I'm not a writer, and I don't own squat. That job belongs to DC and Marvel.

DC/Marvel:

A Perfect Storm

Prologue

"This story isn't going to have a happy ending."

"What?"

"I know you or Lois is going to report this in tomorrow's Daily Planet. Your article isn't going to end with a happily ever after."

"Wow Mr. Wayne..." Lois said. "We had no idea you were such a pessimist. Can we quote you?"

"I'm not being pessimistic," Bruce said. "I'm being a realist. Do you think peace will magically happen this time? Especially considering who brokered the deal?"

"Who's talking right now?" Clark set his glass of milk on the table, "Bruce Wayne the billionaire playboy or the man behind the mask?"

"I think we all know who is talking Clark," Diana said. "And as much as I don't like it I think I agree with him."

It wasn't usual for Clark, Diana, and Bruce to meet out of costume, even less so with Lois in the room. Yet there they sat on one of the many balconies in Wayne Manor. In the center of the round table sat the remains of a fresh batch of Diana's Themyscrian Pomegranate Pastries. A recipe she'd gotten from her mother and still refused to divulge to Alfred. It remained a point of contention between Bruce and Diana.

Clark took a sip of his milk and adjusted his glasses. The morning sun quickly approached the middle of the sky, and their brunch was just as quickly becoming lunch. Lois sat next to him and he couldn't help but grin at the look in her eyes. The wheels were clearly turning in her head to see how she could repackage this incognito meeting of heroes into a story she could write, print, publish and get her second Pulitzer.

What she was really after, though, was not the opinions of Clark Kent, Diana Prince, and Bruce Wayne but what the world's greatest heroes thought of the conference that would begin in the afternoon. Bruce had already given his opinion on it as had Diana. Both forecasted doom.

"We know that Aquaman has every intention of seeing the peace talks through to the end. He wants peace more than anyone," Clark said. "And while Namor has been…less than stable in his long history I think he sees the need to bring about peace as well."

Diana placed her napkin down on her plate and placed her hands on one knee, crossed over the other, "It's not about Namor or Orin. I believe that if it were up to them their two peoples would have made peace long ago. It's the fact that this entire peace summit was brokered by Luthor."

"President Luthor," Bruce growled. From the door behind him Alfred appeared, the butler carried a tray with moist, warm towels and began handing them to each of his employer's guests before handing one to Bruce himself. Of course the billionaire was oblivious to this and kept right on going with his point. "The two Atlantises have been at each others throats for centuries. The only reason why we know and care about it now is because we've only really known about their existence for the last couple of decades."

"You two are misunderstanding my point," Clark said. "I trust Lex even less than either of you. The only person in the country that even rivals that is Lois..."

Lois made a 'hmmph' sound that could either be disagreement or an outright challenge to that opinion. Clark went on.

"…Believe me, I've searched every molecule of the building the summit is being held at. I've used every kind of vision I have, checked every frequency I can hear. And I'll repeat the process every fifteen minutes of the peace talks. If Lex even sneezes even sound threatening I'll be there before someone can say God Bless you."

"None of us doubt that you're keeping an eye on Lex," Diana said. "But his involvement can't set a good precedent for the Peace Accords."

"That is what I'm trying to get at," Clark sat up. "I believe that Namor and Aquaman will make these talks work in spite of Lex's involvement, not because of it. I know both men only seek the greater good."

"The greater good for their very different Atlantises," Bruce said and set his coffee cup down, right in front of its coaster. Alfred quickly picked it up and slid the coaster underneath it. "That place is going to be like a room full of leaked propane. All it would take is for someone to light a match in we could see the ocean's boil."

"Ah ever the optimist sir," Alfred chimed in and started collecting plates.

"If you're so certain that the peace talks are going to end in a horrific disaster," Lois said. "Then what brings your billionaire, philanthropistic, name being on the guest list? I'd say security but that wouldn't explain you sitting here picking at the crumbs of Diana's pastries."

Bruce scooted his plate away and it was quickly snatched up by Alfred. "Supporting the Atlantis Peace Talks is a good PC move for Bruce Wayne…and just because I'm not physically at the peace talks all the time, doesn't mean I don't have eyes and ears there."

"Yes I notice Tim was snooping around," Clark said. "You know that Jubilee and Wolverine are there too right?"

Bruce raised a brow. "I knew about Wolverine…"

"I think it's fantastic that Master Tim has been maintaining such a close friendship with Jubilee," Alfred offered, Bruce fired an annoyed look at him.

"I just better have his mind on his objective," Bruce muttered and pushed away from the table. Diana responded by with a laugh which she covered with her mouth. Clark simple smiled and adjusted his glasses.

"I can check if you want," he offered with a wink.

"No," Bruce got up. "Like I said, Wolverine is there. Tim won't step a toe out of line."

"Then what's the problem?" Lois stood as well. "If you trust him--"

"I trust Tim…but I don't trust Jubilee…"

"But you trust Wolverine to be on the Outsiders?" Diana said with one side of her lips quirking up.

"The Outsiders aren't like the JLA. They're not a collection of Super friends" joining up to fight aliens and monsters. They're a team under my direction. I trust each member based on his or her effectiveness for a given mission."

Diana and Clark exchanged looks and Clark cleared his throat, then removed his glasses. Bruce's eyes narrowed and Lois scooted her chair back. A chill wind blew across the patio and the umbrella attached to the table fluttered. Alfred stacked the plates on a small trolley but kept one eye on his master.

"Go ahead," Bruce sighed. "Live it up while you can, what do you two know that I don't?"

"Just something we've been discussing," said Clark.

"We've been meaning to bring it up with you…" Diana added

"What?"

