Let me add onto this real quick.
This headcanon of mine was specifically crafted to create the distinction that Mirror Kira was alone, unlike Prime Kira. Her parents and rebel cell killed in front of her. I’ve detailed how this could explain her ego, and I wanted to add on how it also adds what humanizes her.
When I look at the Intendant, beneath her mind games and cruelty and arrogance, I believe what remains is a broken person screaming out into the universe for love. She craves being loved. She wants affection, tenderness, passion so badly that she’ll do anything to hold onto it. Including trying to remain in control in every possible situation she can.
She loves Sisko, but she’s terrified of losing control over him. She keeps him in an iron grip because what if it isn’t real? What if he hates her? Perhaps deep down she even knows the power dynamics are totally fucked up in this situation, but tries to ignore it.
Then comes Bariel. She offered him Bajor, the Alpha Quadrant as a whole to rule by her side. Because power will keep him beside her, won’t it? She has to push to get the orb, but once they have it, they can live happily ever after, right? But he doesn’t want power like she does, and Prime Kira helps him see that. And she loses her hold over him. From her perspective, another chance at love gone. It’s implied that Bariel could talk her down from killing him at the end of the episode, and it’s not suggested that he’s dead next time we see her. Perhaps a somewhat amicable departure was her last token of affection.
After all, we see the same thing play out with Ezri. Once again, the Intendant tries to hold control. Her relationship with Ezri seems to predate needing her for the cloaking device scheme, at least as far as I can tell. It likely was a genuine romance before her designs at working herself back into the Alliance hierarchy got involved. She’s affectionate, almost doting of Ezri. But also protective to an extent. She loves her, but she has to remain in control once again. No one else can whisper in her ear. And so she kills Brunt when he threatens her control. Because she’s trying desperately to hold on to this thing she can almost call love.
What even is her understanding of love at this point? It has traits of what you or I might recognize, but it’s warped and this produces abusive behaviors. This costs her Ezri’s trust, Sisko’s loyalty, and Bariel’s compliance.
And now let’s get to her… greatest love?
Prime universe Kira Nerys.
“If you can’t love me, who can?”
I think she means it when she says that. We see it all throughout the episode. Up until the rage of Odo’s death sets in (interesting in its own way that Mirror Kira seemed to care for him to), she allows herself to be vulnerable with her other self. Lets down her walls like with no one else. Even Garak and Sisko can see it.
Is it ego? Of course it is. But at the same time, she’s found someone who she can trust like no one else, who understands her like no one else. Who can love her like no one else could. Garak spells it all out.
When she’s so starved for love, how couldn’t she fall for Prime Kira?
But she can’t see how she’s pushing her away, how she’s scaring her. She’s too blinded by her status and her callousness and her ego.
She keeps reaching out for love, but sabotages herself every time.
In a way it’s almost tragic. Because it’s smaller than the worship that Dukat demands, or the recognition as a leader or visionary that Kai Winn or Alixis seeks. It’s more intimate, more human.
It’s the dream of a lonely little girl.
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