Shadow Monarch in DC

Chapter 531: A Deal with the Main Man

Kara’s arms were still wrapped around Arthur, her face buried in his chest, her shoulders trembling with the aftermath of emotion.

She pulled back, her eyes red-rimmed. "But you are alone," she said. "Your shadows don’t count."

Raven raised an eyebrow. "Aren’t you forgetting someone?"

Kara’s eyes flicked to her. "You also don’t count."

"Excuse me?" Raven said. "I don’t count? I...I have literally fought in H..."

Kara’s lips twitched. "I’m joking, Raven."

Raven’s indignation deflated. "Oh." She paused. "Well. Good."

Arthur’s smile was warm. "Alright. I know you are mad, but all is good now. We got rid of the pests." His voice hardened slightly. "And only one remains."

Kara’s expression shifted, the humor fading. "One that we’ve been talking about since they first appeared." Her voice dropped. "I’m kind of worried."

Arthur’s hand found her cheek, tilting her face up to meet his gaze. "Don’t be."

He released her, turning toward the entrance. "We should leave now, I just wanted to see you."

Kara’s hand shot out, grabbing the fabric of his coat before he could take another step. "Aren’t you going to force me to return home?"

Arthur turned back. His eyes met hers, soft and steady.

"I would never force you to do anything." His voice was gentle. "You can stay here all you want. I’ll know you are safe, I have eyes everywhere."

Kara was silent for a long moment, her hand tightened on his coat. Her eyes searched his face, looking for something, reassurance perhaps, or permission.

Then she spoke, her voice barely a whisper.

"I’ll go back home."

Raven’s hand cupped her ear dramatically. "I’m not hearing you very well."

Kara’s cheeks flushed. Her voice rose.

"I’ll go back home, okay?!" She threw her hands up. "I spent too much time confining myself here already. I missed you guys." Her voice softened. "I missed George. I even missed the stupid cat, Dexter."

Raven’s smile was warm. "That’s all we wanted to hear."

Arthur raised his hand. A portal opened beside Kara, a swirling vortex of violet light, its edges crackling with energy. Beyond it, the familiar warmth of Arthur’s Estate in Gotham beckoned.

"Go through it," Arthur said. "It will take you home directly."

Kara’s eyes met his. "What about you two? Where are you going?"

Raven stepped forward, her smile sharp. "We are on the hunt, someone we need to find." She paused. "We’ll explain later, you don’t have to worry, it’s nothing dangerous."

Kara’s brow furrowed. But she nodded, stepping toward the portal.

"Be careful," she said.

Arthur’s smile was small, but genuine. "Always."

Kara stepped through the portal.

It closed behind her.

Arthur turned to Raven.

"On the hunt?" He said. "Is this your plan, the one you didn’t share with me?"

Raven’s smile widened. "Well, we are not the ones who will do this hunt exactly." She paused. "More like someone else, you’ll understand." She extended her hand. "Come on. Follow me."

Arthur’s eyebrow rose, but he took her hand.

"Lead the way."

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.

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The Crimson Convergence - A Spaceport Bar

The planet was a crossroads of chaos, its sky was a perpetual twilight, painted in shades of orange and purple, streaked with the contrails of a thousand ships that came and went like migratory birds. The city sprawled across the dusty surface, a patchwork of neon and rust, of alien architecture. It was the kind of place where deals were made in shadows, where information was currency, where no one asked too many questions.

The bar was a dive, its walls were scarred with the marks of weapons fire, its floor sticky with the residue of a thousand spilled drinks. The patrons were a motley collection of species, some recognizable, some not.

Arthur and Raven sat at a corner table, their backs to the wall, their eyes scanning the room. Arthur wore simple, dark clothing that still managed to make him look like he didn’t belong here. Raven’s hood was pulled up, her face partially hidden, her eyes glowing faintly.

Arthur’s voice was flat. "I understand who you are looking for now, you don’t have to mention it." He took a sip of the drink in front of him, something that burned going down and left a taste like regret. "Do you really think we need that guy? My last encounter with him was not exactly a nice one. We fought to the death, after all."

Raven’s eyes found his. "I know. But he is the best bounty hunter, like ever. He finds his target, no matter what."

Arthur’s jaw tightened. "I mean... you know how he is."

Raven’s smile was sharp. "He’ll agree to it."

Arthur sighed. "If you say so."

