The desert stretched out quiet and wide under the fading light. Barry set Kara down carefully on the sand, his grip steady even after the burst of speed. She took a half-step back, brushing dust from her suit, eyes sharp as she sized him up. He kept his expression even, cowl already pulled back. He knew this moment. He'd seen it play out on a screen once, in what felt like another lifetime. But standing here, feeling the real grit under his boots and the warm wind on his face, it hit different.
"You okay?" he asked, voice calm.
Kara studied him for a long beat. "Yeah. Thanks for the save. That was… fast. Really fast. Who are you?"
Barry gave a small nod, letting the question hang for a second. No rush. "Barry Allen. On my Earth, people call me the Flash."
She tilted her head, processing that. "Your Earth?"
He shrugged lightly, glancing out at the empty landscape. "It's complicated. I was running—pushing my limits—and I tore through something I shouldn't have. Landed here instead of back home." He kept it simple, no big speeches. Just facts.
Kara crossed her arms, still wary but not hostile. "I'm Kara. Kara Danvers." She paused, then added, "But when I'm out here like this… I'm Supergirl."
Barry met her eyes and nodded again, like it was new information. "Supergirl. Nice to meet you properly."
They stood there for a moment, the desert quiet except for the wind. Barry didn't push. He let her set the pace. She asked a few careful questions—where he was from, how he moved like that—and he answered honestly but not completely. He mentioned Central City, the particle accelerator accident that changed everything, the team he worked with back home. Nothing about watching her story on TV. Nothing about knowing exactly how this day was supposed to go.
After a while, Kara relaxed a fraction. "We should head back to National City. Things are still a mess after that ship showed up. People need help."
"Lead the way," Barry said.
She lifted off, hovering low. Barry matched her speed on the ground, red lightning trailing behind him as they moved toward the city lights in the distance. They didn't race. They kept it steady, side by side, talking as they went. Kara told him a little about National City, about trying to protect people who didn't always trust her lately. Barry listened, offering quiet understanding. He knew that weight. He'd carried it himself more times than he could count.
As they drew closer to the city, Barry's mind turned to what he knew was coming next. Siobhan—Silver Banshee—wouldn't stay down. She'd be heading for the DEO, looking for an ally. Livewire. He didn't say anything. He'd let events unfold naturally. No need to tip his hand.
They landed on the outskirts, near an unassuming building Kara said was the DEO. She gave him a quick look. "My friends might be able to help you figure out a way back. If you're willing to come in."
Barry nodded. "I appreciate it."
Inside, the place hummed with quiet activity. A tall, imposing man—J'onn J'onzz—met them first. His gaze lingered on Barry, probing, but whatever he was searching for didn't land. Barry had learned long ago how to keep parts of his mind shielded, especially after everything with Zoom, Thawne, and the rest. J'onn gave a slight nod, accepting what he could read.
Alex Danvers was next, all sharp focus and questions. "You're the one who caught her?"
"Yeah," Barry said. "Barry Allen."
Kara filled in the basics. Barry added enough to sound credible—stranded from another Earth, speed powers, willing to lend a hand while he worked on getting home. No grand declarations. No mention of any deeper source for his abilities. Just a guy trying to do the right thing.
Winn hovered nearby, clearly itching to ask a hundred questions, but Barry kept things grounded. He answered what he could and let the conversation breathe.
They were still talking when an alert came through. Livewire had been broken out of containment. Reports confirmed Silver Banshee was with her.
Kara's expression hardened. "We need to move."
Barry pulled his cowl back up. "I'm with you."
They headed out together. No big speeches. No rushing in blind. Barry already knew the players and the stakes, but he followed Kara's lead. This was her city. Her fight. He was just the guy who happened to land in the middle of it.
As they raced toward the trouble, the night air whipping past, Barry felt the familiar focus settle over him. He'd faced worse than this duo. He'd stood against Zod's army, made the hard calls when there was no other choice. Livewire and Silver Banshee weren't going to change that.
But for now, he kept pace with Supergirl and let the night unfold.