Anger.

That is the most prevalent emotion swirling in Batman's mind.

It was the most pressing emotion in Bruce's head.

Last Night the UN was attacked, hundreds died, and millions are mourning.

Mammoth was involved, which meant the Red Hood may be involved.

Sure Jason was in Hub City at the time. But that doesn't matter.

That doesn't mean anything.

Especially when Hub City is a mess of broken bones and dead bodies.

Especially when Tim can't find one hint as to what Jason was doing there in the first place.

And Tim, poor Tim. Bruce hadn't meant to yell at him, but he needed the kid to understand. He didn't need to know everything, he doesn't need to see Wally. He doesn't need to know about Kaldur. He shouldn't even be asking Bruce why he let Dick back out in the field.

Why was he always questioning him? Always talking back. Always wondering why and comparing himself Dick? Doesn't he know the trouble he could get into? Doesn't he understand how dangerous it was to go- wait

Tim isn't…him.

He isn't Jason.

Bruce knows that. He does.

But for a second when Tim yelled back, when he told him he was hurting Dick more than helping him, when he furrowed his brows and glared his big blue eyes….for a second Bruce saw Jason. He saw him, he heard him, and he missed him.

God, he hated how much he missed Jason.

Yeah, he shouldn't have yelled at Tim.

Sure he's upset. He's mad, enraged, irritated as fuck.

He's angry as hell….but he shouldn't have shown that.

Anger is a secondary emotion. It's a cover to hide even more pressing issues.

If he shows it again then it will all be out in the open. Every despair, every distrust, every second he second-guessed himself.

Everything regarding Bruce the man will be out in the open.

And that's the last thing Batman needs.

So he sits, steadies his heart rate, puts a mask over his mask, and listens as the longest meeting-turned-argument continues.

Ugh, god.

They were nearly pushing two hours.

Wait..no.

Batman infiltrated Blackgate at 4:10 am, and put 341 inmates back in their cages by 4:37. He got to Arkham by 5, argued with Dick at 5:23. Rescued Kid Flash at 5:37 am. Stopped the bleeding in his calf by 5:40. Bound his own ribs at 5:43. Got the Kid to the med lab by 5:58. Assisted in the bullet removal at 6. Watched as Jonn mind scanned Kid Flash by 6:09. Made sure Dick was still in Gotham by 6:12. Was briefed by Jonn at 6:20. Argued with Tim at 6:32. And called this meeting at 6:37.

It was nearly 9 am. They had pushed two hours.

Granted he understood, everything was a mess. There was too much confusion, too many variables, too many personalities, and too many emotions for this not to be a long meeting.

About 10 percent of the League were hospitalized and unable to make it. But the many who were, well they're unhappy, bruised, tired and so very confused.

So of course, they murmured. Of course, they compared.

And of fucking course they complained.

Why did so and so have fewer injuries?

Why was blank and blank sent to this city?

How many lives did they save?

How many could they have saved?

And how, how could they let this happen?

Now these questions weren't exactly said nicely. They were thrown around with accusations fueled by jealousy, protests fueled by hierarchy, and anger fueled by disbelief.

And all of it was…. warranted.

Every question, every angry remark, every complaint was understandable.

Truth be told Bruce himself had the very same questions ringing through his head.

Because whose fault was this?

Who is to blame?

And where the hell do they go from here?

This is why Batman let it continue, why he observed and categorized the disagreements as high-priority inquiry cases and low ones. Why he tried his best to tune out the unnecessary shouting.

But, Batman has never been one to tolerate squabbling.

BAMM

And apparently, neither was Wonderwoman.

"Enough of this! Placing the blame on one another is not helping. We've spent the past two hours accounting for each other's whereabouts, arguing over if we could do more. None of this is changing the situation" she growled, scanning the area as her red bruised hand jutted itself out of the metal table.

If this were a normal team meeting this would be the part where everyone agrees, bows their head, and puts on some sense of maturity.

If this were a normal team meeting this would be the part where everyone would begin brainstorming solutions instead of reflections.

But…. When has the Justice League ever been normal?

