I Do Not Own DC Comics, Movies/TV, or Animation
Don't Look Down...
Raven squirmed out of the grasps of Damian and Jason; Jason was a bit more difficult to escape as his arm held her tight, but she did it and stumbled a moment. She rubbed her side and her shoulder as she rolled her shoulder to check it. It didn't hurt, it just was stiff, which had her walking out of her room and right into the chest of Dick Grayson.
"Rae!" he started before she slammed her hand over his mouth, backed him up as she shut the door silently and waited a beat, there was waking emotions from Damian or Jason.
"Shush," she whispered and he nodded as he took her arm and dragged her into another room.
"Titans are still standing," he smiled slightly.
"Mmm," she hummed. "Where's the kitchen?" her stomach was snarling fiercely.
"Come on, your team is awaiting you," he said.
"I can sense that," she replied dryly as she lifted her brows and awaited the fill in on having her entire team here.
"About that… Cy got information on Jason, I took Kori to Gotham to talk to Bruce about it, Tim hacked Cy, got the info, he and Stephanie deciphered what it meant, and they stole Kori's jet, along with Jaime, Jon, Bart, Kaldur, and Cassandra, crashed it in the English Channel and are now here," Dick blurted out quickly.
Raven pursed her lips together as she folded her arms then.
"Anything else, I should know about?" she asked icily.
"Uh… nope, that sums it up. You and Jason?" he asked.
"Nothing there, and no, I wasn't going to tell you about him because it is his choice if he should have anything to do with you and your family, not mine," she stated.
"And Damian?" he asked.
"He wanted to come, and he's good company," she smiled a bit at Dick's relieved look. "He and Jason get along well enough when they aren't trying to strangle each other."
"Really?"
"Jason had Damian in a head lock on the first day," she sighed in exasperation at the memory as they walked down the stairs.
"Cool, oh, Zachary has asked to be on your team, he's joining the Titans," Dick informed her. Raven just nodded, she had a feeling she wasn't getting rid of the teen just yet, but it wasn't her main concern.
"Raven!" Jaime shouted and she looked over at her oldest student running towards her, his scarab chirped then.
"Jaime," she greeted.
"You have to come back! Terra's trying to kill me, and everything is falling apart, you can't just leave the Titans!" Jaime announced.
"I was running a mission," she replied. "And I've only been gone four earth days."
"We're on day five on earth," Dick whispered.
"How could the Titans fall apart in four, five days of me being gone?" Raven asked sharper than she intended as she glared at Dick who was looking rather sheepish. "Dick, you started the Titans, we're better than this, you're the leader."
"You're the den mother, Dick's the mother hen, we need you back," Jaime said shyly which had her blinking in shock. She was the WHAT!?
"What?" she asked slowly.
"No seriously, it's cool that Dick's the leader of the Titan's and all, but you're… you're the glue, we fall apart without you, and someone seriously needs to put Terra in her place. No one but you stands a chance against that power," Jaime rushed.
"Den mother?" she growled.
"Yeah! Dick makes everyone feel good, and he's the guy we all talk to but your kind of the enforcer," Jaime filled in.
Raven turned a glare on Dick who was looking just as astonished as she felt at Jaime's statement.
"You and I will be having a talk about that when I get back," she warned Dick lowly.
"Uh… hehe," he nervously chuckled.
"Jaime, gather the team and Victor," Raven ordered. "Dick, where's the kitchen?"
"Thanks Raven," Dick said when they got to the kitchen and Raven picked up a piece of bread, she wanted waffles but she wasn't going to even attempt to cook.
"For what?" she asked as she dropped the bread in the toaster.
"For…well, Jason," he said uncertainly which had her frowning a bit.
"What about Jason?"
"He's alive Raven, we'd have never found out if you hadn't found him," Dick said. "Thank you for finding my brother, and for keeping my other brother safe."
"Of course, you're my family, Dick," she murmured as she found tea and a kettle and decided to make some.
"Yeah, but that doesn't make Damian or Jason or Tim or the rest of the Bats your family," he pointed out.
"True," she omitted and then smiled a little. "But I have grown fond of Damian and Tim, and Jason's alright when he's not being a pain in the ass."
"So you admit you like Jason!" Dick grinned. She rolled her eyes.
