This is a long one. It's been moderately edited, hence it's length.
"I don't see why this is necessary," Klarion whined. He was still on the earth plane while his fellow Lords of Chaos were on the other side of the galaxy preparing for…he hadn't been paying attention. He had no idea what they were doing. "That little brat got her butt gifted to her because she was weak."
"Meow," Teekl said.
"Handed to her. They know what I mean," he said, rolling his eyes at Teekl. "Why are we trusting this Enchantress and her mysterious benefactor?"
"This is the path we Chaos Lords have chosen," Xanadoth, a fellow Chaos Lord sighed, annoyed at having to repeat herself. "We aren't trusting Enchantress and her mysterious benefactor. We're simply…humoring them. Ultimate Chaos is still the goal."
"Throwing weak-metas at this hero doesn't prove anything. I still think I can beat this little demon girl. She's totally overstated."
"Meow," Teekl corrected him.
"Overrated! They know what I mean."
"Have you not been listening?" a third lord – Mordru – stepped forward. "She's the daughter of Trigon."
"Trigon shmigon," Klarion replied. "How powerful could he really be if his half-human bastard beat him?"
"You know how powerful Trigon was," Mordru said.
"Klarion," Xanadoth said, "if you don't believe us, feel free to challenge this 'half-human bastard', as you said."
"Fine," Klarion sniffed. "I will. I'll send her clapping to daddy."
"Meow."
"They know what I mean!" he yelled, disappearing.
Mordru waited for Klarion to sever the connection before turning to Xanadoth. "Shall we start the search for yet another Chaos Lord?" he asked.
"Let's hold off. If what the Enchantress and her ally claim is correct, this half-demon accidentally killed the Child. She might spare Klarion. Besides, he's right—sending weak meta-humans against her proves nothing. Let's see what this half-demon can really do."
Raven was grateful when the credits finally rolled. "So?" Garfield shifted into a squirrel monkey and bounded across the back of the couch to where Raven sat. "What did you think?" he asked eagerly.
Raven could sense how proud the changeling was. "I've never been a big fan of sci-fi," she began, "but seeing you on TV was pretty neat."
"Right?" He jumped. "And depending on how popular Tork is, I might become a series regular." His excitement was palpable, and Raven was happy for him, though her face remained neutral. "That is exciting," she said as her phone buzzed.
"Who is it?" Garfield asked, shifting back into his human form.
"Tim," Raven answered. Garfield's mood shifted slightly. "Again?" he muttered.
"He finished grading my practice quiz," she said. "Four out of ten correct. I'm improving." She sent Tim a quick 'thank you' before standing up.
"Where are you going?" Garfield asked.
"To my room to read," Raven answered. Garfield's face fell, and Raven rubbed her temples. "Or…I'll grab a book and read it out here."
Garfield smiled wide. "Great! I'll start the next episode."
"Great," Raven smiled stiffly, turning on her heel. "Just great."
Raven rubbed her temples as she walked to her room. Garfield's crush on her wasn't new. She'd sensed it for a while, but recently it had become obvious to everyone. Even Tim, who hadn't visited in weeks, knew about it. Richard probably told him, she thought. At first, she found the 13-year-old's feelings endearing, almost sweet in their innocence. And when she first arrived on this Earth, Garfield's constant presence had been a comforting, steady anchor in an unfamiliar world. Now, it was stifling.
Yesterday, M'Gann had gently suggested she let him down easy, but Raven wasn't used to receiving romantic affection. Let's see, she thought, twisting her lips in deep contemplation. There was Jericho, but that ended before it began. Zachary wanted to date me to get back at Zatanna. And Eric… She shuddered at the thought.
Entering her room, she lingered by her bookshelf, stalling for time. She wasn't ready to deal with Garfield, not now. Her phone buzzed again. It was Tim, sending another problem for her to solve.
"Seriously?" she muttered, quickly sending a response.
Tim's reply came instantly: Very serious.
With a sigh, Raven grabbed a random book off the shelf and teleported back to the common area. "Woah!" Garfield jumped back, startled. "You scared me! I was wondering what was taking you so long."
"Sorry," Raven apologized. "I couldn't pick a book. Then Tim texted me."
"Again?" Garfield's shoulders slumped.
