The rain had softened into a quiet drizzle by the time Arthur and Raven reached the top of Wayne Tower. Gotham stretched endlessly beneath them, dark and restless. Lights flickered across the city and sirens still echoed faintly in the distance, a constant reminder that peace here was never permanent.
Arthur sat at the edge, one leg hanging over the side, the wind tugging lightly at his coat. His gaze was fixed outward, distant, as if he were trying to read something written into the city itself.
Raven sat beside him closer and for a while, neither of them spoke, they just sat there.
Then her hand found his, she just slipped her fingers into his, holding them gently but firmly.
"Are you alright, Arthur?" she asked softly. "That was… a bit unusual."
Arthur didn't look at her at first.
"I'm fine," he said, "I just…" He exhaled slowly. "I felt responsible."
His eyes shifted slightly, watching the distant movement of the city below.
"These gates… the Monarchs… now awakened humans…" he continued, voice low. "None of this belongs here."
"And now the innocent are dying because of it."
Raven didn't respond immediately, she followed his gaze instead, watching Gotham with him.
After a moment, she spoke.
"And there was a time," she said quietly, "when you thought you were losing your humanity.."
Arthur's brow twitched faintly.
Raven turned her head slightly toward him, a small smile forming.
"If anything… you feel more human now."
Arthur scoffed softly under his breath.
"I don't know about that.."
"Of course you don't."
There was warmth in her voice now, light and teasing.
Before he could respond, Raven shifted closer.
Her hand tightened on his slightly as her other hand reached for his collar, fingers curling into the fabric.
She pulled him toward her.
The movement was sudden, but not rushed.
Their lips met and it wasn't gentle. The kiss deepened for a moment, the world around them fading into nothing but the sound of wind and rain.
Then she pulled back slowly.
Her eyes lingered on his.
"What you did back there…" she murmured, her voice softer now. "That was… very considerate of you."
A faint smirk touched her lips. "And for the record, I don't feel even a little sorry for that guy."
Arthur's expression didn't change much,
Raven leaned back slightly, still close to him.
"…Especially since you gave her a chance," she added. "To say goodbye, before you let her father's shadow go."
Arthur nodded once.
"I didn't send her father's shadow into nothingness."
That, caught her off guard.
Raven blinked, turning to him fully now.
"…You didn't?"
Arthur shook his head.
"No."
He looked back at the city, his voice calmer now, almost reflective.
"I gave him a new purpose."
"A lifetime task."
Raven's brows lifted slightly.
Arthur continued, his tone quieter,
"She may have lost her father in this world… but not entirely."
He exhaled slowly.
"In death, he stands closer to her than anyone else ever could. Not as a memory…"
"…But as a shadow that walks with her. Watching and protecting."
Raven stared at him.
For a moment, she didn't say anything.
Then,
"…Wow." There was genuine surprise in her voice.
"You really do have a soft spot for the unfortunate."
Arthur glanced at her, the faintest hint of amusement returning to his expression.
"I suppose I do," he said. "I mean… look at you."
Raven's eyes narrowed instantly.
She punched him lightly on the shoulder.
"Hey!"
But she was smiling.
A real one.
She shifted closer again, this time resting her head against his shoulder, her hand still loosely holding his.
For a moment, they just sat there.
Above the city.
Arthur's gaze drifted back outward, the earlier calm returning.
"Well," he said after a while, voice steady again, "I'll need to work with Bruce. Organize all of this mess before it gets worse."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"People are being handed power they don't understand… and they think that makes them untouchable."
"That's how disasters begin." He added.
Raven nodded faintly against his shoulder.
"Of course, Afterall, we just experienced an example.."
****
JUSTICE LEAGUE WATCHTOWER -
The Watchtower floated in silence above the Earth, its structure reflecting the curve of the planet below. From this height, the world seemed rather peaceful.
It wasn't.
Inside one of its central briefing rooms,the door slid open.
Arthur stepped in.
Every eye turned toward him.
Superman was the first to move, offering a small, welcoming smile as he stepped forward. "Arthur."
Wonder Woman inclined her head in greeting, "It is good to see you again, it's been a while."
Martian Manhunter stood silently beside them, his red eyes steady.
