Chapter 17
“Kara!” Lena squealed, running up to her friend after she just walked out of the gate at the Gotham airport. “It’s been so long,” she wailed about dramatically, swinging her friend around a bit.
“Oof, Lena, we saw each other literally a week ago remember? You came out to National City for my birthday, you met my new friends, you bonded with Megan over business type things and Kyle over nerd things.”
“And Sara hit on me with a few pick-up lines before tossing a few at you as well,” Lena replied, chuckling, “Before trying with you again. Truthfully I didn’t believe you when you said that she was that forward, but I believe it now.”
Kara laughed, nodding, “Sara is… Sara is Sara. She’s pretty much a harmless flirt, but you don’t want to cross her. She’s learned some interesting things traveling the world.”
“I can imagine, did you see that look she gave that guy that kept hitting on Megan when we all went out to that bar? I thought for sure she was going to rip his intestines out through his mouth.”
“She probably could too,” Kara agreed before stopping for a moment, “Wait, what are you doing in Gotham? Aren’t you supposed to be in Metropolis this summer or still in Cambridge at MIT?”
“I was, but Kate got me an internship in the newly renamed Kane Consolidated in one of their tech departments, which is way better than being shuffled about to various functions or staying in a lab theorizing about projects.”
“What are you gonna be doing?”
A slightly maniacal look crossed Lena’s face and she giggled, “In robotics, it’s going to be so much fun, though I had to sign a confidentiality agreement so unfortunately I can’t tell you what we’re doing.”
“I doubt I’ll even be able to understand what you’ll be doing,” the blonde replied, shaking her head. “And I thought you were in the robotics club at MIT?”
“I am, but freshmen don’t get to do much other than grunt work, none of the fun stuff,” Lena sighed, “Even though I was technically listed as a sophomore academically, bunch of… nerd jerks…”
“How many of them have you dated?”
Lena glared at her friend before looking away, “Just one, a junior. She was nice, if a little boring. It’s different now since I’m going to school using the Luthor name, and it’s a bit… infamous really. Especially now since Lex is getting worse…”
Kara remembered the news that Lex Luthor was speaking out more and more against her cousin and aliens in general. It was frightening, what he was saying, the direction he was heading and she worried for Lena. “Enough with family drama,” Kara said, distracting Lena from her thoughts, “We have to plan fun things to do outside your internship and me helping Kate out with her Batwoman stuff.”
“You can talk Kate into teaching you how to drive a motorcycle, I know you still want one.”
“Mom will kill me,” Kara groaned, “But I’m definitely going to ask.”
“And who knows, maybe you’ll blow out your powers and finally be able to get that tattoo you designed.”
The blonde chuckled lightly, “Lena, Kate hasn’t caused me to blow out my powers during any of the times I’ve stayed with her, I doubt that she’ll be able to do it this time.”
“I can’t believe you made me blow out my powers,” Kara groaned, her body sore and aching as she was stretched out on the couch in Kate’s penthouse.
“Sorry little sis, but Lena dared me to see if I could,” Kate replied apologetically. “And really, you shouldn’t get so pissed off that you overuse your heat vision and burn yourself out.”
“You were having your little robot drone things shoot lasers at me,” the blonde countered. She attempted to cross her arms in a petulant manner but all she managed to do was lift them weakly before they fell back to the ground. “I don’t like weird little robot drones shooting lasers at me.”
Kate just shrugged and continued with her sandwich making, “That’s pretty much a weekly occurrence for me, and if you’re going to take up this life, you’re going to have to get used to it. It’s annoying, yes, but no need to lose your temper.” She finished making her peanut butter and banana sandwich and bit into it, humming in pleasure. “Is that how you blew out your powers before? Overusing your heat vision?”
“Yeah, that’s how it happened the first time anyway, and when mom made me get those shots, I used the same tactic. I don’t know if anything else will do it.”
The redhead made another sandwich for the younger girl and set it on the coffee table near the girl. “I wonder if it has something to do with you extending all of the sunlight you absorb in your cells? Your other powers aren’t really offensive abilities like the heat vision, it’s more of a weapon so naturally it would drain you faster than say flight or even being bullet proof.”
“So, do you think if I blow out my powers more that I’ll train my cells to retain more solar energy?” Kara asked, opening one eye to look at the older girl before she focused on the sandwich on the table. She wiggled her fingers a bit until she had enough feeling in her arm to grab the sandwich off the table.
