05/29/08

I still only have five entries for the fanart contest so that means only up to third place will get prizes so far. I would like to remind everyone that the contest due date is on June 13th.

This chapter is dedicated to Keyblade-Prince for drawing me a comic version of Broken Gears. Links to what he has so far is posted on my profile.

Is there anything else? Oh yes, I've mentioned once before that I thought "Everything You Want" by Vertical Horizon was a good song for Kal-El. Well, I was listening to my Three Days Grace CD and I think "Never Too Late" would be a good song for this story overall, especially for the battles and more dramatic moments of the story.

On a very important note I have writer's block like you wouldn't believe. Besides chapter headings all the chapters to all my stories are horrifyingly blank. -puts up 'Looking for Muse' sign-

Chapter 29

If it wasn't impossible, Brainy would have sworn his heart stopped at the same time it accelerated. He wanted to pull Kal-El closer to him but his arms moved to Kal-El's shoulders to keep him away. He wanted to say 'no' but his mouth opened to say 'yes'.

Kal-El's lips came against his own again and Brainy gave into it without known hesitation, but his body began to shake without his consent.

Pulling away, Kal-El placed a soft kiss on Brainy's cheek and smiled reassuringly; caressing the side of Brainy's face he hadn't just kissed.

"It's alright. I was just restating the obvious; you don't have to respond now."

Calming down, Brainy held Kal-El to him, remaining silent. Saying 'thank you' seemed a strange thing to say anyway.

Later, long after Kal-El had fallen asleep, Brainy lied awake in his arms. His heart wouldn't stop racing, frozen in the moment that had past.

Things couldn't keep going like this; hiding his feelings and holding Kal-El at a distance, especially with Kal-El becoming bolder with his affection.

Brainy was going to have to tell Kal-El that he loved him.

The thought made Brainy's heart race faster then he thought was possible. How was he supposed to tell Kal-El that he loved him?

Logically Brainy knew that it was as simple as, literally, saying three words. 'I' and 'you' was no problem but the 'love', love was such a loaded word. He couldn't remember ever saying it without sarcasm when around another person or panic when he was trying to figure out his own feelings when alone. Could he say it without sounding untruthful or loosing his nerve?

They say practice makes perfect but it seemed like a very strange thing to practice. Still, what choice did he have if he wanted to succeed when he told Kal-El?

Lifting himself up slightly, Brainy leaned his weight on his elbow and gazed down at the sleeping Kal-El.

"I-" began Brainy but his voice abandoned him when his mouth tried to form the 'L' sound. His throat refused to swallow and his lungs didn't allow air until he coughed and his entire body began to shake.

It shouldn't be this hard.

"I-" Brainy began again, only this time when he tried to form the 'L' he began to feel light headed and had to lay back down against Kal-El to regain his breath.

Perhaps it would be easier to take smaller steps?

Trying to keep his breathing relaxed, Brainy stayed laying down.

"I L-O-V-E you," said Brainy, not actually saying the powerful word but his heart pounded non-the-less.

Surely, he could do better then that.

"I lo-V-E you," said Brainy, not feeling like he accomplished anything he tried again, "I lov-E you."

At this, Brainy smiled despite his pounded heart, almost wanting to laugh. It sound like he said, "I lovey you" like some sort of child.

One syllable less. He could do this. He could do this. Why wasn't his heart listening to his encouragements?

"I-I," stammered Brainy, trying to push back his urge to flee. He thought of all the times Kal-El had so easily said this phrase and wished for his bravery.

Concentrating on his breathing, Brainy listened to Kal-El's heartbeat, falling deeper into the arms around him, feeling his warmth seep into him.

"I love you."

--

Brainy woke up before the rest of the household. Slipping out of Kal-El's arms he went to the roof and looked at the wakening city around the house. Taking in a deep breath of crisp air, he felt the chill fill his insides and exit with a sigh.

It was hard to believe that he had been in this world for nearly five months, or cycles in Kryptonian terms. Not for the first time, he wondered about his friends in his home dimension, if they had gotten his message and if they were still trying to reach him and, for the first time in ages, he thought about Jor-El's project to send Brainy back, if he was having any success.

Thinking of more recent developments, Brainy concentrated. Though it had happened before, he was still surprised when he began to rise into the air without a flight ring. The surprise didn't stop him from smiling.

Stretching in the air Brainy almost felt foolish enough to do what other legionnaires had done when they had first gotten their flight ring; fly as high as he dared, do cartwheels and flips and then promptly crash into a wall. He chuckled at the thought.

"Hey, send some of that morning sunshine my way," said a voice from below.

