Kryptonian Nights 43
Deanlu
Supergirl is the property of DC comics and the CW. I am borrowing the characters for a little fun and storytelling. After All, what better way to show the love for hero's than to extend their adventures.
Peace
"I greet thee Oh Mighty Rao. Restore to me my strength and health. Restore to me my peace of mind and soul. May you grow stronger each day Rao. May your people grow stronger under you countenance." Kara whispered out the words to her morning prayer while the sun broke across the water igniting it in a warm fire. She floated on the calm ocean behind the breaking waves. The temperature of the water was a brisk fifty-nine degrees. It invigorated Kara even though she really couldn't feel a great difference with her Kryptonian body.
"Rao, thank you for the rest." Kara said as she spoke to the sun above. Yes, it was the earth's Sol, but she believed Rao reside close to it imbuing her body with the powers she had received when she arrived.
Two days after Christmas found her floating out on the waters of the Pacific in a body glove on her favorite surfboard. While in Midvale for the holiday, she was also here to decompress. "She's wound too tight mom. She has been saving and fighting without stop for over a year. What with the upset at CATCO, her friendship with Lena in the abyss, and so many changes...She needs a break mom. I'm afraid if she doesn't slow down and deal with some of the trauma we may lose her." Alex's words echoed as she looked toward her childhood home where Alex and Kelly slept still, Eliza was in the kitchen making coffee checking on her through the patio doors, and closing her eyes she could hear the heartbeat of Lena Luthor as she entered the kitchen for her morning cup of coffee.
To say she had been surprised that Lena accepted the invitation for Christmas would be an understatement. Yet, she had shown up on the Danvers porch on Christmas eve in jeans, a sweater, and her best goose down coat to shield against the unseasonably cold weather. Since then it had been polite chatter, uproarious game play, and movies interspersed with work for all of them. Except Kara. The reporter's mind had been drowning in choices she had made, events that had taken place, and lives that had been lost. Alex, Kelly, and Eliza had at one time or the other held her as her body trembled even as her mind locked her in to waking dreams of the events that had happened, but no tears had fallen. Lena had been present, but reticent to touch Kara.
"There is nothing to be done. Just time. How do you deal with all you see and have done knowing there will be so much more if you live as long as Alex projects I will?" Kara shook her head pushing herself back into the moment and took the next wave. She ripped along the edge and slid through the barrel enjoying the glint of sun off the clear water above her. She bent her knees more slightly and gently swung her shoulders forward allowing the water to enfold her. She let herself feel and be in the moment. The barrel began collapsing, but Kara didn't move to leave it. She allowed the world around her to be invaded with the cold Pacific waters and then to be torn from her board as she was plunged into the depths below. She burst to the top of the water with a jubilant cry of ecstasy. "Whoooooohoooooo!" The feeling of freedom finally coming back to her where there had been only weight and pain before.
"Yes!" She rose onto her board as water sluiced off her. She paddled back out ducking down as a wave ran over the top of her. For a moment complete and utter silence enveloped her. Then the world invaded with sound and light anew. Kara set herself again. This time she came into the wave allowing her knee to flex and lay on the board while she crouched close to her other knee which was bent taking a great deal of her weight. She flew through the barrel running her hand along the dark water...touching the rolling side even as the barrel totally enveloped her in a cocoon of brilliant dark blue water. She closed her eyes for a moment just breathed in and leaned forward shooting forward through the tube. The white froth of water swirling around her as a curtain of clear water rolled over from above. Peace in that moment found her. Guilt and pain slid away for just a moment allowing her to fly on the surf with her board. She shot out the other end quickly spinning her board around to come to a stop in the shallows. Kara leaped into the air throwing a hand high as the excitement of what she had just felt burst forth once more. "Yeah! Thank you Rao!" She fell back into the water laughing allowing her worries to slip away and joy to infuse her. She listened to the roar of the water as she floated letting the surfboard yank and pull her where she was tethered to it. She rose out of the water after a few minutes picking up her surfboard and heading back out again. She could hear them now. Just past the surf.