“Mhm, difference between a battery as opposed to a muscle, where a battery only has so much storage capacity or a muscle that can grow stronger with use,” Kate hummed and sipped at her coffee. “Did it seem like it took longer to wear you out this time as opposed to the other times?”
“I don’t know, it’s been close to five years since I last blew out my powers, so I don’t remember, and I am not blowing them out again any time soon, I feel awful,” the blonde whined. “I think I might be coming down with something, maybe it’s the flu, or cancer, or smallpox…”
“It’s literally been half an hour, you can’t get the flu, or cancer or smallpox in half an hour,” Kate rolled her eyes, “And smallpox has been virtually eradicated in this part of the world anyway, stop being so whiny.”
The elevator dinged and few moments later, Lena rushed around the corner, her hair slightly singed with soot on her face and smoke rolling off her clothes. “Is it true, did you blow out your powers?” Lena asked, looking wide-eyed between Kate and Kara. The blonde just groaned around her sandwich rather than answering, and a wide grin appeared on the brunette’s face. “Oh you know what that means, tattoo time!”
“Lena…” Kara groaned, smushing her face back into the pillow beneath her. “Go away.”
“Nope, nope, you said when you blew out your powers, you would get one, designed it and everything.”
“I’m not getting on a plane and flying back to National City just to get a tattoo.” Her words were muffled a bit but Kate and Lena still understood them.
Lena smirked and trailed her fingers along the ticklish spots on Kara’s sides, causing the girl to squeal and bolt upright away from her friend. “Oh good, you’re up,” the brunette said, clapping her hands, “and we’re not going to National City, lucky for you Josh is in Gotham helping his cousin with her tattoo parlor here.”
“Then who’s holding down the fort in National City? And why do you know Josh is in Gotham?”
“We text.” Kara gave her friend a suspicious look and Lena waved her hand, “Not like that, Josh is gay. I got his number just in case I wanted another tattoo, or something like this happened and you lost your powers on short notice.”
“I always lose my powers on short notice, it’s not like I do it on purpose.”
“When you needed to get your shots you did.”
“That’s because Mom made me,” Kara yelled, “Look, we’re getting sidetracked, I’m not coming with you. I’m tired, I think I have malaria. I just want to stay here and order some pizza.”
“You’re coming.”
“Kate,” Kara whined, glancing over at her honorary big sister.
The redhead just shrugged and smirked at the younger girls, “I would love to visit a tattoo parlor, might see what they got before getting one of my own.”
“Josh is pretty cool, and from what he says, his cousin Jessica is just as talented an artist as he is, she just hasn’t developed her brand here yet.”
“Does everyone in that family have names that start with J?” Kara asked as Kate and Lena pulled her off the sofa.
“Did every house on Krypton only have one syllable in the name?” Lena retorted.
Kara tilted her head slightly, “Good point.”
“While we’re semi on the subject, what is it with you two and this tattoo business?” Kate asked as they grabbed their bags and descended to the lobby in the elevator.
The blonde rolled her eyes and pointed to Lena. “Last summer, this one-”
“You agreed.”
“- decided to get a tattoo and roped me in with her.”
“Like I said, you agree,” the brunette returned.
“Wait, Kara, do you even want a tattoo or is this some weird peer pressure thing?” Kate questioned, glancing between the younger girls.
Kara nodded her head slowly as they walked out of the building to Lena’s waiting car parked on the side of the road. “I do want one, it’s so different than what we did on Krypton. Everything else about me, my abilities, what I can do, my religion, and occasionally how I behave, it’s all about remembering Krypton. This way, I can have another physical reminder of my new home.” The girl shrugged and gave a sheepish smile, “Plus they’re really cool and I really want the experience even though it’ll probably only last until my powers come back.”
“It’s the experience I want you to have if you can’t keep it,” Lena said, pulling away from the curb. “Experience is the fun part.”
“You just want to see if I crack like you did.”
“It is so annoying that you can’t get sick or feel pain like all the time, just let me have this one time,” Lena pleaded.
Kara shot her friend a dirty look, “You’ve seen me sick before.”
“Doesn’t count.”
“Why are we friends?”
“Because you love me.”
