Trust – Chapter 8
Pairing: SuperCorp and Agent Reign
Rating: M
A/N: So sorry that it's taken me this long to update! I struggled with direction for a while, but think I solved that problem nicely. If you are reading this update, thanks for sticking with me.
XXXXX
Days went by, with Alex still hard at work, and Lena by her side as much as possible. It seemed they were no closer to finding a solution.
Frustrated at their latest failure, Alex hefted the chair she had just been sitting on, and hurled it across the room with an angry yell. Lena looked on, not surprised. She wished she could do the same, but it wouldn't make this right.
"Maybe you should just let me go, little one," Reign offered, in the soft tone of voice she'd adopted while speaking to Alex.
"Maybe you should just give us Sam back," Alex countered, running a hand through her messy hair.
"It's not that easy. For Samantha Arias to return, I would have to be gone. I cannot complete my mission in Samantha Arias' subconscious."
"Tell me more about your mission," Alex asked her.
"Why?" Reign asked, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
Alex shrugged. "Nothing else to do, as I see it."
Reign pursed her lips, looking over Alex as if judging her sincerity. She must have decided to humor the agent, because she continued. "To create a new Krypton for my people. The followers of the old gods of Krypton."
"I don't get why you need a new Krypton for that," Alex puzzled out, walking closer to Reign's containment cell. "Earth has taken in every Kryptonian that's come. Well, both of them," she finished. "Earth is becoming a refuge for all different species."
"Kryptonians should be ruling class, not refugees." Reign said arrogantly.
"Besides," Alex continued. "How many more Kryptonians are there?"
"The number is irrelevant."
"Yet," Alex countered. "You continue fighting Kara, and she's one of two... ok, three now, Kryptonians on the planet."
"I would not fight her if she would bow to my will."
"The house of El is a royal house. Shouldn't you be bending to her will?"
Reign was silent for a few moments, carefully considering Alex.
"My current work supersedes her right to rule as a member of the last noble house. Once humanity acknowledges our superiority, and I crush the last vestiges of rebellion, I will of course stand aside."
"Sounds like lonely work," Alex commented idly.
"It is important work. And it is my purpose."
"If humans and Kryptonians could instead live peacefully side by side, could your mission be altered?"
"I cannot sway from my purpose. It is what I was created for."
"And if your creator was to change your function?" Alex asked.
Reign looked at Alex with narrowed eyes. "That is an interesting question, little one. It would... I would have to decide if the alteration was consistent with the goals of Kryptonian survival." Reign answered finally.
"By using your own moral compass?"
"Yes," Reign answered slowly.
"Then perhaps it's time to evaluate whether your current mission fits those parameters," Alex pointed out.
Reign's eyebrows rose. "You may have made a valid point. I will... consider it. For a human, you are surprisingly deep and rational."
"Thanks, I think." Alex retorted. Reign inclined her head, and closed her eyes, resting against the back of the chair. "Is Sam still in there?" Alex asked after a few moments.
"Samantha Arias is an especially irritating being. Strong-willed and relentless. She refuses to give in. It is clear she at least in part, shares some Kryptonian traits."
"That's my girl," Alex grinned.
"Her persistence will only succeed in delaying the inevitable."
"I miss her," Alex added sadly.
"She misses you too. She often speaks aloud as if you were standing next to her."
"What does she say?" Alex asked, interested.
Reign scoffed. "Her rantings are beneath my notice. And this need you have to know of her is beneath you."
"Humans are social beings. We create deep bonds, and depend on one another for comfort. Love is a big part of being human."
"Krypton has evolved beyond that," Reign said with disdain.
"Krypton evolved just enough to destroy itself."
Reign did not have a retort for that. "Stop," she said icily.
"Hit a nerve, did I?" Alex needled. "You couldn't hurt Ruby, because she was an innocent, and that goes against your code. But what about all those Kryptonian children? They did nothing wrong, and they suffered and died because of those who created you. They made you with that moral belief, and still you protect those murderers. You are trying to build a world for them."
"You will cease this discussion," Reign commanded, a note of desperation behind her words.
"No, I will not. Not until you tell me how you can believe that they are right, and that humans deserve enslavement or death at your hands. Earth is full of innocents. People who deserve your protection, not your destruction."
An odd thing was happening to Reign. Her normal self assured composure was slipping, and she started to thrash around in her restraints. It lasted only a few seconds before a complete change came over her face, and she looked confused and a little frightened.
"Alex?" Sam said, tears beginning to stream down her face. "Alex!"
"Sam? Baby, is that you?" Alex cried, pressing her hand against the cell glass and gazing in at Sam.
"Is Ruby ok?"
"Ruby's fine, she's staying with me," Lena interjected, having stayed silent for Alex's conversation with Reign. "She misses you, but she's doing ok."
"The cell is working?" Sam asked next, glancing around at her surroundings. Lena nodded quickly.
"How did you break through?" Alex asked. "It's been days."
"I'm not sure," Sam admitted. "She felt... weaker somehow. Unsure."
"So her control is tied to her confidence and beliefs," Alex mused. "That's good. We can use that."
Sam watched them, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"We aren't giving up. Ever." Alex promised, resting her forehead against the glass. Sam gave a weak smile.
"I've got it!" Winn cried as he entered the lab. Alex and Lena had brought him when they realized they could use all the help they could get. "The rock. The Utica world-killer creating one. That can fix this."
"But it's gone," Lena said, deflating.
"The rock of Utica might be unusable, but I used the advanced scanners at the DEO and we found it. An entire meteoroid of it."
"I'll go. I'll leave right now." Kara had reentered without them seeing, and when Lena whirled around, she found the superhero standing tall, steadfast and determined now that there was a plan.
"You can't go alone," Lena reminded her. "You can't touch that rock. But I can. I'm going with you."
"You can't go into space, Lena," Kara argued.
"Why not? It's not like you'll be in any better position than a human when we get there. No yellow sun," Lena informed her.
"And I'll deal with that. But I won't put you at risk."
"You don't get to decide what I do. You need someone to go with you. I'm going with you. End of discussion." Lena turned on her heel and walked out.
"Umm..." Alex said awkwardly. Kara looked at her with wide eyes. "I'll call J'onn and get him to lend you his ship. I think you better go apologize."
Winn cleared his throat and looked away pointedly. Sam let out a small chuckle, despite her own situation.
Kara caught up to Lena in the corridor.
"Before you say anything, I've made up my mind," Lena said quickly.
"And I wouldn't dream of trying to talk you out of it," Kara responded, holding both hands up in surrender. "I just wanted to suggest a more rugged change of clothes, since we're gonna be mining for ore."
