Everything was black and white. They were in a bubble, made from Ravens magic. She had created it to protect them, and stop them from reaching her. Windows shattering, they watched as she rose up and floated outside the common room of Titans Tower, glowing a bright red, or white from where they were. She exploded in a grand finale of lights and ancient runes...
Then HE showed up, screaming to the heavens of his arrival. A shockwave must have been sent from him, because a great earthquake shook the ground beneath them. And the bubble couldn't hold any longer. Ravens shield had come down, and the Titans looked out onto their precious Jump City.
It was in ruins.
It truly was hell on Earth.
Robin growled at this giant devil. And Logan was reminded just how brave he was, to look at an opponent of this scale and still stand tall. Cyborg and Star were scared, but when the action took place, they'd shelve their fears and get to saving the world.
Sensing that there was still humans alive, the devil, or Trigon from his war cry, raised his hand and swing it at the tower.
Starfire flew and grabbed Robin, while Logan changed into a pterodactyl and picked up Cyborg. They flew a ways away to the ground, and watched their home be cut in half.
They stared at this giant, an unholy being that Raven called her father. From the ground, he looked even more intimidating, but they wouldn't give up without a fight.
"You feel her, don't you?!" Logan yelled to the others.
They turned away from Trigon and the charred remains of Titans Tower.
"You feel Raven?! She's still with us!" He placed his hand above his heart.
They slowly reached to their chests, and they felt it. Ravens magic. Her essence. Her powers that she casted to protect them from this Trigon.
[FOOLISH HUMAN, MY DAUGHTER IS GONE! SHE SERVED HER PURPOSE AS MY PORTAL! HER LIFE IS EXTINGUISHED!]
The others growled and stood defiantly. They felt her, in their hearts. As long as she was there, she lived.
"You tell the lies!" Starfire yelled to him.
"Don't think we'll give up, you four eyed freak!" Cyborg yelled.
Robin addressed the team. "No matter what, we'll fight him and get Raven back! Spread out and-"
"No!"
Their fighting stances slacked, and they turned to Logan who was standing there. In the face of all this death and destruction, he just stood there.
"What?!" Robin looked at him. Completely at a loss at Logan's words. Star and Cyborg were just as confused, didn't Logan just inspire them to believe Raven was alive. They were ready to fight, and save her!
Logan looked to Robin.
"You're not going to stop him… but you are going to find Raven." Then he turned to all three of them. "All of you, are going to find her."
They looked angry, betrayed. Logan was sending them away. In the face of this… monster, he was telling them to run.
"I'll fight him…"
And he was suicidal.
"No!"
"Like hell you are!"
"You will not do the fighting alone!"
They heard laughing, then they turned to Trigon. He was smiling.
[VERMIN, YOU DARE THINK YOU CAN CHALLENGE ME! THE DESTROYER OF THIS AND MANY WORLDS, THE ONE WHO ENDS ALL LIFE!]
They growled and prepared to fight, but Logan walked past them, and they froze. He stood before them, with his back to them.
"I said I'll fight… I didn't say I'll win…"
They looked at him, scared of his words. Scared about what he was doing, letting them leave without him. He turned to Robin, but he was addressing them all.
"He'll kill us… he's stronger than us, and he has nothing to lose."
It was Slade all over again, but this time, their enemy wouldn't let them walk away.
Trigon laughed, enjoying this humans honesty.
"Nothing, is more important than you all finding Raven. She's the one that brought him here. So she must be the one to put him away. I trust that you guys can find her, and convince her, to not give up. So I'll hold him off… the best I can." Logan said.
"We can't do that…" Robin said.
But there was no weight to his words. He didn't want to leave a comrade behind, but... if Raven could be found. If she could send Trigon back to where he came from…
Logan chuckled.
"I'm not dying… not here. I'm just keeping him busy, until you find Raven. That feeling in your heart, just follow it. It's bound to lead you to her."
Then from underneath the lava, demons of fire rose up and surrounded Titans Tower. The others were surprised, but Logan didn't move, he looked to the others.
"Don't hesitate, just blow right through them. You're all better than these match sticks."
Then they ran, in the opposite direction of Logan and Trigon.
Starfire picked up Robin and Cyborg, before flying them over the ocean of lava that separated their island from the mainland. Dodging fire blasts from these minions of Trigon.
