There are a few universal truths in life. Water is wet. The sun is hot. Wally will always eat more than his body weight after a mission.
Oh, and Hermione Granger, given even a sliver of control over anything, will take over like she's Napoleon in a pantsuit.
So, naturally, the moment we stepped into Mount Justice via Zeta Tube, Deedee was already waiting for us, smirking like the cat that ate the canary. Or, in this case, the immortal entity that probably knew exactly how I was going to suffer before I did.
"Recognized: Shadowflame, B-07. Galatea, B-08. Superboy, B-04. Kid Flash, B-03."
As soon as we materialized, I felt it—the deep, bone-melting exhaustion that comes from a solid mission of crime-fighting, property damage, and Wally's endless commentary.
Speaking of, Wally was still vibrating, probably from leftover adrenaline (or, more likely, a sugar high). His foot was tapping so fast I was tempted to stick it in a bucket of concrete just to make him stop.
Connor, meanwhile, looked like he wanted to either punch a hole in the wall or collapse face-first onto the floor. Possibly both. The dude never knew how to relax.
Tia? She was casually cracking her knuckles, already eyeing the training room like we hadn't just spent the last few hours getting drop-kicked through buildings.
And then, there was Deedee.
Oh, Deedee.
The woman was the dictionary definition of Goth Girlfriend Goals. Ripped fishnets, a tank top that read Dead Inside But Still Cute, combat boots, and eyeliner sharp enough to slice through Superman's ego. She was rocking her usual expression of amused chaos, arms crossed, dark eyes twinkling like she was about to wreck my entire evening.
"Ah, finally," she said, her voice dripping with faux relief. "I was starting to worry you let Blockbuster turn you into human smoothies."
Wally grinned. "Please, Deedee. You wound me. We handled that oversized meathead like pros."
Connor snorted. "You mean I handled him while you talked non-stop."
"Talking is handling," Wally shot back, turning to me for support. "Right, fearless leader?"
I smirked. "Absolutely. Nothing beats the power of a well-timed roast."
"See?" Wally threw his hands up. "Shadowflame gets it."
Connor rolled his eyes so hard I thought he'd sprain something.
I turned back to Deedee. "Alright, you're standing here looking all smug. What's the damage?"
"Oh, you mean besides your sleep schedule?" She tilted her head like she was really considering it. "Let's see… Hermione's taken over the control room."
I blinked. "...Taken over?"
"Oh yeah," Deedee said cheerfully. "Full mutiny. Vic let her sit in the chair, and the next thing you know, she's got six monitors up, hacking satellites, reorganizing the system, and probably plotting world domination."
I groaned. "I leave for one mission—"
"She's your best friend," Wally reminded me. "You had to see this coming."
"Oh, I did," I admitted. "I just thought Victor would have more sense."
Victor's voice crackled over the comms. "I do have sense. I also have exhaustion. You try working another shift while Miss Granger is out here building a better Batcave."
Tia snickered. "C'mon, Vic, I thought you didn't need sleep anymore?"
"I don't," Victor grumbled, "but I still want it. There's a difference."
Fair enough.
I ran a hand through my hair. "Okay, fine. I'll deal with Hermione in a minute. Where's Kara?"
"Oh, Supergirl?" Deedee rocked back on her heels. "She's leading a team helping Superman with a volcano in Hawaii."
Connor immediately straightened. "Wait—she's leading?"
"Yep."
His jaw clenched. "I should've been there."
I nudged him. "Dude, you just got drop-kicked through three walls by Blockbuster. Maybe take a minute?"
Connor grumbled something that sounded suspiciously like "I could've handled it," but let it drop.
"Who's with her?" I asked.
Deedee counted on her fingers. "Starfire, Mareena, Miss Martian."
"So you're telling me Kara's leading a team of literal powerhouses to stop a natural disaster?"
Deedee grinned. "Yep. Superman's so proud."
Wally let out a low whistle. "Man, that's like an Olympic-level dream team. If I ever get caught in a volcanic eruption, I know who I'm calling."
"Not us?" I asked.
He laughed. "You? Maybe. But I'm not trusting Tia anywhere near lava."
Tia smirked. "Oh, please, I'd be fine."
Connor side-eyed her. "You're heat-resistant, not lava-resistant."
"Semantics."
