The video call was easy enough to set up. Barry, sat next to Kara with Mary on Kara's other side and J'onn in the room, called the group to order. With all the members of their yet unnamed group listening, Mary laid out the new intelligence from the Batman.
There was a long, contemplative silence before Clark began, "I've been thinking about this and may have an idea." After the murmurs of interest, he explained, "There's nothing we can do about this Cadmus. They will think and do what they want. When their cat's paws attack us, we capture them as we usually do and turn them over to the authorities. Nothing new there. What I think we should do is marginalize their potential message as much as possible. Start a public relations campaign about the group. If Cadmus and other groups like them want to be afraid of us and spread fear that we're going to take over the world, well, we have to start the story now in the opposite direction. Tell everyone about the good we do and have done."
Gesturing to the camera, he added, "We need to go public about Fort Rozz. This well help sway public opinion in our favor. Whoever is organizing Cadmus won't always be in the shadows. We want to establish the story about the group before this person starts it. If we bring our collaboration out publicly in a positive manner and keep hitting on the positive things we do on a regular basis, then we set the tone. After that, anything Cadmus or a group like them says or does paints them as the villains they are."
Diana spoke up, "There is much wisdom in Clark's words. Who will be our face in public, though?"
Billy snorted before Cassie smacked him in the back of the head. "Stop that!" he growled to Cassie. Turning back to the camera, he replied to Diana, "Duh. Barry and Kara."
Barry blinked. He really expected everyone to rally around Clark and Diana as they'd been 'out' in the superhero context the longest. J'onn rumbled his consent, "They have been seen to be working together in public for many months now. It would make sense – to the public eye – that the rest of us would gravitate to them in forming the group."
Barry looked to his wife to see her with a contemplative expression on her face. She turned to him and he could see her opinion without even asking her. "Ok, but I think that it should be for a set time then it rotates. This isn't a Flash and Supergirl group. We're all in it together."
"And that statement there, Barry Allen, is why you should be our first chairman," Diana pronounced with a satisfied air.
"Oh," he replied with a surprised sound. Clark and John laughed softly at him. Shaking it off, he gave everyone a rueful smile. "Ok, as chair I ask for inputs on our next steps."
Kara purred, "Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a recommendation."
"Oh, gross. They're flirting," Billy grumbled. The sound of a smack preceded him grumping, "Dammit Cassie, that hurt!"
Kara continued as if Billy hadn't spoken, "I think we should hire someone to be a full-time public relations manager for our group. This won't be a task that any of us can do in our spare time."
Barry smirked. Leaning forward, he looked past Kara to Mary. "Gee. I wish we knew someone who we all trusted with our secret identities who had a mass communications degree and spent the last months working for the Queen of all Media. Someone who is looking to move up with their career."
Now the rest of the group was grinning. Kara, however, had her head in her hands. "Ms. Grant is going to kill me."
Barry grinned as he slung his arm around his groaning wife, "Mary?"
She grinned back, "Let's talk salary and benefits, Mr. Chairman."
Laughing, he turned back to the camera, "Looks like we've got a PR director. Now there's just one more thing before we call it a night. We need a name."
"That's easy," Jessica spoke up for the first time. "We're all about the same thing. Justice. We're the Justice League."
.oOo.
"Kara."
Hiding her grimace, Kara turned around, "Ms. Grant! It's so good to see you. Thank you so much for this party. Barry and I are really touched that you're doing this for us."
Cat's expression told Kara she wasn't going to be diverted. Nor did her words give any indication of diversion either. "Let's get the scolding out of the way, then we can have a good time. If you poach one more of my employees, I'll be most put out with you. It's just not done. One or two, I can let happen. But now, with Winn, yourself, and now Mary off my rolls, I will be having words with you and Mr. Allen should I have any further surprise resignations from CATCO who miraculously start working for S.T.A.R. Labs."
"There won't be any more. I promise."
"Good. Now, where is your new husband? This party is for the both of you."
"He's over there," she gestured to the buffet, "getting us some snacks."
"Hmm. Mary mentioned that she wanted to establish an arrangement of a sort for a new organization. Can you…?"
Kara did the unthinkable for her and interrupted Cat Grant. "That's something we should only discuss in your office with the door closed."
"I see. Well, you, Mary, and your hubby should swing by next week so we can discuss this…development."
"We will. How is Carter?"
As Kara and Cat devolved into small talk, Barry was navigating across a room full of well-wishers while trying to balance two very full plates of food.