"You don't like my dress?"
"Oh, I like the dress," Kara said emphatically. Lena grinned.
"Mmm, good. But don't worry, I've got something appropriate."
"But keep the lipstick?" Kara requested. "Red suits you. Anyway," she said, shaking off the lingering thoughts in her head. "I'm sorry I immediately dismissed your suggestion. Go get ready and I'll pick you up."
XXXXX
They were at J'onn's ship in less than an hour, and Kara had to admit, she liked Lena's outfit choice. A full black tactical suit, and her hair pulled back in the tight ponytail Kara always loved.
"I'm driving," Lena said with finality, taking the keys out of J'onn's hand. "Thanks for lending us your ride."
"Are you qualified to pilot a spaceship?" J'onn asked.
"Probably more qualified than me," Kara pointed out. "We'll be fine, J'onn. Thank you for the help."
"Don't worry," Lena added. "I'll keep it under warp 10." She fired up the engine and they flew out of the bay.
"That's not a real unit of speed!" J'onn called after them, sounding worried.
"That was mean," Kara told her.
"I can't believe he didn't think I could fly. He deserved that." Lena replied acidly. "Now let's get us a rock."
The trip was quick, but long enough for Kara's anxiety to creep back in. They were on a mission that might save Sam, but sitting and waiting while they got there was enough to drive her mad. No forward momentum.
Her restlessness must have been palpable, because Lena reached over and took her hand.
"What's going on in there?" She asked, reaching up to stroke Kara's cheek.
"It's just that every minute it takes us, is another minute Reign could be breaking out of that cell and attacking National City." Kara sighed loudly.
"I get that," Lena acknowledged. "However, what we are doing will ensure not only Sam's survival, but the Earth's as well. We are exactly where we need to be."
"Yeah, I know, but it doesn't stop me from worrying."
Lena stood from her chair, and swung a leg Kara's, settling comfortably on her lap.
"And what is this?" Kara asked with one eyebrow raised. "Not that I'm complaining."
"A distraction," Lena told her, leaning in to kiss her neck. Kara's hands instinctively cradled her hips, keeping her steady. Kara bit her lip and looked out into the vastness of the space before them.
"Don't worry, Supergirl," Lena whispered into her ear. "We still have plenty of time before we get there, and the ship's on autopilot. Plenty of time to have you. All. To. Myself." She punctuated every word with a deep kiss.
Kara soon forgot her worries, with Lena's amorous attentions taking the forefront. She let herself get lost in Lena's insistent kiss and wandering hands. Those clever fingers found the clasp of her suit, and she loosened it, tugging it down Kara's torso to reveal creamy skin.
Kara lifted Lena, with more difficulty than usual due to the lack of yellow sun, and lowered them both to the deck, shrugging off her top as she knelt over Lena. Lena shook her head.
"Nope, not uh, Supergirl. There's no yellow sun here, which means I get the upper hand." She flipped Kara onto her back, and straddled her lap. Kara was shocked, but the pleasant pull of arousal soothed any nerves she might have had over the unexpected move. Lena used her positioning to her advantage, slowing drawing the shirt up and off herself, giving Kara a front row seat to all that was on offer.
The hero let out a whimper and tried to reach her hands up when Lena caressed her own naked breasts, but one stern look had her dropping them instantly.
"Look, don't touch," Lena commanded. "Nod if you understand." Kara did. "Good."
"When can I touch you?" Kara asked desperately. Lena tilted her head.
"When I say so. And not until. And no speaking unless I tell you to," she added. "I'm going to take care of you, but at my own pace."
Kara bit her lip, loving the authority which Lena spoke with. It was enough to make her instantly wet, and she squirmed slightly. Lena gave her a knowing smirk.
"Looks like this Luthor has her Super right where she wants her." She rolled her hips once, giving Kara enough pressure that she nearly came right then.
Kara nodded emphatically, desperate for more contact, but Lena apparently had other plans. She pushed back, leaving space between them, and Kara pouted at the loss. Lena's boots and pants quickly followed her shirt, leaving her completely exposed above Kara, who was nearly shaking with the effort of holding herself back.
After weeks of constant work to try to help Sam, they hadn't had much time together, and Kara was feeling the effects of their separation. Specifically the longing she'd felt to be intimate with Lena in this way.
Lena knew all this; she had the same issue, but she wouldn't allow her body's response to get in the way of taking her time with a naturally powerless Supergirl. She couldn't deny that she'd brought herself to more than one screaming orgasm thinking about getting underneath that red skirt. Now was the perfect opportunity. She dragged her fingertips up the side of Kara's creamy thighs, loving the way the normally impervious skin seemed to have more give, was softer to her touch. Kara's breath hitched, and she canted her hips towards Lena, who used the motion to reach under Kara, and drag the panties down off her.
"Yes," Kara moaned out. Lena instantly stilled.
"I believe you agreed to the no talking rule."
Kara bit her lip and looked at Lena with her wide doe eyes, and any thought Lena had to punishing her misstep left her instantly.
"You better not talk again, Supergirl. My patience might run thin, and I may leave you just like you are: wet and needy for me."
The blonde's breath sped up, but she didn't respond verbally. Instead, she bit her lip again, and her eyes drifted closed, eager for Lena's touch.
Lena rewarded her for her compliance by leaning down and sucking roughly on her nipple, making Kara squirm and writhe below her.
Lena couldn't wait much longer, and judging by her flushed skin and heavy breathing, neither could Kara. Lena scooted downward, her lips pressing gentle kisses against the inside of Kara's thighs, leaving little mystery about her intentions. Kara's eyes were screwed shut as she moved, trying to encourage Lena's exploration.
"Open your eyes, or I stop," Lena ordered, just shy of her goal. Kara's eyes popped open as she craned her neck to look down. Lena was dark and commanding, pupils dilated. When their eyes connected, Lena smirked, and slid under that red skirt just like all her fantasies.
Kara groaned, both from the vision in front of her, and Lena's strong tongue against her clit. She couldn't technically see anything, since the skirt was in the way, but that only added to the heightened sensations.
Lena was neither slow nor gentle. She nipped Kara's swollen lips with her teeth, and sucked roughly on her clit. She had always taken her time, lavished slow attention on Kara, but this was different. She was all need, and want. She wouldn't let up, couldn't slow her bruising pace. She needed Kara viscerally.
Although they'd had plenty of sex under the red sun lamps, this was altogether a new experience. With no yellow sun, Kara could feel everything. It was a lot, hovering on the edge of too much, actually, but Kara could not bring herself to stop Lena.
