Bunker Meeting.

After Arthur's mode of transportation was flickered into Poseidon knows where, Lex led Arthur into the Bunker. Upon their arrival, the air was thick with reverence and tension as Aquaman stepped deeper into the bunker. The walls, lined with glowing tactical panels and humming machinery, whispered of desperate planning and sleepless nights. As the king of the seas passed through the arched entrance, every pair of eyes turned to him—not with suspicion, but with hope.

He had even gained a renewed form of popularity amongst the masses, now with the recent stunts on BikBok and other social media platforms. He was the man of the hour, a perfect distraction every government needed right now in their state of emergencies declared worldwide while they armed, prepared themselves and their heroes from Raven.

Ra's al Ghul was the first to greet him, stepping forward with the graceful menace of a serpent.

"To meet the King of the seas himself. I am honoured by your presence. I am Ra' al Ghul and beside me is my beautiful daughter…" Beside him stood his daughter, Talia, arms folded but eyes sharp, always evaluating.

"Talia. It's nice to meet you Sea King." Her expression betrayed neither warmth nor hostility—only calculation. Arthur gave a slow nod, his trident in hand. Talia nodded in return, offering the faintest of smirks.

Next came Robin, sharp-eyed and tense as ever. He didn't greet with words—just a curt nod and a clenched jaw as if Arthur should have already known him. In this case, they already know each other. Behind him, Blue Beetle stepped forward.

"Wow, what's with your arm. It's all water like, can I touch it… I mean, not like that, but it's kinda cool looking and all." His suit hummed faintly as he gave Arthur a slightly awkward wave.

Jericho stood to the side, his silence louder than words, and Red Star followed close, arms crossed as if trying to size Arthur up.

"So you command the seas aye? I recently joined in from mother Russia. You can call me Red Star."

Then came Aqualad—Arthur's protégé—who dropped to one knee the moment his king passed. "Your Majesty," he said solemnly.

Arthur's expression softened briefly. "Rise, Aqualad. Now is not the time for such formalities. We're all soldiers in this."

Tala drifted forward next, her aura a cold, quiet flame. Her eyes locked with Arthur's, curious and unreadable. She said nothing, but the way she lingered made it clear—she too had sensed the divine power that now coursed through him. But even more so, her gaze met Lex. It was surprising to see Lex rise to such a level of power so quickly that it took her down memory lane. She remembered sacrificing some virgins and demons to get more power, but she knew Lex wasn't someone who practised the dark arts, so it was probably through means mortals could use if they knew.

Arthur looked around, taking stock of the ragtag yet determined group assembled before him, and he turned to Lex. His tone was direct and dry.

"I understand this is all we have now… but there are no significant improvements thus far. And we need more power to fight Raven. Apart from you, somehow, gaining superpowers," he said, raising a brow as he eyed the hovering Lex Luthor.

Robin and his extended family present felt both insulted and at the same time intrigued by how Lex could fly and all. They had been meaning to ask Lex the moment he stepped into the room, but had to respect their prominent guest and the powerful in the room first before asking Lex.

That last remark stirred the room.

"You scumbag—what did you do this time?!" Robin growled, stepping forward with clenched fists. But before he could get far, Arthur's liquid left hand whipped out, blocking him. Surprisingly enough it didn't feel wet—it felt like solid magic made real. And what shocked Arthur was the fact that nothing happened to Robin when he touched him with his left arm, so that meant Poseidon might have taken his gift back.

Lex smirked. "I was going to tell you all anyway. But first... context."

He hovered in place, legs crossed midair like a smug monk floating in thought. "This war... will demand every ounce of power we can muster. None of you—not even combined—are ready to face Raven. And before we even get into how to fight her, I bet you're all wondering: where's Superman?"

The air tightened. That question had haunted everyone. Where was the Man of Steel when the world needed him most?

Lex's expression shifted—still calm, but more cutting now. "Was he killed? Sealed away? Manipulated? The answer is... worse."

A silence fell. A gulp could be heard in the bunker.

"He switched sides," Lex said. "And apparently... genders."

Gasps, silence, disbelief.

