"I believe that love is meant to show up, so we can finally see ourselves for the first time."
― Christine E. Szymanski
Diana stood on the back porch of the large farmhouse Bruce had purchased in Smallville watching as Kara went through her practice routine, spinning Tarie and Aotpo in elegant patterns, holding off unseen enemies and clearing her head. Diana sipped her coffee, turning her head slightly as Mera stepped out onto the porch.
"I'm sorry, your highness, I didn't…" Mera stopped talking as Diana held up her hand.
"Mera, please call me Diana. You are not interrupting anything. I was…" Diana looked back to Kara who continued to move through her paces.
Mera smiled brightly, "admiring your favorite person in the whole world?"
Diana lifted her cup to her lips, sighing as she leaned against the door frame, "yeah, something like that."
Both women continued to watch Kara, as a blush rose to the warrior woman's cheeks.
Several minutes later Kara finished up, both swords snapping to low guards in her hands. She turned, smiling as her eyes caught Diana's over the woman's cup of coffee. Her nose twitched, as the sharp scent of the drink rose to her nose. "What is that?" She asked as her face scrunched up.
"Coffee," Diana chuckled, forgetting how much of a man's world was completely unknown to Kara.
"A gift from the heaven's themselves," Bruce responded as he stepped out on the porch. He was wearing shorts and a t-shirt, stretched taut over his frame. "Think you would have enough time for a workout with an old man?"
Kara cocked her head to the side, "maybe not an old man, but for you, of course."
Bruce smiled and slid a small collapsible staff from his pocket and pressed the button on the side. With a hiss, the staff extended to roughly six feet, and Bruce rolled it around in his hands.
Kara's eyes widened, and she reached out gleefully, snatching the weapon out of Batman's grip, testing its weight and twirling it around in her hand, spinning it faster and faster, kicking up a cloud of dust that got trapped in the wind she was creating. Bruce watched the motion with a smile and he pulled out a second staff and extended it. Mera was watching as well, and her mind started to work over something Atlanna had mentioned about Arthur's fight.
Kara stopped spinning the staff, slowing it's motion and forcing herself to relax. Then she slid her eyes closed and said a silent prayer to Rao, "guide my hand…"
"Concentrate on my light, my Voice…" Kara heard the words, rumbling on the soft breeze.
Kara stepped back, entering a defensive stance and started to think of Krypton, summoning the red sun of her home world into the mark on her back. A soft smile found its way to her lips as the sunborn strength of Earth slowly evaporated. "I'm ready, Demon," she sighed.
Bruce grinned at the nickname, and brought his weapon up, then down in an overhand attack. Kara was quick, but not at superspeed, catching his staff with her own and forcing it away, while twisting it around for a low attack, going for Bruce's legs.
Bruce jumped into the air, dodging the attack, and brought his own staff around in a cross body attack, watching again as Kara easily blocked and countered again. Bruce blocked, and spun, putting his back to Kara for a split second, raising the stick for a high attack, which Kara was set to block. At the last moment, he swept low, bringing the low edge to the back of Kara's leg, lifting her and dropping her unceremoniously on her ass.
They both heard the door frame crack as Diana's fingers tightened on the hardwood.
Kara quickly recovered and pushed up to her feet. Bruce fell back, a small look of surprise on his face, "are you okay?"
Kara snorted, losing her concentration, and felt the sun ignite her strength again. "I'm fine, Bruce." Then she looked over the large man's shoulder, "Diana, I'm okay. I was trying something new."
Diana glared at her for a long, uncomfortable moment, "don't do that again, please?" The princess requested, then rubbed her neck where Kalibak had attempted to squeeze the life out of her just the day before.
Dropping the staff, Kara was instantly at Diana's side, "I'm sorry, highness. I wanted it to be a fair fight."
Diana turned and rested her forehead to Kara's, "we are Amazons, there is no such thing as a fair fight, you win or you do not win."
Kara laughed at Diana's words, remembering those same words from Myri's mouth. She stopped when a heated glare fixed her in place. "Sorry, mother said the same thing." She started to laugh again, and was rewarded by a deep chuckle from Diana.
Bruce stepped up, "are you sure you are okay?"
Kara rested a hand on his shoulder, "I'm fine. I can draw on the light of my world to dampen my powers. I wanted to fight you as an Amazon, not a Kryptonian."
Somberly Bruce responded, "I'm honored."
"Don't be, Demon. Next time we will use swords," Kara smirked.
"I look forward to it," Bruce nodded.
Clark picked that moment to land in the yard, his hands still covered in grease from working on one of the tractors, "is everyone okay, I heard weapons."
Kara smiled, looking at his hands, "everyone is fine, you work too hard on those vehicles, cousin. Perhaps you could get some new ones."
"I have several new ones," Clark looked to the sky forlornly, "it was Pa's, the first one he ever owned."
Kara reached out, and Clark met her halfway, "you should tell me about growing up here."
"Only if you tell me about your homes, Themiscyra and Krypton," he responded. "After all, my daughter will be a child of both worlds, and Lois and I would like you to be her godparent."
