Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Despite all the troubles he faced, all the enemies he encountered, and all the disasters that ravaged the place he called home, Clark considered himself to be very lucky. Superman was born out of one simple desire: a wish to help someone no matter the danger. The possibility that no one else would (or even could) help in his own darkest hours was always a possibility. There very well could have been a reality where the Last Son of Krypton remained the only defender of the planet he grew to love. Yet, as time passed, Clark found others who shared his dream of a better tomorrow. For all the darkness lingering in the shadows, there existed countless beacons of light from every corner of the universe willing to lend a hand. Martians with extraordinary psychic abilities and otherworldly strength. Amazon warriors with immense fearlessness and compassion. But, just as important- possibly even more so- were humans with greater willpower than even he possessed.

For all the issues he may have with the Guardians, and there were many, he knew the people chosen to receive their power were more than worthy. Hal had fought alongside the Justice League more times than he could count, his light only shining brighter after every encounter. Guy, despite his…strong personality, has proven his dedication and loyalty no matter the threat. John, Jessica, and so many other people who took up the mantle despite (or maybe because of) the dangers they encountered. People who had hope for the future. People he was grateful to call his friends and comrades. Clark loved humanity and what they could achieve, but even he was surprised by the immense strength they could display. A quality no better represented than in the Lantern sitting across from him, currently engaged in a debate about the day's events.

“Look, you were amazing out there, but you didn’t do all the work.” Kyle leaned back in his chair, trying his best to maintain an annoyed expression, betrayed by the glint of good humor in his eyes. “If anything, I should be taking most of the credit for leading on the front lines.”

Clark was proud to know Kyle Rayner, someone who always tried to find a solution in even the darkest of times. Even without the ring- especially without it- the kryptonian believe he was one of the strongest people he ever met. That’s why, despite a few reservations, he and many others were willing to take his good word about their new guest right beside him.

“All I’m saying is,” the azure haired pilot put a thumb to his chest, “I was the one who took care of most of those yellow creeps, on top of providing my own advice. Not to mention scaring off their leader.”

Kyle rolled his eyes, a smile growing on his lips as he recalled the previous encounter. “Who do you think gave you that opening? If it weren’t for my direction, your mech would be crushed in a yellow cage. Sinestro would probably be prying it open right now.”

His friend laughed, shaking his head in exasperation. “Okay, now we both know that isn’t true.”

A few hours ago, several members of the Justice League were holding a meeting in the Watchtower. Just as they were coming to a close, Kyle received a distress signal about a sudden Yellow Lantern Corp attack led by Sinestro in a nearby solar system. Bruce rallied the group together- him and the Lanterns on board working to contact everyone they could find. Thankfully, the heroes were able to come together quickly, intercepting the attack before any major damage could be done. Yet, as the battle began, Clark’s mind thought back to a last minute call Kyle made on their flight over. He was confused at first, not aware of anyone else nearby that could assist. Even Bruce, who stayed behind to monitor the situation and direct any incoming stragglers, wasn’t sure who the Lantern could be contacting.

It wasn’t until mid battle, in the midst of Clark helping Hal tie up some of their opponents, that he would get his answer.

 …In the form of a giant mech that spontaneously landed in the middle of the chaos. If nothing else, he appreciated the small breather as everyone on both sides took in the massive robot.

“ Gurren Lagann reporting for duty !” the muffled voice of the pilot shouted. “ I heard that you all may need some help .”

Kyle waved to his friend, a giant construct of a thumbs up over his head. “Glad you can make it Simon! Just target anyone in yellow and keep their attention away from any nearby planets. I'll show you an example!” The Lantern then proceeded to transform the emerald hand into a volley of spears, firing upon Sinestro with no hesitation.

To his credit, the leader was quick to recover from the initial shock, managing to block most of the incoming projectiles with a giant wall. He unfortunately wasn’t quite as lucky with the massive drill that burst through, launching him into the void of space upon contact. Clark could still hear Guy’s fit of laughter mixed with Sinestro’s distant screams. 

Following the sudden departure of their leader, the confidence of the Yellow Lantern squad collapsed. Kyle and Simon led the way, working together to subdue the enemy and leaving the Justice League to clean up anyone left. Together, they were able to end the conflict with no casualties, restraining most of the opposing forces. 

Upon their return to the Watchtower, the pilot (Simon the Digger as he called himself) was swarmed by everyone as soon as he stepped inside. The poor man was swamped by dozens of questions, ranging from his robot to his background to his performance out in the field. It took a giant air horn constructed by Hal and Diana’s stern but polite words for the group to continue their proceedings and leave the poor man alone. Simon seemed relieved for the support, though expressed the Justice League was still significantly calmer than his own crew. 

Once their session concluded, upcoming charity events finalized and budget shortfalls covered (Bruce as always stepping in), Simon began fielding a few questions from the members in a more relaxed environment. It seemed everyone wanted to know more about the Digger, and the man was happy to regale them with stories about how he discovered Gurren Lagann and grew to unlock its potential with the help of his friends. While his adventures were clearly compressed for time and had many details skipped over, Clark could already see an immense amount of confidence and strength inside Simon. Every opponent he faced, ranging from giant mecha piloted by hybrid monsters to the moon itself (the kryptonian definitely needed to hear more about that), displayed the man's ingenuity and perseverance. It was a sensation similar to the Lanterns, a power forged not just by experience or maturity but an internal will with unseen depths. 

As time passed, the exhausted members slowly began retiring for the day. It was clear everyone had more questions to ask, and Simon more stories to tell, but fatigue from the battle and journey each way finally caught up to the group. Everyone soon drifted back to their homes or to their own work, even Bruce uncharacteristically choosing to leave the rest of his inquiries for another time. Though there was no doubt his upcoming dinner reservation with Damian (now in danger of being cancelled with their meeting running over time) played a part. 

Clark just hoped his friend would avoid pressing too hard during their next encounter. Not that he doubted the Digger could hold his own.

Soon enough, the group dwindled down to three. Kyle and Simon began catching up on each other’s lives since they last met, Clark giving the two space to converse. Only interjecting when Kyle mentioned an anecdote the superhero could elaborate on. Their conservation soon drifted to discussing the day’s events, which quickly turned to discussing the battle, which soon transformed into the two arguing over how much they both contributed. Speaking of which-

Simon had his head held high, a confident smirk adorning his features. “If you’re so confident you could do better, let’s put it to the test.” Stretching his arm out and offering a hand, he continued. “Next time you get into a fight with those guys, make sure to call. We’ll keep score and see who comes out on top.”

“You’re on!” Kyle matched Simon’s cocky enthusiasm, accepting the deal with a firm shake. "Just know I won't be holding back."

“Well, I’m glad to see we may have one more person that we can call upon.” Clark stepped into the conversation, trying to divert their attention from their upcoming competition. “You did amazing work out there Simon. Without you, the situation could have spiraled out of control.”

The Digger turned to the kryptonian, shrugging in polite humility. “It was nothing, I was just there to help move things along. If anything, you should be saving some praise for yourself, smashing through all their defenses alone. I could barely keep track of how fast you were flying.” 

Clark chuckled. “It helps when I know someone has my back out there.” He smiled, gesturing to the duo. “From what you told us, and how you took charge of the situation, you seem to be a pretty capable leader. Is your crew still active?”

“Nah, I think most of them have seen enough action for now. Currently, my friends are still trying to restore order to the government back home.” Simon scratched the back of his head, laughing nervously. “Right now, I’ve been focused on my upcoming wedding. My fiance’s been keeping me busy with all the planning. I still have to go through the guest list, it's looking like it’s going to be a massive ceremony.” He paused, thinking about all of the work he and Nia needed to finish. “I guess I should probably be making my way back. I told her I’d try to come home as soon as possible.”

"No worries," Clark stood up, pushing his chair back in place. "We'll escort you out."

The others got up as well, Kyle leading the way out of the room and towards the exit as he continued the conversation. “Let me know when the date arrives. I'll make sure to deliver a present.” He paused, looking back at Simon with a more serious expression. “Seriously, thank you again for assisting on such short notice. I know you’re occupied with everything back home. I’ll try not to make it too much of a habit.”

“I already told you, it was nothing.” The Digger placed a hand to his necklace as they kept walking, clutching the small drill piece attached. “Just because I told you I’m not interested in joining another team right now doesn’t mean I won’t help out. If you ever need me, go ahead and make the call. I’ll be there before you know it.”

