The next morning
*The alarm blares at an ungodly hour, rousing the team from their slumber. Starfire floats out of bed, already cheerful despite the early wake-up call. Beast Boy groans loudly from under his pile of blankets. Cyborg shuts off the alarm with a mechanical hand, his cybernetic eye glowing to life.*Max is already in the kitchen preparing breakfast.
*As the others stagger into the kitchen, rubbing their eyes and yawning, they're greeted by the scent of fresh coffee and pancakes. Max looks up from the griddle, spatula in hand, wearing an apron that says "Kiss the Chef." Starfire grins widely, already bouncing with energy.*
*She nods enthusiastically.* "I slept wonderfully! Your home is so comfortable and peaceful. And breakfast smells delicious!" *Beast Boy, however, looks miserable as he collapses into a chair.* "Why are we up so early again?"
"Remember the tournament they should be open by now I wanted to give you guys an extra hour of sleep." he says.
*Cyborg pours himself a cup of coffee, his mechanical parts whirring softly.* "Appreciate the thought, Max. Extra sleep'salways good." *Raven enters the kitchen last, her expression neutral as usual. She sits down quietly, her gaze flicking between Max and the food.*
*Beast Boy perks up slightly at the mention of the plan.* "Oh yeah! We gotta scope out the competition, right?"
*Cyborg nods, sipping his coffee.* "Registration, recon, figure out who we're up against."
*Raven levitates a cup of tea to herself.* "And identify any potential threats."
*Starfire claps her hands together.*
"No, the plan is I go in like I always do. raven and cyborg are my managers. You place bets on fights I don't participate in and bets on fights I do participate in always bidding on me or the person I tell you to bet on while Beast, boy, and Starfire watch from outside." he said understanding how they might not remember
*The kitchen fills with the sounds of eating and quiet conversation. Max serves up pancakes, eggs, and bacon, making sure everyone's plate is full. Starfire happily eats, occasionally asking questions about Earth food. Beast Boy eats quickly, already bouncing with energy. Cyborg analyzes the nutritional content of his meal. Raven eats slowly, watching Max with thoughtful eyes.* **
"Is there something you want to ask me Raven." he asked noticing her look.
*Raven sets down her fork, her purple eyes meeting Max's gaze directly.*
"What's your endgame?"
*She leans back in her chair.*
"You built this place. You're obviously wealthy. You could fight in these tournaments alone, keep all the winnings. Instead, you're sharing your home, your resources, with us. You're feeding us, trusting us with your operation."
"You want to know my endgame it's Simple."
*Raven waits, her expression unreadable.* "Which is?"
*The rest of the Titans pause their eating, drawn into the conversation. Even Beast Boy stops shoveling pancakes into his mouth.*
*Starfire tilts her head curiously.*
*Cyborg's mechanical eye whirs softly as he watches Max.*
*The kitchen falls silent, waiting for his answer.*
"when I first came to the city, I was alone I didn't know where to go. I had these amazing powers, but I had no one that's why I found the boxing wing. I said, do any money making a few friends getting stronger I eventually set this place up and at their money, I decided to start patrolling the city trying to be a superhero that's when Starfire arrived and after I met all of you and we went on this crazy adventure to help her and destroy the alien fleet. I realized it might not be a bad idea to have friends with you so I'm doing this to earn your trust so we can be friends andpossibly like a family." he says honestly.
*The room is silent for a moment as everyone processes Max's words. Starfire's eyes shine with empathy and understanding. Cyborg's expression softens, realizing the loneliness Max must have felt. Beast Boy swallows hard, suddenly understanding why Max is always so welcoming and friendly.*
*Raven is quiet for a long moment, something shifting behind her usually guarded eyes.*
"Family," *she murmurs, almost to herself.*
*Starfire flies over and wraps Max in a bone-crushing hug.* "You already have family with us, friend Max!"
*Beast Boy grins broadly.* "Dude, you're stuck with us now. No take-backs!"
*Cyborg reaches out and ruffles Max's hair affectionately.* "You're one of us now, whether you like it or not." *He laughs lightly.* "I'm just glad you're not some evil mastermind trying to take over the world."
"Why would I want to take over the world that be so much paperwork and I do not wanna deal with that."
*Beast Boy snorts with laughter, nearly spitting out his juice.* "Paperwork! The true villain!"
*Cyborg chuckles deeply.* "He's got a point. Ruling the world sounds exhausting."
*Even Raven's lips twitch upward slightly.* "Logical reasoning."
*Starfire giggles, finally releasing Max from her hug.* "You are very wise, friend Max!"
" so do you guys wanna see the vehicle bay." he says.
*The Titans exchange excited looks, already pushing back their chairs.* "Vehicle bay?" *Cyborg asks eagerly, his mechanical parts whirring with anticipation.* "You have a vehicle bay?!" *Beast Boy starts bouncing in his seat.* "Sweet! Are there cars? Motorcycles? Jets?!"
