Cosmic Combination [A Superheroine Merging Story]- Issue #6

Tier Reward for EB18

Tristan and Lucie couldn’t be more different: he’s a washed-up boxer turned security guard, disillusioned with the world, while she’s a starry-eyed fangirl with a heart set on heroism. But when they both touch a mysterious meteorite, they’re fused into one extraordinary being—Clara, a superheroine as busty and beautiful as she is powerful. With the help of brilliant scientist Dr. Lauren Langstom, Tristan and Lucie must figure out how to navigate their shared body, fight crime, and somehow balance their worlds both merged and apart and discover if they can become something greater…together.

Issue #6

~

By the time the meeting was finished, Clara’s head was thumping from exhaustion. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the mind control or the fact that it had just been a hell of a day. Valkyrie had been surprisingly quiet since Thunder Clap collected her, she only spoke at the meeting when asked a question, and even then, it was hardly anything. The Guild was in full panic mode trying to figure out how this new villain's mind control worked and if it could be blocked: was it eye contact? Sound based? Touch? If either of them could remember actually being put under, it would help a lot. Unfortunately, Clara’s mind was a blank the moment it happened. 

She flew across the sky slowly, too tired to even think of where to return to and ended up opening Lucie’s window. Maybe she was subconsciously thinking of Tristan’s cold, lonely apartment and went for the more comfortable option. She couldn’t be sure, only that her exhaustion meant she wasn’t as quiet as she should have been. 

“Lucie, finally I have been-what the hell?!”
 The light clicked on, revealing Jillian standing by the door and she seemed as shocked to see Clara as Clara was to see her. 

“Why are you here?” Jillian cried.

“I, I um…”

Clara felt Tristan’s awkwardness flooding her and Lucie’s worry. This was a worst-case scenario for both of them, and then, to her horror, she felt them coming apart. There was a flash of light, and suddenly, Tristan and Lucie were standing in Clara’s place, both very thankful for the clothing Lauren made: at least they weren’t being forced to have this conversation naked. 

“Lucie?” Jillian whispered as the blood drained from her face. 

Tristan felt like a deer in the headlights, it had been a long time since anybody looked at him like that; he felt like a teenager who’d been caught by their parents sneaking out.

“I can explain!” Lucie cried, instantly forgetting she was in Tristan’s body.

“You’re a hero?”

“Yes! And so is Tristan; we’re sort of together, not like that! Just, as a hero, we merge and we make Clara, Bombshell.” Lucie explained, “But when we unmerge we’re uh, in the wrong body.”

“So…you’re not my sister,” Jillian said slowly, looking at Tristan, who nodded timidly. “And you’ve been what, pretending to be her? For how long?”

“A few weeks.”

“Without me noticing!? This merging power, you did this, didn’t you?!”

“Um, sort of, but not really!”

Tristan was slightly tempted to explain that Lucie was the one who set this all off by breaking into Lauren’s lab, but he thought better of it. She was already under the bus, no need to turn up the gas. 

“This was my choice, Jilly.” Lucie cut in. “You know I have always wanted to be a hero. When the opportunity came, I took it.”

“And you’re an idiot. You need this guy to get your powers right? You’re not seeing him again.”

Tristan watched as Lucie balled her hands into fists, only to wince as his bad hand twinged. 

“You can’t just decide that, I am a grown ass woman.”

“Well, you’re not acting like one, honestly, Lucie, I can’t believe you got yourself into this sort of mess. You know how I feel about hero work.”

“Yeah, I do, and you know how I feel about it, too. Your feelings don’t trump mine!”

“They do when it comes to your safety!”

“You don’t always know best!”
 “Yes, I do!”

“Enough!”

Tristan surprised himself when he spoke up, he’d never come to somebody’s defence before but he couldn’t just stand by and watch as Jillian refused to even acknowledge her sisters feelings.

“I get it; you care about Lucie, but she isn’t some little kid anymore. She can make her own decisions. She’s brave and kind and exactly the sort of person this city needs! When people see a smiling face and a confident smile, they feel like everything is okay, even when it's not!”

Tristan’s voice rose with every word, as did his conviction. Jillian blinked in shock but Lucie was staring at him with utter awe. 

