The atmosphere in the room softened further after that. The tension of battle, the exhaustion, the gate, it all seemed distant past now.

Things felt normal, or as normal as they possibly could for people like them.

Kara finally drifted back toward Arthur’s side again, still flushed from all the attention. He glanced down at her, noticing immediately the way she kept fidgeting with the flower in her hair.

"Nervous?" he asked quietly.

She looked up at him.

"...A little."

Arthur’s expression softened.

"You fought monsters, you realize that? May I also remind you that you are Supergirl?"

"I know idiot!," she whispered. "This just feels scarier for some reason."

That earned a laugh from him, then, without caring that everyone was still watching, he pulled her gently closer by the waist.

"You’ll be fine."

Kara looked at him for a moment.

Then smiled.

"...Yeah," she whispered softly.

"I know."

.

.

.

Arthur had almost forgotten what normal sounded like.

Kara was still recovering from the relentless teasing being directed at her from every possible angle. Clark had somehow managed to bring the topic of baby names into conversation already, which Diana found amusing, Lois found adorable, and Kara found horrifying.

Meanwhile Arthur stood near one of the tall windows with a drink in hand, finally getting a brief moment of peace.

Which naturally meant Raven appeared beside him.

"You know," she said casually, taking a sip from her own glass, "seeing how everyone reacted..."

Arthur immediately narrowed his eyes slightly.

That tone never led anywhere good with her.

Raven looked at him with complete calm.

"I want one as well."

Arthur nearly inhaled his drink.

He coughed once, hard enough that Clark looked over instinctively.

"What.."

"You heard me."

Arthur stared at her.

Nearby, Kara went perfectly still before slowly lowering her drink to hide the smile across her face.

John Constantine, unfortunately close enough to overhear, nearly choked laughing.

"Bloody hell," he wheezed. "Baby destruction and baby death? Might wanna wait and see how the first one turns out before starting a bloody sequel."

Zatanna immediately punched him in the shoulder.

"John!"

"Ow!"

He rubbed his arm dramatically.

"What? I’m merely jesting," he said defensively before glancing toward Arthur. "Of course that’s... lovely to hear. I think... sorry."

Arthur slowly turned his head toward him.

The look alone made Constantine straighten slightly.

"...Right," John muttered into his drink.

Raven remained entirely unbothered by the chaos she had caused.

Then, after letting Arthur suffer for a few more seconds, she finally smiled faintly.

"I’m kidding."

Arthur blinked once.

"...You are?"

"A little."

That answer somehow made things worse.

Raven leaned against the window beside him, her expression softening slightly now that the teasing had passed.

"I’m not quite ready for something like that," she admitted quietly. "I don’t even know how to be a..." she hesitated briefly, almost awkwardly, "...a loving parent."

Arthur looked at her for a moment.

"I don’t think any of us really know," he said quietly. "It probably comes naturally."

Raven stared at him for exactly one second before her lips curled upward.

"Oh," she murmured. "You already sound like a dad."

Arthur sighed.

"I walked into that one."

"You really did."

Then she leaned closer.

Far closer, close enough that only he could hear her next words against his ear.

"Doesn’t that sound right though..." she whispered teasingly. "Daddy."

Arthur immediately coughed again, nearly worse than before.

Raven looked entirely too pleased with herself.

Arthur lowered his voice instantly, glancing toward Clark across the room.

"...You know he has super hearing, right?"

Raven didn’t even blink.

"I don’t care."

Across the room, Clark abruptly looked away into his drink with the expression of someone desperately pretending he heard absolutely nothing.

Kara, meanwhile, had heard everything.

And was now smiling into her glass so hard she could barely contain herself.

Arthur pointed at her accusingly.

"You’re enjoying this."

"A little."

Before he could retaliate verbally, the distant sound of the estate gates bell echoed faintly through the hall.

The room quieted slightly.

George appeared almost immediately beside Arthur like an elegant ghost in a tailored suit.

"Another guest has arrived, sir."

Arthur’s eyes flickered violet for the briefest moment.

Just a pulse.

Then he sighed softly.

"...Of course she came."

George noticed the expression immediately.

"Shall I escort them inside?"

