MADC Chapter 8 The New Normal

Kara’s Apartment

The rain had softened outside, pattering gently against the windows while the city’s hum became a distant lull. The tension before had faded, replaced by an awkward, almost domestic calm.

The three sat on Kara’s couch, the TV murmuring softly in the background. Zack sank deeper into the cushions, sighing as the exhaustion of everything finally started to catch up to him. He ran a hand through his messy hair and groaned.

“Okay…” he said, breaking the comfortable silence. “This might sound random, but—” He sniffed, then made a face. “I smell terrible.”

Kara blinked, caught off guard, while Galatea tilted her head.

“I mean, seriously,” Zack continued, frowning as he sniffed the collar of his shirt. “How are either of you sitting this close to me right now? I smell like… like if a landfill and a wet dog had a love child.”

That did it. Both women burst out laughing. Kara nearly spilled her tea while Galatea snorted in amusement, leaning back against the couch with a grin.

“Oh Rao,” Kara wheezed, covering her mouth with her hand. “You’re not wrong.”

Galatea smirked. “Honestly, we were being polite.”

“Polite?” Zack repeated in disbelief. “You girls let me sit here reeking like a sewer and didn’t say anything?”

Kara chuckled, eyes sparkling. “Maybe it’s the bond. You know, dulling our sense of smell so we can stand being around you.”

Galatea nodded in mock seriousness. “Makes sense. Some kind of biological mercy produced by this bond we now have.”

Zack groaned, burying his face in his hands. “Wow. Thanks a lot.”

Kara couldn’t stop giggling. “Oh, come on. It’s not that bad.”

“Yes it is,” Galatea deadpanned. “I can see the bacteria multiplying.”

Zack shot her a glare. “I’d like to remind you that I didn’t exactly have the luxury of fresh laundry when I woke up in a dumpster.”

That sobered Kara’s laughter into something softer. “You’re right. Sorry.” She stood, brushing invisible lint off her skirt. “You can use my shower. It’s down the hall to the right. ”

Zack looked up at her, blinking. “Wait, really?”

“I’ll grab you something to wear. I think some of Kal’s old shirts are still here from when he stayed over last time.”

“Who?” Zack asked, raising an eyebrow.

Kara, seeing his confusion, quickly explained. “Kal’s my-. Well, let's say our cousin.” Kara smiled. “He sometimes stays over and forgets his clothes.”

Galatea made a face. “Please tell me you’re not giving him Clark’s clothes. That’s going to make this even weirder.”

Kara rolled her eyes and waved off the comment as she gestured for Zack to follow. “Come on, I’ll show you the bathroom.”

As she led him toward the bathroom, Galatea grabbed the remote and flipped on the TV, feigning disinterest though her eyes followed the two of them like a hawk.

“Just so we’re clear,” Galatea called out, her tone teasing but laced with warning, “no funny ideas, Supergirl. Don’t you dare join Zack while he’s inside. I saw the look on your face when you said ‘shower.’”

Kara froze mid-step, turning bright red. “W–What?! I wasn’t thinking anything like that!”

“Sure you weren’t,” Galatea said, smirking. “But you might get tempted. He’s pretty helpless-looking when he’s flustered. You’d probably feel the need to ‘help’ him.” She even made air quotes.

Kara’s blush deepened to a vivid shade of crimson. “I—I’m not that kind of person! I was just going to—!”

“Really.” Galatea cut her off with a smirk. “Good. Because I would.”

Kara’s face was almost crimson now. She pointed at her smirking clone, sputtering. “That’s completely inappropriate! And besides, I’d at least wait a bit longer!”

Zack, halfway down the hall, turned with wide eyes. “Wait—what does that even mean?!”

Galatea leaned back on the couch, crossing her arms with a satisfied grin. “Then I’ll do that later.”

Kara nearly dropped the towel she was holding for Zack. “You will not!”

“Oh, relax,” Galatea said with mock innocence. “I’d only be making sure he doesn’t slip. A totally selfless act.”

Zack groaned. “Why do I feel like I’m being discussed like some kind of pet project?”

