I do not own X-men or Young Justice
*Watchtower: November 19, 13:54*
Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman stood silently, in the Watchtower's garden, looking out over the Earth, admiring the beauty of the world they had sworn to protect.
"Times like these one feels the very weight of the world upon us" said Wonder Woman.
"Everyone is here" the heroes turned to face Aquaman.
The four made their way to the boardroom, where they met up with the remaining twelve additional members of the Justice League: Flash, Red Tornado, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Green Lantern (John Stewart), Captain Marvel, Hawkman, Hawkwoman, Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Zatara, and Captain Atom. At last the entire League was assembled.
"Our agenda is clear" said Aquaman. "What's at stake should not be underestimated."
"The decisions we make today will reverberate for years to come" said Superman.
"And influence whether or not the world continues to put their trust in the Justice League" said Wonder Woman.
"Please take your seats" said Batman. "We have work to do."
Once the League members were all seated, holographic computers appeared in front of all of them. The Martian Manhunter then took this time to address them.
"Another expansion of the League could generate another escalation of hostilities from our enemies. No one needs nor wants another Injustice League."
"Point taken" said Superman. "but the option remains to vote no on all candidates. So…I nominate Icon for League membership."
The image of a tall, muscular African American man with short cropped black hair, wearing a domino mask, a red tunic with crossed black bands and a golden ring in the center, black pants, and a large green cape, appeared in the center of the table.
"Why, because you suspect Icon might be Kryptonian, like you did with Captain Marvel?" questioned Green Arrow.
"Icon interest me also" said Wonder Woman, coming to Superman's defense. "As does his protégé, Rocket." The image of the young woman from Dakota city appeared before them. "Athena knows the League could use more female members."
Black Canary and Hawkwoman immediately voiced their agreement.
*New Orleans: November 19, 15:00*
New Orleans was unlike anywhere, Laura had ever been. From the music filling the streets to the random of delicious smelling foods; there was a kind of energy to the city that brought a smile even to her usually stoic features.
"That's the thing about New Orleans" said Red-X or Jason as he told her to call him now that he was out of costume. "It just welcomes you, no matter who you are."
Laura considered the thief's words and found that she couldn't disagree. She found herself wondering if that was perhaps the reason why the city's referred to as the Big Easy.
"As nice as the city is, what exactly are we here for?" she asked. "You do realize it's only a matter of time before my father decides to track me down. And I doubt you want to face the Wolverine."
"Well, if I'm gonna die, I might as well have a last meal first." Jason grabbed Laura's arm and dragged her over to a nearby jazz club saying they had the best jambalaya in the city. "It's a favorite of my dad's."
That certainly surprised Laura. Given his profession, she'd assumed Jason didn't have any family. Unless… "Your father's a thief too, I take it."
"Runs in the family" Jason smirked. "In fact, that's kind of the reason why I called you here."
"I'm not stealing anything for you" said Laura. As much as she's enjoyed the city and the meal, she wasn't about to get herself into trouble over a boy. She'd leave that to Kitty.
"Believe me, if that was all I needed, I'd do it myself." Jason assured her. "We've still got a bit of a wait so just sit back and enjoy your stew."
*Watchtower*
"I nominate the Atom" said Batman, calling forth an image of the hero.
"Seriously? The Atom?" Captain Marvel scoffed. "How useful could he be at that size?"
"It's the size that makes him useful" the Dark Knight countered.
"Absolutely" Flash agreed. "Still, we could always use more power. And Earth has a third Green Lantern, Guy Gardner."
"No" Hal and John immediately denied.
"But we could really…"
"No!" the Lanterns stressed, obviously having history with their fellow Lantern.
*New Orleans*
Having finished her admittedly delicious meal, Laura was starting to get impatient about what Jason had brought her for and demanded answers.
"Well, then you'll be happy to know the waits over" Jason smirked, pointing over Laura's shoulder to a trio of men who'd just entered the club. Each of them were dressed in dark hooded jackets led by a man in his early twenties with long dirty blonde hair, a pierced eyebrow, and carrying what Laura recognized as collapsible bō staffs. "How's it hanging, Julian?"
"Well if it isn't Toddy boy" the leader Julian sneered. "Looks like you saved me the trouble of tracking you down."
Laura and Jason stood to confront Julian only for his two stooges to grab them by the shoulders as their boss extended his staff, intending to crack it over Jason's head. Obviously expecting their greater numbers to intimidate them, the goons holding them were unprepared when Jason and Laura broke free and flipped them over their shoulders, throwing them right on top of Julian.
Guessing this wasn't just about a street brawl, Laura grabbed Julian and dragged him along as they took their leave before someone could call the cops.
