Chapter Text
Kara Zor-El stood in the formal meeting room off the second from the highest floor of the council tower. Rao’s light was lowering in the sky, though not yet setting. She would be married before Rao set. Kara didn’t need to be a politician to know that.
The treaty had been signed on the condition that she be married to Duke Kasius as soon as the Duke returned to the planet. The destruction of the Dominator fleet had been complete, overwhelming, and was done. The honor of House El, of Krypton, could not bear Rao’s light setting without the union complete.
“You look beautiful, niece,” Non said, pulling her from her thoughts.
She smiled, even if it didn’t feel real. “Thank you.”
His own expression was sad. “Your cousin and Lord El should arrive shortly.”
“Do you think they found the marriage treaty from our last union between House El and House Zod to adjust to offer to the Duke?” Kara was unsure exactly, marital contract was not a field she’d ever studied. She wasn’t sure if there was a set contract to be altered for such things or not.
Non made a faint sound of amusement. “House Zod? Never. They must be going back to before our isolation from the wider universe.”
The history of House El very much was a part of her education. “You mean the agreement used for the marriage of Jun-El to the local Ogigi people, along with other settlers that led to the creation of Daxam?” That was a terrifying thought. The separation from her people, her home, would be so final that her descendants would not even be considered the same species. “If I have a child, they will not even be Kryptonian.”
“You will have saved Krypton twice. That means more than what species your child may or may not be considered.” Non said firmly.
“I invented a stabilizing system that gave us time to repair damage. I didn’t save our planet.” She protested, it wasn’t that she wasn’t proud of what she’d done. She fiercely was. But the projects that returned their seas from pools of acid to real waters that life was engineered for and returned to had barely been touched by her. The thousands of projects and the labor required had been the work of their entire people. She’d just given them the time to do it. “And I don’t think—” She swallowed. Their planet should be overrun right now. But it wasn’t. “I don’t think we’re alive right now because I did or am anything.”
“Perhaps not, but the council will never allow this union not to go forward.” Non looked sorry for her as he said it. “Without it, we’ll appear weak. Others will try now that the Dominators have, unless we are under the protection of a more powerful ally. And we cannot defend against the Alliance if they respond to so grave an insult.”
Kara touched the thick material of her white robes, which she had been brought. The red piping and underlayer. They were formal, what she typically wore on high holy days. “Thank you for waiting with me.”
He didn’t take the gratitude. “I was ordered not to leave your side.”
She didn’t prod. Her uncle could be prickly, she knew he and Aunt Astra grieved that they hadn’t been allowed a child. A grief her presence often made worse. Especially for her uncle, who quietly blamed himself for the denial. She did dare to ask something else. “Were you scared, before your marriage?”
“No,” There was an apology on his face for his answer.
The door whooshed open, and it was oddly not relieving to see her mother and uncle Jor. Two servants followed, as well as three assistant robots floating in behind them.
“Kara.” Jor greeted, his expression was grim.
She straightened. “Will Father be able to arrive?”
Jor shook his head. “Zor cannot leave Argos. I’m sorry, niece.”
That was that then. Kara knew better than to argue. “You’ve finished a contract to offer Duke Kasius?” She didn’t really know what else to say.
“One we hope is fair.” Alrua’s gaze was proud. “The ceremony is being prepared for before the jewel of truth and honor.”
“You will make our House proud, once more.” Jor laid a warm hand on her shoulder.
Her throat felt thick. It was the right thing to do. She was terrified. She’d woken this morning trusting her mother and the council to protect their people, and considering a new project on the terraforming of their moon. Artificial atmosphere to stabilize any introduced elements. Now…Krypton stood, and the Dominator threat was eliminated as of two hours ago.
She was saved from finding something to say that didn’t reveal her reluctance to face her new reality by a chime from the door to the main hallway.
As the senior member of the room, they all allowed Jor to decide on whether to answer the request at the door. Jor spoke cleanly and clearly. “Enter.”
The doors swooshed open, a darker pink-skinned Kree stood there. He was tall, not a hair on his face, but then fine black hair falling to his ears, wearing the classic swooping, if tight, militaristic Kree style. The fabric was a dark green with black detailing. He stepped into a room, a box that appeared to be made from real wood. “Greetings, I come as an emissary from Friend Daisy, I believe you know her as Duke Kasius of Hala.”
It was odd, Kara hadn’t known that her soon to be spouse's first name was apparently Daisy. A thought that struck her.