“You really think that?” She whispered.

“I do.”

Her smile made his heart ache, not from love or attraction but sympathy. It had been too long since somebody stood up for Lucie, she always saw herself as a bit of a weirdo. For all her friendly smiles, Tristan realised that she’d never actually mentioned any other friends. Maybe he was her first in a long while. 

“Look, pretty words don't change anything, I won’t have my sister being a hero! If you want to help people, you could join the academy.” Jillian crossed her arms and Lucie shook her head.

“I’m not giving this up.”

“Well then…maybe you need to find somewhere else to live, somewhere without somebody to pick up after your messes when this all comes tumbling down!”

The air was still for a moment and Tristan heard Lucie suck in a breath. Jillian’s face instantly morphed to regret and she reached out.

“Lucie-”

“No, it’s fine. Tristan, let’s go.”

He hesitated for a moment then nodded, reaching out a hand for Lucie’s. He felt the familiar, rough scar of his old hand, and then Clara was back. Tristan’s empathy mixed with Lucie’s heartbreak, and she finally looked at Jillian, giving her one final chance to say something, anything. But Jillian stayed silent, her mouth opening once or twice, but no sound escaped. 

Clara turned and shot back into the sky. She was still exhausted, but at least her Lucie side was comforted by her being merged. At first, she headed towards Tristan’s place when Clara realised she really didn't want to be alone. Lucie didn't want to unmerge right now, and Tristan didn't think he had the words to comfort her. But they needed somebody. 

Flying to Lauren felt like the natural option. She’d mentioned where she lived once or twice, so flying over the neighbourhood was all it took to find her. Lauren muttered to herself while working, so with Clara’s super hearing, it wasn't hard to find a small house with mismatched curtains and Lauren’s voice echoing out the windows. For all her super strength and endurance, she still felt awkward standing on Lauren’s front doorstep. When Lauren opened the door, her eyes were wide. 

“Clara?”

“I think I put a dent in your door knocking.” Clara blurted out. “Sorry. I was nervous.”

Lauren’s cheeks dusted pink, and Clara swore she heard the woman’s heartbeat pick up. 

“That’s fine. Come in. What makes you nervous?”

“Lucie and her sister had a fight.”

“Oh,” Lauren said, only just managing to hide her disappointment as she closed the door behind them. “Of course, come in and tell me about it.”

Clara did, and Lauren placed a warm mug of tea in her hands. The ceramic seeped warmth into her palms, and the stress of the night began to melt away. Lucie’s anxiety faded, as did Tristan’s concern, as they fully melded into a single being. The conversation shifted easily over to Lauren’s work, and soon they were just talking as friends, and the tea went cold. Clara could still feel that warmth, though; it had moved from her palms to her cheeks and chest as Lauren kept talking excitedly about all the data she’d found. 

It felt oddly homey, being here. Clara realised for the first time she didn’t really have a home of her own yet. Tristan and Lucie’s places were their own; she hadn’t stayed at the Guild long enough for that to feel like home yet, but spending time with Lauren? That felt right. The woman had been there almost since she came into the world and had been helping her ever since. Clara found herself smiling softly as Lauren spoke with that bright sparkle in her eyes that made them seem all the brighter. 

“It’s fascinating, really, to think that perhaps you both had the potential for powers but needed a second catalyst, the right person, to activate them. How many others are the same? If I could find a way to test it, we could have paired heroes appearing in no time.”

“You’ll win a Nobel prize or something if you can figure it out.”

“Oh, I don’t care about that, it’s the science!” Lauren’s eyes lit up. “To be able to see something incredible and study it down to the nanoscopic level, to understand everything about them, uh I mean, it.”

Clara laughed.

“Something incredible, hm?”

“Well, you are.” Lauren blushed. “Probably the most incredible person I have ever met. Well, two people, I suppose.”

Clara pressed her lips together; she didn’t feel like two people, at least not all the time. Lauren’s eyes darted from hers to the floor and back again. Clara wasn’t an idiot; neither of her other halves were particularly flirtatious, but she had the experience of two grown adults and she knew when somebody was attracted to her. 

