Not Part of the Job [ORIGINAL]

30. Surrender

As Beast Boy protectively laid in front of Raven's door in his tiger form, the sound of distress quickly caught his attention. After changing back to his human form, he quickly rushed to the main room to find out what was going on.

"How did they find out?" Arsenal questioned as he eyed the quickly approaching Justice League members.

Red Hood's gun made a clicking noise as he loaded it. "I don't know about you guys, but they don't look happy," he pointed out. "And I'm not taking any chances."

"They look... possessed," Robin added as she slowly grabbed his bow-staff. He was right, their skin was now red and their expressions were sinister.

"Everyone... prepare to attack," Nightwing ordered the team hesitantly as he pulled his escrima sticks out.

Damian unsheathed his katana from it's holster and firmly gripped the handle. His eyes widened once he spotted his mother in the crowd of possessed members.

The first one to attack was Wonder Woman, who carelessly crashed through the glass pane of the window and went for Starfire.

"Star!" Nightwing exclaimed and quickly rushed to her, but he was stopped as a possessed Batman grabbed him from behind and kicked him to the ground.

Arsenal dodged attacks from Green Arrow, while Red Hood tried to help Nightwing. Damian went to help his brothers, but the sound of a familiar voice hindered him.

"Hello abn."

Damian gulped and quickly turned around to block her hit with his katana, a surprised look in his face when she glare down at him. Her skin was a shade of crimson and her eyes looked demonic.

"You're not my mother," Damian said and groaned as she added pressure to his sword with her own. This was either one of her many siblings, or her father, Damian assumed.

"You're right," Talia responded and grinned, "I'm the better version."

"Give her back, devil," Damian ordered and pushed back, trying not to wound his mother's body.

"I'm afraid she's too important to my plan," Talia responded before striking him, her sword piercing above his collarbone. "You're trying to keep my daughter from me."

"I'll never let you take her," Damian said and pulled away from her, ignoring the throbbing pain from her sword.

"That's unfortunate. Well, I guess she'll just have to surrender to me," Talia responded and inched closer again. "Like this."

Damian wore a puzzled expression before his mother grabbed him roughly by the hair and raised her sword to his neck, digging into the flesh ever so slightly.

"Come on out dear daughter, I do not wish to play games with you," Talia began, the sword remaining as Damian tried to hide his pain. "Your brothers were kind enough to lend me a few bodies, but I need my portal."

"Don't!" Damian groaned through gritted teeth as the blade dug deeper into his skin, causing him to yell out.

While this was happening, the rest of the Justice League had the younger vigilantes in restraints. Starfire and Wonder Girl's neck was wrapped in Wonder Woman's lasso, Nightwing and Red Hood were held by both of Batman's fists, Arsenal was held by Green Arrow in a headlock, Kid Flash's back was being stepped on by The Flash, