(General P.O.V)

"Yes. He's exactly who you think he is."

The first words that left Aden's lips after Starfire, the kids and Miss Martian had left, brought about pin drop silence. Everyone could feel the anger inside Connor.

His face was calm but the red cloak of energy surrounding his body flickered with his tumultuous emotions.

"How...?"

Connor breathed out, his voice shaking slightly.

"Cadmus. I was investigating the Light when I came across him. He was...damaged and unstable. The cloning process was done differently to yours. See, you're half human half Kryptonian, he is a full Kryptonian and a smidgen Quintes as well."

The relatively new term surprised Connor and everyone.

"Quintes?"

The Flash asked.

"I rescued him and took him back to my realm. Due to his unstable cloning process, his d.n.a was on the verge of collapse. To save him I had to result to some...drastic measures. Using resources that I am not at liberty to disclose, I stabilized his d.n.a by weaving my own unique strand taken from my Realm's extensive...'resources'. Quintes are the sapient creatures native to my dimension." 'or at least they will be.' He thought that last part to himself.

Aden had figured that information out when he'd grown curious on why Match had reverted from his teen berserker self to an innocent happy 7 year old. Thats when he'd understood what the realm had done.

By taking Aden's d.n.a and mixing it with the energy from the source processed by the Realm's core, something new had been created. A unique d.n.a strain that was distinct from human yet possessing a greater potential and an innate control of energy that Aden named Quintes.

Match had expressed the ability to bend his heat vision through the sky like Darkseid, precisely because of his Quintes side's talent with energy manipulation. Aden was even happier at the turn of events because this made Match his actual son. And the nightmare he'd had...maybe that was also an ability he was exhibiting due to being part Quintes?

The Quintes bloodline was to be the basis of whatever Sapient humanoids he created for his realm. As he grew in power and his connection with the realm increased, he could feel a yearning. A yearning for life that came from the realm itself.

Back to the League, the explanation that he gave them, was not what they were expecting. Batman made eye contact with J'onn. They had discussed Aden's potential power dozens of times and reevaluated his threat even more.

Yet, he always managed to move past the theoretical power cap they stuck him with. And now he had just revealed to them that he had beings capable of reason in his realm. And knowing Aden, all of them were bound to be powerful. Hell, each of the mysterious kids who called him 'dad' despite Aden only being 18, had powerful abilities. He hadn't detected Breeze when she had been at close proximity to him.

Batman did not like this. At all.

"I won't plan an invasion Batsy, do don't rapture a vein from worrying too much." Aden promised with a snort.

"How long?"

The brooding form of Superion asked with an undercurrent of barely contained anger.

Aden's smirk fell away.

"How long what?"

"How long have you kept him a secret from me. From us. From...him?"

His blue eyes that were only a few shades lighter than Match's speared through the distance to land on Aden's own chocolate brown eyes.

"A few months. 3 and some days to be exact."

Aden's answer only increased the anger burning inside Superion.

He abruptly stood up. Robin and Kid Flash looked at each other.

"Hey buddy, you mind sitting down? We can work through this..."

"I'm fine." He ground out, starting to turn away.

"I'm going to go get some fresh air."

Aden and a few of the rest watched him walk away.

After exiting the room, the temperature seemed to have dropped. And belatedly Aden realized he had most likely lost the reluctant trust, the junior team had afforded him by virtue of being part of them at some point in the past. Artemis slammed a hand onto the table.

"You're unbelievable Aden!"

She shouted.

"How could you?" Her eyes were full of disappointment.

"Connor has been barely holding on these past few months, blaming himself that he wasn't there when Superman needed him and and...you had his brother with you all that time?! How selfish can you possibly be?"

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

It was a struggle to keep Yaotl from jumping in to defend him from all those who called his intentions to question. Aden's voice changed into an icy calm.

"You have no idea what you're talking about Artemis and I honestly don't have the patience to explain it to you."

Then he promptly ignored the archer.

His eyes found Wonder Woman.

"So, what have you decided? I know you've been having a mental conversation among yourselves for the past few minutes. What will it be? Tentative acquaintances or enemies? Lord knows the latest revelation has you split."

(Aden's P.O.V)

1 2...4, 5 wow, 5 Leaguers who look two seconds away from ending my existence.

'I was wrong Yaotl, be on the lookout for a sudden attack.'

Yaotl tensed beside me and the combat savvy heroes immediately noticed the change.

"We don't want to fight you Aden!"

Black Canary shouted in alarm.

"Oh, tell that to the ones looking like they want to give Yaotl a spar. And I'm not inclined to stop him if he decides to teach them a lesson."

I pointed out, making Batman actually sigh.

"Let us all calm down."

He bit out.

"No."

Aqualad interjected angrily. His anger however was not directed towards me. It was directed to Wonder Woman.

"We are done here."

He stood up. I smiled, knowing what was up.

"Aqualad I'm not sure what you..."

"Communication." He interrupted Wonder Woman again who narrowed her eyes. I was actually feeling bad for Diana.

Through the whole meeting she had a far away look. No doubt thinking about the implications of the talk with her mother. That or coming to terms she was the new God queen of the Olympians and was yet to tell anyone.

