Queen’s knight runs out of moves,” Prometheus said, stepping closer to the screen. “Switch to team views.” 

They watched the feed from hidden drones circling the building. Team Arrow’s perimeter team had locked down the site. Oliver’s breach team was systematically clearing interior threats, handing unconscious guards off to Supergirl, who was ferrying them to a safe location. 

“All right,” Lex muttered, “Activate them.” 

Prometheus nodded, eyes cold. “Showtime.” 

Missile Storage Room 

Oliver was seconds from initiating the disarm sequence when the sound hit him—a sharp clang of reinforced plating, metal on metal. 

He turned. 

Two heavy combat units emerged from concealed wall panels, stepping into the room with precision. Matte black plating, reinforced limbs, and gleaming optics. Combat-grade synthetics. 

They locked onto him instantly. 

“Target acquired. Engaging,” came the flat, synthesized voice. 

Oliver's eyes widened. 

“Not now…” he hissed, rolling backward away from the missile. 

He couldn’t let the fight happen near the launch system—not with that weapon.

Even as the combat robots powered up and closed in, a sharp pulse of fear flickered through Oliver’s mind. This wasn’t a conventional missile. It was a prototype, born from Lex Luthor’s twisted brilliance. And with Lex, there were always unknowns—untested systems, unstable materials, experimental payloads.

Radiation. Chemical dispersal. Kryptonite variants.

He had no idea what a detonation would actually look like—only that it wouldn’t be clean. There were too many variables, and the risk was too high. A misfire here wouldn’t just level the warehouse—it could poison half the Glades, or worse.

He made the decision instantly.

Draw them away. Keep the launcher intact.

Abandoning the console, Oliver darted across the room, moving fast and low. He didn’t head for cover—he couldn’t afford the tight quarters. He kept to the open space on the far side, forcing the machines to follow, pulling them as far as possible from the launch system.

The robots advanced in perfect tandem, attempting to flank him. 

Oliver ducked the first sweeping strike, but the second robot caught his shoulder with a brutal punch, sending him skidding across the floor. He grunted in pain but sprang back up, drawing his reinforced combat batons, built to withstand multiple strikes from Kara herself. 

The fight was brutal and surgical—parry, evade, counterstrike. But the machines were faster than expected, adapting to his rhythm. He couldn’t get the distance needed to use his bow. Every move was answered with ruthless precision. They weren’t trying to kill him. Not yet. They were trying to wear him down. 

And it was working. 

A crushing blow to his thigh dropped him to one knee. 

“GREEN ARROW!” 

Roy’s voice rang out as he and Evelyn burst into the room. They saw Oliver battered, barely dodging a boot to the chest. 

Roy nocked an explosive arrow. 

“Get clear!” he shouted. 

Oliver dove behind a stack of crates just as Roy and Evelyn loosed twin explosive shots. 

BOOM. 

The robots staggered but didn’t fall. Their heads snapped toward the newcomers, optics glowing brighter. 

Then, they charged. 

Roy and Evelyn held their ground, arrows flying. But these weren’t ordinary opponents. The robots reached them within seconds, striking with machine precision. Roy caught a hit to the ribs and went down hard. Evelyn fired a taser arrow, then took a brutal kick to the side, sending her tumbling. 

Oliver groaned and stood, drawing two explosive arrows. 

He shouted, “Roy, Evelyn—focus fire on the left one! Hit it together!” 

The two archers scrambled, raised their bows, and loosed. Oliver did the same. The three arrows struck in unison, erupting in a brilliant flash. One robot toppled, armor cracked wide open. Without hesitation, Oliver launched a traditional arrow straight into the breach. 

Sparks flew. The first machine slumped over; its systems were fried. 

The second, wounded but not out, turned toward Oliver. He backed up, trying to reset the distance. 

Then, two more arrows struck its back. 

CRACK 
ZAP. 

Twin taser arrows were discharged, electrocuting the synthetic. It spasmed, then dropped to one knee.  Roy and Evelyn exchanged relieved grins. 

But then... the robot’s optics flickered—and turned a deep, unnatural red. 

Its voice, once neutral, now growled with menace. 

“Lethal Mode Engaged.” 

Oliver’s expression hardened. 

“This just got worse.” 

The surviving combat robot reared up, its optics now glowing a deep, burning red. As the mechanical growl of “Lethal Mode Engaged” echoed across the chamber, it pulled free two brutal weapons from compartments on its forearms— 
A spiked combat baton and a serrated monoblade. 

It no longer viewed Oliver as the primary threat. 

Its focus had shifted to Roy and Evelyn. 

With terrifying speed, it surged forward. 

“ROY! MOVE!” Oliver shouted, but it was already too late. 

The robot closed the gap in seconds. Roy barely raised his arms before the spiked baton struck his ribs—once, twice, three times—each blow delivering the force of a sledgehammer. He staggered, armor cracking under the sheer kinetic energy. Then came a steel-plated boot straight to his chest, launching him backward into stacked crates with a thunderous crash. 

His micromesh Kevlar armor—custom-engineered by Cisco—absorbed the worst of the impact. Designed to withstand high-caliber armor-piercing rounds while retaining mobility, it likely saved his life. But even with the protection, he wasn’t getting up quickly. 

Then it turned on Evelyn. 

“No—” Oliver whispered, helpless for the moment. 

The robot slashed with surgical precision. Evelyn deflected the first strike with her bow, but the second came low—under the guard—and caught the unarmored gap just beneath her shoulder. The blade didn’t go all the way through, but it bit deep into the muscle. 

She screamed.  Still standing, she fired a taser arrow point-blank. 

The current arced through the machine’s outer shell but barely phased it. 

It retaliated with a horizontal sweep at her legs. The armor held—barely—but the sheer force of the blow ripped through the thinner protection along her thigh. Blood sprayed, and Evelyn collapsed, groaning, clutching her leg. 

“EVELYN!” Oliver shouted, breaking from cover. 

He sprinted in, batons drawn, slamming one into the robot’s head with a cracking thunk. It staggered for a second, just long enough. 

“Roy!” Oliver barked, “Get her out of here—NOW! Call Supergirl!” 

Roy coughed hard but nodded, hobbling forward, still winded. He reached Evelyn and threw her arm over his shoulder, gritting his teeth as they slowly stumbled toward the exit. She was still conscious, trying to walk, her face clenched in agony. 

Lex Luthor’s Observation Station – Star City 

“What the hell is happening, Luthor?!” Prometheus roared, slamming his hand against the terminal. 

“One of the bots is down, and the other—we’ve lost control. It’s in lethal combat mode!” Lex spat, fingers flying over the controls. 

Prometheus stepped forward, fury seething beneath his voice. “I thought you programmed them for non-lethal!” 

“I did!” Lex snapped. “But the combination of concussive blasts and electromagnetic disruption from those taser arrows—it must’ve tripped the combat failsafe! It reset the core CPU to default kill protocols!” 

He paused, realization settling in. 

“That robot is now running a direct-line survival routine—autonomous, self-prioritizing, and unshackled.” 

Prometheus’s glare darkened. “So Green Arrow’s on his own now?” 

Lex didn't look up. “Yes. If he survives, it’ll be a miracle. And if he dies… our entire plan dies with him.” 

They both stared at the monitors. Their perfect operation—now hanging by a thread. 

Warehouse Star City  

Oliver was running out of room, and worse, running out of time. 

The combat robot advanced with relentless precision, every step hammering the ground like a countdown to his demise. Oliver ducked and rolled behind crates, sidestepped metal fists, and deflected glancing blows with his reinforced batons. But it was only delaying the inevitable. He couldn’t get the distance he needed to draw and fire. His quiver was nearly empty—only a few taser arrows remained. No explosives. No backup. 

The robot didn’t slow down. It didn't tire. And it wasn’t letting him breathe. 

He needed elevation. Now. 

Oliver’s eyes darted to the missile launcher—the only structure tall enough to reach the overhead catwalks. Without hesitation, he made a break for it, dodging another swipe from the robot’s blade. He vaulted up the launcher’s base, scrambling for grip. 

The robot roared—inhuman and unyielding—and began smashing the missile platform itself, pounding at the structure to dislodge him. 

Not good, Oliver thought. If this thing compromises the warhead, the resulting explosion will lead to a secondary explosion, and we’re all dead then.

He climbed quickly, scaling the launcher frame and then leaping for the catwalk. His hands caught metal, and his body slammed into the railings. Grunting, he hauled himself up, ignoring the pain. From this height, the robot couldn’t reach him. It paced below, circling, searching for a way up. 

Oliver pulled two taser arrows and notched the first, aiming. 

Deep breath. Focus. 

He released. The first struck the robot square in the chest. Sparks arced wildly across its armor. 

The second hit. The machine convulsed violently, systems faltering. 

Oliver allowed himself a breath of relief— 

Until he heard it. 

“Systems compromised. Initiating anti-capture protocol.” 

A small panel on the robot's chest slid open, revealing a pulsing blue core—and a secondary device now glowing red. 

“Self-destruct sequence activated. Ten-second countdown initiated.” 

Oliver’s heart sank. “Damn it.” There was no time to disable it. No time to warn the team. 

He ripped a breaching arrow from his quiver—his last—and fired at the loading dock door below. The impact tore a man-sized hole through the steel. 

Without waiting, he leapt from the catwalk, diving feet-first through the breach just as the timer hit zero. 

The explosion hit like thunder. 

A searing fireball erupted behind him. The concussive force hurled Oliver through the door, slamming him into the asphalt outside. 

He hit the ground hard, and everything went black. 

Inside, the chain reaction from the robot’s detonation triggered a secondary blast from the missile launcher. The entire warehouse went up, a fireball piercing the night sky. A split-second later, a sonic boom cracked through the city as a streak of red and blue tore toward the inferno—Kara. 

But Oliver didn’t see it. He was unconscious. 

Kara’s POV

Kara hovered silently in the night sky, her eyes locked on the building below. 

The guards were secured, and the perimeter was under control. She had done her part. But her heart hadn’t stopped racing since the comms went dark. The last thing she heard was Oliver confirming he’d reached the weapon and begun the disarm sequence. 

And then—nothing. 

Something was wrong. She slowly began to descend, bit by bit, just enough to stay within rapid strike distance while trying to peer through the warehouse’s reinforced roof. She couldn’t see in. She couldn’t hear in. The building had been lined with lead and shielded from every angle. 

Luthor, she thought bitterly. Of course, he’d do this. 

Then she saw it. 

Roy—hobbling, injured, barely on his feet—emerged from the destroyed side of the warehouse, cradling a badly wounded Evelyn in his arms. Curtis and Rory rushed to them, helping stabilize her. 

Kara lowered further, worry overtaking her. Roy looked up. Their eyes met. 

He didn’t have comms.  He didn’t need them. 

His mouth moved clearly: 
“He needs you. Now. He’s fighting combat robots. Go.” 

And then it happened. 

A small explosion. Then another. 

From the loading dock, a blast ripped through the steel as a breaching arrow detonated. Kara’s eyes widened as she saw Oliver leap through the hole. 

Behind him— 
A second explosion. 
Much larger. It threw Oliver like a ragdoll across the concrete. He hit hard. Unmoving. 

