Consequences Part Two
The next day, the Justice League held a meeting, the founding members seated in their usual places around the table. Many of them looked puzzled, wondering why they had been summoned. Bruce, in his Batman persona, stood at the head of the table, his expression furious beneath the cowl. Doctor Fate floated in and waited by the door, sensing the tension in the room.
"I have called this meeting today to talk about my firstborn, Harry," Bruce began, his voice steady and authoritative. "More specifically, how he was kidnapped and ended up on the other side of the world in Wizarding Britain."
A murmur of surprise rippled through the room as the members exchanged glances. Bruce continued, standing up and locking eyes with Doctor Fate. "Something stood out to me when Albus Dumbledore and others told the tale. They mentioned how a man and woman gave Harry to Lily and James Potter the day he was kidnapped, and how the male of the duo had a golden helmet on."
Bruce paused, his batglare fixed on Doctor Fate. The room fell silent as everyone turned their attention to the vigilante.
Doctor Fate floated forward, his expression hidden behind the golden helmet. "I will not deny it, Batman. The Ancient One and I did indeed kidnap your oldest child and gave him to Lily and James Potter," he said calmly. "It was his fate to be the savior of Magical Britain. I have no remorse for what we did, and I would do it again if necessary."
Bruce's eyes blazed with fury at Doctor Fate's words. "You had no right to take my son and decide his fate," he snarled. "You overstepped your bounds and played with the lives of my family. This is unacceptable."
Doctor Fate remained composed, his voice unwavering. "The decisions were made with the knowledge of the greater good. Harry's presence in the wizarding world was essential to the defeat of a great evil."
Bruce's rage was barely contained as he responded, "That doesn't justify your actions.I want you out of the League."
Bruce's frustration and anger boiled over, and he knew he couldn't wait any longer. He turned to face the members, his voice cold and authoritative.
"Listen up," Batman began, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Either Doctor Fate is removed from the League, or I walk. We need to settle this now. I demand a vote today."
The members of the League exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of Batman's ultimatum hanging heavily over them. They knew the importance of having Batman on their team, and his threat to leave was not one to be taken lightly.
Wonder Woman stood, her voice calm but firm. "Bruce is right. If Doctor Fate's actions jeopardize the trust and integrity of this team, we need to address it."
The rest of the League members murmured in agreement, realizing the gravity of the situation. Green Lantern, Flash, and Aquaman shared concerned glances, knowing that a decision had to be made.
Bruce locked eyes with Doctor Fate, his resolve unwavering. "I don't care about the so-called 'greater good' when it comes to my family. Doctor Fate overstepped, and there need to be consequences."
The members of the League nodded in agreement. Wonder Woman turned to face the rest of the group. "All in favor of removing Doctor Fate from the League, raise your hand."
As hands slowly began to rise, the room fell silent, each member grappling with the implications of their decision. The vote was cast, and the majority of the hands were raised.
Wonder Woman turned to Doctor Fate, her expression somber. "Fate, the decision has been made. You're being removed from the League."
Doctor Fate remained composed, his expression unreadable behind the golden helmet. "I accept the decision of the League. I only hope that, in time, you come to understand the higher purpose of my actions."
With that, Doctor Fate floated out of the room, leaving the remaining members of the League to contemplate the future. Batman, his demand met, felt a sense of resolve.
As the Justice League members began to disperse, Flash leaned over to Green Lantern and muttered, "Batman was a lot calmer than I expected. I thought he would have blown up more."
Hal shook his head "I doubt this is the end of it. Bruce is furious, and I wouldn't be surprised if Doctor Fate ends up blacklisted from every hero team in the world."
Flash nodded, "Yeah, I get it. Messing with someone's family like that... it's unforgivable."
Hal glanced over at Batman, who was speaking quietly with Wonder Woman and Superman. "Bruce won't let this go. He'll make sure everyone knows what happened."
The two heroes fell silent for a moment, contemplating the implications of the vote and the potential fallout. They knew that the decision to remove Doctor Fate from the League would have far-reaching consequences, not just for their team but for the entire superhero community.
Unknown to the other members of the League, Bruce had already taken steps to ensure that Doctor Fate's actions would not go unnoticed. Before the meeting had even adjourned, he had sent out an order to his computer, instructing it to disseminate Doctor Fate's confession to every hero community around the globe.
As the message was transmitted, it contained a clear and unambiguous demand: Doctor Fate should be barred from any and all hero teams. The message detailed how Doctor Fate, along with the Ancient One, had kidnapped Bruce's oldest child and handed him over to strangers, disrupting the boy's life for the sake of a prophecy.
The response was swift. Hero communities across the globe received the message and began to take action. Leadership councils and decision-makers convened to discuss the situation, quickly realizing the implications of Doctor Fate's actions.
As Bruce returned to the manor, he found Toni standing by the window, watching the older boys playing with the triplets in the yard.
Bruce quietly approached Toni and wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulling her close. Toni leaned into his embrace, sensing that he had something important to share.
He whispered softly in her ear, "Doctor Fate has been kicked from the League. He confessed to everything."
Toni's eyes widened slightly, and she turned her head to look at him. Bruce continued, his voice a low murmur, "Soon, every hero team in the world will know what he did. They won't let him join their ranks."
Toni nodded, a mixture of relief and determination in her expression. "Good, he deserves it. For everything."
