Fic: Business As Usual
Fandom: DC Comics
Title: Business As Usual
Characters: Booster Gold, Lex Luthor, Mercy
Rating: G
Prompt: #10, Approach-Avoidance
Word Count: 453
Spoilers: Extremely mild 52 spoilers. Nothing series-ruining, or even issue-ruining.
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em.
A/N: AU. Part of Booster's appeal is that he makes the worst decisions EVER. It is also worth noting that, for a while, this was my theory as to the origin of Supernova, although recent events in 52 have disproved it, so I figured I might as well share it as a fic.
---
"Now, what is it you wished to discuss with me, Mr. Gold?" Lex Luthor asked, pressing his fingertips together.
"Don't call me that. I'm not Booster Gold anymore," the blond on the opposite side of the desk answered.
"Oh? So the man currently flying around Metropolis with ads printed all over his costume isn't you, then?" It wasn't a question Lex really needed to ask, judging by Booster's general scruffiness, but he asked it anyway.
Booster frowned in reply before saying, "No. Maybe. He might be a different me, but he's not me me, if that makes any sense?"
"I think I understand. I've had something similar happen to me, recently."
"Oh, really?" Booster asked, inclining his head to the side.
"You didn't hear about it? It was all over the news."
"I've been... avoiding the news a lot lately."
"Hm." Lex knew better than to ask why, so he asked a different question. "What should I call you then, if not Mr. Gold?"
Booster frowned again. There was a pause before he took a breath and answered, "Carter. Michael Carter."
"Well, then, Mr. Carter, what brings you here?" Lex asked.
"I want to make you a deal, Luthor.' He stood up. "Could I, um, have my bag back?" He looked back at Mercy. Mercy looked at Lex. Lex nodded his approval and Mercy shoved an oversized duffel bag into Booster's--Michael's--chest with a bit more force than what was probably necessary. "Thanks ever so," Michael said with great sarcasm before he opened the bag.
He pulled out what appeared to be a can of tomato soup and then a towel before he found what he was looking for. He held out his costume for Lex to see, but not to touch, not yet. "You give me what I want, you get this. The power source has been destroyed, but the circuitry weave's intact. Super-strength, force field, energy blasts. I'm sure you have somebody who can retro-engineer it well enough."
"No flight?" Lex asked.
"Flight's not in the suit. It's different. You're not getting that, not yet. You don't need it, the suit alone is priceless."
"What is it you want, then, Mr. Carter, that you're willing to trade this priceless suit for it?"
Michael tossed the costume on top of the duffel bag and pulled something out of his pocket. He unfolded it and placed it on Lex's desk. It was wrinkled and torn and looked like it had been rained on or something at some point, but it was still definitely an advertisement for the Everyman Project. Michael pointed to it and said, "I want you to make me a hero. I want you to make me better than Superman."
Title: Business As Usual
Characters: Booster Gold, Lex Luthor, Mercy
Rating: G
Prompt: #10, Approach-Avoidance
Word Count: 453
Spoilers: Extremely mild 52 spoilers. Nothing series-ruining, or even issue-ruining.
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em.
A/N: AU. Part of Booster's appeal is that he makes the worst decisions EVER. It is also worth noting that, for a while, this was my theory as to the origin of Supernova, although recent events in 52 have disproved it, so I figured I might as well share it as a fic.
---
"Now, what is it you wished to discuss with me, Mr. Gold?" Lex Luthor asked, pressing his fingertips together.
"Don't call me that. I'm not Booster Gold anymore," the blond on the opposite side of the desk answered.
"Oh? So the man currently flying around Metropolis with ads printed all over his costume isn't you, then?" It wasn't a question Lex really needed to ask, judging by Booster's general scruffiness, but he asked it anyway.
Booster frowned in reply before saying, "No. Maybe. He might be a different me, but he's not me me, if that makes any sense?"
"I think I understand. I've had something similar happen to me, recently."
"Oh, really?" Booster asked, inclining his head to the side.
"You didn't hear about it? It was all over the news."
"I've been... avoiding the news a lot lately."
"Hm." Lex knew better than to ask why, so he asked a different question. "What should I call you then, if not Mr. Gold?"
Booster frowned again. There was a pause before he took a breath and answered, "Carter. Michael Carter."
"Well, then, Mr. Carter, what brings you here?" Lex asked.
"I want to make you a deal, Luthor.' He stood up. "Could I, um, have my bag back?" He looked back at Mercy. Mercy looked at Lex. Lex nodded his approval and Mercy shoved an oversized duffel bag into Booster's--Michael's--chest with a bit more force than what was probably necessary. "Thanks ever so," Michael said with great sarcasm before he opened the bag.
He pulled out what appeared to be a can of tomato soup and then a towel before he found what he was looking for. He held out his costume for Lex to see, but not to touch, not yet. "You give me what I want, you get this. The power source has been destroyed, but the circuitry weave's intact. Super-strength, force field, energy blasts. I'm sure you have somebody who can retro-engineer it well enough."
"No flight?" Lex asked.
"Flight's not in the suit. It's different. You're not getting that, not yet. You don't need it, the suit alone is priceless."
"What is it you want, then, Mr. Carter, that you're willing to trade this priceless suit for it?"
Michael tossed the costume on top of the duffel bag and pulled something out of his pocket. He unfolded it and placed it on Lex's desk. It was wrinkled and torn and looked like it had been rained on or something at some point, but it was still definitely an advertisement for the Everyman Project. Michael pointed to it and said, "I want you to make me a hero. I want you to make me better than Superman."