Kara pressed her hand to her face, trying to compose herself, her cheeks still bright pink. “Ignore her,” she said quickly. “She’s just trying to get under my skin.”

As Kara disappeared down the hall to show Zack her bathroom. Galatea leaned her head back on the couch and let out a low chuckle. “She’s so easy to fluster,” she muttered under her breath, amused.

—--------------------------------

Kara led Zack down the short hallway toward the bathroom. Her apartment, though warm and tidy, suddenly felt a little too small with everything that had happened tonight, especially with both Galatea and Zack under her roof.

They stopped in front of a white door with a silver handle. Kara turned the knob and flicked on the light, revealing a neat modern bathroom with clean tiles, and a faint scent of vanilla soap in the air.

“Here,” Kara said, stepping inside and pointing toward the shower panel. “The hot water takes a second to kick in — it’s a little temperamental. You just turn this dial here and let it run for a bit. You’ll know it’s ready once the fog starts building up.”

Zack leaned forward to look where she pointed, nodding. “Got it. Fancy plumbing, huh?”

Kara laughed softly. “Hardly. It’s just regular Metropolis tech.” She glanced over her shoulder, her expression softening. “Oh, and… just leave your dirty clothes in that basket over there. I’ll figure out what to do with them later.”

“Later?” Zack repeated, glancing at the tattered shirt and scuffed pants he was wearing. “Trust me, Kara, these are a lost cause. Might as well have them cremated.”

She smiled. “We’ll see.”

Zack gave her a grateful look. “Thanks again. Really. You didn’t have to—”

“It’s fine,” Kara interrupted quickly, waving her hand with an almost shy smile. “After everything you’ve been through, it’s the least I can do.”

Kara then headed to the doorway, the sound of the rain tapping faintly against the glass window. Zack started to pull off his shirt, grateful for the chance to finally feel clean again. He hadn’t realized how much grime and sweat clung to him until now.

Kara turned to leave, her hand already on the door but then hesitated. Her expression shifted as she became thoughtful. She turned back toward him, her voice quieter now, more hesitant. “Zack… can I ask you something?”

Zack paused mid-motion, his shirt halfway off. “Uh… sure?”

She didn’t seem to notice his current state. Her blue eyes were focused and serious, the kind of look that came from deep thought.

“How do you think I can… get along with Galatea?” She asked softly.

Zack blinked, caught off guard. “Get along? What do you mean?”

Kara leaned against the doorframe, her shoulders sinking slightly as if the question itself weighed on her. “Ever since she was created, we’ve… never really understood each other. Every time we meet, it ends in a fight. Words, fists, doesn’t matter, it always turns ugly. And I don’t even know why anymore.” Her voice trembled slightly at the edges, not from fear, but something close to guilt.

Zack slowly lowered the shirt he’d been holding and turned to face her. “I don’t really understand the whole… original-and-clone thing,” He admitted. “But I don’t think it has to be what defines you two.”

Kara’s gaze lifted slightly, curious.

He took a moment to think, his tone gentle but firm. “Maybe you just have to change the way you look at her. Instead of thinking of her as your copy. You should think of her as your sister.”

Kara blinked. “Sister?”

Zack nodded. “Yeah. You both share the same face, the same power, and the same blood, whether you like it or not. That kind of connection doesn’t just go away. It’s not something you asked for, but it’s still there. And if you stop treating her like an imitation and start seeing her like family… maybe it will become easier.”

Kara turned slightly, her expression softening as she processed his words.

He continued, his voice calmer now. “She may not look like it but she is younger than you. She hasn’t had the same time to figure herself out. Imagine waking up one day knowing you were made to replace someone, to fight them, to be better than them. You’d be confused too. Scared, probably.”

Her chest tightened. He was right, painfully right.

“So instead of fighting her,” Zack said, his tone warm but earnest, “maybe she needs us to be what she’s never had, someone patient enough to guide her. To show her what it means to be more than what she was created to be. You don’t have to be rivals. You can be sisters.”

The bathroom was quiet for a moment. Kara’s hand slipped from the door handle, her eyes distant as if seeing something long buried.