[YOU TRULY ARE AN ARROGANT HUMAN, TO THINK YOU CAN STALL ME, AS YOUR FRIENDS RUN TO THEIR DEATHS!]
Logan was mad. He didn't ever want to hear 'friends' and 'death' in the same sentence. So he turned to Trigon, turned to Ravens father.
[PERHAPS I SHOULD KILL YOU LAST, MAKE YOU SUFFER PAIN AND LOSS FOR THOSE YOU HOLD DEAR DYING!]
Logan began to release his stored energy.
"I just have to stall you... until Ravens ready to end you."
Then he disappeared, and Trigon laughed. The human thought he could go invisible. Or perhaps he shrunk himself so small, he couldn't see him. It didn't matter. Because HE could see it.
Trigon could see his soul.
And he was standing right before hi-
[AAAAHHHHH!] Trigon roared. Grabbing the sides of his head as too large masses grew from inside his ears. He clenched his eyes closed at the pain of foreign things in his head. As he opened them…
He saw spines, razor sharp along the backs of scaled beasts. And they spun and flew right at him. Right into his four eyes.
[AAAAHHHHH!]
He aimed low, and swept his arm across the land. Destroying the ground before him. Temporarily blind, he opened his mouth and shot out a beam of pure energy, along the island. The scaled beasts entered inside his head through his eye cavities. And they began to squirm and drag along the inside if his head. Tearing into his muscle and skull.
He growled, gathered energy, then incinerated the beings inside his head. Newly regenerated eyes opened in fury. To look upon…
A giant…
Golden…
BEAST.
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
—-
They heard the roar, and hoped Logan was okay. They touched ground and ran, destroying any fire beings that stood in their way.
Robin backflipped over a trail of fire that was fired from his side. His bow staff hitting and ending these creatures from hell. His martial arts aiding him, since the speed of these hell spawn were slower than him.
Cyborg aimed for their heads, then blasted them at short range. His metal body could withstand the heat, so he charged up close, and blew their heads from their bodies. The rest of the creatures fell apart to charcoal on the ground.
Starfire gave a battle cry as she flew between them, raining blows and shooting starbolts at all incoming creatures. She flew high and low, faster than their flames, before extinguishing them with her strength.
They traveled down the destroyed streets of Jump City. Passed the statues of it's citizens frozen in place. they did their best to keep the fighting away from the innocent, so they jumped along cars and the sides of building in the direction they felt Raven.
"Here!" Robin slid to a stop and looked around the area, but the magic in him wasn't being pulled in any direction. Almost like it was pulling, downward. "It's almost like she's under us!" He yelled. His bo staff colliding with two enemies.
"I feel it too, Ravens presence is getting closer, yet just out of reach." Starfire ended another fire beast.
Cyborg looked at his arm terminal, then looked up to the destroyed streets. "We should be close to the old library in Downtown Jump!"
They fought the last of the creatures, taking a small breather to gather themselves. Starfire held out her hand to Robin, he looked at it, then took her hand. She reached to Cyborg, who clasped hands with her. They closed their eyes, reaching out to Raven. They were desperate, they couldn't stop to fight the creatures, they had to keep going. They didn't know how long Logan could fight Trigon.
"… I feel her. She's scared!" Starfire yelled. She looked to the library.
"Then we're heading underground!" Robin yelled.
Cyborg blasted the rubble and burnt framing of the library, revealing steps that led to an underground chamber.
Strong hands grabbed both Cyborg and Robin.
"We will not be taking the stairs!" Starfire yelled, then jumped and descended with her flight. The three raced down the opening, until they reached a cavern.
The two shook off the queasy feeling in their guts at the long drop, then they all charged down the rocky walls.
—-
The great Beast launched itself at Trigon. Dodging lasers from his half lidded eyes, and swinging around his body, leaving gash marks across his torso. This creature's agility was formidable.
[AAAAHHHHH!] Trigon yelled.
But the Beast didn't stop, it continued to circle him, dragging its massive claws along his skin. Blood dripped from his wounds, but Trigon did not stop flailing and shooting his lasers.
Trigon made to grab the Beast, but carved his nails into its hide. He laughed, so the beast can bleed t-
*RIP!*
Trigons shoulder was ripped apart by the Beast's maw. Its long claws slashed gashes along his face.