"Here, let me help you."
Letting Winn take one of the plates from him, Barry told him "Thanks. Take this one, it's Kara's.
"So, what do you think about all this?"
Barry shrugged, "It's nice of Ms. Grant to put this all together for Kara. I know that she misses Ms. Grant, even with all of her rough edges."
"Hey guys," Cisco greeted as he and Caitlin Snow strolled up. "This is quite a shindig. Thanks for inviting all the S.T.A.R. Labs team, too."
Barry nodded, "Ms. Grant wanted to throw a reception for Kara and me, so it seemed appropriate to have all of our friends and coworkers here. I'm really glad you guys could make it."
Caitlin gushed a little, "I just met Lois Lane and Clark Kent. I didn't know he and Kara were cousins,"
Barry nodded while munching an appetizer. Swallowing, he replied, "Yeah, that's a very long and odd story, but they didn't reconnect until they were both adults. Disaster, foster families and all kinds of things."
"But it's great that they've reconnected," Caitlin observed, a hint of sadness in her eyes.
Barry, knowing the source of his new(?) friend's sadness, let it pass. Now was not the time. "How have you two settled into National City? Got places to stay and whatnot?" Turning to Cisco, he grinned as he asked, "As you are the recently graduated from university bachelor, I have to ask the obligatory question. Do you have any furniture beyond a bed yet?"
Caitlin and Winn chuckled as Cisco grinned while blushing. "I'll have you know that I also have a coffee pot."
"Furniture, Cisco," Caitlin teased. "A coffee pot is not furniture."
"But far more important."
Everyone nodded in agreement. There was no contradicting that statement.
A shout and wave from the other side of the crowded, noisy room caught Cisco's attention. Gesturing, he said to Caitlin, "Hey, there's Ray."
"We'll catch you later, Barry," Caitlin told him. "Ray wanted to discuss his new idea for a miniaturized power source."
"I will not stop you from working," Barry joked as the other two waved and made their way off.
A voluptuous brunette sidled up to Barry, neatly filling the spot that Cisco had just vacated, "Hey there handsome. I don't think we've been introduced. I'm Trixie."
Barry blinked, looked at Winn who shrugged before looking back to the brunette who was now reaching out to rub his arm. Stepping back from her in alarm, Barry replied, "I'm Barry Allen. Kara's husband."
"Kara Danvers the mouse got a hottie like you?" Trixie protested as she took a step to close with Barry. "I bet she doesn't…entertain you like you need."
Barry's eyes rounded. He'd never had a woman hit on him in public like this before, looking around for help, he stammered, "I…well, she…I'm very happy. Very."
Turning to Winn, he muttered, "Get me out of this!"
"Walk away?" Winn replied.
"Barry, honey, where are you?" he heard from directly behind him.
"Oh, thank God."
"Hey sweetheart, Winn's holding your food." Turning, he saw his wife wearing a pleasant expression, but the tension around her eyes told him that she'd heard the preceding interaction with Trixie.
She didn't say anything before she swept him into her arms, his plate scattering as she branded him with a passionate kiss.
When she let go, Barry blinked a few more times, now in happy befuddlement. He heard her thank Winn for holding her plate before he moved off somewhere. When he gathered himself, he saw her standing there munching on a stuffed pepper with a happy, contented smirk on her face and the brunette long gone. He grinned at her. "Marking your territory, Mrs. Allen?"
She tugged on his tie with her free hand. "You're mine, husband."
As they laughed, a clearing throat caused them both to turn. "James," Kara greeted in a cheerful tone. "How've you been?"
James Olsen knocked back the rest of his drink before he replied, "Oh, well, you know. Work. Not much else." He was staring at Kara with the most accusatory expression Barry had ever seen.
Kara nodded, "I know what you mean. Starting up S.T.A.R. Labs has made for long hours for us."
Olsen cocked an eyebrow as he snagged a beer of the tray of a passing waiter. Taking a deep draught, he replied, "I see you two on the news, though. Can't be too long of days."
Barry's eyes widened. While he knew that James and Kara had drifted apart, he never thought the man would be so reckless as to bring up their dual identities in public – even obliquely like this.
"James…," Kara said in a warning tone.
Leaning forward, the big man scowled, "I wonder what everyone would say if they knew that Supergirl and Flash were really Barry and Kara Allen?"
