Chapter Text
Kara is tired.
Normally, the everyday life of a human does nothing to her stamina, but after being up all-night chasing down rogue prisoners, then running leads for Snapper all day, she’s all but out on her feet. She’s looking forward to the three pizzas she ordered on the way home and catching up on her shows. She only stops to pick up her mail on the way to her apartment.
She’s flicking through junk mail and bills on the way up the stairs when she stops short at a somewhat familiar script. She turns it over and slips her finger under the seal, inhaling deeply when for just a fraction of a second, her super senses kick in and she gets the tiniest whiff of a scent that keeps her up at night.
Dear Kara,
Even though we are basically on an extended vacation, my mom has decided that I need to practice both my cursive handwriting and my letter composition to ensure that I’m not one of ‘those millennials’ when I go to college in a few years. I tried to explain to her that my generation wouldn’t be called millennials, but she only responded with ‘and I’m teaching you how to drive a stick shift’. Apparently, cursive and manual transmissions are her hope for the future. Seeing as though I haven’t seen her in the driver’s seat of a car in my lifetime, I’m a little scared.
Anyway, I hope it’s okay that I send my letters to you. We’ve only been gone a few weeks and while I don’t really miss National City yet, I do miss my room and my videogames and my friends, like you. At least I hope we’re still friends. I know I didn’t spend much time around CatCo in the last few months, but I really loved it when you would play Catan with me in the evenings while Mom was still in her endless board meetings. And, oh, that one time that she joined in and you wiped the floor with her. She still mumbles under her breath about that.
Mom said that before we left, you were going to be a reporter instead of her assistant. I think that’s awesome! And I know she’s really proud of you. Any time I mention you she just gets this little smile on her face and goes quiet (don’t tell her I told you that).
So, yesterday we landed on a tiny airstrip in Zimbabwe and then today we hiked to the edge of Victoria Falls. It was amazing! Mom says it’s one of the true natural wonders of the world and that she’s going to take me to see all of them on this trip. I can’t imagine anything more awesome. We’re going to stay here for a few days but then we’re headed to a volcano in Mexico! It rose out of a corn field from nothing in just nine years!
You don’t have to worry about writing me back. Mom says we’ll be moving around too much to give a return address. Hopefully, my cursive will improve and I won’t ‘write in print like a barbarian’. Can you guess who said that? ;) (I’m not supposed to use emojis, but she’s not looking right now)
I know you’re going to be an amazing reporter and I’ll write again soon!
From Carter, with love.
P.S. – Mom says ‘stay safe and trust your instincts’
“What’s wrong with writing in print?” Alex grumbles from Kara’s couch. She takes a long swig from her beer and reaches for the letter from her sister’s hand. “Gimme. I like this kid. The thing about not seeing Cat driving a car cracks me up.”
Kara hands over the letter, unable to wipe the smile from her face if she tried. She still can’t believe that Carter wrote to her out of anyone, especially since for the last month, she’s been effectively pining over his mother like an abandoned puppy. “Did you know Victoria Falls is almost twice as tall as Niagara?” Kara asks absently. She’s looking out into the National City night lost in thought. “I looked it up after I read Carter’s letter this afternoon. I can’t wait to hear about the volcano,” she says softly, gently reaching for the high-quality paper from Alex’s extended hand.
Alex gives her soft-hearted sister an indulgent look. She’s given her many, many indulgent looks since Cat Grant took off to dive four weeks ago. “You know, Supergirl could be in Mexico City in just a handful of minutes, maybe just a flyby?” she suggests lightly.
Kara startles at the suggestion. “Oh, no no no. I couldn’t do that. I don’t want to intrude. And I have work,” she rambles on. “And who even knows when they’ll be there you know? And why,” she stops to laugh, “why would they want me there?”
Alex gives her another look. “Kara, sweetie. Carter has always loved you. Why else would he have picked you to write to? Out of anyone?” she asks with raised eyebrows.
Kara shakes her head. “Still, Alex. It’s not the time.” She runs her fingers over the paper in her hands, appreciating the weight of it, the roughness of the paper. “l want Cat and Carter to have their adventure together, you know? After Myriad, I think she realized the same thing. She needs to spend more time with him. National City can wait,” she nods having made up her mind.
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“Mom?”
Cat tugs off her reading glasses and sets down her tablet. “Yes, darling?” It’s late, but she has relaxed his normal schedule so that he can enjoy their travels as much as possible.
“Do you miss your job at CatCo?” he asks, setting aside another piece of paper where he’s been practicing his penmanship.
She hums thoughtfully before answering. “I miss parts of it, I guess. Not the late nights or the deadlines. Not the incompetence,” she smiles.
He smiles back. “Do you miss the people?”
She glares at him playfully. “I just said I didn’t miss the incompetence.”
“But not everyone was incompetent,” he says slyly. “If Kara was, you would have never promoted her.”
She narrows her eyes at her ridiculously smart son, then sniffs a bit indifferently. “Keira was different.”
“How was Kara different exactly?” he asks with emphasis on the correct pronunciation of her name.
“She had excellent penmanship,” she says quickly as she rises from her seat. “It’s the mark of success these days. I’m going to get hot cocoa. Would you like some?”
He smirks at her with the same expression she sees in the mirror every day. “Of course, Mom,” he says indulgently, then pulls out another lined piece of paper and begins his practice again.