[NY] [Titan Studios] [2 PM]
The Titan Studios conference room was buzzing with Comic Con prep. Costume sketches, fabric samples, wigs scattered everywhere. Jane stood at the head of the table with her clipboard, looking way too calm for someone about to drop a bomb.
"Alright, ladies," Jane said briskly. "Finalizing the cosplay lineup. Caroline, you're Supergirl."
Caroline's eyes lit up. "Oh my God, yes! Blonde, cape, saving the world in heels? That's literally my resume!"
"Max," Jane continued, "you're Harley Quinn."
Max stared at her flatly. "Oh honey, no. Too many people. Too many fake smiles. My boobs already clock in as overtime pay and my back has been on strike since I was thirteen." She pointed two fingers at her two boobs and groaned dramatically. "I can't carry Gotham and these."
Caroline clapped her hands. "Max, come on! It'll be fun. I'll be Supergirl, you'll be Harley Quinn, we'll be like the Comic Con power couple no one asked for."
"Yeah," Max deadpanned. "And I'll spend six hours smiling for sweaty men who smell like nacho cheese and unemployment. Pass."
Jane clicked her pen and dropped her voice casually. "Well, Alex said you'd look lovely, hot, and sexy in the Harley Quinn outfit."
Max froze. "I'm in."
Caroline gaped. "That's all it takes? I was pitching us as cosplay besties, and you fold the second his name comes up?"
Max shrugged. "If Moneybags wants me in fishnets holding a baseball bat, then Harley Quinn it is. And we are going to do something that I can't explain in public. Besides, unlike Batman, I'm not rich enough to say no to compliments."
Caroline groaned. "You're rich enough! You own multiple bakeries now."
"Exactly," Max shot back. "And nothing says 'bakery boss' like dressing up as a deranged clown girl with a daddy kink."
Jane clapped her hands once. "Great. It's settled then. Measurements are next."
…
[Fashion Department]
The door swung open to reveal Claire twirling in a sparkly disco-inspired bodysuit, roller skates clicking on the floor. Silver fringe caught the light as she struck a pose.
"Claire?" Max was surprised.
"Ta-da! Meet Dazzler!" Claire grinned, spreading her arms like she was headlining a stadium tour. "Titan's got me doing promo skates at Comic Con. How do I look?"
Max blinked. "Like Cher's glitter factory exploded and had a baby with Studio 54."
Caroline gasped. "You look amazing! You're glowing, Claire."
"Thanks, babe," Claire said, spinning around again. "The costume designer nailed it. I told her I wanted 'mutant pop star who could out-sing Madonna and out-laser Beyoncé' and she delivered."
Max folded her arms. "If you laser Beyoncé, the Beyhive will hunt you down. And trust me, not even Dazzler can stop ten thousand angry women armed with hot glue guns and glitter bombs."
Caroline giggled. "So Claire, do you think Harley Quinn suits Max?"
Claire tilted her head, smirking. "Oh, definitely. Max already has the sarcasm, the insanity, and the 'I'll hit you with a baseball bat if you cross me' energy. All she needs is pigtails."
Max sighed. "Great. I'm Harley Quinn and I don't even get a pudding."
Caroline looped an arm around Max's shoulder. "Relax. You'll be the hottest Harley at Comic Con."
Max smirked. "Correction. I'll be the only Harley who actually eats carbs."
Claire cackled, skating backwards. "Oh my God, that's your tagline. Harley Quinn with cupcakes. I'd buy that comic."
Jane tapped her watch. "Costume fittings, now. Let's move before Alex walks in and sees Max without her fishnets. That would be a tragedy."
Max perked up. "Wait. He's coming back today?"
Jane smirked knowingly. "Maybe."
Max groaned. "Fine. Point me to the corset of doom."
Caroline grinned. "This is gonna be the best Comic Con ever."
Claire pumped her fist in the air. "Hell yeah, Titan girls assemble!"
...
[Fashion Department – Fitting Room]
The designer, a petite woman with sharp glasses and a sharper tongue, clapped her hands. "Alright, Harley first. Max, strip."
Max raised an eyebrow. "Wow. At least buy me dinner first."
Caroline nudged her. "Just do it. The faster you get in the corset, the faster I get my cape."
Ten minutes later, Max stood in front of the mirror wearing Harley Quinn's red and blue shorts, fishnet stockings, and a corset so tight she looked like she had lost three organs.