—-
Starfire had flown them above the lava. Under the lake of fire, demons sprouted from the surface and engaged the three. So she released them and provided air support for the two.
Robin ran along the walls, launching his arsenal of projectiles.
Cyborg landed on the floating rocks, shooting his cannon.
Star grabbed these demons, resisting the burn from their flesh, then swing and collided the creatures together, extinguishing them.
The cavern was getting bigger, and they looked ahead and could see a red light, like an evening sky. So with the last creatures banished, they raced ahead. Raven's powers, and their desire to protect her guiding the way.
Slowly the rock walls widened and the area was becoming spacious. No longer in a dirt tunnel, they were in an giant underground cave. They charged forward, letting nothing stop them from finding Raven.
—-
The Beast lifted Trigon, then threw him across the ocean of lava, into a hill just off the mainland of Jump City. Not wanting to be close to the fires, the Beast leapt over the sea of magma. The Beast pounced and straddled him, then its two claws swung mercilessly. Blood flying everywhere, the Beast didn't stop. Blood, muscle and bone were slashed and ripped from Trigon. His screams barely heard through the roars and vicious attacks of his enemy.
Trigon gathered red energy in his palm, before slamming it into the Beast's side. But it didn't howl, its nervous system being non existent. So Trigon repeated his attack, only able to move his right arm during the barrage. And the hide of the Beast began to burn and melt away.
—-
Extinguishing a surprise attack from statues, the three ran to a church on a cliff side, destroyed and abandoned. They pushed the double doors open.
"She's in here somewhere, her magic is filling the room." Cyborg said.
The other two nodded
"Raven! It is us, your friends! Please! Come to us, we wish to help you!"
Small pitter patters ran behind church pews. So they followed, but the sounds of running stayed further ahead. Finally at the edge of the church room, they turned to see a small form huddled underneath a tarp. Shaking.
"Raven… it's us. Your friends." Robin said.
"No." Cyborg said to him, so they looked to him.
The shaking continued.
"It's your family Raven…" Cyborg told her
The tarp stopped moving, so Starfire flew to it, and placed a gentle hand on the cloth.
"Yes Raven, it is your family. Your brothers and sister…"
Slowly, the tarp lowered, and a small figure poked her head out.
"F-Family…" she shook her head. Not believing them. She curled up and tried to disappear.
"No… no… no…"
Then she felt… warmth. And her eyes opened wide. She turned, and saw the three hugging her. She was speechless, unable to comprehend this feeling. Robin looked down, into her eyes.
"We came to save you Raven, and we're not leaving without you."
"You're not alone in this little sis, you got us."
"That is what the siblings do, they protect one another."
They didn't know why she was so young, but... They would support her all the same. She felt… love. A love from them… and afar. This church no longer felt cold and empty. Her masked hero, no... her brother crouched before her and offered her his back.
"Climb on, we're taking you to your father. But this time, you're going to send him away."
She was nervous at his words, and her face fell.
"I… I can't. He's too strong…"
Soft yet strong hands lifted her up, and she turned to the red head, her sister.
"You are correct, that he must be strong to destroy the world. But you are stronger, for you are its savior."
She was placed on her brother's back, then her big brother approached her.
"Evil people can destroy the world Raven, but it takes a special someone to heal and restore it. You're that special someone."
She slowly smiled. Then her brother stood up, carrying her on his back.
"We have to go, someone else is waiting for you."
Then they left the church.
—-
Every part of him, small creatures attacked his body. Every inch of his flesh... Claws, scales, bones and pain ravaged him. All the while this giant animal carved at his chest. No amount of red energy had slowed this Beast, it seemed to have a healing ability of its own. Although it was much slower than before.
But it wouldn't matter.
Because he would regenerate. As many times as needed, before he would kill this animal. He may be held down now, but he'd get up.
[RRRGGGGHHHHH!]
Energy shot outwards from his body, killing the creatures and pushing back the animal. Muscle and bone began to reform, as he leaned against another mountain the Beast had thrown him into. He smiled, and rose up.
Condensing his energy, he swung his an open palm at the Beasts shoulder, cutting off its arm. The large limb fell to the ground, shaking the ground, and the Beast took steps back, away from HIM. Trigon laughed.
It was be getting tired.
So he began to walk to the Beast, ready to grab it and tear it apart.
