(A;N : Hey y'all we're moving onto a new arc now pretty sure the ones who have watched JLA know what's coming, so rest assured unlike the original this one will be more interesting but fast-paced like always. And For those who like the story please do spare this work some of your powerstones we fell off the popular section now the work is like 20+ ranked before it was in the top 8 . Also I'm writing a new Naruto fanfic check that out !! Konoha : I'm breezing through the plot! ... That's all read well ! )
***
A day after his date with Diana, Lucian stood alone on a distant rooftop, the city's glittering lights sprawling below like a sea of fallen stars. The cool night air carried the faint hum of traffic and distant sirens, but up here, it was just him, a cigarette glowing faintly between his fingers. He exhaled a slow plume of smoke, letting the quiet wash over him—until a red-and-white blur streaked through the sky, landing with a thud beside him.
"Heyyy! Man! Lucian! Great to see you again! How ya doin', bro?" Shazam's voice boomed, overly enthusiastic and bordering on a shout, right in Lucian's ear.
Lucian wryly smiled, flicking ash over the edge. "Hey, Shazam. Nice to see you too... but if this is about joining the League, I'm good." His crooked grin softened the refusal, but his eyes stayed guarded.
Shazam waved his hands frantically, his cape fluttering in the breeze. "Oh? The Justice League? Pssht! Nah, Batman and Wonder Woman already briefed us about you turning them down. I'm not here for that."
Mildly surprised, Lucian turned to face him fully, the city's glow casting dramatic shadows across Shazam's youthful features. "Then to what do I owe the pleasure?" Intrigue laced his voice—he hadn't expected the kid to track him down like this.
Shazam scratched the back of his head, grinning too wide, his eyes darting everywhere but Lucian's face. "Huh? Can't a fellow superhero just drop by? Come on, man, chill out! By the way... whatcha been up to these days?" His tone was casual, but the fidgeting screamed suspicion, like a puppy failing at stealth.
Lucian chuckled softly, taking another drag. "Say it, Shazam. It's kinda painful watching you dig for clues like that."
The words hit like a spark. Shazam's expression shifted—his boyish grin faded, replaced by a serious, composed aura that aged him in an instant. He straightened, crossing his arms. "That day... with Atlantis, the mermaids, all that... you talked about us like we're just superpowered beings and gods. But Lucian, I don't remember telling you my powers come from *six* different gods."
The statement slammed into Lucian like a gut punch. *Idiot,* he cursed inwardly, his mind racing back to that slip of the tongue. Outwardly, he kept his cool, masking the stupor with a mild raise of his brow. But damn, he was impressed—this kid had caught it, even if it was a slip of the tongue guess the situation was serious enough even he paid attention to his words.
Shazam locked eyes with him, his voice steady for the first time Lucian had ever heard, even in the movies. "Who *are* you? How do you know so much about us? About *my* powers? I've never told anyone about where they came from ."
Lucian shifted his gaze to the horizon, a smirk tugging at his lips to buy time. "Do you think your secret's *that* high-profile?" He paused, letting the city lights reflect in his eyes. Shazam stayed silent, confusion knitting his brow, waiting.
Lucian exhaled smoke slowly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur. "If you think I'm the only one who knows... you're terribly wrong, kiddo. Pretty sure Batman's got it figured out too."
Shazam's jaw dropped, his cheeks flushing under the red hood. "Kiddo? Dude, I'm a grown man! Why you gotta call me that? Hehe, c'mon... Wait, Batman knows too? Arghh... Great some secret it turned out to be"
Lucian smiled softly, genuine warmth breaking through his wry facade. He clapped a hand on Shazam's shoulder, feeling the kid's tension ease just a fraction. "Hey, I'm not one to judge qualifications for being a hero—kid or adult. You've got heart, Shazam. More than most. And how I know? Trade secret. Sorry, can't spill. But hear this: I won't breathe a word to anyone. Ever. No discrimination, no judgment. You're solid."
Shazam's shoulders slumped with visible relief, the serious mask cracking back into his trademark grin. "You... you mean that? For real?"
"Dead serious," Lucian replied, his tone firm yet kind. "You've got courage that shakes mountains—charging into Darkseid like that? Facing gods and monsters without flinching? Kid—or man—you're the real deal. If you ever need guidance, you've got two people in your corner now. Batman knows. I know. And I'm here."
Shazam beamed, the weight lifting like a storm cloud parting. "Thanks, man. That... means a lot. Nobody's ever just... gotten it like that." They slipped into easy chatter then—swapping stories of epic fights, narrow escapes, the loneliness of the hero gig under the stars. Laughter echoed across the rooftop as the night deepened, forging an unlikely bond.
***
The scene shifted to a quiet Metropolis apartment, where Clark Kent paced by the window, phone pressed to his ear. "Lois, just... be safe out there tonight, okay? The city's been weird lately. I'll make it up to you—dinner tomorrow, my treat. Promise."
Her voice crackled warmly through the line. "Clark, I'm tougher than I look. But fine, you owe me the best spot in town. Night, Smallville."
He chuckled, ending the call with a soft smile. Collapsing onto his bed, Clark stared at the ceiling, exhaustion finally claiming him. His eyes drifted shut...
*"Hel... help me..."*
The whisper slithered into his mind, faint as a dying echo, laced with desperation. Clark bolted upright, heart pounding, scanning the dim room. "What the—?" Super hearing kicked in—every creak of the building, every distant car horn, every heartbeat in the neighboring apartments. Nothing. No source. Just silence.
He rubbed his temples, a chill prickling his invulnerable skin. *A dream? No... too real.* Rising, he floated to the window, gazing at the starless sky. The city lights blurred below, indifferent. What—or who—was calling out in the void? Unease gnawed at him, a hero's instinct screaming that something dark was stirring. Clark stood there long into the night, the whisper haunting his thoughts like a shadow he couldn't outrun.
***