Lena's moans were matching Kara's in volume and voracity. She was clearly lost in the feel of Kara's body giving in to her whims. When she slid two fingers into Kara without warning, the blonde shrieked in pleasure, and squeezed Lena's shoulder tightly. With the dual stimulation, she couldn't hold back, coming hard at Lena's ministrations.
The CEO only stopped when Kara whimpered and tried to push her head away. "Lena," she gasped.
"Mmm, not done yet, baby. I need your fingers."
Kara tilted her head, unsure of just what Lena was asking, but with her actions, Lena showed her exactly what she was after. She scuttled up Kara's body, kneeling on either side of her hips, and took the hero's hand, wrapping her lips around two digits and sucking seductively. Kara's eyes glazed over at the sight, and when Lena tucked those fingers up and into herself, Kara almost came again from the sight of her head lolling backwards and her thighs trembling. She started to rub, but one look from Lena stopped her.
"Don't move," the dark haired beauty commanded. "Just let me."
Kara was in shock and awe as Lena rode her fingers, first slowly rising and dipping, then her hips were snapping down, and Kara had to work at keeping her hand steady at the blistering pace. Her bountiful breasts were moving as she did, and Kara ached to reach upwards and cup them with her free hand. Lena was focusing on her own pleasure, but she saw the look of desire on Kara's face as she gazed at her, and couldn't say no to Kara's unspoken request.
"Touch me. You can touch me, please," she gasped out as she bounced in the blonde's lap.
Kara did not need further prompting. Her hand reached up to caress, and then pinch Lena's nipple, making the woman above her shriek. Loving the sounds she was hearing, she couldn't remain a passive part of their lovemaking anymore, and leaned herself up to capture the other nipple in her warm mouth.
Lena moaned, wrapping one hand behind Kara's head to hold her talented mouth in place. "Mmm, that's it, baby, don't stop," she begged. She reached down with her other hand to give her clit some much needed attention, but Kara wouldn't let her. Instead, she wrapped her hand around both of Lena's slight wrists and held her hands away.
"I think you've given enough orders for the night, Ms. Luthor," Kara stated. Her thumb took up the job, expertly circling Lena's aching nub, even as her fingers quested forward, seeking out just the spot on Lena's quivering walls that would make her come undone.
Kara nearly lost it when Lena arched her back, and she let go of Lena's wrists in order to cradle her back as she came apart in Kara's arms. She didn't stop moving her fingers as Lena came down, but she did slow her movements, doing her best to draw out every last bit of pleasure. Finally, Lena couldn't take any more, and swung her leg over Kara's hips and let her body collapse on the deck next to her.
"That was..." Kara searched for an appropriate response. "Intense."
Lena bit her lip and looked away. "Was it... too much?" she asked hesitantly.
"It was a lot," Kara admitted. "I've never felt that, I don't think I could, besides out here in space. It was almost painful, but not."
"I shouldn't've done that," Lena fretted. "It was not something we'd talked about, and I let my desires get out of hand."
Kara rolled over to look at her, stroking her face lightly. "I'm not complaining. I've heard things about some kinds of pain being pleasure, and I didn't think that was something I could ever experience. It's pretty deep, and very hot," Kara blushed at this. "I want to experience everything with you, Lena."
"Still, I should have asked and we should have had a conversation first."
"Maybe," Kara agreed. "But I could have stopped you if it wasn't ok for me. If I had told you to stop, I know you would have."
"Our conversation should have included a safeword," Lena stressed.
Kara smiled. "For now, it's 'stop'."
"That is not a good one."
"Umbrella? Watermelon?" Kara offered. Lena smothered a giggle by hiding her face against Kara's shoulder. "What?" Kara asked, genuinely confused. "I read it's supposed to be something you wouldn't accidentally say."
"True," Lena agreed. "Both of those are not something we'd say during sex."
"Then it's settled. Watermelon umbrella."
Lena grinned at her, happy in the knowledge that despite her relative innocence to sexual experiences, Kara was still so open and honest.
"Where did you read that?" Lena asked, as she wrapped an arm around Kara's waist and snuggled into her.
Kara went scarlet. "Oh, I don't remember," she stammered out.
Lena smiled. That was clearly a lie, but she'd let it go for now, not wanting to embarrass her girlfriend any more than she clearly already was.
Later, when they'd found all their clothes and gotten back to some semblance of order, Kara couldn't control the laughter that bubbled up inside her.
"What?" Lena asked with furrowed brow.
"I was going to say that we should never tell J'onn what happened in his ship, but then I remembered that he can read minds."
Lena was laughing then too, caught up in the post orgasm euphoria and Kara's infectious laughter. They were both still chuckling when they settled back into their chairs. Within minutes, their target was coming into view. But Kara wasn't prepared for the sight that greeted them.
"Is that... a city?" She asked, with furrowed brow.
"It looks like a whole civilization on an asteroid." Lena said. Suddenly, the ship was rocked. "We are being tractored."
They were being pulled in, helpless to do anything, and could only wait as they were docked into a large warehouse building. Kara steeled herself, putting her body in front of Lena's as the door opened and they were greeted by a battalion of what Kara recognized instantly as Kryptonian service bots. Armed, and ready to kill them.
Beyond the bots were a group of people, and Kara squinted as they drew closer, and then she lost all sense of herself, ignoring the bots, and ran across the expanse. Her mother. It was her mother.
"Mom?" she said tentatively as she got close.
"Kara?" the woman said back, clearly emotional. Kara gave up on any hesitation and embraced the woman. Lena kept back, stunned by what was happening, and unwilling to intrude.
"My daughter. I thought you were dead. We saw your pod get knocked into the phantom zone."
"I got free. I made it to Earth with Kal-El."
"Kal-El is alive too?"
"Mom, how are you still alive? Krypton exploded. I saw it." Kara stressed.
"Your father saved us. He saved most of Argo City, and we've been here ever since."
"Is dad..."
Her mother smiled sadly. "No, he didn't make it. But he saved so many."
Kara absorbed this new information, tears springing to her eyes. But she didn't let them, or the news, obscure her happiness that her mother was standing before her. Very much alive.
"If you didn't know we were here, what brought you here?" Alura asked her seriously.
"We need a substance that isn't on Earth, and we tracked it here. Earth is in trouble and we need it to save humanity. And quickly. Time is not on our side," Kara explained.
"Harun-El." Her mother supplied.
"The black rock, yes."
"It is a protected substance here, I cannot give it to you without the approval of the council. I will call an emergency meeting, but it will still take some time. You, and your friend, should join me in the meantime. I want to get to know my daughter."
