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Arthur suddenly rose without warning.
The chair scraped softly against the floor as shadows gathered at his feet, they already knew where he intended to go. Kara barely had time to react before his hand closed around hers firmly, and he started pulling her toward him.
"Woah.. hey!" Kara laughed, stumbling a half-step. "Let me finish my drink first!"
Arthur didn't even look back at the table. "I'll find you shortly," he said calmly. "There's something we need to do first."
Constantine blinked, watching the shadows begin to stretch unnaturally across the pub floor. "Oi.. where to?"
Arthur paused just long enough to glance over his shoulder, violet eyes glowing faintly.
"Be seeing you."
"Wait a second, Arthur!" Constantine started, pushing back his chair.
Arthur turned fully this time, shadows rising behind him. "You can go ahead," he said evenly. "I'll join you soon enough."
Kara opened her mouth to protest, then closed it again as the shadows surged upward, swallowing them both in a silent vortex. The air rippled, and then they were gone.
The pub felt colder.
Constantine stood there for a long moment, cigarette forgotten between his fingers. He slowly turned to Zatanna, who was calmly taking a sip of her drink, entirely unfazed.
"…What the hell was that about?" he muttered.
Zatanna shrugged lightly. "You think he didn't like the idea of paying Lucifer a visit?"
Constantine snorted, shaking his head. "On the contrary. I'm worried the dimwit's too pleased."
He reached for his glass, then stopped halfway, eyes narrowing as a thought caught up with him. He lowered the drink slowly and looked at Zatanna, not joking now. Not smirking.
"You don't think he's actually mad enough to try and claim Lucifer himself… do you?"
Zatanna burst out laughing.
"Oh John," she said, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. "You really don't know what you've started."
Constantine stared into his glass.
"…Bloody hell."
****
GOTHAM - ARTHUR'S ESTATE
Arthur and Kara emerged at the edge of the estate grounds, the familiar silhouette of the manor rising before them, for a moment, everything was calm, the usual.
Kara blinked, hands on her hips.
"…Okay. Why are we here?"
Arthur glanced at her, a small, genuine smile touching his lips.
"She woke up."
Kara froze.
Then her eyes lit up. "Really?!"
The next instant, she was gone.
A sonic crack rippled through the air as Kara vanished in a blur, streaking straight through the front doors and into the estate like a missile with good intentions. Somewhere inside, furniture protested loudly.
Arthur sighed, already walking. "Calm down…"
He stepped inside just in time to see Kara skidding sideways through the hall, narrowly missing a table.
George, immaculate as ever, stood near the corridor entrance, hands folded behind his back.
"Welcome back, Master Arthur," he said smoothly, then inclined his head slightly. "Miss Ra..."
Arthur nodded as he passed. "I know."
He slowed, expression sharpening just a little. "Did you notice anything out of the ordinary when she woke up?"
George followed at an unhurried pace. "It was a rather long rest, sir. But no abnormalities presented themselves. No fever. No distress." A pause. "She was, however, exceptionally thirsty and hungry."
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "And did you.."
"Naturally, sir," George replied before he could finish. "Meals were prepared in advance. Including one for you."
Arthur chuckled under his breath. "Alright. I'll go check on her myself."
George nodded and fell a step behind as Arthur turned toward the bedroom.
The door was open.
Raven sat on the edge of the bed, dressed comfortably, her posture relaxed in a way that felt… new. Kara hovered in front of her, talking too fast, hands moving everywhere.
"..and you don't feel dizzy? Or weird? Or lighter? Or heavier? Or.."
"I'm fine, Kara," Raven said softly, though there was warmth in it.
Then she lifted her eyes.
Arthur stood in the doorway.
For a moment, he didn't move.
He watched her breathe. Watched the calm rise and fall of her chest.
Raven met his gaze and tilted her head slightly, a faint smile touching her lips.
"Why are you just standing there?"
Arthur exhaled, a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and stepped inside. He sat beside her on the bed, close but careful.
Raven reached out and took his hand, her fingers warm, steady.
"Did you think I'd be any different?" she asked quietly. "In how I feel?"
Arthur looked down at their joined hands, then back up to her eyes. His voice was low, honest.
"I feared it would leave a mark," he said. "Something lasting. I removed him without hesitation… without considering every consequence." His jaw tightened just a little. "I feared one thing."
Raven squeezed his hand.
"That it would harm me."
He nodded.
She smiled,
Then she leaned forward and kissed him.
It wasn't gentle. It was grateful. Grounding and too real.
Arthur froze for half a moment, then kissed her back just as fiercely, his hand sliding up to cradle her face, The room seemed to vanish around them.
Somewhere behind them, George turned very deliberately toward the window.
Across the room, Kara bit her lip, cheeks warm, looking away with exaggerated interest in the wall. She didn't say a word.
Raven pulled back just enough to rest her forehead against Arthur's, her breath warm, her voice trembling with emotion rather than weakness.
"Thank you," she whispered. "I have never felt this free. It's like I lived my entire life inside a prison, secure, controlled… but still a cage."
A single tear slipped down her cheek.
"And now," she continued softly, "I'm finally seeing the world outside."
Arthur lifted his hand and brushed the tear away with his thumb, slow and gentle.
"You are the light of my abyssal life," she said, voice breaking just slightly.
Kara stared, stunned into silence.
Arthur's violet eyes softened as he held Raven's face.
"Raven," he said quietly, "I would fight the universe itself to keep you all safe. If I could go back in time… I would have done this sooner and released you from that nightmare.. Without hesitation."
She laughed softly through the emotion and rested her head against his shoulder, fitting there as if she had always belonged.
Arthur wrapped an arm around her, holding her close.
Then he spoke, his voice calm and warm.
"I'm glad you're feeling alive… and well," he said, eyes studying her face. "But you should still rest. Your soul's been through more than you let on."
Raven nodded without argument, her fingers curling briefly around his sleeve before she let go.
"I will," she said softly. "For once… resting doesn't feel like hiding."
Arthur smiled at that, then carefully rose to his feet. The shift in him was subtle, but unmistakable.
"There's a matter I must attend to," he said evenly. "Kara will accompany me."
Kara straightened at once, hands clasped behind her back, trying and failing to look casual.
Raven looked between them, reading far more than either of them said aloud. She smiled.
"Good luck," she said gently. "Whatever you're about to do, whether it's cosmic battle or the depths of Hell itself, I know you'll pull through. You always do."
Arthur paused.
Kara did too.
They exchanged a glance, quick, something passed between them: caution maybe even a touch of irony.
Raven noticed immediately.
Her brow arched slightly. "Anything wrong with what I said?"
Arthur turned back to her, the corner of his mouth lifting.
Kara mirrored the expression, hands rubbing the back of her neck.
"No," Arthur said at the same time Kara answered.
"Nothing wrong at all."
Raven studied them for a second longer, then laughed quietly, shaking her head.
"Alright then," she said, settling back against the pillows. "Just… come back."
Arthur met her gaze,
"I will."
He turned toward the door, shadows already beginning to stir at his heels. Kara followed, casting one last glance over her shoulder.
/-\
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