The blonde pouted and looked out the window, taking in how dark Gotham looked even during the daytime. Lena drove across the city away from the skyscrapers towards the more residential areas with apartments and condos. She turned down a street and pulled into one of the first parking spaces she could find and waved the other two out of the car. “It’s just down the street, one the first level of one of these mixed-use condos that are going up all over the place.”
“My construction company is contracted to put up quite a few in different cities around the country,” Kate said, “They’re really convenient if the first floor is a grocery store or pharmacy, even a coffee shop.”
“Mhm, or a pizza parlor,” Kara groaned, “Or Chinese food…”
“Wouldn’t the whole building smell like pizza and potstickers then?” Lena asked, a smirk on her face, “Definitely know why you would like that. The orders you place alone would keep them in business.”
“Mhm, pizza,” Kara hummed, daydreaming about one of her favorite foods. Lena continued tugging her down the street until they reached the desired shop and she pushed her through the door.
“Hey Lena!” Josh greeted, stepping around the counter. “And Kara! I see you finally managed to talk her into that tattoo,” he said, ushering the three back into the backroom. “I’m glad you called, I was able to clear out the rest of the day.”
“When did you call him?” Kara asked her friend, a suspicious look on her face.
“As soon as I heard from Kate,” the brunette replied.
“You must be Kate,” Josh said, glancing over at the redhead.
“Kate Kane,” she answered, “I’m here to see if you’re truly as good as they’ve told me.”
Josh grinned, “Oh I am that good, but I won’t be able to take credit for this masterpiece. No Kara designed it herself, and we she showed it to me a few months ago, I knew I had to be the one to do it.” He pointed to the seat and waved the other two into the other seats in the room. “I’ll grab the sketch, you go ahead and get ready.”
“You designed the tattoo?” Kate asked, glancing at the blonde.
“Just wait until you see it Kate, it’s beautiful,” Lena said, nudging the older girl with her elbow.
The tattoo artist came back in and handed Kate a piece of paper and the redhead gasped. “Oh Kara, it’s beautiful,” she breathed, taking in the design. There was a large red and orange tiger lily with vivid green leaves and an elegant cursive script around the flower. “‘No one controls your destiny. Even at the very worst- there is always choice,’ that’s beautiful, what’s it from?” Kate asked.
“Wicked, it’s one of my favorite books,” Kara murmured, a deep blush on her face.
“It’s very you,” Kate smiled, handing the design back to Josh.
The man clapped his hand and rubbed them together in excitement, “Let’s do this!”
“I heard you lost your powers,” Cat greeted her daughter with those words when she came home and found the blonde laying on the couch in the living room. Carter was with his father and she fully expected that her daughter would have headed back to her dorm when she flew in earlier that day so she was pleasantly surprised to find the girl in the penthouse instead. She had missed the bubbly blonde around the previous year, despite the fact that the girl came around every week or so for dinner and to play Settlers of Catan with Carter. Cat was slightly bitter about the now annual trip for Kara to Gotham to spend time a few weeks with Kate, but didn’t say anything to the blonde since she knew how much she looked forward to the trip. Kara gave her mother a curious look and Cat continued, “Kate called me, said she wore you out.”
“She had her evil robot drones shooting lasers at me,” Kara sighed, shifting down slightly on the couch. “It’s okay though, I got them back on the plane here. Apparently I don’t care much for flying when I don’t have my powers.”
“Looks like you’ve been given a taste of what the rest of us have to deal with on a regular basis,” Cat smirked, sitting down by Kara’s head so she could run her fingers through soft blonde hair. She noticed a sad expression crossing the girl’s face. “What’s wrong?”
Kara sighed, “I got a tattoo while I was in Gotham, the one I designed since the artist, Josh was in town helping his cousin. I’m just kind of sad I didn’t get to keep it longer than a few days.”
“Where did you get it?”
The younger blonde sat up and pointed to her right shoulder blade, “Same place as Lena. I felt it heal up when my powers came back, so I know that it’s gone. It wasn’t as painful as Lena said it was, but it was nice having it while it lasted.”
Cat hummed as she listened to Kara’s babble and tugged a little at the collar of her loose t-shirt. She caught sight of a flash of color on her shoulder and chuckled. “I don’t think you have to worry about it being gone,” Cat said, “I think it’s still there.”
