A/N: Okay well I know this is my more popular story and people who read this one won't read my other one, so I'll say it one more time. I was a bit busy these past two week since my German Shepherd took the big sleep due to cancer and that pushed back my entire schedule, but I'm back and hope nothing else bad happens.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my original characters and works. All other characters and worlds belong to their respective owners. If you recognize something it isn't mine.
Arius' Adventures in DC
Chapter 13: Date with Kara
-Arius-
Arius sat at the kitchen table, savoring his breakfast when a faint twinge of unease shot through him. He paused mid-bite from his massive stack of pancakes as his instincts went off. As he concentrated he noticed that the sensation wasn't threatening, it was more like the persistent feeling of being observed and his first thought was Superman. Arius knew that the Kryptonian had a habit of keeping an eye on him either out of caution or curiosity with his super-vision.
Closing his eyes, Arius expanded his Ki sense, a skill he'd continued to hone even after arriving on Earth. It allowed him to feel the energies of the universe and Superman's especially was unmistakable, it was a bright, steady similar to the sun that was stationary in the middle of Metropolis. It didn't seem like the Blue Boy Scout was moving much, so Arius guessed he was working his 'Clark Kent' job.
He ruled out Superman being the culprit and just shrugged off the feeling that someone was watching him. Arius knew that they'd show themselves eventually and no one on Earth posed a serious threat to him, so he let the peeping tom be.
Finishing his meal, Arius mulled over what to do without Diana there and decided to spend the next few hours indulging in entertainment. He flipped through news channels checking to see if there were any major villains who needed their ass kicked, but just saw someone named Captain Cold in Central City making people fall over just to be petty.
Seeing that there was no threat he decided to binge a movie or two, but eventually got bored and tried his hand at a video game that Barry had introduced him to a couple weeks back called Elden Ring. It ended poorly, when he died to some horse fucker named the 'Draconic Tree Sentinel' for probably the hundredth time and he snapped his controller in half during a moment of frustration. Grumbling, he tossed the broken pieces aside and decided he needed to get out for some fresh air.
He didn't understand how with his superhuman relaxes he kept dying, but he wasn't going to think about it anymore, so he slipped into another of his custom suits, crafted from the same material as Superman's and meant to stretch when he grows. The top was a black tank top with a small green 'A' on his chest and with green lines accentuating his muscular lines. His pants were simpler, just plain black, with a hidden pocket for his Justice League communicator, which he kept muted because the constant pings were starting to irritate him.
Fully dressed, he checked Washington, D.C. to see if there were any major crimes or supervillain activity, seeing that there wasn't he decided to visit a popular tourist destination but paused when he sensed a familiar energy signature rapidly approaching. It seemed he found out who the peeping tom was. A grin spread across his face as Kara approached.
The Kryptonian landed in front of him moments later, her golden hair catching the sunlight. She cheerfully greeted him with a smile and he couldn't help but notice how much more appealing she seemed compared to when they'd first met.
When he first saw her in the spaceship she had a full-body suit similar to Superman's, but she traded it for a skin-tight crop top with a cape and a mini-skirt. It was visually striking, but Arius thought the outfit was impractical because capes were just asking to be grabbed in combat which was why he'd refused to wear one when offered for that very reason.
"Kara, are you here for our spar?" he asked in anticipation with a hopeful smile on his face.
"Not today, next time for sure though." She replied shaking her head keeping her tone light and casual
Arius raised an eyebrow, curious about her visit. If she wasn't here for their spar then was it some emergency? Another villain attack or natural disaster?
"Actually," Kara continued, "I heard that Diana was gone and was thinking… Since we're both pretty new to Earth, how about we go exploring? Together." She asked in an equally hopeful tone.
While he would have preferred to fight such a strong being, the coincidence made him chuckle, "Sure, I was just thinking about going to visit a city, but I hadn't decided on which. Do you have a place in mind?" He asked and was met with an immediate response as if she came with a plan in mind.
"Metropolis. I've spent almost all of my time either in Kansas with Kal's adoptive parents or the Fortress of Solitude training, but I've been wanting to see the city my cousin lives in." Kara beamed, stretching her arms behind her back in a way that emphasized her rather substantial assets.
