DISCLAIMERS/NOTES

1. This is a fan fiction based on characters owned by DC Comics. I DO NOT OWN THEM. This is just for fun.

2. Wayback Wednesdays continues! As always, I'll point out this was written over a decade ago. Here in the UK, Season 2 of the JL cartoon had yet to air, so Hawkgirl had not been revealed as a spy. And the massive, every-hero-in-the-DCU roster of Unlimited wasn't a factor. My timeline picks up after the Season 1 finale, The Savage Time. All my Wayback Wednesday stories are numbered chronologically, if you get stuck.

3. Sadly, this is where my writing of Diana kind of goes mental. And at the very end of this chapter, Batman acts way out of character. I can only shake my head at my own incompetence and ask for forgiveness. I was young and reckless. But as I promised when I began Wayback Wednesdays, I have not altered these - they are as I wrote them all those years ago. I hope you enjoy it despite my mistakes.

PART 1

The Javelin-7 soured out of the upper atmosphere, as it reached the edge of the planet Earth. After a few moments, it was out of the planet's atmosphere and flying through space.

One of the occupants inside the craft felt slightly uneasy. He had never been in space before, and it was made all the more unsettling considering where he was going.

He was going to the Watchtower.

The headquarters of the Justice League.

The world's greatest heroes.

Could anyone blame him if he was a little nervous?

The person flying the plane worked the controls effortlessly. He turned to the other person, and smiled. "Don't worry, Mr. Carr. It won't take long."

Snapper Carr fidgeted in his seat. "That's er… fine… Superman. I'm OK."

Superman turned his head back to the windscreen. "So, how exactly did you get this assignment?"

Snapper loosened his tie slightly. "Well, I've been covering stories for the Daily Planet for a while now. I was onhand for the Alien Invasion from nearly a year ago. Plus, I've interviewed some superheroes in the past."

"Yes, so I've heard," Superman said. "Supergirl said you did a good job."

"Er, yeah," Snapper stuttered. "She was a nice person."

"So you looking forward to today?"

Snapper sighed. "It's a little humbling, interviewing all of the Justice League. But I couldn't pass up such an opportunity. Thanks for letting me get this chance."

Superman held up his hand. "Not at all, Mr. Carr. It'll be a good chance for the world to hear things from how we see them. And Flash likes publicity. Well, good publicity anyway."

Snapper smiled. He was indeed looking forward to the interview. It was as exciting as it was nerve-racking. But he knew he had to do it: Perry had trusted him to do it, and he was not going to blow it.

After a few minutes, the Javelin had reached the Watchtower and landed in the complex's hanger bay. The rear hanger door opened, and Superman and Snapper walked off the ship onto the bay floor.

Snapper looked at the other craft docked there. A sleek, black jet. The Batwing.

That meant… HE was here.

Snapper felt like a kid. He had wondered if he would get the chance to interview the mysterious Batman. He knew that, as great as the Justice League is, an interview with the Dark Knight would be gold.

Superman held out his hand and gestured to Snapper to look infront of him. Snapper looked in the direction Superman indicated, and saw three people there to greet him.

Snapper took a deep breath. Standing a few yards away was Green Lantern, Flash and the beautiful dark-haired female Leaguer.

"I think you know who these are," Superman said. "Guys, this is Snapper Carr."

Flash zipped over to him and shook his hand feverishly. "Hey, dude, how ya doing?"

Snapper looked at him. "Er… fine, Mr. Flash."

Flash held up his hands. "Hey, no need for formalities here, buddy. Just call me Lord Flash."

The dark-haired woman walked over to them. "Now, Flash, live the boy alone. You'll scare him off."

"Why'd you say that?"

The woman smiled. "Well, let's just say I was glad GL traded places with me as your partner during the Invasion."

"You and you alone," Lantern said from behind.

Flash folded his arms. "Oh, ha. Very funny, guys. Looks like the Amazon Princess has picked up a sense of humour over the past year."

Superman put a hand on Snapper's shoulder. "Now, people, let's all let Snapper relax. Mr. Carr, would you like a drink?"

Snapper smiled. "What have you got?"

Diana leaned closer. "Try the milkshakes. They're wonderful."

