Following Day-Raven
Sleeping in my old room never stops being weird. Never. Even though I stayed here for a long time before going back to Gotham it's still a strange feeling. This part of my life had been closed off. It has been years since I was an actual Titan. Life was so much simpler then. Yeah I was still trying to save the world but it wasn't like it is now. The only trauma I really had was my childhood. My father, my mother. All of it was hard and it weighed a lot. However nothing weighs more than the trauma I carry now. Jason has been thinking deeply to himself in the corner of the bedroom since he woke up. He doesn't bother putting on a shirt, he just sits in the small chair his bulky chest and arms seem almost too big for that chair but he doesn't seem uncomfortable.
I see the scars he is covered with from here. Long lines across his sides and even some on his chest and a new red one his shoulder. It's probably healing from last night. I healed it more before bed because it was bothering him. Now the scar is a bright red and looks like it itches. They remind me he carries around the heaviness as well. He probably feels it more than he would like to ever admit. He doesn't see I am awake yet, I lay with my head on the pillow on his side. Taking in his scent that lingers through his absence. He blinks finally looking around the room until his eyes land on me, I look down so he doesn't think I was just staring at him the whole time.
"How did you sleep?" He asks without moving from the chair.
"Good...it's weird being on this bed again though" I admit he nods leaning his head back.
"He asked about you" He says I furrow my brows
"Dick did?" I ask he nods pushing his tongue against his cheek. I didn't actually see him last night, I went straight to Damian's room and had to teleport outside. I got Alfred to the tower first and then stayed in case they needed me. No one else was hurt. I had luckily missed Dick. I don't even think he was really trying to kill any of us. Just wanted to escape. However never in a million years would I have thought he would hurt Alfred.
"I need to ask you a question and it's going to hurt. It's going to bring back memories. I need to know though" He says my heart sinks into my stomach. His voice is stern and low, on the verge of scary but sexy.
"What do you want to know" I ask he get out of the chair walking to the bed. He sits next to me brushing a stray piece of hair behind my ear.
"What was the nickname Slade gave you?" He asks I tense up, swallowing hard and looking down to the bed. I look at the wrinkles of the sheet and try to see if I see any shapes with them. Trying to keep my mind from spiraling.
"Babe I know it's hard...but I need you to answer the question" He nudges when I am silent for too long. I take in a sharp inhale and swallow.
"Little Bird" I force out, I exhale but it's shaky. He nods getting up from the bed, he puts a shirt on and leaves the room hastily. I softly close my eyes grabbing the pillow and hugging it to my body tightly counting up from one to thirty.
Time passes and I have fallen back asleep, counting in bed hugging a pillow will do that to you. When I open my eyes Jason is back in the room gripping the corners of the bathroom sink and staring down into the sink. I rub the sleepiness from my eyes moving the blanket off of myself to wake me up faster. I hardly ever go back to sleep and I don't remember if I dreamt or not. I hope I didn't. I walk to the bathroom wrapping my arms around his waist. He releases a breath as I lean my head against his back.
"I'm sorry I just left. I needed to talk to Bruce, Kori, and Victor as soon as possible." He says, I don't reply. He has been taking this whole thing harder than most. I know why he feels so responsible for Dick's outbursts.
"Raven...we need to talk" He says after a moment. I release him taking a step back while he turns around to me. He looks grim and dark. Almost depressed, I haven't seen him like this in forever, not since we first met.
"About what?" I ask
"Not just between us..." He says I furrow my brow in confusion who do we need to talk to?
An hour later-Jason
I didn't tell her why we are going to talk to the League but I did tell her that is where we were headed. I could tell it makes her uncomfortable. Even though the last time they were there she was un-exiled. She still feels like she is going to be walking right into a trap. I kind of feel like I am leading her into one. Bruce told the League the conclusion we got to, they want us to Break the news to Raven there to see how she handles it and to make up a plan. Maybe find out why this is happening.
As we boom there the new and old Titans follow behind. Garfield and Lil Rae are here permanently until Terra is back in prison for the safety of them both. So I see them at the end of the hall waiting for us to get there. Raven walks beside me her hand in mind squeezing a little harder than I think she is aware of. She's nervous.
"Hey you guys, nice to see you again" Gar greets as we get to him
"Hello!" Rae squeals at us, Raven drops down to her smiling and grabbing her little hands.
"Why hello there" She says to her, Rae squeals in delight looking up at Gar.