Looking down, Brainy blushed at the sight of Kal-El's grin and his heart pounded at the memory of what he said last night.

Smile widening, Kal-El extended his hand towards Brainy.

"It's not fair going where I can't reach you."

Heart trying to accelerate away from this, Brainy placed his hand and Kal-El's and allowed him to pull him back to the ground.

"H-how did you sleep?"

Still holding onto Brainy's hand, Kal-El's lips curved upwards in a sneaky fashion. He quickly tugged on the hand, pulling Brainy closer to him, wrapping his arms around him and kissed his forehead, heart gently pounding at the feel of the racing heart that was not his own against him.

"Best sleep I've had in ages."

His heart relaxing somewhat, Brainy wished he had the courage to say that it had been the same for him.

"Hey you two, stop making out where anyone can see you," said a female voice.

The two boys looked down to see their sisters and the nanny on the lawn in front of the house. Zel-Kar was grinning up at them, Wisdom was shielding her eyes, possibly out of annoyance of Zel-Kar, and the nanny looked ill.

"That hardly qualifies as making out," commented Wisdom, lowering her hand to turn to Zel-Kar while confronting her with her stupidity.

"Wisdom, if you're going to be a sister then you have to learn to tease mercilessly and annoy constantly," said Zel-Kar, grinning at the princess in turn.

"Then you must be my sister for you annoy me beyond reason," commented Wisdom, rolling her eyes when Zel-Kar went 'aw', "and I forbid you from teaching such things to Martha. She's far too cute to ever become a little you."

"What? Aren't I cute?" asked Zel-Kar.

"Is that what you Kryptonians refer to as a trick question?" asked Wisdom, heading towards the door.

Zel-Kar turned to the Nanny.

"Did she just rip on me?"

Ignoring her, the Nanny followed Wisdom towards the house.

Puffing out her cheeks in annoyance, Zel-Kar looked up at the two on the roof.

"Did she just insult me? I can't tell."

Kal-El just laughed.

"Answer me," shouted Zel-Kar.

Kal-El stuck his tongue out at her.

As Zel-Kar shook her fist and rushed to the door, Brainy realized that Kal-El was still holding him.

"W-we should probably get the door."

"Let them break in," said Kal-El, tightening his hold around Brainy, kissing his forehead.

Brainy's face heated up just as he noticed something bright in the corner of his eye. He turned and paled.

Laura had finally gotten her picture.

At breakfast Wisdom insisted that she ate before they came but Laura insisted that she have a little something anyway and won.

"Stop mouthing 'beware' at me, Kal-El," snapped Wisdom.

"Kal-El, you're not shaking or twitching or muttering 'I'm going to be sick, I'm going to be sick. By Krypton I'm going to be sick,' or running for the hills or-" began Zel-Kar, staring at Kal-El with wide eyes.

"I get the point," said Kal-El, narrowing his eyes at her.

"Why aren't you panicking?" asked Zel-Kar, astounded.

"I had a really good dream last night," said Kal-El, smiling before pouring himself something similar to Earth orange juice.

"It must have been a really good dream. You're usually trying to lock yourself in your room by now," commented Jor-El, moving very gingerly from his injuries he got the day before.

"Ha, ha, Dad, when did Zel-Kar convert you to be one of her minions?" asked Kal-El, looking at the dark haired girl in front of him.

"Last week when your back was turned," said Zel-Kar, happily devouring Laura's cooking.

"Now Zel-Kar, Jor-El is no one's minion," said Laura.

"Oh, sorry Mommy Laura, I'll return mastery over Daddy Jor-El to you after breakfast," said Zel-Kar sweetly before letting out a huge belch.

At this Kal-El busted out laughed.

"Really Zel-Kar, you're so vulgar," scolded Wisdom.

"It's just the way most teenagers of any species are," pointed out Brainy.

"That is no excuse," said Wisdom.

"Well, I suppose we could blame Kal-El," said Brainy.

Kal-El's laughter instantly ceased.

"Me? What did I do?"

"You were born," said Zel-Kar.

"Besides that," said Kal-El.

"Well, I suppose having a male as a best friend could explain way she has typically male habits," said Wisdom.

"Would you stop saying possibly insulting things?" asked Zel-Kar.

Again Wisdom ignored her.

"What was your dream, Kal-El?"

Kal-El's face broke out in a huge grin.

"Perv," said Zel-Kar.

"Why do automatically assume it's perverted?" asked Kal-El, but his grin refused to go down.

"Because it entertains me," said Zel-Kar.

"Sorry to disappoint but there's nothing perverted about it," said Kal-El, smiling triumphantly.

"Well what was it?" asked Zel-Kar.

