𝚆𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛
𝙽𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝟸𝟻𝚝𝚑, 𝟶𝟼:𝟻𝟺 𝙴𝚂𝚃

     The Watchtower was busier than it had ever been before, brimming with the life of the Guardians of Earth. All gathered for one thing: a meeting to expand the Justice League. Seventeen members gathered around the room, speaking to each other in groups or standing off to the side, collecting their thoughts before the upcoming meeting.

It's when Aquaman calls everyone, starting the meeting, that we come together at the round table in the center. "Everyone is here. Our agenda is clear. What's at stake should not be underestimated."

Instinctively, I nodded in understanding and checked on (Y/n) once more. She'd still been asleep when I woke up this morning, but today would be a long day, and I did not want her waking up for what was to come. It was especially hard to keep her under after the events in Qurac. The panic was still embedded deep in our body– bursting at the seams. It had left her sleepless and absent-minded the past couple of nights. Which means soon, it will all come tumbling down on her.

I was only able to keep my composure now because I could block those chemicals out. (Y/n) can't do that.

I shouldn't have done what I did– thinking on it now. But in the moment, it was the right call. So I don't regret it. Still... the visceral response of our body that I pushed back was making (Y/n)'s mind suffer for longer. I won't interfere with her natural biology after this. I can't.

Today would be much-needed rest for her, I told myself. A nervous pit rose in my stomach at the thought she would wake up because of my previous meddling, hear and know what was discussed. I had a strange feeling neither of us was ready to confront that conversation. I certainly held on tightly to the belief I could keep it from her until the very end. I doubted it, though. I'm sure she was catching on already— I wasn't exactly good at hiding it.

Despite the voices of others, it was not in my nature to lie.

"The decisions we make today will reverberate for years to come." Superman picked up after Aquaman with a peaceful smile on his face. That look felt wrong and out of place to me. And as if the world shifted on its axis, suddenly, this meeting felt less important to me than it should've. Briefly, a sense of bitterness washed over me before I threw it away.

I was surprised that those feelings came to me. I chose this. This is what I've been working for since I was spawned, even before that. I did not feel that way. Truly.

"And influence whether or not the world continues to put its trust in the Justice League." Wonder Woman reminded everyone.

Batman quickly got to his point, "Please, take your seats. We have work to do."

With the order from the Dark Knight himself, everyone took their seats with the original members at the rounded curl of the table. I was sat next to Doctor Fate at the very end. His membership was still in question, and mine was still only honorary. As a part of the Team now, I had no doubt my membership would again be called into question.

Not that my membership would be an issue after today.

I knew that everything would be okay. It would turn out just as I knew it would. But knowing that, everything became even more real... It made me nervous. It was an unfamiliar feeling that I hadn't felt since (Y/n) developed her powers. It made me want to grasp something to keep myself grounded and stable. If things had been different, I might have reached out and held Nabu's hand.

As things stood now, though, I grabbed tightly to my own and tried to imagine (Y/n) was squeezing back.

"Another expansion of the League could generate another escalation of hostilities from our enemies. No one needs, or wants, another Injustice League." Martian Manhunter stood up, speaking in front of the whole League, who was watching solely him.

If (Y/n) were awake, I imagine she'd make a joke about watching him like Hawks and then point out the Hawks. And that made me feel the tiniest bit better.

"Point taken, but the option remains to vote no on all candidates, so I nominate Icon for League membership." Superman pulled up an image of the new hero. He was a dark-skinned man wearing mostly black and red with a giant gold plate on his chest, completing the look with a black cape. He looked to be very tall.

"Why? 'Cause you suspect Icon might be Kryptonian like you did with Captain Marvel?" Green Arrow snorted.

"You thought I was Kryptonian? Cool!" Captain Marvel perked up. Since the dimension-splitting incident with Klarion, it hasn't been that he's acting more his age, but that everyone started to notice how he was acting more. However, the freedom in the knowledge everyone knew now must've been freeing.

"Icon interests me also, as does his protege, Rocket. Athena knows the League could use more Female members." Wonder Woman put her hand on Superman's arm as she looked at Black Canary and Hawkwoman.

"Agreed."

"Here, here!"

"..."