"Thank you," the young woman whispered, reaching up and wrapping her arms around the big man's neck, hugging him tightly. "What is the duty of a godparent?"
Laughing lightly Clark smiled as Kara settled back. He rested his hands on his hips, "normally, a godparent is someone that acts as a role model and teacher. You would be her connection to Krypton."
Kara smiled even brighter, "you-you would let me teach her about home?"
Clark tilted his head to the side, "of course, Kara. Just because I'm not as interested in Krypton as I should be, doesn't mean Hope shouldn't know where part of her family comes from." He paused then, staring up at the sky, "I would also appreciate it if you could teach her…"
"Teach her? Teach her what, Kal?" Kara asked, bewildered.
"I want you to teach her how to use her gifts. The way you were taught was so different from my own experience," Clark explained. "I had to hide my powers, it made me an outcast growing up. I became a loner and in a way, I resented my parents for it."
Kara gripped his hand and led him away from the group. Together they walked towards the forest and she spoke up as they entered the shade of the trees, "I would be honored to be her teacher and her friend."
"Kara, I'm asking you to be her family," Clark said solemnly.
"Clark, you never had to ask that," Kara answered. Then a large smile filled her face, "can I teach her to fight?"
"Ma said you would ask that," Clark laughed. "Lois and I both agree, you should teach her to be an Amazon as well as a Kryptonian."
A very unwarrior-like shout of glee escaped from Kara's lips.
Later that afternoon, Diana was sitting in the Living Room, looking over her computer tablet when Kara entered the room. Kara leaned against the doorframe and whispered, "Diana?"
Diana's head jerked up, "sorry, I was concentrating and didn't hear you come in."
Kara noticed a map on the screen, "are you going somewhere?"
"I was considering visiting a dear friend," Diana answered, looking back at the screen. She turned back to Kara, "would you like to join me?"
"What about Mera and Atlanna?" Kara asked?
"They will be safe here, with Bruce and Clark," Diana answered with a soft smile, "we will only be gone for three or four days."
Kara weighed her options, thinking about Bruce and Mera. She looked at Diana's determined, hope-filled eyes and nodded, "okay."
Mera and Atlanna came out of the kitchen which was connected to the Living Room, "that was easy, Diana." Mera teased.
"I think she trusts your powers more than she trusts anyone else's," Diana sounded a bit jealous.
"Not true, your highness," Kara winked as she turned to head upstairs, where Bruce had been kind enough to purchase her some clothing. "I trust yours more than you may ever know."
Mera, Atlanna, Diana and Bruce were waiting outside watching the sky when Kara emerged from the house. Gone was her armor, instead she was standing there looking at the group, wearing a pair of jeans, a white, long sleeve t-shirt and a burgundy leather jacket. Her hair was tied in a braid, resting over her shoulder and an untied pair of white high-top basketball shoes covered her feet. "What are we looking for?" She asked, earning a glance from everyone. She looked up before she could see their reactions, focusing on a man-shaped form slowly coming to a hover over the house. She was about to leap into the air, when Clark arrived, gently taking her arm.
"It's okay Kara, he's a friend," Clark said calmly. "His name is J'onn J'onzz, and he is a Martian. Here on Earth, he is the Secretary of State Calvin Swanwick. He's here to meet with Atlanna and set things up for Atlantis and soon, Themyscira to join our United Nations."
Kara relaxed, smiling at her cousin, "thank you Ka-Clark." She almost dropped her head at the verbal mistake, but Clark caught her chin.
"I tell you what, if you don't tell everybody else, you can call me Kal. Okay?" The Man of Steel smiled brightly at the bright shining eyes that met his and Kara nodded vigorously.
The Martian landed softly, and took the shape of a tall thin man with dark skin, wearing a three piece suit. Bruce approached, holding out his hand, "Mr. Secretary."
"Mr. Wayne, a pleasure, as always," the man smiled. He turned to Diana, "Ms. Prince, I haven't seen you since the Gala at the Smithsonian."
"Something came up at home, and I was called away," Diana smiled, playing the strange game of secret identities, even though they all knew each other. "Allow me to introduce my friends, Kara-Captain Kara Zor-El, of Themyscira," she smiled as Kara stepped forward, studying the Martian as she bowed. Diana then turned to Mera and Atlanna, "this is Princess Y'Mera Xebella Challa of Xebel and, this is the Atlantean Ambassador, Queen Atlanna Eurytos Merius of Atlantis."
"To the people of this planet, I am General Calvin Swanwick, Secretary of State of the United States. In truth, I am the last of my race. The last Green Martian, J'onn J'onzz." He bowed and his eyes flashed red for a moment.
Kara stepped forward, and spoke in a guttural language the other's could not understand, but it had the effect she had hoped it would, bringing a smile to the Martian's face. They continued to converse back and forth, until Kara bowed and stepped back to Diana's side.
"Thank you, Kara Zor-El. I have not had a chance to speak my native language in over three hundred years, perhaps once this is over, you and I may speak again," the Martian smiled.
