"Lady Selina...?"
Hearing Bruce's words, Tony swallowed hard before staring at him with complete disbelief.
"You're Batman, and you're calling Catwoman Madam Selina?
"Whose madam is she supposed to be? Isn't she yours...
"Wait...
"Oh...
"I think I get it!"
Tony's eyes widened even further as his gaze slowly shifted from Bruce to Axel.
Bruce also froze.
"Mine?"
He frowned in confusion.
"My what...?"
A moment later, realization dawned on him.
His expression shifted from confusion to embarrassment as he looked at Axel.
"Axel, I'm deeply in love with Rachel. You know that. I would never think about someone else's wife.
"No matter how impressive you are, Selina is the only Madam I recognize. I have nothing but respect for her.
"I don't know how those comics portray me. Did something happen between you and Madam Selina later?
"Believe me, I respect her, nothing more. I'd never betray a friend like that. That's not who I am."
Bruce looked genuinely nervous.
He understood himself well.
Fantasy and reality were two completely different things.
Every man occasionally entertained impossible thoughts.
That alone meant nothing.
If imagination alone were a crime, nobody in the world would be innocent.
Admiring a beautiful woman was natural.
Acting on those thoughts was something entirely different.
Seeing Bruce trying so hard to explain himself, Axel laughed before patting his shoulder.
"Haha, Bruce, I know you'd never steal another man's wife.
"But I absolutely would.
"Stealing another man's wife is one of my favorite hobbies."
"So it really was you, you shameless bastard!"
Tony immediately gave Axel the middle finger.
"You even stole Bruce's future wife.
"And stay the hell away from Pepper!"
Bruce blinked.
Then another realization struck him.
"So...
"It wasn't that something happened between you and Selina later...
"You stole her before she was ever with me?"
Turning toward Tony, Bruce asked,
"Wait.
"So Selina was originally supposed to marry me?"
"Marry?"
Tony curled his lip.
He looked at Bruce as though he were impossibly innocent.
"You really are still naïve.
"You two never actually got married.
"You were about to.
"But Selina was manipulated into leaving before the wedding."
Tony's mood visibly improved.
Bruce remained silent for a moment before slowly nodding.
"Then the stories clearly aren't reliable records of history.
"I haven't even met Madam Selina yet.
"Rachel and I have already discussed marriage.
"We're planning to marry during the first half of next year.
"Although Gotham remains dark, it's become surprisingly stable.
"Hope has even begun appearing in places I never expected.
"I still have my complaints about Gotham.
"But its current stability has strengthened my decision."
Bruce suddenly remembered something.
Turning toward Axel, he smiled.
"Axel.
"Would you be my best man?
"Rachel admires you very much.
"So do I."
"Of course."
Axel smiled and clapped him on the shoulder.
"I wouldn't miss it."
Then he wrapped an arm around Bruce before looking toward Tony.
"So, Tony Stark.
"Any other questions?"
Tony shook his head.
"No.
"I'll see everything with my own eyes.
"I'll decide for myself what's real."
"DC?"
Lex smiled thoughtfully.
"So our universe is called the DC Universe where you're from?"
"Yeah."
Tony shrugged.
"What about mine?
"After meeting all of you, I'm convinced my world's fictional too.
"Honestly...
"That's depressing."
Lex nodded sympathetically.
"Your universe is called Marvel.
"It's the most popular comic universe where we come from.
"Although you're not its most popular hero.
"That honor belongs to Spider-Man, a kid from Queens."
Tony laughed.
"Well, Lex, you're not exactly winning any popularity contests either.
"In DC, Batman and Superman always steal the spotlight.
"You're famous, sure.
"But you're remembered as Superman's greatest enemy.
"Still...
"I admire you.
"You rely on intelligence and science.
"In some ways, we're very similar."
Tony's attitude had changed noticeably.
Gone was the arrogance from earlier.
As a child, Tony had once been an admired genius.
After Howard's death, however, his personality became increasingly unrestrained.
Combined with his extraordinary intellect, he gradually developed overwhelming pride.
But now...
Standing before Bruce and Lex...
He could no longer confidently claim superiority.
That realization alone was enough to temper his ego.
Watching the change in Tony, Axel smiled faintly.
Reality had a way of humbling people.
Anyone could mock fictional characters from the safety of their own world.
But once those characters stood in front of you as real people...
Very few would willingly make enemies of them.
Tony occasionally glanced toward Bruce.
He genuinely suspected Batman had already prepared dozens of contingency plans against Iron Man.
Bruce, meanwhile, quietly wondered whether Tony had secretly developed an anti-Batman suit.
Neither trusted the other completely.
Both understood exactly how dangerous the other was.
Breaking the silence, Clark cautiously cleared his throat.
"Ahem...
"Tony...
"Do you know who my future wife is?"
As he spoke, he carefully glanced at Axel.