"His company is preferred of the Bats, he talks books," she stated as her toast popped and she pulled it out and buttered it.
"Really?"
"Yes, books, not Twilight books, but books, like classics," she said as she walked with Dick out of the kitchen.
"No shit?"
"Yes, it is refreshing."
"You let him touch you," Dick pointed out.
"Yes? But he's tactile, I do not know why because no one else goes close to him," she shrugged.
"Just admit it Rae, there's something there."
"Dick, I know a dimension with no curvy redheads, do not tempt me to banish you there," she warned and he laughed.
"You would never send me there," he teased.
"You really want to test the theory?"
"No, not really, things with me and Kori have finally straightened out," he grinned.
"does this mean I will be hearing an earful from her when I return about your relationship?" Raven asked dryly as she took a chunk out of her toast.
"Probably," he shrugged.
"Thanks for the warning, and screw it up Dick and I send you to that dimension," Raven warned.
"Rae! You're awake, are you feeling alright?" Victor was up and Raven found herself engulfed in a massive hug then as she caught her toast with her powers and let her friend feel her over for injuries to calm himself.
"I am fine Vic, but when I'm done with you, you might not be," she warned sharply which had victor grinning nervously.
"About that… it's Dick's fault! I'd have been in charge of the kids if I hadn't been asked to dig into information and look for Damian and you," Vic defended.
She lifted her brow at him and he sighed.
"Fine, next time I'll just not get sleep," he muttered.
"Next time make sure Dick does his job," she decided and then she looked at the table of gathering teens, the blonde Wonder Girl was eyeing her warily, the Atlantean was looking perfectly calm, the Superboy was floating in his seat and Impulse came blasting in then
"You'reawake!" Impulse giddily announced.
"Astute observation," she dryly remarked and the kid was in a seat shoving food in his mouth then. Tim and Stephanie appeared then and Raven looked over the table.
"I'm sorry, I have been gone for the past few days dealing with a personal matter. However, I wish to meet my team," Raven said evenly. Zachary appeared then and blushed when she looked at him. Raven internally heaved a sigh, teenagers, hormones, it sucked on her empathy.
"I'm not on your team!" Tim piped up.
"That is fine, you're a Titan, and I already know you, Tim. I am Raven, I will be your team captain, and this is Victor, he's my second in command on the team, when I'm gone he's your leader. And that's Dick, he's your mother hen," Raven smiled slightly at the kids. There was a giggle from them and she felt Dick's exasperation.
"Raven's your den mother," Dick announced.
"Not even close," she dismissed. "Now, I have been filled in on how you lot came to be here, and after I speak with our hosts I will be discussing with Victor you punishment for stealing Kori's jet."
"Kori's?" Tim and Stephanie paled.
"Yes, Koriand'r, and I'm certain she is very offended that you took her ship and crashed it," Raven warned. "As to you being here, you will be punished accordingly upon return, and we will also start team training when we return."
"That's…" the Wonder Girl groaned.
"I believe it to be fair all things considered," Raven said with a smile. "You did leave the Tower without permission, and you did put yourselves at great risk. And Jaime, I will handle Terra when we return."
Jaime just sagged in relief.
"For now, you will be returning to the Tower, as a team, with Victor."
"What!?" they shouted.
"I will be returning after I've completed my mission," she said and watched the kids as they started to argue or offer help, however Raven would only be taking Jason for help. She couldn't afford for these kids to get hurt.
"Rae…" Victor started as she walked away.
"Even Damian will be returning," she murmured. "I have stuff to finish."
"Then let us help," Dick hissed.
"No, trust me, no, it's for the best if I handle this alone, it is a family matter," she stated and walked out of the room and took a shuddering breath. She'd take Jason simply because she had promised not to tell his family about him, but she wasn't going to take him with her unless he really wanted to come. Instead she'd offer him the chance to go anywhere he wanted in this world, and she'd handle the problem alone if need be. However, Raven would risk no one else, they were children, she wasn't a child and she could handle this.
It was best to go alone.
"Raven," Damian greeted her as she walked into her room.
"Damian, go to the dining hall, it's time for breakfast, I will wake Jason," she said. Damian didn't have a chance to protest as she walked around him and reached for Jason's shoulder. She looked up and Damian was gone.
