Shadowflame

As soon as Green Arrow's warning crackled over the comms, Wonder Woman's expression shifted from diplomatic warmth to hard-edged steel. She turned to the General Secretary, giving him a brief but assuring nod before taking the microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen," she said, her voice calm but commanding, carrying easily over the murmur of the crowd. "Please remain calm. We have just received information that this summit may be interrupted. Rest assured, we have everything under control."

Naturally, that didn't stop the wave of murmurs from escalating into outright whispers and frantic looks. But Harry knew how to keep his cool in chaotic situations. He reached up, touching the crimson gem on his amulet. The armor responded instantly, black and gold metal unfurling over him, forming his Shadowflame armor. A flicker of red glinted in his hood as the armor's chest plate locked into place, the crimson gem pulsing like a heartbeat.

A few delegates gaped. One of them muttered, "Is he…magically turning into a knight?"

Yeah, kind of, Harry thought, hiding a smirk. But no time for explanations.

"Aqualad!" he called, moving toward the doors with a fierce intensity. "Let's cover the entrances. Make sure no one can slip past us."

"On it," Aqualad replied, nodding sharply and summoning water constructs around his hands. "I'll follow your lead, Shadowflame."

As the two hurried to position themselves, Aquaman took control of crowd control. Standing tall with a natural authority, he addressed the room with Wonder Woman by his side. "Please, everyone—stay calm. We've got you covered," he said, his voice deep and reassuring.

Donna gave him an encouraging nod. "What my cousin means is, there's no way anything's getting through us," she added, a hint of a grin in her tone. Then she caught Harry's eye, winking. "Besides, Charis here would never let any harm come to a single delegate. Right, nephew?"

"Wouldn't dream of it, Aunt Donna," Harry shot back, rolling his eyes. The familiar banter was enough to keep his nerves in check, if nothing else.

On the sidelines, Sirius and Remus took up posts with quiet vigilance, hands hovering near their concealed wands. Sirius leaned in close to Remus, muttering, "Well, I'd say this summit just got a whole lot more interesting, don't you think?"

Remus raised an eyebrow. "Interesting? Let's hope that's all it is. Keep your wand ready. If things go sideways, I'd rather not be caught unprepared."

Meanwhile, Clark Kent—who had been listening carefully from his position at the edge of the room—caught Lois's eye. They shared a quick, understanding glance. She cleared her throat and called out, "Excuse me, General Secretary? Could you clarify what security measures are in place today?"

Her voice was bright, every bit the investigative reporter on a mission. All eyes turned to the General Secretary, just as she'd intended, allowing Clark to slip out of the room unnoticed. He ducked into a nearby hallway, loosening his tie and giving the slightest of sighs as he prepared to ditch his reporter's disguise.

"Showtime," he muttered, shrugging off his jacket and undoing the top button of his shirt. In the quiet of his mind, unknown to him, there was a flicker of something…watchful. Trigon's presence stirred, amused, watching through his eyes.

"Proceed, Kal-El," Trigon whispered in the recesses of his mind, voice dripping with dark satisfaction. "Show them what you truly are."

Not realizing the presence of the demon, Clark gritted his teeth but remained focused. He knew his teammates inside had the situation under control for now—but he'd be ready to swoop in, just in case.

—

So here's the scene: I'm standing with Mareena, trying to act like I've got everything under control, while Kid Flash is muttering something about "fish sticks" and why he's forever haunted by the smell of the ocean. Then, right on cue, my comm buzzes with Aqualad's voice, sounding... well, not like his usual calm self.

"South side clear...for now," Aqualad says, his tone suspiciously edgy. "But something feels…off."

And here I am, Captain Obvious, thinking, Well, that's never a good sign.

I shoot Mareena a look. "You getting that vibe too?"

