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Hal Jordan entered and Superman leaned back against the console table, arms crossed, brow relaxed but observant. Batman stood near the far corner, gloved fingers brushing across the touchpad of a projected screen built into the underside of his arm brace.
Arthur Blackwynd stood in the center of the room with an ease that somehow made him feel taller than all of them. His arms were loose at his sides, posture neither aggressive nor guarded. Just calm.
"Hey," Hal began, rubbing the back of his neck as he stepped forward, trying to frame his words just right. "Before anything else... I just wanna say again sorry for interrupting whatever you guys were discussing. But I need to know something. It's very important."
Arthur tilted his head slightly, offering no emotion one way or the other. "Which is?"
The silence that followed wasn't awkward but it wasn't comfortable either. Hal cleared his throat and shifted on his feet.
"It concerns you, Arthur." he said.
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Ask away already."
Hal hesitated not because he didn't want to say it, but because saying it aloud made it real. He lifted his right hand slightly and tapped a finger against the glowing green ring on his finger. The emerald light pulsed softly in response.
"Have you seen anyone strange lately?" Hal asked, voice lowered a bit. "Or… been approached by someone?"
Arthur narrowed his eyes, posture stiffening ever so slightly.
"Can you elaborate?" he asked, voice quiet but sharp enough to cut glass.
Hal sighed, his jaw flexing before he replied. He raised his hand again and gestured more clearly to the ring.
"This," he said. "Have you come across anyone wearing a ring like mine....except yellow?"
Arthur was silent for a long breath. Then, he laughed.
It wasn't mocking or dismissive, but something colder like someone who already knew where the conversation was heading before it began.
"You're asking me," Arthur said, taking a step forward, "if I've been approached by a Yellow Lantern. Someone from the Sinestro Corps. Right?"
Hal froze mid-step, and exchanged a sharp glance with Superman.
Even Batman who rarely allowed his surprise to show shifted his gaze from his screen. Briefly. That was enough.
"You didn't expect me to know about them?" Arthur said with a faint smirk. "You shouldn't underestimate my knowledge even though it's not that big of an information, you colorful lanterns are scattered everywhere in the universe after all."
Hal looked away for half a second, sighing again. "No, I didn't. Guess I shouldn't be surprised."
Arthur's smirk faded. His expression grew neutral again, unreadable as ever.
"No," he said. "I haven't been approached. Not by yellow. Or red. Or indigo. Or whatever other color spectrum you're worried about."
He began to walk toward the door, the room falling into silence behind him.
But just before he exited, Arthur paused. He didn't turn his head his voice carried cleanly behind him.
"Should I expect something like that to happen?" he asked. Calm and direct.
Hal stiffened. Superman glanced toward him, letting Hal answer.
"No," Hal said quickly. "No, not at all. It's just… a precaution."
Arthur nodded. "Very well."
The door slid open with a faint hiss.
And then he was gone.
Superman exhaled through his nose, the easy calm of the earlier hall now replaced by an uneasy quiet.
Batman's voice broke it at last.
"He already knew about the Corps," he said. "He's either being watched or doing the watching, honestly he surprises me every single time."
Hal just stared at the now-closed door.
"Let's just hope it stays quiet," he murmured. "Because if someone from Sinestro's Corps does reach out to him…"
He didn't finish the thought.
No one needed him to.
****
Arthur walked alone beneath the Watchtower's lights, The chatter of the others faded behind him as he turned down a less-traveled corridor. He slowed, his hand resting in the pocket of his coat, eyes distant.
His mind raced with thoughts.
'I left a shadow soldier in Superman... and in Batman. Even Hal." His voice was a low murmur, thoughtful rather than sinister. 'That should keep me updated if anything… interesting happens.'
He moved silently, glancing down a side hall before continuing. 'But what Hal mentioned... Sinestro, huh.' A small grin played on his lips. 'He's afraid someone from the Corps might show up. For me. Has to be because of my powers. Fear...death...dominion. Makes sense.'
He stopped near a view panel that stretched out into the stars, hands resting behind his back.
'I'd be a perfect candidate to spread fear, wouldn't I?' he said softly. 'But truth be told... I'm more of a Black La—'
"Arthur!"
The sudden voice startled even him slightly.
He turned just in time to see Kara walking toward him with purpose, flanked by the Titans. Beast Boy and Cyborg trailed behind, chatting idly, while Raven walked in her usual hush, eyes glancing up once but quickly away.
Kara was already launching into questions the moment she was close enough.
"What did you say just now?" she asked, eyes narrowing as she studied him. "And what did you talk about with Bruce and Clark in private?"
Arthur blinked, recovering quickly. "We talked about how to keep the planet safe from future threats," he said with a calm shrug, "and that I would help... if needed."
Kara folded her arms. Her expression said everything.
"Really now?" she said flatly. "That's the best lie you could come up with?"
Arthur's eyes glinted with a flicker of amusement. "I thought it was pretty convincing."
Before she could push further, his gaze flicked over to the Titans. Martian Manhunter's voice echoed faintly over their communicators, instructing them toward a new assignment.
Arthur watched as they began to gather, readying themselves. His eyes rested on Raven.
He took a step closer and asked quietly, "A mission?"
Raven glanced at him beneath her hood. "Yeah," she said softly. "Nothing serious."
Arthur's hand reached out and gently caught her fingers. Her eyes widened slightly then immediately darted around, noticing how everyone was watching.
"So later then," Arthur said, his voice low, almost warm. "I still need you for what I asked."
Raven's face flushed pale violet rising up her cheeks. She quickly pulled her hand back and half-sputtered, "I know. I haven't forgotten. I'll be there."
Arthur gave her a simple nod and an easy smile. "Alright then. Catch you later."
Raven turned fast, spinning on her heel and marching toward her team. Beast Boy raised an eyebrow, giving her a knowing look. Cyborg simply smirked.
Kara watched the interaction with a strange twist in her expression. She didn't speak at first just stared after Raven, her lips pressing together. When she turned back to Arthur, her tone was casual, but edged with something subtler.
"So…" she said, walking up beside him. "This thing you need to do at home. I suppose it has something to do with whatever you're doing under your house?"
Arthur chuckled. "Correct," he said smoothly. "And I'll need to do something about your X-ray vision."
Kara blinked. "My what?"
"I mean...not yours, specifically," he clarified with a grin. "Just in general. I need to make sure that place is X-ray proof. You know what I mean."
Kara raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing down there anyway?"
Arthur smirked but gave no answer. He started walking again, past her, letting his voice drift over his shoulder.
"You'll see."
Kara stared after him, arms crossed again, trying to fight the urge to smile.
And failing.
The Titans had already cleared out, leaving the corridor quieter than before. He turned to her fully now, his tone calm, almost casual.
"Let's go now," he said, extending a hand as he moved to grab hers to teleport.
But Kara didn't take it.
Instead, she reached forward and silently rested her hand on his shoulder, deliberately looking away as she did so. Her grip was firm just a bit more than it needed to be and the way her jaw tightened, even slightly, didn't go unnoticed.
Arthur paused.
He saw it clearly in that small gesture. The tension. The shift in her body language. Something was gnawing at her, just beneath the surface. A flicker of irritation, not quite anger, but close.
He could've asked. He almost did.
But he didn't.
Instead, Arthur looked at her for a second longer, something passing through his eyes. Then he simply said, his voice low and even:
"…Exchange."
And in a blink of black shadows the two vanished.
/-\
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