(I will now refer to Viktor's Dark and Light weapons as Twilight Weapons and Gear.)
While Iris prepared to ask her questions, Barry was looking right at Viktor. It had been several months since criminals began to get strung up throughout Central City. At first, no one had any idea except for the mutterings of those who faced Knight in person.
The things they all had in common were severe internal damage, broken bones, and terror-filled screams of living darkness. Even after recovering, they all had one thing in common. The absolute terror of the dark and dogs without exception Iris' Father, Joe West who had interviewed those criminals saw them break into cold sweats at the slightest bit of darkness.
When asked why they feared the dark so much, they all said it was because Knight could become the shadows. It reminded Barry of Bruce, but where Batman used the shadows, Knight could become and control the dark.
He had seen the hardened killers, and gangsters nearly wet themselves at the smallest dogs. A thing about Viktor's armor was that he applied terror and nightmare-enhancing runes across his armor to increase the fear he caused.
Barry was was snapped out of his thoughts when Iris began her questions.
"I would like to first say thank you for thank you for these interviews. Last time, it was sudden so I will be more thorough if that is ok?"
Viktor nodded as he didn't have any problems with that.
"That is fine. Ask away."
Iris looked at her notepad before she asked her questions.
"First I would like to ask what you think of the way the people of Central City think of you. It is easy to see online that your approval rate is rather high, among the people of Central City, but some people think your methods go too far.
While rare, you do mutilate and cripple some individuals permanently. What would you say to the people who disapprove of your actions?"
"While I understand that my actions can be seen as too far, the alternative is unacceptable to me. I will explain my method and how severely I deal with criminals as there is a method to my brutality.
Those who are committing petty crimes, I let them off with a scare and some bruising. Burglars and drug deals get off with broken bones since their crimes affect people more thoroughly.
As for the ones I mutilate, I leave that to mass murderers, rapists, and child molesters. I can't get to all of them as many hide behind closed doors and I don't know everything, but through my actions, I make those that can change redeem themselves through terror.
If the citizens still disprove, there is not much else I can do, but do what needs doing. I am a vigilante after all, I am taking the law into my own hands so I can only follow my own rules."
Iris wrote that down before she moved on.
"Good to know. Now, what if The Justice League does not extend an offer of membership, what will you do?"
Viktor shrugged as if they rejected him it wasn't like he needed them.
"Nothing. If I do not get an invite, I will simply extend my work to other cities. I may go to Gotham since I feel Batman could use a hand."
Barry's eyes shot up as that was not a good idea. Bruce hated outside heroes and vigilantes in his city. Especially one like Balerion who would 'disrupt' the criminal underworld of Gotham.
"Belerion, maybe avoid Gotham."
Viktor, Iris, Yami, and Lorna glanced at Barry who felt a bit awkward. It was like he was saying that he shouldn't try to help stop the overflow of crime in Gotham.
"It's that Batman dislikes others to enter Gotham. Several vigilantes that began to operate in Gotham were mostly forced to stop."
Viktor snorted.
"Bruce has been known to take offense in the past."
Barry cleared his voice once again as Viktor without shame said Batman's real name. That gave Iris another question. She already knew the identities of the League, so she didn't bring it up.
"That brings up a question, what do you think of people comparing you to Batman? Many have compared your actions to the Dark Knight since you both operate in the shadows.
Your way of dealing with criminals involved lots of trauma, just that you often go further on average. What are your thoughts on Batman and his time in Gotham?"
Viktor smiled behind his helmet as he spoke on this.
"Batman and his Robins do what they can, but it is not enough. Gotham is a shithole full of corrupt politicians, and eccentric mobsters, and a it needs lot of work. Batman does what he can to help, but he should swallow his pride and get League assistance more often.
Regardless, that is my pledge. I will begin working in Gotham regardless of what Batman thinks. if he tries to force me out, I will simply ignore him. He doesn't have any powers after all and he doesn't own Gotham after all."
Iris smiled as she wrote this down as it would get a lot of attention.
"So, regardless of the opinion of Batman, you will fight for the people of Gotham?"
Viktor nodded.
"They need the help and Batman will have to eat his pride. He won't be able to kick me out. Who knows, maybe he will learn a thing or two from me."
Iris glanced at Barry who seemed to want to say something.
"Barry?"
He looked at her before he looked up at Viktor once again.
"That may cause problems since Batman is a founding member of the League. If you cause trouble in Gotham he may try to bar your entry to the Justice League. Not that I would, I just think that maybe staying out of Gotham would be a good idea."
As Barry looked up at Viktor's dog-faced helmet, he waited for a response. Viktor tilted his head before he shrugged.
"That is fine with me, I will just ask Superman. Everyone knows Superman is the most important League member after all."
Iris wrote that down as that was going to get a lot of attention. Barry's face fell as he was one of the founding members too. Saying that Superman was the most important felt insulting.
"I get Superman is strong, but he isn't the most important."
Viktor nodded.
"I guess you're right, Superman is powerful but poor. Working as a journalist doesn't pay that much. Now we can't forget Batman's money. Maybe Batman is the most important, how else would the League work without Bruce Wayne's donations."
Iris wrote all this down as this article was going to bring huge attention. The opinion of a high-profile vigilante like Knight or as he liked to go by, Balerion would make her article front and center.
She had a few more questions, but she decided to cut to the chase.
"Now, this is something many people want to know. Will you ever publically make an appearance? You said you were willing to do a press conference. Will you still do it?"
