Description: AU season 4 episode 22 in which J'onn rescues Brainy in time (so he doesn't get rebooted) With Brainy looking ill and being absent and disoriented however, Nia insists on dropping him in on her flat, asking Yvette to have an eye on him.

Three parts: First is J'onn (a little rewrite of the actual events). Then comes a small part from Nia's perspective. Last, basically, Ivette fussing over Brainy and the two of them having a little prep talk in the end.

Title: Livin' on a Prayer, Bon Jovi

Disclaimer: I do not own Supergirl.

xxx

And here we go again.

Two: Livin' on a Prayer

J'onn

Oh, he had a bad feeling about this.

He shouldn't have let them alone.

J'onn had searched the whole area but hadn't found a way except for the front door to enter the facility. Landing where he had left Nia and Brainy, he found them gone. Rubbing his sleeves, he tried finding a mental track of his friends.

He had told them to wait. Why had they left without him? They had doffed the plan of getting caught deliberately. Why had they gone anyway?

J'onn then remembered the exchange between him and Brainy.

I will tell her how I feel.

The boy was lovesick.

Brainy wanted to tell Nia that he loved her but wasn't good at talking about his feelings.

He had probably only wanted to impress Nia and went against all odds even if his simulations weren't good. J'onn couldn't blame him. Brainy acted to the best of his assessment of the situation. And Nia. Nia had only the girl's well-being in her mind, which she saw in her dreams earlier.

They were not to blame.

But he had to find them.

J'onn suddenly caught a wave of despair, fear, and growing furiousness.

Materializing with the floor, he followed the mental trace to a clean white room with many containers around it. He stood behind such a container.

„Please you… you don't understand. I don't want… this," someone pleaded, and J'onn needed a moment before recognizing Brainy's voice. He had never heard his friend talking like that before. Brainy desperately tried to reason with the three men, but none of them listened.

His eyes needed a few more moments to adjust to the situation:

There.

They had Brainy strapped to a chair and tormented him using electricity.

Three men idly stood by, enjoying themselves on how Brainy suffered.

How could they be so cruel?

Brainy needed his help. It couldn't wait.

Surprising the guards from behind, he dropped them off inside a container and closed it. Having the door secured, he hurried to Brainy's side.

„I don't want this."

J'onn kneeled in front of him. „You two shouldn't have left without me."

Brainy breathed heavily. Tears were still running down his cheeks.

„I never wanted this."

Brainy lifted his head, but his face showed no sign of recognition. He bent down.

„Where's Dreamer?" he then asked.

Brainy tried to stand, but if not for J'onn, he would have fallen to the ground. He caught him just in time. Activating his image inducer, Brainy looked at him. J'onn increased the squeeze on his shoulder.

„Nia… Dreamer. We have to find Nia," Brainy whispered between two breaths and hurried out of the room before J'onn could answer.

Spotting Brainy's ring on the ground, he kneeled to get it. „Why do they always go for his ring?"

He put it into the pocket of his jacket.

But then, people always took what looked spendy and shiny.

He would give it back to Brainy.

And he wouldn't let them down a second time.

Nia

Brainy had come to rescue her. But the constitution he was in: quite alarming.

He had freed her from these shackles and then had hugged her tightly, and he was still hugging her. He behaved oddly. Not that she didn't appreciate the hug, but Brainy had avoided any physical contact so far, and it was odd: that HE hugged her now. It was alarming.

He looked so very pale.

What have they done to him?

Stupid plan of her.

Checking his temperature, Nia realized he had developed a fever. And he'd fallen asleep.

His chest was lifting and lowering as if he'd run a marathon.

And all that because of her: because of her stupid Chewbacca plan.

She did this to him.

J'onn nearly ran into her. „How is he?" he asked, eyes resting worriedly on Brainy.

„He is fevering." Nia turned around to J'onn.

„What have they done to him?"

„Torture," J'onn briskly returned.

How could anyone be so cruel? Brainy was the most innocent jelly bean in her life. Literally and figuratively speaking.

„He ran out of the room to find you, and I'd nearly lost track of him again."

J'onn then handed her Brainy's legion ring. „I found it among them."

Why did they always steal his ring?

„My ring."

Brainy.

On realizing he was hugging Nia, Brainy stumbled backward. He sat down and held his head, silently muttering something to himself. Kneeling next to him, Nia bandied looks with J'onn, while she carefully squeezed Brainy's shoulder.

„We have to get him out of here."

