Hal then tells Kilowag "Why do you think Robin fits in? The first Robin is technically his son. He adopted ** to be his ward AND his sucessor as Batman. So if he doesn't have a child the normal way, Grayson will be that legacy to the Batman name."

"Not so sure..." said Robin at this as he got his communicator away. "** told me himself that it would take something BIG for him to take Bruce's place as Batman. If Bruce does...you know...he told me that he would come back and protect Gotham. And since I'm Batman's newest partner, I take it as my duty to help protect Gotham as well. So yeah, Bats will have a legacy. But if he did have a kid...that would be interesting." said Tim.

(FORESHADOWING...Daimen that is. You think it would work if Daimen does appear later on?)

(If it does, I already know one thing... Batman will quickly realize that sleeping with Talia without protection was not his wisest move.)

Batman quietly waited outside the Planet building, watching as Lois glanced up at the sky. "...I will never see why you married him," he commented. "Truth, Justice and the American Way... throws you in a lot of danger, you know?"

"Perhaps," Lois shrugged. "But the big guy needs someone there for moral support. As Clark AND Superman."

Batman silently nodded as he stared outwards.

"...Maybe you need someone too. A wife, or at least a girl, to support both Batman and Bruce Wayne," Lois commented as she glanced up at the sky. "Nobody deserves to have to be alone to fulfill a promise they made to the dead."

Batman's eyes widened as he turned to face Lois before shaking his head. "I'll... keep that in mind."

(Especially since Daimen killed one of his rouges and gave Bruce his HEAD! I'm still picturing how ** and Tim would react to THAT.)

The other three arrived at this time as Aquaman says "Trust me, Bruce. Being a king isn't a easy thing either. Especially since that...incident with the Black Manta and Garth..." He sighed at this, remembering that day with some dark memories.

"Oh yeah...that was the darkest day in Atlantis, huh?" asked Hal with a sigh.

"Indeed...so know this Bruce...I can relate to some of the pain you have now." said Aquaman calmly, knowing that Batman was feeling pain as well.

Batman remained silent before looking up. "Why should I have a family if I let down someone who was part of it?"

"...It's the second Robin, isn't it?" Lois asked, Batman bowing his head down. "

"Aye..." sighed Aquaman. "Trust me, Batman...you are not the only one to lose a family member to your arch enemy. Especially a son." he looked down at this as he sighed.

"And then Barbara," Batman continued, clenching his fists tightly. "THAT is why I'll never start a family..."

"Bruce, the past is the past," Lois began, "we can't change it, we can only-"

"Learn from it?" Batman interrupted. "THAT'S what I'm doing... where's Superman?"

"You think that red-haired kid's watch can be shared among others?" asked Robin. "For someone that's faster then a bullet train, he's kind of slow to show up."

"...Be patient..." Batman stated firmly. "I'm wondering where Superman went."

"Want me to call up Barry and J'onn?" asked Hal. "I got Barry on speed dial."

"Just do it," Batman grunted as he stepped back into the shadows of an alleyway.

"...I always preferred the butler," Lois mumbled.

(And I'm calling rights to Alfred!)

"You get used to it." said Tim with a sigh as Hal got his cell phone and gets to his speed dial and pressed a button.

"come on, Barry. Pick up...or at least Iris. she'll be easier to hear that fast-talking nutjob." said Hal, tapping his foot a bit as he waited for an answer.

"Hey, hey! Hal!" the voice of the Flash grinned. "Wow, haven't seen my favorite snot-rag in a while!"

"Watch it, bolt-brain. Listen, have you come across anything weird recently?" asked Hal.

Aquaman then concentrated, using his telepathy to try and find Martian Manhunter.

(Yeah...I checked, and Aquaman CAN control things besides aquatic animals with his telepathy, but it takes a lot of work. I'm pretty sure that as a fellow telepath, he can at least talk get a signal out to Manhunter, right?)

"...WEIRD? Booger, I am a super-speeding guy in bright red spandex, you wear a suit the color of snot, we're friends with a sea king and a guy who dresses up as a bat and take on super-powered criminals on a DAILY basis," Flash deadpanned. "Weird no longer exists in my book."

"Curry?" the voice of the Manhunter replied. "Aquaman?"

"Indeed." said Aquaman telepathically. "We are in need of your assistance. Have you come into contact with any extra-terrestrials?"

Hal sighed as he says "I mean by OUR standards. Like say...an alien that said something aobut being a ruler over his or her people?"

"...OH! Like flame-brain?! Yeah, this 'Fire Lord' showed up in Central earlier... but he's ashes right now."

"There was a rock monster of the Appellaxian species," J'onn replied.

"Me and Supes went against a giant bird made of gold. He called himself the 'Golden Roc'." said Hal. "I was the only one who could understand him because, obviously, my ring can translate any language."

"I went against an Appellaxian made of glass. So it appears we've all fought against the Appelaxians." Arthur told Manhunter with a small frown. "These creatures are a threat. The last one appears to be made of Wood, and is said to be the biggest out of all of them. So it'll take all seven of us, including Wonder Woman and Superman, to take it on."

"Ah great! MORE world-conquering nuts?! You know, Green, your Corps really SUCK if they can't stop these guys from entering Earth," Flash joked. "Not you, you're cool."

