The silence that followed Ashborn's offer was heavy, almost hesitant, until Gizmo looked at the others, then back at Ashborn, and gave a small nod. The others followed one by one, and finally, they all nodded in agreement.
"We'll give it a shot," Gizmo said.
Ashborn's calm smile widened ever so slightly. "Excellent choice," he said. "I already asked the waiter for a few extra pizzas for the four of you. Please, come with me."
As he turned toward the pizza shop, the group began to follow, until a soft cough halted them.
Jinx stood still, arms crossed, lips tight. "Are you not forgetting someone?"
Ashborn stopped, glanced at her, and with the same unchanging, cordial smile replied, "No, I haven't forgotten. The offers are for these four because I value their abilities to work for me. In your case, I have no suitable job for your talent. And I have no intention of hiring a cute and pretty face for no purpose."
Jinx's eyes widened. "You… you think I'm cute and pretty?"
Ashborn tilted his head slightly. "Yes, I do."
She blinked, quickly shaking her head as if to snap out of it. "That's not the point! My powers are amazing! I can…"
"I agree," Ashborn cut in gently, "your powers are good. But I simply don't have a job where I could utilize them properly. That's all."
The other four looked at their stunned teammate. Gizmo narrowed his eyes, then turned toward Ashborn.
"We're a bundle deal," he said. "Either all five of us come, or none of us do."
Billy, Mammoth, and Kyd Wykkyd nodded in agreement. No hesitation.
Ashborn observed them silently for a few seconds, his gaze unreadable. Then he exhaled softly and nodded. "Fine. She'll come too. I'll do my best to find something that suits her."
Jinx blinked again, clearly trying to process the emotional rollercoaster she was being dragged through.
With the matter settled, Ashborn turned and continued walking toward the pizza shop, hands in his pockets. The five young villains. no, former villains, followed behind him, wearing small but genuine smiles.
Behind them, the Teen Titans stood silently, watching the surreal scene unfold. It was like they'd been entirely forgotten, mere background players in a bizarre play.
"…If he gets kidnapped again," Robin muttered, rubbing his temples, "I'm not saving him."
He turned and walked off. The rest followed.
Cyborg shook his head. Starfire looked confused and mildly insulted. Beast Boy whispered, "Is this how villains get hired now?"
Raven lingered behind for a moment longer. Her violet eyes flicked toward the pizza shop, where the six had already stepped inside.
[What was that feeling? There was something off about that man.] she thought.
Something buried beneath that gentle smile. Not malevolent… but not normal either. Something like her. With a quiet sigh, she turned and followed her team, but her mind was far from finished with the strange man who'd turned a kidnapping into a recruiting session.
___________
Lunch had gone surprisingly well. Amid laughter, curious glances, and boxes of half-eaten pizza, the atmosphere around the table felt less like a group of former villains and more like new recruits on their first day. When the final slice was eaten and the drinks were emptied, Ashborn stood and turned to Kyd Wykkyd.
"Teleport us back to Shadow Corp, please," he said, his tone as casual as ever.
Kyd nodded and with a flicker of darkness, the group vanished from Jump City and reappeared in the heart of Metropolis, right inside the towering, glass-clad headquarters of Shadow Corp.
As Ashborn stepped inside with the five former Hive members trailing behind him, heads turned. Employees paused mid-conversation, mid-typing, mid-walk — but none dared speak. The presence of Ashborn was enough to keep them silent, and his unexpected entourage was just another mystery they knew better than to question.
At the reception desk, Ashborn's assistant spotted him, froze, and dropped his tablet in shock.
Ashborn walked up to him, placed a hand on his shoulder gently and said, "Later, send someone to check on Jump City. There was a fight near the pizza shop I visited. I want all the damages to be paid."
The man nodded weakly, unsure what was more surprising, the fight or the five villains now casually standing behind his boss.
"Come," Ashborn said, still smiling, and walked deeper into the building.
The assistant followed, as did the five former villains, who exchanged curious glances at the sleek, corporate hallways of Shadow Corp. They eventually entered Ashborn's personal office — a large, modern space filled with dark wood, elegant furniture, and a panoramic view of Metropolis.
Ashborn sat behind his desk and leaned back in his chair, folding his hands as he looked at the five expectant faces before him.
"Let's begin."
His gaze moved to Gizmo.
"Gizmo, I want you in the engineering department. They're working on mechanical systems and advanced tech, some of the brightest minds in the world. I'm sure you'll find their work interesting. If you have your own ideas or inventions, you're welcome to pursue them. The only condition…"
He lifted a finger. "is you must check with the safety department before building anything. We had… incidents before."
Gizmo grinned and nodded quickly. "Got it, boss."
Ashborn's gaze moved next to Billy Numerous.
"Billy. Do you like video games?"
Billy blinked, caught off guard. "Uh… yeah?"
Ashborn smiled. "We recently started a division focused on creating video games. We need testers. With your ability, you could do the work of dozens by yourself."
Billy's mouth dropped open. "You serious? Just play games and get paid? With myself?"
Ashborn nodded. "Yes."
Billy looked ready to cry with joy.
Next, Ashborn turned to Mammoth.
"Mammoth, I'd like you to work in construction. You'll follow architecture engineers and demolish areas scheduled for rebuild. Controlled destruction, a legal outlet for your strength."
Mammoth nodded enthusiastically. "That's a job?! Heck yeah!"
Ashborn's eyes now met Kyd Wykkyd's.
"You'll assist with transportation logistics. We'll figure out your range, stamina, frequency, and any limitations. You'll be fairly compensated, and whatever you save us in costs, we'll reflect in your pay."
Kyd gave a silent thumbs-up.
Then came the pause. The atmosphere shifted slightly as Ashborn's gaze settled on Jinx.
He studied her in silence, then asked, "Do your powers do anything besides damage and bad luck?"
Jinx blinked, then shook her head.
"Do you have a degree in any field?"
Another shake of her head.
"Do you have any preferences or hobbies? Something you're good at?"
Jinx's lips trembled. Her third silent shake was slower than the rest.
The room quieted. Her teammates fidgeted uncomfortably. Jinx stared at the floor, trying to will herself invisible. Ashborn leaned forward, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Do you know how to cook or clean?"
Jinx gave a weak laugh, barely more than a breath.
Ashborn sighed. "Then you'll learn. You'll work at my manor, daily chores, cleaning, cooking. You won't be around others, so no one will get hurt. You can learn at your own pace. If you ever want to try something new, let me know, and we'll figure it out."
Jinx nodded slowly, her eyes cast downward. She knew what this was. A favor. A charity job. Not something earned.
Her self-esteem sank like a stone.
Ashborn finally turned to his assistant. "Make contracts for them later. For now, help them find a place to stay. Give them money to buy necessities."
The old man nodded without hesitation and turned to lead the five out of the room.
As they left, the four ex-villains kept casting worried glances at Jinx, who walked silently in the back. None said anything, but their loyalty was clear. They were here because of her, and she was here because of them.
Ashborn watched them go with his usual calm, thoughtful expression. And as the door closed behind them, he smiled.
Partnering with a villain and hiring five more, this is entertaining.