#Reporter at 17! Those were the days huh. The past sure is another country thank god). Where PotP was a moralising bit of war propaganda

[thewonko]

Symphogear XV, Episode 1

Hey! Symphogear's back! And given that these are, historically, my most popular posts, I guess I get to do an episode reaction!

And before you ask, Crunchyroll until something better comes along, but I'm paying for this, I may as well use it.

Also, no pictures, because I'm lazy rn and don't feel like tempting fate and Tumblr's upload system.

Bloody handprints. This bodes well!

Is this the Frontier? It looks like the Frontier control room

Uhh, yeah, that's the Frontier, and they just turned on the Moon

Blue-haired deady guy says they can't explain anymore, and asks Fine for forgiveness. Factions in ancient humanity? Pro- sleeping with gods and anti-sleeping with gods?

And cut to a submarine. Wherever we are now, it's cold

Something is arming itself in response to the Symphogirls' approach. Apparently it's a "coffin" and a precursor relic. This bodes well!

Hibiki, if I'm not wrong, Lake Vostok is in Antarctica. Summer there tops out at, like, just under freezing.

Ah, and then Chris says the same thing. Good on you Chris, keep being smart.

Ah, that's a laser beam. Upside: the sun's out now, Hibiki!

"bone-chilling"... I hope that's the translators, but the way the line is delivered makes me afraid that it's not.

Can I have a coffin like that? Not just the particle beam, but the stupid penguin design too?

Baller transformation sequence, Hibiki. Keep it up.

Oh, pleasant surprise: translated insert songs!

Huh, crystal pillars after an attack. Y'know what those look like? The upgrade material in XDU.

Genjuro, it's a mobile autonomous mech. It's not "just" a coffin no matter how you look at it.

Ooh, the coffin has laser hornet drones! Another reason to want one!

Kirika and Shirabe just ice skating along. Truly this is Yuri on Ice.

Ouch. Just... slapped out of the air. That's gotta hurt.

Directed energy at... negative temperatures? That's... not how energy works? Like, at all?

Ah, Elfnein here to tell us that physics doesn't hold with this magic nonsense either. Good.

Less good: The Symphogirls are now frozen in XDU upgrade material

And flashback time! The Lydian school song again

Miku on the piano, teacher listening. Is this a test for Hibiki? God thing she gets lots of singing in these days as *a magical girl saving the world*. That's gotta help for practice, right?

Ah, it was a test. Looks like Hibiki didn't fail the year at least.

"... [Y]ou're singing in your heart". Yup, for the past four seasons! Maybe you saw it on the news that time she saved the moon? Or the time she saved the planet? Or the other time she saved the planet? Or that time she punched the devil so hard he exploded? She's gotten pretty good at singing, Teach. Maybe you just have unreasonably high standards?

"I know you're busy" Do you? I'd think working for the UN is good for a few missed tests.

"BTW", says a nearby public TV news report "remember that we're going to the moon together with the US, the country that TRIED TO NUKE US SIX MONTHS AGO. PRETTY FUCKING MAGNANIMOUS OF US TO NOT DEMAND, LIKE, REPARATIONS OR SANCTIONS OR SOMETHING. Anyway, on to sports. Todd?"

Okay, real talk here, the normal is important. The downside is that now that you've pointed it out, Hibiki, something's about to happen.

"What if I was causing trouble for someone?" okay, calling it now, Miku will end up in a 'gear fighting Hibiki before the end of the season. She'll have a good reason, and she'll end up fighting alongside her wife by the end, but it'll start with them fighting.

Oh look, an explosion. This is what you get for pointing out how normal it's been, Hibiki

Hey! Ogawa remembered that Miku is cleared for this stuff and picks her up too! Thanks, Ogawa.

Hibiki, you are 17 years old. You should know by know that lakes can freeze. Especially in Antarctica.

Elfnein says man-made climate change is real!

I mean, the implication that it was a precursor civilization moving scorpions around the planet is a bit of a stretch, it could've just been ancient humans, but sure, let's go with aliens.

"Adam was trying to use the power of the gods to accomplish a goal of some sort" Really? He didn't just want it to have it? Adam fucking Weisshaupt had a *goal*? I am shook.

Ah, the goal was to blow up a time traveling coffin. Because that was foreshadowed so well in AXZ.

And we're back to the present! Our girls are still frozen.

Are you... are you miming a telescope? Does that actually work because of bullshit catgirl magic, or are you just being silly?

I'm just going to assume that the leader of our new villain trio is about to raid Area 51. Nevada plates on the car and being in the middle of the desert, mostly. I'm going to ignore the fact that the terrain around Area 51 looks nothing like that.

Heh, Genjuro just gonna go punch a coffin shaped like a penguin mech. Don't worry about it, he's got his long-johns on.

"If they catch cold it'll be really bad!" Dude, catching a cold is the least of their worries right now; they're about to be crushed by an ancient alien coffin mech.

Hah! Everyone had their breakout moment at the same time! Way to steal Hibiki's rescuing people thunder girls.

And of course Tsubasa can surf. She's just that cool.

"Hibiki! Punch the laser!" "I don't understand what that means, but okay!"

"Analyzing and reconstructing is the fundamental principal of alchemy!" I mean... not quite? At least you're closer than you were last time though, kid.

Ooh, this music sounds important. Like an OP. Guess this is gonna be an important series of punches coming up.

"Even so! There's a song in my heart!" This has... implications. Although it does explain how the girls could sing in the vacuum of space all those times.

Good on you, Chris, aim and blow up that stupid penguin thing!

And once again Chris shows herself to be the smart one. "Don't talk about upcoming birthdays and party plans in the middle of a fight! That'll raise Death Flags!"

Ooh, alien body! It's got a bracer of some sort too. Five gets you ten it's the McGuffin for at least the first half of the season, and another 25% beyond that that it turns into Miku's new 'Gear.

Alright, the next 12 weeks are going to be painful waiting, aren't they? Consider my hype for the season.

[silviasutton1989]

T.T.K. Chapter 17 “Stormholt”

A/N: Hey guys so first I’m not feeling that great today. I have had a headache all day and nothing has even lessened it in the slightest. But on another note I have don’t a new outline for this story and I am seeing the end to this tunnel in 10 to 12 more chapters (maybe...) I honestly did not think it was going to take me this long but I promise I will stick to my outline this time (will you all stick with me till the end??) One more thing this chapter explain who Olivia is and her mother’s motives for her actions. Now if I have some readers who were devoted TC&TF readers please don’t get mad at me if my history on Kenna isn’t canon (I really tried my best. As always I love you all and am so thankful for each comment like and reblog.

