122 Agendas
"Another year, another meeting to discuss adding members to the Justice League." Lazing around in bed, Selina drew patterns across Bruce's bare back. "Have you made up your mind on who you're voting for?"
"Without knowing who will be nominated, I can't say." He turned over and pulled her into his arms. "Will you join me on Watchtower?"
She cuddled against him. "How many times do I have to tell you that I'm not League?"
"You could be."
"Pfft. Not unless you lobotomized me," she scoffed.
He turned her over on to her back, pressing kisses along her neck. "There's nothing I could do to convince you?"
She hummed in delight. "You can try."
The League had been discussing potential candidates for hours. When the topic of inducting the Team came up, Superman was quite adamantly against it. "We're not inducting children into the League."
"That seems myopic." Doctor Fate argued, "I have been one with Kid Flash and Aqualad. Both are ready."
Wonder Woman asked, "And what about Zatanna?"
"Absolutely not!"
"That sounded almost protective, Doctor. At least we know Zatara is still in that helmet somewhere."
Captain Marvel spoke up, "Why is Doctor Fate a member? You coerced Zatara into giving up his life to you or else lose his daughter instead. Not cool."
Red Tornado asked, "Should such behavior be condoned?"
"Zatara desires Doctor Fate remain with the League."
Green Arrow scoffed, "Oh, please."
"It is true!" Fate defended. "Zatara's trust in Nabu is… measured. He desires the League to maintain a close watch upon us."
They moved on to the next candidate.
"Plastic Man."
Flash observed, "I don't know. The guy has a pretty substantial criminal record."
Discussions were stopped by Captain Marvel's giggling. "Sorry. Sorry. The guy just cracks me up."
"Maybe it's time we all talk about the elephant in the room." Flash sighed, "Should Captain Marvel stay a member now that we know he's really only ten years old?"
"He does possess an adult body and the wisdom of Solomon," Red Tornado remarked.
"Wisdom does not equal maturity," Aquaman reminded.
"Hey, I'm sitting right here!" Captain Marvel protested.
"Then, Billy, maybe you should leave until we hash this out," Dinah addressed him as if he were a child instead of another member of the League.
"No," Batman stated firmly. "Captain Marvel is a member and is entitled to participate until or unless he's voted out."
"It's not just his age. It's the fact that he lied about it," Wonder Woman pointed out.
"I didn't lie… exactly. I just left out the part about being a kid."
"A lie of omission is still a lie. You kept an important secret from us. No one in the League knew the truth."
"I did."
Everyone looked at Batman in surprise.
Wonder Woman leaned back. "I shouldn't be surprised, since you indoctrinated Robin into crime fighting at the ripe old age of nine."
Batman's irritation was rising, but he kept his expression blank. "Robin needed to help bring the man who murdered his family to justice."
"So he could turn out like you?"
"So that he wouldn't." He turned the conversation back to the topic at hand. "We all have our secrets-"
"You more than any of us," Green Arrow muttered.
"I don't believe that Captain Marvel should be punished for maintaining his secret identity. We're all entitled to one. It's why we all wear masks."
"Who's next?" Superman asked.
Captain Marvel hesitated, glancing at Batman before saying, "What about Catwoman?"
"Absolutely not!" Wonder Woman stated, crossing her arms.
Hawkman smirked, "I thought you wanted more women in the League."
"Not Catwoman."
"Why not?" Flash sat up with interest. "She's helped the League dozens of times."
"The Team value her counsel," Red Tornado added.
"She is a criminal," Wonder Woman argued, "a thief."
"Alleged," Green Arrow smirked, "she's never been caught in the act and there has been no evidence to support her conviction."
Wonder Woman said through gritted teeth, "She is not League material."
Aquaman set his fists on the table. "Catwoman is a remarkably skilled and intelligent woman. She has provided important information that saved the League time and resources."
"And she was at Mount Justice to save the Team from the Reds." Flash rubbed his head. "We've all faced off against the Reds. We all know how… difficult it is and she managed to keep two busy."
"I would rather have her on our side than not," Dinah commented.
Wonder Woman huffed, "She associates with known criminals."
Superman glanced at Batman. "Is there any point in discussing this? I have a feeling that she wouldn't accept League membership even if we offered it to her."
Batman grunted. "Feline independence."
"She does not respect what we're trying to do here." Wonder Woman was pleased that she did not have to contend with that woman in the League.
Manhunter said sagely, "Catwoman has her own methods. Perhaps we might ask her to assist as needed."
Everyone glanced at Batman expecting some comment.
Silence reigned.
Manhunter continued, "You seem to have reached consensus that eighteen years is a suitable minimal age for joining the League. Yet, what of Miss Martian? Though she is a biological adolescent by Martian standards, she was born forty-eight Earth years ago."
The discussion continued.
Catwoman intercepted Connor outside of Mount Justice. "You've been naughty."
"Selina." He was surprised too that the super cycle stopped for her.
Wolf leapt out and padded to her side. She patted his neck as she scolded Connor. "I thought you agreed to let me know if Luthor reached out to you."
Connor rubbed his neck. "I thought I could handle it on my own."
"Did you?"
"There's another clone – Project Match. He's unstable, fully Kryptonian. You were right about Luthor being the human part of my DNA too." He updated her on everything he'd learned and then reached into his pocket and handed her the tin of shields. "He also gave me these."
She opened the tin. "You used one."
"He said it suppressed my human DNA. They gave me access to flight, heat vision, super speed, super super-strength."
"But how did it make you feel?"
"Angrier," he admitted.
"I'll look into these." She tucked the tin into her suit. "Good job tricking Luthor into believing 'red sun' still worked." She punched him in the arm. "If you ever go off on your own again, I'll make sure you feel that."
"Thank you… for telling me about Luthor. I don't know how I would have reacted if I was hearing it from him for the first time."
"You're a good kid. A bit of temper, but still a good kid." She gave Wolf one last pat before she disappeared into the shadows. "Stay out of trouble, Connor."
He stared after her, thinking he wanted to try something out. "I will… Mom." As soon as the word left his lips, in his heart he knew it felt right.
Dick looked up from the Batcomputer when Batman arrived in the Batcave. "How'd the vote go?"
"The results were ratified. We'll be announcing the new members at the end of the year." Batman brought up images of the new members on the monitor.
"I'm glad Billy is still part of the League." Dick skimmed the familiar profiles. "Hey, what's this asterisk beside CW?"
Bruce's lip twitched. "Special request by the League. They've asked to have Catwoman as an unofficial member; someone they can rely on for help… if required."
"Your friend, Billy decided to nominate me for membership." Selina walked down the stairs from the manor. "It was a relatively boring debate."
"Ooh-ooh, let me guess. Let me guess. WW adamantly against you; everyone else singing your praises." Dick smirked as he leaned back in the big chair.
"See, Bruce, I keep saying he's too smart for his own good." She ruffled Dick's hair.
His arms closed around her waist. "I take it you were spying on the meeting?"
"Some of it. League business is such a yawner. Besides, I had other business to deal with." She leaned back against him, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "I'm surprised you didn't smack down Diana. She was even more overbearing than usual."
"Are you ever going to tell me what happened between you two?"
"Bruce, you are so dense sometimes."