Kara looked back to Lena, who was still hanging back. She shot her a radiant smile, tinged with tears of happiness. She held out a hand to her, but Lena waved her off.
"This is huge, Kara. If you want some time alone with your family, I'll wait. It's ok. I can't possibly imagine the emotions you are going through, and I don't want to intrude."
"Intrude?" Kara asked her incredulously. "Lena, you ARE my family. Get over here, and meet my mother."
"Come with me, our home is not far, Kara," Alura said with a wide smile. "We can wait there until the council convenes."
As promised it was a quick trip, and Kara and Alura spent the time speaking of how Argo City came to be floating in space. When they reached her home, Alura gestured for them to sit on the couch, and brought drinks over.
"Now, I want to know my daughter. Tell me who you are, about your life, please?" Alura begged.
"Well, I was taken in my an amazing family, the Danvers, Jeremiah, Eliza, and my sister, Alex."
"A sister?" Alura said happily.
"Yes, they took good care of me, I was very lucky. I went to college, got a job working for one of the most powerful media figures on Earth. I protect Earth as a superhero. I have a good life," Kara told her. "And I fell in love." She turned to Lena, taking her hand. "Mom, this is Lena, Lena, this is my mother Alura."
"You have an amazing daughter, ma,am." Lena smiled shyly and reached a hand out to Alura, who was having none of it, and stood to hug her tightly.
"It's wonderful to meet you, Lena."
"I never thought I'd have a chance to meet you, and I'm so glad I did." Lena said politely, taken aback by her open acceptance.
"Lena is brilliant," Kara butted in. "She's an inventor, and a scientist, and just everything."
"Sounds like you love her very much," Alura's face was warm and happy.
"Yes. Very much," Kara confirmed.
"Do you intend to be joined?" Alura asked.
Kara hesitated, but Lena answered smoothly.
"It's pretty soon to be talking about marriage, but I love your daughter very much." They exchanged a look.
Kara was saved from the need to respond by an attendant informing them that the council was ready to see them. Lena gave her a confident grin and squeezed her hand. "Good luck," she whispered, kissing her cheek gently.
What seemed like hours went by. Lena paced around the apartment as she waited for Kara and Alura to return. It was maddening, to have come so far but have no control over the negotiations that that were taking place at that very moment. She wasn't used to being sidelined; Kara always included her. Objectively, she knew that this was Krypton, and Kara needed to be the one to handle her own people, but it still rankled, being considered secondary on this planet. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself down. She'd have to ask Kara on the way back home how that social structure worked for aliens.
'But was Earth Kara's home any longer?' A small voice in her head asked. Lena stopped her pacing immediately. That thought should have occurred to her before that point. These were Kara's people, Kryptonians she believed to be long dead. Kara might opt to stay here in Argo city, among them. A new worry and sense of dread settled, and Lena felt bile rise in her throat.
"We got it!" Kara announced, breathless and happy, holding a small bag of what must have contained the Harun-El. "The council heard our argument and voted to give us what we need."
"That's excellent," Lena smiled at her, despite the growing worry gnawing in her chest. "We can save Sam and get rid of the Worldkiller."
"The Worldkiller," Alura cut it. "Do you know what sect she was created by?"
"Daughters of Ju-Ru," Kara told her. Alura nodded grimly.
"We found three of their followers here on Argo City two years ago, still believing in their cause. We tried what we could to rehabilitate and work with them, convince them of their folly. But we were unsuccessful. I regret to tell you that two among their number took their own lives, and the third-" she broke off.
"What about the third, Mom?" Kara asked gently. Alura took a steadying breath.
"It is not our standard practice, we don't believe in capital punishment as a rule, but Selena attacked and killed two guards while incarcerated. We did not have the resources to safely contain her, and in the end, the council voted to humanely put her to death."
Kara's eyes were wide.
"It was not my decision in the end, I advocated against it, but the council could not be swayed. Maintaining our civilization is what we have left. I do not believe any of their followers remain, they were likely the last."
"It saddens me to hear that, but I understand," Kara told her. "And it's one less thing we have to be worried about. If they made one world killer, they could have done it again."
Alura nodded sadly. "Small miracles."
Lena was hesitant to break up their reunion, but with the Harun-El in hand, every moment they delayed was counterproductive. She gave Kara a worried glance, and Kara shook her head as if clearing a fog.
"We have to go," she told her mother.
"I know, you have work to do. I wish I could help in some way," Alura fretted.
"You have," Kara told her. "This is the help we needed. And after we save Sam, and you know, humanity, maybe we could come back for a longer visit?" Kara asked hopefully, looking from Lena to her mother.
"I think that's a wonderful idea." Lena answered. Alura beamed at them.
"Oh please do. I want to know everything about you two," Alura said, hugging Lena once more. "I hope your mission is successful."
"Goodbye, mom," Kara said, embracing her tightly. She didn't want to let go, but knowing that she could come back made it slightly easier.
Lena took them back into space, and Kara finally let herself fall apart. Lena was expecting this; she switched to autopilot as soon as they cleared the atmosphere, and let Kara expel all the heavy emotions she'd been carrying.
XXXXX
Kara was composed again by the time the set back down in National City. They didn't waste any time; Kara flying them directly to L Corp, where they found Reign had reappeared in their absence. The restraints were lying in pieces and she was aiming her heat vision at the containment cell wall.
"Quickly!" Alex shouted. She was at the control panel, and Lena ran to her side to help. Alex was modulating the frequencies, and attempting to boost power. Winn was working with them, typing on his tablet and muttering under his breath. Lena left them to it, and pulled out the Harun-El.
Reign broke through in that moment, and J'onn and Kara sprang into action, holding her off as Lena worked furiously. Reign managed a powerful right hook that left J'onn unconscious, crumbled against the wall. Kara took over, taking a beating, and distracting Lena slightly.
"Luthor! Keep working," Alex spat out harshly, and Lena grimaced and refocused. Reign landed a kick, and Kara went down, Reign's foot pressed against her throat as she struggled. Alex entered the fray, throwing herself over Kara's prone body, and a curious thing happened.
Reign stopped. Instantly. She relented the pressure from Kara's neck, making her cough and clutch it as she struggled to take in a breath. She looked down at Alex as she looked up, her gaze softening and posture relaxing slightly. They looked back at each other for a long moments, until Lena interrupted by injecting her with the serum.
Her eyes rolled back into her head, and almost in slow motion she began to fall. Alex reach out, cradling her as she fell.
They were all silent for a beat, until Kara croaked out, "What the hell was that?"
"My sentiments exactly," Lena chimed in. "Why did she stop? Not that I'm not grateful," she added hastily, looking down at an amused Supergirl.
