Fly to get drunk

by SurpriseBoxes

Summary:

Hawkgirl meets another Kryptonian flying over Metropolis, just this time it's a cute, funny and (very) drunk girl who slowly melts the barriers of her tough heart.
This occurs immediately after the end of the film when Kara takes Krypto with her.

Notes:

It's fun to imagine how the interactions between Hawkgirl and Supergirl would play out, even more so with alcohol and irreverence involved.
I was very inspired after reading bloomingbora's work “head in the clouds” about the same ship, it's great and sweet.
I hope you enjoy this interpretation of Kara x Kendra <3 And remember that English is not my language.
((By the way, don't worry if you see Kara repeating a specific phrase several times; it's part of her drunkenness lol)

The first fanart belongs to “moutsiderart” on Instagram, the second belongs to “wateraylon” on Tumblr and the third belongs to "OnishinX" on Deviantart 💖

Chapter 1

“What the fu-!”

The large wings stopped the girl and moved slowly to hold her still in the sky as she sharpened her gaze to the horizon.

Her superhuman senses worked at great speed to distinguish what her narrow eyes detected in the distance. The sun, intense as usual, forced her to place a hand on her forehead as even the helmet did not mitigate the luminous rays that made it difficult to see the pair of figures flying from one side to the other, as if they were chasing each other.

From the vast distance anyone would think they were tiny dots dancing among the clouds, but Hawkgirl knew they were living organisms by the way they moved and the size comparison that only her trained eyesight could recognize.

She frowned after confirming that the agility of such unidentified beings was greater than almost any metahuman she knows. Her instincts prepared her for a hypothetical confrontation; if it was a threat then she should inform Terrific and Gardner as soon as possible, but she can't lose sight of whatever is flying over the city in front of her wings either.

Her fingers touched her own helmet as the other hand reached for the spiked mace. She has no idea where the other team members are, perhaps they are on an unexpected call from Maxwell Lord or planning a strategy to neutralize the pair of bodies that were breaking the harmony of the sunlit sky.

However, none of that mattered the instant one of the black dots moved so fast that it not just broke the sound barrier, but it also took Hawkgirl by surprise.

“Watch out!”

A female voice and the combination of red-blue was all her brain managed to register before a blonde head hit her full on the side of her body, which would have severely injured her left wing had it not been for her reflexes and because the “attacker” didn't even seem to intend to harm her. And that was confirmed when she saw her plummet spinning on her own axis for more than a hundred meters to the ground.

“Huh?!” Even her confused expression had to be dampened as the second figure she glimpsed in the distance flew past her at incredible speed, following the first falling figure.

And this time she's sure what a powerful creature it is, after all, not just any unruly, white-furred canine boasts a cape suspiciously like Superman's.

“This was supposed to be my day off...”

 

. . .

 

Fortunately for the people, the animals and the city in reconstruction, Kara's fate of fall was in one of the most secluded parks; a large area full of vegetation and clear areas where her body hit leaving a considerable crater under her back.

“Ouch...” She put a hand to her eyes, more for the pain of the hangover than for the pain of her body after the blow that raised grass, earth and made the birds around her take flight “The light is getting annoying.”

She didn't see Krypto descend until her brain registered the footsteps and it was already licking her cheek, making her smile even as she fell prey to the unpleasant feeling in her head.

Kara laughed as she propped herself up with her elbows to pet the dog and ignore any inconvenience to the world around her, at least for a little while.

Until one of Krypto's ears perked up and he pointed his nose forward, where the blonde caught a glimpse (through the haze of her drunkenness) of a woman with majestic wings, a flashy helmet and interesting clothing. She tilted her head with curious eyes as the attractive figure approached with a dangerous weapon in her hand.

She thought the whole image of the girl looked cool, and too attractive that her mouth was left ajar.

The dog's calm demeanor made her realize that she needn't worry, though there was little to deepen that idea with the nagging twinges in her head.

“A bird girl.”

“What did you just say?”

“Ehhh...Hi” She smiled at how dizzy she suddenly felt “I think I bumped into you in the sky a while ago, sorry.”

“Who are you and why do you have Superman's dog?”

“Superman's dog? This is my dog, my Krypto.”

“But-”

“My dog!”

An excited bark and playful jump confirmed the words of the stranger who, after the initial surprise of hearing her mispronounce certain words, Kendra paid attention to the clothes of the one who now has the dog on her as if she had forgotten about her existence.

And then it all made sense.

Blue torso, red skirt and boots, yellow belt, the same cape and chest symbol as the Kryptonian who stopped Lex Luthor. The only oddity was the dull-toned coat and the subtle dirt in areas of the suit, but otherwise it fitted her suspicions.

“This has got to be a joke. Are you...related to Superman?”

“That's classified information, I can't tell a stranger anything.”

“You just told me the dog is yours.”

“Yeah, because my cousin sucks at taking care of Krypto and doesn't play with him enough.”

Hawkgirl tensed her lips as she realized how immensely drunk the girl is, to the point that she contradicted herself in less than five seconds by revealing to be Superman's cousin. She didn't pause long to think about the implications that it would bring regarding the events of the past few days as her attention is on how to proceed in such a situation.

She twirled the mace in her hand and spread her wings in an attempt to intimidate, but was ignored by the blonde who was playing with the dog and at times seemed about to rise...just to fall back to the ground and laugh out loud.

