#taktsang

Now, it’s canon-divergent and as far as I’m concerned, it happens before Cat ever returns to National City to deal with Rhea. I really did try to keep it under the 2K words limit but I still managed to write 8 words more ... Let’s go to Bhutan folks! (The place I described is real, here’s a picture)I hope you like it anyway! 

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The sun is barely hinting behind the Himalayan mountains.

The highest summits are starting to glint and gleam around the edge, from the first sunbeams that enlighten the snowed tops. It reflects on the sky and gives it the typical pink and orange shades of a promising warm day while the night stars slowly start to fade away.

Supergirl slows down and takes a moment to gently float in the air to admire the rising day.

It’s a peaceful spectacle, slow, quiet and strangely soothing.

She watches as the moon progressively disappears under the first glimmer of a still shy sun and loses track of time. It’s only when the night sky has completely been replaced by a splendid azure that she shakes her head and resumes her flying.

The lower valleys are of the deepest green color, covered with a thick forest that looks straight out of a Hayao Miyazaki movie. The blooming sunlight sometimes reflects on the few rivers that meander through the thick vegetation and upon the surface of still lakes that sit in the dips of the landscape. The air smells like humid wood, warm sunbeams and fresh grass, with distant hints of frozen snow.

Kara takes her time to fly above the landscape and to fill her lungs with its pure air before she takes a turn and heads toward a reasonably high mountain.

A temple had been built against the slope of it, made of white walls and a red roof lined with gold that spread and climbed on many different levels. The building cleverly followed the shape of the mountain and from its vantage point, it was surveying the village nested in the lower part of the valley.

Supergirl lands in front of what appears to be the monastery, her cape fluttering as her boots make a soft thud when they hit the pavement.

The place is as peaceful as the landscape surrounding it, with a lot of green gardens full of flowers and trees showing all around the few buildings as well as some water points and whispering fountains. Music can be heard in the distance, hints of something with strings and some variant of a piano.

Her arrival earns her some curious glances from the few people around but for the most part, they seem unfazed and a couple of minutes later, they all resume to their daily routine.

Kara notices the red tunics, simple but still embroidered with strands of gold and tied to the waist by a golden belt that looks like a precious rope. Everyone is wearing the same clothes, as far as Kara can tell, men with shaved heads, women with long hair flowing freely around their relaxed features and even the few children are dressed in red outfits, only without the gold.

“Can I help you, Supergirl?”

The English sounds harsh and is heavy with an unfamiliar accent but the voice is gentle and inviting.

The woman standing at Kara’s side seems to be well into her seventies, with deep creases dug in a face that still betrays how beautiful she must have been in her youth. Her hair, of a light gray color that sparkles like liquid silver are gently cascading on her shoulders, framing a pair of intense green eyes that shines with intelligence and wisdom and a smile that is surprisingly white but decidedly welcoming.

“Good morning Ma’am,” Supergirl greets, instinctively returning the smile. She’s a little surprised that they still know who she is, in this very remote and isolated place, but she goes with it. “I’m looking for someone …”

The knowing gleam in the woman’s ever green eyes takes Kara by surprise.

“She’s in the monastery, but you already knew that …” the stranger says, her smile widening. “You’ve been listening for her heart, haven’t you?”

Kara feels a little unsettled by how effortlessly this woman can read her.

She’s used to being recognized everywhere but to have a perfect stranger know about the reason of her presence in such a place is something else.

“I’ll go get her,” the woman offers, seeming to sense Kara’s trouble.

“Uh … Thank you,” Kara replies, not entirely comfortable. “Can I ask … Who are you?”

The woman’s eyes, as green as the valleys Kara had flown over moments ago, are aglow with a strange mixture of mischief and wisdom. Under this watchful gaze, Kara almost shifts from one foot to another, but she refrains herself and simply waits for an answer.

Eventually, the woman introduces herself.

“You can call me Madge, Supergirl. I’ll go get her now, it’s been a pleasure.”

Kara blinks and barely has the time to reply a small “Likewise” before Madge goes away. Kara watches as the helpful lady crosses the little place and climbs up the many steps that lead to the monastery’s entrance.

Of all the place in the world, Kara thinks.

A few children hesitantly hovers nearby, obviously curious about her but not brave enough to get closer. She offers them a gentle and bright smile and that does the trick. In an instant, she’s surrounded by five young child that reverently touch her cape, seemingly enthralled by the flowing fabric. Kara can’t help but to notice the red of their outfit is the exact same shade as her own.

Inside, the heartbeat she’s been tuned to ever since she left National City suddenly quickens.