“What?” Kara disappeared off the couch and the older blonde saw the drapes rustle and a few of the loose pieces of paper around the room flutter back down to the ground. A loud squeal came from Kara’s room and Cat got up from the couch to follow the sound. “Mom, mom, look,” she squealed, turning around and lifting her hair out of the way to show off her new ink on her back. She had traded her t-shirt for a tank top, allowing for her shoulder blades to be visible. The older woman took in the brilliant tiger lily with deep orange and red petals, and rich green leaves. Her eyes skated over the black cursive lettering of the quote as it blended beautifully with the lily underneath it, and she smiled.
“It suits you,” Cat said, causing Kara to spin around with a bright smile on her face. “Why the tiger lily though?”
Kara shrugged, “I like it, it’s beautiful, and I wanted to keep with the flower theme we have going on. Plus it means ‘I dare you to love me’ and I kind of like that.” Cat could tell that Kara wanted to say more so she sat down on her bed and waited for her to sort her thoughts out. “I mean, I worry sometimes that with everything, who I am, that I won’t be able to find someone that will be able to love me, all of me, or that it’ll be too dangerous for them to love me, be with me.” She sighed and sat down next to Cat. “But I figured that the person, whoever they are, will have to be brave, and strong, like you Mom, so being with me, loving me is kind of a dare.”
“You do deserve all of the love in the world Kara, and you’ll find someone special, someone who will love all of you and be able to match your love with the ferocity of their own.”
“Thanks Mom,” Kara smiled, “You’ll find someone to you know, you can start dating now. I’m not in the house, and Carter won’t mind.”
“I might,” the woman conceded, “I did date casually while you were here, but it was just casual, I couldn’t bring them home and risk you and Carter was so young…”
“Carter is eight now, and I’m not in the house, so you can date if you want,” Kara insisted, “You’re a beautiful woman Mom, you have your best years ahead of you, you don’t have to worry about Carter and I anymore.”
Cat nodded her head, “John Stamos has been asking for a date.”
“Or you can see if Harrison Ford is available,” Kara teased, “I know you have a crush on him.”
The older woman just brushed her off, “I do not, besides, he’s married.”
“Shit shit shit!” Sara muttered as she ran into Kara’s room, her face halfway between panic and annoyance.
Kara glanced at the other blonde questioningly. “Sara,” she started, “We literally just came back from summer vacation, you haven’t had time to get into a crisis.”
“This crisis followed me here.” Sara let out a sigh and started pacing around the room, mumbling incoherent sentences to herself. Kara ignored her friend to continue putting away her clothes and cleaning up the dust that settled in the room while she was in Gotham. Since NCU had an extensive summer school program, they allowed many of their students to stay in their dorms over the summer and keep their same rooms if they wanted. Kara, Megan and Sara got along well so they decided to keep with the same room arrangement rather than try and break in a new roommate.
Megan walked into Kara’s room a few minutes later looking for her roommate and suitemate, and found Kara sitting on her bed and Sara pacing around frantically. “Is she okay?” Megan asked the younger girl, glancing at her roommate with curiosity etched on her face.
“I don’t know, she’s been like this for a while. I’m assuming she’ll snap out of it soon,” Kara replied, her eyes not straying from her computer.
“Mhm, how was your summer by the way?”
“Good,” the blonde answered, “I spent time with my family, visited my sister in Gotham, got a tattoo, now I’m here. What about you?”
“You got a tattoo? That’s pretty cool. I spent my summer working at one of the local bars, just a dive really, but good money.”
“I can hear you both you know,” Sara said, glaring at her two friends. “I’m going through a crisis here and you’re both discussion how your summers went? Though Kara don’t think I missed that comment about you getting a tattoo, you’re definitely showing that to me later, especially if it’s some place naughty.”
“And she’s back,” Megan groaned while Kara giggled. “Alright Sara, spill, what’s wrong?”
Sara sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose for a moment before opening her eyes again and glancing between her two friends. “You guys know that I left Star City after I graduated high school and I haven’t been home since. I haven’t been in contact with my family at all for years since I was basically the black sheep of the family, and I know that my parents like my sister Laurel better. It hurt growing up, I’m not going to lie, but I’m okay with it now, I mean I loved my sister, it wasn’t like I hate her, but I’ve moved on. New life, new friends, new family, and all that.”