Raven frowned, sensing the tension. "Garfield, do you have a problem with—ugh." She stumbled, dropping the book as sudden vertigo swept over her.
"Raven?" Garfield was immediately at her side, his arm steadying her as he led her to the couch.
"My head…" she moaned, trying to catch her breath. There was a strange, loud clanging in her ears.
"What's wrong?" Garfield asked, panic creeping into his voice. Before Raven could answer, a golden cross materialized in the common area. "Doctor Fate? Zatanna?"
Raven forced herself to look up, fighting the dizziness as Doctor Fate and Zatanna appeared in front of her. "What's going on?" Garfield asked, wide-eyed.
Raven remained doubled over, the vertigo worsening. Her powers sparked at her fingertips, ready to burst. She could barely contain them.
"Raven," Zatanna rushed to her, concern clear in her voice. "You were right," Zatanna said to Doctor Fate. "We need to call Constantine."
"What… is happening?" Raven asked, the world spinning out of control.
"It is a summoning," Doctor Fate's voice was calm, but firm. "For demons."
Zatanna's eyes flashed with worry. "Is there anything you can do?"
Doctor Fate shook his head. "No. The only way it will stop is if she answers the call or the summoner is stopped."
A sharp pain tore through Raven, and she gripped her head as black energy exploded from her, shooting across the room. "Woah! Woah!" Garfield shapeshifted into various animals to avoid the blasts, fear and confusion written on his face.
"I'm sorry," Raven gasped. I need to leave before I hurt someone. "I have to go. I have to…" Her voice trailed off as the intense pull of the summon overwhelmed her; she was about to lose all control. Without another word, Raven disappeared, her powers leaving the room in chaos as Garfield and the magicians' protests echoed in her absence.
Raven appeared in the middle of a dark forest, standing on a glowing circular rune etched into the earth. She wasn't alone. "Raven?" a voice called out, and she turned to see Blue Devil standing a few feet away, his face tense with concern. Etrigan stood beside him, his demonic form rigid. There was another red-skinned being nearby whom Blue Devil seemed to recognize, but Raven's attention was quickly pulled elsewhere.
Across from her, on the opposite edge of the rune, stood a child-like figure wearing a large gray hood that completely shrouded his face in shadow. Something about him drew her in, an unnatural pull that unsettled her. "Finally!" A high-pitched, whiny voice snapped her out of her trance. Raven's gaze shifted to the pale, blue-skinned figure in the center of the rune, with angular features and jet-black hair that resembled horns. He was stroking a cat that glared at her with glowing eyes. She recognized him immediately—Klarion the Witch Boy. (Constantine had been hammering her with information about Chaos Lords and Lords of Order ever since her battle with Child.)
"Welcome! Welcome!" Klarion's voice dripped with mockery as he addressed everyone. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am—"
"A child of chaos, born from night," Etrigan interrupted, his voice low and rhythmic, "your tricks are sharp, your smile bright. A boy with—"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Klarion interrupted, waving him off dismissively. "Save your rhymes for poetry night." He grinned wickedly. "I am Klarion, Lord of Chaos." His cat meowed softly. "And this is Teekl," Klarion introduced.
The red-skinned figure clenched his fists, stepping forward with a bravado that Raven could sense was only surface deep. "What do you want with us?" he demanded.
"I'm getting to that!" Klarion glared at him, clearly irritated.
"Meow," Teekl chimed in, flicking her tail.
"You're right, Teekl," Klarion said, his malevolent eyes narrowing as they fixed on Raven. "We only need her." With a snap of his fingers, everyone but Raven vanished in an instant. She stood there, momentarily stunned, her heart racing. "Don't worry," Klarion sneered, floating toward her on a disc of chaotic energy, still stroking Teekl. "I just sent them back to their respective places. They're safe, hero," he spat in disgust.
Raven remained silent, keeping her expression neutral despite the whirlwind of emotions inside her. "So," Klarion circled her slowly, his gaze sweeping over her with disdain. "You're the daughter of Trigon." Raven didn't respond. "You don't look like much to me," he continued, eyeing her up and down as if appraising something unworthy. "I can't believe you killed Child." His tone was filled with contempt. "Of course, my associates think differently. They actually trust the word of the Enchantress. Ridiculous."
