She never wished, now more than ever, that the bloody elevator didn't rattle and creak like it was about to drop down the shaft with her, the tray, box of bakery goodies, and two latte shakes in it's captive box of lifting torment. The minute the *DING* announced itself at the designated floor, she cursed first at it then sent a blessing in her Irish tongue when she stepped out in one piece. It was tempting to just buy up the building from the owner, who was letting the maintenance, hell the whole establishment, go to hell in a hand-basket. Then of course, the two vacant complexes and two empty floors, giving her a few ideas as to a renovation project, extending the space in general.
"Where is..ohhh I will VERY much enjoy updating..her," She whispered and fiddled with the keys in her hand, trying to switch them around on the ring, to get to the proper one for her darling daring, but sometimes dodo of a blonde beau unmasked hero's door, "..lock, eh..lock(s)..come..on.." One click and..SUCCESS!
She stepped in, set the tray with drinks, not to mention the box with the breakfast pastries, down on the counter, shutting the door with her own bag, well shoulder bag, beside it all with keys and phone as well. Once turned around, she noticed something peculiarly..different. "Light as a feather, stiff as a board?" Quoting the 90s film, as quietly as possible, emerald eyes just remained on the hovering blonde, in a light pair of sky blue pj pants with fluffy white clouds a yellow brick road seeming to run up, over and through some of cotton ball-like puffs, and all the favorite characters along the path up towards the Emerald City. The tank, heaven help her, that it was tight, was a lighter emerald green and ohhh SO very well fitting. It had the words in quite the beautiful rainbow lettering, 'WE'RE OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD' across in two lines arched like a rainbow and underneath a pair sparkling ruby slippers, under that, 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.' What made this a Kodak moment though, besides the snoozing Kryptonian floating, was how she was positioned and the fact she was...snoring. She thought she might have seen, a little drooling too. Oh, but the phone was up, recording for a moment with the soundtrack playing in the background, then multiple photos taken at different angles, only to record again while she stood there wondering what was the safest way to wake the sleeping super without a disaster of any kind. "Maybe call Al.." PERFECT timing.
"Aunt Kara! Aunt Kara! LOOK what I got!" Esme came dashing in, since the door was open, at full speed with a puzzle box in her hand, the biggest smile and her voice filled with absolute happiness. It was then, Kara's body shot forward and upward by the startle, right into the ceiling face first, spinning around when inches away from it, then losing track of her flight ability and dropping hard onto the floor with a heavy groan face-planted down. What made it even better, was the bit of rubble particles from the ceiling, sprinkling over her. That and Lena had gotten it all...on..tape! She wasn't the only one either, filming with glee. The little girl looked up then back down at Kara and put one hand on her hip still holding her puzzle box, until she saw who else was there, squealing with joy. "Aunt LENA! I got it! I got it! Thaaaank youuuuu!" She gave the woman a huge hug, thanking her again, showing her, even if it was a gift from Lena to begin with.
"Esme honey, NICE job!" Alex smiled, high-fived her daughter, then glanced upward, slipping her eyes downward, trying to suppress the laugh bubbling to the surface. She heard the footsteps of Nia who joined her, speechless, then kneeling down, asking if Kara was okay. The minute the slight mumble came with enough volume for her to be heard, Lena couldn't hold it in, turned away and started chuckling, which turned into some obscene cackling too. Alex was done for, doing the same, without the witchy touch, just as Kara rolled onto her side with her back to them grumbling.
"Why are you.." Nia stopped speaking, surveying the scene, lifting her head and letting her gaze fill the gaps of the events, which caused her to look away before the amusing smile could show on her face.
"HOPE floats!" Alex popped off with, and Lena had to do it, fist bumping then saving the footage, almost falling to the floor from laughing so hard. They cleared their throats, but kept the amused smiles on their faces, now quietly snickering. Low and behold though, Esme broke the silence, which had the laughing paused for just a moment.
"Aunt Kaaaaara, you forgot to wear your ruby slippers with your jammies, before you clicked your heels together..!" They..were all done for, then and there, having to hold onto something before hitting their knees, as the laughter broke out louder and even though the blonde was now hugging her niece who had calmed her frazzled nerves, but still, she was burying her face in Esme's shoulder from the embarrassment of the situation. That's when she heard the dreaded sentence.
"ALL of it..recorded." It was followed up with..
