Kieran's smile bordered on a smirk as he and Lex Luthor held one another's gaze. Neither man seemed interested in asserting dominance through force of personality or overt confidence. Instead, each wore the perfectly measured expression expected of accomplished businessmen, revealing only what they wished the other to see. It reminded Kieran of sitting across from an experienced poker player. There were no obvious tells to exploit, no careless movements or unnecessary words. Just patience and observation.
For a few quiet seconds the restaurant around them seemed to fade into the background as each man silently measured the other, weighing reputation against reality. Eventually Lex broke the silence first, the corners of his mouth lifting into a polite smile as he gestured toward an empty chair at his own table.
"I'm glad more people such as yourself are deciding Metropolis is worth investing in," Lex said evenly. "Please, have a seat."
Kieran's expression shifted into one of genuine apology as he spread his hands. "Ordinarily I'd jump at the opportunity, but I'm afraid I'm in the middle of hosting a meeting." He motioned toward the lively table only a few paces away where architects, designers, planners, and contractors had slowly fallen silent while pretending not to watch the interaction.
"We're discussing the grand opening of the Continental. Hardly thrilling conversation unless you're particularly passionate about flower arrangements and seating charts."
His eyes brightened as though a thought had only just occurred to him. "Actually… why don't you join us instead? It would save me from abandoning my guests, and perhaps they can claim they once had dinner with the great Lex Luthor."
Lex regarded him for a thoughtful moment before giving a small shrug. "Why not."
His bodyguard stepped effortlessly into motion the instant he stood. She was a Caucasian woman with neatly styled light brown hair, sharp brown eyes, and the sort of professional attire that made her resemble a high-ranking executive assistant rather than a security specialist.
A tailored business jacket rested neatly over a crisp blouse, complemented by a red tie and modest skirt that fit perfectly within any corporate office. To most people she appeared forgettable by design. Kieran, however, noticed entirely different details. Her shoulders remained loose despite her alert posture. Her eyes never lingered on one person for long before moving to exits, reflective surfaces, and potential blind spots. Even the way she carried her weight suggested balance rather than comfort. No secretary in the world moved like that. Whoever she was, she had spent countless hours learning how to hurt people quickly.
In the back of Kieran's mind Nolan found himself thinking he should know her name it was right on the tip of his tongue.
Pulling another chair over, Kieran welcomed Lex to the table as the planners scrambled to make room. Nervous smiles spread around the gathering while introductions were exchanged, though everyone instinctively understood this was no longer merely a dinner meeting.
It was almost amusing watching them attempt to resume their earlier discussion about opening ceremonies. One planner picked up a folder only to realize she had been staring at the same page for nearly a minute without reading a word. Another quietly set down his fork altogether, deciding that whatever happened next would undoubtedly be more interesting than his meal.
Kieran couldn't help smiling to himself. Oliver Queen had the right idea. Relaxed dinners for an ambush set everyone both at ease and on the edge of their seats.
Lex folded his hands atop the table, his attention settling comfortably on Kieran. "I was intrigued to learn you recently acquired a lounge in Suicide Slum."
For the briefest instant Kieran's eyebrows rose. The reaction lasted scarcely longer than a heartbeat before his easy smile returned, but it had been genuine. "Mr. Luthor," he said with unmistakable admiration, "you truly are well informed. I only finalized that purchase a handful of days ago."
"I make it a point to remain aware of significant investments within my city."
"I should have expected as much."
"The purchase itself was… unusual."
Kieran leaned back slightly, folding one leg over the other. "Most people seem to think so."
"Most investors avoid the Slums altogether," Lex continued. "The businesses struggle, crime remains persistent, and property values have stagnated for years. Yet you deliberately sought out one of the few establishments still clinging to life there. I found myself wondering why."
Kieran considered the question for a moment, not because he lacked an answer but because he wanted to choose the correct one. "I've always believed cities are built from the ground upward," he replied at last. "People spend so much time admiring skylines that they forget someone has to walk the sidewalks beneath them. Every thriving district begins somewhere, usually with one stubborn fool willing to invest where everyone else sees failure."
Lex listened without interruption before calmly shaking his head. "History suggests otherwise. Civilization has rarely been advanced by ordinary people. It moves because exceptional individuals possess the vision and will to drag society toward a better future, often against its own wishes."
"I don't entirely disagree," Kieran admitted with a thoughtful smile. "Exceptional people certainly accelerate change. I simply think they accomplish more when they occasionally remember the people living beneath those skylines. Businesses don't truly revitalize cities. Communities do. Businesses merely give communities somewhere to begin."
Around the table the planners had abandoned any pretense of returning to work. Every eye remained fixed upon the conversation unfolding before them. Neither man had raised his voice. Neither appeared remotely irritated. Yet an almost tangible tension had settled over the table all the same. One architect found himself unconsciously holding his breath, while another quietly compared the exchange to watching two sharks circle one another beneath perfectly calm water. There was no hostility visible on the surface, only patience and careful probing, each man searching for an opening without ever appearing to search at all.
