#my studies on kara

[karaspal]

kara was actually insane for that. sorry guys, but that’s literally flirting. she’s gay.

[karafina]

You turn it into light

[jadedloverart]

Values 2.0

[mamawasatesttube]

the other night i had a dream that i was reading superman '87 and there was a sequence about lana lang actually being a closeted lesbian who secretly yearned to be butch, but then the writers changed and that plotline got completely discarded in favor of having her marry pete ross and pine after clark forever. and then i woke up and was like god dammit we could have had something there!!!! i almost started to give a shit about lana lang!!!

[sixlane]

JILY PROFESSOR PLEASE I NEED IT

EEEEE YES she’s been on hiatus for a minute but im so excited to get back to her soon. here’s a snippet for you <3 (they’re revising lily’s essay together)

[justonemorewallflower]

BSG spoilers below!!!!!

***

This is very random but tonight I was just thinking about what could be some good whump prompts I could write for Kara and Lee and I was like "oooh one where one of them has to/ends up watching the other die would be a good one" and then a little while later I remembered "oh wait, that's just canon" 😭😭😭

Canon was so cruel to them. Because Kara died right before Lee's eyes (then disappears in front of him later on) and there were multiple instances where Lee almost died in front of her or because of her, etc. the few I can list off the top of my head are 1. when she accidentally shot him during the cloud 9 hostage situation 2. when his Viper's engine got blown up or something and so she used her Viper to push his back to Galactica 3. when he got ejected from his Viper during the Resurrection Hub destruction mission and 4. when both of them plus Hotdog had almost died when the oxygen in the shooting range got super low. Oh and then the time when Lee almost sent her to her death! In Razor when she was the one tasked to stay behind to set off the warhead but Shaw decided to take her place.

Like damn these two could never really get a break. This is all so sad and it's even worse in knowing Kara's past and how she had inadvertently caused Zak's death. Just imagine how much guilt and grief she would feel if she had to watch Lee die, especially if it was because of her for absolutely any reason at all/if she had any part in it. I feel a part of why she always tries her damndest to protect Lee is because she doesn't want to be responsible for another Adama death/to try and make up for Zak, but also because it would destroy her if Lee died and she would have trouble dealing with it because of all the feelings it would bring up/how similar it would be to Zak (especially because of her conflicted feelings for Lee). Like I guess I'm glad they didn't make her watch Lee die, but making him watch her die wasn't much better. They deserved so much better 🥲 I will die on this hill.

But alas, that was my Starpollo rant of the night. You're welcome, or my sincerest pologies.

[brofightiscancelled]

So if choro hate real…. What’s the current actual ranking of the brothers.

my overall brother ranking is here.... i thought about this a little more deeply and i think if you break down the definition of "i like this character" between "i like rotating this character in my head" and "i get joy from seeing this character in fanart/amv/official illustrations/merch", the rankings are different

rotation ranking: oso > totty >>>> choro >> kara = jyushi = ichi

joy from seeing them ranking: jyushi >>>>>> ichi > oso = kara = totty >>>>>>>> choro

[wolfie-bee]

Happy Supercorp Sunday! ❤️💙 Just reposting the character study I'd done on metallo lena:

the pieces of me (cling to you)

Summary:

"To know me is to know pain, Supergirl." Lena says simply. "To know me is to know that coincidentally, on the same day you disappeared, my helicopter was blown out of the sky."

Lena's words land their intended blow. Supergirl flinches, guilt etched across her face like Lena had just damned her to Hades. And maybe she did.

"To know me," she continues, stalking forward once more, watching in sardonic glee as the veins in Supergirl's body light up once more."is to understand that I don't care about what if's and altruistic Supers who also want to do no harm." She says, pausing when Supergirl’s prone form is but an inch from her boot.

