Brainiac 5

Brainiac 5 liked to think of scenarios. Right now, he was playing his favorite one.

It was a hopeless battle. A giant robot armada had invaded the Earth, devastating everything in their path. The Legion were spread across different parts of the galaxy so it was up to himself and Superboy to clear the field. Brainiac 5 had found a way to connect his brain to the neural network that kept the invasion connected.

"Are you sure this is the best idea Brainy?" Superboy asked, concern written over his face. "You could die in the attempt!"

"If it helps defeat the armada, then I have no choice." Brainiac 5 said. "The armada must be destroyed!"

None of this was real of course. Brainiac 5 simply turned off the the robots using the remote control he had in his hand. One by one they fell and no one got hurt (wouldn't be very heroic to let innocents die). Brainiac 5 let out a melodramatic wail, allowing himself to fall to the ground and be caught by his boyfriend.

Well, his boyfriend in the simulation. Not in reality of course. Brainiac 5 wouldn't disturb the time stream by asking Clark for anything. He had a destiny with Lois.

"Brainy!" Superboy yelled, sending involuntary shivers down Braniac 5's spine, "Please talk to me! You can't just die like that!"

Brainiac 5 smiled, "It was for the greater good Superboy… Clark… it's been an honor working with you."

He closed his eyes and allowed Superboy to clutch him harder. It was a bit ego stroking, but this was his favorite part.

"No Brainy no… I can't live without you… I love you! I wanted to be with you for the rest of time! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"Wait what's going on here?"

Brainiac 5 took a sharp breath. The simulation stopped in it's tracks. He quickly got out of the arms of the simulated Superboy, now staring at the real Superboy who was staring… and blushing.

"Ummm… Brainy?" Clark Kent, the real Clark Kent, pointed at him. "I'm a little confused. Why the simulation and… why that confession?"

Brainiac 5 wishes the robot armada were real. They would put him out of his misery and make it so this conversation never happened.

"Wait… Brainy, do you-"

"I should go." Brainiac 5 turned off the simulation. "Good day Clark."

He tried to walk out but Brainiac forgot that his friend had super speed and moved in front of him.

"What's wrong Brainy?" Clark- sweet and innocent Clark- asked him. "Talk to me please."

"Look it's nothing."

"An elaborate scenario where I hold you in my arms and scream about how much I love you is nothing?"

"Just leave it be Clark."

"Brainy…"

"Don't pretend." Brainiac 5 said. "Don't pretend that I have a chance okay? I know, I screwed up. It's embarrassing."

"Well okay it is. But-"

"Then there's no argument. Let me leave."

"But Brainy can I just say something before you go ahead and leave?"

Brainiac 5 stopped in his tracks. "Okay fine. What is it?"

The logical Coluan robot expected any number of things. None of them good. A rejection. A laugh. A stammer of words trying to reassure him that he's fine when he's not?

"Well… I'm a bit surprised by the simulation." Clark smiled. "It's a hell of a way to find out someone liked you back."

Brainiac 5 blinked.

"What?"

"Yeah… I kind of like you Brainy."

Absurd. Inconceivable. Brainiac 5 couldn't believe what he was hearing. It had to be a trick, something Lighting Lad set up?

"Impossible." Brainiac 5 responded. "The timeline- it wouldn't work between us."

"Why not?"

Did Clark not know? Of course he didn't, the Legion made sure not to tell Clark too much of what his future would be.

"It's not what's supposed to happen. You have a destiny, a history, whatever you want to call it. You get married and- I can't interfere with that, Superboy."

"So what?" Clark just shrugged. "You guys will just wipe away my memory after I get back home right? Why don't we try to see where this goes?"

Clark wrapped his hand around Brainiac 5's, who wanted to badly to reciprocate but he hesitated. He looked away.

"I don't know Clark this is… I'm not…"

Brainiac 5 only needed to look into Clark's eyes to see that he wasn't going to give up on this… whatever it was going to end up between them. It was the same determination he wore on the field with their fellow legionnaires. Brainiac sighed.

"Fine. You win."

"Good." Clark pointed at the simulation. "Can you delete this scenario though? It did creep me out to be honest."

Author's Notes:

If Legion of Superheroes came out today, Tumblr would probably ship Brainiac 5/Superman HARD. With good reason too given Brainiac 5 came across in that show. I based this off of the first scene in Season 2 where Brainiac 5 was enacting a similar scenario only this time Clark walks in.

SuperiorSuperman: It's a problematic favorite of mine. I love the story and how Clark is presented, but due to certain behind the scenes issues regarding Nadria Tucker I have felt distinctly uncomfortable watching the episodes due to their treatment of People of Color.

If you got someone you want to see, request them. List of the next chapters:

-Lyla Lerrol

-Zatanna

-Rose Forrest (aka Thorn)

-Lisa Lasalle

-Monica Rambeau aka Spectrum

-Wanda Maximoff aka Scarlet Witch