"Wake up," she ordered.
Jason's eyes snapped open as he glared at her.
"What is it little bird?" he yawned.
"We're leaving, now," she hissed.
"Great," he said as he stood up and she held up her hand as the shadows slipped from her fingers and she let her powers wrap around them as she moved them. She walked out of the shadows dressed into the empty cathedral.
"What are we doing here, sunshine?" he asked.
"Returning the décor, this might not be a return trip," she said softly as she lifted her hand again and let the portal open as it slid back and over the church returning everything.
"Neat trick," he said and she turned on him.
"I can take you anywhere you wish to go in this world," Raven said. "But if you come with me there's a chance you won't be coming back."
"A suicide mission, princess? Isn't that a bit mellow dramatic for you?" he asked.
"I am a realist," she shrugged. "I'm about to face off with my brothers, and magicians, and though my own power is great, I am outnumbered and out matched, you are woefully out of your skillset and abilities. It is very likely, that even if I should succeed I will die, or be dragged to my father's realm. With that in mind, I ask, do you wish to come or do you wish for me to take you elsewhere before I handle this."
"You doubt my skill, little bird?" he asked.
"Not at all, however, as I said, I am a realist," she said evenly.
"Well, you're clearly no princess, or damsel in distress, but I'm all in," he shrugged.
"Very well," she nodded.
"Raven," he said her name softly and she turned to him then. "Please tell me you can get me an armory."
"Of course," she smiled slightly.
"Then let's go, get your mind back, and I'll get my rep back," he grinned as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"You're insane, Red, but thank you," she smirked, he laughed, and Raven opened yet another portal and walked through it.
Damian thought it odd when he left the room and Raven and Jason weren't directly behind him, however, he figured they were talking about something. Which was about the only reason he walked down the hall, and sought out his father.
"I know Selina, I will talk to him about the baby," he heard his father speaking and Damian paused outside the door of what he had identified to be one of five libraries in this House of Mystery. "No, the others are excited. No, but I will talk to Damian about the baby. Yes Selina. I'm working on it. Alright, call you later then."
"What baby?" Damian asked as he opened the door and he saw his father stop pacing and look at him with wide eyes. "What baby father?"
"Damian, sit down," his father ordered. Reluctantly Damian did as he was ordered and took a perch.
"What baby?" Damian asked.
"Damian, I want you to know that no matter what I love you, and you are my son," Bruce said evenly. Damian felt his brow twitch and he scowled a bit at his father.
"What Baby?" he grounded out.
"Selina is pregnant," his father said suddenly and Damian stiffened.
"I do not see why you would need to speak with me about a harlot's baby," Damian hissed.
"Damian, the baby is mine," his father stated and Damian stared at his father with wide eyes. "Selina and I are having a baby."
"What…?" Damian choked then and he was scooting away from his father then. Damian was his son, his blood son, he had held pride in such a relation because he… he was proud of his father. However, he was at a loss as to how he should feel about this. All he felt was… shattered. He wasn't enough, his father wanted a different child to be his heir, Damian wasn't good enough, again. The thought was crushing, especially with how he tried, and he tried really hard now, to make his father proud of him, to make his father want him as a son.
"Damian, you are…"
"Am I not enough? Am I not good enough?" he whispered.
"No, Damian, Damian, you're my son, and I love you," Bruce stated and Damian frowned before he shoved his father away.
"Go back to your whore! You don't need me," Damian hissed as he ran out of the room then and slammed the door as he hurried away. How was it that he could never be enough! He felt the tears well up and he ran into Raven's room, it was empty and he just crawled under the covers and hid as he tried not to cry.
He wasn't enough.
Again.
"How is the shields still up?" Klarion snarled as he continued to tend to Teekl who was still grievously injured by Raven's familiar. When Klarion saw them again he was destroying them! Painfully! They had hurt Teekl!
"She's poured a lot of focus and magic into the shields, but even she is wavering, we're breaking through," he gleefully announced.
"And soon we will be able to complete the prophecy," their employer smiled.
"Yeah, yeah, boring!" Klarion rolled his eyes then.
"Have more respect for the great Lord Trigon's resurrection," he snapped. "The Gem of Scath will play her part properly this time with no interference being ran by those Titans or the Azarathians. Understand this Sebastian, all prophecies must happen."