"Alright let's go, I've flown over it once with Diana, but we didn't stop by. Could be fun to see how it stacks up against Gotham." Arius nodded in agreement and with that, the two launched into the sky.
They flew toward Metropolis with Kara leading the way, her red cape fluttering in the wind and Arius followed easily keeping pace as she held a languid flight speed, giving them plenty of time for conversation.
"So, what's with the outfit change?" Arius asked while speeding up next to her, "Not that it doesn't look good, but I remember the full-body suit when we first met." He added having gotten a good look from behind.
Kara looked over her shoulder, flashing a knowing smile, "Oh, that. I wanted to differentiate myself from Kal because the old suit made me look like a miniature version of him, and I didn't want to just ride on his coattails. I want to be my own person." She said, looking off into the distance.
Arius nodded, her reasoning making sense, "Fair point. The new look definitely makes you stand out. But…" he paused, gesturing to her cape, "what's with keeping the cape if you want to be different? I never understood the appeal, it's a liability in a fight. I mean I've seen villains grab those things all the time, like not even a week ago in Philadelphia some guy in a black suit with a lighting bolt was able to fight your cousin and a hero named Shazam because he kept grabbing them by their capes." Arius pointed out, wishing he was able to join the fight, but he was busy eating and hadn't seen the news until it was already over.
Kara chuckled, her laughter carried by the wind. "I understand that, but honestly, the cape is mostly for style. It's cute, it's fashionable, and it gives me that superhero vibe… But there is a practical reason, too."
"Really?" Arius raised an eyebrow, skeptical trying to think of one, but beyond intimidation to make someone seem bigger he couldn't think of one.
"Flying in a skirt isn't exactly… modest, so the cape helps cover me up when I'm in the air. I can't let just anyone take a look at my goods, you know?" Kara said her cheeks tinged with a faint blush as she sped up to get ahead of him once more.
Arius tilted his head, considering her explanation. He didn't expect an alien who didn't grow up on the planet to have modesty that was similar to those on Earth, "That makes some sense, I guess, but it still it's not enough to convince me capes are a good idea. Too many risks, because one tug is all it takes and you're off balance."
"Spoken like someone who's never had a fashion sense." Kara teased with a grin sitting up while flying and wagging her finger at him which again gave him a view of under her skirt. She needed more practice if that was why she was using the cape, so he sped up and matched her again.
"It's all fun and games until it gets you thrown into a volcano. My outfit works perfectly, no frills means that there's nothing to grab onto." Arius smirked back, letting the playful jab roll off him.
"Maybe," Kara said, glancing at him mischievously, "But you're missing out on a little flair because not everything has to be practical, you know."
"I'll leave the flair to the 'heros'. I'll stick to what works." Arius replied, his tone light. Their exchange continued as they flew closer to Metropolis, the towering skyline of the city beginning to come into view.
Arius and Kara spent the day exploring every nook and cranny of Metropolis. Visiting landmarks like Centennial Park, the LuthorCorp Tower, and the Daily Planet building. Seeing the difference between this Earth and his previous one was just as entertaining for Arius.
As they flew through the city, Arius noticed Superman shooting out from the Daily Planet to stop a high-speed chase with ease, he gave Arius a simple nod of acknowledgement and told Kara to stay safe, which she responded to with a cheerful wave before blurring around in a random pattern and returning to work.
The hours flew by as the two enjoyed their time in the city stopping by to get snacks or drinks. His favorite part was when they visited the zoo and he got an ice cream that was little balls that melted on his tongue and when he hopped in the Gorilla enclosure playing with one called Harambe and throwing a kid out who got the same idea, the animal reminding him of the tribe that raised him in Vyragos, and by late in the afternoon, Arius's stomach was rumbling audibly, so he turned to Kara.
"I'm getting pretty hungry. Do you eat human food?" He asked not knowing because he could sense her body nourishing itself with sunlight just like Superman's.
"Absolutely. If there's one thing I love about Earth, it's the flavor in their food and now I can eat anything I want thanks to my powers because I don't have to worry about gaining weight." Kara's eyes lit up.