“…Sisters,” She murmured, tasting the word like something fragile. “I have never thought of that before.”

Zack smiled faintly. “Then maybe it’s about time you did.”

She looked up, her gaze meeting his, open, sincere, and shining with something that wasn’t just admiration, but gratitude. “You’re… not what I expected, Zack.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly flustered. “Really, I like to think I’m pretty normal. You know if you ignore my amnesia and weird power.”

Kara chuckled softly, the sound light and genuine. “You really think it’s that simple?”

He shrugged. “Probably not. But it’s a start.”

For a moment, the two just stood there, the air warm and still between them. Then Kara smiled again, a real, soft smile that reached her eyes. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “I’ll think about it.”

She turned, finally stepping toward the door, her cape brushing the frame as she reached for the handle. “Alright, I’ll let you get cleaned up. Don’t take too long or Galatea will start making comments.”

Zack sighed, grinning. “Pretty sure she already is.”

Kara laughed under her breath. “Yeah, she probably is. I’ll leave the new clothes by the door.”

With that, she slipped out, leaving Zack alone in the bathroom.

He stood there for a moment, staring at the foggy mirror, her words and her smile lingering in his mind.

Then he shook his head, muttering to himself as he peeled off his shirt and turned on the water. “Sisters, huh? Yeah… easier said than done.”

The shower hissed to life behind him, filling the room with rising steam. And as the sound of rushing water drowned out the noise of the world, Zack couldn’t help but smile faintly.

—--------------------------------

In the living room, the atmosphere had shifted again. The lightheartedness from earlier had faded, leaving behind a quiet, uneasy calm. The TV still played softly, showing muted news footage about a Metropolis bank robbery, but neither woman was watching.

Galatea lounged on the couch, one leg crossed over the other, remote in hand. She kept flicking through channels every few seconds, though she wasn’t paying attention to any of them. Her expression was unreadable, but her posture, tense shoulders, tapping foot, betrayed the restlessness she felt.

Kara emerged from the hallway a moment later, her footsteps soft against the carpet. She still had that thoughtful look in her eyes from her conversation with Zack. When she saw Galatea sprawled across her couch like she owned it, Kara sighed quietly but didn’t comment.

Instead, she moved toward the small kitchen area, poured herself a glass of water, and leaned against the counter. The silence stretched, fragile and humming with unspoken things.

It was Galatea who broke it first.

“So,” she said, eyes still on the screen, “how long until you try to scold me again?”

Kara blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

Galatea smirked faintly. “You know. The usual lecture. ‘Violence isn’t the answer,’ ‘you’re too reckless,’ blah blah blah.”

Kara frowned, setting the glass down. “I wasn’t planning to lecture you.”

“Really?” Galatea’s tone was dry. “That’d be a first.”

Kara crossed her arms, biting back her instinct to respond defensively. “I just don’t see the point in arguing right now. We’ve both said enough.”

Galatea clicked the remote again, changing the channel to a nature documentary where some penguins were waddling across ice. “Huh. Didn’t think you’d give up so easily.”

“I’m not giving up,” Kara replied evenly. “I’m… thinking.”

That made Galatea glance over. “Thinking?”

Kara met her gaze. “About us. About how we got here.”

Galatea raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. “You mean me being your failed science project that escaped?”

Kara winced slightly. “You don’t have to put it like that.”

“How else am I supposed to put it?” Galatea shot back, her voice sharpening for the first time. “You and your cousin see me as a mistake that should’ve been erased years ago. Don’t act like you didn’t think of it.”

“I didn’t!” Kara insisted, stepping forward. “You’re not a mistake, Galatea.”

“Then what am I?”

The question hit hard, sharper than either expected. Kara faltered, her mouth opening but no words coming out. Galatea smirked bitterly, turning back to the TV. “Exactly.”

Kara stared at her reflection in the window, the faint glow of the city lights casting her face in muted gold. Zack’s words echoed softly in her head: Instead of thinking of her as your copy… think of her as your sister.

