Shadow Monarch in DC-Chapter 55: Uninvited Guest

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Arthur finally let her go, his grip loosening as he took a slow step back. His glowing eyes dimmed, fading into their usual blue. But his smirk? That stayed firmly in place.

"Damn," he muttered, stretching his neck with an easy roll of his shoulders. "I knew you were interested in me, but I didn't think it was this serious." He raised an eyebrow, his voice teasing but laced with genuine curiosity. "I mean, I didn't think I'd have to start dodging death beams because of it."

Raven froze.

Then, very slowly, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "Oh my God."

Arthur grinned.

"Oh my God," she repeated, her voice tighter this time, as if she was physically fighting the urge to hurl him into another dimension.

"I mean, don't get me wrong," Arthur continued, ignoring the warning signs of imminent doom. "I get it. I'm devastatingly charming. It happens."

Raven inhaled through her nose, very deliberately. "Arthur."

"And let's be real, you do spend a lot of time looking at me when you think I don't notice." He tapped his chin, mock-thoughtful. "It's cute, really."

Raven closed her eyes. "Arthur."

"But, man...jealousy? Didn't expect that from you." He clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "I must've done something right."

That was it.

Raven snapped.

"I AM NOT JEALOUS!"

Her cloak flared around her as raw, violet energy erupted from her body, crackling through the air in a wave of frustration. A nearby streetlight exploded, shattering into pieces.

Arthur just laughed.

Not a nervous laugh. Not a worried laugh. A full, smug, entertained-as-hell laugh.

Raven groaned into her hands. "You are the worst person I have ever met."

Arthur wiped a nonexistent tear from his eye, still chuckling. "And yet, here we are. You, losing control over your emotions. Me, still standing. You sure you don't wanna admit something?"

She refused to look at him.

Arthur smirked, tilting his head. "Raven.."

"Shut up."

"Say it."

"Shut. Up."

Arthur just smiled wider "I'll take that as a maybe."

He put his hands up in mock surrender, still grinning like he had all the time in the world. "Alright, alright. I should stop teasing you...otherwise, I might end up fighting a red demon right here, right now." He smirked, his tone light, but his next words carried weight. "And honestly? I'm not exactly sure I'm ready to go toe-to-toe with something like that just yet."

Raven froze.

For a second, everything was silent. The wind, the distant sounds of the city, everything faded into the background.

Then, a sharp pull.

Arthur's eyes widened as he felt her hands grip his clothes from behind, her voice suddenly too close.

"How do you know about my father?"

The question wasn't loud.

But damn if it didn't carry the weight of a thousand unspoken things.

Her breath was just the faintest whisper against his back, and for once, her tone wasn't calm. It was low, controlled, but underneath it? There was something else.

Arthur's smirk faltered, just for a split second. Then, he let out a small chuckle, tilting his head slightly. "You're not the only one with access to certain... data about people." His voice was smooth, effortless, like he hadn't just pulled that lie out of thin air.

Raven didn't move.

Didn't let go.

But he felt her eyes narrow.

"...Right," she murmured, her voice unreadable. "And I suppose you just happened to come across that particular bit of information?"

Arthur grinned, twisting his head just enough to glance at her over his shoulder. "Let's just say I like to keep my ear to the ground."

Raven held her stare for a moment longer. Then, slowly, she let go of him.

Arthur turned fully, hands slipping into his pockets as he rocked on his heels. "C'mon now, Raven." His smirk returned, playful but intentional. "Get me inside the Tower. I'm not here for trouble."

Raven's violet gaze flicked up to his.

Her expression betrayed nothing.

But then... she sighed. "Ttch." She crossed her arms. "I should leave you outside just for being annoying."

Arthur grinned wider. "you are not gonna do that to your dearest."

She rolled her eyes, but the tension in her shoulders finally loosened. Dark energy swirled around them.

"Don't make me regret this."

Arthur gave her a lazy salute. "You won't."

Raven didn't say another word. Instead, she flicked her wrist, and a swirling black portal tore through the air, dark and ethereal, crackling with energy.

Arthur raised an eyebrow but didn't hesitate. "Thanks." he mused before stepping inside.

Raven followed.

A moment later, they were inside the Titans Tower.

The shift in atmosphere was immediate. The air was still, yet the walls hummed faintly with hidden security systems. The soft glow of the Tower's advanced technology cast faint blue lights across the polished floor.

Arthur exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Can't say I missed this place, not like i spent that much time here.."

Then

Pulse.

