Date: Sunday, June 11th, 2011, 00:52 am
Location: Metropolis
I tried to keep my cool even as Talia casually dropped the bomb about the legendary League. My brain went into overdrive, running risk assessments like crazy. She'd just laid out the existence of one of the world's most secret and dangerous groups, and with such a relaxed attitude. My foreknowledge helped me, sure, but her directness was a curveball I hadn't seen coming. It was a testament to her family's audacity, a blatant declaration of power that most organizations would keep hidden under layers of deception.
I faked a laugh, a low, scoffing sound meant to show I thought her claim was ridiculous, not that I was genuinely amused. "That's an interesting idea, Ms. al Ghul," I said, putting just the right amount of condescension in my voice. "Now, if this League actually exists, why would you tell me? And how exactly would you like me to 'cooperate' with your company?" The very notion of the League of Assassins operating like a conventional business, even one as ruthless as my own, was inherently absurd, and I let that amusement color my tone.
Talia's dark eyes never left mine, sharp enough to cut. "You don't need to lie, Lex," she murmured, her voice like a honed blade slicing through the music. "I've been trained as an assassin my whole life; I can tell when someone's lying. You know about the League. It wasn't the expression you made when I mentioned it, but the one you didn't make. Before I ask how you know we exist, what do you think about my offer?" Her words were a direct challenge, a mirror to the probing questions I'd just delivered to Superman and Lois. She was playing the same game, but with far higher —and bloodier —stakes.
Damn, I got caught that easily. My poker face was legendary, but Talia saw right through it. She was definitely a cut above, a master of human nature and subtle tells. Her perception was unnerving, a direct threat to my usual advantage.
"And what would our relationship be, Ms. al Ghul?" I asked teasingly, dropping my voice to a husky whisper, letting the double meaning hang in the air. With a slight flex of my arm, I pulled her in even closer, our bodies brushing, our lips just millimeters apart. Her perfume, now so close, was intoxicating. It was a test, a dare—how far would she go, and how much would she give away? I wanted to see if her composure would crack, if even for a fleeting second.
A faint smile touched her lips, a knowing glint in her eyes that acknowledged my bold flirtation without missing a beat. "Well, aren't you a greedy man, Mr. Luthor?" she purred, her breath mingling with mine. "I know you already have two women. And everyone just saw you flirting with Ms. Prince a few minutes ago." She was clearly well-informed, a detail that piqued my interest even further.
"I just appreciate beautiful things in life," I smoothly shot back, my gaze locked on hers, the challenge in my eyes unwavering. It was a deflection, yes, but one steeped in enough truth to be plausible, and enough arrogance to be characteristic.
We kept dancing for a few more seconds, eyes locked, soaking in the electric moment. Dancing with Diana was different; she challenged me, fought for the lead. That kind of matched how we saw things differently, but with Diana, everything was out in the open, her power and intentions clear. Talia, though, danced seductively, making it seem like every move was my idea. But I knew she was secretly trying to guide me, telling me where to step and how to move. Her dance was just like her: alluring on the outside, but inside, she was always calculating, always in control, pulling the strings without ever looking like she was. It was a dangerous, fascinating show, a silent negotiation played out on the ballroom floor.
Still, I really wanted to know what she and the League were up to. From what I remembered, the League of Assassins wasn't exactly known for teaming up with the Justice League in any comic, game, or show. Their goals were fundamentally different, often involving global purges and strict, almost fanatical, definitions of order. If I were going to work with Talia and her secret group, I had to make sure I was calling the shots, not just following her lead. The risk of being manipulated into a course of action I didn't truly endorse was significant.
Honestly, even with the smartest brain on the planet (in my opinion), I wasn't always sure how to use it right. I mean, I only jumped into this body at 30. It wasn't as if I had a whole lifetime of mistakes to learn from. My old life definitely didn't teach me how to handle a manipulative woman who looked exactly like Angelina Jolie, especially when she was trying to waltz me into a dangerous alliance and turn me into a puppet. This was a new level of complexity, and I had to be absolutely on my game.
What Talia said next, though, made me internally rage. She leaned in, her lips brushing my ear, the warmth of her breath a sudden intimacy that sent a shiver down my spine. "Well, Lex," she purred, her voice a silken, barely audible whisper that seemed meant for my ears alone. "Let's just say that I admire that brilliant mind of yours. The arc reactor alone would have been the greatest achievement of any other person—their Magnum Opus. However, from what I've gathered, it seems you're not satisfied with just that. That iron armor of yours showed a lot of potential. Though, just like your armor, I don't believe you are fully utilizing your intelligence to its utmost potential."
