[Third Person Pov]
The Toyman's massive mecha whirred to life, the air filling with the shrill hiss of pressurized steam and grinding gears. Panels opened across its chest and shoulders, revealing dozens of toy-themed missile ports. With a manic laugh blaring through the speakers, the machine unleashed a storm of miniature rockets—each one brightly painted and cartoonishly shaped, yet deadly all the same. They tore through the air, leaving thick, colorful vapor trails as they screamed straight toward LexCorp Tower.
Superman's eyes narrowed. Before anyone could blink, he was gone—vanishing in a streak of red and blue. The sound barrier cracked behind him as he intercepted the first wave of rockets mid-flight. He caught two in his hands, forcing them apart before they could detonate, then spun around and unleashed a searing blast of heat vision at another cluster, vaporizing them in the air. One rocket he froze with an icy gust of super-breath before it could explode, then clapped the two in his hands together with a thunderous shockwave, snuffing both out at once.
"WEEEEeeeehhh!!"
The sound wasn't mechanical—it was gleeful. Superman's head turned sharply, and his expression went from focused to bewildered.
There was Danny—astride one of the rockets like he was riding a horse, wind whipping through his white hair and his laughter echoing across the battlefield. The rocket twisted and spiraled chaotically, veering downward. Superman realized, with growing concern, that it was heading straight for Lex Luthor.
Lex's eyes widened in horror. He grabbed Mercy by the shoulders and yanked her in front of him like a human shield.
Danny only smirked. A soft, blue glow shimmered around his body as he and the rocket turned intangible, phasing straight through both Lex and Mercy. Lex flinched at the icy sensation that rippled through his chest.
"Coward!!" Danny shouted, his voice echoing as he sank through the ground and vanished from sight.
Lex shuddered, his expression darkening. He released Mercy with an irritated sigh. "I hope you understand," he said coldly, adjusting his collar, "you can be rebuilt. I cannot."
Across the street, Danny burst up from the ground several yards away, his grin sharp and mischievous. He redirected the rogue rocket toward the Toyman's mech. It struck the metal giant square in the shoulder, detonating in a flash of light and smoke that sent sparks flying across the sky. The blast spun the mech through the air, but he steadied himself with ease.
Superman gave him a look halfway between amusement and exasperation. "Alright, let's finish this before anyone else gets hurt."
"Aye aye, Big Blue!" Danny saluted with a grin.
The two launched forward in perfect synchrony, twin blurs streaking toward the monstrous robot. They weaved through a hail of projectiles—buzzing toy helicopters, razor-edged yo-yos, and exploding teddy bears—dodging and countering with superhuman grace. The Toyman's mecha swung its colossal fists, trying to swat Superman and Danny out of the air, but each time its hand passed through him harmlessly.
Danny phased through its arm, his ghostly, haunting laughter echoing inside the metal shell.
Inside the cockpit, Winslow Schott—better known as the Toyman—frantically pressed buttons and twisted dials. "Come on, come on!" he shouted, sweat dripping down his brow. "Why isn't it responding?!"
Then, suddenly, the control room went ice-cold.
Danny phased right through the wall behind him, his smirk glowing in the dim light. Before Schott could react, Danny grabbed him by the collar and yanked him out of the seat. A moment later, they both phased straight through the robot's head.
"Put me down this instant!" Schott flailed wildly in midair, kicking and shouting.
"Trust me," Danny said with a mischievous grin, "you wouldn't want that."
Superman appeared beside them in an instant, the air around him rippling with raw power. "Good work, Danny."
Then, with a sonic boom, Superman rocketed downwards and slammed his fists into the fallen mecha. The impact sent shockwaves through the street, tearing the machine apart like paper. Panels and gears scattered in every direction until only the toy shop beneath it remained intact.
"Careful with the store!!" Toyman cried out, reaching toward the debris as if he could protect it with his bare hands.
But Superman had already anticipated it. He hovered beneath the crumbling structure, holding the entire building aloft as though it weighed nothing.
"Don't worry, Winslow," Superman said gently, his tone softening. "I know what this place means to you. You and your late wife built it together, didn't you? I'll make sure it stays safe."
Toyman's shoulders slumped. The fight left his eyes, replaced by a heavy, defeated sigh. "You… remember that?" he murmured quietly.
Superman nodded once. In a blink, he flew the building away from the wreckage, returning moments later to set it carefully back where it belonged, undamaged and upright.
