The Titan 24 (Patreon)

Chapter 24:

– Titus –

It was past midnight by the time the pizza party wound down and everyone headed home. I was glad to be back home once we made it through the door of Diana’s place. My shoulders were still a bit tense from everything that had happened earlier, but that first step into the house felt like a victory in itself. 

Of course, it wasn’t just me and Diana walking in. There was quite a group following us, which meant this place was about to get pretty lively.

Shayera, Kara, Karen, and Rachel had all come along. It was an interesting sight, seeing all these beautiful women in my life filing behind me. Taking seats in the living room.

I turned my head and saw Grail sauntering out of her own bedroom.

“The fuck is all this?” she muttered, taking in the crowd.

Kara scoffed and folded her arms over her chest. “Rude…”

Karen gave Grail a friendly wave and smiled. “Hi there. You took off so fast after helping everyone that we didn’t get to thank you properly. We brought you back some pizza.” She gestured to the box on the living room table. 

Grail rolled her eyes and walked over to snag the entire box for herself before she took her seat in the last empty chair. Grail’s gaze drifted over all the women, lingering just long enough to make everyone shift a bit. Finally, she locked eyes with me. “You’ve only been back for a couple hours and you’ve already assembled a pretty decent harem here,” she said. “I suppose they’ll all be pretty fun to play with, at least you have good tastes in women.” She licked her lips, taking a slow bite of pizza as if to punctuate the point.

I couldn’t decide if I was supposed to laugh or be exasperated from that comment.

Diana didn’t miss a beat, though. She nodded proudly and winked at me. “He does have good taste if I say so myself,” she added, jutting out her chest for emphasis.

Kara, on the other hand, blushed a deep red. She raised a trembling finger in Grail’s direction. “First of all… you’re never getting to play with me,” she said, her voice catching just a little. “And second of all, what’s your relationship with Titus anyway? Why are you even still living here? Shouldn’t you be going back to your evil flaming planet or whatever?”

Grail shot Kara a glare so intense that I saw Kara flinch. Then Grail scoffed and took another bite of pizza before speaking in a more serious tone. “I’m never going back there if I can help it,” she said, referring to her ‘evil flaming planet.’ Her gaze swept over the room again, sizing us all up. “And I’ve already decided that Titus is going to be my man.” She folded her arms and leaned back in her chair. “Now’s the time to make all your intentions clear, or you might as well get out.”

Kara practically hissed at that, but Karen piped up, pushing her chest out with a cheerful grin. “Well, I also want Titus to be my man,” she said.

Raven’s gray cheeks turned a deep shade of pink, and she pointed out, “He and I have already slept together.”

Shayera let out a low whistle. “Lucky... I want my turn soon!” she declared, sending me a very hungry look that made me gulp.

Diana, not about to be outdone, lifted her chin. “Titus is my man as well,” she declared.

That got a few raised eyebrows from Raven and Karen, and Kara began to sputter.

“What!? But that’s…” Kara started. “Aren’t you his–?”

Diana simply smiled at her. “Titus and I are both Gods, so there’s no reason we can’t be together!” She declared and that was that.

Grail turned, eyes zeroing in on Kara. “You’re the last one, Barbie! Are you going to be one of Titus’s girls or not? If not, then you can go. The door's right there.”

Kara bit her lip and fidgeted in place, shooting me a conflicted look. “I–I wasn’t expecting so much competition,” she mumbled with a small pout. “That’s not fair…”

I felt bad as I watched her wrestle with the situation. I stood up and walked over to Kara, aware that everyone else’s eyes were on us. She let out a little squeak when I wrapped her in a sudden hug, pulling her smaller body close to my chest.

“Sorry about all this, Kara,” I said, trying to sound reassuring. “I wasn’t expecting so many women in my life either.” 

It just sort of happened like that...

For a moment, Kara just snuggled into my chest, closing her eyes and breathing in my scent. It was sweet in a way that caught me off guard. After about a minute, with everyone waiting for her response, she opened her eyes and looked up at me.

“It’s okay,” she said softly as I released her. She brushed a lock of hair behind her ear and cleared her throat. “You’re the best guy I know, Titus, and you deserve to be happy. I guess I’ll be one of your girlfriends… but I don’t really want to join you and o–other girls in bed.” Her cheeks were burning as she spoke.

