Chapter Text
Kara smiled as the plane hit the tarmac and taxied towards the waiting red carpet. She was back, she was home. Krypton. She looked over and saw Alex smiling as she picked up her leather jacket and tucked her red medallion into her shirt. The medallion marked her as a member of the royal entourage, specifically medical adviser to the crown princess.
When Kara had to name her personal medical adviser she’d gone straight to her sister and begged her to take the role. Alex had been hesitant, worried about the optics of her not only being a young doctor but also Kara’s adoptive sister. Kara had pointed out she needed someone she trusted absolutely to make sure she not only understood but who she would feel safe talking to. She also added that it was a mostly honorary title as anything more than a cold would result in a half dozen doctors fussing over her.
Alex had still only agreed after Eliza had joined the conversation gently reminding Alex she'd been the one who explained to Kara what was happening when she got her first period and it had also been her who gave Kara the sex talk. Eliza asked whether she thought anyone else explaining such things to Kara would go well. Alex had looked at her blushing sister and decided then and there to take the role much to Kara’s relief.
“You ready Princess sis?” Alex asked giving Kara a bright smile.
Kara took a deep breath and nodded. Eliza leaned over and squeezed her hand.
“We’ll be with you every step of the way,” she promised.
Kara felt a wave of affection for her adopted family. After her mother’s death when she was twelve she’d been worried her father would force her to come to Krypton and live with him, but it had seemed he didn’t care or perhaps he had forgotten her entirely, and so she got to stay with her American family. Eliza and Alex having lost Jeremiah in the same crash were not in the best place themselves but the three of them had bonded together and become a close family helping each other through their losses.
When her Aunt Astra had turned up a year later to tell her that her father was dead Kara had been scared that she would be taken away. Instead she had simply found herself with more family. She may not be Inah to anyone again but her Aunt had made her ‘little one’ and gave her the connection to her home and culture she had been missing since her mother passed.
Every month Astra would call her without fail and for every birthday and Kryptonian holiday she would call and send Kara a gift. Every time making sure she never lost her connection to her people. The rare times she came to America Astra always made time to visit Kara, always in secret so as not to disturb her regular life, but every visit had been precious to Kara.
Astra's husband Non died when Kara was sixteen. After the funeral Astra had come to see Kara. They spent two days together Astra listening to Kara talk about her favourite singers and everything she was doing with Alex at school and her crush on Kenny. At night Astra let her stay up late the two of them wrapped in the red Kryptonian blanket Astra had while she taught Kara the names of the stars and told their Kryptonian myths, just as her mother had when she was a child.
Kara had known in the abstract that her father had been brother to the King of Krypton. But it was not until Non died and she became princess that she truly realised what that meant. Astra had held her the two of them wrapped in the blanket as Astra explained to her as gently as she could that Kara was the heir to the throne. She was an illegitimate child but her father had recognised her when she was very little and so her name was in the book of nobles next to her cousin Kal.
When Non had died childless leaving Astra Queen it meant that Kara was the next in line, Kal was next after her but when he joined the church at 18 he gave up his birthright. She was the only royal child, the last daughter of the house of El.
When Kara had asked if that meant she would be queen Astra had held her very tightly and told her only if she wanted to be. Alex had come in then and joined them in the blanket Eliza staying by the door. Astra had promised Kara would not need to ascend to the throne yet. She could not legally become Queen until she turned 23 anyway. She need not make any decisions until she was older.
When Kara turned 18 with the support of Alex and Eliza she made her first return trip to Krypton quietly entering the country and spending the summer with her Aunt learning about her country again. When she’d finished high school she spent a year in Krypton picking up odd jobs and enjoying the return to life among her people.
It cemented her decision. She went to Astra at the end of the year and said she was certain, she wanted to be Queen, she wanted to help her people. Astra had always told her she didn’t have to, but the relief on her face at Kara's decision had told Kara how much she had wanted for her to.
