Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans.
Author's Note: When I was watching The End, I was amazed by how gentle Trigon was with Raven, and began to wonder if there was some reason for this. Here's the product of all those musings, though I'm not quite happy with it, for vague reasons. And it's still not going in Feathers, because I said so. Any comments/critiques are welcome.
0o0 Love Of A Father 0o0
Raven looked at her father, pleading eyes searching his own pitiless yellow ones.
"But… I don't want to." The whisper slipped from her mouth and Trigon's gaze softened, his massive talons relaxing slightly around his daughter.
"It is your destiny. You must. You were born to summon me." This was no demonic rage in which he spoke, but rather his voice was a rumbling gentleness, entreating her to do as Fate said she must. The half demon on his hand lowered her gaze, already feeling the trickle of tears start. One fell onto the red flesh upholding her, burning a hole in his hand, but he did not flinch or punish her. Instead he brought his massive face closer to hers, touching gently the girl he had watched over since the moment of her conception.
"Do not fight it, Raven. Do not fight me." She looked up desperately, hands clenching as conflicting emotions fought within her.
"Father, I don't want to. I found a home here. They accept me. Everyone else pushes me away because of you, but they're trying to help me instead!" She wiped her tears away with the back of one hand, a hollow sadness filling her. "They're my friends.
Trigon filled with anger at those who had scorned his daughter, his most perfect creation, and swore once more to destroy the mortals who could not see the dark beauty and perfection she carried within herself. As she had grown, he had always been there, visiting her in dreams to soothe her troubled mind, feeling the anguish his daughter had been caused by those who rejected her. He had attempted to see her only as an object, only someone to be manipulated… but he couldn't.
She was his daughter, and it was a bond that stretched even between the Lord of Hell and the girl he had inflicted upon the world. He cared for her, the sole thing in the universe that mattered, besides conquering the universe itself. Those who hurt her were and would be punished, such as that arrogant creature Malchior. He had been ripped forcefully from his book and given the special tour of Trigon's domain, ending with an interview with the Master of Hell himself. The dragon hadn't been quite the same after that.
He took joy from pain. It was his purpose in the world, and he delighted in the anger and rage that filled this place. But Raven's pain… there was no sweet pleasure in that. And that, in the end, would make all the difference for the world.
"It is your destiny, daughter. You cannot deny it." Slowly he put her down, watching with hidden pride as she collected herself and stepped off his hand. Withdrawing from her 'safe room', Trigon returned to his dimension and waited.
Of course, he would never show any affection outwardly, or in front of anyone else. He was Trigon, and had a reputation as such to maintain. But inside, once in a while, he could, perhaps, allow a moment of weakness for the one thing his heart desired happiness for.
He would spare the Titans, for Raven's sake. And, when or if she rebelled against him, he would go. But no matter what she did, no matter what spells she cast or where she ran, he would follow her with the heart of a father. Because, after all, he was.
The End