In the following week, it became evident that Wayne Manor had become a hotel of sorts. The people housed there were essentially the owner's closest friends, anyway, so he didn't really mind, but it still remained strange for him to suddenly have so many people in a house that normally housed just a few. It was also strange to walk the halls, see so many faces, and have none of them be that of the Joker. But he managed to keep himself busy, and most contemplations about the strangeness of the situation were pushed to the side to be dealt with at a later date.

As the situation stood, it was both convenient and necessary for the core members of the team to stay put and lay low. Too many leaving the premises would raise suspicions and alert others to their location and also tip many off about the goings on at Wayne Manor. None of that was part of the plan, and as such, it was to be thoroughly avoided at all costs. There was much to be done and constant coming and going would only make the location less discreet and all the more vulnerable to discovery and, in turn, attack.

That being the case, tensions were high.

The grounds of Wayne Manor were massive, to say the very least, and there was fun to be had by all. The prince of Gotham had multiple four wheelers and bikes and big screen TVs, but they were all still anxious. Many who flew found themselves itching with anxiety and claustrophobia. Though Wayne Manor certainly had everything anyone's heart could desire, the heroes were growing antsy. They were used to action and crime fighting and large areas of ground to cover. All the grass and open fields in the world couldn't compare to fighting a good old fashioned villain in the heart of Gotham.

So, needless to say, things were growing difficult for all of them. Even those who had been close friends before were starting to get on each other's nerves. Being around people all the time wasn't really the best thing for any of them. Most worked alone, but even the superheroes that worked in small groups or teams weren't quite used to the constant presence of other people. Bruce Wayne himself was growing a bit tired of the constant attention - the constant in and out of people all day through his office. It was enough to make his head spin.

Even living with the Joker got on his nerves sometimes. But Jack knew when to give the poor man a break. They each took time for themselves, and that had never been a problem. But then it was just the two of them. Now Bruce had a whole pack of superheroes living temporarily under his roof, and he was starting to go a little bit crazy.

"The next person who walks into my office," Bruce announced roughly to Kyle Rayner, "is going to be very, very sorry." The Green Lantern laughed, but Bruce Wayne simply scowled down at his pile of paperwork. "It really isn't funny," Bruce grumbled, continuing to fumble through the stack of papers on his desk as the 'Lantern put his fee up on the mahogany wood and watched him. "Hey," Batman chastised, "get your feet off the furniture, Pal! I paid good money for that!"

"Yeah, yeah," Kyle laughed, giving the desk a playful kick, mostly to irritate his uptight friend. "I know. You've told me."

"If I've told you once, I've told you a hundred times, Kyle."

When the door flung open for what seemed like the hundredth time that day, Bruce simply through his entire cup of pens and pencils at the intruder. Angry, he questioned, "WHAT?" as the man - who, as it turned out, was none other than Wally West - tried to speak.

"Bruce," Flash began, keeping his poise as much as possible, "you have visitors. They're waiting in the main hall..."

With a stiff, stoic chin, Bruce rose from his seat and pushed past both the Green Lantern and the startled Wally West on his way out of the room. He wasn't about to apologize to Flash for being so rude, but he wasn't about to neglect his guests, either. Irritated with what seemed to be everyone else, he was pleased when his butler met him on the commute down the stairs to the parlor. Mr. Wayne said nothing, but the presence of someone who supportive and familiar helped push him through his frustration and into the hall, the two other superheroes following close behind him to see what was about to unfold.

Upon actually seeing his guests, Bruce allowed a hint of a smile to play at his lips. "Welcome to Wayne Manor, friends," he said warmly, Wally and Kyle still close by his side as he embraced a few of them. There were only a handful, but they would be crucially influential members of the team.

"Dear Jesus," Kyle breathed in Batman's ear. "Who is that?"

"Him? Oh. That's Oliver."

"That's Oliver? The Oliver? That gorgeous man right there is the Green Arrow?"