"Is that why you married Arella to our master?" the young man asked.
"It was foreseen, she was to be the vessel which would bring the Gem of Scath into this world," the older man announced.
"The Gem of Scath is very beautiful, think Trigon will bequeath her to me as a gift for my loyalty?" Sebastian asked then.
"Lord Trigon is a benevolent ruler, he will reward those loyal to him," the old man smiled.
"I will kill the Gem after she has served her purpose, she hurt Teekl," Klarion cooed as he stroked his familiar.
"Klarion, it is time, unearth the shrine," the older man ordered.
"Of course," Klarion cackled as he snapped his fingers, foolish humans. Trigon would destroy them all, and it would be fun!
Constantine was walking to the Gem's room, where Jason was likely to be hiding out, to tell her that he had tracked her book down. Knocking lightly he waited a beat.
"Alright you love birds, I'm coming in so no shaggin'," he called as he walked in and found himself staring at an empty room, except the lump on the bed. Ripping off the sheets he found himself staring at the startle, wide blue eyes of a hurt child and sighed.
"Bollocks," he muttered. He should have known the bloody Gem was looking for the book on her own! No doubt she'd found it and hadn't just been pouring her power into it but also healing her body and magic supplies rapidly to go get it.
"They're not here," Damian muttered as he curled away from Constantine and Constantine paused as he remembered Jason being here and very similar to this.
"Look kid, normally I don't give a flying shit about whatever is going on, and I still don't. However, if you want to come I'm getting Zed and we're going to go get the Gem back," Constantine offered. Fastest way to get through with Jason was to offer him a deadly mission, Damian perked up the same way and Constantine wondered if this was a Bat thing or a genetic.
"You know where Raven is?" Damian asked.
"What don't you have trackers on them?" Constantine countered dryly.
"I did but Raven found them," he held out his hand to prove it.
"Hell, come on kid, get changed," Constantine ordered and the kid was scrambling off the bed then.
Jason looked at his gear as he walked out of a portal and stared over the dunes.
"I hate the desert," he muttered sourly. He looked at Raven as she tugged her hood secure as the wind picked up and they started walking.
"Any idea what we'll be dealing with little bird?" he asked.
"Felix Faust, Wotan, Wizard, and Blackbriar Thorn are assaulting the book, if you could possibly get the book away I'll send you back to the Tower," Raven said. "Put it in my room please."
"And you?"
"I will handle my brothers and Klarion," she said softly and he blinked.
"You're…"
"It is very possible," she replied and Jason took a steadying breath as he grabbed her arm and turned his cloaked companion to him.
"Raven, what aren't you telling me?" he asked her softly.
"I've actually told you all I know, but there's the possibility that there are more people at this sight than I know, I was focused on magic, and they've… I think they've unearthed the Infernal Shrine. I don't know, but I sense a great focus of dark magic of a Satanist's Shrine, or that could just be Klarion," she answered.
"And that's bad?"
"So long as I do not become a part of it, it is just a relic," Raven said.
"And how would you become a part of it?" Jason asked carefully.
"I am the final piece," she replied and that had him doing a double take of her. "I am the Gem of Scath, I am not a person or a demon, Jason, I am a thing, like a chess piece or a piece of cursed jewelry."
"You're not though…" he started.
"I am, and that's a part of what I am, but it is not who I am," she smiled at her and he felt a bit better about this now as they walked in silence. It was when they hit the stony ground beneath sand that he saw Raven's eyes widened.
"That's a lot of people," he let out a low whistle.
"Yes, but they are nothing, I will handle them, get the book," she pleaded.
"Yeah, and if I don't?" he paused.
"Then I need you to be willing to kill me if it should come to that," she murmured and walked forward. Jason frowned but he felt a wave of exhaustion released from her and he watched as people dropped. He wouldn't kill her, but it was time to get to work, he walked a step behind her and marveled at how she had people dropping until they came to a center point of this mess and he stared at a massive stone circle and stairs leading up to a smaller circle.
"How'd we miss that?" he asked.
"Klarion," she answered.