Word Count: 2200

Rating: Teen

Catch up: Chapter 1  1.2  2  3  4  5  6  7 8  9  9.2  9.25   10   11   12.1 12.2     13  14  15  16

Summary: Olivia learns about her history, Riley comes to a realization.

“Excuse me? What did you say?” Riley’s attention went directly to the reporter. She tried to keep a calm smile on her face, but as the cameras flashed

“Yes ma’am. We received a statement yesterday. Mister Drake announced a postponement of your nuptials due to unforeseen delays. Do you care to comment on that?”

Riley was never one to be afraid. She blindly left with men she had never known to go to a country she had never heard of on a whim. She had had a gun pointed at her face; heard the gun shot go off and her only thought was if everyone else was ok. The riots were frightful but if there was one thing Riley could handle it was fear. But hearing those words: “Your wedding had been postponed” petrified her.

She stood in front of the crowd a breakfast plate in her hand, her mouth unable to close.  

“Duchess Riley…do you care to comment.”

“I…I…”

“Today we are here to serve these citizens. The duchess will make a full statement when she is able. “ Liam gives her a reassuring look “I do have an announcement that I would like to personally tell the protestors.” Liam walks away from the table clearing his throat before blaring his voice so that the crowd could hear.

 “Everyone, if I may have your attention. I have heard your troubles and I must say that as your king I have failed you. If even one of my people are suffering then my reign is futile. But…I’m going to make this right. When we return to the palace there will be an auction. I will be selling my own valuables to support those in Portovia whose homes and jobs were lost in the constant floods. And I will give it all to you…if it takes everything I own.  I was born to serve my country and until I have nothing else to give I will give it to you all.”

The crowd cheers. A woman, with tears flowing down her check pulls him into a hug thanking him. An older man, who looked somewhat familiar came up to him, his face filled with shame, he takes his king’s hands bowing his head.

“Thank you your highness…I’m so sorry. I just…we needed help here.”

Liam assures him there’s no need to apologize but as the man walks away he feels the chain in his hand. He opens it to see the pearl necklace he had given to Riley.

“This is going to work.” Liam mutters proudly looking around to find Riley but she was rushing through the door of the estate.

“Take a deep breath. In…..Out”

Olivia followed dutifully, not because she believed in this inward spiritual cleansing crap but that during her stay with her aunt she learned that obedience was key to getting any answers from Lucretia. And since Olivia was as stubborn as a mule, she spent most of her 2 weeks there defying her aunt at every turn, meaning she knew no more about her mother than when she got there.

“Now repeat after me: I change my thoughts, I change my world”

“I change my thoughts, I change my world.”

“I want you to believe it. Say it again.”

With a humph Olivia repeats “I change my thoughts, I change my world”

“Good girl…now do you believe it?”

“Sure why not…” Olivia rolls her eyes. She sees Lucretia’s frustrated sigh and quickly straightens her spine. “I believe I can change my world. I hold that power, that it isn’t about who doesn’t love me, but if I love myself.  If I change my perception I can change my whole world….I got it. Now as lovely as slumming it with you and these hippie hobos for 2 weeks have been I would like to be done with this….please just tell me. What do I not know about my mother?”

Lucretia rubs her lips studying her niece. “Ok Olivia. But first there’s something I have been meaning to tell you. Things haven’t been going so great for Liam since you left….There has been… riots.”

Olivia let out a breath but still keeps her posture strong. “any attacks?”

“No he’s fine but the people are protesting against him, and if you ask me it’s pretty well needed. I mean, who does a unity tour after an assassination attempt? Almost half his country was under water last year and he’s going through the towns inviting people to a wedding!” Lucretia laughs but still watches Olivia very carefully. “So….are you going to go save him?”

“No. He is king, he can handle this. My thoughts are on my own world, not his.”

“Your world could be his…” She gives her niece a hard look.

“What does that even mean?”

“Olivia, do you know who Kenna Rhys was?”

“Uh yeah I took Cordonian History like every other grade schooler.”

“Kenna was the Queen to merge all 5 kingdoms. But have you ever wondered why she and any other sovergn had control of all the other kingdoms… but Lythikos?”

Olivia stirs in her seat and shakes her head.

“There’s been some debate over who Kenna married.  Many believed she married Dominic Hunter, a Stormont solider, and one of her oldest friends. And if history is true, after the death of Kenna and Dominic’s only child, there was no direct heir.  Kenna’s relatives had died so the throne went to Dominic’s family, who were nobles of Fydoria.  If that is true then Liam is the true heir to the throne because he is Dominic’s direct descendant…”

“Uh-huh” Olivia nods trying to follow along.

“But your mother believed that Kenna did not marry Dominic, she married Diavolos Nevarkis. And that would mean…” Lucritia waits for her niece to answer.

“That would mean that I am the heir to the throne?”  Her brows furrow as she sees the smile spread across her aunt’s face. “But wait, that doesn’t make any since. If she married Diavolos we would have had the throne centuries ago.”

“The only records we have of Kenna and her marriage was at least 100 years after her death. Kenna only had one child. When he died Stormholt was going through one of its biggest wars. Kingdoms all around knew that the country had lost their only surviving monarch decided to take it over. The Nevarkis’ and Dominic’s family from Fydoria and many other leaders form the 5 kingdoms were working together to keep the country intact. While our ancestors were in the battlefield fighting for our country, Constantine’s ancestors stayed at the capitol building alliances, gaining more territory, they even changed the name from Stormholt to Cordonia. The war lasted for decades and when our ancestors came back from war to rule the land they had risked their lives for, the Hunters who by then went by the name Rhys’ had enough support from the other five kingdoms to send us back to Lythikos. They changed the whole story claiming that Diavolos was simply one of Kanna’s many consorts and all it took was power and time before that lie to become Cordonia’s history.”

Olivia blankly stares at her aunt giving her brow a troubled rub. “Ok Aunt Lucy you made me meditate for 2 weeks so that you could tell me that a million years ago my thousands of great uncle married the queen of Cordonia, so by proxy it belongs to me.” She shakes her head and laughs. “This happened centuries ago, by now it doesn’t matter who she married Liam has the throne. What am I supposed to do with this? Take over the country? Even with proof, if the country had to choose me over him, I’m sure it wouldn’t be too hard of a choice.”

“Stop selling yourself short Olivia. I may have been living in No man’s Land but the press has been praising you for weeks, the people are rioting against Liam. You can take your throne and be the queen your mother died for you to be!”

“How am I supposed to do that? Even if this whole story is actually true, I have no proof, I have no support. I have no one!”

“Your mother had proof. I don’t know what it was or where it is now. But I know a few people who may be able to help you.”