Or

What if Metallo Lena meets Supergirl and feels a strange connection to her that she couldn't identify the source of? And what if she kept Supergirl around long enough to explain this strangeness to her?

written for scbb 2023

[karaspal]

while kara definitely has anger within her, i believe the defining aspect of her anger comes from the frustration born of other people’s inaction. kara is very passionate and vocal about her moral stands, and she can become quite upset when those she thought shared her values suddenly disagree with her. that said, i’m not saying she’s always right in these moments. after all, everyone has the right to make their own choices. however, this kind of anger speaks a lot about how deeply kara cares about her morals and how much she wants to protect others, no matter the cost.

supergirl 4x01 / superman (1939) #309

the anger kara feels because of her grief, and the one she is often associated with, is also very valid! she was a teenager when she lost her planet. teens are supposed to be angry at the world to begin with so when that world is suddenly gone, these feelings grow even more intense. but this type of anger is one kara is supposed to heal from as the time passes, and she starts to accept what happened to krypton. this type of anger is also very important for kara and her growth as a character, but it was never meant to be a permanent thing.

supergirl (2016) #28

at the end of the day, anger is a big part of kara's character but some of it, she's meant to heal from, and some of it makes her who she is.

[jadedloverart]

Poor Lena...

[mukuharakazui-official]

Hey, Kazui. *holds out a phone with Kazui's cover songs queued up to play*

I like your banner, by the way.

"Ah, what's this now..?"

He recieves the phone with hesitance, though he smiles and recieves it nonetheless. He can only hope it's not as...personal as the last was.

[ you know the drill, under the cut for peoples dashboards :p ]

He sighs internally as he plays the first song, labelled "Cowardly Montblanc". He immediately regrets it when he hears his own voice. They're definitely trying to commit some sort of psychological warfare on him... ah, well. No chickening out now...

The song is melancholic, and he listens to the lyrics despite his hesitance.

"These are all the feelings I have; I’ll only say them in this many words. I loved you, but it was a heavy burden. Is that all there is?"

Oh. Hilarious, it's almost like what he told Hinako. He truly was regretting choosing to listen to the songs, but... For some reason, he couldn't bring himself to stop.

“I wish you’d just hurry up and die!”

"...Ah... I'd never say that, i hope you all know, ahaha" was that what she felt he was telling her? Is that why she...

"While quelling my doubts by thinking, “Even the truth is okay,” I was wishing for it all to be a lie Because I worked out the consequences, And I was still a cowardly mont blanc, after all."

He lets out a sigh as the song ends, though he's quick to put on a calm smile again. "Well, it was a very nice song...I'm not too sure on the lyrics, though..."

...He was very sure that they were targeted, though. Hearing his own voice admit to cowardice, the implications he could catch of a failed confession... It wasn't very pleasant to think about.

So he doesn't think about it! Or, well, he tries not to think about it. He doesn't need to say anything to these people anyway, revealing so much to the warden was embarrassing enough, if he were to be honest. And it was their job to hear these things.

"On to the next one then, right?" He hopes it's not as bad as the last. "Let's see...Neo-Neon..?"

"Going in circles, Neo-Neon I should have told the truth if it was going to be like this but I wanted to keep on shining to show you I can lie for you “I’m sorry”"

He has to consciously stop himself from reacting to the lyrics. He's jinxed himself, he thinks. He can't help but feel like the lyrics are connected to him, to what happened, though. They sound awfully similar to how his thoughts were before he'd started dreaming again.

they sound awfully similar to how his thoughts were now, too, but he doesn't want to think about that.

"Something that impossible is impossible Love always wins and I always lose, and that’s fine"

Haha...that's almost comedic, when it comes to what he's been through. Maybe he should've just let "Love" win, if he was going to lose either way.

...He does react when he hears another voice join in. One that sounded awfully similar to Hinako...

"I can’t say it even if it kills me"

The line stands out, spoken instead of sung. He had felt that way once...and he wishes he'd stuck to it.

"e.g. You quit your heartbeat e.g. I quit my breathing Something that impossible is impossible Love always wins and I always lose, and that’s fine"

He can't even bring himself to fake a smile, but he lets out a half hearted laugh anyway. "Well that's...not a very happy song, huh. It was... nice sounding, though, thank you for showing it to me"

Lying is like breathing, just something you have to do to live. He should've learnt that sooner, but he can't do anything about that now.

[punkforkos]

@deityofhearts Thank you sm!! ;w; (and ty for all of your sweet comments on your reblogs!! <33) Have this lil extra doodle as a treat

And here's that extra context you requested!! (And the full writing pieces if anyone was interested in that!)

*Note: This is gonna require a bit of backstory and some characterization explanation, so hopefully I can summarize it in a way that won't bore you!!