"It would be a privilege and an honor, Than J'onn J'onzz," Kara said regally, holding her hands up, palms forward and level with her head.
The man was shocked by the formal greeting, and returned the gesture, "the honor is mine, Than Kara Zor-El."
The conversation shifted to politics after that, and Kara and Diana moved quietly away from their friends along with Clark.
"So Clark, if you don't mind, I would like to take Kara to California for a few days?" Diana asked as they walked towards the Kent family farmstead.
"And you need me to watch after everyone?" Clark asked in return, eying Kara.
Kara nodded, "please, I would feel more comfortable knowing that you and Bruce will be watching out for trouble."
Clark smiled at his cousin, "I don't mind at all and Bruce already said he would be around for a few more days."
Kara visibly relaxed and Clark and Diana smiled at one another as she spoke, "thank you, thank you so much."
After escorting Clark back to his farm, Kara and Diana began the walk back, moving closer to one another and allowing their fingers to find each other. Diana smiled at Kara, "you look comfortable like this, Captain."
"Being with you makes me comfortable, highness," Kara responded, squeezing Diana's fingers tightly. "Even though these times may be dangerous, I enjoy my time with you."
Diana looked at Kara, sunlight streaming down on her like one of the goddesses come to visit, she tightened her fingers around Kara's. "Kara?" Diana questioned.
Kara turned, focusing on Diana's lips, "You highness, I speak the truth." She took a step closer, raising her hand to Diana's cheek, "you are the most amazing, intelligent…" Her other hand came up, wrapping around Diana's neck, "...the most powerful woman I have ever met." She leaned forward, her lips pressing softly to the other woman's. The effect was immediate as Wonder Woman pulled the Kryptonian into a tight embrace, deepening the kiss and drowning out the world.
Back at Bruce's farm, now named Paradise, at Kara's insistence, Atlanna and J'onn J'onzz were going over the details of Atlantis' introduction to the world, "there will be a formal introduction at the United Nations, followed by the formal recognition of Atlantis as a new nation."
Mera scowled, "you have to recognize us? Exactly how does that make sense?"
Atlanna held up her hand, "Y'mera! It is merely a formality." She turned to the Martian, her head held high, "am I correct?"
J'onn was momentarily stunned by the powerful woman's understanding of surface politics, "your Highness, you are absolutely correct. The nations of the world like to seem self-important when granting membership. And they would like to meet King Arthur."
"We will need several weeks to prepare for my son to visit," Atlanna answered regally. "What do we do in the meantime?"
"I believe that you and Princess Y'mera would be enough to begin the process," J'onn smiled, bowing to the two women.
Bruce stood to the side as Diana took her place behind the wheel of his black Mercedes. He smiled as Kara slid into the passenger seat. "First stop is Star City, right Diana."
"Check on Barry and the new vigilante he is hunting, then onto National City and meet with Etta," Diana grinned, "return your car to the Tower in National City and fly back here."
"How about, have a good time?" Bruce questioned sarcastically. He then stepped back as Diana expertly pulled the car out of the driveway and onto the highway.
Diana connected her phone to the car's stereo and selected a playlist and started softly singing to the music, an old eighties song she could remember the words to but not the title of.
Kara looked over at the princess, smiling contently as she listened to Diana's voice fill the vehicle. "You have a beautiful voice, Diana," Kara complimented.
Diana smiled back and softly murmured something about Antiope and lullabies.
The two women sat in silence for a little while as Diana concentrated on the road and Kara stared across the open landscape. "It's so-big," Kara whispered, still looking out the window.
"Kara?" Diana asked softly, worry creasing her features as she looked sideways at the Kryptonian.
"It looks so much smaller when I fly above it," Kara responded, not looking away from the view. "It reminds me of-Krypton."
Diana's fingers slid off the gear shift, and rested gently on Kara's knee. She felt the woman's fingers slide through her own, smiling through her worry. "Tell me?" She asked gently.
Kara sighed heavily, her eyes never turning away from the open fields and Diana could see a slight frown on her face. "My ukr, Zor-El was a scientist and he studied the planet itself. While jeju was in court, he would take me to the farms and forest outside of Argo City."
"What did you do on these trips?" Diana smiled, listening intently to Kara's stories. "You were a daddy's girl?"
Kara giggled, "Jeju was always busy, so ukr let me follow him around. I was always pretending to be a scientist, taking samples, studying them, copying him…"
"Didn't you ever just play?" Diana asked, looking over at her. "Ride horses or run, just run through the fields?"
"Like you?" Kara asked, turning from the window. "Zyvehsh has told many tales of your adventures."
Diana turned her face towards Kara, "by Hera, what has she told you?"
A mischievous glint came to Kara's eyes, smirking as her bright blue eyes bored into Diana's brown. "Nothing about you running through the wheat fields after ripping off your…" Kara stopped as Diana interrupted,
"I was the only child on the island," Diana huffed. "Until I started to train in combat, Antiope would encourage me to just play. She and Nia and Naomi would play hide and seek with me. Myri, after my lessons, would take me to the forest, and just let me explore."
