⭐️ Eternal Shadow 🌙 Damian wayne ~~~~complete

Chapter 23: Mozzerella Stick Hangover

⭐️🌑🌘🌗🌖🌕🌔🌓🌒🌑⭐️

It was the crinkle of an empty fry carton being nudged off the coffee table that finally stirred Marceline.

Her lashes fluttered, and for a disoriented second, she wasn't sure where she was. The scent of the sea drifted through the window. A warm weight rested against her, solid and steady, and the faint sound of Gar snickering made her stomach twist.

And then she realised the warmth was from Damian.

And the others were staring.

Her eyes shot open.

"Shit," she rasped, trying to bolt upright — only for Damian's arm to tighten automatically, pulling her back against his side with a sleepy grunt.

That was when she realised how close they were.

Like... close close.

She stiffened. The sound of Gar's exaggerated, gleeful wolf whistle cut through the room like a blade.

"Well, well, look who's cuddly when no one's looking!"

Mars groaned and covered her face with her hands.

"Kill me," she mumbled.

Kory swooped in with an unrepentant grin, perched on the back of the couch like some smug celestial creature.

"You two cleared out an entire kitchen's worth of food last night. Impressive teamwork."

Jaime, arms crossed, deadpanned, "Bro, my fries. My three orders of fries."

"You snooze, you lose, Reyes," Damian muttered without opening his eyes, clearly awake now but refusing to move.

Raven sipped her tea, voice dry as bone. "I was going to be responsible and stop them, but watching you two stress eat your feelings and pass out in a fry coma was the most emotionally healthy thing either of you have done in months."

Gar held up his phone. "So, uh... if anyone's wondering, yes — this is my new lock screen."

Mars groaned louder. "I will web your face to the ceiling, Logan."

Dick finally stepped forward, coffee in one hand, scolding brother mode fully engaged.

"Alright, alright — fun's over. Clean up the mess, and then we're talking."

Mars sighed, rubbing her temples.

"I swear to god, Grayson, if this is about the mozzarella sticks—"

"Not about the sticks. About you." His tone softened slightly. "About us. About staying."

Mars's stomach twisted again, but this time, it wasn't all bad. A flicker of warmth snuck in around the edges of her anxiety.

She glanced at Damian, who was still sprawled beside her like some smug, too-hot-for-his-own-good problem, one brow lifted lazily.

"You're not getting rid of me, Eclipse," he murmured low, just for her.

She rolled her eyes but didn't move away.

And for the first time in a long, long time — it felt like maybe she didn't want to.

⭐️🌑🌘🌗🌖🌕🌔🌓🌒🌑⭐️

The living room looked like a war zone.

Empty cartons of fries, crumpled mozzarella stick boxes, stray ketchup packets, and a single, tragic onion ring sat abandoned on the floor like fallen soldiers. A half-empty milkshake teetered dangerously close to the edge of the coffee table.

"Okay, who ordered the pineapple pizza?" Jaime demanded, holding up the offending box like it was radioactive.

Gar grinned shamelessly. "Protein and fruit, bro. It's healthy."

"You're insane."

Kory floated by with a trash bag in hand, effortlessly snatching up wrappers as she passed. Raven wordlessly flicked her fingers, making cups and cartons float into another bag like a goth telekinetic maid.

"Careful with that milkshake," Raven warned, just as Gar bumped into the table.

The cup tipped, Damian shot his hand out lightning-fast, and caught it before it hit the floor.

"Honestly, are you all incapable of existing without creating a disaster?" he muttered.

"You're one to talk, Snugglebat," Gar shot back, grinning.

"Say it again, Logan. I dare you."

Mars watched the chaos unfold, barely biting back a smile as Kory tried to stop Jaime and Gar from bickering over pizza while Raven levitated the last few cups.

"I feel like this is my fault," Mars mumbled.

"It is your fault," Dick said pointedly from the doorway, but there was no heat in his voice. "You and Demon Brat turned my common room into a fast-food graveyard."

Mars sighed, running a hand through her tangled hair. "I'll help clean."

"Nope," Kory chirped, swooping in. "You sit. Recovery rules. We've got this."

Jaime nodded. "Besides, I'm making Gar mop. It's only fair."

"Hey!"

"You dropped the fries, Logan. You mop the fries."

More snickering.

Mars slumped back into the couch with a small, genuine laugh. The ache in her chest, while still there, felt a little less crushing when surrounded by this ridiculous, dysfunctional mess of a family.

Damian sat back down beside her, arms crossed, and smirked faintly.

"Idiots," he muttered, but there was no venom in it.

"Yeah," Mars murmured, eyes soft. "But they're our idiots."

⭐️🌑🌘🌗🌖🌕🌔🌓🌒🌑⭐️