[FORMIDABLE, AND ENTERTAINING! YOU SURPRISE ME IN YOUR FURY TO PROTECT YOUR FRIENDS! BUT YOU CANNOT!]
The Beast stepped back, running into a mountain that stopped its path away from Trigon. With no fear, he walked straight to the animal, and looked it in its tired face.
[WHATEVER YOU ARE HUMAN... MAN OR BEAST! IT DOES NOT MATTER! ALL ARE KILLED BEFORE ME!]
"Ssssssss"
A strike from behind at his legs, Trigon fell back with a growl. And the Beast pounced. Shooting forward to clench its jaws on Trigons throat. He was bent backwards, growling in fury. Upside down, he looked behind him to see a large snake, and its mouth opened revealing four fangs on its upper jaw. It shot forward and bit him in the face.
Four fangs… for four eyes.
And the snakes venom released everything.
Everything and anything that was nature. Poisons, acids, cancers, diseases and more. Right into his eyes, then his brain. He again felt these little creatures, but they entered his body while these tall giants held him in place.
Logan took a big risk, biting Trigon in the eyes. He could take a laser blast right to the face. But he would risk it, he'd try anything to stop him. Slowly his body began to wrap around Trigon, and the demon struggled… but couldn't break free from the two behemoths that held him.
The thick scaled hide that mimicked the animals from Tamaran, were the only thing saving his body from bursting into flames. But for how long, he didn't know.
The small creatures throughout Trigons body, they were eating him.
They would be exterminated, if they grew crazy or were influenced by Ravens father, but like he said. He'd try anything.
Every carnivore in nature was inside Trigon, with nothing to them but teeth, claws and stomach. No brains. Nothing for Trigon to control. Some grew unstable, so they exploded in a shower of his venom.
Trigon was losing strength.
But Logan didn't stop. He kept pumping more venom inside him. Because he knew… he would lose this fight. He wouldn't get cocky, he wouldn't believe for a second, that he had Trigon on the ropes. Because he didn't, the demon just needed time to get back on his feet. And he needed time to have the others bring Raven.
—-
It was easy for Starfire to carry the other three up the hole, to the library. When they touched ground, flame creatures sprouted once again and unleashed hellfire on them. So Starfire and Cyborg dodged, weaved and fought, while Robin carried Raven.
"You have another person protecting you!" Robin yelled over the sounds of fighting.
"Yes! He also loves you the great deal!" Starfire called out.
"He's fighting for you right now, and we're taking you to him!" Cyborg yelled to her.
Raven smiled.
—-
[... INTERESTING...]
Trigon chuckled. Like he was drunk, no, he was barely buzzed. Every natural substance that was dangerous on earth coursed in his brain…
And he chuckled.
Logan felt an intense heat in his fangs, opening his mouth, he removed them from Trigons eyes and pulled back. The Beasts tried to rip his head off, but Trigon grabbed it by the throat, then channeled red energy. He blew the beasts throat out, causing the Beast to lose its hold on his neck.
[HAHA, YOU MAY DESTROY THIS BODY, BUT YOU CANNOT DESTROY MY TRUE ESSANCE! MY SOUL WILLS THIS FORM TO EXIST! AND YOU SHAPE SHIFTER, CANNOT CAST SOUL MAGIC! NO MATTER HOW MUCH OF MY DAUGHTER'S SORCERY COURSES THROUGH YOU!]
"Logan!"
The Beast crashed to the ground, its energy finally ran out. It deteriorated until it no longer existed. The snakes scales were ignited in hellfire, and began to melt away. With a loud cry, Trigon flexed and spread his arms wide, ripping the snakes body apart, freeing himself from it's bind. The snakes mouth opened wide, and Logan jumped out, crashing and rolling onto the ground.
He rose and swayed, trying to find his footing as the giant snakes body deteriorated to nothing. He turned to the others, who just arrived with Raven in tow. She looked up to her father in fear, but they needed her to stand up to him.
"Raven…"
She looked down, and locked eyes with him. He was the one the others were talking about. Her other family…
[SO... MY DAUGHTER LIVES! AND SHE REUNITES WITH HER FRIENDS!] His body still jerked, but stood tall and unstoppable.
He turned to Logan with a sinister look. [I'M CURIOUS... HOW YOU WOULD FIGHT... AGAINST YOUR FRIENDS!]