Lucretia took a step towards Olivia whose bottom lip was lodged between her teeth, her thoughts clearly spinning in her head. She spoke carefully, “Persephone was one woman, who created her own army, and Kenna was one woman who claimed her country back. Your mother didn’t just wake up and decided she wanted to be queen she found out she truly was one and refused to be told anything different. I think that once you realize it too, once you realize that there’s a crown on your head even though you can’t see it you will change your world just like she tried to.”

“My mom had an army?” she couldn’t hide the prideful smile appearing on her face.

“Yes she did...and you know who they are."

There was a not in Hana’s stomach that wouldn’t go away. She went to the palace to give Riley peace of mind, to bring Drake back to her friend. But yesterday did not go as plan, when Drake left the ball room he never came back.

She saw Riley bounding down the hallway and gave her best smile. “Hey Riley I’m back from….” Riley walks right past her. “Riley are you ok?”

Her friend turns the corner and doesn’t give an answer. Not too far behind her Maxwell and Liam  are following her trail.

“He Hana Banana! Have you seen Riley?”

“Yeah she just walked right past me. Is she ok?”

“No Drake suspended the wedding.” Liam responds through clenched teeth.

“He did what!” The trio reaches Riley’s door slowly opening it unsure of what they would find. There running back and forth through her room was their friend, throwing every bit of clothing she could get her hand on into her luggage.

“I’m leaving.” She said plainly, marching to her closet, flinging the clothes with the hangers still attached onto her bed. “He doesn’t want to marry me. Fine I’m going home.”

“Riley he didn’t say the wedding was off just that it is postponed. Maybe the dates for the caterers are conflicting. You should talk to him before jumping to…” Liam takes a step towards her but she pushes past him to her suitcase stuffing more clothes into it.

“He won’t talk to me! I have called and texted him every night. He doesn’t respond. I don’t get it I did what he wanted me to do. I too our time apart seriously and then out of the blue he just does something like this….What did I do so bad?” She stops for a moment looking at her friends hoping they would give her an answer.

Hana speaks with clenched eyes “Riley. It’s my fault. I went to go see him yesterday and…well you and Liam were getting close and I got scared. I told him to come back with me…to come and get you before you two did something you would regret later. I was trying to help. I’m sorry I didn’t think he would do this I’m so sorry.”

Before Riley could say anything Hana began to sob, Maxwell quickly taking her into his arms to console her.

“It’s not your fault, it’s mine. I didn’t appreciate Drake. I knew I loved him more than Liam months ago, I didn’t need this break to figure that out and I should have told him that instead of playing along.”  She looks at her discarded clothes splayed over her bed. One of Drake’s white T’s lays in front of  her, it was one of the only things he left behind and she never wore it, too afraid his scent would fade away.

“I’m going to get him back.”

254 candles. 

Riley beamed as she basked in her work. A candle for each day she had known Drake. She was convinced this would work, as she lit the very last one. 

She spent her last week on tour getting ready for tonight. She found the perfect lingerie - a black lace holster set (Drake had always loved her in black). She had her nails done waxed and even straightened her hair. Tonight needed to be a fantasy he needed to remember why he loved her.

She could hear the sound of heavy footsteps approaching the door and her nerves began to heighten.

Is the bath water hot enough?

Do I have enough condoms?

She scurried around the room making sure everything was in its place, before stopping at a mirror.

Is this enough? Am I really enough?

She didn't have time to answer as the door swings open, Drakes large body taking u the space of the door frame. She quickly lifts her chest and splays her best sultry smile.

His eyes widen,"Surprise! I came back early.....Did you miss me?"

Her smile was weakening as she waited for him to answer. But he didn't speak, only scanning her body and all the candles lit around them. She waited for a smile, a smirk, just the tiniest hint that he was happy to see her. But there wasn't any.

Tag List:  If you want to be on the tag list permanently (this one is randomly selected with some permanent in as well)  let me know. If you DO NOT want to be tagged ever just send me a message I will not be upset.

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[baekthecorgi]

rewrite the stars (haechan) part i. genre: royalty au, slight fluff, angst summary: after 17 years of living normally, haechan receives a life-changing announcement waiting on his doorstep.

prologue. | part ii.

let’s get this on gurlies <3

it’s almost a month since you’ve last seen your best friend walk out of your doorstep

every friday night just wasn’t the same anymore

no one cuts your split ends during algebra

you don’t know why he does that but you kinda missed it :(

no haechan to fight with first thing in the morning

istg that boy’s voice shouting at 6am made you want to rip your hair off

no haechan to finish your food (sneakily ofc) during recess and lunch

no haechan to walk home with at 7:30pm sharp after he buys chocolate from 7/11

to which you grab and take a bite off lol

simply, no haechan.

it really sucks tbvh

the dreamies were confused as well

haechan doesn’t answer to all your calls and messages

you talked to mark privately, asking if he knew haechan’s whereabouts

but you were replied with an abrupt shrug and a confused expression

your classmates were wondering about the class clown too

once, after class, you approached your homeroom teacher and asked if he knew any news about haechan

(you haven’t seen his mom for the past weeks too)

were they abducted omg

your best friend might be in another dimension who knows ?????

your teacher simple shrugged

it was fishy but jeno told you to let it go

"it was probably nothing”

“i can read people’s faces, jeno. he knows something.”

“well, can you read my face”

“no, what does it say”

“it says ‘i’m hungry’ and we need to go to chenle’s place before he hides the chips, that selfish bastard”

all of you were at lele’s house, taking a breather from the midterms

you, alongside with jaemin and renjun, were preparing snacks for the kids

lol mark wyd

suddenly, chenle starts screaming his head off

or was he laughing at what he saw

but damn that kid is freaking loud

“HAECHAN IS ON THE NEWS I CAN’T BELIEVE”

“chenle, you really have to chill, dude,” jisung shoved the latter aside to see what chenle’s rambling about

“OH SHIT HE IS ON TV”

“thanks for the spit take, park jisung. now i have to take that stain off the carpet.”

the three of you rushed in front of the tv, quite dumbfounded by the news

you had a clue but this reassured you of what you thought

BREAKING NEWS: AFTER 18 YEARS, SOUTH KOREA’S MONARCHY IS ALIVE ONCE AGAIN

the dreamies were all ears on the news report and the interviews

the royal family held their very own press con regarding this matter

and haechan made this short speech proclaiming that he is prince donghyuck

the next heir to the throne

your best friend ?????

an heir ???? to the throne ????? of this country ?????

sokor will sUFFER 

just kidding

you have confidence in your best friend, duh

but you needed an explanation the very moment he steps into your line of sight

if you ever see him again sigh

renjun switches off the tv in disbelief

and mark just...laughs ????

