Chapter Text
“Coffee?” Alex asked, it was a typical question for a typical Wednesday morning. The elder Danvers just came back from a month long business trip in a few Asian countries and she’s just now seeing her beloved usually smug, cold, and brooding sister Kara. Alex is already dressed for another day of work, sporting a white dress shirt neatly tucked in her grey ankle length slacks, her navy blue blazer hangs by one of the stools’ backrest, while her sister wears the party from the night before along with some sweatpants and sports bra.
Alexandra Danvers or just Alex, is the only child of the business tycoons and scientists Jeremiah and Eliza Danvers. Alex was honed to be both intelligent and proper. She bears the burden of being a model student since she started her education at the most prestigious kindergarten in the whole state where National City belonged, up until she graduated top of her classes in both of her double bachelors – Business Administration and Management and Bio-engineering. Alex has undergone series upon series of aptitude tests in different areas of the major subjects that her own mother Eliza has design and constructed mainly for her. She grew up carrying the curse of being the one true heiress of Danvers Inc. And by far she is the only perfected experiment of her own parents. Alex doesn’t only bear the Atlas of pressures and expectations, she also delivers all the good qualities any parent could ask for in their child
“Yes, please. What time did we get here last night and how?” Kara nodded and asked as she sat in one of the stools in front of Alex. Her throat still sore from all of the alcohol she consumed. Alex instantly pours her a cup and slightly slid it towards her on the marble of the countertop. Kara still with agile reflexes even after a night of heavy drinking caught the cup before it fell off the kitchen island.
Kara Danvers, is Alex’s adoptive sister. Kara became a Danvers in a summer night of 20 years ago. 20 years ago Kara woke up from a nightmare of their house burning down to ashes to a group of uniformed men in black and the kind looking woman who she remembered as one of her mom’s friends from work telling her, that her parents have gone to a long vacation and that she’s going to have to stay with them for a while, and maybe change her last name in the process. She was five when she was put in the arms of a stranger with her favorite blankie. She was five when Eliza Danvers asked her if she already knew how to read or write her name. She was only five when she first saw Alex terribly excited to finally have someone she can call her sister. She was only five and she didn’t understand. She was only five and she didn’t have to.
“Three in the morning. Thank you for fetching me at the airport by the way.” Alex sarcastically answered as she finishes the rest of her coffee, she turned her laptop off and put on her blazer.
“I’m really sorry, Winn and James are really great at throwing parties you know. But what’s important is, we’re together now!”Kara chuckled before taking a sip of her scalding hot coffee. She hurt her tongue and almost spit the lot but she was able to swallow it down. Alex knowingly shook her head.
“We’ve been at it since you graduated in college Kara, you’re already 25. What are you planning to do with your life?” Alex whined as she slipped into her shiny leather brogues.
“You know how much I hate planning. And besides, what are you here for if not to plan and execute? Also, I have my own businesses if you already forgotten.” Kara scoffed as she followed her sister to the living room of her penthouse. Alex swiftly shoves everything she needs today in her hand carry from last night as Kara hovers around.
“Kara casinos and bars and condos aren’t proper businesses. Why don’t just help me huh?” Alex said almost pleadingly.
“I’ll let you know if I change my mind.” Kara shortly answered, Alex stared at her for a while stiff with irritation yet still soft enough with concern before she was bombarded with appointment alerts. She rustled Kara’s messy blonde and grunted as she headed out. Kara was attentively walking behind her with a silly smile.
“See? This is why I hate your type of businesses.” Kara teased, Alex didn’t look back and just gave her the finger.
“Love you too sis!” Kara called out before the doors of her private elevator closes in front of Alex.
Kara softly pushes the door close as she faces the National City skylines at eight in the morning; all sunny and welcoming totally in contrast with her own penthouse. Kara’s penthouse is a literal bachelor’s pad. It’s taking up the whole rooftop of Kara’s newest, most expensive condominium building, which towers right at the heart of National City’s central business district. It is within a hundred kilometer radius with all her parents’ proper business establishments, CatCo media tower, Edge Industries, Lord Tech, and of course no other than LuthorCorp – the Danvers Inc. number one competitor.