Raven rose from her seat, walking toward the bar. The bartender, a massive, multi-armed creature with eyes that seemed to see in every direction, looked up as she approached.

"We are looking for Lobo," Raven said calmly. "He frequents this place. Have you seen him recently?"

The bartender’s eyes widened.

His gaze shifted from Raven to Arthur, and something in his expression shifted, dread, perhaps, or the recognition of someone who had seen enough trouble to know it when it appeared right in front of him.

"Yes, yes!" he said quickly, his voice a nervous burble. "He does frequent this place... Comes to drink and have fun from time to time. He also manages to cause a ruckus every time, but no one can say anything to him, really."

Raven’s eyebrow rose. "And today?"

The bartender’s throat worked. "He didn’t come today. But he’ll probably do." He glanced at Arthur again, then back at Raven. "Look, I don’t want any trouble. Please don’t cause any trouble for me... You can wait and talk to the lad, but I warn you...he is not exactly friendly."

Raven’s smile was warm, disarming. "Thank you for your cooperation." She glanced at Arthur. "And don’t mind my scary companion here. He means well."

Arthur’s voice was flat. "Hey.."

Raven’s smile widened. "What? You are a scary companion."

Arthur’s lips twitched. "If you say so." He gestured at a table in the corner. "We can wait for him there. If he shows up, I think he’ll recognize me immediately." He paused. "Hopefully, he doesn’t attack me.. That will complicate the deal you wish to have with him."

Raven sat down across from him. "That’s why I’ll do the talking."

They waited.

The bar continued its slow, chaotic rhythm around them, patrons coming and going, drinks being poured, deals being made. Arthur and Raven sat in silence, their eyes scanning the room, their senses alert for any sign of their quarry.

Hours passed.

Raven’s patience began to fray. "Maybe he’s not coming."

Arthur’s eyes narrowed. "Wait."

The doors of the bar burst open.

A figure strode through them with a unique swagger, he was massive, easily seven feet tall, his skin a pale, almost translucent white, his hair a wild mane of black that cascaded down his back. His eyes were red, gleaming with a manic energy, and his smile was wide.

He wore a leather jacket, its surface adorned with patches and pins that seemed to mock the very concept of taste.

"The Main Man is here!" his voice boomed across the bar. "Once again! Johnny! My drinks as usual, pretty please!"

Raven’s voice was flat. "What an idiot."

Arthur sighed. "May this be smooth." His eyes swept across the room. "I kind of like this bar. It would be a shame for it to be destroyed."

Lobo’s eyes found them.

His smile widened, "Well, well, well," he said, his voice a low rumble. "If it isn’t the Shadow Bastard himself.."

Arthur’s eyes glowed violet.

"Lobo."

The Main Man laughed "Didn’t think I’d see you again, fragger. Especially not in a place like this." He walked toward their table, his boots heavy against the floor. "What do you want? And don’t say you just came for a drink, because I know you better than that... after all, you were my target once..."

Raven rose from her seat, her hand extended.

"We have a proposition for you," she said. "A job."

Lobo’s eyes swept over her, appraising, almost dismissive.

"Who’s the chick?" he asked Arthur. "Wait, shit, I almost didn’t recongnize her, oh she is that girl of yours, the demon one! where is the blondie though?"

Arthur’s voice was flat. "Listen to what she has to say."

Lobo’s laugh was a sharp, "I like that, straight to business!" He grabbed a chair, spinning it around, straddling it backwards. "Alright, shadow girly. Talk."

Raven sat back down, her expression calm, her eyes fixed on his.

"We need you to find someone," she said. "Someone who is very hard to find. Someone who has been hiding for a very long time."

Lobo’s grin widened. "That’s my specialty. Who’s the mark?"

Raven’s voice was quiet.

"Grail. Daughter of Darkseid, and a being called the Dragon Monarch."

Lobo’s grin didn’t falter, but something flickered in his eyes.

"Fragging hell," he said slowly. "You don’t ask for small things, do you?"

Raven’s smile was sharp. "You’re the best. I figured you’d be up for a challenge."

Lobo’s laugh was a roar that shook the room.

"I like the way you think, shadowy girly." He leaned forward, his eyes fixed on Raven, then on Arthur. "But nothing comes free. What’s the bounty?"

Arthur’s voice was flat. "Whatever you want, I know you don’t exactly take earth’s currency."

Lobo’s grin widened.

"Now you’re talking."

/-\

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