8056/Lighting the Torch

Lighting the Torch
Date of Scene:	29 September 2021
Location:	Liberty Island
Synopsis:	Spider-Man meets Supergirl at the Statue of Liberty. Revelations of the personal and secret kind are shared...and a relationship is re-kindled.
Cast of Characters:	Peter Parker, Kara Danvers

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Peter Parker has posed:
Well...this is going to be interesting.

Spider-Man took a ride on an informant's boat, one he used for the occasional water surveillance. He put in at the dock where the ferry would be during normal hours.
However, it was 9 PM, the ferries have long since shut down, and the Island is mostly empty except for the night guards. He figured they wouldn't mind if he climbed up to Lady Liberty's torch to meet Supergirl. The torch was closed to the general population, anyway, so it seemed like a good place to chat without prying eyes or straining ears.

He got to the top and looked around. No crimes going on between Manhattan Island and Ellis Island, so at least he wasn't delayed by any muggings or robberies. So, he actually got there ten minutes early.

Kara Danvers has posed:
There had been another round of texts between Kara and Peter. Hi, howr u? Was up? Nt much, U? wanna hang 2nite? And so forth. They worked out Liberty Island as a meeting point, settled on a time, and then, the waiting for nightfall began. At 9 pm on the dot, Kara landed on Liberty's torch, taking a moment to brush back her hair before walking around the perimeter to meet Peter.

"Hey," she joked as she walked over to give him a hug. There's a pause and a slight lean in as she ponders giving him a kiss...but resuming their relatoinship was still so new, Kara wasn't sure if they were back to the 'kissing' stage yet. So, just the hug, and one of her affectionate smiles. "Come here often?" She looks around and smirks. "The service kinda sucks and there's no music..." Then, she looks up at the iconic torch. "But. gotta say...the lighting is amazing."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man returns the hug, but he's got the mask on, so a kiss would have meant a mouthful of ArmorWeave (From KordCo!(tm)). However, he smiles wryly to her.

"Haven't been here in awhile. At least *you* can fly. I had to borrow a boat. But, there's privacy...and plenty of it." He smiled sheepishly, visible even under the mask. "Besides, this place means a lot to me."

He looked around, then took a deep breath. "Listen, you said you had stuff to tell me. But I wanted to make sure you knew something I felt. I know you and your cousin have stuff you can and can't tell people. I don't want us to ever lie to each other, about anything. But telling me 'I can't tell you because it's private' or 'I can't tell you because someone else wants it private' or even 'I can't tell you because I don't know if I can'...none of those are lies. And if you tell me those things...I will never push or try to coerce you until betraying the trust of others. If I want you to trust me, I have to show you I can trust you."

Kara Danvers has posed:
"I do trust you, Peter," Kara says as she lays a hand on his arm. "So does Kal. There might be a few thing I can't tell you or talk about, but I swear that I'll let you know as soon as possible. And the same goes for you. If there's something you can't tell me because of a confidence, I'll undertand and not push it. We both have different circles of friends; friends that have their own secrets to share. I don't want you to violate a trust anymore than you would want me to." She leans forward and touches her forehead to Peter's. "We're both honorable. And we both know the price of doing what we do. That's why...we feel right together."

"Peter, there's going to be times wher I can't talk not because of secrets, but because I'm overwhelmed. And I need to decompress, curl up, and just be held. And I know that there's going to be times lke that for you as well. We talk, and we share what we can, when we can. That's something I can accept." She smiles at him. But...

There's an invisible weight on Kara. Her happy and gentle nature seems to be forced. And she does turn from him and lean on the observation railing, needing relief from the weight. "There are survivors," she says. And she doesn't elaborate on that. Yet.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter looks to Kara, a little uncomprehendingly. "Uhm...survivors of what? I think I am going to need a little more context."
He walked over to lean on the railing next to Kara.

Kara Danvers has posed:
"Krypton," Kara replies after a deep breath. She's not looking at peter, just staring out over the Atlantic. "Hundreds. Possibly thousands." A long pause. "Possibly my mother." The basics laid out, Kara breathes deep, as she realizes that Pter needs context...

"Thousands and thousands of years ago, Krypton abolished the death penalty for the worst crimes. We though it was a barbaric practice; no offense to the justice systems here. But...we came up with a more...'humane' punishment." Peter can feel those air quotes in kara's voice. "Permanent exile to what we call the Phantom Zone. A parallel plane of existence where one becomes...intangible. No aging, no hunger, no death. You just...exist. Unable to return to our plane. For eternity." She holds her head down, eyes shut. "A group of Kryptonians, we still don't know how many, fled the destruction of krypton by voluntarily entering the Phantom Zone. My mother might be among them."

Kara grips the railing tighter, still having enough presence of mind not to bend or damage it. "They've been trapped there, ever since. Trapped with the worst criminals of Krypton's past..." Her voice is choking with tears now. "Thousands who just wanted to survive anihillaton. Each one with the potential power of Kal or myself. And they're trapped with...unspeakable evils. Freeing them runs the risk of releasing some ore even all of the prisoners. Imagine a Jack the Ripper. An Attila the Hun. A Joseph Mengele...all suddenly with the power of Kal." Kara gives a shuddering breath, the first time she's really allowed herself to let these emotions out for the months she's been holding them in.

"I can't abandon them," Kara says, suddenly sounding weak and small. "But I can't just offer a portal that any of those...things. Could walk through..."

