A/N: MISS ME GUYS?! I'm back with request week! I really should start calling it request month or YEAR even, since I've been on an updating frenzy as of late and its been showing no signs of stopping. Also, a wedding! So, yeah, that happened. No, no, it wasn't mine thankfully, don't really consider myself the marrying sort. I'd much rather me and my girl just buy a house and settle down. Marriage...marriage is just too complicated for my liking and in experience, rarely ends well.

Meh, semantics.

Also, I've actually gotten a fair bit of hate for this story, surprisingly. I've been accused of making Naruto a "sue" a villain, among other things. A few even demanded that I drop this, I believe the word "drivel" was used, and write something else altogether. I'm not going to name names, but...jeez, harsh, much? Now, I have gotten some good criticism, which I've since used to improve the story, but there's a fair bit of nastiness too. So lets address that, shall we?

Naruto and Ace aren't good. They aren't evil. If anything they're a chaotic neutral, beings with dangerous powers that they're still mastering, who basically do whatever the hell they want.

Anywho, this got a ton of votes so here we are!

TO those who predicted what this chapter would hold, yup, you get a cookie! =D

Now, a catalogue of sorts.

Naruto's and Ace have been very a busy, learning from each fight, each other, and in Naruto's case, anything and everything he sees. Don't believe me? This chapter ought to show just how far his imagination can range once he puts his mind to something.

So the I's have it! More sweet fluffy bits in this chapter!

And so, I happily bring you the next chapter of...

...ROYAL FLUSH!

Quite a bit happens here!

See for yourselves!

Sorry if its short! Think of this as an interlude. Next chapter will be MUCH longer. And since everyone PESTERED me about it, a certain butler appears in this chapter. And YES the ending is sappy, but can ya blame me?! These kids deserve it!

"...why are you poking me?

"Just making sure."

"Making sure of what?"

"That you're real."

"Oh, for the love of-

(~Naruto and ~?)

Wild Card

Galatea woke with a jolt of fear, screaming from her sleep.

"NARUTO!" she cried! "No, I didn't mean to! I'm sorry!"

Fear and sensation came back to her all at once, her body thrashing-screaming-as she struggled out of the sheets and the nightmare that bound her. Cold sweat slicked her body through the leotard-wait. There was no leotard. She felt the soft caress of silk sheets against her bare body instead. Naked. She was naked, and she felt as though someone had run her over with a train...hmm. If she recalled correctly, someone had smacked her with a railcar-oh no. No...she hadn't...didn't...did she?!

Reality came rushing back.

What have I done?

Dread gripped her heart in an icy vice, strangling all sense, all reason, all logic. Memories crashed down on her like a frigid wave. The fight. The brawl. How perilously close they'd come to death. She'd been moments-a mere heartbeat-away from ending everything. And yet somehow, despite that, she was alive. There was a terrible pain somewhere in the back of her neck and she'd a terrible migraine, but she was alive. The scar upon her temple stood in stark contrast to what she remembered-it certainly hadn't been there before, but her reflection didn't lie.

She both looked-and felt-like absolute hell.

The black eye didn't help.

Whomever was responsible for leaving her in such a sorry state, they'd at least left a robe on the bed to preserve her modesty. Snatching it up, she hurriedly threw the dark red garment on and cinched it tight about her waist. Gentle warmth enfolded her almost immediately, soothing her crippling aches and pains in equal measure. What...kind of robe was this?! Clothes weren't supposed to heal you! Alas, no one was present to answer that question, and the poor clone found she'd been left to fend for herself.

In the end, left to her own devices and unable to stand the suffocating emptiness of the room, she left it all together.

The first thing she noticed was the floor.

It was warm and heated and it felt absolutely wonderful against her bare feet.

Whomever had built-or imagined!-it clearly was clearly a master of structural design, all spiraling columns, vaunted ceilings and subtle arches. Her only flaw was the color. The entire building was a hideous shade of raw, bright orange, right down to doorknobs. Still, it was a very large building, seemingly with its own staff included, none of whom gave the battered blonde so much as a passing glance. If they were at all aware of her they did precious little to show it; as if she simply didn't exist to them-

"I see the young lady is finally awake."

'I stand corrected!'

Galatea yelped and spun around with a start, throwing a punch at the one who'd accosted her. Instead her clenched fingers slammed headlong an open palm, her strike stopped cold as she gazed up at the one who had spoken. She found herself face to face with a rather devilish-looking man with dark hair and eerie red eyes, wearing a black suit and tie. He looked every bit the stereotypical manservant one might find in a high class mansion of some sort...

...so why was he looking at her like that?

"Greetings." the butler inclined his head politely. "My name is Jeeves. I have been tasked with escorting you to the young master."

Gala balked.

"Sebastian?"

"Quite." the butler replied, sniffing. "The Master created and brought me here for the express purpose of seeing to your well-being." a lengthy pause followed as his gaze swept up and down over her, apparently finding her wanting. "He also asked that I bring you to him upon your awakening. Although," those dark eyes narrowed, "You ought to acquire something proper to wear, first."

