Despite the brief sting of rejection, Supergirl recovered faster than even she expected. The moment had hurt—more than she would ever admit aloud—but she brushed it off. Still, she took Ashborn's suggestion to heart. She needed to unwind. So she messaged Batgirl with a simple idea: "Girl's night?"
To her surprise, Barbra was all for it.
"It's hard to find girls our age who can talk about secret identities without getting weird," she'd replied with a laughing emoji. "Let's do it."
With Batgirl's help, they reached out to someone else who'd make things even more fun—Starfire. The Tamaranean was ecstatic at the idea. "It shall be glorious!" she had responded enthusiastically, practically radiating joy through the message.
The trio decided to meet in Central City the next evening—a neutral place far from their usual patrol zones and hero business. Kara and Barbra arrived first in their civvies: Kara in a soft blue sweater and jeans, Barbra in her leather jacket and ponytail.
After a short wait, a swirling portal opened just down the block. Out stepped Starfire, vibrant and beaming as always. Behind her came a less thrilled Raven, and lastly, a girl wearing sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat that barely contained her bubblegum-pink hair.
"Hello, friends!" Starfire said cheerfully, floating over to hug Kara and Barbra. "You already know Raven," she gestured with a grin, "and this is Jinx, the newest of the Titans!"
Jinx offered a small wave. "Hey."
The five strolled down the lively streets of Central City, blending in like any group of ordinary friends. They laughed, swapped stories about missions, mishaps, and the madness that came with saving the world on a weekly basis. Eventually, they settled into a cozy café tucked away near a quiet street.
Drinks and desserts in hand, the conversation deepened. Batgirl leaned forward, curiosity piqued. "So, Jinx… how'd you end up with the Titans? I heard from Robin you used to work with Ashborn Black."
At that, Jinx's playful smirk vanished. Her gaze dropped to her drink, fingers tracing the rim of the cup. There was a beat of silence.
Seeing the change, Barbra quickly raised her hands. "Hey, you don't have to answer if you don't want to."
"No," Jinx said quietly. "It's fine."
She exhaled and began, "Ashborn didn't hire me because he needed me. He only gave me a job because… my friends insisted. Said we were a full package and he agreed."
There was another pause.
"But as time went on, I started… liking him. More than I should've. I thought maybe he felt the same, y'know? I changed, got better. Tried harder."
Her lips pressed into a tight line.
"Then one day, he just told me. No intention of forming any bond, any relationship. Said it outright. So I left. Came back to Jump City. Eventually, I joined the Titans."
Starfire reached across the table, gently taking Jinx's hand. "Worry not, friend. It is his loss."
Kara, who had been quiet till now, blinked. The realization hit her like a gust of cold wind. She wasn't the only one.
"…Actually," she said, her voice soft, "I asked him out too. Not long ago."
The table stilled.
"He rejected me," she continued with a weak laugh. "Said he didn't want to get involved with anyone."
Four sets of eyes turned toward her, blinking in disbelief.
"Wait, what?!" Barbra said, voice rising in surprise. "He rejected both of you?! Who the hell does he think he is?"
Kara laughed, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "It's fine. I talked to Superman about it. He thinks it's… part of Ashborn's past. Says when he was younger, he lost everyone… his parents, cousins, uncles. All of them. Different reasons, but same end. One after another. Now he just keeps his distance. Doesn't want to go through that pain again."
"Superman said that?" Starfire asked, visibly saddened.
Kara nodded. "And Batman thinks he hides his trauma behind his smile."
The group fell into silence, digesting the weight of that revelation.
All except Raven, who didn't buy it.
[That guy doesn't carry trauma. He is the trauma. That smile of his? That's not pain. That's control] Raven thought as her eyes glanced at her shadow. She has been afraid of her own shadow for quite some time now.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Jinx smirked, "Well, now I feel a little better. I am not the problem for once"
The girls chuckled genuinely as the evening wore on.
___________
The crisp night air buzzed with excitement as the girls left the café, laughing and chatting away, their earlier confessions slowly dissolving into the rhythm of friendship. The streets of Central City were alive—neon signs flickering, cars passing with trailing music, and people milling around in unexpected clusters.
It wasn't long before they noticed a particularly large crowd gathered outside a restaurant just down the block. The line stretched out the door, curling around the corner.
"What is happening here?" Starfire asked, floating slightly above the sidewalk for a better view.
Kara flagged down a man stepping out of the crowd with a box in hand. "Hey, what's going on?"
The man grinned. "This? Oh, this is Heartattack. New restaurant in town. They sell sandwiches so overloaded with calories, they're basically a health hazard. That's why it's called Heartattack. It's all the rage."
Starfire's eyes widened. "But… if it is harmful, why would one consume it willingly?"
Batgirl chuckled, stuffing her hands in her jacket pockets. "People love testing limits. Even if it's bad for them. The danger makes it cool."
Kara laughed. "Maybe we should give it a try, just for the—"
Her words stopped abruptly, her voice catching in her throat.
From between the crowd, casually stepping out with a plastic takeout bag in hand, was none other than Ashborn. His appearance was the same as always—black coat, relaxed gait, a distant yet a smiling expression. The bag crinkled slightly as he adjusted his grip on it.
All five girls halted in sync. Ashborn, too, noticed them almost instantly. His eyes flicked across the group and rested briefly on Kara, then on Jinx.
So… she followed my suggestion, he mused. A girls' night out. But Jinx?
He walked over without hesitation.
"Didn't expect to run into all of you here," he said casually, his eyes scanning the lineup. Barbra's narrowed eyes gave away her distaste. Raven's aura flared with silent tension and fear. Kara and Jinx couldn't seem to meet his gaze for more than a second, their awkwardness clear. Only Starfire beamed at him, albeit with a confused tilt to her head.
Kara took the lead, trying to steady her tone. "We're having a girls' night. You?"
Ashborn simply turned slightly, lifting the bag and pointing toward the glowing restaurant sign behind him.
"Of course," Kara muttered, smirking faintly. "You'd come here."
His eyes then shifted to Jinx. "That's quite the change in your social circle."
Before Jinx could respond, Starfire stepped forward proudly. "Jinx is now one of the Teen Titans! A hero, and our dear friend!"
Ashborn gave a single nod. "Glad you found something to do."
It wasn't cruel. It wasn't cold. Just… neutral. His tone had no real care behind it.
There was a beat of silence between them all, an odd energy hanging heavy in the air— Jinx had unfinished words, unspoken feelings and she couldn't say a word.
"Well," Ashborn said, already turning to the side, "I'll leave you girls to it."
He pivoted to walk away—
—when suddenly, the sky cracked open.
A column of light—blinding, divine, and humming with bright energy—descended from the skies without warning. It engulfed them all in a heartbeat: Kara, Barbra, Starfire, Raven, Jinx…
And Ashborn.
The street lights flickered. Pedestrians screamed. And in an instant, the six figures were gone, pulled skyward within the blazing pillar as the world around them fell back into screams and fear.
No one understood what just happened.