Arthur gave a small nod.

"Please."

George inclined his head gracefully.

"At once, sir."

As the butler departed, Bruce glanced sideways toward Arthur from across the room.

"Expecting someone else?"

Arthur took another slow sip from his drink.

"A good friend of mine."

Bruce hummed lightly.

"Usually arrives uninvited, just like you do."

That earned the smallest smirk from Bruce.

"Oh," he said calmly. "Then it must be that woman."

Arthur slowly looked at him in silence.

Bruce sipped his drink silently in return.

Clark looked between them with visible confusion.

"...What woman?"

Neither answered him.

Several minutes passed before the doors opened again.

George entered first.

"As requested, sir."

Then she stepped in behind him.

Dark hair, dark eyes.

Soft eyes and simple black clothing.

"Hey, Arthur." She said with a warm smile.

Arthur’s expression softened immediately in a way that several people in the room noticed instantly.

"Hey, Didi."

Confusion spread almost universally among those unfamiliar with her.

Clark blinked, Lois narrowed her eyes curiously.

Diana’s gaze sharpened almost imperceptibly.

Only Bruce and Constantine looked unsurprised.

Raven smiled first.

"Hey." Kara followed right after, walking forward to hug her warmly.

"You actually came."

"Of course I did," Didi replied softly. "I couldn’t miss this."

Clark finally stepped forward awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Uh... Clark Kent."

She smiled warmly at him.

"I know you, Clark Kent."

Clark blinked.

"...you do?"

Arthur hid a smile behind his drink.

Didi looked around the room slowly before her eyes returned to Arthur for just a second, then her voice touched his mind gently.

’I’m impressed. The real you is actually here enjoying these kinds of gatherings.’

Arthur answered telepathically without changing expression.

’I’m impressed too. Usually you only send aspects.’

Her smile widened slightly.

’I was sincere. I couldn’t bring myself to miss this.’

Then, she said softer,

’Congratulations, Arthur I’m happy for you.’

Arthur simply smiled and nodded towards her.

Nearby, John Constantine quietly approached Didi with all the caution of a man approaching something infinitely beyond his pay grade.

"It’s a pleasure," he said quietly. "Didn’t realize you enjoyed these kinds of occasions."

Didi looked at him. "Constantine."

John immediately looked like a schoolboy caught cheating on an exam.

’...Right, you wish to remain anonymous for those who don’t know who you are.’ John thought to himself.

Didi simply smiled in response.

Zatanna looked between them suspiciously.

"...John."

"What?"

Her eyes narrowed.

"...Why are you nervous?"

"I’m not nervous."

"You look nervous."

"I always look nervous."

Bruce, without even looking up from his glass, spoke calmly.

"He’s trying not to be disrespectful to Death."

The room went silent.

Clark blinked.

"...Death?"

Lois blinked too.

"What?"

Kara sighed softly.

"Oh yeah... we uhh."

Didi smiled sheepishly and gave a tiny wave.

"Hi."

.

.

.

The night carried on and Arthur stood near one of the massive balcony doors with a glass in hand, half-listening to Clark trying to explain to Lois how impressive Arthur’s shadows are.

"It was genuinely surprising," Clark admitted with complete seriousness. "Your marshals are impressive Arthur."

Lois laughed softly into her drink before glancing around the estate again, still clearly fascinated. "I still can’t believe this place belongs to you."

Arthur leaned one shoulder against the wall. "Honestly, neither can I sometimes, my brother got it for me, the one that belongs to my Family in jump city is much more impressive."

Across the room, Kara sat beside Raven on one of the enormous couches while Diana spoke to them. Kara looked relaxed for once, one hand around a warm drink while Raven quietly leaned against her shoulder with her usual calm.

Because every few seconds Raven would glance toward Arthur for absolutely no reason whatsoever. and Arthur noticed every single one.

Arthur caught Bruce’s stare from across the room and narrowed his eyes slightly.

’What are you doing.’

Bruce, holding a glass of wine with the expression of a man who belonged nowhere near social events, merely took another sip.

Then, casually, he looked toward Didi.

Arthur’s eyes narrowed even further.