“We’ll certainly take you up on your offer," Clark responded in appreciation. "The same goes for you as well, of course. If you ever need anything, the Justice League will do what we can to help.”

Simon gave the superhero a soft smile and a firm nod, before stopping in place. Tilting his head, he stared at the suit the kryptonian was wearing. The League members shared a look, not knowing what the Digger was observing. But just as one of them was about to ask, Simon turned to his friend, his lips morphing back into a smirk. “I have to admit, despite the difference in size I think the real thing is a lot cooler. The color’s certainly better too.”

Clark paused, unsure about what he meant by the remark. Judging from Kyle’s expression of alarm, he guessed it must not have been intended. “I’m sorry, have you seen my suit before?”

Simon must have realized his mistake, his eye’s matching Kyle’s look of surprise for a split second before he let out a small chuckle. “Well… you could say I’ve seen a version of it, technically?”

Kyle coughed into his fist, taking a moment to speak. “What he means to say is I…made a giant construct of you when we first met. Remember how I told you I was searching for information about Gurren Lagann when we ran into each other.” The Lantern did his best to form a nervous smile, failing to muster up the confidence he had previously. "The real suit is differently a lot nicer," he offered in an attempt at good humor.

Clark simply narrowed his eyes, thinking back on what the two said about their first meeting. Simon only mentioned that they came into a contact a few weeks ago, not going into any more detail than what Kyle mentioned. If true, that would line up with alerts the League received of massive disturbances that occurred across the universe. Kyle stated a few days after the incident it was related to the Life Equation and White Lantern Corp, briefly mentioning he took care of it. Clark let it go at the time, but seeing that mech in action, and their sudden nervousness…

“What exactly happened during your first encounter?” Clark crossed his arms, a neutral expression that scared the two of them more than any anger the kryptonian could muster. 

“Well…it’s a long story.”

Chapter Text

When Simon told Kyle he would be available to help, he meant it. Despite his reservations about taking on the role of a Lantern, their first- non violent- conversation instilled in him an understanding about just how vast the universe was and why such an organization existed. Powerful warriors populated every corner of the galaxy: heroes, villains, and everyone in between with their own goals and ideals. But, every time these figures clashed, people would always be caught in the crossfire. People that Kyle took up the mantle of the White Lantern to protect, overseeing entire galaxies in a tireless fight against evil. Simon didn’t believe it was his duty to serve as a guardian overseeing the entire universe, but The Digger understood the Lantern’s desire to help others. So, while he politely but firmly refused Kyle’s (repeated) offers to accept the ring, he agreed to remain “on call” should a crisis arise. Besides, Nia was always pushing him to spend more time exploring the galaxy and make new friends now that he was free of most of his governmental duties.

The wedding is still a few months away! Feel free to take a break once in a while.That man seemed really nice, I’m sure he’d be glad to see you again. 

It only took about a month before Kyle reached out to him on a mission, seeking help for a battle against a small squad that ended nearly as soon as it began. The lower stakes fight was admittedly pretty fun, reminding Simon of his early days piloting Gurren Lagann with his brother. More importantly, it gave him a chance to meet a whole team of powerful superheroes Kyle was acquainted with. Shortly after their congregation ended, the painfully long discussion of the team’s budget a reminder of Simon’s own tenure in governing, he was able to properly speak with the Justice League and put a face to all the names Kyle had mentioned. 

It was clear the group were impressed by his feats and captivated with his stories, glued to their seats as he talked about his travels. For his part, Simon thought it was nice to have the opportunity to discuss his past (and gush a little over his fiance), even if he kept some more personal details under wraps for the time being. He even got the chance to ask his own questions about the team and its members. The Digger was eager to learn as much as he could, and found himself disappointed when he finally had to return home. After saying his farewells- and receiving an admittedly deserved lecture by Clark about the dangers of nearly destroying the universe- Simon spent the trip thinking about all the new information he learned. As he settled into bed with Nia, he wondered when he would see the League again. 

Weeks later, Simon received another call, a request to assist Kyle and Clark with capturing a cyborg made in the latter’s image. The man had wandered into his part of the galaxy, and Kyle thought it would be best if the duo could rely on someone who knew the local turf. Simon didn’t hesitate, placing a quick peck on Nia’s cheek and promising to be home before dinner as he leapt out the door. 

However, while The Digger was able to assist with quickly tracking down and subduing the villain, he felt Kyle’s confidence in his knowledge of the area was a little overstated. The search was primarily spearheaded by a gruff voice on Kyle and Clark’s communications, Simon only stepping in to offer some advice on directions here and there to someone they called “Batman”. The moon their target was located on probably would have been found sooner or later. 

After removing the cyborg from the massive crater he was slammed into- and clearing the giant drill still placed above him- the trio returned back to the Watchtower. It was there when, after Clark and Kyle left briefly to take the prisoner away, Simon began to realize something was off. The two stated the Watchtower wouldn’t be busy today, and the ensuing silence as he entered the main control room to wait for their return should have been expected. Yet, he felt a strange eeriness settle in. It would take Simon a few more examinations of his surroundings before he realized he wasn’t alone. Standing by the main computer, the dark shadow cast over the desk revealed itself to be a figure dressed in grey and black. A man resembling a giant bat stood alone, his cape and cowl cultivating a strong aura around him. 

Trying to ignore any sense of foreboding the stranger exhibited, Simon connected the pieces between this figure and the voice on the radio. As he thought further back to his first visit to the Watchtower, he could recall that this “Batman” was present the first time he visited as well, analyzing every word he said yet asking no questions of his own. Here he was again, and despite giving off the appearance of being focused on his work, The Digger couldn’t help but feel every move he made was being watched. 

Simon took a second to think, then shrugged, and slowly made his way over.

Well, Simon figured, I’ve definitely met people a lot scarier.

He was at least in the top five though.

Bruce was not one to trust others easily, a fact the Justice League knew and accepted when they first came together. Honestly, they were probably grateful he still remained an active member, helping finance their activities and leading their efforts on and off world. The billionaire himself wondered some days how he became so entangled in the team. Yet, strangely, maybe this was all meant to be.

Despite all the setbacks he’s faced, both personally and professionally, Bruce remained a central pillar in the community he unintentionally helped foster. His mission to watch over a single city spiraled over countless struggles until he found himself taking an active role protecting the entire universe. Bruce Wayne and Batman have only accepted more responsibilities with each passing day, but the connection’s he made helped lighten the burden. The legend of the Batman became something more powerful than Bruce could imagine, supported by awe-inspiring friends and children he couldn’t be more proud to have raised. 

Still, his role required firm physical and emotional boundaries, ones he trusted all the members to respect. Batman may always be present, in the shadows on Earth and in the darkness of space, but the private life of Bruce Wayne was something only his closest friends knew. That didn’t mean Bruce shied away entirely from reaching out to others. As one of the team’s founding members, Batman would naturally have to face all manner of allies, enemies, and issues head on. He’s taken advice from teammates on a variety of topics both familiar and new, and acknowledged the good words from others on many newcomers. But trust had to be earned, and Bruce preferred to learn as much as he could about any and all allies the League recruited before he would take any risks that endangered himself or his family. 

So, after splitting his attention for the past few minutes between his current project and the person who set foot into the room, Bruce was more than prepared for any direction the conversation may go when Simon finally walked over. 

“Nice suit!” 

Bruce paused for a moment, turning away from his computer and towards his colleague. That wasn’t quite the opening he expected. “Excuse me?” 

Simon was an enigma, carrying a casual confidence in every step and an intense gaze that hinted at the greater strength he held underneath the surface. After everything the pilot shared during his first visit, Bruce wasn’t quite sure what to make of him. It was during this second mission, while Gurren Lagann fired a storm of projectiles onto the moon Hank Henshaw had no means of avoiding, that the Dark Knight came to realize the mech was something beyond his understanding. A formidable machine powered from an unknown source of energy that Simon summoned all on his own. It was fascinating to watch the battles unfold, but Bruce was still unsatisfied in his limited understanding about the abilities and character of the League’s new partner.

The azure haired pilot repeated himself, an admiring smile on his face. “Your suit looks great! I didn’t even notice you until a few seconds ago. I’m guessing you designed it with that in mind.” He put a finger to his chin, taking a closer look now that they were side by side. “Interesting choice on the mask. I like the two horns.” Simon punctuated that remark with two fingers, one from each hand pointed up and parallel to his own head, mimicking Bruce’s veil. “That must be why they call you Batman, correct?”