Intro to the characters:

Sylvaine:

She/They/He, Unicorn Tiefling

College of Lore Bard

Nobleborn but got kicked out to the streets because he was taking the lifestyle for granted. Has a bit of a mean girls demeanor, but is also much more self-aware and was in the process of improving himself when he met Solaire.

Has a very big "I can fix him" attitude GHDJK but also knows her limits. They have the patience of a saint.

Solaire: (my character!)

He/Him, Pink Tiefling

Phoenix Sorcerer

Nobleborn, was the golden child of the family because of his powers but got kicked out (temporarily) because he and his older brother tried to murder each other and the family needed to try and salvage their image. (I have an animatic about this, actually!! I'll be posting it here on tumblr soon :D)

Solaire's powers came from a phoenix elixir his mother drank when she was pregnant with him... she had been sickly and used it to heal herself. When Solaire was born, he was VERY sickly too but the elixir gave him the ability to survive the sickness and also blessed him with powerful innate fire magic. He is chronically ill and has to manage his symptoms constantly. There's a lot more I can say on this but that's good for now!

Important Context: Solaire's family is an absolute nightmare. His father praised him for his powers but shunned him for his illness. The family cares more about image than anything and Solaire adopted this mentality because it was all he knew. This is why he doesn't realize anything is wrong with him! And why he has such an intense ego / behavior issues / self-perception issues. He can't handle when things don't go his way, can't handle being anything less than perfect, is disgusted by messes, hates that he is ill, hates when people see him as weak or vulnerable, doesn't know how to resolve any of this.

THAT BEING SAID!! The context behind the writing itself:

Solaire and Sylvaine first met during a three-shot battle royale event. This event was hosted by a vampire named Vito, who wanted a little extra excitement / entertainment in his life, so he plucked a bunch of adventurers and put them into an arena to duke it out. Solaire was extremely confident that he would prevail as the winner, and he easily swept the board in the first round, but the other two were way more taxing,,, and Vito made an absolute fool out of him in the last round, biting him as a power move (but not turning him into a vampire). Sol was cursed to see his failure replaying in an orb that would hover around him henceforth. Note: Sylvaine and Solaire never killed each other during the battle royale! They both took a liking to each other immediately and when the events concluded, they decided to travel together and eventually ended up becoming partners! (And Sylvaine also realized how messed up this dude was and planned on making him a project,, he needed the help and she wanted to be the one to give it to him.) This writing piece explores their dynamic after the battle royale event & how Solaire feels about the bite and the shame of being humiliated in such a way.

And! If you're not tired of reading yet, here are the writing pieces my friend made for this!! They're an extremely talented writer and they understand Solaire so well <33

If you made it this far: Thank you for reading all of this!!! It means a lot

He doesn't claw at her-- he doesn't hold on at all. He just stands there, limp, almost hiding. The blood from his neck seeps into her clothes and she whispers a healing spell as she holds him.

Drew a small moment from a piece my friend wrote for these two!! Solaire can't stand being seen at his most vulnerable,,, but Sylvaine will always be there to meet him where he falters.

>> my carrd | ko-fi | inprnt <<

[shinypandamiracle]

Lately Kara has been going through a rough patch and she knows that, but no one has said anything yet so maybe it's not so serious, she can get over it, right? Right?!

Yeah, no.

Luckily Lena notices and takes a leap of faith.

[onmyyan]

(ive been spottily active lately and missed soooo much amazing stuff I'm trying to catch up still but the one thing someone mentioned to you is now running circles like an energetic puppy in my brain) yandere batfam angst with (yandere?) superfam fluff. The savior complex. The rivalry. I love your writing so much. I love how so many cool people message you and share ideas. You're awesome.

A/N: First of all you're so sweet ❣️ thank you!! I so appreciate this request and how it made my brain turn!!

In this situation let's say you've already done the whole 'neglected so you leave and trigger their yandere instincts' thing, so you've been kidnapped, bound to the manor for months at this point, but Bruce decides you've been behaving well enough to deserve a treat. He knows how cooped up you feel, he's not as delusional as the rest of his family who believe you love it there, so he takes you with him to the hall of justice, he isn't worried about you escaping after all the hall of justice is in outer space, and you're surrounded by experienced heros, you're not going anywhere.

