So it's begun, my obsession is renewed with this chapter. My fingers skip over the keys to log yet another era in the life of our friend the hero.
Again, welcome, I'll leap straight into this.
Charly awoke to the slightly disturbing sight of Batman leaning over him.
Bruce Wayne had aged, perhaps considerably more than he should have some might say, but he still maintained that he belonged on the side of justice, fighting the good fight, this is the reason he still insisted on being involved in missions.
It was a few seconds until Charly realised where he was, and a few more before he remembered why.
'She kicked you out, then?' Bruce smiled, not so rare these days, gesturing up and down the hallway where he had found the newest addition to the League sleeping on the ground.
Charly merely grunted a reply, forcing himself to stand up and stretch, a night on the floor of the Watchtower made a person quite stiff.
As he stretched a loud crack sounded from his odd new appendages as they straightened out, filling the corridor and darkening the surroundings.
He was about to speak civilly when the door beside them slid open to reveal a still tired looking Tara, bed hair still intact and yawning, she glanced at Bruce and gave a curt nod before simply pointing at Charly, then at the bed inside the room.
He didn't need to be told twice and sprinted to the area she indicated. She gave another nod and the door slid closed.
'Good morning to you too.' Bruce intoned, turning to go.
'Oh, and could you keep it down please?' He shouted back at the door. 'Yelling is one thing, but hearing that over breakfast would be disturbing to say the least.'
He strolled off down the hall to the main dining area.
---
It was a while before either Tara or Charly reappeared, though when they did nobody asked them any questions. Their appearance spoke for itself, with Tara beaming and adjusting her hair occasionally as though she had rushed it and Charly's eyes literally glowing.
They sat at a table after grabbing some breakfast and were about to plan their day when Clark's voice boomed over the PA.
'Spitfire, Terra, report to the control room for briefing. You've got a new mission guys.' The infuriating message rang.
'I haven't even had a chance to speak this morning.' Charly complained, as though to prove his point he still had his morning baritone voice, causing a little smile and a glint in Tara's eye.
'D'you think we have time to go back to the room before we meet Clark?' She whispered in his ear, tracing a circle on his chest with her finger.
'If only.' He replied, as much because he wanted to as to cover the wolf-whistle from the Flash, seated nearby.
Stepping through the door to the control room (not really a room, more a balcony overlooking practically the whole Watchtower) Charly grimaced as he spotted the original 7 (minus Wally West who had vanished into the Speed Force a while ago), obviously this was something important, to draw them all into handing out the mission.
'It's possible we're about to get a mission that neither of us will like.' He whispered to Tara, she merely nodded in reply, psyching herself up. She still had confidence issues when to came to the League founders.
Clark nodded swiftly at them before motioning at the door to the meeting room, then strolled through himself.
They followed, taking seats at the end of the long table and staring straight at him.
'Right,' Clark began, Charly was pleased to note that his eyes still had the effect of making even Superman falter, 'Well, the mission. It's just you two, from the League at least, I've had Green Arrow contact Speedy, or rather the former Speedy. You probably know him as Roy.' Clark didn't do well with real names, strangely.
'There has been a recent string of particularly violent crimes in Jump City.' He paused, allowing for questions.
'And you think they're related.' Tara spoke up, though it wasn't a question.
'There's more than enough evidence to suggest that, yes.' Clark continued. 'The Bodies of the victims all…'
'Whoa!' Charly cut in. 'Hang on, bodies? As in plural?'
'Yes, multiple fatalities.' Bruce put in.
'Our little town is all grown up. Here I thought we'd raised it so well, too.' Charly slumped into his chair, letting the full weight of the situation hit him; Tara placed a hand on his shoulder. He loved Jump City, always had since he first arrived there as a young teenager running from his past.
'We want you to investigate the crimes, assist the police in their inquiries. They still have jurisdiction though, so they ask you to do something and you do it. They tell you to step off, you come back here, got it?' John (Green Lantern) put in.
The two nodded, they were already known for not playing by the rules. 'Do the job, do it fast, worry later.' was Charly's philosophy when it came to pretty much everything, something he picked up during his days of stealing to survive in his youth.
'We send you out as soon as possible, so prep and report to the transporters.' Clark stopped ad watched them as they simply sat there.
