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"Quite literally unknown." Diana stood at the head of the meeting room, her tablet casting a pale glow across her features. "I've looked through all the databases. From Hell to Earth to space. This man, this entity... Rogol Zaar doesn't exist."
The room was full. Heroes packed into seats that had been designed for briefings like this one, faces grim, postures tense. Even Bruce was there—retired or not, he had shown up the moment he heard about Clark. Mostly to check on his friend. But his eyes moved with the same old precision, cataloging details, filing them away for later use.
"Doesn't that remind you of someone?" Bruce's voice was quiet, but it cut through the room like a scalpel.
"Yes." Jason nodded slowly. "The other you."
He had faced an alternate Batman before. Different universe. Different rules. Same face, same methods, same relentless pursuit of something Jason couldn't quite name.
"So what?" Jason continued, leaning back in his chair. "We're assuming he's from a parallel universe? If so... who sent him? Because he clearly wasn't acting on his own. He said I was the target. That he was hunting Kryptonians for his own pleasure." He spread his hands. "That doesn't add up."
Aquaman leaned forward, his massive frame creaking the chair beneath him. "You're the only one with experience of other realms. Anything you gathered?"
Jason was silent for a moment, his mind running through the list of cosmic entities he had crossed paths with. Darkseid. Perpetua. The beings who watched from beyond the veil, who treated reality like a game board and mortals like pieces.
"None." He shook his head. "There's one enemy I can think of, but it feels way off. It's not the type to send assassins this way." His jaw tightened. "Something else is going on."
"Well, whatever it is, it will have to wait." Diana set her tablet down. "Superman's surgery went well. He's been depending on the sun to recover, but even still..." Her voice softened. "He hasn't woken up yet."
The door opened.
Raven stood in the doorway, her hood pulled back, her face carrying something that might have been relief. "He's awake. Superman is awake."
The room emptied in seconds.
Jason followed the crowd, down the crystalline corridors of the pantheon space station nursing office, past the robots that still monitored Clark's vitals, into the medical bay where the Man of Steel lay propped against pillows, pale but alive.
Lois sat on one side of the bed, her hand wrapped around his. Kara sat on the other, her eyes red but dry. Both of them looked like they had been crying. Both of them looked like they had stopped only moments ago.
Clark smiled when he saw them. It was weak, thinner than his usual warmth, but it was real.
Lois spotted Jason at the back of the group. She was on her feet before anyone could react, crossing the room in three quick strides, her arms wrapping around him in a hug that caught him off guard.
"Thank you!" Her voice cracked. "Thank you so much! If it wasn't for you... I..." She pulled back, gripping his hands, her eyes wet. "I don't want to imagine what could've happened."
Jason stood still for a moment, unsure what to do with his hands, with his face, with the sudden weight of her gratitude. Then he exhaled, and something in his shoulders relaxed.
"I was doing my job." His voice was quieter than usual. "Superman is a friend."
"No matter!" Lois squeezed his hands. "You still saved him. So thank you."
Jason smiled. It was small, almost awkward, but it reached his eyes. He nodded once, and Lois finally released him, returning to her husband's side.
The crowd filtered through after that. Flash made a joke that landed badly. Aquaman clasped Clark's shoulder with careful strength. Diana stood at the foot of the bed and said nothing, but her presence said enough. Even Bruce lingered near the door, his expression unreadable, his eyes never leaving Clark's face.
One by one, they left.
Until only Clark, Lois, Kara, and Jason remained.
Clark adjusted his position against the pillows, wincing slightly. Lois immediately reached for him. He covered her hand with his, then looked up at Jason.
"You know I'm thankful for what you did." His voice was still weak, but there was weight behind it. "Truly."
Jason leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "No need. You'd have done the same for me." He paused. "You'd have done the same for everyone." A small smile tugged at his lips. "That's why you're special."
Clark shook his head slowly. "You as well, Jason."
He shifted again, wincing, then pushed through it.
"You've made everything better. Anything you do... is the right thing." Clark met Jason's eyes, and there was no hesitation in his gaze. "I've been considering this for a long time now. But..." He took a breath. "I admit it. You were right. You were always right."
Jason's expression didn't change, but something behind his eyes flickered.
"It took a long time for me to admit this," Clark continued. "But I fully understand now. You are truly a gift to us all." He let the words hang in the air, then nodded once. "Thank you for changing the world for the better. I am now... fully supportive of you."
The silence that followed was heavy, but not uncomfortable. Lois watched her husband with quiet pride. Kara watched Jason with something unreadable. And Jason....Jason stood against the wall, arms still crossed, face still calm, but something in his posture had shifted.
He pushed off from the wall and walked to Clark's bedside. For a moment, he just looked at the man who had inspired him since childhood—the symbol, the hope, the impossible ideal made flesh.
"I appreciate it. Really." Jason's voice was low, almost rough. "You have no idea how it feels when your childhood idol comes to say something like this to you." He smiled, genuine, unguarded, real. "So thank you."
He stepped back.
"Well. I'll leave you with your wife." He nodded at Clark, then at Lois. "Be well. Good night, Clark."
He turned and walked toward the door.
Kara rose from her chair. "I'll walk with you."
She followed him out.
....
Meanwhile in a dark unlimited space, Empty Hand sat on his throne, looking at potential choices to hunt his new interest, he smiled and chose one.....
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If you Like this story! Check out my other story ! Shadow Monarch in Danmachi!
AND
If you wish to read more or simply support me just because ? than check out my patréon at
"https://www.patréon.com/Riadooo"
You can Get Access to 3 More Chapters OR 7 More Chapters if you want !