That's his first mistake.

Clark takes to you immediately. You've got the Wayne charm but so clearly your own person, you stand away from Bruce, asking Clark earnest questions, listening oh so intently, he knows you're an adult, but your so much smaller than him, (the man is 6'3 he's bigger than most people.) he noticed the way your heart rate picked up when Bruce so much as touched you, you were scared of him, he could tell, and this is what ignites that dangerous flame inside him.

He starts by inviting the whole Wayne family over for dinner, can't draw suspicion by inviting only you, (despite that being exactly what he wanted to do) Lois makes a feast, that night you meet Clark's entire family, his son's Conner and Jon, Kara his cousin, and of course Lois his wife, they all focus on you despite trying to play it cool, Kara's around your age and asks if you'd like to go shopping with her in metropolis some day, you smile starting to nod before Bruce answers for you, "Her studies are taking up most of her time nowadays, some other time." He grins taking a bite of his steak.

Clark sets his silverware down, grinning that friendly smile of his, "Well surely she can take a little break, one day away from her studies won't kill her, besides she'll be safe as can be with Kara by her side." Bruce glares at him, he can't outright deny the claims because his own possessive need to have you by his side at all times, and because they're true, so he relents, and that's how you find yourself spending time with her, and in turn the superfam.

It doesn't take long for them to fall in love with the idea of you being there, with them, at their dinner table.

The second they're all in agreement,(about a week after getting to know you) they quickly decide you're better off with them, and when Superman breaks into the Manor one day and sweeps you off your feet, the batfamily can't do anything but watch in horror.

[vivicantstudy]

30 Of My favorites Compliments in Japanese to Praise Artists and Their Work

I love complimenting artists; I like them to know that their work is always amazing, and I enjoy motivating them. Since I started creating pixel art, I have become very close to Japanese artists and realized that it is much easier to compliment them in Japanese, as it seems to make them feel more comfortable! That’s why I put together a list of compliments! Feel free to use them and correct me!

1. 素晴らしい作品ですね。 (Subarashii sakuhin desu ne.)

“It’s a wonderful piece of work.”

2. とても感動しました。 (Totemo kandō shimashita.)

“I was very moved.”

3. あなたの才能に驚かされます。 (Anata no sainō ni odorokasaremasu.)

“I am amazed by your talent.”

4. 色使いが本当に綺麗ですね。 (Irozukai ga hontō ni kirei desu ne.)

“The use of colors is really beautiful.”

5. 細部まで丁寧に描かれていますね。 (Saibu made teinei ni kakareteimasu ne.)

“The details are drawn so carefully.”

6. ユニークなスタイルですね。 (Yunīku na sutairu desu ne.)

“You have a unique style.”

7. 本当に才能がありますね。 (Hontō ni sainō ga arimasu ne.)

“You truly have talent.”

8. 見ていてとても楽しいです。 (Miteite totemo tanoshii desu.)

“It’s very enjoyable to look at.”

9. 構図が素晴らしいです。 (Kōzu ga subarashii desu.)

“The composition is amazing.”

10. こんな作品を作れるなんて信じられません。 (Konna sakuhin o tsukureru nante shinjiraremasen.)

“I can’t believe you can create such a piece.”

11. とても独創的ですね。 (Totemo dokusōteki desu ne.)

“It’s very creative.”

12. あなたの作品はいつもインスピレーションを与えてくれます。 (Anata no sakuhin wa itsumo insupirēshon o ataete kuremasu.)

“Your work always gives me inspiration.”

13. 表現力が豊かですね。 (Hyōgenryoku ga yutaka desu ne.)

“Your expressive power is remarkable.”

14. 見るたびに新しい発見があります。 (Miru tabi ni atarashī hakken ga arimasu.)

“I discover something new every time I look at it.”

15. あなたの作品には心がこもっていますね。 (Anata no sakuhin ni wa kokoro ga komotteimasu ne.)

“Your work has so much heart in it.”

16. あなたの作品には魂が宿っています。 (Anata no sakuhin ni wa tamashī ga yadotteimasu.)

“Your artwork has a soul in it.”

17. 発想力がすごいですね。 (Hassōryoku ga sugoi desu ne.)

“Your creativity is amazing.”