“Does it bother you? " she asked, “That I only exist if Tristan and Lucie merge?”

“No, of course not!” Lauren insisted before sighing. “I suppose it’s just strange to have feelings for somebody and not…”

“The other two.”

“Yes.”

Clara sat aside her cup and shuffled closer on the couch so their thighs brushed. 

“I don’t feel like two people right now; I’m me. A third, wholly separate person and…I thought you should know you’re feelings aren’t unwelcome.”

Lauren’s eyes went wide, and Clara couldn’t help but giggle a little. Her hazel eyes could go so wide, it was adorable. 

“What about Tristan and Lucie, won’t they remember all this?”

“Yes,” Clara replied, reaching over slowly to cup Lauren’s face. “Lucie has admired you for years, Tristan has learned to over these last few weeks, and I have, too.”

“So they’d be okay with this?” Lauren said, licking her lip nervously.

“If they weren’t, I wouldn't be able to do this.”

Clara leaned forward and let their lips brush. It was strange: in a way, she was a virgin, but in others, she had twice the experience. She was nervous, excited, eager and hesitant all at once. Thanks to her sensitive ears, she could hear Lauren’s heart pounding as the kiss deepened; the sound spurred her on. She deepened the kiss, letting Lauren moan softly against her lips as they moved closer. 

One of Lauren’s hands slid up Clara’s leg, brushing her inner thigh, and Clara’s body responded. Her grip on the couch tightened, and the wooden backing snapped like a twig.

“S-sorry. I forget my own strength sometimes.” Clara blushed.

“It’s alright…I like it.”

Clara moved her lips to Lauren’s throat and murmured against her skin.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be careful.” 

She moved her hand from the broken section of the couch to grip Lauren’s hips, just tightly enough that she gasped as a tiny twinge of pain mixed with the pleasure. Lauren’s body shuddered and pressed closer so that their breasts rubbed against one another. They both knew there was no danger, but the implied thrill only made things hotter. 

Lauren’s dexterous hands made quick work of her buttons, and soon, Clara was kissing down the smooth expanse of her skin, pushing away her bra and kissing the pert, pink nipples waiting for her. Lauren then quickly moved to Clara’s outfit, removing the skin-tight clothing and boots. For a moment, Clara wondered what would happen if she were to change back while naked; would the clothes stay the same? But then Lauren’s fingers ghosted over her breast, and she decided she didn’t care. 

When they were both naked, Clara pulled Lauren onto her lap, her legs spread across Clara’s wide hips. She grabbed Lauren’s ass with both hands, massing the skin there and looking up at the shy, nerdy scientist in wonder. She was still blushing, unable to quite look Clara in the eye.

“Are you sure about this?” Clara whispered. “If you’re scared-”

“No, I’m not scared. I just… can't believe somebody as amazing and strong as you would want me.”

“You’re the amazing one.” 

Clara moved one hand to Lauren’s chin and forced the woman to meet her eye.

“You’re the whole reason I even exist, your research, your meteorite. And without your help, I could never have reached my full potential with the guild.”

“You still have a long way to go.” Lauren giggled. “But that’s what makes you fascinating.”

She finished the sentence with a powerful kiss that took Clara’s breath away. Clearly, her nerves had evaporated. Clara took the opportunity to slip a hand between them, angling her fingers upwards to slip inside Lauren’s passage. 

She probed gently at first, rubbing those sensitive inner walls and feeling Lauren shiver against her. Soon, she picked up the pace, slamming her fingers in and out as hard as she dared. Lauren’s hips rose and fell as she fucked herself on Clara’s fingers. And Clara felt her own pussy starting to burn with desire. 

“Oh, Clara.” Lauren whimpered as she came, soaking Clara’s fingers.

It was a quiet orgasm, cute almost, but that didn't make it any less powerful. Lauren bit her lip to hold back a cry as she moaned and shuddered around Clara’s fingers before they withdrew. 

Clara’s lips felt hot, in fact, her entire body did. She’d never felt so turned on in all her life, any of her lives, really. 

“I can't believe you just did that,” Lauren whispered, melting against Clara’s chest so their nipples pressed together. “Ready for me to return the favour?”

“God, yes.”

