Who Kara Is

You two cross the road one after another. Kara leads in the front with you just a step behind her.

"Here we are." Kara says and points her chin to a humble looking shop that sticks out from the bottom of a tall building in front of you.

The inside is lit up with a yellowish dim light and the windows all around the shop are all obscured with potted plants giving the place a nice cozy feeling as if you could hide yourself from the outside.

" The Sapphire Dew." You read out the shop's name.

Kara walks forth and opens the door, a holographic bell dances above and a jingle plays as the two of you step in. Immediately the smell of coffee and cinnamon hits your nose, it's not heavy, but it is a lingering sweetness that calms you.

"Welcome~ Oh! Hello Kara." A girl in a tight looking blue vest uniform who looks to be a bit older than Ameko greets you both.

"Hello, may we have a private booth please?" Says Kara with a smile back.

"Of course! Right this way." The girl gestures towards the back and Kara walks further in with you right behind her.

The place is....larger than expected inside as you walk through the rows of tables and seats. A few customers sit alone, some have a friend or two with them just hanging out. This really feels like a premium place despite apparently being a mere coffee shop.

It isn't long before Kara leads you through a spacious corridor where several doors line both walls, generously separated from each other. She opens one of the doors with a smile and you step in to the room. This is a lot of effort for just a conversation, costly too you'd imagine. But Kara for sure has it covered seeing that she might be a regular here.

Walking in, the room is big reminding you of a karaoke room. The walls are black and smooth and there is a singular wooden slab that is stuck to the window side of the booth acting as a table while two banquette seats surround it on either side. Lights line the ceiling perimeter giving the room that yellow dim glow again.

"Take a seat." Kara closes the door behind you and walks forward to the table.

You simply follow and do as she says. Looking to the potted plants next to the windows beside you you see people outside. It's starting to rain and the pedestrians pop open their umbrellas to shield the rain. A few girls run by trying to get to thw safety of a bus shelter. Lights of the city slowly spark into being as the evening darkens with the help of rain clouds overhead.

"If you're wondering, this place is safe. I know the owner here, the room's sound proof and no one can see through the windows." Kara speaks to you in a reassuring voice.

"I see." You say and look back to her.

Kara swipes her finger on the surface of the table in front of her and a menu display pops up on the wood.

"What would you like?" Kara says going through the coffee menu.

"Nuthin." You lean forward and rest your jaw on your hand.

"Your behavior towards me has changed. But that doesn't mean you can throw your decency out of the window too. Order something, your savior is paying afterall." Kara smirks.

You feel a sense of overwhelming authority from her and swallow hard, immediately giving in. "Okay, uh....get me a...."

You rack your brain trying to call out a coffee name and remember your girlfriend in the last reality always wanted you to try a 'real cappuccino'.

"....A cappuccino." You mutter out.

"Good choice. Since you're going for that then I'll just get a latte." Kara submits the order and the display disappears.

"So?" You say at her and she sighs. One of her legs under the table crosses over the other one.

"A taste of the truth I said, yes?" Kara says and takes out her phone to set it on the table.

You straighten yourself in your seat and set your own phone onto the table in front of you too.

"To start Jun I must reintroduce myself. My name is Kara Vane. I am a bringer and have lived through several realities. I am also the leader of the Crescent Squad, a team of unique individuals that directly combats against the corruption of the Sun Corporation."

"You're....the leader?" You say understanding what this means. All this time Kara has been keeping an eye on you and probably the one who ordered Ameko to set up the secret spy cams in the house. "You knew all along? Everything? Me being the Crowned? About my wishes and my awakening?"

"Of course." She answers quickly.

"How far back?" You ask.

"Pretty far...." Kara says and rests her jaw onto her hand like you were doing earlier and smiles softly. There is a genuine beauty and glow to her that makes you want to just stare into those sapphire eyes instead of asking more questions. But you rip your gaze away to the side.

"Since when? D-did you-" You stutter and catch yourself. "-did you know when you were dating mom?"

"I did." Kara says without changing her expression and you swallow hard.

"....is that the reason why you married her? Just to....get closer to me?" You say feeling a swelling of unease at the back of your throat.

"Yes, but it wasn't the only reason." Kara noticing your state leans back into a more casual posture. "I loved her then, and I still love her now."

You can't tell if she's lying or not.

"What about....Amelia?" You say looking down to your phone. This seems to have moved Kara in some way and she quickly answers at the mention of her daughter.

"Amelia, is irrelevant to this conversation. You wanted to know the truth of our secrets correct? Let's stay on topic." Kara for once in this conversation raises her voice just above yours.

You look back up to her catching that slight waver. She showed....what is that? Anger? Annoyance? You're not sure. Is Amelia a weak spot? So that's her chink in the armor, of course it is.

"Amelia cares for you y'know. She worries and looks up to you." You push ignoring what Kara had just said.

"Boy, I beg you, stop derailing the conversation." Kara says and closes her eyes with a sigh.

"She is your daughter. The least you can do is tell her about these things. I get that-" You continue on as she tries to intervene.

"Stop...." Kara folds her arms gently.

"-what you're doing might be necessary and may go beyond what I understand but it isn't fair to leave her out of this. She needs you, especially if you're involved with such dangerous-"

"SHE'S NOT MY DAUGHTER."

SLAM.

Kara stands and her hands hit the table, you stop. Fear and revelation shocks you frozen.

"What?" You say in a slight whisper.

Kara's angered face is scarier than what you'd imagined. Her mature vixen face now contorts into a daggered look, gritted teeth and all.

"...."

Kara sits back into her seat. There is silence for the next few moments. You try your best to digest the new information you just learned.

Ding~.

The door opens and an automated cart rolls in with your drinks. It travels to the table and two little pinchers for arms pop out from the side to place the respective coffee orders in front of you two....then it leaves and the door closes.