Despite her injuries, the blonde bristled. "Hey, its not like I had anything else to wear!"

"Be that as it may," Jeeves frowned, "I'm afraid I must insist."

Half a beat.

"And just what are you going...

The butler snapped his fingers.

...to do?"

Gala's words trailed off into a quiet squeak as her robe vanished in a swirl of light, replaced by simplest clothes she'd ever worn in her life. The thick garment she'd once worn had given way to a simple pair of blue jeans and a chest-hugging white tee, just enough to expose her midriff, but not to the point of sheer indecency. She even had shoes-well, sandals really, but still! Balking, she rounded on the devilish butler, sputtering madly, trying to find words that simply refused to come.

"W-What?! How did you do that?!"

Sebastian offered a small smile.

"The young master gifted me with many useful abilities; the better that I might perform the duties of one of my station." he replied vaguely, rubbing two gloved digits together. "I suppose this is a more base usage of them, but needs must...now, let us be off forthwith."

For a fleeting super-powered teen honestly considered questioning him further, but the gleam in those eerie red eyes rooted her.

Somehow, she had the distinct sense that this butler wasn't farm from whom he pretended to be.

After all, he caught her punch like it was nothing. Did she really want to fight him?

"Alright," she relented, sighing, "But who is-

"FORTHWITH!"

"Hey!"

In the span of only a few seconds, the kryptonian clone found herself ushered down a long hall, up three successive flights of stairs, down another flight-which made absolutely no sense at all-before being crammed into an elevator followed by another elevator that dropped so fast she physically felt her stomach trying to crawl out her throat, and not from sheer anxiety either. The entire time, her escort didn't utter so much as a word. Unperturbed by the ride, or simply accustomed to it, perhaps?

Thus, when they stopped before a worn-looking door she was thoroughly and completely disoriented.

"Where are we...

"Here." Sebastian retorted primly. "Somewhere outside of the space-time-continuum."

"That doesn't help."

"I know."

In the end, she didn't have time to answer; because someone was behind the door.

Several someone's judging by what her superior hearing detected.

"What do you mean they won't disappear on their own?!" a girl's voice demanded from just beyond the wooden frame.

"Ehehehehe...well, Sovereign was so big he eventually faded on his own, but the others...eh, I guess the universe doesn't like peas mixed with its porridge. That just means-ahaha! Gotcha again!" A harsh crack followed those words, followed by a startled cry on the girl's part.

"Stop cheating, you! And can't you just...you know...send them back?"

"WHA?! I gave them life! I can't just wipe them out like that-aha! Bingo! EAT KOOPA SHELL!"

"HEY! Where did you even come from?!" she shouted! "How did you get ahead of me?!"

"I am the rocks of the eternal shore. Crash against me and be broken!"

"GAH! No fair!"

"Don't be shy. Off you go."

Whatever else he might've said died as Sebastian gave Gala a gentle nudge from behind, sending her stumbling through the door and into the room. To her dismay the door itself opened as she crashed into it, shards of light stabbing into her retina, momentarily blinding in their brilliance.

Silence fell.

Galatea was looking at...well...

...she didn't know what she was looking at.

Naruto and Ace were nestled together in the furthest corner of the room, the latter snuggling contently in the former's lap. That was mind-boggling enough. Add to that they were also simultaneously gazing at a flat-screen television and playing a rather battered-looking Wii. That would've been all well and good-if they weren't surrounded by a menagerie of strange figures she didn't recognize. But even that glancing realization didn't stand up to the knowledge that they were here, that her family was right HERE sitting only a few feet away.

They weren't shouting at her.

Weren't condemning her.

If anything the silence was even more worrying.

No one shouted at her, no one told her to get out. No one condemned her for her previous actions.

They just stood there.

Well, most of them.

Naruto just seemed...well...amused.

Ace...

...always hard to read, that one.

"W-What're you playing?" A stupid question to be sure, after finally coming out of a week-long coma, but it was the first thing she could think to ask. Naruto and Ace didn't demand to know why she was awake, or even how, they simply smiled. Well-Naruto smiled. Ace glowered. Nevertheless, Naruto raised a controller, waving it happily. Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes and she fought them down with a small sob; desperately biting her lip like to control her outburst. Not one of pain or sorrow but joy. Confusion as well, but mostly joy.

Her heart gave a small lurch at what happened next.

"Mario Kart, what else?" the reality bending blond beamed at her, answering her question with a cheery grin. "Wanna play? You look like you could use some fun."

"You're...not mad?"

"Why would I be mad?" her words actually got a bit of a blink out of him. "You're here. You're alive. That's what matters. The past is the past, ya know."

"Oh, stop fussing." Ace scoffed suddenly, dark eyes regarding her with a hint of bemusement. "Guilt doesn't look good on you."

