Wolverine sat down beside me as the League meeting started, I gave him a look out of the corner of my eyes, "I already hate this."

He shrugged, "There a lot more uptight than the X-men, but they get things done."

The most important League members sat around a U shaped table, and Aquaman stepped forward. "Our agenda is clear. What's at stake should not be underestimated."

"The decisions we make today will reverberate for years to come," Superman add.

"And influence whether or not the world continues to put their trust in the Justice League," Wonder Woman spoke.

"Don't take this meeting lightly," Batman ordered. "We have work to do."

I zoned out for a few moments, mostly wondering why on earth I was here, until I heard Captain Marvel exclaim, "You thought I was Kryptonian? Cool!" Captain Marvel beamed.

Wonder Woman placed her hand on Superman's arm, "Icon interests me, also. As does his protégé, Rocket. Athena knows the League could use a more female members."

"Agreed," Black Canary crossed her arms.

"Here, here!" Hawkwoman agreed.

Black Canary stood up, "Which is why I also nominate Hellhound for League membership. She's been taking care of Young Justice, and teaching them. Aside form one incident, we've had no problems with her."

"Logan kill me now." I ordered.

"That 'one incident' was her stabbing Red Arrow." Superman prompted.

"And I decline invitation!" I growled. "I'd rather die than run around with idiot who wear their underpants on the outside of their wardrobe."

"Subject of nomination refuses, motion is dropped." Superman said, crossing his arms.

Canary rolled her eyes, "Oh please, she could probably beat me in a sparing match, and she's participated in several league missions."

"Her background is sketchy and what we do know is a long history of violence and killing, similar to a serial killing monster with no remorse or moral!" Superman snapped. He looked over a time, "No offence."

"No, I'm with you on this." I agreed, "Not qualified for the League."

Canary dropped it.

BACK AT MOUNT JUSTICE:

Conner took a swift intake of air, hearing a painful voice in his ear, telling him where to go. He stood up, walking to the door, only to have Akihiro grab onto his leg. He glared down at him, "What?"

"I'm coming too." The kid demanded.

Conner's eyes widened, "You heard that?"

"Yes." Akihiro said, and then pointed into the kitchen, "Why didn't they?"

"Quiet!" Conner hissed, "And no, you aren't coming. I'm going alone, well, with Wolf."

Akihiro paused, "I wonder what Mio would say if I told her about the voice, and you running off? She gave me an emergency number, she'll be angry if I interrupt her 'important meeting' but," Akihiro put on an incredibly fake face, showing fear, "I'm just so worried about Conner and Wolf."

Conner glared down at him, "Fine, you can come."

Akihiro was just like mio. Or, more accurately, Mio was just like her father.

WITH MIO:

"Seriously? The Atom?" Captain Marvel snorted. "I don't see how you could be useful at that size."

"It's the size that makes him useful," Batman retorted.

"Absolutely!" Flash agreed. "Still, we could always use more raw power and Earth has a third Green Lantern. Guy Gardner."

"No," both Green Lanterns snapped.

"But we could really-"

"No!"

I looked over at Logan, raising an eyebrow, "Why are they-"

"Drop it." He ordered.

"Fine."

"If we're considering Blue Devil, then I nominate Red Arrow," Green Arrow changed the hologram to that of his former protégé. "Roy has more experience and he's no kid anymore. He's 18. A legal adult."

"Red Arrow has been uncooperative and disrespectful," Aquaman retorted. "If we reward that behavior, what message does that send to the rest of the Team?"

"What do you think Hellhound?" Canary asked me.

"I hate him, I don't wanna work with him, so put him in the League pronto before he decides to join Young Justice." I ordered.

Logan turned to me, "You realize if he joins, you'd be his boss."

I brightened up, "Never mind, I demand a trial period with Red Arrow on the team so I can fully assess his traits and training before recommending him to the League."

"No fair!" Green Arrow complained. "You can't just change your vote!"

"Your son practically molested me!" I snapped, "I get torture time for that! So let me work him to the bone for a few weeks, I recommend him to the League and never bring to attention the fact I was sexually assaulted by him, we're even!"

Everyone was silent for a moment, until Wonder Woman piped up, "You do realize we're right here, correct?"

"… Just forget about that."

Logan growled, standing up, and glaring at Green Arrow, "Your boy did what to my little girl!?"

"Not now Logan!" I snapped, "I'm negotiating!"

WITH AKIHIRO:

I looked up at Conner, frozen in place, holding Lex Luthor's tie as the man stood above me, smiling down. "Well, well, well, Daken Akihiro."

I glared up at him, "I'm not a Daken! My name is Akihiro!"

He raised an eyebrow, "Excuse me?"

"You listen to me mister!" I snapped, "I don't like Conner at all, but Mio loves him, so if you hurt him, I'll gouge your eyes out!"

He tilted his head to the side, "Well, whatever went wrong, I'll fix it, trust me Daken, you're to valuable of an asset to lose. Our deal still stands."

"I don't know what you're talking about." I snapped, but he just got into his car, and drove away.

"Conner, if you can hear me, blink twice."

