I do not own the rights to the Justice League.

Technicalities

Eugene's POV

Annie and Nikki managed to hold Gary off long enough for Batman to show up. After watching Suzy and the intruder vanish into thin air, I had waited about an hour before realizing they weren't coming back. And Gary was most likely going to kill me for losing his sister.

It took another hour to calm myself down and think of what to do next. I called Annie and told her what happened. She then contacted the League and Gary. Eventually we all agreed to meet at the apartment. At which time Gary threatened to pummel me into the ground.

But eventually Batman showed up, and I had to explain what happened for the fifth time. Unlike Gary, Batman didn't have to say anything to show his disapproval and anger. I could feel it radiating from every pore in his body. It was worse than the time he paid me a little visit after discovering that I had hacked into the Watchtower. He wasn't too happy discovering that somebody had managed to infiltrate his pride and joy.

"What did we talk about?" he growled menacingly.

"That I was to stop doing illegal activities, which I did. Technically building a device to travel to other dimensions isn't illegal," I pointed out. But I had a feeling it soon would be if Batman had his way after this escapade was over.

"Do you have another copy of the device?" he asked, after much silence. Even Gary had shut up, wondering what Batman was about to do me (I really don't want to guess at what he specifically wanted Batman to do to me).

"No," I said, shaking my head. "And even if I did, it wouldn't help. The device wasn't working for more than a couple seconds. I suppose it is possible that Suzy and the intruder managed to fix that issue in the scuffle though..."

"So, there's nothing we can do to get her back?" asked Annie, who had been extremely quiet this whole time.

"Um..." if I said no, I would be dead which would suck since I'm rather fond of being alive. Except when my life is being threatened.

Sensing my hesitation, Batman asked, "Do you know what universe the device sent them to?"

I nodded. "Unless they messed that up too, it should be the same."

After giving him the frequency vibration, I had expected him to whisk me off to the Batcave or wherever else he was going. He had mentioned something about having a portal of his own and I couldn't wait to see his version. I wouldn't have been any trouble. I mean, sure I would have asked a lot of questions and probably would have touched things I wasn't suppose to. But at the moment, anywhere else beat being stuck in the same room with Gary.

Suzy's POV

It took half an hour to calm him down after seeing Batman's face hovering in air. It didn't even last two seconds. One moment the face was there, the next it was gone, along with the hole. While he was freaking out about the incident, I relished in the comfort it brought me. Sure they must be having technical issues for me to still be here, but Eugene had at least fessed up to what happened (probably more out of fear for his life than concern for me). But it was something, and Batman of all people was working on my case. He might not have superpowers, but after everything I've heard (and had recently read) he was the one Leaguer you knew would get the job done. He was also probably the only one (with the exception of J'onn maybe) who could figure out how to get me back.

Then there was the whole, 'I'm not insane' thing. After spending almost a day in a world that was constantly saying mine didn't exist, I was wondering if it was all just a dream. Maybe. I wasn't that convinced that it was all make believe, but it was still comforting to see the familiar cowl glaring back at me.

Not all of us were relieved. I supposed one of the benefits about my world is that you're used to weird shit happening. It gets to the point that seeing some super villain go stomping down the street after robbing a bank, would be no more different than noticing it was cloudy and might rain. Just another day. Some of us though, aren't that lucky to live in such a world. In fact, the jerk was on the ground, spazzing out-

"I was not spazzing out," interrupted Gardner.

I snorted. "Then what do you call curling up into a ball saying, 'there's no such thing as Batman, there's no such thing as Batman' over and over again?"

He continued denying it. "I only said it a couple times, and I was not curled up in a ball."

I snorted again.

Batman said nothing, simply looking forward, calm and unmoving, holding his hand in front of his chin as if he was deep in thought. We're not BFF's or anything, but sometimes I wonder if the mask was more to hide his emotions than his identity. I mean, at this point I had practically called him out on his identity, so he had to know that I knew. And given where Gardner grew up he obviously knew, and from what I had seen, Waller knew too. Which begged the question, why wear the mask, when everybody in the room knew who was under it. The obvious answer had to be he enjoyed people guessing what he was thinking.

"So what were you doing?" asked Gardner.

"I was trying to get Suzy back," he answered. "However, given the peculiarities of your world, it wouldn't allow the portal to stay open long enough for me to retrieve her."

"Hear that? Your world is strange which means you're strange," I said with a smirk.

"Still nowhere as crazy as yours."

"Ahem," said Waller while clearing her throat, "Why don't we get back to the story?"

Gardner then said it was his turn to speak. I was fine with that. I'd just correct his mistakes later.

Gardner's POV

I was not spazzing out, I was in shock. And yes, there's a difference.

It also didn't take half an hour, (five minutes max) before the shock subsided enough for me to speak again. "You're real? You're really from Central City and everything you said is real?"

