25

[Bayo Bartolomeu: 02/09/2010]

POV: 3° Person

The members of the League descended from the skies, their figures seemingly emerging directly from a Renaissance painting, while the heroes below, led by Sunspot, looked on with varying degrees of apprehension and admiration.

The young heroes, many of them sidekicks or relatives of the heroes above, looked worried, as the mission given to them by their mentors had not gone exactly as planned.

With all the members of the League now on the ground, three of them walked towards Sunspot, who appeared amused and approached them, with Sandstorm and Vixen by his side.

Batman, the world's greatest detective and the currently elected leader of the League, Wonder Woman, the Amazon warrior and a fighter for peace and truth in the world, and in the middle of them stood Superman, who needed no further introduction.

'Well, this is sure to be one of those conversations,' Sunspot thought as he smiled.

The six super-powered beings stood face to face now, and a tension hung in the air of the swamp.

"Hello, friends! What brings such renowned figures to this desolate swamp?" Sunspot asked casually.

The tension was immediately replaced by disbelief.

"Pff!!" A muffled laugh came from the League's side, and many would swear it came from Captain Marvel.

"So... I see you and your group decided to show up here," Superman tried to regain the rhythm of the conversation, though he was obviously uncomfortable.

"Sunspot, we didn't expect you to be here. Rio de Janeiro has also been attacked; I thought you would protect your city," Batman said, cutting through any small talk.

"Well, I thought it would be more appropriate to cut the evil at the 'root,' not to mention we did you a favor by saving your little heroes," Sunspot replied without being intimidated.

Batman's sharp gaze narrowed after Sunspot's provocation, but instead of attacking directly, the world's greatest detective took the lead in the conversation. He wasn't willing to let the situation end so easily.

"Unscheduled intervention. No coordination with the League. And now you show up with... a team we didn't even know existed," Batman began, his tone calm but with a subtle thread of threat. "This isn't how we usually operate."

Sunspot maintained his smile, but behind his eyes was the glimmer of someone who knew he was being probed. He placed his hands in his pockets, relaxed. "Operate? I thought the goal was to defeat the villains. I didn't realize we needed prior authorization."

"You know exactly what I'm asking," Batman's voice grew even firmer. "Who are they?" He indicated with a glance at Vixem, Sandstorm, and the others behind them. "And what are you really planning here?"

Sunspot glanced at his companions and then returned his gaze to Batman, his expression slightly disdainful. "I didn't expect you to be so curious. We're just... colleagues trying to help. The same as you, right?"

But Batman wasn't swayed by evasive answers. "Do you think acting without warning, without protocol, doesn't raise questions? Especially when your methods leave... consequences."

The tension in the air heightened. Superman and Wonder Woman watched, but it was clear that, at that moment, Batman was conducting the interrogation. Sunspot, on the other hand, remained calm, not appearing to feel threatened.

"Consequences?" Sunspot let out a soft laugh. "Look, nobody got really hurt. I mean, the world was saved. That's what matters, right?"

"Nobody got hurt?" Batman took a step closer, and before he could continue, a shrill voice interrupted the conversation.

"Nobody got hurt?!" Everyone turned toward the voice, and the Joker, still bound, was laughing uncontrollably, his expression deranged.

"This maniac ripped off my hand! You're looking at the real danger here!" The villain waved the bloodied stump where his hand used to be, pointing at his badly injured companions.

Batman's gaze remained steady, while Sunspot merely cast a brief glance at the Joker without altering his posture. "Well," he said casually, "some hiccups may have occurred," he added with a shrug.

The Joker's laughter echoed once again through the swamp, the madness in his eyes intensifying the tension in the air. Batman, in his unwavering tone, was ready to continue the interrogation, but Sunspot quickly stepped in, deflecting the questions.

"Look, Batman, I don't have time for endless discussions. We need to take these villains into custody and ensure they don't escape again," Sunspot said, starting to move away, his casual tone contradicting the seriousness of the situation.

"Custody?" The incredulity spread across Wonder Woman's face. She crossed her arms, her piercing gaze focused on Sunspot. "With what authority do you and your group think you can do this? This isn't a job that's done without approval from the authorities."

Sunspot slowly turned around, a smile on his face that exuded confidence. "Ah, but you underestimate my connections. I have many important friends who care about the safety of the world. And believe me, no one wants to see supervillains escaping to cause more trouble."

Batman frowned, analyzing Sunspot's words. "Friends? If you want the League to trust you, you can't just act as if you have the power to decide what to do with them."

"Listen," Sunspot replied, his tone slightly more serious. "I'm not seeking your trust or approval, but if you don't make a quick decision, these villains might very well recover and get back to work. And I assure you that keeping these guys under control is a priority. After all, I don't want the Joker to lose another body part," he said, glancing at the villain who continued to laugh, even with his injury.

Wonder Woman, still confused and reluctant, hesitated for a moment, but the spark of determination in her eyes didn't fade. "If that's your intention, then let's do this together."

Sunspot raised an eyebrow, amusement returning to his gaze. "Oversight? Since when does the Justice League supervise other teams? We're not here to play hide and seek with villains; we're here to take them down."

"That's exactly what we're trying to do," Batman interjected, his voice firm. "But we need to ensure there are no more surprises. And you still haven't answered some questions."

"I'll answer what I can, but I can't guarantee I'll have time for a complete investigation. What really matters now is the outcome." Sunspot looked at the injured villains, his expression shifting slightly. "We need to act fast."

The atmosphere was heavy, and the tension lingered in the air as Sunspot's words settled. He was an enigma, an unexpected variable in the League's equation. The situation demanded a decision, and as much as they wanted to maintain control, they could not deny that their intervention had been necessary.

Batman took a deep breath, weighing the options. "Then let's do this. But on our terms. We won't leave this in your hands, Sunspot. Not yet."

The exchange of glances between them turned into a battle of wills, as the young heroes watched, aware that the future of this collaboration was uncertain.

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Hey guys!! Sorry for being gone for three months, my phone broke and I had to work to buy a new one, but now I'm one hundred percent again.