She swallowed, then spoke quietly. “You’re… family.”

Galatea stiffened. “What?”

Kara took a breath, steadying her voice. “Me and Zack were talking and I’ve been thinking a lot about what Zack said. He’s right, we’re connected, whether we want to be or not. And we’ve spent so long trying to prove we’re different from each other that I never stopped to think that maybe we didn’t need to.”

Galatea turned her head slowly, her blue eyes narrowing. “You’re saying this now because he told you to?”

Kara shook her head. “No. I’m saying this because I believe it. You and I… we could keep fighting forever, and nothing would change. Or we could try something different.”

Galatea’s lips parted, but no sound came out. Her expression softened slightly, her eyes flickering with confusion. “Something different… like what?”

“Like not being enemies,” Kara said simply. “Like being… sisters.”

For a long moment, neither spoke. The sound of rain filled the silence, and in the background, the faint rumble of thunder rolled through the city.

Galatea leaned back against the couch, her gaze falling to the floor. “Sisters, huh?” she murmured, almost to herself. “You really think it’s that simple?”

Kara smiled faintly. “No. But it’s a start.”

Galatea’s eyes flicked toward her, uncertain but curious. “You’re serious about this?”

“I am.”

The clone’s voice dropped lower, almost fragile. “You really want to try… being family? After everything?”

Kara nodded. “Especially after everything.”

Galatea looked away, jaw tightening, as if trying to mask the flicker of emotion that crossed her face. “You’re an idiot,” she muttered finally.

Kara chuckled softly. “Maybe. But I’m your big sister now.”

That earned her a surprised snort, almost a laugh. Galatea quickly covered it with a scoff. “Don’t push it, Supergirl.”

“Fine,” Kara said, walking over and sitting on the armrest of the couch. “But… you didn’t say no.”

Galatea sighed, pretending to focus on the TV again. “Yeah, well… I’ll think about it.”

The two sat in silence again, this time a gentler one. The hostility wasn’t gone, but it had changed shape — softened, reshaped into something new.

After a moment, Galatea muttered, “You know, you’re lucky I don’t hold grudges for long.”

Kara smiled. “Trust me, I know.”

Then, from down the hall, they heard the faint creak of the bathroom door opening, followed by the soft pad of Zack’s bare feet on the floor.

Galatea smirked. “Speak of the devil.”

Kara glanced over her shoulder, a faint warmth spreading through her chest as she saw him emerge, damp hair sticking to his forehead, wearing a slightly oversized blue shirt and gray sweatpants that Kara had found for him. Steam still curled from the bathroom down the hallway, giving the air a faint warmth.

Galatea eyed him briefly from the couch, her lips twitching into a smirk. “Finally done?”

“Yeah,” Zack said, tugging at the hem of the shirt. “I think I washed off three layers of grime.”

Galatea stood, stretching her arms behind her head. “Good. Then it’s my turn.”

Kara blinked. “Wait, what?”

Without missing a beat, Galatea glanced at her with a mischievous grin. “I said it’s my turn to use the shower. I’ve been in my uniform for a week and badly need it.”

Before Kara could reply, Galatea was already walking toward the bathroom. “Hold on—” Kara started, frowning. “You don’t have spare clothes.”

“Oh, I know,” Galatea interrupted, flashing a teasing smile over her shoulder. “I’ll be borrowing your clothes, there might be a few that’ll fit me perfectly.”

Kara’s eyes widened. “What? No, you can’t just—!”

But Galatea didn’t wait for permission. The bathroom door shut behind her with a click, and a second later, the faint sound of running water filled the apartment again.

Kara stood frozen for a moment, jaw slightly open. “…She’s unbelievable.”

Zack chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “She’s got a way of doing things, huh?”

“You mean taking things,” Kara muttered, glaring at the closed bathroom door. “That woman is incorrigible.”

Zack smiled faintly, sinking onto the couch beside her. “Yeah, but I think she’s trying to be civil.”

Kara glanced at him, brow arching. “Trying to be?”

He nodded, leaning back. “I mean… she’s still Galatea.”

