Bruce stood in what looked to be the Bat-cave, only... different, somehow. It was brighter, filled with an ethereal light. The platform where the Batwing was usually landed was empty, as was the turntable that usually held the Batmobile, and the one beside it which was always used to hold Dick's bike, the Redbird. He moved to the edge of the platform he was stood on, looking down; the Batboat was absent too. Even the computer was missing.
The only thing that was present, in fact, was the storage cases at the back. Seven of them. The first four contained his four different bat suits, while the three costumes Dick had used as Robin stood beside them. He looked down; he was wearing black suit trousers with a white, half unbuttoned shirt.
"Expecting one of your suits?" Came a voice from behind him "You always did like to choose your own clothes."
Bruce span on his heel, his eyes widening at the sight in front of him; stood there, was Thomas Wayne. His father.
"Dad?" He asked, hesitating for a moment as his father opened his arms in a welcoming gesture, before sprinting towards him, hugging his father "Dad! I thought you were... I mean, I saw..."
"I know, son." Thomas replied "I know."
"Wait, does that mean that I'm..." Bruce began, unsure how to phrase it, before releasing his father from the embrace, standing up straight as he asked "Am I dead?"
"In a manner of speaking." Thomas replied, placing a hand on Bruce's shoulder "Not for long, but, I just wanted to tell you, while I could, that I'm proud of you, son. Both me and your mother are."
"Where is she?" Bruce asked "Why is it just you?"
"There's a long explanation for that." Thomas replied "The short answer is, it's against the rules for us both to be here."
"Where is here?" Bruce said, realising he was sounding more and more like Batman as time went on.
"The place between life and death." Thomas replied, moving over to the case holding Bruce's current Batsuit, opening it and removing the suit "The place you don't belong yet."
"What do you mean, don't belong yet?" Bruce asked "I don't understand."
"It's not your time, Bruce. This place isn't your destiny yet." Thomas replied, handing Bruce the suit "This suit is."
Bruce looked down at the suit for a moment, before it faded, seconds before the suit appeared on him. He stood up straight for a moment, before reaching behind his head, pulling the cowl down over his face, as a bright white light enveloped the cave.
...
Bruce shot up where he was laid, in a pool of warm, green liquid. He looked around frantically; the filters of the cowl's lenses were off, and he couldn't feel the pressure on his head; the mask was off. He was in what looked like some kind of Greek bath chamber. Flash, Canary, the Martian and the Amazon were all stood at the edge of the bath. It was then that he became aware of the strong force holding him in place; Kent.
"Let me go." Bruce growled, Kent complying, causing Bruce to fall forward, face first into the liquid, Bruce standing up and beginning to walk out, grumbling "Could've left the mask on..."
"You're welcome." The Amazon replied, sarcastically "What you've all just seen are the regenerative effects of a-"
"Lazarus pit." Bruce cut her off "I've met someone who used them before. A word to the wise; don't use them for prolonged periods. They can have some negative psychological effects."
"I'll remember that." She said, as Bruce and Kent both walked over to the other three remaining members of their team "In any case, welcome, all of you, to Themyscira. I would offer you our hospitality in thanks for your aid, however, we must engage in rebuilding."
"We can help with that" Flash cut in quickly with a smirk "Anything for a damsel in distress."
"Allen, shut up." Bruce growled "You'll regret it otherwise."
"C'mon, Bruce, we just helped save her butt." Flash replied, half mocking Bruce "She's not going to do anything bad to me for being friendly."
"I don't think he was talking about her..." Canary said, watching as Bruce narrowed his eyes at Flash "Anyway, I'll be outside if anyone needs me."
"I'll join you." Flash said "Before Bats kills me..."
"If you need help, I'll be with them." Manhunter said, placing a hand on Bruce's shoulder before he followed the other two out.
Bruce began to slowly pace the room. This place would be an architect's dream. That is, if it wasn't for the massive chemical bath in the centre of it. He looked at the green liquid for a moment, his memories flashing up images of another green liquid, and the results of that; Joker.
He quickly turned and began to walk out of the chamber, stopping for a moment by the door.
"Something bothering you?" Kent's voice came from behind him.
"It's nothing." Bruce lied, Kent slapping him on the shoulder lightly as he walked out, Bruce turning to face the Amazon "I'm sorry... For your mother. No one deserved that."
"No, they didn't." She replied "I'm sorry about your friends."
"You and me both." Bruce said, leaning against the wall "If my partner were here, he'd probably be making some quip right now. He does that."
"Kind of like your friend in the red?" She teased, chuckling as she added "No, I imagine no one could be quite that bad."
"He can be worse, at times." Bruce said, almost cracking a smile, before he stood up straight, beginning to walk out."
"Bruce," She called after him "whenever someone uses the pit, they usually have some kind of vision. My people believe it's of the afterlife. What did you see?"
"My father." Bruce admitted, turning back to face her "And my destiny."
"And that was?" She asked, walking towards him slowly "I promise, I won't tell them."
"Batman." Bruce replied simply before turning and walking out.
... 6 Months Later ...
Lois stood in the crowd outside the UN building. A press conference had been called, regarding the events six months ago, with the planetary attack that had occurred. Jimmy was stood beside her, while Clark had disappeared off, something about needing to use the bathroom. He had the worst timing of anyone she had ever met; every time anything interesting happened, like Superman showing up, or the like, Clark had to disappear off for one reason or another. In fact, she couldn't remember ever seeing the two of them in the same place together...
