Hi there! I'm the author! Here's your standard disclaimer. I'm not affiliated with DC Comics, and as such, I don't own any of the characters in this story. Cool? Cool.
The Justice League. Some days, it feels like I've known them my whole life. Other days, it feels like I'm meeting them all for the first time again. In truth, if someone were to say out loud how long the League has existed, half of its members would probably smile, and say something along the lines of "look at everything we've accomplished". The other half would frown, and make a joke about feeling old. I can't say which one would be my reaction. I guess it would depend on what kind of day I was having.
That being said, I haven't been a member of the team quite as long as some of the others. I wasn't one of the seven founders, but I had the honor of being their first recruit. My name is Oliver Queen. My friends call me Ollie. Some people even still call me Mister Mayor. To the superhero community, though, I'm known as Green Arrow.
The Justice League was formed in a time of crisis. The general public knows one story, and the League founders and a few other costumed crimefighters know another, but I'm not going to get into all of that. Both versions go something like this. There was a big problem. So big, it attracted the attention of the world's greatest heroes, and by banding together, they overcame the odds and decided that they worked well together as a team. Thus, the Justice League of America was born. Over time, they recruited more and more members, until they pretty much had a global thing going. The general consensus is that the world is now a much safer place, but contrary to popular belief, the League can't take care of everything.
Our mission as a team is to handle the threats that no lone hero ever could, and we do a pretty fantastic job of it, if I do say so myself. The problem is that every now and then, there's a serious issue that gets overshadowed by an even more serious one. Those slightly smaller problems usually get solved, but not as quickly or as efficiently as they would if they were considered League business. Sure, there are plenty of other superhero teams. The Teen Titans, the Outsiders, Batman Incorporated, even the Suicide Squad does a lot of good. But even with all the work they do, sometimes it still isn't enough.
Of course, there are so many of us now that the entire League isn't needed on every assignment anymore. Even if it takes twenty or so heroes to solve a problem, there will still be quite a few benchwarmers. Sometimes, when I'm not needed on a mission, I'll relax. I might go home and watch television. I might spend time with my favorite girl. I might even work out. Most of the time, though, if the League doesn't need me, the people at my day job don't need me, and I've had enough sleep, I can be found fighting crime.
That is exactly what I was doing one day in my beautiful hometown, Star City, when I received a call from the one and only Batman. It was just beginning to get dark out. I was on the roof across the street from a bank, about to draw my trusty bow when I heard his voice in my ear.
"Arrow, it's Batman."
"Bats. Haven't heard from you in a while. What's up?"
"Are you busy?"
"Not really. Just some bank robbers. Pretty run of the mill stuff," I answered, waiting for someone to come out of the building. "What can I do for you?"
"I need your help."
"Can you be more specific?"
"There was a mass breakout at Arkham Asylum about a week ago. My sources say that there were sightings of some of the inmates in Star City. Clayface, Poison Ivy, and Killer Croc."
At this point, the front doors of the bank opened, and out stepped two masked guys wearing Christmas sweaters of all things. I quickly drew an arrow, aimed it at the ground in front of them, and fired. On impact, the arrow released a foam that engulfed the robbers' feet and legs. The foam then solidified, and the dumbstruck criminals immediately dropped the guns and money-filled suitcases they were holding onto the ground. "Idiots," I mumbled. "So I can understand how Clayface would get all the way from Gotham to Star without being noticed, but aren't those other two kind of conspicuous?"
"My thoughts exactly. I have Batgirl en route to track them down and question them, but she won't be able to apprehend them alone. I would have gone with her, but the League is handling an offworld threat. I'm needed here."
"You can count on me, compadre," I said, hearing police sirens in the distance. "I'm all finished here. Where do you want me to meet her?"
"There's a toy factory on the south side that was abandoned mid-construction because it-"
"Because it was a front for human trafficking. I know. Who do you think outed them and took them down? The Easter Bunny?"
"She'll be landing the Batwing on the roof. She's about nine minutes away. How fast can you get there?"
"I can be there in fifteen if I don't make any stops. You know how much I love catching baddies in the act. And getting donuts."
"I don't suppose Canary is available to help as well, is she?"
"As a matter of fact, she's on vacation. Went to Vegas with some friends. Don't worry, Batman. I got this."
"Thank you," he said before hanging up. A typical conversation with Batman. Short and to the point. No small talk, no "how was your day", not even a joke. Sometimes it frustrates people, but usually I don't mind. After all, he's a busy guy. He runs a big company, and he fights crime without superpowers. I can relate. So with that, I headed to the factory, leaving the bank robbers for the authorities.