"Don't talk when we go out, don't run around, stick close to me. Wherever I go, you go. Nod if you understand."
Liam looked into Kara's eyes, confirming her understanding. She nodded repeatedly, her expression serious.
It had been two days since Kara had landed. Settling in meant attending to daily necessities—things like toothbrushes, towels, toiletries, and clean clothes. Right now, she had only clothes borrowed from a neighbor.
Her Krypton mini-dress was stunning. Liam estimated it likely had bulletproof properties, its material far beyond anything Earth had. Yet the style was eye-catching—too flashy for Earth standards, not to mention the prominent 'S' on the chest—making it unsuitable for streetwear.
He also recalled that Krypton's civilian technology was impressive. In the original stories, Supergirl's uniform was actually a high school graduation ball gown, yet it could withstand anything—even nuclear explosions. It was a small example of how advanced Krypton was—not just in military tech, but in all aspects of life, from clothing to food, housing, and transportation.
Kara, unlike her cousin Superman, had spent her entire childhood on Krypton. Arriving on Earth was disorienting, like being transported back thousands of years. For someone accustomed to mobile phones and computers, adapting to a primitive lifestyle could be overwhelming. The loneliness, naturally, was more acute.
Yet, in these past two days, she had been remarkably obedient. Whatever Liam instructed, she followed. She rarely spoke, rarely questioned.
She nodded earnestly, then drew a finger across her lips in a zipper gesture, silently promising to stay quiet.
Of course, she only knew Kryptonian. Even if she wanted to speak, Liam was her only companion. Well… there was also the white-bearded Wizard at home.
Shazam, after all, was nine thousand years old, and a mere language barrier didn't faze him.
The borrowed clothes weren't perfectly tailored, but Kara's natural beauty and fair skin shone through. Her large, lively eyes and the little dressing-up touches transformed her into a very cute Earth loli.
The Wizard sat in the shop, watching Liam lead Kara out the door. He stroked his long white beard and couldn't help a grandfatherly smile of contentment.
"Meow!"
Streaky padded over, carrying an empty cat bowl in its mouth, eyes pleading. The Wizard glanced down, amused.
"Hungry?" he asked.
Streaky nodded, meowing pitifully, "Meow~."
The Wizard chuckled. "Hold it in."
"???"
Liam held Kara's small hand at the edge of the sidewalk, waiting for the traffic light. Cars roared past, and he felt her grip tighten instinctively. She shrank behind him slightly, alert and cautious, like a tiny cat on edge.
"Don't be nervous," Liam said. "These are just cars. Vehicles, like the spaceship you came in—only much lower-tech. Wait… you Kryptonians should have similar things, right?"
Kara's wide, innocent eyes fixed on him, her golden cowlick standing straight.
Liam paused, realization dawning. Oh, right—she couldn't speak.
He laughed wryly. She truly hadn't said a word in these two days when instructed not to.
"It's okay. You can speak when I allow it," he added, a little hesitant at his own overbearing tone. "Actually… you don't even need to say it out loud. Just think it, focus on transmitting it to me."
Telepathic communication was basic Ultraman skill in various shows—limited, requiring intention from both parties, essentially like an in-team voice chat.
Kara closed her eyes, concentration clear on her small face. Moments later, Liam heard her voice in his mind.
"Can you hear me?"
"Of course," he replied.
Her eyes opened wide in astonishment, admiration shining in her expression.
"You're amazing!"
"Just… average, moderately amazing," Liam said modestly.
"Similar tools exist on Krypton. But…" Kara tilted her head, watching the speeding cars in the street, puzzled.
"Why don't they fly? The sky is so open."
Liam froze. …Good point. Why the hell don't they fly?
It was that classic, slightly naive question—like a young Batman wondering why people lived on the streets instead of their own homes, or how ordinary humans had to pay for housing, leaving him bewildered and existentially crushed.
A moment passed before Kara understood: people didn't choose to stay grounded—they couldn't fly.
Her eyes widened with awe. "Then wouldn't it be very dangerous if everyone had to crowd and run on the ground?"
"Actually… it's mostly safe. Traffic accidents are rare…" Liam said.
Bang.
A black car slammed into the rear of another in front of them, the trunk crumpled beyond recognition.
Kara turned to him, blank-eyed. Her expression clearly asked, This is what you call safe?
Liam stayed silent. In a city like Gotham, life often escalated small problems into chaos. Drivers immediately cursed each other: "How are you driving? Don't you have eyes?" "Why are you dawdling like a turtle?" Mutual insults quickly escalated into shoving, punching, and general mayhem.
Liam's face darkened as he watched. Maybe he'd spoken too soon—there was nothing truly safe about Gotham.
Kara silently observed the shouting, the pushing, and the indifferent pedestrians, feeling Earth's harshness sink in.
·°(﹏)°·
Earth is so scary. I want to go back to Krypton.