Lex eventually allowed the topic to drift elsewhere with practiced ease. "Your expansion has been remarkable," he observed. "Multiple successful locations in Gotham, a grand opening in Star City, another Continental already under construction here in Metropolis, and now additional property acquisitions. Most executives would have slowed considerably after achieving even half that."
"My accountant certainly wishes I would."
"I imagine he loses sleep."
"He sends strongly worded letters."
A ripple of laughter moved around the table before Lex's expression settled once more. "Expansion on that scale carries considerable risk."
"It does."
"And yet you continue."
"I do."
"What compels you?"
Kieran rotated the stem of his wine glass between his fingers before answering. "Ironically, because I dislike risk." Several eyebrows lifted around the table, including Lex's. "People often mistake preparation for recklessness. I don't enjoy gambling, Mr. Luthor. I enjoy reducing uncertainty until what others call a risk becomes little more than careful planning. The faster we expand, the more thoroughly I prepare beforehand."
Lex regarded him thoughtfully. "Preparation doesn't eliminate risk."
"No."
"It merely changes which risks you're willing to accept."
Kieran laughed softly, genuine appreciation entering his eyes. "I rather like that."
"I suspected you might."
"I may steal it."
"I'd be disappointed if you didn't."
Their smiles lingered comfortably before Kieran took another sip of wine and casually changed subjects himself. "Truthfully, though, my greatest concern about opening in Metropolis has very little to do with finances."
"Oh?"
"I'm terrified Superman will decide my lobby is the perfect place to crash through while chasing someone." He chuckled, prompting several people around the table to laugh with him. "Can you imagine spending millions on imported marble only for the ceiling to collapse because someone thought robbing a bank downtown was a worthwhile career choice? I'd have contractors working around the clock replacing chandeliers."
The designers laughed harder, picturing the absurd image.
Lex merely smiled.
"I'm sure Superman would apologize."
"I've heard he's polite."
"He generally means well."
"So everyone keeps telling me." Kieran shrugged good-naturedly. "Still, I hope he develops excellent taste in hotels. If he's going to demolish one, I'd rather it belonged to someone else."
That finally earned the faintest chuckle from Lex. "If Superman ever visits the Continental, Mr. Everleigh, I doubt it will be because he's interested in the accommodations."
For just a fraction of a second the laughter around the table faded into the background. Kieran met Lex's gaze without losing his smile, recognizing the meaning hidden beneath the harmless observation. Then, just as effortlessly, he lifted his glass in acknowledgment.
"I'll keep that in mind."
The conversation moved on almost immediately, the planners once again finding the confidence to discuss decorations and opening ceremonies, blissfully unaware that an entirely different discussion had just taken place beneath the surface. To them it had been an entertaining exchange between two successful businessmen. Only Kieran and Lex understood that they had spent the better part of half an hour quietly testing one another's philosophies, ambitions, and intentions. Neither had uncovered everything they wanted.
But both had learned enough to ensure this would not be their last conversation.
Lex's secretary whispered into his ear, "Ah, I have a meeting I must attend. It's been a pleasure. We must speak again soon."
Kieran nodded, "Yes we must set a date."
***
"What did we learn?" Nolan began standing in front of a white board
"We learned, Lex doesn't like our expansion into the suicide slums." He wrote
The marker never stopped, "We learned he is keeping an eye on us. Which we suspected."
"We learned, Superman might be paying a visit to us soon. Though I wonder how he would know that. That's what he implied right?"
Kieran nodded, "That's what I got out of it."
"Good, we also learned his body guard isn't human or at least not fully human. I remember her name now, Mercy graves. Not even Batman has emotions like hers."
"Finally we learned and this is the most important thing, he sees potential for us to go into business. Oh and as a side note apparently some guy that can control rats wants to join us in Gotham."
****
High above the Earth, the Watchtower drifted silently through the darkness of space. Below, continents slept beneath scattered blankets of cloud while distant storms flashed across oceans like tiny veins of light. Inside the station, however, there was little peace to be found.
The League's main briefing room hummed quietly as holographic displays illuminated the circular chamber. Gotham, Star City, and Metropolis floated above the center of the table as rotating three-dimensional projections, each littered with colored markers denoting known criminal activity, League investigations, and ongoing operations. Batman stood nearest the controls, his cape hanging motionless behind him while streams of information scrolled endlessly across the screens. Superman leaned comfortably against the edge of the conference table with his arms folded across his chest, while Wonder Woman stood opposite him, studying Gotham's projection with thoughtful eyes. Barry Allen had somehow managed to find a chair despite having spent the previous minute pacing around the room, and Oliver Queen remained standing altogether, one hand resting on the back of his seat as though sitting down would only make him more irritated.
For several moments no one spoke.