Aquaman is the first to react. He growls right back at Wonderwoman, his anger as piercing as his glare.

"The situation?! Think we're beyond a fucking situation", he seethes," I was vouching for you all! Telling my council that the surface isn't to blame for the SME. A second one goes off and Atlantis is attacked. The moment I send some of my best sorcerers to help with your stupid cleanup, we're attacked! Then I sent my ward to your goddamn meeting which was also fucking attacked. Do you know how that makes me look!"

Each sentence is snarled out harsher than the next, and with each word Arthur takes a step.

He is but an inch away from Diana by the end.

Instantly Superman steps in between the two, and places a gentle hand on the royal Atlantean's shoulder, "Aquaman, I can understand your anger-

"No! No the fuck you don't! You can't!", Aquaman bellowed, angrily swatting Clark's hand away. "Atlantis lost nearly one thousand of its people yesterday! Five of our top Generals died. Only one Kryptonian got fucking hurt, and my best guess is you ain't even visited the kid".

Superman grimaces. He knows this looks bad.

"Konner is-

"Right kid's a clone, so he ain't a person", Aquaman declared, rolling his eyes as the words left his mouth. "You're a fucking moral joke and I don't have time for it. I came to your stupid meeting hoping for answers but all you fuckshits have to say is sorry. How the hell was everyone so busy yesterday!"

He finishes with a large almost primal growl, glaring at any and every face he catches. He's mad, that much is certain.

But shit, who could blame him. His people, his home.

And where was his team? Where were his friends?

Unlike the others who faltered or guilty glanced at the floor, Wonderwoman caught his glare head-on and glared back, "Do you actually think we would blatantly ignore your people?"

"You blatantly ignore yours", Aquaman sneered.

And almost immediately Diana fumes. She was fucking banished from Themiscyra. She is not to set foot back home no matter the circumstances. She couldn't even walk Black Canary in when Roy died, Wondergirl had to. She has missed every celebration, every birth, every mourning. She is not ignoring them. There is nothing she wishes for more than to be able to be with her mother and sisters.

How dare he. How fucking dare he.

Instinctively her fist tightens and her brows furrowed.

"Diana don't- '' Superman starts, but either he is still reeling from all the blackout fights or he's still peeved about Aquaman's comment because before anyone can blink Diana has a sword to Aquaman's throat while he has a triton pointed towards hers.

The tension that hits the air is impossibly thick.

Neither Wonder Woman nor Aquaman move. Their faces poised, hands steady, feet planted. Both of their eyes fixed in a haughty stare, daring for the other to make another flighty comment.

Thankfully Flash runs over before that can happen.

"Look we're all a little heated, but fighting each other isn't going to help" Barry starts, as he speed-moves the two weapons away from his teammate's necks. Diana and Arthur let him, but they won't stop glaring at each other for a second.

And they don't exactly put their weapons down.

Sensing Flash may need some help, Hal puts a glowing green barrier between Wonderwoman and Aquaman. It splits the entire room in half and causes the two supers to glare his way instead. That of course only makes the womanizing lantern grin, "I think I speak for everybody when I say I only wanna see Wonderbabe fighting if there's mud and another chick involved" he happily exclaims.

It's a poor joke. A bad joke even, but it does lighten the mood a little.

It does gain a few chuckles and causes others to make their own stupid sexist jokes.

It even sparks a little conversation about mud fights and misogyny.

And it's enough of a distraction for Diana to fix her anger on Hal instead.

So it's a win….kinda.

Well, not really for Flash.

With Wonderwoman now turned away, Barry can truly focus all his attention on Arthur. As he gripped Aquaman's biceps and basically dragged the man away from Diana, he could see the fatigue and grief on the man's face. He could see the anger still swirling in his eyes, mixing with the hurt, the disbelief.

His home. His people.

And that's not even the worst of it.

Flash doesn't want to be the one to tell Aquaman. He really doesn't.

But Arthur deserves to know.

Arthur should've known before this stupid meeting even started, but for whatever reason he doesn't.

