And they would all smile at the beauty of destruction- Markus Zusak

Chapter 7

"Where are we going?" Damian asked the girl currently pulling him through the streets of jump city.

Damian had been sleeping in his room when he sensed a presence. He, of course, went into offensive mode immediately. It was a part of his childhood training to always be aware, even in his sleep. Had it not been for her shield, Damian was sure he would have stabbed Raven in the chest. He had even almost yelled at her but knowing it was Raven made him calm down and allow her to drag him out of bed to sneak out of the tower at 4 am.

"We're meeting Jason," the dark empath told him.

Damian felt a little surprised. If they were going to meet Todd, it only meant one thing and that was getting revenge. Something he didn't think Raven would want. But then again why wouldn't she.

The two birds were hand in hand as they walked towards their destination. Raven had said it was a quiet tea shop that would be mostly empty this early in the morning.

The two stopped at a street light and awaited the walk signal, giving Damian some time to look at his comrade.

She was looking much better compared to the days prior. She was a pale person in general but after the joker, she was positively ghost-like. Now she was looking back to her normal pale complexion. The grey circles under her eyes had also somewhat dissipated and she looked more awake.

The walk signal turned on and she began to drag him towards the street.

"Raven wait," he said to her. "Please? Can we talk about this first?"

Raven stopped and looked at him.

"Talk about what?" she asked.

"I know that this is about revenge," he said to her.

Raven turned and gave him a particularly dark look. The two birds stood as people walked around them, some occasionally pushing past them in a hurry to get to work or to the train station. Raven was also in a hurry it seemed and Damian knew that being rash tended to get put them all in danger.

"Yes," she replied to him. "Jason and I are going to get revenge."

Damian pulled her back and towards the park. She struggled slightly but followed anyways.

"Raven," he said as he sat her down on a park bench. "This isn't like you, I get that the Joker deserves to have his ass handed to him but going with Todd. That's rash and will get you hurt. I already told him to leave you out of it."

Raven looked up at him and glared.

"Jason is the only one who knows how I can possibly feel!" she said with anger in her timid voice. "I only brought you along because I thought you would help. How dare you try to keep me out of something that you have no business in?"

Raven then stood up and began to push past him.

Damian sighed.

She walked a few yards away and so Damian ran towards her, pushing past a few cyclists and joggers.

"Raven," he said grabbing her by the arm. "Wait, just listen to me for a second."

She continued to walk, ignoring the young man. People passing by looked at the two teenagers, many thinking them to be having a young lovers spat. The overhead clouds began to gently beginning to let down its drops of rain.

"Raven," he said grabbing her and turning her. "I don't want you working with Todd, you'll only get hurt."

"So you want me to just stay in my little hidey hole while nothing gets done!" she yelled. "This is my choice and not yours! Ugh, I knew I shouldn't have brought you. You think I can't handle this, you think I'm broken."

With that, she roughly pushed his hands away and took off running. The rain began to pour down on the city and he could see people scrambling to get into a shelter. Raven just continued to run.

Damian took after her.

"Raven," he said. "It's not that. I know you aren't broken!"

He finally caught up to her and the wet grass caused both teens to slip and fall. Damian above Raven. He didn't know if it was rain or tears running down his friends face.

"I just don't want you getting hurt again," he said to her. "Not even my father can fully handle him. I just ... I almost lost you once. I don't want that to happen again."

Damian sat on the grass and help Raven to a sitting position. Her head was down and her hands were fists in her lap.

"I just want the nightmares to go away," she whispered. "And I thought if maybe I could get rid of him if I could make him go away. If he would go away then the nightmares would follow him."

Damian put his hands on her shoulders and the girl looked back at him.

Damian had always thought she was pretty in a weird dark way. She was pale and had dark hair and dark violet eyes. He also thought that she always looked so alone. Especially when they first met. Then as the days and months passed by she opened up more to him and him to her. They became very good friends and even though she was still afraid of things going wrong (mainly her losing her control) she had become more open and less alone. He hated seeing the Joker tear her down and reduce her to what she was right now. Afraid and hurt. He wanted revenge for her but he knew living life only for revenge only turned you into something dark and unhinged.

Like Jason Todd.

He really did not want her turning into whatever Todd had become.

She deserved revenge, sure, but she needed to go about it in a different way than Jason.

Jason was just too violent.

"I just want the nightmares to go away," she whispered.

With that Damian brought her into an embrace.

"We will get the Joker," he told her. "And we will do it without Todd."

"No," a deep and angry voice said. "Neither of you will be doing anything."

