Inside the salon, the air smelled faintly of citrus shampoo and warm hair dryers. Kara sat in the chair while the stylist made a few final snips with the magic-reinforced scissors. Loose strands of blonde hair drifted down and settled across the black cape draped over her shoulders.
The stylist brushed the remaining strands away and turned the chair toward the mirror with a satisfied smile. Kara leaned forward slightly, studying her reflection. The long hair she had arrived with was gone and in its place sat a shoulder-length cut that framed her face and moved lightly when she tilted her head.
She turned her head left, then right, watching the way the shorter strands shifted and settled. Her fingers ran through the ends as she tested the new weight and balance.
"Yeah," Kara said with a small nod of approval. "This feels better already."
She stood from the chair and gave her head a quick shake. The hair bounced once and settled neatly against her shoulders.
"Now it won't get in the way during a fight," she added with clear satisfaction.
John leaned against the nearby counter with his arms folded, watching the whole evaluation process like a judge observing a final performance. The stylist looked slightly nervous at first. Then she relaxed when John gave a small approving nod.
"You look good with short hair," he said.
Kara turned toward him with a faint smile that she tried to hide behind a casual shrug.
"Well, good," she said. "Because it's not growing back overnight."
John chuckled softly and pushed away from the counter. He reached into his pocket, paid the stylist generously, and thanked her before gesturing toward the door. The stylist tried to refuse, but John said that if she gave away free haircuts, she would soon go out of business, and not to argue with him. Just take the money.
"Come on," he said. "Next stop."
Kara grabbed her jacket from the rack near the entrance and followed him outside. The morning air felt cooler against her neck now that her hair no longer covered it. She instinctively reached up and touched the back of her head again, still getting used to the new sensation.
They stepped into the busy streets of Kahndaq's capital. The shopping district buzzed with activity. Cafes spilled laughter onto the sidewalks while vendors arranged colorful displays of fabrics, jewelry, and enchanted accessories that shimmered under the sunlight.
Kara walked beside him, her steps relaxed as she looked around.
"So where are we going now?" she asked.
John glanced toward a tall building at the end of the street. The structure looked modern yet elegant, its front covered in tall glass panels etched with subtle glowing runes. Inside, mannequins displayed elaborate outfits ranging from ceremonial robes to sleek combat gear designed for heroes and elite guards.
"The best designer in Kahndaq," he replied.
Kara raised one eyebrow as they approached the entrance.
"You're serious?"
"Very," he said.
The glass doors opened automatically when they stepped closer. Inside, the space felt more like an art gallery than a clothing store. Rows of handcrafted suits stood on display under the display lights. Some looked traditional with flowing fabrics and gold embroidery. Others looked advanced and practical with reinforced materials.
A tall woman with dark hair tied in a neat bun stepped forward from behind a worktable covered with sketches and fabric samples. She recognized John immediately and straightened her posture with respectful surprise.
"Your Majesty," she said.
John waved off the formality with an easy smile.
"No need for titles today," he replied. "We're here for something important."
The designer's attention shifted toward Kara. Her professional instincts lit up instantly as she studied Kara's posture, build, and newly cut hair with a trained eye.
"And who might you be?" she asked.
"Kara Zor-L," Kara replied.
The designer nodded slowly as if committing the name to memory.
"So," she said while reaching for a tablet filled with design sketches. "What kind of suit are we creating today?"
Kara stepped forward, her eyes drifting across the displays around the room before settling back on the designer.
"Something strong," she said thoughtfully. "Something simple that won't slow me down."
"She's a Kryptonian, so use the materials from Amazon to make her suit and if you need anything, just say the word," John said as he sat down on the chair, before the counter.
The designer circled Kara slowly with the tablet in hand, eyes sharp and thoughtful as she studied posture, height, and movement. Kara stood still. Every few seconds, the designer tapped the tablet, adjusting a sketch or pulling up a new reference while Kara described what she wanted.
"Strength and simplicity," the designer repeated while zooming in on a design outline. "That means mobility comes first. Durability second. Style third. Though I suppose all three can exist together."
Kara shifted her stance and looked at a mannequin wearing an armored suit near the wall. "Nothing bulky," she said. "I fly. I move fast. I don't want anything that catches wind or drags behind me."
The designer nodded and began pulling several fabric samples from a nearby shelf. She laid them out across the table while explaining their properties one by one.
