So, this one came about in an odd way. It also proves that I can write Axel without shipping him with someone, so there you go. This is set during the Salvation Run/Rogues’ Revenge timeline. Written while listening to Sleazy.

With all the major villains of the world missing, Central and Keystone were like a big, unguarded candy bowl on Halloween. The sign said take one, but Axel was determined to take it all.

With his record, his reputation, and the fact that he was the only real Rogue left in town, it wasn’t had to put together a gang. For a few weeks, the Trixters ruled the streets. And then Libra came along.

Libra wanted to recruit him and his gang into his new Secret Society. Some time soon, crime would rule all, and Libra wanted to make sure that the guy running the Gem Cities was in on the action. But Axel said no. He had his own base, his own gang, his own territory. What good would it do to him to share it with someone outside? But the real deciding factor was that Libra only wanted Axel on board, not his gang.

Libra offered him cars, drugs, whatever he thought a kid like Axel would want. Axel turned it all down. So he sent his first batch of “New” Rogues after them.  

And Axel and his gang slaughtered them like dogs.

Libra left him alone after that, but then the real Rogues came back. So he sent out a new offer, for them. Sent a new batch of his own Rogues when they refused.

And, well. Libra’s other followers found the bodies…eventually.

“We don’t wanna be in any club that wants us that badly.” Cold had said later, between his second and third beer. Axel found he had to agree. Their lack of interest in him was, after all, what made him so determined to be a Rogue in the first place.