Now Barry was truly alarmed. Maybe it was the booze talking, but this wasn't good.
Surprising him, Kara flashed some steel. "I think that no one would believe you. What media outlet would you tell, James? CATCO won't carry that story. What proof would you offer that would prevent you from being sued into oblivion or marginalized as a nutcase?"
She leaned in, quietly furious, "We were friends once, James. I don't know what happened or why you have this animosity towards me, but if you think that you can threaten my husband and me with impunity, you're sorely mistaken. Count on that."
Smiling sarcastically, he replied, "Look at you. All in charge and stuff." James took another drink. "You played me like an instrument, didn't you? Trying to get me in your sheets. Wanting me to be your sidekick like Clark. Ha," he shook his head in mocking disbelief.
Realization came to Barry in a moment. "You sick bastard."
Kara looked at him like he'd lost his mind while Olsen recoiled. Barry piled on, jabbing his finger into Olsen's admittedly large chest. "You were a Clark groupie in Metropolis. Then you came here and became a Kara groupie." He was careful to not use superhero names, but it was clear about whom he was speaking. "You thought that because Kara was a woman, you'd have dibs on her or some other sick fantasy, didn't you?"
The big man recoiled, his expression daunted and guilty before he hung a jaunty smile on his face. Hoisting his beer, he ground out, "To the happy couple." He took another deep drink, watching the fuming Kara the whole time. "Good luck," he wished as he moved off.
"What the hell…," Kara muttered as she watched Olsen move off. "Do you really think that's what happened?"
"We'll talk about him later," Barry told her. "We need to find Mary."
She motioned to a corner. "She's over there."
"Go get us a room to use." He glanced around, "Get Clark and Ms. Grant if you can."
Barry moved quickly – at a human pace – to grab Mary. "C'mon."
He saw Kara moving with Cat toward Cat's office, so they headed over there. Just before he closed the door, Clark came in with a tall brunette at his side. She must be Lois Lane as they were holding hands. With the door finally closed, Barry cut to the chase. "Olsen has threatened to out us."
Cat frowned mightily, while Lois gasped in shock. An expression that sent most people scrambling for cover flashed across the Queen of all Media's face, "Not via CATCO."
Kara frowned as she turned to her cousin, "Thoughts?"
"What did he say? Exactly." Kara recounted the discussion word for word for everyone present
Barry saw Cat's eyes gleam as she started to put two and two together regarding Kara and Clark's relationship.
Clark was displeased, that much was evident from his expression. "I must admit that James and I aren't nearly as close as we once were but this is extremely unlike him." Glancing at Lois, he saw her agreement with him in her deep frown. "Whatever the source of his…" he was searching for a word, that wouldn't come.
"Unpleasant behavior," scowled Lois.
"Yes, that. Whatever the source, we have to treat his threat to out the two of you and probably Superman, as a legitimate threat."
"Can you approach Mr. White in confidence? That will shut down two of the biggest media outlets. If we can get to the Times and the Post, that will be the end of the big media markets." Cat picked up her phone to make some calls, all the while sporting a punch-drunk expression.
"I really don't know what's running through his mind," Kara observed helplessly, "But with Mary here we're need to start to build a strategy for what to do if one of us gets outed for real. If you can talk some sense into James, that would be great, but I don't think this will be the last time this threat will arise."
"We'll talk to Perry first thing tomorrow. This is turning into a complete nightmare. I thought we could trust him."
"Yeah. Let me know how it goes with Mr. White. Thanks." As Clark and Lois moved to leave, Kara said, "Lois, I'm sorry we didn't get more of a chance to catch up. You met Barry, right?"
The brunette flashed a happy smile as she moved to Barry. Kissing him on the cheek, she said, "Welcome to the family, Barry. You two will have to come visit sometime soon and we'll show you the sights of Metropolis."
"We will. That sounds fun. Safe travels home tonight and thanks for coming in the first place."
"We'll try to find James before we head back." Clark shook his head as he hugged Kara before shaking Barry's hand. "Later, guys."
Kara waved to her receding cousin and his wife. "That is one pissed off Kryptonian," she murmured just as Cat set down her phone.
"Clark Kent is Superman?" Cat whispered.
Barry blanched. "Ah shit."
Mary punched his arm. "Not helping, Allen." Turning to the stunned media mogul, Mary pressed, "As you have probably figured out by now, the hero community is organizing. It seems that there is a clandestine government agency called Cadmus who is organizing the villain community against us."