"She stopped because of Alex," Winn noted.
"I didn't do anything!" Alex argued, shifting to look down at Sam. "Should something be happening?" She asked Lena.
"This is new territory. I'm not sure exactly what to expect." They were all clustered around Alex and Sam's unconscious body, hoping and wishing.
"She's going into shock!" Alex shouted. "Something's wrong."
Lena was in shock herself. How did it not work? Every calculation lead her to this conclusion, that Winn was right about the Harun-El. So what was the problem? Why wasn't Sam resurfacing?
"She's too strong," Lena mused out loud. "Reign has become too strong to be put back into Sam's unconscious mind. At least, not without help."
"You want to go back into her mind?" Alex asked, realizing. Lena nodded.
"Yes, all three of us. We are going to help Sam finish this."
"It could be dangerous," Kara pointed out.
"It's Sam's only chance," Lena said with finality. Alex nodded, resolute. She stood, lifting Sam's still shaking body and laying it down gently on a nearby cot.
Lena hooked up a variety of wires to first Sam's body, and then each of theirs in turn.
"Sam's pain response allowed her to access the dark valley consciously. This will allow us to be connected too. Fair warning, it will hurt." She didn't give them time to back out, just flipped the switch and braced herself.
A shock registered through Alex's body. She grimaced, eyes snapping shut, and when it subsided, she opened them again to find herself in a dark forest. Kara and Lena were there beside her, and together, they set off down the foggy path they hoped would lead them to Sam.
They found her in a cave, leaning back against a rough rock wall, mumbling under her breath. Alex knelt down, hands cradling Sam's face, until her eyes focused and she realized who it was.
"Alex," she gasped out. "Is it really you?"
"Yes," Alex whispered, kissing her forehead gently as she gathered Sam up into her arms. "And Lena and Kara are with me."
"Why? How?"
"Both excellent questions," Lena cut it. "Suffice it to say our 'plan A' to get rid of your parasite did not work so well. Welcome to 'plan B'.
"Which is?"
"We'll work on it as we go," Kara promised. "Where will we find her?"
"You don't find me," A voice called from behind them. "I find you."
Kara stood to her full height, steeling herself, and clenched her fists. Reign scoffed.
Kara was not intimidated. She refused to be. "Let Sam go. This is not your body," she added.
"Why do you fight me, Daughter of Jor-El? You should be behind me as I remake this world for you."
"I don't want a new Krypton, I want Earth. It's not perfect, but no planet is. Krypton is dead, and it was Kryptonian hubris that killed it."
"You are no Kryptonian," Reign said disdainfully.
"I'm something more," Kara promised. "And I won't let you hurt them."
"When I kill you in here, you die out there too," Reign said with barely suppressed rage. She glared at Kara with hatred, but her gaze softened considerably when it fell on Alex, who had put herself in front of weakened Sam. "What are you doing here, little one?"
"Stopping you. And saving Sam," Alex told her. "Sam deserves to live."
"And I do not?" she asked. Lena's mind whirled at the implications. Did Reign deserve to die?
Reign tilted her head. It was the only warning they got before she launched herself at them. Kara met her, fists flying. Reign took a hard hit to the chest, and Lena watched as Sam clutched her own in response. She knocked Kara down, and when the hero got back up, she feigned right, and went left, catching Reign off guard and managing to get one han d wrapped around her neck.
"Stop!" Lena screamed. Kara's arm hesitated, torn between wanting to continue the fight, and listening to Lena. "We can't kill her," Lena explained hurriedly.
"Yes, we can," Kara shot back. "It's the only way," she added grimly.
"No," Lena said exasperatedly. "If she dies, so will Sam. They are two halves of a whole. One cannot exist without the other. We've been going about this all wrong. That's why the Harun-El didn't work. You can't split them in two."
Reign looked murderous, despite her situation.
"We can't have a fight," Lena continued. "We need a negotiation."
It was Alex's turn to be outraged. "How? This isn't the boardroom. It's Sam's life."
"No, it's not." Lena stressed. "It's Sam and Reign's life. One cannot exist without the other. They are intrinsically tied together. When you hit Reign," she gestured to Kara, "Sam is feeling it. It's why she's gotten weaker. Because we've been poisoning her with Kryptonite." Lena walked up to where Kara was still gripping Reign tightly. "Do you see it?" she asked. Reign's lips were in tight line, but she nodded. "Put her down, Kara."
Kara made to protest, but Lena gave her a pleading look.
"She won't hurt me, will you?" She asked Reign, who sighed and shook her head.
"No, I will not. She speaks true. I have suspected as much over the past few days."
Sam put a shaky hand on Alex's shoulder, prompting her to wrap an arm around her slight waist for support. "We need to talk," she said to Reign. Kara reluctantly released her grip, and moved quickly to position herself to defend Lena if necessary.
"Yes, we must speak," Reign agreed, composing herself enough to stand in front of Sam.
"How long have you known?" Sam asked her.
"I began to have suspicions when your feelings for this human bled into my own emotions. That should not happen. Kryptonians do not feel love and desire in this way. That is a human trait."
"We aren't born human," Sam reminded her. "But we were raised to be. That matters for something."
"I cannot fight it," Reign sighed. "Your feelings are too strong."
"Our feelings," Sam corrected. "And our feelings of love and loyalty wouldn't allow you to harm Ruby, even though you had many opportunities."
"It would appear so," Reign conceded.
Sam let go of Alex, and drew closer to her alter ego. "Sit," she asked. Reign hesitated, and Sam took the first step, sinking down onto the hard ground. Slowly, as if expecting a ruse, Reign followed.
"Lena is right that we must make a compromise. What can we agree on? What are our shared traits?" Sam asked as a starting point.
"We do not have shared traits."
"I disagree. We are both stubborn," Sam pointed out. Reign tilted her head, considering.
"That is a small thing. We can never agree on our purpose."
"My purpose is to be a good person, a good mother, to experience everything this world has to offer. To love, to care about friends and family."
"My purpose is to terraform this planet to make a new world for the Daughters of Ju-Ru," Reign answered. Kara cleared her throat.
"I have to tell you, there are no more followers of Ju-Ru left. When we went looking for the Harun-El, we found it with the last Kryptonians, and they told us how the final three died."
"Selena.. is dead?" Reign asked, looking at her with something akin to fear and confusion in her eyes.
"Yes, I'm sorry," Lena said sincerely.
"Selena was, genetically speaking, our mother," Reign informed them, looking at Sam.
"Our mother?" She asked in wonder.
"Only in the genetic sense. We were formed in a Kryptonian birthing pod."
