Astra, ever the general, talks first. Neither sides of the table want to fight, both want explanations and acceptance, yet an awkwardness fills the air. How does one start a conversation when tentative trust could be shattered once they ask questions?
The sound of their breathing fills the air, the only sound in the room. It's loud, like someone is banging a drum on the table between them, too much to ignore. Still, none of them speaks, waiting for the others out in hopes that they break first.
Even Kara, whose heart longs to trust her aunt, her familial confidant, cannot bring herself to speak first for fear of saying the wrong thing, waiting for someone else to set the mood of the conversation.
Lena's wristwatch fills the air with its steady ticking, putting them all more on edge than they already were. Tick. Tick. Tick.
None of them are really sure how long they sit there before Astra sighs and pulls out a little spherical device and taps it a few times to get it to open up with information.
"I suppose we can start here." She places it on the table and shows Kara specifically since it is in Kryptonese.
Kara skims the text, her eyes getting minutely wider the further she gets along the lines. She tries to hide it, clearing her throat and then trying to play it cool. "What do your stock levels have to do with us? Do you need us to pay you back for any food we took?"
Lena's heart thuds in her chest, her anxiety rising higher. If they keep getting themselves into these situations, then she is going to have to have an actual heart attack, she just knows it.
Astra knows what she's doing, that she's trying to cover their tracks and the knowing expression on her face tells both Kara and Lena that she knows.
"We all know that isn't the reason I'm showing you this."
Lena has been in situations like this many a time. Business meetings often looked similar to this, both sides wanting to win, to overpower the opposition with knowledge. Lena doesn't like losing but when she's opposing someone so important to Kara she can't use her usual dirty tricks to get her ahead. Namely gathering as much intel as possible and then spewing a few thinly veiled threats.
"In that case, why are you showing us this?" Lena tries to maintain direct eye contact, trying to act braver than she currently feels, maybe then her bravado will become real.
Astra takes a visible breath and her lips twist ever so slightly as she tries to formulate the right words. Despite the fact that they are the only ones in the room she lowers her voice considerably and leans forward.
On any other day, Lena would take this as a sign that she is going to threaten them, but her demeanour seems softer somehow, almost apprehensive.
"I know you two aren't alone and I don't blame you for not telling me but I can't help you keep it from the rest of The Rebellion if you don't tell me everything so I can cover it up for you."
That shocks both Kara and Lena, not because Astra figured it out but because she is seemingly going against the Rebellion, her own cause.
They share a look while Astra watches on before Kara speaks. "Why would you go against them when you're their general?"
Astra sighs and rubs her eyes tiredly. "We don't have the time to dig into all of the bureaucracy but here, while we all have the same cause, not everyone here shares the same methods. If I treat you with too much leniency then my power will be called into question and much harsher methods may be implemented across the planet. I want a peaceful resolution, that isn't true for everyone here, but I need these people."
Lena nods in understanding, she knows the feeling, albeit on a much smaller scale, from when she first took over Luthor Corp. She can still see the quiet hesitancy in Kara's eyes, but she decides to dive for the both of them.
"Three women and a child."
Kara's eyes shoot up, trying to meet Lena's but her own emerald orbs are fixed onto Astras, conveying a silent plea – please don't use this information against us.
Astra's eyebrows are in her hairline at how quickly Lena gave up the intel. "I have to admit, I thought that I would have to convince you."
"Normally, no amount of convincing would get me to talk but I know that Kara trusts you on some level and I trust her. That's not the only reason though, I also know you're right, if we want to protect our people then we will need your help."
Kara sits beside her, silent and pondering.
Astra keeps her eyes locked on Lena's, doing her best to show her that she is being sincere and that she will help her niece and anyone she holds dear to the best of her abilities without compromising on her duties to her cause.
"Little one, I wish to know your thoughts." Astra addresses Kara, longing for her input. As fond as she is of Lena, she wishes to keep the decision within the family, as is their usual way, not that this is a usual situation.
Kara has a blank look on her face that they can't read. It's odd, at least to Lena since she knows her so well, knows her face, knows what every little twitch or movement means. It's unnerving.
No words come, just that blank stare fixated on the wooden desk, not really taking anything in. Her breathing seems steady, or steady enough, so Lena isn't too worried about that but she's still worried.
"Kara, are you alright?"
No response.
Lena's hand finds Kara's arm, trying to draw her attention to her, or at least get her to lift her head. "Kara, can you hear me?"
When she once again gets no response, Astra rounds the table, kneeling at Kara's other side. "Lena, do you know what is happening to her? Has this happened before?"
That's when it hits her like a Kryptonian fist under a yellow sun right to the face. The ship, their arrival, it's happening again.
"Yes, it has. She's too overwhelmed, we need to ground her, help me get her onto the floor."
Astra doesn't wait, doesn't hesitate at all. She grabs Kara around her back and underneath her knees, settling her down on the floor and awkwardly kneeling at her side, unsure of what to do now.
"She needs to feel us near, we need to let her know that we are here for her and help to clear her mind."