Bruce quickly gathered his thoughts in order, moving his right arm up from his side and offering a hand. “Simon The Digger, correct? I’ve looked over your performance the past few weeks. You’re doing excellent work out there.”

Simon shrugged, accepting the hand shake. “Just Simon is fine, and I already told everyone it was nothing. You just needed someone to come in to ensure everything went smoothly.” He smiled, jabbing a thumb towards the computer. “Though, the assist on navigation really made the biggest difference.”

Bruce accepted the compliment with a polite nod, letting the silence settle around them before continuing. “Your mech, Gurren Lagann, seems completely different from any alien technology we’ve encountered. From what Kyle told us, and what we've seen, the machine seems to adapt to any threat that appears at an astonishing speed.”

Simon chuckled, using one hand to slightly lift the core drill hanging off his necklace and holding it out. “I’m still not sure how it can evolve and act as quickly as it does. Over a decade as a pilot and it’s still surprising me.” He turned it around in his palm, thinking back on his past battles. “It seems every time I hit a wall, it does whatever it can to continue fighting. All I have to do is be confident I can keep moving forward, and it’ll align with my will.”

Bruce narrowed his eyes slightly, inspecting the key. The piece was smaller than even a Lantern ring, looking completely ordinary. The most noticeable quality was Simon’s care in handling the piece, the way he spoke of the mech showing how much he valued the machine. “Based on what I know, it has a lot in common with the abilities of the Lantern Corp. I’m sure you’ve noticed their abilities during your time here.” 

“Yeah, now that you mention it, the powers they displayed were pretty similar. Maybe it comes from a related source.” Simon thought back to the powers the Lanterns demonstrated, especially Kyle’s own creations. The Lanterns clearly used their capabilities in different ways, yet the core desire to reshape reality through one’s will and imagination were the same. The Digger knew there was still more to learn about spiral energy, but his encounter with the White Lantern opened up new ideas he'd like to consider. ”I never tried summoning a dragon or an arcade machine, but it’d be worth a shot.” He smirked. “I bet if I tried I could create one bigger than Kyle ever could. Maybe we could turn it into another competition.” The Digger remained lost in contemplation for a moment, reverting his attention back to the conversation as Bruce spoke up once again. 

“You also mentioned you found Gurren Lagann when you were a teenager.” Bruce moved the conversation forward, believing it was best to follow up on their previous subject for another time. “It must have taken a lot of work figuring out how to pilot it all on your own.”

“Actually, I wasn’t on my own at first. Initially, I was afraid of even touching it.” Simon looked down at the core, deep in thought as he mused over his past with the mech. “It took time for me to build up the courage to control it. Even then, I remember having so many stupid doubts in my head. I was so worried about failing everyone, I didn’t recognize how much I was failing myself.” A soft smile adorned his cheeks, eyes exhibiting a mix of emotions. Fondness, nostalgia, and a touch of...remorse? Before Bruce could dwell on it, Simon’s face suddenly morphed into a beaming smile, his eyes once again radiating the cool intensity he usually exhibited.  “But I learned a lot from that too. All those trials allowed me to believe in a version of myself capable of harnessing its power. Now that I know that, I know there’s nothing stopping me.”

“It seems like it's in good hands now Simon.” As the pilot looked back up to Bruce, he was surprised to notice the man drop his stoicism for a brief moment. His previous colder tone morphing into something a little warmer, almost comforting. Something in his eyes letting Simon know whatever he conveyed, both said and unsaid, was fully understood. “It’s always about moving forward, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” Simon nodded. “Always.”

Another brief moment of silence passed by.

“Well,” Bruce spoke, finally breaking the stillness. “I’d be interested in learning more about Gurren Lagann, if you have the time.”

"It's going to be a long story. Where to begin..."

“I can’t believe it.” Kyle crossed his arms, watching in complete disbelief and mild annoyance at the scene in front of him. “We leave the room for one moment and he manages to hold a conversation for twenty minutes with that guy. Do you know how long it took for Bruce to even acknowledge me? "

Clark looked away for a brief moment, gazing at the clock on the wall before turning back to the two’s discussion. “It's been almost thirty minutes actually.” He pondered for a brief moment, before turning to his companion. “You must have really made a bad impression if Simon's first instinct was to punch you.”

Kyle huffed, leaving the room and ignoring his friend’s amused grin. “Just tell me when they’re done, okay?”

Chapter Text

When Simon first heard Superman had a pet, he wondered what type of animal the superhero adopted. He guessed it was a stray dog or cat that his family could help watch over whenever Clark was off-world with the League. A companion that was low maintenance but easy to care for whenever his owner had to be away.

Now that Simon was lying face down on the ground, a giant white beast with gaping jaws sitting on top of him, the pilot realized that his first guess was very wrong. Any further thoughts were unfortunately overshadowed by his diminished ability to breathe- his face only sensing cold metal and the occasional drop of warm slobber. Thankfully, Kyle was able to come to his rescue before he succumbed to complete darkness.

“I know you’re excited to meet a new friend but we’ve been over this Krypto,” the Lantern expressed, finally deciding to free Simon from his predicament. The Digger would probably be more grateful if his friend at least tried to hide his amusement and saved his three minutes of laughter for later. “Us humans are pretty fragile. Give him some space okay.”

Slowly (with an annoyed huff), the creature backed off the man he trapped on the floor, freeing Simon from what would have certainly been a slow and agonizing death. Taking a deep breath as he lifted his head, The Digger tried to get his bearings. “You know, a little warning would be nice,” he remarked, his voice scratchy as he recovered from the assault. Raising one sleeve to wipe the drool off his face, he slowly rose and turned to face his attacker: a four legged dog with a long cape nearly identical to his owner. The animal’s wide eyes seemed to take in every move the newcomer made with complete attention while his tail wagged faster than he could track. “I’m taking a shot in the dark here with the cape, but I’m guessing  ‘Krypto’ is the pet Clark mentioned.”

“Sorry, sorry.” The Lantern laughed again, trying (and failing) to sincerely apologize. “I forgot the League were bringing their pets to the watchtower today. Hopefully the clean up goes better than last time.” Kyle shook his head, before gesturing to the dog with a small grin. “But hey, you seemed to make a pretty good first impression! Krypto doesn’t normally fly through half the Watchtower just to meet a stranger.”

Simon turned towards Kyle with an annoyed expression.

Kyle shrugged, “Well, not every stranger.”

Before Simon could make a retort, he heard Krypto emit a small whine. Whirling around, he saw the dog sitting down, his eyes slightly downcast and looking a little ashamed. Simon sighed, then kneeled down and presented a hand towards the canine in a gesture of goodwill. Seeing that all seemed forgiven, Krypto gratefully pressed his head against the pilot’s hand, panting happily as Simon scratched behind his ears. “I assume he’s got the same super strength thing going on that Clark has?”

“Good guess,” Kyle answered. “He can do a lot more than that too. It’s why it usually takes a team of us to handle him when Clark’s away.”

Simon began petting Krypto with both hands, a soft smile settling in as the dog lapped up the attention with glee. “My back can believe it. At least he’s as friendly as Clark.” The dog seemed in pure bliss, encouraging Simon as the pilot’s hands moved to the canine’s back and sides.  “Plus, he knows how to apologize for a rude introduction.”

Kyle rolled his eyes. “Oh come on. I was just trying to resolve things quickly. You’re the one who threw the first punch.” Simon chuckled, trying to ignore the drool Krypto was spraying as he continued to scratch the dog. “All I was doing was responding to you escalating things.”

“And look how that ended,” Simon replied with lighthearted snark. He chuckled as heard a groan from behind. Just as his arms were beginning to strain themselves, the dog suddenly froze. Krypto then tentatively proceeded to lean forward, carefully sniffing Simon’s coat.

“Is everything alright?” Kyle examined the dog’s strange change in behavior, head tilted to his side. “I think he just noticed something.”

Simon smacked his head, an exasperated sigh escaping his lips. “Ugh, I completely forgot.” Lifting the collar of his coat up, Simon turned his head and spoke in a soft tone. “Hey Boota, sorry for the rough ride. Hope you’re doing okay.” In response, a small brown creature shot up from Simon’s collar, causing the four legged hound to jump back in surprise. “Boota, I’d like you to meet some people. This is Kyle,” he gestured to the Lantern, “our friendly, neighborhood space cop and someone who knows how to throw a mean right hook. He’s a pretty cool guy once you get to know him.” He turned to the canine who was slowly approaching the pigmole, his tail picking up speed once more. “And this is Krypto.”

