***
Lucian Hayes sat alone in his modest New Haven apartment, the flickering glow of the television casting soft shadows across the dimly lit room.
Two weeks had passed since the group now calling themselves the Justice League had officially formed. Since then, their presence had made international headlines—small acts of heroism that quickly grew in scale as the world seemed to spiral into chaos. Natural disasters were striking with alarming frequency: blizzards and typhoons battering cities, hailstorms merging with violent thunderstorms to ignite wildfires in their wake. No one could explain why everything was happening at once.
Leaning forward on the couch, Lucian's eyes narrowed as he watched footage of the League in action. "This isn't normal… not even for this world," he muttered under his breath. "What could be causing all this?" His brow furrowed as he tried to recall fragments of information from the shows he'd watched years ago. "I don't remember much… it started as a solo movie, then somehow tied into Young Justice. I never even read the comics, so I'm completely clueless."
Frustration crept into his voice. He ran a hand through his dark hair and turned his gaze toward the apartment window. Beyond the glass, brooding storm clouds rolled in, churning like something alive. A chill ran down his spine—a feeling that whatever was coming, it wasn't good.
He sighed, knowing there wasn't much he could do from here besides helping with evacuation efforts if New Haven was hit. Still, not having his holoscreen mask bothered him. Without it, he was limited—and he hated feeling helpless.
Suddenly, the quiet was broken by a rhythmic beeping. *Beep. Beep. Beep.* His phone lit up with an icon he hadn't seen in a long time—one that stirred a mix of dread and inevitability inside him. He picked up the call, lifting the phone slowly to his ear. For a few seconds, there was only silence, punctuated by the faint sound of crashing waves. Then a deep, familiar voice resonated through the line.
"Diana needs your help. We need your help."
Lucian's lips parted in a quiet laugh, though it carried an edge. "Of course," he murmured to himself. "The Bat knows exactly what strings to pull." Leave it to Batman to lead with the one name guaranteed to catch his attention.
Shaking his head, Lucian couldn't help but admire the man's precision. Typical Batman—calculating every word, anticipating every reaction. Even if it annoyed him, Lucian had to respect it. Taking a breath, he steadied his voice. "Where?"
"The Atlantic Ocean. You can't miss it," Batman replied, and the call ended before Lucian could respond.
Lucian stared at his phone for a moment, silent. If Batman was reaching out personally, this wasn't some ordinary crisis. He exhaled through his nose, weighing his options. Helping them now would mean becoming part of their world—a world he had tried to avoid stepping into. And yet… the Atlantic. That had to mean Atlantis. Aquaman. So it really was starting.
With no time to waste, he retrieved his signature black trench coat from the stand, pulling it over his white shirt and adjusting the wolf fang pendant that hung from his neck. His sword, gleaming faintly under the soft glow of his lamp, rested against the wall. He slung it across his back and glanced around the apartment one last time.
"I just hope this version of Aquaman isn't as insufferable as the movie one," he muttered.
Stepping out onto the balcony, Lucian took off into the darkening sky. The wind roared past him as he cut through the heavy clouds, heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and irritation. He needed answers. And once he found Batman, there'd be a reckoning.
Because if there was one thing Lucian Hayes refused to be—it was a pawn in the Bat's endless game.
***