Kara watches Lena out of the corner of her eye, making sure she is alright without being wholly obvious about it.
This wasn't part of the plan, that much is easy to see. From what they can tell through the screen of the pod, they are headed back in the direction they came from, and it doesn't take a genius to gather that they are being taken back to the accommodation. As much as they enjoyed their stint there, they hadn't been planning on ever going back.
Their captors aren't a talkative bunch, in fact, they don't talk to each other at all and they only address Kara and Lena when they are ordering them to do something, mostly just to follow them.
The rain continues to pound down on them, and they watch as the trails through the trees turn into sludge, even in the places where the tree density should be protecting the ground beneath their branches.
On one of her glances over to Lena, she sees her glancing back at her. Based on the limited amount of her face she can see, she would guess that Lena is worried about her and what is going to happen when they get back to the accommodation.
The real question on Kara's mind is simple: who would care enough about them to have them brought back all the way here?
She really doesn't understand but that seems to be the theme of this mission. Just when they turn a corner, they meet another corner they need to try and turn. At this rate, the allotted time they put aside for the mission going off course isn't going to be enough to get them through this, they need to get out of here and on their way as soon as they possibly can if they are going to stand a chance of getting there on time.
The further they go, the more they recognise the scenery. They're close.
The pods pull up right by the accommodation and they are swiftly escorted up the stairs and inside again. The place looks exactly the same and for some reason, void of any other people. They had expected there to be more guard-type people waiting inside but they are just directed to the couch and left with just two guards watching them from the hallway, blocking the exit with their bodies.
They are sat next to each other, their backs straight and muscles stiffened, waiting for something to happen. Over time, as they sit there waiting, they slowly relax since it becomes obvious that nothing is happening in a hurry.
Lena squirms her fingers across Kara's palm on the cushion between them and slips her hand into Kara's. They make eye contact and whisper to one another.
"You ok?" Kara keeps her voice low, and the guards don't react in the slightest, they don't even appear to care about them, just focusing on guarding the hallway to the exit.
Lena nods to her. "Yeah, you?"
"Yes. Sorry I got us caught, I panicked." Kara purposely doesn't mention the others, they don't need to be dragged into this. They don't know these people and for all they know, they would head right back out and go find them.
Based off the look Kara has been shot, Lena is annoyed. She bites her lip, nervous that Lena is going to be mad at her.
"Why would you apologise for that? You did the right thing."
A deep sigh of relief floods from Kara's lips, Lena is only annoyed that she apologised, she can cope with that. The muscles of her face relax, and she closes her eyes, just thinking about what to do now.
She doesn't get the chance to make a plan because the door to the office slides open and the figure of someone she never thought she would see again stepped out.
Her jaw drops and she raises to her feet, shellshocked.
"I thought it was you, little one." Her Kryptonese is a joy to hear, her voice familiar and full of childhood memories.
Lena doesn't recognise this woman, but she does have a very good guess of who she is and why she ordered them to be brought back. She wanted Kara.
"Aunt Astra?" The words get caught in her throat and tears begin to well in her eyes without her permission.
"I knew it was you, little one. I knew it as soon as I saw this." Astra holds up the spy beacon, striding closer and closer until she is close enough to engulf Kara into a hug. "I don't know how you're here, all grown up, but it's too dangerous for you to be out there, especially in this storm."
Kara just presses her nose to Astra's shoulder, allowing herself the time to just be in her aunt's arms again for the first time in years. "The beacon, how did you use it to find me?"
Astra pulls back to look at her, her hands coming up to cradle her face. "You left your beacon behind and took the one from here, it had a tracker in it because rather than being paired to another beacon, we paired it to the accommodation. It doesn't display a pairing because it is still a work in progress. I sent out my team to get you as soon as I saw your beacon."
Kara nods along, her eyes streaming. "I didn't mean to leave mine, I took the wrong one by mistake."
Astra bellows out a belly laugh. "You always have been clumsy, little one. Now come, let's get something warm in you to warm your bones."
She takes Kara with her, an arm around her shoulders. Lena follows behind them aimlessly, unsure of whether or not she should interrupt.
Kara is seated at the table while Astra orders someone to bring them food. She sits opposite Kara and places her hand on top of Kara's. She finally registers that there is someone else here to when Kara looks over at Lena.
"Who is this?" She gestures to Lena, talking to Kara instead of talking to her directly.
It makes Kara aware that she is being rude by excluding Lena from the conversation, so she switches back to English, even though she was savouring the brief conversation in her native language. "Aunt Astra, this is Lena."