He didn't move. I smirked, taking out a black marker, "Don't pass out, when there's markers about."

WITH MIO:

"This is taking forever." I complained, watching the League bicker.

"This is politics." Logan explained.

"I hate America." I complained, "Such a complicated government system, no wonder nothing get's done."

"Japan has such a better legal system?"

"Japan, the part I lived in, didn't use such a ridiculous amount of gasoline." I pointed out.

"Good point, you ever consider going back?"

"Not an option." I dismissed.

"Why isn't going to your childhood home and trying to have a normal life an option?" He asked, "You obviously don't want to be in the hero business any more."

"Why would you say that?" I asked.

He shrugged, "You aren't considering long term employment."

Oh, this was about the whole 'I can't be you Logan, and I'm not fit to be your successor' crap I pulled back at Utopia X. Was he ever gonna get over it? Probably not, he offered me his place on the X-men, and I threw it in his face. "I'm got the team."

"Your team is fine Mio." He said, "But how long do you think it's going to last? When any of these kids get an offer into the League, they'll take in. One by one, they'll all move on. Where does that leave you? No Justice League? No X-men? Where are you headed?"

I was silent, not sure how to answer.

"No," Superman said firmly. "Red Arrow may be 18, but the rest of the Team is too young. We're not inducting children into the League."

Stupid spandex wearing alien.

"I have seen into the mind of several of the team." Doctor Fate gestured to the hologram of Aqualad and Kid Flash. "Of the Team, these three are ready."

"And what of Zatanna?" Wonder Woman asked.

"Absolutely not!"

"That sounded almost protective, Doctor. Least we know Zatara is in that Helmet somewhere," Wonder Woman teased.

"Why is Doctor Fate a member?" Captain Marvel asked, standing up. "You coerced Zatara into giving up his life to you or else lose his daughter instead. Not cool."

"Should such behavior be condoned?" Red Tornado asked.

"Zatara desires Doctor Fate to remain with the League," Doctor Fate added.

"Oh, please," Green Arrow huffed.

"It is true. Zatara's trust in Nabu is...measured. He desires the League to retain a close watch on us."

I sighed, what did age matter?

"Plastic Man," Batman introduced and Captain Marvel struggled to hold in his laughter.

"I dunno," Flash shook his head. "The guy's got a pretty substantial criminal record."

Captain Marvel burst into laughter, "Sorry, sorry. The guy just cracks me up."

Flash sighed, staring at Captain Marvel just like everyone else, "Maybe it's time we talked about the elephant in the room. Should Captain Marvel remain a member, now that we know he's only 10 years old?"

"He does possess an adult body and the wisdom of Solomon," Red Tornado informed.

"Wisdom does not equal maturity," Aquaman retorted.

"Neither does age." I countered.

"Hey, I'm sitting right here!" Captain Marvel frowned, offended.

"Then Billy," Black Canary spoke with a gentle tone, "maybe you should leave. Until we've hashed this out."

"No," Batman shook his head. "Captain Marvel is a member and is entitled to stay until or unless he's voted out."

"Its not just his age," Wonder Woman stated. "It's the fact that he lied about it."

"I didn't lie...exactly. I just...left out the part about being a kid," Captain Marvel smiled innocently.

"That's the kind of thinking only a child would voice," Wonder Woman stated, ignoring the stares. "A lie is still a lie, no matter how you dress it up, Billy. No one knew. Therefore, it's a lie."

"I knew," Batman stated.

"I shouldn't be surprised," Wonder Woman frowned. "Since you adopted Robin into the life of crime-fighting at the right bold age of 9."

"Robin needed to help bring the men who murdered his family to justice." He defended.

"So he could turn out like you?" She challenged

He glared at her, "So that he wouldn't."

"I agree." I said, "Putting Robin into the fight at that age wasn't a mistake. He's not mentally damaged from it, or emotionally damaged."

"And how do you know this?" Hawkwoman asked.

"For one, he's my… well, my best friend." I explained.

Flash snorted, "Ironic, friendship continues through the generations. Batman and Wolverine. Robin and you."

"You say that like it's a bad thing." I challenged.

"No, just predictable." He waved off.

Martian Manhunter stood up, "You seem to be consistent that 18 years is a minimal, suitable age for joining the League. Yet, what of Miss Martian? Though she is biological adolescent by Martian standards, she was born 48 Earth years ago."

"So what is the deciding factor? Chronology or biology?" Red Tornado asked. "Take Superboy."

"Exactly," Black Canary interrupted. "He's less than a year old. Does he have to wait 17 more to stand beside us?"

"And another thing, why didn't I have a say in you being put in charge of the team my nephew is on? I mean, I get it, you're an X-man, but does that really excuse you from your long history of killing? Not to mention who your father is." Flash asked, looking over at me.

I stood up, slamming my palm down onto the table, "Who my father is has nothing to do with who I am. I under stand who I used to be isn't someone who should be sitting at this table, but let me tell you something Flash Boy, I was kidnapped by Hydra at the ripe old age of ten! Made to watch as they killed my mother. After that I was taken away to a strange country where people cut me open, stuck wires into me, and beat me to oblivion every day! They forced me to kill! Then, after a year of being put through that every day, I bolted with a four year old on my back, and lived on the streets for months, before I was forced to join the Dark Avengers, and they made me kill."

