A month had passed in relative calm—or as calm as life could be when you were Ashborn Black.
But now, he found himself at the heart of a federal investigation. The reason? His partnership with none other than Lex Luthor.
LuthorCorp had come under intense scrutiny following allegations of illegal weapons trafficking. And when the authorities opened that door, they didn't just peer into Lex's life—they kicked it off the hinges and stormed through, dragging every associate into the light. That included Ashborn, whether he liked it or not.
He didn't mind.
Ashborn, unlike most men, truly had nothing to hide. His records were clean, his operations legitimate, and his connections—while sometimes shady in appearance—were more a matter of convenience than criminality. What irked him wasn't the attention, but the stupidity of the whole ordeal.
The entire investigation had started from a public accusation by Superman. No hard evidence. No formal intelligence report. Just Superman pointing a finger at Lex Luthor. And somehow, that was enough to launch a legal circus. It was absurd.
"If Superman's word is all it takes," Ashborn had muttered during an interview, "why not just toss Lex in prison and save everyone the paperwork?"
Once his part in the process was over, Ashborn stepped out into the sunlight, loosened his tie, and pulled out his phone. A few taps later, the line connected.
"Lex," he said with a grin in his voice, "how are you holding up? Superman seems hell-bent on throwing you in a cell."
A snort came from the other end. "Nothing will come of this," Lex replied. "Nothing ever does. They poke around, find nothing, and move on, until the next tantrum Superman throws."
Ashborn looked through the window, watching Metropolis traffic pass. "I really do wonder why you go this far against him. Seems like a waste of resources for someone as meticulous as you."
There was silence for a moment. Then Lex's voice came back, colder. "Because he doesn't belong here. He's not human, yet they look at him like he's some god, like he's the best of us. He's not. He was born with power beyond anything we could imagine. He didn't earn it. He didn't build it. He woke up one day and could fly. What does that teach the world? That strength and morality come from birth? That the best man is the one who fell from the sky?"
Lex's tone grew sharper. "I built everything I have. Every inch of my empire, every invention, every advancement, I clawed it into existence. And still, the moment Superman shows up, I'm the villain. I'm the one under suspicion. I'm the one who needs to prove himself while he gets celebrated just for existing."
Ashborn was quiet for a beat before answering. "You'll never receive the same recognition he has, Lex. No effort or achievement you put forward will get you the same result."
Lex's voice cracked with frustration. "I'm better than him."
"Maybe," Ashborn replied smoothly. "But it doesn't matter. You'll never take his place. Because you're human."
There was silence on the line, but Ashborn could practically hear the tension on the other end.
"You're smarter than every man on this planet. Richer, too. They can't touch your level. You know that. And deep down, they do too. But because you're human, they'll always think… 'If I had what he had, maybe I could do the same.'"
He paused, letting that truth hang in the air.
"But Superman? He's alien. Different. A friendly alien, sure—but not one of them. So they don't compare themselves to him. They just… believe. He's their savior. Their impossible hope. To them, he is someone given power and a choice to either be savior or tyrant, he chose the former"
Ashborn's voice lowered. "You want to take his place? Then give the world everything. Your money. Your brilliance. Your life. Be selfless. Only then people will remember you the same way."
Another moment passed before Lex finally spoke.
"I don't want to be remembered like him."
Ashborn's smile returned. "Of course not. But if you want to replace him, that's not the way to do it. You can find a way to brainwash the world to worship you, you can kill him, you can become ruler, but it will always be empty. You only need to be selfless and you will get the same treatment"
"You make it sound simple" Lex scoffed.
"Because it is, want me to prove it to you? It won't take much time to see results" Ashborn replied.
Lex narrowed his eyes and then smiled saying "Let me see what you can do"
He ended the call. Ashborn had a smile on his face, he had a plan.
___________
The world awoke to a headline no one expected.
"Ashborn Black, owner and CEO of Shadow Corp, Files Lawsuit Against Supergirl!"
Social media exploded. News anchors scrambled to get live opinions from legal experts and city officials. Every network ran the same images: shots of collapsing buildings, insurance claims gone bankrupt, and civilians injured during the collateral chaos left in the wake of Supergirl's recent battles.
Ashborn Black had made his move, suing one of Earth's young and beloved heroes.
His allegations were laid out in brutal clarity: Supergirl's attempts at heroism had caused more damage to Metropolis than if the criminals were simply left to escape. The cost of repair, the endangered lives, the rising insurance premiums, it all painted a damning picture. Multiple insurance companies, especially ones hit hard over the years by incidents involving both Supergirl and Superman, stepped forward with testimonies. For them, this was long overdue.