“i knew it lmao”

renjun heaves a sigh, “i am honestly so confused”

mark asks, “remember that ring he swears his life upon”

“yeah, the eyesore?” jaemin responds

“yup, that’s the one”

chenle butts in the conversation, curious. “what does it have to do with this whole lost prince case?”

“if y’all were actually paying attention in your history classes, you would have figured it out by yourself,” mark says, matter-of-factly

within a split second, all your mouths were shaped like an ‘o’

history was boring until haechan was involved

“the ring the crowned prince wears,” jaemins adds before plopping his back on the sofa

jisung utters a soft, “i thought it was a cheap knockoff”

the next morning, you woke up to a pick-up truck parking in front of haechan’s house

bothered, you quickly got up on your feet and chased one of the workers to know exactly what the hell was going on

why the heck were they emptying your best friend’s house

you were ready to sue their asses

but, no, nOTHING

N O  A N S W E R S

you rode the bus all the way to school pondering on the recent events

your mind was losing its cool

you were so worried, so scared for him and his well-being

is haechan sleeping well? is he eating well? where exactly is he?

renjun was starting to look after you as well since you looked stressed out

he could tell from the bags starting to darken under your eyes

“hey, you okay there?” the auburn-haired chinese asks

“actually--”

“wHOAH IS THAT HAECHAN”

there goes zhong chenle

you didn’t know if it was because you ate so little the past few days but your knees suddenly grew weak

your knees match with the jelly you ate for dessert last night

haechan’s hair was jet black and you didn’t know what you were supposed to feel about that

i mean, he looks extra stunning cause it was a perfect fit with his uniform’s yellow blazer

haechan rarely styled his hair but 

god, those locks of hair curled neatly in different directions made you want to run your fingers on it

and you can feel your palms sweating heavily as haechan makes his way towards the dreamies’ tables

“can i sit here? the other tables are full”

haechan looks so soft and dream-like and ethereal and you’re making a fool of yourself cause you’re running out of adjectives to describe him

not to mention, haechan plastered a small smile for the ladies staring at his direction

haechan, being the big flirt he is, tidies his blazer a bit

ofc the girls all swooned was that even a question

cue the jealous you

jaemin smirks, “his ego is so visible; i can almost watch it grow”

“i’d carve that smile out of his face if it meant deflating his ego,” you mutter under your breath

“threatening me? already? how sweet”

you turn to haechan, arms crossed, right behind you

oH PLEASE SOMEONE NEEDS TO SAVE YOU

YOU ALMOST FORGOT TO BREATH

WHY WAS HE SO BREATHTAKING UP CLOSE ??????

?????????????

you composed yourself, rolling your eyes at your best friend while the other dreamies held back their giggles

they know lmao

they could see the invisible sweat rolling down your forehead

“you weren’t suposed to hear that. kidding aside, you look--”

handsome was the word but you said, “--nice, prince donghyuck”

“it’s still haechan for you but thanks, peasant”

you punched him on the arm

upon hearing your bones crack, haechan broke into a laugh

ah, yes, your best friend was definitely back alright

he loves seeing you suffer

you also like hearing his melodic laugh and that bright smile when he makes fun of you

have you ever noticed how long and perfectly curled his lashes were

oh and his lips look particularly pinkish today

very kissable

mark felt you lose yourself again with haechan beside you so he breaks the momentary silence

“bro, you have a lot of explaining to do”

“i know, i know. you missed me the most, didn’t you?”

“are you sure it’s me who missed you? the most????”

mark just had to emphasize

“i beg to differ,” chenle and jisung said in chorus

jisung practically gave you away

“ahhhhh, so it was this dork right here, huh?”

the dreamies being dreamies stifled their laughter

“i got you a present but it’s at the mansion”

“wow, my loser’s living at a mansion now”

“you heard jeno whisper to renjun, “she just said ‘my loser’. she is done for, i tell you.”

good thing haechan didn’t notice

“apparently, your loser is also a prince”

how wrong were you lol

“stop saying things like that, prince donghyuck,” you gushed playfully, “you’re making my heart race"

“maybe i like making your heart race”

“get out of here, you greasy cheeseball”

true to your words, your heart was actually starting to beat faster than normal

maybe it’s nice to assume that haechan likes making your heart race

renjun scooted closer to haechan, “kim yeri at six o’ clock”

or maybe not

note: idk what to say but thanks for all the new follows omg i hit 330 followers already??? ilysm guys !!! <3333 | send requests | masterlist

[coeurdastronaute]

Giant: Ch. 17

And if I say hello again let it be for the last time. And if I break my bones again let it be for the last time.

The rhetoric was turned up ridiculously loud. The continued rogue alien attacks grated on the city’s tolerance. Fear prevailed despite the best efforts of the heros. Despite the normal outcry, there were more and more people who sounded an awful lot like the Luthors of old. Jargon slipped in, articles highlighted undercover hate groups. The city and the world were waning.

The law was introduced, the newspapers all weighed in, talking heads jabbered while everyone debated personhood and a portion of the population held their breaths and waited. Everyone, of course, but Lena Luthor.

“I, frankly, find it despicable that anyone would follow in my father and brother’s footsteps with this kind of speech,” she said, matter-of-factly. Calm, cool, collected, she crossed her hands over her lap and nodded as a rebuttal came across her earpiece.

“This isn’t a reversal of my own stance,” she snorted. “I never shared those views. And after the pain that my city felt just a year ago, I do not think it is appropriate to group me with them. I cannot control their actions, but I certainly can’t believe we’ve reached a time in which their words are common. I’m disgusted with the proposed amendment and the new laws in various states. We are a country of immigrants, and we should have open doors for those feeling persecution.”

The cameraman adjusted the lense slightly while the other parts of the production team did their part, reading from tablets, listening on headphones, all from the usual sanctity of a certain CEO’s corner office.

As soon as Kara slipped in, she was overwhelmed with the entirety of the operation. Never before had she seen so many people in Lena’s office, and never before would she have expected to see her girlfriend willingly agreeing to interviews. Even for her to get a sound bite, it took a lot of begging. Sexual begging, sometimes. Often, a nice massage and sweet words. Most of the time though, Kara was afraid to ask because if there was one thing Lena hated more than anything else, it was notoriety.

“I don’t agree, Peter,” Lena continued. Kara watched, amazed once more by the strong, smart woman she got to go home with every night. “How are regulations on innocent citizens legal, or better yet, American?”

While someone answered her rhetorical question, Lena pursed her lips and clenched her jaw. Kara knew what was happening, she’d witnessed it first hand during many a fight. It was time for the Kill. And with the emergence of the Smirk, she knew the interview was finished.

