Chapter 10
Kara spent the few days leading up to and after her fifteenth Name Day groaning in pain as her body adjusted from the constant exposure to Earth’s yellow sun. Her muscles burned in her body and her bones creaked as they seemed to lengthen practically overnight. It was a few days after her fifteenth Name Day when Kara blearily opened her eyes and finally felt the pain abating from her body. She shakily stood from the bed and wavered slightly, unused to the new height she found herself with. She padded softly to the full length mirror on her closet door and took a good look at herself. Her body had toned and developed, any excess baby fat she had from her time on Krypton melted away leaving toned, trimmed muscles. She felt guilt well in her as she brushed her hand along a flat stomach and sculpted arms. Kara knew that it was only the effects of the Earth’s yellow sun that allowed her to attain a form many worked their whole lives for; she also knew that it won’t take anything for her to maintain her new trim form and she could still eat her weight in potstickers and pizza.
She felt a slight draft around her ankles and glanced down, seeing that her pants had ridden up slightly with her new height. “I’m going to need to get new clothes,” Kara groaned, “Good thing it’s summer, I can get away with wearing shorts at least.” She ambled into the bathroom, striping off her pajamas as she went, mourning the loss of her puppy dog pajama pants. She showered quickly and pulled on her underwear along with a simple tank top and shorts. Her bra no longer fit over her suddenly larger breasts, so she chose a simple sports bra and wrapped her hair in a towel before leaving her room in search of her mother. It was still early in the morning, so she expected to find the older blonde in the kitchen getting her breakfast before heading into work.
“Good Lord,” Cat muttered as she saw her suddenly taller than her daughter shuffle softly into the kitchen. “Those shorts are almost indecent Kara.” Her eyes had drifted downward and saw the muscles flexing in her legs as she moved around the room. “And when did you get taller than me?”
“Ugh, Mom,” Kara whined, “Almost none of my clothes fit anymore. I magically shot up six inches overnight, and developed in… other areas.” Her voice trailed off as she turned a bright red and fidgeted slightly.
Cat snickered quietly at her blushing daughter but pulled out her phone, sending a message to her personal shopper. “If you think you can control the embarrassment, I have a tape measure around here somewhere. I’ll send my personal shopper your new measurements and have her pick up some new clothes for you. We’ll go shopping for new clothes tomorrow before we go to Gotham.”
“Thanks Mom,” Kara blushed, refusing to look at the older woman.
The older blonde rolled her eyes at her daughter’s bashfulness and motioned the girl back towards her bedroom. She found the measuring tape in the bathroom cabinet and took Kara’s new measurements, noting the newly formed muscles all over the teenager’s body. They weren’t overly pronounced like one would find on a bodybuilder, but they were still toned. “You’re going to have to make up a lie about how you managed to get so toned,” Cat said was the blushing girl was dressed again. “A growth spurt will only explain away so much.”
Kara shrugged, “I figured I could say I picked up a sport? Or spent a lot of time swimming this summer? I don’t think many people will ask truthfully.”
“Lucy might notice,” Cat teased, sending Kara’s measurements to her shopper. She smirked at the prominent blush coloring the younger blonde’s face and chuckled slightly. Another ping from her cellphone and she glanced down away from the blushing girl. “Josie said she would drop off some clothes for you this afternoon while I’m doing my talk show.
“Her name is Joanna mom,” Kara corrected, walking back to the kitchen to get her breakfast.
Cat just waved her hand dismissively and continued to make her breakfast, a simple bowl of fruit and yogurt with a cup of black coffee and the crossword puzzle. She handed Kara the sudoku as the girl passed by her to get her own breakfast out of the refrigerator, eight hard-boiled eggs, a container of cottage cheese mixed with peanut butter and grapes. The concoction looked disgusting but Cat’s nutritionist assured her that it was high in protein for energy. A whole carton of the mix was also high in calorie, but her bubbly daughter needed the calories to support her high metabolism and the use of her powers. She could only imagine how much food she’ll need to provide the girl if and when she started using her powers actively. It’s a good thing I’m rich, Cat thought for the thousandth time as she watched Kara eat her breakfast happily. She finished her crossword and moved to her son’s room to get him up and ready for the day.
