...

I calmly lowered my gaze back down, as I pushed against the table and rose up from the seat. Zatanna's gaze following me intently.

"I wouldn't worry too much about your father," I remarked, closing the distance between us, a single hand reached out. "If I wanted to pay him back, I wouldn't go for his life to begin with." I calmly pat the girl on the head, her expression frozen along with her body. Leaning in my head the slightest closer, I locked gazes with her, my hand idly ruffling and messing up her hair. "I'd go after him through you," I remarked calmly before removing said hand, and pocketing both of them as I walked past the frozen girl.

I ignored the gawking patrons of the cafe as I calmly left through the entrance, though not before I left a rather substantial tip.

Some of the staff looked like they needed it.

Exiting the cafe, I idly raised my gaze up once again, my eyes briefly taking in a single point in the sky. In view of that, I calmly pointed over towards the horizon and made to apparate the distance- Though not before I felt a tug on my shirt, my eyes briefly closing and reopening as annoyance surged through me.

Reappearing on top of an empty grassy hill, one that overlooked the San Francisco bridge, I calmly leveled a raised eyebrow on the girl with a death wish. Watching as she briefly stumbled to get her bearings before she rose up, her eyes widened, her face taking on a shade of green, as she looked around her.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you had a death wish." I deadpanned.

"I don't." The girl huffed, her eyes still scouring the area for something- Though I wasn't entirely sure what.

"Then maybe you should consider not latching onto someone who just threatened you, for a joy ride."

"Why did we move?" Zatanna questioned, a curious expression on her face.

"I don't believe in collateral damage. Though unfortunately, someone here does." I finished, giving her a pointed look.

She chose not to respond to that, instead electing to take a few steps back as a blur suddenly filled the sky just up above, causing me to slowly raise my gaze towards him.

Naturally, I started amiably waving towards him.

The fucker started waving back as he slowly brought himself lower towards the ground, the giant emblazoned S catching my attention, the easy-going smile practically a taunt.

"Neat trick, though I can't say it's very original."

"Says the one filled with copied and pasted superpowers,"

Superman blinked in bemusement as he landed a few feet away, his worried gaze idly going towards Zatanna for a brief moment before I snorted and caused him to turn back towards me. "I wouldn't worry too much about her. She's only in danger if she decides to stick around, and you know, you decide to start throwing fists."

Superman idly nodded, "You don't sound worried about that."

I shrugged. "I've got less to lose- I don't have to worry about a P.R nightmare." I indicated the nearby bridge, watching as a frown took over the man's face.

"I thought you said you didn't believe in casualties?"

"I don't. Can't say the same about your track record though."

Superman's frown made itself more noticeable as he took a careful step forward, causing me to snort again as I decided to close the distance between us myself. The alien not wavering the slightest as he watched me walk up towards him, his body overshadowing as it forced me to look upwards. "Or are you going to deny the fact that every time one of your little rogues decides to have an excursion, people tend to drop like flies?" Superman's eyes briefly narrowed. "But I suppose it doesn't matter, as long as Lois Lane lives."

"..." Superman's gaze for a moment seemed set on appraising me, the man of steel not saying a word before- I blinked as I watched his expression deflate, as he shook his head. "It does matter." Before the guy promptly decided to take a seat on the grassy floor, earning a look of bemusement from me. "I hear people don't really like craning their necks to hold a conversation."

I crossed my arms. "People, or Lex Luthor?" I questioned idly taking a breather, as Superman's expression took on a ghost of a smile. "I take it you're not here for a fight?" I added on at the completely relaxed posture before me.

"I... wasn't sure what I came here for in truth... But, you remind me of-"

"No." I cut him off. "I am not like you," I remarked. "I don't have nearly as many weaknesses."

Amusement filtered through the man's face at the words.

"Is that right?" He questioned, with an easy smile on his face as he leaned a hand back onto the grass.

"I am more than willing to test it out," I remarked. "But I can't say you'll live to tell a tale from it."

Even with that, wariness never even entered the picture that was the man's expression as he idly hummed along. "Probably shouldn't test that then, I am certainly not as invincibl-"

"Physical ability has nothing to do with it." I interrupted him, tilting my head the slightest. "There's more than one way to skin a cat."

"Why would anyone want to skin a cat?" The hero questioned, an appalled expression gracing his face.

"You're right, a little too gruesome for my sake..." I shrugged again. "I'd rather just remove its soul."

Wariness, at last, finally seemed to fill the Kryptonian's face as- "I wasn't aware cats had souls..."

I ignored the twitch that suddenly encompassed my face as my eyes narrowed before my gaze turned towards Zatanna, the girl having taken several steps away from both of us, her gaze bouncing between the two of us. "Did he hit his head on a rock when he crash-landed to this planet?"

Her confused face was frankly almost endearing. "...I don't know?"