She nodded and looked as if she was fighting back the words, 'told you so', but she still helped me up from off the sidewalk.

"So, I guess this means I really do owe you a shower and some clothes." Before she could make some smart alec comment, I spoke again. "But first there's something else we need to do."

"Oh yeah, what's that?"

"You can call me Gardner," I said. If everything she said was true, then we were probably going to be stuck with each other for a while, and names would probably help with the situation. I couldn't keep calling her the girl, and who knows what she had been calling me (I would later learn it was 'the jerk' but for that moment I was happier being ignorant).

Hesitant, she finally said, "Suzy. Suzy Smith."

I started snickering. "Not the most original with names in your world, are you?"

She just glared. So much for the start of a beautiful friendship...

"Hello Ashley," greeted the blonde at the door, also known as Angela, my first roommate. You heard correctly, my first roommate was a girl.

Suzy looked at me confused. "I thought you said your name was Gardner."

Before I could say anything Angela, butted in. "That's his last name, his first is Ashley."

I frowned, all my friends called me by my last name so why couldn't she? Oh, yeah, because she was a bitch. Her looks may live up to her name, but she's more of a devil than an angel, which is also why she's such a blast to hang out. Like the one time freshmen year she managed to convince the stoner kid on first floor to let her give him a make-over, and wear a mini-skirt. The best part was the next day, he didn't remember a thing. Angela might make your life miserable sometimes, but if anyone else touched you, she'd make their life hell. A weird friendship yes, but it worked just the same.

Suzy was snickering, "You have a girl's name?"

I sighed, I hated explaining this. "It's a family name, and it wasn't until the 1960's did it become more popular as a girl's name."

"So you have a girl's name?"

Angela joined in laughing. "It gets better. The school thought there was an error with with sex information since it clashed with his name, and placed him with me as his roommate freshmen year. You should have seen his face, first it was horror at being mistaken for a girl, then awe at living with well, me. He even tried to convince housing he was just a manly looking girl in order for him to stay."

This caused Suzy to laugh harder, and I was starting to get the sinking feeling that putting these two together may not have been the brightest idea I ever had. "You were that desperate, huh?"

"It gets, better though," Angela said between snickers. "He used to go by Ash when he was younger, but then Pokemon came out, and kids kept asking him what happened to pikachu."

Sure enough, Suzy was almost on the floor at this point, doubled over in laughter. She looked up at me and managed to get out, "So ten years later, and you still haven't caught them all, huh?"

Ignoring her and Angela's laughter, I said, "Look, as much as I love being embarrassed, I am here for a reason."

"Wow, your day must have been bad for you to want to get drunk on a Thursday," said Angela. Did I mention her room was known as the party room? Well, it's for a very good reason. Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned that out loud...

Anyway, I responded, "I'm not here to get drunk," though, given the last couple hours it certainly couldn't hurt things, "Suzy here," I paused while trying to come up with a believable lie. "Went to my high school and her roommate kicked her out."

By this point Suzy had stopped laughing, and had caught on to what I was doing. "Yeah, she's a crazy one. Once, she totaled my car because she though it was ugly."

I didn't know whether or not that was true (I would later find out it was), but Angela saw where the conversation was going. "And you want me to give her a place to crash?"

"Yeah," I admitted.

"Sure. Just one question. If you went to the same high school, how does she not know your first name?"

Damn, forget that Angela was smart enough to notice that wrinkle. Suzy meanwhile spoke up before I could. "Rumor has it that his mom paid a special visit to the principal on the first day of class. We always thought it was to get him out of gym class, but guess we know the real reason, because all the teachers always referred to him as Gardner. Even when he graduated, they just said Gardner."

Angela started laughing. "Aw, little Ashley's mommy to the rescue." The sad thing was, my mother would actually do it too and Angela knew it.

"So mind if I shower, and borrow some clothes?" asked Suzy.

"Anyone who enjoys making fun of Ashley, is a friend of mine. Besides, you can tell me all the embarrassing things he did in high school."

"Sounds like fun," said Suzy as she walked in the door.

I moved to follow her, but Angela blocked my way. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Sorry, girl's night only," added Suzy. "Though with your name, you could come in."

"Of course, it would mean admitting you are a girl, and giving me reason to mock you for the rest of your life," finished Angela.

I walked away in defeat. No need to give Angela even more ammunition than she already had. It was also becoming quickly apparent that deciding to introduce those two was one of my worst ideas to date.

**Author's Note**

Thanks goes to AidenSurvival, Loki's Son, a triple thanks to Jana Girl123, monkey see and Fox Alder for reviewing.

So Gardner's name is really Ashley. And that stoner story? Actually happened a couple years ago and it was hilarious to watch. One more reason not to do drugs.

Next chapter will feature some fun girl bonding time between Suzy and Angela. At the end you'll learn a bit more about Annie's author.

Hoped you enjoyed this chapter, and don't forget to review!