Remember, a teen titans fanfic

Remember

By Karen

(Justice League Dark; Apokolips War Post Flashpoint)

With a weary sigh, I rested my white cowled head against Damian's shoulder. He placed a comforting arm around me and we both felt a strange, mutual sense of calmness. It was over now. Finally, after two damn years of war, death and destruction, it was over. No more Trigon, no more Apokolips or Darkseid, no more reapers or furies or paradooms. I was freed and cleansed of my father's dark influence that had been slowly draining and killing me from the inside out ever since I imprisoned him in that crystal. Then, I had somehow miraculously brought the only boy I knew I would ever love back from the dead.

But this wouldn't be a victory celebration for anybody. The worn remnants of the Justice League and Teen Titans were gathered together on the island's beach by the ruins of what had once been Titan's Tower. The city of New York by now reminded me of what Azarath had looked like after Trigon got through with it. I didn't need my powers of empathy and telepathy to know what my fellow survivors must all be going through right now.

Victor had made the ultimate sacrifice for us. Clark had just lost Lois and Bruce had lost both Alfred and Selina. Barry had lost Iris, Diana had lost her Steve and John still carried the pain and guilt of Zatanna's death. When Trigon had temporarily killed him, had his lover been waiting for him on the other side and sent him back with her magic, just as I had revived Damian?

Martian Manhunter and Hawkman were each standing alone, staring across the East River at nothing… J'onn had already lost one home and family. For him, this was the alien holocaust all over again… And as for Carter - the only thing worse than losing the one you love was never having their love in return.

Poor Dick in his straight jacket laid contentedly in the grass with his head in Kory's lap. The same spot we had all watched as Darkseid's paradooms destroyed our home and slaughtered so many of our friends and team-mates. Though I had called Damian out for bringing his brother back with the Lazarus Pit, how could I blame him for taking that chance? If I could, I would have resurrected all of them along with Damian.

My brothers and sisters… Roy, Karen, Garfield, Jaime, Wallace, Kory, Donna, Conner… Now the Lazarus Pitt had brought Dick back from the dead with his mind beyond repair while Darkseid had turned Starfire's body into a mechanical abomination, just like he he did to Diana and Hawkman and Martian Manhunter and Mira. Instead of on her throne and being cheered by her people, the rightful Queen of Atlantis now sat grieving her fallen King and husband, with only Titus the dog for comfort.

Damian and I could hear Clark, Bruce and Diana's discussion nearby. This is why I had come to respect and look up to Clark Kent, though both John and Damian had blamed him for everything that had gone wrong. Even now, after all of our failures and losses, after the loss of the love of his life, he still wasn't giving up on the world or on any of us. Thank Azar he'd been there to stop me when I was at my worst.

It wasn't good news. Thirty one percent of Earth's molten core had been drained… The planet's orbit would be disrupted and an estimated one billion more lives would be lost before there was even any hope of a solution… We could overhear John and Barry's conversation too - and I wasn't sure I liked where it was going.

Another Flashpoint… I'd heard of that. No matter where or when Barry stopped the timeline at, everything would change… Who knew just how different things would be…? Damian and I might not even know about each other, let alone remember each other. Would I ever see him again?

Then I reproached myself for that selfish thought. However uncouth and insufferable, John was right. Whatever awaited all of us in the new timeline, it had to be better than this. Nobody made any objections as Barry got himself into position and then took off like lightning across the river.

Our last moments in this timeline. Damian and I looked at each other and his deep set green eyes met mine. Again, it struck me how much he had changed and grown from the sad, standoffish young boy I had met on his first day at the tower. He was older, taller, stronger and wiser. Had I changed as much as he had since then?

"Please, Damian. Don't forget that I love you." I silently prayed as I reached out to touch his face. "Please remember me in the new timeline. I don't want to lose you again."

He gently drew me closer and I knew had read my thoughts just as I could always read his… As the sun set into the waters of our dying planet we shared a soft kiss… Our first kiss, and most likely our last.

"Don't worry, Raven." The warmth and reassurance of his own feelings washed over me. "No matter what happens next after this flashpoint, I promise we'll find each other and fall in love all over again."

"I promise, Damian."

"Raven…? Raven, it's time to wake up, my darling…"

Mom…? No, it was just my imagination…

Slowly, I awoke. My eyes flickered open and I sat up in my bed, taking a deep breath and surveying my room at the tower in relief.

Darkseid thwarting the Justice League's attack plan and invading and destroying our world… Trigon raging in his crystal prison and then having to free him to save ourselves… Clark, John, Damian… Loosing almost everyone we ever cared about… I've had nightmares before, but that had to be one of the worst, I thought

as I ran my fingers through my bangs.

I rose from my bed and opened my curtains to look outside… The sun was up and the morning air was fresh. You could hear the sea gulls in the distance. Titan's Tower still stood on the island, strong as ever- and across the river the city was intact and starting a new day.

Still, I couldn't get that nightmare out of my head… The sight of my dead comrades… our decimated city… Finding Damian again and my feelings for him… It had all seemed so clear and so real…

The flashpoint! I gasped. No, it wasn't just a nightmare! It was a real memory! So, if this was a whole new timeline… then… could I dare to hope…?

