FrenzyAren
patreon
SM/DC Chapter 147 : I Work Solo
🕑 Added 2025-06-13 21:55:30 +0000 UTCArthur Blackwynd stood tall among them shadow-wrought power tucked behind an unassuming calm, his presence was commanding without trying. All eyes were on him. The invitation had been made.
Arthur nodded slightly toward Superman, his hand rising to his chest not dramatic, it was rather sincere. His voice came smooth and steady.
“I appreciate the offer, I really do” he said. “And I appreciate what you all think of me, even if most of it is built on assumptions or fear, mystery, and a little bit of chaos which I might have been the reason of.”
There were a few stiff chuckles from the Titans’ side. Beast Boy elbowed Cyborg gently, who just gave a knowing smirk.
“But I’ve never been one to stand in a line. I like to work alone,” Arthur continued. “Not because I think I’m better or that I think little of you… but because the things I deal with don’t usually play well with teams.”
He paused, eyes scanning the gathered heroes each one powerful, principled, and dangerous in their own way. Then his gaze softened just slightly.
“That said… if you ever need me,” he added, “and it’s within my power, and it doesn’t drag me away from something more urgent, I’ll come.”
‘Of course..’ Raven, standing off to the side, finally allowed herself a quiet smile. Subtle. Gentle. But it said more than words. She knew that he would give that kind of response.
Robin just exhaled through his nose and nodded, muttering, “Knew he’d say something like that.”
Cyborg folded his arms. “Yeah, classic lone wolf energy, the usual from him.”
Beast Boy whispered, “Can’t blame him. I mean, if I had powers like that I would do some crazy shii…”
Blue Beetle let out a low whistle. “I don’t want to imagine you with that power... you are already a handful.”
The League, however, had more mixed reactions.
‘He does remind me of someone in our legends..’ Wonder Woman’s expression remained unreadable but respectful. Hawkwoman tilted her head slightly, arms crossed. Aquaman looked mildly intrigued.
But Superman, Clark Kent just stared for a moment. Silent. Assessing.
And then he laughed.
It wasn’t mocking. It was warm. Real.
He stepped forward, the tension rolling off his shoulders.
“Well,” he said, chuckling, “that’s exactly what I expected. Kara’s been talking about you non-stop, after all.”
Kara, standing not far from Arthur, turned red and immediately looked away, pretending to fix a lock of her hair behind her ear.
Superman’s smile widened. “So be it, Arthur. If you’re not the type to be recruited with titles or ceremonies. Then no one can force you.”
He placed a hand on Arthur’s shoulder.
“But the door’s always open. You’re always welcome here. Justice League or not.”
Arthur looked him in the eye, and for once, the two powerhouses felt completely level, just mutual respect.
“Thank you,” Arthur said simply.
****
The Justice hall still buzzed faintly with conversation, even after Arthur's informal refusal of the League's invitation. Titans murmured amongst themselves, some nodding in quiet approval, others just relieved the moment had passed smoothly. Raven lingered near the edge of the group, watching Arthur with a quiet gaze that never quite met his when he glanced her way. Kara shifted on her feet, clearly holding something in but Arthur, calm and composed, cleared his throat gently.
“I have one request,” he said, voice steady.
The room fell into a hush again. Even the more talkative heroes turned. Superman raised a brow, smiling in that curious, friendly way of his.
“Oh?” he asked. “What could that be?”
The Titans glanced between each other Robin narrowed his eyes slightly. Kara tilted her head, arms folding. Raven straightened where she stood, the smile she’d worn moments ago slipping away into something more careful. There was an edge in Arthur’s tone, something they hadn’t heard during the praise or polite refusal.
Kara opened her mouth, unsure if she should ask what he meant, but Arthur was already moving, already gesturing slightly toward Superman and Batman.
“A conversation. Privately.”
Superman and Batman exchanged a look. Bruce gave a slow nod.
Moments later, they were behind sealed doors in one of the Watchtower’s upper briefing chambers walls layered with soundproof shielding, tech humming quietly in the background.
Arthur paced once, slowly, then stood still in the center of the room. His expression was still calm, but Superman could tell there was something heavier lying beneath. Batman, already scanning the walls with his cowl’s HUD, finished his inspection and gave a curt nod.
“You’re good,” Bruce said. “No ears.”
“If I were outside this room,” Superman added, “I wouldn’t hear a thing.”