“I'm sorry, I think I'm a little drunk.”

Her eyes rolled from side to side, imagining herself the victim of dozens of amused stares at the ridiculous context in which she finds herself. Luckily there was no one else in the area, for now, and while that wouldn't bother her, the idea of being in a Daily Planet photo next to a drunken alien didn't sound very appealing.

With immense regret she refrained from using violence as a deterrent, put away her mace and took a couple of steps to grab the girl's elbow and lift her off the ground, keeping her temper serious despite the stunned look she received.

“You're coming with me.”

“Yes madam...I mean...what?”

Krypto cocked her head to the side making a sound of doubt as she witnessed her owner being tugged by the arm by the gruff superheroine who seemed to cover her with her wings unconsciously as they walked.

Some feathers brushed the blonde's nose and the tickling made her sneeze. The uneven, clumsy steps of the red boots contrasted with the determined, steady ones of the black ones with orange lines.

“Where are we going?”

“I'll take you to my team and together we'll decide what to do with you.”

“Your team?”

“The...” Kendra grimaced before she felt compelled to finish the sentence “The Justice Gang; it's not an official name yet.”

“I've never heard of it.”

“You'd better not be involved in Luthor's plans.”

“Luthor's plans?”

“You're not from around here, are you? Or are you just making fun of me?”

“I would never make fun of someone as cool as you.”

“...Anyway, I can tell that your cousin has you very misinformed and I hope I'm not wrong in assuming that you have no hostile intentions.”

“I'm just passing through. I came to get my dog and set out to return to some planet with a red sun, but I got distracted playing chase with Krypto as we flew and without realizing it we ended up here.” She scratched her head, looking hard at the vegetation at her side while the dog followed them, wagging its tail "I think I'm a little drunk.”

“You think?!”

Hawkgirl stopped dead in her tracks, gazing at the blonde with a mixture of irony and blunt frustration, which didn't help to mitigate the silly grin on the unexpectedly cute blue-eyed face

“Now tell me your name so I can think of a solution without attracting too much attention.”

“Kara, my name is Kara Zor-El, and you, bird girl?”

“Call me Hawkgirl; bird girl sounds demeaning.”

“Hawkgirl, I love the sound of that, although I hope your hawk side is more than just the wings and streamlined helmet.”

In response, Kendra stood in front of Kara and without giving her time to react let out her battle scream.

It was a short, sharp sound so intense that tree branches shook and even Krypto ducked his head behind the blonde, but the latter just leaned back slightly with her eyelids closed for a second before reopening them with renewed excitement.

“Amazing! That was incredible! You're...wow.”

The brunette was in shock, and she didn't know if it was the smell of alcohol or the satisfaction of meeting a girl that tough. Maybe it was both, but she didn't feel had much right to criticize her since she herself had gotten drunk on more than one occasion during the day.

That doesn't mean she'll just ignore the danger of a Kyptonian flying in such conditions, though. The complication in forming coherent sentences is the ultimate proof of this.

She folded her arms, leaning her body weight on one leg, and made a gesture with her lip that said she was considering what to do next.

“Look, Kara. Taking you to Superman might be the best option.”

“No! He's too boring and he'll lecture me endlessly about things I can't understand right now. I'm sure you understand, no one likes to be lectured.”

Krypto's bark supported Kara in her attempt at a pout as she wobbled a bit on her own feet. 

Kendra rolled her eyes, though the hint of a smile tugged at the side of her lips as she remembered all the time Mister Terrific questioned her and Gardner's actions, feeling identified oddly enough.

After a few seconds of silence she took off her helmet and shook out her dark hair a little, feeling inevitably flattered Kara observed her, or rather, contemplated her without blinking.

“You're very pretty, very...very.”

There were no hidden intentions in the voice or morbidness in the expression as Kara's gaze swept over her face, rather it was the most absolute and unfiltered sincerity of someone drunk, something that was corroborated after the embarrassed hiccup that escaped from her mouth.

“Sorry, I think I'm a little drunk.”

“Yes, I noticed.” For the first time since their meeting, she smiled sincerely with complicity and amusement, resting her helmet under the arm “So I can trust that you are not a threat to the city?”

“Of course, I can swear to it if you like.”

“Do so.”

Kendra was amused to see the blonde bring one palm to her chest and the other hand raised to the level of her own head.

“I, Kara Zor-El, solemnly swe- Hip! Sorry. I solemnly swear not to be a danger or threat to anyone.” Her eyes snapped open and staggered as she looked back, where several feet away was the small crater after her fall on the grass “...to anyone from now on.”

“I guess it works.”

“Nice, Can I tell you something I forgot?”

“Yes.”

“Your wings are beautiful too.”

“Thank you.”

“Can I say something else? It's more of a question.”

“Sure.”

“Shall we go for ice cream?”

“What?”

“I'll be leaving the Earth's atmosphere shortly to get back on my way with Krypto, but I'd better wait for the hangover to subside a bit before I fly off. I don't want to hurt anyone as I almost hurt you.”

“That's the most sensible thing you've said all this time, not bad.”

“And then I thought of a pleasant pastime and remembered ice cream; it's a great invention of mankind and even better if it's with a good company, don't you think so?”

“This is just my intuition, but I think you're a little drunk.”

“Maybe.”

Hawkgirl pouted her lips again, this time considering the option of keeping a close eye on the troubled girl and her unruly dog, at least until they left the earth.