"Super metabolism has its perks, so let's find something good." Arius said, chuckling at the answer, feeling a majority of people would appreciate that power.
The two decided on a steakhouse in downtown Metropolis. When they entered, they were immediately swarmed by people who were trying to get some pictures and autographs, but he was hungry, so after ensuring there were no children in the crowd Arius dissuaded their attempts with a sharp glare that made the crowd back off. Kara followed behind using his massive body as a shield and the two settled into a window booth.
They ordered multiple pounds of meat, shrimp and sides not worrying about the price and as they devoured their food with some small talk, a commotion erupted across the street that drew their attention. The Metropolis City Bank was being robbed and the people inside were being held hostage, and people in the restaurant who had been recording Arius and Kara since the beginning of their meal cheered hoping to capture a heroic moment.
Arius, however, ignored the chaos and continued savoring his meal instead and Kara hesitated for a moment looking out the window, most likely wanting to help, but decided against it and followed his example, continuing to eat.
One patron who had been denied a photo mustered the courage and stomped over confronting them, "Why aren't you doing anything? Aren't you supposed to be heroes?!" The portly man yelled in anger.
Arius didn't respond, cutting into his second massive eighty ounce steak as he tried to continue his talk with Kara, but it seemed his nonchalant demeanor and lack of response only fueled the growing irritation and courage of the restaurant-goers.
"Hey, we're talking to you! It's your responsibility to help! You're heroes who work for the people! I pay my taxes so you have to listen to me!" A 'Karen' looking woman joined and shouted angrily, getting some of her saliva on his arm.
Irate, Arius finally turned to the crowd. "Shut the fuck up and let me eat my meal with Supergirl in peace." he said bluntly glaring at the troglodyte of a woman who got her spit on his arm.
The boldness of his statement left the crowd stunned and Kara, feeling the mounting tension, nervously added, "Superman's already coming. There's no need for us to interfere."
"Hey Supergirl! Why does he need to come when you're right across the street!" A voice from the back shouted out and while Arius wanted to just knock them out so he could eat in peace he knew that it would probably get his food allowance docked, so he looked at Kara and motioned for her to handle the situation.
"Well I'm still new to Earth and the Justice League isn't letting me go out to help until I can fully control my strength or I might accidentally kill someone." She explained and while he would have bothered to answer their questions it seemed to make them quiet down.
The silence in the restaurant meant they heard the sonic boom that signaled Superman's arrival and within seconds of the Man of Steel arriving at the scene, he disarmed the robbers and resolved the situation with his usual efficiency. Proving that they didn't need to interfere and making Kara sigh in relief.
She laughed softly, leaning closer to Arius, "Why do some humans even bother committing crimes in a city where Kal patrols? It's like they're asking to get caught." She said offhandedly and while he agreed that humans were just stupid overall.
The reason why is because Superman was too soft, when Arius suffocated a criminal with the palm of his hand he knew the fear they felt that just one squeeze could end their life, but the Symbol of Hope didn't do that.
"Some people just don't think things through."Arius said in agreement.
As the two resumed eating and talking, the 'Karen' in the restaurant rushed outside and screeched out like a banshee to call Superman over. Spotting the crowd, Superman gave them a polite wave but, upon noticing Arius and Kara, said he needed to respond to another emergency before flying off back to work.
Arius smirked, leaning back in his booth, "It's really satisfying seeing humans try to get me in trouble, just to get ignored." He said, feeling content with the angered wails of the 'Karen' who now seemed scared to approach them.
Kara paused before nodding, "Yeah it isn't too bad." she said hesitantly, probably still thinking about what would have happened if anything went wrong, but he wasn't a hero so it wasn't his problem.
After a dozen more servings Arius and Kara left leaving a hefty tip and found themselves sitting on top of the iconic globe above the Daily Planet, their legs dangling as they overlooked the shimmering lights of the city of Metropolis.
Having lived on Vyragos for over a decade and currently living in a rural area away from the city Arius found the sight a novel experience as the lights of the bustling city below shone like stars. He leaned back on his hands, enjoying the cool breeze, while Kara looked out over the city, her expression thoughtful.
