Shadow Monarch in DC

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Raven sat across from Arthur, a book resting in her lap. Her hood was down, her dark hair loose, a rare softness on her face that came only when they were alone. Her amethyst eyes lingered on him longer than usual, a slight tension to her brow as though she'd been waiting for the right moment. 

Then, almost shyly, her eyes brightened,"I wanted to tell you," she began, her voice quieter than usual, hesitant even, "but I thought you'd never agree to it." 

Arthur glanced sideways, brow raised. "Agree to what?" 

She hesitated, then gave a tiny shrug. "About a trip. A vacation. Something normal and casual, close enough to it. Where we and the team can be ourselves. You know ? Like regular people.. I know it sounds… unnecessary, given everything. And I'm not the type to care about vacations. I'd rather stay in my room, read, meditate, pretend people don't exist" 

"A trip you say?" Arthur echoed, arching an eyebrow like it was the most foreign word he'd heard all week. 

Raven nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Bruce gave the Titans full access to one of WayneTech's private islands. Some kind of… reward for defeating Trigon. Robin and the others are going. We just didn't have the time before. I wasn't planning to join them I mean, sun and all that?" She gave him a deadpan look. "Not exactly my aesthetic." 

Arthur smirked at that. 

"But," she continued, "if you want to go… I'd go." 

Arthur tilted his head, as if testing whether she was joking. "Bruce did that?" 

"Yeah. A whole island. Private, secure, overpriced. Apparently, billionaires call it 'decompression.'" 

For a second, Arthur was quiet. And then, slowly, that smile that smile crept across his face. The kind that always meant trouble for someone. 

"Oh," he said, stretching the word with deliberate satisfaction. "Now I want to go." 

Raven blinked. "You… do?" 

He stood, the dark glow of his presence sharpening as he casually rolled his shoulders. "Absolutely." 

She gave him a side glance, suspicious. "Why does that sound less like a vacation and more like a declaration of war?" 

Arthur turned toward the exit, already moving with purpose. "Because I'm bringing others with me." 

Raven narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean, others?" 

But Arthur didn't answer. 

He just looked back over his shoulder, a mischief in his expression that made her both sigh and smile at once. 

Raven watched him go, exhaling softly. "This is going to be such a disaster right...don't do anything stupid Arthur..." 

"You know," he said over his shoulder, "I think even Doom could use a tan." 

**** 

TITANS TOWER –  

Sunlight streamed through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows of Titans Tower, casting golden rays across the polished floors. Outside, the waves of Jump City's Bay lapped lazily against the island's shores, the reflection of clouds glinting off the tower's gleaming glass panels. 

Inside, the vibe was relaxed and almost... normal. 

Cyborg was flipping pancakes on the high-tech stovetop, wearing a tank top that read "Booyah Brunch." He hummed to himself, enjoying the simplicity of domestic peace. 

Beast Boy sprawled out on the couch in bright green board shorts and a t-shirt two sizes too big that read "Nature's Gift." He was already halfway through a bag of marshmallow. 

Starfire floated overhead, glowing slightly as she turned slowly in the air, sorting a massive duffel bag she refused to let anyone else touch. The fabric was glittering purple, embroidered with Tamaranian symbols and filled with what looked like sixteen different swimsuits. 

Blue Beetle leaned back in a chair near the window, scrolling through the group itinerary on his phone. "Okay, okay, so the WayneTech jet takes off in one hour," Jaime said. "We get full island access, private beach, food… man, Bruce is really trying to make up for something." 

Cyborg chuckled. "Maybe he really likes Robin now." 

"Or he's finally learning how to give us a break," Jaime offered. 

Beast Boy waved his spoon. "Not Bruce. Batman doesn't relax. He just stares at walls until crime happens." 

The boys laughed. Then Beast Boy glanced around. "Hey, anyone seen Raven though?" 

Jaime shrugged. "She's probably… I don't know… floating in a shadow dimension somewhere. Meditating. Glaring at stuff." 

"Yeah," Beast Boy agreed. "Like, under a waterfall but... spooky. You know how she is. Vacations aren't really her vibe." 

"Oh..." came a flat voice from directly behind him. 

Both Jaime and Beast Boy froze, eyes widening like they'd just stepped on a landmine. 

"Oh no." 

"Oh man, she's behind us, isn't she?" 

Two dark bolts of energy slammed into the back of their heads not enough to do damage, just enough to earn a solid ouch and send them tumbling forward over the couch in a comedic heap. 

As they groaned and tried to collect themselves, Raven stepped calmly into the room, arms crossed, dressed in a simple black tank top and leggings, her hood absent, a smirk tugging at her lips. 

But she wasn't alone. 

Next to her stood Arthur, casual but unmistakable, dressed in black cargo pants and a dark green Henley, sleeves pushed to the elbows. His presence was like a ripple in the air calm, but impossibly heavy. On his right stood Kara, in jean shorts and a white t-shirt under a light blue open shirt, her blonde hair tied into a high ponytail. Both looked completely relaxed, but the air in the room still shifted around them. 

The Titans all stared. 

"Arthur!" Beast Boy blurted out with way too much enthusiasm, panic layered beneath the joy. "Haha! Buddy! Pal! What a surprise! Didn't see you there. I mean, I definitely didn't say you were moody or anything like that. Raven is also pretty cool! Forget anything I said..." 

Arthur smiled faintly. "Hey." 

Robin standing near the table and quietly sipping from a cup of coffee let a small smile form. He set it down and approached. 

"Are you joining us?" he asked, with a tone that sounded more like curiosity than surprise. Almost as if he'd been expecting this. 

Arthur gave a small shrug. "Bruce did offer an island. It'd be rude not to accept." 

Cyborg gave him a friendly nod. "been a while, man. You pickin' now to relax? After getting involved with the yellow lanterns a few days ago.. What happened by the way.. I'm sure you disappeared for a while.." 

Arthur smirked. "Nothing important happened, and I just needed the right invitation, this trip sounds promising." 

Jaime looked between Arthur, Kara, and Raven. "Okay but… this vacation just went from chill vibes to potential world-ending event in swimwear real fast, with you guys being here.." 

Starfire clapped her hands excitedly. "Don't be rude Jaime!, Friends! I am most pleased! This shall be a glorious bonding ritual!" 

Beast Boy whispered to Jaime, "Okay but like… if one of your shadows show up in a speedo, I'm out." 

That's when Arthur, who was nearby pretending to examine a map of the island Robin had pulled up, gave a slow, amused turn of the head. His lips curled in a dry smile. 

"I can make that happen," he said, straight-faced. "What do you think… Doomsday in flip-flops, or something more revealing?" 

Beast Boy paled, visibly shuddering. "Ugh—nope. Nope! You just cursed my mind forever. I can't unsee it now!" 

Kara, standing beside Raven, blinked. "...Yeah, me too," she said, her nose scrunching as the image unwillingly took root in her head. "Thanks for that." 

Even Raven, deadpan as ever, allowed herself the faintest upward twitch of the lips. 

Robin turned from the table, arms crossed, clearly suppressing a smirk. "Alright, now that everyone's successfully traumatized by Arthur's sense of humor," he said, "we can leave. Ship's prepped, coordinates locked." 

"About time," Cyborg said, slinging his bag over his shoulder with a metallic clink. "I need sun, saltwater, and exactly zero supervillains this week." 

/-\ 

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