I was thinking of an episode idea similar to Fear Knot, but crossed with the black mercy trope. And also, not shippy? Just to keep it interesting.
Just hear me out:
A couple of the superfriends get hit by something that traps them in a nightmare world. In the scenario I was thinking of, it's Lena and Nia, because I was in my Sister, Sister feels.
Like, at first they think they're both fine, but then when they go to sleep at home, they just... don't wake up. Kara and Brainy divide and conquer to check on them the next morning, only to find their respective partners unresponsive. Later brain scans show that they're in an active dream state.
Inside the dream realm is where things get interesting. Nia almost immediately recognizes where she is, but her powers don't really work. She's taken on a tour of her greatest emotional fears: failure, loss, etc. But she conquers them all fairly quickly, and is able to transport herself back to the real world.
Except it's not the real world. It's Lena's nightmares. But where Nia's fears were all kind of abstract and existential, Lena's are far more tangible. Like being snatched off the street and pulled into a dark alley. Like brutal home invasions. Like bombs in the office. Just all these really violent real-world fears based on all the threats she's received over the years and across realities.
Nia isn't able to interact with Lena until she's pulled into one of her nightmares, with both of them trapped in a bare room flanked by guards, with Lex gazing at them like a predator regards its prey.
Lena stands in front of her, shielding Nia.
"Just let her go, Lex," Lena tries to bargain. "This is between you and me."
"Lena..." Nia grips her hand tightly. "Lena, listen to me, this isn't real--"
"I don't think so, sis. In fact, I think I'll start with her, and let you watch. As a lesson."
Before Nia can register what's happening, the guards wrench her away from Lena, thrusting her towards Lex while another pair of guards restrain Lena.
"Lex! Lex, don't, please don't do this!"
Nia ignores Lex entirely, and turns as best she can against the guard's grip to face Lena.
"Lena, this is not real. It's a dream. Remember the Phantom Zone, what Kelly said. Ground yourself. You control this, not him."
Lena doesn't seem to hear her. "Lex. Please. You have me. Let her go. Kill me."
Lex regards her for a long moment. Then he smirks. "I don't think so."
A knife flashes towards Nia, but suddenly Lena is in front of her. The knife connects with a quiet crunch, and Lena staggers, bumping into Nia before her legs collapse.
Nia catches her, stumbling to her knees under Lena's weight. Though she knows it's not real, the sight of the knife hilt deep below Lena's sternum makes her heart stutter in her chest, sending the cold fingers of fear reaching down her spine.
Is the dream world like the Matrix? Nia never thought to ask.
"Lena..." Her voice shakes. "Lena, it's okay. It's going to be okay."
Lena stares up at her with wide eyes, her breath coming quick with panic. "N-Nia... run. You have to run."
She doesn't seem to notice that Lex and his goons have disappeared, leaving them alone in a room that's slowly losing it's acuity. Darkness creeps in around its edges, the air turning hazy. Only Lena remains in sharp focus, her fear bright and tangible.
"Nia, please..."
"No." Nia's voice no longer shakes. She places her hands on either side of Lena's face, directing her friend's focus to her. "Even if this were real, I wouldn't leave."
Lena's hands clutch at Nia's shirt. Nia releases Lena's face to take one hand in hers, moving the other to rest on the crown of Lena's head.
"Listen to me. This is not real. We are in the dream world. And in this realm, you control what you see. What you feel."
The fear in Lena's eyes doesn't abate, but her focus seems to sharpen. She's finally listening.
"Listen to my voice. Feel my hands, and breathe. We can get through this... together."
Finally, Lena closes her eyes, squeezing them tightly shut. Nia feels her struggle to control her breathing. She doesn't quite succeed, but after a moment the knife disappears, leaving no wound, no blood, like it was never there.
"That's it," Nia murmurs, pulling Lena close. Lena continues to tremble in her arms, crying quietly, never releasing her grip on Nia's blouse. "It's okay... you did it. You did it, Lena. We're safe. We're get ourselves out of here, I promise..."
When they wake, Lena withdraws as soon as she's able, leaving the infirmary to escape to the balcony. Kara almost follows, but hangs back when Nia shakes her head.
"What happened in there?" the hero asks, hands itching to help.
Nia hesitates to answer. "It was... intense," she says finally. When Kara's features darken into deeper concern, she continues. "I'll check in on her. She won't be alone."
Kara nods, unhappy with not being the one to be with Lena, but satisfied that someone will be there for Lena to lean on.
Nia joins Lena in the cool night air, settling down to sit beside her with her back against the rail. She doesn't say anything, and neither does Lena. All Nia can do is take Lena's hand and give it a gentle squeeze.
When Lena's shoulder meets hers, leaning on the barest bit, Nia knows that though it may take time to get there, everything is going to be all right.
