Capítulo 37: The Team Grows
"In what world is the idea to tell people not to be afraid of the alien army, because the alien god is so much worse a good idea?" Green Lantern pounded his hands on the conference table in the Secret Sanctuary under Mt. Justice.
"One where the people are capable of understanding reason and priorities." I answered from my seat at the table, "Though one may doubt the capability of humanity for such things."
"You've gone too far." Batman stepped into the conversation, "Drifted too far from your human roots. Scanners can't even tell if you are Markus Grayson any more."
"If you allow that to concern you, then you will never be able to rest while acquainted with my father." Cassiopeia added her perspective while checking her nails, "He is a force of change. Both for himself and everyone around him."
"Speaking of changes." I grinned as I ran my hands over the smooth surface of the expanded table, "I notice many new faces and a distinct lack of a certain someone at this meeting."
Around the table sat the couples Arthur and Mera as well as Hawkman and Hawkwoman and possibly Green Arrow and Black Canary. Not sure it those two are a thing at this time. This left Martian Manhunter and Captain Marvel out in the cold… unless MM wants to do some femming up. Would such an arrangement offend his sensibilities? Martians have base forms and separate sexes, but the whole shapeshifter thing lets them be whatever they want. I remember Miss Martian by season four had completely shifted her base to a human form.
Thoughts for a time when such things might actually matter… AKA never.
The League doubled in size since I last checked in, but they experienced a much higher force multiplier with the expanded skill sets these people all brought. It was a good start.
"Kara has chosen to step down from the League." Kal failed to lie to me, "She didn't want to live another life as a superhero, and we are all grateful that she stepped up when the Earth needed her."
"Give her my best wishes, Kal." I told the man.
"As for the rest of you…" I ran my gaze over the new members of the League, "I like what I've seen."
"Can we get back to the topic of Mark's disastrous GBS interview?" Green Lantern refocused the meeting, "There are people protesting in the streets, demanding that the League do something about the Klyntar and their masters."
"And yet my temples are receiving greatly increased traffic. So I obviously did something right." I laughed off the topic of them 'bringing me in'.
"I am pretty sure that is mostly because you recently renovated all your buildings to now be made entirely of precious metals." Flash offered, "Great spots for dates by the way. You really nailed it on the aesthetic, man. And the botanical gardens and aquariums you've been adding. Real home run with the ladies."
"And who exactly are these 'ladies'." Calliope growled at the man in red tights who stiffened in more ways than one at her address.
"Just you, Mistress." Flash answered swiftly, "But you know how I'm not comfortable talking about that in front of your Granddad."
"I appreciate the discretion, Flash. You're a good boy." I chuckled at the man.
"Are you like, my step-cousin six times removed?" Arthur worked on figuring out his relationship with both my girls which earned him the fascinated gaze of the Last Empress.
"I can teach you everything you need to know, baby blue." She teased the man.
"He's mine!" Mera shouted and latched onto Arthur's arm.
"Isn't it about time you say something about intra-team dating being a bad idea? Especially in the harem variety." Superman questioned the Dark Knight seated next to him.
"I am still working on extracting myself from that quagmire." Batman grumbled.
"You'll never escape, Batsy." Calliope shifted lanes away from my bro/step-son, "You don't really want to."
"Debatable." The Batman contended.
"Is he putting out some kind of psychic field distracting everyone?" Green Lantern whispered to Martian Manhunter.
"If he is, I cannot tell." the Martian admitted.
"Lantern, feel free to come after me when I commit a crime. Till then, how about you man up and resist the peer pressure for a bit. Who knows, you might like it." I spoke up, "No one should have to fear the League because of the court of public opinion."
"Agreed." Batman sounded immediately.
I see you, Bruce.
"Was I the only one that heard him say, 'when' not if he commits a crime?" Lantern made one final stand on the topic.
"Come on, Hal." Barry shrugged, "Everything is a crime somewhere."
____________________________________________________________________________
As far as super heroism goes, I rarely received the call to suit up, or in my case show up as my hero costume and everyday wear are the same, and with Cassiopeia analytically cutting through any bullshit and Calliope running around performing disaster relief, the team didn't really need me until Felix Faust took a trip to Themyscira.
"Markus." Diana greeted as I appeared at her location, "This…man, demands that I aid him in locating fragments of an ancient relic. In return he will release the citizens of Themyscira from the stoney prison he has condemned them to."
I looked around at the wreckage and still burning fires, as well as the many petrified statues of Amazonian women and whistled.
"You girls got wrecked by one dude?" I skeptically inquired.
"One is all it takes when it is Felix Faust." the man bound in Dianna's golden rope announced.
"Sweet baby Christmas Jesus." I sighed, "I knew you girls were overrated, but really. All of Amazon society stopped by one fucking dude. This is pathetic, Di."
With a snap of my fingers the fires went out, the damage came undone, and the women of the Isle returned to flesh and blood.
"Ahh… I can tell that I am overmatched." Felix stated as he watched his work reversed so simply, "Might I receive mercy from you, great lord? The Amazonians are not known for their impartiality in judgment."
"Then you should not have come here to do this, Faust." I condemned the ancient sorcerer, "Reap what you sow."
"You have our thanks, foreign god, for this timely deliverance." A slightly more mature version of Wonder Woman arrived.
Queen Hippolyta, like Queen Atlanta, received none of my respect, but I can tell why Zeus made the effort to butter her buns. Seriously, if this was the level of ass tempting him from on high, then his fucked up compulsions make a hell of a lot more sense. The whole pantheon are still a pack of rapist pigs and cruel butchers though. Big round ass does not a moral excuse make.
It does a fine erection though.
Hippolyta took Felix's head from his shoulders before Dianna removed the Lasso of Truth from his person, preventing the man from escaping his reward for this attack, so at least the Amazons have that going for them. They may suck ass at fighting but at least their judicial system is speedy if not fair.
"My lord, allow us to throw a feast in your honor where sacrifices will be made as our thanks for your intervention." Hippolyta both requested and announced the coming feast, the other Amazons springing into action, "What are your preferred offerings?"
"Oh… uh… if we are going down the burnt offering route I could go for some hash right now." I told the pair.
Hippolyta looked at me and smiled.
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
JManM
JManM I put out the first chapter of the Naruto fic. That is what I am working on after this wraps up.
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