The rest of the League, being predominantly male, stayed silent. I bit my lip as I watched Captain Marvel glance back at them. I could tell this was an awkward route for the conversation to take. And perhaps a sore spot.

Batman is the one who quickly changes the conversational pace, pulling up a picture of the Atom. Captain Marvel is the one to talk first, despite that. "Seriously? The Atom? How useful could he be at that size?"

"It's the size that makes him useful." Batman defended his choice. I nodded along to that notion. The Atom could be extremely useful; he'd be an excellent pick—a great new addition to the League alongside Icon.

"Absolutely. Still, we could always use more raw power, and Earth has a third Green Lantern, Guy Gardner." Flash pointed out, pulling a picture onto the holo screen of a Green Lantern currently not in the room. He was a caucasian male with green eyes and red hair, quite muscular, too. His Lantern costume was different from the other two, sleeveless, and it looked more like a workout muscle outfit than an interstellar police uniform. This Lantern was Guy Gardner.

Both of the Green Lanterns present were immediate in their dismissive reactions. "No."

"But we could really–"

"NO."

I have to agree with their decisions. Though I have never met Gardner in person, he has quite the reputation I'm sure the other Lanterns would know more about. He's infamous for his inability to work with others, especially his fellow Lanterns, and his violent and unstable personality has caused quite a few disasters I had to resolve before meeting (Y/n).

He still has quite a bit of growing to do.

Flash huffed, scrapping the idea of a third Green Lantern Leaguer and swiping the next candidate onto the screen. Blue Devil. The man was very tall, and his skin was a light shade of blue, accented by white hair. He, too, was wearing a sleeveless black uniform and was carrying a golden weapon that matched the massive horns on the top of his forehead. "What about the Blue Devil? He helped me with destroying the plants during the Injustice League attack, and even though he's only been a hero for a short time, he's done good work."

Doctor Fate immediately interrupted. "That may be so, but as a Lord of Order, I cannot work with a being with Chaos Magic flowing through their veins." 

    "If we're considering Blue Devil, then I nominate Red Arrow. Roy has more experience, and he's no kid anymore. He's eighteen. A legal adult. He's ready." Green Arrow stood up, leaning against the table. To me, it appeared he was waiting for the chance to recommend his former protegee—the one who left him behind.

It must be a gaping hole in his heart to have his partner leave him behind, one he must want to fill. In that sense, I understand him greatly.

With all of my knowledge, I have to stand here and let Red Arrow be inducted into the League. That aside, I gripped tightly at the costume near my knees to stop myself from warning them.

"Is he? Red Arrow has been uncooperative and disrespectful. If we reward that kind of behavior, what message does that send to the rest of the team?" Aquaman made his point. A very good one. One I wish they'd have listened to. One they would listen to if I opened my mouth.

But I never can.

"Objectively, Red Arrow has consistently proved himself in the field over the past five months and has the capacity to work well in standing beside the League." My mouth moved without my input. And once I realized what I was doing, I found I did not have it in myself to force it to stop.

"He's not too prideful not to make use of his resources in the form of allies. He displays great heroic qualities and wears his heart on his sleeve." Green Arrow preened at my praise of his mentee, but I wasn't done.

"Subjectively, I don't like the way he voices his suspicions and distrust of others. Red Arrow has also been quite rude and disrespectful, just as Aquaman said. From what I heard, he acted like a child, having a tantrum when he wasn't given his perceived version of respect. Not to say that his viewpoint should be dismissed— but it doesn't seem like the quality of an adult that should be entrusted with the name and legacy of something so important as the Justice League." I finished, having found that my fingers had looped around my chin and over my lip as I voiced my concerns—a contemplative habit of (Y/n)'s.

"Are you saying Red Arrow is undeserving of League membership for those qualities?" Batman peered at me curiously. He was hiding it quite well, but it must've been a surprise I would weigh in on this particular matter. It was certainly a shock to me.

"That's not what I'm saying at all..." I exhaled, "Just that I don't have enough information to say if it's a good idea or not. He could be a good hero to have on the League, he may not."

"You don't know?" Flash asked, bewildered. I didn't make eye contact with him as his gaze fell in my direction.

"I'm saying I cannot tell for certain whether he is a truly good idea for the League or not. I don't have enough information to extrapolate an opinion." I reiterated. Other than what happens on the last day of the year, I have no clue how Red Arrow will proceed with League membership. Unfortunately, my memory does not go that far.