When he touched down, Danny was already waiting with the Toyman beside him in front of LexCorp.
Superman stood tall in front of Winslow Schott, arms crossed and cape fluttering softly in the breeze. The Toyman sat slumped on the curb, wrists bound together thanks to Danny, his eyes darting between Superman and the smoldering wreckage of his destroyed mecha.
"Winslow," Superman began, his voice calm but firm, "I understand you have your reasons. Maybe Lex wronged you in some way, maybe you wanted justice—but what you did today put lives in danger. That doesn't make you a victim; it makes you responsible."
Toyman sighed, his expression sinking. "You don't know what he's done to me, Superman. The man ruined my inventions, stole my patents, buried me under lawsuits—"
"Be that as it may," Superman interrupted gently, "revenge doesn't excuse destruction. You could have talked to the authorities. Or even me. But this?" He gestured to the damages done to LexCorp Tower. "This isn't the way."
Before Winslow could answer, a sharp voice cut through the air.
"Oh, please," Lex Luthor sneered, stepping forward with venom in every syllable. "Do you have to give one of your moral sermons here, of all places? You've already destroyed my building—must you also destroy my peace of mind?"
Superman's jaw tightened. He turned slightly, meeting Lex's glare with weary patience. "When will you stop blaming me for everything that goes wrong in your life, Lex? I had nothing to do with the damage to your company. In fact, if I recall correctly…" His eyes narrowed slightly. "I was the one who saved your life."
Lex's lip curled into that familiar smirk of disdain. "I didn't need to be rescued—much less by you, of all people—"
But then something shifted. His words trailed off midsentence. His confident tone faltered. He blinked rapidly, confusion flashing across his face. "No… what am I saying?"
Everyone froze.
Lex straightened suddenly, eyes wide and strangely bright. His entire demeanor flipped like a switch. "You saved my life, Superman," he said with eerie sincerity, extending his hand with a smile. "And for that, I am eternally grateful. Thank you for all the hard work you've done for this city!"
Superman went rigid. So did everyone else. Mercy's mouth fell open slightly, eyes darting between her boss and the hero he despised. Winslow just stared from the ground, utterly bewildered.
Lex kept going, his voice unnervingly cheerful. "You truly are the hero Metropolis needs. An inspiration to us all! You even inspire me to be a better man—every single day!"
A visible shiver ran through everyone watching. Even Superman took a subtle step back. The words sounded… wrong.
Then, before anyone could process it, Lex's expression turned green—literally. His face twisted with nausea. He covered his mouth, stumbled backward, and doubled over. "Urghh—"
He lurched toward a parked car, barely catching himself before collapsing.
And then he threw up.
Danny phased out of Lex's back mid-air, flinching in disgust. "DUDE, seriously?!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the street. "You literally got sick just because you had to thank Superman!? What is seriously wrong with you!?"
Lex was too busy dry-heaving to answer. He braced one arm against the car, panting, eyes burning with fury as he pointed a trembling finger at Danny. "You—" he managed hoarsely, before immediately turning back around and vomiting again.
Danny grimaced, arms raised. "Okay, ew! You know what? Forget I said anything!"
Superman sighed and shook his head, the faintest trace of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth despite himself.
Lex eventually caught his breath, still hunched and trembling. "Mercy…" he rasped weakly. "Take me away from here… now."
Without a word, Mercy looped an arm around him and began helping him walk away from everyone. As they passed Danny, Lex glared daggers through half-lidded eyes. "This… isn't over," he wheezed. "I will get you back for this… you're going to wish you remained dead."
Danny blinked, still a little stunned. "Man, I think he hates me almost as much as he hates you," he muttered under his breath.
Superman folded his arms again, giving him a look equal parts disapproval and amusement. "You shouldn't have done that, Danny."
Danny turned to him, hands raised defensively. "Okay, in my defense, he was being a total jerk. I just wanted to see him say something nice for once! I didn't know he'd literally puke from the effort!"
Superman exhaled through his nose, pinching the bridge of it with a tired sigh. "I honestly don't know whether to laugh or cry over the entire situation."
Danny floated backward a few feet, smirking faintly. "C'mon, Big Blue. Admit it—you kinda wanna laugh."
Superman gave him a long look. Then, finally, the corners of his mouth turned upward in the faintest of smiles. "Just a little," he admitted.
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