Superman's chuckle immediately brought my attention back to him, the hero raising a single hand as he waved it nonchalantly. "I am just trying to get to know you."

"...Why?" I questioned immediately. "What's your plan here, really."

"...That was my question actually," Superman remarked calmly. "You're new to this planet aren't you? Is it not normal for one to greet a newcomer?"

My gaze turned back towards Zatanna having processed the words. "You said your father went to warn them about how 'dangerous' I was," I remarked, quoting the word.

"He did." Superman immediately interceded-

"And?"

-and promptly shrugged at my follow up. "You'd be one of many 'dangerous' people. Most of them are in the league."

"..." I couldn't exactly deny that. "Why are you here?"

"Batman thinks I am the most dangerous one in the league, thought we'd have some common ground if I met you first." He took a small pause and calmly covered up one side of his face with an open palm. "But between the two of us, I think it's him."

I literally didn't have a clue as to how to respond to that.

"He's a human."

"Aren't you?"

"I can kill you with a thought."

"He can drown me in debt. Then Lois would probably kill me."

I twitched again, once again on instinct. Was he really treating this like a joke? Or was it an attempt to gauge me... For something?

"Besides," Superman continued. "You haven't tried to."

"Not yet."

He nodded again, amiably. "I don't think you want to at all. Your heart's been steady since I first landed here."

After a brief moment of thought on the words, I let out a scoff and promptly crossed my arms "Well I am not starting the fight. So where do we go from here?"

"...Do you have any hobbies?" Superman deadpanned towards me, completely serious.

"Do I have any- What? Why does that matter?" I questioned, my crossed arms breaking apart from each other by a few inches, my irritation rising with every second as I took in his completely calm expression.

"Everyone has a hobby."

My lips twitching, I took in a deep breath and raised an eyebrow at him. "And if I said my hobby was to commit murder, rob presidents, and jaywalk on the moon, what would you say?"

"I wouldn't believe you." Superman retorted, idly tilting his head. "But the last one's legal if you ever want to try it,"

"..."

"So... no hobbies? Ever consider a day job? I hear it really passes the time."

"You know what? I was thinking about becoming a goddamn song artist." I deadpanned.

Superman, to my further irritation, nodded calmly. "That's nice, having a day job is good, I am a reporter in the Daily Planet when I am not saving people."

What in the fuck was happening right now..?

"...Did you just admit to your secret identity?"

"You did call me Clark, I assumed you knew."

...Batman could not have approved of this.

Speaking of who, my gaze idly traveled upwards the moment I noticed the sounds of an engine pick up in the distance, my mind briefly noting the way Superman's own expression for a moment seemed to crease into a frown before he stood up on his own two feet.

"Is that..." Zatanna's voice was ignored- I'd frankly forgotten she was even here to begin with, as I took in the black jet, slowly approach the area, a flock of heroes just behind it.

"Well, I guess your cavalry's here." I shrugged. "I'd rather recommend talking them down from a fight. I might not start it, but I sure as hell will end it."

Superman's gaze briefly switched between me and his arriving colleagues as he warily nodded. "I believe you." The words only causing my eyes to briefly narrow as I locked gazes with him again.

"Do you know me from somewhere?" I questioned, somewhat bemused- Only to stiffen at the hesitant nod Superman elected to give me.

"I'll explain la-"

"You'll explain the fuck now." I immediately interrupted him, watching as the wariness on his face slowly turned into a more resigned one, before he turned his gaze back towards me. Gone was the amiable expression from earlier- For the first time since he'd arrived, Superman was genuinely worried about the answer, even if he was the one about to give it.

And I wasn't sure why that set my stomach in knots.

...

...

Despite the approaching cavalry of heroes, I kept my eyes locked onto Superman, my feet instinctively circling him as his gaze drifted between me and his teammates.

"Well." I bit out. "Where?"

Superman's gaze briefly held onto me for a moment, hints of pity in his eyes. Something that only stirred my emotions in the negative all the more as a frown etched itself onto my face.

"It's a long story." He remarked, resigned before he turned his attention back to the landing black jet, though instead of hitting the ground, it set itself about twenty feet in the air. The wind buffeting the grass as it crashed into my face. My gaze fully turning to take in the superheroes landing before me, as Batman opened and jumped through the cockpit of his plane, his body settling into a combat roll. Though from the height, that had to have at the very least hurt.

Briefly glancing towards the cockpit, I raised an eyebrow at the sight of a shadowed figure inside.

Certainly explains why he didn't outright park it. He was prepared for shit to go sideways.

"You shouldn't have brought boy wonder, if you're here for a fight," I remarked, crossing my arms, briefly glancing towards the three superheroes that had shown up along with him.

Hal Jordan chose to levitate a few feet off the air, the man for whatever reason, rubbing his right wrist. Wonder Woman had a hand on the hilt of her sheathed blade, while her other hovered above her lasso.