"You sure we have any left?" Flash asked. "I tell you, how you drink so much of that stuff and keep that figure is beyond me."

Diana looked at Flash, but Superman intervened. "Look, why don't we all go to the lounge area? We can relax, and Mr. Carr can tell us what he has plans for today." He gestured at the door. "Please, this way."

"Thanks," Snapper said. The five of them walked towards the door, and Snapper took a deep breath.

This was going to be an unorthodox day…

/

Snapper Carr looked around the table he was sitting at. His cup of tea had long since gone cold. He was still amazed at the situation he was in. The world's greatest superheroes were watching him from around the wooden surface. They all had warm, kind expressions on their faces, sure, but he was still star struck.

Superman took a sip from his milkshake. "So, what do you have in mind for today, Mr. Carr?"

Snapper took a gulp before answering. "Well, I thought maybe I could have a quick group session with you all, then interview you all individually."

Flash leaned back in his chair. "Sounds good to me. Fire away, and be snappy about it."

Snapper looked at his clipboard and picked up his pain. "Is everyone here?"

He looked around the room. Superman, the dark-haired woman, who he had learned was named Diana, Green Lantern, Flash, the Martian, who had introduced himself as "J'onn", and Hawkgirl.

Snapper frowned. He had yet to see Batman during his time at the Watchtower. In fact, he had not even heard him being mentioned. Still, he had time.

"Well," Snapper began, "I'd just like to start by thanking you for letting me in and get this chance. The whole world will want to read what you people have to say." He looked as the Leaguers all nodded in acknowledgement. "I'd like to start the questions with how you all got together."

Superman smiled. "Well, as you know, we first teamed up when the Earth was threatened by the Alien Invasion last year. After we won that battle, I thought it was a good idea for us to stick together. We face threats that one hero can't."

"I see," Snapper said, "So the Justice League is your idea?"

"Well, that sounds a bit egotistical," said Superman. "It was me who thought about us banding together, but I'm not entirely responsible for the team working so well."

"Yeah, the massagists do that for us," Flash said.

Snapper laughed. "What do you attribute to the League working so well as a team?"

"I think it's because we're all professional," Superman replied. At that moment, Flash burped from his milkshake. "Well, almost all of us," Superman added.

A couple of hours later, Snapper had finished his group questions. He had found the League warm, friendly and open. He had soon relaxed following his initial anxiety. "Thanks, guys," he said. "That was great. So, if you don't mind, I'd like to start with the individual interviews."

"Sure thing," Lantern said.

Snapper looked around the room. "Is there anywhere I can have the interviews in private."

"There's a side room through that door," Superman said, pointing at a doorway a few yards away. "Who would you like to begin with?"

Before Snapper could reply, Diana sat up. "Would you excuse me for a moment, please? I have to… er, take care of some… business."

Snapper nodded. "No problem." Diana smiled and walked off, rather quickly. Snapper looked at the other Leaguers. "Flash, would you mind?"

"Not at all," the scarlet speedster replied. "Starting with the best, eh?"

/

"So, what do you want to know?"

Snapper looked at his clipboard at Flash's question. He had written down a list of questions he wanted to ask the Justice Leaguers in their interviews.

He looked up and asked the first one. "What do you see your role in the Justice League?"

Flash leaned back. "Well, apart from the resident hunk and girl magnet, I'd say I keep the team together. If it wasn't for me, they'd be lost. I mean, I can't count the amount of times I've saved their bacon with my split-second timing. You could say I'm their lifeline."

Snapper raised an eyebrow. Was he being serious, or just having a laugh? Whatever it was, he had other questions to ask. "How do you find being with the League effects your image? How much has your life changed since the team formed?"

"Well," Flash said, "it hasn't changed THAT much. I mean, I've been a hero for a few years now. The only thing that's changed really is that I have other heroes to talk to more often."

"And what is your relationships like with the other Leaguers? Superman for example."

Flash appeared in thought for a moment, then replied, "Hey, he's a class act. He ain't from this planet, but it's like… he's the most Human of us all. Like, what the Human race would WANT to be, and hope to be – he is. Having said that, he isn't the most fun to be around. I mean, he's friendly and all… but none of the Leaguers are exactly sociable. I'm definitely the most down to Earth guy there."

