Axel stood in the middle of his wrecked yard, staring at the cracked stone paths and scorched walls of Wayne Manor.
He clicked his tongue and spat to the side.
"Damn it. I fight half the damn universe and my own house takes the biggest hit."
He walked inside without waiting for a response, following the voices toward the study. The old wooden floor creaked under his boots. The hidden compartment behind a cabinet stood open.
Kara was inside, arms crossed, her expression cold. Alfred stood nearby with composed dignity, while Selina pointed at the large surveillance screen Alfred had activated earlier.
On the display, Wayne Enterprises Tower was nothing but a skeletal ruin.
Selina's voice was sharp.
"You said Wayne Tower was important to him. So why the hell is it destroyed? What happened to Axel? Are you mute unless it's to mock me?"
"Oh wow."
Axel dropped down from the ladder into the room, brushing dust off his coat. He waved lazily.
Selina froze for half a second when she saw him. Then she lifted her chin and turned away.
"I don't care if it collapses. It has nothing to do with me."
"Yeah, sure. Nothing at all."
Axel walked over, pulled her into his arms, and held her there despite her half hearted resistance. He glanced at Kara.
"You knew I was fine. Why didn't you tell her?"
"I don't like talking to her."
Kara's reply was blunt. She folded her arms and looked away.
Selina's teeth ground together.
Kara snorted in response.
Axel lifted Selina effortlessly.
"Enough. Everyone shut up. The castle's a mess and I'm not listening to this crap all night. Kara, do you know how much this stuff costs? That's not pocket change, that's real Dollars."
"It's not like you paid for it," Kara muttered.
"Damn right I didn't. That's not the point."
He set Selina back down more carefully this time. She was already uncomfortable, and after dinner she had barely been able to walk. Axel might lack a conscience most days, but he was not heartless when it mattered.
Kara grinned at his back, then grabbed Alfred with one hand and Rachel with the other, lifting both into the air.
"Miss Kara, I am perfectly capable of walking," Alfred said calmly, though his shoes were several feet above the ground.
He glanced downward, surprised. He was not being carried. Something invisible supported him.
Interesting.
Within seconds, they returned to the main manor grounds.
At that exact moment, a red blur streaked in and stopped abruptly. Barry Allen appeared, dragging a very pale John Constantine with him.
Constantine collapsed to his knees the instant his feet touched the floor.
"I knew you weren't sending me to heaven," he shouted at the ceiling. "I actually believed you. Bloody hell, you are the biggest liar in existence!"
Barry ignored him and rushed toward Axel, inspecting his face closely.
After a few seconds, he let out a relieved breath.
"Okay. Good. You don't look like you've turned into whatever nightmare I imagined."
Axel smirked and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Relax. Your job is simple. Show up when I need you. I can handle the rest of my life myself."
He turned to Alfred.
"Alfred, late night snacks. And bring drinks. After today, I've earned them."
He gestured toward the yard.
"As for the castle…"
"Castle?"
Barry's eyes lit up. In a flash, he dissolved into lightning and circled the entire estate.
A moment later he stopped, hands on his hips.
Axel blinked.
The shattered stonework was restored. The broken statues stood upright. Even the cracked fountain gleamed like new.
"Holy hell," Axel muttered.
Alfred adjusted his glasses and studied the statues carefully.
"They look… slightly different."
Barry rubbed the back of his neck.
"I couldn't restore them exactly. I carved replacements. Ninety percent accurate, maybe?"
Alfred inhaled, impressed despite himself.
"In that case, no one will notice. We already house several replicas. The Mona Lisa in the west hall is a fake, yet guests insist our family stole the real one centuries ago."
Axel laughed under his breath.
Alfred nodded toward him.
"I shall arrange for contractors to handle structural repairs tomorrow. For now, please relocate to the undamaged rooms. I will prepare refreshments."
He paused.
"Master Axel, shall I prepare a portion for Young Master Bruce?"
"Of course."
Alfred departed immediately.
Barry blinked.
"Wait. Did he just call you Master Axel? And Bruce, Young Master? So in this universe you're his father? That's insane."
A sharp smack cut him off.
Constantine lowered his hand with a crooked grin.
"If I had met you earlier, I might've tricked the Speed Force itself. That thing is easier to use than magic. At least it doesn't drag you into hell with paperwork."
Barry swatted him away.
"I'm not stupid. I was joking."
"I believe you," Kara said flatly. "Now shut up."
She mimed zipping his mouth closed.
Barry rolled his eyes and followed the group toward the dining room.
The manor had suffered damage, but mostly in Axel's wing. The dining hall remained intact. The long table gleamed under warm lighting as nervous maids brought out desserts and appetizers.
Axel grabbed a small cake and pointed it at Barry.
"Do me a favor. Go get Bruce."
Barry stared at the cake, sighed, then vanished.
Far across town, at the smoking ruins of Gotham City, Bruce Wayne stood surrounded by reporters.
The remains of Wayne Enterprises Tower loomed behind him like a corpse.
Microphones crowded toward his face.
"Mr. Wayne, why did Wraith destroy the building after defending it?"
"Will Wayne Enterprises recover from this accident?"
"Does the establishment of the Bat branch in the Diamond District mean the Wayne family has lost control?"
Bruce's blank stare sharpened at the last question.
He grabbed that microphone.
"What did you just say? Bat branch?"
The reporter swallowed hard.
"This afternoon, Wraith publicly handed management of the Diamond District to Batman, who he referred to as his brother. Batman's people forced the Sionis Family out of three eastern streets. His symbol now hangs over the Supersonic Bar."
The reporter's voice trembled.
"It appears Batman has officially established his own branch in the Diamond District."
Bruce's expression darkened.