18. あなたのスタイルはとても独特です。 (Anata no sutairu wa totemo dokutoku desu.)

“Your style is very distinctive.”

19. 作品に強いメッセージ性を感じます。 (Sakuhin ni tsuyoi messe-ji sei o kanjimasu.)

“I feel a strong message in your work.”

20. この作品を見ると、何かを感じずにはいられません。 (Kono sakuhin o miru to, nanika o kanjizu ni wa iraremasen.)

“I can’t help but feel something when I look at this piece.”

21. あなたの作品を見ていると、とても幸せな気持ちになります。 (Anata no sakuhin o miteiru to, totemo shiawase na kimochi ni narimasu.)

“Looking at your work makes me feel very happy.”

22. どの作品も心に響きます。 (Dono sakuhin mo kokoro ni hibikimasu.)

“Every piece of your work resonates with my heart.”

23. この作品の雰囲気が��ても好きです。 (Kono sakuhin no fun’iki ga totemo suki desu.)

“I really like the atmosphere of this piece.”

24. あなたのアートはとても洗練されています。 (Anata no āto wa totemo senren sareteimasu.)

“Your art is very refined.”

25. この作品からインスピレーションをたくさんもらいました。 (Kono sakuhin kara insupirēshon o takusan moraimashita.)

“I received a lot of inspiration from this piece.”

26. あなたの技術は素晴らしいです。 (Anata no gijutsu wa subarashii desu.)

“Your technique is superb.”

27. これからの作品も楽しみにしています。 (Korekara no sakuhin mo tanoshimi ni shiteimasu.)

“I’m looking forward to your future works as well.”

28. 色彩の使い方がとても巧みですね。 (Shikisai no tsukaikata ga totemo takumi desu ne.)

“Your use of colors is very skillful.”

29. こんなに素晴らしい作品を見たことがありません。 (Konna ni subarashii sakuhin o mita koto ga arimasen.)

“I’ve never seen such an amazing piece of work.”

30. あなたの描くキャラクターはとても魅力的です。 (Anata no kaku kyarakutā wa totemo miryokuteki desu.)

“The characters you draw are very captivating.”

Some observations made by my Japanese study friends!

1. あなたの作品には魂が宿っています。

This phrase is correct, but it’s quite poetic. If you want a simpler expression:

あなたの作品には力強さを感じます。 (Anata no sakuhin ni wa chikarazuyosa o kanjimasu.)

“I feel strength in your work.”

2. 発想力がすごいですね。

Correct and commonly used.

3. あなたのスタイルはとても独特です。

Correct, but for a softer tone, you could say:

あなたのスタイルはとても個性的ですね。 (Anata no sutairu wa totemo koseiteki desu ne.)

“Your style is very unique and individual.”

4. 作品に強いメッセージ性を感じます。

Correct, but slightly formal. You could also say:

作品から強いメッセージを感じます。 (Sakuhin kara tsuyoi messe-ji o kanjimasu.)

“I feel a strong message from your work.”

5. この作品を見ると、何かを感じずにはいられません。

This phrase is fine, but can be made simpler:

この作品を見ると、心が動かされます。 (Kono sakuhin o miru to, kokoro ga ugokasaremasu.)

“When I look at this piece, my heart is moved.”

6. あなたの作品を見ていると、とても幸せな気持ちになります。

This is correct and conveys the intended meaning well.

7. どの作品も心に響きます。

Correct and natural.

8. この作品の雰囲気がとても好きです。

Correct and natural.

9. あなたのアートはとても洗練されています。

This is fine, but “アート” (āto) is a bit casual. Using 作品 (sakuhin) might be better for a more formal tone:

あなたの作品はとても洗練されています。

10. この作品からインスピレーションをたくさんもらいました。

This is correct. Another way to say it:

この作品にとても刺激を受けました。 (Kono sakuhin ni totemo shigeki o ukemashita.)

“I was very inspired by this piece.”

11. あなたの技術は素晴らしいです。

Correct and natural.

12. これからの作品も楽しみにしています。

Correct and natural.

13. 色彩の使い方がとても巧みですね。

Correct and suitable.

14. こんなに素晴らしい作品を見たことがありません。

Correct, but sounds slightly dramatic. A softer version:

こんな素敵な作品を見たことがないです。 (Konna sutekina sakuhin o mita koto ga nai desu.)

