Ashborn Black sat comfortably in the middle of an expensive, oversized couch. The room around him was bright and modern, with a wall-sized aquarium casting shifting blue light across the polished floor. But the luxury of the space wasn't what made it feel crowded today—it was the five ex-villains surrounding him, each wearing a strangely similar expression of exasperation and worry.
Jinx stood with her arms crossed, eyes narrowed, while Gizmo was pacing back and forth muttering to himself. Mammoth leaned against the wall silently like a frowning statue, while Kyd Wykkyd and Billy Numerous sat side by side on the edge of a sleek coffee table, both clearly trying to find the right words.
"You need a bodyguard," Jinx said flatly, not even waiting for pleasantries. "It's not a debate, boss."
Ashborn looked up from the glass of wine in his hand, one eyebrow raised. "I just survived a dinner party with Joker and came out with a free dagger. I think I'm doing fine."
"You were lucky," Jinx said, waving a hand. "That guy had a Kryptonite blade. That was serious. You don't always get to charm your way through madness."
"I didn't charm anything. I just didn't panic," Ashborn replied with a cool smile.
"Which was impressive," Billy said with a grin, "but still, you're not bulletproof. Or laser-proof. Or sword-proof. Or—"
"I get it," Ashborn interrupted gently.
Jinx stepped forward, arms still crossed but her tone more intense now. "Let me do it. My powers are perfect for messing with people who get too close. I can twist their luck into a living nightmare. You won't even know I'm there unless someone's threatening you."
Ashborn chuckled. "That almost sounded romantic."
Jinx didn't smile. "I'm serious."
"I know," Ashborn replied, standing up and setting the wine glass down. He looked around at the small group. "I appreciate the sentiment, all of you. It's touching, in a dysfunctional, chaotic sort of way."
"But?" Mammoth rumbled, arms folded over his broad chest.
"But I don't need a bodyguard. I can take care of myself."
There was a silence that followed, heavy and annoyed. Gizmo huffed and threw his hands in the air.
"You're too fearless for your own good! The first time we met, we almost kidnapped you, now it was the joker. What is next?" he snapped. "At least I'm building something. Something small. Portable. Subtle. Like a defense drone or... an invisible laser field or a self-healing vest. Something you won't even notice."
Ashborn tilted his head. "Would it make you feel better?"
"Yes," Gizmo and Jinx said in unison.
Ashborn gave a soft sigh and smiled. "Very well. But just one gadget. No armies of drones following me."
Gizmo immediately walked off, already pulling out a small device and typing.
As Ashborn stepped out of the room, waving a hand back at the group, the others all watched him go with varying degrees of frustration.
"He's gonna get himself killed," Jinx muttered, slumping onto the couch.
"Yeah," Gizmo agreed. "And he's too stubborn to let us help."
"Unless we stalk him," Billy suggested, only to receive a smack on the head from Jinx.
"No stalking," Mammoth said. "He said no. We listen."
Jinx sighed. "He's our boss... and a lunatic."
"But he's our lunatic," Billy added with a smirk.
And in the silence that followed, they all agreed without saying a word.
___________
Ashborn Black walked through the bustling streets of Metropolis. His sharp black suit contrasted the city's casual morning energy, but he moved as if he belonged—no, as if the city itself bent slightly to make way for him. The suggestion of a bodyguard still played in his mind, more as a joke than a serious proposal. Him? Protected? He chuckled to himself. He didn't need someone watching his back.
And as for those powers of his? He had no desire to share that with anyone. Some cards were better left close to the chest.
Just then, the sharp beat of helicopter blades sliced through the city's usual rhythm. Ashborn tilted his head toward the sky, watching a military-style chopper weaving erratically through the skyline. Trailing it, focused and fierce, was Supergirl.
The side door of the helicopter slid open, revealing a gunman with a heavy machine gun. He opened fire at Supergirl, rounds spraying, but the bullets simply bounced off her.
Supergirl responded quickly, darting forward and grabbing the tail of the helicopter. The aircraft spun from the force, spiraling toward the nearest rooftop before crashing through it and slamming down to the street below. People screamed and scattered in a panic as debris rained from above. But Supergirl's grip remained steady, ensuring the crash didn't turn catastrophic.