"The future changes depending on the actions of people like us, people like Red Arrow. Is that not why we are all here? To change fate?" I couldn't help the way my sight drifted to Doctor Fate.

It must be a weird experience for him to hear a Niktonian say such a thing. It certainly was for me. Many surprises today. Many firsts.

Some good. Some bad. Such is life, I suppose.

"Though I suppose we could leave that particular discussion for later." I dismissed any more questions about myself. Now wasn't the time.

The caped crusader of Metropolis cleared his throat, adding his opinion to the conversation. "Red Arrow is a perfectly fine candidate. But in terms of the rest of the Team– they're too young. We're not inducting children into the league."

Captain Marvel allowed Superman's words to get to him, pulling on his collar. But I stayed resolute and straight in both my posture and gaze. I lost the moment I showed hesitancy.

"That seems myopic. I have been one with Kid Flash and Aqualad. Both are ready." Next to me, Doctor Fate pulled up a picture of them for just a moment. Quickly, the image flashed to Zatanna as Wonder Woman suggested her.

"And what of Zatanna?"

"Absolutely not!" Doctor Fate yelled, all but screeching. It was clear that Zatarra had broken through. And I gaped silently at the outburst. In all of my years, in all of Nabu's years, I have never once seen someone break the Lord of Order's control enough to release such a burst of emotion.

Wonder Woman smirked, "That sounded almost protective, Doctor."

I lifted an eyebrow, not understanding what she was getting at. If she wanted to prove Zatarra was still in there, she didn't have to. The inner workings of the helmet did not erase, only override the wearer's control.

"At least we know Zatara's still in that helmet somewhere."

Captain Marvel stood up, highlighting a concerning detail for a so-called hero of Justice. Justice is blind, not heartless. But Doctor Fate is a Lord of Order, not justice. It was fair, at least, in the eyes of the Scales.

In my eyes... I couldn't say which side I fell on yet.

"Why is Doctor Fate a member? You coerced Zatara into giving up his life to you or else lose his daughter instead. Not cool." The tall, blue-eyed male glared daggers into the helmet-wearing Lord. Nabu did not shrink under his gaze.

Red Tornado brought Doctor Fate's picture up, not inherently taking either of their sides but bringing the conversation to the rest of the League to dispute. "Should such behavior be condoned?"

"Zatarra desires Doctor Fate to remain in the Justice League." Doctor Fate crossed his arms. I could feel the annoyance cascading off of his body, though he physically gave nothing away. I knew Nabu. He thought this was a waste of time and an unnecessary conversation. Perhaps he was right.

But our opinions were skewed on our circumstances; approaching it from the side of the League may offer another viewpoint we've both failed to see.

"Oh, please." Green Arrow muttered skeptically.

"I believe Doctor Fate," I spoke up again, and everyone's attention turned to me. I didn't usually dispute during these meetings, already knowing how they would go. So the fact I was adding in readily, without prompting, so frequently must've been a change they didn't see coming. I caught sight of Batman, who was the only one who looked any sort of pleased.

"He wouldn't lie about something like this. If it were truly his decision, he wouldn't invoke Giovanni Zatarra's name."

Doctor Fate nodded. "It is true, Guardian. Zatarra's trust in Nabu is measured. He desires the league to maintain a close watch upon us."

The use of my old title surprised me. I didn't believe he would call me that anymore. I thought he would've disowned me of it by now.

"I nominate Plastic Man." Batman quickly got the discussion on track again, displaying the stretchy hero on the screen. His eyes were covered by a visor styled to be like sunglasses, while his outfit was very simple, being a red flexible suit that had a deep V-neck. Captain Marvel held his hand over his mouth, beginning to giggle at the hologram.

"I don't know, the guys got a pretty substantial criminal record." Flash leaned on the table as he spoke, moving his arm for emphasis.

Captain Marvel began to laugh, unable to contain his humor anymore. His laugh was wheezy and echoed in the large, silent room. He wiped his eye, uncaring of this fact. "Sorry, sorry, the guy just cracks me up."

All of the adults brought harsh gazes down on him. They were judging his every action. It was not one typically shown to a child, and yet that was exactly the reason why they were staring at him like that, to begin with.