“Is Meredith going to be coming to get Carter soon?” Kara mumbled out around the grape in her mouth when Cat brought the waking child into the kitchen. At four years old, the boy was starting to develop a personality and it seemed having a younger sister was doing wonders for his socialization. It was obvious he was still painfully shy and intellectually he was presenting ahead of his peers, but having Kara and her bubbly, outgoing personality around was a boon for the child.
Carter’s crush on the girl was still evident and Cat continued to find it both endearing and amusing. “He has tiny tots soccer practice this morning,” the woman gave as an answer. “I know you normally like to go…”
Kara squeaked, “I can’t go out in public like this! I mean, it’s just, no! My shorts are too short, and my shirt barely reaches the top of my shorts, no!”
“You’re not body shaming yourself are you, you know we’ve talked about this, perhaps we should have the talk again since you seem to have developed-”
The blonde girl rushed to place a hand over her mother’s mouth, her eyes wide. “No! No, we don’t have to have the talk again. It’s not body shame, more… embarrassment. And you have to admit, the length of these shorts are almost indecent on me.”
“I’m joking Kara, though if Jacquline-”
“Joanna.”
“- gets here before Meredith and Carter leave for tiny tots, I would suggest you go. You’ll be in Gotham for almost all of July and Carter will miss you.”
“I’ll miss both of you, and will probably end up calling every day,” Kara said, inhaling the last of her food. A pensive look crossed her face and she looked up at her mother hesitantly. “Will your… do you think you acquaintances will like me?”
“If they know what’s good for them,” Cat muttered, a dark look crossing her face. “They’re going to find it extremely difficult to get in their bodysuits if so much as a hair on your precious golden head is out of place…”
“Mom?”
“Nevermind me darling, just know that they’re professionals and they can help you if you want to be a hero. You will not be donning a cape though until at least after college and after you’ve had some training. I’m sure you would’ve done fine, but having some training at least will help you avoid common mistakes. And even if you decide not to be a hero like your cousin, they can help you learn to control your powers in ways that I can’t.”
“You’ve been great Mom,” Kara said, hugging the woman tightly. “I can’t even imagine what growing up on Earth would’ve been like without you.”
Cat barked out a laugh, “Probably a lot of hiding and denying who you are. I can understand protecting your secret from unsavory government types, but denying your power, something that is essentially part of who you are?” The woman scoffed, “It has taken a lot of years to start to accept things about myself and to learn to never deny my power, to keep challenging myself, keep diving. I won’t have my children growing up denying themselves, alien, human, straight, gay, you are accepted here.”
“You’re a good mom,” Kara said, embracing the woman, “I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“Girls are yucky,” Carter announced from his seat, finally awake enough to start tapping on the table for food. He was big enough to sit in a booster seat to reach the table and he insisted on having his seat be right next to his big sister. “I don’t like girls.”
“Really buddy? I’m a girl, do you not like me anymore?” Kara gave the boy a sad pout and he rushed to correct himself.
“No! No, you’re good, I love you, you’re so pretty, and nice and you smell good.”
“What about your friend Stacie? You play soccer with her and have playdates in the park, she’s a girl.”
“Stacie pushed Jackson down and put mud in his hair when he was being mean to me,” Carter replied grinning, “She’s not a girl.”
“And how do you describe a girl then Carter?” Cat asked intrigued. “Kara’s a girl, I’m a girl, there’s nothing wrong with the term ‘girl.’”
“Stacie has an older sister, she’s not one of the nice ones like Kara, or Ben’s sister Melanie. Melanie plays firetruck with us because she wants to be a firefighter when she grows up, but Stacie’s sister Jessica is not nice. She makes her wear dresses and makeup and have tea parties.” Carter stuck out his tongue, “Gross.”
“Yeah Mom, you heard him, girls are gross,” Kara chuckled, winking at her mother.
“You’re both hilarious. Meredith or Jonnie-”
“Joanna.”
“- should be here soon, so I have to get to work.” She kissed both of them on the head before grabbing her purse and slipping on her shoes. “I’ll see both of you tonight.”
“Bye Mom,” Kara and Carter called as the woman left. The blonde girl made a small bowl of oatmeal and blueberries for her brother and the boy dug into his meal with gusto. Half an hour later, the doorbell rang and Kara answered it, finding Joanna on the other side with a few bags for her. The woman handed over the bags with a smile before she left, leaving Kara with her new clothes. She spotted Meredith walking down the hall before she closed the door and waited for the woman, making sure she got to Carter who was back in his room before she took her new clothes to her own room. Tugging off her clothes, Kara sighed in relief when she pulled on a pair of panties and a bra that actually fit, along with a t-shirt and pair of shorts.