15. あなたの描くキャラクターはとても魅力的です。

Correct, but can be shortened for a more natural tone:

あなたのキャラクターは魅力的ですね。 (Anata no kyarakutā wa miryokuteki desu ne.)

16. あなたの作品には魂が宿っています。 (Anata no sakuhin ni wa tamashī ga yadotteimasu.)

Correct, but it’s quite poetic and intense. A simpler alternative could be:

あなたの作品には強い感情を感じます。 (Anata no sakuhin ni wa tsuyoi kanjō o kanjimasu.)

“I feel strong emotions in your work.”

17. 発想力がすごいですね。 (Hassōryoku ga sugoi desu ne.)

Correct and natural for complimenting creativity.

18. あなたのスタイルはとても独特です。 (Anata no sutairu wa totemo dokutoku desu.)

Correct, but “独特” (dokutoku) can be interpreted neutrally. For a more positive tone, use:

あなたのスタイルはとても個性的です。 (Anata no sutairu wa totemo koseiteki desu.)

“Your style is very unique and individual.”

19. 作品に強いメッセージ性を感じます。 (Sakuhin ni tsuyoi messe-ji sei o kanjimasu.)

Correct, but it can be simplified:

作品から強いメッセージを感じます。 (Sakuhin kara tsuyoi messe-ji o kanjimasu.)

“I feel a strong message from your work.”

20. この作品を見ると、何かを感じずにはいられません。 (Kono sakuhin o miru to, nanika o kanjizu ni wa iraremasen.)

Correct, but it’s a bit formal and literary. A simpler alternative could be:

この作品を見ると、心が動かされます。 (Kono sakuhin o miru to, kokoro ga ugokasaremasu.)

“When I look at this piece, my heart is moved.”

21. あなたの作品を見ていると、とても幸せな気持ちになります。 (Anata no sakuhin o miteiru to, totemo shiawase na kimochi ni narimasu.)

Correct and natural. No adjustments needed.

22. どの作品も心に響きます。 (Dono sakuhin mo kokoro ni hibikimasu.)

Correct and natural.

23. この作品の雰囲気がとても好きです。 (Kono sakuhin no fun’iki ga totemo suki desu.)

Correct and natural.

24. あなたのアートはとても洗練されています。 (Anata no āto wa totemo senren sareteimasu.)

Correct, but the word “アート” (āto) is a bit casual. Using “作品” (sakuhin) might be more appropriate for a formal tone:

あなたの作品はとても洗練されています。

“Your work is very refined.”

25. この作品からインスピレーションをたくさんもらいました。 (Kono sakuhin kara insupirēshon o takusan moraimashita.)

Correct. Another way to say it:

この作品にとても刺激を受けました。 (Kono sakuhin ni totemo shigeki o ukemashita.)

“I was very inspired by this piece.”

26. あなたの技術は素晴らしいです。 (Anata no gijutsu wa subarashii desu.)

Correct and natural.

27. これからの作品も楽しみにしています。 (Korekara no sakuhin mo tanoshimi ni shiteimasu.)

Correct and natural.

28. 色彩の使い方がとても巧みですね。 (Shikisai no tsukaikata ga totemo takumi desu ne.)

Correct and suitable.

29. こんなに素晴らしい作品を見たことがありません。 (Konna ni subarashii sakuhin o mita koto ga arimasen.)

Correct, but it sounds slightly dramatic. A softer version would be:

こんな素敵な作品を見たことがないです。 (Konna sutekina sakuhin o mita koto ga nai desu.)

“I’ve never seen such a wonderful piece.”

30. あなたの描くキャラクターはとても魅力的です。 (Anata no kaku kyarakutā wa totemo miryokuteki desu.)

Correct, but can be shortened for a more natural tone:

あなたのキャラクターは魅力的ですね。 (Anata no kyarakutā wa miryokuteki desu ne.)

“Your characters are captivating.”

This list was quite a bit of work to make, but it was very fun! I would appreciate it if you shared it! Thank yoooooou!

