Disclaimer: I do not own Supergirl.

Warning: Includes T rated content. One character gets hurt in the attempt saving another. Receiving and dealing with the wound.

Description: AU season 5 „Virtual Reality ". Brainy gets kidnapped for having been in a relationship with Dreamer.

Thank you for reading. The number of people reading and hopefully enjoying these little stories increases with each chapter.

Here we go again.

Three: Wrong Reality

It was the first time he did go out without being on a mission for Lex or the DEO since he followed in Alex's footsteps. Querl walked down the street, hands interlaced behind his back. He had handed out everything about the user that had harassed Ni… Dreamer and her community. He hadn't been lying that the DEO took things seriously about their superheroes.

However, he alone took things very seriously when it came to his friends. And Nia.

Stopping, Querl looked about. If only he wouldn't have to act as if he didn't care.

He lowered his head.

But he let them down, purposely, but he let them down. Especially Nia minded him to the best of her abilities and shouted at him when interaction was inevitable. Deservedly.

They had begun to distance themselves from him. And yet, he wouldn't stop caring. He would never stop caring for his family. His heart broke that day when he started all this. Tiny little smithers filled the space where it once resided.

Would it ever start healing?

Nearly missing the corner he had to take, he stopped. It had started to rain. Querl twisted his mouth.

He hadn't asked the sky to cry too, had he?

It was hard enough to hold his tears back.

But unfortunately, he couldn't control the weather. Well, he could, theoretically. His ancestors had a method. Not that he ever considered using it.

"You really turned me in, didn't you?" a voice asked behind him, interrupting his thoughts.

Querl whirled around, however, not fast enough. With the man knocking him out through a pointedly blow to his head, Querl fell to the ground. He had let allowed himself to let his guard down.

He knew who this man was and why he had come for him. Simply. The man he had just turned in falsely assumed Querl was still in a relationship with Dreamer.

If only.

Mustering the man with a frown, he lost consciousness because the blow to his head had been too hard. Besides, he wasn't in the best physical state either. His probability matrix wasn't the problem here. He was simply not on his best foot. Or something like that. These sayings still made no real sense to him. He always forgot them.

The street wasn't heavily crowded. Therefore, Supergirl found her target very soon. And a very familiar-looking… Coluan.

Recognizing Brainy, Kara hurried to the spot. However, they were gone before she arrived at the scene. Putting on her glasses, Kara scrabbled for her phone in her jacket.

"Nia, please," she mumbled.

Nia and Kara weren't on good terms currently. But she had to stop her from… harming the one harassing her community.

Downtown a girl woke up because of an incoming phone call. She looked at it for a while before breathing in and taking the call.

"Hey, it's Kara," the voice paused. "I know you might be still angry, but I've got to tell you something. Can we please meet at the tower?"

Nia twisted her mouth. "Yeah, I am on my way."

Ten minutes later, Nia arrived at the tower, dressed as Dreamer.

"What's up?"

"He has Brainy."

Nia lowered her head and clenched both her hands into fists.

"I know… very well that it is complicated between you two right now. But I think Brainy needs our help," Kara repeated.

Nia nodded. "You're right. Do we know where he is?"

Protect the innocent. Help those in need. That's what heroes do.

"Unfortunately, no," Kara returned.

"But we'll find him. Don't worry."

She wasn't worried about Brainy.

Okay. Maybe a little.

Okay. Maybe greatly.

Nia sat down on the couch to search for Brainy in her dreams while Kara looked for him from across the sky.

Far off, in an empty warehouse, a few turns and miles away from the tower, Director Dox opened his eyes.

"You've got to be sprocking me," he mumbled. Starting back, Querl shoved his head at the ceiling. Suppressing the pain, he focused on his surroundings. Having completed all his scans, he tried to hack his handcuffs. However, he failed.

It was a simple rope. Querl leaned onto the wall behind him. Ironic. He could hack into the toughest of programs but failed at a knot.

He then received an incoming call. He looked out for his mobile phone. He found it on a table near the opposite wall. Focusing on it from afar, he answered the call.

"Director Dox." Querl shifted uneasily. Of course, it was Lex. He was only receiving phone calls from Lex Luthor in the past weeks.

"I need you at L-Corp," Lex added before quitting the call.

Again, he jolted at the rope around his hands and deliberately bashed his head. Closing his eyes, he banned all his anger, frustration, and fear into tiny little boxes. Emotions didn't help here.

The only noise in the voiceless room was his breathing.

"I hope she comes for you," a voice cut through the silence. Querl turned his head.

It was his only reaction.

"Fine. Don't talk."

Suddenly the door burst open, and Nia entered, her hands sparkling with dream energy.

Nia came for him.