Kara’s expression softened. She exhaled slowly, crossing her arms as she stared at the faint mist still drifting from the bathroom hallway. “Maybe.” Her voice dropped a little. “I told her what you suggested about seeing her as my sister instead of my copy.”

Zack turned toward her, curiosity flickering in his eyes. “And?”

Kara smiled slightly, a quiet warmth returning to her voice. “And she didn’t laugh at me.”

He chuckled. “That’s progress.”

“She even said she’d think about it.” Kara glanced down, her fingers tracing the edge of her mug from earlier. “I guess that’s the closest thing to a truce we’ve ever had.”

Zack nodded. “That’s more than a truce, Kara. It’s a  great start. I’ll be glad if the both of you get along without me being the reason.”

Kara looked at him for a moment, the soft, golden lamplight reflecting in her blue eyes. “Thanks, Zack,” she said quietly. “For saying what I couldn’t.”

He gave her a small, bashful smile. “I just said what made sense. You two just needed someone to remind you you’re both people.”

Kara smirked. “But we’re aliens.”

He laughed. “Close enough.”

Their laughter mingled with the soft hum of the TV. The air between them had grown warm — lighter, easier.

Then Kara tilted her head, eyes flicking over him and the hint of amusement returned to her expression. “That shirt looks a little big on you.”

Zack glanced down at himself, tugging at the oversized sleeve. “Yeah, you weren’t kidding. This thing feels like I’m wearing a tent.”

She grinned. “Kal is bigger than the usual man.”

Zack looked down at himself again, bewildered. “Well, that explains why I feel like I’m swimming in fabric. The guy must be built like a wall.”

Kara giggled, the sound bright and lighthearted. “You’re not wrong. He’s got about a foot on you and… well, let’s just say he doesn’t exactly skip workouts.”

Zack groaned playfully, holding out his arms as the sleeves nearly covered his hands. “Great. So I’m out here looking like a kid.”

Kara covered her mouth to hide her laugh. “You look fine. It’s kind of… cute.”

Zack blinked, surprised. “Cute?”

Her cheeks turned pink. “I-I mean, it suits you! You look comfortable, that’s all.”

He smiled teasingly. “You sure about that? You sounded like you were about to say something else.”

Kara quickly turned her face away, her blush deepening. “I wasn’t!”

Before Zack could reply, the bathroom door opened with a faint creak, and both Kara and Zack turned toward the sound.

Galatea stepped out, steam billowing softly behind her. Her damp platinum hair clung to her shoulders, and she was wrapped — quite snugly — in one of Kara’s outfits: a pale blue long-sleeved shirt and dark leggings.

Except, on her, the clothes looked… considerably tighter.

Galatea tugged at the fabric across her chest, frowning slightly. “Your clothes are too small,” she muttered. “Especially around here.” She gestured vaguely to her bust.

Zack choked on his saliva  and began coughing violently, his face instantly turning crimson. “G–gah! Uh—yeah, I can, uh, see that.”

Kara blinked, completely thrown off by both the statement and Zack’s reaction. “Wait, what do you mean—”

Then she looked. Her eyes widened, and her cheeks puffed slightly as realization hit. “Hey! Why is yours bigger than mine?! You’re my clone! That doesn’t even make sense!”

Galatea smirked, tilting her head. “Maybe they improved on the design.”

“Improved—?!” Kara sputtered, her voice rising an octave as her face went red. “That’s—! That’s not fair!”

Zack sat frozen on the couch, still coughing quietly into his sleeve. His brain was short-circuiting. His gaze darted helplessly between the two Kryptonian women, one looking smugly amused, the other adorably indignant and his inner voice screamed that this was the exact kind of situation a normal guy didn’t survive twice.

Galatea noticed immediately. Her grin widened as she leaned forward slightly, the fabric straining with the movement. “You okay there, Zack? You look a little red.”

“I—uh—yeah, just fine!” he said quickly, waving his hands. “Totally fine! Perfectly normal, nothing weird going on here!”

Galatea chuckled, stepping closer. “You sure? You’re not overheating, are you? I could always help you cool off.”