Arthur felt it immediately.

Something inside his system inventory started thrumming, a faint but insistent beat, like a pulse in the fabric of reality itself. He reached for it.

The key.

As soon as he pulled it out, the mysterious, dark metal key pulsed again in his palm. Faint, glowing inscriptions slithered across its surface, disappearing before the eye could properly register them. It felt alive sensing something the doorway to the dungeon was close.

Arthur frowned slightly. 'i wonder what kind of dungeon its gonna be..'

Before he could shove it back into his inventory

"What is that?"

Arthur's gaze flicked up.

Raven was staring.

Her violet eyes were locked onto the key, brows furrowed in curiosity, and something else.

Arthur didn't even blink. "Just something," he said casually, closing his fingers around it.

Raven narrowed her eyes.

"Arthur." Her voice was flat.

He smirked. "That's my name."

She folded her arms. "Will you ever be honest about anything?"

Arthur let out a short chuckle, spinning the key once before making it disappear back into his inventory. "There's a reason I keep certain things to myself," he said, his voice calm, steady. "Just trust me."

Raven stared at him.

Then, without warning, Arthur leaned in, close enough that she could feel his breath against her ear.

"Just like I know you were spying on me while I was with Kara in Italy..."

Raven froze.

Arthur's smirk grew. "But I kept it to myself."

Her face turned red.

Like, comically red.

Her eyes widened just a fraction, and she instinctively took a half-step back but it was too late. The damage was done.

"W-what?" she managed.

Arthur chuckled, his sharp blue gaze glinting. "It's easy to detect you, Raven. Just like you can detect me."

She clenched her fists, looking anywhere but at him.

Arthur took one more step back, hands in his pockets, looking way too amused. "Fear not," he added smoothly. "Your secret is in safe hands."

Raven groaned into her palm, clearly wanting the earth to swallow her whole.

Arthur and Raven walked side by side. The neon-blue glow from the hallway panels cast soft shadows on the floor, but despite the futuristic setting, the atmosphere between them was... strangely awkward.

Raven, of course, wasn't the type to fidget. But right now? She was definitely fidgeting. Her hands were clasped behind her back, and she kept glancing at Arthur from the corner of her eye, like she was debating something.

Arthur, on the other hand, was just casually strolling, hands in his pockets, acting like he owned the place despite technically being an intruder and not exactly someone they would like to see.

Finally, Raven broke the silence. "So... Kara.."

Arthur arched a brow, glancing at her. "What about her?"

Raven hesitated for half a second, then shrugged, like she was totally not overthinking this. "How did you two meet?"

Arthur smirked. "Jealous?"

Her face immediately darkened. "I can still teleport you to the bottom of the ocean."

Arthur chuckled, shaking his head. "I mean... I can survive that but Alright, alright. No need to get murdery. I saved her life...kind of."

Raven blinked. "Kind of?"

Arthur waved a hand. "Long story. you probably already know half of it from the justice league."

That answer wasn't nearly enough for Raven. She tilted her head, eyes narrowing. "And?"

Arthur let out a small sigh. "And I might've... unintentionally promised her something."

Raven stopped walking, staring at him. "...What did you promise?"

Arthur scratched the back of his head, looking very uninterested in answering that. "It's complicated."

Raven, however, completely ignored his attempt to change the subject. Instead, she hit him with a different question entirely.

"Do you like her?"

Arthur glanced at her, caught slightly off guard by the directness. He opened his mouth

Then he felt it.

His instincts flared. They weren't alone.

Arthur stopped mid-step, gaze sharpening as he shifted his focus down the hall. Raven noticed immediately. "it's the others, follow me!"

Arthur didn't answer. Instead, he just started walking forward.

Straight toward the two figures waiting ahead.

Jaime , stood near a security console, his glowing blue eyes narrowing the moment he spotted Arthur. Beside him, Beast Boy was mid-conversation, but the second he turned and saw who was approaching, his green eyes went wide.

"Ohhh boy," Beast Boy muttered, ears perking up. "Uh, Jaime? Is that who I think it is?"

Jaime tensed. The scarab on his back buzzed with activity, its mechanical voice whispering something in his head. He didn't even need it to tell him the obvious...this was bad news.

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Arthur, however? He didn't sneak, didn't hide, didn't hesitate.

He just walked straight up to them.

Like he belonged here. Like this wasn't an issue at all.

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If you Like this story! Check out my other stories! Solo leveling in Westeros.

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You can Get Access to 3 More Chapters OR 7 More Chapters if you want