Settling In

We got everything all wrapped up during lunch. The press conference would be held in a week. Giving me plenty of time to get to know the team and Darcy better. Steve suggested that having Supergirl sightings around New York would also be a nice touch. The press and public would see it as me, well Supergirl, meeting with the Avengers and getting a feel for the city. So for a few hours every day I’d make passes around the Tower and city, maybe step in and help out where I could. Just make my presence known and ease any tension the public might have about me.

With all that settled and after hanging out with everyone for a little bit, Nat, Darcy and I headed up to our floor. Everyone on the team has their own place in the Tower, but Nat and Darcy are the only ones, save for Tony and Pepper, who have their own floor. I saw why when we stepped off the elevator. There are five doors set up along the hallway. Two on each side and one straight down at the end. My name was on one of the doors, followed by Darcy’s and Natasha’s. Nat held the door to mine open to show what looked like a small apartment made to look like my little clubhouse above the barn. According to Darcy it has everything I’d need, single bedroom, small bath and mini-fridge in the living room.

“Why?” I asked curiously.

“Because even though we’re a quad and living together under the same roof, we realize that sometimes we’d need a space that’s just our own. Someplace where we can be alone when we want, yet close to the others,” Nat answered.

“Nat sent me a few pics of your loft and me and Pepper organized things to mimic your space there. Do you like it?” Darcy asked nervously.

I smiled warmly at her, leaning in and placing a kiss to her cheek. “I love it. Thank you,” I breathed against her cheek before placing another kiss to it. Darcy blushed, causing Nat to chuckle which earned her a punch to the arm.

After setting one of my duffle bags in my private room we headed in to the main room of the floor. The place where all four of us would stay together. Eventually. Once we find our fourth. The place is large, spacious and very nice. All modern looking with the kitchen and living room in one room. I guess island counters are popular because we have one in front of the kitchen, with a round table and four chairs placed next to one of the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city. I followed them in to an even larger bedroom, unable to hide my amused grin at the custom made bed that looked capable of handling four bodies.

“A sweet but slightly perverted gift from Tony. He’s probably had Playboy fantasies since me and Nat moved in. With you they upgraded to Cinemax. Our fourth will decide between Penthouse and Hustler I imagine,” Darcy explained, causing me to just shake my head at her unique mannerisms. Seriously, I am growing more scared of her meeting Skye by the minute. But also secretly loving it, knowing Skye likes Nat and will die when she meets Darcy.

“Certainly is a step up from my room on the farm.”

“I bet this is all a lot for you to take in, huh?” Darcy asked.

“After learning my origins and meeting Nat, nothing surprises me anymore,” I replied looking over at her and smirking, “Well, almost nothing. So far you keep finding ways to shock, surprise and make me fall for you every second I'm around you.”

“She has that effect on everyone,” Nat declared draping herself over Darcy’s back, resting her chin on her shoulder and nuzzling her cheek with her own, “She’s the team’s unofficial mascot and moral officer. Unconsciously seeming to know what each of us needs before we do.”

Darcy smiled sweetly, turning her face to capture Nat’s lips in a kiss. I smiled at my two soulmates, beginning to see why Fate would put us together. But in order to really understand I’d have to learn more about Darcy. Nat seemed picked up on my musings. Darcy picked up on them from Nat and seemed to grow anxious and even a bit upset, placing her hands on top of the ones Nat had wrapped around her waist and leaning back in to her as she closed her eyes. I turned to give them a moment of privacy, setting the rest of my stuff aside to deal with later.

“Kara,” I heard Nat call out in the whispered tone she came up with that I can best hear. A way for her to talk to me outside of the bond if need be.

Turning back to face her I saw Darcy nodding her head to something. Nat placed a kiss to the back of her head before pushing her towards me. Darcy stumbled right in to my arms and looked up at me, warmth and happiness warring against fear and pain in her eyes. I held her close and tight to me, letting her rest her head on my shoulder as I looked over to Nat curiously.

“I’ll whip us up some dinner while you two talk. Something lite for Darce and me and a buffet line for you.”

I stuck my tongue out at her childishly, making her laugh quietly before blowing me a kiss and stepping out of the room, closing the door behind her to give Darcy and me some privacy.

“She already told me about your guys talk on the ride here and figured this conversation was best had between you and me,” Darcy began calmly, “For the record, in total agreement with her. I’ll take whatever I can get from either of you. You’re both more than I could ever ask for and more then I deserve.”

“No offense sweetie, but how could you be undeserving of us? Nat’s a former assassin turned Avenger and I’m the last survivor of my alien race.”

“While I’m just a political science degree college graduate, turned science wrangler and permanent intern for my bestie and the rest of the eggheads around here,” Darcy let out a scoff like laugh before slipping out of my arms and moving to sit at the foot of the bed.

“I didn’t mean to upset or insult you,” I quickly explained, not needing the bond to tell me she was angry and hurting about something. Her body language and shift to her general personality screaming it.