Then— 
The warehouse went up. A fireball burst from the roof, sending shockwaves through the Glades and lighting the skyline in an apocalyptic glow. 

“ARROW!!!” Kara screamed, her voice shattering the silence like a thunderclap. The fear in her cry brought the entire team to a state of stillness. 

In a blur of red and blue, she rocketed downward, hitting the ground milliseconds before the fire reached him. She wrapped her arms around Oliver, curling her body protectively over his. The explosion washed over her, but she held. 

The building erupted behind them. Shrapnel flew. Windows shattered.  But she didn’t move. Not until it was over. 

The building burned with an intensity that threatened to consume everything. Kara turned her face toward the blaze, narrowing her eyes. 

With a guttural roar, she unleashed her cold breath, unleashing glacial temperatures that would make the Ice Age feel like spring. 

The flames hissed, choked, and died. The towering inferno was replaced by frost and silence. 

He wasn’t waking up.  Tears welled in her eyes. 

“No... No, please. My Light—please, wake up.” Her voice trembled as she whispered against his cheek. “I need you... Please don’t leave me.” Her arms tightened around him. “I can’t do this without you...” 

She pressed a kiss to his forehead, shaking, her body trembling with grief, she began focusing her hearing on his heartbeat. It’s their but weak. And then— A flicker of movement. His eyes fluttered open. Kara gasped. He blinked slowly, his vision blurry; the only thing he could see was her face above him, framed by the firelight, her eyes full of tears. She looked like an angel. 

His hand moved instinctively, brushing the tears from her cheek. 

“Angel... What’s wrong? Why are you crying?” he whispered, his voice rough, but gentle. 

Kara couldn’t answer. She leaned into his touch. 

Then his senses snapped back. He saw the wreckage. Realized what had happened. She had saved him. And she was breaking. 

His hand cradled her face. “Kara... Supergirl... look around.” 

Kara turned her head. She hadn’t noticed. The rest of Team Arrow stood in stunned silence—Curtis, Rory, Diggle, Roy... all staring and watching and processing what they were seeing. 

A moment unguarded. The way she held him. The way he touched her. The way they looked at each other. It wasn’t friendship.

Diggle, ever the soldier, broke the silence. He stepped forward and issued the order—calm, firm, saving them from unraveling right then and there. 

“Supergirl—get Green Arrow and Artemis back to the bunker. Everyone else is with me. I’m calling it in.” 

Kara nodded, still shaken. 

She gently lifted Oliver into her arms, rising into the air with him. Her heart was still racing, but she had him. He was alive. That was all that mattered. 

She floated toward Evelyn’s side to carry them both to safety. 

Lex Luthor’s Observation Station – Star City 

Lex stood still, Prometheus beside him. What had begun as horror—the explosion, the destruction—had shifted to revelation. They saw Supergirl cradle Green Arrow with reverence. Saw her cry. Saw her kiss him. Lex thought they had what was needed. 

Lex smirked. 

Chapter Text

Under Watchful Eyes

Chapter 5

Moira Queen Addresses the Fallout at the Raid Site

The news cycle exploded across the nation.

“Massive Explosion in Star City: Supergirl and Team Arrow Raid Weapons Warehouse”
“No Casualties Reported, But Injuries Feared Among Vigilantes”
“Many in the country raise questions about the militarization of vigilante operations.”

From Central City to Gotham, National City to Coast City, even the evening segments in Washington, D.C., headlines echoed the same urgent refrain: Star City had erupted overnight in a flash of fire and confusion. And at the heart of it all, Team Arrow and Supergirl.

Down at the smoking ruins of the warehouse, Mayor Moira Queen stood composed amid the chaos. Though emergency crews scrambled and investigators sifted through scorched steel and collapsed debris, she remained a steady presence—poised and unflinching, even in heels.

This wasn’t a surprise visit. As Mayor of Star City, Moira had come to personally oversee the response to what was now officially classified as a sanctioned raid requested by the mayor's office. She insisted on being briefed on the ground, not from behind a desk. The explosion had rattled the city, shaken the trust of its people, and left countless questions—questions the media and public would expect her to answer by morning.

Flanking her were Thea Queen, her daughter and newly appointed Chief of Staff, and Deputy Mayor Quentin Lance, both quietly alert, their expressions tight.

Quentin stood quietly at Moira’s side, observing the first responders with the eye of a former cop and a father who’d seen too many crime scenes turn personal. The smell of scorched metal and chemical smoke hung heavy in the air.

Moira took it all in with practiced control—the Queen matriarch through and through. She’d weathered corporate scandal, assassination attempts, and a siege on the city once before. She wasn’t here just for show. She was here to send a message: Star City would not be shaken.

But even as she gave orders and listened to damage reports, her thoughts strayed. She was here as Mayor… but also as a mother. In the background, Star City Police kept the perimeter secured while crime scene teams crept through scorched metal and concrete. There was no longer any fire—Supergirl had extinguished it quickly—but the devastation was unmistakable.

Before leaving the site, John Diggle met privately with Moira to brief her. His report was concise, but troubling.

The weapon was destroyed—not intentionally, but due to a secondary explosion triggered by combat robots, an ambush. Oliver had nearly been caught in the blast. Supergirl saved him.

Moira's expression didn’t flinch—years dealing with Malcolm Merlyn had taught her the value of masks—but inside, her instincts burned. What Diggle said next unsettled her more than the destruction.

Kara’s reaction.

He hadn’t described it in detail, but Moira could read between the lines. Kara had panicked—publicly, emotionally. For someone usually so measured, so perfectly curated for press and public, that said everything.

Moira understood why. She knew the truth.
Kara hadn’t been protecting a teammate.

She’d been protecting her husband.

Diggle didn’t know. Not explicitly. But he suspected something. And if he did… the rest of Team Arrow would follow. This would have to be contained. Quietly. Carefully.

She stepped toward the gathered media, her composure absolute. A podium had been rushed to the edge of the perimeter. Cameras flashed. Microphones adjusted. The moment demanded leadership, and she delivered.

“I want to begin by addressing what occurred last night,” Moira said, her voice firm but composed. “With the full support of the Mayor’s Office and in partnership with Star City law enforcement, Team Arrow—assisted by Supergirl—intercepted an illegal weapons transfer occurring within our city limits.”

She allowed the weight of her words to settle before continuing.

“We received this intelligence from federal partners and confirmed its validity through our assets. The weapons recovered-or rather, destroyed—were advanced, high-grade military stock, potentially destined for foreign interests.”

There was a subtle shift in her tone. This next part was deliberate. Tactical. A chess move.

“Supergirl’s involvement was not incidental. In addition to the conventional weapons, our intelligence indicated the presence of a far more dangerous device—one specifically engineered to harm Kryptonians. Given the threat such a weapon posed not only to Supergirl and Superman but to the public at large, it was both necessary and prudent for one of them to be involved.”

She looked down briefly at her notes, then back up with calm clarity.

“We do have leads as to who may be behind this operation, but it remains an open investigation. I cannot disclose any details.”

Moira’s eyes scanned the reporters with the same practiced grace that once dominated Queen Consolidated boardrooms.

“I will now take questions.”

SCN – Susan Williams, Star City News Reporter:

“There are eyewitness reports that Supergirl was seen carrying injured members of Team Arrow to safety. Can you confirm this and identify who was involved?”

Moira Queen stood straight, her voice calm yet laced with restrained concern.

“At this time, I cannot confirm the full extent of Team Arrow’s injuries, only that no one was fatally wounded or killed. We are grateful for that.”

She maintained perfect posture, but those who knew her well—like Thea—could see the flicker of tension behind her eyes. Her thoughts were with Oliver.

National City Tribune Reporter William  Dey:

“You mentioned Supergirl’s involvement. Is she all right? And can you confirm whether the weapon was destroyed?”

Moira nodded, her tone smooth and polished.

“From all accounts, Supergirl is unharmed. As for the weapon, yes—it has been destroyed. That threat is no longer present.”

Star City Sentinel Reporter - Avery Goldman:

“Was the weapon’s destruction part of the plan—or did the situation spiral out of control?”

Moira responded carefully, shaping her words with intent.

“And You are?”

Surprised by her direct manner, he quietly stated his name: “Avery Goldmen, Star City Santiel.”

“While we hoped to recover the weapons—particularly the one engineered to harm Kryptonians—they were destroyed in the ensuing crossfire between Team Arrow and a well-armed defense force hired to protect them.”

She intentionally avoided the phrase “combat robots.” No need to tip Lex Luthor off that she suspected his involvement.

“Daily Planet Reporter - Ron Troup, you stated the weapon posed a specific risk to Kryptonians. Why wasn’t Superman called in to assist?”

Moira’s expression didn’t shift, but her internal reaction was sharp. Like Oliver, she had little affection for Superman, especially after how he'd treated Kara in her early days.

“I understand the concern. But the answer is simple: Team Arrow has built a strong, cohesive working relationship with Supergirl, as well as with The Flash in Central City. As you may recall, several prominent journalists who have been able to profile the three heroes and described them as having a bond akin to family.”

That was deliberate—tactful.
A strategic reminder that Kara’s connection to Oliver was professional and platonic, like siblings in the public eye.

“Team Arrow is more than comfortable requesting Supergirl’s aid when necessary and believes she operates exceptionally well within high-stakes, team-based dynamics. They trust her. As do I. While Superman is an excellent protector for Metropolis in my opinion he lacks team dynamic experience. Unlike Supergirl who regularly operates in team Dynamic”

A faint, knowing smile touched her lips—a smirk she quickly buried beneath a polished, diplomatic expression.

Moira fielded several more questions with the grace of someone born for crisis management. When the last reporter stepped back, she turned from the cameras and rejoined Star City PD officials, already moving toward the evidence technicians with Thea and Quentin beside her.

The press conference had done what it needed to.

She had defended Supergirl and protected Oliver. And carefully steered the narrative away from any hint of the truth.

The Alex Danvers apartment – National City

Alex stared at the news broadcast in stunned disbelief.

She had no idea Kara was in Star City.

Mayor Moira Queen had directly acknowledged Supergirl’s involvement, confirming she worked alongside Team Arrow during the raid. But what stopped Alex cold was the mention of a weapon designed to harm Kryptonians—something Kara had never once mentioned.

What kind of weapon? What did it do? Who created it?
Why hadn’t Kara told her? Why?

Alex was flooded with questions—and had no answers.

Her phone buzzed. A message from J’onn:

“Did you know about the Star City raid? Was Kara involved?”

Alex could only stare at it.

Yes, Kara technically worked with the DEO, but she was still considered a contractor, not full-time field personnel. Even so, if a weapon capable of killing her had been in play, shouldn't Kara have called? Told her something? Anything?

Then again… maybe Alex wasn’t surprised at all.

Kara had always been secretive about Star City. Even during her early journalism days, when “The Hood”—Oliver Queen—first began his crusade, Kara had remained tight-lipped. That silence continued over the years, widening the emotional and professional distance between them when it came to anything involving Oliver or Star City.

Alex knew how Oliver felt about the DEO.
She also knew, to a lesser degree, how he viewed her.
And whether Kara realized it or not, that influence mattered.

That was the problem.

The influence Oliver Queen had over her sister.