"So we already have everyone here, they are very eager to get this done and handled" Gar says as he walks with us to the doors to the League's meeting room.
"It is great to see you Friend BeastBoy" Kori says he nods as we open the door, even I am overwhelmed by the heroes sitting along the long table, they look to the door and their eyes fall on Raven almost instantly. I can't tell if those looks are in pity or in anger. If they blame her for whatever this is. They shouldn't. They can't.
We move to the front, Raven taking a stand behind Bruce whom is in his uniform. I try to remember where he got this one from. Did he grab it before we left? I didn't see it. I put a hand on the small of her back mostly for support before everyone quiets down enough to begin the meeting. Her back is tense and she almost shakes from how stressed she is.
"Thank you everyone for coming, as you know we have a situation. As per your request I have brought Raven here with no knowledge of what we uncovered. Now that we know more of what we are dealing with we can proceed from there" Bruce says, Diana stands up from her seat drawing the attention to her.
"Do we know how this happened yet?" She asks
"Dr. Fate is looking into it, as well is Constantine" Bruce answers, Raven squeezes my hand once more and I squeeze back hoping to give her any kind of reassurance. Now that they have mentioned who is trying to figure things out she could either be more worried or less. Those are two the best magic users we have right now other than her, with the knowledge to back it up.
"Look with all due respect can we stop beating around the fucking bush and get to the point. Raven still as no idea why she's here" I say, I get a couple of glares from the other heroes whom think they deserve nothing but respect. However the power trip of knowing something someone doesn't seems to be getting to them.
"Yes, we are sorry" Diana replies looking straight at Raven, she nods swallowing hard.
"Jason why don't you tell everyone how you cam to the conclusion" Bruce says, I nod giving her another small squeeze. She releases my hand as I step closer to the table, I cans see the disapproving looks from some people around the table. I mostly ignore them, they don't know anything about my life. Just that I died, came back and killed people, they know I still do things my way and not by the book. To them that is enough for them to hate me.
"Nightwing doesn't know how to shoot a gun. I tried to teach him once, he didn't want to learn. He wanted to honor Batman's no gun rule. I tried to get him to at least learn more about them...he didn't want to do that either." I explain, Raven looks confused on where I am going with it and so does most of the table. The only ones we spoke to were the ones we needed to start helping ASAP. Leaving more than half the League in the dark. "Nightwing, somehow got my gun away from me, knew the model and the bullet type, all things he never knew how to do and never wanted to learn."
"Isn't knowing that kind of the job though? He has faced off with people with guns before" Flash speaks up I nod
"Yeah, only before he held us at gunpoint he said something that didn't feel...like him" I answer Bruce nods "He referred to Raven as little bird"
I can hear the deep breath she pulls in from where I am followed the flickering of lights above her. She closes her eyes softly as the lights stop their complaints her body shaking like a leaf. Victor walks behind her putting a hand on her shoulder.
"We though that Nightwing was turning, he claimed not to remember killing those two people and breaking Terra out of prison however, it may be that he didn't know he was doing it. That someone else was driving sometimes, that person being Slade Wilson" Bruce takes over allowing me to walk to Raven myself and hear her short breaths and she attempts to stay calm.
"Do we think he is back for the same reason?" Green Arrow asks his voice gruff and stern. He has had his own dealing with Slade Wilson, he used to try to take over Star City or at least make them all suffer in Star City. He knows more than anyone the threat he poses.
"We don't know, he did seem really attached to finding her. However it's hard for us to believe he actually thinks he would get his way. Last time he had more circumstances in his favor" Bruce says,
I manage to hear Duke whisper to Tim about not knowing what anyone is talking about. Or why Raven is all of a sudden on the edge of a mental breakdown. Tim just shushes him, he will have to tell him later. Or don't. Too many people know about this already. If anything Raven should be able to choose who knows, that option was kind of robbed from her the first time. She shouldn't even have this situation for people to know but Slade is a sick fuck.
"What is different this time?" Aquaman asks a couple of agreeing heads nod eager to know.
"He doesn't have Constantine to take her powers...from what it seems he doesn't have a physical body yet either which is why he is using NightWing's. He wouldn't try the same thing he wouldn't be in control of Hell because technically Nightwing would be" Bruce replies
"He still does have a bargaining chip though, as long as he has Nightwing's body Raven could be at risk of him blackmailing her. He could keep her there with the threat of hurting him." Green Arrow says, he isn't wrong. Though I don't know if she would do that. I don't think she could even bring herself to do such a thing, to be near him. She may never be able to look at Dick after this either. I wouldn't blame her.