"I was too old for that when I arrived, and my gifts made me," Kara paused for a moment, then stared out the window, "unpredictable."
"I've seen the tree, Kara," Diana smirked.
"It was the first time I flew, landing was not something anyone could teach me," Kara grumbled.
Diana reached up, running her fingers along Kara's forearm, "I'm teasing, my sweet."
Kara sighed, "I know. I think-I-I miss, mother." She leaned her head softly against the glass. "We are so far away from her," Kara admitted out loud.
Diana chuckled, "I forgot, you weren't there when my mother made the announcement."
Kara turned her head, a slight crinkle showing over her eye, "what announcement, highness?"
"Mother named Myri her ambassador to a man's world.," Diana smiled brightly.
"Mother? Mother is coming here?" Kara was shocked. "When?"
Kara's excitement was so refreshing that Diana couldn't help but smile, "we can return home as soon as you like, and find out for ourselves."
"That would be wonderful," Kara smiled widely, "will I be allowed to return with her?"
"The Queen and I already discussed that you will be her chief bodyguard," Diana responded, her own smile matching Kara's. "We are about an hour out of Star City. You want to learn to drive?"
The sudden change in conversation stunned the blonde for just a moment, "you knew about mother? All along?"
Diana smiled smugly, "we were going to let Myri tell you, but we didn't factor in you getting homesick." She reached across and squeezed Kara's knee. "Now, do you want to learn how to drive?"
Kara nodded vigorously as Diana pulled the car onto the shoulder.
A little over an hour later, Kara slowly pulled the Mercedes up in front of the Star City Constellation Hotel. Both stepped out and grabbed their bags from the back seat. Kara placed the keys in Diana's hand, watching with confusion as the dark haired woman handed them to the man in front of the door, and watching suspiciously as the man drove off with their car. "Diana?"
"It's okay, Kara. He's just parking it. They'll bring it back around if we need it," Diana ensured the young captain.
They were walking through the door when Kara paused, her ears piqued. "Diana?" She grabbed the amazon's arm. "I hear something."
"What is it?" Diana asked, alarmed by Kara's reaction.
Kara squeezed her eyes closed, focusing on one singular sound, a high pitched buzzing. She slowly peeled away the extraneous noises. Her eyes opened widely, focusing towards the southern side of the city, an area known as the Glades. Her eyes locked on a group of about a hundred flying creatures, "Parademons!"
Diana gasped, "Here?" She moved her head closer to Kara, whispering, "we'll change upstairs, how far out?"
"Maybe three kilometers," Kara answered tensely.
"I'll get us checked in. Relax, captain," Diana replied, then she moved quickly towards the desk.
Kara stood behind Diana, her foot tapping quickly as she waited for the process to be completed. Diana faced the clerk behind the desk smiling apologetically. The man completed the check-in quickly, handing Diana two key cards, "it's the top floor, Ms. Prince."
"Thank you," Diana responded with a bright smile. She turned and took Kara by the hand and pulled her towards the elevator. "We have the penthouse, thanks to Bruce, so we are completely isolated from the rest of the hotel."
Kara removed her jacket, and started to reach into her bag to pull out her armor.
"Kara, not till we get to the room, my sweet. They have surveillance in the elevators," Diana warned. "We will change upstairs, be patient."
Kara sighed deeply, "yes, highness."
Maxwell Lord was sitting at the desk in the office of Lord Technologies' small main office, looking out over the empty warehouse that would soon house the inventory and manufacturing equipment for his newest venture. He was unaware of the blonde woman approaching the rear loading dock door, or the creatures who were following the scent of the Wishstone that still coated his spirit, two decades after he relinquished his wish.
Barbara Minerva approached the rear door of the warehouse, stopping to sniff the air. She stopped in her tracks and looked up towards the six story building directly across from the building's front door.
Across from the building, a hood figure ducked behind the low wall of the roof. His dark green leathers allowed him to blend with the shadows. He looked up and saw what appeared to be a huge flock of flying creatures descending towards the warehouse.
Barry Allen watched the creatures approach with wide eyes, "oh shit, oh shit, oh shit." He zipped from spot to spot, watching the sky, then the people he was following. Judging distance and descent, he determined that the creatures were surely headed and his patience deteriorated. Zooming up to the green clad man on the roof, he yelled, "get inside that warehouse, now!" Then he was gone, shoving the blonde woman through the door then backing away in horror as she slowly morphed into a werecat right in front of him.
"Who are you, little man?" Barbara Minerva hissed as she transformed into the Cheetah.
"He can answer you after he tells me why he's been following me for the last three weeks," the green clad man from the roof growled, an arrow notched and ready to fire from a customized bow held in his left hand.
The man known as Green Arrow never got a chance to own up to his threat as a parademon crashed into him through the doorway he was blocking. He rolled expertly, came up on his knees and fired his first arrow, catching the demon in the eye, smiling as the creature collapsed to the ground.
Three heads turned as Maxwell Lord dove through his office door, landing face first on the landing, grasping a pistol in his outstretched hand.