It wasn’t just tactical—it was personal. Emotional. There was a closeness between them that Alex couldn’t quite define. Something unspoken, almost instinctive, passed between Oliver and Kara when they fought side by side. Their connection was precise, fluid, and deeply attuned—like two people who didn’t just train together, but who trusted each other with something sacred. And because of that influence, Alex quietly initiated a passive behavioral analysis protocol, not out of suspicion—but out of love. If something threatened Kara’s well-being, Alex needed to understand what it was. And who.

And right now? This raid. That weapon. The secrecy. It all felt like everything had spiraled out of control, and Kara was right in the middle of it.

Her phone lit up again. A message from Clark:

“I didn’t know about the threat in Star City. Did you know Kara was involved?”

Alex replied:

“No. I had no idea.” Texting Back to Clark.

He, too, did not know about the Star City raid, and as he continued pressing Alex with questions she couldn’t answer, she could feel his growing frustration. She understood it—understood him. Kara hadn’t reached out to him either, and that silence weighed heavily.

Alex realized, with some quiet ache, that Kara had deliberately left both her and Clark out of the loop. It wasn’t just an oversight—it was a choice. And that choice stung.

To Alex, it felt like Kara didn’t fully trust either of them—not when it came to Star City, Team Arrow, or whatever was happening between her and Oliver.

The only people outside of Star City who probably knew Kara were likely Team Flash and The Flash himself. But Alex knew she wouldn’t get any helpful information from them. Team Flash, even though technically independent, still operated under Oliver Queen’s influence to some degree. And The Flash? He was clearly under Oliver’s direct control.

And that realization unsettled her. She didn’t honestly know Oliver Queen. Outside the Queen family, it seemed Kara might be the only person who did. Still trying to reach her sister, Alex made another call—but Kara’s phone went straight to voicemail again.

That’s when Eliza Danvers called.

“Mom… yes, I saw the news.”
“No, I didn’t know Kara was in Star City.”
“Yes, it appears there was a legitimate threat to her… the reports say the weapon’s destroyed.”
“No, I can’t reach her either. Her phone’s off.”
“Mom… I know I’ve worked with Team Arrow and Team Flash, but Kara knows them better than I do, okay?”

Alex paused, trying to keep her voice calm.

“The Mayor said Kara wasn’t injured. That’s a relief. I’ll let her know to call you the moment I get through, I promise.”
“I love you too, Mom.”

She ended the call and exhaled slowly. What was she going to do about Kara?

It was clear now—something had to change. Oliver Queen's influence over her sister needed to be addressed. But would Kara even listen? Her history with Team Arrow, Team Flash, both effective under Oliver's control, and with Oliver specifically suggested she was deeply committed to him.

And that led Alex to a disturbing line of thought: How deep did this influence go?

Alex didn’t doubt that Oliver meant well and not evil. But his hold on Kara had gone unchecked for too long. And now, after a raid involving a Kryptonian-killing weapon and a media firestorm, the consequences of that influence were impossible to ignore.

Still stewing, Alex pulled on her jacket, grabbed her keys, and headed to the DEO. It was time for Star City herself to review the raid reports.

StarLabs – Team Flash

Barry stared at the screen, watching Mayor Moira Queen’s interview unfold again. Her calm measured voice didn’t ease the knot tightening in his chest. He clenched his jaw, guilt swirling beneath his usual optimism. He cursed under his breath. He should’ve been there.

Kara and Oliver had walked straight into a trap, and he hadn’t even known about the op until hours later. Central City had been a disaster zone all day—meta after meta, each crisis more chaotic than the last. He hadn’t gotten control of things until nearly midnight. By the time he finally checked his phone, it was already over.

And the damage was done.

Cisco patched into the comms through Felicity and gave Barry a quiet rundown. Oliver had nearly been killed. Kara had shielded him from the explosion.

The whole thing smelled wrong. “It felt like a trap,” Barry said to himself. “But I don’t know who it was for.”

Cisco didn’t either. Right now, Caitlin was at Team Arrow’s Bunker patching up both Oliver and Evelyn. She seemed to be the worst off, but would recover in a couple of weeks. Oliver got knocked out. Caitlin said there was no concussion and that he should rest in the Med Bay.

So, Why Oliver? There were easier ways to draw him out. Stage a hit on a city official. Leak intel about a new League splinter. Something subtle. Tactical. But this?

A massive weapons deal—with a Kryptonian-killing weapon thrown into the mix? That didn’t just catch Oliver’s attention. It guaranteed Kara’s involvement.

If someone wanted to get to Kara, why not go after her directly? She lived in National City. Her movements were public. Her allies were known. Trying to drag her across cities using Oliver as bait was inefficient and dangerous.

Unless whoever planned this knew exactly what would get Kara’s attention—and exactly who she would never let walk into danger alone, Barry’s mind moved like clockwork, the forensic logic kicking in alongside every instinct Joe West had ever taught him.

Team Arrow said the intel from the Mayor’s office pointed to Lex Luthor, but he is still in jail, according to the last check. He will need to check with Joe on this matter.

With him still in jail, all signs pointed to Lex Luthor. And if Lex was shifting his focus from Superman to Supergirl, he was escalating—fast. But even that didn’t fully add up.

Lex had never once been involved in Star City before. He despised aliens, yes—but his vendettas were always centered on Clark. So why now? Why here?

Why Oliver? And then the realization crept in.

“If this was meant to get Kara involved… it wasn’t really about the weapon. It was about Oliver, or Kara, or even both.” Barry sat back, heart sinking. Whoever planned this didn't just want a fight. They wanted to expose something. Or someone. He thought about Kara—her loyalty, her bravery, her unwavering commitment to those she loved. And he felt about Oliver—gruff, guarded, impossible to read unless you knew him.

And Barry did know them. Both of them. They were his best friends.

To Barry, Oliver was the older brother he never asked for—and Kara, the little sister he’d protect with his life. They were opposites.
Oliver was the storm. Kara was the sun.

Except when they were around each other.  Then Oliver softened. And Kara… she just glowed differently. Barry’s lips twitched, remembering a night that had nothing to do with war or traps. Just laughter, drinks, and a rooftop in Central City…

Flashback – A Rooftop Bar in Central City, Three Heroes Unwind

The city skyline twinkled beneath them as the three of them leaned against the rooftop bar railing, the soft thrum of music and city life providing a peaceful hum in the background. Kara laughed at something Barry said while Oliver, ever the brooding one, wandered off toward the bar to get another round of drinks.

It was rare for them to all get time together—just the three of them. No missions. No world-ending crisis. Just friends, stories, and drinks.

Kara glanced over her shoulder, watching Oliver's back as he moved through the crowd with practiced ease. His coat flared slightly as he walked—always alert, always composed.

Barry followed her gaze, a teasing smile spreading across his face.

“You know,” he started, nudging her gently with his elbow, “you should ask him out sometime.”

Kara blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

“Come on. You and Oliver? You’d look good together,” Barry grinned, sipping from his glass. “He’s different when you’re around. Less… grumpy. I mean, still Oliver, but with a little less scowl.”

Kara blushed, immediately looking down at her drink.

“Barry…” she said with a small laugh, “Oliver and I are just… really good friends. Like you and me.”

Barry raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Mmm. Nah. You and I are like PB&J—classic, dependable, sweet. You and Oliver? That’s more like... thunder and wildfire. Not the same vibe.”

Kara laughed again, this time more awkwardly.

“You’ve been spending way too much time with Cisco.”

“Probably,” Barry admitted. “But seriously, I’m just saying—whatever it is between you two, it’s different. Not bad-different. Just... different. He looks at you like you’re his compass.”

Kara’s smile softened, but something flickered in her eyes. She took a long sip of her drink, stalling for a moment.

She shook her head lightly, brushing it off with another laugh. “You’re imagining things, Barry.”

“Maybe,” he said, holding her gaze for a moment. Then, more sincerely, “Whatever you decide… whoever you choose, or don’t choose—I just want you to be happy. You deserve that, Kara.”

She smiled at that. A real one this time. “Thanks, Barry. That means a lot.”

A breeze stirred her hair as Oliver returned, handing her a fresh drink and setting one down for Barry.

“What did I miss?” Oliver asked.

“Just telling Kara she should probably buy a motorcycle and join a biker gang,” Barry quipped.

Kara coughed on her drink, Oliver raising an eyebrow suspiciously.

“You’re spending too much time with Cisco,” Oliver said flatly.

“He’s a bad influence,” Kara added, grinning into her glass.

Barry held up his hands.

“Hey, I only speak the truth.”

As the three of them eased back into conversation, Kara caught Oliver’s eye over the rim of her drink. Just a flicker—a glance filled with warmth and something more profound. She held it for a moment longer than necessary, then turned back to Barry.

She wouldn’t tell him tonight. But maybe one day.

For now, the secret was hers—and Oliver’s. And somehow, that made it all the more special.

~FlashBack ended~

Barry smiled faintly as the memory played in his head—that night on the rooftop, teasing Kara about asking out Oliver. Even then, the chemistry was evident. The way she looked at Oliver. The way Oliver, despite all his brooding, lit up just a little when Kara was near.

He tried calling Kara now, but there was no answer.
Oliver? Same. Straight to voicemail. Honestly? Not surprising.

When he checked in with Caitlin to get a status update on Oliver and Evelyn, her voice was quiet but knowing.

“Kara’s been by his side the whole time,” Caitlin had said.
“She only gets up to grab food or check on Evelyn. Then she’s right back next to him. She   looks... lost in thought.”

Barry exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. Maybe this was it.
Maybe Kara was finally coming to terms with what she felt for Oliver.

After everything—the battle with Reign, the emotional fallout, this latest near-death ambush—it felt like the time had come. Maybe now she’d finally let herself open up to him. They both deserved to be happy.

It still stunned Barry that they weren’t together already. Since he’d known them, neither had dated seriously—but they always circled each other, deeply protective, fiercely loyal. It was so obvious they cared about each other more than just as teammates.

At first, Barry had thought Mon-El might be a decent match for Kara. On paper, it made sense—same physical strength, similar background. But in reality? Kara always seemed… uncomfortable. The flirtation, the attention, the subtle posturing, it wasn’t her style. She never looked at Mon-El the way she looked at Oliver.

Barry remembered joking about it once to Oliver—something light, nothing serious.
The look Oliver gave him? Nearly lethal.

He’d never liked Mon-El. Thought he was immature. That he was hiding something. Turns out Oliver was right on both counts.

Even Barry eventually realized how poorly Mon-El was suited for Kara. Yes, he helped defeat his mother, and sure, he matured a little in the end—but his attitude toward Kara? That’s what doomed them.

When Mon-El left, Barry swore Oliver looked almost relieved. Then Mon-El reappeared. Time travel. Thirty-first century. Married. Barry remembered how Oliver and Kara had exchanged glances—equal parts surprised and amused.

“Interesting,” Kara had said.
Oliver’s answer? Just a dry grunt. But Barry caught the subtle lift of his eyebrow. That was Oliver-speak for satisfaction.

With a chuckle, Barry stood and stretched. “Guess I’m finishing early today.” He didn’t say it aloud, but the decision was made.

He was going to Star City tonight.
To check in.
To see them.
To be there.