"When in Kansas, off to Midvale…? Sooo CLOSE to priceless." Alex hit send on her phone, Lena did the same on hers, both sending the footage to Eliza first and waiting for the reply eagerly. She handed the device back over, holding onto that shit-eating grin. "I WILL take your beverage, on our way out. Oh LOOK! TWO! Come on kiddo. Let's book it with the good stuff." Esme giggled, with the two of them running out the door with both the drinks and the pastries. Nia stood there, mouth ajar and unsure where to start. Instead, she went over to the table with her tropical fruit smoothie and remained quiet. She knew better than to comment.
"Our shaaaaaakes." Lena sighed, head dropping in defeat. They had been looking forward to those too.
"The nommmmms." Kara sniffled, rolling onto her side and slowly sitting up, while particles continued to trinkle from the gap where she had face-planted.
"I….will go get new ones. Order?' Lena held out her phone, after bringing up the receipt on the app. Nia just decided to take a picture, of a picture, removing herself from the district of drywall dusted Danvers, booking it away. "Is it okay if I get one too Lena?"
"Anything you wanna get there, feel free to. Oh, get a few of Esme's favorites too, in case she comes back later. I think Alex had mentioned taking her for her first hockey game tonight, with Kelly."
"Okay. Be back soon. Bye."
It left the two by themselves, where one helped the other up. She brushed the cute, goofy, sweet, adorable, still grumbling reporter's, now editor-in-chief of CATCO, head and shoulders off, leading to Kara going for the broom and dustpan. Of course, it hadn't gone without a glance, at the somewhat ridden up tank, exposing a pair of above the 'behind' dimples Lena's Irish hues lingered on avoiding releasing a hum of approval, to give away her viewing. Quickly, when the other turned around, she walked over to her bag, reaching in, to pull out a dark blue velvet pouch, about the size of her hand, turning it over and laying it flat in the palm of it. In a little lighter color than the blue on Kara's Super suit, was a unique almost celtic-like design, of a sun and a woven knot encircling it, as a form of protection to what resided inside the pouch.
"Okay. Done." Kara put the broom and dustpan pair away only to be motioned over to the couch, handed what her best friend held. "What's this?" She spoke at a relaxed tone, gaining a warm smile from the raven-haired woman. Her cerulean hues followed the knotting, all the way around, fascinated by the design. "Did you do this?" Lena nodded, while leaning back, with a sense of peace and delight.
"Not just that." She let her eyes meet the blonde's and they kept one another's gaze for a few more moments. Once broken, the pouch was opened and tilted so what resided inside slid out and into Kara's hand. The sharp exhaled gasp, brought ease to her heart and a serenity and enchantment to whom she made it for. It was a crystal, in a blend of the aquamarine but also the softest of cerulean that seemed to flow together like they were the very sea captured within it's housing. On one side, as if etched in a silver of sorts, was 'HOPE' written with characters in Kryptonese, and when turned, the same word, in Gaelic, also in silver, was added too.
"Lee." Kara hadn't the ability to speak, too lost for words by what had been not only found and no doubt cut in the multi sided shape it was, but engraved in two worlds, two cultures, gifting her with something even more precious. Then there was the silver chain, but she could easily see, with her enhanced vision, the three metals woven in the tightest but beautiful of knotted ropes. Even the crystal, wrapped in thinner strands of those metals, was precious.
"White gold, a pure silver and a blend of metals from Argo, given to me as a token, a blessing if you will, from your parents. Alex and Kelly had met up with your father in wherever they had flown, driven off to, to pick it up. I might have used a few tricks of the magical trade to work it, well, work quite a bit of it, but the rest I let my once upon a time hobbies do the rest for. I wanted you protected, above all else. Did I get the characters right?" She was suddenly wrapped in strong but gentle arms and the body of the Kryptonian practically lunged at her unexpectedly. Her own arms folded around her hero, her light, holding her as close as possible for a little while.
Slowly but surely, Kara pulled back and she held out her hand for the necklace. "May I?" A sunny and absolutely beautiful smile brought the warmth of her own out, given what she asked for and carefully sliding it up and over her head, until it found a place around her neck and the crystal resting perfectly over the chest, that seemed to slide to the side where it found its home directly over Hope's heart. Once more, those incredible orbs of blue found their destination which was held by her emeralds no doubt a little watery from the look and unspoken thank you along with what it meant to her, in a way she could never express enough with words. "Alex shared with me how you were able to pull the sunlight from what was around you, even in the dark of night, after the fight you had.."