For a while, they simply enjoyed the view in companionable silence, but eventually, Arius broke it looking over, "So, what was life like before Earth for you?" He asked, noticing she hadn't mentioned it the entire time they talked.
Kara hesitated, her gaze dropping to her hands. "It's... complicated," she admitted.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked knowing that some topics bothered people.
"I-I haven't really talked about it much, but maybe it's time to get it off my chest." She said before hugging herself, "Krypton, my home world... It is-was beautiful. The culture, the people, the technology, it was all so advanced, so different to Earth that it makes me feel homesick and it's hard to put into words, but losing it... hell losing everything... is the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with. No more waking up and seeing my Mother and Father in the mornings. No more walking 'Krypto' in the mornings when I went for my morning run… I don't know what to do."
Arius noticed the way her shoulders trembled slightly and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder without a word just letting her vent as he gave her a gentle side hug. Kara leaned into him, clutching his side as her eyes grew watery. A few tears escaped, but she didn't try to hide them as she wiped them on his shirt.
"I'm sorry for your loss," Arius said softly, rubbing her arm attempting to comfort her the same way his adoptive mother did for him.
Eventually she stopped crying and sniffled while looking up at him, "What about you? You've gone through it twice, so what was your life like before Earth?"
Arius pondered while leaning back slightly, "Well my childhood wasn't exactly gentle because the Saiyan's race was known for their brutality and power. I was born on Planet Vegeta and I never knew my mother and my father, Paragus, barely spoke to me. The only real kindness anyone had ever shown me was when Paragus sent me off Planet Vegeta as a child to save me from its destruction." He lied not having an origin before Vyragos because God simply made him appear in this universe and Kara's teary eyes widened, she hugged him tighter as her attention fixed on him as he continued.
"I don't know how much time passed, but my pod eventually landed on Vyragos, where I was… adopted, by this giant gorilla-looking creature. Since I didn't speak her language I just gave a random name which just so happened to be, 'Kara' as well," Arius said with a chuckle, glancing at the small blonde that was practically glued to him at this point.
Kara Zor-El's jaw dropped as she then broke into laughter, "Wait! Are you serious? You named your adoptive mom after me?"
"Well I met her before you and even chronologically she was older then you, so if anything you were named after her. I guess it was fate that brought us together." Arius joked, hoping to get her mind off of Krypton's destruction.
Kara laughed harder, the sound lifting any heaviness in the air, "Maybe it was." She said cheerfully and continued to lean against him as she urged for him to continue his story.
Arius smiled at her reaction but grew somber again as he continued. "My mom was the one who taught me to survive and find food and how to fight, but years later Darkseid came to invade the world and during our fight he killed her."
"I'm so sorry, Arius." Kara's laughter faded, replaced by sympathy, but he didn't need sympathy, he killed the bastard and avenged his mother.
"It's fine, but that's what brought me to Earth and through a boom tube, looking for revenge and you know the rest." He said.
Kara finally wiped at her face this time with her hand and her became expression pensive, "How did you deal with it? Losing everything? How do you make the pain go away?"
Arius fell silent for a moment, closing his eyes as memories of Vyragos surfaced, everything from his initial crash landing, him bullying 'Dumbass' One and Two, the feats the tribe would have after a successful hunt, the memoirs of those weird alien dogs attacking when he was practising his Ki attacks, the moment Granny Goodness tricked him with food which lead to his his tribe getting killed and the years he spent wandering after Darkseid ran away. His chest tightened briefly, but he pushed through the emotions having come to terms with them long ago.
"The truth is... it doesn't just go away. Those memories, those feelings, they'll always be there, but time heals all wounds and you learn to handle them better over time." He said before pulling out his communicator and showed Kara a picture of 'Shelly', his massive pet turtle, "After Vyragos was destroyed by that sore loser. I thought I lost it all, but the Flash at the last moment saved this little guy for me."
Kara smiled softly, wiping away a lingering tear. "He's cute."
Arius nodded. "Yeah he is. It helps if you focus on the positives, even in the worst situations." He said trying to sound inspirational, knowing that he'd have crashed out on Earth if Darkseid succeeded in killing his little buddy.