[natalievoncatte]

4. Garden

Kara waited as long as she could. Taking to the air, she lifted herself to cloud-height, ignoring the bite of the upper-atmospheric chill as the high winds snapped at her cape. Hovering in the air, she took a moment to unbind her senses, expanding her awareness to let in the cacophony of sounds she usually suppressed through years of focused willpower and concentration.

She rocked in the air, shocked by the sensitivity of her own ears. Jeremiah and then Eliza had taught her this, made the world in its vastness small enough that she could live in it.

Clark had taught her to reach out, to hear, as well as see and smell and taste and feel, beyond. Sol’s gentle kiss did more than expand her awareness and multiply her strength, it activated pathways in her brain itself, giving her a control over her senses that she could never match under a red star.

It took only moments to sift out the quiet sounds of Lena’s pulse and her gentle, hissing breaths as she fought back sobs.

Air folded around her as she shatters the sound barrier, flying high enough that the boom that followed her would be a mere puff to the ground. Another trick she picked up from Clark, using the earth’s rotation to speed her flight.

Kara touched down at a familiar but foreboding place: the Luthor estate.

All that had been the property of her family was hers now, a gift and a curse. Lena had talked about making it an orphanage or a long-term care hospital or a new children’s medical campus, but the building itself had held her back. What malevolent secrets had Lex left behind? Booby traps? Sentinel robots hiding in the walls? Caches of weapons or Lexosuits?

A Kryptonite bomb, to spit death at her for hate’s sake?

Kara hesitated, but Lena was here and upset. She went inside.

It was immediately obvious where Lex had reinforced walls and lined rooms with lead. Kara listened for Lena, finding that the trail of sound led her outside.

She had to use her x-ray vision.

Lena was kneeling in an hidden place, a walled off section of the formal gardens. Kara found the entrance cleverly disguised, a section of wall where one slipped through a gap and turned left then right and came out in a tiny, overgrown courtyard.

Kneeling, Lena was surrounded by pruning shears and garden implements, dressed to work outside. She looked so out of place it was almost a little silly to see, but there she was.

Kara could see that Lena had already been working on cleaning and clearing. She knelt before a small plumeria plant, resting in a well kept pot.

“Lex let it all die,” said Lena. “He knew it was here. He could have kept it for me, but he didn’t. I suppose I’m lucky that Lillian didn’t rip it up and install a septic tank.”

Kara walked over, standing next to her.

“My father built this. It’s a replica of my mother’s garden. We had a little walled garden next to the cottage where I lived with her before I came to live with the Luthors.”

Kara said nothing, instead brushing a lock of Lena’s now-curly hair back from her shoulder.

“He never showed it to me.”

“Why?”

“My parentage was his dirtiest secret. Lillian didn’t even tell me until she thought she could use it.”

“Do you think he loved her?”

“I have no idea. He loved me, I think. He loved Lex but in a different way. I don’t think he even liked Lillian.”

“You’ve never told me about him.”

“It wasn’t easy being his child. He drank too much, neglected the company, and drank more when things went badly for us. The family was actually in trouble until Lex turned it around. He started managing things when I was in grade school. By the end, he’d spend all day in his study and I’d spend half the night sitting with him while he talked and told me stories. Lillian hated him for it.”

“You miss him.”

“I miss them both. I miss Lex. I miss him so much. I mourn him every day.”

“I know,” said Kara.

“My mom died, my father died, my brother went insane.”

“Lena…”

“Is it me?”

“It’s not, you know it’s not.”

“Is it my witch blood? Am I cursed?”

Kara knelt beside her, pulling her cape across Lena’s shoulders to fight the autumn chill. Lena leaned into her.

“What if it is a curse? What if it gets our little one too?”

Kara put her hand on Lena’s belly, spreading her fingers. There was no bump yet. Kara listened intently, eagerly awaiting a moment she would never forget, when a second heartbeat joined Lena’s. It hadn’t come yet but it would.

“Nothing is going to get our baby,” said Kara. “Their moms are Supergirl and Lena Luthor. We can do anything.”

“It’s going to be a children’s hospital,” said Lena. “The house. A lot of the grounds are going to be torn out, but I’m keeping this garden. I’m going to give my mom a memorial. I think I might put one in for my dad, too.”

“I love you,” Kara murmured. “I love you so much.”

Lena leaned into her and Kara sat down to pull her in.

They sat for a long time, and listened to the wind that shook the leaves.