Chapter Five

"Master Adam, are you sure this is necessary?"

I hummed, looking into the mirror of my room at Wayne's manner, looking at myself, or more specifically, my hair. Sighing, I ran a hand through it, pulling it back and staring at the base of my hair, where I could see the white part growing back, like usual.

"Dunno, what do you think Alfred? Does white hair suit me at all?"

I chuckled, letting it go and allowing my hair to fall back into place.

"Indeed it does, Master Adam."

I sighed, putting the hair dye back into my pocket dimension.

"Well alright then, Alfred, I'll trust your judgment."

I chuckled, mapping my fingers as the existing dye on my hair disappeared.

"Hey, we match now."

I point out, pointing at my hair and then at his and getting a smile out of the older gentleman.

"Correct you are, Master Adam, now would you like to enjoy some calming tea together?"

I nodded, putting my hands in the pocket of my sweatpants and following behind him.

___

"He said he was busy..."

Matman oh so kindly informed me, staring me down and basically daring me to do something. I smiled up at him.

"I see, I see."

I nod, completely understanding that Clark, as someone who had superspeed and worked in media, wrote articles, was a very, very busy man.

"Don't-"

"I'm gonna go and drag his ass over here, any complaints?"

Batman's eyes bore into my head and I just smiled at him.

"Yes."

I summoned my cane, spinning it around as my suit appeared around my body and the top hat in my hand.

"Too bad, I'm gonna go up to the watchtower, and beat some sense into him."

Batman put a hand on my shoulder and I looked up at him, our eyes meeting and neither of us backing down.

"You're getting attached."

My eyebrows knit together as I shoved the hand off of my shoulder with the cane.

"Listen, Bruce, if you don't see the problem with gathering up teenagers together in a team and giving them little to no guidance in leadership and how to work on a team, you are a fool to expect anything but a disaster."

I straighten out my suit, my face scrunching up in a scowl.

"And if you think the Justice League is a team then I might have to show you just how wrong you really are, a gathering of solo heroes bunched together is not a team, and none of you are qualified to look after a bunch of children."

Batman's eyes narrow as he returns his hand under his cape.

"You are a child too."

I sigh, rolling my eyes.

"You know the price I had to pay for getting my mana, I might have found an alternative, but it did come at a cost, I am anything but a child."

Bruce stared at me for a moment and sighed.

"I know Adam, but only I and Alfred do."

I sigh again, nodding in agreement. Looking down at my hand, narrowing my eyes. Lies all around, everything is built on lies and here I am, acting like an all-mighty being. But hey, I might as well be.

The existence of Raven proves a lot of things, the memories I suppressed all these years hold some merit, and I might or might not have changed the course of reality just by rescuing her.

"If we don't prepare the kids now, Bruce, they will be easy pray, they are the next generation of heroes, they are supposed to be better, and you have to prepare them, treating them like kids is no longer an option."

I place the end of my cane on the ground with a resounding click.

"That was not an option the moment they decided to do what they do."

I was cringing on the inside, I can't believe I just said that, what was I? A drama actor? I want to puke right now, so bad.

Batman was still staring at me in silence, before after what seemed like an eternity, he nodded.

"Very well, I shall entrust the team to you, Sentinel."

I nodded. Finally, I have been working on this for ten years. I wouldn't make the same mistakes. Not like he did. The fool had every advantage he needed and still failed.

Knowledge many could only dream about, Runes delivered to his brain by a god, but he took too long. Made too many mistakes, and couldn't gain trust.

I would be better, I already was. And this time, there would be no need for a flash point.

A magic circle spread from my feet and I teleported in a flash of purple light.

My eyes opened and I was on the watch tower, my top hat in place, covering my face with the illusion.

I had a future to prevent.