"I'm coming. Hang on for me." Kara whispered on the wind even as the clicks, chirps, and whistles echoed through the water. She could hear them. A large pod just waiting outside the surf. She could tell by the sounds they were playing. Kara ducked down again allowing the wave to slide over her even as a dolphin swam across the top of her sending out several clicks. Slow long whistles echoed through the water pushing Kara to swim harder to the back of the wave sets. Finally, she arrived only to see it was a family group. A couple swam up to her board bumping her and allowing the younger Danvers to touch them. She could tell from using her xray vision there was a baby in the pod. She kept her place knowing they would be quite protective of it if she reached out to it. "So you are out to play. Well, come on. Let's make a run." Kara entreated the dolphins at her side as she turned her board and began another run. She could see them now as she came down the wave. There were seven in the waves off to her sides as she steered her board to the left and slid right through the barrel. She could see them in the wave clearly now. Kara shot out, spinning her board around to end the ride. Two of the dolphins had followed her into where the water was hip deep. They shot back toward deep water before they became stuck. Kara's laughter bubbled up as she turned once more heading out. She watched as the pod swam around playing, popping up into the air every once in a while.
"Kara, please come in. I have food and drink ready for you on the beach here." Eliza's voice spoke normally knowing her daughter would hear her. Kara waved at the dolphins, turned, and took the next wave in to the beach. A fire had been lit with chairs around it. Alex was in her body glove and had her surfboard nearby. Kelly was similarly outfitted as was Eliza. Lena was seated in one of the chairs drinking her coffee. Kara pressed the end of her board into the sand leaving it stand as she approached her family.
"Waves look good. You should have woke me. I would have come out with you." Alex remonstrated her sister as she handed her a towel to dry off. It was a rule that they should never go surfing without notifying anyone at least. Accidents happened and rip tides could kill a person, even a seasoned swimmer and surfer.
"Sorry, just needed some alone time." Kara explained even as she looked repentant. Alex grabbed her on the back of the neck and pulled her sister into a light hug.
"I know, just know we are here for you Kara." Alex whispered as she pulled their foreheads together. Kara nodded as a few tears came to her eyes. Alex kissed her head and let her go. Kelly wrapped her in a hug for a few minutes.
"We love you." Kelly said knowing now was not the time for words. Kara tightened her hold on the woman for a moment and let her go. She motioned toward the breaking waves.
"There's a pod of dolphins just behind the wave row. You might be able to play with them if you head out." Kara informed her family even as Eliza handed her a bowl filled with eggs, hash browns, bacon, and toast.
"There's more off to the side of the fire being kept warm. Coffee hanging there, drinks in the cooler. Be nice to Lena." Eliza said as she kissed her daughter on the head and followed Alex and Kelly into the water. Kara turned and took the seat next to her friend. She leaned back and closed her eyes for a moment. She relaxed in the sound of the rolling ocean waves, the snapping and popping of the fire, and the sounds of Kelly, Alex, and Eliza surfing with the dolphins. She felt Lena's hand on hers and a gentle squeeze.
"Did you have fun?" Lena inquired as she noticed the tired, but happy face on her friend. Tentative steps. Slow, tentative steps back to each other. Kara smiled even with her eyes closed.
"There's a moment when you are surrounded by the water that everything grows quiet. Just you and the water. A moment of peace." Kara cracked open her eyes and turned to look at Lena. "Yeah, I'm happy in the moment. I really want it to stay. It seems like forever since I have been happy." Kara explained to her friend which she was sure knew exactly what she meant. Lena took a sip of her coffee contemplating what Kara had said as the Super dug into her food.
"Kara, can we call a truce. Just for now. I'll agree not to fight with you about the lies and you will agree not to walk on eggshells around me?" Lena asked as Kara reached forward and spooned more food into her bowl. Kara stopped for a moment looking into the pan she had pulled her food from. What could it hurt? She was already damaged beyond belief. She wasn't the same Supergirl from when she started. Being a Paragon of Hope was such a joke. She didn't feel much hope, but today...today had been different.
"Sur..Sure." Kara responded standing and turning around to see Lena right behind her. Kara gave the Luthor a confused look until she was engulfed in a tight hug, almost losing her bowl with her breakfast. Kara held Lena tightly with her one arm wrapped around her. She felt tears falling on her neck, only to trickle inside her body glove. "I love you. No matter what happens or where we end up. I love you. I will always protect you the best I can." Kara whispered into the Lena's hair. Lena only clung tighter to her friend. Maybe with time all would be well again Kara thought as hope sprung anew within her. All they could do was try.