She gives me a sharp nod, her expression all "warrior princess," and I don't even get a chance to ask more because Speedy's voice crackles through, sounding about two breaths away from hurling. "Feels like my breakfast is staging a revolt…"

Yep. Enter Count Vertigo, stage left—the human barf machine himself, and not the good kind of superhero nickname either. I press the comm, letting everyone know, "Vertigo's in play. Flash, keep your eyes peeled."

That's when I realize things just went from weird to Oh great, we're doomed. One by one, the South team—Aqualad, Speedy, Donna, even Green Arrow—are all checking in, sounding like they're either in a daze or under the influence of, I dunno, an evil perfume commercial.

And because my luck's impeccable, Wonder Woman's voice cuts in. Cool, collected, and probably thinking she taught me better than to freak out in situations like this. "I'll handle crowd control with Aquaman. Shadowflame, focus on securing the attackers. Get our people back if you can."

"Copy that, Mom," I reply, trying to sound way more confident than I feel. "Mareena, ready to crash a villain party?"

She gives me a fierce nod, like I just asked her if she'd like to go shark-wrestling for fun. "Let's show them what we can do."

We're sprinting to the South entrance in no time, Flash and Kid Flash keeping pace. Just as we're about to hit the door, I click the comm and whisper, "Superman, you good for backup?"

I hear a pause. Then he replies, his voice low, "Understood. Give the word if you need a full Superman entrance."

Which would be great, except in the back of my head, I've got this creeping feeling—like someone's watching us, or worse, watching him. And if that's not ominous enough, I swear I hear a faint, mocking laugh, like someone up there (or maybe way down below) thinks this is all a great cosmic joke.

—

Count Vertigo stood at the back of the dimly lit corridor, exuding all the menace of a guy who would really love to be a Bond villain but ended up more of a B-list mastermind. Beside him, Queen Bee lounged against the wall, looking entirely too pleased with herself as she watched Green Arrow, Speedy, and Aqualad—three of the Justice League's finest—march to her tune like clockwork soldiers.

"Not a bad look, wouldn't you say?" she murmured, giving Vertigo a sly smile. Her voice had that honeyed edge that hinted she'd had just as much fun putting these three under her pheromonal thrall as she did planning her takeover.

Vertigo grinned, the kind of smile that could curdle milk. "They'll clear the way for us," he said, nodding to his controlled soldiers. "While I take care of family business." He said the last part like it was the most natural thing in the world—his brother, the king of Vlatava, would be his coronation stepping stone. And his niece Perdita? Well, she was collateral damage in his twisted vision of "noble duty."

Queen Bee waved her hand, signaling their henchmen to spread out and secure the perimeter. The goons moved into place, with Green Arrow, Speedy, and Aqualad leading the way toward the grand hall where the summit was in full swing. The two villains strolled after them, a smug air of invincibility surrounding them.

"You think Wonder Woman will give you trouble?" Vertigo asked as they neared the meeting hall doors.

"Her? Hardly," Queen Bee purred, her confidence radiating. "Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash—all of them are just waiting for a whiff of my perfume." She tapped her wrist where a small vial hung like a charm. "Once I've got them, I'll have every nation in this room under my thumb. And with your little nausea trick, even the hard-headed ones won't put up a fight."

Vertigo chuckled darkly, sending a low pulse of his powers through the air, just enough to make their henchmen stagger. "Let's not keep them waiting then, shall we?"

Just as they reached the final set of doors, Queen Bee gave a nod to her controlled heroes. Green Arrow turned to the entrance, Aqualad close behind, ready to clear the room for his new "queen."

All the while, neither villain noticed the slight hum of a comm still open on Aqualad's wrist, quietly transmitting their every word to Wonder Woman and the rest of the team inside.

---

Meanwhile, Shadowflame, crouched at the opposite side of the hall with Mareena, caught every word through the comms, his grip on his comms tightening as the villains' plan became clear.

"Oh, that's just brilliant," he muttered to Mareena, sarcasm dripping from every syllable. "Queen Bee and Vertigo, trying to hijack the UN Summit and take over the Justice League like it's a high school pep rally."