Klarion stopped directly in front of her, his expression twisting with disgust. "Child was weak," he hissed. Then, taking a step back, he grinned. "But you? I want to see just how powerful the daughter of Trigon really is."
Tim tapped his pen against his desk as he stared at his phone impatiently. His leg bounced as he waited for Raven's reply. "That equation wasn't that hard, was it?" he muttered under his breath. He glanced at the clock—only five minutes had passed. "Wow, Tim," he sighed, leaning back in his chair, "you are really pathetic."
It had been two weeks since Raven had accidentally landed on top of him, a moment that played over and over in his mind far more than it should have. Since then, their texts had become almost routine—though, he was the one initiating all of them. Not that I mind. He didn't care how the conversation commenced as long as she replied.
Tim scrolled through their conversation history, eyes skimming over the steady evolution of Raven's replies. What started as one-word answers had gradually become full sentences. He chuckled. She's even using punctuation, now. Every time he read her name, a strange, fluttering warmth filled him. It made him feel lighter, more alive. It was… nice. More than nice. Tim smiled slightly, his thumb hovering over their most recent exchange, waiting for her next message. That familiar warmth crept up his spine again, pooling in his chest. It made no sense, really, how a simple text from her could have this effect on him. He'd only known her for a year.
But the last two weeks…why did it feel like something had shifted? The thought nagged at him as he stared at her name on the screen, his pulse quickening. It's almost like—The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning, making him freeze mid-scroll. His breath caught in his throat as his mind finally connected the dots. No way. His phone slipped from his hand, tumbling to the floor as his heart raced. Do I have a crush on Raven? The thought was almost incredulous. He swallowed hard, his stomach flipping. Closing his eyes, he replayed every interaction, every conversation, every stolen glance across the room. He never noticed it before, but his heart seemed to leap whenever she was near. How his thoughts often drifted back to her when he was relaxed. Holy—he stood from his chair and began to pace. When did this happen? He closed his eyes and dragged his hands down his face. He could deny it all he wanted, but the truth was there as obvious as Garfield's crush. I. Like. Raven. Well…damn.
Raven barely had time to react. With a flick of her wrist, she created a shimmering, dark shield just as Klarion unleashed a blast of crackling energy that exploded against her defenses. The sheer force pushed her back, her heels digging into the dirt as she fought to hold her ground. He's faster than I expected, she thought, her mind racing as Klarion's relentless barrage of magic continued.
"Come on, Raven! Say something!" Klarion screamed in his shrill voice, annoyed at her lack of conversation. He raised his arms, conjuring a monstrous dragon made entirely of fire, its molten breath scorching the air as it hurtled toward her. Raven barely managed to throw up another shield, the searing heat making her sweat as the flames licked at her defenses. The dragon snapped its jaws against the barrier, trying to break through. "Well, well," Klarion sneered, his eyes gleaming with twisted amusement. "You have some talent. But it's not enough to defeat me!"
With a thunderous crack, the earth beneath Raven's feet buckled and twisted as jagged tendrils of magic shot from the ground, lashing out at her like living whips. Raven gritted her teeth and summoned her power, deflecting the tendrils and absorbing their chaotic energy into her shield. She could feel the burn of Klarion's magic coursing through her body. "Not bad," Klarion mocked, his voice dripping with condescension. "For a novice."
Raven didn't have time to retort as Klarion snapped his fingers, and the world around her seemed to tear apart at the seams. Reality twisted, bending in on itself as the ground became a swirling mass of impossible shapes, the sky melting into a distorted nightmare. Klarion's laughter echoed around her, coming from everywhere.
Illusions, Raven thought, forcing herself to take flight as the ground beneath her became a treacherous labyrinth of spiraling chaos. She clenched her fists, summoning her soul-self. "Azarath. Metrion. Zinthos!" A colossal bird formed behind her, its massive wings spreading wide, shattering Klarion's warped reality like glass. The world snapped back into place, leaving Klarion momentarily stunned. His shock didn't last long, however. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a horde of fiery demons from the shadows. Their glowing eyes burned with malice as they surged, screaming toward Raven. The air grew heavy with the stench of sulfur as the creatures closed in, claws outstretched.