“For as pro-life as you claim to be, it seems a tad hypocritical to want to set up internment camps and regulate humanity in such a way. It seems in our history, that happened, and we were very ashamed of it,” she argued. “My father is wrong. My brother is wrong. When you quote alien attacks on the rise, I hope you also quote the statistics on mass shootings and violent crime, all perpetrated by human men. White, young to middle-aged men, to be specific. The perceived rise coincides with a definitive rise in hate crimes. We aren’t in danger, but these conversations and laws just brew hate which does lead to the lashing out.”

It was pride. Pride filled Kara’s chest as she watched the high school soccer star turned relentless entrepreneur eviscerate a host from across the country. It was pride to feel her girlfriend, in some small way, maybe not publically, but still, very honestly, stick up for her like she once did by inviting her to parties no one would have thought to include her in. The hero was used to standing up to others. She was not used to having someone defend her so heartily.

“It’s easy to make sense when you’re not being a dick,” Lena shrugged, that smile permanently on her lips as she stared at the camera. “No, thank you, Peter.”

“And we’re out,” the producer stood, flicking a few switches.

“Thank goodness,” Lena let out all of the nerve she held in her chest as fuel.

The relief couldn’t be missed when the lights clicked off. Kara was so darn in love with her it was infuriating.

“That was great, Ms. Luthor. Seriously,” someone complimented as they helped her out of the microphone clipped to her collar. “I don’t think they were expecting you to disagree with them.”

“Most don’t,” she smiled politely. “Thank you so much for your help.”

Quietly, Kara leaned against the desk in the back of the hubbub and crossed her arms, smile unable to be hidden even in the slightest. She filed her story early and hadn’t expected to walk into this in Lena’s office, but it was sure a welcomed surprise. She thought maybe lunch or something. Maybe a walk and coffee, as they were both very busy lately, fighting their own battles.

From across the crowd of people, Lena caught Kara’s eye and smiled her smile. Her smile. That smile. The one that was reserved for her. It was the same one she gave Kara when they snuck into the movie to see the double feature. It was the same one that came when Kara slipped into bed in the middle of the night. It was the same one she had at Kara’s company Christmas Party when she gushed about her girlfriend’s stories and couldn’t stop bragging. It was the same smile that came when Lena took Kara to a party in college and held her hand. It never changed; it never waivered.

There was a picture of them that ran for three days, with all kinds of headline about their love, after Lena posted a heartfelt anniversary message. None of them knew anything like what it really felt like to be loved by a wildfire. But still they tried.

That was the shift, the change in their relationship. No longer did they shy away from holding hands, or kissing at events. Instead, they were together, completely, valiantly and in the face of all else.

“Hey, sorry, I thought you were editing today,” Lena finally wove through the crowd that cleaned up their supplies and cords and tapes and machines. “I didn’t get a chance to text you. This kind of popped up.”

“Filed early,” Kara nodded. “I didn’t expect this when I decided we should go have dinner together.”

“You decided, huh?”

Arms slid around her neck and lips kissed her sweetly before pulling away, still not completely comfortable with displays in front of foreign eyes despite her continual attempts to grow accustomed to feeling such things so loudly, for all to see.

“I was going to surprise my cute girlfriend with dinner,” she corrected herself. “To distract us from the state of the world.”

“How long have you been here?”

“Just long enough to hear you annihilate some reporter,” Kara shrugged, hands slipping up Lena’s waist.

“I’m just so angry, Kara, and that felt so… good.”

“I bet,” she agreed. “I wish I could be unbiased for even one inch of newspaper.”

“Well, if no one else is going to say the right thing, I guess I hope the words coming from someone with my last name will sway them,” she frowned, acting indifferent, though she was so invested it was painfully obvious above it all. “Maybe Lionel will see it.”

“I wish you wouldn’t do things just to antagonize him.” Lena ran her hand along Kara’s forearm, soothing the words that came.

“That’s just a bonus.”

“Lee, I’m serious,” Kara fret, looking around at everyone not paying attention to them. She leaned closer, her worry making her concern show. “If you’re analysis is right… he’s very involved, and I don’t want you to be the target.”

“I told you, I’ll be fine.”

“You must have Supergirl on speed dial.”

“You have no idea,” Lena smiled, relieved to not have another fight about putting herself in danger. “Dinner, you said?”

“If you’re done inciting the masses, yes. Dinner.”

“I suppose I can be done until tomorrow.”

“Lee,” Kara pled, much to her girlfriend’s enjoyment.

“You should have ran away with me when you had the chance. Now look at what I have to do just to get a dinner date.”

“Single greatest regret of my life,” the hero sighed. “I’m going to go pester Jess until you’re done in here.”

“Hey, wait,” Lena grabbed at Kara’s hand before she could pull away from the desk completely.

Tugged back, harder than she thought possible, Kara felt herself met with arms slipping around her ribs and a burrowing girlfriend, despite the people left wrapping up and cleaning the production mess. It took a second to acclimate to the feeling, to the hug, to the need for it, but she did, and she did it eagerly.

“You were spectacular up there,” Kara whispered. “I am constantly in awe of you, Lena Luthor.”

“Thanks for stopping to take me to dinner.”

“If you’re going to overthrow the government, you need a full stomach.”

“You’re the best,” Lena mumbled into Kara’s shoulder with a chuckle.

It didn’t help that there were more attacks. That the news carried them on a loop. But Lena went viral, her interview calling a hate-mongerer a dick showing all across the internet and city. It was shown next to her father’s words, versus her brother’s thoughts, but it was there.

Nothing was the same.

Deep in the DEO, Kara sat on a bench and stared at the containment room. The captured alien finally calmed, hands gripping his head from the headache that came from coming down from that drug Alex still couldn’t type.

Arms crossed, the caped-hero thought over everything she could from the past week. Between increased pressure from the government and DEO to monitor her, to growing protests about her existence, to hotly debated morality issues about her imposing her justice, to the alien sitting across from her, locked up in a safe room.

For a moment, she considered if she was next.

She couldn't tell anyone that she was getting tired of it all, that the schedule was wearing on her, that if she could go back, she’d tell that teenager sitting on a water tower to be careful, to run away with a pretty girl with green eyes and never look back. Kara felt a distinct sense of having to keep that secret very deep in her muscles, because to ever admit something like that, to anyone, would mean that she was done being Supergirl.

“You’re quiet,” Alex murmured as she approached, unrecognized to Kara’s deep thoughts. “Lena out of town?”

“A mini vacation with her housecleaner.” Her sister gave her a quizzical look. “It’s… They’re in Dublin visiting family.”

“I didn’t know Lena had any family left.”

“She made her own,” Kara smiled as she stood beside her sister at the cage’s window. “She’s been weird.”

“More letters?”

“Just one. Her father warned her to be careful. Things like that. Every time she gets a letter, she just… I can watch her curl up into herself.”

“She’s tough.”