On her twentieth birthday Kara had been presented formally to the people of Krypton as their crown Princess and her life was irreversibly changed. She had left Krypton soon after to begin her studies at Oxford studying international relations, then two years touring the various embassies and attending meetings with dignitaries gradually being introduced to her future role as Queen and the responsibilities involved.
She had been the very model of what a princess should be. Apart from during probably the best month of her life in Australia, but that had been her last chance to really enjoy a little freedom before her life truly became all about her people. According to Astra everyone got a little time to enjoy themselves before they finally ascended the throne, and enjoy herself she had.
Kara sighed softly remembering. Green eyes, thick dark hair, and that smirk. Rao that smirk had done her in every time. If only… In another life perhaps.
“Are you ready your highness?” Winn asked snapping Kara out of her daydreaming and alerting her that the plane had stopped.
She smiled at him. Winn was her personal assistant and had been with her for three years. In her final year of University Astra had sent her Winn to help manage everything and instruct her on any etiquette she might have forgotten. Kara felt confident, despite her position as his boss, saying they were good friends. She’d concluded this after they’d both gotten very drunk one night after a hellish day and sang ABBA songs at the top of their lungs jumping on her bed until the early hours of the morning. Something about sharing a hangover and the judgemental eyes of the hotel staff with someone bonded you like nothing else.
Nia came over and did a final outfit and makeup check. Nia was newer having only joined her a year before as her social media and style adviser but the two had become close very quickly. Nia gave her a double thumbs up and she turned to nod to Kara’s bodyguard of the last five years, J’onn.
“Ready when you are,” Kara said smiling at Winn.
He grinned back. With one last look at Alex and Eliza Kara moved to stand near the doors as they were disarmed. J’onn smiled at Kara and nodded to the air hostess. The flight crew stepped out. J’onn exiting directly after them. He gave Kara a thumbs up and she took a deep breath, made sure she was smiling, and stepped out into the bright Kryptonian sun.
She could hear the Kryptonian national anthem begin the moment she was visible and she waved at the crowd assembled. She descended the steps careful not to trip as she went and went to shake the hands of the waiting dignitaries.
The Prime Minister Drom-Mosk and the speaker of the house Turn-Kith were first both men greeting her politely. As she turned to greet the representative from the church her face broke into a wide smile and breaking protocol she threw her arms around her cousin. Kal laughed and hugged her back lifting her easily off her feet.
“Look at you!” she said excitedly indicating his new yellow and white robes. “A full priest of the church.”
Kal laughed and nodded.
“Yes, I am now allowed to do weddings and forgive sins,” he said laughing.
Kara beamed at him her eyes soaking in the very welcome sight of her dear cousin.
“Well in that case I shall have to get you for mine one day,” she said.
He laughed again.
“I think the sins yes, but I fear the high priests may throw somewhat of a fit if you tried to let anyone below three white lines bind you in matrimony.”
Kara sighed.
“Well then I shall just have to wait for you to become ambitious and get those stripes so I can still have you do it.”
Kal laughed again and Winn coughed quietly telling her she needed to move on. She gave Kal a final smile and he returned it stepping back so she could next greet Vosha-Vall the head of Argo university. The greetings finished she moved over to smile and pose for photos with some of the waiting crowd. After five minutes J’onn signalled she had to go and she waved goodbye letting herself be guided to the armoured car and got in. Alex, Eliza, Nia, and Winn joined her with J’onn getting in the front with the driver.
They car took off and she let out a breath.
“How’d I do?” she asked looking at Nia.
“Pretty good,” Nia said looking at her tablet. “Alex you’re already popular, as usual.”
Alex smirked. She hadn’t been able to be as close with Kara during the last five years as she finished her medical degree and did her residency. But she’d always come to join Kara during her time off and any and all pictures of them together had been wildly popular. When people found out that Alex was a lesbian they only got more so. Apparently the queer community in Krypton had made Alex into some kind of icon. They’d even invited her to speak at a few events.
“I was a little worried about it but the extra time with Kal actually seems to have gone down well. People like how genuine it was,” Nia said.