"Maxwell," Cheetah roared.
"We are trapped," the man cried out as he scrambled down the stairs, running towards Barbara and cowering behind her.
"Focus on their wings and eyes," Barry said shakily. "Those are their weak spots!"
Back at the hotel, Kara was buckling on Aotpo, looking expectantly at Diana, who was sliding into her boots. "Diana, they just crashed into a building, about one kilometer from here, are you ready?"
Ignoring the jab, "Anyone at risk?"
"Two unknown men, Barry, and-" Kara paused, "a-a giant cat? A giant cat shaped like a woman?"
"Barbara?" Diana hissed, sliding Taurie into her sheath. "Let's go, Kara!"
Both women rushed out onto the balcony and launched themselves into the sky, Kara quickly leaving Diana behind…
Kara crashed through the roof of the warehouse, landing hard on the floor, causing the ground to shake and the creatures all fell back. All but one, a large demon with red stripes on its face. The monster raised his weapon and fired a burst of green energy at Kara.
Kara grunted as the green energy dispersed off of her bracer, driving her back and dropping her to one knee. She stood slowly, shaking her head and took a step back, her strength drained by the green ray. She backed into the catlike woman as she drew her sword.
"Watch where you are going, Amazon," the woman growled.
Groggily, Kara looked at the woman, shocked, "you can speak?"
"Yes, I can speak…" the woman hissed, but Kara pushed her to the side, stabbing Aotpo into the air and skewering the demon that was flying towards Barbara.
"My name is Kara," the amazon snapped back. "I'm here to help."
The woman known as Cheetah, jumped into the air, spinning and kicking out, her claws raking the first monster's wings and her first connecting with the face of another, driving it into the floor, where the archer drove a small knife into the creature's head.
Kara looked around the room, a lone man, wearing an ill fitting suit, was curled between the four fighters. "Barry, can you get him out of here?" Kara asked, looking towards her red clad friend.
"I tried. He's the one they are after!" Barry yelled over the creature's howls. Then he drew back, snatched lightning from the speed force and flung it towards a line of demons flying towards the group. A look of satisfaction filled his face as the charred bodies fell from the ground.
"When did you learn that maneuver?" Kara smiled wickedly, "that was excellent."
The creature with the rifle stood and aimed again at Kara, its finger closing on the trigger. Kara watched as it fell back, an arrow protruding from its eye.
The group of heroes continued to fight, dropping the creatures for the next sixty seconds. The monster's fell back and the heroes were pushed towards the wall.
Diana punched through the wall, yelling as she started to bring her wrists together, "get down!"
Kara pushed Barbara and the archer down, covering their bodies with her own, as Barry dove onto Max Lord just missing the shockwave that threw the demons back, pushing them into the wall and crushing several of their number to pulp.
From there the battle turned as Barbara and Kara leapt forward, moving like the mythical chimera, arms and legs, claws and swords blocking and slicing. If Barbara was a bit slow, Kara's sword was there to stop an attack, while Cheetah watched for any sign of the green energy that had hurt the young Amazon.
The Green Arrow fired continuously, every deadly missile finding its target.
Diana stood in front of Max, protecting him as he fired shot after shot from his pistol, missing every second or third shot, but still trying to do his fair share. Taurie struck again and again, dismembering one monster after another.
Barry swept the outside of the building, forcing the creatures forward with a push or a lightning bolt.
Finally it was over, as Cheetah drove her fist into the final demon, driving it back into Kara's blade.
Kara quickly scanned the area, "they are gone." Turning, she watched as the cat-woman transformed into an attractive blonde and ran into Diana's arms, her lips finding the taller woman's cheek. She watched in shock as Diana slid her hand down the woman's arm and lightly kissed her cheek in return.
Barry looked towards Diana, then back at Kara. The blonde woman's eyes flashed red for a moment. Then she was gone…
"Barbara, Max!" Diana smiled brightly, "are you two always together? And, what did you do to attract those Parademons?"
"It's the largest contingent they have ever sent," Barbara responded. "We've been conducting studies on Maxie here."
"And what we have discovered," Max answered, taking a breath, "is that they react to me, but not Barbara. Somehow it has to have something to do with the Wishstone."
"How long has this been going on?" Diana asked, concern etched on her face.
"About three months, give or take," Max answered. "Barbara has been doing her best, but to be honest we can't continue to fight groups like this."
"Yeah, if it wasn't for your friend," Barbara turned to look over the room, "we would have been toast."
"Kara is one of the finest warriors I have ever seen," Diana responded, pride in her voice and a bright blush on her cheeks. "Kara?" Her eyes searched the room, looking for the captain. "Kara?"
"She left-she left in a real hurry, after you and the cat-lady here kissed and were all flirty and stuff," Barry sputtered.
"Ohhh, Diana. Did we make your gorgeous blonde friend jealous?" Barbara giggled. "Does she not realize we are just friends?"
Diana frowned, worried, but she had a mission to complete. "Barbara? I need to speak with you and Maxwell, tomorrow at breakfast if that is acceptable?"
