"The Three Ethical Laws of the Hero" MHA and LWA fanfic.
Excerpt: "Luthor's Method of Torture"
To clarify, Jason would be Izuku from My Hero Academia in my fanfic, and his sister Barbara would be Akko from Little Witch Academia. Also, this is an excerpt from a very advanced stage of my fanfic, a stage that is still in development. It's mainly to give you an idea of the tone. Thank you to whoever reads it; I hope you enjoy it.
Jason had long since lost track of how much time he had spent imprisoned in that place.
His cell was a claustrophobic hole where standing upright was barely possible. Vibranium shackles and chains bound his wrists and ankles. Energy fields projected over him, making his body feel unbearably heavy and turning even breathing into a form of torture. His face was sealed behind a vibranium mask.
He could no longer remember the sunlight.
He barely remembered who he was.
Only by repeating it to himself like a mantra did he manage to hold on.
He could not lose himself.
He could not lose to Luthor.
The only thing that helped was the alter ego from his previous life: Dru Zod, the Kryptonian general, a persona that had gradually become part of him through his cycle of Kryptonian reincarnations.
"One last time. Who are you?"
"I am Jason Wayne. My father was Bruce Wayne, the Knight of Gotham. My sister is Barbara Wayne. I studied at U.A., where I learned from the finest members of the Justice League."
"And what is your purpose?"
Once, he would have answered that his purpose was to protect humanity.
But after so much torture...
The words erupted from him like the howl of a wounded wolf.
An oppressive evil made its presence known.
With every step it took toward the cell, its aura grew heavier.
"Don't falter, kid. Don't lose yourself. His oppression is strong, but you're stronger."
Even with the encouragement, Jason could not suppress the irrational terror that Luthor inspired in him.
The Dark Kryptonian Prince.
But he could feel that suffocating dark aura.
"Why don't you just kill me and get this over with?"
"Jason, Jason... If I wanted you dead, you would have died a long time ago."
A brief silence followed.
"What I want is for you to understand my vision."
Despite his exhaustion, Jason remained defiant.
"What you want is to break me. You're looking for submission, not loyalty."
"I would have no need to break you if you simply accepted reality."
Jason let out a mocking laugh.
"What reality? That humanity would be better off as a race of numb monsters?"
He leaned forward against his restraints.
"How curious. You see me as the unnatural monster here. Yet from my perspective, it is you who are unnatural. Humanity is merely the degenerate descendant of the Kryptonians, who themselves had already fallen into decadence. Machines of wasteful productivity. Irrational. Needlessly violent."
"Yes, I am cruel. I am ruthless. That is undeniable. But every evil I commit serves a purpose."
"Grandiose nonsense. Though I suppose I can't blame a creature like you for failing to understand the value of human emotions."
Luthor was silent for a moment.
"You claim emotions have value. Allow me to demonstrate just how mistaken you are."
"In fact, they are the very reason for your suffering. Your attachment to humanity brings you nothing but pain."
"I'm beginning to think that, between you and your sister, she is the stronger one."
"Leave Barbara out of this!"
Jason's voice emerged as a deep, cavernous roar.
"She is involving herself."
Luthor's tone remained calm.
"I have been informed that the Watchtower crossed a portal into Xen. It is heading here as we speak."
A faint trace of amusement crept into his voice.
"I have no doubt your sister will attempt to rescue you, driven by her..."
"If she didn't have them, she wouldn't put herself in danger. But that is the nature of your beloved human emotions."
Jason thrashed against his restraints like a trapped beast, growling and struggling uselessly, feeling more powerless than he ever had in his life.
He paused at the doorway.
"...you will have my permission to die."
And with that, Luthor left the cell.
