The photograph

Disclaimer: I don't own neither Supergirl nor its characters.

Rating: K+/T

Spoilers: during season 2.

Author's Note: I'm French, so english is not my native language and I want to say a huge "THANK YOU" to Sonia/ Ania1982_ , who helped me with the translation. This is the english version of my fic "La photographie".

In my story, I also refer to an old but famous movie (1990): "Ghost" with Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopy Goldberg ... Ah ah ah ah ! If you don't know this movie, act like Mon-El and watch it!

And of course, I'm waiting for your comments! Enjoy!

OooooooO

Mon-El wiped away his tears discreetly. He had tried everything not to cry even remembering the funniest moment of these past months - like that boozy evening at the bar last week. Winn had thrown a dart, while whistling the "Lord of the Rings" main theme, bragging about being more talented than a certain ''Legolas''. Of course, the dart had finished two good meters from the target but a few centimeters from J'onn's head.

When Kara had announced the afternoon TV program, he had been rather enthusiastic: they were going to watch Eliza's favorite movie. The scientist had shown it to Kara when she was a teenager. And when Mon El had asked his girlfriend the title, she had proudly announced "Ghost."
He had giggled and Kara had given him an annoyed look.

-Ghost, he had simpered, so… it's a ghost story…

-You're gonna love it, this movie is beautiful, she had retorted.

-With ghosts ...he had repeated, not really convinced.

Kara had sighed before settling beside him on the sofa with her bowl of popcorn.

-Let's watch the movie and we'll talk about it afterwards, she declared triumphantly.

And of course, she had won. She was certain that he would succumb to Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore's tragic love story. And she had not been disappointed. He had remained silent during the whole movie. Even in front of Whoopy Goldberg's clowning. Not an ounce of sarcasm, not a single exasperated sigh when he had seen the overdone romantic scenes. He could not help but clasp Kara's hand a little harder when, at the outcome, the hero had confessed his eternal love before disappearing into the white light.

So, at the end of the credits, he got up without a word and went straight to the bathroom. Kara, a little surprised at the start, displayed a small victorious smile before bringing her empty bowl into the kitchen. She heard the water flow.

-Are you OK? She asked, with a false naïve tone.

Mon-El joined her in the kitchen.

-Why is it so difficult for some people to confess their true feelings and say things clearly?

Kara was caught off guard. Mon-El continued without giving her time to respond.

-And what does "Ditto" mean?

-Oh hmm ... It's like "me too". I think Sam prefers to say it because ... well, he has a hard time expressing that kind of "thing".

Mon-El stared at her and Kara suddenly felt uneasy.

-I see, he finally answered before taking the bowl from the young woman's hands and depositing it in the sink.

OoooooooooO

Seeing Mon-El go to work was becoming more and more difficult for Kara. The daily update of her blog couldn't compensate for the loss of her position as a journalist at CatCo. She missed the office and she missed her colleagues (she had seen James less and less since he had put on the Guardian's suit). She even regretted Snapper and his perpetual reproaches. So she had called Alex to find out if she was willing to spend the evening with her. Since she and Maggie have been dating, her sister was also much less available. And that was understandable. She, herself spent much of her free time with Mon-El and she had to admit that she loved it. She began to think once again about the conversation they had had in the afternoon, about the movie. The discomfort she felt when Mon-El had spoken about sharing ones feelings came back titillating her.

Her boyfriend had already declared her love. Twice .The first time, just after the Livewire incident, she had rejected him. And the second time, after he had confessed being the prince, she had simply broken up with him unceremoniously. She had realized her mistake only when the Music Meister had dragged them, Barry and herself, in this epic "musical" adventure. Once back to reality, Barry proposed Iris, and she ...

Kara sighed before sitting on her bed.

She had simply forgiven him and acted like if he had never pronounced the three fateful words. Why was it so hard for her to say it when Mon El didn't hesitate to take the plunge?

A knock on the door almost startled her. Alex had arrived. Maggie was to attend one of her colleague's retirement party so the eldest Danvers had accepted the invitation of the youngest. When Kara opened the door, Alex raised the lid of the box she held in her hand to proudly present no less than eight appetizing cupcakes to her host.

- Tada ! Little sweetness for sister's night! She shouted happily before coming in. So what is the program? She asked, placing the box on the counter. Are we going out to see a movie? A movie at home? Are we going to the bar?

-Yes, we could stay here and watch a movie actually. It's starting to become a habit for me, Kara sighed.

-Okay, so you make me come here to spend the evening with you and you are grumpy! What's the problem? Come on, tell me! Alex added, urging his sister to sit in front of her with a hand wave.

Kara complied as Alex grabbed two beers in the fridge.

-I miss my work at CatCo.

-You do not have a minute to yourself at the DEO.

The young woman opened the bottle stretched by Alex and took a sip before answering.

-I thought that being Supergirl and protecting the inhabitants of National City would be enough, but ... I loved being a reporter, I loved working there even with Snapper yelling at me all the time. I don't know ... Something is missing in my life.

Alex looked at her kindly.

-I understand.