And to make sure Oliver didn’t grumble too much about the surprise, he’d bring food.

Food always worked, especially with those two.

Bruce Wayne – Gotham City, Batcave

Bruce sat in the Batcave, eyes narrowed as he scanned the latest reports on his main display. For the first time in a long time, he’d been caught off guard.

He hadn’t known about the raid.
He hadn’t known about the weapons transfer.
And he definitely hadn’t known a Kryptonian-busting weapon was part of the cache.

That wasn’t just an intelligence gap. That was deliberate misdirection—a highly orchestrated disinformation campaign meant to keep certain people in the dark. And Bruce knew exactly who could pull off something that precise.

Lex Luthor.

Only Luthor had the resources, the ego, and the obsession to thread a needle like this—keeping Star City’s operation so tightly contained that it triggered only specific responses.

Team Arrow.
And by extension, Supergirl.

Bruce leaned back in his chair, already forming a list in his mind. He needed Barbara to monitor Luthor’s movements immediately. This wasn’t just opportunistic. Lex was searching for something. The question was: what?

And worse—why now?

His focus shifted to the real concern: Oliver and Kara.

Clark had confirmed it—he didn’t know about the raid. Neither did Alex, which meant Kara intentionally kept her family out of the loop. She decided to go silent. To keep it between herself, Oliver, and their inner circle. That alone spoke volumes.

Bruce already suspected there was something romantic between them—something deeper than teammates or allies. But he may have underestimated just how far that bond had developed.

Marriage wasn’t out of the question.

If they were keeping it well hidden, even from him, that said something. And this raid? It was the first tangible proof he had. Kara hadn’t informed anyone connected to her family or DEO ties. That level of secrecy wasn’t impulsive—it was strategic.

Only one other group might’ve known: Team Flash. Given how closely the two teams worked and how much Barry looked up to Oliver, it wasn’t surprising. Still, it confirmed something critical—the divide between Kara’s public identity and her true loyalties.

From a tactical standpoint, Bruce wasn’t rattled. He wasn’t much of a team player himself, aside from the occasional coordination with Clark. Clark was similar—more hopeful, sure, but methodical when it counted. But this? This wasn’t just about team dynamics.

Someone put considerable effort into baiting both Kara and Oliver. And it worked.
They gambled that Kara would respond instead of Clark.
And they were right.

Bruce narrowed his eyes.

“Is Luthor trying to expose something between them?”
“And if so, to what end?”

One name floated to the surface: Prometheus.

Bruce wouldn’t put it past Prometheus to exploit Lex’s campaign for his own agenda—or worse, to be working with him. Prometheus was clearly trying to understand Oliver on a personal level. He wanted leverage for his games, and if he found a connection to Kara, he would not hesitate to exploit it.

Bruce turned back to the terminal and began typing.

He needed more data. He couldn’t let Luthor hold leverage over Oliver—or worse, over Kara.

She was already lethal as a warrior—made more dangerous by Oliver’s training. She was willing to cross lines even Clark wouldn’t. That alone made her more unpredictable… and more formidable.

The difference? Kara knew that. She accepted it. She'd even planned for it.

Bruce’s files on the Red Sun weapons used against Non and the Kryptonians, and later on the Daxamites, confirmed as much. Even if those weapons weren’t always entirely effective, Kara and Oliver had contingencies—not to kill Kara, but to neutralize her.

And Oliver? He didn’t carry Kryptonite. He didn’t want to.

To Bruce, that was reassuring. Oliver wasn’t blinded by affection. He trained Kara. Prepared for worst-case scenarios. But he trusted her. And she trusted him enough to let him.

Bruce touched his chin, deep in thought.

They were an odd pair—grit and grace, shadow and starlight.  But somehow, it worked.
And more than that, they had something real. He saw it clearly at the Gala.

Spousal energy.  Shared looks. Unified presence. Silent communication.

They weren’t trying to make it work—they already had. Now, it was about protecting what they’d built.

Bruce stood, picking up his phone.

“Barbara,” he said as soon as she answered. “Start monitoring former LexCorp assets and accounts for activity. Quietly. He’s up to something.”

He ended the call and immediately dialed again.

“Dick. I need eyes on Luthor’s assets—contacts, shell accounts, tech transfers, anything in your corner of the map. If you find something, send it to Oracle; we will funnel all of it here.”

He set the phone down, the gears in his mind already turning faster. The pieces were in motion. The players on the board.

And Bruce Wayne would make sure neither Kara nor Oliver paid the price for someone else’s game.

Lena Luthor – National City, L-Corp

It was everywhere.

National City’s news stations, papers, blogs, and talk shows—everyone was dissecting the raid in Star City.

And Lena couldn’t look away.

She had helped make that raid possible. It was her intel that sent Team Arrow there. And now… there’d been an explosion. Injuries. Damage. Fallout.

The fallout left Lena riddled with guilt. For the first time, her actions had led directly to consequences on the ground.

Typically, when she supported Supergirl, her intel served as supplemental—secondary information meant to reinforce existing intelligence, offering clarity or credibility, but never being the sole catalyst for a mission. This time was different. This time, the operation had moved forward based primarily on her analysis. And now people were hurt because of it.

Worse still, Lena couldn’t shake the feeling that her family’s legacy had played a role. The Luthor name always seemed to cast a long shadow, and today it had followed her into something she believed she’d done for good.

The only thing keeping her from spiraling into a breakdown was the knowledge that, while serious, the injuries were not fatal. Everyone was expected to recover—she hoped.

She needed answers. She needed to reach out to Kara, and soon.

The story probably wouldn’t have exploded like this if Supergirl hadn’t been involved. That was the tipping point.

Most of the media outside of CatCo seemed blindsided. To them, Star City was Green Arrow’s territory—his wars were street-level, human, and largely disconnected from alien affairs. Supergirl’s sudden involvement didn’t fit their narrative.

CatCo, on the other hand, had been ahead of the curve. For years, they’d reported that Supergirl, Green Arrow, and The Flash worked closely together when crises crossed jurisdictional lines. But no one had paid much attention… until now.

Mayor Moira Queen’s interview had poured gasoline on the fire—confirming both the raid and Supergirl’s presence.

Now, speculation was spiraling.

News segments and social media timelines were filled with conspiracy theories about how often Supergirl had been spotted in Star City and Central City. Some even theorized she might be dating the Flash. A few outliers proposed she could be involved with Green Arrow—but most dismissed the idea outright.

“What would Supergirl have in common with someone like him?” they scoffed.

Lena sat alone in her office, guilt and frustration twisting through her gut.

“This was my intel,” she thought bitterly. “And maybe… maybe that’s exactly what Lex wanted.”

She stared blankly at her monitor, piecing it together.

Lex had baited them. Not just Kara. All of them.

But why?

Taking out Green Arrow didn’t make sense. By all accounts, he was just a man. A threat, sure, but not one that ever seemed to warrant Lex’s attention. Lex never even meddled in Gotham—and Batman is real. Lena had the data to prove it, even if most of the world still thought he was some urban legend.

No—Kara had been the target. It made more sense. Lex hated aliens. But he hated Kryptonians most of all. There were only two left now—Clark and Kara. And with Kara as the more publicly accessible figure, she was the easier target.

And if Lena knew her brother—and she did—he probably also assumed Kara would be the easier kill.

“Because she’s a woman,” Lena realized, disgust curling her lips.
“Because he thinks that makes her weak.”

“Lex is making a fatal mistake,” Lena said quietly, her voice laced with equal parts frustration and certainty. “He’s underestimating Kara—not because she’s Kryptonian, but because she’s a woman. He assumes Kryptonian history mirrors Earth’s, that women were kept in the background, sidelined in leadership. But he’s wrong. On Krypton, the great houses were often led by women—matriarchs who wielded influence, commanded science and military divisions, and preserved their family legacies through strength and strategy.”

Kara comes from that legacy. She’s not some anomaly—she’s descended from generations of powerful women. And if Lex thinks he can manipulate or break her the way he’s broken men, he’s going to learn just how different she is… and how much stronger.

Lena suspected Kara had been training under Green Arrow for some time now. That thought was as awe-inspiring as it was terrifying. His methods were brutal, precise, and often deadly. If he’d passed even half of that on to Kara…

“Lex has no idea what he’s walking into.”

Still, some things didn’t add up. If Lex really wanted to kill Kara, he didn’t need to stage a raid in Star City. He could’ve targeted her in National City, where she was more exposed. Instead, he drew her out—and brought in Green Arrow. And The Flash, inevitably.

No… this wasn’t just about Kara.

Lex wants Green Arrow involved. Maybe even needing him involved. And then there was the explosion. Sloppy. Out of sync with how Lex operated. He wasn’t reckless—he was surgical. If something went wrong, it meant either Lex had help—or he was adapting on the fly.

That made him even more dangerous.

Lena shivered slightly, sinking deeper into her chair.

“Whatever Lex is planning… it involves Team Arrow. It involves Kara. And if I don’t figure it out soon…”

She didn’t finish the thought. She didn’t have to. Her hands moved quickly over the keyboard. She had work to do. The DEO’s comms still needed repairing. Lex’s moves required tracking.

And the digital ghost she’d found—Kara’s access ID pinging inside Queen Consolidated’s secure systems—would have to wait. It didn’t seem malicious. Not yet. But Lena couldn’t ignore it forever.

She made a mental note to continue her attempts to decrypt the packet headers and try to trace its origin.
Because if she was right—and Kara and Oliver were working closer than anyone knew—it wasn’t just a mystery anymore.

It was a secret war. And Lex Luthor had just declared it.

The Bunker – Team Arrow – Star City

Roy, Rory, Curtis, and Rene sat together in heavy silence.

They had all seen it—the aftermath of the raid. The destruction. The injuries. But what they were really wrestling with wasn’t just what happened. It was what they had witnessed. Something unspoken. Something more.

Diggle and Felicity were off analyzing the data, focused on logistics and reconstruction. Oliver was still in the medical bay. Caitlin Snow, brought in by Team Flash, was tending to both him and Evelyn, who had taken a brutal beating at the hands of the combat robots. Neither is going anywhere anytime soon.

But someone else had stayed behind, too.

Kara.

She hadn't left Oliver’s side. She moved between his bed and Evelyn’s, checking on both, but it was clear where her heart was anchored. The concern in her eyes said everything. And the team noticed.

They had seen the explosion—the first blast tearing through the loading dock doors, the second threatening to finish Oliver off. Kara had shielded him, using her body to protect him from the worst of it. That alone wasn’t surprising. She would risk herself for any of them.

But what happened after? That was what none of them could stop thinking about.

They had rounded the corner in the aftermath and found Kara on her knees, crying—not just tears, but sobbing—pleading with Oliver to wake up. They saw her lean in and kiss his forehead, whispering for him to come back to her. And then… they saw Oliver stir.

The way he looked at her—soft, vulnerable, eyes full of affection. He reached up, gently cradling her face, and she leaned into his touch as though it grounded her. The look they shared wasn’t one of teammates. It wasn’t a duty. It wasn’t friendship.

It was love.

No one said it out loud. Not yet. However, they all knew what they had seen.

Even Roy had never seen that side of Oliver before.

