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The Titans Tower was in complete chaos.
Streamers hung crookedly from the ceiling because Neil insisted he had “an artistic eye,” which Theresa immediately informed him was objectively false. Half the balloons were underinflated, one of the congratulatory banners was hanging upside down, and there was glitter absolutely everywhere despite Atlanta specifically telling Neil not to use any.
“It adds atmosphere,” Neil defended dramatically while standing on a chair trying to tape another gold streamer to the wall.
“It adds cleanup,” Theresa replied dryly from the couch where she was sorting paper decorations into piles.
Atlanta walked out of the kitchen carrying a tray of snacks before stopping in the middle of the room to stare at the glitter covering the floor. “Neil.”
“What?”
“I said no glitter.”
“This is celebratory sparkle.”
“This is going to be in the carpet for the next ten years.”
Neil waved dismissively. “Future us can deal with that problem.”
Atlanta laughed softly and set the tray down on the table already overloaded with snacks, drinks, and a giant graduation cake Odie had almost dropped twice while bringing it inside earlier.
The entire surprise party had originally started as one of Atlanta’s random emotional ideas after Archie graduated from New Olympia High School that morning. She had quietly mentioned that maybe they should celebrate him properly because he worked incredibly hard balancing school with monster attacks and constant near death experiences.
To Atlanta’s complete shock, everyone immediately agreed.
Now the Titans Tower living room had transformed into a full celebration complete with music, decorations, food, and far too many balloons Neil kept dramatically arranging like he was planning a royal gala instead of a surprise party.
Meanwhile Jay, Herry, and Odie were currently distracting Archie around the city while the others finished preparing everything.
Neil hopped off the chair and clapped his hands loudly. “Okay. Important rehearsal time.”
Theresa immediately sighed. “Neil, nobody rehearses yelling surprise.”
“That,” Neil informed her seriously, “is why most surprise parties lack emotional impact.”
Atlanta crossed her arms with amusement. “You’ve thought way too much about this.”
Neil ignored her and pointed dramatically toward the front door. “Positions, everyone.”
Theresa looked deeply unconvinced but stood anyway while Atlanta tried unsuccessfully not to laugh.
Neil moved them around the room like an overdramatic theater director. “Theresa, less stiff. You look like you’re preparing for battle.”
“I literally prepare for battle every week.”
“Tonight you prepare for joy.”
Theresa deadpanned. “How inspiring.”
“Atlanta,” Neil continued while gesturing at her, “you need more energy.”
Atlanta blinked innocently. “I’m literally planning this for my boyfriend.”
“Yes, but your surprise face is weak.”
“My surprise face?”
“You look too emotionally stable.”
Theresa burst out laughing while Atlanta stared at Neil in disbelief.
“What does that even mean?”
Neil dramatically demonstrated by throwing his arms into the air and yelling, “SURPRISE!” at a volume that echoed through the tower.
Atlanta winced. “Oh my gods.”
“That,” Neil said proudly, “is commitment.”
Theresa folded her arms. “That was terrifying.”
Neil pointed accusingly. “See? This is exactly the problem. Neither of you understand theatrical presentation.”
Atlanta grinned slowly. “Neil, you’re lucky we didn’t make you distract Archie.”
Neil gasped dramatically. “Excuse me, I would’ve done amazing.”
Theresa snorted. “You can’t keep secrets for more than ten minutes.”
“That is slander.”
“You literally told Odie about his birthday present three weeks early because you got excited.”
Neil opened his mouth before immediately closing it again.
Atlanta smirked knowingly. “And if you had to spend an entire day distracting Archie, you absolutely would’ve accidentally mentioned the party.”
“I would not.”
“You absolutely would,” Theresa agreed.
Neil crossed his arms stubbornly. “I can be subtle.”
Atlanta raised an eyebrow. “Neil, yesterday you asked Archie what kind of cake he liked and then panicked so badly you pretended you were writing a research paper about frosting.”
Theresa laughed so hard she nearly dropped a stack of napkins.
Neil looked offended. “In my defense, it was believable.”
“It really wasn’t,” Atlanta said kindly.
Neil pointed toward her accusingly. “Okay, but you would’ve been terrible too.”