The idea of ice cream sounds like what someone would do on their day off, and Kara's goofy smile with hopeful eyes was the impetus she needed to drop her shoulders and nod, ruffling her wing feathers without realizing it.

Chapter 2

Notes:

Apparently, Supergirl loves junk food and so we will make her happy by enjoying it on her first unexpected date with Hawkgirl.
(No potted plants were actually hurt in the writing of this chapter)

The first image I believe belongs to the cover of a comic book called “Supergirl 40”, the second belongs to "fleurashdesign" on Instagram and the third belongs to “artgerm” on Instagram

“Can I have your autograph? I'm your fan.”

“Yes, I want it too, please please please!”

“I love your wings!”

“And can I take a picture with you?!”

“Can I take your picture without me? I don't want to spoil your beauty with my face.”

Children emerged one after another from everywhere to approach Hawkgirl, spurred on by their admiration for her and by the charm of Krypto who fortunately stayed still to receive caresses on his head during the euphoric moments that even some adults shared minutes before.

There was no need to get up from her chair while the girls surrounded her with a notebook or phone in hand, she even ended up signing a big-headed stuffed animal representing her, feeling silly and proud at the same time for such an adorable detail.

However, the excitement of the younger ones sometimes spilled over to the opposite side of the table, so she had to be extra vigilant to keep her curious companion from talking too much.

“Oh, what superhero are you?”

“Your cape and skirt are beautiful, and your eyes too.”

“She has a costume like Superman's, but in a woman's version.”

“And prettiest.”

“Do you know Superman?”

“Mmh?” Still dizzy from the hangover, Kara swallowed the last bite of her donut and awkwardly wiped her mouth with napkins to smile at the girls of varying ages at each other “Hi, nice to meet you.”

“Her breath reeks of alcohol. Unbelievable!”

“And she's having trouble putting words together! Is she sleepy?”

“Are you Superman's friend?”

“Actually, I'm his cous-”

“Actually! Kids, my friend is a big fan of Superman and loves to do female cosplay of him, even though she ends up drawing too much attention to herself, right?!”

The girls didn't notice, but the intense gaze and smirk conveyed a clear message to Kara that, even under the effects of drunkenness, she could understand and assimilate the mistake she almost made.

“Ah...yes, cosplay; those things so...huh?”

“Thanks so much for your compliments kids, you're lovely.” Hawkgirl used her left wing to carefully but insistently move the young admirers away from the table, saving Kara from a crossroads “Do your homework and eat your vegetables or...or whatever it is a superhero advises kids to do.”

The blonde waved goodbye with a wave of her hand as she drank the straw of her soda, and Kendra sighed slumping completely in her seat. She felt discomfort at the base of her wings due to those chairs not being meant for someone with her anatomy, but the calmness of the Kryptonian's demeanor now made the passing discomfort worth it.

“You must watch your tongue; you can't reveal that you're Superman's cousin as if it's nothing important.”

“But I stopped in time, just as you asked me to.”

“Just because I intervened.”

“Sorry, I got distracted. I think I'm-”

“You're a little drunk, I know, and it's not fair how cute you look saying that. It makes me feel bad about complaining to you.” Hawkgirl bit the inside of her cheek as she realized what she said, frowning in another direction to hide the heat that wanted to fester on her face "It just keeps others from finding out about your family tie to Superman.” 

“It's no big deal; my cousin is a bitch and he is lucky I love him enough to accept that we're family.”

The brunette's astonished eyes landed on the blonde's lips, shocked at how easy it is for her to insult so matter-of-factly. Something told her that Kara and Guy Gardner would get along just fine.

She spent so much time contemplating those lips that the initial embarrassment was no longer an impediment to saying what she's been holding back at since they sat together.

“Hey.”

“Mmh? What's wrong?”

“You look lovely while you're eating.”

“But...You'll make me blush.”

“It wouldn't be bad to see something like that.”

“And I'll end up saying embarrassing things about how sexy you look in that suit. Don't push your luck with a drunk girl, Kendra Saunders.”

 

It was just supposed to be ice cream.

A simple, nice, spontaneous plan a thousand times over.

But then the Kryptonian's craving also expanded to fries, and Nuggets, and a soda; and before she knew it, the table Kendra and Kara shared was filled with so much food that it would make any standard person fat in less than a week.

Luckily, they both go beyond standard.

“Do you want a bite?” She reached down to offer a chicken nugget to Krypto, who accepted the food without hesitation “Good boy, tell me who's a good boy; obviously you're not.”

Kendra silently watched Kara's interaction with her dog as if they didn't care about the outside stares they might attract. Of course, Krypto is not to blame, after all it was his owner who brought him up wrong, but it's still a curious feeling that the two of them form a single whole, a single and unique offshoot of the purest irreverence.

They adapt perfectly to chaos.

After walking around the city for a few minutes Kara chose that food joint solely because of the cat design on the menu sign, plus Krypto's enthusiasm for the smell of the burgers.

They decided to sit at one of the outside tables of the place for more coolness to keep the dog from getting in trouble for breaking something inside, even if it meant enduring the noise of drills, cranes and cement mixers on the opposite side of the street.

She popped a couple of fries into her mouth as she rolled her eyes toward the street under repair, many civilians were still walking along as usual on a day-to-day basis without taking too much notice of the huge crack that stretched for miles downtown.

“This is delicious.”

