An Ocean of Fire- Supercorp AU

16- Golden Mane, Bloodied Hands

This very moment in time, in this space, in this blanket, in this bed, was the most comfortable Lena had ever been in her entire life.

She filled her lungs with air that was cool and crisp and wonderful, and let herself come back into her body. She was still tired after an evening full of nightmares, but she felt surprisingly relaxed.

A soft blanket was tucked around her perfectly, and she was warm and cozy. As she gradually woke, she came to the realization that her legs were being gently pinned to the mattress.

She blinked in confusion and lifted her head, her lips slowly parting at the sight that greeted her.

Some time in the night, Kara had dragged a chair over to her bedside. The warrior's arms and head were now draped across her shins as she peacefully slept, her golden hair spread around her face like a halo. Lena sat up as gently as she could to avoid disturbing her, and tilted her head to gaze down at the Kryptonian. She found her fingers seeking the soft curls, and she carefully slipped them through the silky locks.

The sun was beginning to peek through the window, and she considered the Kryptonian before her. She had never met anyone in her life who was so thoughtlessly selfless.

Lena wondered to herself if this instinct to protect was instilled or genetic. The House of El was well-known for caring for the helpless, lifting the weak, covering the wounded. It had long become a mark of Krypton – compassion and kindness. When Lex had told her that it was a Zor-El in the dungeon, her heart stuttered – she had heard of their bravery and honor, and thought to herself that this was certainly her most assured vehicle of escape.

She realized now that she had had no idea.

Her touch wandered across the hill of a muscled arm, her thumb stroking across the peak of a taught triceps.

And she recalled that strength was also a symbol of Krypton.

Not just their impenetrable skin, or their well-toned bodies. Kryptonian fortitude was envied and admired across the world. They were stubborn and fierce, and when focused on a singular task, were outrageously dangerous. A warm, amber feeling swirled through Lena's stomach, and she ran her palm across Kara's shoulder to sink her fingers into the soft hair at the back of the warrior's neck.

As her nails scratched gently along Kara's scalp, she made a soft hum of approval and burrowed her face farther into Lena's legs.

Kara practically purred in her lap like a napping lion, and a small, wafting, smoke of a thought wandered across Lena's consciousness as she absentmindedly stroked her hair.

Could she love this woman?

Lena frowned, watching her own hand sift through golden locks as if it was independent from her body.

She had known this woman for two weeks- it was impossible to consider.

Did she even truly know what love felt like?

She understood the concept of love. She understood the way Lillian regarded Lex, the pride and joy on her face when he did something she approved of. She watched the way young star-crossed lovers on her brother's staff fawned all over each other in the kitchen when they thought they were alone.

The closest thing she could ever relate to love was how she felt when caring for the royal horses.

She loved the way they huffed and nuzzled her hands, the way they stepped impatiently in their stalls when she came near, the way their tails flicked when she brushed their manes.

But even that feeling she shored up into a careful box. The first time Lex had ridden one of her charges and it didn't follow his orders with precision, she watched it being carted away the next morning. So she was careful about the things she chose to love.