LOSH: When Chp2

Chapter 2

“Let go of me,” said Brainiac Five, so firmly that each word sounded like its own sentence.

There was no reason for Superman X to listen to Brainiac Five. Not only did Brainiac Five have no authority over him within the Legion but he was physically stronger. He could hold onto the android as much as he wanted and there would be nothing Brainiac Five could do about it.

Still, that wasn’t how he wanted it to be. Superman X released Brainiac Five and took a small step away from him, remaining within arm’s reach.

Free from his earlier containment, Brainiac Five continued as if it had never been there to begin with. He typed in all the needed data and did the tests he could do at the time, never acknowledging the person he knew to be watching him.

Superman X was, indeed, watching, noting every move, every tensing and relaxing of the muscles. He had done this many times before, looking for weaknesses in the people he was going to fight. This time he was looking for cracks within well placed defenses.

Finishing up Brainiac Five saved his data and walked around Superman X to leave.

“Don’t bother avoiding me. This isn’t over,” Superman X called after him.

“Yippee Skippy,” replied Brainiac Five with an unenthusiastic twirl of his finger in the air, leaving Superman X’s normal sight range.

Though Brainiac Five’s less then encouraging response made Superman X feel like a complete idiot for being so rash, he still marveled at the new realization within him. It was probably the first time he cared for someone, anyone, including himself. He had always been so consumed with the destruction of Imperiax that he had forgotten to take a look at the things he was protecting.

Was it a good thing to want to protect Brainiac Five though? He knew from history that Brainiac Five had done some horrible things but he also knew from his own time that history could change.

In the history of his time there had been no Imperiax or Superman clone from the future ever mentioned during the Age of the Legion. Their very presence there could alter things so the things he read about never happened.

Scanning the ship with his x-ray vision Superman X found Brainiac Five on the bridge talking to Shrinking Violet and Bouncing Boy and wondered if he was just being an optimistic fool.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” said Superman X, stepping out from behind a corner and blocking Brainiac Five’s passage down the hall.

It had been two weeks since that day in the engine room and they had only been around each other during Legion business. Other then that it seemed that no matter what Superman X tried he couldn’t get anywhere near Brainiac Five without having to sneak up on him. That alone made him feel stupid, having to sneak up on someone in order to talk to them, but he refused to be ignored. Brainiac Five’s expression easily made Superman X feel more stupid, but he refused to show it.

“There’s a difference between being busy and avoiding someone,” said Brainiac Five, crossing his arms in agitation. “Allow me to demonstrate; I’ve been busy constantly repairing this ship due to constant attack and assaults on Imperiax and trying to make improvements. This is me just not wanting to be around you, also known as avoidance.”

Without another word Brainiac Five swung around and headed in the direction he originally came from.

Growling, Superman X grabbed Brainiac Five’s arm and dragged him into the closest room.

“What the hell is your problem?!”

“My problem? This is completely cliché but you’re the one with the problem. First you say that I can’t be trusted. That I do some horrible thing in the future and suddenly, out of the blue, you grab me and ask me if I would have loved you if I had met you first. How do expect me to react?”

“How the hell should I know? K.3.N.T didn’t exactly having dating on the training program,” snarled Superman X.

“That much is obvious,” smirked Brainiac Five. “If they had you would have known better to bring up the person’s-”

“Their what? Their crush? Hero? Obsession? Idealized icon?” asked Superman X mockingly, feeling angrier by the second. He couldn’t remember ever being so furious when Imperiax wasn’t around. He couldn’t remember ever feeling so bitter and childish, yet he couldn’t stop.

“Don’t talk about Superman that way,” shouted Brainiac Five.

“Why not? It’s all you talk about. Superman this and Superman that. I am so sick of hearing you talk about Superman all the time,” exclaimed Superman X.

Glaring at Superman X, Brainiac took in a deep breath and started to chant Superman’s name as fast as he could, making it sound as if he was trying to say a complicated tongue twister instead of a name.

“SHUT UP,” shouted Superman X, punching the wall next to Brainiac Five’s head. He panted out his anger, as he pulled his hand from the whole he had created.

Still glaring, Brainiac Five stared, unblinking, at Superman X, unaware that his cheek had been cut from debris during the punch and was beginning to bleed.

Superman X was fascinated by the blood for several reasons. First of all it was the first time he had seen anyone bleed from something he’d done, seeing that all his other adversaries had been completely mechanical and tended to explode when he was done with them. This was also the first time he had ever injured one of his allies, excluding the time he accidentally stepped on a kid, and he didn’t know Brainiac Five could bleed. It seemed so very surreal.

