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Zari had never questioned whether she belonged with the Legends. She knew, for a fact, she didn’t belong with them. They were quite literally superheroes with powers, and she? She was an influencer from their future. Never in a million years could she ever belong with people like them. Their messes were too chaotic, their risks, too high and their professionalism basically non-existent. So even when she let her mind explore that possibility, –that they could ever want her–, she could never find a plausible answer to allow herself to stay. But it was fine, she kept telling herself, cause she had her brand of clothing, her private jet, and her unyielding millions of fans waiting for her. The legends and her just weren’t a good fit, and it wasn’t anyone’s fault. Sometimes, things aren’t meant to work out.
Unfortunately, being on a time ship made the “never in a million years could this happen” scenarios burst through the front door, and it turned out that she was completely wrong. Zari could very well fit in with the Legends. Well, a Zari did. The smart, resourceful and witty one, so not her. If she ever felt useless before, now, with this other Zari, she straight-up felt like a waste of space.
“You left the party early,” Charlie said as they walked into Zari’s room. “You alright, love?”
Zari, who was looking at the temporal zone through the window of her room, turned around. “Yeah, why wouldn’t I be? We saved my brother, the timeline, we even brought back the other Zari.” Her words were positive, but her tone wasn’t.
“So, that.” Charlie clicked their tongue. “She’s great, isn’t she?”
Zari rolled her eyes and turned back to the window.
“I’m joking, I’m clearly joking!” Charlie reached for her arm. “I mean, she is great but so are you! You’re the same person.”
“Yeah, right.” Zari sighed.
“Will it cheer you up if I say you’re prettier?”
“Oh my God, do you really think I’m that shallow!?!”
“Alright, sorry! I just—I don’t know what to say! Will you just tell me what’s going on?”
Zari sighed. “It’s not about how she looks, it’s about everything. She’s so cool, and intelligent and actually helpful to the team, and I’m just… this.” Zari pointed at her clothes. “An empty box wrapped in pretty paper.”
“You know that’s not true.”
“Compared to her, it is.” Zari sat down on her bed and started fidgeting. “You wouldn’t get it.”
“Actually, I think I do. And I think I might be the only one who gets it.”
Zari raised an eyebrow. What were they talking about?
“This body I’m wearing, it’s not random. Her name was Amaya, and she used to be part of the team too.”
“What?” In all honesty, she should’ve seen something like this coming. Of course, she wasn’t the only one who had met her “sort of clone” from another timeline.
“Yeah, and she was Nate’s girlfriend and a member of some other whacky superhero team. I just stole her body so the Legends would take pity on me and wouldn’t kill me.”
“And you stayed in that body?”
“Yeah. I mean, those first days were a bit strange. They got me locked in a cage and all, telling me that I was nothing like Amaya and I’d never measure up to her. Actually, you were the one who told me that, mostly. The other you, I suppose.”
“…I’m sorry?” She tried to apologise, even though she wasn’t actually the one who did it.
“Ah, that’s alright. It’s not your fault, and don’t tell the other you, but I probably deserved it.” Charlie chuckled. “Anyway, after a while, they started seeing me for myself, and everything was fine. Even the other you started being nice to me, from time to time. So don’t you worry, alright? Things will go back to normal, Z.”
“Yeah, well. Easy for you to say, the immortal shapeshifter. But it’s different with me. I mean, how can I…” Zari bit her lip. “When they have her?”
At that moment, Charlie laughed, which took Zari aback since she had just confessed something to them that was a real worry, and they took it as a simple joke.
“Oh, love. You really think the Legends choose their team members by their level of usefulness, huh? Well, sorry to break it to you, but that’s not how it works. Like, at all.”
Zari furrowed her eyebrows. “Then, how?”
“That’s the thing, Z. There’s not a how. You just choose.”
“But—”
“Nu-uh.” Charlie placed their index finger over her lips. “No buts and no hows, love.”
Zari rolled her eyes. “God, you’re insufferable.”
“Yeah, where have I heard that before?” Charlie smirked and offered their hand. “C’mon, now. I bet there’s still some cake left.”
Zari looked at them for a moment and wondered whether Charlie also made the other Zari’s stomach tighten. Then, she took their hand. She still didn’t know how to free herself from feeling inferior, but, according to the shapeshifter, she only had to choose. From what? She was still unsure. But for now, choosing to go with Charlie seemed like the right start.