"It's so good to see you Gem! So glad you could make it!" a voice squealed and Jason looked up to see that Klarion guy again. "And your brought your familiar too! That's good, because I'm going to kill him for harming Teekl!"
There was a blinding shot of light and Raven swiped her hand across as a shield dropped, there was a powerful explosion which knocked the boy back in the air. Jason looked at Raven.
"Get the book, I will deal with Klarion."
"You didn't think I'd be alone, did you?" Klarion giggled.
"No, I am guessing that you have my brothers here," she answered and Jason watched as three demons appeared, ugly red skin, fangs, four eyes glowing red like Raven's, and they all stared at Raven.
"Sister, it is good to see you," they rasped.
"You do not get your looks from your father," he informed her.
"Now is not the time Red," she warned.
"It is time for the prophecy to be fulfilled," one of the demons rasped.
"I will not open the portal," Raven stated as she threw up a shield. "Go," she ordered and he nodded as he ran.
"Don't let him go!" Klarion shouted.
"Your quarrel is with me Klarion," she shouted and Jason leapt over a wall as he looked at the fancy light show. He skidded to a hault when there was a blast as he slid in behind a building.
"We can do this the easy way or the hard way!" Jason shouted.
"You are no match for us," a pompous voice announced and there was another blast, his cover was gone, he already had his weapons drawn and was leaping back.
"The hard way it is!" he shouted and fired off the first shot as he twisted, landed rolled and ran as he lay cover fire. He knew sorcerers would aim to keep him at a distance, so all he had to do was get close, and then they were fucked.
Peeking up he saw the book and smirked.
Getting close would be difficult, but not impossible. He drew an old batarang, it looked like one of Nightwing's; explosive too! Good Dear God, he just might be in love with the woman for giving him this in his arsenal! Leaping up he twisted as he threw it and drew his sword, there was a deafening boom in the center of the circle and he watched the book skitter out of it as he hit the ground slicing off the first sorcerer's arm as he ran for the book. There were vines growing at his feet, but Jason was a tad bit more determined as he leapt, summersaulting in the air as he pulled a knife and threw it, he hit the ground again as he grabbed the book and slid up to his feet.
"Give us the book, boy," the pompous one snarled as he pulled the knife from his shoulder.
"Come and get it," he taunted.
"Wrong choice boy," the pompous one flew up and Jason swung the familiar weight of the sword in his left hand as he readied for the attack.
"Where are you going?" Dick demanded as he caught his littlest brother's shoulder as he ran by in full gear.
"What do you care?" Damian spat, and Dick was taken aback by that.
"Damian?" he asked in a low warning tone.
"Father is having another child, you must be pleased to be receiving a better sibling," Damian hissed as he yanked away, but Dick was stronger.
"So what? You're running off in Robin gear?" Dick demanded.
"No! I'm going to go get Jason and Raven and Jason will teach me the rest of what I need to know! You're just going to discard me like you did Jason!" Damian snarled and Dick yelped when his baby brother bit him, and then he lunged as he caught Damian, they rolled down the stairs, Damian furiously elbowing his ribs.
"Will you knock it off!? No one is throwing anyone away!" Dick snapped; this was exactly why Dick had wanted Raven here to help with this topic.
"Let me go Grayson!" Damian shouted.
"Stop squirming!" Dick hissed and tightened his hold on the kid. "We're not discarding you," Dick whispered in Damian's ear. "You're irreplaceable Damian, we didn't throw Tim out when you came, we didn't throw me out when we adopted Jason, we just expanded. Jason was killed, and Bruce picked wrong, a mistake Bruce will never make again. And you get to be a big brother, it's the best thing in the world Damian."
"Father doesn't want me! He never did!" Damian growled.
"That's a lie, he never knew about you, and now that he has you, Damian, nothing in this world will ever stop Bruce from loving you, a baby doesn't mean you're discarded. It just means this family is growing, we never leave each other behind, and you get to help this kid grow up, just like I'm helping you. It's a huge responsibility, and Damian it's worth it," Dick murmured.
"Promise," the ten year old whispered.
"Yeah," Dick said. "And if there's ever any problems, you have the Titans, you've got me, you're not alone Damian."
"Raven and Jason really are in trouble," Damian finally muttered.
"You're not just running away?" Dick asked skeptically. Damian shook his head.