Snapper made some notes on his clipboard. "How about Green Lantern?"

Flash tensed at the sound of Lantern's name, and Snapper could sense the air cool. He knew he had to bring it up.

"Lantern is very professional," Flash said slowly. "He and I… clash a lot of the time. He likes to think his way through things, whereas I go in and make it up as I go along."

"You two had a very public argument a few weeks ago," Snapper pressed. "Can you elaborate on that situation?"

Flash frowned and sat deeper in his chair. This was obviously a sore point with him, but Snapper had to ask. "Like I said in the press conference," Flash finally replied, "it was a misunderstanding. It was completely blown out of proportion by the media. The situation was resolved and Lantern and I moved on. End of story."

Snapper wrote down more notes on his clipboard. It was obvious that was all Flash was prepared to say about the subject. That was fair enough. He would approach the subject with Lantern later on.

"Now," Snapper said, "your identity as Wally West is public knowledge. How does you being a superhero effect your private life?"

"It only effects it in good ways," Flash said, relaxing. "The chicks dig the suit. Plus, if any bad guys were to try and get to me through my friends… well, my friends can look after themselves. And if not, I look after them for them."

"You've recently been spotted with a beautiful young woman, Linda Park. How do you see that situation going?"

Flash held his hands in the air. "We've only been seeing eachother for a few weeks. I can't say anything at the moment. What's private is private."

Snapper nodded in acknowledgement. He had to admit, Flash was more than the comical joker he seemed to be. He had shown that he respected Superman, and had a sort of a love/hate relationship with Lantern. He also discovered that he considered his family VERY important.

He just hoped the other Leaguers would be just as multidimensional…

/

Diana entered the monitor room and looked around. There, sitting at the monitor station, was Batman. He was motionless, sitting silently as the screens bleeped regularly.

She went up to his chair and rested her elbows on the backrest. "Hi," she said softly.

Batman looked up at her. "Hello." He then frowned. "Are you alone?"

Diana smiled. "Yes. Why?"

Before she could say another word, Batman gave her a quick, but forceful kiss. When he separated his lips from hers, he took her hand in his. "What are you doing here?"

Diana moved to his side and sat on the armrest of the chair. "Just thought I'd come down and see the man I loved. Why, want me to go?"

Batman kept his straight face, but his tone softened slightly. "If you do, I'd only have to come get you again."

Diana put her arm over his shoulders and leaned closer to him. She looked at the monitor screen. "What are you doing?"

Batman returned his gaze to the screens. "Monitor duty."

"I thought it was Hawkgirl's turn?"

"It is," said Batman, "but she's always complaining about it. I thought I'd relieve her of the chore for once."

Diana sighed. "Would this have anything to do with us having a visitor?"

Batman remained silent.

"Snapper's been here a couple of hours now," Diana continued. "He's a nice man."

Batman still said nothing.

"He wants to talk to you."

"We all want what we can't have."

Diana began to stroke his arm. "You have me."

"That's different," he said. "I NEED you."

Diana smiled. She leaned closer, and Batman mirrored the action. They kissed again, more deeply and for far longer than before. Diana moved her sitting position from the armrest down to Batman's lap. He stroked her cheek and pulled her closer. The kiss lasted for over a minute. When they finally tore their lips apart, Diana sighed. "What did I ever do without you?"

Batman smiled, but then frowned. Diana was confused; was something wrong?

"You really should get back," he said. "Before they get suspicious."

Diana's shoulders sunk. "I guess you're right…" She then had an idea. "You know," she said quietly, "I think the interviews are going to take some time…"

Batman looked puzzled. "What are you getting at?"

Diana slowly rose from his lap and got to her feet. She began walking towards the door. "Oh, no reason…" She turned to leave, then stopped at the doorway. She looked back and pouted. "I'm going now…" she said. "You coming to get me or what?"

With that, she left the room and went down the corridor.

Batman blinked. He turned around in his chair and faced the monitor screen. He sat in silence for a few moments, as the monitor bleeped regularly…

He then stood up out of his chair, turned around, and strode out the room, in the direction Diana had gone…

TO BE CONTINUED