The fires on the wrecked Apokoliptean ship had gone out, and the harbor smelled of burning metal, the seagulls had already begun circling the wreckage. Arthur stood at the edge of the dock, his shadow armor receded into nothing, leaving him in simple black clothes that moved too easily in the salt wind. His violet eyes tracked the smoke as it rose and dispersed.
"Darkseid," he murmured, "Your time will come.."
Then the air shifted next to Arthur without a sound.
But Arthur didn't turn for this was a friendly presence. "You already dealt with it," Superman said.
The Man of Steel landed on the dock with the subtlety of a feather touching silk, no impact crater, just a thump of boots on wet concrete. His cape settled around him.
Arthur's lip twitched. "You're late to the party."
"I was in space, The Zeta-Tube of the sanctuary teleported us to the Watchtower, I should have gone directly here like you did." Superman moved to stand beside him, their shoulders almost touching. "I had to verify something else as well with Batman, he knew you were here already."
"And you still got here in under four minutes."
"I wasn't showing off."
Arthur snorted. "Sure."
Superman's eyes scanned the wreckage below. His expression shifted through several micro-expressions in the span of a second.
"Ship from Apokolips," he said. "I know that design very well."
"Old war wounds?"
"Old lesson." Superman's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "A long time ago, Darkseid attacked Earth with a significant force. We defeated them." He paused. "Though we never fought Darkseid himself."
Arthur finally turned to look at him. The firelight caught the angles of Superman's face, highlighting the tension in his brow, the set of his mouth.
Darkseid's name still made him pause.
Arthur looked back at the wreck.
"Then this is no different, Clark." He gestured at the burning ship with a lazy wave. "That vessel was only full of parademons. There's no one close to Darkseid aboard, none of his New Gods, none of his Elite. This was a scouting ship. Something he sent to test our defenses."
Superman's brow furrowed. "You're sure?"
"I counted every life sign before my dragon took his first bite." Arthur's voice was flat. "Parademons. Officers low enough that they probably didn't even know why they were sent. No one who matters was onboard." He paused, watching a piece of the wreckage break free and crash into the water. "At least now he knows Earth is still strong enough."
"Despite the situation with the Gates," Superman finished, "and the Monarchs we're facing."
"Exactly."
Somewhere in the distance, a helicopter was approaching, news crew, probably, drawn by the explosion that had shaken half the city. Arthur made a mental note to have his shadows misdirect them.
Then his eyes widened.
It was subtle. Anyone else would have missed it. But Superman had been watching Arthur's face in the firelight, and he saw the sudden sharpening of focus, the way those violet irises seemed to contract around a thought that just popped in his mind.
Arthur turned to face him fully.
"What if he really knows a lot about what's going on here?"
Superman considered this.
"It's hard to tell," he admitted. "But I don't think that's impossible with him."
Arthur's jaw tightened. "I wouldn't learn much from his parademons. Even as shadows." He shook his head. "They're genetically engineered troops, meant to follow his orders and that's about it. Their minds are... empty. Purpose-built, so there's nothing to take."
"So we learn nothing from this."
"Almost nothing." Arthur's eyes narrowed. "We know he's watching, we know he's patient. And we know he's willing to sacrifice ships and soldiers just to see how we would react."
Superman folded his arms across his chest. "What would you do? If you were him."
Arthur was quiet for a long moment. "If I were Darkseid," he said slowly, "I would wait."
"Wait for what?"
"Until the Gates and the Monarchs exhaust Earth. Until we're exhausted." He gestured vaguely at the sky, at the city, at the entire struggling planet. "The Rulers, the Monarchs, the Hunters, the League, we're fighting a war on multiple fronts. Every day, we lose a little more. A little more energy. A little more hope, a little more people."
Superman's arms uncrossed, his hands hung at his sides, fingers curling into loose fists.
"Then," Arthur continued, "when we're bleeding out, when our defenses are stretched thin, when the strongest of us are running on empty... he claims the rewards. Probably uses certain people and monsters in his favor. It would be extra firepower he didn't have to spend anything to acquire."
"Monarchs," Superman said. "You think he would ally with them?"
"I think Darkseid doesn't have allies. He has assets, and the Monarchs would make excellent assets, if he could control them, I don't know if he would be able to control someone like Antares though."
Superman's laugh was soft, almost sad. "I think he's much smarter than that."
Arthur's head tilted. "Meaning?"