“It’s not you babe,” Darcy replied, offering me a soft smile, “It’s just…Nat has no real family, but found one here with the team and with Clint and his. And yes, I know about Laura and the kids. I’m the only other person in the building besides you who does and knows to keep it that way. From what Nat’s told me you have a mom that could give Steve’s saint status a run for its money. Not to mention a sister I am dying to meet. Anyone who can beat Tony at anything is a hero in my book.”

I laughed at that as I sat down next to her, reaching out and taking one of her hands in mine. Darcy interlaced our fingers and placed her other one on top. “Believe me I want her to meet you too. Even if the idea is sort of terrifying. The trouble the two of you would cause could rival any super villain.”

That managed to pull a laugh out of her, but only a small one. Her mind is still struggling over whatever it is that’s upsetting her. Something she clearly wants to tell me, but is afraid to. So I better put her mind at ease.

“Darcy,” I began softly, brushing her hair back and running the back of my fingers across her cheek. She leaned in to the gentle caress and seemed to relax some. “If you can look beyond Nat’s past like I can, given some of the things she’s done, to see the real her. If you can accept a super powered alien like me who’s afraid to be intimate with anyone because she might end up hurting them at best, breaking them in half at worst.”

Again, I managed to pull out a laugh from Darcy as she moved and rested her head on my shoulder. I rested my head against hers and continued. “If you can look beyond and accept all that and still care for us and want to be with us. Than I can promise you, there is nothing you can say or do that will change my mind about how I feel about you. It’s only been an afternoon, but I already adore you and know why Fate brought you in to my life and Nat’s.”

“Why is that?”

“Because, like my sister, you are what I need in my life right now. Someone so down to earth and outspoken. Someone so completely honest and genuine with their thoughts and feelings, who knows they’re not the smartest or strongest person in the room, but doesn’t let that phase or stop her. You roll right along with it in your own unique, funny and charming way. In you, Nat and I have a strong tie to keep us grounded to the world. To who we really are, not what we can do.”

“Wow,” Darcy breathed in a choked up tone, “That was really good.”

“Thanks. Gotta get the practice in so Supergirl sounds all strong, self-assure and noble like,” I teased earning a chuckle from Darcy as she tried to pinch the top of my hand. When she found that difficult she moved on to raking it with her cat like nails, followed my trying to crush it with both hands and all of her grunting strength. I let her have her fun, knowing she could probably use the distraction before telling me her story.  

“I grew up sort of like you, small rural country town. My mom is great. She’s kind and warm and open. Accepting of everyone and a great judge of character. The rest of my family not so much. My stepdad comes from a long line of stubborn, self-serving bigots. Listening to him growing up was like listening to a white supremacist rally. He tried to drill his views in to me and my sisters when mom wasn’t around, knowing if she saw him trying to convert us like he did his twin boys, she’d leave him in a heartbeat. Then they’d be SOL because they wouldn’t have anyone to take care of them. How she can stand being with him at all is a mystery for the ages. Guess she sees something I can’t underneath all that hate spouting and close minded bullshit.”

“Sounds like she does, otherwise she wouldn’t expose her daughters to such a toxic influence,” I agreed.

“Mom knows I’ve always been different, my sisters to. They still love me and I talk to them. But as far as he and my stepbrothers are concerned, I’m dead to them. Which is fine. I’m out on my own, far away from them, my sisters and their kids to. Mom stays with him, but always comes to see us when she can. He leads a group that supports Senator Kelly. You know that Republican nut who’s against anyone different, including the Avengers. Illegal aliens, foreigners in general, along with minorities.”

“I’ve heard of him,” I sighed, “He has a few supporters in Smallville, but not many.”

“I’m ashamed of my home and family. That despite everything mom won’t speak out against him and his views. My sisters too. They don’t agree with him, they just won’t voice their own minds against him or anyone he supports. They’re too comfortable and set in their peaceful lives to worry about the state of the world.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that, Darcy. A lot of people feel that way,” I told her calmly, “Some people prefer to focus on the things in their own lives, rather than get swept up in the world. Others take sides that they believe to be right, even if no one else does. You got those who spout hate and violence and intolerance. While others promote peace, unity and friendship. The trick is to just accept everyone as they come. You don’t have to agree with them or even like them. Just listen to their points of view and respect the freedom they have to express themselves like you do.”

“Wow again,” Darcy laughed, “You keep this up and Pepper might replace Steve with Supergirl as the rational face of the Avengers.”

“Considering the amount of self-control it took me not to melt the faces off of every cheerleader in high school, I wouldn’t recommend it.” Darcy laughed and leaned in closer to my side, wrapping her arms around my waist and holding me tight.

“Did you really think I’d hold your family’s actions and ways against you?” I asked, laughing when she nodded yes. “Sweetie the way I see it you are about as far from them as you can get. You are your own woman and I love that about you.”

“Oh you do, do you?” Darcy asked a little too excitedly.

“Don’t let it go to your head. I said the same thing to Nat.”

“And here I was thinking I’m one of a kind.”

“You are,” I breathed, placing a kiss to the top of her head.