Galatea didn't move-she dare not. Because if this was a dream, if it was all false and IF she was in fact still sleeping, this would be an awful time to wake up. She might still be in a coma, for all she knew. Unable to see, unable to move. Unless...unless she wasn't. Naruto truly was a wild card in every sense of the word; wild, silly, utterly unpredictable, hardheaded and stubborn to a fault. But he was her knucklehead and he was looking at her, smiling at her, talking to her, just like old times...

"Why're ya looking at me like that?" Naruto laughed. "You look like you've seen a ghost!"

Self-loathing smothered Gala's weak smile like a wet blanket.

"I...I missed you." the words tumbled out of her could think to hold them back, and she felt her face burn anew. Stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Where did she get off saying things like this?! As if she had any claim to him after what she'd done! She didn't deserve him. Wasn't worthy of him. Not his friendship, not his feelings, and certainly not his love. She was just a copy; a clone, a broken doll who'd been used up, twisted around and sicced on him like an attack dog. She'd betrayed his trust, turned on him, fought him, hurt him and...and...and...

And then he grinned.

"Missed ya, too."

There it was.

Acceptance.

With that, Gala couldn't help herself any longer.

She burst into tears and dive-tackled him with every bit of speed she possessed.

"Naruto~!"

A/N: Hoooooooooooooooooohh DAYUM! What will be the world's fate?! That's right folks, I finally did it! A Naruto x Justice League crossover! With Ace as the main pairing, no less! MAJOR fluffiness following this, so I sincerely hope ya'll stay tuned. And yup yup, the Joker makes an appearance in the next chapter! Expect much hilarity and insanity! We haven't seen the last of the Joker, either!

So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...

...Review...Would Ya Kindly? And of course, enjoy the previews! REVENGE IS SWEET~!

(Preview(S)!)

Naruto grunted in surprise as a massive fist found his face and sent him sprawling.

Bones broke, muscles mangled, his body flopped out onto the street. And still, impossibly, he stood.

"That all you got, Eiling?!"

The titan lumbered after him, bright eyes glowering. It was a monster by every definition; its skin dark and gray, its body large and bulky with muscle. Jagged teeth filled its maw, eerie eyes like suns shining from the rictus that was its skull. Despite the sight of it, of the pain spiking in his skull, he still laughed.

"Wow, all of Cadmus's technology, and you're even uglier than usual-OOF!"

Air gusted out of his stomach as the beast kicked him, bursting a lung and launching him across Central City.

"Get up, soldier." Eiling rumbled, pounding after him. "You forced me to become this; now you're going to regret...it?" His words died as a column of red light ripped up from the wreckage and spiralled into him. When it had cleared, the blond was standing before him once more. His hands rose before his face, forming a square, clothes staining red with the blood of his own wounds. No, wait, there was something off about it, as if some eerie, eldritch energy were wrapping around him...

He did not look pleased.

"Release Restraint Level One." Eiling frowned at those words. Restraints? Waller had mentioned something about that...

"Level wha-

His skull erupted as a blisteringly fast kick smashed into the side of his face, hurtling him away at the speed of light. Before he could travel more than fifty feet the blond was on him again, a scarlet blur swatting him up to the heavens, down to the earth, back forth, back, until finally, FINALLY-

GROUND.

Streets cratered and cars squealed their alarms as the giant lay there, stunned. Naruto snapped into existence above him, bloody tendrils of scarlet energy still clinging to his body.

"Had enough?"

White fangs flashed in the night.

"Not...quite...

Instead of panicking at his invulnerability, the blond simply settled back into a stance and readied himself for the assault. Eiling gazed down at the boy, mildly perturbed by the blond's defiance. Didn't he know when he was beaten?

"Are you stupid? I'm already stronger than you. How would that hurt me? It barely tickled. You can't touch me. Ace can't touch me."

"No," the blond grinned through blood-bleached teeth, "But unlike you, baka general, I brought backup. And I just bought myself enough time for her to get here. And big guy? She's WAY stronger than I am. Physically, at least."

The general frowned, uncertainty warring with triumph.

"You're bluffing."

"Nope. She's also got a major crush on me. Say goodbye to your head!"

"GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY BOYFRIEND!" That was all the general had time to hear before Galatea made herself known, a blue-white streak jolting across the horizon to collide with his spine. Pain jolted up his back, actual pain as the cloned kryptonian cannoned into him, her flying roundhouse kick sending him stumbling forward. By then she was already on him, driving blow after blow after brutal blow into the monster that had wounded her family.

"How," whack, "Dare," whack, "You," whack, "Hurt!" Whack! "HIM!"

WHACK!

Then she hit so hard he saw stars.

"S-Stay back!"

"Gee, let me think abo-NO."

Amanda Waller shrank back, struggling in vain to push her corpulent form against the wall. Her pistol barked out four desperate shots.

Naruto kept coming.

"W-What do you want?!"

The imagination-wielder grinned.

It was all teeth.

"Let's play a game."

R&R! =D