Chapter Text
There is so much beauty in this world.
Kal-El had muttered those words in reverent awe the first time he took Kara flying in the Arctic. Kara could not see then, too frustrated with her multiple failed attempts. Back then, the most she could do is leap into the air over a large distance. She could never maintain the altitude for long.
And even when she mastered the art, moving higher and faster than the Man of Steel himself, those words carried behind her. She wanted to see it for herself, verify the legitimacy. Kal-El always waxed poetic about his home and Kara understood that she would do the same for Krypton if it still existed.
So, after graduation, Kara takes a year off and travels, curious to discover the beauty Kal-El spoke so highly of.
The day before her journey, Kal places an old but functional camera in her hands, encouraging her to capture the moments. Alex pulls her into a hug that would be bone crushing if Kara wasn’t super-powered and whispers a be safe, voice tight with emotion she will not address. Eliza’s hug is much more subdued but just as loving. When they part, she gifts Kara with Jeremiah’s old rucksack, along with an envelope full of cash and a credit card.
Alex drives her to the airport, silent and teary eyed. She purchases a one-way ticket to Mexico and makes her way through customs and waits in the lounge prior to takeoff.
She snaps a photo everywhere she goes. Of locals, scenery, statues, museums and art. Of anything that strikes her as even remotely beautiful. And the more she travels—through the bustling streets of Mexico City, island jumps across the Caribbean, down to the tip of South America and over to Africa—the more she sees it. Believes it.
Earth is more than just its rowdy populace, its rapid march towards ecological ruin and environmental destruction. Behind the smog of pollution and political corruption, there is the vibrant colours of natives in the Peruvian valleys and the Columbian mountains. In the heart of the Savannah and the streaming pulse of Amazon. In the pitch black, sleek coat of a black panther. The grace and ease of a lioness.
She captures it all, film after film and spends hours developing whenever she can find a dark room or a hostel big enough to let her set up her own. She sends some to Alex, her own makeshift postcards as she travels at a brisk but human pace along the Chilean coastline. On foot no less.
As she makes friends on the beach and enjoys fire grilled and freshly caught fish. Ceviche in Costa Rica, mango popsicles in Mexico, ackee and saltfish in Jamaica and Jollof rice and stew in Ghana.
She starts to see the beauty as she soars through the thick canopy of trees and vines, hand dipping and slicing through the ice-cold waters of the Atlantic.
She sees so much and understands even more that by the time she returns to Midvale, she knows what she wants to do next.
Alex helps her with the application to NCU's prestigious photography program.
And it's here in National City Memorial Park, a mere fifteen minutes from campus, Kara learns there's one other form of beauty she has yet to appreciate.
It comes in the stunning form of a dark-haired woman sitting cross-legged on a weather-worn bench just beyond the small pond. There's a tiny bridge to take you over to the other side, a bed of shrubs and wildflowers at the base, just enough for Kara to hide behind as she stares.
The woman, whose pale skin catches in the orange evening glow, flips another page in the thick book she's currently engrossed in. White light filters in from between the branches of the great wide oak tree a few feet ahead of her. Multicoloured leaves shimmy off from the light autumn breeze passing through.
It creates a scene that is so lovely in Kara's mind, so beautiful, warm, and ethereal, that she doesn't think so much as act, pulling that same camera out of her well-worn messenger bag.
Kara lines up the shot, determined to capture the stream of light, the falling leaves and the face of the most exquisite woman she’s ever seen.
She zooms in a touch more and snaps away.
The flash and shutter noise gives her up. The woman's head whips up sharply, sea foam green eyes spotting Kara with eerie precision.
Kara expects anger or at the very least, annoyance. She doesn't normally do this, take such candid pictures of strangers. Even one as perfect and gorgeous as this one. But there's no scowl on the woman's face, no confusion creasing her brow. If anything, she seems resigned, almost as if this isn't the first time something like this has happened to her.
Slowly, Kara straightens up from her crouch and tentatively approaches. The beautiful woman closes her book, dog-earing the page delicately and placing it just as gently on the empty spot beside her.
"How much?" she asks, sounding exasperated in a way Kara can't quite comprehend. She maintains eye contact and it's then Kara realizes that her eyes are actually a fusion of green and pale blue.
Her hair is even darker too, almost jet-black and silky but it’s pulled into a neat braid. She's wearing a burgundy peacoat, cashmere black turtleneck, Cartier earrings and knee-length chestnut boots. She looks expensive, oozing with it from every pore and Kara drowns in her sandalwood scent.
"What?" Kara says once she remembers herself. Rao only knows how long she must have been standing there like a right fool just gawking at this gorgeous woman who’s staring disinterestedly back at her.
"How much?" the woman repeats, more emphasis on each word and this time, she turns and produces a cheque book from her Hermes handbag.
Oh.
"No, I...I don't want anything," Kara squeaks, rubbing at the heat creeping up her neck. She’s absolutely mortified, clearly being mistaken for some sleazy paparazzi chasing her next tabloid front page.
The woman squints at her, looking dubious. "You were taking photos of me."
Kara nods. "Yes and I’m sorry about that. I—I really wasn’t thinking. It's just—”
She cuts herself off, wondering if honesty is the way to go here. The woman's body language is still defensive though there's something close to curiosity breaking across her sharp features. And besides, Kara's never been particularly good at not being blunt, much to Alex's chagrin.
"The leaves were falling, autumn is one of my favourite seasons and," she grips the camera in both hands, showing it to the stranger, "my cousin once told me that there's so much beautiful in the world. I didn't believe him until recently and I decided that I wanted to capture everything I find that makes this world so beautiful."
The woman blinks, obviously not expecting anything that just tumbled out of Kara's mouth. "What are you saying? Exactly.”
"You're beautiful," Kara says it simply and holds up her camera and turns it around so that the woman can see her pry open the section housing the film. "So I took a photo to capture you. And I'm sorry, I should've asked first. I can get rid of it right now and—”
“No!” the woman interrupts and the blush tinting her cheeks the loveliest shade of pink makes this moment of embarrassment worthwhile. She clears her throat and speaks again, “That won’t be necessary.”
“Okay,” Kara exhales, a slow smile creeping across her face. The stranger returns it, albeit stiltedly, dimples appearing. Oh she has dimples!
"So you...you don't know who I am then?"
"No," Kara replies, tilting her head to the side. She studies the face of the woman in front of her, certain she would have remembered seeing her before. A face like that isn’t something one forgets.
"But I would like to. If you'll allow me. I'm Kara." Shifting the camera into just one hand, she extends the other to her potential new friend.
The woman merely gapes at it for a moment. Kara seems to have thrown her for a loop and Kara can only hope that she is coming off as genuinely as she intends.
There's no explaining it, this need flooding her chest, warming her heart, strumming her skin.
"Lena," she says, a unique lilt to her voice, a magical quality that Kara could listen to for hours and hours.
Kara grins again and this time it’s completely unrestrained. Lena moves her book, a clear invitation for Kara to sit. So she does.
"It's nice to meet you, Lena."