"Just tell me what you want."
Zatanna smiled mischievously, her hands clasped behind her back, swaying slightly from side to side like a child feigning innocence. She rolled her eyes and replied in a playful tone:
"Well… let's talk about that later. When I think of something interesting."
Arthur merely smiled, raising an eyebrow, ready to tease her a little more—until the interruption came like a bucket of cold water.
"Sorry to interrupt your little flirting session." Robin appeared, wearing the serious look of someone who had waited far too long to step in. He crossed his arms and looked directly at Arthur. "But… what are we going to do about that thing?"
He pointed toward Solomon Grundy's motionless—but not yet dead—body.
Arthur let out a long sigh, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I'm sure Batman will be happy to deal with that. As for me, I'm seriously considering going back to bed. It's late."
"Then please, take care of it, Mr. Robin." Arthur replied with a mocking bow before turning back to Zatanna. "Do you need me to take you home?"
"Of course," she said with a teasing smile. "You can't just let a lady walk alone through Gotham at this hour, can you?"
Arthur raised his eyebrows. If he didn't know Zatanna could teleport with a snap of her fingers, he might have actually believed her theatrical charm.
"By the way, Robin!" Arthur suddenly turned, as if remembering something important.
"Yes?" Robin replied, a little confused.
"Give this to Batman." Arthur pulled a small notebook from his pocket and handed it over.
"What's this?" Robin asked, but the moment he opened the first page, his eyes widened. He understood.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked in a low voice, almost reverently.
"Of course. Just make sure to destroy it afterward. I don't want to come back here and find out some lunatic got their hands on my techniques."
Robin hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Understood. Thank you. This… could make a big difference."
Arthur gave a faint smile and, with a small nod, left with Zatanna. Robin watched them go, sighing, before touching the communicator in his ear.
"Batman, I got—"
{"Robin, did Garou take part in the fight?"} Bruce's deep voice came through the channel.
"Saying he 'took part' would be an understatement. He took Grundy down all by himself. I even recorded the whole fight. Why?"
{"It's nothing. I'm on my way."}
"By the way, he left me something to give you. I'll show you when you get here. I think you'll find it extremely useful."
{"Understood."}
---
HOTEL BELLA MONICA — A FEW MINUTES LATER
After dropping Zatanna off at her rented house—and receiving a light kiss on the cheek along with a "don't forget me too soon"—Arthur returned to the hotel and headed calmly to his room. He passed by Barbara's door without stopping, not for lack of desire, but out of necessity.
The next day, he would leave Gotham. In fact… he would leave that entire world. It was time to go home.
As soon as he opened his door, he was greeted by a chorus of meows.
"Meow~"
Six cats sat neatly in a row at the entrance, like a tiny feline royal guard awaiting the return of their king.
Arthur smiled.
"You guys are amazing, you know that?" He crouched down, arms open. "Come here."
The kittens immediately leapt onto him—meowing, purring, scrambling for space on his lap, shoulders, even his head. One of them, the black one he always favored, curled under his chin as if to say, I got here first.
Arthur fell back onto the floor, surrounded by a warm, living, furry cloud.
That's when the window slid open with a sharp thunk.
"You never lock this, do you?" The voice was smooth as velvet. Selina Kyle slipped inside with her usual grace, wearing her Catwoman suit and holding an old oil painting in her hands.
"Stealing again?" Arthur asked without moving, still buried under cats.
"It's not stealing. It's… artistic rescue." Selina spun the painting like a trophy. "This beauty was being horribly mistreated, so I decided she deserved a better home."
Arthur chuckled, sitting up.
"Funny that you showed up now. I wasn't expecting you… But since you're here…"
"You never expect me. I always surprise you." She winked, removing her gloves with practiced elegance. "But I am surprised you stuck around."
"Actually…" Arthur stood, gently moving the cats aside. "I'm leaving tomorrow. Just came to say goodbye."
The lightness in Selina's expression faded.
"What?" She walked to the cabinet, grabbed a bottle of red wine, and poured two glasses. "You just got here and now you're leaving already?"
Arthur accepted the glass, taking a sip.
"I have some things I need to take care of. And I can't do that from here."
"That's it?" Selina stepped closer. "You walk into Gotham like a walking mystery… and now you just want to vanish without a trace?"
Arthur met her gaze seriously. He couldn't explain—not that he was about to literally leave this universe.
"Unfortunately, I can't go into details."
Selina came even closer, her perfume wrapping around him like warm mist.
"You're not going to say goodbye properly, are you?"
Arthur smirked, trying to break the tension.
"Depends on what you call a 'proper goodbye'."
"This." She grabbed him by the collar and pulled him in. "That's what I like about you."
The kiss came hot, firm, and unexpected.
When they finally pulled apart, Selina's lips were parted, and she whispered in his ear:
"Show me what you're made of, Arthur…"
---
DAWN
Sunlight crept shyly through the bedroom windows. Arthur opened his eyes, lying among tangled sheets, Selina still asleep in his arms, the scent of the night before lingering in the air.
He watched her for a few seconds, a hint of regret in his eyes.
Silently, he slipped out of bed, dressed, and stepped onto the balcony.
Outside, Pod 042 floated silently.
"Pod."
[Input recognized.]
The electronic voice hummed softly.
Arthur crossed his arms.
"While I'm gone… you're to protect her. Understood?"
[Confirmation: Order received. Priority mission established — protection of Selina Kyle.]
Arthur nodded. The Gotham sky was beginning to brighten in shades of orange.
"Don't let her get into trouble."
[Guarantee impossible. Target individual exhibits high levels of impulsive behavior.]
Arthur smiled.
"Well… at least you already know what you're dealing with."
He took one last look at the horizon.
His time in Gotham had come to an end.
But part of him would remain behind.
In the end, after leaving a notebook for Selina and saying a proper goodbye to Barbara—also leaving her a notebook—Arthur activated the 'Multiversal Crossing Pass' and temporarily left the DC world.
---
(End of chapter)
The DC arc was finally over. Soon we will have more interesting arcs.
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."