Kyle looked at the tiny creature- the pigmole moving to Simon’s shoulder and appearing to scrutinize the canine. “Is your pet wearing glasses?” 

Simon shrugged. “What’s wrong with glasses? Besides, Clark’s the one who has a dog dressed up in a cape.”

“Fair, but still-”

Before Kyle could get another word in, Boota let out a small squeak. The pigmole then proceeded to jump on top of Krypto’s head, letting out a few more squeals as it scurried over to the dog’s back and rested on top of his cape. Whatever Boota stated, it seemed to rile up Krypto as the canine bounced up and let out an excited woof. Just as the two humans realized something was about to go terribly wrong, Krypto raced back to where he came from, Boota in tow.

“...That’s where most of the pets are,” Kyle realized with a sense of impending dread. “I guess Krypto really wanted to introduce him.”

“Boota was pretty excited about getting to meet everyone. He must have encouraged Krypto to give him the express tour.” Simon gazed at the hallway where they vanished, squeaks and howls reverberating through the steel walls. “The League’s pets aren’t too destructive, are they?”

Kyle grimaced, pulling out his Lantern Ring and slipping it on his finger. “We should probably head after them. I can’t imagine the damage they’ll cause when they meet up with Batcow.” 

“Got it!” Simon followed Kyle out the door, before pausing as he took in what the Lantern said.

“Wait, Batcow?”

Chapter Text

After their…explosive first meeting, Kyle was unsure what to make of Simon the Digger. The man’s willpower was frightening, surpassing what even he thought was possible. His ability to shape reality to his vision with ease was a feat he doubted even the Life Equation could match, and to wield it with seemingly no difficulty humbled the Lantern. When he was brought back to consciousness, laying on the ground with seemingly no trace of his accumulated injuries, Kyle could only wordlessly accept the hand offering to help him up.

“I was worried there for a second! I didn’t know if it was possible to bring you back. But between your ring and Gurren Lagann, it looks like I was able to pull it off.” Simon smiled, then opened his hand to reveal a familiar ring with a faint green glow. Holding it out, he handed the weapon back to his adversary. “You can take this back. I appreciate the offer, but I’m not the type of guy for this type of work.”

Kyle struggled to form a sentence as he took back the ring, millions of questions flying through his mind. His confusion only worsened by a sudden heap of exhaustion as his body caught up to the strain of their universe-spanning fight. Ultimately, his eyes tearing away from the ring in his hand, the Lantern looked back at the Digger and could only utter a single word.

“Why?”

Miraculously, Simon seemed to understand, answering nonchalantly as he looked at their surroundings. “Well, why not? You only meant to take me in anyway, not your fault we went too far. It’s certainly not worth anyone dying over.” He took another quick look around before grimacing, turning back to Kyle as he began to worry. “Anyways, I think I might need some help getting out of here. I kind of lost track of where we are. We ended up tearing apart a lot of the universe."

A brief pause settled in between the two, Kyle taking in his direct but honest reasoning. Eventually, he let out a small chuckle. “Trust me, I’ve seen a lot worse.”

"Really?" Simon asked. "Even worse than that giant wall I drilled through."

"...Oh right. That might be a problem."

Upon returning to where they first met, and fixing what they could from their battle. the two launched into a lengthy conversation. After exchanging countless questions, compliments, and explanations, Kyle figured it would be best to let this mission go. The more he thought about it, the more he realized just how out of his depth he was. It would likely take years of training and self-control for Kyle to keep up with the mech, and the Lantern still wasn't sure it would be enough to subdue his opponent. He could always work with the League or Lantern Corps as a whole to capture the pilot. But putting in so much work and coordination to bring in one man who knew how to properly handle the weapon (and wasn’t harming anyone) didn’t make sense. 

Admittedly, the Lantern was also influenced by Simon’s story of how he came to harness Gurren Lagann. The Digger's words felt like someone was holding a mirror to the Lantern's own journey of self discovery. As the pilot spoke about his struggles, Kyle could easily sense hints of guilt and self doubt. Feelings that could be accepted and managed by time and maturity but never truly faded away. A lesson the Lantern himself had to learn again and again since he accepted the ring. When their meeting finished, both seemed to have formed an unspoken yet powerful bond, forged in the fire of battle and cooled by mutual understanding. 

As Kyle took off, the two tentatively exchanging their information for a future meeting, he felt surprisingly assured by the day’s events (temporary death notwithstanding). Simon seemed willing to lend a hand to the Lantern in the future, even if he seemed disinterested in accepting the ring. The Digger could prove to be one of the League’s greatest allies in the near future. Kyle would just have to brace himself to answer any questions he’d face coming back empty handed. The Guardians certainly wouldn’t approve of his decision. 

Considering their track record though, Kyle figured it would be best if they followed his instinct this time.

Still, even after meeting Simon numerous times since, in the battlefield and in the comfort of the Watchtower, Kyle was still surprised to see how comfortably he settled into his host’s dining room. A simple question from the pilot about meeting his fiance and before he knew it, the Lantern was suddenly making a home visit.

“Just settle in for now, Mr. Rayner.” Nia placed an assortment of cutlery and plates where Kyle sat, displaying a smile so bright the Lantern had to avert his gaze. “Dinner should be ready momentarily.”

“I already told you, Kyle is fine, Nia.” He did his best to match her cheerfulness, swept by her warm tone and polite demeanor. “And don’t worry too much about the food. I’m sure whatever you’re serving will be fantastic.”

“ I wouldn’t be too sure about that,” the man next to him muttered under his breath. 

Kyle turned his head in confusion, “I'm sorry. Did you say something?”

“Yeah, say it again Rossiu,” Simon butted in. His inquisitive voice betrayed by a wrathful look daring the perpetrator to repeat his mistake, eyes zeroed in on the challenger from across the table. “I didn’t quite catch it the first time. Something about the meal Nia diligently worked so hard to cook for us?”

Noticing his entry into dangerous waters, the offender wisely decided to retreat to safe ground. “I said Kyle’s right to be excited!” Rossiu emphasized his statement with a remarkably fake smile. “I’m sure Nia did her best to ensure tonight’s meal will be great no matter what it is.”

If Nia noticed Rossiu’s sad attempt to cover up his mistake, she decided not to engage. “Well, Kyle, I hope you enjoy either way! Consider it my thanks for helping Simon so much the past few weeks.” She winked, “He does his best not to show it, but he’s a lot more comfortable out there with Gurren Lagann rather than cooped up at home.”

“I’m sure I will,” Kyle responded, though he couldn’t help but feel an impending sense of doom as Rossiu looked out worryingly at the kitchen. “Trust me when I say your fiance is one of the strongest people I have ever met. He’s done a lot to assist us the past few weeks.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Nia nodded in agreement. “I get worried sometimes that he's been hunched over a desk too long. It’s a relief to hear you two work so well together.”

Simon gazed up at his fiance with a bemused expression, eyes never dimming in their clear adoration of the woman in front of him. “Hey, I haven’t been that bad. I’ve just been busy sending out the final invitations. I should have some more time to myself before we get the responses and set up the venue.”

Kyle shook his head in amusement, thinking back to The Digger’s obscured but clear stress whenever he broached the subject of his wedding in the past. The last time they were at the Watchtower, Simon was frantically working on a list a mile long. He was nearly finished before Krypto snatched it out of his hands and proceeded to leave a literal paper trail over the central meeting room. The Lantern had to keep the dog distracted with dozens of toy constructs while Simon frantically attempted to gather together the soggy and torn apart list of names and addresses. “You must have had at least a hundred invitees. I’m guessing most of your friends won't be skipping out?”

Simon grimaced, answering with a sigh. “Afraid not. I’m grateful to see everyone, but putting everything together is going to be tough.”

Nia placed a comforting hand on Simon’s shoulder, his tension seemingly fading away for the smallest moment upon contact. “The rest shouldn’t be as difficult. Kiyoh and Kiyal already agreed to help with the decorations and catering! I’m sure everyone else would love to pitch in, too.”