“Why do I feel like this is going somewhere bad,” Megan said, glancing over at Kara who nodded in agreement.
“Because you both are as intelligent as you are beautiful,” Sara replied, only half-heartedly flirting because her mind was still whirling. “So, what I’m saying is that I haven’t been home. A few friends from Star City let me know how they’re doing, because I still love them, they’re my family, but… Ugh, sometimes…”
“Sara, spit it out, what’s going on?” Kara asked, urging her friend to get to the point.
“My friends told me that my family found out where I am and that my sister is going to be moving down here to take a job in a law firm to ‘spend some time with me.’” She rolled her eyes at that, “I bet that my dad sent her down to convince me to come home or keep an eye on me or something, I don’t know…”
“Isn’t that a good thing though that’s she’s coming?” The other blonde questioned, “She could’ve stayed in Star City, but she chose to come down here to see you, build a relationship with you. I can’t help but think that’s a good thing.”
Megan placed a hand on her roommate’s shoulder and gave it a soft squeeze, “I agree with Kara, I think this will be a good thing if you let it. Plus, we get to meet her and maybe here about more of your embarrassing childhood moments.”
“You wish, I’ve always been cool,” Sara blustered. “Anyway, Laurel called me, I never changed my number but I stopped taking their calls after a while, but she called me and left a message that she would be moving to National City and would be in town tonight and would like to meet for dinner.” She turned to her two friends, her ice blue eyes large and pleading, “Will you two come to dinner with me please?”
“What?” Kara and Megan yelled, flabbergasted expressions on their faces.
“I need a buffer. I love my sister, but we haven’t always had the… best of relationships…”
“Didn’t you sleep with her boyfriend…”
Sara waved her hand around a bit, “Technicalities, and I did her a favor in the long run. But still, I need a buffer, and who better than two of my best friends.”
“I don’t know Sara, this is family stuff, and should we really get involved with family stuff…” Megan stated hesitantly.
“You guys are family by now, please!” The blonde tried again, pleading with both of her friends. Megan and Kara sighed, glancing at each other for a moment before nodding. Sara grinned and hugged the two girls, pulling them in tightly around their necks. “You guys are the best. Now Kara, tattoo, spill.”
“Lena finally talked me into getting one,” was all that Kara said as she took off her shirt, leaving her in only a thin tank top. She lifted her hair out of the way and the two gasped at the sight of the ink on her shoulder blade.
“Damn Grant, that is one beautiful tattoo, I might have to give your tattoo artist a spin,” Sara said, running her fingers along the petals of the tiger lily. “The lily almost looks real.”
“Thanks, I designed the tattoo, but Josh really made it come together,” Kara replied, letting her hair fall back down as she turned to face her friends.
“I’m definitely going to look him up then,” Sara said before her eyes landed on the clock. “Shit, Laurel said she would be at the restaurant at seven, we only have a little over an hour to get ready and get there.” She ran back to her room, calling back at the other two girls, “Megan, Kara, hurry up!”
“Such a drama queen,” Kara sighed, shutting her laptop before she started rifling through the closet for clothes.
“You should see her after she comes back from a successful night out,” Megan sighed before looking at the blonde curiously. “I didn’t think your kind could get a tattoo.” The words caused Kara to fall headfirst into the closet and Megan rushed to help her up. “Oh my god, are you okay?”
“I’m fine, just, what do you mean ‘your kind?’” Kara sputtered a bit, looking at the darker girl wide-eyed.
Megan gave her a blank look, “You know, an alien, a Kryptonian… Oh, did you not know?”
The blonde shook her head, “No, no, I knew, but how did you know?”
“I’ve been spending too much time with other aliens, I just assume everyone can tell,” the girl sighed before looking back at Kara, “I’m an alien too. I assumed you could tell but didn’t care.”
“No I couldn’t tell, but this is exciting!” Kara squealed, bouncing a little on the balls of her feet. “Where are you from, when did you come here, why did you come here? How could you tell that I was an alien?”
“Whoa blondie, you need to slow down,” Megan replied, trying to calm the hyperactive girl. “I’ll tell you, just stop bouncing.” The younger girl nodded and looked at the other expectantly. “Alright, well, I’m a Martian from, you know, Mars. A…” She looked up hesitantly at the girl, “A white Martian, the reason I could tell that you’re a Kryptonian is because white Martians, all Martians really are psychic shapeshifters, we can read minds when we want to.”