“Look,” Roy started, breaking the silence. “I know we all want to talk about what we saw. But what did we really see? Oliver was unconscious. Kara was emotional. They’re close—they’re good friends.”

He was trying to believe it himself. For years, he’d seen little moments—unguarded exchanges between Oliver and Kara. He’d written them off as the bond between two warriors, between friends who had each other’s backs.

But now? It was hard to justify what he saw as just friendship.

“Look, Dog,” Rene cut in, blunt as ever. “I don’t look at my friends like that. No offense, but that was something else.”

“Dude," Rene added, leaning back. “I’ve only been on this team a few months, but I know when two people are into each other. Could be a tight friendship, sure—but that looked more like a friends with benefits arrangement.”

Roy gave him a sharp look.

“Really, Rene? That’s your theory? Supergirl and the Green Arrow on a ‘friends with benefits’ plan?” Curtis laughed, waving off the suggestion.

“Come on, let’s not jump to conclusions,” Roy said firmly. “Whatever they are… if there’s something between them, that’s their business. As long as it doesn’t affect the mission, we leave it alone.”

Rory grunted in agreement.

“He’s right. If they’re together, they’ve been keeping it quiet—and honestly? It’s working. Doesn’t look like it’s getting in the way. Could be a one-off. Maybe Kara’s just emotional after what she went through with Reign.”

Curtis, always the thoughtful one, tilted his head. “Or maybe… this was her breaking point. Maybe it scared her—seeing someone she cares about that much almost die. Maybe now… she’s ready to admit how she feels.”

That hung in the air for a moment. Roy looked around at them—his team.

“Alright. Here’s what we do: We move on. If something’s there, they’ll come to us when they’re ready. We’re not here to gossip. We’re here to support them—whatever it is.”

The others nodded in agreement. They said nothing more. But none of them could look at Kara and Oliver the same way again.  Because they all knew—they saw something real.

The Bunker – Diggle’s Quarters-

Diggle sat alone in his quarters, the quiet hum of the bunker his only company. He had just returned from checking on Oliver and Evelyn. Both were stable. Caitlin Snow, ever reliable and calm, had taken point in their treatment.

Oliver had a series of hairline fractures, deep bruising, and blunt trauma from the combat bots—but nothing life-threatening. Caitlin had assured him that a few weeks of downtime would have Oliver back in action.

Evelyn’s injuries were more serious. She’d taken a harsher beating—deep lacerations, extensive bruising. Caitlin had stitched the wounds and confirmed, using the enhanced imaging scanners, that there was no internal bleeding or organ damage. She’d recover, though her time away from the field would be longer.

Diggle’s eyes drifted shut for a moment, thinking back. After Laurel’s death at the hands of Damien Darhk, Oliver had changed. He’d blamed himself for not being prepared for not having something—anything—that could have saved her. So he had upgraded everything.

Suits, first-aid capabilities, and field triage protocols. And most importantly—the med bay.

He had pushed Felicity, Cisco, Caitlin, and Kara to help design a system that could diagnose and stabilize a critically injured team member without risking a hospital trip. The Kryptonian-enhanced imaging scanner was part of that effort. It could detect internal injuries, organ damage, fractures—everything they needed to make immediate decisions.

Laurel had died in a hospital due to complication and her being expose as the Black Canary. At the time the Bunker like the medical facilities to save Laural. But Oliver had sworn no one else would be lost on his watch. And now… those upgrades had just saved two lives. But what Diggle couldn’t stop thinking about had nothing to do with tech.

It was what he saw in the med bay.

Kara, still in her Supergirl uniform. Diggle had seen something that went beyond friendship. Beyond field loyalty. He’d seen affection. Deep. Raw. Unspoken—but unmistakable.

He thought back to it, the image sharp in his mind.

Maybe it was the stress of almost losing a close friend. Perhaps it was just high emotion. Maybe it was a one-time moment.

But Diggle had been around long enough to know better.

They felt like a couple. They looked at each other like a couple. They carried themselves like a couple when they thought no one was looking.

What he witnessed tonight clearly demonstrated love in that brief moment of unguarded emotional expression.

Still, for Diggle, nothing changed where it mattered. They were a team. A damn good one. They had saved lives, endured loss, and pulled each other back from the edge more times than he could count. Whatever Kara and Oliver were to each other, it hadn’t affected the mission. Not once.

He hoped one day they would come forward.
Not because they were caught—
But because they didn’t have to hide anymore.

Felicity Smoak – Operations Terminal, The Bunker

Felicity sat back at the operations terminal, fingers hovering over the keyboard, her eyes locked on the flood of data scrolling across the screen. The adrenaline had worn off—but the unease hadn’t. This almost cost Oliver his life. If it hadn’t been for Kara, he might not have made it out. She kept asking herself the same question, over and over: what went wrong?

Oliver had mentioned combat robots, and the way he described their tactics sent a chill down her spine. These weren’t just machines—they were advanced. Purposeful. Almost… adaptive. Based on how they engaged, she believed they were augmented with limited soft AI, designed specifically for high-level threat suppression.

Oliver had said that when he managed to damage one, its behavior shifted—it became more aggressive, more dangerous. That meant they had multiple combat modes.

The initial attack, then, wasn’t meant to kill. It was non-lethal by design—meant to distract, delay, and injure. But not eliminate.

So why hold him there? What was the goal?

She reviewed all the telemetry from outside the building. No signs of reinforcements. No heat signatures in the perimeter. No converging units. Nothing to suggest a larger battle plan.

Just those machines… and a weapon that, by Oliver’s account, had never been armed. It's destruction was a secondary effect, caused by one of the bots self-destructing during the final confrontation.

None of it tracked. There’s something else, she thought, brow furrowed, something I’m missing.

These robots were too advanced to be black-market tech. Very few people on Earth had the resources and know-how to create something like that. Lex Luthor was at the top of that very short list.

And if she had to place a bet—Lex had put those machines there. Which raised the terrifying thought: this wasn’t about stopping a weapons transfer. This had been a trap. But not just for Oliver.

Team Arrow had barely ever crossed paths with Lex. There was no reason for Luthor to care about Star City. No vendetta. No rivalry.

So what was the connection?

Then it hit her.

“Oh my God…” Felicity whispered, staring at the screen.
It wasn’t about Oliver. It was about Kara.

Set the trap. Lure in Oliver.  Wait for Kara to come running. And she had. Luthor knew she would.

Use Oliver to bait Supergirl. Kill her. And if Green Arrow died, too? Bonus. Felicity’s chest tightened. The cold precision of it was so Lex.

But what disturbed her more was this—Lex knew how to get to Kara.
And that meant… he knew about her connection to Oliver.

How much did he know? She didn’t have that answer. But she knew what she had seen. What did the drone footage capture during the raid?

Kara—on her knees, sobbing, kissing Oliver’s forehead as he lay unconscious. Her whole body was trembling as she begged him to wake up.

Felicity hadn’t expected that. Not from Supergirl. Not in the middle of a live mission. But she had watched it happen in real-time—no sound needed. The emotion on Kara’s face said everything.

And when Oliver woke?

He didn’t hesitate. He reached for her as if it were second nature, as comforting Kara was as automatic as breathing. Even through the pain, even disoriented, his first instinct had been her.

Felicity had watched Kara lean into his hand like it was the only thing holding her together. The whole thing left her speechless.

After the battle with Reign, Oliver had withdrawn. Shaken. She thought it was just the trauma—the violence, the scale of it. But this? This was something else entirely.

“This was quiet devotion laid bare. Not performative. Not fleeting. Just affection—honest, constant, and deeply rooted.”

She couldn’t help but think:

Maybe this was the moment they realized how much they meant to each other…
Or maybe they already knew. Perhaps they’ve known for years.
Maybe they’ve just been hiding it.

And if that was true?

If Kara and Oliver were already committed, in whatever form that meant for them, it changed everything. Not for the team’s function, maybe, but for the way they all understood each other. And it terrified her to realize that Lex Luthor might already know what she was just now beginning to see.

Felicity looked down at the algorithm she’d been running, monitoring anomalous data tags tied to Oliver and Kara’s activity. Lena had mentioned something odd in Queen Consolidated’s network—something linked to Kara’s ID. Felicity hadn’t dug into it yet. Out of respect. Out of hesitation.

But now? Now Lex was involved. He was watching them and targeting them. Felicity needed the whole picture. Even if it meant crossing lines she didn’t like crossing. Even if it meant invading their privacy, she sighed, adjusted her glasses, and began pulling the access logs. Quietly. Carefully. I’m sorry, Kara. Sorry, Oliver. But if Lex is after you… I need to know everything before he does.

And with that, Felicity Smoak got to work.

Medical Bay –The Bunker

Oliver lay resting in the medical bay, drifting in and out of sleep. His body ached, but the pain was dull now, manageable.

Caitlin had already gone over the results with him and Kara. Brain and body scans showed no internal bleeding, no concussion. That alone was a relief.

Ever since he’d started dating Kara—and eventually married her—Oliver had become more cautious with his body. Not because he couldn’t take a hit, but because he wanted to give her less reason to worry. He fought smarter now, favoring range over close quarters, avoiding unnecessary risks if it didn’t compromise the mission.

He knew it was a little ridiculous.

Kara would worry about him no matter what, just like he did for her. But he was human, and she wasn’t. And that difference—that fundamental reality—had shaped many of their quiet, late-night conversations.

They had spoken about lifespan more than once, discussing the fact that Kara would likely outlive him by decades, maybe even centuries. It had been a complicated, painful conversation. However, essential.

Kara had looked him in the eyes and told him that she was willing to live with the grief—to accept the weight of loss, if it meant having him as her husband, for however long they had.

She’d asked only one thing in return:

“Be as safe as possible. For us.”

He had agreed without hesitation.

Thawne once told him he’d live to 87. If that was true? That was decades more with Kara. Decades of love, growth, and partnership. He could be smarter. Better. Not just for her, but because of her.

He stirred, blinking as his gaze found Kara, who was just now changing out of her Supergirl suit. She glanced at him, smiled softly, and came back to sit beside him.

They shared gentle hand touches, quick kisses when Caitlin wasn’t around. Kara had barely left his side, only slipping away to eat or check on Evelyn, who was resting now. She would heal. It could take weeks or months, but she was resilient.

She’d come back.

Right now, though, it was just the two of them. And Kara was holding his hand tightly, her thumb brushing over his knuckles.

The love in her eyes was undeniable. It still amazed him, sometimes, how much she loved him. How unconditionally. That kind of love had once felt foreign to him. Out of reach. Until Kara.

Now, after almost dying again, Oliver could feel his affection for her—his appreciation for everything she was—deepening even more.

He could see it in her eyes, too. The pain of almost losing him. The fear she had tried so hard to hide. Kara wore her heart on her sleeve, but this was something else. This went beyond even her usual openness.

And while Kara’s love often came through in warmth, expression, and touch, Oliver had always shown love in more practical ways. He trained her hard. Pushed her to be better. Stronger. Not because he didn’t believe in her, but because he did. When she started beating him in training, he celebrated it. As a mentor. As a husband. As a man who was damn proud of the woman he loved.

Seeing her now—so powerful, so radiant, and so emotionally open—it only made him love her more. They had hidden that love from the world. Not out of shame, but for safety. For privacy. They didn’t want to be used against each other. They agreed early on: their bond would remain in the shadows.