Karen let out a hearty chuckle. “You say that now, but if you’re anything like me—and we both know you are—then you’ll be changing your mind soon enough. I can’t wait to see what my shy best friend Raven is like under the sheets.”

Raven immediately buried her bright red face in her hands. “Why are you like this, Karen!?” she mumbled.

Karen just shrugged, looking completely shameless. “It’s just how I am.”

I let out a quiet exhale, realizing how wild my life had become in such a short span of time. But looking around the room, I couldn’t deny the twinge of excitement I felt. Maybe it would be crazy, but it didn’t seem like I had much choice but to roll with it all.

…

…This was definitely new.

I was lying on the bed as the big spoon, with Diana’s back snuggled against my chest. We weren’t alone, though, because Shayera was right behind me, pressed against my back with just enough space to breathe. It was crowded, but somehow not uncomfortable.

Diana’s home wasn’t exactly big. It had three bedrooms, a kitchen, and a living room—enough for a normal life, but not for this many people. Grail claimed one bedroom all to herself, and none of us were eager to share with her. Karen and Rachel took the guest bedroom, and Kara ended up on the couch. Shayera, instead of just going home, decided she wanted in on the sleepover.

She had even pouted and said she didn’t want to be left out.

So the only available space happened to be in Diana’s bed with me.

“I think we’re going to need a bigger place,” Diana commented with a small giggle, keeping her eyes closed. “Maybe a mansion? Any preference on where you want to live, Titus?”

We were all wiped from the day—fights, drama, and everything else that came with this crazy life. I let out a tired sigh and felt Shayera shift behind me.

“We should all live somewhere by the beach,” Shayera mumbled, sounding half-asleep. “Maybe Florida.” She’d apparently already decided she was moving in, along with everyone else in this house.

“That could be nice,” Diana agreed with a lazy smile. “We’d get more privacy. There’ve been so many cameras around the city lately, and someone might eventually figure out this is my place. It’s already a miracle most of the League still has secret identities.”

She said most, because I never cared about hiding mine—and Shayera couldn’t really hide hers, not with those wings.

After that, the three of us drifted off. We were exhausted from the long day.

…

The next morning, I was back in my own superhero costume—the black and gold suit that our own Batman had specially created for me. 

It made me think of the mentor who handed it to me, insisting I had the potential to do some real good despite the fact my dickhead "father" didn't think so.

All the women in the house were still asleep after yesterday’s craziness, so I shut the front door behind me with extra care. “No need to wake everybody,” I muttered to myself, keeping my ascension into the air slow so I didn’t accidentally create a sonic boom. Once I was high enough that I wouldn’t disturb anyone, I poured on the speed and covered the hundreds of miles to Gotham in just a few minutes.

I touched down outside Wayne Manor, my boots scraping against the gravel driveway as I took in the familiar sight, although last time I was here wasn't for happy reasons. 

I walked up to the massive front doors. I raised my hand and knocked firmly. Not too firmly though, I didn't want to accidentally knock down the expensive looking door. 

A moment later, the door swung open to reveal Alfred in his formal suit. He gave me a polite nod. “Master Wayne has been expecting you, Master Titus,” he said in that crisp, measured tone of his.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Of course he has,” I replied. 

Alfred guided me through the wide foyer. Eventually, we reached the kitchen, a surprisingly homey space compared to the rest of the mansion. Bruce was sitting at the table, a mug of coffee in hand, while Jason fidgeted across from him.

Bruce looked up first, giving me a short nod. “Titus,” he said.

Jason’s gaze followed suit, and I noticed how his face lit up the moment he saw me. “Hey,” Jason said quietly, running a hand through his dark hair. He looked healthier than the last time I’d seen him—less pale, more focused.

Stepping closer, I offered him a quick pat on the shoulder. “You’re looking a lot better.”

Jason let out a small laugh. “I owe a lot of that to you,” he admitted, his voice wavering for just a second. “Thanks for saving me from the Joker.”

I forced a smile and nodded. “I’m just glad I got there in time,” I said simply. In truth, the whole ordeal had been way too close for comfort. 

Jason shifted in his seat, dropping his gaze to the tabletop for a second before glancing back up at me. “You didn’t just save me, though,” he pointed out. “You also made sure that bastard’s never getting out of bed again.” He paused, looking almost pleased. “He’s stuck in Arkham, can’t move a muscle, has to be fed through a straw, and I hear he’s in diapers that the nurses barely bother to change.”

