Chapter 54

While Kara and Lena do have to go to the forest, in order to get there they first have to go through National City. Which means a lot of the citizens of the Danvers Kingdom see them as they walk from the castle towards the main entrance/exit into National City. They have to take off their cloaks, or the knowledge of their existence could put them in danger. They help each other put them in their backpacks near the castle before continuing on.

Some citizens stare as they walk past, probably having heard about the fact that they're dating. Some sneer at Lena, like they think she's corrupting Kara but are too cowardly to say anything about it. Kara frowns when she sees those people and reaches out to offer to take Lena's hand after she sees a few.

Lena is more than happy to hold her girlfriend's hand, it makes her feel like Kara doesn't care about who knows and that she's proud to be Lena Luthor's girlfriend. Lena, of course, knows that she is but this action to prove it means more than she could explain. Whenever she had girlfriends, after Lex they never wanted to be seen in public with her. And before Lex, they used her as a show of social status, a bragging right instead of a true relationship.

So Kara and her approach to their relationship is vastly different than what she's used to. She's not used to feeling so... Respected in cared for by a partner. It's refreshing.

No one has approached them in the street, which Lena is grateful for. She doesn't care if it's because of cowardice, fear, or just not caring. It's almost peaceful. That is, until someone approaches them.

"Kara Danvers." The young man says, completely ignoring Lena's presence at first. "When I heard the news, I was shocked. I mean, you? Hanging out with a Luthor? Let alone dating one?" He looks over at Lena for the first time, eyeing her with disgust. "What kind of mind control have you placed on her?"

"None," Lena replies simply.

"Sure," he says skeptically before turning back to her girlfriend with a concerned look. "Kara, dear. If you're still in there, give me a sign."

"I'm still me, Ty." She says.

Ty tsks and shakes his head. "I have to admit, this is all very convincing. But Kara, the real Kara, she's an alien. That's common knowledge now. And you, Luthor." He points at her. "Your brother is a xenophobic mass murderer. You could easily follow in his footsteps. So the real Kara would kill you before you became a threat to her family and her people."

Kara scrunches up her brows. "What? No I wouldn't. She's been judged by who her family is, which is something I know a lot about. Lena's nothing like her brother."

Ty just hums, looking at Kara sympathetically while Kara gives her girlfriend an exasperated look.

"Sorry about him, I don't know what's gotten into him." Kara apologizes.

"What's gotten into me is the fact that a Luthor, you know, our worst enemy? Is on Danvers territory and not immediately kil-"

"I'm going to cut you off right there." Kara says, placing her finger to his lips to make certain he stops talking. "I can pretend not to hear you foolishly talk about taking my girlfriend's life once, but I can't ignore it twice. You do know she's a Queen, right?"

"Queen of the Luthor Kingdom," he scowls at her.

"Yes. So a Queen. Which means you even speaking about wishing she's dead is treason. As in conspiracy to murder a monarch. Which means jail time, and a lot of it." Kara says harshly then softens slightly. "Look, Ty. I know you're trying to look out for me in your own weird way, but I'm okay. I'm fine, I'm . Alright?" Ty nods but doesn't seem fully convinced. "I want you to go home and reflect on everything, okay? And read the article CatCo is about to put out about Lena and me. It'll explain a lot more."

"Alright." He says, seeming deflated. "I will. Sorry, Kara."

"It's alright." Kara pats his shoulder. "Think about it."

Ty nods before running off, leaving Kara and Lena standing in the middle of the street. Kara squeezes Lena's hand gently. They begin walking again and Kara begins speaking.

"Sorry about him. He's pretty protective. He and his little sister were the only ones in his family to escape slave labor on their planet. Alex and I, a while ago we set up a place for orphans like them, and people forced to come here or that just need help with being on Earth. We set them up with a place that really helped them a lot with dealing with everything. He updates us at least once a month about how he and his sister are doing. They kind of see us as extended family, in a way. In their culture, someone who helps and sticks around, or something along those lines, is considered family. So yeah, he's protective."

"You're so good, Kara Danvers." Lena murmurs affectionately.

She was tempted to use Kara's last name on Krypton but decided against it. Even though Kara's out as an alien and as a Super, Lena doesn't know if Kara has revealed to the world what her Kryptonian last name is.

Kara blushes and ducks her head shyly. They continue walking, this time without any interruptions. Lena can still feel eyes on them, on her, but she doesn't mind. She has Kara by her side.

The guards at the front gate salute them and allow them to pass. They walk down the paved main road side by side, hand in hand. Both Lena and Kara memorized the map of roads. From ones with enough use to be paved, to those old enough to nearly be entirely reclaimed by Mother Nature. They both consult their mental maps as they go, checking in with each other to make certain they're both on the same page and know where they are.

Lena and Kara put on their cloaks again once they're off the major roads and have been for a while. The one they're on is made up entirely of brown-red dirt and stones. The cloaks turn a mixture of the color of the dirt and the green colors of the leaves and the brown of the trees. It's interesting to see the colors shift slightly as they walk, causing the cloak to move. They keep the edges together to cover up what they're wearing underneath in an attempt to blend in more.

"It's beautiful here." Kara murmurs. "I love the forest."

Lena hums and smiles softly, squeezing Kara's hand. "It is. Wait until we get to where the castle and old buildings are."

"When will that be?" Kara asks excitedly.

"Two days," Lena answers. She laughs at her girlfriend's pout.

"It would go so much faster if I could just fly." Kara says, giving her girlfriend a hopefully look.

Lena chuckles and pulls Kara to a stop. "That's why I'm here, darling. To make sure you don't just take off and put yourself in unnecessary danger. We talked about this, love."

Kara softens at the sweet nicknames and raises Lena's hand up to her lips to kiss gently. "I know. That doesn't mean I like it."

"I don't really either." Lena admits. "There's a possibility I will get to see my lovely mother again soon. We're headed towards the danger, knowingly and willingly in order to gather information. Towards the enemy, which could have special weapons to use against you." She purses her lips and Kara squeezes her hand again.

"We have each other's backs. We'll be okay, Lee." She says, sounding confident. "We have to be careful and I know we will because we're traveling with each other. I wouldn't risk losing you, just like you wouldn't risk losing me. We'll be careful." Kara repeats.

Lena nods and closes her eyes, letting the comforting words of her girlfriend wash over her. She allows herself to calm down, to believe that they'll make it out of this. She opens them to see Kara facing her with a loving expression that she would tease pretty much anyone else for being disgustingly deep in love.

Lena feels a blush creep up her cheeks and forces herself to keep eye contact with her girlfriend. Kara's smile grows until it's nearly blinding in it's brilliance and leans in to press a swift kiss to Lena's lips, then one to her cheek.

Lena's eyelids flutter and she gives Kara a questioning look. "What was that for?"

"You're just really cute, Lee." Kara murmurs, swinging their arms gently side to side between them.

Lena grins and flushes further. "If you keep doing this, we're never going to get anywhere, love."

"Why not?" Kara asks innocently.

"Because you're adorable and it's really hard to not kiss you right now."

Kara's smile widens and her cheeks go slightly pink as she leans in and captures Lena's lips in hers.

Okay, next chapter will have Sanvers! If we get to it, there'll be the special scene... Hint: it's a banging good time (which you can take one of two ways, both of which are correct). Yup, their first time. Now I'm not a smut writer (both out of preference and because my friends and family know where to find my works) so I won't describe it all the way through... Anyway! I'm off to watch Wonder Woman for the second time ;) Thank you all for reading and for your amazing comments! Stay awesome!