CxB Week 2017: Crossover

The Green Lion purred in Brainy's mind, a steady presence as he worked away on the borrowed laptop, trying to figure out how far away they were from Earth. At least the Earth of this universe.

Just days ago, a ship that could cross realities invaded New Metropolis. In reality, it seemed the invasion had been in error, the pilot "testing out the waters" of the ship's capabilities, as it wasn't outright attacking anyone but had done enough damage while roaming about that the Legion was called. While Superman was trying to push the ship away from the city, Brainy had latched on trying to hack his way into the cockpit when the ship all but drifted them away from their reality back to the one it came from.

All too quickly Brainy and Superman were, as Superman put it, "ditched" by the ship and left in the middle of unfamiliar space, outer space that is. There were no planets within sight and nothing that matched Brainy's databases to give an idea of their location.

After a few hours of wandering aimlessly with no plan, much to Brainy's great displeasure, they were found by a giant, mechanical Green Lion. Instantly Brainy would hear it purring in his mind, the creature all but swallowing them up and abducting them to a castle space ship which Superman found to be "cool".

Apparently, the Green Lion had been one of a set, the hanger where the Green Lion released them also occupied by lions of Red, Blue, Yellow and, the biggest of them all, Black. At first they seemed still like statues but moved to watch them after the Green Lion had been gracious enough to release them.

Superman was allowed to wander as the Green Lion kept Brainy close, the historic hero moving to get closer look at the other Lions.

The Red Lion moved first, looking at Superman in a way that somehow expressed interest without expression but did not approach him. Then the Blue Lion moved a little closer, laying down to allow Superman to pet her nose. Next was the Black Lion, tall and still besides what seemed to be an approving nod. Lastly the Yellow Lion held out a giant paw as if to shake Superman's hand, which Superman flew up to do, holding one claw in both hands.

"Yellow is purring at me," Superman smiled at the lion that seemed to be built more for defense than offense. "I think they like me."

"Be grateful they have respect for boundaries," Brainy eyed the Green Lion who only continued to purr and hold Brainy in her paws.

"Holy crow," a shout came from the hanger door, where a group of five humans and two humanoid aliens that Brainy didn't recognize, had gathered. The one that had shouted was a tall lanky human boy of Cuban descent with blue eyes, pointing frantically at Superman as if to make sure the other could see him, "It's Superman!"

"You know me?" Superman questioned, till amazed each time it happened.

"Of course, Hunk and I collect your comic books and movies and, quiznak I have action figures of you," the Cuban boy seemed to have no sense of boundaries.

As Superman blushed, Brainy tried to figure out if that meant Superman existed in this world and was a celebrity like in theirs or some sort of fictional character. The idea of reality in one universe being a fictional story in another universe was really a fascinating theory. How did the rules of reality and fiction blur when the two clashed?

"Hey," a strong looking Samoan boy addressed Brainy, "Aren't you Brainiac Five?"

"You know me?" Brainy regretted the words the moment the words left his mouth. He wasn't a historical figure visiting the future. Nor had he ever been any sort of celebrity even with his high status in the scientific community and his membership in the Legion.

"Yeah though you look way different than in the comics," said the Cuban boy. "The robot look is cool though."

Wait if he wasn't a robot in these comics, what was he? He had so many questions.

"I think we need to pause this bizarre conversation and figure out why the Green Lion brought these two here," the regal girl alien spoke up, commanding the room. Definitely a royal or political figure, especially if the ringlet around her head was any indication.

"Or how fictional characters were around for her to abduct," the small human girl with fake glasses agreed, adjusted them as if it made a difference for her vision.

The groups gathered where the Green Lion was still guarding Brainy like a favorite toy and introduced themselves. Once Superman learned the larger groups names and that the Lions formed a bigger robot called Voltron, he exclaimed that he grew up watching a cartoon about them though their "designs" had been vastly different as it had been an older show.

"Wait a moment," Brainy held up a hand. "We are fictional character in this universe, with slight alterations, and this 'Voltron' and everyone of this universe, again with slight alterations, are fictional in our universe? That's fascinating."

"And headache inducing," the human girl Pidge folded her arms across her chest.

"And the coolest thing ever," said the Cuban boy Lance. "Tell me about cartoon me. Was I even half as amazing as real me?"

"Um, I don't know you well enough to say," commented Superman.

"The answer is no," said Keith, which caused Lance to glare at him.

After Shiro broke up their argument the groups agreed not to tell each other too much about their fictional selves. There was already noticeable difference and any knowledge they might try to use from the perspective of an alternate reality may cause more harm than good.

Still Brainy and Superman were trapped there until they tracked down this Prince Lotor of the Garla for his dimension crossing ship.

At least it wasn't the time bubble getting them into trouble for once, Brainy thought though he theorized it could be another way home if he could figure out a way to get the beacon signal strong enough to summon it from across realities. More than likely his best chance would be on Earth where the bubble was currently stored in his dimension but it was unlikely the Voltron crew could make the trip to take them in the middle of this war they were fighting.

Eventually the Green Lion allowed Brainy to leave her presence to explore, eat and rest but he found himself being drawn back to her whenever he tried to work.

"That's Green for you," Lance had commented, "Loves the smart ones."

"How's it going Brainy?" Superman yawned from his position on the floor, laying down next to Brainy between the Green Lion's paws.

"No notable progress," said Brainy. "But you can go to bed, I can't imagine its very comfortable here."

"I wanna wait for you," Superman mumbled. "And I'm the man of steel, metal doesn't bother me."

"Silly me to forget," Brainy didn't look but he was sure Superman was dozing, reaching down to absently stroke Superman's hair as he worked and Green continued to purr.