"Hmm. That sounds... different. Our Earth mother was... a hard woman. She could be, anyway," Sam told her.
"With no Daughters of Ju-Ru left to terraform the Earth for, how does that affect your mission?" Alex asked Reign.
"I am unsure. I had considered that very question when you asked me before, and I have yet to come to an agreeable conclusion. I have been given only that purpose from birth."
"Could you, perhaps, take up a new cause, fight for a new people?" Kara suggested. Reign looked bewildered, lost even, and her eyes instinctively searched out Alex.
"I... do not know." Reign settled on.
"Can we agree, for the time being, that there is no reason left to fight each other?" Sam asked her, reaching out a hand tentatively and resting it on Reign's.
"How can we not?" Reign shot back, shaking her hand off angrily. "We still must find a way to co-exist in one body, and one mind."
"If we aren't actively fighting each other, perhaps we both can be present and aware and have some say in our actions. Like... conjoined twins or something," Sam shrugged. "It's better than the alternative."
"Which is?"
"The way I see it, we have three options before us. We continue fighting for dominance in this body, which hasn't worked well for either of us so far, we die, or we find a way to make sharing this body work. I'm not fond of option one or two, so that leaves three. It might be confusing at first, it might be messy, but it seems like the best course of action."
"If this is some sort of trick..." Reign trailed off with narrowed eyes.
"You'll what? Kill us?" Sam asked her. "Face it, we are two halves of whole, just as Lena said. It's not ideal, but this is what we are reduced to."
"We need to discuss this further," Reign relented. Sam nodded.
"We will. But let's let our friends get back to the real world while we do." Reign nodded. "And also," Sam continued, "Why are we in a dark swampy forest? This is our subconscious, and we should be able to decorate it as we wish." She closed her eyes, and suddenly they were standing on a beach, sun beaming down on them.
Reign looked up, narrowing her eyes. "And you should get to decide our location?" She blinked, and they were in an identical replica of Reign's Fortress.
Sam sighed. "Compromise?" A few comfortable couches materialized around them.
Reign huffed, but nodded. "A compromise."
"Let's leave them to it," Lena suggested. Kara nodded, but Alex was hesitant to leave Sam's side.
Sam waved off her concerns. "This is the only way. Trust me, trust us," she implored. Alex bit her lip, but nodded.
"Of course. Just... come back to me?" She asked. Sam reached for her, and kissed her passionately.
"Hmm," Sam said looking over to Reign after they'd broken apart.
"What?" Alex asked.
"I can feel everything you feel now that we have agreed not to fight each other," she said to Reign slowly.
"And?" Reign asked arrogantly.
"And you are jealous."
"I do not feel jealousy," she responded imperiously.
"You don't know what you feel, because you've never allowed yourself to feel it. But what you're feeling now, it's called jealousy. It's that gnawing feeling that means you wish it was you kissing Alex, and not me."
"I feel no such thing!" She said quickly, outraged. She looked immediately up at Alex, a look of barely concealed terror flitting briefly across her face. Alex smothered a grin.
"Mmm, hmm. Yeah. Keep telling yourself that. Well, you guys head back to consciousness and we will see you later. Kiss Ruby for me, and promise her I'll be back soon," Sam requested, squeezing Alex's hand gently.
"You bet, babe." Alex kissed her again, and after a moment's hesitation, leaned down and kissed Reign's forehead. She turned her face upward in wonder.
Alex just shrugged. "So you don't have to be jealous."
XXXXX
They were at a bit of a loss with what do next. Sam was still unconscious, and Alex volunteered to stay with her so Kara and Lena could go.
"There's nothing more we can do," Alex responded to the worry that was clearly etched on Kara's face. "And if anything comes up, you could be here in minutes if I needed you. I'll use the signal, promise."
Lena took Kara's hand and led her away, despite the protests she knew were bubbling up in the hero.
"So," she asked as they exited the building. "Should we start planning our Kryptonian getaway?"
Kara smiled at her. "You'd really go with me?"
"Absolutely," Lena said quickly. "I'll go anywhere with you. Including the incredibly advanced Kryptonian science guild. It's a hardship, but I'll survive somehow."
Kara laughed at her clear enthusiasm. "Can they spare you for a while at Lcorp?" She looped an arm through Lena's.
Lena nodded. "I'll have Jess handle day-to-day operations, and when Sam is able, she'll be back at it. I swear, she's almost as much of a workaholic as me. Honestly, the hallmark of a great company is when it runs seamlessly without you."
"Then I definitely want to go. I will pitch a story idea to my boss, I'm sure she'll approve it," Kara teased.
"Foreign correspondent Kara Danvers, reporting from an alien planet? I have it on excellent authority that yous boss will eat that up. I'll talk to James about our trip, have him take CatCo back on."
"I'm so excited! When can we leave?"
"How about as soon as you can pack?" Lena offered.
"Mmm, perhaps we should wait until Sam's awake," Kara amended.
"I think that's going to turn out just fine," Lena predicted.
XXXXX
As it turned out, Lena was right. Sam woke up later that day, promising that she and Reign had worked out a tentative plan, and for now, Sam was in control of their body. Ruby was suitably relieved to be able to see her mother again, and Sam reassured Kara that Reign had no intentions to cause any further mayhem.
"For now we are working on damage control. She agrees that it would be best to have a human cover identity, and to maintain it, we need to get my life back in order," Sam explained. "It helps that when we aren't actively trying to drive each other out of our shared body we can be present and aware of what's going on. We can read each others thoughts and emotions. I'd imagine that it's similar to having a twin, in a way. For example, right now she's telling me to tell you that we don't owe you an explanation. And I am telling her that it's polite to do that for our friends."
With Kara's fears assuaged, she and Lena ended up flying back to Argo City before the end of the week.
Alura was overjoyed to see them return so quickly, leading Kara happily back to her home, Lena tagging along, content to see Kara so radiant being with her family and people once more.
The elder Zor-El was the perfect host, showing them more of the city, and introducing Lena to a few influential members of the science guild.
The first hiccup came when Alura showed them each to separate bedrooms. Kara hesitated, reluctant to be parted from Lena for the night. Lena was feeling the same, but was conscious that Kryptonians had different traditions, and was loathe to insult their host. In the end, Kara snuck into Lena's room later that evening, and Alura made no comment when they emerged together from Lena's room the next morning.
Kara spent her days reuniting with childhood friends, and catching up on years of missed time with her mother. The last thing Lena wanted to do was intrude, so she made fast friends with a fellow scientist, and was swept into their continued efforts to create Harun-El.