"I am on my way, Arthur."

Arthur nods as he cuts off his connection as he says "He's on the way."

"...I thought you could only talk to fish." said Robin, as Aquaman sighed.

"WHY does everyone think my telepathy is THAT limited..." grumbled the king of Atlantis, as Hal chuckled.

"Good to hear that, Barry." said Hal, as he says "Though apparently Tim kind of made his highness upset."

"I'm right here, Jordan." warned Athur, giving him a look. "And remember, there are quite a few things I can do besides control the sea."

"...point taken. Get here fast, Flash." said Hal as he whispers "Knowing you, that'll be less then five seconds."

"Already on my way!"

A few seconds later, a red blur dashed past as Flash slung an arm around Aquaman's shoulder. "Aquaman! How's it been under the sea?!" he grinned.

"Robin!" Batman's voice rang out from the alleyway as he stepped out, calm look on his face.

"Batman?" Flash blinked before waving. "Been a while, Bats!"

Robin looked confused as he walked over. "What's up?"

Arthur then says "It's been fine, Flash. How are you and Iris doing these days?"

"We've been doing just fine," Flash grinned. "And little Wally's doing fine with those Titans! To think... they started out nobodies in their teens a few years back and now they're young adults and everybody knows and adores them!"

Batman was silent as a small smile broke out at the mention of the Titans... the team of his son. Turning to Robin, he glanced down. "I thought I gave you a talk about not offending other superheroes before."

"It is alright, Batman." said Arthur with a sigh. "Most people do not understand the nature of my telepathy."

"How does it work anyway?" asked Robin, confused. "I mean...why do most people think it only works on fish?"

"Because when it came to the first time using my telepathy, I used it to command sea life." said Aquaman calmly. "I have trained my mentality since then so I can use it on others. It works better on humans and other creatures if I read a part of the mind I can get into, and I can also use it to get into connection with other telepaths. Since most creatures on Earth are said to have evolved from the sea, my telepathy works in that regard."

"Ah, gotcha. Sorry about that, your highness." said Robin as Aquaman just patted his shoulder.

"It is alright, Timothy." said Aquaman with a small nod.

"BUT, I am also considering your earlier jibes at me... and, while you were all conversing, I had an interesting chat with your father," Batman continued, crossing his arms. "We both agreed, you're grounded for two weeks."

Flash blinked as he zoomed over. "Wait, you meant Bats STILL likes Wonder Wo-" he began before Batman glared at him, instantly shutting him up. "Or... is it Talia? Perhaps Catwoman? ...Bats, you are a pi-"

"I suggest you be quiet, Barry," Batman sighed, shaking his head.

Tim just crossed his arms at this, grumbling a bit. "I wonder how you and ** were like when you two were partners..." he said to himself.

"Oh come on, Bruce. You play the 'Playboy' card every time you make a public appearance." said Hal plainly, reminding him of his public identity's act.

"he's got you there, Batman." said Athur calmly. "I know you are not truly like that, but you do act like it to keep people from guessing who you really are like."

"** actually listened to instructions so I didn't have to ground him so much," Batman stated. "And you just increased your punishment time by a week for back-sassing." Glancing at Aquaman, he simply shrugged. "It's a mask. Besides... Diana is a friend and ally, Catwoman is a thief and Talia is an assassin. What more needs to be said as to why the rumors aren't true?"

"Huh... sorry Bats," Flash grinned nervously. "BUT, Wally tells me that the first Rob-I mean Nightwing has a new girlfriend!"

Batman was silent as the grave in response to this news, slowly turning to face Flash; who nervously gulped. "...He... didn't... tell you, didn't he? Uh, SUPES, WHERE THE HECK ARE YOU?!"

"...didn't he say that in his letter?" asked Robin, confused. "I mean...you DID read his letter, right? I gave it to you yesterday. Knowing **, he wouldn't have left that a secret...unless he thought Barbara would look and get crazy jealous...but knowing him, he would've put some clues in there, right?"

"I haven't heard much from Garth..." sighed Aquaman, as Hal looked around between everyone.

"Wow...you can actually feel the awkward up here...J'onn, when are you showing up?" asked Hal, looking around for the martian.

"...He... never mentioned... a GIRLFRIEND," Batman casually began. "Do go on, Barry."

"Well, her name is Starfire and... she's a little on the childish side," Flash began, "BUT she's a sweet girl."

Batman was silent again as he looked around. "...We need to get him back in Gotham."

"Right now, Hal Jordan..."

The Martian Manhunter landed in front of Hal. "We are missing Superman and Wonder Woman, are we not?"

"Uh...Bruce?" said Athur calmly as he says "Grayson is an adult now. He is free to chose the one he will share his life with."

"Besides, you let me and Steph be together." said Tim. "And she's an amateur hero."

Hal nods as he says "Yep. We need Clark and Diana...and apparently Bruce is kind of insulted that ** didn't mention a girlfriend in his new team."

"If it wasn't the orange childish alien with an evil sister with a LOT of power, I'd be more accepting... then again... if it WASN'T a girl on his team, from what I know about them. Not to mention I have yet to properly see the Titans in action... without a suitable assessment of their skills, I'm not sure whether I can allow Nightwing to lead them."

"SO, you're being an overprotective daddy," Flash deadpanned.

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