Quickly, I threw on my now dark clothing. Too anxious to think about creating a porthole or using an elevator, I hurried out of my room with a speed that might have impressed all three of The Flashes. I rushed down the stairs two steps at a time until I heard the familiar voices coming from the tower's kitchen…

"I'm telling you, Kory, there must be something wrong with my performance lately."

"Oh, Dick. You were absolutely incredible last night."

"What?! No! I mean, thank's! Uh, no! I meant with the training yesterday!"

"Dude! This is great! Perdita says she'll be in New York next week, so we can volunteer with you and Traci at Gabrielle's!"

"Yeah, well you may be dating a Queen, man - but Traci and I are still gonna hand your culos to you at foozeball next time!"

"Hah! Yeah right! Big talk!"

I opened the door and there they all were - Dick and Kory, Garfield and Jaime. On the counter was a leftover half eaten pizza, their usual favourite breakfast.

Everyone stopped their conversations and turned to see me standing in the door way.

"Well, look who's finally up!" Garfield greeted me with a warm chuckle. "Morning sunshine!" Then he turned into a green rooster and let out a loud crow. I never thought I would be so glad to see him.

"Good morning, Raven. Would you like a slice of breakfast pizza?" Kory smiled, beautiful as ever, now that she was no longer one of Darkseid's android slaves.

For a moment, I could only stare at all of them in amazement…

"I… I don't believe it! You're all alive! You're back!" Rare tears of joy began to stream down my face.

At this, everyone looked at each other in confusion- and then me.

"Of course we're all alive, Raven," Dick answered calmly as he sat up. What a relief to see him out of a straight jacket and in his right mind again.

I was so overwhelmed, I sank to my knees. Two years. Two freaking years of fear and pain and grief had just been lifted from my shoulders, from all of our shoulders.

"Then… Darkseid… He never conquered our Earth… His paradooms didn't kill you…"

My sister came and put an arm around my shoulder. "Paradooms? No, of course not, Raven."

"No way, amigo!" Jaime chimed in. "We protected everyone here. Hit every curve Darkseid threw at us."

"And The Justice League blew Apokolips to smithereens! Boom!" Garfield added excitedly.

Dick grinned. "Yeah, and Darkseid and his pets along with it. The Justice League was ten steps ahead thanks to Barry's advice."

So, Barry had warned everyone well in advance. That must have happened long before Darkseid even made the first paradoom or sent any of those drones to earth. "And Trigon…?" I had to ask…

Kory helped me to my feet. "Raven, do you not remember? Trigon tried to use you as a porthole to Earth, but you completely destroyed him."

I had…? Might have been a better idea than just imprisoning him in that gem on my forehead and suffering him to be my own evil Jiminy Cricket, but I remember wanting to be merciful… Yet, alongside that memory came another one… one where I had not spared Trigon for what he had done to Azarath- and to my mother…

"You may have created me, but you were never my father! Fathers are kind. Fathers protect you. Fathers raise you. I was protected by the monks of Azerath, I was raised by my friends, they are my family, this is my home, and you are not welcome here! Azerath Metrion Zinthos!"

"I remember…" I said. Yes, I remembered all of the changes the new flashpoint had made in my life now, even if the others knew nothing about it. Could I have inadvertently used my magic on myself so I would recall everything…?

"Hey, Raven, are you okay?" Garfield looked concerned. "Did you have another bad dream or something?"

I smiled through my tears and gingerly brushed them away.

"Yeah… it was a bad nightmare… but I'm okay now. It's over."

Just then, I felt a cold wet nose and muzzle against my hand, accompanied by a whine of greeting.

"Titus?" I stroked the huge Great Dane. "It's good to see you again too."

Wait… If Titus was here… then…

"Raven?"

I froze at the familiar voice… then, barely gathering my composure, I slowly turned around…

"Damian…?"

There he was, standing there in his civilian clothes, but it was just like in Nanda Parbat where I saw him again for the first time in two years.

For a moment, we both just stood there… staring at each other as if we each couldn't believe what we were seeing…

"Hi…" I greeted him awkwardly… Really, it was all I could think of to say right then…

In response, he stepped towards me and took my hand- Our eyes met, just like that time in the medical room of the Suicide Squad's headquarters- and I felt his thoughts as he must have felt mine…

"I've been waiting for you," he said quietly so only I could hear.

"Waiting for me…? Then does that mean…?"

His eyes and the look on his face were knowing. "I remember. I remember you healing me the first day we met and us being inside each other's heads. I remember the fair. I remember fighting by your side in Hell. I remember you giving me Titus, and I remember you bringing me back to life… and our kiss…"

I reached out to touch his handsome face. "My magic… It must have protected your memories as well as my own."

"I think so… Then this would be the second time you've brought me back. Thank you…" Then he smiled. "Beloved."

And right there, to the amazement and cheers of our friends and team mates, Damian and I shared our second kiss and the first one in this new timeline. We had promised we would find each other again, no matter what, and we did.

I guess, in the end, there really is no end; just new beginnings.

Notes

Okay, please excuse the cheesiness, but I've had this story in my head ever since I finished watching Justice League Dark; Apokolips War and I just had to write it and reunite Damian and Raven in my own head canon! I even gave them a daughter in the future! You probably notice the references to Teen Titans Raven too and Queen Perdita from Young Justice.