Trying to conceal my burgeoning fury, I managed a slight, almost imperceptible smile. "And how, precisely, would you propose to 'fully utilize' my intelligence?" I countered. She was already attempting to subtly steer my actions, to subtly exert control. However, merely possessing striking beauty and a resemblance to a past-life movie star was nowhere near sufficient to allow anyone to manipulate me.
She chuckled softly, a sound that held no warmth, but was instead a predatory purr. "Now, now, Lex, no need to be hostile. I'm just pointing out that even though you've achieved a lot lately, you're still a tiny fish that has left its pond and entered the ocean. Trust me when I say, you need us. You need me." Her words carried a deep certainty, as if my pushing back was just a small, amusing defiance.
"And if I were to decline such a generous offer?" I replied, my voice calm even as her dismissive comparison annoyed me. My eyes narrowed, really looking at her. This was the real moment, where her friendly act would drop.
She then smiled, but this wasn't like her earlier smiles. The charming appeal completely vanished, replaced by something old and chilling. It was cold, dark, and dangerous, like a predator showing its teeth. In that instant, she dropped her act altogether, and for the first time since we met, I felt like I was truly seeing the real her: the deadly assassin, the ruthless Daughter of the Demon, the person behind the secret group called the Leviathan. The air around us seemed to grow colder, the music fading into the background as her true nature took over.
"Well, Lex," she stated, her voice losing its soft quality, becoming sharper, harder, "we're known as the League of Assassins. If you truly want to say no, that's a choice you can make. But all choices have consequences." The unspoken threat hung heavy in the air, a promise of swift, inevitable retribution.
I stayed quiet, feeling completely cornered. She was right. Right now, I have nothing to protect myself if I were to decide to go against the League of Assassins. Sure, I could handle a few of their guys, but if they put even just 1% of their massive power into taking me down, the girls and I would be dead in less than a week. My knowledge of this world, from my past life, told me they weren't just some small-time group. They possessed vast resources, both magical and technological, and a roster of major players, including Lady Shiva, Merlyn, Black Spider, and Bronze Tiger. It was a harsh realization, clearly showing how vulnerable I currently was.
The last notes of the waltz finally faded, and we smoothly stopped in the middle of the dance floor. As we stood there, Talia reached up, her touch surprisingly soft, and cupped my face. Her cold, dark expression disappeared, and that seductive smile returned, making it seem like her earlier threats were just something I'd imagined, a quick shadow in the fancy ballroom. "Aw, sorry I ruined our dance at the very end," she purred, her voice a soft, tempting whisper that only I could hear over the remaining chatter. "To make it up to you, here."
With a smooth, practiced move, she pulled out a sleek, black card from seemingly nowhere. Its edges were sharp, almost impossible to see. She then neatly slipped it into the inside pocket of my suit jacket, her fingers lightly brushing my chest. It was a quick touch, but I felt it.
"There," she whispered, her eyes sparkling with amusement and something deeper, more calculating. "Now you can call me, and we can talk about this more. I'll let you think about it since you looked so conflicted, but remember, I'm quite impatient when I find something I truly desire."
She then turned and left, walking away with a deliberate, seductive sway that drew every eye in the room. Her emerald dress shimmered, a liquid wave of color against the subdued tones of the ballroom. I watched her, my mind still reeling from our exchange, a strange mix of frustration and fascination warring within me. Once she was a few feet away, almost blending into the periphery of the remaining guests, she slightly turned her head once more, her dark hair cascading over her shoulder. She met my gaze, a final, playful, seductive smile gracing her lips, and then, slowly, she raised her hand and wiggled her fingers, a casual, almost mocking farewell.
Just as I registered the gesture, someone—a portly gentleman reaching for another glass of champagne—stepped directly into my line of sight for less than a second. It was barely a blink. But when he moved, she was gone. Not just out of immediate view, but gone. Vanished. No trace, no lingering presence, no sign of her parting movement. It was a classic Batman vanishing act, executed with a seamless precision that was both infuriating and undeniably impressive.
And there I was, left standing alone on the dance floor, utterly speechless, the silence of the now-fading music echoing the sudden void she'd left.