Max answered, "of course, something to do with-" he waved his arms at the slowly dissolving demons, "these?"
"Among other things. I have a use for many of your skills, and I can make certain you are compensated for it." Diana answered. She turned to Barry and the Green Arrow, "I would appreciate it if the two of you were there as well."
Barbara's hand found Diana's, "whatever you need, Diana, we'll be there."
"Thank you Barbara," Diana smiled, her hand finding the blonde's.
"I'll be there too," Barry promised.
"We'll see," the emerald archer said, his eyes hidden by his hood.
Diana took a deep breath and rose into the air, making her way back to the hotel.
"So Orm, what do you think of Gotham?" Vic Stone asked as he and the Atlantean Prince walked down the dark streets of the city.
"It is," Orm paused as he looked around, "quite loud, but not at all what I expected. It is-exciting."
The cyborg laughed, "That is something I have never heard Gotham called."
Orm turned his head at the sound of a scream and rushed towards the alleyway where it originated. Victor was right behind him, his armor already sending an alert to the GCPD.
Time slowed down as Orm grabbed the descending arm of the large beast of a man who was standing over a small woman, accosting her. The man turned, his fist balled as he punched out.
Victor caught the fist in his metal palm and squeezed, watching as the large man dropped to his knees, "you might want to reconsider your life choices, Mister."
The man's hand slipped into his jacket, pulling out a gun. Orm reached over and snatched it out of the man's grasp, crushing it in his palm. "This is why my people do not care for the surface world, the self-inflicted viole…'' the prince of Atlantis cut himself off, as he realized the weight of his past actions. "Perhaps we are not so different anyway."
He bent and helped the woman up, handing a gold Atlantean coin, "for your troubles, milady."
Victor laughed at the woman's reaction as he and Orm made their way back to the street, "you realize you just gave that woman a small fortune."
Cocking his head to the side, Orm seemed confused, "it was only a coin?"
Landing gently, Diana immediately noticed that the door was open. "Kara!" she called out, as she entered the small living room. After a moment, she called out again, "Kara?" Wandering from room to room, she noticed Kara's armor, lying, folded on her bed. "Oh, Kara," she muttered as she moved from room to room. She felt a sharp pang of guilt as she lifted her fingers to her chest. She moved back to the door, and noticed the pad and pencil missing on the desk. Thinking back to their road time, Diana stepped to the railing and looked over the small city, noticing a wooded area, north of the hotel. She stepped in, shedding her sword and then ran, leaping into the air and shooting towards the forest.
Within minutes of reaching the forested area, she saw a flash of blonde hair and set herself down slowly, "Kara?"
"Hello, your highness," Kara answered, never looking up from her notebook, where she seemed to be taking notes. Her voice was devoid of the usual hope she embodied in Diana's presence.
Diana peeked over her shoulder, smiling as she saw drawings and notes about the various trees, grass and leaves that were settled in a small pile beside the woman's knee. "Kara, I need to explain…"
Kara stood and turned, "No, your highness, you don't. You are more than capable of making your own choices and having your own life!"
"Captain Zor-El, why are you so angry with me?" Diana snapped back.
"Angry? I'm not angry! I-I am…" Kara ran her fingers roughly through her hair. "I don't know what I am!"
"Kara?" Diana reached out gently, her fingers falling close to the woman's outstretched hands.
"No, you don't understand. I-We-YOU!" Kara was fumbling her words, "I know how it works at home, but I'm not just an Amazon. Kryptonians imprint, we…"
Diana scrunched her face, "Kara?"
"I'm protective, possessive-of you-and I shouldn't be…" Kara turned away, her breathing coming in rough gasps. "You aren't mine. You are not property."
Kara was pacing now, speaking in Kryptonese at a rapid rate and gesticulating wildly as she walked back and forth over the same piece of ground, over and over.
"Kara," Diana paused for a moment. "Kara?" She said a bit louder. Diana sighed heavily, "Captain Zor-El, STAND DOWN!"
Kara stopped moving, turned and came to attention. "Your highness?"
"First, I do not speak Kryptonese. Second, Barbara and I are friends, just friends," Diana glanced at Kara, who was letting out a deep breath and blushing in what seemed to be a combination of relief and embarrassment, explained. "Now, what do you mean by imprint?"
"Jeju explained it once to me," Kara began, still blushing. "Kryptonian couples are-we have a word for-" Kara stopped again, her fingers playing with the hem of her t-shirt.
"Kara? Are you talking about soulmates?" Diana smiled, her heart leaping in her throat as she remembered a conversation with Aphrodite, one pertaining to a certain blonde. "Kara, is there a chance that we could be…"
"Zhaol sheshur," Kara responded in Kryptonese, her eyes searching Diana's for any sign that she was accepting of the idea. "It is a physical and spiritual connection between two people."
"So you are jealous? Barbara?" Diana laughed.
Kara blushed and turned away, "yes, highness."
Diana stepped towards Kara, wrapping her arms around the woman's waist and pulling her close, resting her chin on Kara's shoulder. "Kara, my sweet…"
Kara wiggled around in Diana's arms interrupting the woman's words, "Highness, I'm not asking you to…" Diana interrupted this time, pressing her lips to Kara's.