"Enough!" Raven's voice rang with authority as she landed. Dark energy rippled out from her in shockwaves, tearing through the demons and disintegrating them. Raven stood in the aftermath, her chest heaving as the remnants of Klarion's minions faded into nothing. "This is stupid and pointless," Raven spat, glaring at Klarion. "I have better things to do." Like, calculus.
Klarion's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with malicious delight. "Aww, you don't want to play anymore?" he cooed mockingly. "Too bad." With a violent gesture, Klarion raised both his arms, summoning a maelstrom of chaotic energy. The sky darkened, clouds twisting into a swirling vortex above him as arcs of raw magic crackled and danced across the landscape. Bolts of chaos energy streaked through the air, slamming into the ground, sending shockwaves that rocked the earth. The very fabric of reality seemed to buckle under the sheer weight of his power, warping and bending like an unraveling thread. "Let's see you stop this," Klarion sneered, his voice dripping with venom as the vortex swelled, growing larger, hungrier.
Raven's heart pounded as her mind raced for a solution. Staring at the swirling chaos, she could feel the pull of the vortex. I need to do something, her mind panicked. Raven planted her feet, dark energy crackling around her as she prepared to face the storm head-on.
"Dudes! Dudes! Dudes!" Garfield exclaimed, waving his arms.
"Garfield!" Zatanna snapped. "We're trying to listen." She turned her attention back to the screen. "Go ahead, Blue Devil."
Blue Devil rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, that's about it. We landed in some... wooded area."
"I'll contact Jason Blood," Doctor Fate said, already walking away.
"You can't give us anything more than 'wooded area'?" Constantine scoffed, glaring. "Bloody useless."
"John!" Zatanna shot him a glare. "Thank you, Blue Devil. We'll be in touch." She turned off the screen and faced Constantine, her eyes narrowed. "Could you be any more condescending and unhelpful?"
Constantine opened his mouth to retort, then sighed, his shoulders slumping. "You're right, Zee."
"Raven is powerful," Zatanna reassured him. "She can handle herself. We just need to find her."
"Try the locator… thingy again," Garfield suggested.
"Klarion is cloaking them, Garfield," Zatanna explained patiently. "He's hiding them from our spells." Doctor Fate reappeared, and she turned to him. "Any luck?"
"Jason was... less than helpful," Doctor Fate replied, his tone clipped.
Constantine tapped a finger against his lips, thinking. "Brucie might have a way. With all his gadgets, he probably has some fancy doo-hickey that tracks magic usage. If they're on this planet, he'll find them."
"Not a bad idea," Zatanna agreed, nodding.
"Then it's settled," Constantine said, clapping his hands together. "We're going to the Batcave."
"Sweet!" Garfield grinned excitedly.
"Not you," Constantine added, waving him off dismissively. "You'll just get in the way."
"John!" Zatanna's voice was tight with frustration.
"What?" Constantine shrugged, unbothered.
"Let's go," Doctor Fate interjected before things could escalate further.
Raven collapsed to her knees, breathless and drenched in sweat. Her limbs trembled from exhaustion, but at least Klarion was also grounded, panting as heavily as she was. She hadn't wanted to fight him—there was no reason to—but whatever spell he used to summon her had trapped her. Teleporting away wasn't an option. She was contained. Her only path was through Klarion.
Raven's body trembled. Klarion had been relentless with his attacks—a second fire-breathing dragon, black lightning, chains that felt like they would tear her apart,haunting illusions that nearly broke her focus, another fire-breathing dragon. At one point, he appeared behind her while she was distracted, and his blade had nearly sliced her in two. She barely dodged in time, the steel grazing her side.
When those tactics failed, Klarion moved on to multiplication. Six versions of him surrounded her, each one casting a different spell at her simultaneously, their chaotic magic intertwining to overwhelm her.
Raven shakily forced herself to stand, her knees threatening to give out. I can't stay on defense, she thought warily. I need to switch to offense.
"Is defense all you've got?" Klarion panted as if he read her mind. He struggled to his feet, his eyes gleaming with sadistic amusement.
"Meow," Teekl chimed from his side.
"What do you mean I'm losing‽" Klarion glared at his familiar. "Stupid cat! I was just going easy on her."
"Meow."
"I was, too! Fine! Time to bring out the big gulps."
"Meow."