That look immediately earned him a disappointed expression.
Axel nudged Clark with his knee.
"Oh, stop pretending.
"You're really asking whether I've already gone after your future wife."
Clark instantly turned red.
"I wasn't asking that!
"I was just curious!
"Forget it.
"I'll buy the comics myself."
Tony laughed dismissively.
"Relax, Superman.
"Or rather, Clark.
"Comics are just stories.
"Even if they inspired our worlds, they don't control the choices we make now.
"Besides, DC continuity is a complete mess.
"There are countless timelines, reboots, alternate universes, and contradictory storylines.
"If you combine every version...
"Every one of you has been paired with nearly every major female character at some point.
"So don't take any of it too seriously.
"What matters is reality.
"Now come on.
"I'll treat everyone to Burger King.
"The best Burger King in New York, personally certified by Iron Man.
"In return...
"Please keep Axel away from Pepper."
"No problem!"
Clark answered immediately.
His face somehow became even redder.
Tony's comments had embarrassed him beyond words.
Even worse...
His own imagination had briefly wandered toward Selina.
Realizing it, Clark wished he could disappear.
He couldn't even meet Axel's eyes anymore.
Seeing Clark's guilty expression, Axel kicked him lightly again.
"You definitely weren't thinking innocent thoughts."
He laughed.
"But that's normal.
"Beautiful women exist in countless people's imaginations.
"If I got angry over every fantasy someone had, I'd have to castrate every man on Earth.
"And that still wouldn't solve anything.
"The only thing that matters is reality.
"We know who's with whom.
"Now let's go enjoy Tony's treat."
Axel casually threw an arm around both Clark and Tony before leading everyone out of the laboratory.
Behind them, Bruce dismissed his armor, returning it to the appearance of an ordinary suit.
The group exited the elevator and entered Stark Tower's lobby.
Immediately, they attracted countless curious looks from the reception staff.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, they climbed into Tony's extended Hummer and headed toward Brooklyn.
Noticing their destination, Clark asked curiously,
"Brooklyn.
"Axel mentioned the Chitauri invasion already happened here.
"So has Captain America been thawed out?"
"Of course."
Tony snorted.
"The old man woke up wearing that ridiculous vintage costume.
"Oh, and Axel, I only started calling people old men after meeting you.
"I had to study Eastern slang just to keep up with your insults.
"The guy who taught me said it's a pretty vicious term.
"I think it suits Steve perfectly.
"Don't you agree, Batman, Superman, and Lex?"
Tony handed everyone a drink.
Happy, sitting behind the wheel, suddenly frowned.
"Hold on.
"What did you just call them?
"Batman?
"Superman?
"Lex Luthor?
"Are you guys cosplaying?"
Everyone exchanged amused glances.
Axel laughed so hard he nearly spilled his wine.
"Happy, you're amazing.
"You came to exactly the same conclusion Tony did earlier.
"You really are the world's least qualified driver and bodyguard."
As he spoke, Axel casually grabbed Tony's bottle and poured himself another glass.
Watching him, Tony frowned.
"I'll admit Happy isn't exactly an elite driver or bodyguard.
"But what's this about him being someone's rebound?"
Axel chuckled.
"You don't know the person involved.
"It has nothing to do with you.
"Relax.
"Happy stayed loyal.
"He didn't marry your widow after your death.
"And he definitely didn't try anything with your daughter."
Axel emptied his glass before smacking his lips.
"I still prefer sweeter wine.
"This one's excellent, but it isn't sweet enough."
Tony rolled his eyes.
"If you want something sweet, mix rum with cola.
"My wine isn't meant to be chugged, you barbarian."
Then Tony suddenly froze.
His expression changed instantly.
"Wait...
"What did you just say?
"I die?
"And I die fairly young?
"My wife was still young...
"My daughter wasn't even ten...
"So I have a daughter.
"I loved her, didn't I?
"Tell me, Axel.
"Was I a better father than Howard ever was?"
Axel looked at him with slight surprise.
"You're more interested in whether you became a good father than how you died?"
"Of course."
Tony nodded without hesitation.
"I seriously doubt you'd still be harassing Pepper after my death.
"So none of those stories can be trusted anymore.
"They've already changed because of all of you.
"And because people like you keep jumping between worlds."
Tony raised both middle fingers before looking toward Happy.
"Oh, Happy.
"I forgot to introduce everyone.
"First, I'm not crazy.
"You heard me correctly.
"These people really are from the DC Universe.
"Batman.
"Superman.
"Lex Luthor.
"And...
"Axel.
"You know I'd never lie to you.
"Holy..."
Screech!
Bang!
Happy slammed on the brakes.
The extended Hummer crashed into the Chevrolet ahead.
Everyone lurched forward from the impact.
Tony rubbed his shoulder before punching Happy's arm.
"You really are a terrible driver, Happy!"
===
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