Reaching out to touch the cut, Superman X immediately withdrew his hand when he saw that it was covered with oil and debris from putting it through the wall. He noted Brainiac Five’s surprised expression when he peeled off the glove and reached forward to touch the cut again.

Brainiac Five winced when their skin make contact, though whether it was because the cut hurt or because of who was touching it was anyone’s guess but Superman X didn’t feel stupid enough to ask.

Absently rubbing his thumb over the cut, Superman X was surprised to find that the cut gone, the only evidence that it ever existed was smeared between his thumb and Brainiac Five’s cheek.

“I heal quickly,” said Brainiac Five, watching Superman X’s face. “You can back off anytime now.”

But Superman X didn’t want to. Surely there could be no harm in one little kiss?

“Don’t you dare,” warned Brainiac Five, his glare intensifying at his correct hunch of why Superman X’s expression had suddenly changed.

This, for whatever reason, made Superman X want to kiss Brainiac Five more and he began to lean in. He was only stopped when he felt something explode against his stomach. Practically jumping away he saw smoke coming off of his stomach and Brainiac Five’s arm in the shape of a canon.

The blast hadn’t really hurt but a planet fell to the pit of Superman X’s stomach at the realization just how much Brainiac Five didn’t want to be kissed by him.

“Just stay away from me,” said Brainiac Five, returning his hand to normal. He walked out of the room not knowing that Superman X listened to his steps until he was even out of range of his super hearing.

Superman X pulled back on his glove and stayed in the room until Chameleon Boy, Cham, walked into the room to figure out what caused the hole.

Poor Cham really ought to have known that curiosity killed the cat… or any other form that he could take that Superman X could chase and take his frustrations out on.

After that Superman X and Brainiac Five were rarely in the same room unless it was for a mission or briefing. That was until Superman X rejoined the cruiser after a mission with a few other legionnaires and a few more others, including his unwitting DNA donor and Brainiac Five, returned from a mission to the Fortress of Solitude.

It had to be the first time Superman X had ever seen Brainiac Five stand away from Superman. Plus the tension of the entire group, awkwardness and guilt reeking from everyone besides a confused Superman, was enough to make everyone who wasn’t there uncomfortable with not knowing and being unable to ask.

Everyone besides Superman X that is. He waited until everyone went their separate ways and followed Brainiac Five at a distance until he was alone.

“What happened at the fortress?”

Surprise was clear on Brainiac Five’s face as he turned to the clone, looking at him for a moment as if he didn’t know who he was. As strange as such an expression was, it confused Superman X more when Brainiac Five then smiled as if realizing something that completed a complicated puzzle.

“I won’t bore you with the details but basically Imperiax revealed things of the timeline that Superman can’t know yet and I had to erase his memory. Superman is confused because he doesn’t remember what happened and the others feel guilty lying to him about it.”

“And you?” asked Superman X, amazed that the android could smile after doing such a thing to his idol, for lack of words Superman X was willing to use to describe the way Brainiac Five felt about the original.

“It had to be done,” said Brainiac Five, smile fading at this point. “I thought you of all people would appreciate how fragile the time stream can be.”

Superman X wasn’t sure if this was meant as an insult or if Brainiac Five was being genuine. Perhaps if he didn’t question it they could talk civilly for a change?

“Are you-” began Superman X, trying hard to suppress his urge to avoid the question completely. He wasn’t used to being concerned about other people’s feelings. Then again, he had never been concerned about any feelings at all for that matter. “Are you alright?”

“I’ll be alright,” said Brainiac Five, looking away. “Do you mind if I ask you something?”

“Go ahead,” said Superman X, wishing that K.3.N.T had taught a course on dating during his training.

“What are you going to do once Imperiax is gone?” asked Brainiac Five.

Superman X blinked. There had been a brief moment; back when he first met the Legion that Brainiac Five asked him a similar question when they thought Imperiax was gone forever. Back then Brainiac Five had smiled in jest before they knew their situation was no joke.

“Something,” began Superman X, looking at Brainiac Five in all seriousness, “that involves less scowling.”

Brainiac Five half laughed and said, “Seems like a good idea, but maybe you should give it a little more thought.” With that said, he turned and went somewhere else. To his lab, his room, or somewhere else entirely, Superman X didn’t know.

Standing there, Superman thought of what he would do with Imperiax gone. If the time stream didn’t swallow him up he would like to stay with the Legion. Fighting was all he was good for after all.

But then again, thought Superman X, looking at the spot Brainiac Five had been when the android had smiled at him; the first smile in his direction since the time tunnel, it would be nice to be able to live for a person instead of a mission.