"Tell me you have a plan," Mareena whispered, eyes locked on the double doors where Green Arrow and Aqualad were about to make their entrance.

"Working on it," Harry replied, fingers poised on the crimson gem on his amulet. "But I figure we'll start with Plan A."

"And Plan A is…?" she asked, raising a brow.

He grinned, pressing the amulet and letting his Shadowflame armor flare to life. "Hit them hard. Hit them fast. And hope they don't see it coming."

—

Wonder Woman gave the hall a quick once-over and spotted King Josef and Princess Perdita off to one side. Time to work her magic—or, well, her "Amazonian Warrior Princess Skills" magic. She signaled Aquaman with the kind of subtle hand wave that meant urgent-but-keep-cool, and the two of them slipped over, smoothly separating the royals and a couple of diplomatic bigwigs from Qurac and Bialya.

"Got a plan, Wonder Woman?" Aquaman asked, voice low, with a barely-there smirk. His usual underwater confidence was in full effect, even though they were definitely on dry land.

"We'll keep them close and keep them safe," Wonder Woman replied. "And try not to get tangled up in any Vertigo-induced nausea or mind-controlling perfume."

While Aquaman kept an eye on the group, Wonder Woman gave a subtle nod toward the back of the hall. Sure enough, Sirius, Remus, and Talia were positioned and ready. Sirius gave her a casual thumbs-up, clearly itching for action, while Remus did a quick wand-tap check on his wrist holster. Talia, as usual, kept her cool, looking as calm as someone on a beach vacation—well, if that beach vacation involved potentially fighting mind-controlling villains.

Nearby, Antiope and Mera were already at work. They hadn't exchanged a word, but it was like they'd trained for this (probably because they actually had). They barricaded the main entrance with all the authority of people who were not planning to let so much as a fly slip past them. Mera even flashed Wonder Woman a nod, the kind of nod that said, We got this.

Wonder Woman gave them a rare smile. "If you can handle the doors, I'll focus on keeping the royalty out of Vertigo's line of sight."

Mera lifted an eyebrow, like this was nothing but another Tuesday for her. "Piece of cake."

Wonder Woman then turned to Perdita, who looked just about as determined as a nine-year-old royal could be under these circumstances.

"Stay close to us, Your Highness," she said, offering a reassuring smile. "With any luck, this will all be over before lunch."

Perdita looked up at her with a courage that could almost pass for attitude. "Just let me know where to stand. I'm not scared of a couple of bad guys."

Wonder Woman grinned. "I like your style. And don't worry, they have no idea what they're up against."

Meanwhile, Sirius, Remus, and Talia subtly closed in from different sides, hands itching to jump in the moment things went south. Wonder Woman tightened her grip on her lasso, watching the doors like a hawk, with everyone on the comms buzzing with anticipation.

"Okay, everyone," she murmured into the comm. "Eyes open, ears open, and let's keep things nice and calm. Any second now…"

And just then, from outside, came the soft, ominous sound of footsteps approaching the hall. Showtime.

—

Shadowflame's gauntlets lit up like the world's most intense LED gloves, casting a warm golden glow as he flicked his fingers to fire off a few Stupefy spells. Each spell zipped through the air, dropping henchmen like flies. Next to him, Mareena was making her own waves—literally. With a smooth twist of her wrist, she whipped water from a nearby fountain, swirling it into a small tidal wave that knocked two more goons flat on their backs.

"Nice moves," Shadowflame whispered, flashing her a grin as one henchman landed with a dramatic flop behind a trash can.

She smirked back, flicking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Think they're starting to regret today's life choices?"

"Let's hope so."

Meanwhile, up in the Watchtower, Martian Manhunter and Miss Martian were putting their own special touch on things. With a flicker of concentration, they hacked into Vertigo and Queen Bee's comms. J'onn's voice crackled through the villains' earpieces, sounding exactly like one of their henchmen.

"All clear on the west side, boss," he drawled, adding a long, exaggerated yawn.