Atlanta blinked innocently. “No I wouldn’t.”
“You tell Archie everything.”
Atlanta opened her mouth to deny it before stopping.
Because honestly?
She really did.
The second anything exciting happened, her first instinct was always Archie.
Theresa smirked knowingly. “She lasted six minutes before telling him what his birthday present was.”
Atlanta defended herself immediately. “He looked cute asking questions.”
Neil groaned dramatically. “Exactly! You are incapable of secrecy when it comes to your boyfriend.”
Atlanta tried not to smile because unfortunately that was completely true.
Neil turned triumphantly toward Theresa. “See? And you would panic under pressure.”
Theresa frowned. “I would not.”
“You absolutely would.”
“She really would,” Atlanta admitted gently.
Theresa looked betrayed. “Atlanta.”
“You get nervous lying.”
“I do not.”
“You apologized to Chiron once because you accidentally spoiled movie tickets.”
Theresa sighed heavily. “Okay, maybe a little.”
Neil placed both hands on his hips proudly. “Which means I am the only competent person here.”
Atlanta and Theresa exchanged identical looks before saying together, “That’s concerning.”
Neil ignored them and resumed pacing around the room importantly. “Now. Once Archie walks through the door, we all jump out together.”
“You’ve explained this six times,” Theresa informed him.
“And yet your enthusiasm remains lacking.”
Atlanta laughed softly before checking her phone again for the hundredth time that evening. Her stomach fluttered with excitement every time she thought about Archie walking into the room.
She really hoped he liked this.
Archie never made a huge deal out of his accomplishments, but Atlanta knew how hard graduating had been for him. Between training, missions, monsters, and balancing regular teenage life, he constantly pushed himself harder than anyone realized.
And she was unbelievably proud of him.
A soft smile spread across her face at the thought.
Neil noticed immediately and groaned. “You’re thinking about Archie again.”
“I’m always thinking about Archie.”
“That’s horrifyingly romantic.”
“She’s in love,” Theresa teased lightly.
Atlanta smiled without embarrassment. “Very.”
Before Neil could dramatically complain again, Atlanta’s phone buzzed.
She immediately checked the message.
Odie: We’re outside. Archie still has no idea.
Atlanta’s entire face lit up instantly. “They’re here.”
Neil straightened dramatically like a general preparing for battle. “Everyone into position!”
Theresa moved beside the couch while Atlanta hurried toward the doorway, practically vibrating with excitement now. Neil dimmed the lights quickly before diving behind the kitchen counter with surprising commitment.
The tower fell quiet.
Footsteps echoed faintly outside the front door alongside Jay’s voice loudly complaining about something incomprehensible. Herry laughed while Odie tried unsuccessfully to sound casual.
Then came Archie’s voice.
“I still don’t understand why we had to come back here first.”
Atlanta’s heart immediately melted.
She missed him despite literally seeing him that morning at graduation.
The front door opened slowly.
Archie stepped inside first, looking pleasantly exhausted after the long day. He had changed out of his graduation robe earlier, now wearing a dark jacket with his diploma tucked under one arm while Jay, Herry, and Odie followed behind him trying very hard not to look suspicious.
Archie frowned slightly at the dark room. “Why are the lights off?”
Neil jumped out first.
“SURPRISE!”
Theresa and Atlanta followed immediately after.
“Surprise!”
The lights flipped on.
Confetti exploded somewhere behind Neil because apparently he had hidden party poppers in advance like a maniac.
Archie froze completely.
His eyes widened slowly as he took in the decorations, balloons, food, cake, and all of his friends smiling at him from around the room.
For once in his life, Archie looked genuinely speechless.
“Oh my gods,” he breathed.
Atlanta beamed instantly at his reaction.
Neil looked deeply emotional. “That,” he whispered proudly, “was perfect execution.”
Archie stared around the room in disbelief. “You guys did all this for me?”
“Obviously,” Jay said.
“You graduated,” Herry added warmly.
Odie smiled brightly. “We’re really proud of you.”
Archie looked completely overwhelmed for a moment before his eyes found Atlanta immediately.
Understanding softened his entire expression.