Kendra gave an amused glance at the blonde excitedly devouring the hotdog in her hand before looking at the street split in two that dozens of workers were struggling to fix. The weight of the machinery and shouting typical of construction on a closed block didn't seem to affect either the red-coated girl or the four-legged animal hopping back and forth, playing with the limits of shredding the plants and bushes next to them.

“It doesn't hurt him to eat those things, does it?”

“Not at all, Krypto's metabolism allows him to digest practically anything.” Kara said as she took the last bite of her hotdog to her pet “At least he's never had a stomachache, not that I can remember.”

“As far as I can see he's just like his owner.”

“The hangover prevents me from deciphering whether that was a compliment or a tease.”

“You can interpret it however you want, although it's an irrefutable fact that you love junk food.”

“Yes, but this is just the warm-up for the ice cream we agreed upon.”

“...”

“What?”

“Are you not satisfied with everything you've had so far?”

“I like ice cream, I can't leave this planet without a chocolate strawberry cone for dessert.”

“From what I see, Kryptonians must have a stomach of steel to eat so much without losing their figure.”

Kara gave her the same goofy grin she's been doing since they left the park, which was interrupted when blue eyes fell like laser beams on the fries.

“Can I...?” She didn't even finish asking the question when the brunette handed her the container next to the bottle of ketchup “Thank you so much.”

“I just hope I'm not making a mistake and that so much food doesn't keep you from flying later.”

“It makes me feel really good that you care about my well-being. I could eat you too.”

Kendra's lips tightened into an incredulous line before she dropped her shoulders in acceptance of the answer, adopting a more relaxed and casual posture in her chair. She enjoyed the wind in her loose hair as she set her helmet down on the table next to her glass of soda.

A subtle smile appeared on her face as she reflected on Kara's last comment.

“You won't eat anymore?”

“I had lunch recently.”

“Oh...now I feel bad that I ordered so much.”

“You should have thought of that before you got to the cash register, not after you gobbled up more than half of what's on the table.”

“I'm sorry, the hangover is killing my brain cells.”

“The hangover excuse is starting to lose its effectiveness, but that's okay, the important thing is that you can feed yourself and hopefully sober up a bit.”

“I've never managed it; I'll keep eating to see if this time it's the good one.”

Hawkgirl rolled her eyes without avoiding laughing contemplating the girl sitting in front of her. Had she known that her flight through the city prior to going home would culminate in an impromptu date with an alien girl she just met she surely would have hit herself in the head with her own mace, but here she is, sitting at one of the outside tables of a local eatery and next to the noise caused from the rebuilding of the city as her date warms her heart.

She shook her head, curved lips contouring in another direction.

“Thanks for this, I promise to pay you back when I get the chance, and real money.”

“Don't worry, you don't owe me anything. I'm having fun.”

“Really?”

“No.”

She did her best to maintain a serious expression, but failed to give her a glance at the pair of blue eyes that were afflicted in complete disquiet, and it was then that she burst into a short laugh.

“I'm kidding; this is great.”

“Don't ever say something like that again!”

“I'm sorry, it won't happen again.”

“Swear it.”

“I won't swear.”

“I swore an oath a couple of minutes ago to emphasize my words, now you do it.”

“It was half an hour ago, Kara, not a couple of minutes ago.”

Kara looked puzzled before turning to the sun peeking over the top of the buildings and raising her thumb. Her narrow eyes, coupled with her concentrated face and the movement of her finger, made her lose track of time again until the hangover burned through her head again.

“Agh! Fine! You win, but that doesn't take away from the fact that I kept my oath.”

“That's right, so far you haven't hit any civilians or made a crater in the street, congratulations.”

“Aha...hey, that's cruel.”

“But as for your little...” Kendra grimaced as she watched the movement of dirt being kicked up on its side, courtesy of Krypto ruining the flowerpots “I'll have to pay for the damage.”

“I can fix it myself.”

“Save your good intentions, you're still too drunk to pick up dirt without your head falling into some flowerpot.”

Kara frowned so adorably that Hawkgirl could almost understand how that girl had managed to get away with it since they'd met by chance.

After a few seconds she saw her snort one of her blonde locks and make a hand gesture that denoted arrogance.

“I won't deny that because maybe, and just maybe, something like that could happen again.”

“Again?”

“It wasn't with a potted plant, but in the hard crack of a tree from another planet.”

“That...sounds interesting.” She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand resting on the table, letting her gaze roam over the Kryptonian's attractive features “Tell me more about your adventures.”

Unfortunately, the conversation was interrupted by the appearance of two white robotic spheres unknown to Kara, but very familiar to Hawkgirl, who was quick to frown. One of the spheres was already prepared for Krypto's pursuit since he let himself be pursued so that Mr Terrific's voice would not be interrupted.

“Kendra.”

“What?”

“Who's the girl?”

The brunette tilted her head to see beyond the robotic sphere, noticing how confused Kara looked at the arrival of the flying object and the voice from beyond the grave it emitted.

“She is...” Hawkgirl refrained from telling the truth for now to avoid a fuss “A friend, I'll tell you all about it later.”

“A friend?”

“I said I'll tell you all about it later, Terrific, don't bother me on my day off.”

“Sensors detected a very powerful being with a Superman-like composition flying over the city and I was able to track its particles here.”

“I'll take care of it, I'm keeping an eye on it, don't worry.”

“Keeping me on my toes is what keeps you and Gardner from getting out of control.”

