Walsh Sibling AU-- Older Brother Version
Like, a man a few years older than Lena approaches her as she leaves the office of her new foundation. He apologizes for catching her at a bad time, but he's been trying to schedule an appointment but her assistant hadn't been willing to book him in.
Canonically, Lena has been willing to receive visitors who arrive without appointments (see: Kara Danvers, Ben Lockwood), so of course she takes some time to pause and hear him out.
He asks if there's somewhere more private where they could talk (as they are currently in the middle of the sidewalk), but Lena explains that she a) is busy, and b) has a policy against going anywhere with strange men whose business she does not know. Which, he acknowledges, is fair enough.
He hems and haws a little bit, trying to explain that it's something difficult to explain, and he's not sure how to go about telling her.
"I'm sorry," Lena interjects when he gets nowhere after several moments, "but I really am on my way to an appointment--"
"I'm your brother," the man blurts.
Lena freezes. Whatever she expected to say, it's not that. A dozen thoughts flash behind her eyes, trying to figure out his angle, but almost immediately simply puts on a grin.
"Seeing as you have a full head of hair and aren't currently in the Phantom Zone, I'll have to disagree," she tells him with a chuckle. She makes to leave. "Nice try, though."
Before she can move more than than two feet, the man calls out and roots her to the spot.
"Your birth name is Lena Walsh." Lena slowly turns towards him. "You once had a bear named Miss Pizzly. It was brown, and soft, and you carried it everywhere."
No one could possibly know that. Miss Pizzly had barely survived a week at the Luthor manor before she mysteriously disappeared.
"Elizabeth Walsh drowned in a lake in 1996. She was from Fortune Bay, but came to the States after the death of her friend's husband."
The man takes a step towards her, as Lena watches him with a wary eye.
"They say she was a witch," he says, his voice hushed so only Lena can hear.
For several long moments, Lena regards him, weighing her options and the likelihood of him being who he says he is. She comes to no conclusion, reticent to trust the idea of a brother who's never been mentioned.
"What do you want?" she says finally.
The man settles back on his heels, seemingly satisfied that she hasn't rejected his claim outright. He puts his hands in his coat pockets. Lena has to admit he doesn't look threatening.
"I'd hoped we'd have a chance to get to know each other." His mouth lifts into a hopeful smile. "I'm Eoin."
Lena's eyes narrow. "And if what you say is true, Owen, why now?"
The man offers a shrug. "I only learned who you'd become when I spent a few days back in Fortune Bay. Florence told me everything about your visit."
Florence's mention is enough to give at least some of his story credence. It's enough for her to open herself up to believing, just maybe, he might be telling the truth.
"Let's take this somewhere more private."
Somewhere more private is back inside her office-- she'd prefer the familiarity of her own apartment, away from the ears of any prying assistants, but she knows better than to show a stranger where she lives. So the office has to do, and she returns her coat and purse to their rack.
There, in the place of her professional power, she prompts him to elaborate. Eoin gladly gets started, sharing that he's four years older than Lena, that they'd had different fathers and than when their mother died he'd gone to live with his Da (who was also from Fortune Bay, but had left in search of better work a few years before Elizabeth did), but had visited Florence in the summers.
Florence had tried teaching him magic, but he never had the spark. Too much of his dad in him, Florence always said. But he learned the way of nature and the various plants that could be made into tinctures and the like, before he finally graduated secondary and found work in Canada.
Now he's a welder, he tells her. It's honest work, but pays enough to get by. He's not here for money, nor a hand to lift him above his current means. He only wants to regain the sister he thought lost to him-- might as well have died with their mother, for all he knew what happened to her.
"I'm glad you found a good family," he says.
Lena fights the urge to scowl. "You mean a rich family." She pegs him with a hard stare. "Their wealth doesn't mean they were kind, or warm. It doesn't mean I was loved."
Eoin winces a little. "I'm sorry," he offers. "I'd hoped you'd have that, at least. It's what Ma would have wanted."
While he's been sharing his story, Lena had subtly texted Kara a message-- to come to her office with a cheek swab kit. Kara's knock then saves Lena from having to respond, instead turning to greet Kara (who doesn't wait for an invitation to enter).
Kara Danvers regards Eoin suspiciously. "I hope I'm not interrupting," she says carefully.
"You're right on time," Lena assures her.
Not taking her eyes off the unfamiliar man in Lena's office, Kara extends the small cardboard box towards Lena.
"I brought the thing you asked for," she says. "Everything okay?"
Lena neither confirms nor refutes. "Kara, this is Eoin. Eoin..." She waits for Eoin to provide his last name.
"Oh!" Eoin straightens, his cheeks splitting into a charming smile that reminds Kara of... someone else's. He reaches out to offer a handshake. "Dunne. Eoin Dunne."
Kara takes his hand and gives it a slow up and down. "Kara Danvers."
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance."
When Kara reclaims her hand and shoots Lena an inquisitive glance, Lena continues. "Mr. Dunne here claims he's the son of Elizabeth Walsh."
A familiar crinkle appears between Kara's eyebrows. Kara's heard all about Lena's mother by now-- the good, bad, and ugly. The pieces slowly fall into place.
"Which would mean..."
"We're related," Lena confirms. "Yes. That is, if Mr. Dunne doesn't object to a DNA test." She brandishes the swab kit.
Eoin's demeanor doesn't sour in the slightest. "'Course not," he replies. "I'm happy to provide any proof you'd like... birth certificate or such."
"We'll take things one step at a time--"
"Oh! I almost forgot." Eoin rifles through his pockets, before finally withdrawing a photograph from his inside jacket pocket. He hands it to Lena. "Thought you might want to see this."
Lena takes the photo in her fingers, bringing it closer. Kara leans in, curious to see as well. Lena's heart leaps to her throat at the image captured by the camera.
It's a little girl sitting in front of a slightly off-center homemade birthday cake, with a party hat on her head. A taller, lanky boy stands beside the birthday girl, bedecked in a matching hat. The boy is watching the girl as she blows out her candles; even through the lens and the years, the affection in his gaze is unmistakeable.
Lena can't say she recognizes the boy, or even see any familiarities in the man now in her office, but she recognizes the little girl.
It's herself.
"Ma got that picture on your fourth birthday," Eoin explains. "When the photo came back she said it was her favorite yet. Put it on the fridge, even."
Even without the proof of the DNA test, belief sparks in her chest.
"Why wouldn't I remember you?"
Eoin shrugs. "You were young. Can't say I remember much from when I was four. Or maybe it was easier not to."
Their eyes meet for a long moment, before Eoin shifts readily.
"You wanna take your swab then?"
He opens his jaw for easier access. Kara takes the kit from Lena's frozen fingers and swabs his cheek, carefully depositing the swab in its plastic cap.
"Thank you," Kara says softly.
Eoin nods. "Of course." He looks to Lena. "I really don't want anything from you, Lena. I just hoped we could reconnect. I've always wondered about you."
He smiles, then, his features warm.
"I've missed you."
Lena doesn't-- can't-- respond. After a long moment, Eoin straightens. "I'll take my leave. I've left my number with your assistant-- if decide you want to reach out. I'll be in town for about a week."
He tips his ballcap. "Ladies."
And then he's gone, letting himself out of Lena's office without any further ado. Silence stretches for a long moment, as Kara allows Lena some time to process what's just happened.
"You okay?" she asks finally, cupping Lena's elbow softly.
Lena doesn't have an answer to give her. Instead, she simply takes the swab kit from Kara's hand.
"Let's get this to the lab."