And Flash-

"He's a kid." The speedster remarked, idly rubbing at his costume-covered chin, his head tilted to the side as he turned a look towards Batman. "You sure that's him?"

Batman, having ignored my earlier words, simply nodded. "Positive." Before, to my surprise, the man promptly covered the distance between us casually, "I take it he's clean?" He questioned, not even glancing towards the man of steel.

Instinctively pushing one foot back behind me, I narrowed my eyes as the Dark Knight stopped a few feet away from me.

"No sign of it as far as I can see," Superman remarked, carefully.

Batman nodded once and turned towards Flash, giving him a look- One the speedster rolled his eyes at before he disappeared in a blur.

The only thing that stopped me from reacting in any way was the fact my Haki hadn't pinged off any danger towards me.

A few seconds later, the speedster returned, while I idly turned a glance towards Zatanna's previous position, finding her gone.

Turning back towards Batman, I raised an eyebrow at the man. "That was dangerous. I could've taken that as a sign of attack." I pointed out.

"I figured you'd see it wasn't an attack." The superhero calmly stated, before to my complete shock he reached for his cowl and promptly lowered it.

I hid the surprise on my face- I of course already knew who he was, the action however was... Well, probably the biggest red flag so far.

Still-

"Bruce Wayne?" I remarked, a mock gasp to my tone as I palmed my chest. "You're Batman!? Who would've thought!"

The second red flag was the fact the fucker didn't even bat an eyelid at me.

Instead of reacting verbally, the man simply reached into his pocket, my gaze zeroing in on it, and pulled out- A piece of paper? One he held out towards me.

"Read it."

Sniffing once at the lack of a reaction, I grabbed hold of the paper- "Don't tell me what to-" And froze as I took in the handwriting and words on it.

"You recognize it." Batman calmly remarked, as my gaze snapped towards him. "Good."

For a moment I simply stood there, my gaze once again lowering itself towards the paper as my eyes narrowed again. "This is a seal. Where the hell did you-"

"From you." The Superhero answered promptly. "In another timeline."

The seal itself... Was one set to destabilize my entire system on contact if there was even a single hint of... Something I couldn't quite decipher based on the signs used, in my soul.

"Why on earth would I do that!?" I bit out, glaring at the superhero.

"Fail-safe." Bruce Wayne remarked. "And before you ask, Zatara's description, matched your m.o."

"Fail-safe for what!?" I bit out again, taking a single step back as I put the rest of the league in my view, the other superheroes, barring Superman and Batman, tensed- Wonder Woman going as far as to unsheathe half her sword before Superman calmly placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her.

Batman mulled over the words, before a heavy sigh came out of him. "A few years ago, there was... An accident involving dimensional travel." He started. "Superman and I wound up traveling across to another Earth as a result."

"Justice Lords, I am guessing?" I raised an eyebrow at him. That was... barring Flashpoint the only thing that popped into my head.

"I don't recall them giving us their names," Batman remarked calmly. "The status quo was flipped on its head, heroes were villains and villains were vigilantes."

I frowned at the words, my glare subsiding the slightest as I mulled it over in my head. "What was I?" I questioned carefully.

"You were the cause for the shift," Batman answered without a missed beat. "You'd made a mistake. That paper was given to me, to make sure it didn't jump to you."

"What didn't..?"

"A curse." Superman calmly answered instead, taking a few steps towards me. "By the time we'd arrived in that world, it had already spread too far. You'd sheltered yourself away, as... Well, using any of your powers only made it worse."

"It was too late to save that world." Batman continued, grabbing my attention. "We tried to, but the two of us hadn't been enough to take on the entire league, even with the... vigilante's help. When all else failed, your counter decided to act again."

"...Why?" I questioned passively. "Why then, and not before?"

"Our arrival taught those in power that there were other earth's they could turn to. Their wars had ravaged theirs beyond the brink of return. So they wanted ours. And any other they could get their hands on." Batman answered without a missed beat. I held in the urge to gulp at the sheer dread pouring out of the other's expression. "I watched you cut through the strongest of them, one by one, like they were flies. I watched you put down entire armies of metahumans and demons with a word. But at the end of it all, it had cost you your own life."

I could practically feel the tension in the air.

"The seal?"

"You knew the curse wouldn't die with you. You weren't sure where it would go, but when it realized you were dying, it had simply... Left your body."

"..." I mulled over the words, idly pacing before the group, my gaze drifting all across the rivers of water before me, the bridge practically an afterthought as the sounds of traffic briefly took over the silence. "You think it's come here then?"

"I don't know if it has, or not," Batman answered passively. "According to the other version, you weren't the only one it could attach itself to- Just the closest host it had when it was released. But I'd be a fool not to consider a worst case scenario."

My eyes briefly narrowed.