Peter Parker has posed:
"Oh...OH."
The concept is not lost on Peter. A kind of...limbo for Kryptonians. Open a door, send someone in, take someone out. But...to be frozen in time? The body doesn't age or progress, like time has stopped, but what about the consciousness? Floating around in...whatever...

And now there's thousands of Kara's people, trapped in there, with who knew how many rogue Kryptonians, like cancer cells waiting for a world to inhabit...
Five of them could take control of Earth by dinner time...

Peter was nodding slowly. "Okay...I think I understand. That's...wow, that a tough row to hoe." Something CLark might understand immediately.

"Uhm...would you like some help figuring out a solution? I don't know anything about Kryptonian technology, but I'm a quick study..."

Kara Danvers has posed:
Kara sniffles, and looks up at Peter; smiling, her eyes red with tears. "We've got all the research covered, although I'd be happy if you jin in. I have a plan. But...there's so many moving parts and angles to cover. Any one of which could go wrong and..." Kra looks back down at the night-black Atlantic. "I've only really told Power Girl about the plan. Just to see if it's even workable. I haven't dared bring it up to Kal yet. I just..." Another paus to collect herself. "I need you, Peter. Not for the incredible intelligence. But...because you're strong enough to help support me here. So that I'm not alone as I poner the rights and wrongs of bringng back a dead civilization that could conquer the universe."

Kara realises how all this might sound, and looks back up at Peter. "And no. I didn't want to get back together with you, just because I needed the emotional support. I did it because I miss us. The good times we've had together, as well as helping each other through the bad." A smile creeps onto her lips. "I might need to be held and told everything is going to be alright. But I want you to be the one to do it, Peter."

Peter Parker has posed:
Wow. Kara, who could benchpress a building, calling HIM strong? That was a concept to take a few seconds internalizing.

Almost before he knows it, he has stepped forward, wrapping his arms around Kara.

"I'm not the wisest man in the world. But I know right and wrong...and I know you would never take unnecessary risks where it comes to your people. But I have faith in you. I want to help you. In any way I can..."
A slight pause. "...but I think, with us working together with any other allies you have, that everything will be all right..."

Kara Danvers has posed:
Kara leans into the embrace, wrapping her arms around Peter as well, She leans her head against his chest, the breeze sporadicallly rustling her long, blonde hair. "That's what I needed to hear," she murmurs as she closes her yes, and ejoys the feeling of the one being saved for once in her life.

She stands there in silence with Peter for long minutes, before finally straightening back up. "Thanks," she tells him with a happy smile. "I..I needed that. Needed to have that little breakdown. Needed to be held." She turns to face him, then reaches up to his face and carefully peels up the mask to reveal Peter's mouth. "Thank you for letting me be Kara for a while," she says quietly. "Instead of always having to be Supergirl." and with that, she leans in and places her lips against his.

Peter Parker has posed:
He's kissed her before. It wasn't often - The Parker Luck had worked overtime with Toyman to bollix up THAT relationship - but it was memorable, and Peter returned the kiss lightly, with just a LITTLE more fervor than usual.

God, she was so warm. You'd never guess how durable she was.

The kiss lasts for a few moments before their mouths part and he looks into those blue eyes of hers. "I...I'm glad you're with me. I'm glad we can try again." He looks around. "But we better keep the PDA to the bare minimum while in costume. Unless you want people to think Supergirl and Spider-Man are dating."

Kara Danvers has posed:
Kara nos, smilng. "I know. I checked to make sure no-one was around to see..." She taps her ear with an impish glee. "But I wanted to thank you properly. And I figured...Spider-Man and Supergirl deserved one final kiss." She helps put the mask back in place. Adding, "But from now on, it's only Kara and Peter. Which means..." She lets out a little sigh, happy to have this problem. "I need to have an excuse for Kara to be seen around New York more. And don't worry; Supergirl's going to stay solely in Metropolis. Except for the occassional emergency in New York."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man hmmed thoughtfully. "Shame. There might be a few times when a Supergirl would certainly come in handy. And don't for a moment forget that, since a lot of criminal groups are now networking, Spidey's going to show up in Metropolis and Gotham City every now and again. Following the threads, as it were. So if something comes up and you could use a Spidey...or even a Peter...well, that's what the Hyperloop is for."

Kara Danvers has posed:
"Not to mentioin Superspeed," Kara remarks with a grin. "But New York is your city. And you do an amazing job of protecting it. You don't need a Girl of Steel around here full time." Then, she giggles. "Besides. I think it'll be nice to come up here and have vacations. Not having to worry every moment about every emergency siren and alarm." Yeah, she's got a self satisfied smirk, now. "I might actually get to sleep in, knowing the city is in such good hands."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man chuckles. "Hey...it's not just me, you know. There's a lot of people out there who do their share. I'm not a one-man band. I'm...well, I guess I'm more of the drummer than anything else. Keep the beat going. That's not bad, though. Phil Collins is a drummer. So is Ringo Starr. And they're not doing too badly, are they?"

Kara Danvers has posed:
"Kara giggles, then touches Peter's masked cheek affectionately. "Neither are you, web-head. Not too badly at all." A light pat on the cheek, then she prepares for takeoof. "Text you in the morning. I think Kara's going to find something in Manhattan to report on this weekend..." A wink, another smile, and then it's up, up and away...not needing her Kryptonian powers in order to fly tonight.

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man watches Supergirl go, a fondness in his face.

Who would have thought they woud be together this time? Well, at least this time, there were something to alleviate the supervillain-types from showing up on Ingram Street.

"You are really something else, Supergirl. I just hope I'm strong enough to be the guy you need."