Kara laughed.
“Because it was genuine. Do you think you can find some extra time this month for me to see him?” she asked turning to Winn.
Winn smiled at her and made a note.
“Anything for you your highness,” he teased.
She stuck her tongue out and he laughed.
“Hey you’re about to be Queen, there will be no more of that childishness,” Eliza said waggling a finger at Kara.
Kara pulled a face in response enjoying Eliza’s quiet laugh. She turned and smiled looking out the window at her country. She had missed Krypton.
People in the streets were waving at the cars even though they couldn’t see through the tinting. Kara smiled and waved back.
“Okay princess, your schedule,” Winn said before she could roll down the window to properly wave back at people.
“Today is fairly relaxed as we weren’t sure if there would be delays. When we arrive at the palace there’s the formal greeting with the Queen, and the inspection of the staff, I’ll give you a hint no matter what happens they’re up to standard.”
Kara smiled and nodded.
“Noted.”
“There’s a couple of hours for you to go over the ceremonial standards and then you can relax in your suite until dinner. The Queen has made it a nice family gathering and I do believe there is a clear night ahead so you can also do a little stargazing tonight.”
Kara smiled and looked at Alex who smiled back.
“I bet I can find all five heroes before you do,” she said.
Alex scoffed.
“You’re on, but you can’t get help from Astra.”
Kara chuckled. Astra knew the Kryptonian night sky better than anyone.
When the car pulled up at the front of the palace Astra came out to greet them with a welcoming smile wearing a pale blue traditional Kryptonian dress.
The moment the car door opened Kara practically flew out of it to hug her Aunt. Astra laughed returning the hug with equal enthusiasm.
“It has been too long little one,” Astra said pressing a traditional kiss to the top of Kara’s head.
Kara beamed back and hugged her again. She had missed her. Astra’s returning embrace said she was not alone in her feelings. They both took a deep breath and separated so Astra could greet everyone else. Alex got a tight hug and a kiss on the head too. Astra argued that if Alex was Kara’s sister she was family and so got all the same privileges. Kara knew Alex was secretly very pleased that she would always get a kiss on the head too.
Eliza was greeted with a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. The two exchanging a long look that seemed to be a whole conversation that ended with them both laughing. The two older women turned to the group.
“J’onn, a pleasure to see you again,” Astra said inclining her head towards him. “And you as well, Winn, Nia. I am happy to see you all so well.”
J’onn, Winn, and Nia all gave Astra a bow and their thanks.
“Now, shall we finish the formalities?” Astra asked extending an arm to Kara.
Kara grinned looping her arm through Astra’s and letting her slowly guide her up the steps and towards the large arched doors of the palace. A bell sounded high above and Kara looked up to see a second banner be dropped to show she had arrived.
The royal palace in Argo was made of a white stone with a faint blueish tinge. In ages past it had been called the fortress of solitude as when the snow came it would be near invisible against the mountains and nigh unreachable. Modern extensions as Argo had become the capital had changed it and now few called it by the old name outside of stories.
“Now, if you listen carefully you can actually hear the staff racing through the hallways to line up for the inspection,” Astra said in a hushed tone making Kara smile. “So we’re going to walk very slowly towards the gardens.”
Kara laughed and looked behind her to see Alex escorting Eliza who was smiling at her. Nia and Winn were busily examining their tablets but seemed happy. Kara turned back to her Aunt and smiled.
“Well, I would like to make a good first impression,” she said.
Astra laughed softly.
“I think you’re a bit late for most of them. Though there is a new head of staff who I think you’ll be happy to see.”
Kara’s eyes lit up.
“Ooh who is it?” Kara asked excitedly.
Astra laughed at her eagerness.
“I’ll let her tell you.”
Kara grinned she was pretty sure she knew who it would be.
“There’s also a new Commander of the guard. I think you’ve met, Querl Dox.”
“Brainy!” Kara said waving at him as he came around the corner and gave the traditional Kryptonian salute.