As they pulled away, "My sweet, I don't want anyone else, for the first time in almost forty years, I feel as if I am with the person I am meant to be with."
Kara's arms snaked around Diana's neck, pulling them together and lightly kissing her princess. As they pulled apart, soft pink lips trailed down Diana's neck. She smiled as Diana purred deeply, and pressed her lips into the hollow of the woman's neck.
"Karaaa," Diana moaned. "What are you-what are you doing to me?"
"You don't like it," Kara asked, self consciously, pulling away.
Trapping Kara before she could escape, Diana pulled her close and whispered into her ear, "I love it, my sweet." Her own lips landing on Kara's neck, trailing kisses as she worked her way down.
Kara's eyes fluttered and she smiled, "Diana." Her hands fumbling for the clasps and buckles on Diana's armor, as she attempted to disrobe the Amazon princess.
"Not here, my sweet," Diana whispered, pulling the grasping hands towards her lips and kissing the blonde's palms. She lifted Kara off her feet and launched herself towards the hotel.
Minutes later they landed on the patio of the penthouse, and Diana set Kara down, laughing as her breastplate landed with a thump on the tile. She shivered as calloused fingers trailed down the space between her breasts. Blue eyes shone bright as Kara traced the same path with her lips.
Diana's control slipped as she ripped Kara's t-shirt from her body. She tossed the rag to the side and lifted the slightly shorter woman up and kissed her passionately, her arms locked behind the Kryptonians back, holding them tightly together. Kara's legs wrapped around Diana's waist as they pressed into the nearest wall. Kara smiled into Diana's lips as they both heard the wall give just a bit. The two women untangled themselves, laughing, "perhaps we should move to the bedroom, my sweet?" Diana asked with a glint in her eyes.
Kara nodded, unable to speak. She reached forward, grabbing Diana's fingers and pulling her towards the bedroom. She swallowed deeply, and spun Diana around, putting the princess between herself and the bed. Deft fingers slid around Diana's waist, unbuckling the tasslet belt and skirt and letting them slide over the woman's red boots and pool on the floor. Dropping to her knees, Kara slowly moved her hands down Diana's thighs, rubbing soft circles as she moved towards the red boots, unbuckling them and slowly removing them from the Amazon's legs. As Diana stepped out of her boots, she slid off her bracers and tiara, dropping them onto her skirt. She hummed with delight as Kara's hands slid back up her body, warmth spreading as the blonde touched her all over. "You have me at a disadvantage, captain," Diana smiled as she trapped Kara's wrist in her left hand, spun her, and started to undo her jeans with her right. She held Kara's eyes with her own as she slowly slid the warriors pants down to the floor, only now noticing that Kara wasn't wearing her tennis shoes, but was barefooted. As Kara stepped out of her jeans, Diana's lips traced over the taut muscles of her lover's stomach, tracking up with each kiss until she reached the space between Kara's breasts. "Left or right, Kara?"
Kara was speechless and took an unsteady step backwards, her legs bumped the edge of the bed, and she stopped, her knees buckled and she sank slowly to the bed, watching in confused amazement as brown eyes held her still, sapping her strength and teasing her.
"Kara," Diana's husky voice whispered, the sound passing over the blonde warrior. "No answer, my sweet. Are you bored with me? Do you want me to choose?" The amazon continued to tease, her tongue passing softly over Kara's exposed right nipple.
Sucking in a sharp breath, Kara pulled Diana onto the bed, resting her princess gently on top of chest, "I-I could never-never be bored with you, highness."
A soft smile filled Diana's face as she straddled Kara, watching in fascination as the blonde giggled and squirmed. Mischief filled her brown eyes as she rocked her hips back and forth, rubbing her soft patch of hair across the blonde's sensitive stomach. Still grinding, she lowered her lips to the captain's ear and whispered, "ticklish, my sweet?" She bit down gently on Kara's earlobe…
Kara tried biting her lips, but she continued to giggle, "by-by Rao-Dian-Diana, ohh." She felt Diana's movement stop, and she sucked in a deep breath, turning her head and finding Diana's lips, less than an inch from hers. Working her arm loose, she pulled Diana close, crushing their mouths together.
Diana moaned into Kara's mouth, and felt herself flipped onto her back, her head resting in the pillows as blue eyes bore down on her. As Kara rested herself across Diana's stomach, the dark haired woman grabbed Kara's arms, guiding them towards her chest, her breaths coming in shallow gasps as long fingers cupped her breast and kneaded gently.
Diana slowly brought her leg up, scooting herself higher onto the pillows, and slotting her thigh gently between Kara's legs, moving it slowly, up and down. Kara moaned, drawing in a breath as she relaxed into the steady rhythm of Diana's movement. The dark haired woman sped up the motion, watching Kara's eyes as they slid closed slowly and a soft groan escaped from her kiss-swollen lips.