"When the other version of me, attacked, after I went to protect, to save Eliza?" A nod, lump swallowed and shivering spheres brought forth everything in Lena trembling too, still not able to fully handle what the older sister had told her, leaving Alex in heavy sobs and regret of the mind wipe of purgatory through it all. The pieces missing, when she had believed the Director, at the time, during Crisis, was lying when she recalled how Alex had acted toward Supergirl back when she had helped her during all the 'Liberty' chaos. Those parts of Danvers slowly but surely falling back into place, on the night she witnessed her sister struck down ruthlessly, until Kara's heart had stopped beating and would have remained that way, if Alex's actions and belief in her, hadn't brought the most incredible of miracles the moment she'd pushed the grass into Kara's limp hand. As horrid as it was, hearing about when the hardcore agent was in shambles, the image she offered up to her, how browns glistened when describing made her wish she had seen it too. Oh they had asked J'onn, if it was possible to just, just share ONLY that, which he was yet to get back to them on it. "Lena?"
"I'm alright." Oh she wasn't, in the least and sure as shootin' it was easily seen through by the very observant Kryptonian. Their eyes met once again, then her hands were taken, with comfort and care, held and somehow shielded from anything that dared to touch them with malice. "Ka.."
"I'm. Right. Here." She leaned forward and softly touched Lena's forehead with her own. Their eyes closed, smiles beamed and basked in the connection they have cherished, from the beginning, through trials and tribulations, to now, only strengthening through their journeys, together or apart. "I'm not..going anywhere." The words, the memory wrapped around them.
"Promise?" She repeated that one word, one question, from a long ago vow. Instead of her greatest hero giving the line, that she will always be her friend, and always protect her, she was given a solid promise, unlike any other, filled entirely with conviction, from the biggest heart she'd ever been blessed to be a part of.
"By Rao's very light, shall my words to her, be of a blessed binding, upon my house, the House of El." She slipped off the couch, to take up the stance, on the floor where she repeated the vow, the promise, with the softest prayer in Kryptonese. She held an arm up, hand open to her best friend, accepted and once it was, she gave the tiniest of tugs, to bring her down to join her there. Letting their touches separate, she took two pillows from the couch, placing one behind her to lean back against and the other rested over her legs, patting it twice in invitation. Lena rolled her eyes briefly but the smile just kept growing. She turned around, laying down now, with her head over the cushion, feeling Kara's fingers starting to comb through her long dark loches.
"It's..beautiful. Your language, Kryptonese, I mean." The blonde grinned from ear to ear, continuing her comforting touches through her bestie's strands, a little slower now.
"Thank you. My Cousin has absolutely wretched pronunciation of it." She couldn't help but chuckle and groan, at the same time. "It makes me cringe every time I hear him trying to say anything in Kryptonese. Where, I know you most definitely can relate. Irish, even Scottish, are not simple ones to learn, properly spoken in a fluid dialect. Gaelic, one of the most enchanting of lores, which I have learned some of that too, well, many tongues not to mention how they're written, show how unique but incredible each and every single syllable are to them. They are the ancient stories, passed down, taught and adjusted in communications depending on whom it is the other speaks to, knows. When I think of languages, of religions, of culture, I think these are worlds within worlds and no matter how, great or small, we are a part of them, no matter the difference in which they are expressed. Every one of them has an origin, a story, in which it resides. It is up to us, as to how they continue or if they continue."
"You should...teach." When the blonde's head came down, one quirked brow at that, no doubt studying the reason for her comment, she continued. "Your culture. All of it." A tap on the top of her head caught her emerald eyes to which she met the richest of blues. "Would you want to?"
"I would. As for. The..teaching? Maybe." Kara lifted her head, slightly tilting it, indicating what she was doing. "No-P-e. I am off all clocks today." She indicated tracing a clock complete with numbers, on Lena's head, getting a little giggle escaping from both of them. "To be honest, originally it was going to be my task, my..duty, at teaching Kal-El, all about Krypton. I was to raise him, protect him and share my knowledge of our home, our world." It was rare, come to think of it, maybe the second or third time she had spoken his true name. Irish spheres shaking just a sliver, were set upon the look on Kara's face. The faraway expression, the eyes, had a way of haunting her. She took the Kryptonian's free hand, slipping fingers between hers, gently squeezing, reminding her of her presence.