'Now! Go go go!' He yelled, watching them jump and scurry out of the room. 'Newbies.'
---
'Yo, Vic.' Garfield's voice echoed around the garage and into the ears of Victor, who was in his office.
He strolled out to meet his old friend, pulling him into an awkward hug.
'Get off dude, your mechanic buddies will start talking.' Gar struggled out of the powerful grip.
Vic glanced around and spotted Gar's TVR parked in front of the ramp.
'Brakes again?' He asked with a sigh.
Gar smiled sheepishly and nodded.
'Shall I just replace them?' Vic asked further.
Again, Gar simply nodded.
'This time I'm going with the T-car special, you remember how good those brakes were.' He smiled at the memory of the Titan's primary mode of transport.
'Hey thanks, man.' Gar got out his chequebook and began to scribble on it .'How much I owe ya?'
'Nothing, dude, those brakes were getting so bad I'm doing this to keep you alive.' Vic laughed, but still accepted the cheque thrust at him.
'It's about what I paid you last time, slightly more.' Gar explained. 'Any chance you could do it soon, I'm not taking a bus to the restaurant.' He asked.
'I'll get on that.' Vic motioned him to bring the car in.
As he worked they chatted about this and that, Vic's work and how it was currently booming because of the new racing circuit that had been built, Gar's work, how he'd managed to get a few species classified as protected through his shows.
Eventually they moved onto the evening planned.
'Can you believe that we're all getting together again after all this time?' Gar was really looking forward to seeing all his old friends and teammates again.
'I swear I'm gonna break Rich's arm if he turns up in a mask.' Vic's voice sounded from under the car.
'Tara cut her hair, y'know? It looks great.' Gar threw out nonchalantly, this still didn't stop Vic rolling out from under the car to give him a look. 'What?' Gar protested innocently.
They stayed silent for a while until Gar decided to bring up a touchy subject.
'Charly and Rich…' He began.
'Don't say another word.' Vic warned. 'And don't mention it tonight either. Forget it.'
Charly and Richard had parted on less than excellent terms, or rather they had parted when they were dragged apart; Charly with a broken nose and Rich with a pretty nasty burn.
Rich had been getting progressively more aggravated by Charly's refusal to acknowledge the issue with Brother Blood years ago, it eventually culminated in Richard snapping when Charly made a bad decision.
Both Starfire and Terra were in need of help and some might argue that Star was in more danger. Needless to say Charly went to help Terra, causing Rich to snap completely. That was the final mission, the team had ended there.
'I think, no, I hope they've both gotten over it. I'm sure Kori has managed to talk some sense into Rich.' Gar explained.
'What about Charly?' Vic asked.
'C? The guy who died and thinks it wasn't a big deal? Yeah, I'm sure he's over it.' Gar laughed.
---
Richard pulled his mask out and held it up.
'What do you think? For old time's sake?' He asked Kori, who had finally decided on a dress and was now acting impatient while Richard finished his preparations.
'I have the feeling Victor may injure you, were you to arrive wearing that.' She smiled at him.
'I know, I just thought it would be funny.' He feigned putting the mask back but slipped it into his pocket when Kori had turned.
When they were finally in the car, Richard gunned the ignition and burned off down the road, taking the interstate to save time. It wasn't far to Jump, but it was a drive that would have taken an hour and a half were it not for the concrete behemoth slashing the land in two.
'I can see this going badly, I still have that scar you know.' Richard spoke, changing lanes.
'I have seen it many times, Richard. I thought I had talked you out of this nonsense. He is our friend, one argument does not change that.' Kori lectured.
'I know, I was just wondering whether he would be over it yet. He always did have issues. I hope he's not still mad at me.' Richard mused.
'This is the man who insisted his death and resurrection were not a big deal. I'm sure he's fine.' Kori smiled. 'By the way, I know you have the mask in your pocket.'
Richard chuckled embarrassedly.
---
'Are you sure this is the place?' Rachel asked Garfield as he pulled the TVR up to the most expensive restaurant in Jump City. Her brother wasn't known for his love of lavish things. She remained unsure until she spotted Tara stood outside and Charly speaking quietly to the doorman.
As they stepped from the car and the valet nearly fainted at the chance to drive the newest model TVR Tara greeted them with a kiss on the cheek.