Jor folded his hands. “Then you are, of course, welcome. May we have your name, Kree?”
“I am not Kree, I am a Chronicom from a planet that revolved around a star in the system you know as Zhguzhor. The name I have been known by is Zachariah, Lord El.” Zachariah didn’t emote; his voice less animated than that of some assistant robots. “I am already aware of who all of you are.”
Kara had never heard of a Chonicom before, but she knew her uncle clearly had, and it meant something to him.
“Is there a message her Grace has sent you with, Zachariah?” Jor asked, not showing whatever thoughts he was having.
“An object.” Zachariah corrected simply. “Friend Daisy ensured she was made aware of Kryptonian marriage rituals before arriving. She, of course, has the appropriate bracelets prepared, but reports were unclear on whether your people still engaged in circlets for the ceremony.” He opened up the box, showing a silver circlet within. “For if it is deemed appropriate or wanted.”
“That was thoughtful of her Grace.” Alura accepted the box from Zachariah. “And entirely appropriate.”
Zachariah’s hands fell back to his sides. “If you require any clarification, I am to be at your disposal.” He just kinda stared absently.
Non spoke, stiffly; he never was at ease around Jor. “We should prepare, landing craft from the Mordo have departed.
It was hard to breathe suddenly.
Zachariah looked at Kara. “I will be at your disposal in future as well. Unless there is any cause for concern, I will depart.”
There wasn’t a question she could really bear the answer to. Kara gave what could generously be called a ‘smile’. “Thank you, Zachariah. That is very kind of you.”
“It was not my suggestion.” He turned and left the room.
That was…not comforting. At least it meant the Duke probably wanted the marriage? Maybe?
Jor lifted the circlet of silver which—now that it was out of the box—clearly had constellations etched into the metal. He set it on Kara’s head. “You make our House proud, niece.”
Alura pulled Kara into one of her rare hugs, her arms so tight it ached. Her voice was thick with emotions she so rarely expressed. “I am so proud to have you as my daughter.”
Barely choking back a sob at the face of what felt like a too-real nightmare, Kara hugged her mother back. “I love you.”
“I love you too, my brilliant girl.” Alura gave a final squeeze before pulling back. One hand cupping her cheek. “May Rao shine upon you and light your way with his blessings.”
Her eyes burned with tears she couldn’t shed. “And on our people.” Because that’s why this was happening. To protect their people. In payment for the billions of lives still beating in freedom that would not be doing so without this agreement. For that, she could bear this.
Kara had always known that as a daughter of House El, she would be permitted to marry in front of the jewel of truth and honor. The huge, three-foot-wide, perfect gem was polished to a glittering shine in the upper halls of the towering grandeur of Kandor. The light of Rao lighting it with fiery prisms of light. The hall was all open windows and metal polished till it shone, reflecting the light that had been reflected upon it in turn.
Even as a daughter of House El, the presence of not just the entire Council, but every person of standing that could be gathered from all of Kandor had not been expected. Nor the full military guard. Nor that this was being recorded to be shown to all of Krypton, to ease fears. That it was organized faster than reasonable, hardly mattered.
The presence of aliens had been so far from imaginable that Kara was still, even as she was brought into the hall of truth and honor, surprised. They were so colorful, and yet, all of them wore some degree of black on their person. The ones whom she recognized as Skrulls with their green skin and reptilian features wore a great deal of purple. The pink and blue Kree favored teal with their blacks. All of them were military uniforms, save the two Skrull ambassadors she had seen in passing on previous visits.
But standing at the head of the Alliance party was who was clearly her future wife.
Duke Kasius, whose first name was apparently Daisy, wasn’t particularly tall or broad. But she didn’t lack authority. There was a firm certainty to her stance that drew the eye. Her skin was like that of her pink-Kree brethren, if a shade or two darker. Long brown hair, with a streak of purple in it. Her clothing was pure black. A dusty black with a shinier black lattice-like pattern woven over the top. The only color were the glittering white diamonds across her high collar that caught Rao’s red light.
Intimidatingly, her face was painted similar to the images of warriors from Krypton’s age of heroes. Around her eyes, the skin was painted black, from just below the eye till her eyebrows. A thick, black line was painted from just below her bottom lip down her chin and vanished into her clothing at her neck. A matching silver circlet lightly resting upon her head.