That triggers something in Astra, she knows now what she must do. She gathers her up into her arms, sitting fully on the ground with Kara cradled in her lap, her head pressed to her chest right where her heart lies.
"Speak with me Little One, let us heal your mind together with the help of our good lord Rao." Lena wants to ask what she means but she is cut off by a string of familiar-sounding Kryptonese. "ehl fidh i ehrosh :divi — ehl kypzrhig i raogrhys."
She recognises the words, the phrase one that she's heard Kara whisper to herself under times of stress and feels a little dumb that she's never connected the dots, that she didn't realise that it's a Kryptonian prayer.
"ehl fidh i ehrosh :divi — ehl kypzrhig i raogrhys." Astra repeats again, then moves on to a translation which Lena knows is for her sake. "Star, make my life light. Star, build my power."
The star in question is Rao, she sees that now and the whole scenario is making Lena's brain hurt. One second they were negotiating through a tough situation and the next Kara is having a mental breakdown – again.
She can't blame her, not really. She's sure a mental breakdown of her own would serve her well and as awful as it is, she knows for certain now that Astra is being truthful about her care for Kara, the sight of them curled up together as Astra murmurs to her is enough to convince her.
Lena can't take her eyes off Kara, a selfish part of her wishing that she could be the one to hold her instead, but she can see by the way her lips are curving around the familiar words as she begins to mouth along with her aunt, that this is how Kara is best comforted.
She wants to reach out and take her hand at least but the pair appear to be in their own little bubble, away from reality.
Astra's touch is gentle, much more caring than Lena had believed that she could be, even with the stories Kara told her about her childhood and how close she and Astra were, upon meeting the general she just couldn't make herself believe it. She believes it now though.
Kara's descent back into reality is slow and to the people that care about her, it's painful. Together, Astra and Lena watch as Kara's eyes gradually acclimatise to her surroundings again, watch as they flit around the room trying to make sense of everything, watch her eyebrows furrow and body tense when she realises that she's on the floor and in her aunt's arms.
"Kara, we're here. Just rest." Now that Kara is somewhat aware of everything, Lena feels comfortable enough to take her hand, wrapping it up in both of hers and tucking it beneath her chin so she doesn't do something stupid like kiss it in front of Astra. They don't need more questions.
Kara squeezes her hand when she gathers enough energy, letting Lena know in her own way that she is just fine, or at least as fine as she can be right now. She opens her mouth to speak but before she can utter a word she is hushed by Astra.
"Hush, we'll have plenty of time to talk soon. Just let yourself rest for a minute, allow Rao to strengthen your mind for a little longer."
Kara has always gotten more comfort from her Kryptonian customs than any Earth customs she has tried and having Astra's voice muttering a prayer into her ear brought her right back to when she was a little girl playing chase with her favourite person. It's magical.
"I'm ok now, I promise." She doesn't lift her head from Astra's chest though, just stays sitting there, draped across Astra with her hand being choked by Lena.
Lena seems to notice just how hard she was squeezing Kara's fingers because she drops her death grip rather quickly and settles for a tender caress instead. She waits for a moment where she is sure that Astra isn't paying attention to lean down and plant the much-desired kiss to the back of Kara's hand.
She actually thought she had gotten away with it until she spots Astra peering at her from the corner of her eye, a sly smile on her face. Yep, she knows. Crap.
"Can you stand?" Astra strokes the hair out of Kara's face, holding her tight to show that she isn't rushing her.
"Yeah, I don't know about you, but I'd rather sit on a chair than on the floor." Kara smiles, a chuckle lodged in her chest as she tries to joke.
They aren't really in a joking mood after Kara spiked their stress levels but for her sake, Astra and Lena force out matching half-laughs.
Together, they get her up and onto one of the chairs again, Lena dragging it back away from the table so she can be dropped right onto it without any major manoeuvring.
Kara isn't really sure why they bothered asking her if she could stand because the two worrywarts held most of her weight anyway without any prompting, they practically just lift her right up. It's the closest she'll get to flying when under a red sun so she may as well suck it up and enjoy it though.
"Thanks." Her voice croaks slightly, her throat dry.
Kara clears her throat and Lena jumps right to it, filling a glass with water from a pitcher on the table and handing it to her. "Here."
"Thank you." The glass is cool in her hand and it with the refreshing feeling comes clarity. "Both of you."
"You do not need to thank us for that, you just have to promise to give us a break before you give us any more big shocks." Lena takes a leaf out of Kara's book, but it falls flat, not reaching its desired mark.
Instead, it makes Kara feel guilty. She knows that she can't control it and she is lucky that it happened in private but it doesn't ease the restless feeling inside of her that makes her want to crawl up into a ball and cry and wish that this whole thing could be over so she can go back to eating pizza and potstickers in front of the TV in her loft with Lena snuggled into her side.
"I'm really sorry, I wish I could control it, so you don't have to deal with it."
Lena's heart sinks at the guilt-ridden words, immediately regretful of her joke, she was trying to lighten the mood, not send Kara down another spiral into a mental breakdown. "No, no. That's not what I was saying at all, darling. Listen to me. We were just worried about you, but we will happily take care of you forever if that's what you need."