“Your Justice Gang team is a levitating ball?”

Both Hawkgirl and the Terrific sphere focused on Kara who seemed very focused on trying to decipher the structure of the artifact before her eyes, probably as an effect of the hangover.

“She's drunk.”

“I know.”

“A being of such power is dangerous if she is under the influence of alcohol. You must get her away from here before-”

Kryto caused some commotion the instant she crossed the air in pursuit of the decoy T-sphere, making Kara laugh and drawing several stares from civilians and builders.

“…Before she and the dog complicate things further.”

Terrific's voice continued to relate to the consequences that the city could suffer and a lot of things that Kendra no longer paid attention to because she was immersed in Kara's face and body. The blonde was outlined to the right with a big smile as she followed with her eyes the behavior of her pet, oblivious to the reprimands that the T-sphere was throwing about her.

Hawkgirl's face was pointed at the time at the artifact suspended over the table, but her eyes never left Kara's charming smile, and she could feel the effect that girl had on her cheeks.

A pleasant, embarrassed warmth invaded her chest as the sounds around her lost their strength until they faded into an echo, just as the light concentrated solely on the outline of the figure seated in front of her.

 

Kara became her absolute focus of interest without realizing it, and as inexplicable as it is, she accepts it.

“Hawkgirl, can you hear me?!”

A hand, just as nimble as the wings behind her back, grabbed the sphere and unconsciously squeezed it, not intending to break it, but to convey the message while sharpening her gaze and lowering her voice to a dangerous pitch.

“I hear you Terrific, now you listen to me. It's my day off, so let me handle this my way without harassing Kara or I swear I'll give this thing to Krypto to play it straight.”

The resigned grunt through the technological device curved Kendra's lips into a cocky half-smile, giving her a glare at the blonde who was now drinking from her soda with wide eyes.

That her behavior had surprised Kara definitely stroked her ego and sent a shiver through her wings.

“OK.”

They both witnessed as the sphere rose without another word until it was lost in the sun's rays, returning some of the endearing sound chaos surrounding them as they shared a moment of silence. The blonde tilted her head to one side with a mocking laugh and the brunette remained stoic with the corners of her lips curved, oblivious to the way the tips of their respective shoes touched underneath the table.

“Well, that was my swear.”

“I love being with you like this.”

For the first time since they met, Hawkgirl didn't detect the drops of alcohol seeping into Kara's words, as if the drunkenness was already wearing off.

Or as if Kara had done her best to concentrate on getting that sentence right, giving the impression that it was a very important detail.

Kendra lowered her gaze slightly chagrined at the force with which that compliment from the Kryptonian hit her chest.

Notes:

Long live the artists and creators of such charming drawings :D
Thanks for reading <3
This work is unrelated to Part 1 of this ship series, though I like to think they occur in the same context post-movie. I really enjoyed writing these pairings and hope to continue soon.
Feel free to comment what you thought and leave kudos

Chapter 3

Notes:

And we reached the end of this adventure, you have no idea how happy I felt writing each chapter and how thoughtful it became. I definitely adore Supergirl in all her versions and I hope with all my heart that she can cross paths with Hawkgirl in the future of this new DC universe.
I hope you like it and if the situation allows it, to be able to return in the not too distant future to this ship. Maybe see Kara's return for a sweet/hot reunion with Kendra. Who knows.

Fanarts belong to "polluxery", "heavyfreakysoul", "bigcalpico", "OngjolPark" and "FlareTheIdiot" respectively.

Footsteps on the sidewalk, grass and later dirt mixed with sand marked the distance they had traveled in the last ten minutes since the three had moved away from the busier areas of the city and were now only walking in one of the waterfront areas.

The afternoon sun painted the serenity of the water just as the wind caressed the vegetation at the opposite end of the path of the two female figures followed by the enthusiastic dog.

Even a few blonde locks of the caped girl swayed on the sides of her face as she ate the last and most important food.

That treat for which it all started and for which she is now contemplating the sea in the company of her date.

“Aghh...my head hurts.”

“It's the consequences of drinking so much.”

“I know...” She put her free hand to her forehead with her eyes closed and gasped in exhaustion, although that didn't stop her from taking another taste of her strawberry ice cream “But I don't regret anything.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“That's the opposite of what drinkers usually say when suffering from a hangover.”

“Do you consider me a drinker?”

“I don't know, I need to know you better to come to that conclusion, but you look like someone who lives with a bottle in her hand.”

Kara sighed again without disguising the effect of the drunkenness that diminished a little thanks to the abundant food, bottle of water and ice cream that Kendra very kindly got for her. She scratched her head again as Krypto bit and tugged at her trench coat in search of resuming the game.

“It's complicated.”

“Don't worry, I don't want to pressure you to explain it to me.”

“But you'd like to know.”

Hawkgirl slumped her shoulders in mock indifference as she ate the last bite of her ice cream cone and gazed up at the sky. Deep down she's dying to ask more about Kara's past, her aspirations, what made her who she is today. However, she also knows what it's like to be in a different place and at a stage of life where everything feels blurry.

She tilts her head to the horizon because she knows how hard it will be for her to look away from those pretty blue eyes.

“My planet was destroyed long ago, I'm sure you know the story from my cousin.”

“I just know the basics; I have no idea what Krypton was like beyond speculation.”

“Neither do I.”