If she wanted to, she could focus to hear the voices as Madge probably delivered the news of a visitor. She doesn’t, though. She’s not sure she can take a rejection, so she simply waits.

A man’s voice rises behind her, listing words that sound like names and sure enough, most the children scatter away. The only one staying behind is a very young girl with dark eyes, dark hair and a deep tanned skin. Kara kneels in front of her and speaks in Dzongkha to ask for the girl’s name.

“Sangay,” the child replies with a smile of her own.

It’s a bit crooked as she’s missing a few teeth and Kara’s awed.

After a few seconds, the little girl shyly asks if she can touch Supergirl’s hair and so Kara gently takes Sangay’s hand and brings it to her own hair. The caress is very light and soft. It seems to make the little girl’s very happy, if the big smile and shining eyes are anything to go by. In her language, she says thank you and then saunters away under Kara’s affectionate watch.

“Still making friends wherever you go, I see.”

The voice, familiar and slightly sarcastic, makes Kara’s own heartbeat race in her chest.

It’s been a long time since she last heard it and even though it’s the very reason of her presence in this strange and isolated place, for a moment there, she feels at a loss as to what to think and what to say.

Looking up from where she’s still kneeled on the floor, Kara finally takes in the sight of Cat Grant.

She’s wearing the customary red tunic but on her silhouette, it looks incredibly regal, like a dress an actual queen would wear. The strands of gold embroidered in the crimson fabric gently shine under the morning light and it matches the halo of her hair as well as the freckles in her eyes. She’s got her hands on her hips, her head tilted to the side and despite the singularity of the place, despite the religious undertones and the strangeness of it all, Kara finds Cat hasn’t changed at all.

Sure, her hair is longer, stopping below the shoulders. Her face is make-up free and her smile is as relaxed as ever, but she still exudes power and the way she arches a brow brings back a lot of sassy lines in Kara’s mind.

“Good morning, Miss Grant,” Kara eventually greets her, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Hm. Stand up, Supergirl. I don’t need any rumor saying you flew all the way from National City only to propose to me in the middle of a sacred temple in Bhutan,” Cat retorts with a smirk on her lips.

Kara furiously blushes at that and instantly stands up, so fast she almost cracks the pavement under her boots. It makes Cat roll her eyes, but she doesn’t comment on it.

Instead, she gestures for Kara to follow her and starts walking toward one of the gardens.

“Now, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Cat asks, glancing at Kara. “Unless you did come here to propose to me ...”

Kara feels the tip of her ears burn. She’s pretty sure she’s as crimson as her cape, now.

It’s been a fantasy of her, to marry Cat Grant. She knows it’s the result of a crush she’s harbored for a long, long time, one that never really faded if she’s being honest with herself.

“I did not!” Kara squeaks, trying not to sound too hopeful.

The look Cat throws her is unreadable but Kara chooses not to focus on it.

After a moment, Cat sits on a stone bench conveniently placed atop a bordering wall that overlooks the valleys. A fountain softly whispers on the side of the little garden and opposite to it, a crying tree seems to spill its tears over the edge of the wall. Kara sits next to her former boss.

“Then what is it, Supergirl? Don’t tell me you flew in just to tell me you miss me,” Cat says, punctuating the absurdity of the thought with a flicker of her wrist.

“Would it be so bad if I did?” Kara instinctively replies, the words escaping her lips before she can swallow them back. She almost swears out loud when she realizes what she did but instead, she only bites the inside of her cheek, eyes resolutely trained in front of her.

Silence follows her outburst and it lasts, enough for Kara to wish that the ground would open and swallows her whole just so she could avoid the embarrassment of dealing with her impulsivity.

“It depends,” Cat eventually retorts, her voice a little softer than previously. “I mean … Supergirl and I have a professional relationship, since I branded her. We’ve been working together a few times but it doesn’t make sense that she would fly across the country to come tell me that she misses me.”

Kara sharply glances at her but doesn’t say anything. Cat’s ever green eyes are intense and the gaze doesn’t waver when she continues.

“Now, my former assistant, Kara Danvers …” Cat trails off and finally looks away. “That’s something else entirely.”

Kara’s heart misses a beat, but she has a feeling Cat’s not done.

“I once told Kara that we should keep our relationship professional, so that nobody would get confused, nobody would get hurt. The simple fact that I had to instate and state that distance in the first place was … telling, wouldn’t you say, Supergirl?” Cat asks, irony bleeding through her voice.

Kara has known Cat for years, she can read in between the lines.

Cat Grant was many things, but she wasn’t stupid, far from it. Of course, she knew about Kara’s alter-ego, despite the half-hearted attempt with J’onn to try to make her believe otherwise.

