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Chapter 263 - Chapter 263: Into the Hall of Justice

[Third Person Pov] 

"Are you kids ready for your first tour of the inner sanctum of the Hall of Justice?" Green Arrow asked, one hand resting lightly on Speedy's shoulder as they approached the towering entrance.

"I was made for this," Speedy answered without hesitation, eyes fixed straight ahead as he steeled himself for whatever waited beyond those doors.

"Ahhh, this is going to be awesome!" Kid Flash pumped his fist, practically vibrating with excitement. "To think we're going to be the first sidekicks to ever set foot inside the Hall of Justice!"

"We're not sidekicks!" Speedy snapped, shooting Wally a sharp look. "Not after today, we're not."

"Here we go," Danny mumbled under his breath, rolling his eyes with the weary familiarity of someone who had already heard this argument one too many times.

Robin said nothing, but the corner of his mouth twitched with quiet amusement.

"Sorry," Wally offered, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed. Couldn't help getting excited."

"First Mr. Freeze was underwhelmed, now you're overwhelmed," Robin deadpanned. "Why can't everyone just be *whelmed*?"

Danny tilted his head, eyes lighting up with sudden interest. "You fought Mr. Freeze?!"

"Yeah. He was attacking a park. Batman and I handled it," Robin replied, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.

"Did you get his autograph?" Danny asked, completely serious. Mr. Freeze ranked high on his personal list of Batman's top-ten rogues—one of his absolute favorites.

Robin gave him a long, baffled look. "No. Obviously not."

Danny clicked his tongue in pure frustration. "Darn it. I would have been there if I'd known. You should have called me, what kind of friend are you"

The moment they stepped through the grand doors, the group fell silent.

A vast, gleaming hall stretched out before them, lined with towering statues of the Justice League's seven founding members—Aquaman, the Flash, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Martian Manhunter—each one carved with breathtaking detail and larger than life.

"Okay," Robin breathed, staring upward in open awe. "I am so not whelmed."

The others stood equally transfixed, taking in the sheer scale and presence of the monument.

"Wonder Woman…" Danny whispered, hands pressed to his cheeks as he gazed at her statue with pure, dreamy reverence.

Robin shook his head, already exhausted. "I long for the day you finally meet her. Honestly."

"So do I…" Danny sighed wistfully. "Something in my gut is telling me it won't be long now. Part of me is hoping that the second those next doors open, Wonder Woman herself will be standing there to greet us."

As the doors ahead began to part, both Robin and Danny stiffened, half-expecting exactly that.

Instead, Red Tornado and Martian Manhunter stepped through to welcome them.

Flash leaned in and whispered, "Batman tried, but Wonder Woman was busy at the time and couldn't make it."

Batman turned and fixed Flash with a flat, unimpressed glare. Danny and Robin both stared at the Dark Knight in open disbelief.

"Seriously?" they asked in near-unison.

"It was supposed to be a surprise," Batman said with a quiet sigh. "It didn't go as planned." He motioned for them to focus forward.

They obeyed, though both boys kept glancing back at Batman even as they turned toward the rest of the League members present.

Martian Manhunter's deep, calm voice carried through the hall. "Aqualad. Speedy. Kid Flash. Robin. Danny Phantom." He addressed each of them in turn. "Welcome."

With that, Martian Manhunter and Red Tornado turned and began guiding the group deeper inside.

Behind them, Danny and Wally immediately started excitedly slapping at Robin from both sides, their hands drumming rapidly against his arms and shoulders in pure giddy celebration.

Robin's patience evaporated in seconds. He swung his fists and elbows left and right in sharp, irritated retaliation, making a series of frustrated noises as he glared at both of them.

Martian Manhunter continued smoothly, his deep voice calm and measured. "You now have unlimited access to our gym, our fully stocked galley, and of course, our library."

The group stepped forward and found themselves in a spacious lounge area, tastefully furnished with an assortment of comfortable seats, sofas, and loungers waiting for them.

"Make yourselves at home," Flash said with an easy smile, gesturing for everyone to take a seat.

Wally and Robin didn't hesitate. The speedster flopped onto a nearby sofa while Robin claimed a lounge chair, stretching out with casual confidence. Aqualad settled more gracefully into a seat of his own. Speedy, however, remained standing, arms crossed, clearly not yet ready to fully relax.

"A quick debrief to discuss the coincidence of four ice villains—" Batman began as the adult heroes formed a small semi-circle among themselves. He stopped mid-sentence when he noticed an unwanted intruder standing squarely in the middle of their huddle.

Every head turned downward.

Danny Phantom had somehow slipped into the center of the circle without anyone noticing. He spun around on the spot and fixed his glowing green eyes intently on Martian Manhunter and Red Tornado.

"What are you doing?" Batman asked in a flat, thoroughly unimpressed tone.

"Is there something you want?" Martian Manhunter inquired, raising one brow as he registered the focused stare directed at both him and the android.

Danny deliberately cleared his throat, then pulled a small notepad and pen from his utility belt with practiced flair. "Your autographs, please. Big fan of both of you. Would be eternally grateful."

Green Arrow placed a hand over his heart in mock offense. "I thought you said you were a big fan of me."

"He said the exact same thing about me," Barry added, grinning, trying to add fire to the situation.

Aquaman's lips twitched with amusement. "The same for me, as I recall."

Danny raised both hands innocently. "I'm a big fan of everyone. Every single one of you gets an equal amount of love from me."

"How generous," Martian Manhunter remarked dryly, though he took the notepad and signed it without further comment before passing it to Red Tornado, who added his own neat signature.

The rest of the League chuckled as Danny accepted the notepad back and carefully stored it in his utility belt.

"I'm being completely honest," he continued, voice earnest. "Every one of you is what makes up the Justice League. The League wouldn't be what it is today without each of your individual contributions. Every one of you has a part to play, and I'm a big fan of all those parts. So I'm not lying."

Barry pressed a hand over his chest. "How precious."

Oliver leaned toward him, stage-whispering, "Flash, I think you should rush me to the hospital. My heart is acting up."

"Yes, how sweet," Batman said, expression unchanged. "Can you leave us be now?"

"Yes, of course." Danny offered a mock courtly bow. "You may proceed."

With a soft *pop* of displaced air, he vanished and reappeared an instant later, perched casually on the armrest of the chair where Aqualad sat.

Speedy scoffed, shooting him a sideways glance. "Kiss-ass."

Danny's eyes lit up. "Actually, I have something for you to sign as well, Speedy." He began rifling through his utility belt. "Hold on… I know I have it with me. Just need to remember where I put it…I've been saving it just for this occasion"

He reached into a corner pocket, then brightened. "Oh, right. Here it is."

Danny stuck out his middle finger and held it up right in Speedy's direction. "Please sign your name on this. I reserved this just for you, don't be shy now."

"Bahahahaha!!"

Robin and Wally immediately exploded into cackling laughter.

Even Aqualad slapped a hand over his mouth and turned aside, shoulders shaking as he desperately tried not to make a scene.

Speedy looked ready to snap—but what truly ground his gears was the reaction of the adults. Barry was hunched over his knees, laughing too hard to stand straight, while Oliver leaned against his back for support, equally helpless with mirth. Even Aquaman, usually the picture of composure, had a hand covering his mouth, eyes closed as he fought to keep his dignity intact.

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