2/06/09

I keep wanting to type '08' for the year... Hope I break that habit before 2010 rolls around...

As always I'd like to thank my Beta Reader FunkyFish1991 and apologize to her for taking so long with this chapter even though she drew a picture for it ages ago. I hope to be able to post the link on my profile soon.

This chapter is dedicated to AnnoCat()/CherryBlossoms24(DA) for drawing me two really cute pictures: one for The Wishing Egg and one for Broken Gears -both on my profile now if you would like to see.

Let's see... In other news I have decided I am no longer going to paint on the jacket. With the way it's sown together and the material it would just make it look horrible! Instead I got a nice, smooth, white long sleeve shirt I will do it on instead... I wonder how long it will take for me to gather enough courange to start it?

In the once a year sort of news; it's my birthday next month: Exactly a month and a day from now. Can you believe I'm a college graduate and I'm going to be 23? It must be odd for the people who look at me and still think I'm twelve. -laughs at them- If people are interested, I would love to get some pictures of my stories or of Superman/Brainy like last year. As always you will get a chapter dedication for your hard work.

As always, ENJOY and I love hearing your thoughts and questions!

Chapter 14

Lyle's eyes widened considerably when Brainy came up and practically tackled him. He gazed down at the blond hair, as if unsure if he was really there, but then a smile cracked his lips and he chuckled before returning Brainy's embrace.

"I hope this hugging thing becomes a habit with you."

Almost as if the sound of Lyle's voice clicked something in his mind, Brainy pushed Lyle away and punched his shoulder.

"Where the sprock have you been?! Why didn't you contact us? We thought you were dead!"

Rubbing his arm and backing up in defense, Lyle only chuckled again.

"I can certainly live without the yelling, hitting and thinking I'm dead part though."

"This isn't funny! Where the hell were you?" demanded Brainy, looking ready either to strangle Lyle or start crying. It really was impossible to tell which.

"I was on Colu-" began Lyle.

This tipped the scales and Brainy reached for Lyle's neck. Lyle immediately turned invisible and moved out of Brainy's reach so silently that not even Superman's superior hearing could detect his footsteps. Not one to be deterred however, Brainy continued to punch and kick at the air around him.

"Did you fall on your head as an infant? What could possibly possess you to go there? There of all places?!"

An attempted punch was suddenly pulled back, along with Brainy's other hand, and Lyle reappeared behind him, holding both of his wrists.

"I had my reasons, which I'll be happy to explain lat-"

Growling, Brainy backwards headbutted Lyle's neck. Lyle released Brainy and held onto his throat, gasping.

"My, you have become violent in my absence."

Swinging on him, Brainy looked ready to punch him across the face.

"Nice necklace," Lye said quickly.

Brainy paused, blinked in surprise but then frowned at him.

"Don't try to change the subject."

"No, really, it's very nice. Where'd you get it?" Lyle was smiling but his eyes gave away the fact that he was ready to run for his life.

"It was a gift from-" began Brainy.

"Gift? Gift!" Lyle smacked his own forehead. "I'm such an absentminded non-professor."

He ran over to the doors and picked up a bag he must have put down when no one was looking. After digging through it for a few minutes he pulled out a clear cube and ran back over, holding it out to Brainy.

From up close, it looked like the cube was giving off some sort of light.

Lyle grinned at the Coluan. "Happy belated birthday!"

For a moment Brainy just stared at him.

"Lyle, I don't know when my birthday is."

"I do," Lyle cheered. "When I was on Colu I hacked their computers. On the Earth calendar you were born on May 11th. It's the 15th so that's why I said 'belated'. I had wanted to be back in time to give this to you on your birthday but I didn't leave Colu in time and then don't get me started on the traffic."

Brainy still stared at him.

Taking Brainy's hand, Lyle placed the cube in it.

Though he stared a moment longer, curiosity got the better of him and Brainy looked down at the cube.

"What is it?"

"Well, remember how you were disappointed that you couldn't come study the healing star with me? This is a stunning recreation in a convenient carrying case," Lyle threw out his arms as if to say 'ta da'.

"You made him a star?" Triplicate Girl asked; her voice soft with awe.

Turning, Lyle seemed to notice the rest of the Legion for the first time. He smiled and waved to them absently.

"A synthetic star. A real one would have been much too big."

Superman looked at the necklace that Brainy was wearing, illuminated by the tiny star's light, and suddenly felt incredibly stupid.

Looking past him, Lyle turned back to Brainy.

"It's not as powerful as the real healing star but it can heal minor injuries. I thought you'd like to study it."

Still examining it, Brainy nodded.

"You like it?" Lyle smiled, bending slightly so he could see his face.

"It's amazing," Brainy was clearly overwhelmed as he looked up at Lyle, unaware of how it stabbed Superman's heart.

This made Lyle smile wider.

"Good because it isn't just for your birthday. I originally made it for an extra special reason."

"What would that be?" Brainy questioned curiously.

"I'll tell you later when I explain why I went to Colu," Lyle promised. "Right now I think everyone believes they're looking at a ghost and, quite frankly, I don't like it."

Bouncing Boy immediately bounded over, throwing an arm around Lyle's shoulder and giving him a noogie.

"What do you expect? You were out of contact for a year, yah ass! What did you expect us to think?"

"Sorry! Uncle, uncle!" Lyle laughed, pushing Bouncing Boy off of him. "I swear I didn't mean to make anyone worry. I just couldn't call anyone once I got to Colu."

"You were on Colu the entire time you were missing?" Saturn Girl approached, looking at Lyle wearily.

"Aw, don't give me that look Momma Saturn Girl, I hadn't meant to stay that long," Lyle pouted at her like a child being scolded, making Phantom Girl giggle. "They wouldn't let me leave until I passed all their tests."

"What did they test you for?" asked Lightning Lad.

Lyle laughed. "They wanted to make sure I was smart enough to be associated with Brainy. They really didn't like it that I call you that either – called it degrading."

"I don't see why they care," muttered Brainy.

At this Lyle's expression became serious.

"Hey, I know they weren't the greatest when raising you but they still care about you. You're Colu's pride and joy after all."

Saying something along the line of them having a 'funny way of showing it', Brainy absently fiddled with the crest hanging around his neck.

Superman, spotting this, walked over and placed his hand on Brainy's shoulder, gently squeezing it.

Looking up at him, Brainy managed a soft smile.

"Hey, who's the new guy?" asked Lyle, stepping forward and extending his hand. "I was told we couldn't use the names or costumes of old heroes. If I known they were pulling my leg I would have called dibs on Batman."

On instinct Superman reached out and shook Lyle's hand, finding it was strangely neither warm nor cold. It was almost like shaking hands with a doll.

"I'm the new guy," Cham protested, leaping forward. "Superman has been in the Legion for ages. And he's the real deal baby! Comes back in forth in time and everything!"

Lyle stared at Cham a moment before looking back at Superman with wide eyes, still holding onto his hand.

"He's joking, you can't be…" His eyes flew back to Brainy, staring at the crest on his necklace before dropping Superman's hand as if it were poisoned.

"Lyle what's-" began Phantom Girl but she didn't get the chance to finish.

Grabbing hold of Brainy, Lyle held the Coluan tightly against him in an embrace. It only took Superman a moment to realize that Lyle was actually smelling Brainy.

Lyle looked horrified as he released him.

"I can't believe it. I mean I always knew you were fascinated by him but this?" He glared at Superman as if wishing for a club of Kryptonite to smack him with, and swung back to Brainy.

"Brainy, I went to Colu to get their permission for you to marry me!"