#JusticeforBreonnaTaylor
#JusticeforElijahMcClain
#JusticeforVanessaGuillan
#InvestigationforGloriaBambo
#StoptheHate
#Peaceandsoildary
#Justiceforalltheblackandbrownpeople
#PeaceintheMiddleEast
#FreeUyghurs
#PrayforHaiti
#PrayforthepeopleinUkraine
#Prayforthechildren
A/N: Hi, everyone. I think I might do something that I never did before. I think I'm going to make It's Crowded into a light-hearted romance story with no angst. I think. We'll see how it goes and where the characters take us.
missyrod: It is good to hear from you again. I'm happy that you find my story interesting and different. I hope you'll continue to think so.^_^
ShikaIno1: (❁´◡`❁)
jltvaughn: Thank you! It feels good to be back, and I miss you too.(●'◡'●). I can't wait to hear your questions. And a jealous Damian is the best. *Fangirl screams* So sexy. I definitely want to be Raven too, but Damian...maybe one day, in one of my stories, he will have Raven to himself. As for chaos, I think I will keep it to a minimum. Maybe.
Everyone: Continue to read and enjoy.
Chapter 2
"It isn't true that there are fated mates." Acute student dressed in a simple, white dress asked.
"That is correct," the teacher answered. "Mates are chosen by individuals who love and trust each other."
"So, no matter what, the mating mark will disappear after three years?" another female student asked with a sad expression on her face.
The teacher shifted uncomfortably as she answered, "As long as the couple doesn't have intercourse or, for some beings, bite each other within that time frame, the mark will slowly disappear until it is gone. Thus, leaving a chance for that person to find a new love."
"But why three years?" A male student asked a question this time.
"It's a good question that is hard to explain, because no one knows for certain all the mystic nuances that go into combining souls. However, we know it takes three years for one essence to leave another. Just as it takes three years for a child's soul to stop communicating with their parents," the teacher answered.
"What will happen if one mate wants to separate and the other doesn't?" The cute student asked.
The teacher looked at the assistant teacher who had entered the room and said, "Raven, will you like to answer the question?"
The students turned toward the door to hear her answer, but the bell chimed before she could speak.
The students rushed to pack their belongings and left the room after saying goodbye to their teachers.
"You didn't have to put me on the spot, mom." Raven said, closing the door behind her and walking towards her mother with a stack of paper in her arms.
"It has been three years and five months since you ran away from your mate, and his mark on you is still as clear as the day you came here.… He could be your true mate."
Raven stiffened as she placed the papers on the desk and turned to her mother. "Don't be ridiculous. That's only tales told to little girls and boys. There is no such thing as a true mate."
"Then how do you explain the marking on your shoulder?"
Raven licked her lips. She couldn't explain it.
Arella shook her head. "I'm worried, Raven, that he will come for you once your chrimak is over."
Chrimak was a three-year time period in which the citizens of Azarath must return to their home dimension to learn about their beings' culture and way of life while serving their people in different capacities. It was also a time when they learned how to fight and defend their home if needed to.
Most citizens completed their Chrimak by the age of four-two (equivalent to twenty-one in human years). Raven had held off from completing hers because of her time with the Titans. However, the night after she mated with her husband, she returned to Azarath to complete it.
"Tell me, Raven." Her mother placed a hand on her shoulder. "Did he force you?"
"No!" She quickly eased her mother's worries, knowing mother's history with her father. "He isn't like that." Raven's eyes shifted to the floor. "I'm just ashamed that I allowed it to happen."
Arella dropped her hand as confusion filled her face. "Maybe you should talk with him if he is a good person."
"I don't know if I can." The younger Azarathian shifted her feet.
"Raven, you should search for him before he comes looking for you. Besides, maybe he has fallen out of love with you and would like to mate with someone in the future. Don't hold him back from his destiny."
She looked her mother in the eyes. Arella was right. Damian had been young when they mated with each other. Now that he was older, maybe he had experienced what true romance was.
"I will leave tomorrow."
Her mother smiled. "Good, because I know a nice Azarathian boy, who can't take his eyes off of you."
She sighed, knowing the person her mother referred to. "Can I at least get this mark off my shoulder before I think about adding another one?"
"Sure, but you must have a child before I turn two hundred."
Raven groaned. "I'll see what I can do."
"That's all I ask. Also, Raven, don't be ashamed that you have already mated with someone else. The next person who you mate with will understand. "
Raven looked away again. She was ashamed. After all, she didn't know too many teachers who mated with their students.
The birds were chirping; the bees were buzzing, and Raven was the only thing that stood still. Even the wind blew the leaves on the tree and the flowers planted in the yard.
She prayed that something gave her the courage to move, because she had been standing at the front door for thirty minutes.
She was surprised that someone from security hadn't questioned her yet. She could have completed three incantations that would have leveled the manor. Now that she thought about it, perhaps that would be an easier solution than meeting with—
No, this would be the easiest way. If she waited, Damian would likely come knocking on Azarath's door. Then her entire dimension would know the real reason for her leaving the Titans suddenly and returning home.
Heat suffused her face as the past pushed its way to the surface, but she pushed it back. She had to focus on the present and work on removing the mark off her shoulder.
Gathering courage that she didn't have, she raised a shaky hand, which was led by an unstable finger, to push the doorbell. Her finger connected with the button as the same second the door opened.
She and the other person on the other side of the door frame stared at each other for a moment with wide eyes before a loud crash drew their attention.
"I'm sorry, but we are no longer taking visitors for Master Bruce's funeral. We would like to grieve in the private company of our family members."
