The team sprawled across the Blüdhaven base, the adrenaline from the mission slowly ebbing away. Conner (Superboy) leaned back on the couch, arms stretched along the backrest, a faint, satisfied smirk on his face. Across from him, M’gann (Miss Martian) floated in midair, her legs tucked under her as she scrolled through her phone, occasionally glancing up with a soft smile. Jaime (Blue Beetle) sat cross-legged on the floor, flicking a small drone between his fingers as the Scarab whispered tactical commentary only he could hear. He smirked to himself, shaking his head at the constant stream. Wally (Kid Flash), back for a visit, was sprawled upside down on another couch, legs hooked over the top, his phone held over his face. Artemis sat nearby, casually throwing popcorn at him every time his foot knocked the table. “You’re gonna drop that on your face,” she teased. Wally grinned, unfazed. “Worth it.” In the corner, Kaldur (Aqualad) stood quietly, arms folded, his usually serious face softened into something close to peaceful. He glanced around at his team — his family — feeling a rare moment of quiet satisfaction. Cassie (Wonder Girl) sat perched on a beanbag, polishing a small gouge on one of her bracers. “Okay, but next mission, can we not end up in a collapsing temple, please?” Gar (Beast Boy) shifted into a green monkey and clambered over the back of the couch, dropping into his human form beside her with a grin. “Come on, you loved the collapsing temple.” Cassie laughed, nudging him playfully. “Says the guy who got squashed under half a pillar.”

Meanwhile, Dick (Nightwing) leaned against the far wall, arms crossed, watching them all with a fond, relaxed expression. The weight of leadership still sat on his shoulders, but here, in this moment, surrounded by the team, he allowed himself to just be — no strategies, no tactics, just the warmth of his people. Tim (Robin) wandered back into the room, two sodas in hand, tossing one to Jaime. “Here. You earned it.” “Gracias, hermano,” *Jaime grinned, popping it open. The room buzzed with low chatter and laughter, the afterglow of a successful mission settling in. For once, there were no alarms, no urgent calls, no world-ending crises — just a rare, quiet night where they could be themselves.