Broken Hearts (SuperCorp)

Dearest Sister

The smell of the potstickers was nearly overwhelming. I had skipped my morning snack so I could take a long lunch. The elevator trapped the smell of the Chinese food with me on the long ride up. The doors chimed open just before I lost all my will power. Lena's assistant wasn't at her desk, but Jessica often took her lunch outside in the park across the street. It was our usual weekly lunch date so I walked right to the door and opened it with out knocking.

"Before you say anything about the pot stickers, I got spring rolls for you too." I say before fully in the door. When I look up I see not one, but two raven haired girls with green eyes starring at me.

Lena's white desk sits between the too women, like a dividing wall protecting one from the other. Neither react as I halt my clumsy entrance, choosing instead to return to staring at each other. Both have their shoulders tensed and a letter lays open on the desk.

"Oh, hello. Sorry I didn't realize you were with someone. I'll wait outside." I say, moving to back out of the room.

"Don't bother," the girl says, who I realize now was just a girl. Maybe sixteen. "I am unwanted here. I guess Uncle Lex was wrong." The girl storms out, almost knocking the food from my hands as she shoulder checks me. Only my good reflexes and years of practice allow me to give way without breaking her collar bone.

Lena's head drops as she places her hands on either side of the letter. It has a neat, tight, script scrawled across most of the page.

"Lena?" I ask, unsure what is going on.

"No matter how I try. I will never be free of my family. Nor will I ever be free of the lies they tell." Not sure what to do, I cross the room to set the food on the desk. Hunger forgotten with the anguish in Lena's voice.

"Here. Read this." She hands me the letter, head still bowed. I take it with a moment of hesitation.

My dearest sister,
I know you do not believe in what mother and I do. That we should rid our planet of these wretched aliens. But I must ask an enormous favor of you. One that requires you learning a family secret that has plagued us for too long. Mother and father wished you to never learn their shame so I respected their wishes. But circumstances have changed and I pray you find it in your heart to accept.

Long ago, when I was just a small child, and before you were brought to be with us, I had a sister. Much older than I. She was studying abroad in Europe and she fell in love. I do not know much of what happened because I was too young to understand at the time, but my sister eloped with an undesirable man she fell in love with. Seventeen years ago they had a child. Her name is Nasthalthia. When I was old enough and was running Luther Corp, I located my sister. When my niece was born I spent much time with her. Her father left soon after her birth and gave up his parental rights. I did not have the reservations of our parents about the situation but I kept my time with them a secret. Anytime I had to travel to Europe for business I would stop for a couple days. When Nasthalthia was five they moved back to the States and I got to see them more often.

Nasthalthia means the world to me. But three months ago, while I was rotting away in this prison cell, Nasthalthia's mother died in a head on collision with a drunk driver. She has been a ward of the state ever since while they located me. Unfortunately, in my current state I am seen as an unfit caretaker. No thanks to that damned Super.

You are the closest thing Nasthalthia has to a living relative. I beg you. Take her in. Teach her. Love her while I cannot. If you refuse she will continue to be a ward of the state until she is 18 next year. Then she will have nothing and no one.

Forever your brother,
Lex Luthor

I stare at the page. Unsure what to say. Another Luthor? I think. Lena is staring at me now. She knows I am done be reading.

"Apparently my family will never run out of secrets. For twenty years they hid another half-sister from me. And only after she's dead do I learn about her. And her child. My niece for God's sake."

I walk around the desk and lightly pull on her shoulder so she turns towards me. When she relents I hug her tight. After a moment of hesitation, her arms wrap around me too.

"And so you don't want to take her in?" I ask

"I know it sounds bad. But there is just something in her eyes. Something of Lex and it scares me. He was her only male influence for most her life. I can't have the madness in my life still" Her voice is muffled as we continue to embrace each other. What she said makes sense, but still, this girl needs a home. I take a step back to look into her eyes.

"But this could be your chance of having some family. This girl has no one, just like you once didn't. The only difference is that she is older. And if you don't help her, who will? Lex will never see her again so you can try to break any bad influence he might have had." Lena walks away from me and stares out the window. The city glistening below as the sun reflects off windows and cars.

This is one of my favorite views. Right up there with the DEO balcony and the one at CatCo where I used to meet Ms. Grant as Supergirl.

"Okay." She says. But in a final way that means the matter is closed and she will take what I said into consideration. Lena walks back to her desk and begins unpacking the food I had brought. The food was only lukewarm at this point but still good. She asks about stories I am writing and I ask her about projects she's working on.

Lena deftly dances around any specifics but from what I can tell she is trying to find a new way to produce clean, renewable, and affordable power. All off the record, of course.

As we are saying goodbyes I head toward the door.

"Kara?" She calls after me. I stop and turn. "I am scared to do this alone." She was talking about Nasthalthia.

"But Lena, you aren't alone," I say with a small smile as I shut the door behind me and head back to CatCo.

Authors Note:

Okay I did some research on this one. Looking for a Supergirl character not used in the series yet. So yes, Nasthalthia (pronounced Nas-THAL-thee-uh) is a real character. And is classified as a supporting character most of the time she pops up in the various versions of Supergirl. And she is actually Lex Luthors niece though.