And Bruce was …..preoccupied apparently, he hadn't looked up from the damn tablet. Not even when Diana and Arthur were about to fight. Jonn has as much tact as a pole, Flash couldn't see that conversation going well. Wally was resting, and Barry will not put his kid through that.

And no one else knew.

So it has to be him.

Doesn't it?

"Look, Aquaman…. I really need to speak with you in private if possible", Flash starts, his whisper a purposeful quiet.

But even at its low tone, even with the loud and boisterous environment, the words still ring in some super ears before they even touch Aquamans.

Which is why Sergent Steel replied before Arthur even parted his lips, "Keeping more secrets Flash, typical. Don't you think you're the last one who should be withholding information", he boomed, loud enough to gain the attention of nearly half the hall.

Loud enough to make everyone's eyes focus in on Barry.

Well isn't that fantastic? As if the Flash needed another reason to get everyone suspicious of him.

He winces, the apology already on his tongue, "I wasn't - I just- look I'm not trying to fight with anyone-".

"Just trying to speak to Fishboy in private right? Hey correct me if wrong but to make an SME don't you need some kind of rock that's only in Atlantis", Hawk intervenes, his mouth set in a firm frown.

If it isn't obvious he was also on the i-hate Flash tour.

The SME badly fucked up his hometown. He wanted at least to fuck up Flash's mood.

Unfortunately for him, the comment causes Aquaman to bristle more so than Barry, "Excuse you. Would you care to repeat that", Arthur demands, his voice at his highest octave.

The very tip of outrage.

As if he wasn't already angry enough.

Barry tries to play peacemaker. Hell, Hawks' own brother Dove tries to play peacemaker.

But Aquaman has never been one to simmer down quickly, and Hawk has never been one to back down from a challenge.

In fact, Hawk has always been the one to revel in challenges. And this one was no different.

He basically stomped over to Aquaman, his irritation apparent as well as his lack of control. With each step Hawk took to the proud king, the ground shook just the slightest.

And to make matters worse, Hawk waited.

He waited, until he is completely in Aquamans face, completely in uppercut range and then he spits out "Don't think I fucking stuttered fish for brains. The SME was in his city, one of the resources to make it is in yours, and now you two are scheduling secret chats. I have reservations about that". He sneers, and almost immediately Dove tries to kindly reword his brother's terrible insult, but the damage is already done.

The room erupts into anxious murmurs, judgemental whispers, and leery glares.

And this time they're not just at Flash, they're at Aquaman too.

Superman immediately saunters over, and breaks in between Hawk and Aquaman before either can throw a punch. He gives each of the hot heads his best 'not now' stare but neither pays him any attention. It takes a few kind words and a lot of heavy pushing but eventually, he does get Hawk to move back toward his brother.

For a second it looked like Arthur was about to follow them, his anger still high, but then Booster Gold said something snide about Atlanteans.

And Aquaman's anger suddenly has a new victim.

It's at this moment Jonn decides to take center stage, "Regardless of your feelings of Flash or Aquaman, the focus of this meeting should be on the state of Earth. Atlantis wasn't the only place attacked yesterday. There was mass destruction everywhere. Villains escaped from nearly every high-tech prison we couldn't get to in time. Of course, we all tried our best-"

"Did we?" Sergeant Steel mutters, his gaze steadily on Flash as he spits out the words.

Barry didn't have it in him to reply. Ever since the first blackout a few League members had been on his case. He can't really blame them, the fact of the matter is he should know more. Central was his city, he ran across it too many times. He saved it too many times. He fucking lives there.

Sure he's been preoccupied, trying to balance his relationships, his new job, and hero work is hard but…how did he miss this.

In his mind, Sergeant Steel has every right to question him.

And every right to be angry at him.

Hal evidently doesn't share this sentiment.

"You got a problem, Sergent Tightass", Green Lantern jeered. His ring flaring as his grin grew, and the green barrier that had once split the room in half disappeared. An inappropriate neon green image is flashed for a second in the air, but it disappears almost speedster quick as well.

Still, Barry definitely saw it.

And judging from Superman's dad's frown, Fire's small gasp, Vixen's grimace, and a few extra chuckles …. Everyone else did too

But Sergeant Steel, always one for posterity and maturity, ignores it.