The world held its breath.
Would Supergirl come to court and defend herself? Or would she act like a being above the laws of man? The court made its move—the summons was official, and the trial was to be televised. For the first time, a Kryptonian would stand before a jury of humans.
___________
In a penthouse overlooking the city, Lex Luthor narrowed his eyes at the broadcast.
Ashborn was suing Supergirl?
He scoffed. "What's he playing at now?" Lex murmured, folding his arms. "Smearing a hero's reputation? I tried that. It never sticks. This will blow up in his face."
Yet, a twinge of curiosity crept in.
Ashborn always played a different game.
___________
On the day of the trial, the courthouse was surrounded by cameras and onlookers. Ashborn Black arrived first, sharp suit, calm expression, and his ever-present air of quiet confidence. His lawyer, a middle-aged woman with a tired but razor-sharp gaze, walked beside him.
Minutes later, Supergirl entered with Superman at her side. Her jaw was tight. Her fists clenched. She glared straight ahead, only glancing once toward the plaintiff's bench, where Ashborn sat sipping water, as unbothered as if this was a brunch.
Superman gave Ashborn a glance of his own, subtle but wary. What is this young man planning? Was this a retaliation for the investigation into Lex? The timing was too convenient. First Lex. Now Kara.
Supergirl, on the other hand, wasn't subtle at all.
She stared daggers into Ashborn's skull. This smug bastard dragged her into a trial. A public one. And over what? Saving lives? She wanted nothing more than to put him through a wall.
The judge entered. The jury sat. The bailiff called for order. The trial began.
"Prosecutor, you may begin," the judge said, adjusting his glasses.
The prosecutor stood but only said one thing "Mr. Ashborn Black would like to speak as a witness."
The judge blinked, confused. "That's… not the usual start to things, but given the nature of this case…fine. Proceed."
Ashborn rose and made his way to the stand, calm and measured. He sat, adjusted the mic, and began speaking.
"Not long ago," he said, "Supergirl intervened with a rogue helicopter. The result was a crash near civilians, a building was damaged, and lives were endangered. Superman, who was present, clearly disagreed with her actions. They argued."
Supergirl's eyes glowed red for a moment. Her rage was boiling over, but Ashborn didn't even glance at her.
"This," he continued, "was not an isolated incident. She's strong. Noble, even. But reckless. This cannot continue."
The room was silent. People braced for an attack on her character, or worse—some motion for imprisonment or exile. But Ashborn's tone shifted.
"However," he said, "no one can deny that she wants to help. But she is not like her cousin. Superman grew up here. He understands us, he acts like us. Supergirl… doesn't. Not yet."
A pause.
"So this case isn't about punishment. It's about integration. We're not asking to imprison her or exile her. That would be a loss for Earth. Instead, we ask that she be sentenced to social service."
The courtroom broke into whispers.
Ashborn raised his voice.
"She will work in construction. Building homes for the homeless. Repairing damage. Working alongside human engineers. Learning the value of creation, learning how to control her power and act with clear judgement. The materials will be provided by Shadow Corp, as well as staff and resources. I believe this will teach her more about this world than flying above it ever could. The trial is a formality and to make Superman ensure her cooperation with us"
Then, he turned fully to Supergirl.
"You want to be like your cousin?" he asked. "That won't happen by punching criminals from the sky. You must live with us—not above us."
Ashborn stood. "That's all my side will present. The defendant may respond as they wish. We will raise no further witnesses or objections."
He walked back and took his seat.
Supergirl and Superman were stunned. Her lawyer, just as blindsided, asked for a recess. The judge, more confused than irritated now, agreed. Nothing about this case had followed traditional form, and frankly, he'd given up on normal expectations.
An hour later, the lawyer returned with a troubled expression. "We have… nothing to add."
Sometimes later, the judge leaned forward. "Then it is decided."
A bang of the gavel.
"Supergirl is hereby sentenced to one year of mandatory social service under the leadership and guidance of Shadow Corp, with duties focused on construction and public infrastructure."
The courtroom erupted in a mix of applause, gasps, and flashes from a hundred cameras.
Supergirl sat frozen. Superman remained composed, but his mind raced. He couldn't help but wonder if this strange trial, so deliberately twisted from the norm, was just the beginning of a bigger plan.
Ashborn simply leaned back, relaxed as ever, as the world around him tried to understand what just happened.