“Crown Princess,” he said formally.
Kara almost went to hug him but decided one breach of protocol was enough for today so she smiled at him as she passed.
“I’ll get a hug from you later,” she promised.
“Of course Crown Princess,” he said not breaking his salute.
Kara smiled and they made the turn to the gardens walking through the hedges. Nia lifted her tablet to film the inspection of the staff. There was the sound of several pairs of running feet nearby and Astra smiled turning to indicate the palace before they stepped properly into the gardens.
“I had the facade touched up recently,” Astra said motioning with her hand to the white tower behind them.
Kara quickly turned so the inspection wouldn’t officially start as the last of the staff raced into place. She took a step to the side to better see the walls.
“Ah yes, lovely it’s very ni-”
She slipped and tried to recover but then her heels sank into the soft garden bed and she fell. J’onn reached out to catch her but he was too far behind due to the presence of the royal guard. She put out her hand to catch herself and grabbed the first solid object her hand found.
Kara breathed a sigh of relief as she gripped a metal pipe in the hedge and Alex caught her other hand effectively stopping her from falling into the garden. She glanced over her shoulder at the flowers she’d almost crushed.
“The gardens are looking fantastic,” she said with a smile.
Astra chuckled and Alex sighed shaking her head as she and J’onn moved to pull Kara back onto the path. Then her hand slipped and she fell with a yell as there was an echoed series of yells and shrieks from the staff as the sprinklers activated.
A figure jumped over her and the sprinklers were shut off. Kara found herself looking up at a familiar smiling face.
“Well if I had any doubt as to who you were that certainly cleared it up,” Vasquez said. She smiled and offered Kara a hand up. “Welcome back your highness.”
Kara sighed and accepted it with an apologetic smile.
“Hi Vasquez, I see you got a promotion.”
Vasquez laughed and nodded.
“Well when Hank heard you were becoming queen he decided it was probably best to put in his resignation and wished me good luck.”
Kara laughed and sighed looked apologetically at the dripping line of household staff. She quickly took her place for the inspection brushing dirt and leaves off herself. She could see several of the staff trying valiantly not to laugh at her. In particular the kitchen staff who all looked familiar. She met the eyes of the head chef Fig-Tix. He started shaking with the effort not to laugh.
“I am terribly sorry about that everyone. I would promise this will likely never happen again but… well I recognise a few faces and so you’d know that’s a lie,” she said.
There was a laugh from the long serving staff and quite a few of the newer ones.
“So I’ll just say you’ve all passed inspection and… again sorry.”
There was another laugh and Vasquez sighed.
“Fifteen minutes for you all to dry and then get back to your stations,” she said.
The staff dispersed with much laughter and a few calling welcome to their princess. Kara looked over at her entourage. Alex was laughing silently. Winn face palmed and Astra just sighed and smiled at her shaking her head. Eliza gave her an encouraging thumbs up.
Her gaze settled on Nia who looked apologetic.
“I’m guessing that was filmed live?” Kara said.
Nia nodded and Kara laughed. Well her clumsiness was bound to be caught on camera eventually.
Lena felt immediate relief as the wheels finally landed on the runway. She released her death grip on the armrest and sent a quick prayer of thanks to Rao. Jess politely didn’t say anything until they had taxied over to the private hangar and the doors were opened.
“Welcome home my lady,” the flight attendant said.
Lena gave her a quick smile and looked out the window. Home. Krypton. She had missed her country. She smiled looking at the distant fields of white flowers and the high mountains beyond.
She gathered her bag and coat stepping out and breathing deeply as the clean mountain air filled her lungs. She was home again. She smiled as she saw her driver Frank open the car door for her.
“Hello Frank,” she said smiling at him.
“Welcome home my lady. We’ve missed you.”
Lena beamed at him as Jess quickly slid into the back seat of the car.
“My mother been any trouble?” she asked.
Frank widened his eyes slightly.
“Of course not my lady. Your mother is goodness itself,” he said with false sincerity.