But now?

After what just happened in that warehouse… after Kara’s very public reaction, after what the team saw… Oliver was beginning to question that choice.

Maybe it had been the right call at the time. But now? Now their relationship might no longer be a secret.

And if it isn’t? What then?

They couldn’t spin this easily. The team wasn’t blind. And what worried him most wasn’t just the exposure—it was the timing. The fact that this trap was orchestrated. And someone—likely Lex Luthor—had used one of them to bait the other.

Was I the target? Was she? Or was it both? These were questions for later.

At the moment, they needed to discuss what had happened.
Together.

He turned his head slowly, locking eyes with Kara—those beautiful, ocean-blue eyes that always calmed his soul. She looked down at him, already knowing what he was thinking.

“We need to talk,” he said softly, voice rough but steady.

She nodded and tightened her grip on his hand.

“Before you say anything, Oliver…” Kara began, her voice rushing, her words tangled in emotion. “I know I messed up. I know what they saw. But in that moment, I thought… I thought my entire world was gone. Again.”

She looked down, eyes shimmering with memories and pain.

“It brought me back to my pod. Watching Krypton explode and losing everything—my parents, my people… everyone except Kal. And then I saw you lying there—unmoving—and in a flash, I was back in that moment. I panicked. I reacted without thinking, and I know that.”

She tried to continue, but Oliver gently took her hand, stopping her.

“Wait,” he said softly. “Angel… you think I’m mad at you? Or even remotely disappointed?”

Kara hesitated, then gave a slight, reluctant nod. “Not mad. But… disappointed, maybe. You have never been angry with me.  But I thought maybe this time—”

“I’m so sorry,” Oliver said immediately, tightening his hold on her hand. "If that thought has crossed your mind, then I have not effectively demonstrated my trust in you."

He sat up slightly, wincing as he shifted.

“The truth is, Kara… I’m not mad. I’m not disappointed. I’m worried—yes—but not about you. I’m worried about the implications of the raid. About what it means for us, for our secret.”

He exhaled slowly.

“I think we’re running out of time, Kara. We’ve been brave keeping this between us, but last night… that may have been our breaking point. When I woke up and saw you crying, the first thing I did—instinctively—was reach for you. I didn’t care who saw.”

He paused and made direct eye contact with her.  “And I realized something.”

Kara blinked. “What?”

“I have a secret,” Oliver said, a smile playing faintly at his lips.

Kara’s brows furrowed. A secret? Between them? That was impossible. The last real secret was William, and even that had been forced by Samantha’s ultimatum. When it came out—during the Darhk crisis—Oliver had come to her, full of guilt, begging for her understanding.

She gave it freely.

Once the shock wore off, Kara had even gone after Samantha herself—not with anger, but with fierce, honest words about the damage it had done to Oliver. Kara had, at that moment before even meeting William, embraced him.  She and Oliver together had hunted for him with the relentless determination of a family.

So now… another secret?

“Kara,” Oliver said, “if the roles had been reversed… if you were the one lying there on the ground, and I thought I’d lost you—I wouldn’t have held back. I would’ve cracked in front of everyone. I’d have left no doubt in the world that I love you.”

Kara’s eyes widened in surprise, then softened into a gentle laugh. “Oh.”

She reached up to stroke his face. “That’s not really a secret, Oliver. That’s just you—being you.”

Oliver smiled, then turned serious again.

“What bothers me more than anything is why this happened. What was the ultimate objective?  I think one of us was the target, and the other was bait. But which one?” he asked. “We need to know for sure. We need to confirm this was Luthor’s doing… and whether Prometheus is helping him.”

Kara frowned, already uneasy about where this was going.

“We need help,” Oliver said carefully. “Someone with resources.”

Kara’s eyes narrowed. “Oliver… you can’t be serious. Her? After everything she’s done to you....”

“I know,” Oliver said. “I don’t like it either. But we saved her life last year, remember? And she hates being in anyone’s debt.”

He gave her a sly, predatory smile. “She owes us.”

Kara shook her head. “I know. And she’s stayed out of your way since the siege, but… can she be trusted?”

“She can be trusted to do what’s in her own best interest,” Oliver replied darkly. “And right now, pissing us off isn’t in that interest. She respects us working together—and she respects power.”

Kara sighed. “Okay. But promise me—keep your distance. Her little Suicide Squad still creeps me out.”

“Me too, Kara. Me too,” Oliver said, nodding.

Before either of them could say more, there was a crackle in the air—a gust of displaced wind and flickering electricity. Kara heard it first. She pulled her hand away, sitting up straight a split second before the arrival.

“Guys!!”

Barry Allen stood in the entryway, breathless but grinning. “Oliver—man, are you okay? I am so sorry I wasn’t there. One metahuman mess after another. But—looks like Kara’s making sure you’re in good hands.”

He gave Kara an Oliver a knowing smirk.

“Hi, Barry,” they both said, almost in unison.

Kara glanced down at her phone. It had just powered back on. Dozens of messages were already pouring in. She winced. This was going to be a long conversation… especially with Alex.

“Excuse me, guys,” she said quickly. “I’ve got to make a call.”

Kara glanced between Oliver and Barry. “You two catch up. I’ll be right back.”

She stepped away, phone in hand, bracing herself for what came next.

As Kara stepped out to call her sister, Barry quietly sat down beside Oliver’s bed. For a moment, he just watched his friend—battered but alive—and let the silence stretch.

Maybe now, Barry thought. Perhaps this will finally wake them up to what I’ve known for years.

Barry had always believed Oliver and Kara would be perfect together. The way they fit, how often they were together, how they balanced each other—it made too much sense. He just never understood what was keeping them apart.

“Oliver,” Barry started, his voice low but steady, “that was a close one. I mean… you’ve had your share, but Caitlin and Felicity both said you were seconds away from being vaporized. If Kara hadn’t been there…”

He let the sentence hang in the air.

Oliver looked up at him and nodded. “I know, Barry. I do. It was that close—and only Kara could’ve saved me. And she did. She always does.”

Barry leaned forward, encouraged by the sincerity in Oliver’s voice.

“Ollie, that’s just it—it’s always Kara. She’s always there for you. Every time.”

Barry decided he was done tiptoeing around it.

“Okay… man, I gotta say this—and I hope you don’t punch me.”

Oliver raised an eyebrow. “Barry, just say it. It’s not like I’m going anywhere right now,” he replied with a dry chuckle.

Barry took a breath and dove in.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Oliver? When are you going to wake up? She’s right there—always has been. She barely dates, spends most of her time with you, and cares for you very deeply, maybe even loves you. I can see I am sure others can too, but you.”

He gestured toward the hallway where Kara had just left.

“You almost died last night, and all I could think about was how heartbroken she’d be. This thing between you and her is real. And if you don’t stop pretending it’s not, you’re going to lose the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”

Oliver sat in stunned silence, the words hitting harder than he expected.

He deserves the truth.
He’s earned it. The loyalty, the friendship… Barry’s one of the few people who would never use it against us. But…

Oliver’s eyes dropped to his bandaged hands, fingers twitching with tension.

But I can’t—not yet. It’s not about trust, it’s about timing. Barry, knowing we’re married, would change everything, and Kara deserves to be part of that reveal. She’s already carrying the weight of so much… we need control over this, just a little longer.

So, Oliver chose the only path he could take: a half-truth. Not a lie. But not the whole story either.

“Barry… you’re right.”

Barry’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Last night was a breaking point for both of us. Before you arrived and all morning, we discussed our feelings. We do care about each other. A lot.”

Barry blinked, stunned and silent.

“We sort of… told each other how we felt. We’re going to figure it out, Barry. Slowly. Carefully. We don’t know what it looks like yet, but we’re committed to trying.”

It’s not a lie, Oliver told himself again. It happened. Just not the way he thinks it did. But if this makes him feel included—if it buys us space—then it's the right call.

“That’s amazing, Oliver. Finally!” Barry grinned widely.

“Keep it down,” Oliver chuckled softly. “We’re keeping it secret for now, until we know how to move forward. Please don’t tell anyone, not even Cisco or Iris. We need time to breathe.”

Barry nodded earnestly. “You got it. I won’t say a word. I’m just happy for you. Both of you.”

Oliver met his friend’s eyes, grateful but weighed down.

One day, we’ll tell him the whole story. About the vows, about our bond, about the quiet ceremony we shared away from the world. But not today. Today, he gets a piece because that’s all I can give him without unraveling everything we’ve built.

They shifted to talking about the raid, the trap, and their suspicions. Theories filled the silence until Barry said something that froze Oliver in place.

“Oliver… if I could see how strong the feelings are between you two, then others could too. People like Luthor. Or Prometheus. Whatever’s coming… You need to have each other’s backs.”

A cold weight settled in Oliver’s chest. He nodded slowly, mind racing.

But before he could respond, shouting echoed down the hallway—sharp, tense, familiar.

Kara. And Alex.

He didn’t even need to hear the words to know what it was about.

“Barry,” he said, turning to his friend, “I need a favor.”

“Anything.”

“That yelling? That’s Kara and Alex. She’s stressed. Hurt. And she needs to step away. She won’t listen to me right now, but maybe she’ll listen to you. Take her out for drinks. Dinner. Something.”

Barry stood, already on it. “You got it. I’ll take care of her.”

As Barry left, Oliver picked up his phone. His face hardened.

Time to do the thing I don’t want to do.

He dialed. A voice answered.

“Hello, Amanda.”

Paused

“Yeah,” Oliver said dryly, “I figured you knew about the raid. And why am I calling....”

Hallway – Outside the Med Bay – The Bunker

Kara stood in the hallway, staring down at her phone. Notifications lit the screen—texts and missed calls from Alex, Eliza, Clark, Winn, James, and Lena. All of them were asking the same thing in different ways:

“What the hell happened?”

“Why didn’t you tell us?”

Clark’s message stung the most. He was the only one truly justified in demanding an explanation. That weapon could’ve killed him… or Jon. Still, if she had told Clark, the whole world would’ve known—and worse, they would’ve all tried to get involved.

This is Star City. Oliver’s city, she thought. Not theirs. They’d question him, challenge his decisions, and I would’ve snapped on all of them.

Whatever fallout came next—Lex Luthor, Prometheus, or something else—it was her and Oliver’s mess to fix. No one else's.

She sighed and tapped Alex’s contact.

Let’s get this over with.

The phone barely rang once.

“Kara?! What the hell is going on?” Alex’s voice burst through, fast and furious. “I’ve been worried sick! I saw the news—explosions, Federal reports saying “combat drones,” Supergirl involved, a Kryptonian-level weapon?! The mayor said you weren’t hurt, but others might be. Why didn’t you tell me?! Why wasn’t I looped in? This is exactly the kind of thing the DEO should’ve known about!”

Kara waited until her sister stopped for breath.

“Alex… I know you’re worried. But I’m fine. It was Oliver who got hurt, and he’s healing. Team Flash is here to help with recovery. The Flash is with him now. Everyone’s okay.”

She took another breath to continue, but Alex jumped back in.