I shook my head. "Alright, what about Zee?"
Deedee made a so-so motion with her hand. "She's in Vegas."
Wally's eyebrows shot up. "Oh, cool, vacation?"
Deedee gave him the most deadpan look I'd ever seen. "She's helping her dad with a supernatural mess. Something about a demon casino and people making really bad bets."
"Vegas," Connor muttered. "Figures."
"Well," I stretched, "looks like everyone's busy."
Deedee nodded. "Mhm. And you guys? You look like you need showers, food, and about twelve hours of sleep."
Wally pouted. "But what if I want to go on another mission?"
Connor shoved him lightly toward the showers. "Then you need a therapist."
Wally dramatically clutched his chest. "Oof. Right in the ego."
Tia was already halfway to the kitchen. "If anyone needs me, I'll be raiding the fridge. Try not to let Hermione draft you into her tech empire before I get back."
Deedee grinned. "No promises."
I exhaled, rubbing my temples. "Alright. Showers. Food. Then I'll deal with Hermione."
Victor's voice chimed in again. "Good luck. You're gonna need it."
—
The second I stepped into the shower, I let out a sigh that could've powered a wind turbine. Finally. Five minutes to myself. No magic emergencies, no alien invasions, no Bat-shaped lectures about "proper protocols." Just me, hot water, and the sweet, sweet silence—
HISS
The door slid open.
I didn't even bother turning around. "You know, normal people knock."
"Normal is for peasants," Deedee quipped, stepping in like she was paying for the place. Which, considering she was the literal anthropomorphic concept of Death, she technically owned the universe, so yeah, squatters' rights or something.
She smirked, her dark hair dripping over pale skin, looking every inch the Big Tiddy Goth GF the internet kept thirsting over. Not that she ever wasn't in full Goth Queen mode. I half-expected her to pull out a pumpkin spice latte and start ranting about the decline of alternative rock.
Then, because the universe really hates me, the door hissed open again.
"Oh, good," Tia announced as she stepped in, shaking out her blonde hair like she was auditioning for a shampoo commercial, warrior princess edition. "I was afraid you'd start without us."
I sighed. "Of course. Because why would I ever get to shower alone?"
Deedee leaned against the wall, completely unconcerned with the concept of personal space. "Harry, sweetie, when has that ever been the case?"
"Never," Tia supplied helpfully, stepping under the spray beside me, her golden skin already glistening with water. "You should really know by now—whenever you shower, someone is always going to join you. It's practically a tradition at this point."
"Not one I signed up for," I muttered.
"Oh, please." Deedee reached out, poking me in the chest. "Don't act like you hate it."
Tia gave an exaggerated sigh. "Besides, we're dirty."
Deedee nodded solemnly. "So dirty."
"And you wouldn't leave us like this, would you?" Tia pouted, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief. "Neglected? Unclean?"
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "This is happening, isn't it?"
Deedee grinned. "Oh, this is happening."
Tia hummed, plucking the soap from my hands. "You know what would be really helpful?"
I sighed. "Let me guess. You two need me to wash you?"
Tia beamed. "See? He gets us."
Deedee leaned in, voice a conspiratorial whisper. "It's almost like he's psychic."
"Or just resigned to my fate," I muttered.
And so began what I could only describe as the world's most aggressively flirty group shower.
Tia gasped dramatically. "Oh no, Harry! However shall we scrub all this soap off?"
Deedee tsked, shaking her head. "If only we had someone with big, strong hands to help us."
I gave them both a deadpan stare. "You two are insufferable."
Deedee flashed a Cheshire grin. "You love it."
Tia smirked. "And us."
…I mean, fair, but that wasn't the point.
At one point, Tia turned to Deedee and said, "You know, technically, we're saving water by showering together."
Deedee nodded sagely. "Good for the environment."
I shot them both a look. "Yeah. That's definitely why you're here."
Deedee gave me her best I'm totally innocent smile. "Sustainable living is very important to me."
Tia hummed. "Mmm. And yet, Harry's the one doing all the work."
I groaned. "I hate both of you."
Deedee kissed my cheek. "No, you don't."
Tia winked. "You adore us."
By the time we finally finished, I was convinced that solo showers were just a myth. I stepped out, grabbing a towel, while Deedee and Tia trailed behind with identical we totally won that round smirks.
