Disclaimer: I don't own Justice League Unlimited.

Priorities

The Little Things

Bruce pressed a button, bringing up the list of all the contacts he could think of.

The Question. They had met once, and in that time, Bruce had learnt that the faceless detective's investigative skills sometimes surpassed his own, particularly since once their case was over, Vic Sage had said 'Goodbye, Bruce'.

True, he had also deduced the Question's identity by then, but still… it had been disconcerting. And all the better to keep an eye on him.

Then there was Etrigan. While Bruce had no doubt Jason Blood would have no objection to joining, his demonic alter-ego may have a few choice words about the matter. He would have to see.

There was also Zatanna, but Superman somehow knew her from a story he did as Clark Kent, and so Bruce let him be the one to ask her. Bruce wouldn't want Zatanna to think that his wanting her on the League was anything more than professional.

Next on the list was Huntress.

"Hey. What are you doing?"

He glanced over his shoulder at Barbara, who was heading over to the changing room to get out of her costume.

"League business."

"Oh." She paused and came over to the computer, pulling back her cowl. She noted that Bruce hadn't removed his.

He didn't take off his cowl very often in the cave. Not for a while now.

"Oh, candidates, huh?" She smiled and nudged him in the shoulder. "So when's the audition for me and Tim?"

He was silent.

"Bruce?"

"You're not going to be in the League."

"…what?"

"I said-"

"I heard. Why not?"

"You're needed here."

"Don't give me that."

"I'm not going to argue about this. You're staying here, because you're needed here."

"Is it because you don't think we're good enough, is that it? That we don't measure up?"

He looked up at her. "If I said yes, would you leave this alone?"

She clenched her jaw.

"That's what I thought."

"What about Dick? Are you going to let him in on this little scout troop of yours?"

He didn't reply.

She tossed her hands up in the air as she walked away from the computer.

"I don't believe this! How does Dick measure up, and we don't?"

"He doesn't. I'm just considering it."

"So you're considering him and not us?"

She wanted to say 'me'.

"He's had more experience."

"Right," she scoffed.

"He's been trained from when he was nearly ten. He was dedicated to the mission."

"And I'm not?"

"You are now. You weren't when you started."

"Like you said, that was then. Now I'm different." She paused. "And what about Tim? I suppose he's too young and inexperienced?"

"He's with the Titans. They'll help him hone his skills much more efficiently than the League could."

"So we have to get to your level of expertise before we can join?"

"I didn't say that."

She crossed her arms. "You don't say a lot of things."

Bruce didn't reply to that. Her mouth opened to say something else, but she just shook her head and stormed to the changing room.

He returned to the computer.

"You always told me it was impolite to eavesdrop," he said, his eyes still on the screen in front of him.

"Old habits die hard, sir. I just thought you would like some tea."

Bruce sat back in his chair and rubbed his eyes through the lenses of his mask. He looked over at Alfred as he set the tea tray down next to him.

"I brought a selection of biscuits and cakes as well, sir. They may not be protein drinks or energy bars, but they should certainly make you feel better."

"Thank you, Alfred."

With a smile, he nodded, and poured some tea.

"She does carry a point, sir."

He didn't respond to that, either.

It was because he knew she was right.

"You know why I can't," he said softly, in a voice he only used with Alfred, and a few times with Dick and Andrea.

Alfred did know. "Then perhaps you should tell them those reasons, sir."

He didn't say anything; he simply continued tapping away on the computer. Alfred left with a sad shake of the head.

Bruce was still tapping away when Barbara angrily made her way out of the cave, making as much noise as she could as she hung up the Batgirl costume on the mannequin.

She left the cave and slammed the door.

Batman stopped.

He pulled back his cowl and ran a gloved hand through his hair. Blue eyes wandered over to the tray. He picked up a piece of cake and took a bite.

It did make him feel better.

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