Nothing is perfect. Life is messy. Relationships are complex. Outcomes are uncertain. People are irrational.-Hugh Mackay

The Watchtower

Batman was tired physically, mentally, and emotionally, but then again, it had been one heck of a day. He had been buried alive, his colleagues had almost died, and to top it all off he was on trial for giving the villain who caused all of this the idea in the first place. He looked around the league meeting hall where the senior members would either discuss topics or judge other members. He caught himself looking at his judges, or should he call them his friends. They all were staring at him, each in a differently.

Superman had this strangely neutral face, probably still deciding the best course of action.

Wonder Woman looked particularly angry with him, and couldn't seem to look at him for too long.

Green Lantern looked rather uninterested in the trial. Perhaps Hal already guessed how the trial was going to go.

Aquaman seemed like he was sizing Bruce up, wondering what he was going to do and how he would defeat him.

J'onn had a look of perfect calm. He was never very good at expressing his emotions, but at least he didn't hold grudges.

Flash looked the most nervous, constantly looking back and forth between members, his chipper spirit momentarily absent.

Plastic Man looked very annoyed, as if his night had been much a lot worse than everyone else's.

"Well," said Superman. "Well what Clark," said Batman, "do you want an apology?" "I think we all deserve one." "Fine I'm sorry that I let Ra's al Ghul get a hold of my notes on all of your weaknesses." Wonder Woman piped in next, "I'm guessing that means you're not sorry about the notes existing in the first place." "No." "And why not," said a very agitated Aquaman. "Because Arthur, those notes needed to exist and if I had to do it all over again, I would." "How can you say that," said Plastic Man. "Because O'Brian, we are too dangerous as people, for their not to be a contingency if one or more of us came under mind control or became evil." "He has a very good point," the Martian Manhunter said. "J'onn is right," chimed in Flash, "we need to be sure that if something happened we could be stop…" Wonder Woman suddenly cut him off, "but we didn't know Barry, and the only way we are sure now is that we have now seen his contingency in action." "Diana is right Barry," said the Man of Steel, "we could've been warned that there was a contingency without knowing the details, and now because of Bruce's secrecy all of our lives had been put at risk."

While they had been arguing the Dark Knight had been looking around, wondering if he would ever be on the Watchtower again. He was suddenly awoken from his semi-daydream by Superman. "Are you ready Bruce?" "Yes." Suddenly, Hal chimed in, "We're not seriously voting, if Bruce is staying in the League or not, I mean he has been in it since the beginning." "It's alright Hal," chimed in Bruce, a fact he did not believe.

Superman then said, "All in favor of Batman staying raise your hand." The hands of Hal, Barry, and J'onn rose and once again Hal spoke. "Shouldn't Batman get a vote?" "GL he is the defendant," said Diana, worried that Hal will doing something rash. "This isn't a court Diana, we're a team and we're all supposed to get equal say." "But, if Batman is given a vote, then it'll be…," Aquaman began. "What, a tie?" blurted Flash. "Can't have that can we," said Bruce. "Well if Bruce is out, then you better make that ticket for two," said Hal.

Upon this comment, the entire room fell silent, no one sure what to say, but eventually Batman broke the silence. "I can't ask you to leave the League Hal." "That's okay; I didn't need your approval, besides it's not much of a League anymore." After this, Bruce asked. "Anyone else?" Flash and J'onn promptly followed them out, Flash occasionally glancing behind himself. As they walked towards the teleporters, Wonder Woman stood trying to think of the right words to say, while the others just sat, staring into space, trying to process it all. Sadly, it was all in vain. After the foursome teleported back to earth, Plastic Man, turned to Superman saying, "So what now?" Superman just sat there, trying to answer the question he never thought he had to, wondering how losing one member made them lose four.