Miss Martian chimed in, her voice dripping with boredom, "Yeah, definitely no superheroes creeping around or anything. We're all good."

On the other end, Vertigo sounded absurdly pleased with himself. "Good. Keep those fools busy. They won't know what hit them."

If only he knew.

Meanwhile, Superman was pulling a few strings of his own, getting the police captain on board with a quick phone call from somewhere just outside the chaos. "Captain, we've got a situation brewing here. Two villains, a handful of henchmen. Be on standby for cleanup."

The local officer on duty was just about to take a big bite out of his Big Belly Burger when a blur shot past, and suddenly there were two unconscious goons handcuffed to a bench in the holding cells. Kid Flash barely paused as he zipped past, swiping a fry from the officer's tray.

"Emergency fry tax! Sorry!" Kid Flash called out, before he vanished in another flash of red.

Not a moment later, Flash zipped back in, leaving a fresh Big Belly Burger meal and a crisp five-dollar bill, along with a scribbled note: "Sorry about the fry tax. Kid Flash is still in training. –The Flash."

The officer just stared, dumbfounded, then muttered, "Never a dull day in this town."

Back at the venue, Shadowflame and Mareena took down the last of the henchmen. Shadowflame tapped his comm, his voice filled with barely-contained glee. "Northern side is clear. You all ready over there?"

Wonder Woman's calm, amused voice came through the earpiece. "We're in position. Whenever you're ready to give the welcome party."

Shadowflame cracked his knuckles, giving Mareena a nod. "Alright, villains. Hope you like surprises."

—

Batman's arrival was about as subtle as a thunderstorm at a silent retreat, swooping down in the Batplane with Robin at his side, ready for action. Robin, barely able to contain his smirk, glanced at his mentor. "Do you think they even need us down there? I mean, Wonder Woman, Superman, and Shadowflame are already in there handling it. Might be overkill."

Batman gave him a look that said, "Overkill? I invented overkill." But out loud, he went with his classic: "Backup doesn't ask if it's needed, Robin. It just shows up."

And boy, did the backup keep coming. Not far behind, Supergirl and Starfire zoomed in, cutting through the night sky like two incredibly overpowered shooting stars. Starfire's eyes lit up when she saw the packed crowd below. "It seems our friends have already begun the festivities without us," she said, beaming.

Supergirl grinned, too. "Let's get down there before we miss the whole show."

Meanwhile, inside, Shadowflame caught their arrival over the comms and couldn't resist a chuckle. "Oh, perfect. Just what this circus needed—a few more acts. Vertigo and Queen Bee are going to be thrilled when they see who else RSVP'd to the takedown party."

As the heroes touched down, Superman took a second to acknowledge Batman's arrival with a slight nod. Batman was already one step ahead, striding over to the police captain, who looked torn between awe and terror. "Report," Batman barked in his classic tone that made you feel like you were two inches tall.

The captain cleared his throat. "All surrounding blocks are secure. Civilians cleared out. Honestly, sir, your team seems to have the situation in hand."

Batman just nodded, looking straight past him. "Hold the perimeter. No one unauthorized goes in or out." Which, coming from Batman, was basically the polite way of saying "Don't even think about taking a coffee break."

Meanwhile, Supergirl and Starfire hovered outside a high window, close enough to get a glimpse of Vertigo rallying his henchmen like he actually stood a chance. Supergirl tapped her comms, sharing a sly grin with Starfire. "Shadowflame, you want us on the ground or want us to give Vertigo a little 'greeting' from above?"

Shadowflame's voice crackled over the comms, dripping with barely disguised mischief. "Why don't you show him why henchmen should always read the fine print? Let him think he's winning for, oh, five seconds before he realizes he's horribly outnumbered. Think you two can handle that?"

Starfire practically glowed with excitement. "Oh, most certainly, friend. It will be a pleasure." She shared a conspiratorial wink with Supergirl, both of them already imagining the looks on Vertigo and Queen Bee's faces when they realized the odds had just taken a nosedive.