Arthur nodded to each of them in turn.
"Clark. Diana. J'onn."
Superman crossed his arms lightly, glancing toward the door Arthur had come through. "Kara just left."
Arthur's expression didn't shift. "I know. She was visiting you."
Clark raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of curiosity slipping through. "Oh… so you're not here for her."
A brief pause.
"…You're here for us?"
Batman answered before Arthur could.
"Arthur is here to discuss the awakened situation."
He stood a little apart from the others, cape resting still against the floor.
"He has something to share."
Superman let out a quiet breath, nodding slowly. "I didn't expect you to get involved this quickly."
Arthur walked past them, he approached the table at the center of the room. He took a seat.
"I don't have the luxury of waiting," he said.
A faint silence settled as the others took their places.
Arthur folded his hands loosely in front of him.
"For starters," he began, "I'll be assigning one of my finest shadows to assist you."
That earned a slight shift from Batman.
Arthur continued.
"He'll help you develop systems, and tools to evaluate the power levels of the awakened. You'll need a way to classify them. Clearly and efficiently."
Martian Manhunter nodded slowly, already processing. "A structured hierarchy… that would reduce unpredictability."
"It's necessary, because some of these awakened will surprise you." Arthur said simply.
His gaze moved between them.
"We also need one central authority to exist. One organization that oversees all of them."
"And I would rather that be you."
Superman frowned slightly. "Instead of governments?"
Arthur's eyes sharpened just a fraction.
"This is not something they can handle."
There was no arrogance in his tone.
"They can form their own associations, if they want control on a smaller scale. But they must answer to something greater. Otherwise…" He exhaled faintly. "You'll have chaos."
Batman spoke again, his voice steady.
"I've already started moving in that direction."
Arthur glanced at him.
"A division within the Justice League will act as the primary governing body... but we've run into one issue." Batman added.
Arthur tilted his head slightly. "…Which is?"
Batman's expression didn't change.
"We don't have a name for them."
Superman blinked.
"…That's the problem?"
Batman didn't respond.
Arthur stared at him for a second,
Then let out a quiet breath,
"…Seriously Bruce?"
There was the faintest smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"The issue you're facing… is naming them?"
Batman's silence was answer enough.
"…Any suggestions?" he asked.
Arthur leaned back slightly in his chair.
For a moment, he considered it.
Then,
"Hunters."
The word landed simply.
"They will fight monsters. They will enter gates and they will risk their lives for this world."
His gaze lifted slightly.
"So call them what they are."
Superman nodded slowly.
"…Hunters."
He tested the word.
"It's… rather straightforward."
Wonder Woman crossed her arms, thoughtful. "I like it."
Martian Manhunter inclined his head. "It will be easy for the public to understand. Acceptance will come faster."
Batman gave a single nod.
"Then it's decided."
Arthur didn't dwell on it.
Instead, he continued.
"You'll need about a month or so to establish everything. Systems, classifications, recruitment, structure."
J'onn spoke again, voice calm and measured.
"By my calculations… that timeframe is more than sufficient, of course we will face certain issues but that's inevitable."
Arthur nodded once.
"That's enough."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"The gates won't stop appearing. If anything, they'll increase around the world."
"So you won't struggle to convince people. There is power and profit to be made… they'll come on their own."
Superman shifted slightly, arms still crossed. "And you?"
Arthur stood.
"I won't be here for some time."
That drew their attention fully again.
"I'll continue my search."
His voice grew quieter,
"For the source. For the Monarchs."
The word lingered.
"As I mentioned before," Arthur continued, "I'll leave behind a special shadow."
Batman's gaze sharpened. "To assist?"
"To teach."
Arthur looked at them all.
"He'll explain the gates. The monsters. What they are. What they're made of."
"And what you can create from them."
Superman frowned slightly.
"That sounds very…"
He hesitated.
Wonder Woman finished it for him.
"…Disturbing."
Superman nodded. "Yeah."
Arthur didn't deny it.
"It is in a way, but just think of them as materials."
They got silent but there was no disagreement.
Just acceptance of this new reality, because they all understood one thing,
This wasn't a situation they could afford to look away from.
"Understood." Batman finally said. "And good luck on your search."
/-\
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