"This weave comes from Amazonian battle cloth. It is extremely durable and responds well to magical reinforcement. The fibers adapt to body movement without restricting muscle expansion." She placed another sample beside it. "This layer would serve as the inner mesh. It stabilizes energy transfer and disperses impact force."
Kara ran her fingers across the material, testing its texture. The fabric felt smooth and surprisingly light despite the strength the designer described.
John had taken a seat near the counter at the start of the process. At first, he listened while Kara and the designer exchanged ideas. After about twenty minutes, the steady rhythm of design talk and the quiet hum of the workshop began working against him.
He leaned back in the chair, arms loosely folded.
A few minutes later, his head tilted slightly to the side.
Ten minutes after that, he was asleep.
Kara noticed first.
She glanced over while holding up a sketch and saw him sitting there with his eyes closed and breathing steadily. His posture looked relaxed in a way she rarely saw during meetings or training sessions.
A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
The designer followed her gaze and lowered her voice.
"He works very hard," the woman said quietly. "It is rare to see him resting anywhere outside the palace gardens."
Kara nodded while turning back to the sketches. "Yeah. He does."
The design process continued while John slept peacefully in the chair. The designer adjusted lines and proportions on the tablet while Kara gave feedback about color balance, flexibility, and overall shape. Every few minutes, a new holographic model appeared above the tablet so Kara could see the suit from different angles.
After nearly an hour, the final design took shape.
Kara studied the floating projection carefully while crossing her arms.
The suit hugged the body in a clean, athletic line. The base color was bright white with reinforced panels woven subtly into the fabric. A sharp red V cut dipped across the upper chest before rising toward the shoulders. Over it sat a fitted red jacket that stopped just above the waist, sleek and practical without unnecessary decoration.
Blue gloves covered the forearms and extended slightly past the wrist. Matching blue boots reached just below the knee with flexible plating layered along the shin and heel.
A yellow belt wrapped around the waist, simple but bold enough to break up the colors without overwhelming the design.
Kara leaned closer to the hologram, tilting her head while examining the details.
"Rotate it," she said.
The projection spun slowly in the air.
She watched it complete a full turn.
Then another.
Finally, she nodded once with quiet satisfaction. "That's it," she said. "That's the one."
The designer smiled, pleased with the decision. "Excellent choice. Clean lines, strong colors, and perfect for high-speed combat movement. I will begin construction immediately."
Kara exhaled slowly and stretched her shoulders. The process had taken longer than she expected, though the final result felt exactly right.
She turned toward the counter.
John was still asleep.
His head rested slightly back against the chair and one hand hung loosely at his side. The peaceful look on his face almost made her laugh.
She walked over and stood beside him for a moment, studying him like she was deciding whether to wake him or let him keep resting.
"Seriously?" she muttered quietly.
No reaction.
She crossed her arms and leaned closer. 'Should I poke his cheeks?' That thought crossed her mind for a moment. But she decided not to.
"Hey," she said softly while nudging his shoulder.
John stirred with a faint grunt and blinked a few times before looking around the shop like he was briefly unsure where he was.
"Oh," he said while straightening up. "Did I miss something important?"
Kara smirked.
"You slept through the entire design process."
He rubbed the back of his neck and glanced toward the floating projection of the suit.
"Well," he said with a small grin, "at least I woke up in time for the final reveal."
Kara stepped aside so he could see the design clearly.
The hologram rotated slowly in the air.
John studied it for several seconds before nodding in clear approval.
"That looks perfect," he said.
Kara tried to act casual, though the pleased expression on her face gave away exactly how happy she was with the result.
"Good," she said. "Because that's the one I picked."
John leaned back in the chair again, stretching his arms with a relaxed sigh.
"So, how long would it take?" He asked the designer.
"I'll need to ship in some items. So, approximately speaking..." The designer thought for a moment before answering. "A month should be enough. I'll have it delivered to the mansion."
"Thank you, Johanna," John said as he stood up and stretched his arms a bit.
"It's my pleasure," Johanna, the designer, replied with a polite bow.
John then looked at Kara, "So, what do you want to do next?"
"I... don't know. What do you do for fun here?" Kara asked with a curious expression.
All she did after arriving on Earth was train to control her abilities. So, now that she can control her power, she wants to experience something fun other than sparring.
John thought for a moment before snapping his fingers. "I can think of a couple of fun things to do."
--
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