"She knows what I mean!" Klarion snapped, raising his hands high. The ground beneath him trembled, cracks splintering outward. Raven braced herself as the earth groaned, and from the churning ground, a massive golem ascended from the ground, towering over them. Its eyes crackled with black lightning, and smoke hissed from its nostrils. "Let's see how you handle this!" Klarion grinned maniacally as the golem lunged forward with shocking speed.
Raven barely had time to dive out of the way, rolling to avoid the creature's massive fists. "Azarath. Metrion. Zinthos," she whispered, her soul-self rising from her body in response. Her astral form grew, expanding until it matched the golem's size. Raven's eyes glowed with power as she uttered another incantation, her soul-self slashing through the golem like a blade, reducing it to smoke and dust in an instant.
"Cheater!" Klarion screeched, thrusting his hand forward, unleashing a torrent of dark energy. Raven met his attack head-on, her own blast of power clashing with his. The air around them crackled with raw energy as their magic collided, pushing against each other in a furious stalemate. The ground quaked beneath them, and with a deafening crack, the cloaking spell around them shattered.
"Wait!" Zatanna said as they entered the Batcave.
"I feel it, too," Doctor Fate said.
"What?" Constantine asked.
"The cloaking spell is broken," Zatanna answered, as Doctor Fate created a different portal. "I'll explain later, Bruce," she said to the stoic billionaire who was blankly staring at them.
"See ya, Brucie," Constantine waved. "Let's go."
Bruce blinked and returned to his project. "I need to ask Giovanni about anti-visitor spells," he muttered.
Raven felt herself being stretched thin. Klarion had split himself in two, each duplicate attacking her from opposite sides. She deflected one blast of chaotic energy with a shield and barely dodged the other.
"How?" Klarion shouted in disbelief. "How are you still standing?"
"Meow," Teekl purred, lounging lazily nearby.
"What do you mean she's more powerful than me?" Klarion snapped at his familiar, momentarily distracted. Seizing the opportunity, Raven's voice echoed as she began chanting. Her eyes turned pitch black, her power swelling around her like a storm. With a swift motion, she summoned giant, jagged spikes from the ground, piercing one of Klarion's forms straight through the chest. The other watched in shock as she conjured chains from the earth, wrapping them around his wrists and binding him to the spot. She glanced at Teekl and, with a flick of her fingers, created a small cage, imprisoning the cat.
"Hey!" one Klarion screamed in frustration before the two versions merged back into one. He grunted, pulling at the chains that held him, a sadistic grin creeping across his face as he struggled. "This is some dark magic. You sure you're on the right side?"
Raven didn't respond. She simply turned her back on him as a golden cross formed in the air. Klarion's expression shifted from amusement to apprehension. "Oh crap," Klarion muttered as Doctor Fate, Zatanna, and Constantine materialized.
"Daughter of Trigon," Doctor Fate greeted gravely.
"Seriously, just call me Raven," she responded dryly, arms crossed.
"Raven!" Zatanna hurried toward her, concern in her eyes. "Are you alright?"
"Besides being summoned like a dog and forced to perform," Raven replied bitterly, "I'm fine."
Constantine smirked, walking over to where Klarion was chained. He nudged the Chaos Lord with his boot. "Punched above your weight class, didn't ya, Klarion?"
"Meow."
"That's right, Teekl!" Klarion glared at Constantine. "Let us go."
Constantine crouched near Teekl's cage, a flame flickering to life in his hand. "Why don't you tell us why you're here? Or the cat gets it."
"You wouldn't dare," Klarion hissed, but his tone betrayed a hint of unease.
"Try me," Constantine said calmly, bringing the flame closer to the cage Raven had crafted. Teekl backed up, hissing.
"Fine!" Klarion caved. "I don't know all the details, but they're working with some pathetic loser named Enchantress. She wants Raven for some mysterious overlord to open a portal or something."
Raven's stomach twisted, her breath catching as her vision tunneled, and the world around her narrowed. "No," she gasped, clutching her middle as nausea rolled over her.
"Now, now," Constantine said quickly, holding up a hand to calm her. "We don't know for sure if he's talking about Trigon."
Klarion's eyes lit up with sadistic glee. "Oh, can you imagine?"
Raven felt her insides roil. Trigon? It can't be. Not again.
Zatanna gently placed a hand on Raven's arm. "We'll handle Klarion," she reassured. "Why don't you head back for now?"