"So, what's this all about?" Laura asked. "And if you brush me off again, I'm leaving."
"Wasn't planning on it" Jason assured her. He had no more reason to keep her waiting. "I used to run with a crime family called the Thieves Guild. Julien here is part of a rival family called the Rippers. A few days ago, I learned they kidnapped my father. And if they managed to catch him then, I knew I was going to need some help."
Laura sighed know that even if he hadn't helped her save Black Canary, she still probably would've agreed to help him. Having formed a relationship with Logan she now understood just how important a father could be.
"Well, then let's see what we can learn from Julian."
*Watchtower*
"I nominate Laura Kinney" said Black Canary, mindful not to refer to her original codename, as she called for an image. "As we're all aware, she's fully trained and highly skilled, both in combat and tactics. She's also shown great loyalty and strength of character."
"I agree" said Wonder Woman. "She's shown much growth during her time away from the Team."
Hawkwoman also voiced her support but Batman and a few other members weren't so sure. Her recent actions aside, Laura had already broken her original agreement with the Justice League, and refused her former teammates invitation to rejoin them. Why should they induct her into the League?
"If we're considering Laura, then I nominate Red Arrow" said Green Arrow, calling up the image of his former protégé. "Roy has more experience, and he's no kid anymore. He's eighteen. A legal adult. He's ready."
"Is he?" Aquaman questioned. "Red Arrow has been uncooperative and disrespectful. If we reward that behavior, what message does that send to the rest of the Team?"
"No" said Superman. "Red Arrow may be eighteen, but Laura and the rest of the Team are too young. We're not inducting children into the League."
Captain Marvel was starting to get nervous, as it was no longer a secret that he's actually a ten-year-old boy.
"I nominate Plastic Man" said Batman, saving Billy with the change in topic.
"I don't know" said Flash. "the guys got a pretty substantial criminal record."
Laughter erupted from Captain Marvel, remembering past run ins with the man. The Captain stopped once he noticed everyone was looking at him. "Sorry, the guy cracks me up." But no one else is amused.
"Maybe it's time we all talked about the elephant in the room" Flash sighed. "Should Captain Marvel stay a member, now that we know he's really only ten years old?"
"He does possess an adult body" said Red Tornado. "and the wisdom of Solomon."
"Wisdom does not equal maturity" Aquaman argued.
"Hey, I'm sitting right here" said Captain Marvel, sounding insulted.
"Then, Billy, maybe you should leave until we've hashed this out" Canary said patronizingly.
"No, Captain Marvel is a member and is entitles to participate until or unless he's voted out" said Batman.
"It's not just his age" said Wonder Woman. "It's the fact that he lied about it."
"I didn't lie, exactly" Captain Marvel argued. "I just left out the part about being a kid."
"A lie of omission is still a lie. You kept an important secret from us. No one in the League knew the truth."
"I did" said Batman, shocking Captain Marvel, as he'd thought he'd kept the secret rather well.
"I shouldn't be surprise" Wonder Woman glared. "since you indoctrinated Robin into crime fighting at the ripe old age of nine."
"Robin needed to help bring the men responsible for his parents' deaths to justice."
"So, he could turn out like you?"
"So, that he wouldn't."
"You seem to have reached consensus that eighteen years is a suitable minimum age for joining the League" said Martian Manhunter. "Yet what of Miss Martian? Though she is biologically an adolescent by Martian standards, she was born forty-eight Earth years ago."
"So, what is the deciding factor?" Red Tornado questioned. "Chronology or biology? Take Superboy for example."
"Exactly" said Black Canary. "He's less than a year old. Must he wait seventeen more to stand beside us?"
Superman grew uncomfortable at the mention of Superboy, still a sore spot for the Kryptonian hero, he refused to even look at the image of his clone.
*New Orleans*
After a little persuasion from Laura, Julian told them that Jason's father was being held in a place called Blood Moon Bayou. Admittedly the crime family had decent security consisting of motion sensors and a series of underwater mines. Still it was nothing they couldn't handle. Between the information acquired from Julian and their own skills in infiltration they managed to guide their boat safely through the waters.
"We must be getting close" said Jason now back in the garb of Red-X.
Laura sniffed the air. "We are. Let's get out here. We don't want to risk being seen."
docking their boat on the shore and continued the shore, they made their way on foot following Laura's nose until they found the Rippers' hideout, an old plantation manor. Using the cover of night, they approached the building, looking for a way inside.
Spotting an unguarded balcony, Red-X teleported himself and Laura up and they slipped inside. Silently they roamed the halls until they came across couple members of the Rippers standing guard in front of a door.
Unsheathing her claws, Laura was about to move in only for Red-X to hold her back.
