GOTHAM – ARTHUR’S ESTATE

Arthur’s estate stood untouched by the destruction that claimed Gotham, as if the chaos that had nearly swallowed the city had simply... chosen not to reach this far.

Beyond the distant skyline, faint traces of destruction could be seen, smoke rising in thin trails, emergency lights flickering, but here, on the outskirts, it was calm.

The estate itself was alive with movement.

Shadow demons moved through the halls and across the grounds silently, restoring order as if nothing had ever been out of place, dust vanished, furniture aligned perfectly. Even the garden, touched only lightly by the passing storm, was being tended to, every leaf straightened, every path cleared.

Arthur walked along one of those paths, hands resting loosely at his sides, his posture relaxed in a way it hadn’t been for days.

Beside him, Raven accompanied him, her presence as calm as the night itself.

A few paces behind, George followed, composed as always, though there was something faintly unsettled in his expression. "Master Arthur," George began, his tone refined as ever, "I took the liberty of observing the events in the underground base through your... modern devices."

Arthur glanced at him briefly.

"Yeah?"

George adjusted his posture slightly, folding his hands behind his back.

"To describe it as unpleasant would be an extraordinary understatement," he said. "The condition of the city... is most distressing."

Arthur exhaled lightly.

"Yeah," he said. "Well... it could’ve been worse."

George raised an eyebrow.

Arthur’s gaze drifted toward the distant skyline.

"It would have been worse," he added casually, "if more monarchs and their armies showed up."

There was a pause, George blinked once.

"...Yes," he said after a moment. "Let us all be grateful that they did not."

From Arthur’s other side, Raven let out a quiet huff.

"Stop terrifying George with your casual apocalypse talk."

Arthur turned his head slightly, with a smile.

"Terrify who? George?"

He let out a short laugh.

Raven gave him a look.

"Now that I think about it... you’re right," she said dryly. "George commands shadow demons in this estate. I doubt he scares easily."

She glanced at him.

"Do you fear anything, George?"

George didn’t hesitate.

"Taxes," he replied, perfectly composed.

Arthur blinked.

"...Makes sense, I guess."

Raven laughed softly, they continued walking for a few moments, the quiet of the garden settling comfortably around them then Arthur slowed slightly,

"Are you feeling okay, Rae?"

Raven glanced at him,

"I’m fine," she said. "Stop worrying, I heal quickly."

She rolled her eyes faintly.

"Your annoying ant marshal wouldn’t stop insisting on healing me, though."

Arthur’s lips twitched.

"Beru means well."

He stepped closer, reaching out without hesitation. His fingers wrapped gently around her hand, and for a brief moment, his eyes closed.

There was a subtle shift, something unseen passing between them.

Then he opened his eyes again.

"Good."

Raven tilted her head slightly.

"You had to check me yourself.." she said, almost teasing. "I told you, I’m fine. Those monarchs were nothing."

Arthur gave her a look.

She held it for a second.

Then sighed.

"...Okay, they were a bit strong," she admitted. "Nothing too crazy though."

George cleared his throat lightly behind them.

"Master Arthur," he said, redirecting the conversation with impeccable timing, "are you quite certain that such a... substantial number of guests will be arriving this evening?"

Arthur shrugged slightly.

"I assume so," he said. "I did promise Kara I’d tolerate them in my home for one night."

George inclined his head.

"Very well. I shall personally oversee the preparations."

Arthur waved a hand lazily.

"Don’t overdo it."

He paused, then smirked faintly.

"...Actually, no. Do whatever you think is best. It’s a celebration."

Raven smiled.

"As you wish." George answered.

He turned and departed, already issuing silent commands to the shadow demons as he went.

Arthur and Raven remained in the garden.

For a moment, it was quiet again.

Then

A streak of dark and violet light cut through the sky.

Raven’s eyes lifted instantly.

The figure descended fast, controlled, landing a short distance in front of them.

It was a young woman.

In shadow lantern uniform and shadow violet energy flickering faintly around her.

She straightened immediately, and bowed her head.

"Supreme Commander."

Arthur smiled faintly.

"Hello Commander."

Raven’s gaze sharpened slightly, studying her.

The woman straightened, "We have fulfilled our assignment," she said. "Earth has been successfully defended. The Corps members are preparing to return to Nyx."

Arthur nodded once.

"Of course, good work by the way."

She hesitated.

Just slightly.

"I... understand our primary objective remains unchanged," she continued. "We will remain focused on it."

Arthur crossed his arms, watching her.

"But?" he prompted.