Lena laughed and got into the car. Frank joined them a minute later as their luggage was loaded.
“Where to first?” Frank asked.
“My office, I want to pick up a few things. Then to my mother’s for dinner at six.”
“Straight to work, as usual,” he said giving her a gentle smile.
Lena returned it and turned to Jess as the car started moving.
“So your schedule is mostly clear tonight,” Jess said. “You wanted me to remind you about going over the princess articles, also the voting record for Minister Zod.”
“My mother should have those for me when we arrive this evening, did you get a response about my request for the research grant list?”
“Yes, it’s been printed and should be waiting for you at the office. There should also be the final documents from the Luthor foundation for your handover to Sam.”
“Good, please make sure I sign those before we leave for dinner. I want the transfer finalised before tomorrow afternoon.”
“Of course,” Jess said making a note. “You also need to approve the final version of your letter to the editor for the Kryptonian Tribune, draft a response to Lord Wayne about the trade agreement, and you wanted to go over the funding request for an update to the Kith bridge.”
Lena sighed and nodded.
“Did I get the paper from Dr Olsen yet?”
Jess hesitated for a moment then nodded.
“She sent it through, when we arrive I’ll have it printed out for you.”
“That’s okay, just send it to me now.”
“Of course,” Jess said tapping on her phone.
Lena clicked over to her email and opened the report.
The promise of Virtual Reality in providing mental health services by Dr K. Olsen.
Lena sighed and saw Jess watching her cautiously. She started reading.
They arrived at her Argo office a half hour later and she got out immediately heading up. She nodded to the couple of staff that were still in the office despite the weekend. They all quickly jumped to their feet greeting her. She smiled but didn’t say anything more than a passing greeting as she made her way to her office.
She walked in and saw someone had printed out all the files she asked for and put them in neat white folders on her desk. A small stack of more general papers waited in her in tray.
Lena sat and opened the first file. She looked up and saw the picture by her computer. She hesitated her eyes lingering for a moment. The picture showed Lex grinning at the camera one arm around her fifteen year old self in her fencing gear. Her hair was messy and her face covered in sweat as she smiled holding up her National championship trophy. She sighed and forced her eyes away from his smiling face to the reports before her. She had work to do.
“Mother have you seen his voting history. He was against providing aid during a flood, a flood for Rao’s sake,” Lena said incredulous.
She highlighted the line with a yellow highlighter shaking her head as she continued reading down the voting history of Minister Zod.
“Lena dear watch this-”
Lillian moved her phone into Lena’s view. Lena shifted her papers to keep reading.
“No thank you, I want to find out what else this idiot has opposed,” Lena said not even glancing at the screen.
“The crown princess just completely ruined her inspection of the staff,” Lillian said with a laugh. “This is going to be easier than I thought.”
“Mhmm that’s- oh really?” Lena said exasperated. “He objected to the extension of the environmental protection act. He’s a conservative! It was their policy.”
Lillian chuckled and shook her head smiling as she watched the video on her phone. Lena looked at her.
“Mother, why is it that this,” she gestured to the papers spread before her. “Idiot. Is the one who will be announcing my challenge to the throne?’
Lillian looked up from her phone.
“Two reasons. One he is an idiot and thus a useful pawn. And two, as the parliamentary records officer he has access to the official articles on princess’ ascension.”
Lena sighed.
“Speaking of where are they?” she asked looking around at the mess of papers spread around her.
“Where’s what?” Lillian asked her eyes on her phone.
Lena sighed and looked at her.
“The Princess articles I wanted to look over the requirements to make sure I had my arguments ready should they be needed.”
Lillian glanced at Lena again and then at the papers on the table.
“Aren’t they there?” she asked.
Lena sighed.
“No mother they’re not,” she said barely controlling her exasperation. “Is there something in them I’m not going to like?”
Lillian sighed and looked at Lena for a long moment.
“No dear. Why would you think that?”
Lena really wanted to roll her eyes, but the last time she did she’d gotten a two hour dressing down from Lillian and she really didn’t have the time for that.