"You bet come on." He says going towards the elevator with him following him inside, going to the third floor.
*The Titans' jaws drop in unison. Rows of sleek vehicles gleam under bright lights—high-performance motorcycles, armored sports cars, a couple of advanced jets tucked against the far wall. Racks of weapons and gear line one side, while mechanics stations populate the other end.*
*Cyborg's mechanical eye is whirring at maximum intensity.* "This... this is insane, man."
"Yeah, let's take the limo beast boy, Starfire, you guys are gonna have to fly so you can watch us remember the plan."
*Beast Boy pumps his fist.* "Flying! I can do that!" *He transforms into a hawk, flapping his wings excitedly.*
*Starfire nods firmly.* "We will observe from above and report anything suspicious!"
*Cyborg is already drifting toward the limo, running a loving hand along its sleek exterior.* "This beauty... you're letting me drive, right?"
"Yes, unless you don't want to?"
*Cyborg grins widely.* "I want to! I so want to!" *He slides into the driver's seat, adjusting the mirrors and getting comfortable. Raven rolls her eyes but smiles slightly as she gets in beside Max in the back.*
"OK, then Titans go."*The limo pulls out of the vehicle bay, gliding smoothly along the underground roads. Above, Beast Boy and Starfire take to the skies, keeping a close eye on the surroundings. Raven keeps her senses open, watching for any signs of danger, while Cyborg focuses on navigating the streets expertly.*
"This limo is programmed to take us directly to the ring if it's still there." He says when we're in the alien attack from yesterday, causing a lot of damage throughout the city as they looked for Starfire Eventually, they came up upon it, and the building where the fighting ring was, the building was completely fine with no visible damage
*The limo comes to a smooth stop outside the fighting ring building. The Titans step out, Beast Boy and Starfire landing softly beside them. They look around, taking in the scene. The building stands pristine among the ruined cityscape, its windows unbroken and doors intact.*
"Looks like this place came out fine OK Everyone take these ear pieces they will allow us to communicate." He said, holding out five earpieces for them to take.
*Each Titan takes an earpiece, slipping it into place. Cyborg tests his with a curt "Check." Raven nods once, her purple eyes scanning the area intently. Starfire smiles and says, "We are ready, friend Max." Beast Boy grins and gives a thumbs-up.* "Let's do this!"
*Beast Boy shifts into a hawk and takes flight, Starfire rising alongside him as they head to the opposing rooftop. They settle into position, eyes trained on the entrance.*
*Cyborg cracks his knuckles, his mechanical arm humming softly.* "Ready when you are."
*Raven's cloak billows slightly as shadow energy flickers around her hands.* "Let's get this over with."
"Remember, you guys are my managers you're going to be betting on me and on fights I tell you to bet on to get more money."
*Cyborg nods seriously, slipping into character.* "Got it, we're your number one fans and investors." *He adjusts his shirt, trying to look less like a teenager and more like a wealthy backer.*
"OK, let's go ." He says entering the building there was already a few people inside eventually he was spotted by the announcer.
*The announcer's eyes light up as he sees Max enter with Raven and Cyborg in tow.* "Well, well, well! If it isn't the mysterious newcomer who cleaned house last time!" *He strides over, a microphone in hand.* "Back for more, huh? And look at these fine folks with you. Your managers, I presume?"
"Yes, they are."
*The announcer flashes a brilliant smile, his voice dripping with theatrical excitement.* "Ladies and gentlemen! We have a VIP in the house! Let's give a warm welcome to the undefeated challenger—and his team!" *The few patrons already present look over curiously, some murmuring about Max's reputation from last time.*
*Cyborg leans in.* "We should start placing some bets."
"Yes, start placing bets on me And as I win, you will also win by the time we leave here today we should have at least 100 million each"
*Cyborg's human eye widens.* "100 million each?!" *He quickly composes himself, remembering his cover as a manager.* "I mean—excellent investment opportunity. Very smart."
*Raven raises an eyebrow but says nothing, her expression carefully neutral.*
*The announcer rubs his hands together eagerly.* "Your first match will begin shortly!"
"Hold this." I said, taking on my shirt, revealing my muscles and defined body to raven, making her blush. Starfire outside, caught a glimpse and blushed as well.
*Raven clears her throat, trying to compose herself.* "No, nothing's wrong. Just...focus on the fight." *She avoids your gaze, holding your shirt tightly. Inside the announcer's booth, the announcer winks at the camera.* "Looks like our mysterious fighter has quite the physique! The ladies are certainly taking notice!"
Nearby something exploded with dark magic *Max's eyes widen in recognition. Raven's powers are tied directly to her emotions—specifically, her ability to keep them suppressed. Right now, she's clearly struggling.*
*Raven squeezes her eyes shut, taking a deep breath. Her hands tremble slightly as dark energy crackles around her fingertips.* "I'm fine. I'm fine. Azarath... Metrion..."