I felt the corners of my mouth tug upward, a bit of grim satisfaction creeping in. “Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy,” I said, and I meant it.

I took a seat at the kitchen table, exhaling a slow breath as I eased myself into the chair. Alfred approached with his usual impeccable timing and placed a plate of scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon in front of me, along with a fresh cup of coffee. My biology pretty much shrugged off caffeine, but I liked the taste anyway, so I offered him a grateful nod.

He gave a polite dip of his head. “It’s my pleasure, Master Titus.” Without another word, he stepped back to stand near the counter, ready if anyone else needed something.

Bruce and Jason were already sitting at the table. Bruce cradled a cup of his own coffee in both hands, wearing that thoughtful expression I’d come to know. Jason looked more restless—his foot tapped a silent rhythm on the tiled floor, and he kept glancing between me and Bruce.

“So,” Bruce began, leveling me with a direct look, “what do you have to report?”

I picked up my fork and stabbed at my eggs. “Plenty,” I said, “but I’m guessing you want me to start with the other Earth I visited. Honestly, it was equal parts surreal and familiar. I spent about a week there.”

Jason perked up immediately. “Another Earth? That’s insane,” he said, leaning forward. “What was the weirdest part?”

I snorted into my coffee, remembering the bizarre moment all too well. “My crazy step-grandmother was hitting on me,” I told him, my lips twitching at the memory.

Jason practically choked on air. “Wait—what!?”

I held up a hand, trying not to laugh too hard. “Yeah, trust me, that was my reaction, too."

Bruce sighed and took a measured sip from his mug. “Titus doesn’t need to report details like that,” he said. “Just stick to the parts that might affect our world.” He paused, his gaze flicking over me. “Or the League.”

“Sorry, sorry,” I said, chuckling into my coffee. “But you asked, Jason.”

I hadn’t gotten much heroing done during my so-called “vacation,” aside from the few hours I spent with Shazam. After giving Bruce my report at the manor, I decided I needed to get back out there. So I soared up into the early morning sky, ready for a good old-fashioned patrol.

I figured there wouldn’t be much crime at this hour, but I knew from experience that rush hour accidents were bound to happen.

Sure enough, as I flew over the highway connecting Gotham and Metropolis, I spotted a small pileup blocking one side of the road. I touched down near the mess, keeping my eyes open for any sign of injury. A quick peek with my x-ray vision told me nobody was trapped in the wreckage, which was a relief. I also didn’t see any significant injuries—just a bunch of pissed-off drivers standing around, shouting accusations at each other.

I figured it’d be up to the cops to sort out who was at fault, but I still wanted to make sure everyone was all right. The moment I showed up, they all spun around to stare, their jaws practically on the pavement.

“Woah! It’s Titan!” one of them blurted.

I couldn't help but smirk a little bit, it looks like my name was becoming more known to the public. I raised a hand in a half-wave. “Yeah, hey,” I said. “Is anyone hurt, or do you guys just feel like cursing each other out this morning?”

“He’s the one who hit me from behind!” one guy shouted, pointing at another man with a scuffed-up sedan.

“Fuck you, asshole! You stopped short!”

“I only stopped short because the guy in front of me slammed on his brakes for some fucking reason!” the second guy shot back and pointed to the third guy.

“I was trying to avoid a pothole!" Third guy yelled.

"Fuck you!”

"Fuck you!"

“No, fuck you both! You better have insurance!” the first guy retorted, throwing his hands in the air.

“That’s my line!” Third guy shouted. "You both rear-ended me!"

I just shook my head at the scene, realizing they weren’t about to calm down any time soon. “Look, you can all scream at each other until you’re blue in the face, or you can wait for the cops and sort this out the right way,” I said, but they were too busy trading insults to pay attention. I sighed and turned my attention to the tangled mess of vehicles blocking the road.

All three cars were pretty much trashed. It wasn’t going to be an issue for me to drag them off to the shoulder, so I grabbed the front fender of one, lifted it enough to roll it out of the way, and repeated the process with the others. As I worked, I noticed the row of cars lined up, stuck in traffic. A few people had their phones out, snapping pictures or recording video.