Kara snorts as she walked the stretch of the hallway from her front door towards her one full size room of walk-in closet and open tub. Kara was 12 years old when Alex told her that her parents died in an accident in one of the Danvers Inc. laboratories in the middle of an experiment, and Kara’s perfect picture of Jeremiah and Eliza Danvers being the kindest couple in National City who adopted a stranger’s daughter was shattered. Kara started the world’s longest phase of rebellion against her adoptive parents. She went against all that is expected of a Danvers child, she started to almost flunk her classes on purpose, she took an awfully unrelated course to business or science in college, and she wouldn’t let Eliza construct, not even design any aptitude exams for her. Kara blamed the Danvers for the loss of her own parents. The only person she doesn’t resent in the household is her dutiful sister, Alex.
Although, after all the rebellion she’s done through the years. Kara still isn’t to be considered any less of a Danvers as Alex is. Kara has her own style of handling businesses no matter how small or big they are. She owns five of the most exclusive bars in the city; she doesn’t shy away from media exposures, she runs three casinos in Metropolis, and she owns the top three most expensive condominium buildings in the state. But yes, even while earning millions per year, Kara’s businesses according to Alex and her parents are still not ‘proper’ businesses. Why are you investing too much of your time and money to businesses like that Kara, there’s no real progress or advancement or benefits in gambling, booze, and real estate. Why can’t you be like your sister? When will you grow up? Kara can still hear Jeremiah’s sermon from only two months go when she attended his 50th birthday party, to which Kara only answered with a smile and a greeting before handing Jeremiah the key to a new sports car from his favorite luxury brand of cars.
“Hello Kar?”
“What’s up Winslow?” Winslow Schott Jr., is one of Kara’s closest friends from college, although they didn’t take the same course. Winn is an IT genius and Kara is an architecture graduate. They also have two other friends from college; James Olsen who took journalism and his long time girlfriend Lucy Lane who just got her license as a lawyer last year. Kara never would’ve met such lovely group of oddballs if it wasn’t for one of the many parties she threw while she’s in National City University; and she’s still thankful for that day even after five years. Winn, James, and Lucy are super loyal friends and in the world Kara is unfortunately a part of, loyalty is one of the most important key to staying afloat.
“Don’t call me that! I’m just checking on you! James said you went home with a girl last night?” Winn giggled as Kara heard rapid audible tapping of a keyboard in the background.
“Are you at work at eight?!” Kara exclaimed.
“Well, I gotta work hard if I want to keep up with you Danvers.” Winn teased.
“Shut up. Also to answer your question, no I didn’t go home with a girl last night.”
“Then who’s that brunette you left with? A snap of you two is circulating now on the internet and being broadcasted on Enews! ” Winn laughed.
“Oh wow, so my nightly escapades are becoming that interesting eh?” Kara snorts as she took the robe beside the tub and wrapped herself with it. She pulled the plug to drain the water and turned to face her wall upon wall upon wall of clothes. Ranging from long gowns to sweatpants.
“Sure did, Forbes. Sure did.” Winn jabbed again, Kara was recently named one of the top 5 of Forbes infamous list of 30 Under 30. Among the top 5 Kara is the youngest at 25, in tie with her at the spot is the youngest Luthor who did not attend the ceremony or the after party, or even the interview herself. Kara’s mind wanders at how the youngest Luthor keeps her privacy in today’s day and age. But her train of thoughts was easily interrupted when she heard a tiny explosion in Winn’s background.
“Winn! What was that?”
“Sorry, I’m trying something new for James. Anyway, answer the question.” Winn laughed.
“Okay, well, she has a car. I needed to fetch Alex at the airport so I gotta use the only resource I got. I don’t want to drive drunk, my sister would’ve killed me if I did and you guys were busy hosting so I didn’t bother you.” Kara explained as she pushed buttons for racks of dress shirts, slacks and blazers to slid open. She suddenly felt like dressing up like Alex today, so she randomly picked a light blue satin dress shirt along with a pair of navy blue cashmere pinstripe fitted suit and pants.
“You are a jackass, Kara Zor-El Danvers.” Winn said but with a hint of pride in it.
“Yep, and a rich one too.” Kara laughed as she tucked her shirt into her pants, yep more like Alex.