By habit, Lena's businesswoman instincts kick in and she offers a hand to Astra to shake. Astra doesn't know what to do with it and it shows on her face, so Lena drops her hand back down and looks to Kara helplessly.
"Here," Kara says and lifts Astra's hand from her own and moulds it with her own hand, guiding it over to Lena and nodding to her to signal that she is to shake it. "It's a formal hello on Earth." She explains to Astra once it is done.
Astra smiles at Lena, studying her for a second. "And a formal hello to you too, Lena. What is your house?"
Kara jumps in to save Lena from the question. "Lena is of the house of Luthor."
Astra switches back to Kryptonese, lowering her voice as she directs her questioning back to Kara. "What is the rank and status of the house of Luthor?"
Both Astra and Lena are staring right at her. Lena awaits answers to what they are talking about and Astra waits for Kara to answer her. "The house of Luthor is one of the highest standings on Earth and Lena herself is a very high-ranking woman however we are not-"
Astra doesn't let her continue. "Lena of the house of Luthor, what are your achievements? The houses of El and Ze must be similar in rank to your own house for a courtship to be legitimate."
Lena side-eyes Kara. She has no idea what they have been saying to each other in Kryptonese, so she doesn't know if Kara has come up with this courtship thing to cover for them or something. The very thought of Kara telling her aunt that they are courting brings a blush to her cheeks.
She is just about to stutter something out when Kara saves her, jumping in before she says something potentially embarrassing.
"Lena has many achievements, she is one of the smartest people on Earth and is an incredible scientist, however, we are not entering into a courtship." Kara looks so proud as she tells her aunt about Lena and how smart she thinks she is, and it melts Lena's heart a little.
Astra looks between them, a confused smile on her face. "You are of similar rank, you look at each other with fondness and you initiate physical touch willingly. Why are you not courting? The codex would likely score you as a good match."
Kara nervously sucks her lips into her mouth, pressing them together and releasing them again, formulating a response that won't offend anyone. This time Lena jumps in with an awkward joke.
"I would but this one is so clumsy that I would spend the rest of my life picking her up off the floor from where she has tripped." Lena smiles but drops it when she is greeted with a blank expression from Astra.
Both Lena and Kara pause, their hearts frozen mid-beat.
Then Astra is laughing. She is laughing so hard that she is gasping between barks. She bangs her fist on the table and points at Lena, "you're good. She got you there, little one."
Her laughter is infectious and makes them both give in and chuckle along with her. "I can't believe you two are already ganging up on me." Kara pouts, a playful smile adorning her beautiful face.
Lena shrugs at her, although the pride radiates off her from being able to impress Kara's aunt and get her blessing to date Kara, even if it was just a misunderstanding. "Sorry, Kara. I couldn't help myself."
Piercing blue eyes meet bright green and they share a look that is a conversation in itself. It shows jest and understanding and confusion and happiness.
Astra calms herself and watches them both intently. "Should I be asking what you two are doing out here and how you are all grown up, Kara?"
Kara gulps. This could seriously mess up the timeline, it may have already done. They weren't supposed to interact with anyone, especially not Kara's dead aunt. "Honestly, I really shouldn't tell you."
Astra tilts her head, just surveying the situation. "Then you need not tell me lest you are in danger, however, I will be ensuring your safety from here on out."
Kara stands from her seat without warning and the single guard watching them from across the room flinches and grasps his weapon from his hip. She pauses at the motion and raises her hands in a surrender motion.
"Stand down, she is not a threat," Astra commands him and he backs off. "Leave us, Zin-Ra."
He leaves the room at once and Kara takes his exit as a sign to carry on, so she makes her way around the table, plops into the chair beside Astra and pulls her into another hug. She doesn't miss the way Astra tightens her grip and keeps her close like she doesn't want to let her go.
They stay like that for a minute, Astra combing her fingers through Kara's tangled hair whilst Lena watches on from the other side of the table, thrilled that Kara gets this opportunity to be with her aunt, that she loves so much, once again. She would kill for the chance to have this with her mother, but Kara deserves this more than any other person in the universe.
The clattering of food being brought in ready to be served, makes them pull back, both of the women wiping their eyes as discreetly as they can.
Plates and plates of food are brought out for them, way more than they think they can eat but they aren't going to complain, especially not Kara. She is salivating just looking at the gourmet Kryptonian dishes that are presented before her.
"Help yourself, little one. I had them make your favourites."
Kara wastes no time at the invitation before digging in and spooning the delicious food into her mouth, moaning with delight every once in a while. Lena picks at her food, eating slowly so she can savour each bite.