Kara’s cheeks flared even redder as she quickly moved to Zack’s other side and grabbed his arm possessively. “He’s fine! And he doesn’t need your help!”

Galatea arched an eyebrow, smirking down at her counterpart. “Oh? Since when did you get so protective?”

Kara huffed, crossing her arms tightly, though she didn’t let go of Zack. “I’m not protective! I just don’t trust you not to tease him to death.”

“I’m just being friendly,” Galatea said innocently. “Besides…” Her eyes drifted toward Zack, who now looked like he wanted to sink into the couch and disappear. “He doesn’t seem to mind the attention.”

“I do mind!” Zack blurted, though his voice cracked halfway through. His face was still bright red, and his heart felt like it was trying to escape his chest. “And for the record, you’re both way too close!”

Neither of them moved.

Kara was pressed against his right arm, her warmth radiating through the fabric of Kal’s oversized shirt. Galatea leaned in on his left, her damp hair brushing his shoulder as she grinned knowingly.

The tension was ridiculous with equal parts flustering and absurd.

“Ladies, please,” Zack said weakly, trying to look anywhere but at them. “There’s, uh… enough couch for everyone, you know. Space is… great.”

Galatea laughed under her breath, enjoying every second of his discomfort. Kara pouted but didn’t move away, shooting her sister a competitive glare.

Then, Zack, desperate to redirect the conversation before his brain completely melted and glanced toward the window and noticed the faint glow of city lights filtering through the blinds. “Uh… it’s already night,” He said quickly. “Where, uh… where are we gonna sleep?”

That got their attention. Both women paused, glancing toward the bedroom door and then back to him.

Galatea’s grin returned, slow and mischievous. “Isn’t it obvious?” she asked, her tone teasing. “Together, of course. Just like in the hotel.”

Zack blinked. “Wait—what?!”

Kara’s head snapped toward her. “Hotel?!” she repeated sharply. “What do you mean by hotel?!”

Galatea shrugged casually, clearly enjoying Kara’s reaction. “Relax, we just slept in the same bed. That’s all.”

“That’s all?” Kara repeated, her voice filled with disbelief.

“Yes,” Galatea said matter-of-factly, stretching her arms behind her head as if the conversation were the most natural thing in the world. “No touching, no funny business. He was a perfect gentleman. Honestly, it was kind of sweet.”

Zack raised both hands frantically. “That’s exactly what happened! I swear! I was half-dead from exhaustion, nothing else!”

Kara narrowed her eyes at him. “You better not be lying.”

“I’m not!”

Galatea chuckled, watching the two of them with amusement. “If you want, we can do it again. There’s enough room in your bed for three, right?”

Kara blinked. “Wait—you mean all of us?”

Galatea nodded, completely unfazed. “Why not? It’s practical. We keep him safe, we stay close in case of trouble, and…” She smiled slyly. “It’ll be cozy.”

Kara opened her mouth to protest, but then paused, remembering what they’d talked about earlier. Sisters, Zack had said. Family, not rivals.

She exhaled slowly and gave a reluctant nod. “Alright… fine. We can.”

Zack nearly fell off the couch. “W–Wait, what?! You’re both okay with this?!”

Kara crossed her arms, cheeks still pink but tone firm. “You said it yourself, it’s already late. And Galatea’s right. It’s… practical.”

Galatea grinned triumphantly. “See? She’s learning.”

Zack buried his face in his hands. “Oh god, I’m never gonna survive this.”

Kara smiled faintly and tugged on his arm. “Come on. You’ll be fine. It’s just sleeping.”

Galatea’s grin widened. “For now.”

“Don’t make it weird!” Kara snapped, glaring at her.

Galatea only winked. “Too late.”

Zack sighed, resigned to his fate as the two beautiful Kryptonians led him toward the bedroom.

Just sleeping, he told himself again. It’s just sleeping.

But as both Kara and Galatea smiled back at him. One sweet, the other teasing. Zack wasn’t sure if he believed that anymore.

Done. Comment tell me what you think and if I made any mistake.