He shook his head. Little boxes. Querl had to think of little boxes. As long as he was with Lex, she wouldn't take him back anyway.

"Dreamer," he whispered.

She really came for him.

"Knew you would come for your boyfriend, Dreamer."

"He is not my boyfriend."

"You would say anything," the man returned.

Inclining his head, Brainy eyed the man unemotionally. "She is right."

"Do your research better," Brainy added with a frown.

Nia sent the man flying to the ground. Then she slowly crossed the room and kneeled next to Brainy. With Brainy lifting his head while she untied the knots, Nia was close to his eyes, nose, and mouth.

Nia swallowed.

Brainy twisted his mouth.

She forgot about the presence of the harasser. She forgot that he had walked out on her.

Everything.

Trembling, Nia loosened the last knot, still viewing the Coluan in front of her.

Time stood still.

Brainy was here. And he didn't act cold on her.

Well, of course, she was here to rescue him.

Yet, Nia believed seeing her Brainy in his eyes.

Then his eyes widened, and he pushed her away. He flinched. Shielding Brainy, Nia conjured her dream energy. She was about to send another beam of dream energy toward this man when Kara landed next to her. "I'll take care of him."

Turning her head, she asked, "You're all clear here?"

A little startled, Nia looked at Brainy. "I think so, yes."

Kara nodded, then she grabbed the man's arm and disappeared. Nia took a deep breath before approaching Brainy again. "How are you feeling?" she asked.

"It's nothing I can't fix."

Nia put a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well, then fix it."

Brainy tried to stand but failed. "It's not working when I am not focused."

Nia's gaze wandered around the room. She caught Brainy staring at her. He immediately looked away. Stifling a false laugh, she plumped down beside Brainy.

He lowered his head. "Nia, don't," he mumbled.

"Yes, you broke my heart," she paused.

"No, I am not fine."

But she still cared.

Brainy writhed in pain. Wiping back her tears, Nia worriedly took his hand. He shoved her off. "Where is the person who supported me from the first day I became Dreamer? Why has he left me? What have I done wrong? He…" she stopped, her head falling forward.

"He never stopped believing in you and your powers, Dreamer," Brainy said after a while.

No, he couldn't mean it. The Brainy she knew, the hero she had loved… would have never acted as cold as the agent in front of her.

Not wanting Brainy to see her like this, Nia turned away. He broke her heart. And he didn't. Even. Care.

"And I know how you feel, Nia Nal," his voice dropped. "I am feeling it too." Nia lifted her head. Brainy had closed his eyes. She then realized the blood that had soaked through his suit.

Nia pressed her hand to the wound. "Why haven't you said something? I thought you got this."

Brainy coughed silently. "I do," he breathed. He shifted to be able to look at her.

"No, you don't," Nia whispered.

Then she took his hand and pressed a piece of cloth to his wound to stop the blood flow. Maybe a little harsher than intended. Brainy flinched.

"Hold that. I'll call Kara."

Having returned, Nia found a completely still Brainy. Worriedly, she checked for his pulse. Having it, Nia released the breath she had held.

Holding Brainy's hand, she looked out for Kara. However, he withdrew it again while he tiredly blinked at her. "Don't you have to be somewhere else?"

Nia bit her lips. "Know what. Forget that I was ever worried about you." Brainy lowered his head.

Yes, as if he really believed her. As if her actions didn't prove him wrong.

He still breathed heavily, and his skin turned pale.

She couldn't leave him alone.

It was Brainy.

***linebreaker***

He must have fallen asleep again.

When Querl awakened, he realized he was at the DEO again. Moaning, he propped himself up on his left arm.

"Finally."

Querl laid a hand on his side. Turning around, he eyed Lex.

"I apologize for all the inconveniences," he said dryly in Lex's direction.

Twisting his mouth, Lex closed the gap between them. Querl had to stop himself from moving back instinctively. He didn't like working with Lex, nor any of his methods. This… mission had already caused him so much pain.

But he had to stay reliable. He couldn't tell if Lex was already suspicious of him. Breathing in sharply, Querl lifted his head.

"You don't look that good."

Querl closed his eyes. "Do you want me to call, or shall I come to you?"

"Whatever suits you best," Lex returned.

Not at all would be what suited best. Querl took another deep breath. He tried focusing on the healing process of his injuries but hadn't yet recovered from the past hours.

"Director."

On looking up, he found Kara leaning in the door frame. She smiled wearily. Don't call me that. I do not deserve it. I don't want it, he nearly returned. These weren't the times he blindly talked about everything with his friends.

But, wait. Where was Nia? She hadn't left, had she?

Nia wasn't injured.

Right?

Evading Kara's view, he silently asked, "Where is… How is Dreamer?"

"She's alright, don't worry." Kara sat down next to him.

"I do not…"

"And yet you keep asking about me," Nia appeared in the door frame next to Kara.

He looked at her. She evaded his view.

"Legitimate interest."

"Of course," Nia whispered.

"Legitimate interest is only logical," he mumbled barely audibly.

Querl then flinched before he collapsed on the liege. Within a minute, Nia was by his side. He saw her bandying looks with Kara.

He had to get back to work. He must not lose Luthor's trust.

"Brainy, what's wrong?"

"Circuit collapse," he breathed.

"It's nothing I can't fix."

Next to him, Nia laughed dryly. "You keep saying that without living up to it."

In complete silence, with none of them saying a word, Querl still didn't manage to initiate the healing process.

"How long have you been here?" he asked, trying to sound professional as if he had to know. Lifting his head, he looked up. His gaze then rested on Kara. It was better to evade Nia's sorrowful and broken eyes.

If only he could… Banning that thought from his mind, he attempted another try on the healing process.

"We moved to your lab as soon as the medical team took over."

They did still care for him. If not for him slamming a wall down his emotions, he would have given in. He would have told Kara everything. For he never stopped loving his friends. He missed being with Kara and Alex. And J'onn and Kelly. And Nia. However, there was no place for any relations, at least not now, when he wanted this plan to work. And he needed that plan to work.

"We evaded any contact with Lex," added Nia, and he noticed the disgust in her voice.

Yes.

If only he could avoid any contact with this lunatic too.

"By the way, I saw Lex watching you for quite a long time. It was getting…" Kara's face screwed up, "… creepy."

What wasn't creepy about Lex Luthor? Lex cost Querl all his patience he could muster. And it was a lot. However, he chose to go over Kara's comment.

He had to.

Having completed the whole healing process, Querl reached for his tablet.

"Hey, Brainy."

Kara inclined her head. "Are you really okay?"

Querl noticed that Nia stiffened and that she had stopped crossing the room.

Running his hands over the monitor, he blandly returned, "Yes."

"I am."

He then closed the envelope with a snap. "But you shouldn't be here."

It was a play.

All but a play.

Nia eyed him. "Yes, we really shouldn't be here," she paused. "I am as good as gone, director, don't worry." Turning on her heels, Nia left the room. His grip around the tablet tightened.

"Brainy."

Kara looked at him, her hands crossed in front of her. "Just in case you wanna talk. You know where to find me." Her eyes resting on him, she smiled faintly. Kara was great. She probably stuck with him till the fatal blow, until he was no longer worth her trust. Only then would he lose her too. And that was when she found out with whom he was working all these months.

When Kara had left, Querl took a deep breath.

Throwing the tablet away, he held onto the liege behind him. A click jolted him out of his musing. He shook his head. Then he grabbed the tablet and hurried through the door. No sooner had Querl entered his lab and slammed the door behind him did he breathe again.

He had to focus on the task Lex had given him. He must not think of Nia. But… all his thoughts involved Nia… Dreamer. Even not wanting to think about her, he thought about her!

Massaging his temple with his hand, he closed his eyes. Why had he let himself get caught? If Supergirl and Dreamer haven't had to rescue him, he would have been more focused.

Sprock.

"Why don't you take the day off after the end of the shift?"

Startled, Querl turned around. Eyeing Lex, he folded his hand behind him.

"Jeremiah is dead. You should go to the funeral. After all, you're still a superfriend," Lex went on.

"We don't want them to become suspicious, don't we?"

Lex then left without another word.

He would have dropped in on Kara and Alex immediately. It was what J'onn probably did right now. He would have been there as an act of friendship. But, as things were, on Lex Luthor's order.

How deep had he sunken?

Deep.

A tear escaped his eyes. Blinking it away, he took another deep breath before pulling out his phone and checking his messages. Kelly had texted him. Still being in the group chat of the superfriends, he got one from Nia too. She promised to be at the funeral.

Having typed a short reply, Querl pocketed his phone and returned to his work. He had to get this done by evening. Lex was waiting.

A/N: What's up. Finished writing this story before I´ve seen season six, and now realized I let Nia say the very same thing, a little bit too early. After all, she claims to have forgotten about it. And I believe her. But, the Nia in my stories obviously does not. Do you know that when characters got their own head while writing something? This happens to me all the time.

Anyway. Hope you´re doing good.

And, believe me, I love these two, there´ll be some couple content in stories to come. But, season five has a lot of Hurt vibes and to write Brainy, especially, I love most.

Q/ My favourite character?

A/ Brainy

Up next: What if… Brainy and Nia got stuck between the remains after the DEO was destroyed, and them both having to tend to cope with each other wounds of physical and mental nature.