“See, I’ve watched Kara grow into a confident and bold young woman through the years, and she became … so much more than just an assistant, to me.” Cat’s voice becomes softer and a gentle smile floats on her lips. “Now, that Kara Danvers would come find me, in the middle of a temple in Bhutan, to say that she misses me … That would make a lot more sense.”

Kara stays quiet after that.

She mulls over Cat’s words, trying to find the right way to say what Cat already knows. She doesn’t want to make it sound meaningless because the truth is, she did come here to try to bring back Cat, both as Kara Danvers and as Supergirl. National City just isn’t the same without the queen of all medias and Kara’s tired of missing Cat.

“You knew, didn’t you? You knew, all this time … We never fooled you,” Kara whispers, turning her head to look into Cat’s knowing green eyes.

“What did you expect? After all, I am a journalist at heart,” Cat nods, her tone slightly cutting.

It makes Kara smiles and she slowly stands up. Facing Cat, she looks down into her eyes and places a hand above the crest on her chest.

“In this case, allow me to introduce myself. My name, my real name I mean, is Kara Zor-El.”

Cat’s eyes sparkle with recognition as she glances down at the symbol resting underneath Kara’s fingers. An easy smile forms on her lips, and she slowly stands up from the bench.

“Well hello there,” Cat greets her, coming to a stop in front of Kara.

She reaches a hand and gently caress the Kryptonian symbol, her fingers eventually intertwining with Kara’s.

They’re standing very close to each other and Kara’s heart is beating frantically against her rib cage. It’s so strong that it almost drowns the sound of Cat’s own heart as it drums faster and faster with every passing second. Almost.

“Took you long enough,” Cat whispers, her words landing on Kara’s lips from how close they stand. “I was expecting you sooner, you know?”

“You were?” Kara wonders, eyes searching into Cat’s evergreen ones.

Cat nods but doesn’t say anything. There’s a daring gleam in her eyes, something defiant and expectant at once. It’s all the permission Kara needs.

She kisses Cat.

It’s soft and stormy at once, gentle lips molding against each other and hands coming to hold cheeks, with a hint of tongues and just enough pressure to make them both yearn for more. It slowly but steadily morphs into something deeper and when Cat eventually pulls away, she’s panting and her eyes are ablaze with lust.

“Not that I don’t love the fact I can literally make you fly but could you bring us down, Supergirl?”

Kara blinks and looks down, blushing when she realises they’re floating a good few inches above the ground. No wonder she thought she was floating. She gently lands them back on the pavement in front of the bench but keeps her arms around Cat.

“So … did you miss me?” Cat asks, one hand still resting on Kara’s chest and the other toying with a strand of Kara’s hair.

“I think the fact I tracked you down in a remote monastery in the middle of Bhutan is an answer in itself but if you want me to say it …” Kara sasses, chuckling when Cat glares at her. Her voice becomes serious when she finishes “Yes, I have missed you, Cat. More than I can express.”

It earns her a bright and yet slightly shy smile from Cat. It’s a gesture Kara’s not sure she’s ever seen before, and she loves it. It makes Cat’s eyes gleam and shine with hope, joy and something akin to love.

“I have missed you too, Kara,” Cat says, moving her hand to caress Kara’s cheek and dropping a kiss to the corner of her lips. “Now, tell me. Are you expected back in National City soon?”

An amused smirk slowly graces Kara lips.

“Why, do you have something in mind for me?”

“My my, aren’t you brazen,” Cat whistles, sounding half-sarcastic and half-impressed. “Since you ask … I have a lot of plans for you, actually.”

Kara blushes and shudders underneath Cat’s knowing gaze. Something warm settles at the bottom of her stomach and spreads through her lower body.

“I’m not expected back before at least half a day but even if I’m needed … I’m a super-powered alien, I can be back in a few minutes.” Kara eventually replies, not missing the interested sparkle that shine in Cat’s hazel irises.

“Perfect,” Cat approves, nodding to herself. “Ever been into a yurt, Supergirl?”

Kara freezes and then stares. She’s got super hearing, but she still can’t believe the words that came out of her former boss mouth.

“Did I hear you say yurt?” Kara stammers, shock lining her voice. “Wait, are you living in one? Who are you and what have you done with Cat Grant?”

“Keep saying words and you’ll be on your way back a lot sooner than expected” Cat threatens and Kara has no doubt that she means it.

So instead, Kara tightens her arms around Cat.

“Where to?”

Cat laughs and drops another kiss against Kara’s lips before she pulls away.

Her eyes are gleaming with mischief and impatience and Kara feels another wave of warmth wash over her.

After a moment, Cat brings her mouth next to Kara’s ear and whispers :