Arthur exhaled, not in relief but like he’d been holding something he hadn’t wanted to burden others with.
“Alright then,” he said. “I’ll save you the long version, but… after Cadmus, I ended up in a different reality. A different Earth. Not a dream. Not an illusion. Real. Tangible.”
Batman’s brows lowered slightly, but he said nothing.
Arthur continued, voice low. “That Earth… was devoured. Wiped clean. Nothing left. And it wasn’t because of some villain, or a war. It was something far worse a being known as the Anti-Monitor.”
Superman frowned. “I believe I’ve heard of this in old Kryptonian records. Rumors, cosmic-level threats. But nothing confirmed at least other than what we already know, this is new to us.”
Arthur nodded. “He feeds on existence itself. Universes, positive matter, life he consumes all of it. The world I saw vanish… it was completely erased. No chance of saving it.”
Batman’s jaw tightened. “How did you survive? If it was an inevitable death like you are saying.”
Arthur looked at them both, his tone even. “The Lex Luthor of that Earth. Believe it or not, he was a decent man, arrogant still, sure, but with a heart. He built a machine for me. The same one our Luthor built in Cadmus, I’m sure you already have it here, it’s the one he used one me after all.”
Batman didn’t deny it, but Superman could see the slight twitch in his fingers as he folded his arms.
Arthur went on. “That machine sent me back. Right before the collapse. But the point is… this Anti-Monitor? He’s out there. And eventually he will get here. Could be a month, years, decades, more. But it’s coming.”
Superman absorbed the words in silence. Bruce’s face was a mask, unreadable as always. But the sheer implications made the silence feel like thunder.
“Then we prepare,” Batman could tell that Arthur was not making this up, and he finally said. “However long it takes.”
Superman nodded slowly. “That’s… a lot to take in. But thank you. For telling us.”
Arthur shrugged lightly, as if the weight of it didn’t bother him much. “I had to share this, I’ll go n—”
The doors hissed open.
Hal Jordan stepped in, uninvited but not looking to apologize. His face was unusually serious, brows furrowed.
“Sorry for intruding,” he said, eyes locking with Arthur’s, “but there is something I want talk with you about, Arthur.”
****
Kara stood with her arms crossed near Raven, eyes lingering on the sealed doors where Arthur had vanished. Her brows were slightly pinched in thought, the corners of her mouth twitching between curiosity and worry.
“What do you think he wants to talk to them about?” Kara finally asked aloud, glancing sideways at Raven. “Any idea, Raven?”
Raven was quiet for a moment, arms draped inside the sleeves of her cloak, she looked toward the door, toward the place Arthur had stood before disappearing behind secrecy and steel.
“I have no clue,” she said at last, her voice low and flat, but not dismissive. “If it’s Arthur… it could be anything.”
Cyborg let out a soft whistle. “I can't do anything to listen since they are in that room.”
Blue Beetle leaned forward with a grin, gesturing animatedly. “C’mon, it’s gotta be something big, right? You don’t just call the Big Two for a chat over coffee. What if he’s warning them about something?”
Then came Beast Boy’s voice, adopting an overly serious tone and furrowing his brows in a dramatic scowl.
“I like to work alone,” he said, puffing out his chest and deepening his voice in a laughably over-the-top impression of Arthur.
Kara snorted almost immediately, covering her mouth but failing to hide her grin. Blue Beetle let out a short burst of laughter, nudging Beast Boy with the back of his hand.
“Bro, that was spot on,” Jaime said. “You just need some glowing eyes and an army of relentless shadow monsters.”
Beastboy immediately frowned noticing the sarcasm from Jaime.
Starfire tilted her head, her expression equal parts amused and confused. “I do not understand. Was that not simply Arthur being… Arthur?”
Raven tried to suppress it, but a small, genuine smile curved at the edge of her mouth brief, rare, and faint. It vanished just as quickly, but it had been there.
Beast Boy caught it. He raised an eyebrow, grinning wide.
“Ohhh, I saw that,” he teased, elbowing her gently. “You smiled. That’s confirms a lot of things.”
Raven gave him a flat look, her voice dry as ever. “Keep talking and you’ll find yourself teleported into space, don’t forget where we are right now.”
Comments
Mecha Destroyer98
Yea I definitely think Arthur is definitely gonna need the full powers of the Shadow Monarch if he’s to have any chance against the likes of the Anti Monitor because at the moment I don’t think he stands a chance even if he continues to reach level 200 and above