Flash sighed. The noise was loud in the cold, dead room. "Maybe it's time we talked about the elephant in the room. Should Captain Marvel stay a member now that we really know he's only ten years old?"

Red Tornado laid out important facts, not as a defense, but as a reminder. "He does possess an adult body and the wisdom of Solomon."

"Wisdom does not equal maturity." Aquaman was quick to retort, regardless of Red Tornado's intention.

"Hey, I'm sitting right here!" Captain Marvel exclaimed, offended.

Black Canary softly suggested, "Then Billy, maybe you should leave until we've hashed this out."

Batman stood up for the ten-year-old hero. "No. Captain Marvel is a member and is entitled to participate until or unless he is voted out."

"It's not just his age. It's the fact that he lied about it." Wonder Woman interjected.

"I didn't lie, exactly..." Captain Marvel's defense wasn't great. And he couldn't meet her eye at the end. "I just left out the part about being a kid."

"A lie of omission is still a lie. You kept an important secret from us. No one in the League knew the truth."

"I did," Batman stated.

Robin appeared on the hologram, smiling and standing confidently. Wonder Woman commented on it, jabbing the mentor who recommended him. "I shouldn't be surprised since you indoctrinated Robin into crime-fighting at the ripe old age of nine."

"Robin needed to help bring the men who murdered his family to justice." Sadness washed over me, something I was progressively getting more used to. Still, it stung to think of my friend suffering such a loss. (Y/n) frequently missed her parents, and they were still alive. I could hardly imagine what it would be like not to be able to see them at all. Humans were very attached to those who created them and those who replaced them.

I had every memory Yuan ever had. And I never met her. I can't share their experiences.

"So he could turn out like you?" Wonder Woman pressed.

"So that he wouldn't." Batman remained unmovable. His admission was not what she was expecting, and the self-assuredness by which he said them seemed to calm her complaint.

"I knew as well." Though the support was unnecessary, I found myself unable to sit here and not stand up for an ally that had helped me so. "And all of us are allowed our own secrets, are we not? Wonder Woman? His age was just another aspect of this secret identity you all hold in such high regard."

Perhaps this is the most I've ever spoken at one of these discussions. But my point was made, and no one commented anymore on Captain Marvel's case. Instead, they turned to mine.

The image of (Y/n) wearing the exact costume I was wearing now appeared on screen. Except there were two of her. One with a giddy, lively smile. And one with a more straight shooting expression. Me.

"Should Failsafe stay a member? It may be 'honorary,' but unlike Doctor Fate, she possesses a child and splits her host's time between the League, the Team, and controlling the time (Y/n) does have to herself." Hawkman was the one to address things.

He stared me directly in the eyes as he made his case. "She's taken two years of her host's life. And now that she's begun to relax her grip, (Y/n) has made strides toward becoming a full-fledged member of the Team herself."

Captain Atom spoke next, jumping off Hawkman's concerns to voice his own. "(Y/n) is still only fourteen. Twelve, when Failsafe started inhabiting her. She is a child who can't consent to handing over her life, her best years, to Failsafe. Isn't it possible to relocate Failsafe or oversee them more?"

Sharply, I inhaled. "Relocation is not something that can occur."

Not to mention, Batman oversees both of us enough.

"And why not?" The atomic hero shot back.

I screwed my eyes shut, burdened with having to tell them something so inconsequential but personal. "I cannot leave. Not without another member of my species to remove me."

I opened my eyes, scanning the room and seeing various reactions. I suppose it's now 'later.' It's best to get it over with now, while the discussion was centered on me, than to bring it up at the end.

"I'm afraid that any of the concerns voiced against me won't be a problem much longer." I stood up, unfazed, as sixteen other eyes watched me intently.

"Effective January first, two-thousand-eleven, I hereby resign from both the Justice League and the Team. And as such, will be leaving Earth." I remained standing, even as the entire room's atmosphere shifted. A part of me was thankful for the layers of our new costume, as I was starting to believe the temperature in the room dropped a few degrees.

"So it is time, then? Guardian?" Doctor Fate didn't look at me as he asked, keeping his eyes locked forward.