“True, so true. So Alex is back from?”
“Taiwan I think? Or South Korea? Maybe both? I’m not sure but somewhere in Asia.” Kara absentmindedly answered as she moved from her walk-in to her adjacent bedroom.
She pushed another button and a rack containing all her formal wear shoes slid out, Kara picked some black wingtip Oxfords, which she remembers Eliza gave her as a gift. If there’s one more thing Kara is thankful for the Danvers couple aside from the trust fund she didn’t think she’d actually get after every awful thing she did, is that when Alex and her came out as a lesbian and bisexual, respectively, they didn’t as much as flinch or comment negatively. She even remembers Jeremiah joking about finding some suitable business partners’ daughters for them to date and Eliza hugging both of them at the same time. Maybe Alex is right (like she always is) their parents indeed had their moments.
“You didn’t even know where she’s coming from or where she’s going. What kind of a sister are you?”
“One of a kind, Winn. One of a kind. Anyway, I’ll see you later then? I’ll be out for a tour of three possible new condo sites today.”
“Sure, see you down by The 5th?” Winn asked checking his calender, it’s a Wednesday and Wednesdays for them is hanging out by their favorite pub since college, The 5th.
“Yep. We’ll have to celebrate James’ being CEO of CatCo.” Kara confirmed as she finally slips her blazer on.
“Totally! Will let them know, after this call.”
“Alright, I won’t hold you up then.” Kara shrugged as if Winn can actually see her.
“Bye.” Winn said before ending the call.
Kara then pushed one more button that turned everything off before opening her car keys drawer. Everything about Kara’s latest penthouse is a bit over the top according to Alex, and Kara would never admit that. Kara picked a key for a Bentley before she pocketed her phone. Kara chirpily walked out of her private elevator right at her private car park floor. Kara has a modest collection of sports and trucks, but what secretly sits at her customized car pedestal is a crimson 1980 Chevelle Malibu, it is the restored model of her birth parents’ first car, also the car that brought her laboring mother to the hospital.
Kara’s known to care too little for anybody (or not at all) but herself, her close-knit friends, and Alex. And even with Alex around she’s elusive at showing her sister that she actually cares, sometimes a playful snide remark, a sermon, a heated argument, a tease or even just a nudge on the shoulder is enough to let Alex know that Kara’s got her back, always has and always will.
“This is the last one of the three possible locations of your next property, Miss Danvers. This is the most scenic of them all. It’ll perfectly capture the condominium’s overall theme. It’s accessible and in a reasonable distance from the major establishments.” Gaston explained as Kara leaned against her car looking at the empty chunk of land closest to the beautiful coast of National City.
Kara was quietly imagining how her estate would look in the plot. Kara has a natural gift in building things that nobody noticed, but Alex. Kara’s name and personality are easily tied up to her more popular businesses. Kara is seen and presented as the richest, most elusive bachelorette of the city, and not once did she get into a serious relationship that the media knows. But of all the things she’s capable of doing, this, picturing a whole property of her own in a landscape is what’s keeping her alive. Burns the coal and pumps her blood.
“I like this place, Gas.” Kara nodded after a few minutes of contemplation, she can now see it. Focusing the design and wonder to the coast should do the trick. Gaston has worked for Kara as a scout since the first condominium building the youngest Danvers built and he can proudly say that he knows her taste pretty well.
“Great, Miss Danvers. We’ll get the ball rolling, and you can expect to hear from me in a few days.” Gaston nodded once and Kara offered a small smile before taking her aviator glasses from her breast pocket to put them back on. The small smile growing as her imagination flourished. She happily got inside her car soon after Gaston left.
“Blue. Topaz. Jasper. Pietersite. Blue, blue, blue. Sapphire! That’s it! That should do it. Sapphire Suites.” Kara nodded to herself as she brainstormed on her way to the pub to meet with her friends. She’s drumming her fingers against the steering wheel to the tune of some indie alternative band playing from her playlist when her phone rang that easily connected to her car’s speakers.
“Kara, darling are you there? This is mom, please tell me you’re there.” Kara heard Eliza rambled instantly when she answered the call.
