part 5!

aka, in which Kara sees That Scene

"So, you're Supergirl."

"Yes, I am." Kara answered, shaking the hand of the one she'd been introduced to as Phantom Girl.

"Clark read about you in the history files, and there's a museum dedicated to you in your home city. He was really looking forward to actually meeting you." The other girl said. Kara looked excited at the prospect of seeing a Supergirl museum, but there were more important things she had to think about.

"Well, I hope I live up to his expectations." She said. "It's weird, last year when I first became Supergirl, I was thinking the same thing, but now I look like the more experienced one and he's the awkward one who's new to his powers, when in the time I come from it's the other way around."

"That is weird." Agreed Phantom Girl.

Kara nodded, then remembered again why she was talking to her. I know I was told not to ask, but…"So, anyway, earlier I spoke with, uh, Brainiac 5? And he mentioned…training simulations, that he made, featuring himself and Superman. I understand if I can't, but if you don't mind, I'd like to see them, please."

Phantom Girl started giggling when the simulations were mentioned, then smiled and held out her hand to Kara. "Sure, just follow me." she answered.

Kara took her hand, and the two proceeded down the hallway.

"Here we go, the simulation room viewing center." Phantom Girl said, arriving with Kara in a small room with blue walls and a brightly-lit, elaborate operating panel, and what looked to be a newly-installed glass wall, overlooking a circular room with purple wall panels and a green, domed ceiling. The ceiling looked to have the Brainiac symbol on it, and Kara gulped. She still wasn't used to associating it with someone who was actually a good person. But she knew she was going to have to work on that while she stayed here.

"Pull up a chair and get comfortable, Supergirl." She continued, gesturing to the two chairs that were already in front of the panel.

"Thanks." Kara said as she took one, sitting down in it. "And you can call me Kara, if you want."

"Alright, Kara." The other girl said, taking her own chair. "My real name's Tinya."

"Thank you, Tinya." Kara said. "And, um…what simulations was Brainy talking about?"

Tinya started smiling again. "There's really only one that you absolutely have to see." She answered.

"And which one is that?" Kara asked, intrigued now.

Tinya didn't answer, just turning to speak to the computer system that Kara had learned earlier was responsible for operating the headquarters. "Computo, bring up Simulation Number 92207, Version 2.01."

The projection flickered to life in front of them, and the two superheroines watched eagerly as the events of the simulation began to unfold.

Kara watched as her cousin- no more than 18 years old, wearing an older version of the Superman suit (heck, it still had the underwear-on-the-outside design)- soared through the sky, blue laser beams firing all around him but not affecting him, even though they were aimed correctly. Yellow aliens wearing jetpacks rushed at him, seven in all, and Superman (or should he be called Superboy at that point?) punched them out cleanly without breaking a sweat.

Brainy flew up, transforming into a more armored, robotic form that Kara hadn't seen in real life (and, she noted, slightly disturbed by the thought, one that makes him look more like his ancestor). He fired off an array of purple beams from his shoulders, before appearing to be overtaken, and then blasting away all 3 of his assailants with an energy sphere, also purple. Superman hurled an alien into the sky, knocking down 3 others with it, then punching another.

Brainy turned and punched a different one, before flying backwards and launching even more purple beams, first from his hands, then from his upper arms and shoulders as well. Superman grappled briefly with one of the aliens, then punched it away, and fired his heat vision at another. While he was distracted with that, an alien with a machine gun moved in behind him, preparing to take the shot at Superman. Brainy, having just fired at 2 of the aliens, turned to see this in front of him. His expression surprised and then enraged, he flew in front of Superman as the Kryptonian turned around, only to witness the Coluan getting a laser-blast to the side of his chest, and falling from the sky, smoke streaming from the wound.

"Oh no!" Kara heard herself say, as Superman exclaimed "Brainy!" in the simulation.

"He's going to be alright, you know." Tinya said. "This is just a simulation."

"I know, I just…forgot." Kara said. "This 31st century technology makes these things look so realistic."

Back on screen, Brainy said "Forget me…finish the job!", while still falling, seemingly ignoring his soon demise.

Superman did indeed turn back to fight, taking out the still-remaining villains using superspeed before flying back down to the canyon to see Brainy again.

"Ooh…" Tinya said. "This is where it gets good."

Kara leaned in, focusing more intently on the scene before her.

Superman landed, and walked over to Brainy, back in his more humanoid form, smoke still rising out of the injured spot on his body. In said form, Kara could see that the shot had exposed the right side of his chest, right near where his heart would be if he was human, the purple armor having been peeled back and bright green being revealed below it.

As Brainy lay on the ground, motionless, Superman held him, one hand on his back and one clasping Brainy's left hand.

"Hang in there. You're gonna be fine." Superman said, as Brainy grunted in pain. He looked down at his friend sadly, as he continued. "You may not be human, but you have the biggest heart I've ever seen."

Superman closed his eyes, tightening his grip on Brainy's hand. Brainy moaned, then looked up at him, smiling.

"You're a true hero." Superman said.

"I…*cough* *cough*…learned it…all…from you…" Brainy said. Tears started forming in Superman's eyes, and he began to smile, as Brainy's own smile began to falter and his purple eyes turned black. His hold on Superman's hand loosened, and his arm fell limply to the ground. Superman held his now-dead friend tighter as the music swelled in the background, and then the announcement- "Music: Terminated. Simulation: Complete." The background faded, revealing the normal simulation room, with only Brainy on the ground, unharmed. Then the video ended.

Kara turned to Tinya, still processing what she'd just seen.

"Did that- did he write that?" Kara said. "The fighting, and the dramatic music, and the dying in Superman's arms?"

Tinya nodded, as the realization flooded Kara's face. "Holy crap! That was fanfiction! Real-life fanfiction, or as close as you could get, played out in real life, with a fake version of Clark! Oh my god, Brainy actually thought up the scenario of himself dying, of all things, just so he could get to experience Superman holding him in his arms?"

"Yup." Tinya said simply.

"Geez, Brainy had it bad for my cousin, didn't he?" Kara said. "And I thought my crushes were painful."

"Tell me about it. It took both of them almost dying for them to admit their feelings for each other- and this isn't even the only simulation like this that we have on file…" Tinya replied. She started searching the list of sims, only for someone else to arrive behind her and Kara.

"What are you two watching?" Brainy asked. Clark lingered behind him, presumably waiting for his boyfriend.

The two girls turned around in their chairs, looking up to stare at the Coluan-turned-humanoid.

"Nothing…" they said in unison.

Brainy's look was suspicious, but for his dignity's sake, he decided not to press the matter further.