Didi stood near one of the tall windows speaking quietly with Zatanna and Arthur’s mom. She wore black as usual, dark hair framing her pale face while she smiled softly at something Diana had said. Despite what she truly was, she somehow blended into the atmosphere naturally.

And somehow Bruce Wayne, out of everyone here, was the only one acting remotely normal about it.

Across the room, his mother was currently speaking to Didi with surprising ease.

"You have a very calming presence, dear," Miss Blackwynd said warmly.

Didi smiled faintly. "Thank you."

"You must visit more often."

Arthur nearly choked on his drink.

Clark blinked beside him. "You okay?"

"I’m fine."

Constantine, unfortunately overhearing everything as always, snorted into his whiskey.

"Oh this is brilliant."

Zatanna immediately elbowed him.

Meanwhile, Kara finally noticed Arthur staring into the void and called out toward him.

"Arthur!"

He looked over.

Kara smiled brightly. "Come sit down for once. You’re acting like a host at a funeral."

"Aren’t hosts supposed to walk around?"

"No."

"Since when?"

"Since now."

The look on Arthur’s face made Kara laugh loudly for the first time all evening.

Arthur finally relented and walked over toward the couches. Even Diana seemed more relaxed seeing him actually sit instead of looming around like some gothic final boss.

George appeared beside the table at precisely the right moment carrying another tray of drinks.

"Master Arthur," he said in that eternally sophisticated tone of his, "I took the liberty of preparing additional refreshments for our esteemed guests."

"You’re enjoying this way too much George, finally showing off your skills?" Arthur said.

George adjusted one glove slightly. "A proper household gathering is a rare treasure, sir. One must honor such occasions accordingly."

"See?" Raven said immediately. "George gets it."

George inclined his head respectfully toward her. "Miss Raven possesses exceptional judgment."

Arthur pointed accusingly. "You’re taking sides now."

"Professionally, sir, you are still my favorite don’t you worry."

Clark laughed so hard he nearly spilled his drink.

The night continued like that.

Surprisingly normal and fun.

John told increasingly ridiculous stories that and Zatanna argued with him anyway despite clearly enjoying herself. Lois started interviewing Kara halfway through casual conversation before Clark gently reminded her this was not technically a press conference.

Bruce remained Bruce.

Which somehow meant lurking silently near walls while drinking expensive wine Arthur was fairly certain Bruce himself had brought.

At one point Arthur found Didi standing alone near the balcony overlooking the dark gardens outside.

He stepped beside her quietly.

"You’re enjoying yourself?" he asked.

Didi glanced toward the room behind them, soft laughter echoing from inside.

"I am."

Arthur studied her for a moment before smiling.

Behind them, Constantine spotted the interaction and immediately looked deeply disturbed.

Eventually Arthur gathered Clark and Bruce near one side of the room while the others remained occupied.

His expression shifted slightly then. Still calm, but more serious.

"I want to talk tomorrow morning," he said quietly. "About the Monarchs, the battle we just had and there’s information you both need, I didn’t come empty handed."

Clark’s smile faded a little as he nodded.

Bruce already looked prepared for war again.

Arthur continued, "What happened today wasn’t random. And the remaining Monarchs are going to adapt after this, they know what I’ve done now."

"The dragon one?" Bruce asked immediately.

Arthur’s eyes flickered violet for half a second.

"Yes, that one especially."

Even Clark straightened slightly hearing that.

Arthur exhaled slowly before continuing.

"But not tonight."

Bruce studied him carefully. "You sure? We can talk right now."

Arthur looked around the room then, at Kara laughing quietly with Raven.

At his mother smiling, at George somehow managing this entire gathering like a noble butler from another century.

At Didi standing near the balcony doors watching everyone with that unreadable little smile.

And for once... Arthur himself felt something unfamiliar, peace.

"Yes," he finally answered. "Tonight we rest."

Clark smiled at that.

Bruce took another sip of wine before nodding once.

"Fair enough."

Arthur looked between them and added casually, "The estate has enough rooms for everyone and more. Stay the night and we can discuss things in my underground base."

Bruce narrowed his eyes slightly. "You’re inviting me willingly?"

Arthur deadpanned.

"Don’t make me regret it."

/-\

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