It was the kind of gathering no one ever thought possible — no alarms, no emergencies, no villains plotting in the shadows. Just heroes, parents, and their protégés, all in one place, without the weight of the world pressing on their shoulders.

Super-man sat on one of the couches, long legs stretched out, laughing as Jon tried to teach Damian how to play a new handheld video game. Bat-man watched from the corner, arms crossed, but there was a subtle lift at the edge of his mouth — pride mixed with amusement.

Nearby, Diana braided Cassie’s hair, the younger Amazon sitting cross-legged on the floor while Diana hummed softly, a tune from Themyscira. Donna Troy leaned over the back of the couch, teasing them both, “You two could start a salon. Warrior Princess Cuts.”

Across the room, Barry, Wally, and Bart zipped back and forth, balancing trays of snacks like waiters at a diner. Barry’s wife Iris sat at the table, laughing every time one of them skidded to a stop and almost spilled everything. Bart lounged upside down on a beanbag, narrating their “delivery runs” like it was an Olympic event.

Arthur and Aqua-lad sat at one end of the room, playing a calm but intense game of strategy chess. Lagoon Boy leaned in, calling out unhelpful advice. “Move the rook! No, wait — the fish-looking one!” He ducked when Arthur arched an eyebrow at him.

The Green Lantern corner was loudest — Hal, John, Kyle, and Jessica swapping stories while their young counterparts listened, wide-eyed, mouths full of popcorn. At one point, Hal projected a glowing emerald dinosaur that stomped through the room, sending Bart scrambling up onto the couch and Artemis groaning, “Seriously? We just got comfortable!”

Speaking of Artemis, she sat with her sister Jade on one side. Roy sat nearby, mock-grumbling about how he never got to sit next to them during “family days,” though he kept sneaking chips when Jade wasn’t looking.

Zatanna had conjured up a magical illusion show for the younger kids — little glowing animals hopping around their heads. Billy Batson (in civilian form) sat cross-legged with them, pretending to be unimpressed but laughing when a glowing rabbit ran circles around him.