"OK, just trying to calm while I go and fight."
*Raven nods tersely, her jaw clenched. She's clearly trying to get her emotions under control. The dark energy around her fingers dissipates slowly.* "Go. Fight. I'll be... fine." *She mutters, her voice strained.*He stepped into the ring as his first opponent enters.
*The announcer's voice booms through the arena.* "AND NOW! Our mystery fighter takes the stage against his first challenger—the brutal KROG!"
*A massive alien steps into the ring. He stands at least seven feet tall, with thick grayish-green skin covered in battle scars. His muscles bulge grotesquely as he cracks his neck and knuckles.*
*Krog snarls, pounding his fist against his chest.* "You think you can beat me, little human? I've crushed dozens in this ring!" *He stomps forward, the floor shaking slightly under his immense weight.*
*The announcer raises his hand dramatically.* "FIGHT!"
*Krog charges immediately, throwing a massive punch aimed directly at Max's head.*
Max easily catches it and hit him with a black flash, Sending him out for their ring his head doing a complete 360 around his body.
*The arena falls deathly silent. Krog's massive body lies crumpled on the floor outside the ring, his head twisted completely backwards at an impossible angle. The announcer drops his microphone in shock.*
"DEAR GOD! One punch! ONE PUNCH!" *He scrambles to pick up his mic.* "The winner—by INSTANT knockout—our mystery fighter!"
"Who next."
*The silence stretches awkwardly for a moment. Then a female alien with sleek black scales and razor-sharp claws enters the ring, her golden eyes locked on Max with dangerous intensity.*
*The announcer regains his composure.* "NEXT! Meet Serphina—undefeated in twelve matches, known as the Poison Kiss because her claws carry a deadly venom!"
"Interesting I don't know your species." he hasn't seen her species and DC universe before.
*Serphina's golden eyes narrow as she circles him.* "Vesparian. From the third moon of Xyllon." *Her claws extend slightly, revealing a faint greenish shimmer at the tips.* "And you won't survive long enough to learn more." *She lunges forward with startling speed, but Max sidesteps effortlessly but she turns her hand to swipe at his skin.*
Her nails break on contact with his skin
"I'm more interested in your species so continue talking while we fight." He says as he dodged her Next attack
*Serphina hisses in pain as her claws shatter against Max's skin, leaving no mark. She retracts her claws briefly, surprised.* "You're made of something harder than diamond! On Vesparian, we hunt in packs. Our venom can drop a giant beast in seconds."
"OK, let's keep it going." He says, dodging her next few attacks
*Serphina's attacks become more aggressive and desperate as Max continues to dodge effortlessly. She tries to grab him, her claws digging into his arm—but they snap off again without leaving a scratch.* "Our species is matriarchal! Only the strongest females reproduce!" she snarls between attacks.
"Oh really how does your species reproduce?" he asked curious
*Serphina's golden eyes flash with irritation at being asked such a question mid-fight, but she answers through gritted teeth.* "We lay eggs! After mating with selected males from conquered species!" *She spins, attempting a venomous tail strike.* "The strongest hatchlings are trained as warriors!"
*Her tail whips toward Max's face, but he catches it effortlessly.*
"Really and how do the males pick you?" he says getting more interested in her
*Serphina pauses briefly, caught off guard by the unusual question. Her tail thrashes in Max's grip.* "The males compete in brutal tournaments. The victor mates with the most powerful female." *She tries to pull her tail free, her voice turning harsh.* "Now stop talking and die!"
"And what happens if I win?" he says a curious tone to his voice
*Serphina's eyes narrow dangerously.* "If you win... you earn the right to mate with me. That's our custom. But no outsider has ever defeated a Vesparian warrior." *Her tone drips with contempt.* "Though I doubt you'd actually want to—you're clearly attached to that pale female watching you." *She glances toward Raven.*
"It's complicated, but I need to win anyways so sorry." He says, flicking her forehead with a black flash, knocking her out
*Serphina's eyes roll back as the black flash connects with her forehead, and she drops instantly unconscious to the floor. The arena falls silent again. Even the announcer seems at a loss for words.
I picked her up, placing her outside the ring with raven who was giving me a glare outside I could feel Starfire doing the same thing.
*Raven's violet eyes narrow as Max approaches, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. The ground beneath her feet crackles slightly with dark energy.* "You're really going to carry her over here?" *Her voice is flat but there's an unmistakable edge to it.*
*Starfire Watches through a window, her green eyes glowing intensely as she watches Max set Serphina down.*
"She could be an interesting member to the team besides, I'm pretty sure she doesn't have anyone else judging by how she acted." he is trying to justify it.