"Ha!" Klarion barked out a laugh. "You wish."
"Silence," Doctor Fate commanded, and Klarion stuck out his tongue in defiance.
"Childish," Fate remarked dryly, focusing his attention on the Chaos Lord.
Zatanna shot Klarion a sharp look before turning back to Raven. "Go on, we've got this."
"You better not stick me in his tower," Klarion motioned to Doctor Fate.
Numbly, Raven stepped back. With a wave of her hand, she summoned a portal. Without another word, she stepped through, disappearing into the void.
Raven appeared in the common room, blood rushing in her ears. I can't do this again. Her heart was pounding in her chest, breaths coming fast and shallow as if the air had been sucked from the room.
"Uh… Raven?" Garfield's voice barely registered, muffled and distant. "Raven?" The concern in his tone was unmistakable.
She felt a warm hand on her shoulder. "No!" she gasped, jerking away as if his touch had burned her.
"Okay, okay," Garfield said, his hands raised in surrender as he backed off, his eyes wide with worry.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled, tears already welling in her eyes as she met his gaze. Her voice cracked, betraying the fragile state she was in.
"Do you—"
Raven cut him off, holding up a shaky hand. "I need…" Her words trailed off as the room started to spin around her. Her vision blurred, and the walls seemed to press in. She scanned the room, her eyes landing on her phone lying on the table. Without thinking, she grabbed it, clutching it as if it was a lifeline. "Sorry," she whispered, barely able to hold it together as she all but fled the room.
She flew down the halls in a blind panic. Slamming her door shut behind her, she pressed her back against it, sliding down to the floor. The trembling in her hands grew worse, and she could hardly keep her grip on her phone.
Am I really going to do this? Her breath hitched, chest tightening painfully. She struggled to get air. Okay, Raven. Breathe. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to ground herself. It's not happening now, you just need to breathe. But her mind betrayed her. Four glowing red eyes flashed before her, and the walls of her room seemed to close in, tighter and tighter. Her pulse raced, throat constricting, and her breathing took a nosedive.
Desperate, her fingers flew over her phone's screen, typing out a message before she could second-guess herself. May I come over?
She hit send, her heart thundering in her chest as she stared at the screen, hoping—praying—he was by his phone.
"That's the fifth time you've checked your phone in the last 30 minutes," Bernard said, mixing the stir fry with an exaggerated flourish. "Who is it?"
"What?" Tim glanced up from his phone, pretending not to be distracted.
"I'm guessing...that cute goth chick who was wearing your hoodie. What was her name?" Bernard's grin widened.
"Her name is Rachel," Tim said, rolling his eyes. "I'm just her tutor."
"Uh-huh," Bernard said skeptically.
"I'm serious!" Tim said, defensively. "She's really struggling with calculus. Basic algebra was giving her a hard time."
"Rachel isn't the first private tutoring gig you've had," Bernard pointed out. "You usually meet your students once a week."
"I do only meet with Rachel once a week," Tim insisted.
"In person," Bernard said, emphasizing his point. "But you've been video-chatting almost every night and texting her... who knows how many times a day."
"Are you spying on me?" Tim asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't need to be a secret vigilante, genius detective to see that you're crushing on this Rachel chick," Bernard said, wagging his spatula. "Shame on you. She's a student."
"She might not look it, but she's actually older than me," Tim clarified.
Bernard paused mid-stir, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Wait. Are you telling me she's... alien? Like, actual alien?"
"Yes," Tim replied, trying to stay calm.
"You never let me meet any of your alien friends when we were dating, no matter how often I begged," Bernard said, feigning a dramatic pout. "I've spent my whole life wishing I could meet an alien, and you're banging one?"
"I'm not banging anyone!" Tim exclaimed, his face flushing.
"It was 2:00 a.m., and she was wearing your sweatshirt," Bernard said, pointing his spatula like a gavel. "You're not the only one with deductive reasoning skills."
"We were studying!" Tim shot back, exasperated.
"Studying what? Chemistry or biology?" Bernard teased. "I can't believe you've already moved on."
"Omigosh," Tim groaned, burying his face in his hands as Bernard continued his rant about aliens and vigilante business. Just as Tim was about to interrupt, a wave of nausea and worry hit him like a freight train. He doubled over, clutching his stomach.