Which in all honestly is not really that surprising.

Sergent Steel has always hated Hal. Hell, he goes out of his way to avoid Hal. The only reason they're breathing the same air is simply because Batman called a meeting, and even then the proud military sergeant made sure they sat far, far, far away from each other.

So of course he ignores the crude message, of course, he doesn't pay Hal a lick of attention.

And of course, he directs his next words to the rest of the hall instead, "I can't be the only one wondering what exactly the fastest man alive was doing. The SME went off in his city and I have yet to hear his status or activity" he argued.

And once again the peanut gallery erupts. Whispers and glares, the usual. But its growing size is a bit alarming.

So Barry tries to remediate, calm it down just the slightest.

But before he could loudly announce he was fighting along with Huntress and Vibe in Star City, Hal never one to be ignored, happily declared, "First of all Captain Funsuck, the first SME went off in Central, the second one went off in Blue Valley. And last time I checked that aint Flash's city. You would think Mr. By the Book would check the mission reports", he quips, his smile stretched and lazy.

And Barry actually almost mimics it as the whispers die, and a few apologetic glances are given.

But it all falters, as Shazam muses, "Isn't Blue Valley like a bus ride away from Central".

It's said carelessly, an accidental connection that formed in the boy's mind. He didn't even mean to say it out loud, but it gets Sergent Steel to smile, Hal to frown, and Hawk to start ranting again.

"Yeah and ain't there a river in Blue Valley that empties right into Fish Boy's territory", Hawk happily mutters, because, of course, he couldn't just not add to the chaos.

This time Barry doesn't even bother hiding his wince, it's a bad coincidence. The worst coincidence actually and it's not even a millisecond before everyone is murmuring once more.

The whispers don't last long, the loud slam of a triton silences them.

"Enough! I grow tired of your petty conversations. Blame me, blame Atlantis, fine! But do so without our help. As of now, Atlantis is disconnected from all surface issues. I've sent Tula and the others home. Soon as he's greenlit for medical safety Kaldur'ahm and I will join them. Whatever this SME issue is, solve it yourself" Aquaman bellows as he fixes his triton upright and tries to peel Flash's arm off of him.

"Aquaman please, now is not the time for us to divide. We should be working together.", Flash begs. His hold tightened beyond his own strength, his eyes frantically searching for Batman's. But the brooding man is still punching in on his tablet, ignoring the rest of them completely.

And Barry nearly groans at the sight. He wonders what the hell is wrong with Bruce. What is he doing? Why hasn't he told Arthur yet?

To Arthur, Flash's rant just looked like one person pleading for help. It looks like a friend asking for aid.

Under different circumstances, it would've been enough to calm the Atlantean king down.

This time though Aquaman just scoffs, "Where was this mantra of working together when I was sending distress signals!" he spat, angrily whipping his arm free once more.

Barry lets him. The fact is Aquaman is right, they should've done better. They failed Aquaman.

Barry knows this. Jonn knows this. Batman knows this

But Superman, the League, they just couldn't acknowledge it. They don't know how much they have all fucked up.

Not yet at least.

"That's not fair", Clark murmurs, turning his gaze completely to Arthur "Jonn tried to send any members available, not everyone can breathe underwater without technology and Atlantis was not the only place attacked. If we could've sent more people, we would've", Superman argues, but to Arthur, the words feel more like excuses than facts.

They sent ten heroes. The Justice League has 120.

So Arthur scoffs once more and follows Superman's argument with a bitter chuckle. "Yes, I'm sure you all tried your best" he taunted, rolling his eyes as he took in their faces.

"We don't need to lie to you", Fire grumbled, tired and over this never-ending dispute.

She said it softly, more so for her boyfriend Vigilante's ears than Aquaman's.

It's really nothing but bad fucking karma that Arthur heard her.

"And I don't need to listen to any of you!" Aquaman growls, done with dispute as well. He then turns to Batman, the shadow leader of them all, "Bring me Aqualad, he can heal in Atlantis. We've got better doctors anyways". He finishes with a huff, his arrogance now showing much more than his anger.

