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GOTHAM - ARTHUR'S ESTATE
Morning settled and the pale sunlight filtered through the tall windows of Arthur's estate, George moved through the kitchen, immaculate as ever in his pressed vest and rolled sleeves, setting plates down with care.
"Breakfast," he announced calmly, as if this were the most important engagement of the day, which, to him, it very well might have been. "Prepared with the hope that none of you intend to destabilize reality before noon."
Kara was already seated, half-slouched in her chair, hair still slightly wild from sleep. She leaned forward eagerly, nearly knocking over her glass of juice as she reached for a plate.
"Oh wow George, this smells amazing," she said, immediately digging in with zero restraint. A crumb landed on the table. Then another. She didn't notice. "By the way, do you ever sleep George?"
George raised an eyebrow just enough to be judgmental without saying the word. "Sleep is a luxury, Miss Kara. Maintaining order culinary and otherwise, is a duty."
Arthur sat across from her, he hadn't touched his food yet.
Raven took her seat beside him, posture relaxed, eyes half-lidded in that perpetual calm she always displayed. She glanced from Kara's enthusiastic eating to Arthur's calm demeanor, taking it in quietly.
George returned with a small tray, setting it near Arthur. "I took the liberty of preparing your coffee precisely how you prefer it, Master Arthur. Strong enough to wake the dead."
Arthur huffed softly, lifting the mug. "You spoil me, George."
"It is my solemn responsibility," George replied dryly. "Someone must preserve a sense of normalcy in this household."
Kara paused mid-bite. "Oh! Yeah, Jump City!" She grinned, chewing. "Your mom was very nice, I mean more so than usual."
Raven nodded faintly. "She has a very grounding presence. The house felt… warm."
Arthur's lips curved slightly at that. "It always did."
George allowed himself a small, knowing smile. "It was pleasant to see you return in good spirits, sir. Even if the hour was less than ideal." He tilted his head. "Though I must say, delivering a vintage Gotham wine as a gift was an inspired choice."
Arthur shrugged. "Felt right."
Kara leaned back in her chair, finally slowing down. "Still think it's wild that you have this whole massive estate back in Jump City and you're like, 'Nah, I'll live in Gotham with the shadows and the brooding.'"
"Gotham grows on you," Arthur said mildly, taking a sip of coffee.
"Like mold," George added.
Raven's gaze lingered on Arthur a second longer than necessary.
"...you're calmer this morning," she said at last.
Arthur didn't look up. "Am I?"
"Yes," she replied simply.
He took another sip, eyes unfocused for a brief moment. "Maybe... Or maybe it's because I'm thinking."
She studied him, then leaned back, choosing not to press. "Fair enough."
Kara tilted her head. "So.. any plans for today?" She smiled brightly. "It's been quiet lately. I think we deserve a break."
Raven glanced toward the window, where Gotham lay strangely peaceful. "You know what they say," she murmured. "The quiet before the storm."
Kara waved that off. "Nah. There's no storm. I'd feel it." She tapped her head lightly, confident. "Today feels… nice."
George clasped his hands behind his back. "Gotham seems content to behave itself. Crime reports are down, the streets are a bit calm, and no one has attempted to summon an eldritch horror before breakfast." He inclined his head. "A rare and welcome development."
Arthur finally smiled small, but genuine. "Maybe we should take advantage of it."
Kara's eyes lit up. "Ooooh. Like last time?" She leaned forward eagerly. "That planet with the floating cities, you know the one we partied in? This time I choose. Raven picked last time."
Raven opened her mouth to respond.
and suddenly stiffened.
Her hand shot up to her head, fingers pressing hard as her expression twisted in sharp discomfort. A breath hissed through her teeth.
"Raven?" Arthur was on his feet instantly, chair scraping softly against the floor.
Kara froze. "Hey... what's wrong?"
Raven squeezed her eyes shut, brows drawn tight. "Something just.." She swallowed.
George's tone shifted, "Shall I bring some sort of medicine, sir?"
Arthur's violet eyes dimly glowed as he focused on Raven. "Not yet." His voice was gentle, "Raven. Look at me. What did you feel?"
Raven's hand trembled where it pressed against her head, her breathing uneven, not panicked, as if she were holding something heavy just out of sight.
Arthur knelt slightly so they were eye level, one hand rising with care, his fingers brushed her cheek warmly.
Too warm.
His brows knit together almost imperceptibly. "Raven…" His thumb rested just beneath her eye, steady, grounding. "You're burning up."
She tried to wave it off, but the effort cost her. "It's not.." She stopped, breath hitching. "It's not like before."
Arthur's eyes ignited.
Violet light bloomed softly from his pupils. The world peeled back for him, layers of reality thinning like mist. Heat signatures, mana flow, astral resonance.
and there it was.