“Is it true that they intended to rule the earth? To expand the seed through Superman?”

“It's complicated...”

The two pairs of boots didn't stop their gait, just slowed it down as the conversation became more immersive.

The feathers on the wings unconsciously brushed the edge of the red cape.

“But you don't have to worry, everyone on earth is safe.”

“I want to believe so.”

“My cousin is too... What's the expression?” She grimaced, thinking of the right words as the sun's rays warmed her face "Boy Scout, that's it, he's too much of a Boy Scout to hurt others. No matter what outside voices say.”

“Yes, after what happened with Luthor and Boravia I can believe more in his altruistic motivations.”

“He has such a pure heart that he wouldn't hurt a squirrel.”

“Aha...”

“Raised in the company of happy cows and horses.”

“And you?”

“Me?”

“You also have a pure heart?”

Kara stood still with her lips in a straight line and her eyes fixed on Kendra's expectant face through the helmet. Even Krypto sat across from them both, cocking her head to one side with one ear perked up.

“I don't think so.”

“Why not?”

“Trust me; I don't fit the standards of what's considered...well, like you guys.”

“But your cousin-”

“We are not much alike.”

“You have Superman's colors, his logo, the same home planet, and you're even family. And you're implying you don't have his values?”

“It's complicated.”

“I'm starting to notice a pattern in your responses when it comes to delving into certain topics.”

“I'm sorry, this is really complicated.”

“Complicated like the bottomless pit you have in your stomach?”

“Hey, you said there were no problems with it!”

“There wasn't only because the owner of the place was happy to give us the biggest discount ever. That's the advantage of being a superhero for Metropolis and getting my sympathy.”

“I almost feel bad for enjoying such generosity.” She smiled amused to see Kendra shake her head and roll her eyes “You're wonderful, I promise when I get drunk again, I'll think of you and how good I feel around you.”

“That's possibly the strangest compliment I've ever received.”

“I hope so. That way you'll remember me more.”

Hawkgirl stopped watching the calm ocean to focus her attention on the disastrous duo that hijacked her day off. It was still quite a while before sunset and she still experienced a comforting warmth in her back as she watched Krypto jump and run around Kara, tugging at her cape, trench coat and even her boots.

The blonde girl bent down to take the last bite of the ice cream cone to the dog and pet him with a smile that melted Kendra's heart, which stretched her wings to provide some shade for her date.

She doesn't even know why she did it; it was an impulse from her own wings, or perhaps an impulse from a desire to keep the sun's rays out of Kara's eyes.

She folded her arms waiting, her gaze stole disinterested glances around her where there were people in the distance, both on the nearest street and at the far ends of the waterfront.

Some were couples walking along the seashore.

The game between owner and pet came to an end and a contented sigh escaped Kara's lips as she stood up straight and turned her face to the clear sky above them, closing her eyes to enjoy the serenity in the air.

“Take it.”

Perplexed, she turned back to Kendra and stood for a couple of sleepy seconds looking at the napkin she held out to her.

“Thank you.” She wiped her mouth and hands, shaking her head from side to side in search of a trash can “Do you think I should-?”

She didn't have time to finish her question because Krypto jumped up and ate the balled-up napkin before the astonished faces of the girls.

“Seriously, you should train your dog better. Sometimes he's scary.”

“Sometimes, but he's an angel.”

“Lucifer was an angel too.”

“Eh?”

“No matter.”

The cool breeze relaxed the youngest member of the Justice Gang as the dog barked at some seagulls that flew nearby, and her owner managed to appease him.

Mr Terrific's words echoed in her head during her short and unexpected intrusion, especially since she might have a bit of a point in her concerns and the way the Kryptonian was handling herself there.

Reflecting on the most logical thing to do is not something she likes to do when her heart is squeezed in anxiety over feelings she doesn't yet fully understand.

Kara will leave.

The girl who initially caused her discomfort and quickly created a chink in her armor is about to take flight off the planet; and she can sense that moment approaching.

She should feel at ease that she has successfully controlled the situation without trouble or drawing too much attention to herself.

She should push aside the unbearable pang in her chest that keeps her from concentrating.

She should ignore the lump in her throat that intensifies every second.

“So...you...”

The right thing to do is to keep an eye on Kara as she flies away, so she swallowed saliva with her eyelids closed, grateful that the helmet covers the regret on her face as time seems to stop, even though the discomfort doesn't want to go away.

At least it did until she felt the Kryptonian's hand resting on her shoulder to facilitate the unexpected kiss on the helmet at cheek level.

Kendra nearly staggered with wide eyes and red painting her face as she realized what had just happened. She brought her fingers to the metal not daring to touch the spot where Kara kissed her.

Her wings fluttered almost as much as her heartbeat.

“That's my thanks for making me happy today.”

Silence took over the shore, an endearing silence in which Kara folded her hands behind her back and gave a goofy smile to the girl who was still staring at her dumbfounded.

Krypto's excited barking didn't stop the hurricane of feelings inside Kendra, but it helped to make her react and look in any other direction than the pair of blue pearls that were driving her crazy. She didn't miss the noticeable blush on the blonde's face whose hair was swaying in the wind.

She thanked the universe again for having the case on to conceal the embarrassment, but she also regretted wearing it.

After all, that kiss was going to her cheek, and the metal stole it.

“You are...” -Her mouth distorted into an uncomfortable line lowering her gaze and profiling back to the sea “…very reckless.”