It would've gained a laugh from Barry in a regular meeting. But given what Arthur asked, given what Flash knows, it only makes the situation much more somber.

And Batman… finally looks up. He finally rejoins reality and replays Aquaman's words.

Bring him Kaldur? Why was he asking him that? Mira? She didn't? Didn't Jonn?…. Didn't Barry?

Didn't anyone tell Aquaman? Batman glances at Barry, the sad sick look on his face and the lack of eye contact said enough.

Oh, he was supposed to tell him then.

Bruce should've known they'd expect him to tell Arthur.

He is the most calm, the least emotional. He's done this before.

He should've told Arthur.

But with arguing with Dick, Fighting in Bloodgate, thinking of Jason, finding Kid Flash, arguing with Tim, monitoring the Gotham team, listening to everyone else, and filing reports….he just expected them to do it instead.

Why should he have to do it?

Why does he have to do it?

Seconds pass and Bruce still hasn't said anything. Only Barry understands the silence.

"Are you hard of hearing bring me my ward", Aquaman yells, and fumes seconds later as he is met with silence once again. He looks upset, like he may throw his triton any second now. So Jonn never one to waste time intervenes.

"Batman, perhaps now would be the best time to brief the League", The Martian mutters.

And immediately everyone's side convos, murmurs, and whispers cease. The envy and finger-pointing stop. Confusion fills the room, fear is behind it.

Brief them?

Why?

What had they missed?

What had happened?

The silence that envelops the room is painful, eerie. It's the kind of silence that sits with the unknown, the silence that makes you squirm with uncertainty.

So why doesn't Batman want to break it?

He starts with a sigh,"…Three hundred and eighty-six world leaders were attacked at the UN meeting," Bruce mutters, his voice almost mechanical with his delivery.

Aquaman couldn't even stop his eye roll if he tried, "Read about it already and I think it takes second to the thousands of Atlanteans attacked so again bring me Kaldur'ahm so that we may leave and you may continue your pointless meeting", he demands.

But if Batman heard him, he doesn't show it. He simply continues as if Aquaman hadn't interrupted, "One hundred and fifty-one were injured".

"Assholes, don't ignore me! And don't spit these numbers at me. If you want to brief them, fine but leave me out of it. I don't care about the UN right now! I don't care about Humans right now! I can't. Don't you understand just how much Atlantis has lost!" Aquaman screeched, now fully grasping the front of Batman's suit. He's strong enough to wisp Bruce off of the ground, but not quick enough to stop Black Canary from intervening.

In less than a second nearly everyone is holding their ears, some even crouched down.

Aquaman, one of the few still standing, shakes his now throbbing head. He tries to glare down at the women but finds he can't.

Because the second he looks at her, the second he takes in Canary's tired eyes, and her solemn frown, he remembers she understands loss. She understands it more than any of them.

Less than a week ago, Oliver and Dinah lost everything.

She lost everything and she still came to Atlantis' aid. She's lost everything and she is still here.

Out of everyone, she has earned his respect.

So Arthur lets go of the Bat, sighs, and turns solely to her. " I understand the situation is grave, but I can not listen to this anymore. I have duties to complete at home, I have seen many of my people perish today. I need to see how bad Kaldur'ahm's injuries are. I need to speak with him. Surely you all can understand that".

Black Canary said nothing, she doesn't understand it. Or at least she doesn't want to. Their kid- Oliver's….Roy is gone and she still showed up, she still fought. God, they haven't even had his funeral yet.

Why does Aquaman get to bow out? Doesn't he know fightings the only way to stop thinking about it? Has he figured out how to stop thinking about it?

Barry exhales, he understands Aquaman's words fully and wishes more than everything he didn't.

It was scary, it was so scary when he heard Kid Flash was injured. When he saw Wally unconscious with medical all around.

It nearly broke him just to see what had happened.

He can't imagine not knowing.

So he bites his lip, ponders his words, and tries to sugarcoat the truth to Aquaman. But he must've waited too long, he must have taken too much time.

Bruce doesn't bother sugarcoating.