They fell into a peaceful silence, watching the city lights below. Arius couldn't help but think that Metropolis felt much more relaxed compared to Gotham as no one had attempted to mug him and after a while, Kara looked up at him, a small smile on her face.
"Thanks for the pep talk Arius." She said letting him go from her grasp and he gave her a pat on the back seeing that she seemed to get over the traumatizing event.
"No problem. The hardest part is already behind you and now you need to live your life." He suggested.
Kara nodded, "You're right." she said looking down at the 'S' on her chest.
"Anyway it's getting late, so I'll see you around Kara." Arius said standing up and stretching, but as he turned to leave, Kara called out.
"Hey, wait!" She paused and he looked at her seeing that she seemed embarrassed, "Do you want to hang out again tomorrow?" She asked and he saw his chance.
"Sure. Do you want to spar tomorrow?" He asked with a grin.
Without thinking, Kara eagerly agreed, "Of cour-!" She paused, realizing what he'd asked, "Fine, but go easy on me!" She finished sticking out her tongue.
"We'll see. Good night, Kara." Arius waved her off already off to bed for tomorrow to come sooner.
"Good night, Arius," she replied.
-Kara Zor-El (Supergirl)-
Kara sat cross-legged on her bed, her room dimly lit by the soft glow of a desk lamp. Her eyes wandered to the popcorn ceiling as she replayed the events of her time on Earth. It hadn't been long since she arrived, yet so much had happened. She let out a small sigh, thinking back to her first moments on this strange, primitive planet.
When her escape pod had been caught mid air she didn't really notice as she was still in stasis, but the slightly poking woke her up and the sight of Earth's sky that was so different from Krypton's, only reminded her of everything she'd lost. Her home, her people, her family: all gone in the blink of an eye.
And it just so happened that in an emotional state that she saw him. His towering frame and alien energy terrified her, Kara's mind blanked and before she even had time to process, her fear and despair mixed and she lashed out her punch completely missing, but her head didn't as she sent Arius flying across the landscape, vanishing into the distance.
Initially Kara stood there, stunned, rubbing her head at the impact while staring at her hand. She'd never had strength like that on Krypton and the shock of discovering her new power along with the stress of losing her planet overwhelmed her, but she barely had time to comprehend what was happening before Arius returned and retaliated with a gut-wrenching punch to her stomach that knocked the air out of her and wiped her mind clear of everything but the pain and the immediate threat.
Her world had narrowed to the battle before her, and she braced for another attack, but just as Arius was about to strike again, her cousin, Kal-El, arrived. He stood between them, his presence somehow calming yet commanding, and de-escalated the situation.
Kara chuckled at the memory. "Some first impression," she muttered to herself, rubbing where she had been punched. The pain had faded after a couple seconds, but a warm sensation followed and now whenever she thought about him she couldn't help but feel fuzzy.
Over the weeks and months that followed, she'd slowly adapted to life on Earth. Kal-El had done his best to ease her transition, but she'd made her dissatisfaction with the planet's primitive technology and culture abundantly known to him. But like Arius had said earlier it was best to focus on the positives even in bad situations, he just so happened to be her positive along with her cousin.
Her cheeks flushed slightly as she thought about Arius. The events of the day replayed in her mind, and she couldn't help but squeal softly in excitement kicking the bed repeatedly and accident slipping up in her control and breaking a leg.
"Kara, are you okay sweetie?!" The voice of Marth Kent rang out at the loud bang of the bed breaking.
"Yeah I'm fine! I just slipped up a bit!" She replied knowing she'd fix it later, for right now her mind was focused on the time she had spent with him, nearly a full day for her first date, though she doubted Arius saw it that way. Still, the fact that they'd explored Metropolis together, eaten together, and even shared personal stories made her heart race.
She didn't know how close he was with Wonder Woman, but Kara wasn't going to give up and she glanced at her reflection in the mirror on the ceiling, noting the change in her outfit. She had deliberately chosen her new look, a crop top, a cape, and a mini-skirt, to seem more appealing, especially to Arius, though she wasn't going to tell him that, but it seemed to have worked. She'd felt his heated gaze on her multiple times throughout their time together and the thought made her smile.
