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I got... scared.

[ The word comes out a little tersely; it's uncomfortable for her to admit she can feel that level of fear, because it means having to admit it aloud to herself. ]

That sort of power is frightening to Superman and I. For me, the fact there was something that can make me feel weak and powerless... I don't have a good track record with things like that.

[ She's been powerless before and hurt as a result. It's a sickening feeling.

But she knows Jaime never intended for any of this. ]

The more I think about it, that's an awful burden on you.

Oh.

[It's a quiet utterance, but one that's blankly surprised, anyway. Jaime really hadn't considered much beyond his own dishonesty through omission; in all honesty, Superman and Power Girl being scared by anything isn't something that crossed his mind.]

I really wasn't ever planning on using it, on any of you, [he feels the need to clarify, though he's said as much already.]

And it's fine, really. It's... not that much more than everything else. You of all people know the drill.

[ It's a little astounding at how relaxed Jaime is. She was expecting resistance or for him to be snappy at her in turn for how she was. ]

I'm not sure my concern was it being you in the end. [ This part is a bit awkward to admit as well, though it warrants questioning: ] No one can ever extract that ability from you, can they?

[He sighs.]

I don't know, Power Girl. Nobody's ever tried. But there are more people than just you who're worried about my powers, and -- and Booster knows pretty much everything there is to know. Isn't that good enough?

[ ... Booster. ]

... I think so. [ Well, outside of enemies from their potential corner of the universe, who else is ever going to figure out Blue Beetle's got the arsenal to hurt the likes of Superman and Power Girl? That alone should be enough to assure her. ] I'm sorry for all this.

It's fine. Really.

[His feelings were hurt by the whole ordeal, certainly, but it's not terribly difficult to forgive Power Girl. He just can't help but wonder what she thinks of him now.]

So... are we cool now?

Shouldn't I be asking you that?

I just -- I just like making sure! This is kind of a 180, you know! But if you're asking me now, then yes? I mean, yes. We're cool.

[He hasn't got the gift of gab that his predecessor had.]

The one making the apology shouldn't be the one to decide, just so you know.

[ Oh, Jaime. She doesn't know if she wants you to change ever. ]

Whatever hang-ups I have I'll get over it.

Right. Well, good.

...can I ask what made you change your mind?

Would you believe me if I said talking to Booster?

[That's one way to break the tension. There's something of a smile in Jaime's voice.]

You know, I would. I didn't think you'd go to him to talk about something like this.

Booster and I have... history. And I know you and him get along well enough.

[Everyone has history with Booster. And practically nobody ever sounds happy about it.]

Yeah. We're friends too. He was right person to talk to.

[Don't ask Hal!]

He was. Don't let him know I said that.

I know I wasn't in the right with how I acted. We all have powers we didn't ask for or could accidentally hurt someone with. I should know better.

Seriously, it's okay. You get it now. But isn't that something you've had to deal with too? I mean, I don't know anyone who's got more powers than you guys.

My powers have gone haywire before a few times.

But it's a bit different for me. I was already an adult when I came to Earth and had my powers in check. Beyond breaking some machines when anyone ran tests on me.

So... where were you before you came to Earth?

[Karen isn't older than Clark is, and he knows that Krypton was destroyed. She must have wound up on another planet.]

Space?

[ Of course Jaime wouldn't know. Hell, she's not always so sure herself. In her universe two ships left Krypton before its demise; Kal-L's and hers. Kal's arrived much earlier while she was adrift for years. ]

Depends on which Earth you mean.

Uh.

[He had assumed that they were from the same universe. Are they not? What's going on? He could ask an intelligent question, or...]

I'm confused.

It's a long and complicated story.

The short version is I'm from a parallel universe.

Thaaaaat, I didn't know. But we're from the same place, right? I mean, not from from in your case, but the one you got taken from to come here? Or, uh, to come to the City.

[ALTERNATE UNIVERSES. Good lord.]

Maybe I need to update my chart.

We are. I'm just not born in that universe.

Oh.

[He's curious. Of course he's curious, but he also assumes that her presence here means something like, and we were all ruled by megalomaniac giant venomous snakes that feasted on the flesh of the innocent or whoops everything got destroyed or quite possibly and I fled a band of Kryptonite wielding samurai who wanted to use my remains for worship.

He's come to expect the worst when it comes to others' pasts, especially when alternate universes enter the equation. So instead of prying right after they made up, he says,] Well, I hope you like it here, at least. I mean, home.

...my old home, your new home. Sorry, I feel like I should have more lingo for talking about parallel universe junk by now.

[ That gets an earnest laugh from her. ]

I wouldn't be protecting it if I didn't. It's my home, too.

[ She's ultimately made peace with that fact. ]

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khajidont - 2015-08-22 19:57 (UTC) - Expand