"Aqualad's whereabouts are currently unknown, a substantial amount of his blood was found at the UN massacre, his person however was not", Batman explained. His voice was monotone, steady, and calm. Normal of Batman if you knew him.

In another time it would be comforting, safe.

But this time it does nothing to stop the gasp, the trembles, and the echo of questions that fill the hall.

What?

Kaldur is missing.

When?

They had just seen him, hours before.

How?

He's just a kid.

The whispers and murmurs continue. The few league members that knew Aqualad, tried hard to erase the words scribbled in their heads. They tried even harder to erase the scenarios playing in their head.

A hero goes missing, expect the worst.

Why did this have to happen?

How could they have let this happen?

Canary's eyes go wide, her mouth slightly open, hands awkwardly stuck in the middle of the air. She looks like a flighty bird ready to take off.

Not again. Not again.

Vixen's eyes are closed, her mouth murmuring a small prayer. Fire and Shazam join her.

Superman's eyes are set. He is upset, he is sad. He has so many questions and so many concerns.

But none of their reactions, none of their eyes could ever be as heartbreaking, as torn as his.

Aquaman. The proud, stern, regal man he is…. staggers. He pauses and stumbles back, clumsily letting go of Flash's arm to grasp air at his side.

What did Batman say?

Something must be wrong with his ears. He must be getting sick.

Yeah, that had to be it.

His heart has never been this loud, his body never this hot, his lungs never this weak.

He heard wrong.

He had to.

Stuck in his disbelief Aquaman lets out a rushed breath, one full of confusion and a cold anger. "...What".

He must've heard wrong.

He had to have heard wrong.

In an attempt to either ground himself or Aquaman, Barry reaches out for the man once more."Arthur, I know this looks bad. But Kid said that Deadshot was capturing people. The fact that we haven't found a body is a good thing", he tries, but it falls on a closed mind and angry heart.

A good thing!? A fucking good thing!?

Aquaman couldn't stop himself from shoving Flash. The speedster's body hurling into the other side of the room, tables, and chairs scattered with him. Aquaman didn't even try to hold back as he jumped over to the wreckage. His triton ready.

"Whoaaa calm down Your Highness", Hal quips, his body in front of Barry that second, his ring pointed at Arthur.

Aquaman growls, "Remove your barrier before I remove your head".

He shoves a bit at the glowing green force around him, and water bubbles throughout the room.

A good thing?! A fucking good thing?

"Arthur please let's just talk-" Superman tries, but Aquaman won't hear it.

"No! No! We've been talking for hours. I could've been looking for him but instead, I was listening to you all for hours! What villains were involved I will interrogate them myself", he all but seethed.

And as if she was summoned by his very voice, Oracle the Justice League AI instantly pulls up the holo-files of the UN attack. Basic reports are shown along with the profile of three villains.

"Wheewww", Vigilante whistles, "Mammoth and Firefly are trouble enough but Deadshot. No wonder there were so many casualties".

Accidental tone deaf, the cowboy never really did think before he spoke. He doesn't even realize he said anything too terrible until Fire elbows him. He didn't mean it, not like that.

But that doesn't matter. The damage is done.

The water bubbles shake. Aquaman's fist is clenched red. His glare still on Flash.

How could they have let this happen?

"Computer get me their locations", Aquaman orders, his voice cracking just the slightest.

Kaldur's fine. He has to be fine.

Please be fine.

The computer is fast, not even a millisecond had passed before the loading stopped and a statement was presented in bright red.

'Unable to find current locations'.

"Then tell me where they last were!" Aquaman screeched, pushing at the barrier that had now turned into a cage a bit more. And with each hit, he yells at the computer just a bit louder.

Where are they?

Where is Kaldur?

What happened?

When the computer is still loading, still silent, Arthur forgoes using his fist and grabs his triton.

Hals barrier didn't stand a chance. It erupts in a bright light, shattering with the force. Most of the league have to blink their eyes for a second, just to be able to see again.

And when their vision cleared, all of them wished…it didn't.

There on the floor near the computer stood Aquaman. Angry, abrasive, defeated Aquaman.

A mission report is on the screen, pictures of burned corpses, and an analysis of bodies surrounding it.