"Communication is everything. How can you all sit there and have a mental discussion about something that affects all of us without including my team and I?"

And that was precisely why I pointed that out in the first place.

Canary threw me a look but I shrugged innocently.

"We do everything you instruct us to do. Take off our weekends to learn combat, to get better, strategy and tactics lessons every single weekday when we can spare time and where you draw the line at is being open with us? Speedy was right, this is nothing but a glorified after school club."

He got up and walked away. Without pause the rest of the junior team did so as well, with Artemis throwing me a stink eye. Girls.

"Master Aden, this group seems to be divided, perhaps we can exploit that if it comes down to conflict."

Yaotl suggested to which I shook my head.

"A smart observation but nah, that would be boring. Sometimes you have to have an epic 1 vs many battle scene Yaotl. Its one of the simple joys of life, especially when you win."

Yaotl went silent.

"I see, then I will endeavor to learn more from you, Master Aden."

"Cut that out. It's very rude."

I addressed the League who had gone right back to having a telepathic group chat.

Was it hypocritical of me seeing as I was also doing the same with Yaotl? Yes. Did I care? Not really.

"Plus, I can give you the answer you're so fervently looking for." Damn, those icy looks.

"The debrief is over, what is he still doing here?"

Oh Hal, let it go. I ignored him in favor of making my point.

"You don't understand teenagers at all."

"You sound so sure of that."

Canary stated.

"They are needlessly complicating issues. A true warrior does what he is told..a true warrior would not challenge authority."

Hawkwoman's opinion was met with a single nod of agreement from her husband.

I rolled my eyes at the Thanagarian's militaristic thinking.

"They're not true warriors though are they? Look I'll put it simply. They need to feel like you respect them. And the only way that is going to happen is if you give them the limelight."

Batman immediately understood what I meant and was very vocal about it.

"Absolutely not. The team is strictly black ops."

"There's a reason we bask in the light Aden, these symbols are targets."

The Flash agreed with the Dark Knight.

"Well then how do you think it feels for them, when the League starts planning to include more members from all around the world, while they're stuck in the same bloody place when one of their own was already accepted into the League?"

Wonder Woman sucked in a breath.

"Those were extuniating circumstances. Superman..."

"That's an excuse and you know it." I looked down at the table.

"If you have to be fair, be fair fairly."

I felt Yaotl throw me a 'bruh what you say?' look from the corner of his eye.

"I'm exhausted Yaotl, gimme a break. Lecturing adults is not easy."

I stood up, the throne disappearing back into my hammer space.

"Take it from me, what they need is tangible respect. Aqualad and the rest deserve recognition. It's up to you to decide whether it will be on your terms or theirs."

I made to leave only to stop and facepalm.

"Dammit, I almost forgot. Totally ruined the cool exit..."

The Trident of Poseidon appeared in my hands, greatly shocking them all. A green hand construct manifested in a sudden wash of green and tried to snatch the trident away forcefully. Yaotl's hand slapped the construct away, shattering it into dozens of pieces. I levelled a blank stare at Hal.

"I'm going to let that go, because now it makes you look dumb."

The seats were pushed back as the Leaguers got on their feet.

"You're the one who stole the Trident?!"

Green Arrow asked, sounding pretty confident in his assumption. His muscles were tense and coiled, anticipating a fight.

I held a hand up and stopped Yaotl from starting the fight. Hal was the aggressor but I was above petty shit like that.

"Nope. You know for an archer, your eyesight sucks. I mean you'd think you would be able to tell the difference between the two tridents." Green Arrow's face went red.

"I got this as spoils of war from the one who stole Atlantis' Trident." I pointedly glanced at Wonder Woman. She knew who I was talking about.

"So here's the deal." I twirled the divine weapon in my arms, making it hum through the air.

"I know everything. Aquaman was injured during a scuffle with the trench and his Trident was mysteriously stolen. And because he's never really had control over the Kingdom, the city states will soon buckle against the rule from Poseidonis and war will break out. If the extremists who hate the surface world win, earth is doomed, fucked, screwed...you get the point."

"What do you want for the Trident?"

Wonder Woman enquired directly, cutting right into the matter. I thought about it. To be honest, I didn't actually want anything from them. However, this was a good opportunity.

"Easy. Nothing much just a tweak on the initial deal, instead of being my spokesperson, get me a direct audience with the united nations. The rest of the deal still stands however. That's it."

Questioning glances fell on Diana.

"Deal."

She made the decision and I was happy to see she was taking her new role seriously. I was about to give the Trident when Yaotl gently grabbed my sleeve, reminding me of the last thing I needed to do.

"Master."

"Oh and one more thing, Yaotl will join you as my...diplomat. You know, in case I need to protect my investment."

Diana's face changed.

"Are you calling me weak?"

I shook my head with a serious expression.

"No. But we both know you will need someone to watch your back. Someone strong Diana. You said it yourself, there is a reason your father has ruled for millenia. And it's not by being nice."

The room was buzzing with a certain tension, I had revealed a lot and Diana had questions to answer from her colleagues.

The Trident sailed through the air carried in the winds and fell into her hands.

"I'll keep in touch. Right now, it's time to introduce my son to his brother, go through an awesome training regime and come back even more OP. Bye."