"... If it had been hidden inside me- That seal could've killed me."

Batman shook his head, idly reaching into another pocket to pull out another seal scroll. "This would've prevented your death. It was a package deal. If you had reacted to it, this would've kept you alive."

"Without my powers."

Batman nodded. "Without your powers. But without that curse, both of those seals are meaningless to you." He added on, reaching a hand out for the paper.

So, on the one hand, if I had been cursed, the seal would stop it in its infancy, and I'd be left without my powers. Two problems, one stone. On the other... He knows I am untainted by... I am just going to call it the Dark Arts. And works his way from there, with his only worry been my powers- Ergo, the Justice League. Fucker probably would've brought more heroes as well if they weren't busy, assuming they were.

Yeah... That sounded like Batman.

Given I could replicate it myself- Knowing what it looks like, I calmly ripped it in two.

"I am not giving you a way to shut me down, should you ever get a hold of that curse somehow and get any ideas."

Batman narrowed his eyes and calmly pulled his hand away. "It's a good thing you gave me more than one." He answered. When my expression twitched at the words, the hero grew the barest hint of a smile at the look on my face. "You warned me you'd do that."

"Is that a threat?" I questioned calmly, even if my expression stayed the same.

"The curse isn't something you can contain- Even after everything went down, your other self couldn't tell me where he had found it- The seal itself works on anything with its taint."

"And when you run out?"

"I am sure we'll find a way to make more," Batman remarked, giving me a pointed look.

I rolled my eyes. "That's a good story and all," I remarked shrugging. "But given I am curse-less as it is, where do we stand now?"

Batman's expression turned passive. "You're coming with us."

"I don't think so." I immediately replied, taking another step back as a wary expression took over the hero's face. "You need more of those seals? Feel free to give me a call-"

"I am afraid it's not an option." Batman interrupted me. "It's far too dangerous to let you wander alone. Your own words, not mine."

Gritting my teeth, I mentally braced myself for a confrontation- Only for Superman to calmly point out my current situation.

"The League has no intentions of imprisoning you if that's what you're worried about. What Bruce means is that we simply wish to help you get a start up- Anywhere."

"..."

"You don't have to be a hero. We just want to make sure you don't find yourself forced to villainy." Superman added on, causing me to blink a few times at the specificness of the words.

"I tell you to say that?"

The fact he held in the urge to smile told me so, even before he nodded. "Maybe."

Mulling over the situation, I couldn't help but scoff at the weirdness of it all.

"So... I take it we don't need to fight?" Flash deadpanned, relief pouring out of him as his shoulders relaxed themselves off of any tension. His words evidently causing the other two to let their guard down for a brief moment as relief colored Diana's own expression.

Hal Jordan promptly rolled his eyes. "Tch, talk about a waste of time, you didn't need me here after all." He shook his head. "I could've been out there saving lives." The man remarked gruffly as he promptly covered himself in a green bubble and set off.

"...Want me to kick his ass?" I deadpanned towards the rest. "I'd do it for free."

Flash, judging by the look in his eyes, was genuinely tempted to take me up on it.

Superman let out an amused snort. "No, that's quite alright. Danzo."

I ignored the way Flash mouthed the name, testing it for whatever reason before he shrugged. Ignored the way Wonder Woman's eyes briefly widened. Ignored both of the two heroes who'd evidently met me on another earth as it all once again really dawned on me.

Time, for that single moment, seemed to stall.

I'd almost forgotten about the reality of it all.

For a brief moment, I idly wondered if my counterpart had ever realized that he was simply a copy?

Would it have changed his life? His end?

Or had he simply ended up the way he was- Cursed, and bound to a broken world because he'd believed he could make a difference?

In the end, the only difference he'd made, had complicated the start of my own copied life, and possibly doomed it, if that curse really did find its way here...

"...Say," I remarked, earning Superman's attention. "Did he ever tell you what he'd chosen to do? When he'd first landed?"

Superman unsurprisingly smiled. "He landed in the hall of justice- Said he took it as a sign." He shook his head, a whimsical smile on his face.

Batman chose that moment to interject. "According to the Archives. He became a hero, on his first day on earth. And besides his one mistake- He made for a pretty good one." He gave me another pointed look. One that said plenty.

Evidently, given the lack of a curse, Batman had fallen to one purpose, and one purpose alone.

To recruit me.

Given my powers... I doubted he'd let me settle for a civilian's life. Worse... He had another me for a goddamn reference on the matter.

"...Thanks, but, that's a hard-pass," And before any of them could so much as move an eyebrow, I promptly apparated the fuck away from all of them.

If this whole encounter has taught me anything, it was that getting tangled with Superheroes in any way, these ones in particular, was bound to go wrong.

...

There's going to be a time-skip between now and the next chapter.

Edit: Alt!Earth Danzo

didn't have access to his HP memories or the magic he learned there.

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