Chapter 17: Chapter 17: The Price of Exposure
Kara's Inner Turmoil
The world was watching.
Kara sat motionless in the hospital room, her eyes fixed on Clark's unconscious face. The rhythmic beeping of the monitors filled the silence, a cruel reminder that her brother—the one person she was meant to protect—was now lying helpless because of her failure.
Or was it her failure?
She had saved him. She had done what any sister would have done.
But at what cost?
Jonathan Kent's words echoed in her mind.
"You have to keep your head down, Kara. If the world finds out what you are before you're ready… they won't see you as a hero. They'll see you as a threat."
She had proven him right.
The world had seen her rage, her power, her ability to kill without hesitation. Would they remember that she had only done it to protect Clark? Or would they see her as something to be feared?
Could she have saved him without revealing herself?
Guilt tightened around her chest like a vice.
Clark had always been so careful. He had played the weak farm boy, the quiet observer, the one who held back. But in one reckless moment, she had ruined everything.
Would he blame her when he woke up?
Would he understand?
SHIELD's Invitation
Kara had barely slept.
When the agents came, she didn't resist. There was no point. The hospital had already been surrounded, news cameras flashing as reporters screamed her name.
And so, she went.
Now, she stood on the SHIELD Helicarrier, her arms crossed as she stared out at the vast ocean below. The wind howled, whipping at her hair, but she barely felt it.
Behind her, the sound of boots on metal announced his arrival.
Nick Fury.
"Enjoying the view?" his deep voice broke the silence.
Kara didn't turn. "You've been watching us, haven't you?"
Fury stepped beside her, his one good eye studying her carefully. "Longer than you think."
She clenched her fists. "You knew about us. You knew about Clark. And yet, you did nothing."
Fury smirked. "I'd call that doing my job."
She turned sharply to face him. "And what exactly is your job, Director Fury?"
Fury didn't flinch. "To make sure powerful individuals like you don't burn the world down."
Kara's eyes narrowed. "Is that why I'm here? Am I a prisoner?"
Fury chuckled. "If you were, do you think we'd still be flying?"
He gestured toward the massive ship beneath them. "You're here because the world just got its first real glimpse of what you can do. And you need to understand what that means."
Kara crossed her arms. "And you're here to help me understand?"
Fury nodded. "You have a choice to make, Miss Kent. You can hide—try to go back to the way things were. But let's be real… that ship has sailed."
He took a step closer. "Or… you can step into the light."
Kara's jaw tightened. "And join SHIELD?"
Fury's smirk returned. "Now you're getting it."
SHIELD's Operations & The Avengers Initiative
The halls of the Helicarrier hummed with activity. Agents moved swiftly, their eyes flickering toward Kara as she passed.
Fury led her through a restricted wing, stopping before a large metal door. With a scan of his hand, the door hissed open, revealing a darkened control room.
Screens flickered to life, displaying classified files, surveillance footage, and redacted documents.
Kara's breath hitched.
Her name. Clark's name.
Their entire lives—monitored, documented, analyzed.
"You've been keeping tabs on us," Kara murmured, scanning the screens.
Fury nodded. "That's our job. Super-powered beings don't just pop up without getting noticed."
One screen displayed the Avengers Initiative. Names flashed by—Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Steve Rogers… and now, her.
Fury gestured toward the files. "We're preparing for the future. A future where people like you will be needed."
Kara's stomach twisted. "And what if I don't want to be part of your army?"
Fury didn't blink. "Then you walk. No shackles. No threats. But the world already knows you exist, Kara. That means the people who fear you—and the ones who want to use you—are already moving."
Kara hated how much sense that made.
She hated that a part of her was considering it.
But before she could respond, the door opened again.
And Natasha Romanoff walked in.
Kara Realizes She's Been Watched
The moment their eyes met, Kara froze.
She knew.
The way Natasha moved—the confidence, the precision—it all clicked into place.
"You," Kara whispered.
Natasha's expression remained unreadable. "Me."
Kara's chest tightened. "How long?"
Natasha exhaled. "Since the beginning."
Fury stepped back, letting the tension settle.
Kara's hands trembled.
Natasha had been her friend. Her only real connection outside of Clark. The one person she trusted enough to open up to.
And it had all been a lie.
"You were never my friend, were you?" Kara asked, voice quiet but sharp.
Natasha hesitated. That slight pause—that tiny moment of hesitation—was the only answer Kara needed.
Kara turned to Fury. "What do you want from me?"
Fury met her gaze evenly. "We want you on our side."
Silence stretched between them.
Then, Kara's voice—cold, distant.
"And if I say no?"
Fury sighed. "Then we hope like hell that you're really as good as we think you are."
The Betrayal & The Offer
The room was empty now. Just Kara and Natasha.
The silence was unbearable.
"You could have told me," Kara finally said, voice raw.
Natasha studied her. "Would it have changed anything?"
Kara laughed bitterly. "I don't know. Maybe it would have hurt less."
Natasha stepped forward. "Kara, I—"
"Don't."
Natasha stopped.
Kara's hands clenched at her sides. "I trusted you."
Natasha's eyes softened. "I know."
Kara turned away, staring at the flickering screens. Her reflection stared back at her—hardened, betrayed, different.
Fury's offer hung in the air.
She had a choice to make.
And for the first time in her life…
She wasn't sure what to do.
To Be Continued…