"What happens if he does get her. If he rules hell how bad could that be?" Steel asks, I glare at him
"Slade Wilson running hell and getting my fiancé pregnant against her will? You don't see the problem with that?" I ask He sits back gulping
"I didn't know that's what he needed." He says I scoff
"If you don't know what he needs to get what he wants you shouldn't speak" I reply He closes his mouth his eyes darting to Raven whom is looking down to the ground and hadn't looked up.
"Even if that wasn't the cost. We won't let him control hell. Right now he also has my son in his grasps. Constantine is trying to figure out how he got to my son and what he plans on doing. Raven needs our protection, she needs us on her side. We cannot let what happened last time happen this time and we cannot let her down again" Bruce says, I can tell they aren't used to him being so emotional about his choices by the way they shift uncomfortably. Hell I am not even used to it, not used to him standing up for anything or even changing the way he thinks.
"Raven...how are you doing right now?" Superman asks, he does a bad job at pretending to like her. Like a really bad job.
"I uh...I just wanted this part of my life to be over" She whispers
"We won't let him get you this time." Diana says nodding her way
"Nightwing should be our priority. His safety is the one currently at risk. I am sick of this being apart of my story I want it over with." She replies stronger I hate that she is still putting him before her. I know it's how heroes think it's how they work but she was shunned from being a hero a long time ago. Why is she keeping this going. Sure they gave her back her title, doesn't mean she should take it. Maybe I am being selfish. Maybe I don't want to lose her in any way and I know that letting her trade herself for Dick would be the first way to do it.
"I'm glad we are on the same page" Superman says with a kind smile, he thinks he is being kind. Though I know better. So does she. As soon as the meeting is over Raven releases a sharp breath walking hastily to the exit. I follow but Victor grabs my shoulder.
"I got this one" He says walking passed me.
I let him have it and walk myself over to Bruce who is speaking with Dr. Fate maybe about whatever knowledge he could find on the subject matter. I just hope it's something useful. Maybe tell us how the fuck he got out of the pocket dimension Raven put him in and into Dick's body. Maybe even tell us how to get this demented son of bitch put down for the rest of his life. I could put him down in a less humane way and right now I think I could do it without batting an eye. The pit has been a raging mess since I put the pieces together. Bubbling in me and almost boiling over. The blood lust has been so strong I could have slit Dick's throat Slade in control or not.
I don't say anything as I approach just stand firmly behind Bruce, Dr. Fate barely spares me a glance.
"We think he may have already known how to get out spiritually, his soul and body are two different things as long as he has a soul he can get out of anti-magic realms such as the one the...the demon tried to sent him too. Constantine is working on finding his sprit thus locating your son. If he wants his body back he will need to open that pocket dimension and pull it out so he will need some kind of magic to do so. Did your son practice magic?" Dr. fate goes on, I glare at his use of words.
"He didn't do magic. But if he does the spell correctly from knowledge does it matter what body he is in?" Bruce asks, it's a good question one I was wondering myself.
"It does matter. If the demon was in someone else's body she wouldn't be able to access her normal magic, only her demonic powers" Dr. Fate answers, I suck in a breath.
"Her name is Raven." Bruce says before I can locking eyes with for a moment I thought he would blow a gasket or stomp off, instead he simply nods.
"Apologies, Raven wouldn't be able to access her magic. So a human in another human body wouldn't have access to any magic" he replies, It makes sense but it doesn't at the same time. So how does he plan to get his own body back? This magic shit don't make any sense to me. I guess I should ask Raven to teach me some shit.
"Do we have any ways of preventing him from getting his body?" I ask Dr. Fate looks at me, for the first time since I have stood here, his gaze is cold; indifferent.
"We won't know until we know more" He answers shortly.
I guess that is just the answer of the fucking day, it's what I told to Bruce when he asked me why Slade would take Dick's body. It's what Bruce told me when he told me when they asked to see all of us for a briefing. It's what I told Tim when he asked if Alfred will ever wake up. It seems like all anyone can do is just wait for more information. Why can't the information be in captions below us allowing us to just know it. At least then I would know if I ever am going to get my brother back. Without losing the love of my life.