I nodded. "My time here has unfortunately come to an end. I planned to inform everyone after membership had been decided, but now felt like the better time."

"...Why?" Captain Marvel asked with furrowed eyebrows. Confusion and hurt were plain on his face.

I smiled at him, trying not to convey any sadness. It wasn't sad, truly. It was simply the natural ending to things. "One of my species will come to collect me, and I will return home to complete my life cycle. Perhaps start a cycle for another being."

I sat back down, having said everything I needed to. Nabu and I shared a look. He might be the only one here who knew what I truly meant.

Completing my life cycle would not be peaceful, as I unwittingly made it sound. If there was a natural death for one of my species, I'd never seen it. We hadn't made it there yet.

My death would be involuntary. Like most. Taken to the Scales to receive judgment. I will be given a choice, the same as Yuan. And I know what I will choose.

"I vote we keep Failsafe's membership to the League." Wonder Woman cut through my heavy thoughts. "And give her full membership. It's only fair that we say goodbye to a trusted comrade honorably."

It would be anything but honorable. But Nabu and I didn't say that. It seemed they all thought this would be from old age. I almost laughed. If only. I appreciated the warm sentiment from the Amazonian warrior, still.

"Thank you, Wonder Woman." An equally warm smile appeared on my face, one I couldn't help.

"We'll discuss memberships at the end of the meeting," Batman said. "For now, let's continue."

The League jumped at the opportunity to keep going, and Martian Manhunter made the first move. Miss Martian appeared on the holographic monitor. He stood up, making his argument. "You seemed to have reached the consensus that eighteen years is a suitable minimum age for joining the League."

Some Leaguers glanced back at Captain Marvel, and I watched him stiffen under the unwanted attention. I even saw two or three staring at me. But unlike Captain Marvel, I would not let them bother me. "Yet, what of Miss Martian? Though she is a biological adolescent by Martian standards, she was born forty-eight Earth years ago."

"So what is the deciding factor, chronology or biology?" Red Tornado inquired, "Take Superboy."

"Exactly, he's less than a year old. Does he have to wait seventeen more to stand beside us?" Black Canary asked.

Wonder Woman peered at Superman, who looked away. Still unable to accept the clone as his responsibility.

I offered my thoughts, "When it comes to questions like this. I suppose we should look at growth. Not every adult is fit for the League, and children might not find anything of value on the Team. In the end, it's the content of their character to consider regardless of anything else."

The room ruminated on my words, and I exhaled, finishing what I had to say.

"No other ideas?" Superman asked. He, Batman, and Wonder Woman all rose from their seats to stand before their fellow League members. "Then here are our candidates for new or continued membership."

Around us, every person talked about in the meeting today was displayed by a hologram: Aqualad, Robin, Blue Devil, Captain Marvel, the Atom, Plastic Man, Red Arrow, Icon, Rocket, Miss Martian, Superboy, Doctor Fate, Kid Flash, Zatanna, and me.

"We've debated origin, gender, size, experience, age, temperament, and background. But what is the fundamental criteria for membership?" Batman implored.

"When all is said and done, the question must be, whom do we trust, trust to fight beside us, trust to have our backs," virtual screens appeared in front of us, one by one. "Trust to uphold the high standards and ideals of the Justice League?" Wonder Woman finished.

   "Time to vote," Batman stated. And that was that. The whole room went quiet as we focused on our own votes.

I hesitated to cast mine, knowing exactly who would be inducted despite what I chose. It was easy enough to cast no on my fellow members of the Team. They weren't ready. That much was obvious. And I cast no for those I didn't remember getting in. My votes for Captain Marvel, the Atom, Icon, Plastic Man, and Doctor Fate were also honest. Yes.

But Red Arrow and myself? I struggled. He needed to be a part of the League, and yet I couldn't find it in myself to tick the button to let him. As for myself, I very much wished to stay a part of the League, but I had already laid everything bare. It didn't seem like my decision to make.

(Y/n) would tell me to follow what I thought was right. Listen to what I wanted, my 'heart.' So I quickly clicked my votes in and submitted with a once over before I could change my mind.

Everyone finished relatively within the same time. All of our votes had been tallied by the computer and given to Batman. He looked them over, memorizing them in mere moments.