Brainy looked at her hand, then straight into her eyes. Nia squeezed his shoulder again. Brainy lowered his head to stare in the opposite direction.

J'onn nodded. „I agree."

„He could stay with Yvette," she suggested.

Yes. Brainy once hid in a closet to get away from Yvette. But that was because Yvette wanted him to dance. Not because he was generally feeling uncomfortable around her. At least Nia hoped that. However, she knew no other place than her flat. Nia didn't trust the DEO. Not when Alex wasn't there. She didn't want to leave him alone. So, his flat wasn't an option either. Besides, she had never heard him mention a flat.

Why was she even thinking about Brainy's flat?

„Let's bring him to your flat then. We're going together and I'll contact Kara for backup," J'onn agreed, linked arms with the now unconscious Brainy.

Nia nodded.

If only she hadn't had that stupid plan.

She felt guilty.

Yvette

Yvette had believed Nia to be kidding, but her roommate seriously asked her illsitting Barny.

Illsitting.

Barny.

She couldn't think of a better way to spend the evening when she had planned to spend the night outside.

But, no.

Yvette was assigned to look after this friend of Nia. But of course, she'd agreed. She loved Nia.

Nia and another man called J'onn then left. That was two hours ago, and Barny hadn't moved.

„Excellent." Yvette let out a deep breath.

There really would be no going out for her tonight.

But Nia needed her help.

And Yvette would never let her down.

It was Nia.

Gorgeous sweet little Nia.

Yvette would do everything for her.

Barny shifted before he opened his eyes. Immediately moving away from her, he mumbled, „This can't be… real. I must be dreaming."

He stared at her in shock. „And… yet I can't. My sensors say I am awake."

Yvette raised an eyebrow when he prodded at her side. „Honey, you're acting kind of rude. Especially around a woman like me."

Barny blinked when she put down two glasses of water in front of him.

„Don't worry. You're ill. I am only here to bear you company." Yvette took a sip of water.

„Your name was Barny, right?"

He looked uneasily between her and the door. „Yes. No… I mean yes."

„Yes, or no."

Barney lowered his gaze. „A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool," he mumbled and turned on the couch.

„Man, that was Shakespeare, wasn't it?" she exclaimed.

„I love Shakespeare."

He looked at her from behind the blanket. Ivette inclined her head. Pointing at him, she quickly added," Hey man, you're not a fool."

Had she just met the most insecure guy in the universe? But he was sweet and insecure. And most definitely, he wasn't a fool.

She didn't know him that much, but he seemed to think the whole weight of the world laid on his shoulders.

Or maybe he just was ill.

Anyway.

„Aren't we all living on a prayer?"

His head swung around. Propping himself against the pillow, he opened his mouth, then closed it again.

„Yes, I was quoting the one and only Bon Jovi."

Fiddling with probably a ring, Barny nodded slowly.

„Mon-El used to quote him very often and taught it to the legion…" he stopped abruptly.

„Sprock."

„I shouldn't have told you that," he mumbled before vanishing under the blanket again.

Yvette shrugged her shoulders. She nearly jumped when Barny suddenly threw the blanket away and looked at her with wide eyes.

„I am…" he paused and turned his head. „Not from this world," he continued.

They stared at each other in silence.

„Do you expect some sort of reaction from my side or something?" Yvette threw in while she raised an eyebrow.

Barny blinked. He then lifted his hand.

„My name is Brainiac Five, but my friends call me Brainy." Only now did she realize how pale he was looking.

Yvette leaned forward and tucked up Barny… Brainy in another blanket. He eyed her very critically and attempted to back away from her.

He really was the most insecure guy in the universe.

Reaching up, he touched his forehead.

His skin became blue and his hair white.

So, he had blue skin. But he was no less adorable. Yvette began to understand what Nia saw in him.

Evading her look, he had begun playing with his ring again.

„Hey," Yvette said gently. „It's alright. You look how you look. There's nothing to be ashamed of."

Smiling, she handed him a glass of water.

He lowered his gaze.

„You're wearing that thing most of the time, aren't you?"

He nodded.

„Why?"

He let out a deep breath.

„Because you think you have to fit in?" she suggested.

„I already nearly caused a riot sometimes."

Her gaze softened. „I am sorry."

„I know people can be rude," she added.

Squinting his eyes, Brainy remained silent for a while.

„How do you know?"

He closed his eyes. „Sorry. Insensitive. It is not something I should be asking. It's personal."