She was snapped out of the thought as the UN delegate stepped forward to the podium, tapping the microphone to make sure it was on.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the press, members of the public, may I have your attention please?" He said, speaking in a British accent "We are all here today because we were attacked, and a group stepped forward. A group of extraordinary people, with extraordinary abilities. I won't bore you with introductions. Instead, without further ado, I humbly present to you all, the Justice League."
There was applause as Superman, Batman, the Amazon known as Wonder Woman, Black Canary, the Martian Manhunter and the Flash all stepped out onto the stage. Lois quickly noted one big change about the ensemble; Superman's costume. He'd altered the belt, it now, while maintaining the yellow colouring, now featured his shield on the buckle, with red lines providing the detailing. Along with this, the red trunks were gone from the ensemble, making it a solid blue mass, barring the red and yellow shield on his chest and the red cape on his back.
"Thank you, Mr. Delegate." Superman spoke as he stepped up to the podium, shaking the delegate's hand as he did "We don't deserve any thanks for what we did that day. In fact, we just did what we had to, not out of need for praise, but out of duty. We deserve thanks no more than someone who helps an elderly woman across the street, or a boy helping out on his family's farm."
Lois froze as she heard the reference. Why would Superman refer to it as no different to a young man working on his family's farm. She quickly pulled out her phone, taking a photo of the man of steel, before opening the photo editing app she had. She quickly drew a few lines, then looked at the edited image; Clark Kent, glasses and all, in a Superman uniform. His uniform.
"So, in summary, we would just like to say, thank you all for your praise, but it is entirely unnecessary." Superman concluded, snapping her back to reality "Thank you."
The Justice League all stepped down off the podium, Batman and Superman talking to one another in extremely hushed tones about something as they did, before Superman tapped the Manhunter on the shoulder and began whispering to him.
...
Bruce and Clark walked through the crowd. They were hoping that Lois' irritation at Clark and Bruce talking would be enough to distract her from what was going on, but only time would tell.
"Lois, how are you." Bruce called with a large grin as she came into view "How long's it been, six months?"
"You know it has, Bruce." She replied coldly as Bruce and Clark reached her "Smallville, can I have a word?"
"Come on, Lois, I'm sure you can say whatever you want to say to him while I'm here." Bruce said, still grinning, Clark shifting slightly awkwardly.
"I don't know if he'd want me to." Lois said "Unless you want him knowing your secret, Smallville?"
"Secret?" Clark said, pushing his glasses up his nose "Lois, I don't have any secret."
"Yes you do." She replied, sighing as she said "I know you're Superman, I used photoshop to draw some glasses on him just now. You're him."
"What?" Clark said, laughing "I'm not Superman, I can barely lift a couple of pickets for a fence, much less a jumbo jet."
"Drop the act, Smallville." Lois said "The jig's up."
"Look, I know how we can settle this." Bruce said "Clark, hit me. Hard as you like."
"But, Mr. Wayne, I'm not sure I feel comfortable-" Clark began.
"It's fine, go on." Bruce said, before looking up "Or, we could just ask him."
Lois and Clark both looked up; hovering there, above them, was Superman. He slowly lowered to the ground as he looked around the three of them.
"Sorry about my intrusion, I overheard your conversation and decided to clear up the misunderstanding." He said, smiling slightly "You see, as you know, I'm not from this world. When I arrived on Earth, I imprinted Clark Kent's image upon my own to allow myself to better fit in. That's why we look alike."
"But..." She began "I was sure of it..."
"It's fine, Miss. Lane. Anyway, if you'll excuse me, I've got work to do." Superman said, crouching slightly before shooting off into the sky.
"Told you." Clark said, before he and Bruce began walking off, Clark asking in a hushed tone "Think she bought it?"
"She doesn't know all of your abilities, does she?" Bruce asked "So long as that's the case, you'll be fine. Just... Watch your step around her from now on."
"Got it." Clark said, stopping for a second, listening "Fire, STAR labs."
"Get on it." Bruce said, before holding out a hand to Clark "Good luck. Clark."
"Thanks." Clark said, shaking Bruce's hand before jogging off into the crowd, slowly loosening his tie as he did.
...
The Fortress of Solitude was dark, powered down. Slowly, there was a whirring as all the systems came to life, a bright light filling the Kryptonian structure. The lights began flickering erratically, green lights coming on and off with them.
"System infection detected." The voice of Jor-El said "Attempting to erase... Attempt failed. Secondary precautions... Failed. Stasis mode activating in five, four, three-"
"Stasis activation aborted." Said a second, mechanically resonating version of Jor-El's voice "BRAIN InterActive Construct online. This fortress is now controlled by BRAINIAC."
...
So, that's the end of JLU volume one. Volume two should come fairly soon, and will see the pay off of a few bits of groundwork I've already laid in here, the Bat and Man of Steel (If anyone can guess which ones, I'll be impressed, so please, do try and let me know). Volume two of Man of Steel will start soon, and Volume two of the Bat will begin once the six part "Tales of the Bat" mini series concludes. R&R, please, no flames. B.