"I've got this one" he told her. holding his palm out he fired two X-shaped gel-like projectiles at the guards. Expanding upon contact with the air they wrapped themselves around the guards and stuck them to the wall, delivering a mild jolt of electricity to knock them out as it solidified into a solid durable substance. "See, no mess."
Laura didn't admit but she was impressed. Walking up to the door, her claws made quick work of the lock. Once inside they found a man with messy dark hair and burning red eyes, wearing a long brown coat, tied to a chair with thick manacles around his hands that Laura recognized as power dampening cuffs.
"Well, ain't you a sight for sore eyes" he smiled at Red-X. "And you even brought a date."
"Didn't you tell me nothing's more romantic to a woman than a little danger" Red-X joked.
Great there's two of them. rolling her eyes, Laura stepped forward and with a swipe of her claws cut the cuffs off the man's hands.
"Must be Logan's little girl" he said, surprising Laura. "Not hard to guess. Same claws and attitude, even look a bit like him. Though you much prettier, petite." Laying on the charm he planted a light kiss on the back of Laura's hand. "Remy LeBeau at your service. Though you can call me Gambit."
"Laura" she replied, taking her hand back. Though she had to admit she felt strangely flustered for a moment. Maybe I should ask Logan about this later.
"Ugh, enough old man" Red-X groaned, getting a chuckle from his father. "We need to get going."
Deciding to save further embarrassing his son for later, Gambit marched out the door with Laura and Red-X following behind him. As they move through the halls, it was clear to Laura where Red-X learned his skills. Gambit moved with a sort of ease and grace that most would be hard pressed to match. And for a moment she wondered if it could've been related to whatever his powers were.
That assumption went out the window when they found their escape route blocked by a small army of Ripper family members with a balding middle-aged man dressed in a period suit perfect for the age of the building standing in front with Julian by his side.
"Jean Luc" Gambit smirked at the man.
"Gambit, don't tell me you're planning on leaving us" said the Rippers' leader.
Gambit flourished his coat, Laura just managed to see him slip something from his pocket. "Afraid so. My boy's in town and what kinda father would I be if I didn't show him and his girl a good time."
"You're crazy if you think I'm just gonna let you waltz out of here" said Jean Luc, dropping the pretense of a friendly conversation. Raising his hand, he signaled for his men to train their guns on Gambit, Laura, and Red-X. "Tell you what. Your boy gives up his fancy suit and I'll maybe let you live."
"That all this was?" Gambit shook his head in disappointment. "Your boys jump me just so you can bully my kid to share his toys. Expected better from the Rippers."
While Jean Luc and his men were distracted by the slight against them, Gambit threw a playing card at the Rippers. To Laura's confusion the Rippers immediately scrambled away from the card in fear. The reason was made clear when suddenly it exploded in burst of energy, blasting them around the room.
"After you" Gambit bowed dramatically, standing aside to allow the teens to pass. As they made their escape, Gambit took a moment to press his hand against the manor wall, sending a charge through the structure.
As they began their trip back to the city, from their boat they watched as Gambit's powers caused the entire building to go up in a massive explosion.
With Gambit saved and the Rippers out of commission, the father and son escorted Laura to the train station.
"Tell, Logan hi from me, petite" Gambit told Laura, before stepping away to give her and Jason some privacy.
"Didn't realize he knew your dad" said Jason. "We don't talk much about his X-men days."
"It's fine" said Laura. She didn't ask Logan much about his past either, feeling that he'd share when he felt like it. "Though I'm not sure how much rescuing he needed."
Jason chuckled. "Yeah, he probably would've gotten out on his own eventually. Guess I just worry about him. I owe him too much not too."
Laura nodded, understanding completely what he meant. With the final call for passengers, Laura prepared to board her train taking a moment to turn back to Jason with a smirk and said, "By the way, I'm not your girl."
"No, you don't belong to anyone" Jason agreed, watching as the train carried Laura away.
"Gonna have to start teaching you how to charm a lady" said Gambit, appearing by Jason's side. "Course you picked a dangerous one."
"Oh, shut it, old man."
*Watchtower*
"Then here are our candidates for new or continued membership" said Superman, displaying the heroes in question.
"We've debated origin, gender, size, experience, age temperament, and background" said Batman. "But what is the fundamental criterion for membership?"
"When all is said, and done the question must be, whom do we trust" said Wonder Woman. "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" said Batman. "make your decisions wisely."
AN: Thought about having someone nominate Logan but ultimately decided it wouldn't fit. As the Wolverine, Logan's willing to cross lines (kill) that the members of the Justice League won't so it just didn't feel like a good fit.