She glared at her reflection. "Great. I look like a Hot Topic clearance rack exploded."
The designer tugged the corset strings tighter. Max wheezed. "Jesus Christ, are you trying to make me a soprano?"
Caroline clapped her hands. "Oh my God, Max, you look amazing. Like, sexy and dangerous. Alex is going to—"
Max cut her off. "Ha! I know. He's gonna fall for me again."
Claire rolled up beside them on her skates, hands on her hips. "Honestly, Max, you pull it off. It's giving psycho pin-up. I'm living for it."
Max sighed. "If by living you mean slowly suffocating while my boobs try to escape through my chin, then yes. Thriving."
Caroline was already in her Supergirl skirt and cape, twirling in front of the mirror. "I feel so powerful. Like I could actually fly."
Max eyed her up and down. "More like trip over that cape and break your nose."
The designer returned with Harley's mallet and shoved it into Max's hands. "Here. Complete the look."
Max hefted it onto her shoulder, smirking. "Alright. I'll admit. Beating people with this thing might make Comic Con tolerable."
Claire snorted. "That's the spirit. I can see the headline already: Harley Quinn assaults stormtrooper for asking about frosting recipes."
Caroline gasped. "We could do a photoshoot. Supergirl, Harley, and Dazzler. We'd look incredible together."
Max shook her head. "More like a weird bachelorette party that got lost in a comic book store."
Right then, the door opened. Footsteps.
Jane's voice floated in. "Don't mind me, just bringing someone by."
Max froze. "Oh no."
Claire whispered, "Oh yes."
And Alex walked in with Angelina and Halle.
His eyes swept the room, landing first on Caroline in her cape, then on Claire glittering in sequins, and finally on Max gripping a giant mallet in fishnets and a corset.
There was a long pause.
Max straightened, lifted her chin, and said dryly, "Don't. Say. A word."
Alex smirked. "I wasn't going to… but you look lovely. Hot. And very, very Harley Quinn."
Max groaned, covering her face with one hand. "Someone kill me now."
Caroline beamed. "I told you!"
Claire skated in circles around Max. "Oh no, honey, you're not dying. You're living your villain era. And I am here for it."
Alex's smirk lingered as his gaze shifted from Max to Caroline. "Supergirl," he said, stepping closer. "You look like you flew right out of the comics. The cape suits you."
Caroline lit up like a Christmas tree. She did a little spin, letting the skirt twirl. "You really think so? Because I feel like I could actually leap tall buildings in this outfit."
Max muttered, "Yeah, more like leap tall credit card bills and land in bankruptcy."
Caroline shot her a look. "Jealous."
Alex chuckled, then turned toward Claire. His eyes swept over the sequins and skates. "And you, Dazzler. I didn't think anyone could outshine Comic Con lights, but here you are."
Claire struck a pose, one hand on her hip, the other raised like she was holding a microphone. "Thank you. Finally someone gets it. Mutant disco queen realness. Thank you for this opportunity, Alex."
Max rolled her eyes. "Careful, Claire. If you sparkle any harder, someone's gonna try to hang you on their Christmas tree."
Claire shot back, "And if you complain any harder, Max, someone's gonna mistake you for Harley Quinn's grumpy aunt."
"Ha ha," Max deadpanned. Then she looked back at Alex, her voice softening just enough to slip past her sarcasm. "You know, I'd give you one of my signature bear hugs right now, but this corset has me locked up tighter than a Kardashian prenup. Breathing is already a part-time job."
Alex smiled and glanced at Jane. "Have the designer make her the classic Harley Quinn costume instead of the corset version. Red and black, the original. Something she can actually move in."
The designer huffed. "But the corset—"
Alex cut her off with a gentle smile that said too many things at once. "Classic. Please."
The woman adjusted her glasses and scribbled notes on her clipboard. "Okay. The clown suit it is."
Caroline gasped. "Oh my God, Max in the full jester outfit? I need photos. Like, ten framed ones. For every room in the apartment."
Max glared at her. "You frame one, and I'm putting whoopee cushions under every chair you own."
Angelina stepped forward, her lips curved in amusement. "Honestly, you all look amazing. This lineup is going to steal Comic Con."
Halle nodded, her voice warm but teasing. "And Max, Harley Quinn never looked this lethal before. Or this sarcastic."
Max groaned, tugging at the corset strings. "Alright, I'm tapping out. Someone get me out of this torture device before I pass out and fall face-first into a wig pile."