Yes, he was very insecure but not scared to let her see his vulnerable side. And she only met him for the second time. It is harder to confess your weakness than to stick to your strength. But also, an act of great courageousness to let the outside see how you feel.

„I see now why Nia always talks about you."

He looked at her before he inclined his head. Yvette laid a hand on his arm. This time he didn't flinch.

„They do because I am a transwoman. Like Nia," she explained.

Ivette leaned back. „I wasn't born female. But I wanted to be a woman," she paused.

„But enough about me."

„I kinda like the blue," she quickly changed the topic.

But Brainy didn't appreciate it much.

He crawled back under the covers. Laying his head onto his knees, he stared out of the window.

„And I appreciate it that you told me," Yvette added, but it only made him shiver again instead of making up for whatever had hurt him.

When Yvette took his hand, Brainy lowered his head, looking at it instead.

„I never liked the blue," he then whispered.

„Pardon."

However, Brainy went on that remark and turned his back.

„If you need anything, I am just across the room," she said, and with one last glance at Brainy, she left the coach.

Ivette sat on the chair by the kitchen. That last remark… It did not make sense.

Had Brainy had to change somehow, even before coming to earth and having to wear an image inducer. Some colleges in her ward have to wear such a thing as well. It was even part of their contract. Her bosses said it guaranteed peace. But what kind of peace was that, where you aren't allowed to be who you are.

It was unfair how little the appreciation was for aliens here in the city.

But Yvette knew perfectly well how they were feeling.

It was hard for all people in her community too. The world didn't seem to like them either.

She had befriended all newcomers in her ward. You have to be there for each other to keep the peace. If not, you will lose yourself or forget why it is worth keeping up.

When Yvette looked up, she realized that Brainy was staring at her. He stood there and watched her, with the blanket around his body. Startled, she laid a hand on her heart. „Honey, you nearly made me jump. How can it be that I didn't hear you?"

Brainy shrugged his shoulders. „It is natural for humans that their hearing and attentiveness lessens when…" he stopped.

„Sorry, I was going too much into detail."

„No, no, you weren't. I love it when people openly honest point out my weaknesses."

Brainy blinked.

He didn't get the sarcasm.

The little one didn't get the irony in her sentence.

Okay, he was about the same age as her. But Ivette couldn't stop seeing anything other in him than a sweet little jelly bean.

She would take them out one day. Nia, her best friend here in the city, and Brainy, her soon-to-be boyfriend.

Hey, he'd come to her valentines' party, and if that wasn't a sign that he cared about Nia…

And if it wasn't a sign that Nia liked him very much after inviting Brainy to her party, Ivette didn't know.

She then noticed the reddened skin on his left cheek.

„Have you been beaten up?"

He laid a hand on his cheek. „Apparently. I can't remember."

He looked at her, his eyes wide in shock. „I don't remember. I have to remember," he mumbled, turned around, and left the room.

He had. Yvette recognized a trace of violence when she saw one. She followed Brainy back into the living room.

He was pacing up and down, wildly gesturing with his hands in front of him.

„Barny… I mean Brainy. It's alright. You're safe now."

He stopped. „No, you don't understand. I should remember. Why have I forgotten the past hours?"

Twisting his mouth, he took his head between his hands. „I forgot the past hours. Why have I forgotten the past hours?"

Yvette crossed the room and pulled him into a hug. He flinched but then laid still in her arms.

„Brainy."

He didn't answer. She put him at arm's length.

„It was just a hug."

He looked at the floor, then back at her. Ivette smiled and distanced herself from Brainy. He nearly fell when she let go of him.

„Allow me to take a look at that?"

He sat down on the couch.

„It's not broken."

He pulled the blanket over his face. „It's a slight irritation of the skin. It'll heal within three days.

Ivette blinked.

„Hey."

He lifted his head.

„May I take a look myself."

He shrugged his shoulders.

„And put that thing off."

He eyed her for quite some time, then touched his forehead, and his image inducer went off. Ivette sat down next to him and examined the spot. It appeared to be only an irritation of the skin. Luckily, nothing too serious.

„Okay. It's nothing serious, but I'll get you an ice pack. I don't want Nia to criticize my nursing skills.

Brainy blinked.

As cute as he looked. These three orbs on his head were irritating. Ivette had never seen such things. However, she hoped that they didn't hurt him. They seemed to be very tight attached to his head.