A couple kids in the backseat of an SUV waved frantically, wide-eyed and excited. I gave them a quick wave back, which made them practically bounce in their seats. It was a nice reminder that not everyone was having a shitty morning.

Once the wrecked cars were out of the main lanes, traffic started flowing again. The trio of angry drivers finally realized I’d moved their cars, and they turned around, looking a little confused.

“All right, you guys good now?” I asked, crossing my arms. “Wait for the cops, file your reports, and please stop cursing each other out before someone has an aneurysm.” I didn't feel like having to fly one of these guys to the hospital. That would just be annoying…

“Titan! There you are!”

I glanced up at the sky and smiled. Supergirl was flying towards me. I lifted off the ground to meet her in the air. She playfully smacked me on the arm when I hovered close to her. “You left without waking any of us up! We were all worried you got abducted again!” 

I scratched my cheek. I should have thought about that. “Sorry… I’ll leave a note next time. I just know we all had a pretty busy day yesterday. You feeling alright after the battle?” I knew she was fine physically but she did go up against a bunch of evil versions of a lot of her closest friends.

Kara shook her head and then smiled. “I’m ok! You forget I was born on Krypton. The multiverse theory might still be just a theory on Earth, but we had pretty much confirmed it was true. We just never saw a reason to travel outside of our own Universe. Or it was more like the council forbid all kinds of research like that…” she added a tad bitterly.

“Speaking of research, how has your side project been going? Did you make any progress while I was gone?” I asked her. 

Kara nodded enthusiastically. “I sure did! I never really thought how much Kryptonian medical technology could help out the people of Earth, but I’ve already gotten the prototype for a working artificial heart and I’m almost done with working legs and arm replacements as well.” she said proudly. She was concerned about how she was going to market any of them though. Her civilian identity listed her as just a 19 year old farm girl after all. People would be asking questions on where she got all the fancy tech from.

I just chuckled and pointed out the obvious solution to that. If she wanted to start a company, she should just list it under Supergirl… 

“…I can do that?” Kara asked.

“Probably,” I shrugged at her. “You’re already a famous and…relatively trustworthy hero,” I teased her a little bit. She was known for causing a lot of collateral damage whenever she fought supervillains.

Kara punched my arm, hard enough to kill a regular person, but I still didn’t even feel it. “Stop teasing me! I’m trying to get better with my control. It’s not my fault humans make everything so fragile!” she pouted before changing the subject and asking who we should really ask for advice about all this.

I said it was probably best to ask Diana since she does actually regularly use her Superheroine identity for business and public relations. “But we can worry about all that in a couple hours,” I told Kara. “Do you want to come patrol with me?”

“It's a date!” she said smugly and wrapped her arm around mine as we flew off to find another accident.

– Lex Luthor –

Lex Luthor woke up late. He had stayed up way past midnight dealing with some idiots who thought they could embezzle from his company and somehow get away with it. Their corpses would never be found—he’d made damn sure of that. The memory of their screaming still rang faintly in his ears as he dragged himself out of bed.

He stumbled into the kitchen, running a hand over his bald head with a tired grunt. Mercy—his secretary, occasional lover, and constant source of competence—stood by the marble counter wearing her usual tight blouse and pencil skirt. She held out a steaming cup of coffee without a word. Lex took it, grunting a half-hearted thanks before collapsing onto his overpriced leather sofa.

With a flick of the remote, he switched on the TV. Of course, the first thing that greeted him was the local news channel, and they were yammering on about the Justice League.

“Goddamn freaks,” Lex muttered, taking a long sip of coffee. He hated how they flaunted their powers, as if being born with or gifted unnatural abilities made them better than everyone else.

Onscreen, a bubbly anchorwoman practically beamed at the camera. “Today’s story: A super date? The League’s newest hero and heartthrob, Titan, was spotted this morning alongside Supergirl. This is the second time they’ve been seen patrolling together in less than two weeks. Are they just friends, or is this something more...?”

Lex choked on his next gulp of coffee, spattering a few drops onto his expensive rug. “What the hell?!” he barked, coughing and slamming the mug down on the glass coffee table.

Mercy raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. “Something wrong, sir?”

He snarled, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “How the fuck is Titan already back? Klarion banished him to another freaking universe! What is it going to take to get rid of him!?”

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