"Whoa! Are you okay?" Bernard rushed around the island, his concern evident.
"Yeah, yeah," Tim said, holding up a hand to signal he was fine. "Just...give me a sec." He was overwhelmed with panic and had an explicable urge to sob. Why do I want to cry? Then it hit him—he wasn't the one who was upset; it was Raven. Tim's eyes widened as he quickly grabbed his phone. His heart raced when he saw a new message: May I come over? Without missing a beat, he typed a hasty response and stood up. "I gotta go," he said, hurrying towards the door. "Vigilante business."
"O-kay," Bernard said, watching Tim rush out with a mix of confusion and amusement. "Just…don't get an alien STD!"
Tim barely registered the comment as he dashed away, his mind solely focused on getting to Raven.
Tim entered his room just as Raven stumbled through her portal. "Hey," he said, his voice tinged with surprise. "I didn't expect you to text—" His words faltered as he took in her appearance. Her face was pale, eyes wide with distress, and her breathing was erratic. It was clear she was in the throes of a panic attack. "Sit here," Tim said gently, guiding her to his bed with a firm but soothing hand. "I'll be right back." He dashed out of the room, his heart pounding with concern.
In the kitchen, Bernard looked up from his stir fry. "Is everything okay?"
"We're fine," Tim said hurriedly, grabbing a bottle of water. He barely paused to explain before sprinting back to his room.
"We?" Bernard watched Tim's hurried exit with a mix of curiosity and amusement, but quickly returned to his meal, shaking his head.
Back in his room, Tim returned to Raven's side, breaking the seal on the bottle and handing it to her with a steady hand. "Drink slowly," he instructed, his voice calm and reassuring. As she sipped the water, Tim began rubbing her back in slow, rhythmic circles. "Breathe with me," he ordered. "Inhale 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Exhale 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Again," he guided her gently. "Inhale 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Exhale 1, 2, 3, 4, 5."
Raven's breathing gradually began to even out under Tim's guidance. After a few more rounds of breathing exercises, she calmed, though her eyes still held a flicker of fear.
"Okay," Tim said, stopping his hand from rubbing her back but staying close. "Do you want to tell me what happened?" He reached out tentatively to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear, momentarily captivated by its softness. His fingers brushed against her skin, and he quickly pulled his hand back, a faint blush creeping up his neck.
Raven turned to face him, her eyes reflecting a deep, haunting sadness. "Klarion," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I fought Klarion, and Trigon is alive."
Tim leaned back, not expecting that answer. "I'm going to need you to elaborate," he said.
Tim sat in a calm silence, absorbing the weight of Raven's words. "So…the Chaos Lords have teamed up with Enchantress. They want you to open a portal for their leader. And you think it might be your father."
Raven's voice trembled as she replied, "I survived our last encounter. There's a good chance he did, too. I thought I was finally free of him."
"Raven," Tim said softly, "you don't know for sure it's your father they're referring to."
"There aren't many who know I can teleport to different dimensions, Tim. Who else could it be?" Her voice was edged with desperation.
Tim stood and began to pace, his mind racing. "I can't think of any villains who fit that description. But what if it's someone new? There's still so much we don't know. For instance, the cult members that accidentally summoned you—all of the members have vanished into thin air. It's like they never existed."
Raven's face fell. "Trigon uses cults and rituals. He only needs someone to open the door and invite him in. Tim, I can't face him again. I can't."
Tim sat back down beside her, sensing the beginnings of a panic attack. His voice steady. "You won't be alone in this. We'll face it together."
Raven's gaze dropped, her voice breaking. "No offense, Tim, but it always comes down to me when facing Trigon. I'm the one who pays the price."
Tim gently took her hand. "You won't be alone. You have me, the Team, and the Justice League."
Raven scoffed, tears spilling down her cheeks. "On my world, the Justice League didn't help. They turned me away when I needed them most. They wanted nothing to do with me."
Tim's confusion was evident. "Wait…what?"
"On my Earth, the Titans are independent of the Justice League because of me. I went to the Justice League for help, and they refused. Richard—he stood up for me. It caused friction between him and Bruce."
Tim was stunned. "How old were you?"
"Fourteen," Raven replied.