“Don’t tell her that. It’s a full time job trying to keep her from causing a raucous.”

“We didn’t pick easy women to love,” Alex grinned, nudging her sister. “Probably the world’s most stubborn, actually.”

Kara nodded, believing full-heartedly that her sister was right. There was no way any two women were more stubborn than Maggie and Lena. No possible way, and she’d fight anyone who argued it.

“Did you get the results back?”

“I’m still comparing a few things,” Alex shook her head. “But I think Lena’s right. I think the attacks are linked. I think it is the formula, or close to the one, her brother was working on.”

“And you don’t want to barge into LCorp with a warrant?” her sister scoffed.

“I want to, but I know it wouldn't do any good,” she shrugged. “Lena has anything valuable under lock and key off-site. And she’s helping.”

“She’s different, Alex,” Kara sighed, furrowing at her own thoughts. “Ever since she saw Lex, she just… she believes she can cut ties, and she’s been more happy and more alive than since before her mother died. But this… this thing her father must be doing, injecting this drug into aliens, she can’t escape the guilt.”

“That’s why she’s all over the news, fighting the laws.”

“I’d like to think that’s for me.”

“I’m sure it is,” Alex hurried. “But she’s always been vocal when asked. Now she’s seeking it out.”

“Sometimes it feels like she has a deathwish. Like I’ve always been chasing behind her, waiting to catch her.”

“Could be she’s picked up some unbridled sense of duty and optimism from a hero that throws herself into danger.”

“I’ve been in love with her since I was seventeen, Alex,” Kara shook her head. “And something is going on with her that I can’t help with. But she always finds a way to help me. I don’t know what to do.”

“I’m sure you help.”

She wanted to fight, to argue it over, but her sister was too supportive. Kara took a deep breath and nodded. Deep down she was worried about ending up in this cage, she was worried about Lena seeing her like this, she was worried about that drug, and what it could do to her, and for a moment, she understood what Lena was terrified of finding.

The cat prowled through the quiet penthouse, hunting the toy hidden by the stools in the kitchen. Carefully, four little paws padded near the couch and peaked over the edge at the warm creature sprawled along it. The toy could wait, when that kind of warmth was available for a nap and rub.

“Hey buddy,” Kara cooed as he kneaded her belly and pushed himself into her palm as she scrolled on her phone. “Busy day today, huh? Sleeping in the sun and eating must be exhausting.”

Outside, the evening settled there. The sky hung around that purple state before finding grey, before finding dark. Curled up, the cat stretched its paws and closed its eyes with a tiny purr as long fingers stroked his stomach.

It clearly wasn’t her fault that she fell asleep as well. How could Kara fight against the warmth on her stomach and the calm in the air. Despite her nerves, she was excited and sleepy and she had to find a balance.

Fresh from a pick up soccer game downtown, Lena dropped her gym bag by the door and grinned at the scene in the living room. She got to come home to her best friend and their new life, and no matter what, that was all she could ever want in the world, she remembered, often forgetting it in the light of day.

With a tiny movement, she tugged off her sweatshirt and climbed over the back of the couch, settling between Kara and the cushions, earning a little grunt as she adjusted to the new body.

“Hey,” Lena whispered, kissing her jaw.

“Hi,” Kara smiled, eyes still shut and dreamy. The cat meowed, indignant at the imposition and having to adjust, though he did.

“Hi, Darwin,” the CEO smiled, rubbing his chin.

“We missed you.”

“You look so cute all the time. It’s annoying. I can’t get anything done,” Lena complained, earning a snort and strong arms sliding around her waist.

Lips found her neck and she smiled against Kara’s cheek. The cat was long forgotten, hopping off as hips and legs met and mingled. The smallest moan came as Kara dug her hands into Lena’s hair, tugging for more neck, pushing her hips a little closer.

Languid and lazy as it was, it was warm and their’s and very quiet.

“I’m all sweaty from the game,” Lena complained, pushing away slightly. “Come shower with me?”

“Are you staying home tonight?” Kara countered.

“I have--”

“Stuff to do at work,” she finished.

“Hey, what’s that about?”

She didn’t want to answer, and so the hero just sighed and dug her shoulders deeper into the couch. It was easier this way. How was she, a person who flung herself into danger at the drop of a hat, supposed to complain when Lena was working so hard? It was impossible, and she felt stupid for thinking it.

“Kara,” Lena sang. “Come on. What it is?”

“Nothing. It’s stupid.”

“Come on. Out with it.”

That was the final warning before she got annoyed. Kara knew Lena well enough to seriously debate the fight. But she couldn’t help it.

“You’ve always got more work to do,” Kara shrugged. “I haven’t seen you in weeks.”

“We went to that party last week.”

“I just mean… I can’t explain it. You’ve got interviews and meetings across the globe and research for the DEO. I know I shouldn’t complain, I just… I don’t even know how to… I can’t be mad. I just… God, I miss you.”

Quiet, Lexa heard her. She pushed herself away and sat up on the couch. Something about being close made her oddly uncomfortable in the moment.

“I don’t want to be away…” she mumbled, furrowing slightly. “I didn’t mean for you to feel like I’m too busy for you.”

“No, no no no, it’s definitely not that.”

“I have to find a cure though, Kara. My brother started this, and my father is provoking… he’s using people. He’s attacking and people are getting killed.”

“But you didn’t do it!” she raised her voice, exasperated by the guilt.

“You don’t understand.”

“Understand what?”

“What having a family… what the guilt and the weight and the burden of having a family feels like.”

If words could have felt like a slap, Kara would have been reeling. She stiffened and her jaw clenched at the mere thought of her family. She pulled away after a stunned moment. There were certain things that just happened, that can’t un-happen.

“I have to fix what they did, Kara,” Lena tried, oblivious. “What if it’s you? I couldn’t… I can distance myself as much as I want, but at the end of the day, if I can do something, don’t I have a duty to try?”

It was Kara that couldn’t handle the closeness. She stood and paced, taking a few steps away. She was certain Lena kept defending herself, making perfectly good sense about all of it. But still, Kara couldn’t bring herself to listen.

“I don’t know what it’s like to have a family,” Kara finally said, her head shaking with the grief of the words.

Lena shut her mouth quickly, snapping it and whatever words were ready back inside. Her eyes grew wide as she looked at her girlfriend. There might have been clenched fists and shaking shoulders, now they just drooped and her body relaxed with the sadness of remembering such facts.

“I didn’t mean it like that, Kara.”

“You said it.”

“I meant that you don’t have a family that is evil.”

“Because I don’t have one.”

“I’m not going to fight with you over semantics,” Lena crossed her arms. “If you don’t want me to go to the office, I won’t.”