A little while later, Max emerged from the fitting room in her regular clothes—jeans, shirt, boots, and her usual smirk firmly back in place. She marched straight up to Alex, threw her arms around him, and squeezed hard.
"Now that's the Max hug I missed," Alex said with a laugh, hugging her back.
Max pulled back just enough to press a quick kiss against his lips. "I missed you too, Moneybags."
Caroline clapped her hands dramatically. "Aww, see? Harley Quinn has a heart after all."
Alex then walked over and hugged Caroline. He whispered in her ear, "You've been a very naughty girl, sending me your butt pictures in sexy lingerie. I'm gonna spank you tonight."
"Please do," Caroline whispered back.
Then they pulled back.
After the designer took their final measurements, they walked out of the studio. Claire remained behind since she had a photoshoot scheduled in a few hours. Outside, Alex's SUV was waiting as usual.
...
[30 minutes later]
[Restaurant – Private Dining Room]
The maître d' led them into a private space. Sunlight poured in from the tall windows, bouncing off polished wood and crystal glasses. A round table was already set with wine, appetizers, and enough seats for Alex and his six women.
Angelina and Halle took their seats first, side by side, scanning the room like queens surveying new territory. Max flopped into the chair next to Alex, legs crossed, her smirk daring anyone to challenge it. Caroline sat beside her. She was excited because it had been a while since all of them got together.
Not long after, the door opened again—Scarlett Johansson and Evangeline Lilly walked in. Both wore shades and chic casual outfits that somehow made them look more intimidating than a red carpet.
"Ladies," Alex greeted smoothly, standing up to kiss both of them before guiding them to the empty seats.
Scarlett removed her sunglasses, her eyes immediately flicking across the table. She gave a faint, amused smile. "So. This is the infamous Titan lunch. Looks like our detective is missing." [Alex told them about Chloe. It'd take too long to write him revealing Chloe to everyone. So, skipped the dangerous conversation to avoid repetition.😬😬]
"Well, one day," Alex said with a side nod.
Evangeline took a piece of fries. "Feels like the Avengers, but with better food and fewer capes."
Caroline gasped. "Speak for yourself. I do have a cape."
Max groaned. "And she won't stop twirling in it."
Everyone laughed, even Angelina, who relaxed slightly in her chair.
Alex raised his glass. "Well, ladies… this is long overdue. My worlds are colliding." He smirked. "Try not to kill each other."
Angelina arched an eyebrow at him. "Funny. You say that like you expect trouble."
Scarlett leaned her chin on her hand, lips quirking. "Should we take bets on who makes the first territorial comment?"
Max lifted her hand instantly. "Oh, that's me. Definitely me."
The table erupted in laughter again.
Halle shook her head, her voice warm but firm. "Well, I'm glad we all know about each other. No pretending, or hiding. Just honesty." She looked around the table, meeting each woman's eyes in turn. "That's the only way this works."
Scarlett's gaze softened. "Agreed. We all know what we're here for. Him." She nodded at Alex, who sat back with his usual lazy confidence. "And he seems smug enough to think he deserves it."
"Correction," Max cut in, pointing her fork at Scarlett. "He doesn't think he deserves it. He knows he does."
Caroline clasped her hands like she was narrating a rom-com. "Look at him, surrounded by six gorgeous women, about to eat steak and probably dessert us after. Of course he's smug."
Evangeline smirked, her eyes flicking to Alex. "Well, dessert depends on how much energy he has after handling all of you."
Max leaned back in her chair, her smirk sharp. "Trust me, Moneybags has stamina. Superhuman level."
Caroline blushed. "Max!"
Angelina and Halle exchanged a glance, then burst into laughter. Even they couldn't help it.
"I guess it's been a while since you forgot. Time to make new memories, I guess," Alex said with a wink at Evangeline.
The waiter entered, breaking the moment, and began serving plates—salmon, steak, wine and a couple of other dishes. Oh, a big double-patty cheeseburger for Max. The women's chatter picked up again, this time lighter, more playful.
Angelina asked Scarlett about her new movie, Caroline gushed about the cosplay fittings, Evangeline teased Max about being Harley Quinn, and Halle kept the flow smooth, stepping in whenever things tilted too far toward chaos.
Alex just sat back, sipping his wine, watching the women he cared about laugh together for the first time.
And for a moment, between the jokes and teasing, he thought: God, I love my girls and this new life.
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