"About the 'collection of super friends' you happen to be a part of," Clark sat up straight. "We want to extend membership to one of the X-men."

Bruce's brows crawled further down his face and his lips pressed into a fine line. "How long have you been discussing this?"

"After Captain America turned down the invitation again."

"Six months."

"We wanted to make sure it was the right time. We both recognize your feelings toward most of the X-men."

"Would that be because most of them tried to kill me and idly stood by with what they thought was a mind rape?" Bruce crossed his arms.

"They also helped us save the world, and you wouldn't have been able to save my life without their help," Clark said.

"Working with someone and liking it are two different things."

"You know people have said that about you in the past," Diana pointed out.

"Who?"

"You really want to know which one of our teammates have spoken ill of you?"

"No, who are you going to invite? Which X-man?"

Clark rubbed his eyes then replaced the glasses on his face. Bruce's watch started beeping but he ignored it, though it seemed to prompt Diana to peek at her own watch.

"We wanted your input first," Clark said. "We stand by our decision to invite an X-man but if you're going to have to work with him or her you should have a say."

"And the rest of the League?"

"Most of them have already expressed interest in doing this," Diana said. "It's a historic move and they think it's the right thing to do."

Bruce sighed and turned his watch off. A few steps and he had his back to them, staring off the balcony into the countryside surrounding his mansion. "This is a meaningless gesture; you're inviting someone to the JLA not because we need them, but because you want to make a statement."

"It's a statement that needs to be made!" Diana stood up, knocking the table back as she did. Lois had quite silently pulled out her recorder. "You're proving our reluctance to bring you in on this right! How can you be so narrow-minded? We all understand that the X-men and you had some horrible confrontations but you need to get past that. These are men and women that put their lives on the line in spite of being feared and hated, you of all people should recognize the nobility of that."

Bruce didn't answer for a while. His hands were clasped behind his back and the almost noon-day sun struck the shoulders of his suit, his shadow cast long across the balcony and the only sound was the wind and a gang of crows flying by.

"I need to get going," he finally said. "I want to be in Metropolis when the Peace Talks begin, all the visions in the world aren't a substitute for boots on the ground."

Again Clark and Diana looked at each other. Clark was on his feet and coming up to the pair. Lois remained where she was, listening intently. Alfred cleared everything that was left from the table and started toweling it off. His ear was crooked to the side, pointed their direction.

"And what about the X-men?"

"Do what you want," Bruce said. "While you're busy making statements I'm going to get work done."

"Bruce…" Diana placed a hand on his shoulder, he tensed slightly but allowed her to give him a firm squeeze. "If you really don't want an X-man or woman on the team…we'll work something out. We really do feel that it will improve relations not only between the JLA and the mutants, but of the superhero community as a whole."

Bruce turned and looked not at Diana but at Clark. He shook his head. "A lot of this is about Metropolis isn't it? About the mutant population there."

"It's a factor that I can't ignore any longer," Clark said. "It really is the right thing to do."

"Fine," Bruce said. "Make your selections of possible candidates and send them to me. At the very least we should pick someone that will bring something unique to the team."

Diana's mouth gave way to a relieved smile, "We'll invite Thor again if you want. He might actually accept this time."

"Oh let's not start with that again!" Clark smiled as well. "Bruce would never stop studying him."

"Have fun you two," Bruce said and his voice started sounding like his again and not Batman's. "I have to get going, Alfred will show you out."

"Bye Bruce."

"Goodbye Clark."

"I'll see you later Bruce."

"Goodbye Diana."

Bruce then went up to Lois, who had stood by now, and pulled her into a warm hug, Lois's eyes widened and she returned the hug. Bruce pulled away with a wink and a grin. "And Lois, really you should come to these little meetings more often. It's always nice to see someone that can put Clark in his place. Goodbye."

Bruce exited and Alfred pushed his trolley of plates behind him, looking back at the group. "If you need anything before you leave please don't hesitate to call on me. I shall be with Master Bruce giving him a small lesson on etiquette."

Lois smiled as Alfred left. "I don't mind seeing someone that can put Bruce in his place."

Clark shook his head and looked at his watch. "Though he has the right idea, we all probably should be going. The world doesn't stop because we have brunch."

"That is true," Diana said. "But I must say I'm relieved I think he took the news pretty well."

"I'm not going to lie," Clark said. "I was expecting him to break something."

"Alfred would have had a fit," Diana said. "And I'm going to get going, Diana Prince will be wanted back at the department before the Peace Talks begin, it looks like we'll all be working overtime on this."

"Hopefully it won't just be because Lex might have a scheme," Clark said. Diana nodded and went to Lois. Before the woman could say or do anything Diana pulled her into a friendly hug and kissed her cheek goodbye. Lois muttered goodbye of her own but stopped short when she saw Diana giving Clark the exact same treatment. , A tight hug then a kiss on the cheeks. After that Diana's feet left the ground and the air accepted her. Clark waved goodbye and turned to Lois.

"She's always so…friendly," Lois managed and her lips pressed into a fine line.

"You should see her around Captain America," Clark shrugged. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah just let me grab my purse…" Lois went back to her seat and threw the purse around her shoulders then reached in to grab a breath mint. Clark watched as she started rummaging through the bag, opening all of its pockets out.

"Honey?'

"What happened to it?" Lois dumped the purse upside down on the table. "I just had it! It couldn't have up and walked away…oh…"

"What?"

"That…I can't believe he…" Lois planted a hand on her head and let out an unamused laugh.

"What happened?"

"Bruce happened," Lois said. "He stole my tape recorder."

"Actually," Clark motioned at the pile of knick-knacks that had been in Lois's purse. "He bought it. There's five hundred dollars there that wasn't before."