Then Trigons eyes glowed red, and Logan was lifted above the ground. Red energy surrounded his body, then began to leak from his back, until it took on a humanoid shape.
Red energy wisped around the form, until before them all…
Another Logan stood.
Grey skinned, with red half lidded eyes. It stood before Logan who fell to the ground on his hands and knees. Tired from having his energy sapped into this new enemy, Logan stared in worry at what was to come.
Trigon smiled. This human had caused him so much pain and damage. He wanted to see that same agony given to the humans loved ones.
He wanted that human to watch as his friends were ki-"
Nega Logan collapsed to the ground.
In a cloud of dust, he laid on the dirt unmoving. Everyone stared. Unable to comprehend what had happened.
Logan raced forward to his clone.
"Titans! Go!" Robin yelled.
And the three charged towards Trigon, full attention on Ravens father. They trusted Logan to handle whatever this trick was by their enemy.
Trigon roared angrily, embarrassed at his minions weakness.
He stood, but he also swayed. Whatever Logan did, must be immobilizing him partially. But to the others, it was best to treat him as a full threat.
Logan slid to his knees on the ground, and picked up the unmoving copy that was pulled from his body. He cradled him in his arms, looking in worry. Nega Logan slowly opened his eyes, looking to Logans face.
Their eyes met.
"…wh"
Then Logan hugged him. Hugged Nega Logan to his chest.
"Not yet… Let me have them… Just for a little while longer…" the edges of his eyes began to water.
Nega Logan looked to the blood red sky, then his eyes began to close. He was wrapped in Logan's arms, then he began to fade. Fade and be absorbed back into Logan's body. He hunched over, sinking his fingers into the dirt. Ignoring the cries of his family as they were being overwhelmed by Trigon.
Raven stood, and watched her family fight… watched them suffer. She looked down and walked up to him, and placed a small hand on his shoulder. He looked up, and met her small face.
"...Raven"
"L-Logan…"
Then Raven began to shine. Not red like before, but white. A pure white, both powerful and divine. So bright, the fighting stopped and everyone turned to her.
Logan smiled. This was it… THIS was their Raven.
Attention pulled away from the humans, Trigon turned to his only spawn.
[YOU! WHAT COULD YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH HERE! THE WORLD HAS ENDED, AND YOUR POWER CANNOT MATCH MINE! FOR IT WAS BIRTHED FROM ME! NO DAUGHTER CAN OVERCOME THE WILL OF HER CREATOR... HER FATHER!]
"You… are not my father!"
Logan was on the ground, knees in the dirt. But he was happy, because it came true. The vision came true. And Raven would defeat her father today. She would be happy and free. He placed his hand over his heart. That's all they ever wanted for her.
A great white light illuminated everything around him, and the destroyed Jump was replaced with their old home. Safe and unharmed. Logan looked up to the sky, and it was no longer blood red… but blue. A beautiful cloudy blue.
It was over.
—-
The others stood exhausted, they survived the end of the world. They fought an actual demon. Fire monsters from hell and all.
But Raven smiled.
Smiled at the family that fought for her. Protected her. And loved her.
She raised her hands, and her white raven circled her family. She teleported them to the rooftop of the restored Titans Tower. It was a new beginning.
She turned to the others, and they smiled too. They were safe, home, and with each other. She turned to Logan, who was still on his knees. So they gathered around him, and hugged him. He raised his arms, and hugged theirs.
They basked in each other.
"Can… I please talk to Logan?" Raven asked.
The others nodded, backing away. They looked at the two. Raven standing tall, and Logan on his knees, staring into the horizon.
They headed to the common room, to wait for the two to finish their conversation.
Logan watched the sun lower over the horizon, blinking away tears.
He had to be strong. For ALL of them.
Then he felt her, her essence wrapped around him. It had a warmth to it, a feeling that could only be described as lov-
Logan shook his head.
"What's wrong?" She reached to him, touched and held his shoulder. But no matter how nice it felt, her hand shouldn't be there.
"Nothing…" She let go, as he stood up.
"Logan."
He didn't want to turn around.
"Logan…"
She tugged on his sleeve, and not one to deny her, he turned and looked at her. She looked at his face, and saw his troubled look.
"What's wrong, was it my father. Did Trigon do something to you?"
He shook his head. "It's nothing."
He began to see a vision again.
