In This World, And The Next

In This World & The Next

"Darling, will you tell me more about Krypton?"

Her husky voice laces around Kara's ears and breaks the comfortable, lazy silence as the two gaze up at the sparkling stars through the skylight in Lena's penthouse. Kara is sprawled across the couch, her head in Lena's lap, breathing contentedly as Lena's fingers run softly through her blonde locks, tracing patterns along her scalp in that adoring way of hers, with no intention or rush. It makes Kara's entire body feel soothed and relaxed, the best medicine to cure a long week. It's nights like these -- rare, quiet, tucked away nights-- where National City's pair can be hidden from danger and distraction and just be them. Not Supergirl and the youngest Luthor. Not Kara Danvers, CatCo Reporter and Lena Luthor, L-Corp CEO. Just Kara and Lena. It's nights like these that Kara feels closest to being whole again. Krypton may be gone, and her memories foggy and distant, but laying in Lena's loving arms and gazing into space somehow holds a promise of a new and better future. Kara feels the vibration through her entire body as Lena's voice cascades through her thoughts, wrapping her in a familiar embrace, one that always makes her feel particularly out of this world. Lena's green eyes glance hopefully down at her, and Kara returns her stare with a beaming smile as her nose crinkles just slightly.

Lena has a way of staring at her in awe, a look she's always given Kara from day one, even before she knew her identity as a superhero. It's almost like she doesn't believe Kara is real, and it never fails to make her Kryptonian heart flutter. Kara reaches her arms around and pulls Lena down into a gentle kiss, grinning as her black hair curtains around their faces, the rich jasmine scent filling Kara with an overflowing feeling of adoration and unconditional love.

If kissing Lena Luthor is what she gets in return for all she's been through, she knows she would go through it again in a second.

"What would you like to know?" Kara whispers along her lips, trying to remember what else she could tell Lena that she hasn't already divulged.

Lena is one of the few people in her life that understands the importance of Krypton, and allows her to ramble for hours. Though her memories are getting to be shorter and fewer, she still takes every opportunity to tell Lena about her former home. It keeps Krypton real, and it makes her bond with Lena that much more special, like she is giving her a private tour of the innermost workings of her heart, and letting Lena see a place no one else can.

"Tell me more about your favorite places. Tell me about the colors. Tell me anything. Tell me everything," Lena smiles, her eyes sparkling. "I want to be able to visualize it."

So she does. She talks, and tells Lena about all her favorite places. The gardens, the lagoons, the flowers, the sunsets. All the colors that don't exist on Earth -- the neons, the ambers, the sapphire hues -- she uses terms humans are familiar with, but the colors themselves can only be imagined. She talks of Krypton's moons, and the way the stars seem to dance. She talks of glowing flowers, and cascading waterfalls over golden cliffs. She talks of technology and inventions, of teleportation and flight. She talks of wishes and childhood dreams. She talks of family.

And Lena listens. She always listens.

Lena never interrupts, never looks bored, never waivers. She smiles, and nods, and listens. There is no "My turn". There's just comfort.

The tears come, as they inevitably do, but they aren't tears of sadness. They're tears of nostalgia. The tears of what used to be. The tears of what is still to come. They're the tears that contain an entire world, and they fall with the force of a fallen planet.

Thankfully, Lena doesn't wipe them away, because somehow, she knows they're necessary. She doesn't tell her it will be okay, because the loss of a lifetime is not. Instead, she holds Kara closer, kisses her head, and she listens.