It’s not a typical thing to do even for a mother- okay maybe just her mother. Eliza has her pretty little schedule of things she should accomplish everyday for the whole week; Eliza calls her daughters in two separate days weekly, she calls Alex at exactly 11 in the morning on Thursdays while Alex is on her way to her yoga sessions if she’s not working abroad and Kara at four in the afternoon on Fridays while she just finished any of her scheduled workouts. So a frantic call to her adopted daughter at five in the afternoon is certainly not one on the list ofWednesday’s activities.
“Eliza, hey, I’m here. What’s wrong?” Kara asked as she turned right to the street where the pub’s at.
“I need you to come home, Kara. Please.” Eliza pleaded, Kara can feel the panic in her voice.
“What’s going on? Can’t you just tell me on the phone?”
“I can, but it’s too sensitive, and I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight without you here. Without making sure you’re safe.” Eliza cried, it was Kara’s turn to panic. What could be the emergency for Eliza to be this upset? What about her plans tonight? Did Jeremiah already learn about the new project she’s working on? Did Eliza saw her picture on Enews! earlier with that girl? What the fuck is going on?! But above all the questions forming in the youngest Danvers’ mind, Kara can feel sincere concern from Eliza, her mother can be very intrusive and disciplined most of the time but she has a genuine heart of a mother and Kara could never deny her that.
“Kara, could you do that? Could you come home?” Eliza asked in Kara’s indecisiveness, Kara slightly cleared her throat glancing at her watch; it’s already rush hour.
“S - sure, Eliza. I’m on my way. Is Jeremiah there?” Kara finally said, speeding past the pub where he saw James and Lucy already about to walk inside.
“Yes, he’s here and he’s waiting for you too, sweetie.”
“Okay, I’ll be there in an hour.” Kara said as she took the shortcut out to the freeway towards their suburban family home. Something’s seriously fucked up. Jeremiah is also waiting for her? It’s not odd at all just totally bizarre!
Kara barked a voice message to Winn that she wouldn’t be able to make it tonight because she’s being summoned to the Danvers household for an emergency. Winn texted her almost instantly with a teasing, Kara isn’t someone who’s going to go home just because she’s been told to especially when she already created plans in general. Kara stopped to think about it while she’s stuck at a broken traffic light in the middle of a four-way intersection. Winn’s right, she hasn’t done this before. But Eliza hasn’t cried on the phone before too. And there’s something about the not so typical panic in the call that urges Kara to once in her life obey what she’s told to do.
Kara’s car took the ramp up to the open front yard of the Danvers family home. It’s inside of National City’s only executive village so the security alone would not require tall gates and whatnots, the only shroud of privacy their property has are shrubs and trees and bushes surrounding the two story manor and the rest of the acre of empty land. Kara heavily sighed as she pulled to a stop, Eliza is already waiting for her out at the porch. Well, there’s no turning back now.
“Eliza, what’s going on?” Kara asked as she reached her mother at the porch, Eliza easily broke down as she clutched onto Kara for support. Kara frowned and quietly guided her inside the house. Jeremiah is on the phone talking to the chief of police, Kara knew because Jeremiah mentioned Commander Lois Lane, Lucy’s elder sister and her adoptive cousin’s fiancée.
“Kara.” Jeremiah instantly acknowledged as he ended the call.
“What’s going on? If you could only answer my question, that would be really - ” Kara started as she sat Eliza down at one of the couches.
“Your sister is missing. We think she’s been kidnapped.” Jeremiah stiffly said cutting Kara’s ramble.
“What?! I just fetched her at the airport last night, she slept in my guestroom and we had coffee this morning. What do you mean she’s missing?!” Kara berated, putting both her hands on her waist.
“She wasn’t able to attend all her commitments today, her phone’s dead, her car was left at the parking lot of the building where her 11 o’clock meeting was. No one saw her leave the building. She’s gone, like she’s vanished in thin air.” Jeremiah said a-matter-of-factly.
“No. She’s not - she’s - Alex couldn’t -” Kara stuttered, her heart wrenched at all the possible scenarios she could think of.
“Kara -” Eliza called out in between her silent sobs, taking one of Kara’s hand.