Mount Justice was still standing (miraculously), but I could already feel the chaos brewing outside. Hermione was probably one step away from turning the base into a fully automated battle station. Wally was definitely going to comment on my shower time. And knowing my luck, Batman himself would appear out of thin air just to silently judge my life choices.
Still, as I took one last look at my two grinning, dripping-wet girlfriends, I had to admit…
There were definitely worse problems to have.
—
I was this close to enjoying a quiet meal. You know, the kind where you actually get to chew your food without some disaster-level event happening every five minutes? Yeah, right. As if my life would ever be that simple.
It had started like any other semi-normal day at Mount Justice. After the World's Flirtiest Shower, I was hoping for a break. Just me, a burger, and maybe—just maybe—five minutes of peace. You know, wishful thinking.
I found myself seated at the canteen, flanked by Tia and Deedee. I'm not going to lie—these two had plans. And, of course, I was the unsuspecting target.
"So, Harry," Tia purred, like a cat who had just cornered a mouse. She speared a cherry tomato with a fork and popped it into her mouth slowly, eyes locking onto me. "Are you ready for tonight?"
I took a casual bite of my burger, already feeling the impending doom. "You're going to have to be way more specific."
Deedee leaned forward, one eyebrow arched as she stirred her coffee. "Oh, don't play dumb, babe. You know exactly what we're talking about."
Tia smirked, her voice dropping an octave. "A long, hard night."
I glanced at her over my burger, half-expecting my food to somehow catch fire. "Training?" I asked, feigning innocence. I was so good at this.
Deedee's eyes glinted as she grinned. "Oh yeah, sure. Training."
Tia leaned in closer, voice sultry. "Endurance. Sweat. Moans."
Deedee added with a dreamy sigh, "Exhaustion by the end of it."
I swallowed, pretending like I didn't know what was going on here. "Mm-hmm. Sounds brutal. I can barely keep up with you two during training."
Tia practically choked on her water. "That is not what we meant."
"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow, smugly, and took a deliberate bite of my burger. "You mean the grueling hours of physical exertion?"
Deedee snorted into her coffee. "Oh, you are something else."
I leaned back in my chair, pretending to examine my food like it held the answers to the universe. "What? You think I'm going to blush?"
"Not yet," Tia said, narrowing her eyes playfully, "but I bet you will eventually."
The whole room was definitely listening in now. Artemis had her usual "I'm trying to be disgusted, but I'm low-key intrigued" face on, while Kaldur was pretending to be deeply invested in his sandwich like it held the secret to world peace. Wally looked like he was about to burst out laughing but was really trying not to. Good luck, buddy. You can only keep it in for so long.
But the real kicker? Conner—Superboy—was just chillin' in his seat, silent as usual, but there was this little glint in his eyes. As though he was both in awe of the chaos and also secretly hoping he could get a break from whatever absurd thing we were about to do next. He looked like he was waiting for a disaster to hit, and knowing me, he wasn't wrong.
Then, bam, disaster hit.
The klaxon blared like someone had set off a fire drill in the middle of a rock concert. "Warning," the AI's voice announced, as though it wasn't literally the sixth time today, "Unauthorized system access detected."
I sighed deeply, mentally preparing myself. "Oh, come on. I can't even eat in peace anymore?"
"Sounds like your best friend needs attention," Tia teased, licking her lips.
Deedee leaned in, practically purring. "Go get her, tiger."
I rolled my eyes, making a face like I was about to refuse—until I saw the mischievous glint in their eyes. They weren't going to let me off the hook that easily.
"Fine," I muttered. "But when the base goes into lockdown because Hermione's trying to hack the entire world again, don't say I didn't warn you."
I made my way toward the control room, fully aware that I was walking into a whirlwind. Because, let's be real—Hermione? Smart as hell. Incredibly capable. But when it came to controlling Mount Justice's tech? She had absolutely no chill.
And sure enough, there she was, sitting at the control desk like she owned the place.
"Granger," I said, leaning against the doorway with my arms crossed. "What kind of techno-tyranny are you running today?"
She glanced up, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "Harry, don't act surprised. You know what I'm capable of." She turned back to the console and adjusted something, probably hacking into some classified system for fun. You know, normal Hermione things.