A presence.
Not here. Not fully. But watching. Pressing. Coiling its attention around Raven like a familiar hand that had never truly let go.
Arthur's jaw tightened.
"…Him again?" he murmured.
Raven's eyes fluttered open just enough to meet his. There was exhaustion there.
"I don't know what's happening," she said softly. "I'm not losing control. Not even close." A pause. Then, barely above a whisper: "But yes... It's him."
The air shifted.
Kara had gone still, food forgotten, her expression darkened afraid and protective.
"…Her demon dad again?" she asked, carefully, as if saying it louder might invite him closer.
Arthur straightened slowly, withdrawing his hand from Raven's face with visible reluctance. The glow in his eyes dimmed, but did not vanish.
"I almost completely forgot about Trigon," he said. His voice was calm, too calm for this.
George had fallen silent, watching from the edge of the room, hands clasped behind his back. Even he felt it, the tension in the room.
Arthur turned away from the table, shadows bending instinctively toward him. He took a single step, then stopped, as if a thought had fully settled into place.
"You know what," he said quietly, decisively. "I think it's time I paid him a visit."
Raven's head snapped up. Fatigue sharpened into alarm.
"…What do you mean by that?"
Arthur looked back at her. His eyes narrowed.
"You'll see."
****
The descent into the lower levels of Arthur's base felt less like moving through architecture and more like slipping beneath the skin of the world.
Elevators gave way to corridors, the air grew cooler, Raven followed close behind Arthur. Her steps were steady, but the strain showed in the tightness of her shoulders, the way she measured every breath. She trusted him enough not to ask where they were going. That alone said everything.
Waiting at the heart of the lower chamber stood two figures.
Shadow Lex turned first, eyes gleaming with sharp, calculating interest. His posture was relaxed, hands folded behind his back, already running probabilities faster than most beings could think.
Shadow Owlremained half-submerged in darkness, arms crossed. His gaze flicked once to Raven, then back to Arthur.
"Owl," Arthur said, voice low and commanding. "Prepare the medical chamber. Full stabilization protocols."
Shadow Owl inclined his head immediately. "Already warming up, Monarch." he replied, his tone efficient. With a gesture, the far wall unfolded, revealing a sleek, obsidian platform surrounded by articulated restraints and arcane conduits, technology and magic fused into something far beyond either.
Arthur turned to Raven.
"Lay down here," he said gently. "This is precautionary."
She studied the chamber for half a second, then nodded without hesitation.
"Alright."
As she reclined onto the platform, the restraints rose automatically, securing her wrists, ankles, and torso, not harshly, but firmly, she exhaled slowly as they locked into place.
"I trust whatever you're going to do," she said quietly.
Arthur didn't answer right away.
He stood beside her, looking down not as a Monarch, or as something cosmic, but as someone deeply, personally invested. When he spoke, his voice softened.
"Explain the seal," he said. "The one you placed on him last time. I need to understand it fully."
Raven's eyes shifted upward, unfocused as she searched memory and sensation rather than words.
"It's… different from before," she began. "The last time we fought him, his soul and body were separate. His body was bound in Azarath. His soul was trapped within my gem."
She swallowed.
"This time… I didn't split him."
Arthur's attention sharpened.
"I sealed him whole," Raven continued. "Body, essence, will.. everything. I folded him into my own consciousness. As part of my soul."
Raven's voice remained calm, but there was strain beneath it. "Only I can do that. It goes against every natural law. And it enraged him." A faint, humorless smile touched her lips. "The idea that I could contain him like that… it bothered him more than pain ever could."
Arthur's eyes flickered faintly violet.
"It takes enormous power to keep him there," she said. "Constant pressure. Constant awareness. But it worked. It was enough." Her brow furrowed slightly. "I don't know why I'm feeling him now. He shouldn't be able to push back like this."
Arthur nodded slowly, piecing it together.
"Alright," he said at last. "I understand the structure of it now."
He placed a hand gently against her forehead.
The glow in his eyes softened, warm. The fever beneath his palm was undeniable, but so was the resilience holding it back.
He smiled at her.
"Do you trust me?" he asked quietly.
Raven lifted one restrained hand as far as it would go, fingers curling around his wrist. With tenderness, she brought his hand closer and pressed a soft kiss to his knuckles.
"Always," she said.
Arthur's smile deepened. "It'll be over soon, my dear." he promised, "For good."
/-\
If you Like this story! Check out my other stories! Solo leveling in Westeros.
&
If you wish to read more or simply support me than check out my patreon at
"https://www.patreon.com/FrenzyAren"
You can Get Access to 3 More Chapters OR 7 More Chapters if you want