She looked down for a fraction of a second.

Then back up.

"I request permission to remain on Earth," she said. "Temporarily."

Raven’s brow lifted slightly.

The lantern continued quickly.

"I am aware of my responsibilities to my sector. However... after recent events..."

She hesitated again, then pushed through it.

"I would prefer to stay. In case of another incursion and I really want to..."

Arthur didn’t let her finish.

"I understand."

She blinked.

"You may remain."

She stared at him, stunned in silence.

"Rea...Really?!"

Arthur nodded once.

Raven glanced between them, faintly amused.

The girl’s composure cracked, just a little.

A genuine smile broke through.

"Thank you... thank you, Supreme Commander!"

She bowed again, deeper this time.

"I won’t disappoint you!"

Arthur waved a hand lightly.

"I know."

She straightened, then turned, already lifting into the air.

"I’ll return to my duties once everything stabilizes," she added quickly. "I promise!"

And then she was gone, vanishing into the night sky.

Arthur exhaled softly.

Raven watched the direction she had gone.

"I’ve seen that girl before," she said. "In nyx, right?"

Arthur nodded.

"One of the strongest now."

There was a faint note of pride in his voice.

"She was completely lost when she first arrived in Nyx, she had no idea what a lantern ring is, and why it chose her. Now look at her."

Raven crossed her arms lightly.

"She mentioned a ’main goal of the Corps.’"

Her eyes shifted to him.

"Apokolips?"

Arthur’s expression darkened just a fraction.

"Yeah."

He looked up at the sky, distant.

"I’ve been keeping them busy," he said. "Interfering with their operations, helping worlds they target... making their lives harder."

His voice was calm.

"Darkseid hasn’t left my mind."

Raven stepped closer.

"Maybe don’t think about him tonight," she said softly, placing a hand against his chest. "You’re allowed to breathe for a few hours."

Arthur glanced down at her hand.

Then back at her, before he could respond

A red and gold blur dropped from the sky.

"Hey! I’m back!"

Kara Zor-El landed lightly in the garden, her smile bright too bright to be anything but genuine.

Arthur raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Welcome," he said. "I was starting to think you weren’t going to attend your own celebration."

Kara’s expression shifted instantly.

"My own.. what do you mean my celebration?" she said, a faint blush rising. "This is for all of us!"

Arthur smiled.

Raven did too.

"Of course it is," Arthur said lightly.

He tilted his head.

"Clark coming?"

Kara’s smile returned, a little mischievous now.

"Yeah," she said. "Not alone, apparently."

Arthur huffed quietly.

"...Great."

The calm didn’t last long.

A sharp, elegant chime echoed through the grounds the front gate announcing visitors.

Arthur tilted his head slightly, listening.

"...Already."

Raven glanced toward the distant entrance, then slowly turned her eyes back to him. Her gaze dragged over him from head to toe, unimpressed.

"You’re really planning to greet them like that?"

Arthur blinked once, confused for half a second, then looked down at himself.

Shirtless, smudges of dried blood that hadn’t bothered to fully disappear in his hands. His hair longer than it used to be, falling loosely around his face, giving him a look that was somewhere between "ancient warlord" and "guy who hasn’t slept in months."

He frowned.

"...What’s wrong with this?"

Raven didn’t even hesitate.

"Uhh.. Everything?"

From the side, Kara folded her arms, nodding with far too much agreement.

"Yeah, no. she’s right. You look like you just crawled out of a battlefield."

Arthur glanced at her.

"...I did just crawl out of a battlefield, we kind of all did."

Kara pointed at him like that proved her point.

"Exactly but I got myself cleaned up. That’s not the look for a celebration."

Arthur exhaled, dragging a hand down his face.

"Damn it..."

The chime rang again, a little more insistent this time.

From somewhere deeper in the estate, the faint movement of shadow demons shifting toward the entrance could already be felt.

Raven stepped forward before Arthur could even think of moving.

She caught his hand.

"Come on."

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

"Where?"

She didn’t let go.

"To your room," she said simply. "Let George handle them for now."

Kara smirked slightly.

"Oh, this I wanna see."

Arthur looked between them, suspicious now.

"...Why do I feel like I’m about to regret this?"

Raven’s lips curved just a little.

"I have an idea."

That was not reassuring, but she was already pulling him along.

Arthur let himself be dragged without much resistance, muttering under his breath as they walked.

"I just fought three monarchs and this is somehow more dangerous..."

Kara followed behind them, clearly entertained.

"You’ll survive," she said lightly. "Probably."

/-\

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