"Yeah, well, I wasn't aware this was technically a hacked emergency drill," I said dryly, taking a step closer. "You didn't accidentally launch all of the satellite missiles, did you?"
Hermione shrugged, totally unfazed. "Eh, just a few. Nothing that can't be fixed in under an hour. But I'm sure you'll manage to clean it up."
I gave her an exaggerated bow. "Oh, don't worry, I'm on it. But let me guess—you broke the system again and want me to fix it before it melts down into a puddle of chaos?"
"Exactly." Hermione leaned back in her chair, looking at me with a smirk. "You know you love it."
I sighed dramatically. "Love? This is the kind of thing that should be classified under 'disaster' in the Mount Justice manual."
"You say disaster," she said innocently, typing furiously, "I say entertainment. You're welcome, by the way."
I couldn't help but grin. "Only you would find this fun, Hermione. But sure, I'll save the day—again."
She winked. "You do have a knack for that, Harry. Almost like you enjoy the chaos."
"Almost." I paused, catching her eye with a mischievous smirk. "But I'm pretty sure it's just you and me against the world."
"Lucky for you," Hermione said, her fingers flying across the console. "You're never alone."
I shook my head as I turned back toward the door, chuckling to myself. "Yeah, I really need to rethink my life choices."
And with that, I knew the day was far from over. There was always another insane mission, another tech disaster, or—if I was lucky—another chance to get back to the chaos that was my life. But hey, at least I had Tia and Deedee. And honestly, what could possibly go wrong with them in my corner?
Except, of course, everything. But who was keeping track?
—
Alright, here's the deal. Picture this: you're standing in a top-secret underground lair, surrounded by more tech than you'd find in a Marvel movie. You've got laser security systems, AI that could probably run for president, and alarms that would wake up the entire planet if they went off. Now, add the fact that you've got a guy—me—who can barely tell the difference between a mouse and a rabbit. And, no, I'm not talking about the furry kind. I'm talking about the one that's got a bunch of buttons and clicks when you're trying to not make the whole base go boom.
That guy? Me. Harry Potter—the guy who accidentally turned his alarm clock into a pile of smoke last Tuesday because he was trying to set the time.
So, here I was, standing in Mount Justice's control room, next to Hermione Granger—aka the actual genius of our team. She's over there, typing away like she's just casually texting her mom, while I'm staring at the console as if it's about to give birth to a new species of cyborgs.
"Seriously, Harry," Hermione muttered without looking up, "do you ever stop looking like you're trying to read a foreign language?"
"I am reading a foreign language," I grumbled. "A language made of code and technological wizardry that is beyond my understanding."
"You've fought an actual basilisk, and you're intimidated by some code?" she said, her voice dripping with that perfect blend of amusement and 'I know you're better than this, Potter.'
"Well, a basilisk's just a giant snake. You can kill that with a few well-placed sword through the mouth," I shot back, trying to sound cool but mostly coming across like a guy trying to swat a fly with a broomstick. "But this? This is like trying to break into a vault using nothing but my charm... and maybe a rogue spell or two."
Hermione didn't even glance at me. "Focus, Harry. I accidentally reprogrammed the security systems, and now it's trying to call every military base in the world. We need to fix it now before we're on the 'Do Not Resuscitate' list."
My eyes went wide. "Wait, you—you did this?"
"Yep," she said, still typing like a pro. "It's not catastrophic. I mean, unless you consider an international security breach catastrophic."
"Just a tiny bit," I muttered, then took a deep breath. "Alright. I'm going in."
I staggered over to the console, thinking that maybe—just maybe—I could fake it 'til I made it. And by "make it," I mean pressing random buttons until something either exploded or worked. I'm not totally hopeless, after all. "Here goes nothing," I said under my breath, placing my hands on the keys.
BOOM.
Okay, no real explosion. But you know when you're trying to do something that should be easy and instead it feels like the universe is laughing at you? Yeah, that was this moment. I stared at the screen like it was a sudoku puzzle with no numbers.
"What am I looking at here?" I asked Hermione, who was now watching me with a smirk.
"You're looking at failure, my dear Harry," she said, but it wasn't mean. More like affectionate, with that little twinkle in her eye that made you think she was secretly rooting for you to prove her wrong. "Just kidding. The key is knowing where to start. This is an easy fix."
