Queen of Game Night
Wayne Manor – Living Room, Saturday Night
The coffee table was littered with game pieces, snack bowls, dice, cards, and one very competitive Batfamily.
MJ sat cross-legged on the floor, sleeves rolled up, hair in a messy bun, and a smirk that screamed “I’m about to ruin all of you.”
Peter was sitting behind her on the couch, watching with mild horror and silent admiration.
Jason narrowed his eyes across the table. “You can’t possibly have that card. There’s no way. I counted—”
MJ dropped it with a flourish. “Draw Four.”
“WHAT—” Jason shouted, toppling back in disbelief. “She’s a card shark. She’s a red-haired witch! Burn her!”
“Technically, I shuffled,” Tim muttered, adjusting his glasses.
“And she read you all like a book, Drake.” Damian scowled, arms crossed, still holding twelve cards. “I’m never playing Uno again.”
Dick chuckled, raising his hands in surrender. “I’m just glad I wasn’t the first to go out. I’ll take the moral victory.”
Cass smirked from the corner, quietly stacking cards. She hadn’t spoken all game, but MJ kept slipping her cards under the table. Silent alliances were a power move.
Peter finally broke his silence. “You guys do realize she warned you.”
“Warned us?” Steph asked.
MJ leaned back, triumphant. “I said, and I quote: ‘I grew up playing poker with a drunk aunt, an ex-wrestler neighbor, and a guy who thought he was psychic. You don’t scare me.’”
“I thought that was a joke!” Tim groaned.
“Nope,” Peter said, wrapping his arms around MJ’s waist. “She’s terrifying. It’s one of the reasons I love her.”
MJ leaned back against him, smug. “Get used to losing, Bats.”
Cass tapped a new game box on the table. “Rematch?”
MJ’s grin widened. “Bring it.”
Jason pointed at Peter. “You’re not allowed to team up with her next round. You two are like a power couple from hell.”
Peter raised an eyebrow. “You say that like it’s not the goal.”
Everyone groaned.
MJ laughed, leaning into Peter as the next game started. Cards shuffled. Trash talk resumed. Sibling chaos ignited.
And Peter?
Peter just watched her — surrounded by his family, completely at ease, head thrown back in laughter — and knew:
He was never going back to the dark.
Because with her and them?
He was finally in the light.