"So, you are going to strike first to establish the tone of the story. Well done, ladies," Cat nodded to Kara and Mary as she gathered her wits. "Who all is in this hero group?"
"We're calling ourselves the Justice League. It's us three, Superman, Wonder Woman and Wonder Girl, Captain Marvel, the Martian Manhunter, and both Green Lanterns for this sector of the galaxy."
Sitting behind her desk as she seemed to regain her equilibrium, Cat probed, "And who is in charge of the Justice League?"
"No one is in charge, per se," Barry replied quickly.
"But the Flash is our first Chairman in a rotating scheme."
Cat nodded, "I know you and I know that you're all good people who are not bent on world domination. But the majority of the planet does not know you and isn't reassured of your motives. You will have to subject yourself to a non-hero oversight body."
"Like the United Nations?"
"That's as good a place as any."
Barry frowned. "I don't like the idea of the League working for the U.N."
"What if we had an ambassador to the U.N. that would answer questions or brief the body as needed but we wouldn't work for the U.N.?" Kara asked.
Mary was nodding, "Diana already represents Themyscira to the U.N."
Cat shook her head, "Perceived conflict of interest." Gesturing to Barry, she commented, "Have your Chairman rotate as the League's ambassador as well."
The three heroes were silent as they contemplated the idea. Barry and Kara traded a look before looking to Mary. "Thoughts?" he asked.
"It makes sense," Mary opined. "I'll gin up an email on the secure server Winn just set up for us to brief everyone tonight. We can have a roundtable phone call tomorrow about this."
Barry wrapped his arm around Kara as he grumbled, "I didn't think being a hero would entail so many meetings." He grinned at his wife, "I thought it was eighty five percent chance of punching?"
She smiled in return. Barry's heart warmed that even when things were tense and fraught with uncertainty, in the end, it all came down to Barry and Kara. Everything else was optional. As long as they had each other, it would be Ok in the end.
There was one last thing to discuss with Cat. He and Kara had been talking about this for quite some time. With Kara bracing herself, it looked like she was going to bring this up now.
"Ms. Grant, let's discuss branding. I'm a bit old to be called 'Supergirl', don't you think?"
.oOo.
There was much discussion the following day. Some useful, some not so much. Clark, in his uniform, had been able to catch up with James Olsen and discourage the man from revealing any superhero's secret identity, but the issue remained. Mary was assigned to come up with a response plan. The League also agreed that they would need to accelerate their announcement to the world of their formation. Also, another topic came up.
"So, where is the League headquartered?" J'onn asked in a musing tone. They were on phone conference so Kara couldn't see his expression.
"We don't have a headquarters, per se," Barry replied with a frown as he considered the question. Kara caught J'onn's meaning though.
"We'll need a place that people can point to and say "That's where the Justice League meets"."
"It would need to be as symbolic as practical," Diana observed.
Kara saw Barry's eyes light up with an idea. Cocking her eyebrow at him, he shook her off. "Not now," he told her while they were on mute.
After the discussion wound down without an actionable idea, Barry tapped the mute button, "What if headquarters was not terrestrial based?"
Jessica chimed in, "That's brilliant Barry!"
"An exoatmospheric space station as the League's headquarters. It would help reassure the world that we're not just a bunch of American hooligans," John mused.
"Minor problem: most of us can't fly in space," Cassie chimed in.
"Yeah, we'd need to get the teleportation system developed. The station itself won't be easy either. I think that this is our long-term vision."
"So, what do we do for the short term?" Jessica asked.
"Duh," Billy replied. "Set up a building in National City with Barry and Kara. Just rent it. It will have to be nice with a big meeting hall and whatever, but…yeah."
"The Wisdom of Solomon, indeed," Barry pronounced his tongue firmly in his cheek.
"Out of the mouths of babes," Cassie teased more overtly.
"Shut up, Cassie."
.oOo.
"Can we just go to work today?" Barry whined.
Kara laughed at him as she stepped out of the shower. She watched as he shaved in a second before zipping into the shower for his turn. It was liberating to be with someone where she didn't have to hide who she was. With the Danvers' she didn't want to feel like a freak or possibly inspire jealousy by using her strength or speed. Brushing her hair with superspeed, it was ready by the time Barry got out of the shower. She winked at him before pinching his butt. It was a cute butt.