I stared at her, hoping she was about to reveal the magic code that would solve everything. But she just raised an eyebrow and went back to her work, as if I was the one holding the bag on this.
Now, I had two options: One, I could embarrass myself further by asking Hermione how to fix this. Or two, I could tap into my Harry Potter skills. And no, I'm not talking about waving a wand here. I'm talking about the secret weapon I've been hiding for years.
The phone.
I pulled it out of my pocket, feeling oddly proud of myself. Hermione gave me a skeptical look. "What are you doing?"
"Simple," I said, connecting the phone to the console with the kind of confidence that only comes from a complete lack of understanding of what was going to happen next. "Sometimes you just gotta hack the system my way."
"Wait, wait, wait," Hermione sputtered. "You can't just—"
"Oh, I absolutely can," I said, ignoring her completely. I started typing on my phone, sending in random strings of code. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't professional. But it was me. "Watch and learn, Granger."
"You're joking," she muttered, but I could see her eyes widening in disbelief.
"I don't do jokes," I said, tapping the screen with a certain flair that I definitely didn't feel. "I'm all about results."
"Harry, if this blows up, I'll—"
I raised a hand. "I'll be fine. This is either going to work, or we'll be cleaning up molten circuitry for the next week. Either way, we'll be good."
And then... I hit it.
The screen blinked. The AI flickered, like it was going through a midlife crisis. And then click—it all reset. The security systems were back to normal.
"Boom. Done," I said with a grin that I could practically feel all over my face. "That's how you save a base, Hermione."
She gaped at me. "That... actually worked?"
"Sure did," I said, giving her a wink. "It's not about how you do it. It's about getting it done."
She shook her head in disbelief, her lips twitching. "I'll admit, I didn't see that coming."
"Well, that's because I'm full of surprises," I said, puffing out my chest. "Don't worry, Granger. I've got it all under control."
"I can't believe you actually used your phone," she muttered. "That's the least efficient way of doing it, and yet it worked."
"Efficiency is overrated," I said with a grin. "Besides, when you've got style, who needs a manual?"
Hermione shot me a mock glare. "Okay, but next time, don't just 'punch' the system back to life."
"Eh, punching's my thing," I said, turning toward the door. "It works for me."
"Oh, and Harry?" Hermione called after me, her voice light with amusement. "You still owe me for fixing this. Big time."
I spun around with a smirk. "Yeah, yeah. Later, Granger. I'm going to get a snack. You deserve one too—after all, you're the brains behind this miracle."
With a victorious feeling in my chest, I walked out, ready to get some food, because if there's one thing that's always reliable—it's that Harry Potter does the work, and then he eats. Simple as that.
The rest of Mount Justice? Well, it's safe—for now.
—
I thought I was finally about to get a break. You know, a moment of peace after saving an entire base, diving into a computer system like a half-caffeinated hacker, and generally making sure the whole world didn't implode on itself. But of course, the universe had different plans for me. It always does.
I had just closed the door to my room, about to collapse into a chair and maybe eat something that wasn't processed protein bar, when I froze. Right there, halfway to the bed.
Tia (also known as Galatea, and yes, that Galatea) and Deedee (who, as you might've guessed, was the literal embodiment of Death and just so happened to look like she walked off a goth-magazine cover) were already lounging on my bed. And by "lounging," I mean they looked like they were auditioning for a film called How to Be Irresistibly Dangerous 101.
Tia, with her platinum hair cascading down in perfect waves, was wearing what could only be described as a corset that might've been more leather than fabric, with laces so tight I wasn't sure how she was still breathing. There were also some pretty dangerous curves involved that I was sure would distract me forever if I let myself look.
And then there was Deedee, dressed in a loose satin robe so black it could've swallowed all the light in the room, barely hanging on to her shoulders, like she was one gust of wind away from wearing... well, nothing. Her smirk, like she knew exactly what she was doing, sent shivers straight down my spine.
I stood in the doorway, eyes bugging out, trying to figure out how I'd ended up here, my brain still fried from saving the entire planet (again). "Uh... hey, you two. I was just... about to... relax?" I said, more of a question than a statement, as if that would change the situation.
Deedee—Death herself—just tilted her head and raised an eyebrow like she wasn't even trying. "Oh, don't be coy, Harry," she purred in that low, velvet voice of hers, her lips curling into a dangerous smile. "We made it very clear. Tonight's the night." Her tone was smooth like a syrupy death-metal song I'd listen to if I wanted to make questionable life decisions.
