Story Title: not playing by the rules we played the game of loss
Fandom: Supergirl (TV 2015)
Link(s): Fic on AO3Summary: Alex and Astra plan to fake Astra's death to let her defect and find a way to stop Myriad. When things go sideways, the recovery is harder than either of them expected.
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply. Mild gore, implied alcoholism.
Characters: Alex Danvers, Kara Danvers, Astra In-Ze, Hank Henshaw|J'onn J'onzz, Agent Vasquez, Cat Grant
Pairings: Alex/Astra, Alex & Kara, Kara & Cat (pre-Kara/Cat)
When I Started: Right about when the Season 1 finale of Supergirl was airing, and I decided that I absolutely did not want Astra's death in my personal canon for the show.
How I Lost My Shit: Turns out that even when you're specifically writing a fix-it, if the canon continues to double down on everything you dislike, you will lose motivation to write for that canon! I also got Very Obsessed with a couple new shows, and, well, this one stopped being a thing.
How I Finished My Shit: Honestly just having something to remind me that this fic existed was a huge help. I poked at this on and off throughout the whole period. It ended up being much more of an Alex-centric character piece than an Alex/Astra shipping piece (and I think there's strong sequel possibility here), but I accomplished my goals of saving Astra, writing more sibling bonding, working out some Kara-and-Cat feelings, and (as always) writing fucked-up nightmares.
I have beautiful art by
paynesgrey_art that you can admire
over here! It has a perfect colour scheme and all four of the main characters and I have Feelings about Alex and Astra being in the sky while Kara and Cat are by National City <3