By the time she had slipped a pair of flip-flops on her feet, pulled her hair into a ponytail and returned to the living room, Carter and Meredith were ready to leave to head to the park with the boy’s tiny cleats packed in the bag for when they got to the field.
“You two ready to go?” Meredith asked, smiling at the two as they walked out of the door.
“You ready for soccer buddy?” Kara asked, smiling down at her brother.
The boy nodded, his whole body bouncing with him. “So long as I don’t have to play with girls…”
“That’s right, girls are icky,” the blonde agreed, winking at Meredith. The older girl chuckled and stifled back a smirk as she led the two to the elevator and down to her car.
“So icky!”
“Carter is staying with Meredith for the night since his father is away on a business trip, and I wouldn’t leave him with my mother if she was the last person on Earth,” Cat said, turning her phone off as she settled into her seat.
“Mom, you know that flights don’t bother me that much anymore,” Kara said as she turned away from the window to look at the older woman. “I could’ve flown in coach and you could’ve stayed home with Carter.”
“Nonsense,” Cat replied, brushing her concern off, “There’s a few people in Gotham I need to speak with personally about coming on my show, they’ve been dodging my producer’s calls. And you know I don’t fly anything but first class.”
“It’s a domestic flight mom, there’s not that much of a difference between coach and first class,” the girl replied, pointing to the curtain dividing the main cabin from the first class seats.
“Yes, but first class serves alcohol darling and you know I need it to get through these flights,” Cat said, her hands clutching the armrests as the plane started taxiing down the runway. Kara kept one hand on her mother’s arm but her eyes were glued on the outside world. She had gotten used to flying in planes after her first few trips with her mother to Metropolis and then more trips to Chicago or up to Seattle. She wanted to be able to fly on her own though, without having to worry about staying fastened in a seat or with hundreds of other people with her. She longed to fly but knew that Cat was right, she would have to wait.
The plane reached the correct altitude and leveled off, causing the older woman to release her death grip on the chair. Cat waited a few moments for the flight attendant to get settled and started serving beverages to the first class passengers, and ordered a scotch for herself and some juice for Kara. She knocked back the drink before settling in to read a few papers while Kara continued to look out the window. The girl watched as the sky changed from afternoon to evening, and as the landscape below them changed rapidly with the geography of the country. Five hours, and four glasses of Scotch, later the plane was landing at the Gotham airport.
“Are you alright?” Kara asked as her mother stood up and wavered slightly on her feet.
“I’m fine,” Cat said, shaking her head slightly, “That last scotch just hit me a little bit that’s all.” The girl eyed her mother suspiciously but just shook her head. She collected the carryon bags from the overhead compartment and followed the woman off the plane, winding their way down towards the baggage claim. They waited a few minutes for the luggage to be empty from the plane. Cat pulled out her cell-phone and returned calls that were missed during the flight and Kara glanced around at the other people waiting around the baggage claim. Even in the airport, Gotham felt darker and more stifling than the brightness of National City. It was a city full of crime and darkness, some of the country’s most twisted and insane villains stalked the streets of Gotham.
Kara spotted her bags along with the one her mother packed while she stayed in the city for a few days and darted forward to grab them. “Kara, this way,” she heard Cat call and turned around to see her mother striding across the lobby towards the car lot.
“Mom!” The blonde yelled, scurrying after the woman. “Do we even know if your acquaintance is here?”
“Of course he’s not here, he wouldn’t show up here, no he sent his butler.” The older woman scanned the waiting cars until a balding, gray-haired man in a suit stepped into her line of vision.
“Ms Grant,” the man intoned, his British accent smooth, completing the overall look.
“Alfred, delightful to see you again,” Cat greeted, waving Kara forward. “Alfred, this is my daughter Kara, Kara this is Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne’s butler and most trusted confidant.”
“Bruce Wayne, like the Bruce Wayne?” Kara blinked, staring at the man in shock. “Like one of the most successful CEOs in the country Bruce Wayne?”
“Correct Miss Grant, if you would follow me, the car is this way.” The man led the two over towards a limo waiting on the curb and helped Kara place the bags in the trunk before helping them both in the back.
“The acquaintance of yours we’re seeing is Bruce Wayne?” Kara asked, looking at her mother wide-eyed.