Three days into their stay, Kara met her friend Thara Ak-Var for lunch, hoping to hear about her life and the work she did as a security officer for Argo City. What she got was a little different than she imagined.
"I asked the builder to face the gazebo towards the setting sun, and he faced it towards the rising! Can you imagine?"
Kara hesitated. The polite response was feigned horror at the mix up, but she couldn't seem to muster the appropriate level of enthusiasm.
"But isn't it still a beautiful gazebo?" She tried.
"But it's facing the complete wrong direction!"
That was the first indication that she might not fit in well with her old friends. She tried to steer the conversation towards Thara's work instead.
"Do you have any big cases you are working on?" She asked brightly. Thara shook her head.
"No, crime is practically unheard of here, it's mostly interacting with the public and settling disputes at the market."
Kara was starting to feel a little deflated. Although she had longed to see her friends for so long, it was not turning out how she had expected.
"But with all that free time I've got, I'd be glad to help out with anything you might need help with," Thara shot her a conspiratorial wink.
"What do I need help with?" Kara asked, feeling like she was missing some vital piece of information.
Thara put her hand over her mouth and giggled. "Oh, maybe it was a surprise! I always do this," she said, clearly embarrassed.
"What's a surprise?" Kara asked again, starting to get annoyed that she didn't know what was going on.
"I just heard that your mother was checking around with the royal houses. Asking abut eligible mates. I just assumed..."
"She's doing what?" Kara asked, shocked. "I'm not getting married, Thara."
"Oh, why not?" Thara asked, looking crestfallen. "I promise to help! And I'll be your attendant."
At this point, Kara was done. She stood, making her excuses, and hurried back to Alura's house, where she found her mother tending some plants in the common room.
"How was your lunch with Thara?" Alura asked her with a broad smile. "I thought you'd be gone longer."
"I had to come back, because Thara mentioned something about marriage..." Kara trailed off, looking expectantly at Alura.
"Oh she didn't! That girl could never keep a secret," Alura complained, shaking her head.
"Wait, she didn't misunderstand?" Kara asked, desperately hoping she'd heard wrong. Alura waved a hand flippantly.
"No, but I do wish she'd have let me tell you. I was looking forward to seeing your reaction. If you wish to be matched to another royal house, I have made a couple... informal inquiries... and I think we could find you a suitable match," Alura offered. Kara's jaw dropped.
"You really asked about matching me? After I told you I was in love with Lena?"
"You two aren't joined, and now that you're home, I want to give you the best options I can. I couldn't be a good parent for you growing up, and I know it's too little, too late, but this I can do for you."
"No, wait. Lena and I aren't joined yet, but someday, I hope we will be."
Alura frowned. "That's not exactly traditional. But companions are common, you know that, there's no reason Lena couldn't still be part of your life."
"That's not... no," Kara said, shaking her head and rising. "Lena is not just a companion to me."
"Companions are a respected and accepted part of our society. Perhaps your time away has made you forget that. And what about children?"
"Children?" Kara's voice was rising in volume and tempo. "That's the argument you have for marrying me off? Krypton has the best birthing technology there is. Women have been having children together on Krypton for years."
"Oh, you misunderstand me, Kara," Alura soothed. "Lena's gender is not an issue, not even a consideration. But she's not from a royal house. She's not even Kryptonian."
"That doesn't matter to me. And who are you to be lecturing me about marrying outside a royal house? Plenty of our family were lower houses and married into ours." Kara was angry now, her stance defensive, and her mother held up both hands in a calming gesture.
"I thought I was doing what was best for you. I haven't been there for you for all these years, the least I can do is help you ease back into our society with a powerful match."
Kara tried to calm herself. It was with some degree of difficulty. She may not have her powers this far from a yellow sun, but she had all the confidence and surety of her alter ego behind her. And she was seeing red. After the day she'd had, squaring off with her well-intentioned mother was not the best idea.
"That's not what I want. Please don't make any more inquiries for me," Kara requested, her teeth clenched. She turned on her heel and left the house, breaking into a run when she hit the field bordering the woods. She ran until she couldn't breathe any longer; a short distance, she thought ruefully. Maybe she needed to do some more training without her powers when she got back home.
'Home,' she thought, stopping suddenly. When she just thought that, it was not of Argo City with her mother. It was National City, Catco, and her sunny apartment. It was Alex, and Lena. Earth was her home. Being Supergirl was her calling.
"I can't be Supergirl here." Saying it aloud, even without someone to hear it, made her feel as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She needed to find Lena.
The science guild was not far away, and Kara made her way there at a brisk pace, spurred on by her internal revelations.
She found Lena in front of a work console, furiously typing out an equation, a group of Kryptonians surrounding her, whispering excitedly. She caught the conversation as she drew closer.
"And that's as far as I've taken this one, but this should be a promising lead on manufactured Harun-El. I'll keep working on it too, but we should be able to have a working sample to test if we start here."
Kara could make out snippets of the whispers, and for the first time on Argo, she longed for her powers. "Truly astounding," one said. "This is the breakthrough we've been waiting on." Her heart swelled. Even if she herself wasn't, Lena was accepted for who she was among her people. When the group started to break up, presumably to begin work with Lena's theorems, Kara stepped towards her.
"Smartest and most gorgeous woman in the room," Kara said with a fake sigh. "It must be exhausting being you." Lena grinned at her.
"Oh, I stopped being the prettiest as soon as you walked in. And don't get me started about that mind of yours," she added, flipping her hair back, and reaching out for Kara's hand. She stepped closer instantly, hugging Lena tightly.
"Mmm, what do I owe the pleasure of your company to? I thought I wouldn't get to see you until later."
Kara wrinkled her nose. "I had a disagreement with my mother." Lena frowned.
"Oh, I'm sorry, about what?" She asked worriedly.
"My mother... she-" Kara stopped, and then tried again. "She asked about marrying me off."
A look of knowing calm came over Lena's face, and she nodded.
"Yes, I heard from one of the scientists today that Alura has been asking around about a possible match for you."
Kara's shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry you heard that. She... was misguided. I know she's trying to be helpful, but I don't think she understands that I only have eyes for you." Kara took Lena's hands in her own, and kissed her knuckles tenderly.
"I would understand, you know." Lena said quietly. "This is your culture, your home. I've been studying Kryptonian social structure, and as a royal house, the House of El should have an offspring join with another. I read about how those marriages are just for alliance, and not the romantic pairing Earth associates it with. If that's what you want, Kara, I'll stand by your decision. Even if it means I'll be relegated to companion status."