"You, I had thought..let me start over." The blonde gently squeezed back. There seemed to be some inward battle, which cerulean hues noticed in Lena's emeralds, giving what would hopefully help her continue. Just in case, she voiced it.
"I'm right here. No matter what it is, you can tell me Lee." The stare between them, that shared strength, gave enough courage for her best friend to continue, only for their gazes to break. When Kara lifted her head, shutting her eyes for a moment, to listen to Lena's nervous heart tempo, Lena had turned her face away, shutting hers as well. Only for a second, then looked back up searching the Kryptonian's features for the turmoils she hoped she had not just unleashed. She hoped.
"In..that, that day in the Fortress, you mentioned, you had been stuck in the Phantom Zone, replaying..your planet's..destruction?" With her head brought forward, face down and gazes sought at the exact same moment, the hero nodded. "..you had said..a decade?" Lena noticed when the lump had been swallowed down, at the very moment those outworldly blues trembled. "Long, longer." A single tear upon the right, two escaping at the left, held so much pain, far too much for even her to handle. "Two?" There was barely any force, any volume, from the frail voice, coming from the Super, releasing a few more tears.
"Twen..twenty-four..years." With a rush, unlike any other she'd ever taken in, of air, her heart feeling as if it was going to burst right out of her chest with such an explosive reaction, did every other action, notion of fight or flight, cease to exist. They had BARELY survived the brief encounter with the phantoms, when on Earth and then on the ship while in the Phantom Zone! She had been trapped in there, as..a CHILD?! A..child, forTWENTY-four YEARS?! 'HOW in..in the..HELL did she..'
"Kara." What could she say? What, on Earth, could sound even remotely right? Actions were stronger, when wordless, spoken without voicing, so that's just what she did. Two smooth moves, switched their positions and Lena just became the protector. The comfort, shield, sword..hope. "I would ask how you do it all. I don't need to, do I? I don't need to, because of who you are. All that you do, bring, share. Everything. You, you're Hope."
"I. Feel. Free. I. First time. First. I..I'm just, just...me." Her vocals strengthened, the tears stopped and the smile returned with a whole new warmth. Lena took back the hand, with the other tracing Kara's face in a feathery devotion.
"You're Kara." She winked at her, smiling too.
"You're Lena." A belief, so deeply for her best friend, heard and felt.
"Hi." They spoke at the same time, the most radiant of smiles along their lips. Then in threeeeeee seconds..
"BEWARE..the CREATURES of the demandive sea." The blonde groaned, batting the hand closest to her, grinning but with eyes closed, at the growl thundering from her stomach. "Bewaaaare. BEWAAAAARE! HURRY! Sate them!" She groaned again, rolled and attacked the raven-haired woman now on her side being poked at and tickled only to poke back, remembering where Alex told her to aim for future wars. Before they knew it, the two were acting like a couple of kids in a battle of pokes and laughter. Too engaged in these games, they didn't hear Nia enter, place the goods on the counter, receipt one and two next to the drink holder, lift a phone and film, to exit with just as much stealth, somehow. It was only after both froze at the whiff of fresh baked still hot treats and the aroma of their steaming drinks, did the tickling cease.
The two got up off the floor, dusted their backsides and walked on over to where the food and drinks were, only to see the smiley face and hearts in various rainbow colors between the duo slips with totals on them, silently thanking their friend, their..little sister. The businesswoman, enchantress and more, noticed her phone buzz and checked her text really quick.
"Footage?" Kara grumbled the question, lifting hers and Lena's cups off the counter, handing the right one over. A shake of the head was enough for an answer at the moment. "Oh okay. What?" Green on blue, a soft smile and thanks for the brew.
"Truce?" One smirked at the other, they tapped drinks and both reached for the box at the same time, only for their beverages to be set down at the exact united moment. However, with that same cackle she had before, Lena snatched the box right out of Kara's hands and made a beeline for the door, in which Alex HAD been ready. Nia was already in the front of the building with Esme, at the older sister's request.
One good foot trip.
One face-plant.
Two cackling escapees with more noms stolen away to boot?
That?
Right there?
...priceless._