I took a deep breath, glaring at everyone in the room, "After anything like that, I'd imagine everyone here would be a bit screwy, huh? I'll admit, I've done some stupid, messed up stuff before, but I changed! And I've done enough good to counter all the bad, and then some, alright? So if any of you have any problems with that, if you're a woman, say it at the risk of getting a scar right down the middle of your face. If you're a man, say it at the risk of losing your genitalia." I spat, popping my middle finger claw on my right fist.

Flash paused, "Alright, fine, it was a low blow. I apologize."

I sat down, looking around the room. "Good."

Canary spoke up, "Mio Howlett, after supervising the entire team for so long, you're in a special position to tell us whose ready to be on the League."

I sighed, "Megan? You're considering her right? Forget it, she's been at this job for a grand total of five months, age means nothing, experience and IQ means everything. Megan isn't ready."

"And Superboy?" Red Tornado asked.

I paused, frowning. "He has emotional abandonment issues." I looked up at Superman, "Which center all completely around you by the way, thanks for tainting his talent and crushing his heart."

Superman glared at me. "I didn't-"

"You crushed his hopes of acceptance." I said. "He is no where near the level he should be on, all because of emotional trauma you put him through. You succeeded in ruining what could have been one of the greatest heroes the world has ever known, and you know what? The saddest part is, you know it's not to late, and you still refuse to take action."

I looked at him in disgust. "Ya know, me and Conner used to bicker about whose father was worse, mine or his, and suddenly I realize, I was wrong. You are worse than my father, at least mine gives credit when credit is do, and the occasional moment of attention to make me feel like I'm not trash."

I continued before he could come back at me, "You're a grown ass man, acting like a spoiled child who didn't get the right Christmas gift. suck it up and grow a pair Clarky-Boy."

I shook my head when he opened his mouth, "Don't even try to make an excuse, you still just call him Superboy don't you?"

He was confused, "Why, that's his name isn't it?"

I groaned, "Such a worse father than mine."

I shook my head again, "Anyways, give me a little more time with Conner, maybe seven to eight months, I'll have him League worthy. Wally? Yeah, he's ready for League, so is Kaldur. Robin? No, he's also dealing with emotional trauma, give him a little time, maybe two months, and then I'd recommend him for membership in a heart beat."

I looked over at all of them, "There's one person none of you have seemed to consider, Artemis."

There was silence, until Green Arrow piped up, "What about Artemis?"

I smiled, "That kid is something else, I'm telling you. You should really be proud of her Ollie, she's the best student I've ever had. Honestly."

He paused, before smiling a little, "Really?"

"Yeah." I said, nodding, "Out of all of them, she's the one I recommend the most. I'm being completely serious about this everyone. I. Want. Artemis. In The. League."

They all looked at each other, before Batman stood up. "If that's all then…"

"No other ideas?" Superman asked. "Then here are our candidates for new or continued membership."

Holograms of all the candidates surrounded the table. Batman gestured to all the heroes, "We've debated size, gender, origin, experience, age, temperament, and background. But, what is the fundamental criteria for membership?"

"When all is said in done," Wonder Woman interrupted, "the question must be: whom do we trust? Trust to fight beside us? Trust to have our backs? Trust to uphold the high standards and ideals of the Justice League?"

"Time to vote," Batman announced.

I turned to the computer screen, scrolling through the choices. I voted yes for Atom, Aqualad, Blue Devil, Guy Gardner, Kid Flash, Artemis, and Icon. She voted no for Miss Martian, Rocket, Red Arrow, and Plastic Man. The computer screen disappeared, and Batman turned to everyone.

"All those in favor of ratifying the results?"

I raised my hand with the others, crossing my fingers under the table for Artemis. If no one else, just her, okay? She's earned it.

"All opposed?" Silence. "Then we are adjured."

LATER, AT MIO'S APARTMENT:

I got home late, frowning when I saw Conner sitting up, I heard Akihiro's breathing in the back bedroom, he was asleep. "Conner?"

He looked up at me, "Your home."

"Yeah." I said, shrugging, "Long debate at the League."

He sighed, "Mio, I've got to tell you about what happened today."

He held up a box of small, red metal plated, "These are called shields, if I put one on my arm, it'll oppress my human DNA, and I'll get full kryptonian powers."

I frowned, "Where'd you get them?"

He bit his lower lip, "Lex Luthor."

"Why would he give them to you?' I asked, crossing my arms.

"Because… because he's my… uh… my other father." Conner said, "Cadmus created me to be a clone of Superman and Lex Luthor."

I sighed, "Well, that's a pretty messed up family Conner, but hey, who am I to judge?"

"You aren't mad?" He asked.

"Nope." I said, "Now, I'm going to take a shower, when I get out you can tell me all about it, okay?"

He smiled as I passed him, "Okay."