“This was your idea,” he said softly.
Atlanta smiled innocently. “Maybe.”
Jay snorted loudly. “Definitely. We all thought nobody would take it seriously until she started threatening Neil with bodily harm if he ruined the surprise.”
“I stand by that threat,” Atlanta informed him casually.
Archie laughed softly, visibly touched beyond words.
Then Atlanta launched herself into his arms.
Archie caught her automatically with a surprised laugh while she wrapped both arms tightly around his neck.
“Congratulations, graduate,” she whispered.
Archie stared at her for a moment with overwhelming affection before kissing her immediately.
The room erupted into teasing noises.
Atlanta smiled against his mouth while Archie held her close, one hand sliding gently against her back as he kissed her slowly and sweetly. The affection between them came so naturally now that neither of them even noticed everyone else watching.
“Well,” Neil announced loudly, “I’m invisible again.”
Theresa patted his shoulder sympathetically. “You’ll survive.”
Archie finally pulled back slightly but kept Atlanta close against him, his forehead resting against hers.
“You did all this for me?” he asked again softly.
Atlanta brushed her fingers through his hair gently. “You deserve it.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“I wanted to.”
Archie’s expression softened so completely it nearly made Theresa emotional again.
“You’re unbelievable,” he murmured lovingly.
Atlanta grinned playfully. “I know.”
Archie laughed before kissing her again, shorter this time but somehow even more affectionate.
Jay dramatically pretended to gag. “Please remember the rest of us exist.”
“No promises,” Archie answered immediately without looking away from Atlanta.
Neil looked personally offended. “I organized at least forty percent of this party.”
“You organized glitter,” Theresa corrected.
“Glitter is festive!”
Atlanta finally slid out of Archie’s arms just enough to take his hand instead, though she stayed pressed close against his side like she physically could not stop touching him.
Archie squeezed her hand gently. “You really surprised me.”
Atlanta looked incredibly pleased with herself. “Neil almost ruined it six times.”
Neil gasped. “Traitor.”
“You asked Archie what flavor cake he liked while holding balloons,” Theresa reminded him.
“In hindsight, subtlety was lacking.”
Archie laughed again while looking around the room warmly.
Honestly, he could not remember the last time he felt this appreciated.
Growing up, most people expected him to succeed because of who he was. Because of his confidence. Because he was Archie. But moments like this reminded him that his friends genuinely cared about him beyond the jokes and competition and constant chaos.
And Atlanta…
Gods, Atlanta looked so happy for him that his chest actually hurt a little.
“You keep staring at me,” she teased softly.
“I’m appreciating my incredibly thoughtful girlfriend.”
Atlanta smiled brightly. “Good answer.”
Archie smirked slightly. “I graduated. I’m smarter now.”
“That piece of paper definitely didn’t help your ego.”
“Impossible. My ego is already perfect.”
Atlanta laughed warmly before reaching up to straighten his jacket affectionately. “You really did it.”
Archie’s teasing softened immediately. “Yeah.”
“I’m proud of you.”
The sincerity in her voice hit him harder than expected.
Archie gently touched her cheek. “Having you there today made it better.”
Atlanta melted instantly.
Neil looked dramatically exhausted. “I cannot handle this level of romance.”
“You literally planned a surprise party,” Theresa pointed out.
“Yes, but I expected less eye contact.”
The room filled with laughter while Archie pulled Atlanta back against his side again, unable to stop smiling now.
Eventually everyone gathered around the food and cake while music played softly in the background. Jay kept making jokes about Archie becoming “an educated citizen,” Herry nearly crushed Archie in a congratulatory hug, and Odie proudly presented the slightly lopsided graduation cupcakes he helped decorate.
Through all of it, Archie and Atlanta stayed close together constantly.
Every few minutes Archie kissed her forehead or squeezed her hand or leaned down to murmur something teasing that made Atlanta laugh softly. Meanwhile Atlanta looked at him like he hung the stars themselves.
Neil watched them briefly before sighing dramatically.
“You know,” he announced loudly to the room, “I would also like a surprise graduation party someday.”
Jay blinked. “You have to graduate first.”
Neil looked offended. “Details.”