Damian looked up to see his father standing above them. A large umbrella covering him and obscuring him from the view of any onlookers.

"Father," Damian said standing up and helping Raven up. "I thought you had gone back to Gotham."

"I came back this morning to check in," he said. "Only to find both of you missing and conspiring to go and work with Todd."

"I was conspiring to work with Jason," Raven said looking straight into the unmasked eyes of Batman. "Not Damian."

"And even if he was," another voice coming from their side said.

Jason Todd making his first appearance of the day.

"It's not really any of your business is it now Brucey."

Damian could feel the tension between all of them suddenly become overly thick.

His father made a face of anger and walked towards Jason in an intimidating manner.

"Now Bruce," Todd said as he walked behind Raven and put his hands on the girls' shoulders.

Jason noticed him discreetly place something in the hood of the jacket she wore.

"Don't make a scene," Jason continued.

"Damian, Raven we are going now," Bruce said grabbing the young girl by the arm causing her to cringe.

"Father," Damian said angrily as he tore his hands off of Raven. "Todd's right, this has nothing to do with you. You need to leave and let us handle this."

"The tower," he said to the two teenagers. "Now."

The authority and conviction in his voice let Damian know there was no room for argument.

"Let's go, Raven," he said to the empath.

Raven sensing the severity of the situation, nodded and the two Teen Titans took off.

Leaving the once duo to talk.

...

Jason stood in the rain glaring at his once mentor. The raining pouring down, soaking him to the bone while Bruce fucking Wayne stood dry under his umbrella glaring at him.

"I told you to leave them out of this," Bruce hissed in anger.

"And you thought I would actually listen to you?" Jason said with sarcasm evident in his voice.

"Why are you doing this Jason?" Bruce asked.

"If you don't know why then you're a bigger fool than I took you for," he told him.

"Enough of this Jason," Bruce said as grabbed the front of his shirt. "It does not have to be like this, I can help you, and I can help the girl."

Jason pushed the man away from him with a scowl on his face.

"Can you really," he said with fury. "How can you help when you can't even call Raven by her name? How can you help with your antiquated sense of morality? If you wanted to help anyone you would have put an end to the Joker a long time ago."

With that Jason began to walk away.

"You will not walk away from me," Bruce said going after him.

"I can and I will," he said. "You're not my father Bruce, you have no say over me and you have no say over Raven. Rein in your brat, I don't care. We don't need him."

"You're so sure Raven will help you with your selfish need for revenge?" Batman asked.

"Yes," he said. "I am."

"Why?"

Jason gave one last look at the intimidating Batman.

"Because unlike you," he said to him. "I understand what she is going through. And unlike you, she has the balls to do what needs to be done."

"I think you have severely misunderstood the girl," Bruce said as he began to walk away as well.

"Have I?" Jason replied. "Or have I seen the part of her that I know exists, the dark part of her that was created by the monster you unleashed. We have similar demons. We have similar goals. She's going to help and we both know it, go ahead and try to stop us."

Bruce let out a small and unamused laugh.

"You have become something else, Jason," he said. "I will stop you and I will stop her especially if you involve my son. You've been warned."

Jason ignored him and continued on.

...

Raven glared at the masked man. Anger coursing through her veins. Taking a deep breath she tried to calm herself before her powers went out of control.

"No," Damian growled. "You cannot and you will not do that father."

Raven, Damian, Dick, and Kori all sat in the meeting room where they were given an ultimatum by Batman.

"I agree with Damian," Dick said. "This isn't your team Bruce. You don't have a say in who is a part of it."

"I do have a say if you wish to continue to have funding for this tower," Batman said seriously. "If you make contact with the Redhood you are off of this team or I stop the funding. Make your choice."

"You are being unreasonable," Damian growled. "What is wrong with you?"

"It's all right Damian," Raven said placing a calming hand on the young man.

She glared at the Batman and he glared back.

Being unable to win in the staring match with the intimidating man. She faltered and looked down.

Batman closed his eyes and took a calming breath himself.

"I apologize," he said to the room. "I don't mean to act like I am punishing you for the events that have occurred."

Raven looked away, not wanting to see all the different stares directed at her.

"Jason is unhinged," Batman continued. "Neither you nor he can take the Joker. Doing so will only get one or both of you killed and many more injured or worse. The decision is final. Stay away from Jason or forfeit your place on the team."

Raven nodded.

"It's for the best," Kori said placing a warm hand on Raven's shoulder and looking at The Batman. "We will let you handle the Joker."

Batman nodded.

"I will stay here with you all until the Joker is apprehended," Batman told them, much to Damian's displeasure.