Arius' advice on coping with the loss of everything had struck a chord with her because he understood her pain in a way no one else could. His words weren't empty platitudes; they came from someone who had been through the same agony and came out the other side stronger and then there was the coincidence that made her heart flutter even more, he named his adoptive mother's name Kara.
That was what really solidified her feelings for Arius beyond just his strength and his good looks. Their shared experiences were uncanny. They'd both escaped planets on the brink of destruction and both were the last of their kind, well, mostly. Kara couldn't help but smirk as she corrected herself internally.
'The last female Kryptonian,' she thought knowing it'd be up to her and Kal to continue the Kryptonian legacy and since her cousin already had a head start and had chosen some woman named Lois Lane, Kara wasn't going to fall behind.
"It has to be fate," she murmured, lying back on her bed and staring at the ceiling again, a dreamy smile spreading across her face.
Today was perfect. Arius had seen her, truly seen her and she couldn't wait for tomorrow even if it was to spar with him, because he made it clear that he was into strong women and she was going to show him that she was someone who could match him.
For the first time since arriving on Earth, Kara felt happy in a way she hadn't been before and that thought gave her a sense of hope she hadn't felt in a long time.
-Arius-
Arius woke up groggily, his head swirling with fragments of a dream he couldn't quite remember. He knew it felt important, but the details eluded him no matter how hard he tried to recall. Shrugging it off, he got out of bed, ate a 'quick' breakfast, and took a hot shower to wake himself up fully, by the time he dried off he was in high spirits.
Excitedly, Arius picked up the League issued communicator and called Kara. She answered almost immediately, her cheerful tone making him smile. He asked if she was ready to meet up and she said yes, suggesting that they train at Superman's Fortress of Solitude, explaining that it had a special area for sparring at their level of strength. Arius agreed without much thought. He didn't care where they spar, he was just eager to test her strength.
After getting dressed, Arius locked onto Kara's Ki and took off into the sky. His journey led him to the middle of the fucking artic where he found a peculiar crystalline structure in the middle of the frozen wasteland. He approached and noticed that there was a welcome mat in front of the door and as he went to open it he was confused as to why it was locked.
Not wanting to break the door he saw that there was a key hole and looked in the only possible spot for a key, lifting the welcome mat he saw a regular sized key which he found amusing thinking that a human that was prepared enough would be able to enter the 'Fortress of Solitude', but when he bent down to pick it up he was surprised by its weight, though it didn't pose any real challenge to him he took back his thought of any human getting in.
Using it to unlock the door, he stepped inside and was greeted by an otherworldly interior. The Kryptonian technology was vastly different from the Saiyan space pod as its crystal design caught his attention, but he didn't linger too long. He followed Kara's Ki signature to a large training room.
When he arrived, Kara was there bending over and stretching in another new outfit that seemed to cover less then the previous one. Another long-sleeved tank top, but this one was black with a gold 'S' along with tight black spandex that accentuated her figure. Arius dazed for a second quickly shook off any thoughts about her appearance, focusing instead on the spar ahead. Mentally ranking her above Superman, Diana, and even Darkseid in raw strength.
Kara turned and greeted him with a bright smile before skipping over to give him a hug. He returned it giving her a brief hug, but Kara lingered, her arms wrapped around his waist before she finally pulled back, she gave him an embarrassed smile that Arius found oddly endearing, he knew he was getting seduced again but the spar was more important.
After a quick explanation of the rules, they began with Kara launching herself at him and Arius immediately noticed that Kara lacked any form or technique as her punches were wild and uncoordinated, clearly relying on raw power over skill, so he decided to let one of her punches land to gauge her strength, feeling the blow to his side he frowned, but not in pain. She was clearly holding back.
He motioned for her to stop, "Why are you holding back?" he asked, his tone more annoyed than anything else.
Kara chuckled nervously seeing his look and rubbed her arm, "Kal-El's been helping me control my strength and I didn't want to hurt you."
Arius scoffed, his annoyance turning to anger at the notion of anyone needing to go soft on him, "I'm not some squishy human Kara, I'm a Saiyan. Now hit me like you mean it." He motioned for her to continue the spar.