"Raven sent me to get breakfast, she and Jason disappeared, Constantine said they're in the Middle East, or that's where Raven's book is," Damian muttered.
"Kay, we'll get the team and go there," Dick said as he slowly released Damian from his hold. "And Damian, we never threw Jason away, we're going to get him back, it's just going to take a lot of work."
"You mean that?" Damian asked skeptically.
"Yeah, I do," he promised as he ran off to get Victor and his gear. Whatever that book was must have been pretty fucking important if Raven was willing to run off with just Jason for back up.
Dick was changed and he looked in on the training area Constantine had given them.
"Vic, we got a mission, now," he called.
"You heard him, gear up," Victor shouted at the kids and Dick paused briefly as he looked at Damian who was worrying his lip. Hesitantly Dick reached out and clasped Damian's shoulder.
"I doubt they'll get into too much trouble, it's Raven after all," he mused. Raven was a good fighter, but she was practical, and she was a realist.
"She and Jason get into nothing but trouble," Damian stated, and he lifted a brow.
"Really?" he mused.
"Yes, Raven is more comfortable with him and does take bigger risks," he explained calmly and Dick frowned.
"Really?" he asked flatly.
"Yes, they are a good team, but trouble follows," his little brother informed him.
"Kay, I am having a serious talk with Jason when all this is over," Dick growled. Raven was supposed to be a voice of reason, not trouble.
"What's this!?" Constantine bellowed.
"Reinforcements," Damian answered.
"Whatever, the House is taking us to just outside the center of the magic flux, and from there we attack," Constantine warned.
"Acceptable," Damian answered.
"I don't need bloody approval from a kid!"
She wrapped her soul in the shadows as she dove below Klarion, she realized that he was using her brothers to herd her towards the shrine, and up the shrine, but Raven had no intentions of getting to the top, they weren't making it easy, but she wasn't going, Jason had her book, and they were leaving.
"Will you hold still!" Klarion screamed.
"Sister! Lord Trigon awaits you!" one of her brother's whined.
"I will never obey him!" Raven warned as she threw out a shield around her body, her mistake, she forgot about the cat.
There were claws piercing her stomach, she screamed out at the impalement as she dropped to the ground hard. Groaning she glared up at them.
"Nice one Teekl!" Klarion praised. Hands were on her and Raven tried to struggle but the pain stopped her.
"RAVEN!" Jason's voice screamed and Raven snarled as she sent out a lash out of every painful emotion she'd ever obtained, having it hit everyone as she struggled to escape.
"Enough of that!" one of her brother hit her and Raven saw stars as she went limp but struggled not to pass out as she was dragged up the wretched steps of the shrine. There were gunshots, there were curses, and there was so much pain behind her, but Raven could barely find the strength to try to weigh them down let alone look.
"Raven," her father's voice boomed as she was dropped on the platform. Gasping for air as she felt the blood on her tongue.
"Leave this world alone," she rasped weakly as she turned her head to face her father's four narrow glowing eyes. "I beg you."
"It is my destiny to consume worlds, just as it is yours to open the door," Trigon growled.
"I Will Fight You Every Step Of The Way, Even If You Use Me," she warned as she weakly shoved up on her knees to glare at into those eyes. "You're An Abomination!"
"Watch Your Tongue, You, Ungrateful Girl!" her father's lash of power had her crying out as she felt him drag her into the rings.
"RAVEN!" she heard him, but she couldn't look at him or anyone as the agony shredded her psyche, and tore her mind into oblivion as she struggled to breath, but she couldn't stop crying at the pain.
"This World Shall Be Mine!" Trigon hissed. Raven screamed as the power surged into her, rapidly healing her body as it sapped her of all her strength again. She was being torn apart, she was being thrown back together, and she felt her father's power pouring into her and drowning her, she screamed at the agony he wrought upon her empathy as she used the last bit of her power to throw Jason to safety.
She would survive this.
"I Will Stop You!" she screamed as she felt the rip in her stomach.
"Try, you, stupid girl," her father rumbled and she felt the earth shaking.
She screamed as it felt like lightning and fire ripping her veins apart, ice freezing her blood as a mountain crusted her from the inside.
That's all for now folks!
Enjoy Give Me Back My Mind! =)