As Supergirl prepared to fly down and join the fray, she couldn't help but laugh. "Let's see if they still want to play 'villains' after they've had a round with us."

And with that, the heroes were in position, ready to make sure this summit would be the worst (and last) day Queen Bee and Vertigo ever tried to crash a party.

—

Green Arrow didn't waste time. Under Queen Bee's thrall, he loaded an explosive arrow, drew back, and let it fly straight into the wall of the meeting hall. BOOM—plaster and marble flew everywhere, dust filling the air as he and the other heroes under Queen Bee's control strode through the wreckage with Vertigo and Queen Bee leading the way. It was like the villains' version of a grand entrance.

Inside, Wonder Woman barely had time to react before she was met with the mind-controlled heroes—Green Arrow, Speedy, and Black Canary—charging toward her. "Oh, fantastic," she muttered, steeling herself. "Nothing says party like your friends trying to knock you out."

But before she could take a step, two figures darted forward. Donna Troy and Aqualad broke formation, clearly targeting her and Aquaman. Lucky for her, reinforcements came just in time. Antiope and Queen Mera stepped up to handle Donna and Aqualad, each with a fierce glint in their eyes.

Donna grinned, her Amazonian training kicking in as she circled Antiope. "Took your time, didn't you?"

Antiope raised an eyebrow, not missing a beat. "You always were a bit cocky. Let's see if that training of yours has paid off."

Meanwhile, Aqualad stared down his former mentor with a look that would've made any Atlantean proud—if he wasn't mind-controlled, that is. Queen Mera's gaze softened only for a split second before she set her stance, water swirling around her fingers. "Kaldur, I taught you everything you know about water control, but not everything I know. Let's see if you've learned to improvise."

Wonder Woman took a deep breath, eyeing Green Arrow, Speedy, and Black Canary, who moved like they were on a mission—and not the good kind. Beside her, Aquaman clenched his trident. "Ever feel like the day was just going too well?" he quipped, sidestepping as Green Arrow nocked another arrow, this one trained right at his chest.

"It was bound to happen." Wonder Woman tightened her grip on her lasso. "You take Speedy, I'll handle Canary."

Without hesitation, the heroes leaped into action. Wonder Woman dodged a sonic scream from Black Canary, her lasso snapping forward to wrap around Canary's wrists. "Dinah, come on. You really don't want to do this!"

Across the room, Aquaman deflected Green Arrow's arrows with a flick of his trident, each one exploding harmlessly against the floor or walls. "You're really going to regret this, Oliver!" he shouted, trying to shake him back to reality.

Meanwhile, Vertigo and Queen Bee had no intention of sticking around to see how this played out. They scanned the room, their eyes locking on the inner circle of the summit, where Queen Hippolyta, Philippus, and a battalion of Amazon guards had formed a defensive ring around King Josef, Princess Perdita, and the heads of state from Qurac and Bialya. It was clear they weren't getting through without a fight.

But as Vertigo activated his disorienting powers, sending waves of nausea through the air, and Queen Bee released a surge of pheromones, the guards faltered. For a moment, it looked like Vertigo and Queen Bee would have the upper hand.

Then, with a roar, Queen Hippolyta charged forward, Philippus at her side, and their Amazon guards bracing behind them. Hippolyta raised her sword high, eyes blazing. "Not on my watch, you villains!"

As the clash erupted, it was clear this summit was no ordinary meeting. This was a showdown, with the fate of nations—and heroes—hanging in the balance.

—

The commotion had barely settled before a loud crash echoed from above. Starfire and Supergirl dropped in like meteors through the ceiling, shards of broken glass showering around them like confetti.

"Sorry for the abrupt entrance!" Starfire chirped, swooping in and snagging Green Arrow by the collar. "Please keep arms and legs inside the ride at all times!"

Supergirl grabbed Speedy and Black Canary in one smooth motion. "Hope you don't mind heights!" she quipped, her voice light but the grip firm.