“Team Flash knew about this, but your sister didn’t?” Alex’s tone sharpened. “Kara, this was a Kryptonian-destroying weapon. How could you not bring it to me? This isn’t something Team Arrow should be handling. This is federal. This is DEO.”

Kara’s patience began to fray. Still, she kept her voice steady.

“Alex, this had nothing to do with aliens. Yes, Team Flash knew about this. Yes, I didn’t tell you. The DEO was not involved because the mission did not involve aliens —just me. The mission took place in Star City, and Team Arrow—his ground, his home—responded. And yes, they coordinate with the mayor’s office. The threat is over. The weapon is gone.”

She hoped Alex would take the hint.

“No, Kara. You don’t get to brush this off. A weapon like that should’ve been confiscated—secured—before anyone else got hurt. What if it had been used against you? Or Clark? You didn’t even tell him! What were you thinking?!”

Kara’s voice hardened, “Confiscated? When? During the explosion that destroyed it or before… when it was armed to kill me?”

“And Alex, since when does Kryptonite belong to the DEO?” she asked. “You still have stockpiles you refuse to destroy. You remember how Oliver reacted when he found out? He wasn’t paranoid. He was protective. We now have Red Sun Tech, which is non-lethal and disabling. Not lethal. He made sure of that. Meanwhile, you still hold onto Kryptonite.”

Alex tried to interject. Kara didn’t let her.

“Don’t pretend you’re just protecting me. You keep Kryptonite because part of you fears I might lose control. Admit it.”

“That’s not fair—”

“Isn’t it?” Kara pressed. “Alex, I fought Reign to a standstill. I held the line, and there's a good chance she's Stronger than Clark. I’ve trained in multiple forms of combat. And yes, I’ve had to kill—rarely—but only when there was no other option. I end fights decisively. You want to know who trained me for that? Oliver.”

Alex’s voice rose with frustration. “Forgive me if I don’t trust Oliver Queen to stop you, Kara. You’re Kryptonian. He’s not. And your fighting style lately, it’s brutal. You leave opponents barely breathing. You kill, Kara. He is dangerous, and he’s changing you.”

Kara’s voice turned icy.

“Do you even hear yourself? Oliver is a hero. My hero. You want to know how many he’s killed? I was there. I saw them. And none of it was cold-blooded; it was war. He fights to protect the people he loves, and he shares that strength with me. That doesn’t make me less—it makes me better.”

“You’ve changed, Kara,” Alex said, her voice cracking. “You fight like him now. Cold. Tactical. Lethal when needed. You rarely show mercy. Now? You fight with the precision of someone who’s spent too long in the shadows.”

“I fight to end things, Alex. Quickly and efficiently. Because the longer I hesitate or show mercy to villains who have killed people, the more people die. That’s something Oliver taught me, something you never understood. You fight to prove something. I fight to protect.”

Alex went quiet.

“I love you, Kara. I’m just scared. Scared of what Oliver is turning you into.”

Kara’s voice trembled, filled with restrained hurt.

“You think I’m some pet? Controlled by him? Is that really how little you think of me?”

She paused.

“Let me tell you what my ‘master’ taught me,” she said, sarcasm thick. “He trained me until I could beat him. And now I do. You know how he reacts? He celebrates. He’s proud of me. His goal is to make me the greatest hero I can be. Not for him—for me. That’s not control. That’s ......Strength” She cuts short what she wants to say, 'That’s love.'

Alex stayed silent, absorbing the weight of Kara’s words.

“I know you love me,” Kara said, her voice softening, “and I love you. That’s the only reason we’re still talking. But I need space, Alex. I need time. Don’t contact me for a while. I’ll call Mom. I’ll explain. But you and I? We’re going to need some distance.”

She hung up before her sister could respond. Tears welled in her eyes as her phone buzzed again.

A text. She smiled instantly.

It was from her ‘little man’, worried, sweet, asking if she and Oliver were okay.

She quickly texted back: “We’re both okay. I’ll be by to see you as soon as I can.”

Just then, Barry appeared at the end of the hallway. Before she could speak, he raised an eyebrow.

“You’re coming with me,” he said, gently but firmly. “Dinner. Drinks. No arguing.”

She laughed, wiping a tear away. Oliver must’ve heard the yelling. He knew I needed this. My wonderful husband is always taking care of me.

“Okay,” she said. “But before we go, I need a notepad.”

Barry blinked. “A notepad?” She smirked. “Oliver needs to write a letter. Trust me.”

Moments later, she stepped back into the med bay. Oliver had just set his phone down.

She handed him the pad and pen. “You need to write a letter, Ollie. I just got a text.”

Oliver gave her a knowing look and smiled. “Little man?” he asked.

She nodded. “He reached out first.”

“Alright,” he said, flipping the pad open. “I’ll start now. Just bring me back something good to eat.”

She leaned down, squeezed his shoulder, locked eyes with him for a beat, then turned and left with Barry, who was still smiling from ear to ear.

He’d just witnessed something beautiful.

ARGUS Facility HQ – Location Classified

Amanda Waller had always shared a complicated history with Oliver Queen.

He was, without question, the most competent field asset she had ever handled. His early methods were brutal, efficient, and always delivered results. But he was barely controllable. To guide him, she had to resort to the one thing that worked—threatening his family. That leverage kept him in line just long enough to serve her needs. When he returned to Star City and began his campaign with the List, Waller still believed she could manage him.

But then she stepped into his life.

Kara Danvers.

At first, Waller assumed it was temporary—an alliance of convenience. But slowly, Kara changed him. Tempered him. Grounded him. Bit by bit, her influence reshaped the unrelenting weapon Waller once wielded into something more balanced. More dangerous, in its own way—because now Oliver Queen wasn’t just lethal. He was strategic, calm, and willing to fight not just with rage, but with purpose.

Waller reflected on the past—back when using Oliver’s family as leverage to motivate him was standard practice. His loyalty to them was absolute, and that devotion had once been his most exploitable weakness. Ironically, Waller had never actually intended to harm his family; doing so would have created an unstable, uncontrollable Oliver Queen. But now? If she even tried to manipulate him with the tactics she once used—especially with the skills she had taught him. Waller suspected the backlash might be something she wouldn't survive. And then there was Supergirl. Waller was almost sure that if she ever crossed a line with Oliver again, Supergirl would rain fire from the sky and ensure ARGUS was reduced to ashes.

Waller had contingency plans, of course, ways to neutralize Kryptonians. But she knew better than to use them. Not because of the physical risk, but because it would make Oliver Queen an enemy. And that was a fate even Waller didn’t care to tempt.

Because deep down, Amanda Waller feared him more than she feared any Kryptonian.

He was ruthless. Calculating. Relentless. He had taken down some of the worst elements this world had to offer. He defeated Malcolm Merlyn—and ultimately killed him. He subdued Slade Wilson, choosing to spare him out of a lingering sense of brotherhood. Perhaps his most impressive feat was dismantling the League of Assassins and handing it over to Nyssa, who subsequently disbanded the organization entirely. And now, thanks to Kara, he was utterly loyal to someone who brought out the best in him. Oliver Queen listened to only one person without question—and it wasn’t Thea, Moira, or any government official. It was Kara Danvers.

Waller leaned back in her chair, watching the surveillance footage from the Star City raid.

She’d gotten the tip-off from one of her embedded assets in the Mayor’s office—one of the few cities where she still kept deep-cover intelligence. Star City wasn’t just a hotbed of activity. It was Oliver’s city. Moira might be the public face, but everyone in the intelligence world knew who ran the shadows.

She’d watched it all in real time.

The ambush. The near-fatal blast. Kara’s reaction.

It was swift, emotional, and utterly telling. The way she collapsed at Oliver’s side, the tears, the kiss to his forehead—it confirmed what Waller already knew. They weren’t just teammates. They weren’t just close.

They were bonded.

Romantically. Intimately. Deeply.

She also knew far more than she’d ever share with anyone—and now, their enemies knew it too. Kara Danvers was Oliver Queen’s vulnerability. But exploiting that vulnerability was dangerous. Waller suspected that if Kara’s life were ever in danger, Oliver would kill anyone responsible without hesitation. He had no problem crossing the line to ensure her safety.

And Kara? Waller suspected she’d do the same. She wasn’t Superman. Waller had learned that the hard way during the missions where Oliver and Kara agreed to assist A.R.G.U.S.

Together, they had become two of the most valuable off-the-books assets the government had ever acknowledged. And if a crisis arose, they’d answer the call—but only if the mission aligned with their values. They weren’t agents. They were operatives of conscience. And when they did move—when Green Arrow and Supergirl acted—it was devastatingly effective.

But what Waller saw in Kara’s reaction after the raid unnerved her.

Love was unpredictable. And it was clear this ambush had been carefully designed to provoke that very reaction.

This wasn’t just a trap. It was psychological warfare.

And it had Lex Luthor written all over it.

He had seen what Waller had. And now he was trying to take advantage of it.

She needed to act fast. Because if Luthor succeeded, he wouldn’t just compromise two heroes. He could destabilize alliances that kept threats like Prometheus and other rogue assets in check.

And Waller still owed both of them—for saving her life last year.

She hated owing favors, especially to Oliver Queen.

That alone was enough to push her into action. But now, if she could dig out the root of Luthor’s plan—and verify whether Prometheus was involved—she could pay her debt and protect her interests. Because where Queen and Danvers were concerned, the stakes were always personal.

A secondary thought passed through her mind: the Bat was digging, too. She’d received confirmation from her assets in Blüdhaven—Nightwing’s city—and from embedded sources within the Gotham Commissioner’s Office. Her cyber division also reported unusual activity from Oracle’s network, though they couldn’t yet determine the objective. Not that it mattered. If Oracle was moving, it was at his command.

Typical.

Batman had a habit of sniffing around anything Lex Luthor tainted. He was dangerous—perhaps even more hazardous than Oliver Queen—but a strict moral code bound him. That was the difference. Queen would cross the line. Batman never would, and that made Queen more dangerous and unpredictable.

Queen, on the other hand, wasn’t bound by anything except Kara Danvers.

And when she gave the green light?

Waller knew Oliver would do what needed to be done. Even if it meant crossing lines, the Bat and Superman never would.

Her encrypted phone buzzed.

She glanced at the screen, right on time. She smiled, calm and professional.

“Hello, Oliver,” Waller said as she picked up the call, her voice almost… welcoming. “I’ve been expecting this.”

Because, for the first time in a long time, Oliver Queen needed her.

And Amanda Waller never let an opportunity like that go to waste.

Night Club- Dinner- Star City

After changing, Barry and Kara left the bunker. Truthfully, she did need this. After almost losing Oliver—and the emotional fallout with Alex—her heart was heavy. She was still angry, but underneath that anger was a sadness she didn’t want to unpack just yet. Alex had said some harsh things, questioning Kara’s strength, and worse, hinting that she was a threat. And Kara, in the heat of the moment, had lashed out just as hard.

She couldn’t see her sister’s point of view right now—and maybe that was okay. There would be time to fix things later. Right now, her focus was on Oliver, on Star City, and on the fragile bond that had deepened into something rare and precious.

Going out with Barry was precisely the kind of distraction her husband knew she needed. He always did.