Instead of switching positions though, Lauren gave her a wry smile before slipping off the couch and positioning herself between Clara’s knees. Clara swallowed, licking her lips as she watched Lauren’s pretty mouth approach her sex. Their eyes met once more for a moment, and then, Lauren’s tongue darted out. She licked a slope strip from the bottom of Clara’s folds to the top, and her whole body filled with a bolt of pure pleasure. Clara’s back arched, and an estranged yelp escaped her throat. 

“Oh fuck, do that again.”

Lauren obliged, burrying her face in Clara’s pussy to lick and suck gently. Clara’s thighs wrapped around Lauren’s head to hold her in place, and her hips bucked, desperate for more friction. Lauren wasn't as greedy as her lover though, she took her time, torturing Clara with slow licks and sucks that made her see stars. 

Just as she was at the edge, she would slow to a crawl, lazily licking circles around Clara’s clit and then building her back up again. Clara could only shudder and moan, unlike Lauren, she wasn’t quiet. 

“Please.” She whimpered, “Fuck I am so close, Lauren!”

A finger slowly parted her and began to thrust in and out in time with Lauren’s licks. Clara’s moans lost any semblance of words and just became sounds as she got closer and closer. Finally, orgasm washed over her like a tidal wave, and she came. It took all her self-control not to squeeze her thighs together. The ecstasy seemed to last an age. When she finally came back to herself, Lauren had clambered back into her lap and was lazily tracing circles on her skin. 

“There is something intoxicating about being able to make somebody as powerful as you beg.” She teased. 

Clara wrapped her arms around her tightly.

“You’re amazing…so you don’t mind if I stay here tonight?”

“For all I care, you could stay here forever.”

~

Clara flew across town in the dawn light. The rest of her night had been a blur of love making and warm hands. When she woke in Lauren’s bed, she’d snuggled closer and wanted nothing more than to close her eyes and go back to sleep. But then she remembered the villain and Lucie’s fight and knew she couldn’t avoid them forever. After a quick goodbye kiss she was off, streaking across the sky. 

She landed softly on the rooftop of a building not far from the guild headquarters and unmerged, letting her two halves breathe. 

“Wow, is orgasming like a woman always so…intense?” Tristan asked and Lucie scoffed.

“That’s what’s on your mind right now.”

“Can you blame me? I feel robbed!” 

They both laughed for a moment before the silence returned and the conversation took a more serious turn.

“Are you okay?” Tristan asked after a minute. “I think the distraction was the right call but…”

“I don’t know. Jilly is the person I love most in the world, and I can’t bear the thought of her hating me.”

“She doesn't hate you, she’s scared for you.” 

“Since when have you been so good at reading people?”

“I had a good teacher.”

“Either way,” Lucie sighed, “We don’t have time to worry about her. That villain is out there. We need to help stop it and make up for yesterday.”

Tristan groaned. 

“Things were so much easier when I was apathetic.”

Lucie punched him on the shoulder and then immediately winced.

“I can never quite get used to this hand of ours.”

“Ours?”

“Well, this body is just as much mine as yours at this stage.”

Tristan pressed his lips together in thought.

“Yeah, weird how I don't even think about it anymore.” 

He placed his hands on his hips and realised he was naturally standing with them at an angle as any woman would. 

“I feel like you got the raw end of the deal, getting my ugly mug.”

“Nah, with my natural charisma, I think I give you a sort of mysterious charm.”

Tristan rolled his eyes.

“If you say so. Come on, let’s go deal with Valkyrie. Hopefully she doesn’t have an entire tree up her ass today.”

She didn’t. In fact, she was quiet as Clara landed on the balcony. There were no jabs, no bossiness. Just a quiet nod to come inside. 

“We’ve been grounded here for a while.” She explained, “While the big Guild heroes hold some sort of press conference to assure the public all is well.”

“We’re being punished?”

“Protected,” Valkyrie replied with air quotes. “At least that’s what Thunder Clap says. As if we need it.”

“Well,” Clara teased, “You did get the shit beaten out of you and mind controlled in the same week.”

She waited for the barb back, but instead, Valkryie just looked away.