"Robin, Zatanna, Aqualad, Superboy, Miss Martian, and Kid Flash did not receive enough membership votes." Maybe it had been a long day, but I noticed that Batman didn't seem bothered by the fact his mentee wasn't picked.

"The choice to invite Rocket to the Team was also made." Many nodded in agreement, and it seemed the female Leaguers weren't too upset with that decision but not happy either.

"And unanimously, Icon, Plastic Man, the Atom, and Red Arrow, with the stipulation he joins the Team first, were voted on for League membership. Lastly, Doctor Fate, Captain Marvel, and Failsafe will all receive renewed and updated memberships." Batman finished, and I agreed with everything he said, exactly like my memory. Still, I couldn't help but release the breath I didn't know I was holding.

The future I had been building toward was coming true. And I would protect it. No matter what.

"All those in favor of ratifying the results?"

"Aye!" The Leaguers, including myself, exclaimed. And within the dead space of the Watchtowers meeting room, it echoed into a beautiful and full yell.

"All opposed?" Batman looked around as silence pervaded the room.

"Then we are adjourned."

____________

With the meeting over, Billy caught up to me on the way to the Zeta tubes. He stopped me by calling out my name. I turned to him, watching him fly over to close the distance.

"Thanks for that." He expressed, and I knew he wasn't referring to letting him catch up but defending him hours ago.

"It wasn't a problem, Billy. Your resolve to fight is deserving of the League. There was no way they would have overlooked that." I told him, watching as he chuckled lightly in embarrassment, scratching the back of his neck as he thanked me again. He smiled, and it was bright, like the sun.

But it melted upon his next question. "So you're... retiring?"

"Not quite."

"So what's going to happen?" He tilted his head, confused. "You go home, find someone, have a kid, and then, what? Why can't you stay? What did you mean when you said your usefulness was up? You're plenty useful! What about (Y/n)?"

I cringed at the mention of her name. I guess not everyone understood me. I thought because he possessed traits from beyond that the ten-year-old would understand. But I suppose not. Gently, I tried my hardest to explain. "...Billy, my life cycle is up. You do know what that means, right?"

"You're going to die, eventually. But you also said you might have a kid first. So it can't be so soon, can it?" He perked up. "You can come visit! I'm sure (Y/n) would love that."

"Yes," I managed to spit out. "I'm sure she would."

I would, too. But that's not how this was going to go. No matter the wants of the parties involved.

"Please don't tell her about this. It's a sensitive topic. I want her to hear it from me first." I told him. He didn't need to know I never planned on doing that.

"Of course!" Billy exclaimed.

I nodded in acknowledgment that I had his silence. We turned toward the Zeta tubes, leaving the Watchtower after a long and exhausting day.

When we returned to the other side, I noted how dark it was. We'd spent the whole day at the Watchtower and surely missed the festivities. Both of us made our way to the kitchen. Billy started riffling through the Thanksgiving leftovers in the fridge as I watched him leaning on the kitchen counter behind him.

"Don't you need to go home?" I asked after I heard him stop searching our fridge. The constant noise leaving my tired ears was welcome.

"Yeah, probably." Billy shrugged. He didn't seem to care much as he took a few containers of Tupperware and picked them up from the counter.

"Shouldn't you have enough food at home?" I held a scrutinizing stare against him, one he ignored. That food was meant to feed M'gann, Connor, Zatanna, and (Y/n). (Y/n) and Connor still hadn't eaten yet, from what I knew. I didn't want him taking much.

"It's, uh, food for the road?" He chuckled awkwardly, stomach growling.

"Why would you need that? The Zeta tubes can get you home in minutes." I argued reasonably.

Billy didn't let that get in his way of making off with the food. "Well, yeah. But after today, I think I'm going to take the long way around, stretch my legs, you know?"

"I understand. Stay safe, Billy." I told him as he passed me, making his way to the garage door exit with a goofy smile.

I caught sight of the time on the oven clock as I returned to my bedroom. Eleven fifty-two.

The cave announced the exit of Captain Marvel and the entrance of Superboy one after another. I didn't go out to greet him, instead opting to go to mine and (Y/n)'s room.

It had been a long day, and now it was over—time to rest.

As I was walking down the hall, I couldn't help but think the brief thought that I should have stayed with (Y/n) and the others for the holiday instead.