And yeah, she definitely had that "I can make you rethink your entire existence" kind of aura. In case I needed reminding.
Tia, not to be outdone, raised a brow, grinning like she was the cat that ate the canary... or maybe the bird. "You know, Harry," she said, sliding off the bed with a little too much grace for my sanity, "we did warn you." She gave a little twirl that could've been choreographed by a master seductress. "Did you think we were joking?"
Joking. Right. Like I didn't already know they were going to turn my life upside down with a flirtatious hurricane.
I cleared my throat, trying to channel some semblance of dignity, but, let's be real—I was about two seconds away from making a run for it. And not in the "I'm going to face this situation with bravery" kind of way. More like the "I'm going to faint and then slowly back out" kind of way.
But I wasn't that lucky.
"Okay," I said, swallowing hard, hoping my voice didn't betray my rapidly racing heart. "So... a threesome, huh?" I shot them a look. "And I'm just... supposed to say yes?"
Tia's laugh rang out like the sound of chimes on a breezy spring morning, except with a lot more edge. "Say yes?" she scoffed, shaking her head. "Oh, Harry, we both know that once we've got you in our sights, the question is never if you'll say yes. It's how much fun you'll have saying it."
Deedee smirked and leaned back onto my bed, the satin robe shifting dangerously low. "Yeah, and let's be real, Harry," she added, voice like warm, twisted honey, "you don't really have a choice. But don't worry." She flashed a grin, all teeth and wicked amusement. "We're very good at making things enjoyable. Trust me."
I wasn't sure whether I was about to drop dead from the intensity of it all, or from how unbelievably turned on I was. I'm talking about full-on "you've never had a snowball's chance in hell of saying no" territory. But hey, I've lived a weird life. I was used to getting caught in impossible situations.
"Seriously, though," I said, the sarcasm dripping from my voice as I walked closer to them, trying to at least maintain a shred of my usual composure, "there are, like, rules for this kind of thing. Consent. Boundaries."
Tia raised her hand, giving me a "please" look. "You think there's room for rules when we're talking about Death and Galatea? Honey, that's cute."
Deedee leaned forward again, closing the distance between us with a slow, deliberate step. "And what's the worst that could happen?" she purred, her breath warm against my ear as she whispered, "You die from too much pleasure?"
I swallowed. Yep, that's it. I was officially out of my depth.
"Not sure if I want to die tonight," I said, trying to crack a joke even though my throat had gone dry. "I mean, you two are hot as hell, but I like being alive."
Deedee flashed me a grin that could've melted steel. "It's not about whether you're alive, Harry. It's about living."
"Exactly," Tia chimed in, her voice a soft melody, but with a dangerous undertone. "So, stop overthinking it." She stepped closer, and I could feel the heat coming off her. "Trust us. It'll be worth it."
I looked between the two of them. Yeah, there was no backing out now. My mind was still reeling, but my body? My body was already screaming, Yes. Do it. Don't think.
So, I sighed dramatically, pretending like I had any ounce of control left. "Fine," I muttered, staring straight into their eyes. "But you're the ones who are going to regret this. No backing out."
Tia grinned. "Oh, we wouldn't dream of it."
Deedee leaned in close, so close I could feel the intensity in her voice. "The night is young, Harry. And so are we."
And then the world as I knew it came to a halt. Or at least, it felt that way. I didn't know what was happening anymore, but I knew one thing for sure: this night? It was going to change everything.
And the last thing I heard before my brain short-circuited?
"Let's just make sure we don't burn the place down," I muttered, mostly to myself, as the temperature in the room skyrocketed.
"Well, that's the plan, Harry," Tia said, stepping closer, her voice laced with promise. "But I'm pretty sure we're about to make a very hot mess."
And just like that, I was done for.
—
Raven sat cross-legged on her bed, trying—really trying—to center herself. Her palms rested gently on her knees, her breath slow and steady as she attempted to slip into the sweet calm of meditation. The room was peaceful enough, the soft light filtering through the window and the faint hum of the city outside doing their best to lull her into serenity.
But there was a problem. A very, very loud problem.
