The sun had long dipped below the horizon, and the city lights glimmered across the skyline like stars trapped in steel. Inside Shadow Corp's towering headquarters, the top-floor office remained dimly lit, only the soft glow of a monitor and the shifting cityscape outside provided illumination.
Ashborn sat in his chair, typing something idly into his tablet when a sudden knock echoed on the window pane behind him.
He paused. He stood up and turned around to see Superman floating outside, cape rippling in the high-altitude wind. Standing behind him on the balcony was Supergirl, still in her construction uniform, a few dried smudges of blood and dirt hinting at the earlier battle.
Ashborn opened the window while saying "Are you allergic to doors?"
Ashborn smiled faintly and added, "If so, I can ask the bio lab to whip up a cure. Can't have the city's protector being defeated by a doorknob, now can we?"
Superman hesitated.
For a brief moment, a flicker of awkwardness passed across his face before he offered a strained smile. "Next time… I'll come through the front door."
Ashborn gave a satisfied nod, still smiling. "Glad you have no such allergy."
Supergirl stepped forward, her expression sincere. "Thank you… for earlier. You saved me. I'm sorry for acting so reckless."
She glanced down at her scuffed boots, then looked back up. "You were right, working with other people has helped me more than I expected."
Ashborn's expression remained unchanged, his smile the same. He inclined his head. "You're welcome."
Superman landed gently beside his cousin, his voice calm but firm. "Metallo wasn't attacking at random. He was hired to kidnap Kara. If you hadn't intervened, he might have succeeded."
Superman paused for a moment then continued "I arrived too late because was dealing with the tornado near the coast"
Ashborn nodded and asked "Do you know who wanted her kidnapped?"
A shadow passed over Superman's face. His eyes narrowed.
"Not yet. We couldn't trace the contract, but… I suspect Lex Luthor."
He said it while carefully watching Ashborn, eyes reading every twitch, every breath.
Ashborn remained unreadable. He merely nodded. "Perhaps. That aligns with Lex's usual style."
Superman crossed his arms. "I warned you about Luthor. He's a criminal. A dangerous one."
Ashborn chuckled under his breath. "I'm aware."
Supergirl tilted her head. "Then why are you still working with him?"
Ashborn gave a small shrug. "This and that are unrelated. I don't mix things up. Whatever villainy Lex chooses to indulge in his personal time has nothing to do with his business."
Superman stepped closer. "He mixes them. Eventually, it'll drag you down too."
Ashborn's eyes flicked up, calm and sharp. "Then we'll have to wait and see. I know how to deal with Lex if that time comes."
For a long moment, Superman was silent.
Then he said, more softly, "He'll ruin your name. You shouldn't associate with someone like him."
Ashborn offered a smile, not mocking, not dismissive, but still detached.
"I'll keep that in mind."
Superman, seeing no point in continuing this, turned to the other matter "If you don't mind asking, where did you get these arm guards used to fight Matello?"
Ashborn answered causally "Gizmo, an employee I have, was concerned after the Joker incident, so he made them and insisted that I keep them with me for safety. I have been hoping to use these toys for months now and Metallo gave me the opportunity"
Superman nodded, he knew about the young tech genius and just wanted to confirm if he was the source, with nothing else to speak about he exchanged a look with Supergirl. Then, without another word, Superman turned and took off into the night sky.
Supergirl was about to follow but hesitated for just a moment. She looked back at Ashborn and gave a small smile.
"My name's Kara, by the way." she said. "You can call me that."
Then she turned, and with a powerful leap, joined her cousin in the sky, two aliens disappearing into the stars.
Not long after that, Ashborn received a message from Jinx
"Come back home tonight. Everyone's going to be around."
Ashborn raised an eyebrow. Everyone? He was intrigued.
Later that night, the towering Shadow Corp HQ faded into the background as he arrived at a home.
Inside, the living room buzzed with low chatter and bursts of laughter. Mammoth, Gizmo, Billy Numerous, and Kyd Wykkyd were all there — scattered around the couch and kitchen, snacking, joking, and waiting.
The moment Ashborn stepped in, all eyes turned to him. Mammoth, the closest, greeted him with a grin and a powerful pat on the back.
"There he is!" Mammoth said. "I told them what you did — you stood up to Metallo! And you kicked his shiny metal butt!"