"Meaning Darkseid doesn't strike me like a being that waits for opportunities. He creates them." Superman turned to face the harbor, "If he's watching, he's not just waiting. He's manipulating, finding the cracks, widening them. He's probably already reached out to someone, someone on Earth, someone who thinks they're using him."
Arthur was silent for a second, then he said, "That's what's bothering me, I truly can't tell especially after what I've learned recently."
"Did something happen?" Superman asked.
"Something did happen. He already killed some of my Shadow Lanterns." Arthur's voice dropped. "They were good people. Steppenwolf did it in his name, and I keep asking myself... is he a fool or is he really sacrificing one of his elites just to test me?"
Superman's expression softened. "Steppenwolf is a conqueror, it's what he does, I've heard from Hal the things Steppenwolf did on some planets, apparently the Green Lantern Corps have been trying to hunt him for a long time, if he comes to Earth..."
"He's not stupid enough to think he can conquer Earth." Arthur shook his head. "He's seen what we can do. Whatever he's doing, he's not doing it because he believes he can win. He's doing it because someone told him to."
"Darkseid."
"Darkseid." Arthur's fists clenched, then relaxed. "Steppenwolf will be just a distraction. Or a test. Or both."
Superman placed a hand on Arthur's shoulder. "Sorry to hear about your Lanterns," he said quietly. "And yeah. We'll stop them."
Arthur looked at the hand on his shoulder. Then at Superman's face. "I don't doubt it." He looked back at the wreckage. "My plan for revenge is already underway. Steppenwolf will take the bait. And when he does..." His eyes glowed violet for just a moment. "I will try to learn a thing or two about Darkseid and his intentions through him."
Superman removed his hand. His expression was thoughtful, almost concerned.
"You really are taking a lot upon your shoulders, Arthur."
"I can handle it."
"I know you can." Superman's voice was gentle but firm. "That's not the point." He turned to face Arthur directly, his cape settling behind him. "You know we exist too, right? You can't keep fighting alone."
Arthur opened his mouth, "The Monarchs," Superman continued, ticking off on his fingers. "The Rulers. Darkseid. And whatever else lurks out there that we haven't even seen yet. We share this burden, Arthur. All of us."
Arthur's mouth closed.
"I admire your will," Superman said. "Your character. I always have, but we will share this burden. Besides..." A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "You have a kid coming."
The silence that followed was different from the others. Arthur's expression flickered, something passing across his face too fast to name, then he smiled.
"And this is all for a better future," Arthur said quietly. He gestured with his hands toward the ocean, the horizon, where the dark water met the darker sky. "For all of them."
Superman followed his gaze.
"I really have no other intentions," Arthur continued. "Nothing else. I'm using my powers, driven from Death itself.. to sustain life." He laughed, with a soft exhale. "Ironic, isn't it?"
Superman laughed too. "Sounds spooky when you say it like that."
"Kind of." Arthur's smile widened. "Have you seen my aesthetic?"
"Superman put his hand on Arthur's shoulder again, squeezing once, firmly. "We all respect you for that."
Superman stepped back. "Well." He rolled his shoulders, and the tension seemed to leave him. "Since this is dealt with, I should go report back." His expression turned serious. "Batman was very worried about this one, for good reason. We can't afford to let our guard down anymore, we don't need anymore surprises."
Arthur nodded. "I'll go home, then, to check on Kara and the others."
Superman's face lit up. "Tell her I said hi."
"I will."
Superman crouched slightly, his eyes scanning the sky, calculating trajectories.
Then he paused.
"Arthur."
"Yes?"
"Thank you." Superman's voice was quiet. "For being nice to that Kid back at the secret sanctuary and for doing what you do." He glanced at the wreckage. "For handling this before it became a problem.."
Arthur inclined his head. "Someone has to."
Superman smiled.
Then he shot into the sky a red-and-blue blur that broke the sound barrier in less than a second, leaving a thunderclap that rolled across the harbor like applause. The clouds parted around his ascent.
Arthur watched him go.
Then the Darkness rose around him swallowing his form in a gust of dark smoke. And just like that the dock was empty.
/-\
If you Like this story! Check out my other stories! Shadow Monarch: In One Piece / The Witcher: Heir of Fire!
&
If you wish to read more or simply support me than check out my p@t-reon / FrenzyAren"
You can Get Access to 7 More Chapters on all of my stories!