As Uncle Jor brought her to the jewel and away from the ordered crowds, the Duke stepped forward, unaccompanied.
The priest of Rao they had chosen was Rom-Var, head of House Var. A rare honor. His long and flowing black and purple robes were exactingly perfect, his face covered with the glowing, featureless mask all of their order wore for ceremonies. Kara only knew it was him because the chain with a medallion of Flamebird was larger than any other priest due to his position as head of their entire guild.
He stood behind the jem, and as the audience pulled back, leaving only herself, the Duke, and Rom-Var alone upon the upper level. Then, in Rao’s fading light, he half spoke, half sang the old words in a dialect so old it no longer could be understood without study. The chant was beautiful. The room and light were beautiful.
But standing here, awash in the light of Rao, she was terrified.
Kara dared to look at her soon to be wife. Kasius had brown eyes that met hers. Her bride was stiff, but she didn’t look upon Kara with disgust or annoyance or anything sharp and uncomfortable. It was similar to Uncle Non’s expression when forced to attend ceremonies with the House of El.
It felt like something to hope for. Something recognizable to hold onto.
Rom-Var held out his hands over the jewel in silent order. Kara raised her own hand, giving him her hand, the Duke mirroring her motion. The last lines of the high poetry of the ceremony were recited in the same chanting tone that echoed off the walls of the hall. And then he brought their hands together, laying Kara’s hand in the Duke’s.
Kara swallowed. The woman’s hand was warm, her grip gentle, but it felt final. Her hand laid on top of Kasius’ had only one meaning. She was no longer an El. She’d been given into House Kasius. It felt like her heart was breaking as the shimmering white length of fabric was wrapped around their hands, binding them for eternity in holy vow.
“In the name of truth and honor, I declare the marriage vows binding upon you. From this day forward, throughout all time and space, even unto eternity.” Rom-Var’s attention fell on Kara. “Daughter of El, give your vows.”
Kara could only ensure her voice did not waver. It was all she had. “I Kara Zor-el pledge my body, mind, and soul with all loyalty and dedication to this bonding and unto my new House.”
The Duke’s hand tightened ever so slightly, though not painfully, at her words, brown eyes never leaving her.
“Head of Kasius, give your vows,” Rom-Var intoned.
The Duke’s voice was calm. “I Daisy Johnson of House Kasius, pledge my body, mind, and soul with all loyalty and protection to this bonding.” She didn’t look at Rom-Var, her attention entirely on Kara.
It felt like…something.
“So be it. Your vows are known, may they guide you in Rao’s light.” Rom-Var declared as he pulled away the shimmering tie wrapped around their hands. As the fabric fell away, he snapped a metal band closed around Kara’s wrist first, and then her wife’s.
Kara had always quietly hoped for a wedding band that was beautiful. They were all unique, meant to display the bond between mates. The bands provided by the Duke were obsidian black, the last rays of Rao’s light glinting off of them.
“Made wife and wife this day, and for all days hence. May the countenance of Rao ever shine on you.” Rom-Var’s hands rose in a gesture of presentation of them as one being.
Clearly, the Duke knew the ceremony, because she didn’t let go of Kara’s hand, simply lowering their joined hands between them. Her expression had the faintest question on it.
It struck Kara suddenly that she was taller than her wife.
The air shuddered slightly as she exhaled, but she leaned ever so slightly forward. It wasn’t how she’d pictured this in the least.
Her wife pressed their lips together. It was a sort of dry press, not uncomfortable, but odd. And then her wife was pulling away. She left only the faint taste of burning stars.
Applause greeted the completion of the marriage.
Kara was half relieved and half terrified as the doors closed, leaving her alone with her new wife in the largest diplomatic chambers in Kandor. During the day, they were no doubt stunning, but Rao had fully set, leaving darkness and the lights of the city as all that was visible from the large windows.
“Give me a minute, I’m going to get this stupid warpaint off of my face.” Her wife shot her a look, and then vanished toward the washroom, the sound of water immediately beginning as soon as she was out of sight.
It was quiet except for the sound of running water.
Kara walked further into the room. The meditation mats were laid out before the window that would first light with Rao’s light in the morning. The shelf to one side was stocked with white candles. All of the room was exactingly prepared. She was…unsure what she was permitted to do?
If this were a marriage to any Kryptonian House, she would know what to do. In any marriage on Krypton, she would have been equal or higher in rank than her spouse. She was nobility on a planet. The Duke was likely royalty from an empire. What was expected of her, and her position were…unknown to her.