Just like that, it was a fight. Kara didn’t want it to be, but it was, because she was frustrated and hurt for no reason. Lena didn’t want it to be, but it was, because she was annoyed and defensive. It was never about the office, and it was never about family. It was about the past few weeks, and how neither felt like they could breathe, but instead of admitting it, both would hold it in their lungs and lash out in tiny ways.

“I want you to want to be with me,” Kara shook her head. “I want you to really want that life that we talked about together and not think you have to fix them.”

“I do! I always do, but I can’t let this happen, Kara. I look at the film, at the news, and I see you. What if they do that to you and I’m not ready?”

“You think you wear this burden alone, but I have to deal with it too!”

“What?”

“You had nothing to do with any of it, and yet you have this compulsion to run after those idiots, cleaning up behind them like a good little Luthor.”

“Oh.”

“And I support you. I know who you are, and I knew all along that you were stronger and smarter and better than them, than what you thought of yourself. But to tell me that I don’t have a family--”

“That was taken out of context!”

“You’re so darn brilliant but so frustrating!”

“Me? I’m the obsessive one?” Lena stood, stomping after Kara through the apartment. “You can’t go a day without putting that suit on! You know me? Well, I know you, and I know that I’m waiting around for a future that is never going to happen! You’ll never hang it up, and I’ve accepted it.”

“You don’t know that!”

“I know you. I know your heart!”

“I don’t know what I’m doing anymore.”

“Yeah, well. Me neither.”

Stuck in the kitchen, in the same spots where years ago, they’d reaquainted themselves, where they fell back together, where the clouds cleared and the waters receded and the world was born anew, they stood, very different and very similar. Both seethed for different reasons. Both were hurt, primarily by themselves and the truth.

“You don’t want me to be Supergirl,” Kara finally muttered.

“You don’t want me to be a Luthor.”

Kara nodded and flexed her neck, tight and sore from the pressure she placed upon herself.

“I think I hear sirens. I should go…”

“Kara,” Lena whispered, softening slightly. She took a step forward though stopped. “Please don’t leave in the middle of this.”

“The middle of what? You have work to get back to,” she shrugged.

“We have to figure this out.”

“Can we?”

It was quiet. There were no sirens, but still, Kara moved toward the balcony, afraid to look at the girl who pretended not to be hurt. It was a fight about nothing that spiralled into one they’d put off for weeks. Lena deeply regretted everything that led to the moment.

The second Kara took off, both knew it was perilous at best.  

The world was different after the fight. Kara hovered and couldn’t make herself go back in, and so she made a long night of research at the DEO. And in the morning she apologized and said she was busy with work and stuff, and that she’d miss their date.

All the while, Kara twisted all the words around in her head. She had entire conversations with the things she wished she’d said. They all haunted her equally.

It was opportune that something came up in Metropolis, and Kara excused herself, packing a bag when Lena was at work. The DEO team spent three days trailing the first intel of Lionel, hoping to take him down as best they could, though he was just a puff of smoke. There one minute, and gone in an instant.

He didn’t leave empty handed though. In his wake, Lionel Luthor enacted his revenge upon the city, this time with Superman as the wrecking ball. Alex traced the device to something of a cannister that released odor-less gas into an area. Non-fatal and ineffective against human DNA, once those markers were absent, alien DNA absorbed it, and much like a drug, it caused violent outbursts.

They knew those facts, though they’d never seen it used as a weapon so effectively. Kara was elbow deep into the best pho in town, complaining to her sister about her fight, when she caught sight of the news that showed her cousin going insane.

By the end of the night, sixty-four were dead, and Kal was locked up. By the end of the night, Kara was exhausted and well torn up from the battle of not just her cousin, but sixteen other aliens at the same time. She didn’t have to hear the news to know that the hate would be at an all-time high. She didn’t have to see Clark to know that he was not going to wake up the same. No one would.

And so, suit ripped to shreds and barely hanging on, with aches and pains, Kara sat outside of Clark’s cell and held the phone to her ear, anxious to talk to the one person she loved more than all else. When she got voicemail she just sighed and let her head drop further.

“Change,” Alex instructed as she leaned against the holding cell where Superman struggled despite the heavy doses of Kryptonite.

His pupils were needles, his muscles were strained against the chains, his mouth foaming with rage and psychosis. But he was almost over the worst of it, and that was all Alex could hope he knew.

“I’m fine.”

“You’re torn up and starving and exhausted. Go,” the older sister instructed. “I’ll keep an eye on him.”

“I’m fine,” Kara said again, picking up the phone again. “Have you heard from Lena? I can’t get ahold of her.”

“Not since yesterday.”

The phone rang and Kara grew more agitated as she listened to the mechanical sound. She’d just defeated Superman. Surely Lena saw it. Surely she wouldn’t hold a silly fight over them. They were… They were… Kara knew, with all of her being, that they were safe and good. She never lost that.

While Alex checked vitals on the monitor, she heard her sister stand and walk across the hall a few steps before turning on her heel and approaching again. She let out a groan before dialing once more.

“It was a stupid fight,” Kara lamented. “She can’t ignore me forever.”

“Um, Kara,” Alex furrowed and stared at the images on the monitor as she opened the link Winn sent from back home.

“This is ridiculous. I didn’t even mean half of what I said. I was just mad. I’m still mad. Everything just sucks for the past week, and I hate it.”

“Kara…”

“It hurt, yeah, but I just… I was frustrated more. And then this. I know she’s busy. I know it is important.”

“Kara…”

“How does she not pick up after my day?” Kara groaned, clenching her phone too hard in her fist, destroying it instantly.

“Kara!”

“What?”

Instead of answering, Alex just turned the screen to show her sister. At first Kara didn’t understand, and then the words and the pictures and all of it made some sense when her brain tried to form thoughts.

“I have to go.”

It wasn’t a question. Kara moved as best she could despite the whirring in her head and the frenzied impulses that made it impossible to process anything else. Everything kept happening to her and she was powerless against the whims of the world. It was exhausting to exist.

“But Kal--”

“Kara, I’ll stay.”

“Right. It’ll just be quick. I’ll be back. I just have to-- They tried to take her!”

“Hey, wait. Kara. Just breathe. She’s fine.”

“Can you call Maggie--”

“Already on her way,” Alex promised, hurrying behind the sprinting hero in search of an exit in the unfamiliar DEO they found themselves squatting in to help with the emergency.

“I have to…” Kara turned herself around, frantic. “I have to go. I have to see her.”

“I’ll stay with him. Go. Don’t worry.”

“Thank you.”

“Kara, don’t worry. She’s okay,” Alex promised again. “Lena took care of herself, and she’s fine.”

“I should have been there.”

“How?”

“I don’t know. But I should have. What if she would have-- what if they--”

“No. Don’t do that.”

