A/N: Accidentally sliced my finger while making katsu curry. Typing has now become a quite literal slow and painful process :'D
Anyways, enjoy!
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The Girl Who Stole the Stars:
Weight of the World
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Jean dragged herself down the halls of the Xavier's School for the Gifted Youngsters. It was quite late at night, but a quick telepathic probe upon entry told her that Kara was still awake.
Tired as she was after yet another battle with Magneto's brotherhood and dealing with the frustrating news reporters intent on spinning the X-Men's recent rescue into another provocative anti-mutant article to ensure the morning paper was sold out, it had become something of a habit for the X-Men's Field Leader to greet the only toddler in the institute upon her return—if not only so that the young Kara knew she had returned, but also for Jean to be reassured that Kara was still there with them.
It had been almost two years since she and the Professor had picked up the little girl during their recruitment of Scott Summers, and it had been quite the chaotic year, too. Still, despite everything that had happened—both inside the institute and out in the world—Jean had found her days, no matter how bleak, suddenly brightened just by seeing Kara's smile, or hearing the little alien's light snoring.
And holding Kara in her arms simply made the fight for equality outside their walls worth it. Jean couldn't wait for the day when Kara could safely glide through the city streets unbothered.
The very thought of it made Jean smile.
As she neared Kara's bedroom, she noticed the little girl's door was slightly ajar. Warm yellow light seeped through the gap, and so did familiar voices.
"Nights, daa." Kara sleepily giggled.
"Good night, pretty girl." Jean heard Scott say—and she could already picture the small frown on his face. "And you don't have to call me your dad. Just Scott is fine."
Jean paused at the doorway, a frown on her lips as well as she peered in. She silently watched as Scott tucked in the snoring toddler.
"Welcome back, Jean." Scott said, not even bothering to look at the doorway as he started cleaning up. "Is everyone else alright?"
"We're in one piece." Jean said as she entered. Wordlessly, she levitated Kara's building blocks back into its box. "Warren will be sore in the morning, however."
"I'll go easy on him, then." Scott said. While rarely going on the missions, Scott was a regular in their Danger Room sessions. And Jean had to admit that Scott definitely helped them improve—she supposed this was what it felt like having a coach point out things you couldn't see yourself.
"No." Jean shook her head. "The Blob won't go easy on us, either, just because we're roughed up."
Scott smirked. "If you say so, boss."
Jean nodded.
As Scott started folding the last blanket, Jean couldn't help but ask, "Why do you keep saying that?"
"What?" Scott glanced at her, confused. "Calling you 'boss'?"
"No. Correcting Kara."
Scott paused, considering her words briefly, before tucking the blanket away.
"I've noticed you're always telling her to call you by name." Jean continued when he remained silent.
"I—I don't want her getting the wrong idea." Scott finally answered.
"You're being vague again, Scott." Jean approached him. Her eyes darted to the side, glancing at the sleeping super girl, and she carefully sat on the bed so as not to wake her. Absently, she began brushing her blonde locks. Turning her gaze back to Scott, she arched a brow when she caught him staring at her. "I'm not going to wake her. Relax." She teased him.
"Unlike when we first met." Scott dryly pointed out.
Jean shrugged, but a smile remained on her lips. "What do you mean by giving Kara the wrong idea?"
She could tell Scott felt awkward, and even guilty, by the way he scratched his nape. "It's getting late, Jean, and you must be tired." He hinted.
"I am." Jean nodded. "So I'd really appreciate if you actually gave me an honest answer."
Scott's lips flattened, and Jean had the inkling that he didn't know how to articulate himself. It had been something she noticed whenever Scott had to confront his feelings.
With a sigh, Jean stared straight into him and bluntly asked, "Scott…Are you still looking for someone to adopt her?"
Scott suddenly looked alarmed and horrified. "N-no!" He stammered. "No, not exactly…" He clarified, slowly, features sagging that Jean felt he might just melt onto the floor as a puddle of shame.
"I'm not hearing an explanation, Scott." Jean prodded her fellow teen gently.
"I'm just no good for her." Scott turned away, evident to Jean that he was hiding himself again. "You, and Bobby, and Hank, and Warren—and the Professor—you're all… better at this than me."
"We're also busy with our unofficial work, Scott." Jean reminded.
"Yeah." Scott slowly nodded. "Yeah, I know. I was just thinking—maybe I'm really not cut out for this. For raising a child."
"You're definitely not doing things perfectly." Jean said, folding her arms. Scott visibly flinched, and Jean caught herself sighing. "I wanted to take Kara off your hands, you know. Back when we first met. But you wouldn't let me."
"I know…"
"Why?"
"…"
"I'll tell you why, Scott." Jean continued, knowing he wouldn't be able to say anything. "It's because you couldn't let her go with a total stranger. It's because you worried about her that much, even when you hadn't spent that much time with her yet. And even now, I don't think you truly can." She pointed out softly. "Make up your mind, Scott. Are you really willing to let go of her?"
"It's the right thing to do. I'm way in over my head—I don't even know what I'm doing, really."
Slowly, Jean rose from Kara's bed and approached the solemn teen. She rounded him, studying his sagging shoulders, to his downcast chin, before stopping before him, staring up into his hidden eyes.
Tenderly, Jean cupped his cheek.