Ashborn smiled, folding his arms casually. "Technically, it was Gizmo's work." He nodded toward the tech genius. "Very impressive, by the way. Expect a raise at the end of the month."
Gizmo, who had been lounging with a soda in hand, suddenly sat up straighter. "Ha! Of course it was impressive. I'm a genius. And I'm just getting started! I'll upgrade your arm gear next week. I'll make it much better."
Ashborn chuckled softly. He took a seat, watching the group banter and bicker like some strange, dysfunctional family. Seeing a group of ex-villains celebrating their 'normal' boss's victory over an actual villain… It felt a little strange. Even to him.
And strangely warm.
Jinx leaned against the kitchen counter, her arms crossed, a faint smile on her lips. Her expression was different, not just amused or proud. Something deeper lingered there.
"You should still be careful." Her voice cut gently through the room's noise. "Don't put yourself in danger unnecessarily."
Ashborn's eyes flicked to her.
She's changing.
The thought settled in his mind with a soft certainty. She's developing attachments… emotions. To him. He didn't want that.
He made a mental note — something cold and calculated under the warmth of the moment. Reduce their sessions. Maybe stop them altogether.
For both their sakes.
But for tonight, he'd sit among them — a strange collective of reformed villains and outcasts, laughing and reliving a simple victory.
For now, he'd enjoy the moment.
___________
High above Earth, the Watchtower floated in quiet vigilance — a symbol of peace built on steel and trust. Within its halls, two of the most respected heroes in the world stood side by side, gazing through the large glass panel that offered a view of the Earth below.
Superman's cape shifted gently behind him as he stood, arms crossed, his eyes distant.
"He fought Metallo." he said, breaking the silence. "To protect Kara."
Batman, standing beside him, remained still, his gaze not leaving the Earth.
Superman continued. "He held his own. Took the Kryptonite from Metallo and destroyed it before he could use it again. He even ensured the civilians and Kara were safe."
Batman turned slightly, his jaw tight with thought. "And what do you think of him?"
Superman hesitated.
"I don't know anymore." He frowned. "His partnership with Lex Luthor is a massive red flag. Lex doesn't involve himself with anyone unless he can use them. But… Ashborn's not a villain. He has a moral code, clear and sharp, even if it's not what we're used to."
Batman remained silent, allowing him to continue.
"His attitude is strange. He doesn't get angry. Doesn't seem afraid. It's like he's always a step ahead of everyone. Like… nothing touches him. And that makes it hard to trust him."
Batman finally turned away from the glass and walked toward the console, fingers brushing against the controls. "I looked into him. After… the Joker incident." His tone soured slightly.
Superman almost smiled, almost, but refrained out of respect.
"Ashborn's family… they all died. One by one." Batman's voice dropped lower. "Father died of illness. Mother followed… grief, mostly. Uncle and cousins? Killed by a Gotham gang. And his last living relative, his last uncle, died in a devastating lab accident."
Superman looked at him sharply. "That's… a lot of loss."
Batman nodded once. "I think he has trauma. Deep trauma. The kind that doesn't show unless you know where to look. When you lose that many people, especially family, something changes. I believe he's fearless not because he's brave… but because he doesn't value his life the way others do."
Superman didn't reply immediately, his thoughts tangled.
"He treats his employees well. He gives them shelter, safety, second chances. That likely comes from his uncle, I found evidence the man raised him after his parents passed and the two were quite close. He probably learned that care and discipline from how he passed away."
Batman then added, more quietly, "And his apathy toward criminal activity... it might be tied to his losses. Maybe he sees it all as pointless. Or maybe he's just waiting to see how far people fall before he decides what to do."
Superman turned his eyes back to Earth. "So your evaluation?"
Batman's answer came after a pause. "Not complete. But so far, I don't believe he's a threat. And I don't believe he's likely to commit a crime for personal gain."
Superman nodded silently.
Unseen to both, just outside the room, Kara stood by the corridor, listening. She had come looking for her cousin but had paused when she overheard her name. And then… she heard everything.
Her heart ached.
Ashborn always smiling, always composed, always calm. She thought he was arrogant and insufferable. Jerk. Maybe even reckless.
But now…
Maybe the smile was a mask. Maybe that's how he coped. And maybe, just maybe, he was like her, he lost everything he grew up with and felt all alone in this world.
Kara lowered her head. She didn't pity him. She understood him.