Just then the alarms went off.

"Looks like a few different sites are being hit all at once, in other words, a trap," Dick said as he reached into the nearest closet for one of his uniforms.

"We don't know who we are up against at any of these positions," Batman said as both Blue Beetle and Beastboy walked into the room.

"Four sites in total," Starfire said. "We will need to split into teams."

"Nightwing will go with Raven," Batman stated with finality, not allowing Damian to argue. " Starfire go with Damian, Beastboy, and Beetle the final team. I will go alone."

Everyone nodded and headed out.

...

"I'm sorry about him," Nightwing said to Raven who was holding onto the man as they rode on his motorcycle towards the abandoned building where shots and screams were heard.

"It's okay," Raven said to him. "I could feel that he had some genuine fear about us having to face the Joker again."

"The Joker is unlike any villain out there," Nightwing told her.

The two zoomed through the streets, trying to get to the spot as soon as possible. Thoughts racing through Raven's head. Whom were they going up against, Batman had sent them by random, as no place had any indication as to who was where. Would the Joker be where she was going? Could Nightwing protect her and could she protect herself?

And finally, if the Joker was unlike any other villain out there. If he was that much of a menace. If he was that evil.

Then why was he still alive? Why was he alive to continue to cause mayhem and wreak havoc on the world? He was insane, that much Raven could sense from him. But it was more than that. He was more than insane and unhinged. It was as if he was gifted with evil like no other. Evil like her own father.

"I played no part in his creation," her father replied to her thoughts. "Evil will exist as long as I exist and nothing can put an end to me. You will give in one day, my daughter."

Raven shook off her father's words.

...

Starfire and Damian were sent to a bank where an unknown person was holding up hostages and demanding the Teen Titans come and fight them.

Most obviously a trap.

Definitely a trap.

When they arrived the two Titans were met with a man with an explosive attached to him and one attached to his child. A small boy with fear in his eyes. About fifty more people of all ages stood in fear.

A mother holding her crying baby. An old man trying to comfort his wife. Young bank tellers with tears in their eyes. All fearing death and Damian couldn't blame them.

"He said if I didn't do it," the terrified man said to the two titans. "We would die."

Robin looked around at his surroundings and he could sense something was wrong. Something was very wrong.

"Starfire," said Robin.

Before he could finish his sentence the entire place blew up. Starfire managed to grab and shield him and get them out of the blast alive.

Chaos ensued as a fire broke out.

The bombs were remotely detonated. No one ever stood a chance.

...

"Dude, what do you think we're up against today?," Beastboy said to Beetle as they walked into towards the small senior citizen center that was apparently on lockdown.

Blue Beetle felt his scarab warn him.

"Beastboy," Beetle said stopping the changeling from walking into the room.

"Somethings wrong," he told the green teen. "Don't go in there."

"The smell coming from in there," Beastboy said suddenly. "We need to call Batman or Superman. Anyone."

"Let's go look through that window," Beetle said. "But be careful."

The two walked carefully towards the window and looked in.

"What the fuck?" Beastboy said with horror in his eyes.

In the room, they all sat or stood. Many still in their wheelchairs, some still had breakfast on their plates. The only indication that something was wrong were the unnatural smiles etched on their faces.

One thing was for sure and that was that they were all dead.

...

"Stay with me Nightwing," Raven cried as she healed the bleeding bullet wounds that marred his torso.

It had been a trap. They heard the woman scream in pain and cry for help and so they rushed in only to be greeted by automatic guns activated by their entrance. Dead bodies littering the floor, many having succumbed to the bullets as well, others having succumbed to unknown torture. She felt like the worst kind of idiot for not expecting this but she was told it wasn't his MO. He liked to play with his food before he took a bite. They walked right into the trap.

Raven felt the pain in her chest as she healed her comrade but she ignored it. She was going to save him no matter what. What she couldn't ignore was the large screen taunting her. She couldn't sense anyone in the vicinity but she knew that he was watching. He was playing with them from afar, baiting his time.

She had to heal Nightwing faster, get them out of there.

"Raven," he said to her, pain evident on his face. "Stop, your bleeding."

It was true. She was absorbing his injuries and trying her best to heal them quickly. Nightwing had to survive. She would be fine.

"Raven!" Nightwing tried yelling. "I'll be okay. Just get us out of here."

"You aren't," she said with a wince. "I have to get this at least halfway healed or you will die."

