⭐️ Eternal Shadow 🌙 Damian wayne ~~~~complete

Chapter 10: Midnight Milkshakes

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The neon lights outside the tiny corner diner flickered against the inky night sky, casting a warm, nostalgic glow over the sidewalk. Inside, the Teen Titans had claimed the biggest booth in the back — a well-worn corner with cracking red vinyl seats and a crooked jukebox humming out old tunes no one really recognized, but nobody cared enough to change.

Gar was mid-sentence, waving a half-eaten fry like it was the most important pointer in the world.
"—and then, right as I was about to finish him off with this sick gorilla takedown move, I slipped on a banana peel! A banana peel!"

Kory burst out laughing, throwing her head back. "Only you would get defeated by your own snack!"

Dick grinned over his milkshake. "That's a new one for the records. Death by potassium."

"Hey, it's a very real hazard," Gar protested, pointing dramatically at everyone. "One day, you'll all see."

Raven sipped her herbal tea, not bothering to look up from her book. "I already see... your embarrassment."

The table cracked up, even Mars couldn't help the ghost of a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips as she picked at her fries. She didn't always join in on the banter — most of the time, she was content to watch from the edges. But nights like this, with the soft buzz of bad diner lighting and the safe cocoon of her team, always felt... quieter in a way she liked.

Dick leaned over, nudging Mars' shoulder.
"You doing okay, Snow Queen?"

She gave him a look, raising a brow. "Stop calling me that."

"C'mon. It fits. Pale as snow, cold stare, mysterious aura — you could rule an ice kingdom."

"I'd exile you first."

"Ouch," Dick grinned, unfazed.

Gar snorted. "Bet you'd make me court jester, though."

"You're already halfway there," Raven deadpanned, earning a fresh round of laughter.

Mars rolled her eyes, but warmth tugged in her chest. This was the kind of chaos she tolerated.

A few minutes later, the bell above the diner's door jingled, signaling another group coming in. The team barely noticed, too absorbed in arguing about whether or not Gar's latest prank counted as an official prank war declaration.

Mars quietly excused herself and slipped outside. The night air was crisp, brushing cool fingers against her skin as she leaned against the wall. City lights shimmered in puddles, and somewhere distant, a car honked. She liked this time of night. When the world was quieter, and it was just her and the sky.

She didn't notice the soft creak of the door until a voice spoke up beside her.

"You always run off alone?"

Mars didn't startle. She recognized Damian's voice instantly — low, slightly gruff in a way that always sounded like he was half-daring you to pick a fight.

She flicked her gaze toward him. "You always follow?"

He shrugged, stepping beside her. "Someone's gotta make sure you don't fall into an alley or get kidnapped."

She snorted softly. "Cute. You'd miss me."

"I'd miss having someone else around who understands the value of silence," he muttered.

For a few beats, neither of them spoke. The city's sounds filling the gaps. It wasn't uncomfortable — more like... familiar.

Then, without a word, Damian tugged something from the inside of his jacket and held it out.
"You forgot this."

Mars frowned, taking the hoodie. She recognized it immediately — and for a second, thought it was one of Dick's again. Until the scent hit her.
Leather polish. Faint trace of something smoky, like old wood and steel.
Damian's.

Her brow lifted. "Since when do you wear hoodies?"

"I don't. It was in my room. Thought it was Grayson's, but..." he shrugged, eyes glinting like he knew exactly what he was doing. "Guess not."

A smirk twitched at her lips. "Thief."

"Borrower," Damian corrected, the edge of a smile threatening to surface.

Before either of them could say more, Mars' phone buzzed. A message from Raven.

[Got to the last page. You leave cryptic notes in every book or just the ones you think I'll find?]

Mars chuckled under her breath.
"Problem?" Damian asked.

"Just Raven accusing me of being dramatic."

"Accurate."

She lightly elbowed him. "Says the guy who broods on rooftops."

His smirk widened, but he didn't deny it.

From inside, the muffled sound of Gar's voice shouting something about a milkshake-chugging contest filtered out.

Mars took a long breath of the cool air, and for the first time in a long time, didn't feel quite so weighed down by her own shadows.

"C'mon," she murmured, tucking the hoodie under her arm. "Before they start a food fight."

Damian gave a short nod, falling in step beside her as they headed back into the glow of the diner, where the chaos waited.

And somewhere, watching from the window, Kory's soft smile grew.

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