“Mother this is the third time I’ve asked you for the articles and the third time they’ve not been given to me. So, I’m going to ask again, is there something in them I am not going to like?”
Lillian sighed and raised an eyebrow.
“Really Lena, you think I would hide something from you now? When we’re so very close to achieving the goal of this family for nine generations.”
And so it begun. Lena tuned her out. She knew the key points. Nine generations, denied the throne, dearest wish of her father, all the preparations made before her brother went missing, last hope for a Luthor ruler before they were too distant, and she was an illegitimate daughter born of an indiscretion of her father’s with a farmers daughter.
“Eve forgot it again didn’t she?” Lena said cutting into the lecture.
Lillian sighed.
“I don’t know why I keep her around,” she muttered. “She’s absolutely useless.”
Lena went back to the voting records. So there was something coming she was not going to like. She forced down another sigh and kept reading Minister Zod’s the voting history. She just hoped whatever was coming wasn’t too ridiculous. Knowing her mother it could be anything from must have a yearly gynaecology exam to must never contradict her mother.
She met Jess’ eyes across the table and her assistant gave her a sympathetic look. As she kept reading Lena found her attention drifting back. Back to blonde hair streaked with blue and a soft pink mouth upon her own. She stared unseeing at the page in front of her as her head was suddenly full of breathy pleas.
“Oh Rao Lena don’t stop. Yes there! Yes! Lena, Lena, Lena-”
“Lena!”
She snapped out of her reverie with a start.
“Yes Mother?” she asked rubbing her head.
“What is wrong with you tonight? I swear ever since your little vacation to Austria-”
“Australia.”
“You’ve been so unfocused.”
Lena sighed and turned to her mother.
“Sorry I am simply preoccupied with thoughts about what I’ll do once I take the throne. I think a searchable database for all of these records might need to be first. Seriously why is nothing electronic?”
“Because her majesty managed to get a transparency clause into the updated standards so the records must be publicly available. In response the major parties made it as difficult as possible for anyone to search them. Eve spent a whole three hours copying those for you.”
Lena sighed and grabbed the next stack. Queen Astra had probably fought for a decade to get these records made publicly available, the least she could do was actually read them. Half a page later her eyes were glazing over with thoughts of Kara again. Lena sighed and pushed herself away from the table giving up.
“I’ll finish these tomorrow. Jess can you block me out a couple of hours tomorrow morning to finish these then.”
Jess nodded quickly.
“Did you want me to move your call to the hospital?” she asked.
Lena sighed.
“Give them my apologies and ask Jan to please email through any requests they have. Also inform them I’ve returned and I’ll have PC collected next week, details to be confirmed on Monday. Also double check that Sam is still set to arrive on Sunday and if you can-”
“Your apartments in Argo have already been cleaned and deliveries will be made and put away Sunday morning before she lands,” Jess said with a smile. “I confirmed this morning.”
Lena gave her an apologetic look.
“Sorry Jess. Clearly I need some sleep.”
Jess smiled back. They both knew it wasn’t sleep she was missing. She’d slept most of the flight. Lena sighed and bid her mother goodnight. Lillian barely looked away from whatever she was going over on her phone to return the farewell.
Lena headed up to her rooms and closed the door with a sigh. She closed her eyes giving herself a moment. When she opened them again she looked over at the picture sitting on the bookshelf. It was of Lex smiling holding Ignatius’ reins after a particularly long ride together through the Kryptonian mountains.
“This is all your fault you know,” she told his picture. “Now I have to give up my chance at love and a great sex life to become queen.”
The picture didn’t respond and she sighed walking over to her desk and more papers. Her life seemed to be a never ending stack of paperwork these days. She looked at the picture of Lex on the desk. They were posing together in front of the pit stop at the Krypton 100, both in the red team Krypton hats with the team and their car just visible in the background.
She sighed heavily and picked up the picture. It always felt like the picture weighed more than it should these days.
“I miss you,” she whispered.