“Starting with Kamina City,” Rossiu interjected. “I already directed funding towards the wedding and transportation for your guests from the last budget meeting. It should easily cover any expenses you two have.” Nia and Simon both turned to him with looks of awe. Even Kyle blinked in surprise. The commander simply met their stares with confusion, unaware of how severely he caught them off guard. “You didn’t expect me to just show up, right? The logistics of paying for this wedding by yourself would be a nightmare.”

“We appreciate the gesture,” Simon began uncertainly. “But are you sure? It would be a lot of money.”

Rossiu waved his concerns away with one hand. “Save it, I already decided to assist when we landed back home. I saw how desperately you and Nia wanted this since you were first reunited. Consider it my gift and personal thanks for letting me resume this post. Besides,” he grumbled, “Kinon would probably punch me harder than you did if I just watched you struggle. We haven’t forgotten how much you’ve done for us.”

The couple turned to each other, a pair of giddy smiles growing on their faces. Nia looked back at their friend, eyes beaming with gratitude. “Well, we deeply appreciate it, Rossiu. I hope you have a wonderful time at the wedding.”

“Still, directing that much money to a private ceremony.” Simon whistled. “Doesn’t sound like something a responsible commander should be doing.”

“Take the gift before I change my mind,” Rossiu replied in mock annoyance, failing to cover a burgeoning grin. Suddenly, an alarm rang out, causing Nia to jump in excitement. “Oh, looks like the main dish is ready! I’ll be back soon.” Placing a kiss on Simon’s cheek, The Digger smiling bashfully with a faint blush, she took off towards the kitchen to make the final preparations for their coming feast.

“So,” Kyle began, “Commander of Kamina City. Sounds like a tough job.”

“Its a lot of paperwork,” Simon replied offhandedly. “Maintaining the infrastructure, revising any and all laws put in place. Trust me, it's nowhere near as interesting as it sounds.”

“Speak for yourself,” Rossiu argued. “All that work is what keeps the city running. Even a single paper out of place or an incorrect order and you’ll be left scrambling to pick up the pieces.”

Kyle pondered over their conservation, thinking back to his time spent with Simon out on patrol. He turned his back to the pilot, mentally going over what he learned. “I know you talked about fighting the Beastmen, but you never mentioned leading an entire city before. I’m guessing that’s where some of your leadership skills grew.”

Simon rolled his eyes. “I’m telling you, it’s not that demanding of a job. At worst, you may need someone detail oriented like Rossiu to check any mistakes.”

“And I’m saying I did a lot more than that,” Rossiu responded with slight offense. His glare intensified as Simon smirked, the two proceeding to engage in an argument over what it meant to be commander in chief.

As Kyle looked on at their argument, he unconsciously realized he may have learned just a lot more about where Simon’s power came from. His connections with his friend and fiance were strong, and while the Lantern still didn’t fully grasp the potential of spiral energy, he knew just how important these bonds could be. The superweapon may be Simon himself, but its clear where his willpower came from. He likely would have had more time to think about The Digger if Nia hadn’t burst in with giant platters of food. Eye watering plates were laid across the table as she bounced across the room, preventing the two commanders from bickering any further. 

“Dinner is served!” Nia took her seat next to Simon, the latter leaning in to offer a quick hug before digging in to their meal. “I hope you enjoy!”

Kyle took a leg from the still steaming roast chicken, and was about to take a bite before he saw Rossiu shakily place the smallest pieces of their dinner on his table. He had a look of fear in his eyes, a gaze the Lantern had only seen in his own times of greatest despair. Turning back to Nia and Simon, who seemed to have no trouble consuming the meal, Kyle hesitantly took a bite, chewed, and swallowed. 

It didn’t take long before Kyle realized just how big of a mistake he made.

Chapter Text

The Lantern Corps had been busier the past few months. A lot busier.

Hal was no stranger to a long work day, whether it be lengthy journeys out in space or just a tiring debriefing with his teammates. Usually he was stuck dealing with both consecutively. It seemed like new maniacs were always springing up, threatening to blow up a nearby galaxy or start a galactic war or whatever other scheme he would have to foil. The Lantern tried keeping a mental list of how many times he heard the same villainous plans before, but had to give up fairly quickly after the fiftieth time someone tried to blow up Earth.

Between his time with the League and the Lantern Corps, Hal learned to function without getting a full night’s sleep. Lately though, he was lucky to stop somewhere long enough for a quick nap before his ring would receive another alert. The universe was far larger than any team of heroes could keep up with, but each recent venture out in space seemed to reveal larger and more mysterious problems than ever before. Even on Earth, strange occurrences were springing out of nowhere, and the Lantern Corps spent more time than ever cleaning up the mess.

Still, Hal believed it could be worse. If his meetings with the League were accurate, the Lantern wasn’t bearing the entire load. In fact, everyone seemed to have stories about their own strange encounters. Anyone from warrior space princesses to chrome travelers flying on surfboards -Hal thought J’onn made that last part up- were keeping the group occupied. The Lantern himself still struggled to find time each month to check up on that teenager he met last year: something tells him that watch thingy was going to cause a lot of trouble eventually.

The group wide rise of troublemakers at least meant the team could work together to resolve the sudden influx of dilemmas they needed to deal with. He was also receiving plenty of unexpected but welcome support from his newest allies. That included the pilot he and his friends were currently meeting with, sitting in the Watchtower meeting room and debriefing over their most recent battle against the (now subdued) Yellow Lantern force they encountered.

“You know, I think this is the first time I really saw the Lantern Corps working together.” Simon whistled, taking a sip from his cup of tea. “ I think I understand what you were talking about, Kyle. Seeing you all fight together was pretty awesome. I'm kind of jealous about all the stuff you can make with those rings.”

Kyle nodded in acknowledgement from across the table, his attention divided between the conversation and digging through his half empty potato chip bag to keep tossing food towards the Digger’s pet (a pigmole, if Hal recalled correctly). He managed to turn away from the task at hand just long enough to respond to his friend. “I know we’ve had a lot of difficulties- you’ve especially seen that lately. But when it comes down to it, every Lantern is willing to give up their life if it means protecting each other. That’s what the Corps is built on, and it's why these rings are so important. What’s the point of a team if you can’t work together?” Kyle punctuated that statement by flinging another chip towards the mole, who seemed to be enjoying the little game of catch they made while devouring every chip he received. Hal was pretty sure Kyle hadn’t eaten a single one yet from his dwindling supply. “At least, that’s the way I see it. I know some others tend to head in without thinking even if their help isn’t requested,” Kyle remarked, unsubtlely side-eyeing their ginger companion.

“I only did that to save your ass,” Guy countered, defending his actions during their recent fight. “Besides, we both knew that deescalation was going nowhere. Someone had to act before you got slammed into a yellow cage.”

“It was worth trying to get information,” Kyle argued. “It slowed them down for a second and allowed the rest of the squad a bit of time to collect themselves. Something they could have used more of if you didn’t jump in without warning,” he added with a roll of his eyes.

“Yeah,” Guy smirked. “It also gave them time to think about the best way to shove you into the nearest black hole. This way, we caught them off guard and made sure you didn’t come home with a hole in your chest.”

“Wait,” Simon paused, studying Gardner for a second. “You’re the guy who hit that purple dude with the giant green fist.”

“Well,’ Guy began, puffing his chest with not a tiny amount of bravado. “I figured the simplest option was the best choice. Something I knew Sinestro wouldn’t see coming.” He shrugged. “Plus, after his fifth speech about killing all of us and blowing up the planet, I was really fighting the urge not to just deck him. If anything,” he pointed towards Simon with a grin, “You’re the one who really gave me the inspiration. Most people's plans tend to fall apart after being punched in the face. That's a saying I've found to be true more often than not recently.”

Simon laughed, remembering his first mission with the League. “That’s right, I completely forgot about that. I didn’t even recognize the guy until just now.” The Digger almost seemed nostalgic, thinking back on Sinestro’s complete humiliation during their first fight. “He’s a bit full of himself, huh? Those types always struggle with a head on approach.”

“Now you're catching on,” Guy said encouragingly, lifting his cup and clanking it against Simon’s in a mock toast. “Learn a few more lessons like that and maybe I can see where Kyle is coming from with all this recruitment talk.”

“Keep in mind that usually doesn’t work out so well,” Hal stepped in, having his share of Guy’s antics and bad advice for the day. Wiping off the crumbs accumulating on his side of the table from Kyle’s continued game with the pigmole, he continued. “Trust me, try to take as little inspiration from him as possible. You’ll avoid a lot of headaches in the long run.”