"No!" Kara nearly yelled. "That will never be what I want. You are the only person I want in any joining capacity." She dropped her voice back down to a normal register. "I meant it when I said I love you Lena. That is not going to change just because we found out some of my people are still alive."
"It's not a decision you have to make now," Lena stressed. "If it means acceptance by your people, I want that for you."
"The only decision I'll be making is one I made months and months ago. That only you would do. No one compares to you, Lena. And I will always choose you. Above all others. I promise you."
Lena's eyes were swimming with tears. "I choose you too."
"Good," Kara said happily, pulling Lena in for a tight hug. "Then nothing else matters. Not what Kryptonian culture says, or my mother wishes. Just that you and I belong together. Forever."
"Forever," Lena agreed, burrowing her face into Kara's chest.
XXXX
The brush smoothly ran across the canvas. Kara made it look effortless; indeed, she painted with authority. Her strokes were, however, measured and sure, as she brought to life a scene completely from memory.
"I assumed you still preferred painting landscapes," Alura said quietly from the doorway.
Kara did not look up, or indicate any bit of surprise. She continued, languid brushstrokes across the canvas, where the image was starting to take shape.
"I almost always paint landscape. Usually Krypton, or seascapes from Midvale. But I woke up today with some inspiration, and I had to get it out."
"She's beautiful," Alura said simply.
Kara leaned back to take in the image as a whole. A dark background, contrasted with the nude backside of a pale, curvy woman, silent and unmoving in her slumber, a crimson sheet draped haphazardly over part of her. Her jet black hair was spread over the pillow, tousled from sleep.
"Yes, she is," Kara settled on for a response. "I know this isn't considered fine art on Krypton, but I've spent more of my life on Earth than with my own people, and I suppose I've picked up a lot from humans."
"As your father and I expected you would. I am sorry. It was shortsighted of me to assume that you'd want to step directly back into Kryptonian society. Or, I suppose, rejoin our society at all. Our research about Earth culture was rudimentary, but under the circumstances, it was the safest choice."
Kara smiled. "I know you did what you had to to save me, and to protect Kal-El. But we lived a very different life. Kal-El only knows his human life. But I had 13 years of living on Krypton, and then had to adapt to life on Earth quickly. Things are different under a yellow sun."
"Yes," Alura agreed. "We knew they would be. At least, we knew you would both have great abilities, be able to protect yourselves and others."
"Some parts of that was a gift, and some of it a curse. I had super senses, but I couldn't control what I felt. Everything. I heard and felt it all. It was too much for a young girl. Especially one so used to the careful control and reserve of Krypton. Humans are a tactile and social people. Until Earth, I'd never seen a joined couple kiss in public. Or hold hands." Kara turned to look at her mother more fully. "When you and my father were matched, what did you think of him?"
Alura took a seat next to Kara, taking a moment to collect her thoughts. "I was grateful to have been joined with another royal house. Your father was a kind man, and I grew to appreciate him."
"But you didn't know him, didn't have feelings for him when you were joined."
"No. But our relationship was companionable, and we knew each other on an intellectual level," Alura said.
"It's very different on Earth."
"Their ways must have seemed so foreign to you," Alura sympathized.
"Yes, but it was also a revelation. While I understood that Kryptonian society works the way it does to maintain bloodlines and ensure strong children, it hadn't occurred to me that love and genuine connection could do the same. And then I went through puberty. On Earth. With heightened senses and no Kryptonian woman to help me understand."
Alura frowned. "You were prepared for that as a young child."
"I think it may be too late to ask my mother about this," Kara said with a laugh. "But as far as I know, Kryptonians do not experience sexual desire."
"Only after many years of companionship. We need to develop that over time, and in some cases we never do."
"Well, I'm not sure this is typically something mothers and daughters discuss, but that was not my experience on Earth."
"Oh," Alura said, eyes widening. Kara blushed and looked back at her painting.
"I retained my Kryptonian ideals. I refrained from exploring those... desires. Eliza Danvers was a good surrogate Earth mother, but I didn't feel comfortable asking her about that. And there was no one else to ask."
"I am truly sorry you had to go through that alone," Alura whispered sadly. She rested a hand on Kara's shoulder. "If I had known we could have safely kept you here, we would have in a heartbeat."
"I know, and I don't tell you this to make you feel any guilt. I've had a great life, and I have wonderful friends and family on Earth. I don't regret what happened. How can I, when it led to the best thing that ever happened to me?"
"Her." Alura said unnecessarily.
"Lena Luthor is an amazing partner. She's talented, brilliant, and beautiful. She supports my work, cares about my thoughts and wishes, and takes care of me, as I care for her. She's shown me that giving yourself fully to another can be the most rewarding part of human life."
"Definitely one of the ways Kryptonian culture differs from human." Alura mused. "Besides our offspring, our focus is on sense of self, rather than pairing."
"Lena and I were friends for many months before she admitted to me that she had feelings for me. And I felt the same for her. It was the first time I'd had that depth of longing for someone. Rao, I was scared. But she knew. She could tell that I was unsure. Of my feelings, of how to express them. Even more scared of hurting her with my superior strength. She was so patient. She waited until I was comfortable, until we were both ready... it was the most profoundly moving experience of my life."
Alura was silent, nodding slightly and taking it all in.
"I guess the reason I'm telling you all this is so you understand why I could never be interested in a Kryptonian match. Not that I'm not grateful you still wish to claim me and have me represent the House of El, it's just that I could never settle for a joining that wasn't purely based on love and deep commitment to each other. At this point, I could never dream of a life that didn't revolve around Lena."
"You are my daughter. I will always be proud of you, and want you in my life in any capacity. She is lucky to have you. And you her," Alura added after a beat. "Enid Re-La tells me she has been excelling with the science guild. She's very bright. In fact, they've asked to have her assigned to them for the duration of her stay. For a member of a supposedly technologically inferior species, she is certainly holding her own."
Kara grinned at her. "I told her months ago that she would have fit in well with scientists on Krypton. Guess I was right."
"I look forward to getting to know her, and you, better." Alura said sincerely.
"Thanks, mom," Kara said softly. Alura opened her arms then, and Kara found herself in them with no reservations. "I think we won't be staying much longer," she added hesitantly after they'd parted. Alura nodded, as if she had already seen this coming.
"You have a life and a home back on Earth. I wouldn't dream of keeping you away from them. Just promise me one thing?"
"Of course," Kara said.
"Let's not wait quite as long until we see each other again," Alura requested. Kara smiled wide.
"Of course not. We're going to get the portal working, and then you'll come visit us on Earth, too."
"I love you, Kara," Alura said sincerely.
"I love you too," she responded, just the same.