Sorry that this is so late, but my surgery keeps getting rescheduled. The last time I got this surgery, it got screwed up.

Wish me luck! (I'm going to need it)

After the introductions, and me silently geeking out that I got to shake hands with a Martian, we all seemed to fall into an almost calming silence as Superman fixed Batman's ship. Apparently Batman wasn't a vampire, who knew? (Anyone who is a true Bat fan.)

"Aren't you a little young for this, kid?"

Well their goes the silence. Seriously, just one moment of peace, is that to much to ask?

Apparently.

With an annoyed sigh, and a small glare over his shoulder, Phantom fixed his intense toxic green eyes at Green Lantern. GL couldn't help but flinch at the young hero's eyes. While he could tell they were focused only on him, they almost seemed to see through him. Almost as if he were transparent or not their at all.

"First of all," with the company of a stony voice his glare kicked up a notch, making GL let out another small flinch "don't call me kid. Secondly, I may be young but I have experienced enough to be a veteran."

With that said, Phantom turned back around staring at the landscape almost like he was judging it. He had put his hood up making him look almost, haunting. His cape fluttered slightly although there was no wind.

Green Lantern shook off the uneasy feeling that he had developed as he listened to Phantom. He would not back down that easily.

As Phantom was speaking on his behalf, Batman was judging him. Even though Phantom's eyes seemed to be emotionless, there was something else in his eyes that only Batman could see.

He wasn't called the world's greatest detective for nothing.

Underneath all of the carefully constructed walls of uncaring there was a deep sorrow. He would have missed it if he hadn't recognized that look as the look he had worn for the years after his parents had been shot in that cursed alley. Only, the one Phantom wears underneath the walls and hood is fresh. Like all of that pain happened recently.

"But the fact still stands," Green Lantern was glaring at Phantoms turned figure. "you are young and I think you should go home and stop playing hero."

All of the hero's present at that point in time thought one thing and one thing only…

He is so screwed.

But Phantom just stayed calm. He was still staring out at the horizon. In a calm voice that held so much pain and wisdom that it surprised everyone their, Phantom asked Green Lantern a seemingly simple question.

"What is a hero?"

Green Lantern didn't answer right away, so Phantom turned around fully and looked directly at him. When he still didn't answer you could see Phantom starting to grow impatient.

"I will give you a hint. It's not just about who has the flashest cape or who can get there spandex tighter." Even though this was a serious situation, Flash couldn't help but snort in amusement.

"Back where I'm from, I was the only hero. Every day, all day, I would fight to protect my world from an invasion that they had no clue even existed. I threw away my dream, my education, and any social life that I could have possibly gained to make sure that everyone was safe. In the end, I still ended up losing my family, my friends, the only teacher that even tried to help me, and then on top of it I end up getting sent to an unknown dimension to save people I don't even know. The only reason I am even here is to make sure no one has to suffer like I have. Now, Green Lantern, look my in the eyes and tell me that I should stop playing hero."

By the end of his rant, Phantom looked just as calm as when he started.

And it was terrifying.

The only thing giving away how truly pissed of he was how bright his eyes were and the fact that his cloak looked like it was getting wiped around in a tornado.

"Hey, I fixed the win- what did I miss?"

Trust the man with super-hearing to not hear a signal word said out of Phantom's mouth.

Alright, i feel oddly proud of this chapter.

It didn't turn out as long as i would have liked but , oh well.

What is your definition of a hero? The best answer will earn a place at the beginning of the next chapter.

With the owners consent, of course.

Review!