-Mon-El keeps telling me that my "blob" is sensational, he says that he is proud of me and that I will find another journalist job soon when other press groups will realize my talent. But…

-Mon-El would go and get you the moon if you asked him to, Alex laughed. He's madly in love with you. But that doesn't mean he's wrong, she snapped at once. I rather agree with him on that one. You are talented.

Kara's face closed a little more and Alex noticed.

-Is everything going well with him? I mean, did he finally moved in with you or ...?

-No, Kara replied a little more hastily than she would have liked. Uh ... well he spends a lot of time here but his stuffs are still at the DEO. We want to ... take our time.

-We want or YOU want ?

Kara lowered her eyes without answering as Alex swallowed a sip of beer.

-Look, you have been circling each other for eight months. You have been kidnapped by Cadmus. You escaped death several times. You dated each other. You discovered that he was a prince. You broke up. You have been thrown into a virtual world from wich Mon-El's fairy tale kiss pulled you out. You finally reconciled and had to face a "possessive mother-in-law"... Phew! I think "complicated" is the right word to characterize your relationship.

Kara looked at her reproachfully.

-You're cynical, the younger Danvers said.

-I am realistic, replied the elder. Listen, you two are superheroes - at least you are one - and he is "learning". And the least we can say is that your relationship started in a very intense way. But everyone had figured out that you, Kara, were feeling much more for Mon-El than you wanted to admit in the beginning ...

-What do you mean by everyone? Kara said in an offended tone.

-Everyone except you.

Kara opened her mouth to reply but no argument came into her mind to contradict her sister. Instead, she sighed again and grabbed a cupcake in the box and took a major bite out of it. Alex smiled victoriously.

-So, movie night, Alex switched and headed for the living room.

She sat down on the sofa and saw a DVD box on the coffee table in front of her.

-Come on! Ghost? Really? Alex exclaimed, swallowing a sip of beer.

-Mon-El and I watched it this afternoon. I help him improve his film culture, the kryptonian justified herself, and I can say he enjoyed it very much ... He even cried.

Alex burst out laughing before she recovered herself in front of her sister's disapproving gaze.

-Sorry ... But that's not surprising. This is the most tearful story I know! He stood no chance! I don't know why you and mom persist to watch it over and over again. Thank God, I escaped this monthly torture by going to the medical school! Even J'onn would have shed a little tear if he had seen it, I'm sure,...

-Alex… Kara objected.

-Ok, I'll stop.

-Mon-El is in his bookworm period. He devoured the whole Harry Potter saga in a week. After his Shakespeare and History of the United States phases, he now plunges into the great love stories of literature!

-He's too cute, Alex joked again.

This time Kara laughed with her sister.

- Judging by the empty space on my shelf, I can tell that, before leaving, he has taken " Pride and Prejudice", the young woman added, pointing to the row of books under the television.

-Nice program for him! Well then what will it be for us? Alex grew impatient. Mad Max or Kill Bill?

Kara rolled her eyes.

-Whichever you want, she sighed, before falling into the couch next to her sister, who was already beginning to rub her hands.

-Very good, Hi Tarentino ! Alex jubilated.

OOooooooOOO

The bar was packed. Mon-El really appreciated saturday nights effervescence. It reminded him somewhat of the festivals once held at the palace on Daxam, except that, here on Earth, he was serving people instead of being served. The room just looked like an intergalactic Babel tower and he almost felt home again - a much more appreciable version of his home. Mon-El was very fond of his work. He liked to chat with customers and his good mood had made him the favorite bartender to the regulars, especially to the alien females. After he had been preparing cocktails for two hours in front of an openly flirting bunch of admirers, he told Rachel that he was finally taking his break. He went to isolate himself in a corner a little way out of the room and carefully observed the cover of the book he had borrowed from Kara's in the afternoon. A small smile appeared on his lips and he wanted to start reading immediately when he realized that there was something between the pages. He opened the book and found a photograph of Kara and James. The two friends were side by side, smiling with complicity. They both seemed to be at CatCo.

He smiled in turn. Kara was dazzling. She wore a blue blouse and her loose hair cascaded on her shoulders. When was this photograph taken? Last year? The young man turned it over and, in a split second, his face suddenly became livid. He stood still for a moment, his eyes riveted on the handwritten inscription on the back of the glossy piece of paper.

-Hey! Mon-El! Sorry to interrupt you, but do you know if we got Guato liqueur? We should have been delivered yesterday.

As she stood beside him, Rachel's insistent voice could hardly get him out of his torpor.

-Uh ... .you ... uh ... three bottles, in the reserve, he stammered.

The young alien female could not help but notice the sudden concern of his colleague, whereas a few minutes earlier, he was displaying his usual cheerfulness.

-Mon-El, are you OK? She asked shyly.

The daxamite replaced the photograph in the book and in an instant, put on his jovial poker face again.

-Everything's fine. I'll go get the bottles, he said. Oh Rachel, does it bothers you if I leave Gorak and you close the bar? I have to go see someone. It's pretty important.

-No problem, Rachel replied.

- Thank you. I'll get the bottles and run.

He then placed the book in the inside pocket of his jacket, hanging on the wall near the counter, and slipped into the corridor leading to the store storage. Seated alone at a table facing the bar, a mysterious guy with an emaciated face and icy blue eyes, watched him disappear from the room with a carnivorous smile.

TO BE CONTINUED…