The silence was eventually broken by Superman, who replayed security footage from the Metropolis restaurant across the holographic display. The recording showed Kieran laughing effortlessly among architects and planners before casually drawing Lex Luthor into the conversation as though inviting an old acquaintance to dinner.
"He's good," Clark admitted, watching the footage end. "Really good. I can see why you think he's dangerous, Batman. He won over every reporter outside the construction site, then somehow managed to make Lex Luthor look comfortable sitting at his table." He shook his head slowly. "That's not something you see every day."
"He is dangerous," Batman answered without hesitation.
Oliver let out an annoyed huff that earned a brief glance from Barry.
"Dangerous?" Oliver muttered. "Fucking prick is what he is."
Barry raised an eyebrow.
"Still thinking about Star City?"
"He spent half the grand opening flirting with my fiancée." Oliver crossed his arms tightly. "Then I find out he's been dropping my name around town to smooth over business deals. Apparently saying, 'Oliver Queen spoke highly of this contractor,' opens a lot of doors."
Barry couldn't help smiling.
"…Did you?"
Oliver shot him a look.
"That's not the point."
"It kind of sounds like the point."
"The point," Oliver continued, ignoring Barry entirely, "is that he somehow makes you feel like you're the unreasonable one. You walk away from conversations wondering if you overreacted."
Batman's expression never changed.
"That's intentional."
The room quieted again.
"He doesn't attack your strengths," Batman continued. "He attacks your patience. Every conversation is calculated. Every interaction serves a purpose. He'll chip away at you one remark at a time until you make an emotional decision instead of a rational one. Then he'll exploit the mistake while convincing everyone else it wasn't his fault."
Oliver grimaced.
"…Yeah."
Clark glanced toward Batman.
"You've experienced that firsthand."
"Repeatedly. My biggest mistake was thinking the court of owls needed to be dealt with before he did."
Batman manipulated the hologram, replacing Metropolis with Star City's Glades. Several flashing markers disappeared before new ones appeared elsewhere, illustrating the Underpass's recent movements.
"He's also expanding faster than anticipated."
Oliver nodded toward the display, "They've started clashing with Brickwell."
That drew Diana's attention, "Brick I thought he was low level."
"The same."
"He controls most of the Glades," Oliver explained. "Or… controlled most of it."
"The conflict won't last," Batman said.
Oliver frowned, "You sound awfully certain. Brickwell is smarter than he looks."
Batman looked directly at the projection.
"He'll win."
Batman almost never made statements like that without believing them completely.
Wonder Woman finally stepped forward, folding her arms as she studied Kieran's file rotating slowly above the table. "Batman," she began carefully, "I've listened to you describe countless criminals over the years. Joker. Ra's al Ghul. Bane. Two-Face. Yet you speak about this man differently." Her eyes lifted toward him. "Almost as though you've already accepted he'll succeed."
"I haven't."
"But you believe he is the greatest threat."
"Yes."
"More dangerous than the others?"
Batman answered immediately, "Yes."
Even Superman looked surprised.
Batman zoomed the hologram outward until dozens upon dozens of interconnected businesses, charities, hotels, shell companies, shipping routes, and legitimate investments illuminated the room like an enormous web.
"Because the Joker spreads fear."
Another section of the display lit up.
"Bane controls through force."
More lights appeared.
"Penguin buys influence."
Another network expanded.
"Ra's recruits through ideology."
Finally the entire projection came alive.
"Kieran Everleigh does all four."
Silence settled over the Watchtower.
"He attracts people," Batman continued. "Not through intimidation. Not through desperation. Through opportunity. His organization isn't held together by fear. It's held together by loyalty. The Underpass follows him because they genuinely believe he's improving their lives." Batman looked around the room, ensuring each member understood the distinction. "That makes dismantling it exponentially more difficult."
Wonder Woman watched the glowing web thoughtfully, "So they follow him willingly."
"They'd die for him. He's more dangerous because he is newer, we don't know what he can build too."
Batman enlarged several financial charts.
"My projections estimate that, if left unchecked, his legitimate businesses alone will place him within striking distance of Lex Luthor's financial influence in one to two years. His criminal infrastructure is growing alongside it."
Barry let out a low whistle.
"That's… insane."
"It gets worse."
Another layer appeared.
"Unlike traditional organized crime, his legitimate businesses strengthen his criminal organization instead of hiding it."
Clark stared at the display, "He actually makes them reinforce each other…"
"Exactly."
Wonder Woman's expression hardened.
"Then we must stop him before he reaches that point."
"I agree," Superman replied. "But how?" He looked around the table before finally settling on Batman. "I can't simply fly into one of his hotels and arrest him."
And that was the problem, they were hero's after all.
——
A/N: I hope this doesn't make it look like Batman is overly glazing Nolan. There ARE bigger threats in the dc world and definitely stronger people they deal with on a weekly basis. Nolan is dangerous because he is growing in their cities.