A Future Sooner than Tomorrow

A Plan For The Present

The Justice League sits on one side of the table and those from the alternate universe sit on the other. The Justice League are all straight-backed with arms either crossed on folded in their laps. Constrastly, those of the other universe are seem relaxed; Kon and Red Hood are slouched back in their chairs whilst Nightwing is leaning his elbows on the table - Robin is the only exception, equally as proffesional in his posture as the Justice League.

Robin is the first to speak.

"First and foremost, we need to know how you got here. Was it purposeful? A horrible accident? What's the deal?" The Justice League looks at each other and unanimously shrugs. Kal looks at Robin.

"We don't know."

"What do you mean, you don't know?"

"We don't know. We were at the end of a meeting and then both me and J'ohn started to feel strange... Somehow, a second after that, we showed up here." Kal shrugs again, at a complete loss.

"Alright, not great but I can work with that," Robin gets up and begins to pace. His brothers and Kon turn in their chairs to look at him. "Did you guys appear in the Watchtower or Hall of Justice?"

Flash taps the table and says,"Neither. We appeared in the middle of Metropolis."

Robin spins on his heels and levels his white lenses on Superman. "Is what Flash said true for all of you?" Superman nods. "If I gave you a map, could you pinpoint exactly where you appeared?" Another nod.

Robin quickly strides out of the room, presumably to get a map of Metropolis. Diana looks at the door he left through.

"Is he normally so..." she gestures vaguely with her hands. Red Hood makes a noise made indecipherable by his voice modulator whilst Kon chuckles good-naturedly.

Nightwing ends up answering her question. "If he's been given a task, he's like this. Baby Bird is one hell of a detective, although he'd never say that about himself..."

"Why wouldn't he?" Diana asks.

"He compares himself to me and Hood too much, especially Hood."

Red Hood sits up straighter. "Not sure why. I was a major screw-up as Robin," Red Hood's voice is lower than usual even under the strong distortion. Batman goes still.

Nightwing turns toward Hood, his domino scrunching up around the lenses. "No, you weren't, Little Wing. Honestly, you and Robin have the same problem. You both compare yourselves to others too much."

"Hard not to, Boy Wonder. You leave large shoes to fill, no matter who takes on the mantle."

"That's where you're wrong," Nightwing puts his hand on top of Hood's and begins to talk louder. "The best thing about Robin being passed down is that everyone adds something, everyone brings something new. Neither I nor Robin can talk so well with the Crime Alley folk as you do and no Robin has ever been as analytical as Robin is now."

Red Hood bumps his shoulder into Nightwing's affectionately. They look back to the Justice League. Batman relaxes into his seat.

Kon clears his throat and asks,"Does anyone have any questions before Robin comes back with the map?"

Green Lantern nods. "I do. Why were you sleeping under the couch cushions this morning? You know, instead of on them?"

Kon flushes red, and the two men next to him look at him as though they have only just realised that Superboy is still in his nightwear. Nightwing smiles.

"So, the clothes do fit you alright, then?" Kon, relived at the change of topic, nods.

"Yeah, they're really comfy. Thank you again." Kon rubs at his neck. Red Hood shrugs.