Yes, I know I've been writing with Al a lot. Sorry about that. Recent inspiration and whatnot. Here's a longer one I wrote about three months ago that doesn't heavily involve him! I'll bet you're all relieved. I'm aware that Professor Umbridge is from Harry Potter, but I'm bad at coming up with names

"What do you think would happen if a Kryptonian joined the Legion?"

Al turned to face the speaker, a Legionnaire known as Brainiac 5.

"What do I think would happen, or what is most likely to happen?" Al asked for clarification. The young Ilearian was still learning the ways that Interlac sentences were constructed, and therefore asked for clarification a lot.

"Both." Brainy replied with a shrug.

"Hmm. I think that it is good idea in concept and hopefully everyone be willing to give up stereotypes and accept Kryptonian joined. However, it likely he or she be shunned and bit of loner." Al replied in broken Interlac.

"Oh. Okay. Thanks Al." Brainy said, walking away towards the hall.

"Why?" Al asked.

"Just a hypothetical question." Brainy replied.

"That an oddly specific hypothe- hypetho- hypo-" Al struggled to pronounce the strange word.

"Hypothetical." Brainy offered.

"Yeah that. That an oddly specific that type of question." Al replied seriously.

"Well that's all it was. Hypothetical." Brainy snapped.

"M'kay, so it have nothing to do with big boom at Metro-po-lis University or Kryptonian you meet there?" Al asked innocently, again struggling with his Interlac.

"How-?" Brainy began.

"Surface thought." Al replied, as if Brainy was supposed to know what that meant.

"Right… that." Brainy responded, not wanting to question it. He figured if he didn't ask the Ilearian to elaborate that he wouldn't, and thus far he had been correct.

"Well I think Cosmic Boy would support idea. Contemporary progressivism and all that." Al said happily. "Let me know if I can be any use. I like to meet Kryptonian you so fond of!" He continued.

Brainy rolled his eyes and headed off to take his shift for patrol.

"Professor Umbridge?" Kal asked carefully.

"Oh! Kal-El! I didn't see you there. Is something wrong?" Professor Umbridge replied.

"Yeah, um, I'm having some trouble understanding the concepts in your class, I was wondering if you'd be willing to clarify them for me." Kal requested carefully. Most of his instructors wanted to spend as little time as necessary with him. He'd gotten used to it by now and rarely asked for additional help, but if he didn't do something soon he'd fail this class.

"Well- I- I don't know how you couldn't understand it! It's really quite simple!" Professor Umbridge replied indignantly.

"Maybe for you since you've dedicated your life to studying these theories, but I'm only learning. I need help." Kal pleaded.

Professor Umbridge hesitated. She wanted nothing to do with that Kryptonian!

"Kal-El!" A familiar voice called.

Kal looked up to see none other than Brainiac 5.

"I, Uhm, uh… Hi!" Kal stuttered.

"If she is unwilling, I would be more than happy to help you with your studies. Chances are I know more about it than she does anyway." Brainiac 5 offered, grinning charmingly, with a hint of smugness.

"I- I- you- you want to help me?" Kal stuttered in disbelief.

"Sure, why not?" Brainiac 5 replied, that charming smile still plastered on his face.

Kal grinned. "Okay!" He said happily, completely forgetting about professor Umbridge standing only a few feet away.

The two went off to a local coffee shop to begin their studying. They ordered drinks, Brainy settling for a simple black coffee, while Kal ended up with tea. Kal opened his notebook to show Brainy what he had been studying, and the Coluan smiled. He knew exactly how to help.

It had been over two hours, and the studying had been abandoned long ago. Now Kal-El and Brainiac 5 were just sitting and talking, getting to know one another better.

"Why would you stay on Earth though? They seem to be extremely hostile toward you." Brainiac 5 asked

"Actually, compared to some of the other places I've been, this isn't all that bad. Besides, my parents were worried I would never get anywhere with my life if I didn't enter a university soon, so I applied here and got in. It really surprised me." Kal explained.

"What about the abilities you have under a yellow sun? Do they ever cause problems?" Brainiac 5 questioned.

"Not really." Kal began. "I've been to other worlds with yellow suns, and back then it was a bit more difficult, but by now I don't randomly shoot lasers out of my eyes and I've learned to regulate my strength. The only problem is the hearing, I'm still working on that." Kal rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

Brainiac nodded. "So you like Earth?" he asked

"Well, yeah. It's a beautiful world, and people are a bit more accepting than on other worlds. I mean, yeah, there's people who immediately write me off because I'm Kryptonian, but then there are people like you who want to help in any way they can." Kal said thoughtfully.

Brainiac 5 blushed before he asked his next question. "How long will you be staying?"

Kal sighed. "I'm going to finish out the school year then see where I can go from there. That might mean staying another year, and it might mean packing things up and leaving again." He explained, a hint of sadness in his voice.

Brainiac 5 frowned. He didn't want Kal to be sad. Everything was stacked against him, he needed some happiness in his life. The Brainiac was about to speak again, but his Comm-link began blinking with an urgent notification. Kal looked at him curiously.

Brainiac 5 sighed. "Legion business. I have to go. I assume that I will see you later." He said with a smile.

Kal looked surprised, but smiled nonetheless. "Y-yeah! Sure! See ya, Brainiac!"

Brainiac 5 smiled. "Call me Brainy." He said, then flew off towards Legion Headquarters.