“Hey, I was just teasing.” Clara said quickly, “I didn’t mean…sorry. That was probably a shitty thing to say.”

“Yeah, it was….but you’re not wrong. Which only makes it hurt more.”

Clara took a step back and really looked at Valkyrie for the first time. There was none of her usual glow today; she looked vulnerable and tired. Yesterday had been rough, and it seemed like the other hero didn't have somebody to warm their bed and distract them the way Clara had been. 

“You’re scared.” She realised. “You’re actually afraid.”

“So what?” Valkyrie snapped. “Not everybody can be the whole damn package.”

“I’m not judging you!” Clara held up her hands in defence, “It’s just you’re so strong and confident all the time, not to mention you’re great at reading situations and finding the best way to save the day. The idea that you could be scared of anything-hey wait, what do you mean ‘whole package’?”

Valkyrie sighed in frustration.

“I mean, not everybody can be powerful, hot and charismatic. You made your debut a few weeks ago, and you’ve already got fan boards and made front page news.”

“I have fan boards!?”

“Of course that’s what you focus on.” Valkyrie rolled her eyes. 

Clara studied the other woman’s expression, the eye roll, the performative way she stood with her arms crossed. It was like she was trying to put up a wall. It was her Tristan side who clicked: Valkyrie was acting just like he used to. She was deliberately abrasive to scare anybody away, no matter how lonely she got, just to avoid being hurt. The only thing Valkyrie had going for her, were her powers, and lately, they had been failing. It was no wonder she felt so weak and pathetic. Her whole world was tumbling down, and she had nobody to lean on for support. 

“Stop looking at me like that.”

Valkyrie’s sharp words broke Clara out of her thoughts.

“Like what?”

“Like you’re pitying me.” Valkyrie hissed. 

Part of Clara wanted to leave Valkyrie in the pit she’d dug for herself, but her Lucie side softened her resolve.

“I don’t pity you, Valkyrie. I am worried about my teammate.”

“We’re not teammates.”

“Yes, we are. We’re both new girls. We should be trying to help each other rather than bickering all the time. We’re both strong and smart. I bet if we focused on what we had in common, we’d get on better.”

“I doubt it.”

Valkyrie’s words were harsh, but they lacked her usual sharp edge. Clara could hear the hope in her voice that she was trying to push down. 

“Believe it or not, I know what it's like to be overlooked.” 

Valkyrie scoffed, and her eyes darted to Clara’s chest.

“I doubt that.”

Clara giggled.

“Believe it or not, it's true. We got off on the wrong foot, but we both want to catch the villain who did this. Right?”

“I suppose. I guess I can tolerate working with you a little longer. Only because I want this cur off the street.” 

“Pffffft, cur? I thought you were a Valkyrie, not a pirate.”

“Oh, shut up.” 

Clara mimed zipping up her lip and opened the files the guild had made on the villain so far. From the reports, all they knew was that it was a woman who apparently had super strength and apparently, mind-controlling powers.

“I’m sure it was the same woman who attacked me when I tried to stop the robbery.” Valkyrie sighed, “I remember getting a glimpse of her right before the mind control took effect but…if she always had those powers, why beat the shit out of me last time?”

“What if she didn’t?” Clara muttered, “What if she gained new powers between the two jobs…what is it she was trying to steal?”

Valkyrie shrugged. 

“It was a museum, paintings I suppose.”

Clara felt her brow knit together as pieces of a puzzle slowly slipped into place. The warehouse they’d been at last night sold tech; it was about as far from paintings as you could get. Unless…

“Did the museum have a space exhibit?” 

“Maybe? Why?”

Clara felt her eyes go wide.

“Meteorite pieces…Cosmeta Inc had a meteorite stolen, one with shards, the ones that give people powers. What if the museum had one as well? The villain gained more shards, and their powers grew.”

“Then why rob a tech company?”

“Maybe they are planning something big, something to amplify their powers even further with no more  meteorite shards around the city for them to steal…”

Valkyrie’s brow furrowed in thought for a moment before they went wide. 

“If that’s the case, they would probably want to hit a big event, one with plenty of heroes to mind control for the most chaos.”

Clara felt a stone form in her stomach.

“A place…like a press conference.”