There's a small section on Kaldur. It was only accompanied by two pictures, his hero ID, and a blood-splattered wall.

The paragraph underneath is gruesome, but the endnote was the worst.

'probability of survival 12%.'

Arthurs's anger rose the second he read it. But so did his fear.

And no one moves, no one said anything.

No one …except Batman. For he is probably the only person in the room, who gets it. The only one who truly understands.

He walks in silent strides, avoids the bubbles of water as if they were nothing, and calmly places a hand over Aquaman. "Oracle won't be able to assist in locating them. Mammoth and Firefly escaped. Deadshot was captured by Cadmus's Suicide Squad".

Aquaman doesn't reply, his mind still echoing. His head still reeling.

This is all wrong. Batmans wrong. The Computers is wrong.

"We need to find them, avenge him. Kaldur deserves that much ", Wonderwoman announces. Her early anger was now spacious and solemn. She and Aquaman had never been friends, they were rarely even friendly. She barely knew Aqualad, but she knew what this meant.

She hated what this meant.

Aquaman holds his breath in disbelief, the bubbles shake harder.

Help him? Find him? Avenge him?

How could this have happened?

Vigilate whistles again, a terrible idea springing from his mouth before anyone could stop him. "We could get ole Deadshot from Cadmus, interrogate the stupid fool",

Superman sighs, "We can not just storm in-

He starts but pauses as he watches Aquaman stomp to the door. Arthur said nothing but the message is clear.

Can't storm in?

Just fucking watch him!

Flash runs over to him just as his hand reaches the doorknob, "Arthur don't! You are a representative of Atlantis. You're the representative. You can't do that. Regardless of any of our feelings, Cadmus is a high-level maximum-security government program. To storm in is to declare war".

He keeps a firm hand on Arthurs's shoulder, his voice is unmistakably gentle.

He is begging, pleading for his friend to understand. To stay.

And for the first time since this stupid meeting started Aquaman's glare softens, the bubbles fall, his anger drops, and an empty, hollow emotion is left.

"Can't declare something that's already been said", Arthur mutters. He then swings the door open and strides out of the room, leaving everything and nothing.

Duhn DUhn DUHNNNN!

New Chapie ALERT!

Hello Everyone! It's been a minute. I hope you all are doing well, and thank you so much for reading this latest chapter. Sidenote, this is another chapter that got cut into two because I tend to write a ton and then realize it may be too much for one chapter. So yeah part one of the Justice League meeting cause I really couldn't fit both parts without this chapter being 30-something pages long lol. Originally I was going to post both Ch. 25 and Ch. 26 together but I kinda chucked that idea. Who knows I may get bored later tonight and post 26 too idk.

Anyways on to the story!

Chapter 25

Yay! We're finally here, I've been planning this chapter for so so soooooooo long. I'm so fucking happy to finally see it out of my head lol. Ch. 25 is a League chapter. I constantly get asked how do the League not know about the SME, and each other identities etc. The true answer is I write the League as not one big happy family lol. Granted there are families in the League ex. Bat Fam, Arrow Fam, Flash Fam etc. There are also friends but there is a big kinda co-worker animosity thing going on too.

If anything, I kinda see the League as very cliquey, super distrusting of each other,and secretive af. Why? Well, that will be explored much later. I've been hinting at it tho, so please lemme know if you caught it?!

Chapter 25 starts with our good ole Bat Bruce. He is clearly going through a lot with the Red Hood stuff plus the HIVE, now Tim and Dick….so safe to say he's a bit distracted. It kinda fucked him up at the end of this lol. This chapter was really to showcase the League's dynamic as well as the aftermath of the second blackout. Not only is the UN massacre a big thing but ya gotta remember that other places such as Atlantis were attacked too. Its chaos everywhere, and no one has a real lead on who the SME mastermind is or what they want. And now Arthurs is pissed off and has left the league…can we say drama.

Anyway, thanks ever so much for reading this chapter. Please review and let me know what you think.

Review Responses

Guest

I'm glad you liked the ending of the last chapter, I hope you like this one as well.