Kal-El's grin faded.

"Like I'm going to tell you."

"Perv," said Zel-Kar.

"I can see why you wouldn't want to share," said Wisdom.

Smile returning at Zel-Kar's annoyed expression, Kal-El returned to eating.

"Since you're so calm does that mean Brainy doesn't have to stay on the sidelines?" asked Zel-Kar.

Freezing with his fork in his mouth, Kal-El's eyes went wide.

"Don't even joke about that!"

"It was nice while it lasted," said Zel-Kar.

"Then why did you end it?" asked Wisdom.

"That's nothing, I can make him dive under the table if I wanted to," said Zel-Kar, twirling her fork like a baton.

"Don't you dare," exclaimed both Coluans, Brainy narrowing his eyes at Zel-Kar while Wisdom flushed and held the bottom of her robes closer to her body.

Zel-Kar giggled.

Since Ringlets was a game that didn't end until 100 points were gained the game usually started in the afternoon in hopes that someone could reach that score before it became dark. During one of their Ringlets rambles Zel-Kar and Kal-El told the Coluans that the longest game ever played was just under twenty-four hours and the game only ended when one team forfeited because of exhaustion.

"Our longest game was only six hours," said Zel-Kar.

"Only six hours? How can your run around for that long?" asked Wisdom.

"It's fun, plus most games only last two hours," said Kal-El.

"Speaking of two hours, we have to be there in a hour," said Zel-Kar.

"An hour?" asked Kal-El.

"How does two hours remind you of an hour?" asked Wisdom.

"An hour?" repeated Kal-El, looking around the room.

"Quick, block the exits!" exclaimed Zel-Kar, jumping to her feet and onto the table, knocking over bowls and glasses and grabbing hold of Kal-El's arm.

Brainy and Wisdom exchanged looks while Jor-El continued eating as if none of this had happened and Laura tried to get Martha to eat her breakfast by making noises like a rocket ship.

Wiping some of his drink off his face, Kal-El raised an eyebrow at Zel-Kar.

"That was completely unnecessary."

"That's just what you want me to think," said Zel-Kar, tightening her hold.

Unable to convince her otherwise, Kal-El had to drag Zel-Kar off the table and thrown over Kal-El's shoulder.

"I'm not carrying you the entire way."

"And I'm not letting go until I push you into the boy's locker room," said Zel-Kar.

Wisdom muttered something about stubbornness as she stood.

"Thank you for breakfast Lady Laura but I must be going," said Wisdom.

"You're not coming to the game?" gasped Zel-Kar.

Ignoring her, Wisdom turned to Kal-El.

"I was invited to watch the game in a private booth with Councilwoman Pri-Nox. I need to meet her before the game starts."

As they turned to leave Laura noticed how ill the nanny looked.

"Miss are you alright?"

"Oh, she's just mad I tricked her into eating some Kryptonian food and she enjoyed it until I told her what it was. She probably thinks I poisoned her."

"My lady would never do such a thing," said the Nanny, bowing her head.

"We're not on Colu, you can say you hate me all you want and I won't hold it against you," said Wisdom and, upon seeing her nanny's horrified look, added, "or behead you when we get back, I swear."

"Besides my lady's choices of confidents she has no faults," said the nanny, unable to keep Wisdom's gaze upon her.

Wisdom stared at her nanny a moment before turning to Brainy.

"I never realized how naïve my nanny was, she thinks she's telling the truth."

"I could never lie to my lady," said the nanny softly.

"Your ordered to lie whenever my father tells you to," said Wisdom, turning to look at her nanny again.

"His highness told me," began the nanny, softer then before, her gaze falling to stare at her feet, "not to tell my lady how Brainiac Five would," she swallowed thickly, "would be in danger of mental violation or how he would have to share all his knowledge with Colu during the alignment."

Wisdom stared at her nanny, her face showed an expression Brainy had never seen there; utter confusion and disbelief.

Very hesitantly the nanny looked up.

"And I have never told his highness any thing about my lady, she is far too unique to ever be hidden away."

At this, Wisdom's eyes widened. She stared for a moment longer before she approached the nanny, who her eyes and braced herself with arms clenched to her sides.

Stopping at arm's length, Wisdom almost smiled and said, "You better be careful, keep showing that much backbone and I may actually start to like you."

"Aw, Wisdom and her nanny sitting on a star, smooching, smooching from afar," sang Zel-Kar.

"Zel-Kar that is disgusting," exclaimed Wisdom, cracking her neck with how quickly she turned to glare at the girl. "Kal-El, I insist you drop her at once!"

"Like I'm willing to go to jail for sibling abuse," smirked Kal-El.