“I’ll call as soon as I can.”

With nothing more than the self-flagellating frown, Kara found the door and took off, her words of promise to return quickly lost in the speed, though she didn’t notice one bit.

The pictures followed her no matter how hard she pushed herself. Lena, all grainy and determined, fighting back against whoever was attacking her, trying to get her into a car. Kara should have been there. Somehow. If they hadn’t been fighting perhaps she wouldn’t have gone to Metropolis. Perhaps her cousin wouldn’t have been there to be exposed. Perhaps she wouldn’t feel like Lionel was still ruining her life.

She wasn’t sure about any answers, but she did realize that if anyone had succeeded in hurting Lena, not much could stop her warpath. The wrath almost frightened herself.

There wasn’t even a hesitation when she touched down on their balcony. Not one part of her could contain the worry and she couldn’t believe that Lena was alright until she saw her. She made it from Metropolis in record time. She felt so exhausted that her body was fighting against itself, which was a far better alternative in her own opinion, than the rage she wanted to enact on someone, anyone.

“Lee?” she called, earning a meow from the cat as he stretched.

Straining her ears, she followed the sound of running water to the bathroom, not even giving Darwin a second or pet or any bit of attention despite the big green eyes that sprinted after her cape.

“Oh, Lena,” Kara finally breathed. She hadn’t realized she’d held it since the moment she saw Clark attacking the city. She hadn’t had a second to think since he flung a car at her, and it was all catching up to her.

In the mirror, Lena smiled, small and relieved, oddly, at the newest arrival. One eye swollen and stitches on her cheek, she was still the best thing to the hero.

“You should see the other guys.”

“I plan on it,” Kara swore, finally taking the steps toward her. “When I see them they will know fear.” Despite her lethargy, Kara felt her muscles shake with the angry kind of fear that made dogs bite.

“I took care of myself.”

“I should have been there.”

“How’s Clark?”

Tentatively, Kara finally touched Lena’s chin tilted her head and furrowed at the sight of the cut on her cheek. Lena was almost accustomed to seeing Kara a little damaged. But something about the sight of blood on Lena’s pale skin, the cut on her flawless cheek, it just felt wrong, felt like what footsteps through fresh snow did.

“I should have been there,” the hero whispered again, swallowing harshly. “I am so sorry, Lee. You have to know-- I’d never let anything happen to you. I’d rather… I’d rather eat Kryptonite than see you hurt. I wish I’d--”

“I’m okay,” Lena smiled, softening with her girlfriend’s words. “I’ve had a bit of self-defense training.”

Hands on the crest on Kara’s chest, Lena pushed closer. She didn’t know how to ask for what she needed, and so her fingertips simply picked at the stitching there, eager only to feel the heartbeat that made Kara real.

“You should have called me… I would have… I could have-- I’m so sorry.”

“Hey, no. Stop. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean what I said. I know things feel weird, I know I didn’t--”

“I haven’t been able to think of anything since I saw that video,” Kara shook her head. “I haven’t felt fear like that… I haven’t been afraid of anything for so long.”

There in the bathroom, Lena felt the hero wobble slightly with the confession and deep breath. Still, there were cuts to her uniform. There were bruises purpling and yellowing her neck and shoulder. Still, there was dirt and mud in her hair. She shook her head and sighed, her hand pressing firmly against her neck, then her jaw, helping to keep the weary hero standing.  

“But did you see when I punched that one?” Lena tried to pull Kara out of the hole. “If my father thinks he can scare me, he’ll have to send better guys than that. I think the one peed his pants when I tased him.”

“I’m sorry I left,” Kara mumbled, eyes closing with the gentle way Lena always knew how to soothe her, fingertips massaging her neck, just where her hair was. She fought it as best she could because she had to. “I was mad and frustrated.”

“I’m sorry I said what I did. Maybe I don’t know how to not be a Luthor.”

“I don’t know how much longer I can keep being Supergirl.” With a long exhale, Kara leaned forward, nudging Lena with her forehead. Lena wrapped her arms around her broad shoulders and kissed her neck. “That could have been me. They’re targeting Superman. He’s going to feel so guilty, and I don’t know what to do.”

“We’ll figure it out.”

“I shouldn’t have left. I can’t lose you, Lena. I was so afraid. You have no idea.”

“I might have some idea. I watched you get punched into the stratosphere by your cousin today. I know what it feels like. But you told me you always come home. I’ve never doubted it, and neither should you.”

“I’m supposed to be making you feel better.”  

Hands knit into the soft fabric of her own old shirt currently adorning the Luthor. Kara closed her eyes and held on tight. All of the anger dissipated. The fight was pointless and full of annoying frustrations at themselves. Kara watched a video of people attempting to put her girlfriend into a van and she fought them off, but these types of things were almost normal.

“I’m alright,” Lena cooed. “You’re alright. We’re alright. Clark is going to be okay. I’ve already hired extra security. No worse for wear here.”

It wasn’t a front. It wasn’t even a fib. Lena thought she should have been more rattled, but she wasn’t. Something about it felt inevitable, and perhaps she’d always envisioned something happening to her. So quiet the world had been, she was on edge enough, distrusting anything that came so easy.

“I was so scared.”

“Please,” she scoffed. “I date a superhero. A little kidnapping attempt doesn’t even ruffle my feathers.”

“Can we fix this?”

“Oh, Kara, honey,” Lena kissed all that she could, stepping up on her tiptoes to wrap up the giant she loved. “Me and you are perfect. Now, the world? If anyone can fix it, it’s us.”

It was only then that she earned a smile. It wasn’t the loppy one she wanted, but it was a start, and it was real and earned and Lena found herself wiping away the tears Kara didn't know she’d finally cried from the weight of the day finally being too much. Something about being needed, being the one that soothed and took care, that was the real cure Lena needed for her heart at the moment. To be needed and vital to Kara, to be the person who could make her smile when she was so upset, that was magic, plain and simple. Never before had Lena done something so inducing of pride.

“You look like you had a day.”

“If that’s not the pot calling the kettle,” Kara shook her head and grinned, almost back.

“You should see the other guys.”

“I wish I had been there.”

“I’m kind of glad you weren’t,” Lena realized. Kara quirked her head. “Yeah I dinged them up, but you might have killed them,” she chuckled. “Go shower. I’ll make you something to take with you. I bet you’re starved.”

“I want to stay.”

“He’s your family. I’m okay. I know you need to be there for him,” she promised, fretting her worried fingers over the crest.

“You’re my family.”

“I know,” Lena grinned, trying to contain the little bit of surprise and joy she felt at that description. “Go shower. I’ll get food. We’ll take the jet. Together.”

“I love you.”

“I know.”