"It was only a matter of time." Ra's al Ghul narrowed his eyes.

'The human gift for being ungrateful finally broke him.' Talia's lips parted slightly in intrigue as she thought about it. Blue Beetle's mask flickered for a second as though registering the spike in emotion in the room.

"Superman betrayed us?" someone muttered. "Impossible. It's like saying the Joker doesn't laugh or Aquaman is allergic to water and can't swim."

Arthur's grip on the trident tightened. "It can't be. You must be mistaken."

Of all the Justice League members to waver, he counted himself first since experiencing Raven first-hand. He counted himself first since he had lost the fight mentally before he could even go on. He counted himself first because he thought he was useless without his powers. Why would he count Superman, the beacon of hope to do even worse?

"Oh, but it is," Lex answered with a wry smile. He gestured, and a large screen lowered from the ceiling. Footage flickered on—chaotic, brutal, and unmistakably real.

There she was: Superwoman. Ruthlessly dispatching Metropolis' villains, faster than they could react. One clip showed her finishing off Livewire, who had just finished getting her warm creampie turned to ash, the encounter lingering longer than necessary. Some stared, confused. A few flushed. Red Star looked away.

"And now... the suit," Lex said. "Dark. Blood red and black. No longer our bright blue and red, our beacon of hope."

He gave another motion, and the screen shut off.

"She is one of Raven's now. Accept it."

"And she didn't come for your head? Why is that?" Robin asked, not buying.

"She actually visited me in my office, demanding my surrender. But here we are." Lex replied.

The room buzzed with disbelief and arguments.

"This is betrayal!" someone shouted.

"She's been mind-controlled before—maybe this is the same!"

Ra's and Talia exchanged knowing glances, "The strong either lead... or are consumed." Ra's murmured.

"But there's more," Lex continued. "Another threat, closer than you think."

A holographic projection bloomed above him, spreading wide into a 3D globe. "The Amazons."

The room fell still.

"We all know Diana is with Raven," Lex said. "Which means her people may already be compromised. If we launch an assault, what's to stop the Amazons from getting us banged up from behind?"

Aqualad stifled a laugh. He couldn't take Lex seriously after a word he thought funny was uttered from Lex.

Lex raised a brow. "You could learn a thing or two from your friend Jericho," he said, nodding toward the mute boy who stood firm, hand clenched, the fire of resolution in his eyes.

Arthur folded his arms. "And what do you suggest?"

Lex's lips curled. "We talk to them. If they're truly allies, they'll aid us—share their weapons, wisdom, and warriors."

Robin leaned forward. "The problem is... no one's been able to find Themyscira. Only Diana—"

"And me," Lex cut in. "I know the location. How I came by that knowledge is none of your concern."

There was silence.

"I propose a diplomatic mission," Lex added. "We need someone strong, commanding... and persuasive."

"And I suppose you mean yourself?" Arthur asked, tone laced with sarcasm.

Lex didn't blink. "Yes. And you, Arthur. And you, Tala."

Tala's brow rose. "Vreally, Lex?"

"I trust you'll find it... exhilarating."

Robin interrupted, "If she's going, let my mother follow Arthur. She knows the stakes."

"Thank you, Robin..." his mother cut in smoothly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "But maybe your friend—Blue Roach, was it?—can accompany them."

"Beetle. Blue Beetle," Jaime muttered, cheeks flushing, clearly feeling an attraction toward Robin's mom.

His mother chuckled, amused by his reaction. Robin facepalmed. He knew that tone. The same one that had seduced billionaires, tyrants, and intergalactic generals. His mother hadn't lost her seductive touch.

Meanwhile, Tala stood quiet, arms crossed, watching everyone. Her mind wandered.

'Why didn't Raven approach me? Why wasn't I invited into her glorious chaos? I would have served. I would have burned the world for her.' Tala bit her nail. How did she miss this opportunity to spread chaos?

But perhaps... There was still time.

Something came up last week hence the lack of chapters. Hope you are all doing fine, the Raven fic resumes today. 

Read ahead with illustrations on patreon.com/futamommy