Breath escaping in gentle gasps, Kara lowered herself softly onto Diana, her lips resting against the other woman's stomach. Diana ran her long fingers through Kara's curls, smiling wistfully as blue eyes trapped her mid-breath. Kara moved from Diana's stomach, to her breast, then her neck, her pink lips torturing the princess until they finally pressed to Diana's own. As the kiss deepened, Kara's hand trailed down, fingertips fluttering over tanned skin, until they came to rest between the other woman's legs. Diana's eyes opened wide and her lips formed into a soft 'O' as one long finger slid inside…
Clark stepped out onto the porch, three beers held in his large hand. He closed the door gently, and handed one to Bruce and another to J'onn. "Local brew, hope you like it."
Bruce took a sip, relishing the bitterness as it slid over his tongue. "Not bad. Saw an alert come in from Star City. Barry said Diana and Kara assisted in taking down another nest."
"Maxwell Lord's name came up again as well," J'onn continued. "He seems to be attracting the damn things."
"Barry promised a complete report by tomorrow afternoon, he said Diana wanted to talk to all four of them in the morning.
"Four?" Clark asked. "Who makes four?"
"Barry, of course. Barbara Minerva, aka the Cheetah. Maxwell Lord. The archer, I think they are calling him, the Green Arrow," Bruce responded. Then he laughed, "is it just me, or are the names the press gives us, getting worse?"
"I have never been caught by the press," J'onn laughed. "The advantage to being able to turn invisible."
"Have you seen the pictures the press gets of Bruce," Clark barked out a laugh. "He looks like a monster from a 1920's horror movie."
All three men laughed out loud. As the laughter died, the seriousness of their situation sobered them. "So Bruce, are you sure about this? Joining forces with the Atlanteans and the Amazons?" J'onn asked.
"I am," Bruce said, leaning forward. "Arthur needs a bit more experience, but he has very capable advisors."
"And the Amazons?" J'onn asked again, his eyes guarded. "They have strong opinions of our reality."
Bruce lifted his eyes from the beer label, and turned his head as Clark squeezed his own bottle tightly in his hand, causing the glass to crack under the pressure. "I would trust Diana or Kara with my life," the Bat hissed, a hint of anger making his skin flash red.
"No offense, Bruce," J'onn held up his hands. "I'm not doubting their loyalty, only the culture they were raised in."
"Is the same culture that protected this world the first time the boxes threatened it," Clark snapped, then he calmed his voice and relaxed his hand. "My cousin will allow no harm to her family or our reality, as you define it."
J'onn stood, "my apologies gentlemen. I believe I have become a bit of a pessimist over the last thirty years. Before taking this form, I was a drifter. I never really dedicated myself to one particular nation or another on this planet."
"Can we count on you, when the attack comes?" Bruce asked, his voice low.
"I will do all I can to keep this planet safe, Bruce. On that, you have my word," J'onn responded. "Now, if you two will excuse me, I need to head back to Washington, and prepare for the Queen to make Atlantis' presence known to the world."
Bruce and Clark escorted the martian off the porch and watched as he took off into the night sky. Bruce's head shifted slightly as he noticed a pale face watching them from the barn, and he turned to Clark, "what do you know about your farm hand?"
Diana's eyes opened slowly, making the journey from sleep to wakefulness with each blink of her brown eyes. They locked on Kara's soft features, a sleepy smile rising on her lips. Leaning forward gently, she kissed Kara's forehead lightly and rolled from the bed, stopping as she heard the Kryptonian shuffled closer to Diana's side of the bed. Unintelligible murmuring escaped from Kara's lips and Diana slid her fingers down the woman's cheek, "shhh, hush my sweet. Go back to sleep."
"M'kay," Kara smiled slightly as she burrowed into Diana's pillow.
Diana padded into the living room, moving towards the kitchen. She paused as she heard her phone buzz on the counter. Lifting it, a smile found its way to her lips as she looked at the number, "hello Barbara."
"Hello, Diana. Can you please inform this man at the desk that I do in fact have permission to come up to the penthouse?" The familiar voice of quite possibly her best friend laughed through the phone.
After clearing everything up, Diana set up the coffee maker, and readied two cups, waiting as her friend made her way up via the elevator. As the door slid open, she watched the smile grow on Barbara's face, frowning as it turned to a giggle.
"Diana," Barbara continued to laugh, "did I wake you?"
"No," Diana shook out her mane of dark hair. "Is it that bad?"
Barbara stepped forward, holding out her hand, which Diana gripped tightly, "she was jealous,
wasn't she? I'm so sorry."
Pulling the woman forward, engulfing her in her arms, "we are fine, Barbara. Kara was jealous, but we talked and…"
"Those lips and that hair tells me there was more to it than just talking," the little blonde laughed again, watching Diana blush brightly. She turned serious as she gripped Diana's hands tighter, asking in a whisper, "I didn't break anything between you two?"
Diana's face split into a huge grin, "no, nothing is broken between Kara and I. If anything, her jealousy brought us closer together."
"So, a good night then?" Barbara quipped.
"A very good night," a sleepy, smiling voice responded from the bedroom.
