Amanda Waller and the Justice League stood outside the remnants of the former battlefield. They had spent the last several minutes trying and failing to breach the castle. Energy blasts, tech scans, brute force, nothing worked.
Then, just as suddenly as it began, everything changed.
The twisted trees and overgrown flora that had consumed Central Park vanished. The strange, warped plants disintegrated into harmless dust, carried off by a gentle wind. The Royal Flush Gang, previously altered forms, reverted back to normal humans, unconscious and restrained. And the towering, ethereal castle that had loomed ominously in the middle of it all simply dissolved, like a mirage dissipating under the sun.
The world returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.
From where the castle once stood, two figures emerged: Ashborn, calm as ever, and walking beside him… was Ace.
Amanda's eyes widened. The League members tensed, automatically on edge at the sight of the girl. But Ace didn't acknowledge their stares or their unspoken threats. She walked with Ashborn, her expression blank, as if none of them even existed.
Amanda stepped forward, voice sharp. "What is going on?"
Ashborn gave her a relaxed smile. "Problem solved. Her powers are under control. And she's not dying anymore."
Amanda's jaw clenched. "How could this be? That's not what our analysis concluded."
Ashborn gave a half shrug. "I've got some tricks up my sleeve."
Then he added with a casual tone, "Also… do me a favor, Amanda. Help me bypass the official procedures. I'm adopting Ace, but the age difference might raise some flags."
It was as if time froze.
Amanda stared, stunned. Ashborn's request made her mind skip the fact he exposed they have some sort of a relation. The Justice League also stood in silent disbelief. Not even Stargirl had a quip ready.
Amanda finally spoke, incredulous, "What do you mean by adopting?"
Ashborn's expression went neutral. "It means I want her to take the Black name. Registered as my daughter. How hard is that to understand?"
Amanda frowned, her voice laced with disbelief. "You want to adopt a ticking bomb?"
"She's not a bomb anymore," Ashborn replied smoothly. "Her problem is resolved. This won't happen again. I'll be her guardian from now on. My decision is final. So do me a favor and save everyone the trouble."
Amanda didn't reply immediately. This wasn't just a lot to take in, it was an impossible situation. The girl had just threatened to alter reality. The government would never allow her to just disappear with someone like Ashborn.
Before she could speak, Batman stepped forward, his voice stern. "Stop your games, Ashborn. Ace will come into League custody."
Ashborn turned his head slowly toward Batman. His eyes were void of emotion. "I am completely serious. And if erasing the League is required… I'll gladly do it. You are all far more fragile than you realize. It would just be slightly troublesome to lose the planet's watchdogs."
Stargirl scoffed. "And how are you going to do that?"
Ashborn glanced at her, his tone dry. "I have my ways, Courtney."
She froze, her blood running cold. She raised her staff, voice shaking with sudden fury. "How do you know that name?!"
Ashborn didn't answer. Instead, he looked back at Amanda.
"If anyone makes even the slightest noise about Ace… just give me their name. I'll handle them."
He turned and walked away. Ace followed silently.
Stargirl pointed her staff at him, fire in her eyes, but Batman stopped her with a firm hand.
"You can't possibly let him walk away like that," she snapped.
Batman's eyes didn't leave Ashborn's retreating form. "It's between whatever division of the government is responsible for Ace and him now."
Amanda said nothing. She turned away and began walking in the opposite direction, lips pressed in a thin line. This was a serious matter.
Batman looked at the others. "We don't know how much he really knows. And if he ever shares it out of spite… a lot of people around us will suffer for it."
The League remained silent.
___________
Ashborn walked through the gates of Shadow Corp, Ace followed silently at his side. The moment Rex saw them, he blinked in surprise.
"You're back already?" Rex asked, raising a brow. "How'd you get back so fast?"
Ashborn waved the question away. "That's not important right now, she is." He gestured toward Ace.
Rex's gaze shifted to the girl, and his expression changed instantly. Nervousness crept into his features as he studied her carefully.
"I've decided to adopt her," Ashborn declared plainly. "Starting today, she is Ace Black, my adopted daughter."
Rex stared at him blankly for a moment, as if trying to process the words. "Come again?"
