Shadow Monarch in DC-Chapter 417: Awakened Civilians

Arthur Blackwynd stood near the center of the garden, hands loosely at his sides, alongside Bruce Wayne who took a seat on one of the stone benches, his eyes sharp as ever.

And further back, beneath the soft glow of a lantern, Raven sat quietly with a book in her hands, though her awareness remained on the conversation unfolding between the two.

"What you did in that forest..."

Bruce’s tone was calm.

"...was reckless."

A pause.

"But I understand the stakes."

His gaze didn’t waver.

"And why you did it."

Arthur didn’t react.

Bruce continued.

"I’m not here to assign blame."

His voice lowered slightly.

"But the being you fought..."

A subtle narrowing of his eyes.

"...was it one of the..."

Arthur answered immediately without letting Bruce finish.

"No."

His tone was flat.

"It wasn’t one of the monarchs."

He shifted slightly, his gaze drifting for a brief moment toward the night sky.

"Just someone powerful that escaped Hell."

Then back to Bruce.

"You don’t need the details."

"We’ve already handled it."

A short pause.

"And yes, it was serious."

His voice sharpened slightly.

"They posed a threat to Earth."

"And we already have enough problems to deal with."

Bruce studied him for a moment.

Then gave a small nod.

"If you say so."

There was no argument.

But no full agreement either.

Instead, Bruce reached into his coat and pulled out a sleek tablet.

Without a word, he handed it over.

Arthur took it, glancing down.

"What is this?"

Bruce leaned back slightly.

"Data."

A pause.

"Concerning data."

Arthur’s eyes moved across the screen.

And then

They narrowed.

"...I see."

On the display:

Increase in metahuman activity / emergence.

Reports. Patterns. Locations.

A trend.

Bruce spoke again.

"There’s been a noticeable rise in individuals developing abilities, and there is pattern to these abilities."

His tone remained steady.

"Strength beyond human limits. Unexplained energy signatures. Magical anomalies."

He folded his hands.

"I believe it’s connected to the gates."

Arthur didn’t look up.

"The energy these gates radiate..."

Bruce continued.

"...is affecting the planet."

A faint pause.

"There haven’t been many gates yet."

"And we’re already seeing results even after dealing with them."

Arthur slowly lowered the tablet.

Then handed it back.

"...I completely overlooked this."

Bruce’s eyebrow lifted slightly.

"You expected something like this?"

Arthur shook his head faintly.

"Not exactly."

"I just didn’t account for it."

He exhaled quietly.

"But you’re right."

His tone shifted.

"This is serious."

Then

A faint smirk touched his lips.

"But it could also work in this planet’s favor."

Bruce’s gaze sharpened.

"...Explain."

Arthur didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he began walking slowly through the garden.

Thoughtful.

Then he stopped, turning slightly toward Raven.

"Raven."

She looked up from her book.

He gestured lightly.

"With your abilities..."

His tone softened just slightly.

"Can you determine someone’s magical potential? Their magical strength, accurately?"

Raven closed the book.

Stood.

"I can."

She stepped closer.

"With the right spell... and proper tools and focus."

A faint pause.

"It wouldn’t be difficult."

Arthur nodded once.

"Good."

Bruce’s voice cut in.

"This is for...?"

Arthur turned back toward him.

"And before you say it, no."

"You can’t replicate that with technology alone."

Bruce’s expression didn’t change.

"You’d need a hybrid system."

Arthur continued.

"Magic and technology combined."

"To detect, analyze, and classify these individuals properly."

A brief silence followed.

Then Bruce spoke.

"...You’re proposing we recruit them."

Arthur’s eyes flickered faintly.

"I’m proposing we organize them."

He stepped forward slightly.

"Before they organize themselves."

His voice carried weight now.

"Power changes people."

A pause.

"You know that."

Bruce didn’t argue.

Arthur continued.

"Right now, they’re just civilians."

"Confused and untrained."

"But once the reality of what they can do sets in..."

His gaze darkened slightly.

"They’ll start using those powers."

"Whether we guide them or not."

Bruce leaned forward slightly.

"...So we guide them."

Arthur nodded.

"Exactly."

A faint smirk returned.

"Give them structure."

"A purpose."

"And if needed..."

A quiet edge entered his voice.

"Control."

Bruce studied him carefully.

"It seems like this is only the beginning."

Arthur didn’t hesitate.

"It is."

He looked toward the sky.

"More gates will appear."

"And more people will change."

A pause.

"I still need to investigate the source."

Bruce’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"You think this is connected to those Monarchs."

Arthur exhaled quietly.

"I don’t know anymore."

His tone was honest.

"And I don’t like that."

A brief silence.

"There could be someone else behind it."

Bruce folded his arms.

"...And there are more of these ’beings’?"

Arthur didn’t answer immediately.