Ashborn didn't flinch. His walk continued, uninterrupted. The crash site happened to be the very coffee shop he'd been heading to. How inconvenient.
He stepped over a crumpled light pole, passed a collapsed wall, and sidestepped a sparking cable as he reached the café entrance. The helicopter was barely feet away, smoke rising from its broken chassis, but he didn't so much as glance at it. Neither the shaken gunmen nor the still-hovering Supergirl noticed him.
Inside, he ordered his usual blend, waited patiently—still ignoring the chaos outside—and left exactly three minutes later, coffee cup in hand.
Outside now, he found a gathering had formed. Superman stood beside an angry Supergirl, speaking to her in a calm, quiet voice. Lois Lane stood just off to the side, phone in hand but not recording, observing with a mixture of curiosity and exasperation.
Ashborn approached, raising his coffee in greeting. "Mornin'. Fine weather for a city brawl, don't you think?"
Superman turned first, a flicker of recognition flashing in his eyes. "Mr. Black. It's good to see you again."
"Is this another kidnapping attempt, Ms. Lane?" Ashborn asked lightly, sipping his coffee.
Lois looked at him, her eyes twitched, lips tightening in that way they did when someone got under her skin. "You're unbelievable."
Superman chuckled quietly. "Unfortunately, yes. And I've been meaning to thank you for the other night. I was… preoccupied."
"It's fine," Ashborn replied. "Honestly, I expected a vacation after being stabbed, but I suppose that's not how you work."
"It's not exactly a pleasant experience," Superman agreed. "But I've fully recovered."
Supergirl finally looked at Ashborn with dawning recognition. "Wait a second… Ballbreaker Black?"
Ashborn gave a theatrical bow. "In the flesh. Though I'd appreciate not being called that. Sounds rather unpleasant, and I'm fairly certain Batman despises me now. I'll be avoiding Gotham for a while. After all, I am the one who broke his balls."
Supergirl laughed out loud, despite herself. Superman gave a weary sigh.
"He's definitely not happy with you," he confirmed.
Ashborn reached into his jacket pocket and handed Lois a sleek black card. "For the annoyance I caused you the other night," he said. "That's the number of one of the best breast cancer specialists in the country. Call him. Any checkups or medical bills are on me."
Lois blinked, caught off guard. "That's… an unconventional gift," she said, narrowing her eyes at the card.
Ashborn gave a small nod. "Figured it might be useful. You're exposed to X-rays on a daily basis, after all."
Lois's eyebrows knit together in confusion, as did Kara's. Superman's smile faltered.
Ashborn gestured casually at the Man of Steel. "I mean, he's always looking through things. We don't know how alien X-rays work. Better safe than sorry, right?"
Superman's jaw tightened. "I would never do that. What do you think of me?"
Ashborn paused, then replied with careful consideration. "A straight male… with gifted eyes?"
Superman's face darkened several shades. Lois slowly turned to him, suddenly looking a little unsettled.
Kara burst into laughter, doubling over as the tension in the air cracked like glass.
"Well, my coffee's getting cold," Ashborn said, raising his cup again. "Farewell."
And with that, he turned and resumed his walk as if nothing unusual had happened. As if helicopters didn't crash next to cafés and his conversation with them was part of the morning routine.
Lois watched him go. "I can't figure him out," she admitted. "He's not like any rich guy I've met before."
"He's not," Superman agreed after a moment of contemplation. "He was too calm that night. Too relaxed. And even now, walking around Metropolis on foot without a body guard or attendant. Lex would have never done that"
Lois nodded and said. "And just now, he threw a jab at you. He is too reckless and fearless"
"There was a report," Superman said thoughtfully, "that he went to Jump City alone. Could've been kidnapped if the Teen Titans didn't show up in time."
"What? When was this?" Lois asked, genuinely surprised.
Superman replied "Not long ago. And he still had lunch with the people trying to kidnap him… and offered them legal jobs"
Lois shook her head in disbelief. "That guy is… something else."
Supergirl had a thoughtful look on her face. "He's interesting. I'll give him that."