Within seconds, the mind-controlled heroes were outside, deposited unceremoniously in front of Batman, Superman, and Robin. Batman crossed his arms, his eyes flicking over each of them. "Alright," he said in a low, gravelly tone, "who's ready for a… recalibration?"

Speedy blinked in confusion as Robin stepped up, giving his best innocent smile. "Trust me, it's for your own good," he said. And just like that, the trio went to work, delivering precisely calculated, not-too-hard, not-too-soft taps to "reboot" each hero back to normal.

Back inside the hall, Vertigo and Queen Bee were coming to a horrifying realization. Queen Hippolyta and Philippus stood between them and the exit, blocking their escape. On top of that, Martian Manhunter and Miss Martian's voices rang out over the comms, dropping the pretense of being henchmen.

"Did you really think we'd let you pull this off?" Miss Martian's voice was smug.

Vertigo's face contorted with frustration. "Fools! You won't be so smug when you're all down on your knees, begging for mercy!"

He reached out with his powers, flooding the room with a sickening wave of dizziness. Heroes and civilians alike staggered, clutching their heads, eyes squeezed shut against the vertigo.

But then Vertigo himself froze, his own feet suddenly stuck to the ground as if held by invisible chains. He looked down in horror. Queen Bee, just as trapped, tried to raise her hands but found her arms wouldn't budge either.

"What… What's happening?" Queen Bee whispered, glancing frantically at Vertigo.

Wonder Woman raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Oh, I wouldn't struggle too hard if I were you."

As she spoke, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin stepped forward, casually leaning against the wall with a pair of satisfied smirks. Both held their wands discreetly aimed at the villains, a shimmering aura surrounding them.

Sirius grinned. "Guess all those years practicing body-binding spells in the Forbidden Forest finally paid off."

Remus chuckled. "I'd say you two are well and truly 'bound' by now."

Queen Bee snarled, trying to fight against the invisible bindings, but it was no use. "You… you'll regret this!" she spat, shooting a glare at Wonder Woman.

Wonder Woman gave a little shrug. "Perhaps, but for now, it seems you're a bit… immobilized." She exchanged a look with Queen Hippolyta, who nodded approvingly.

Philippus stepped forward, her expression icy. "You've violated a sacred diplomatic gathering, endangered innocent lives, and attempted to manipulate some of Earth's finest heroes. Tell me, was it worth it?"

Vertigo, sensing his odds diminishing, sneered. "Oh, you think this is over? My reach extends far beyond this room."

"Yeah, about that," Superman's voice boomed as he strolled back into the room, having overheard. "I think we're gonna have to put a hard stop to your 'reach.' Right here, right now."

Queen Bee shot him a scathing look. "You can't stop us all. Even if you win here, there are others…"

Supergirl, entering the room with a confident smile, crossed her arms. "You're right. But we can make sure you're not part of the problem."

A shadow moved overhead as Martian Manhunter and Miss Martian descended, their faces calm but resolute. "We've been listening in," Martian Manhunter said, nodding toward Wonder Woman. "Every word, every plan. It ends here."

Vertigo's bravado faltered as he looked around at the united front. No escape, no mind-controlled allies, no more tricks up his sleeve.

Wonder Woman smiled, giving him a look that promised nothing but consequences. "Well, I guess you're outnumbered. Any last words?"

After a long silence, Vertigo slumped. Queen Bee looked away, her lips pressed into a thin line, and the remaining henchmen simply dropped their weapons.

Sirius leaned over to Remus with a chuckle. "Looks like we won't need another spell after all."

Remus smirked. "Pity. I was rather looking forward to it."

With their opponents subdued, Wonder Woman turned to the heroes. "Alright, team," she announced, her voice brimming with pride. "Looks like the Summit is officially back in order."