He pressed a gentle kiss to her temple, the peaceful moment was abruptly interrupted by Jarvis's voice warning them of an intruder in the house. Before they could react, Jarvis cried out and went silent. Bruce and Toni tensed, their instincts on high alert.
"Hello, beloved," a familiar voice purred from the shadows. Talia Al Ghul stepped out, her presence commanding and unsettling.
Toni and Bruce whirled on her, their eyes narrowing in unison. "What are you doing in our house?" Toni demanded, her voice laced with anger.
Talia ignored Toni's question, her gaze fixed solely on Bruce. "My father is dead," she stated, her tone devoid of emotion.
Talia's gaze remained unwavering as she began to explain. "Deathstroke and others have staged a coup against my father and me. The League of Shadows is in chaos," she said.
Bruce's eyes narrowed, his anger barely contained. "I'm not a member of your League, Talia. Answer my wife's question—what are you doing in our house?"
Talia's lips curled into a faint smile, ignoring Toni's glare. "I am here to deliver something invaluable to you, Bruce. And at the same time, deny my enemies an asset."
With a gesture, Talia beckoned into the shadows. From the darkness, a little girl holding a baby stepped forward. The child's eyes were wide, and her demeanor was both cautious and curious.
"This here is Cassandra, daughter of David Cain and Lady Shiva," Talia said, her voice calm but carrying the weight of significance. "I am certain you are familiar with her parentage."
Toni and Bruce exchanged a glance, recognizing the names and understanding the implications.
Talia then turned her attention to the baby in the girl's arms. "And this," she continued, "is Damian, your son, Bruce."
Bruce's heart skipped a beat as he processed Talia's words. Toni's expression shifted from anger to shock, her eyes fixed on the baby.
Talia stepped closer, her gaze softening ever so slightly. "I brought them here to ensure their safety and to place them in your care. They are the most valuable things I can offer you, and I refuse to let them fall into the hands of my enemies."
Toni's shock quickly turned to back to anger as she stared at Talia. "How the hell did you and Bruce have a kid together?" she demanded, her voice sharp with rage.
Talia's expression remained calm, almost indifferent. "For the world's greatest detective, he wasn't aware when someone put something in his drink," she said nonchalantly.
Bruce stiffened at her words, the implication hitting him like a punch to the gut. Toni gritted her teeth, fury and disbelief coursing through her. The realization of what Talia was implying only fueled her anger.
Ignoring Toni's reaction, Talia continued, "Take care of the kids, Bruce. Ensure they are safe." With that, she turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving Bruce and Toni to grapple with the revelation and the presence of the children she had brought.
The little girl, Cassandra, and the baby, Damian, looked up at them with wide eyes, sensing the tension in the air.
Toni knelt down and gave the little girl a warm smile. "Are you hungry, sweetheart?" she asked gently.
The little girl, Cassandra, said nothing but stared intently at Toni. Her gaze was unnervingly direct, and Toni couldn't help but shift uncomfortably, feeling as if the child was looking straight into her soul.
Bruce, sensing the tension, spoke up. "Let's get Cassandra settled into a room first," he suggested, trying to ease the situation. He then turned his attention to the baby in Cassandra's arms. "Can I see the baby?"
Cassandra's grip on the baby tightened, her eyes widening with a hint of protectiveness. She remained silent. It was clear that she was not ready to let go of Damian, even for a moment.
Toni gently escorted Cassandra to a room, her voice soothing as she spoke. "Is this room okay, sweetheart? Or would you prefer something else?"
Cassandra remained silent, her intense, soul-searching stare fixed on Toni. Toni inwardly sighed, realizing that this would be more challenging than dealing with her other children. She needed to approach this with patience and understanding.
"Do you have any clothes, Cassandra?" Toni asked softly, hoping to break through the girl's silence.
Cassandra simply pointed to her bag, saying nothing. Toni knelt down and opened the bag, her heart sinking as she saw the meager contents. There were barely any clothes in there, and what little there was seemed insufficient for both Cassandra and Damian.
Toni sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. She looked up at Cassandra, her expression gentle and reassuring. "We'll get you and Damian everything you need," she promised. "You don't have to worry about a thing."
Cassandra still said nothing.
Alfred stepped in seconds later. "I'll take it from here," he said, gently but firmly shooing Toni and Bruce away. "You both need some rest. I'll make sure they're well looked after."
As they made their way to the living room, Toni let out a tired sigh. "When I thought about having more kids, this wasn't exactly how I envisioned it," she admitted, a wry smile tugging at her lips.
Bruce placed a comforting arm around her shoulders. "I know. It's not what we planned, but we have a little girl now,"
As Toni and Bruce settled into the living room, Toni turned to Bruce, her expression gentle but concerned. "Do you want to talk about Damian?" she asked softly.
Bruce's response was immediate and firm. "No," he said, his tone leaving no room for further discussion.
Toni sighed, understanding his need for time and space. She knew that Bruce would open up when he was ready. Nearly 20 years of marriage and multiple kids that took after both of them, good and bad traits was more than enough experience.
Toni turned to Bruce, her expression filled with concern. "What about the kids? Where are they?"
Bruce sighed, his voice calm but weary. "I shooed them off to their own bedrooms. We'll have to run damage control in the morning. I told Dick that patrol was canceled for the night because I need to update my computer."
Toni opened her mouth to protest, but before she could say anything, Bruce was already sweeping out of the living room, leaving her standing there alone.
She watched him go, feeling a mix of frustration and concern. She knew that Bruce needed to process everything in his own way, but it didn't make the situation any easier.