Chapter Text
A phone ringing had woken her up, the sound blaring through her room, but it wasn't her usual alarm.
BZZT BZZT
BZZT BZZT
Alex picked it up groggily, “Hello..?” She questioned the caller silently as she sat up in her bed, rubbing her eyes. She didn't usually receive many calls in the middle of the night, unless they were from her pager, and this was definitely not her pager.
“Agent Danvers,” Director Henshaw's deep voice rang through her ear, and her whole body stiffened, sitting straight up. Her mind was now cleared of her usual ‘just woken up’ brain fog.
“Your identity has been compromised. You will complete your final operation this week with the ‘Boise Twins’ you mentioned to me last time. We will be in contact.” And with that, the call was over.
She set her phone on her rumpled bedspread and let out a quiet sigh, her eyes fixed on the wall as her mind wandered. Alex paused, taking a moment to collect herself before lowering her face into her hands, a soft groan escaping as memories from just hours earlier resurfaced.
“I love you!”
“Fucking hell,” Alex grumbles to herself, “Why did I say that?”
‘Because Lexie would,’ is the immediate thought that comes to mind.
“Fuck,” she mutters before looking at her wall once again, “Doesn’t matter anymore anyway. One more surgery.” She takes a breath.
“Then I'm done.”
—------------------
Alex wakes up with a groan, “That dream again?” She mutters to herself as she curls up under her warm blankets. Alex snuggles as she gets into a comfortable position, and she's just about to close her eyes again when-
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
“Ugh!” Alex exclaims with a sigh as she sits up and turns off her alarm. She stares at the wall, just as in her dream, but the wall she now looks at is a lovely light blue, unlike the cream she remembers. “Why is that coming back?” She mutters to herself.
She decides to suppress the troubling memory as she swings her legs over the side of the bed. Having showered the night before, she carefully brushes her now dry hair, flosses, brushes her teeth thoroughly, and then selects a neat yet straightforward outfit for the day. Once she steps outside, the cool morning air greets her as she makes her way to the National City Beanery for her usual: a robust, extra-strong black coffee served hot in a disposable paper cup.
She would need it.
National City never sleeps, well, more so, the crime doesn’t.
And Alex needs to be just as prepared as always; nothing can hold her back, especially a little memory.
—--
As soon as she arrived at the D.E.O. (The Department of Extra-normal Operations), Alex headed straight for the training room. Energized and eager to release some tension, she quickly wrapped her fists and began punching the heavy bag swinging from the ceiling.
Hit after hit.
Punch after punch.
She gritted her teeth as she felt her hands bruise and tear. Alex pulled back, panting as she looked down at her right hand. She could see some red seeping through the wrap.
“Hey.”
A sudden voice made her jump where she stood. The D.E.O. Agent placed her hand over her chest and put a smile on for show.
“Oh,” She sighs in relief, “Kara, don't scare me like that. “ Alex lets out a breathless chuckle as she shakes her head at her sister.
“Sorry,” Kara smiles sheepishly, but her eyes draw down to her older sister’s fists, and her brows furrow in concern. “What happened?” She asks, concerned as she rushes over to check Alex’s hands, but before she can touch them, Alex brings both hands into her chest.
“Nothing,” Alex reassures, “Just… went a bit too hard on the bag.” She says as she sits down on the nearby bench.
Kara’s brow crinkles even more, “That never happens, unless…” She draws off.
“Nothing’s wrong, Kara.”
“Don’t lie to me,” Kara vocalized sternly, “Is this about Maggie? You told me you were over her months ago.”
“No,” Alex sighs knowing her sister will never let this go, “I just got a bit in my head, you know..,” she pauses trying to come up with an excuse, a lightbulb goes off in her head and she sucks air in through her teeth, “I’m, um, trying to get back in the dating scene.”
“Really?!” Kara’s eyes light up like stars, her excitement palpable, “Are you serious?” Alex is sure that Kara is rivaling the famous Barry Allen with the speed of her mind right now.
Alex nods her head slowly, already regretting her choice.
“Ohhh, you don’t know how long I’ve waited for you to say that!” Kara exclaims, her words coming out almost like a squeal, “I know a few people interested~” Kara says sing-songy as she wiggles her brows and makes faces at Alex.
“Really…” Alex is really starting to regret her decision now.
She sighs and leans her head into a hand resting on her knee. “Um, alright… set me up with one of them,” Alex renders reluctantly, waving her other hand at her sister.
“Really?!” Kara actually squeals now. “You’re serious?!” After Alex nods, confirming, Kara vibrates with enthusiasm. Alex glances at the ground, a little surprised that the floor isn’t scorched, given how rapidly Kara is moving.
“This is so exciting!” Kara gushed.
“You don't say,” Alex states dryly, but Kara either doesn't notice or doesn't care.
“I'll set it up and let you know the details,” Kara chirped as she raced out of the room, presumably to set up Alex’s date.
“Oh god, what have I done?” Alex asks herself as she shakes her head.
The wraps covering her right hand have grown redder over time, and Alex begins unwrapping them. The mesh of elastic and cotton peels away to reveal her skin, which is a deep purple and red. She sighs at the sight before finishing, the cloth now set aside as she stands and heads to the bathroom to clean the blood.
Alex looked in the mirror as she traced over her knuckles, the blood now gone, but her purple and blue skin remained. The colors were beautiful but painful as she hissed when she pressed a little too hard on a mark. Alex grabs a towel to put over her hand as she heads back to her bag, her phone resting on top of it, and just as she’s about to pick it up, the little machine brightens with a new notification: Kara.
Alex smoothly unlocked her phone and then looked at the message.
5 pm tomorrow, at that fancy Italian place. Dress nicely.
That's all it reads.
Alex raises a brow.
I don’t get to know this lovely lady’s name?
She kindly points out in her response. Alex waits a second before her sister finally replies.
No. That's the point.
It's gonna be a surprise!
Alex sighs at the emoji Kara sends after.
“Of course,” She mutters to herself as she swings her bag over her shoulder and leaves the training room.
“Why wouldn't it be?”