'It's been so long since I last saw you guys.' She gushed, bringing them over to where Charly was now handing the doorman a fifty.
'Just hold the table, please?' They heard him whisper. The doorman checked his hand, spotted the note and nodded.
They watched Richard and Kori turn up in Rich's latest toy, bought with his Wayne Enterprises money. Slightly nicer than Gar's TVR, it didn't have a badge and was probably a custom made model from somewhere.
Richard helped Kori from the car, took her arm and they walked up to the others, smiling.
Charly turned in time to come face to face with Rich, his smile faltered for a second, through uncertainty mostly.
'Charly.' Richard intoned, holding out a hand.
'Richard.' Charly reciprocated.
They stood for a while like that, the others expecting an argument or a comment at the very least. That was until they both laughed and Charly pulled Rich into a tight hug.
'How long has it been dude?' He asked his former leader, still laughing.
'Too long.' Richard replied, also laughing. 'I'm glad we're over it, let the past be the past.' He turned to Gar.
'What d'you think of the new car? Impressive huh?' He asked, beaming.
Gar smiled conspicuously before answering.
'If you're trying to make me jealous it isn't working. You forget, I've had constant contact with Vic.' Gar chuckled.
'So?' Richard looked confused.
He then jumped out of his skin as a loud, almost terrifying roar erupted behind him.
'That's so.' Gar laughed as Vic rounded the corner in his modified car.
It was impossible to tell what it used to be, the only certainty is that this was Vic's new baby. The definitive in automotive perfection. It rolled to a stop, still growling menacingly, and Victor stepped out. The valet had collapsed, his nose bleeding, when he saw the car pull in.
'Hey guys, long time since we were all together like this, huh?' Vic spoke loudly, jovially and with a hint of excitement. He stopped for a moment to stand next to Gar and Rich as Vic's car rounded a corner at the hands of the valet. They sighed in unison.
'If you ladies have finished comparing handbags,' Charly was stood with the female members of the group, hands on his hips, 'our table is waiting.' He told the three guys, still drooling over Vic's ride, he tutted, turned on his heel and threw an exasperated 'Men!' over his shoulder as he took Tara's arm and they entered the restaurant.
---
'Wow, that food was good. And I mean awesome good.' Gar pushed his empty plate away from himself and sighed contentedly.
Charly was deep in conversation with Rich and was getting a little more than slightly jealous.
'So, you do nothing but still make how much?' He asked.
'From nothing but shares, around one and a half million dollars a year. Then, from other parts of the company, a little more.' Rich explained, ignoring the look his friend was giving him.
'And Kori works because…?' Charly prompted.
'I feel that I am pulling my weight, rather than living off Richard's luck and I do not like to think of myself as a kept woman.' Kori explained, over her wineglass.
'Right, how much is it we make a year, Tara?' Charly asked.
'Erm… approximately nothing, though we do get full housing and food expenses paid for by the government, not to mention donations and the fact that the League seems to be able to somehow print it's own money.' She smiled as she said this, then the smile grew as a memory struck her. 'Remember that time in Rio, with the drug baron? How did we pay for that?' She asked Charly, who chuckled at the memory.
'Somehow GL got us to believe that Batman was selling the seized dugs on the side. Oh the jokes at old Batsy's expense were hilarious. Until he bataranged Flash in the face.' He wiped a tear from his eye and glanced at the bill, which had been set down on the table.
His eyes widened and he coughed embarrassedly before leaning over to the waiter and whispering something.
The waiter promptly removed the bill and Charly motioned everyone could leave.
'What about the…' Rachel started, only to be cut off by a loud noise from Charly's ear. Or rather his earpiece.
'Charly,' Jonn's voice poured out, he sounded angry, 'the Justice League is not your meal ticket. Do you know how much we've just been charged? I'm trying to stop Superman coming down there right now.' He carried on like that for a while.
Charly took the device from his ear and flicked a small switch on the side.
'Anyone fancy going to a club?' He asked innocently.
And there's chapter 2.
I'll apologise now for the latency of these next few chapters, as I've said I've got exams on and they're really important so there's little time to write.
Still when I can I will. It'll probably be during the night, for example its 01:32 at the moment but hey, I deprive myself of sleep for you guys. Keep reading!
Your host,
Reamis.