She stood in the quiet. All the quiet whispers and giggles between friends when she was a child about some of the scandalous marriages during the Age of Heroes were far less titillating now. It was like her throat was strangled with a thousand words that wanted to come spilling out. Her hands kept fluttering slightly. She pushed them into the folds of her rope to hide the nervous tick.
Her wife apparently had nearly silent footsteps, as she walked back, the turning off of water the only reason Kara had turned toward her. Her wife paused as she reached the room, her face clean of the black paint, leaving a less intimidating visage. “So…” The woman hesitated. “We’re married then.”
“Yes? Is there further ceremony or ritual required for your people? I wasn’t told if there is, do I need to do anything, I just…sorry.” Kara bit down harshly on her tongue. “I ramble…I can stop. Sorry.”
“You’re fine,” There was something actually amused in Kasius’s face. “We kind of just met, at the wedding.” Her wife lifted the circlet off her head. “And no, there’s not really anything needed for it to be like, legitimate or whatever for the Alliance.”
Kara hesitated, but nodded. “That’s good. And I, sorry, today was just sudden.”
Kasius laughed, unhooking the top of her tight jacket that wrapped around her, it loosening. She held out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, I’m Daisy Johnson.”
That was…not a Kryptonian gesture, but Kara wasn’t stupid. She took her wife’s hand, even if the touch felt intimate with a near stranger. “Kara,” She frowned slightly. “Is our name not Kasius?”
Daisy released her hand. “It is, it's just not the one I was born with.”
“Oh,” That made sense. Even she knew that the woman in front of her had murdered her entire House till she was its Head. “I shouldn’t have…that is…”
“It's ok.” Daisy winced slightly, touching one of her own arms before brushing it off. “Is there anything expected from us still tonight?”
“No, um…were you injured?” Kara shouldn’t have asked, or maybe should have? The woman had destroyed an armada just hours ago.
Daisy’s mouth opened slightly, but then she sighed. She reached up to unfasten her outer jacket.
Kara felt her face grow warm. “I, um, I don’t-” Her voice caught as she realized why her wife was removing the jacket.
Underneath the jacket, Daisy was possibly the most scandalously revealing shirt that Kara had ever seen. It didn’t have arms. But it wasn’t that which stole the words from Kara’s throat. The skin was a mottled tapestry of bruising. Daisy’s arms, her shoulders, her chest, all of it.
Kara’s eyes snapped back to her wife’s face. “We should go to the halls of healing, immediately. You have to be in so much pain!”
“It’s fine.” Daisy set her jacket on the curved couch. “I’ve had worse, it’ll be healed by morning.” Her expression said she meant it to be funny, but it didn’t feel funny. “Destroying a fleet is kind of hard.”
“You need sleep to heal this?” Kara was horrified, but she felt the weight of it. She moved her hands, but if she touched her wife’s arm, it’d be her skin, and that was…they’d only just met for liberties like that. And what if it hurt her?!
Daisy’s expression was curious, but also…almost as if she was laughing at her. “It’ll help. You don’t need to worry, it's not the first time I’ve done this. Is there anything else you expect to happen, tonight?”
The obvious answer was ‘yes’. It was customary for a newly mated pair to perform some activity to represent their bond. Often, something to do with their guild. She knew Aunt Astra and Uncle Non had sparred before discussing historical battles together. But that it wasn’t required, and her wife was injured from the battle she’d just returned from. A battle that had left her kiss tasting of the burning stars that all things in the black returned with the smell of.
“Not tonight, it just--it’s tradition to meditate in the morning. Together, that is.” Kara didn’t want to bother her wife with this. “It’s alright if that is not something you want. Or would hurt you.”
“That sounds nice. I mean it.” Daisy smiled faintly. “But in that case, I’m going to go to sleep before I pass out. Is there anything you need?”
“No, I’m fine. Are you sure you don’t require the halls of healing? We could even summon someone to at least treat you here.” Kara didn’t know what to do. She hadn’t seen injuries like that in person before.
Daisy’s smile didn’t leave her face. “I’m fine.” She hesitated. “Good night, Kara. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Good night?” Kara managed to not babble this time.
Her wife made a sort of amused huff, but vanished into one of the bedrooms.
That was…it could have gone worse?