Her words come right from the heart, and it shows in the devotion that pours from her lips, setting Kara's cheeks ablaze when she feels it wrap around her like a soft fuzzy blanket of warmth and love.
"I second everything she just said, Little One, but I mean it in a more family-oriented way whereas Lena means it in a romantic one."
Clearly, Astra never learnt tact on Krypton because even if her words have some truth to them, now is obviously not a good time for this tomfoolery.
"Astra!" Lena lets out a startled complaint, beyond humiliated to have been called out so brazenly. "Do you really think that now is a good time?"
Astra has the gall to smile at her, pulling her chair around the table to sit beside Kara. "Some truths should not be hidden for they are not a danger to oneself nor others, they only bring joy. Clarity often follows times of hardship and I trust my niece to make wise decisions, you should take the time to be honest with each other."
Kara covers her face with her hands. Her aunt really has some terrible timing. "Aunt Astra, I forgot how good you are at meddling."
"I do not meddle, just as our ancestors did not fight a losing battle. We correct wrongdoings to create peace and life. Perhaps that's a lesson you could learn." She slowly makes eye contact with them one at a time to get her message across loud and clear.
Lena swallows, she can't do this right now, everything is raw, and her heart is still beating out of her chest. She needs to get back into some kind of comfort zone. "How about you leave that to us to discuss at our leisure? We can go back to our discussions, business always seems to suck the joy out of everything, and we don't need any more fun."
Astra takes in her niece's slumped form and reluctantly nods her head. Perhaps bringing it up so soon wasn't a good idea but it was a matter she had felt was a necessary topic to address. She stands by it and will now move along as requested.
"Kara, perhaps you would like to sit this one out and rest?" Astra tries to coax her into taking a step back and caring for herself, but Kara's never been one to do what's actually good for her.
"I'll be perfectly alright, you two discuss and I'll just sit here and let you go at it, I have no problems with spectating unless I need to jump in for any reason."
Lena can't help but check her over, running her eyes across her body to ease her mind of its worry. She knows it's a pointless task anyway because Kara's problems are mental not physical but seeing her sitting there in one piece does ease her mind somewhat anyway.
"Alright then, let's get started," Lena announces, keeping her grip on Kara's hand, afraid she could float away again at any moment. "What do you need to know about our people in order to protect them?"
Astra gets right into it, coming in strong, watching Kara from the corner of her eye but continuing on, nonetheless. "I need to know their approximate location or at least an estimate so I can keep surveillance away from those areas."
"That's out of the question."
"How can I protect them if you won't tell me where they are? I can't keep my guards and soldiers away from them without the location."
Lena's silence is enough to answer Astra's question. She can't protect them without it. "Fine, but we can't promise they will be there, they're stupid enough that they could be on their way here now in some poor attempt at a rescue mission."
"That is not good."
It then dawns on Lena that no, that isn't good. If they get caught then that's game over for them, they don't have a Kryptonian general for an aunt to protect them. "Is there anything you propose we do to protect them from your people should they be found?"
Astra thinks, pouring herself some of the water to buy her some time. "Perhaps there is something we can do but you won't like it."
"Try me."
"We get my guards to be on the lookout for them and bring them back here too should they be spotted. We say that you got separated and upon our talks, you asked for our help in locating them. The only issue with that is that my people may demand payment for such a task."
"What would The Rebellion do to them if they were found without knowing who they are?" Kara can't help herself, she has her own questions, and this is too important of a topic to be sitting on the sidelines.
Astra meets her eyes, not hiding anything. "They would likely be tried and executed as spies and traitors to the people of Krypton. They wouldn't think that there would be any other reason for them to be out here."
"Even Esme? The child, I mean." Kara gasps.
"I am unsure, but it is in everyone's best interest if we don't leave it to fate to find out." Astra is blunt in her delivery but with a shared glance, Kara and Lena both know that they have no choice but to agree to Astra's suggestion. They can't let their family be in any more danger.
Kara nods at Astra. "I'll give you a description of them and the last known location as well as a general map of what would have been our expected route in case they continued on without us but no details, that way if we have to, we still have something to protect us. It won't be much, but it will be something."
"I agree that may be best and I will push for your repayment to be low and easily achievable, however, given our familial ties, they may take it out of my hands to avoid any bias."
Lena can already sense how bad this is going to turn out for them, there's no way that being indebted to a terrorist group is going to end well.
Kara's palm is sweaty in her own, the feeling is kind of gross but she's glad she has her here with her, even if Astra has set them up for an awkward conversation later on.
"Ok, I believe that we can discuss this further later. I would like to request that you retire back to your room for a few hours so I can get some work done." Astra stands and rubs her hands on her pants legs awkwardly.
"You can just say you want us out of your hair, and you want me to take a nap." Kara smiles at her, weariness setting into her bones from the mental stress.
"I can have multiple reasons, can't I?"
Lena wraps a steadying arm around Kara's waist as she stands. "I think your reasons are valid, this one needs to get some rest and I wouldn't mind some time to relax either."
"Excellent, then I will send someone for you later so we can talk more."