“No, she’s not missing. She’s definitely not kidnapped. I’ll find her, okay? I’ll find my sister.” Kara said running out of the house, the panic stricken voice of her mother a blur from behind her. She got inside her car and stepped on the gas right away. She tried dialing Alex’s number but her call is easily cut off by the operator.
“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! ” Kara cursed banging her hands against the steering wheel. Kara tried dialing the rest of Alex’s numbers that she has but not one rang. In one final act of denial, Kara dialed Winn’s number.
“Kar?”
“Winn, I need your help.”
“With what? What’s going on? Is this about the emergency?”
“My sister, she’s missing. Alex is gone.” It wasn’t a typical thing to say in a typical Wednesday evening, Kara already knew that. This day is far from all things typical that’s for sure.
“Oh my God. We’re heading out. Meet you at your place?” Winn instantly said.
“Yes, I’m on my way.” Kara said before ending the call.
Despite the love for speed, hence, the sports car collection - not once did Kara get a ticket for overspeeding or breaking any traffic law. Hell, Kara has never broken any law in her life before (something her parents are truly thankful for actually) but tonight, she’s just beat three red lights and is now trying so hard not to beat another one and push her luck of not being caught too far. Kara’s car almost drifted and screeched towards the basement car elevator when she reached her condo.
Kara’s car air-conditioner was working perfectly fine but she’s sweating buckets when she got inside her elevator. She instantly sent Winn a text telling him that she’s back at her penthouse. Winn responded a few minutes later saying they’re already near the building. Kara called the lobby to let her friends in when they arrive before she changed into more casual clothes. She rummaged Alex’s room for anything that might lead her somewhere, but there was none. Kara then took her burner phone from the back of her safety vault. There’s only two burner phones quite like Kara’s that exist, one’s for her and the other’s for Alex. It’s a modified type of smartphones Winn made them for their thrill of secrecy. Kara didn’t take it seriously before but maybe now, it can be the only connection she’d have to her sister.
“Kara, what the hell is going on?” James instantly asked as they walked right inside Kara’s unit. Kara made sure that her fingerprint secured lock system recognizes only hers, Alex’s, James’ Winn’s and Lucy’s in case of emergencies, certainly like this one.
“Alex has been gone the whole day, Jeremiah already contacted Lois to task a team that’ll look for her.” Kara explained while she’s in front of her own satellite laptop, again Winn’s design. She didn’t even bother to look up.
“You took out the laptop. This isn’t a kidnapping is it?” Winn noticed.
“I’m still not sure, if this isn’t kidnapping Alex would’ve called me. And if it is, the kidnappers would’ve sent their ransom demands by now. But there’s nothing. Not a single peep.” Kara said trying to connect her laptop’s tracker to Alex’s phone, but for some bizarre reason Alex’s phone is non-existent .
“Alex’s phone is non-existent.” Kara parroted looking up to Winn.
“What? That can’t be. Let me look at it.” Winn said sitting down beside Kara. Winn instantly manoeuvres Kara’s laptop.
“There’s not a way to destroy that tracker, it can’t be turned off, it doesn’t run out of battery, it can’t be tampered. You know, unless I did it myself.” Winn dignified.
“Did Alex destroy it on purpose?” Lucy innocently asked, Kara glared a bit but she knows Lucy is genuinely concerned.
“Why would she destroy it on purpose though?” Kara exasperated.
“Or someone else did, if she’s been kidnapped.” James offered.
“Let me try to reactivate it.” Winn said as he navigated Kara’s laptop.
“Can you do that here?”
“I mean I could try. If you decide that this is a full blown rescue mission, we can move this somewhere safer.” Winn suggested.
“Luce, get a hold of Lois please?”
“Of course, Kar.” Lucy instantly nodded as she whipped her phone out, dialling her sister’s number.
“James we need your people on standby.” Kara seriously said looking James in the eyes.
“We’ll start the search tonight if you give the go signal.” James nodded and Kara did too.
“Okay, let’s get to work.” Kara decided, still hoping that her sister’s safe somewhere and is only taking a sudden break from all the work. For the first time in Kara Danvers’ life she felt the fear of losing someone. Someone she truly cares about. But even before Kara starts regretting taking Alex for granted, Lucy breaks the silence.
“Lois just received the ransom demands.” Lucy said her voice shaken.