The title should tell you, whose coming next. Btw, it's an Uncle and Niece.
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As Lex Luthor finally broke away from the swarm of reporters, visibly relieved, he spotted the newly formed group of heroes standing nearby. His face brightened, and with a well-practiced smile, he gestured grandly toward them, eager to present them to the press.
"And here they are, ladies and gentlemen! Our saviors!" Lex announced theatrically, drawing everyone's attention. "Starting from left to right, we have The Aquaman! You could say he's... King of the Waters, with his powers!" Lex patted Arthur Curry on the shoulder, adding an exaggerated flourish to his introduction.
Arthur, wearing a mixture of amusement and annoyance, corrected him casually. "Actually, it's King of Atlantis, but... I digress."
Lex ignored the correction and moved on with a smirk, shifting to the next hero. "And next up, we have our very own Man of Steel, or should I say... Cyborg!" Lex playfully poked the red glowing light in the center of Victor Stone's chest.
Victor swatted Lex's hand away, unimpressed. "Thanks... man," he said dryly. "Happy to be here, everyone."
The crowd chuckled, but Lex could tell Victor wasn't in the mood for games. Deciding to lean into the moment, Lex turned to the audience with a grin. "Well, seems he's a bit touchy, folks!" His quip earned more laughter from the reporters, clearly enjoying Lex's attempts to inject some humor into the tense atmosphere.
"And now, our favorite Warrior Princess, who, even in times of peace, remains vigilant—Wonder Woman!" Lex gestured toward Diana, though he didn't dare get too close.
Diana stood tall, her expression unreadable, but she kept a noticeable distance from Luthor. Something about him unsettled her, more than just his past as a villain. His every word, every move, felt like part of a deeper scheme. There was a subtle manipulation at play, and her instincts warned her not to let her guard down.
Lex, sensing her reluctance, didn't push further. "Ah, but it seems she's rather reserved today. What a shame!" He feigned disappointment, before smoothly transitioning to the next hero.
He arrived in front of Barry Allen, who looked visibly nervous, still not entirely comfortable in the spotlight. "And last but certainly not least, we have a speedster! But... isn't your existence somewhat overtaken by Superman?" Lex asked, an insidious grin on his face. It was a carefully calculated question, designed to sow doubt.
Barry froze. "Ah! I mean... sorta... but..." he stammered, clearly rattled by the question. "I'm not just fast, I can... uh..."
Before Barry could completely spiral, Superman stepped forward, putting himself between Lex and Barry. His face was calm but firm, and his voice carried the weight of authority. "I'll finish that for you, Flash. We're all equals and united together, Luthor." His eyes met Lex's with a quiet challenge. He wasn't about to let Luthor get away with planting seeds of division among the team.
Lex raised his hands in mock surrender, smiling innocently. "Alright, alright! No harm intended. I was just asking a question." He chuckled, but the tension between him and Superman was palpable.
As the introductions seemed to be winding down, Lex looked around dramatically. "But wait... where's everyone's favorite hero? Batman? Surely he's here, isn't he?"
Just as the words left his mouth, Lex felt a cold presence next to him. He turned slowly, sweat beading on his forehead when he realized who was standing beside him.
"I assume it's my turn?" Batman spoke, his gravelly voice cutting through the moment as he gently took the microphone from Lex's hand. The crowd went silent, all eyes on Gotham's dark protector.
Lex wiped the sweat from his brow, trying to regain his composure. Batman had appeared out of nowhere, as he often did, reminding Lex—and everyone watching—that he was the most dangerous of them all. Stealth was his greatest weapon, and it unnerved Lex to no end how Batman could get this close without anyone noticing.
Batman turned to the crowd, his expression as unreadable as ever. "As the Justice League, we can't do everything. But I promise you this: we exist to keep world peace." His voice was deep, authoritative, and unwavering. He didn't need to say more; his presence alone conveyed the seriousness of their mission.
Lex, still trying to recover from Batman's sudden appearance, quickly took back control of the situation. "Well, you heard it here, folks! While they'll be leaving for personal reasons, I'll be happy to answer any further questions!" He flashed his signature grin at the cameras, eager to wrap up the press conference before any more unexpected surprises occurred.
As the Justice League walked off-stage, Barry exhaled heavily, snacking on a bag of chips he had somehow produced from nowhere. "Whew, talk about nerve-wracking."
Victor smirked and elbowed him lightly. "Says you. I thought the speedster would have nearly infinite reaction time to handle a question?"
Barry waved him off. "Not my fault! I prefer to react to things normally. You know how boring it'd be if I had to wait an eternity for people to finish a sentence?"
Arthur, who had taken a seat nearby, leaned back and looked at Batman with a thoughtful expression. "So, Batman... how'd you come up with the name Justice League? Gotta say, it's pretty catchy. It's a clear sign of what we're supposed to be doing—justice and all that."
Batman, as usual, gave a calm, measured response. "I wasn't planning on using a name, initially. Alfred and... Jorno suggested I should."
At the mention of Jorno's name, Superman shifted uncomfortably. The weight of the secret gnawed at him—Jorno was no longer alive, and few of them knew. The memory of the boy's sacrifice lingered in Clark's mind, especially now, when they stood in the spotlight as heroes. It didn't feel right celebrating without acknowledging what had been lost.
Arthur, sensing the slight shift in atmosphere, raised an eyebrow. "I see... What about the names? Aquaman? I like mine," he said, clearly enjoying the title he'd been given.
Diana chimed in, her tone more relaxed as she joined the conversation. "Oh, that was me. I wanted to write the names in Atlantean script for the official records, but Batman advised me against it. He thought no one would understand it."
Arthur chuckled. "Yeah, I guess that's fair. Most people can't even handle a few lines of ancient text, let alone an entire alphabet."
Despite the friendly exchange, Diana's mind remained elsewhere. Her instincts, finely tuned from centuries of battle and diplomacy, nagged at her. Lex Luthor was up to something—she could feel it. His overt friendliness, his insistence on highlighting the team in front of the world, seemed too convenient. What was his real game here?
The pieces began to align in her mind. By presenting the Justice League to the public, Lex was bolstering their image, tying them to his own leadership. If they ever turned on him or attempted to expose his past crimes, it would be difficult for the public to reconcile the image of Lex Luthor, the man who brought them Superman and his allies, with the criminal mastermind he truly was. Lex was setting them up as his insurance policy.
Diana's eyes narrowed. If Lex thought they would play into his hands, he was gravely mistaken. But for now, they would let him play his games. When the time came, they would be ready.
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[Auther: Finally, I can move onto the next arc, I have! And the introduction of one of my favourite characters.]