They found a cozy steakhouse tucked on a quiet corner of the city. The place had an unlimited supply of warm bread with whipped butter, and that alone felt like a victory. Both Kara and Barry needed to consume upwards of 10,000 calories a day to maintain their strength, so when the waiter looked concerned about their large order, Kara just smiled sweetly and said, “We train hard.”

As they waited for their food, Kara couldn’t help but reflect on how far things had come. Just as she and Oliver got serious, their relationship was turning romantic, and it had been hard. Food wasn’t cheap.

She still remembered holding that card for the first time, overwhelmed not by the money, but by what it meant.

~ Flashback – Queen Consolidated Penthouse, over 2 ½ Years ago. ~

Kara sat cross-legged on the couch, her hair still damp from a post-training shower, flipping through a tablet while absently munching her way through what had once been a full tray of protein bars. Around her lay the remains of dinner—four takeout containers, two large smoothies, and the unmistakable scent of chicken shawarma.

Oliver walked in from the kitchen carrying a mug of tea for her. He paused when he saw the carnage.

"That's the third shawarma wrap this week," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Kara gave him a sheepish look, cheeks full. “Sorry... training with you lately has been intense. My metabolism is burning like a small sun.”

He handed her the tea and took a seat beside her. “You don’t have to apologize. But you do have to stop paying for all of this on your own.”

Kara blinked. “Oliver, I’m fine. I can afford food. It’s not a big deal.”

He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a sleek black credit card, placing it gently on the coffee table in front of her.

“It is to me,” he said calmly. “This isn’t charity. This is a resource. You’re pushing yourself harder than ever in training, and your strength is directly tied to your ability to recover and fuel up. I want you at your best—not because I expect you to win every fight, but because I care about what happens to you after them.”

Kara stared at the card. “Oliver…”

“You eat 10,000 calories a day, minimum. I’ve seen what your grocery bills look like. Take the card. It’s in my name, and it’s meant for anything that keeps you strong, focused, and able to kick my ass in sparring.”

She opened her mouth to protest again, but he gently reached over, brushing a damp strand of hair behind her ear. “This isn’t about pity. This is about you. I want you to have every tool to be the strongest version of yourself. I want you to thrive.”

There was a long silence. Kara looked down, speechless. Finally, with a smile tugging at the corner of her lips, she picked up the card.

“I’m still gonna beat you in hand-to-hand.”

He smirked. “That’s the idea.”

She leaned forward, resting her forehead against his. “You’re kind of amazing when you’re not brooding.”

“I brood strategically,” he said, deadpan. “Also, you left your fifth empty smoothie cup on my desk again.”

Kara grinned. “Better get used to it. You just volunteered to sponsor my metabolism.”

Oliver chuckled and pulled her close, holding her quietly for a moment. He never said it outright that night, but in the way he cared, in the simple act of handing her a credit card for protein shakes and late-night burgers—he said everything.

~ Flashback ended~

“This one’s on me, Barry,” Kara said warmly, pulling out a sleek, dark credit card and sliding it toward the center of the table. “So go ahead and order whatever you need. I know you probably need just as many calories as I do—maybe even more.”

Barry glanced at the card and smirked. “Interesting logo you’ve got there, Kara. That wouldn’t happen to be Queen Consolidated, would it?”

Kara blushed slightly. “Yeah… Oliver gave it to me a while back. There were days I wasn’t hitting my calorie targets—especially when I was training with both you and him. It was getting… hard to keep up.”

Barry nodded. “Cisco had to make me high-calorie energy bars just to stop me from fainting after speed drills.”

She laughed. “I remember. You hated the peanut butter ones.”

Barry leaned forward, eyes twinkling. “But really—that was a thoughtful thing for Oliver to do. Giving you that card. He must care about you… a lot.”

Kara tried to brush it off, but her tone softened. “Oliver has a big heart, Barry. Most people don’t see it—but I think you do.”

“Oh, of course,” Barry said with mock seriousness. “He gave me a card, too.”

Kara rolled her eyes, laughing. “Barry…”

“I’m kidding!” he grinned. “But I’m glad he takes care of you. I know what he means to you.”

“We’re just… good friends,” she offered weakly.

Barry cut her off, his voice dipping low and serious. “Kara, I hope there’s more than that—especially after last night. That had to be a breaking point for you, too.”

Kara looked at her friend, realizing he wouldn’t be fooled. “Did Oliver say anything to you?”

Barry thought for a second, then assumed she must’ve overheard part of their earlier conversation. “He said you talked. That last night was a turning point. That you’re going to figure out what you two mean to each other.”

Kara had heard pieces of their conversation from the hallway, but not all of it. She knew Oliver had bent the truth—just enough. Barry was rooting for them, and Oliver knew denying anything wouldn’t fly. So he gave Barry a half-truth. And now, Kara would do the same.

“You’re right. We did talk,” Kara said gently. “And we’re going to figure it out.”

“We don’t know how it’ll all end up,” she added, “but we care about each other. Deeply.”

Barry smiled, visibly relieved. “I won’t say a word. But I’ll tell you this—you and Oliver? You’re perfect for each other. You’ve got almost no real differences—aside from biology—and even that can be overcome.”

“Barry,” Kara laughed, shaking her head. “Calm down. We’re not there yet. But… we did share a kiss. To see if it felt right. And… it did.”

Barry’s face lit up, satisfied with the progress. He dropped the topic—for now—and they finally placed their orders.

Then Kara’s phone buzzed.

Samantha Clayton.

“Barry, this is important. I need to take this.” She stood up. Barry nodded, giving her space.

Samantha and William Clayton – The Hidden Family

Samantha Clayton—the mother of Oliver’s son William and one of Kara’s closest friends.

Their friendship hadn’t always been easy. It started the day Kara discovered William’s existence—and the fact that Oliver had lied to her at Samantha’s request. But Kara never held that lie against him. She understood why he did it.

After rescuing William from Damien Darhk, Kara had a few firm but civil words with Samantha. They agreed: Samantha and William would leave town and go off the grid. Only one person would know where they were—Kara.

There was a twist. Kara convinced Oliver that William should know the truth. That his dad was the Green Arrow—and that his new “friend” was Supergirl.

William, far from angry, had been thrilled. Kara saw it in his eyes: the awe, the pride… and the sadness. He knew he wouldn't see them again anytime soon. That broke Kara’s heart.

So, she found a way to fix it.

No one could track her. So Kara became the messenger, carrying handwritten letters between father and son. She visited Samantha and William weekly, delivering one letter and picking up another.

During those visits, Kara and Samantha formed a strong bond. Deeply. They became true friends. And Kara came to love William—her “little man”—with all her heart. Samantha once joked, “It feels like William has two moms now.” At first, Kara worried she’d overstep. But Samantha never felt threatened; she encouraged it.

Kara attended William’s school events—science fairs, academic competitions—quietly, always staying out of the spotlight. Other Parents assumed that Kara and Samantha were romantically involved while raising William. At the same time, part of that was genuine regarding William. Neither Kara nor Sammatha ever bothered to correct anyone about their relationship being non-romantic. Feeling it was suitable for a cover story, why Kara was so involved with William's life.

She recorded videos for Oliver, but never sent them by text because there was no cloud storage. No metadata. If someone were tracking Oliver, there’d be no digital breadcrumbs. William’s location and existence had to remain hidden.

But after Reign… and now the raid—Samantha had every reason to be worried.

Kara answered the call in a soft, warm voice. “Hey, Sam.”

“Kara—are you okay? Is he okay? I saw the footage… it was all over the news,” Samantha said in a rush, worry spilling out.

“He’s okay. He almost took the brunt of the explosion, but I shielded him. He’s resting now. He’ll be fine—I promise.”

“Thank God,” Samantha exhaled. “I can’t lose either of you. You’re family, Kara. You’ve become one of my best friends. And Oliver… even from a distance, he’s been an amazing father. The letters he writes to William. They make his day.”

“I care about you, too, Sam. And… William. Oliver always thinks of him first when he goes out. And second, well…” Kara paused.

“You don’t have to say it, Kara,” Samantha said gently. “I know you and Oliver are together. I see how you glow when you talk about him. I’m glad he has you. I suspect it’s more serious than ‘just dating’—but that’s none of my business. William loves you.”

Kara smiled softly. “And I love him too.”

Samantha took a deep breath. “That’s why I’m calling. I have been working on this for a while, and I need to think of William's best interests. If anything were to happen to me, I’ve been working with my lawyer on custody rights. We will add a clause to my will if you decide to sign the legal documents. You’re to be given custody of William.”

“There are a lot of details to work out, so I hope you accept it,” Sam said hopefully.

Kara froze. “Sam… I don’t know what to say. I’ll accept. Of course, I will. I love William. I’ll always be there for him.”

Samantha’s voice cracked slightly. “This way, Oliver still gets to be in his son’s life without any complications.”

They continued talking for several more minutes. Kara assured her that Oliver was writing a letter now and that she’d deliver it the moment things calmed down.

Still, in the back of her mind, Kara knew she couldn’t risk visiting William while Lex Luthor was on the move. Lex might be the only person capable of tracking a Kryptonian. She had to be cautious.

She hung up, heart heavy but resolute, and returned to the table with Barry.

She and Barry continued their lighthearted night, working their way through an impressive amount of food and drinks. The drinks themselves had no real effect—Kryptonian biology and Barry’s metabolism made sure of that—but it was never about the buzz. It was about the escape. The act of sitting across from a close friend, laughing freely, and letting go—if only for a while.

Kara needed this.

After everything that had happened—the raid, almost losing Oliver, the argument with Alex—her nerves were still raw. The fallout was far from over. The next few weeks would be a storm of questions, suspicion, and family tension. Alex, Clark, J’onn… they’d all want explanations, reassurances, maybe even control. But Kara wasn’t sure she could give them any of that.

She was especially worried about Alex. Her sister's words still rang in her ears—blunt, harsh, not deserved but understood. But they cut deep. And Kara had thrown some painful words back in the heat of the moment. They were still too far apart to find each other just yet. That was okay. She would fix things. But not tonight.

Tonight was about recovery—emotional, not physical.

At least National City was quiet, for now. After Reign’s defeat, the city had entered a strange period of calm. Mon-El and his wife—that was still an emotional curveball—had agreed to keep watch in her absence. They assured her they’d handle things while she dealt with whatever this new storm was. She was grateful for that.

Because something was coming, she felt it in her bones.

Lex Luthor was moving again; that much was clear. And he wasn’t alone. If he was bold enough to set a trap for Oliver, then who else might he pull into his orbit? Who would he manipulate? Weaponize? Kara needed to stay alert. Required to be ready.

But not tonight.

“Look, Kara—karaoke!” Barry’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts, lit with genuine excitement as he pointed toward a small setup near the bar. A screen was lit up, with music playing and a mic idle on the stand.

Kara looked at it, then back at Barry.

He was practically bouncing in his seat. And suddenly, she smiled.

“You’re on,” she said, standing up.

Barry whooped and bolted for the stage. Kara followed close behind, her laughter carrying through the restaurant. For a moment, they weren’t superheroes. They weren’t burdened with secrets or expectations or the fate of the world. They were just friends, singing off-key and far too loud, soaking up a night they both knew might be one of the last quiet ones in a long while.

And for Kara?

It was exactly what she needed.