Reflecting, she realized that for years she had hid who she was to avoided being who she really was; a strong confident woman. Part of that was because she felt so different, so apart from the human race. With Barry, though, she was with someone where she didn't have to hide. Floating up a few inches, she gave him a solid kiss.
"What was that for?" he asked with a smile.
"Because you're awesome and I love you."
He caressed her shoulder before disappearing to change. Back in a blink, he was smiling as he held up his phone. Right in front of his news feed was an article from CATCO.
SHE'S NOT A SUPERGIRL, SHE'S A SUPERWOMAN.
Kara smiled. "Thanks, Cat."
Kissing her on the cheek, he nodded his agreement. Tapping his foot in faux impatience, he tapped his watch while bleating, "Waiting on you, wife." The tapping on his watch was more humorous than annoying.
Rolling her eyes, the newly christened Superwoman finished getting ready for the day.
.oOo.
Five minutes later, they walked into the front doors of S.T.A.R. Labs each carrying a box of donuts and a large coffee. "Mr. Allen! Mrs. Allen!" called a voice that Barry knew well.
Turning, he saw Cisco Ramon – newly designated Doctor of Engineering.
"Cisco, if you call me Barry, and her Kara, I won't call you Doctor Ramon every time I see you. You called me Barry the other night."
A bit shyly, Cisco nodded, "Deal. Hey, I've got this idea based on those blueprints you provided for the communication set. If we want to get satellite capability while still in an earbud form factor, I have an idea about the battery and antenna problem."
They walked down the hall to Barry and Kara's office. She turned into Barry's office to see Ray Palmer, Alex Danvers, and Caitlin Snow chatting while waiting in the meeting area to the side of Barry's desk. "Looks like we need to start having a Monday morning stand up meeting first thing," Kara commented.
Regretfully, Barry placed the donuts on the table as if he'd intended to share them with the group. Kara leaned in to whisper, "I'll go get more after they leave."
He barked a laugh before taking a seat in the middle of the table. "Alright, Cisco has already given us the outline of his ideas. Ray, what do you have?"
"Well, Mr. Allen…," the genius began. Barry sighed.
.oOo.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming today," Mary began as Miss Marvel. They'd discussed it back and forth about Mary showing up as the spokesperson for the Justice League as Mary Bromfield or Mary Marvel. They decided that it would be easier in the end if she represented them as Mary Marvel.
"As the world saw in Gateway city not so long ago, there are threats to the safety and security of free peoples everywhere. Sometimes, these threats are much larger than can be contained or dealt with by a single or even a pair of heroes. For over a year now, the Flash and Superwoman have been working together here in National City to assist law enforcement agencies in keeping the peace or dealing with threats that standard law enforcement tactics, training, or equipment cannot address.
"This display of cooperation and collaboration has inspired the media dubbed hero community to band together. This will allow us to support each other against the criminal community that may have abilities beyond the norm. Even though Solomon Grundy is gone – hopefully forever – Bizarro, Black Adam, Cheetah, the Atomic Skull and more, are still out there. Even villains who on their own are not devastatingly powerful can band together like we saw in Gateway City with the likes of the recently escaped Giganta and the now destroyed Metallo."
The door behind the platform opened to admit the Flash, followed by Superwoman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, Jessica Cruz and John Stewart in their Green Lantern uniforms followed by Wonder Girl and the Martian Manhunter bringing up the rear. The Flash moved to the podium, as Miss Marvel took her place in the line of heroes lined up behind their leader.
The flash bulbs of the photographers went wild with the lineup of heroes on the stage.
"Thank you, Miss Marvel," the Flash began. "Our community of heroes have been discussing how we can better be of service to our local communities, and to the planet as a whole. After much consideration, we have decided to create an alliance of heroes to serve our planet in defending those who need defending against enemies within and even without. Just like we work with the local law enforcement agencies when working in our home communities, we are proposing to work with the United Nations as a group. I'm honored that my peers have voted me to be the first of a rotating chairman of our group. Miss Marvel is our primary spokesperson, but I will be our group's liaison with the U.N. We want to work in coordination with the world leadership. We will not involve ourselves in national or international disputes. It is our goal to defend the defenseless against evil that arises at home or from abroad or natural disasters that strike with devastating effect."
The flash bulbs were popping so fast, it had moved past a strobe light effect and was a constant illumination.
"Flash! What is the name of this organization?" a reporter called out.
"We call ourselves the Justice League."
.oOo.
A/N
1. I own nothing