“Well, I’m going to be talking with him about coming on the show to discuss his business and plans for the future, but if things go the way I think, you’ll be working with someone else,” Cat replied evasively, a mysterious smile etched on her face. They drove through the city, and Kara kept her face glued outside the window to take in the sights of Gotham. Although it was only across the bay from Metropolis, the city felt darker, colder. The buildings were tall and imposing, dwarfing the streets and casting long shadows in their wake. Kara wondered if there were places in Gotham where the sun never touched. They headed towards the outskirts of the city and Kara could see they were heading towards a large, gothic style manor situated on the cliffs overlooking the ocean.
“Welcome to Wayne Manor Ms. Grant, Miss Grant,” Alfred said as he opened the car door to let to two women out. “Master Wayne is waiting for you in the drawing room I believe.”
“I remember the way Alfred, I’ll leave you to deal with the luggage, come along Kara.”
“But, um,” Kara said, glancing between the bags and the woman striding towards the front door of the manor.
“It’s alright Miss Grant,” Alfred said, smiling at the girl, “You can go on in, I’m assuming that you want to meet Master Wayne as soon as possible.”
“I have read a lot about him,” the girl replied reluctantly, “But I don’t want to leave you with the bags, Mom packed a lot of stuff in her suitcase…”
“I’m aware that Ms. Grant likes to be prepared for every occasion, it’s no trouble Miss Grant, in the house you go.”
The blonde looked at the older man for a moment before trotting after her mother. She reached the door just as the older woman strode passed the threshold, and the two made their way inside. Kara glanced around the manor while the walked as Cat led them to the drawing room. They reached the room and found a man that looked to be in his mid to late 30s helping himself to the mini-bar in the room. Kara instantly recognized him as Bruce Wayne, but wondered who the red-haired woman that was also in the room was.
“Cat Grant,” Bruce greeted, handing the woman a tumbler of whiskey, “I have to say I did not expect the phone call I received from you.”
“What can I say Bruce,” Cat replied coyly, making Kara let out an imperceptible sigh, “I like surprising people.”
“I’m sure you do,” the man replied before gesturing towards the other woman in the room who was lounging on the couch with her legs crossed. “May I introduce Katherine Kane.”
“Kate,” the woman stated, standing up, “Kate Kane.”
“Mhm, yes, the name is familiar, another wealthy young heiress,” Cat mused, looking the woman up and down. “I believe it is Batwoman I presume.”
Kara’s eyes widened while the woman just chuckled. “Now how did you figure that out?” Kate asked, giving Cat a bemused look.
Cat just scoffed, “It’s my job to know these things. Wealthy young heiress, former playgirl, former military, out and proud lesbian, disappears for a few years on a worldwide trip before reappearing in Gotham to take over her family’s company. Quite coincidental that Batwoman appeared a short time.” The blonde woman sighed and sat down on one of the chairs, crossing her legs as she sipped at her drink. “It’s a wonder more people don’t figure it out, but I’ve found that people often miss what’s right in front of them.”
“Remind me to never get on your bad side,” Kate chuckled before she turned her hazel eyes on the blonde girl. “And who is this?” She sauntered over to the girl and circled her slowly, letting her eyes trail over her form.
“Underage and too young for you,” Cat barked, narrowing her eyes at the woman.
“Ka-Kara,” the girl stuttered out, extending her hand, “Kara Grant.”
“I heard rumors about Cat Grant adopting a daughter but I didn’t expect you to be so,” Kate gestured at the girl, indicating her tall, strong frame. She heard Cat growl at her again from behind her and realized that her life was endanger if she kept on the line of conversation. She might have been a martial arts master, but even she knew not to mess with a mother protecting her child. “So, Bruce,” Kate said, turning to the man, “Why am I here? To meet with Cat Grant?”
The man sipped at his own drink, his own eyes assessing the blonde girl before looking at the red-haired woman. “Not exactly,” Bruce replied as he set his glass down. “Ms. Grant called me for a favor after keeping my secret all these years. She wanted me to help her daughter, to train her. Since I’ve mostly retired at present to focus on Wayne Industries, though I will do what I can, I thought that you would be a good replacement.”
Kara studied the man for a moment before glancing around the house again, using her x-ray vision to see through the walls into the heart of the structure. “Oh,” she blinked, focusing back on the man, “You’re Batman! Or you were? Still are?”
Bruce nodded as he glanced back at the girl, “And you are Superman’s cousin.”
