The plan had been simple; hang out at the cave, maybe catch a movie at the mall, raid the sweet stores. But you’d texted last-minute: “Sorry, can’t. Already got plans.” No details or explanation.

So now the team was at the mall, wandering between food court and shops, when Wally suddenly froze mid-step. “—Wait. Is that…?”

Every head turned. And sure enough, there you were, a few shops down, walking alongside some guy none of them recognized. Laughing. Actually laughing.

“Holy crap,” Artemis muttered, gesturing the group into a nearby arcade. “She ditched us for him?”

Conner’s jaw clenched, arms crossed so tightly his knuckles whitened. “If he breaks her heart,” he said flatly, “I’ll break his bones.”

M’gann’s eyes lit up, practically sparkling as she peeked over the display of stuffed animals. “Ooooh! I can’t wait to ask her about this later!”

“Don’t you dare,” Artemis hissed, yanking her back down. “If you say anything, she’ll know we were spying.”

“Which we are,” Kaldur pointed out calmly, though even he couldn’t help craning his neck for a better view.

“So?” Dick asked, pressing himself against the flight-simulator's edge. “This is, like, vital intel.”

A hush fell as the guy leaned a little closer to you, saying something they couldn’t hear. You laughed again, brushing your hair back, and the team collectively leaned further out of hiding, like a pack of undercover spys.

This wasn’t just surveillance. This was a mission.