—

Leaning against a marble pillar, I tried to channel the kind of cool confidence usually reserved for rock stars or heroic protagonists in blockbuster movies. Instead, I probably looked more like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming bus. Mareena stood beside me, her nervous energy radiating like a live wire. Honestly, I couldn't blame her—this was a UN summit, and I half-expected someone to ask for my autograph. No pressure, right?

Supergirl and Starfire were keeping a watchful eye on us from across the room, their smiles lighting up the place like it was the Fourth of July. Supergirl nudged Mareena, whispering something that made her giggle. "Shadowflame's not half as intimidating as he looks," Supergirl said, the laughter practically bubbling out of her.

"Indeed!" Starfire piped up, her cheerful voice ringing out like a bell. "Perhaps you should invite him to a casual outing! It would be very delightful!" She made it sound like she was suggesting a cosmic tea party. How could anyone say no to that?

Mareena's cheeks flushed as red as a fire truck, and she managed a shy smile in my direction. I returned the grin, even though I could feel my girlfriends cooking up a matchmaking scheme like it was their Olympic sport. I could already see the headlines: Local Hero Captures the Heart of His Crush—After Six Weeks of Extreme Awkwardness!

Meanwhile, Aqualad and Speedy were leaning against another pillar, shaking off the lingering effects of Queen Bee's mind control like they'd just survived a rollercoaster ride. Robin, who seemed to think my love life was the best reality show ever, leaned in with that trademark smirk of his. "So, you're telling me both Starfire and Supergirl are okay with this whole arrangement?" he asked, arching an eyebrow like he was trying to figure out a complex riddle.

"Believe it or not, Robin, some people have mastered this thing called 'open communication,'" I shot back, trying to sound casual while my insides felt like they were auditioning for a Broadway show.

"Right, right," he said, nodding like he was taking notes for the next great relationship manual. "But seriously, how do you manage? Do you have, like, a calendar? Maybe a spreadsheet?"

"Trust me, it's called being honest, Robin. You should try it sometime." I winked at him, and he laughed like I'd just told the funniest joke since the time Kid Flash accidentally ran into a wall while trying to impress a girl.

Just then, Kid Flash zoomed in like a caffeinated whirlwind, balancing a tower of Big Belly Burger meals as if it were a high-speed circus act. "Alright, I brought enough food to keep us going for a month!" he announced, distributing burgers and fries like they were gold bars. "And if you have any pointers on this whole 'multiple girlfriends' thing, I'm all ears."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Buddy, focus on one girlfriend first. Trust me—it's a full-time job. I'd pay you to be my assistant, but you'd probably run away screaming the moment I asked for help with relationship advice."

Robin nodded sagely, a look of mock seriousness plastered on his face. "The trick is knowing when to compliment, when to listen, and when to duck."

"Duly noted," Kid Flash said, jotting it down in his imaginary notepad, likely doodling hearts around my name while he was at it.

Starfire's eyes lit up like a firecracker. "Oh! I have a splendid idea! Let us make a toast! To good friends, fewer evil mind-controlling villains, and perhaps a good time with Shadowflame!"

"Are we toasting to my love life or my superhero life? Because if it's the former, I might need more than just soda!" I joked, eliciting a chorus of laughter from the group.

"Maybe we should toast to both!" Supergirl added, her laughter ringing like music.

"Indeed!" Starfire agreed, clapping her hands with uncontained joy. "Here is to delightful moments! And may we all kick the butt of evil!"

"Cheers to that!" everyone echoed, clinking sodas like we were in some heroic sitcom. I felt like the star of a comedy special—laughs and cheers swirling around us like confetti.

As we dove into our feast, the camaraderie felt as solid as a superhero's cape. Sure, there were villains like Vertigo and Queen Bee lurking around the corner, probably plotting their next evil move, but with friends like these, I felt ready to face whatever chaos awaited. If I played my cards right, I might just end up with the best kind of adventure—one that included Mareena, an endless supply of fries, and a few romantic mishaps along the way.

And honestly? I wouldn't have it any other way.

---

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