A flying satellite…
A man…
Ment-
He clenched his eyes shut, willing the visions away. He didn't want them anymore. They weren't his…
He felt a delicate hand on his chest, and her magic soothed him. Any pain he felt from the fight, faded into nothing. He breathed easier, not knowing he was hyperventilating.
He felt it in her magic, but not like before. When she teleported the team, when she lifted and carried them in a fight, he felt her will. Her resolve to fight and protect, to support them in the face of danger. But this feeling in his chest, her magic coursing through him… he didn't deserve it. He lowered his head.
"I heard what you said… to Robin. Before you came to me…"
"…"
She looked at his face, then reached up to cup his chin. Then she raised his head to meet hers, and their eyes locked.
"Tell me Logan… tell me the truth…"
"…"
"Do you love me? Do you really love me… the daughter of Trigon the Terrible... The one who was destined to end the world… A half demon…"
His eyes began to water.
"… since the first time I laid eyes on you…" His tears began to fall.
He couldn't lie to her. He never could. Ever since they all first met, and became a team. Since the day she said he was 'kind of funny.'
She smiled.
A beautiful smile that was only unique to her. To Raven. And for the first time in her life, she wasn't scared to show her feelings.
"I love y-"
"Don't."
She looked at him shocked, and scared.
"Don't say it…" He said.
It wasn't fair. To hear her say it. Not to him. He shouldn't be the one to hear her say those words. Him or-
"Why? Why shouldn't I say it. I lo-"
"Don't!" Logan yelled to her. It wasn't fair. None of them deserved this.
Raven.
Him.
and…
Then she grew defiant, and strong willed. She would no longer be told how to feel, how to express herself. She would be who she wanted to be. Everything he loved about her.
"You can't deny me from telling you. It's in my heart, YOU'RE in my-"
Logan shook his head.
"It doesn't work that way Raven..."
Then she remembered his words to Starfire, all that time ago.
'... no Star... no...' and tears began to come to his eyes. 'I cant Star... I can't love you... It doesn't work that way...'
"Why…" she asked, tears beginning in her eyes.
His heart hurt, seeing the pain he was causing her. But it was for the best. He wouldn't let her make this mistake. Not again.
"Because you're still young… you still have your whole life ahead of you… Don't love me Raven… not when you have so much in your future. So many people you haven't met yet… haven't loved yet."
It would be so easy… to hold her. Love her. Like he always wanted, like he did before. They could be a couple. They could be a family, and grow up together. Again…
Him…
Her…
The others…
He could block out the visions…
And stop the memories…
... But he couldn't deny his heart.
And…
It wasn't fair.
She was the only one that could walk away from this unharmed. It would hurt, but like he said. She had her whole life ahead of her. There was someone out there for her, and she could love again. She WOULD love again.
He could live with that, they both could. For her.
No matter how much he wanted her, he had to let her go. He did it once before, and he could do it again. But this time, her heartache would fade much sooner.
She wouldn't have any guilt.
"Please…" she whispered with tears.
And he hugged her, squeezed her in his chest. Tears in his eyes, he whispered sweet nothings in her ear. He told her of a bright future.
"You're free Raven, to feel and express yourself. The rest of your life... its yours. To do what you want, go where you want."
"…" he raked his fingers through her hair.
"You'll change the world. Not end it, but make it better. Better for those that are lost... and scared. People like you, who felt that they had nothing in this world. That there wasn't anything worth living for…"
"…" he rubbed his check to her head.
"You'll meet so many people, people who will learn from you, be guided by you… love you"
She began to shake her head.
"I want you…"
He laughed, a sad laugh. And he squeezed her.
Just like Starfire… and Terra…
She loved him…
Because he was kind to her.
Believed in her.
Fought for her.
Picked her up, when she was down.
Because he LOVED her.
...
But that wasn't good enough.
... He learned that the hard way.
She didn't OWE him… her love...
He needed her to accept this. She had to move on from him. She couldn't be with him. Because it would all be a lie. To her. To him.
To him.
She whispered into his chest…
"I love you…"
And he cried out at her words, he looked down to her, and she raised her head.
She kissed him.
They stood atop of Titans Tower. In each other's arms. Before the lowering sun, on the first day after the end of the world. Her lips pressed against his, giving every ounce of love in her heart. Love for the young man that saved her. Made her believe, that there was a future, then fought to bring that future to her. She loved him… and he could do nothing to change her mind... her heart.