"She is my daughter now." Ashborn repeated, then turned to Ace and gestured toward Rex. "This is Rex. You can call him Grandpa Rex."
Rex looked like he was having an internal system error. "You can't just declare someone your daughter out of nowhere," he protested. "And you're clearly not old enough for that!"
Ashborn gave a small shrug. "Just some stupid rules. And rules are made to be broken. Don't worry about it. I'll get it approved one way or another."
Before Rex could argue further, Ashborn added, "Start looking for a good school to enroll her in. I'll be out buying her clothes, and she'll be living with me. Bye, Uncle Rex."
As he turned, Ace followed without hesitation. In a flat voice, she echoed, "Bye, Grandpa Rex."
Rex was left standing there, mouth slightly open.
Ashborn took Ace to a well-known clothing shop in the city. The cleric, an overly enthusiastic stylist who recognized Ashborn, quickly got to work. With Ace giving no input whatsoever, the choice of clothing was left entirely to Ashborn and the cleric's taste. Dozens of dresses, casual outfits, and seasonal wear were bought in one go.
Afterward, Ashborn took her to eat. They visited a series of restaurants, from street food to a small rooftop cafe. Ace didn't say much, but followed quietly, her presence calm, neutral.
They spent the entire day hopping from one place to another, like any normal parent and child on a casual outing, if one ignored the absurdity of the pair's existence.
When they finally returned home, Ashborn's eyes narrowed slightly upon seeing who was waiting for him: Supergirl.
She stood by the front steps, arms crossed, her gaze flicking between him and Ace. "Is it true?" she asked, her voice low. "You're adopting her to be your daughter?"
Ashborn replied without hesitation. "Sure news travels quickly." He looked at Ace. "Introduce yourself."
Ace, face still blank, said in a monotone voice, "Ace Black. Nice to meet you."
Ashborn gave a slight nod. "We still have some work to do on her facial expressions, but yeah… she's now my daughter."
Supergirl stared at him. Speechless. She had heard the whole exchange previously between Ashborn and Rex, thanks to her super hearing. She remembered all too well how Ashborn rejected dating because he didn't want the responsibility that came with it. And now… he'd adopted a girl just 3 or 4 years younger than her?
Was not caring for her even a bigger responsibility? She couldn't make sense of it at all.
Her eyes narrowed. "If you've got time to play father… then you've got time to date."
Ashborn didn't miss a beat. "I won't date you."
Supergirl's eyes widened. "Why?"
Ashborn replied evenly, "Because I know it won't end well."
For a moment, Supergirl looked like she might argue… but then she just shook her head and flew away, her cape snapping in the wind.
Ace turned to Ashborn and said, "She is sad."
Ashborn sighed softly. "I know."
Ashborn pushed open the large oak doors of the Black villa, the creaking echoing faintly through the vast halls. The air inside was cold, still, untouched, just as it had been since Jinx left. Dust didn't dare settle here, but the silence was suffocating, a silence that had lingered far too long.
Ace stepped in behind him, her expression blank as her eyes scanned the grand entrance. Marble floors, tall ceilings, old paintings, and rows of darkened chandeliers welcomed her, though none of it seemed to impress or interest her.
"This is home now," Ashborn said, his voice echoing through the emptiness. "Make yourself comfortable."
She said nothing, simply walked forward as if she belonged there.
Ashborn led her upstairs to a room beside his own. He pushed the door open, revealing a bedroom already prepared, simple but warm. Lavender curtains, a soft bed, bookshelves, a window overlooking the garden.
Ace walked in and stood at the center. Her gaze moved slowly across the room. "Is this where I stay?"
"Yes," Ashborn nodded. "You don't need permission to touch anything. You don't need to ask to breathe. You live here now. This is your space."
She didn't respond, but something in her eyes shifted, barely noticeable, but it was there.
Ashborn stepped back toward the door. "If you want to change anything, just tell me. It's your room, your call"
He started to leave, then paused. "Welcome to the family, Ace."
She looked at him as he turned and walked away. Then, slowly, she turned back to her room and walked over to the window. She sat on the bed and stared out at the garden, silent but no longer entirely alone.