He nodded.
"Sure. I don't mind, though I don't mince my words as I am not a politician. I don't need to lie to get my thoughts out to the people. Oh, this is something more important. I would like to apologize to the doctors and nurses who were forced to deal with the injuries I caused.
They should not have to waste their time on criminals."
Iris nodded as she noted it down, but now she looked over at Lorna. She had stayed quite the whole time just levitating a couple of meters away.
"Would you mind if I asked your apprentice some questions?"
Viktor glanced back at Lorna who glanced over.
"You want to talk to her?"
Lorna shook her head.
"I am good. You can keep the spotlight, I am fine with staying a bit more quiet. At least for now."
Viktor turned back to Iris with a shrug.
"She isn't in the mood I am afraid. Now, do you have any more questions? I think I will be making my leave soon."
Iris thought about it before she thought of a good one.
"I do have one more question, but you don't have to answer. Your secret identity, if there ever came a time when the government asked all heroes to register their identities would you give yours? In the past, such bills were almost turned to law."
Viktor glanced down at Yami before he shook his head.
"Hell no, it's not like they have the means to find out who I really am. I don't think the US government has any loyal magic users or do they?"
Iris glanced at Barry who shrugged as she didn't think they were. Otherwise, they would use them far more often for different incidents. With that question, iris reached into her pocket before she got her cellphone.
She handed it over to Barry before she walked next to Balerion.
"Do you mind?"
He shook his head.
"Not at all."
Yami still in full armor walked around and sat in front of Viktor. His helmet was identical to Viktor's Berserker Armor and matched his aesthetic. With Yami and Viktor in position, Iris smiled at Barry who raised his phone and snapped a picture.
Viktor decided to take this chance to increase his popularity.
"Take a couple more."
Barry glanced over at Iris and smiled at the chance to make herself even more famous. She had used pictures with The Flash who just so happened to be Barry to promote her articles.
As such, Barry continued to snap pictures of Iris next to Viktor. Eventually, Iris had a request.
"This is going to sound a bit funny, but can you place your sword on your shoulder."
Viktor began to laugh as he reached behind him and drew his sword. He placed the large greatsword which crackled with black and white lightning and fire on his shoulder. Iris loved it so she put up two peace signs while Barry took pictures.
Iris glanced at Barry before she made up her mind.
"Barry hit record."
Barry did as she said and began to film her video. Iris stepped away from Viktor before she asked her question.
"Now, let us settle this for those who didn't believe me, what is the name you want to go by?"
"Balerion, Knight works too, but my name is Balerion."
Iris nodded.
"Thank you for your interview, sir Balerion."
With that Barry stopped recording before handing the phone back to Iris. While began to look through the photos and the video, Viktor turned to Barry.
"May I see your suit?"
Barry looked around and saw no one so he extended his fist and from his ring emerged his crimson suit. Viktor grabbed it when it emerged before he began to analyze the material with magic.
"Ah, a heat-displacing and friction-reducing compound. I can work with this. I just can't do it in front of you since my magic is a personal thing you see. After all, magic is a personal art, but enchanting is different."
Barry understood that somewhat.
"I see."
Viktor thought about it before he handed the suit back.
"Tell you what, leave your suit with me along with the ring and I will enchant and enhance it for you. When I finish, I will have my hound deliver it to you. Shouldn't take me more than a few hours to finish."
Barry thought about it as he stored the suit back into its ring. It was a risk, but since Balerion was more than amicable he decided to take a leap of faith.
"That is fine, I will trust you with this."
He handed his ring over with his suit which Viktor dropped into his shadow. Seeing his ring fall into the shadow once again made him question how that worked.
"Ok, I need to ask, how do you turn shadows into portals or storage decided? How do you make something not solid, solid."
Viktor patted Barry on the shoulder before he told him the secret.
"Magic."
With that, Lorna flew over and placed her hand on Viktor's shoulder. With that, the three of them fell into Viktor's shadow in moments. When they were gone, Barry kneeled and he patted the shadows on the ground.
"How does it work?"
Barry knew magic was real, but he still tried to explain it through science. How did magic, turn shadows which were just a blocking of light into a solid construct or a portal?
While Barry's brain worked at a million miles an hour, iris began to walk back home. She had a lot of work to do on her article. This video was going to go viral on the internet and her promotion was guaranteed.
---
As for Viktor, when he returned to his house, he instantly sat down on his chair in the living room. His Twilight armor fell off his body into his shadow. Yami did the same thing before he lay down at Viktor's feet.
As for Lorna, she used her used her magnetism to remove her gear.
"So, what is the purpose of your interviews?"
Viktor shrugged as he pulled out Barry's ring.
"They are fun and they get my thoughts out to the public."
Viktor brought Barry's suit out before he began to analyze it further.
"Who knows, I might turn enchanting into a business for the League. Are you a superhero, but married to a mortal? Are you worried for their safety? Not a problem, buy enchanted gear to protect them at a discount now. Buy from Balerion, Knight, and Enchanter."
Lorna smiled as Viktor created new Twilight Enchanting Tools to work on this. He was going to place some runes that reduce friction, displace heat, self-repair, clean, and ways to protect Barry's identity in the mask.
Of course, he was going to put any copying runes that would make it impossible to memorize or even see the runes properly. When he was done, The Flash would be even more terrifying to the criminals of the world.
He might even be able to extend this to the other League members if they accepted his membership. He had at least had Barry's vote which was important. Then again, he was fine to work solo too.