Ivette found for what she had searched and returned with the ice pack. Back in the living room, she only found a pile of blankets. She pulled at one. Beneath, Brainy's head lay on a pillow. He was critically eyeing the backrest.

„You're doing that all day?" she asked and handed him the ice pack.

„Hiding so terribly everyone can see you."

Brainy took the ice pack and disappeared under the blankets again without saying anything except for a short thanks.

Yvette shook her head.

„I have never met a guy like you, and it is a compliment. You and Nia are perfect for each other."

There was a movement from below the blanket before Brainy threw it away.

Ivette stopped breathing for a second. This guy.

He was cute.

But, yes… he was cute.

„Yes."

„I remember."

Touching his forehead, he once again activated the image inducer.

„Sprock. The electricity they were using would have caused a reboot if not for J'onn Jones," he whispered and shivered. He lifted both his hands. Yvette could see that he had been in chains.

„I wanted to tell Nia about my feelings, but we got interrogated," he continued.

„Nia had been interrogated?"

Her Nia.

Brainy nodded.

„Yes. I tried to bargain, but they didn't listen. But I think… I hope she is okay. I remember that I found her before…"

He looked at her.

„Before you woke up in my apartment."

„Yes."

„Mmh."

Their conversation drifted off, and Brainy turned to the side.

„Sprock," he suddenly exclaimed.

Having seen her questioning look, Brainy twisted his mouth. „It's something I have from my friend Lyle. He always insisted on me using it," he paused.

„And he won."

Yvette laughed. „So, he taught you a bad word."

„What does it mean?"

He folded his hands in front of him but didn't answer.

„I guess I know what it means. And it is a bad word. Not a very bad one. But still. Your friend sounds like someone I would have liked."

She then bent forward. She hadn't missed that last remark about his feelings for Nia.

„You wanted to tell Nia that you love her. And you love her?" she repeated.

He looked away. „Yes," he breathed. Yvette barely heard him.

„Why haven't you just said it."

„We got interrogated," he immediately returned.

„Yes, sure. But you have to tell her. I am not a very good secret keeper."

He twisted his mouth at that, lowered his head, and began turning at his ring. Then he looked back at her. „What if it is illogical?"

She pointed at the space next to him. „May I?"

Okay, pep talk. Brainy definitively needed a prep talk.

„Sweetie, you have to tell her."

He slightly flinched at that and hasn't stopped playing with his ring.

He squinted his eyes.

„Why the three orbs?" she then asked.

„I better not tell you that," he immediately returned.

„Okay, sweetheart. But they don't hurt you, or are they?"

He lifted his head. Blinking, he leaned against the backrest of the couch.

„Not anymore," he whispered.

Yvette patted his knees. „I respect that. But I hope you haven't made up that last part," she paused and looked at him.

He weighed his head at that.

„You're a friend of Nia. I am a friend of Nia. You're already family. And if I don't see you, I will arrange to see you."

He met her eyes sceptically. „Why do you treat me so nicely?"

Yvette patted his knees once more. „You're Nia's friend. And I like you. Why should I not treat you nicely."

She got up, but before leaving the room entirely, Ivette turned around.

„You have just given me three other nicknames, which I don't assume you will stop saying anytime soon," he suddenly said.

No, she wouldn't stop anytime soon.

„Guilty."

Yvette leaned onto the door frame. „But maybe we can agree upon one."

„Which one do you prefer?" she continued.

He only blinked, and Ivette figured he preferred none of them.

„What about sweetheart then?"

Ivette smiled when Brainy frowned and curled his lips.

She already loved the little one. If Brainy won't tell Nia, she will.

She couldn't keep secrets. And it wasn't a secret that these two belonged together.

A/N: I tend to write a novel here, but I try to keep it short.

1. I decided to let J'onn refer to Brainy as boy, basically because I think Brainy is definitely younger than him, and I had the feeling it suited quite well.

2. This story is supposed to fill in the gap that Brainy and Yvette haven´t really gotten close in the show. When I started this story, I thought it really fitting that these two should get the chance to seriously get to know each other.

I hope you liked it. Couldn´t help to let Yvette fuss over Brainy.

3. Can´t believe I finished watching season six. The last season was better than I could have imagined. And, I got some new ideas for writing.

Q/ What's your favourite of all episodes?

A/ For me that's the episode we get to see Brainy for the first time.

Next: AU season 5 „Virtual Reality ". Brainy gets kidnapped for having been in a relationship with Dreamer and is rescued by Supergirl and Nia.