“And a lot of broken ribs,” Kyle added, still in between tossing more chips at Simon’s pet. “Really, that plan only worked because of the scare you gave Sinestro last time.”

“You have to take every advantage you have,” Guy remarked. “If his head isn’t in the game, that’s your chance to score.”

Simon looked at him in confusion, before a light bulb went off in his head. “Oh, I was wondering why his eyes kept drifting over to me.” The Digger looked at his drill piece in quiet contemplation for a second. “Now that you mention it, some of them were going out of their way to try to sabotage the mech. I guess he must have told his group to go after it.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Hal stated. “We appreciate all the work you’ve done, but you definitely caused a lot of noise since you started joining us.” If anything, he thought mentally, that would be underselling it.

"Well, I figured something like this could happen if I kept showing up to help." Simon toyed with he piece in his hand, turning it over with an amused look. "At least now they know I can put up a fight. Best part is,” he smirked, “I barely even showed off what this machine can do." His gaze from the drill back to his allies. "How much do you think he even knows about it? I'm flattered he's interested, but there's plenty of easier ways to threaten the universe that don’t involve getting sent home fleeing each time. It’s not like he’d be able to pilot it in the first place."

Kyle and Guy tried to theorize about Sinestro's possible goals and how much he could know about the mech. Or, at least, Kyle did while Guy interjected with his share of unhelpful jokes. Meanwhile, Hal thought back on what he learned about the man in front of them.

The first night they were made aware of Simon’s existence caused a huge crisis among the Corps, one that hadn’t really dissipated in the months since. When Kyle first returned empty handed, talking about a powerful newcomer that could match him blow for blow, the Guardians were quick to demand a meeting on how to deal with this potential new threat. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed, with the unspoken acknowledgement that someone who could best even Kyle’s strength was someone that would have no issue contending with the rest of the Lanterns. But while the White Lantern did his best to assuage their concerns for the time being, even arguing he was chosen by the ring (leaving out  that Simon wasn't interested until tensions thawed), everyone was still split on how to handle The Digger.

Hal himself had a lot of questions he still didn’t have answers for, despite multiple meetings with Simon since. His explanations about this so-called “Spiral Power" were interesting, but also very clearly limited. Even Bruce wasn’t entirely sure what to make of it after extensive research, and the Lanterns  weren’t sure how to replicate it. Seeing just how powerful the mech was for the first time in person proved to Hal that Simon’s potential was beyond what he could imagine. Someone capable of such great willpower without a ring, tapping into an energy source that the entire League had no knowledge of, changed everything they knew. Maybe the Lantern rings were harvesting spiral power to register the emotional spectrum. Maybe Simon’s drill core was in some way its own ring, forged in a completely different process that allowed him to surpass any limits. No one knew how to mimic his power, and Hal doubted people would be satisfied letting it be. If Sinestro knew, and was directing the Yellow Lanterns to attack Simon, then stories of Gurren Lagann were likely spreading across the universe while they spoke.

Yet, despite all the problems and intrigue The Digger inadvertently caused, Hal still felt a weird sense of faith in Simon as he sat conversing with him. Logically, Hal knew he should probably be more anxious: he knew first hand how intoxicating and devastating such easy access to immense power could be from his own shameful mistakes. But Simon had a way of connecting with others and making them believe in his own power. He could see why Kyle spoke so highly of him, and even Guy seemed to be a tad less abrasive when speaking with the pilot. Despite all the dangers Simon would likely face now, it was clear he would have no issue overcoming it, especially now that he could count on both the League and the Green Lantern Corps to assist.

Another laugh from Guy broke Hal out of his thoughts, turning his attention back to the conversation as he saw Kyle slump in defeat.

“You can’t blame me for asking again,” Kyle shrugged. “I really do think you’d be a lot of help if you joined us. You’re practically acting as a full member already and it would guarantee you would always have someone watching your back.”

“Sorry,” Simon shrugged with a small grin, “The answer is still no. Helping from time to time is one thing, officially joining an entire organization to patrol space is another. Apologies if your bosses are upset, but it’s just not how I want to spend the rest of my life. I got enough to worry about back home.” His eyes lit up as he thought about his future, picturing his fiance. “Once Nia and I go on honeymoon, I think I’ll see about giving this life a well deserved break. And if anyone tries to come after me, I'm sure I can handle it.”

“Upset is definitely one way to describe it,” Hal sighed, thinking back on how furious the Guardians were when they heard about all the damage Kyle’s failed arrest caused. Even worse as the Lantern argued for hours against pursuing The Digger. “Still, Lantern or not, we owe you a huge debt. Anything you need, we’ll do our best to help. We’ll make sure no one bothers you or your loved ones.” Subconsciously, Hal reached into the bag, pulling out the last remaining chip and tossing it over to the mole- Boota, he finally remembered. The pigmole let the snack fly for only a second before catching it, seemingly giving the Lantern a wave of appreciation as he munched on the final treat. Looking back at his owner, he saw Simon watching the mole with a soft smile, before turning to the Lantern and giving him a silent thumbs up.

Kyle nodded in agreement, constructing a small dust pan and broom to sweep the bag and rest of the crumbs away. “We’ll make sure to intercept any future problems headed your way, too. If anyone gives you trouble, know that we'll be there in a flash.”

“It’s probably for the best anyway,” Guy remarked. “You’d look terrible in green.”

Simon actually looked offended at that statement. “I think that might just be the most damaging thing you’ve done all day.”

Chapter Text

Simon enjoyed his time working with the Justice League, getting the chance to dust off his mech and visit new parts of the universe he’s never seen before. Being able to test Gurren Lagann’s capabilities in a new area was a delight: he even managed to convince the Lanterns to teach him how to summon constructs like the rings. Those experiments weren’t successful- the closest thing he made to any object was a chain of drills shaped like a dragon that scattered on impact with any surface. But he hoped he’d pick something up one day. It was a nice break from the stress of his upcoming wedding either way. Waking up this morning to mark another x off his calendar, the date creeping ever closer, he wondered what advice Kamina could have given him to take the edge off. 

Still, as his appearances at League headquarters became more frequent, he learned just how complicated some of their responsibilities could be. Not every mission required the League to punch someone out, as useful as such a skill was. When a supervillain wasn’t attacking Earth or trying to destroy the galaxy, the heroes spent their time managing diplomatic relations on and off the planet. It was arguably even more important than dealing with the daily crazed psycho. Walking into the Watchtower one morning and seeing the stack of paperwork and calendars stuffed with upcoming meetings, Simon found it oddly reminiscent of his days overseeing Kamina City. Subconsciously, he made a note to check on Rossiu once he got back home. His friend had a bad habit of placing everyone’s burdens on his shoulders: a trait Simon was painfully familiar with.

With most of the team’s members unavailable for the day, Clark had asked Simon if he could do the group a favor and assist with an upcoming conference on Earth. The appearance of so many strange newcomers across the universe (“including you,” the Kryptonian acknowledged), led to many superheroes trying to renew diplomatic efforts across the world to relax tensions. The latest attempt, a historic meeting between Themyscira and the United Nations, was taking place this afternoon. There, Simon and a few others would make sure talks would go smoothly as the Amazonians and world leaders sought to improve diplomatic relations. The meeting would require quite a few delegates from the island, and there were plenty of humans unnerved by the appearance of such strong, mysterious warriors visiting.

That was the reasoning for The Digger’s current “deployment”, fiddling with the collar of the suit Kyle loaned him. Trying to ignore the feeling of his clothes strangling the life out of him, Simon took another look around the assembly hall. The Amazonian delegates had begun speaking, laying out their plans to deal with reports of so called “incursions” around the globe. Other heroes were scattered around the area to ensure that the team could prevent any ‘diplomatic incidents’. Despite the undercurrent of pressure everyone felt to ensure an agreement was reached, today was still a much more relaxed pace compared to Simon’s previous missions.

But, that change in scenery was certainly getting to him. Simon didn’t register the other Amazonian speaking nearby until she laid a hand on his shoulder. 

A polite, concerned voice spoke. “Is everything okay, Simon?” Turning to his side, he saw Wonder Woman looking at him with slight worry, head titled as she studied The Digger. 