—-
At some point, his eyes closed, and he basked in Ravens love. For a short moment, everything felt... right. He felt... happy. They held each other, in this picturesque moment. A happy ending to their superhero fairytale.
But it wasn't a happy ending.
... Because he couldn't convince her.
His eyes opened wide, and he inhaled deeply.
"Logan!"
"Logan!" She sounded far away.
"Logan!"
"What happened!"
"Get him inside!"
He was on his back, and they were pulling him. He looked up to the sky, beautiful cloudy blue. But it felt like overcast… like rain.
He saw blurs. They were taking him inside the tower, they were calling out to him. He could no longer hear them, but he could see them. Their fears at his state. He could see Victor yelling, and typing away at his arm terminal. Robin pressing down on his chest. Starfire holding his head, tears running down her face.
And Raven…
He could see her agony.
Then…
Darkness began to spread from the edges of his vision. Then it spread more and more till he could only make out a pinhole of light.
Then he saw it all.
His life.
His first memories. His mother and father. The jungles of Africa. The Doom Patrol. The Teen Titans… Slade. The Brotherhood. Everyone and their lives. Raven… and him.
Maybe… this was bound to happen.
Maybe, Logan couldn't stay here…
Maybe…
Maybe, they BOTH should have never been here in the first place.
Everything was fading to black.
He didn't know.
But one thing was for sure.
It.
Wasn't.
Fair.
"I'm sorry…"
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
*beep*
…
*beep*
…
With a jolt, his eyes shot open and he began to get up, before a wave a dizziness brought him back down. He squeezed his eyes shut.
It was pitch black, and he felt pads on his chest.
He was in the Medical Wing of the tower. This bed, it was more cardboard than mattress. The smell of cleaners overwhelmed his senses, but he could sense her.
Raven was by his side, asleep. On the chair next to the bed.
So he gently opened his eyes, and turned to the heart monitor. He reached over, and pressed the signal button to cut the transmission to Cy, to keep the monitor from reporting him flat lining.
He pulled the wires from him quietly, then got out of bed. Making sure not to disturb Raven. He swayed to the attached bathroom in the Med Bay, knowing the path in the darkened room.
He closed the door, and braced himself.
*click*
Bright.
His eyes needed time to adjust. So he hobbled to the sink and looked up.
Green eyes and a tired face stared back.
He turned the sink on low, and splashed his face. Trying to wash away the sleep from his eyes.
He turned off the light, exited the bathroom, and made his way to the double doors. Gently pushing, he exited the room.
—-
The early sun rays cast through the windows, illuminating the hallway. He took a few steps, then looked down at himself.
Red and white.
This uniform. A gift, that was a symbol for the next chapter of his life. But instead, was used in the dark, away from those that would have been proud to see him wear it.
Clenching his uniform, he stumbled to his room. He didn't deserve to wear this. Not after what he did, tried to do…
Mallahs screams rang through his head.
He stopped at his door, and realized.
'I'm... in the tower...'
'They…'
'They came back for me…'
He lived.
He remembered… they were carried away. To safety. They thought he was dead. But…
They came back for him…
He typed in his bedroom code.
*swoosh*
He walked in.
And the dust assaulted him.
He froze. In shock at the state of his room. Everything was gone, except the bed. Nothing. No picture frames. No souvenirs from his and the teams travels. Something began to creep inside him.
He stumbled through the room, seeing nothing but dust. He raced to his closet, and ripped the doors opened.
No uniforms…
He was shaking now. Fear and uncertainty was taking hold of him. He was confused, and having trouble standing.
He looked down.
There. A note, on the bottom of the raised shoe storage. He shakily picked it up, and read it.
'You have to leave. We... You cant stay here.
- Logan
*Knock* *Knock*
"Logan!"
*Knock* *Knock*
"Logan are you in there?!"
Garfield looked to the door... It was Raven, and the others. They were scared, and panicked. But he turned to the window, and ran. Sliding the security hinge, he jumped out and flew into the early morning sky.
*swoosh*
They ran in, and slid to a halt. Looking at his bedroom. It was dusty and unlived in.
Raven slowly approached the opened window, and looked out.
She spotted a dark eagle in the distance.
She shed tears...