"...But I don't want to hurt you." Kara muttered hesitating to continue.
He stepped forward, his intense gaze making her flinch slightly. "I said hit me." Arius repeated, "As hard as you can. Right here." He tapped his stomach, "If I have to repeat myself, I'm leaving." He finished not wanting to spar with someone so weak because at that point it was better to just go bully the villains.
Seeing that he was serious, Kara nodded, steeling herself as she drew back her fist and punched him in the stomach with all her might. The blow had even more strength then her headbutt, but this time Arius had tensed his abs in preparation and didn't even flinch from the impact.
Kara froze, her fist still pressed against his stomach, staring up at him in disbelief and when she realized he was unfazed, she chuckled as her cheeks turned red. Her clenched fist relaxed into an open palm as she traced her fingers over his abs, then up to his chest. "Your muscles are so... hard," she murmured in a daze, her voice tinged with something he couldn't quite place.
"Yes they are. Now are you ready to spar at full strength?" Arius sighed, stepping back.
Kara nodded, but she was still in a daze and annoyed Arius flicked her forehead, sending her flying into a wall. She pouted, tears welling in her eyes as she rubbed her forehead. "You didn't have to hit me so hard!" she complained, despite the blow not even leaving a mark.
"Stop getting distracted in a fight even if it's just a spar," he retorted, getting into a stance. Angry, Kara launched herself at him, and their spar truly began.
Arius quickly established his dominance, his superior skill and strength giving him a clear edge. At first, he found the spar dull, but knew that Kara was a gem that had to be polished and as time went on he noticed something remarkable. Kara was improving at an astonishing rate. She was rapidly adapting to his movements and using her smaller size to her advantage. Not to mention her powers increased her endurance and let Kara keep going nonstop, and her technique steadily increased.
Arius couldn't help but admire her. It seemed her power was also mental as her skill grew rapidly and that combined with her sheer tenacity despite the pain his blows impressed him, and he found himself enjoying the spar more than he anticipated. He thought it would take at least a few months for her to get to that level.
After hours of Kara improving she plateaued so Arius decided to intensify their fight as he began using his Ki sending small blasts every now and then to test Kara's limits and keep her on her toes. She seemed to realize the shift and started to use her heat vision in conjecture with her feints and attacks.
Launching a 'Superman Punch' which he blocked with ease, but she continued ruthlessly shooting her heat vision at his face which Arius blocked it with his right hand, chuckling at her attack, as he could see her attacks patterns evolving in real time as she blitzed forwards used her size advantage to slip into his guard with his hand being up and landing a double uppercut. He minimized the impact by moving his head up with the blow and then caught both her hands in his left hand, trapping her.
Kara struggled lashing out with kicks that he just tanked proud that she seemed to be going all out to escape as she even used her heat vision and freeze breath which he batted away with a Ki empowered palm she continued for a couple minutes before giving up, laughing breathlessly as she looked up at him.
Her flushed face and adrenaline-fueled smile made her look radiant and Arius released her having won this round satisfied with her progress, but Kara continued to hover at eye level, meeting his gaze.
She hovered closer as she slowly leaned in, her half-lidded eyes and soft panting. He realized what was going to happen and wasn't against it, if anything, he welcomed it because he found himself really compatible with Kara. She was more beautiful than almost every woman he had encountered, she was durable enough to take hits from him and had the strength and will to dish it back out. A heat flooded his veins beyond what he experienced with Selina.
But before their lips could meet, Superman arrived, his voice breaking the moment. "Mind if I join the sparring sess-?" He asked before pausing as he saw the scene before him.
Kara squeaked in embarrassment, flinching back as if caught doing something forbidden. "Kal what are you doing here?!" She practically shouted, "I... I have to go!" she stammered covering her body as she was dressed in skin tight spandex, her face bright red as she fled the Fortress nearly in orbit before either of the men could say anything.
Arius stood there, dumbfounded and disappointed. He wasn't surprised Superman had shown up, he'd sensed him coming, but he hadn't anticipated Kara's reaction. It seemed she was embarrassed about being caught almost kissing someone by her cousin despite being in her early twenties.