"You should listen to the pretty birdie," the horrid voice said. "I'm pretty sure you have a hole in your lung, boy blunder,

Nightwing looked at the screen, she could sense the worry and fear radiating off him. She tried to best to ignore the Joker but she couldn't stop the fear in herself.

"How's my pretty little bluebird," he taunted. "Miss me? I know I've definitely missed you."

Raven continued to heal her friend but she was beginning to feel dizzy. The amount of energy spent and the blood loss making her vision go fuzzy.

"Eh heh heh," the Joker laughed, causing her to cringe. "Did you like my little gifts? I'm sure the others did."

Raven ignored him and continued to heal.

"Ignoring me, ey," he said.

She could feel the grin on his face.

"No matter," he said. "I may not be there right now but I'll be back for you my little bird. We'll be together again soon. As for now, do have fun but not too much fun. Save that for me."

With that, he disconnected.

"Raven stop," Nightwing said as he pushed himself up. "I'll be okay, I promise."

But she couldn't stop, she couldn't really hear a word Nightwing was saying. All she could hear was his laughing and laughing and laughing and...

"Raven!" Nightwing said grabbing the empaths hands.

She shook her head and saw that Nightwing was looking at her worriedly. She looked around to see the room in destruction and disrepair from her uncontrolled powers. She felt the tears she hadn't known she had shed falling down her chin.

"Nightwing," she said, her voice trembling. "He killed all these people. There are women and children here."

Nightwing took her into his embrace.

"I know," he said into the girl's hair. " I know Raven."

" I can't move," she said into Nightwing's chest. "I'm tired, I'm scared."

"It's okay," Nightwing said to her. "Rest, we'll be okay."

But both knew that wasn't true at all.

"Nightwing to anybody," he said into his communicator. "Raven and I are in need of assistance."

...

Later that day and after all the meetings and police reports t,he total death toll was 103 people. 51 men, 33 women, and 19 children. The city was in a state of panic. The Justice League was called in. Cyborg, Green Lantern, and Superman were patrolling the city. It was 11 pm and Damian, Bruce, and Dick were all arguing.

But it didn't matter at all.

No matter the acts. No matter the depravity. No matter the horror. She knew Batman would never give up his sense of morality. It was what made him Batman.

That's why she had the phone number dialed up and ready to call.

She understood how they all felt. She understood Batman, she understood Damian, and she understood Jason and Dick. She understood them all and they all had valid points.

But none of them mattered because it was about her now.

She was not going to sit around and wait for The Joker to hunt her down and hurt her. No. She wasn't going to be an easy target, damsel in distress. She needed to rid the world of him once and for all.

"I'm at the dock," he said when he answered. "Can you teleport directly there? I don't want you getting hurt."

"Yes," she replied to him.

She knew Damian would be hurt and upset at her actions but it no longer mattered.

The Joker was already insane but he kept falling farther and farther into that hole. He was reaching a level that matched with Trigon.

" Is that so my daughter," her father's voice said into her mind. "Then your feeble attempts will not stop him. You can only win if you give in to me ,Raven."

Raven ignored her father.

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos," she said as she was engulfed by her soul Raven and transported to the dock.

It was dark but the ocean glinted the moon's light. How could such a horrible day still have such a beautiful moon and a beautiful view? It didn't make sense.

Nothing was making sense anymore.

She landed on the edge of the deck and took a last look at her home. A frown on her face.

"You okay?" Jason asked her as he appeared from out of nowhere.

"No," she said with no emotion.

"Let's go before supes or any other leaguers catch us," he said as he reached his hand out for hers.

She took it and the two loaded on to his car and took off into the night.

...

"Raven," Damian Wayne said as he knocked on the door.

The young teen had finally become fed up with his father and left. He had wanted to check on his friend.

He had been slightly injured by the blast but he still couldn't get over the face of fear on all the faces of the bank's occupants.

The little boy was the last face he had seen before he had been taken by the darkness. He had woken only hours later to learn that Dick had been shot and Raven had healed him. That 100s of people had been killed in that single morning. He fought with his father for hours, arguing about what needed to be done.

Now he just wanted to sleep but he needed to make sure Raven was okay.

Titus whimpered next to him. A bad sign.

"Raven," he said knocking with more ferocity.

Not hearing an answer and having a distinct gut feeling of ire and anxiety he knocked the door down.

The room was empty, the windows closed, all her stuff was still there but it was the communicator on her bed that let him know she was gone.

Damian ran out of the room and straight to the hospital wing where Dick was. Batman was still there and both men stared in surprise.

"She's gone," he said, his voice betraying him and letting them all know how afraid he truly was.

...

End

Whoo now that was a long one |: