Sparks Fly
A DC fanfiction by Andrew Joshua Talon
DISCLAIMER: This is a non-profit fan-based work of prose. Superman, Livewire, Batman and all other characters and worlds are the property of Warner Brothers and DC Comics. Please support the official release.
In another universe...
The cell was spartan and tightly enclosed. Insulation was thick and the lights ran off independent and isolated generators. There was a Faraday Cage around it, blocking any radio signals. Even Clark was having trouble seeing through the distortion.
Not that he was going to tell that to the occupant, sitting on the other side of the wooden table. Leslie Willis, aka Livewire. Who had been silent since he had sat down six minutes ago.
"Well, you wanted to give an interview, Miss Willis," Clark stated, "where would you like to begin?"
Leslie sighed softly.
"... I heard you met an alternate version of yourself recently," Livewire spoke. Clark stared at her, poker face intact.
"I don't know what you mean," Clark said carefully. Leslie snorted.
"Sure ya do. Cameras and microphones aren't allowed near me, Kent. So don't worry about it."
Clark stared at her, his mind already going through possibilities. Contingencies. Leslie shook her head.
"When the portal opened, I had a... A quantum link with the other me in that reality," she stated. "I got her memories, she got mine. An exchange."
"... I see," Clark said slowly. "What do you want to-?"
"We were friends there," Leslie blurted out. "We'd saved the world together. Twice even. I was... I wanted a lot more from you. To be closer." She leaned back in her chair.
"Funny how little things can have big consequences," Leslie murmured. "A flip of a coin. A wrong turn." She sucked in a deep breath.
"The other you and me... Well, after Luthor," and Clark barely contained his wince here, "she helped you. She thought you'd give up the power. Ya know, like George Washington did. When it became clear you wouldn't, she fought you... Ended up as a living power battery."
She gave him a thin smile.
"When you see what you could have been, you can either ignore it or try to do something different. Do better. You're scared of... That path. I realized I've been a total bitch. I could have been... More."
Leslie leaned forward over the table.
"I'm not gonna blackmail you or anything," Leslie said, "but I want a favor."
"... Depends on what it is," Clark replied.
"Teach me to be better," Leslie said. "Teach me how to be that other Livewire. And who knows? Maybe it'll keep you from becoming THAT man."
Leslie then smiled warmly.
"Well that... And a few of your ma's cookies. Deal?"
Clark stared at her for a while. He then very slowly nodded.
"Chocolate chip, or snickerdoodle?"
Leslie grinned. There was the ghost of a smile on Clark's face.
"Both."