Since Simon began partnering with the team, he noticed that while there was no official hierarchy, some members were certainly more important. Three people in particular stood out: Batman with his tactical thinking and stern leadership, Clark with his confident but optimistic attitude, and Diana with her empathic but determined and wise outlook. Standing eye to eye with the pilot, the warrior exuberated a presence that balanced Clark’s optimism and Batman’s stoicism. It was as common to see her ferociously leading the charge against one of their many foes as it was her opening a dialogue with partners new and old. She had a keen eye for detail- both in combat and in politics- and her ability to read the thoughts and emotions of others caught many off guard. As it did now.

Simon chuckled lightly, trying not to raise his voice and interrupt the meeting. “Um, sorry about that. I guess I’m not used to jobs like this, standing still waiting for something to happen.” He wiped the sweat off his forehead, not realizing until then just how unbalanced he felt. “It’s been a while since I handled any government affairs,” he explained. “I’m a little rusty working in a slower environment.”

Diana offered a comforting smile, satisfied with the explanation. “You’re doing perfectly fine, Simon. I’m just checking with everyone to make sure things are going smoothly.” She eyed the drill piece in Simon’s hand, The Digger unconsciously fiddling with the key for the past few minutes. “Any issues with Gurren Lagann?  I know this isn’t the best location for your talents. But I assure you if anything occurs, we can move any greater threats outside where you can assist freely.”

Simon grinned. “It won’t be a problem, this mech is ready for anything.” He punctuated that remark by groping the key tightly, trying to regain the conviction he normally displayed. “Besides, if anything happens, I know how to handle things man to man.” He made a fist with one hand, punching his open palm.

“Well, that’s good to hear.” Diana paused, turning back to the floor with a stoic face. “Clark did inform Batman and me recently about how you and Kyle truly met. It certainly explained his habit that week of rubbing his cheek. Not to mention those reports we received of strange power fluctuations across the universe. It gave us quite a scare.” Simon coughed, remembering when they spoke to Clark and the long lecture that followed. Fearing another private flogging, The Digger turned to the Amazonian. Her face was still stoic as she faced the floor, but her eyes gave away a small glimmer of…michief? Still fixed on the assembly, Diana folded her hands behind her back as she kept watch. “I suppose Clark already taught you how to handle such an incident next time.”

Simon breathed a sigh of relief, spared from another humiliation and content to resume his duties. “Believe me, we definitely learned our lesson.”

Now it was his turn to take a moment, listening to a representative of the UN take the main podium and outline their plans. “I heard Themyscira is pretty isolated from the outside world,” he mentioned, thinking over the quick history lesson by Kyle as he rushed over to the meeting earlier today. “You must have played a big part in them coming here.”

“Well, I’ve always wanted my sisters to take a greater role in the planet around us,” Diana explained. “It’s especially important now, seeing as we’ve encountered so many new realms and civilizations recently.” She briefly thought of one of her latest acquaintances, hoping the princess was managing the war occurring on Eternia. She sighed, closing her eyes and thinking back to the topic at hand. “I admit, there is definitely a bit of selfishness on my part. It’s hard to form into words, but leaving home on my own brought me a sense of discovery that was a delight to experience.” Diana smiled, thinking wistfully of her first journey beyond the island. “It made me who I am today, and I think it would be a great help to my family and friends if they could receive the same experiences I did. I know some may be afraid of us, as they are of any unknown factor. But I think this could be the first step in having stronger relations with the outside world, and for both civilizations to rely on each other in times of great crisis.”

“I understand completely,” Simon replied. Diana looked at the pilot, silently asking him to continue. “I mean, if I never left where I was born, I’d probably still be hiding underground in a hole somewhere. I can just picture it,” he joked, “probably tinkering on some useless tool, still jumping at every shadow.” He shook his head, continuing. “This machine got me out of there, and seeing the outside world and speaking with so many people taught me how much I could still grow. I don’t know what will happen today. But if you think it will help your people, I think it’s a great idea.”

Diana seemed grateful for his words. “I see why everyone thinks so highly of you. Kyle mentioned you were great at speaking with others. Maybe you should assist with government affairs more often.”

Simon laughed, and was about to continue until he noticed someone in the crowd. A person near the front had suddenly gotten up, and was reaching into his coat as he dashed towards the current speaker. Simon shouted, “Nine o’clock! Everybody get down!” 

Already, the man had pointed a gun to the podium, the surprise blown but still attempting to strike his target. He shouted in rage, wearing a shirt with the sigils of the Amazonian tribes crossed out, clear in his opposition to any agreement with the Amazonians. Firing, the assailant attempted to silence the speaker and would have been successful if not for the Amazonian guards who sprung into action upon Simon’s alert. They rushed forward, shielding the target from the gunfire. The rest of the representatives began diving for cover, shouts and cries ringing out as the remaining guards and heroes rushed to stop the attack.

As Simon dashed across the room, he suddenly remembered how dangerous calling upon Gurren Lagann in such an enclosed space could be for everyone else. Trying to come up with a plan to reach the assassin before he could cause any harm, the pilot was caught off guard as Diana flew by with a determined gaze. In a flash, the warrior swung her lasso around the intruder and pulled with all her might. The man yelled in shock as he was yanked back, the gun he was holding flying out of his hand. Diana caught him and flipped her prisoner face down, placing her knee firmly on his back as she looked back up and called out. “Everyone okay!?”

As the representative on the podium was covered by both Amazon and human guards, the other heroes quickly moved through the crowd for any further threat. Simon finally caught up to Diana and did his best to regain his breath. She took another quick look around, confirming there was no threat of further violence, before offering him a small smile.

“Good eye.”

Simon felt a wave of relief wash over him for the second time that day, seeing everyone recover from the brief interruption. “Thanks, I hope he didn’t just doom this meeting.” 

“Well, it’s certainly a bad start,” Diana acknowledged, looking back at the podium. The targeted representative was unharmed, profusely thanking the Amazonian who rushed into action as the woman accepted his praise with gratitude. “But, I think there’s still hope for the future.”

Chapter Text

It was supposed to be a normal afternoon, just a short visit to Kamina City to see Rossiu and catch up with his old friends. With all the work he was doing with the Justice League, Simon didn't have had time to check in on how everyone was doing. Now that he unofficially retiring his unofficial membership for the moment, he thought it was a good opportunity to meet with everyone one last time before the wedding.

He was grateful for the opportunity the League gave him, and he treasured the memories he made and how much his understanding of Gurren Lagann evolved. But he promised Nia he would spend as much time as possible with her now that they had at least eighty years to look forward to. Though she insisted she would be fine with Simon spending more time with the League after the festivities, her fiance was always clear that he would be going offline for a long while sooner rather than later. Still, one would think Simon had retired for good if they saw the activity going on in the Watchtower during his last visit. Dozens of his ‘coworkers’ were there, showering him with congratulations and gifts for the wedding. The Digger was a little taken aback by all the attention- one look at Kyle’s smirk in the back of the room told him who was responsible for all the dramatics- but he was grateful for the support.

With all the presents stuffed in any spare corner of the house the couple could find, and a roll of photos from his adventures hung in the kitchen, Simon was finally ready to relax with his beloved. Strolling hand in hand as they met with Rossiu (Nia and Kinon doing wonders to lighten up the normally stern leader) Simon was looking to the future with excitement.

That was when the alert rang out of the central control room, warning of hundreds of enemies scattered above the planet.

“Keep them separated! Their constructs are a lot weaker on their own.” High above the sky, swatting away another Red Lantern scout that got too close, Simon was barking orders from his mech to his allies with great urgency.  While Rossiu was technically ordering the military, Simon as always immediately took center point. He did his best to keep up with the chaos around him, informing his allies of enemy weaknesses while keeping dozens of Lanterns from trying to rip apart Gurren Lagann. The fighting had only been going on for fifteen minutes, but each second seemed to crawl by agonizingly slow, and their numbers seemed nearly endless. Red light flashed above the clouds, blinding in their intensity as the army tried to subdue the Gunmen. 

Rossiu responded over their intercomms, a noticeable edge in his voice as he shot down several enemy fighters. “All forces, you heard him. Group up if you can and focus on one target at a time! Watch each other’s six and avoid being surrounded.” His next orders were unfortunately cut short as he rushed to avoid a crimson meteor flung his away by a nearby squad, doing all he could to keep up the chain of command. His other friends weren’t fairing well either. In the corner of his eye, he could see Gimmy and Darry struggling against the commander, Atrocitus, as they tried to counter the flurry of projectiles sent their way. He already saw Dayakka get shot down earlier, escaping his flaming mech with minor injuries but knocked out of the fight, and it looked like the Lanterns were slowly making their way towards their true goal: Gurren Lagann.