Kara walked into her own room. As she entered, the lights automatically illuminated the space. It was a diplomatic room, rarely used. As such it was nice. Clean. Grand, if expected Kryptonian in style. White sheets on the round bed, smooth lines. The closet was filled.
She hesitantly walked to it. Her own clothing that was kept on Kandor was hung neatly. Touching one, she couldn’t miss it had been tailored. The El robots must have been entirely dedicated to the task to have finished this quickly. They must have started immediately upon the marriage being agreed on. The crest of El was no longer raised up in white against white fabric. In its place was the symbol of House Kasius.
Her new crest was in a hexagon containing a twelve-point star. She didn’t need to look to know all of the clothing would be the same. There was something cloying about seeing a symbol she’d only known as an emblem of horror and atrocity. A warning in the archives of the Science Guild of what unchecked horror could become. It was her name and House now.
Kara released it and reached up and took her circlet off of her head. Looking at it, the craftsmanship was beautiful, sharper, and heavier than the Kryptonian style. Setting it aside, she lifted her ceremonial robes off of herself.
A sharp pang stabbed her heart as she set aside the last piece of fabric with the crest of El on it that she would ever wear.
Her vision blurred as she disrobed before pulling a sleeping gown on. As she crawled into bed, she curled, the lights turning down as she buried her face into a pillow. If her eyes were shut, it didn’t count as crying.
Kara woke to the faint chime declaring the first hour of Rao’s light. Sitting up, she looked at the room, and it all…it was real. She was married. It hadn’t all been a detailed and strange nightmare.
But morning meditation with, perhaps, her new wife. If Daisy remembered or had meant it. Either way, Kara would be prepared.
It did not take long to wash herself and pull on a simple dress appropriate for the morning. Leaving these quarters, at least today, would be improper. Though if that would be respected, she didn’t know.
Walking into the main room that was just beginning to glow with the soft morning light of Rao. And sort of slumped on one couch, holding a cup like it was her lifeline, was her wife.
Daisy looked at her, her upper garment, while tight, was soft with a loose, almost robe-like neck, her pants as tight and black as any military guild uniform’s. “Morning, there’s coffee in the silver pitcher, and something called yẽf in the round container.”
It felt…not terrifying, and completely terrifying at the same time. Mostly awkward. Kara walked to the table, pouring herself a cup of yẽf. “Good morning, are your injuries improved?”
“A lot.” Daisy pulled the cuff of her soft-looking upper garment up enough to show her arm. The bruising was no longer dark purple and nearly black from pooling blood, but instead a sort of mottled green. “Taking a bit long, but it’s healing.” She pulled down her sleeve. “So, anything I need to know about meditation?”
Kara hesitated but sat down, kind of stiffly, further down the couch. “Do you know how to meditate? I know it's not a Kryptonian practice only, but if you don’t know how, I can explain. I appreciate that you’d do this, even if it’s not your custom.”
Daisy’s lips twitched slightly where she was sipping her ‘coffee’. She lowered the cup. “I can meditate.” She paused. “I know everything was fast. But, I think maybe we could be friends?”
“I--I would like that very much.” Kara felt like breathing was ever so slightly easier. “Being friends.”
The expression on Daisy’s face felt--nice. “So, besides sitting mats, what should we do?”
“We light candles and meditate as Rao rises over the horizon, to make ourselves right before Rao. To center on our futures.” Kara knew religion was often reviled in alien societies. “I’m sure it must seem very odd to you.”
“It doesn’t,” Daisy hesitated, “I’m not that Kree. And the Kree aren’t the only species in the Alliance.” Her head tilted slightly. “Do you think the Kryptonian embassy will need a temple to Rao or something? That actually wasn’t covered in the treaty, I think.”
Thank Rao, at least that she knew. “A single room for the purpose with a window facing toward the light, and permission for a priest would be more than I think the council would ask for. It’s been a long time since we’ve had diplomatic ties with anyone.”
Daisy hummed in understanding. “Not since the Daxamites discovered the frequency of radiation that’s poisonous to you and pushed your people out of the galaxy.” She stood up, an amused lilt to her expression as she set her empty cup of coffee aside. “Generally, it's the kind of information they want me to know instead of what yẽf is.”
“You could try yẽf, it’s delicious.” Kara offered, forcing herself to ignore the slight discomfort at the reminder of her wife’s position.
“After we meditate?” Daisy tilted her head toward the window through which the growing light of Rao spilled.
And that…it felt like an offer of something that might be good.