It wasn't the usual creaking and groaning of an old building settling; no, it was something far more... distracting. Annoying even. Because from the room next door, she could hear everything. And by everything, she meant everything.
"Oh, Daddy, you're so good at this."
Raven's eyes snapped open like someone had hit her with a cold bucket of water. Daddy? The audacity. The sheer, mind-boggling audacity. And this wasn't even the first time. Oh no. Tia and Deedee had been at it again. Their favorite game? Trying to drive Raven absolutely crazy.
The sound of Tia's voice—sharp, high-pitched, dripping with a mix of mischief and mock sweetness—filled the air. Raven could practically see her smirking on the other side of the wall, as if she could somehow feel Raven's irritation through the stone and plaster.
"Mmm, Harry... yes, Daddy..."
Raven's jaw clenched so hard it could've cracked. Okay, that's it. Done. Meditation over. She couldn't block it out anymore. She was trying, really trying, to get some peace in this damn place, but every time she started to calm her mind, those two loudmouths on the other side turned it into their own personal show. And Harry, as always, was right in the middle of it.
Raven growled under her breath, pressing her hands to her temples like she could physically push the sound away. But no matter how many times she tried to escape it, there it was again—Tia's breathy moans, Deedee's sultry tone, and Harry's voice... always calm, always knowing just how to drive people wild.
""That's it, Harry. Give it to me like you know you can. Don't hold back, Daddy."" Deedee's voice dropped low, almost mocking, a hint of playful menace slipping through.
Raven stared at the ceiling, biting her lip to stop herself from screaming. Of course, it wasn't just the fact that they were loud—that was half the problem. The other half? They were doing it on purpose, hoping she'd hear. Hoping she'd feel something. Hoping she'd cave and admit, just once, that maybe she was just as attracted to Harry as the rest of them. They thought they could break her, but Raven wasn't stupid. She wasn't about to let her thoughts be hijacked by whatever sexual game they were playing next door.
She'd never admit it. Not to them. Not to Harry.
Her fingers dug into her knees as she tried to keep her mind from spiraling. She couldn't cave. Not now. Not ever.
And yet, in the back of her mind, that voice, the voice she refused to acknowledge, whispered that maybe—just maybe—she wasn't as immune to Harry's pull as she liked to pretend.
Tia's voice rose in pitch. "Mmm, Harry, I can't wait..."
Raven clenched her fists. She was not going to let this affect her. Nope. Not happening.
But the sounds coming through the walls only got louder. Tia moaning. Deedee laughing that low, throaty laugh she had, and Harry...
Harry, with that deep, confident chuckle. "You two are impossible," he said, his voice rough, like he had to force the words out between breaths. "But damn... you make it fun."
Raven's stomach twisted. Of course, he was enjoying this. Why wouldn't he? They were playing some twisted, sick game—and she was the one left watching from the sidelines. The idea of him enjoying the chaos, the control he had over them... It got to her. More than she'd ever admit.
"Mmm, Harry... more, please," Tia's voice purred, teasing, almost mocking Raven's irritation.
Raven squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to not be tempted. She could hear Deedee's voice clearly now—sultry, like a snake slithering through velvet. "Oh, Harry... don't stop... I need more, Daddy..."
Damn it. Damn them.
Raven stood up, her chest tight, her mind screaming in frustration. She wasn't going to be part of this. She wasn't. She marched toward the door, determined to do anything but listen to those two, and Harry's obvious smug satisfaction. Nope. Not gonna happen.
But as she passed the mirror by the door, she caught sight of herself. Her eyes were darker than usual, almost stormy, and her lips—god, her lips—were pressed tight with frustration. Her reflection seemed to mock her. Maybe she wasn't as immune to Harry's allure as she liked to pretend. Maybe she did want to feel the rush of being part of the madness.
No, Raven. Don't be stupid.
But that nagging voice—the one she couldn't shake—whispered, "Are you sure?"
Before she could answer herself, a triumphant cheer echoed from next door. It was loud, victorious, and sounded suspiciously like Deedee and Tia high-fiving over whatever game they'd been playing. Raven groaned in defeat. She really wasn't ready to deal with this. Not yet.
Maybe never.
But it was hard to ignore the fact that Harry had this way of making everything feel... possible. And that was the problem. Because even though she hated it, she wanted it. She wanted him.
God, I'm such a mess.
---
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