“Oh that’s cool, so you read my mind?”
Megan shook her head, “No, from previous experience with Superman, I found that Kryptonian minds are resistant to my psych powers. When I couldn’t read your mind, I assumed that you were Kryptonian, or at the very least an alien.”
“So you’ve met my cousin,” Kara said, sitting down, “How?”
“This and that,” came the reply. “I wasn’t all that impressed.” The Martian sat down next to Kara with a sigh, her hand playing with the long sleeves on her jacket. “Truthfully I’m here running from my own people. White Martians they, we… we did a lot of bad things, especially to the Green Martians. I didn’t want to be like them anymore, I didn’t want to be a monster. I tried to stop it, but I couldn’t and I got scared, so I left, came here where I could hide even more. I want to be a green Martian, but I’m afraid I’ll always be one of them… a monster.”
Confusion and questions started filling Kara’s mind, each one attempting to get out, to bombard the girl, to press her for more information. She held them in though, she knew this wasn’t the time to ask those questions. Before she could say anything else, Sara burst back in through the door. “What are you two doing?” She asked, looking at them with wild eyes. “We have to get ready, go!”
“We’re coming Sara, keep your undies on,” Megan sighed, waving her roommate out of the room.
“I’m not wearing any!” Sara called back, causing the two girls to sigh again.
“She’s… I don’t know what to do with her sometimes,” Kara said, rolling her eyes though there was a slight smile on her face. Megan nodded in agreement and moved to head back to her own room when the blonde called out to her. “Megan, you’re my friend, and if you want to tell me more about… Well, I’ll be here to listen.”
Megan smiled at her, a small but relieved smile and nodded. “Thanks Kara,” she murmured before disappearing through the adjoining door.
The blonde locked her door and then sped around the room, creating a whirlwind of papers and clothes as she got ready. When the whirlwind stopped, Kara was standing in front of her mirror and sink fixing her hair, and putting a slight bit of eyeliner and lip gloss.
“Kara!” Sara banged on her hallway door and she groaned, opening the door to give her friend an irritated look. “You look great, let’s go,” the shorter grabbed her hand and Kara moved with the tugging motion, locking her door on the way out.
“Where are we headed?” Kara asked as Megan crawled in the backseat of Sara’s mustang and Kara settled into the passenger seat when she was done.
“Nick’s, it’s across town,” Sara replied, pulling out into traffic.
The other blonde nodded, “I’ve been there, not upscale fancy, but not a casual place either. Huge portions.”
“Seems to be a common theme with you,” Megan said from the back, poking her friend lightly on the shoulder.
The three traded barbs the whole way to the restaurant, Kara and Megan hoping that the lighthearted conversation would ease the other girl’s nerves. Sara pulled into the parking lot of Nick’s about twenty minutes later, irritated at having to deal with downtown traffic on a Friday night. She took a few deep breaths before getting out of the car and striding towards the restaurant, her two friends right behind her.
“So where’s your sister?” Kara asked Sara as they stepped into the restaurant after informing the hostess that they were there to meet someone. The shorter blonde glanced around before pointing to a table at the back and making her way to the table. Kara felt her heart skip a beat in her chest and her breathing stuttered as she caught sight of the brunette woman standing up from the table. The woman pulled Sara into a tight hug and the moment allowed Kara a chance to study her more. She was wearing a fitted business suit that looked tailored to her body with stiletto heels that looked ready to press someone into the floor. With the heels on, she was several inches taller that Sara, and slightly taller than Kara.
The woman pulled back from her sister and Kara’s breath caught in her chest when dark, hazel eyes landed on her. Megan nudged her in the side with her elbow, using a bit of her Martian strength to make sure the other girl felt it and Kara jolted forward. “H-hi,” she stuttered, “I’m Kara, and this is Megan, we’re friends of Sara; she wanted us to come tonight to meet you.”
“I’m glad that Sara’s found such good friends.” Oh Rao, Kara though, her voice. It was the perfect combination of lilting and smoky, and she could already feel the flush starting to creep up her neck. “I’m Dinah Laurel Lance,” the woman said, sticking out her hand for the other two to shake, “But you can call me Laurel.” She shot a wink at Kara and the honey blonde nearly combusted. I’m in trouble.