A/N: So sorry for the lack of updating, had my birthday and work to deal with, now is the first bit of free time I've had in a while. Well, in terms of my vote, the replies I've had back have told me to make my own choices, so thank you all for having faith in me to make the right decisions! As I said in the last chapter, it'll be a chapter every day/2 days or so. Up comes round 3. Enjoy!
Once again, the need to pass the time became quite a challenge. During the night, Darkseid had sent a message out saying that everyone was free to roam the city. There was, of course, no escape from the force-field and Darkseid's 'fortress' at Wayne Manor was pretty much impenetrable.
Batman, being Batman, decided to survey the area, seeing as the shock of Darkseid's arrival had laid out the surrounding area and distorted the landscape somewhat. There was debris everywhere. Standing on top of the wreckage of Amertek Industries, he could see an absolute wasteland; lifeless and chaotic. Whilst staring at his binoculars, Nightwing walked up beside him.
"Anything interesting?" He asked.
"I want to know what he's done to my house." Batman replied. He gritted his teeth slightly. "He's got his enforcers stationed outside; wouldn't bother trying to get in there."
"What do you think this is all about? I mean there must be some kind of goal here, he can't be doing this for fun." Dick looked confused. "Does he even know what fun is?"
"He's a god from a planet that sits in between the physical universe and hell, and he's more close to the latter. Does that answer your question?" Batman said. Dick looked slightly surprised. He'd fought the most dangerous humans on an almost daily basis; he'd faced demons and aliens, but not gods. Batman put his hand on Nightwing's shoulder. "Don't worry, the league has beaten him before, we'll beat him again." Batman nearly gave him a smile, but that would, of course, go against the laws of nature.
Meanwhile, back at the bunker, Flash was trying to tell jokes to the others. He was on his sixth joke, meaning that Green Arrow had already smashed a 6 inch dent into the wall... with his own head.
"And he said 'nice of you to drop in'." Flash said with an exuberant smile. Martian Manhunter started to laugh, thinking it was the right thing to do, then immediately realised the lack of amusement on the other people's faces. "Come on guys?" Flash said, slightly red faced. Saving Flash from more humiliation, the screen once again popped down from the ceiling.
"Good Morning, I have chosen today's contest to start early. It will be in the format of what I understand is known as a 'capture the flag' match."
"Aw sweet!" Flash said. "It'll take me half a second." The others looked distinctly pleased with this challenge.
"There will however be some stipulation; there are no elimination gates and Flash and Zoom are barred from competing." The expression of everyone in both camps practically hit the floor. "The participants will be as follows; Joker and Grodd will helm the villains' fight, whilst Cyborg and Huntress will be fighting for the heroes."
"Alright, I've been waitin' to get out there and kick some ass." Cyborg said as he stood up, cracking his knuckles and readying himself. Huntress gave a hug to Zatanna and Wonder Woman before leaving.
Out on the battlefield the fight had become rather slow because neither side had found the flag. Both sides, although restless, were nonetheless prepared. Having made his way to an ammunition store, Joker was flaunting a rather large assault rifle. As the two villains walked out into the open area, he kissed the barrel lovingly.
"Joker, you disgust me." Grodd groaned as he turned away.
"Glad I'm doing my job right, monkey-boy" He cackled back.
"For the last time, I'm an ape!" Grodd turned to Joker and stood tall, puffing out his chest to extend his already gargantuan size.
"Alright, alright, calm down! Here, have a banana!" Joker held out a banana that he'd kept in his pocket. Grodd beat his chest, slapped the banana out of Joker's hand and glared at him menacingly.
"Okay... you're not hungry." Joker said, walking off. Just as he turned a corner, he stopped and hugged the wall by the side of him. He ushered Grodd to come over and join him. Without saying anything, he pointed around the corner. Grodd poked his head around to catch a glimpse. Standing in the middle of the street were Cyborg and Huntress running into an alleyway.
"Wonder where they're going?" Joker said with a frightening grin.
"Let's find out" Grodd replied. "You're not going to like this." He said to Joker, before picking him up and climbing up the side of the building.
As Cyborg and Huntress came out of the alley, they both smiled at each other. Sitting on a bench was the flag, rolled up and leant against the armrest. Cyborg laughed as he ran over to get it, whilst Huntress took the time to rest; they'd been running for hours. Cyborg picked up the flag; this was easy, he thought, too easy. He turned around to see Huntress, held in a bearhug by Grodd, whilst Joker nonchalantly groomed his fingernails.
"I'll have that flag now, Tin Man." He said, extending his pale, white hand.
"Over my cold dead body" Cyborg replied, clenching a fist.
"Oh good, we're in agreement!" Joker said cheerfully as he pulled a knife from his a jacket. Grodd, sensing that his cohort was in need of some fighting power, clenched his bearhug on Huntress so that she lost consciousness and dropped her like a sack of potatoes. Cyborg shot a phaserbeam at Joker, who dodged out of the way. Grodd leapt into the fray, thundering Cyborg with ferocious punches to the gut and finishing with an uppercut that dazed the circuits of the hero. Just as Cyborg was about to retaliate, a hand reached around and covered his mouth. "Night night!" Joker cackled, as Cyborg smelt the Joker toxin and fell to the ground. "I'll take that" he said as he pulled the flag out of the still clasped hand of the fallen Cyborg.
As Joker and Grodd were walking back to their bunker, Grodd was hit in the back with another phaserbeam. Joker, turning around, saw a weakened Cyborg.
"You mind givin' me the flag? Imma little pissed off so don't try anything." Cyborg said, approaching he clown and the downed ape. Joker held out the flag willingly. Just as Cyborg's hand was about to touch the flag, Joker halted him.
"Now I could give you the flag, but on the other hand..." Joker's free hand suddenly clasped around Cyborg's wrist, electrocuting him with the concealed Joybuzzer. Cyborg fell to his knees; the shock temporarily leaving him unable to move. Joker threw the flag backwards to Grodd, who had composed himself. The clown then put his hand on Cyborg's shoulder and whispered to him "have a good elimination, Tin Man." With that, he stood up sharply, turned on his heels and walked briskly back to the bunker. "Come along, Monkey Boy!" Joker ordered. Grodd was about to retort, but thought better of it and merely sighed as he started walking. Joker waltzed around on his way, humming 'La Vie en Rose' and looking slightly happier than usual, which even for his teammates was a very bad thing.
A/N: So there's round 3, will try and get another chapter up soon, but as the last week has shown, I wouldn't hold me to it. As always, Review Review Review!