She felt his distress and uncertainty over Kara's growth as much as she could feel his skin.
"It might be right. There might be someone out there better for her. Who can take better care of her, even." Jean finally said. They were still just teenagers, after all, and mutants at that. What did they really know about raising a child—a girl with the potential to one day make or break the world?
And yet…
Jean rested her cheek against Scott's chest. "But she loves you, Scott." She whispered, both as a fact and as reassurance. "She waits for you to tuck her into bed. Her eyes light up when you hold her in your arms. Kara already sees you as her father, Scott."
"Jean…"
She pulled back, capturing his gaze into her own.
"What you think is the right choice for Kara might not really be what's best for her." She saw the doubt on the creases of his forehead. "Scott, I know you never intended any of this—that you were just looking out for an abandoned baby, but surely you realize now…"
"I love her, Jean." Scott said. But still, the doubt lingered, "But I don't know if I can do this."
Jean remained firm. "I think you can. I think you're very responsible already. I think your heart is in the right place. And-" Jean pulled back, taking both of his hands in hers and smiled at him, "and I think you forgot that you're not the only one taking care of her. We're all here for her, Scott. We're here for you, too. You don't have to be alone anymore."
"…You're right." Scott nodded, and she could feel life seep back into his spirit. "You're right. I'm so stupid, and you're right."
He wasn't alone.
Not anymore.
His parents may be dead.
His brother may be lost.
But he has Jean.
And Hank.
And Warren.
And Bobby.
And the Professor.
And he still has his precious daughter.
His Kara.
His growing super girl.
"Good." Jean smiled—and somehow, despite how weary she had been, the weight of the world simply sagged off her shoulders. Feeling happy, she admitted, "I—I think of Kara as my own daughter, too."
It only took a moment for her words to sink in.
Scott stared at her, and heat rushed into Jean's cheeks at the unintended implication.
"N-no!" She let go of him and quickly stepped back. Whirling around to hide her burning cheeks, she hissed, "Don't read into that! It's just—I've looked after her just as long as you have!"
"Jean…"
"And—and she's everyone's daughter!"
"Jean…"
"Except the Professor's. Kara's more like a granddaughter to him, really."
"Jean."
"Y-Yes…?"
Scott smiled at her.
"Thank you."
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Omake: Crisis of Infinite Cyclops Daughters – Kara Edition
"This is getting ridiculous." Ruby grumbled in frustration. "There's more and more of us popping up. We're going to need some sort of system. And no—you can't just sneak off, Ana!"
Ana froze mid-stride before slowly turning around to face Ruby, arms crossed and with a defiant frown. She was clearly displeased at being told what to do.
"I think we'll need a leader." The young Kara flew up to the opportunity.
Ruby stared—well, up—at the floating Supergirl, who had made it a point to stay a head taller than everyone else, before deciding, "No. You're the most careless among all of us here—and that's including Ana!"
"You will sleep with one-eye open, Ruby." Ana declared in a dark tone.
Ruby waved her off. "Oh, talk to the hand." Addressing the floating child once more, Ruby continued, "Anyway, you're not even really Scott's daughter."
"Yeah?" A vein popped on Kara's forehead. Clearly, Ruby had struck a nerve, and Kara placed her hands on her hips and glared down at her. "But can you beat me in a fight?"
"No, but that's beside the point." Ruby argued with the child. "You're too young, you're too reckless, so you can't really be trusted to lead our little club."
"That might be true, but can you beat me in a fight?"
Ruby rubbed her temples exasperatedly. "Kara, you can't always use violence as an answer."
"And you're right," Kara nodded emphatically, before asking, "But can you beat me in a fight?"
"I've had enough of this." Elle finally spoke up, at the end of her patience. "Meeting adjourned. I can't be bothered to listen to this anymore."
"And I'm sorry to hear that, but can you beat me in a fight?"
"Shut up!" Ruby wanted to strangle the smug alien. Whirling around wildly, she called, "Ana, shut her up!"
"She can try, but can you-"
"Wait." Ruby cut Kara off, confused. "Where's Ana?"
"She slipped away while you were arguing." Elle pointed out. No doubt to monopolize Scott again.
"And you let her?" Ruby shot her a betrayed look. "You're almost as bad as Rachel!"
"Hey!" Elle fired back reflexively before pausing, unsure if that was even supposed to be an insult. Knowing what she knew about Ruby's complex feelings against Rachel, though, Elle surmised it was an insult in Ruby's head. "It's your fault for arguing with Kara, anyway." She finally said.
Kara harrumphed cutely. "That's true, but can you beat me in a fight?"
"SHUT IT, KARA!"
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A/N: This omake struck me while in conversation with crimson11116.
Basically, little Kara became the most well-adjusted among all of Cyke's daughters/ adopted daughters. This also meant Kara has developed grand ambitions as most children do- including plans to rule the world so that she is no longer forced to eat her vegetables, among other perks such as more playtime with her busy dad and 'mom'.
I still gotta figure out a character background for the Tyke-23 and CykeDusa daughters, though, so I can insert them into this 'verse, too.
To this end, I've reopened my Just In Space forum with a new thread to both keep track on the daughters appearing in the Crisis series and to stimulate discussion. Come join in on the discussion~!
As always, thanks for reading.
Don't forget to leave a review! Until the next update~!
