"I'm not going to lie; this place is way cooler than I thought it would be." Carly observed as Clark and Bruce led the way to the main meeting room. "I've seen videos of the outside. It just looks like any other government building, but all this stone work…the architecture…"
"It's amazing. Will you keep up?" Bruce grumbled.
"I thought you said today was all about me." She put her hands on her hips. "So that means if I want to walk around the Hall of Justice all day, I can. Besides, don't know what you're in such a rush for. When we're done here you're taking me shopping. You hate shopping."
"I'd rather be shopping. Trust me." Bruce said. Clark just listened to the two of them banter back and forth as they turned the corner. He could understand what Bruce liked about Carly. She was beautiful of course, but that sort of thing never seemed important to Bruce. If Clark had to put money on it, it was Carly's brain and fiery personality that had so captivated the Batman.
When they turned a second corner, the voices of the other Justice League members could be heard. Carly's attention was yanked from the symbols and memorabilia on the walls. She was reminded why Bruce had brought her here in the first place. According the Clark, the league hadn't wanted to wait until that night to meet her. They had questions to ask. Questions that apparently couldn't wait twelve or so hours.
The main meeting hall was huge! At least twice the size of Bruce's dining room. A long white table stretched most of the way down the center of the room. White and silver egg chairs lined both sides of the table. Four of these chairs were already occupied by the other members of the Justice League.
Diana was sat straight up with her arms poised on the table. She looked every bit the princess that she was. J'onn was sitting slightly back in his chair with a tablet held between his hands. The Flash, Barry, that's what Bruce had called him, was curled up in his chair. His head resting against the oval side of his egg chair. Aquaman and the Green Lantern were seated at the end of the table, talking with each other. Everyone stopped what they were doing when they heard Bruce and Clark's boots clicking on top of the marble floor.
"Hi, everyone." Carly gave a small wave. "Diana, J'onn, Flash, nice to see you all again. Aquaman, Green Lantern, nice to meet you. I'm…" She stopped remembering Bruce has said he wanted his secret identity to stay secret.
"Batwoman?" Clark suggested.
"Sure. Batwoman here, ready for your questions." She smiled from behind her mask.
"Batwoman, please take a seat." J'onn invited. Carly did as he suggested, taking an open seat next to him. Bruce sat across from her and Clark to her immediate right.
"Our intention today is not to interrogate you." Dianna assured. "We simply want to make clear the risks associated with our organization."
"If members of the public ever link you to the league in any way, you're linked to us forever. That could put you in serious danger, even if your secret identity stays a secret." Green Lantern explained.
"I grew up in Gotham City. There's not much that scares me." Carly told them. She swore she saw a smirk beneath Bruce's cowl.
"Then you will not mind us asking a few questions?" Aquaman asked.
"Fire away."
"Do you have any self-defense skills?"
"Yes. It was a requirement for my day job." Carly tried to keep her answer vague. It would be harder for them to discover her identity this way. Although they had said this wouldn't be an interrogation, it quickly began to feel like one. From all around the table members of the league were firing questions at her. Some of them even coming from Bruce or Clark.
Had she always lived in Gotham? (To which she'd replied yes.) How long had she known Batman? (Longer than the two years he'd been Batman.) Would she be willing to take additional safety training? (Sure, if she could fit it into her already busy schedule.) Did she have any interest at all in working with the league? (Not as a hero, but she'd gladly offer them support in any matters she could.)
While the league seemed to be comprised of genuinely good people, and aliens, their constant questions were starting to take their toll. Carly can only talk about herself so much before wanting to shut down completely. Bruce must have sensed her resolve wavering because he stood suddenly.
"That's enough." The Batman growled. "She's answered enough of your questions. What's the real reason you've dragged us here?"
"We wanted to give her this." J'onn slid a stuffed manila envelope over to Carly. Inside you'll find a master Key card granting you full access to any and all facilities here at the Hall of Justice as well as the information on how to have your fingerprints integrated into our system for high security areas. You'll be able to go anywhere we can go."
"Me?" Carly looked down at the envelope. "But why?"
"Any friend of Batman's is a friend of the Justice League." Aquaman said.
"Batman's kept you a secret from us for a very long time." Flash piped up from his chair. "These guys want to prove to him that they are taking this seriously."
We want offer you a safe place to be while the Bat's out on missions." Green Lantern explained.
"You guys are trying to prove you're responsible enough to babysit me?" She looked up and raised her right eyebrow.
"No." Clark disagreed. "What we do comes with certain calculated risks. I think what we're saying is, If Batman were to go away on another long mission, like the one he was on last month, he might feel more comfortable knowing you had the Hall as an option. Its risk management."
"Thanks for the invitation. I'll consider it as an option should such an occasion arise." She picked up the envelope from the table and got to her feet.
"I'll see you both out." J'onn insisted. Batwoman exchanged polite good-byes with everyone else before following Bruce and J'onn back out into to corridor.
"I hope that you do not find our invitation too presumptuous." The Martian began to apologize once the three of them were alone. "It is my understanding that you both mean a great deal to each other. Should something happen to you, Batman, we want you to know that Batwoman would remain under our protection. Similar to the promise made to Superman and Lois Lane."
"The gesture was far from presumptuous my friend." Bruce promised. "I think it's fair to say that we are both surprised, that's all. Tell the others we'll see them again tonight. And thank you, J'onn."
A/n: So there we are, Carly met the Justice League!
Gotmoreissuesthanvogue You're right Carly is a bit like Lex Stark, but I think that's because I put a little bit of me in both of them. :) I think Carly will really start to change as this story gets on. I plan on it being a bit darker than my Avengers fic. (fingers crossed it turns out that way.)
Dream lightingDick Grayson is one of my favorite characters! I love him so much. :D
Daruma Denshi As you wish! More chapters to come ASAP.
Thanks so much to Gotmoreissuesthanvogue, dream lighting, & Daruma Denshifor your reviews of Chapter 7! Also thank you to everyone who has favorited, followed, reviewed and enjoyed this story. More chapters to come soon I promise!