Her voice came out weak, chagrined, lacking any force that would make her words look bad, and luckily her date didn't take it badly. The quiet laughter, barely overshadowed by Krypto's frolicking in the sand, prompted Hawkgirl to bring her hand back to the spot where she received the kiss.

She would have loved to feel it on her skin.

Her eyebrows went very quickly from distressed to frustrated thanks to Kara dropping onto her back, hugging her neck as if she wanted to fall asleep there, on the base of her open wings.

“What do you think you're doing now?

“Take me somewhere.

“You can't be serious.

“Krypto is eager to chase cosmic particles, and I know I shouldn't stay here too long; I'll cause you trouble” Kara said in a sleepy voice as she rubbed her face on the back of Kendra's helmet “I want one last nice memory with you before I leave.”

“And clinging to my neck with limp legs is indispensable for that?”

“Please...”

“Kara.”

“...”

“You can fly too.”

“I could crash into someone again and risk lives. We don't want that.”

“You'll use the drunken excuse again?”

“...”

“I insist it's not fair how cute you are...”

The blonde's behavior, coupled with the pout she surely made, gave off vibes to Hawkgirl of dealing with an incorrigible cat.

The initial embarrassment faded until all that was left was the warmth of Kara pressing into her body; a feeling unlike anything she'd experienced all day.

The contrast of the first touch on each other's part, Kendra being tugging on Kara's arm and now the latter hugging her respectively, was the catalyst that fanned the flame of feelings.

She looked down, looking for the pair of arms clinging to her neck affectionately and desperately, as if the owner of these did not want to detach. The chagrined sounds behind her confirmed it.

She merely sighed, regaining her balance on her knees to stand upright, supporting the weight on her back, and spread her wings, oblivious to the enthusiasm of the dog running back and forth in front of her.

“Tell me where you want to go.”

“Nowhere in particular, just...” The sadness overtook her face to be expressed in her voice as well, repressing part of the pain that could not be appeased by the alcohol “Let's just fly wherever you want to go.”

“I like the sea.”

“I like it too.”

The wings began to move with care not to hurt or discomfort the blonde who could not be convinced as her feet slowly left the ground. Each thrust took twice the effort and didn't go unnoticed by the occasional grunt from the black, white and gold clad superheroine.

But she didn't mind.

In fact, deep down she knew that sooner or later she would end up fulfilling some whim of Kara's that crossed the boundaries of someone she had just met. From the moment that silly drunken girl's grin managed to make her laugh she assimilated that she would end up giving in to whatever she asked for, no matter how exaggerated it was.

“Hold on tight.” She gave her a glance out of the corner of her eye, not really being able to see her given the positions and the helmet that was getting more annoying, but that simple gesture put her at ease “If anything happens, I promise to rescue you from fall.”

“Thank you very much. You would rescue Krypto too, right?”

“...”

“Kendra?”

“The dog can fly on his own.”

“Hey!”

 

 

. . .

 

 

“And then you just threw him on the ground to die? That's cool.”

“I didn't throw it, I dropped it, and gravity killed it. Boravia's soil is the main killer.”

“Wow, besides being a cleaner of corrupt politicians you have a twisted sense of humor. I love it.”

“Only sometimes it's twisted.”

“I still love it.” Kara closed her eyes for a full minute enjoying the wind on her face as she clung to her favorite heroine's neck “And what happened after that?”

“Jarhanpur is free now, its inhabitants no longer have to fear and the U.S. government will convene talks to right the wrongs. The important thing is to ensure the welfare of the people.”

“And you said that this change was thanks to my cousin.”

“Yes.”

“I disagree.”

“Why?”

Kendra felt one of the arms stop wrapping around her and that happened because the girl on her back stretched her fingers upward. They were flying through a cloud that Krypto seemed amused by, and her owner couldn't resist the urge to see her own hand covered in tiny droplets of water.

“Because you can tell it was thanks to all of you, those who tried and helped to a greater or lesser extent, including my cousin.”

“You're right, but Superman was the inspiration for all of us. I don't think we would have been so easily convinced without his purity and determination.”

“You even sound like a pure-hearted heroine.”

“I'm not.”

“Right, you dropped a creepy old man to get shit on the ground; that's not pure of heart, but it sounds cool. I bet you looked amazing at the time.”

“Would you have done the same thing?”

“I probably would have.”

Both gave way to a comfortable silence as Hawkgirl's wings descended a bit, allowing more visibility away from the clouds even though it wasn't all that necessary. After all, there was only sea in all directions and the only concern to keep in mind is getting hit by a super-powered dog who wants to play.

She no longer found the pressure on her back and nape of her neck annoying. She began to like feeling that new level of closeness with the Kryptonian breathing quietly behind her head.

Even Krypto seemed more tolerable.

“What a nice view.”

Kara's comment gave Kendra the strength not to succumb to fatigue and keep flying.

“How is the water like on other worlds?”

“On some worlds there is thick water.”

“Yuck.”

“In others the water is the same as here, with variations in taste and salt level, and in others it is impossible to consume and unfit for life. That's why I like to see the sea on Earth; it's relaxing.”

“I’m very happy for you. And I'm also glad that you can speak more coherently now.”

“Don't be fooled.” She snuggled closer with her eyes closed and a feeling of fullness in her body “I'm still a little drunk.”

“You are incorrigible.”

“Just a little bit too much...”