Raven's eyes, which had retracted to its normal size, widened again. "Batman's dead."
The old vampire with gray hair lied without a beat. "I don't know the welfare of the Batman. As far as I and everyone else know, he is alive and well, Miss…"
"Raven." She only gave her first name, following the custom of the vampire community and other beings' communities. Giving someone your full name could give them control over your life.
"Miss Raven." The vampire continued, "What I do know is that my family and I would like to spend this time alone to grieve for Master Bruce."
Another crash could be heard. It briefly drew the attention of the vampire before he faced her and said, "Good day, Miss Raven."
He went to shut the door, but Raven shot out a hand to stop him. A shiver ran down her body as she bit her lips. Stopping the door from closing against a vampire was taxing on her body. She was sure that she would have broken her ulna if some of Damian's powers, which she gained from their mating, hadn't been a part of her.
"Wait," she said. "I'm here to see Damian."
"Miss Raven, please—"Another crash was heard in the background followed by a shriek "—come back to see him another time. After the vampire grieving period, preferably."
She couldn't wait two months. She would come up with another excuse to run and hide. "I just need a moment of his time. I'm certain that Damian would want to see me."
"Master Damian has chosen to isolate himself in his room since his father's funeral. He gave explicit instructions not to disturb him. I, myself, would love to drag him out of his room so that he could help with—." Yelling, now, accompanied the crashing noise. The vampire coughed. "So that he can grieve with his family in peace and quiet. Now, good day, Miss—."
"Alfred, did you get the aloe from outside? We can really use it now." A vampire with a white streak in his hair suddenly appeared behind him. "Who is this?" The younger vampire asked.
An unexpected smile was created upon Raven's lips. She hadn't seen the younger vampire in front of her since his death. She had only heard rumors of his return from the dead and his time as an anti-hero.
"It's good to see you, Red Hood." She said, causing the vampires to share a look.
"Umm, if you need a superhero or something…"
"Raven," Alfred said. "Miss Raven." He smiled at her.
"Right, Raven." Red Hood said her name slowly as she saw him put the pieces together.
She also could sense his uncertainty. That was to be expected. Almost all the Titans and members of the Justice League hid their identities with voice changers and masks or cloaking spells.
It was crucial for one to protect their family and sometimes their communities from harm. Thus, it wasn't strange that Red Hood didn't know her identity. But it was strange that she knew his identity along with his family members. That's why mating with someone who you shouldn't or on the whim was minacious. Because you could give someone access to information that they shouldn't have.
"Why are you here?" Red Hood, or rather Jason, asked.
"I'm here to see Damian. It's important."
"I'm sorry, but Damian isn't seeing any guests at this moment."
"That is what I have told Miss Raven several times," Alfred said.
"He will see me," she said firmly.
"Look, Rae," Jason said. "This isn't a good time."
"Hey, why are you two standing there?" A new voice entered the conversation. "We need help over here." A new vampire appeared at the door as a shriek filled the air.
"Hi, Red Robin," she said.
" I think that you have the wrong address if you are looking for a superhero." Red Robin said with a straight face.
She signed. This was becoming annoying and complicated. She had no idea that Batman was dead and that all of his sons would be home. "Tim, unlike Mister Alfred and Jason, I know that you know who I'm without my mask and voice changer. You discovered all the Titan's identities in one week after becoming a Titan as part of Batman's test. I know that it took Dick a month to complete that same test, and Damian a week and two days. Jason took two months to discover everyone's identity, except mine and Blue Beetle's. I'm not here to cause trouble. I just need to speak with—"
A series of crashes and groans echoed through the air, followed by someone saying, "Guys!"
"Do you all need me to handle that Manbat for you?" She offered.
"What manbat?" The vampires asked.
"I know the sound of a manbat when I hear one. It's a long story, but I can help him."
The family members shared a look before stepping out of the doorway. She entered the house with a "thank you." She could immediately tell that it was a juvenile manbat by the damage done to the house. A mature one knew how to maneuver in any location, creating minimum damage and sound.
She followed the sounds into the living room. There, she saw Dick, or Nightwing, trying to maintain control of the creature.
She walked next to Dick and said, "Let him go and stand back."
"Rave—" Dick cleared his throat. "Who are you?"
"You don't have to pretend. She knows who we are." Tim informed him.
"Why are you here?" Dick's eyes shifted from her to the manbat.
"I'm not here for him. Don't worry. I won't hurt him."
"I knew that. You are one of the kindest people that I know." Dick said, causing her to blush. "But why are you here?"
The creature wailed.
"I think I should handle this first. Can you step back?"
"Sure," Dick said, doing as she asked.
She took a deep breath and said, "Azarath Metrion Zinthos." A black sphere was created and engulfed the manbat. The ball spun until it was broken down to form a bracelet around the now vampire teenager's wrist. Seeing that the spell was completed, Raven turned her back to the naked teenager.
"What happened?" The youngest vampire in the room asked.
Alfred stepped forward to help him. "I will explain it to you while you put on some clothes… after you take a bath."
She heard them exit the room, leaving her alone with her old teammates.
"We have a lot to ask you, Raven, "Tim said, coming closer to her. They all moved closer to her.
"Starting with 'why are you here?'" Dick said.
"I—" She was cut off by the sight of the person standing in front of her. She glanced up to see a pair of beautiful, stormy green eyes gazing down at her. And after three years of not seeing her mate, the first words that she said to Damian was "You've gotten taller."
Damian didn't reply. He just wrapped his arms around her waist, pull her close, and morphed them to another location.
A/N: What will Damian say? Or do?