"No wonder you were so…withdrawn when you first arrived," Tim said. "The Justice League here isn't like that."
"I know," Raven whispered.
Tim searched her eyes. "Do you really?"
"Yes," she answered softly.
"Then focus on that. Focus on what we know. What do we know? We know the Chaos Lords and Enchantress have teamed up. We know they want to use you as a portal. And we know they won't get to you without a fight." Raven wiped her tears, her resolve slowly returning. "I need you to believe that, Raven."
Raven nodded as she wiped tears away with her sleeves. "Sorry to ruin your Saturday night," she said.
"I had no plans," Tim replied with a reassuring smile. "I was waiting for you to solve a math problem. I thought you were stalling, but now I know."
Raven chuckled, rolling her eyes. "No, I didn't solve it."
"But I sent it to you at 4:00 p.m.," Tim said. "Klarion didn't take you until 4:15."
"You sent me equations all day," Raven retorted. "I was tired, and I definitely wasn't going to solve that problem in 15 minutes."
"It was easy," Tim insisted. "Find the derivative of the function given by the ratio of negative two times xx to the quantity two times xx minus seven. The answer is obvious. It's fourteen divided by the square of two times xx minus seven."
"Oh, obviously," Raven said with a smirk.
"Don't worry, I can come up with another one," Tim teased. "Find the derivative of 4x—ugh!" he yelped as Raven jabbed him with her elbow. "That's going to bruise," he rubbed the area. "You know, I'm going to have to retaliate," he smiled mischievously.
"No, Tim," Raven smiled, trying to escape.
Tim started tickling her, and Raven's laughter filled the room. "Stop! Stop!" she cried between laughs, falling back onto the bed. Tim stopped, and they lay side by side, catching their breath.
"Raven," Tim said, his voice sincere, "you're going to be okay. I'll be with you, no matter what."
"You'd be there for any of us," Raven said as she sat up on the bed. She ran her fingers through her disheveled hair as she tried to gather her thoughts. The room was quiet except for their shared breaths.
Tim's gaze was steady. "True," he replied, as he followed her. "But," he shifted closer, the distance between them closing with each movement. His eyes locked onto hers, and he gently cupped her face with one hand, his thumb lightly brushing against her cheek. "It's different for you."
Raven's breath caught in her throat, her eyes searching his face for any hint of insincerity. She found none. "Why?" she whispered, her voice trembling with fear.
Tim's expression softened. "I meant what I said two weeks ago. I want to get to know you. All of you."
Raven's gaze dropped to his lips, then back to his eyes. The world seemed to narrow down to just the two of them. Tim's thumb continued to brush gently over her skin, his touch warm and reassuring.
Tim's heart pounded in his chest as he leaned in closer, his face only inches from hers. His eyes were locked onto hers, searching for any sign of hesitation. Raven's lips parted slightly. She didn't know whether to stop him or jump him. Tim's hand gently lifted her chin, tilting her face upwards. Jump him or stop him? What should I do? Raven wondered.
Tim's other hand slid to the back of her neck, his touch both firm and gentle. Raven put a hand on his chest to stop him, but she put little effort behind it. Tim placed his hand over the one on his chest and intertwined their fingers as his lips finally brushed against hers. The contact was soft and tentative. Tim didn't want to scare Raven off, and Raven was unsure of everything. She allowed Tim's lips to linger against hers because, for a brief moment, everything else faded away—her fears, her uncertainties—all of it. It was just the two of them, suspended in a bubble of shared emotion.
Just as the kiss deepened, when Raven decided to respond, a sudden crash from the kitchen shattered the quiet intimacy of the moment. The sound was loud and jarring, and they quickly jumped apart.
"Hey!" Bernard's voice came from the kitchen. "What the hell just happened to the TV? Tim? Tim!"
"What?" Tim looked towards his door. What is he talking about?
"Oh," Raven's head fell into her hands. She knew what Bernard was talking about. "Sorry," she squeaked.
Tim looked at her. "Why are you apologizing?"
"You should go look at the TV."
"Okay," Tim stood, unsure as to why he was going to look at a TV.
Once he entered the living room and saw what used to be their TV crackling with black electricity, he understood. "Ah…I see."
"What?" Bernard looked at him incredulously.
"Never mind," Tim waved him away. "We'll get a new one."