Lena also takes the time to watch the way Kara interacts with Astra and the way she is so excited and enthusiastic when it comes to experiencing her own culture, a clear symptom of leaving Krypton at such a tender age and it makes her heart ache for the wonderful woman that deserves everything.
She is keeping an eye on Astra too, waiting for the penny to drop and for her to show some evil intentions, mostly because of the stories she's heard about the formidable woman and partly because she doesn't want Kara to get hurt by her.
"I will have rooms prepared for you to stay in, I imagine that you two are tired after your eventful day." Astra keeps flitting her eyes back to Kara, to Lena, it looks like she is in just as much disbelief as they are, and she is checking that Kara really is there and that she is not some figment of her imagination.
Kara sits back in her chair, belly full and satisfied with herself but wishing that she could fit more of that food into her. "Thank you, but if you don't mind, we would like to stay together."
Their connection must be strong today because Lena really doesn't want to be separated from Kara for a couple of reasons. The first one is that she doesn't know these people or if they have any ulterior motives and the second is that she sleeps better next to Kara and her snoring.
There is only a brief pause before Astra switches back to Kryptonese to speak to Kara privately which leads Lena to come to the conclusion that they may not get their request fulfilled.
"You said that you are not courting and yet you wish to share a space with her? Are you already bonded? Is that what is going on here?" It feels a lot like an interrogation when Astra looks at her like that.
Kara shakes her head with the tiniest of movements. "Aunt Astra, we are not bonded nor courting. We have simply grown accustomed to sharing a space and it would make us more comfortable."
Astra can see a hint of something in her eyes when she is spouting her ridiculous explanation. "You forget that I know your face. It may have weathered a few more years than the one I'm used to, but you are still the same. I can see that you are not speaking in whole truths. I wish for a clear answer. Do you wish to be courting Lena of the house Luthor?"
Hearing her name spoken in between a slew of unfamiliar words is off-putting, to say the least, but she trusts that Kara will protect her both physically and verbally in this case.
Kara is tense but Lena doesn't dare interrupt their conversation. "I do but I do not believe the feelings to be reciprocated at this time. However, we do share our space regularly and would like to continue to do so." She avoids Astra's eyes, afraid that she would see pity or outrage staring at her. "Could we please talk about this later? It's been a rough day."
Astra knows that she has pushed Kara for the information, and she has to handle it delicately, so she switches back to English. "My apologies, Lena. I do not wish to be disrespectful by excluding you from our talks. I will have a room set up for you to share if that is acceptable for you?"
Astra is given Lena's agreeance to her proposal right away and her apology is accepted in a very diplomatic way that she appreciates. This woman clearly has a way to handle people that she sometimes even lacks herself.
Since they have all eaten their fill, Astra keeps them company in the living room whilst their room is being prepared for them, not that much should need to be done, they left this place in tip-top condition just a couple of days ago.
They make idle chit-chat, not delving too deep into anything, though they all know that probably won't be the case tomorrow. They do enjoy each other's company for the time being though and they give one other tight hugs as they bid each other goodnight.
Kara and Lena are glad for some time alone when they can finally shut the door behind them and are happy to see their previously confiscated bags waiting for them beside the bed.
"Back here again." Kara puffs out, letting her shoulder relax and the tension drain from her body.
Lena opens up their bags and finds them some fresh Pjs to change into. "They have left our bags in a state, they could have at least refolded our things for us after messing them up."
"I guess." Kara takes the offered clothes and turns around the change. "I'm just glad that it's not some weird cult that wants to sacrifice us."
Lena sends her an unamused glare. "That's not helpful."
"Sorry, I'm still a little bit overwhelmed." Kara turns back around to find Lena also changed. "My dead aunt sent guards from The Rebellion to come and find me because she figured out I had been here."
Lena steps forward to rest her hands on Kara's arm, letting the warm weight of her hands ground her. "It's ok to not know what to feel right now. Just take some time and we'll figure it out together. Although I would like to know how they were tracking us and how they knew you specifically were here."
"Well…" The guilty look on her face gives her away.
"Kara Zor-El Danvers, you tell me what you know right this instant."
"I may have accidentally left the wrong spy beacon behind. I took theirs and they had mine so they knew it was me that was here, and the other beacon is supposedly linked to the accommodation instead of another beacon so they could track us through it."
Lena is resigned to the fact that they were found out by a series of unfortunate mistakes and can't be angry about it. "Alright. Let's wash up and then get some rest, we have a lot to plan and discuss but that's not going to work if we're dead on our feet and emotionally vulnerable."
"Ok, you're the boss."
Lena watches her stumble into the bathroom and uses the privacy of the bedroom to let her mind wander. She has no clue how she is going to get them over this hurdle.