"Are you still up for sparring?" Arius unfazed asked Superman, wanting to work off some energy his body seemed to be preparing for another form of exercise.
"Uhh, let me take a rain check. I hear someone calling for my help." Superman said before taking off following Kara and he debated on if he should also follow, but decided against it because it seemed like family business.
Grumbling at being left blue balled in both ways Arius left the fortress and headed to Washington, D.C. to patrol for a few hours and get some food.
The next day she appeared at his villa in her tank top and mini-skirt and apologized which he accepted. They spent the rest of the week together, their interactions mostly lighthearted and focused on training and exploring Earth as Kara remained flustered and awkward about their near-kiss being interrupted by her cousin, so she avoided any overly intimate moments and Arius, for his part, didn't push the matter as he wasn't in a hurry and wanted her take her time though he noticed her occasional lingering glances and shy smiles, so despite the lack of romantic developments, they built a strong camaraderie that felt natural and genuine.
And by the end of the week, Arius felt closer to Kara than he'd expected and he planned to meet with her again the next day, but his contentment was disrupted when he had another dream, this one far more vivid than anything he'd experienced before.
In the dream, Arius stood in front of a massive mountain as dark clouds churned above, lightning sounding out in an unending cacophony, its peak hidden by the swirling storm.
He realized that this was the dream he'd been having since Diana left, but this one was more vivid as he was finally able to see everything in detail. He tried to fly to the peak but was confused when his powers weren't working. Looking around he saw a door at the base of the mountain and decided to enter, being greeted by a dark hallway only illuminated by torches every dozen meters.
Unfazed he took off a torch and curiously looked and walked down the hall that seemed unending. What seemed like hours passed and Arius was growing frustrated wanting to use his Ki to simply fly along the path, but he still couldn't use his life energy as it seemed static and even when he tried to run it was useless as the distance he covered was less than when he was walking.
So he could only walk forward and more time passed as the hours turned to days and the days to weeks, he knew it wasn't real, but continued and finally after what seemed like months of walking he reached the end where a massive metal door sat sealing off a room and curious he opened it and was confused when he saw Diana, strapped to a throne. Her arms and legs were bound by chains that seemed to pulse with an eerie, otherworldly energy when she pulled against it before she stopped and her usually fierce expression was replaced by one of exhaustion and despair.
"Diana!" He called rushing forward, but this time he was frozen in place unable to even move as he saw Diana's lips move, but not produce a sound and though Arius couldn't hear her words at first, he could feel her desperation as if it were his own.
At this point he wanted the dream to drag on because he wasn't going to free her and he drew on his Ki once more this time in desperation and anger at whatever was affecting him and slowly it responded moving from his core outward and slowly but surely it sped up and when his Ki finally flooded his body the restriction seemed to snap as it pulsed out flooding the room in his power and he tried to move toward Diana to break her free, but right when he was about to reach her his vision began to fade.
"Not yet… Not Yet…" He repeated over and over again inches away from touching her, but it seemed for naught as his vision fully blacked out and he lost all feeling in his body. The last thing he heard was Diana's voice cut through the darkness like a blade, "Arius, help me!" She called out in desperation and he felt his will suge at her call.
"NOT YET!" He roared and jolted awake, his body drenched in a cold sweat. His heart raced, his chest rising and falling rapidly as if he'd just finished a grueling battle. His hands instinctively clenched into fists, a faint golden glow flickering around him as his Super Saiyan power surged to the surface, ready to transform. The room around him lay in disarray from his power.
It took him several moments to calm down, the dream's intensity lingering in his mind. Sitting on the edge of his bed, he buried his face in his hands, his breaths still shallow. The image of Diana, trapped and calling for his help seared into his memory.
"What the hell was that?" he muttered, running a hand through his hair.
AN: Alright well this was more of a slice of life chapter to develop some characters out before everything goes to shit because when Arius finds Diana he isn't going to be happy.
Also a shameless plug, but if you like the story and want to read advanced chapters consider joining my patreo n to support me, I am 5+ chapters ahead for each story. And due to site rules Patreo n will grant access to my discord with chapter and just in case of anything I also made a subsribestar where the same thing will be posted directly to the site if you prefer.
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