Kate whirled around to look at the girl again. “What? No way?” She blinked before really looking at the girl, “Well you obviously got all the looks in the family.”
“Watch yourself Kane…” Cat warned again before glancing to Bruce. “Since Batwoman starting cleaning up the crime in Gotham last month with no sight of Batman, I assumed that you had stepped back for a while. I want to prepare Kara for every possibility in case she wants to take after her cousin. I don’t want her relying on bullet proof skin and super strength.” She gave the man an assessing look, “You’re one of the smartest heroes I know, if anyone can teach Kara how to survive being a hero, it’s you.”
Sighing, the man leaned back in his chair and studied the blonde woman for a moment. He understood what she was saying, he often clashed with Metropolis’s hero because of the destruction he caused due to his inability to properly think through situations. “I think we both know of one other hero that would probably be more beneficial for Miss Grant to learn from, what can Kate and I teach her that she can’t?”
“Speak for yourself Bruce,” Kate snorted, draping an arm around Kara’s shoulders. “I already can tell that Kara here and I are going to be great friends. How long are you going to be in Gotham? You can stay with me in my penthouse, much homier than this drafty manor.”
“Kate…” Bruce groaned, rolling his eyes at the younger woman.
“Bruce,” Cat started, gaining the man’s attention, “Yes she could teach Kara much, how to fight with super strength, how to fly, how to be a warrior. But you, there is a lot you and your counterpart can teach Kara, stealth, secrecy, how to be a hero. Kara isn’t ready for her yet, she’s too young and I… I’m not willing to part with her just quite yet. You, you can teach her.”
Before the man could respond, Kate interjected herself into the conversation. “I’m going to help her,” she said, squeezing the girl’s shoulders. “While you two were having the intense conversation thing, we were bonding. Since I’m not technically part of your “Bat Family” unit you’ve got going on, I don’t have to listen to you. I’m just as skilled as you, and since you’ve semi-retired, I’m taking the reigns. We need more female superheroes around.” Kate turned her grinning eyes on the younger girl, “Even if you decide not to officially don a suit and a cape, you’ll still be a hero. And one better than your cousin if I have any say about it.”
“Why did you retire?” Kara asked, “Oh that’s rude, I shouldn’t have asked, don’t mind me, forget I said anything.”
The former dark knight blinked and glanced over at the blonde woman on the couch. “She came to me babbling, that’s all her,” she said, sipping on her drink.
Bruce just hummed and looked back at the blonde girl. “A lot of things have happened over the years that have made me re-evaluate many of my choices. Several of the people working with me have left, gotten hurt, died… It got to me.” He wandered towards the window to look out at the darkness surrounding the house, “If I’m being honest with myself, I probably will become him again, the dark knight.” He looked back at Kara, “I’m not sure if I’ll be able to help you, but I will answer your questions and show you a few of the things I have. Kate is probably the best person to help you at present, and it doesn’t hurt that she already likes you.”
“As I stated, Kara can come stay with me after staying here for a few days with you,” Kate replied, a large grin on her face. She turned to the younger girl and nudged her shoulder lightly, “We’re going to have so much fun.”
Kara just giggled and nodded her head, biting her lip in the process. Cat smiled at her daughter whispering with the older woman. They would be good for each other, she thought, Kate can help her with so much more than just being a hero. She recognized that the light flirting from the younger woman earlier was just a teasing jab, a way to lighten the normally gloomy atmosphere of Wayne Manor. The woman wondered if the redhead could become the older sibling she didn’t know but felt her daughter needed. She shrugged away her thoughts and turned her attention back to the former dark knight and current CEO of Wayne Industries. “This turned out exactly as I predicted,” Cat said, crossing her legs again, “And since you won’t be occupied with teaching my daughter, you have no excuse not to agree to come on my show.”
“Cat…” Bruce groaned but the blonde just waved her hand dismissively and started pulling out her schedule to give him a list of dates she had available.
“I wouldn’t even try it Batty,” Kate said, a smirk on her face, “You’re numerous interactions with Catwoman should’ve clued you in, Cats are smarter.”
“Damn right we are,” the older woman said, looking up at Kate. “And if you make another cat pun, you’ll find out first hand if I’ve got claws or not.”
Kate gulped and scooted slightly behind the blonde girl next to her, using the woman’s daughter as a shield. “Yes Ms. Grant.”