"I can’t confirm that yet."

Then he turned to face Bruce fully.

"But don’t worry."

His violet eyes flickered faintly.

"I know them."

"Their powers."

"How they think."

"Their armies."

"And they know me."

That, made Bruce’s gaze sharpen.

"It seems you had a history with them."

"How do you know all of this?"

Arthur held his gaze.

Then

A faint, smile appeared.

"Oh, Bruce..."

His voice was calm.

"There are some things you simply don’t get to ask me."

Silence lingered for a moment.

Then Bruce leaned back again.

"...Very well."

He accepted it.

For now.

"Then I’ll focus on what we can do."

His tone shifted.

"We organize these metahumans."

"Monitor them."

"Build a system. And possibly an organization."

Arthur nodded slightly.

"That would be ideal, yes."

A faint glint returned to his eyes.

"You might even enjoy it."

Bruce raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

Arthur smirked.

"You’ll find some very strong individuals among them."

He glanced toward the distance.

"They’ll save lives, and I’ll probably won’t even be needed that way for these gates."

A pause.

Then his voice cooled slightly.

"But if any of them go rogue..."

His eyes flickered violet again.

"I’ll know... and they’ll meet one of my Marshals."

The garden fell quiet once more.

Even Kara paused mid-chase with dexter, glancing over briefly.

Bruce held Arthur’s gaze.

Then gave a small, approving nod.

"With proper guidance it won’t come to that."

"The world is changing." Bruce added.

"Yes it is," Arthur said.

Bruce inclined his head. "I’ll take my leave now, and once again my apologies for the intrusion. Family time is precious."

"It’s fine," Arthur replied. "Just this time, it was a good reason. Now there’s a certain place I need to head to thanks to you."

"Just let us know once you find learn anything."

"Naturally."

Bruce offered brief nods, Raven, Kara, George, then turned. George stepped forward silently to escort him toward the gate. Their footsteps receded along the gravel.

The gate clicked shut.

Raven’s voice slipped through "You’re heading out right now? At this hour?"

Arthur shook his head once. "No. Gotta rest first, this can wait."

Raven drifted closer. One arm slid under his, fingers curling gently around the inside of his elbow. She pressed in, her robe whispering against his shirt.

"Why don’t we both rest," she murmured low ,lashes lowering just enough to make the invitation crystal clear.

Arthur opened his mouth, and Kara launched herself onto his back with zero warning, legs wrapping his waist, arms hooking around his shoulders like she’d claimed him for keeps. She leaned in until her lips brushed the shell of his ear.

"You better listen to what we say this time, mister Shadow Lord," she singsonged, deliberately dragging out the title.

"I’m pretty sure I said I was going to res.."

"Ohhh nooo," Kara interrupted, voice pitching into mock horror. She squeezed her thighs against his sides for emphasis. "Don’t tell me the big scary shadow lord is too wiped out to keep up with his girls? Is the terrifying Arthur actually tapping out? Should we call Bruce back and tell him that Arthur is not so invincible.."

Raven’s lips curved, barely suppressing a smile. Her free hand rose to trace one slow, teasing fingernail down the center of his chest. "Poor thing. All that brooding must be exhausting. We could just tuck you in... very gently."

Kara giggled against his neck, warm breath fanning skin. "Yeah, super gently. Like, we’ll be so careful you won’t even notice we’re mmm, helping you relax." She nipped his earlobe for punctuation.

Arthur went still, from the heavy, honest drag of fatigue finally sinking claws in, after the constant battles.

They felt it. Instantly. Raven’s fingers paused over his heart, then slid up to cup the side of his jaw, turning his face toward her. "You’re allowed to let go for once," she said softly, thumb brushing his lower lip.

Kara loosened her legs just enough to slide down his back until her front molded flush against him, chin hooked over his shoulder. "C’mon, tough guy," she coaxed, voice dropping to a playful purr. "We’ll make sure you don’t remember why you were even tired.."

He exhaled through his nose a long, finally defeated.

"Fine," he said, he finally stopped fighting the inevitable.

Then his hands moved.

One arm scooped under Raven’s thighs and lifted her in a single clean motion; the other reached back to clamp around Kara’s waist and pin her securely against him. Both women let out bright, startled laughs that melted instantly into delighted hums.

He turned, carrying them both away from the garden without another word.

The doors swung open ahead, Raven’s telekinesis or perfect timing, it didn’t matter.

"That’s more like it," Kara crowed triumphantly.

She twisted in his grip and caught his mouth in a slow, teasing kiss just as they crossed the threshold, playful little nips, a flick of tongue. The second she pulled back with a smug grin, Raven leaned in from the other side, fingers threading into his hair to tug his face down for her turn, deeper, slower. The doors closed shut behind them, sealing moonlight and night air outside.

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