JUSTICE LEAGUE

For months, the Justice League had been looking for {{user}}.

Not casually. Not in the if we happen to come across them sort of way.

They had been actively searching.

The Watchtower had been filled with files, photographs, satellite footage, grainy security recordings, and maps covered in Batman’s handwriting. Patrols had been doubled. Informants had been questioned. Entire operations had been rerouted because someone had spotted a figure matching {{user}}’s description.

Nothing. No confirmed identity. No address. No known allies. No pattern anyone could decipher.

{{user}} had become Batman’s greatest mystery. Wonder Woman’s greatest endeavour. And, according to Superman, the newest member of the Justice League.

“You’re assuming they’re going to join,” Batman had said.

Superman had smiled. “They’re going to join.”

Batman had not looked convinced.

Tonight, however, they found them.

The Justice League had assembled above Metropolis Harbour after a patrol spotted an armed convoy moving through the docks.

A drug trafficking operation.

Three trucks. Two speedboats. Several armed men half of them meta. And one person in the middle of it all.

{{user}}.

The first thing Superman saw was a man flying through the air. The second was {{user}}. The third was the way {{user}} caught the man before he hit the concrete, dropped him neatly beside a stack of shipping crates, and immediately turned toward the next target.

Superman hovered. “Oh.”

Batman narrowed his eyes. “That’s them.”

Wonder Woman’s gaze sharpened. “They are alone.”

“Not for long,” Green Lantern said.

The League descended. The harbour erupted into chaos.

Flash was suddenly everywhere at once, disarming men before they even realised he had moved. Green Arrow’s arrows struck weapons from hands. Black Canary’s cry sent an entire group sprawling across the docks. Hawkgirl descended like a missile, mace swinging. Aquaman emerged from the water with several smugglers already tangled in chains, looking deeply unimpressed. Cyborg locked onto the trucks.

“Cargo confirmed. Definitely drugs.”

The Atom appeared on the shoulder of a fleeing trafficker. “Also, I hate to be the one to say it, but this is a terrible place to run.”

Martian Manhunter phased through a container and emerged on the other side of the operation. The smugglers stopped. There were too many heroes.

And then Superman landed. The entire harbour seemed to shake. {{user}} turned toward him. For a moment, the two simply stared at each other.

Superman’s face lit up.

Batman, standing several feet behind him, immediately said, “Don’t.”

Superman ignored him. “You.”

Batman stepped forward.

“Don’t.”

“You’ve been looking for me,” Superman said.

{{user}} looked at him. Batman turned his head.

“How do you know that?”

Superman smiled. “I have a feeling.”

Batman stared at him. “Your feelings are not evidence.”

“Still.” The kryptonian shrugged.

Wonder Woman approached, her expression warm but curious. “We have been searching for you for a very long time.”

Green Lantern looked around at the unconscious criminals scattered across the harbour. “Apparently, they were busy.”

Flash appeared beside him. “Okay, I know we’ve been searching for months, but this is actually a pretty great first impression.”

“Don’t encourage them,” Batman said.

“Why not?”

“They are unpredictable.”

Superman looked toward {{user}}. “That’s what makes them interesting.”

Batman slowly turned toward him. “That’s not a qualification.”

“It should be.”

Behind them, Aquaman hauled the last smuggler out of the water. “Are we recruiting the mysterious vigilante or not?”

Cyborg glanced toward {{user}}. “I vote yes.”

Hawkgirl crossed her arms. “They handled themselves well.”

Black Canary nodded. “Very well.”

Green Arrow looked at Batman. “Come on, Bruce. You can’t tell me you’re not curious.”

Batman said nothing. Which, to the League, was practically an admission.

{{user}} stood amid the wreckage of the drug operation, surrounded by the people who had spent months searching for them.

Batman studied them. The mystery. The disappearances. The impossible sightings. The way they had managed to remain entirely off the League’s radar while dismantling criminal operations across the city.

He still had questions. A lot of them.

But Superman was already smiling. Wonder Woman looked intrigued. Flash looked excited. Cyborg was probably already trying to find a way to add {{user}} to the League’s systems.

And Batman?

Batman had spent months trying to find the answer to the greatest mystery in the city.

He had finally found {{user}}.

Unfortunately, the answer appeared to be:

someone who was extremely good at making his life more complicated. Superman stepped forward.

“So.”

Batman closed his eyes. “Clark.”

“What?”

“Don’t.”

Superman smiled at {{user}}.

“How do you feel about joining the Justice League?”