*Raven's jaw tightens, dark energy flickering around her hands.* "So you're just... collecting alien women now? That's your plan?" *She gestures toward the unconscious Vesparian.* "She literally tried to poison you. Her species conquers others."
*Starfire lands beside the edge of the building outside, her normally cheerful expression unusually serious as it comes through the communicator .* "Friend Raven has a point."
"Yes, but she can change. You can't judge someone on the first appearance when we first met Starfire she was destroying the entirety of downtown. but now she's a part of the team and our friend why can't Stephanie be that." he said, giving them an example.
*Raven's expression softens slightly at the mention of Starfire's past, but she still looks skeptical.* "Starfire was confused and scared when she arrived. She didn't know Earth's customs. This one—" *She gestures at Serphina's unconscious form.* "—is a trained warrior who knowingly tried to kill you."
"Well, so Did Starfire, she literally Raised her hands and fired full power energy blast at us if cyborg didn't have a shield to cover himself and beast boy, and I didn't have my adaptation and we regeneration we would be dead." he said.
*Starfire's expression shifts, her gaze dropping to the ground as memories of that day surface.* "He is correct..." *She clasps her hands together.* "I did not understand. I was frightened. I attacked without knowing."
*She Her voice is stern through the communications set.* "but On my planet, we were told Vesparians were enemies."
Well, maybe we can change that give enough time." He says, as the announcer says another challenger has appeared
" Can you just watch over her while I'm there and cyborg How are we doing on bets?"
*Cyborg grins widely, holding up his arm display showing the betting stats.* "Boy, we are CLEANING UP! Started at 50:1 odds against you. Now after dropping Krog and Serphina? It's shifted to 3:1 in your favor. We've already made triple our initial bet!" *He laughs.*
"Great keep up the good work and monitor Serphina Tell me when she starts to wake up." He says going back into the ring
*Cyborg salutes him.* "You got it! I'll keep an optic on Sleeping Beauty here."
*The announcer's voice echoes through the arena:* "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! Our next challenger—a warrior from the Zandar System! Weighing in at 400 pounds of pure muscle! THE INDESTRUCTIBLE GORGATH!"
*A massive figure emerges from the shadows of the arena entrance. Gorgath stands at least eight feet tall, his rock-like gray skin covered in natural armor plating. Spikes protrude from his shoulders and forearms. His beady red eyes lock onto Max as he cracks his knuckles loudly.*
The announcer continues enthusiastically. "Gorgath has NEVER been defeated in combat!"
"That's the first time for everything" he says, cracking his knuckles
*The crowd roars with approval as Gorgath steps into the ring, his heavy footsteps shaking the ground. He lets out a deep, rumbling laugh.* "You're smaller than my last meal." *He charges suddenly, swinging a massive armored fist at Max's head like a hammer.*
Activating infinity his punch stopped before it can even touch him.
*Gorgath's massive fist stops dead in mid-air, blocked by the invisible barrier. His red eyes widen in shock as he pushes harder, veins bulging in his arm.* "What trickery is this?!"
*The crowd gasps. Even the announcer is stunned.* "I've never seen anyone stop Gorgath's assault before it even lands!"
"This is my specialty now time for you to go down." He says activating black flash, punching him in the stomach, thin in the jaw finishing it off with the uppercut, and then a black flash kick sending him out of the arena
*Gorgath's eyes bulge as the black flashes connect one after another. His rock-like body crumples under Max's assault, finally launching through the arena wall with a deafening crash. Dust and debris fill the air where he once stood.*
*The announcer's voice cracks.* "Gorgath... K-O'D! In under THIRTY SECONDS!"
*The crowd is dead silent for a moment, then erupts into thunderous cheers and applause. The announcer is practically screaming into his microphone.* "WHO'S NEXT?! WHO CAN STOP THIS OUTSIDER PHENOM?!"
He spend hours facing off against opponents, human or alien, between matches. He took Breaks and he found out—that the aliens came here after the invasion. Aliens started taking an interest in Earth, and they came for their own reasons. With Cyborg taking bets and me winning matches by the end of the night, I walked away with 100 million, and Cyborg did too. We headed into the limo with Beast Boy and Starfire; I laid Sapphire on the ground inside, still unconscious.
*Cyborg is grinning from ear to ear as he counts the cash.* "Dude, we just won HUNDREDS of millions! This is insane!" *Beast boy is sprawled out on one of the limo's plush seats, already changing the TV to watch sports highlights.* "Max, you're a freakin' beast!"
"thank you, there's still one thing we need to discuss." he Says pointing to Sapphire
*Starfire notices Max pointing at the unconscious Vesparian and floats over, her green eyes filled with concern.* "Oh, poor little Sapphire... She has not moved since you defeated her." *Raven, sitting silently in the corner, opens one eye to look at the sleeping alien.* "What about her?"