“I wonder how you usually behave in other worlds.”

“I've smashed idiots' faces in bars with a sword.”

“...”

“And a couple of times I rode on the back of a dragon with wings similar to yours who then tried to eat me.”

“And what happened next?”

“I left it without the ability to fly again.”

“...”

“Did you just tense up? I feel your shoulders tense up.”

“I think it would be best to find a place to land.”

“This is because of what I said right? He wasn't even a good dragon. I was tricked!”

“That's not helping, Kara.”

“I swear I won't break your wings under any circumstances.”

“Kara-“

“I swear.”

“Stop moving.”

“I, Kara Zor-El!”

“Stop it.”

“I solemnly swear not to be-!”

“You don't have to swear!” She growled as soon as Krypto collided with her side “You're scaring the dog!”

“Swear not to be a danger to Kendra Saunders or her beautiful strong wings!”

“We're going down if you keep moving like that!”

 

 

. . .

 

 

Hawkgirl's boots hit solid ground, and she immediately bent her knees to endure the fatigue without throwing herself on the grass with her troublesome passenger on top of her.

A bead of sweat rolled down her hot face as she caught her breath.

Kendra chose one of the islands far away from Metropolis, where the green echoing hills were the perfect height to distinguish the immensity of the sea with the sun getting more intense, announcing the beginning of the sunset.

She didn't even size up the entire time she was carrying the blonde in the sky until the latter loosened her grip on her neck to let her breathe, though she didn't pull away.

Kara was still hugging her back despite being slightly bent over and with her wings drooping. Krypto soon made his presence known by shattering the naturalness of the grass somewhere on the hill.

“Are you ok?”

Kendra's question was far from stating annoyance at the awkward situation. She feels tired, but not angry.

“You can let go; we're already on the ground.”

The Kryptonian emitted a pouting sound before releasing the brunette and taking slow steps silhouetting herself against the horizon. She slept in short lapses during the trip; naps of a couple of minutes that left her groggier, and that is reflected in the heaviness of her eyelids.

But at least she no longer felt such an intense headache.

The air in that area felt purer.

“I guess this is a good view to have as a souvenir.”

“It is, it definitely is, and I'm not too worried about it because I know I'll be back.”

“Soon?” Kendra whispered as she removed her helmet in an attempt to disguise the insecurity behind the question.

Kara looked down, digging her nails into the sleeves of her trench coat, fearing that the pressure in her chest would consume her completely.

Both girls stood shoulder to shoulder contemplating the distance where the sea merges with the sky.

The sun's rays could barely sneak into the space between them.

Without time for hesitation or regret, Kara gently took Kendra's face and brought it close to leaving a kiss on her cheek, coincidentally on the opposite cheek she kissed when she still had her helmet on.

It was a soft, tender touch, charged with emotions impossible to express in words for someone who fears rejection from whom she does not want to say goodbye.

She doesn't want to be an intruder in Kendra's life; she doesn't want to get in the way of her superhero duties.

But neither can she stop her heart from urging her to prolong as long as possible the union of her lips on the warm skin of the girl who remains inexplicably calm.

After a few seconds, and with a sorrowful and helpless look on her face, she pulled her mouth away and waited for what fate had in store for her.

Neither alcohol nor the hangover was more predominant than the anxiety to discover if the crazed feelings in her heart can be reciprocated.

Even if it was born spontaneously.

“And that...that's my thanks for the flight.”

In a second Kendra's free hand grabbed the back of her neck and brought their lips together in a kiss that took them both by surprise.

The kiss that should have happened over an hour ago on the Metropolis waterfront when there was still a taste of strawberry ice cream in Kara's mouth. Her hands cupped Kendra's cheeks and tangled her fingers in her scalp.

Dozens of shivers ran down the girls' backs oblivious to the wind that aggressively combined blonde and dark brown strands.

The silence of the hill, barely interrupted by Krypto's gasps, gave them enough intimacy to make them sigh as soon as the kiss was over.

They remained very close, practically glued together with their noses brushing and breathing the air exhaled by the other.

As they looked into each other's eyes they felt the heat flood their faces even more.

“I want to come back...I...I want to come back here...soon.” She swallowed nervously without the courage to look up even though the caresses on the back of her neck relaxed her “And I mean it, not my drunkenness talking.”

“I know...although your breath still smells of alcohol. It's funny.”

“Sorry...”

Hawkgirl dropped her helmet to pull Kara in by the waist and melted back into one, enjoying the softness on the Kryptonian's lips and the tenderness of the body in her hands.

There was no shyness in the kiss, no fear, much less pity.

Only sincerity.

Warmth.

Understanding.

Kara wrapped her arms around Kendra's neck and lifted her leg without even thinking about it, which made them smile in the middle of the kiss.

“I promise to come back.”

“You'd better swear it.”

“I, Kara Zor-El, swear-”

“You better...swear it with your heart.”

“I swear it with my heart.”

The wings shook their feathers as the wind ruffled the red cape, blowing away any negative feelings that might exist at that time and place, as well as witnessing how at the foot of the hill Krypto was still digging holes in a show of dirt and grass.

Both girls pressed their foreheads together, clinging to the last few minutes they could enjoy together before the inevitable farewell.

Notes:

Thanks for reading <3
And also thanks to all those who show their affection for this story and this lovely couple. Please tell us if you would like to see a reunion in the future.

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 2 of DC ships F/F