“Stay focused Simon, there's another group coming at us!” Snapping out of his thoughts, Simon turned to his fiance, seated right by him in the robot and pointing at a couple of ruby glimmers in the distance. Only a moment later, a giant artillery cannon spontaneously appeared. The pilot rapidly shifted the mech out of the way before the gunfire could hit its target, countering with a barrage of drills that forced the enemies to flee for cover.

“Thanks, Nia. Keep an eye on anyone else coming this way.” Simon had to admit, despite his insistence she should stay down on Earth (only relenting after Nia practically threw herself into the mech before takeoff), he would be dead in the air without the extra guidance. Still, it was clear the enemy wouldn’t give up until they either disabled or destroyed the mech. Though he was sure Gurren Lagann could manage the endless wave of combatants, he was growing increasingly worried about the damage they were causing. If they decided to make their way towards the city…

Unfortunately, Simon wouldn’t get a chance to finish that thought. “Simon, big and ugly is coming directly at you!” Hearing Gimmy’s desperate cry, The Digger hurriedly turned to the red comet flying towards the mech. Atrocitus had managed to stun the siblings long enough to escape the scuffle, the two struggling to fight against the red ropes his subordinates were using to restrain their mech. The alien had a menacing smile across his face, his ring shining an ominous light as he made his way quickly towards Gurrenn Lagann. With no time to dodge, Simon and Nia did their best to brace against whatever was coming.

Then, without warning, a green dragon suddenly slammed into Atrocitus, the beast sending the Ryutian flying back from the mech and back to the earth below. Simon stared in confusion for a second, before a smile broke across his face.

“Was that from one of our own?” Nia asked, bewildered by what just occurred.

“Nah,” Simon answered. “But don't worry, these guys are on our side.” Turning his head to the sky, a familiar figure was flying towards them, followed by dozens of old allies.

Kyle stopped on a dime in front of the couple, offering a small wave as the League and Lantern officers continued making their way to the battle. “I heard you may need some help! I figured it might be a good idea to bring some backup on the way.”

The pilot laughed, his fiance beside him letting out a delighted gasp of surprise. “Nice of you to drop by. What do you say we teach them not to mess with my home?”

Kyle turned back towards the fight, the Red Lantern forces already being pushed back by superheroes and Gunmen alike. “Sounds like a plan. Follow my lead!”

“We were tracking Atrocitus for the past few weeks,” Kyle explained, briefing with Simon back on the ground once the enemy was defeated. “But we didn’t realize until today that he was heading towards your planet. Sinestro must have informed him about you. I guess he believed your weapon was worth staging an all out assault.” The leader in question was currently being escorted into a prisoner transport ship in green handcuffs along with the rest of his bruised and battered forces. Hal and Guy (the latter doing his best to piss off the humiliated soldiers) had taken charge of overseeing escort duties, while Clark and Diana led a small team to clean up any damages the city incurred. Thankfully, with most of the fighting in the sky thanks to the system’s advanced warning, most of the casualties and property damage were minimal. It would take time, but Kamina City would soon be repaired.

That left the rest of the remaining League members to check in with the local militia, slowly breaking into small groups as they shared stories and recapped the fight with each other. Nia, as always, managed to charm a few of the newcomers with her heartfelt gratitude. Meanwhile, Rossiu and Batman were going over the central computer, the former explaining with reserved pride about his work overseeing the military while the latter listened intently. 

“Well, you certainly saved us a lot of trouble.” Simon offered Kyle a firm handshake, one the Lantern received firmly. “Thank you for keeping an eye on us. I know I quit the League but-”

“If we ever need help, you’ll be there, right?” Kyle interrupted with a smirk. “The same goes for all of us. Official or not, you’re part of the team. A well deserved break, even a long one, won’t change that.”

Simon grinned, and was about to reaffirm his appreciation before the computer suddenly notified everyone in the vicinity of an emergency call. Rossiu rushed to answer, the system displaying a woman with emerald eyes and a large hairband resembling a pair of cat ears. She frantically scanned the room, looking for the azure haired man and shouting in a hurried voice.

“Simon, we heard there was an attack above Kamina City!” Her tone was urgent, seemingly distracted between checking in with him and piloting her vessel. “We’re on our way now. Is everything okay!?”

Kyle turned to Simon with a questioning stare, The Digger letting out an amused sigh before replying. “Don’t worry Amari, we’ve got everything under control here.” He paused, scanning the room to see both the members of the Justice League and military command all waiting for him to answer. “But if you’re nearby, I’ve got a lot of new friends I think you’d love to meet.”

Chapter Text

After all the days spent going over today’s plans, the sleepless nights preparing his vows, and the constant worrying about the future, Simon was surprisingly calm on the day of his wedding. Maybe all that stress allowed him to better prepare for the big day. Or, more likely, all his friends stepping in to help lightened a lot of the burden.

The first chance he got after the ceremony, he pulled Nadia, Amari, and Iori aside and scooped them into a hug, thanking them (with only a few tears) for giving the couple this second chance. The trio seemed almost as happy as he was, the former taking part in the festivities with her husband while the latter two took a bottle and walked off somewhere, yet to return. In the back of his mind, the pilot realized that there would probably be another wedding very soon. He also had to make sure to find whatever brand of wine Rossiu and Kinon were currently drinking. After a few glasses, those two were slowly giving up on retaining any proper decorum. It looked good enough as a gift for whenever they tied the knot.

Still, Simon had bigger worries in mind right now. Most importantly, the woman who managed to take his breath away every time he looked at her. Nia would always remain the prettiest person in the entire universe. But seeing her dressed in this elegant gown only solidified Simon’s admiration. He was so distracted that he had to be bumped by the officiator to state his vows during the wedding. Even now, The Digger felt immensely lucky to have the privilege to sit beside her as the party lasted into the night.

For now, he was simply content watching all his loved ones celebrate, seeing everyone eat and drink and laugh as much as they desired. He was so lost in the festivities, he didn’t notice until he was softly nudged in the chest that one of his most important guests had gotten up from his seat.

“Well, don’t be shy!” Nia tilted her head in the direction their guest was leaving. “Make sure he knows how much we appreciate him.”

Simon smiled at his spouse. Pressing a light kiss to her forehead, he moved from his seat and walked towards the direction the Lantern was leaving. He managed to catch him just before he left the courtyard, coughing not so subtly into the crook of his shoulder to catch his attention.

“Leaving so soon?” Simon asked with a playful grin, causing the Lantern to turn around. “I know it's getting late. But, something tells me this party’s going to last until sunrise.”

Kyle chuckled, scratching the back of his head. “Afraid so, duty calls. You defeat a few guys with delusions of grandeur and all of a sudden you're getting called to deal with the next reality warping alien.” He looked down at the ever present ring on his finger, his expression a mess of different emotions. “At times like this, I think I understand why you choose not to accept the ring. Sometimes, even I'm tempted to give it up for good. But maybe working through that anyone is what gives me the strength I have now.” The Lantern took another look at the party going on behind the Digger, a small smile growing on his face. “Still, I appreciate the invitation. I’ll make sure everyone knows how everything went here. Tell Nia I hope you both have a wonderful honeymoon.”

Simon matched Kyle’s smile with his own. “Hey, I’m just glad you were able to visit for a while. I'll let her know if you give everyone my best regards at the Watchtower.” He tilted his head, studying his friend for a bit before continuing. “I know you may be busy between all your patrols and creeps trying to cause problems. But just because you’re busy protecting the universe doesn’t mean you don’t have plenty of time to catch up. Give yourself a break sometimes. And if you ever see someone that catches your eye, don’t be afraid to see how it goes. Sometimes, it can work out better than you ever hope.” He shrugged, turning back to the party for a second, towards the most important person in his life. “At least, it certainly worked for me.”

Kyle paused, considering his words, before letting out a bemused sigh. “I don't have the best luck with romance but… I think you might be on to something. I’ll make sure to keep it in mind. And hey,” he walked over to Simon, offering a closed fist. “Don’t go dark on us, okay. There’s always more space to explore and more people to save. You’re always welcome to visit.”

Simon chuckled, his hand closing tight and completing the fist bump. “Like I’d abandon you to deal with some yellow or red jerks on your own. Just who the hell do you think I am?”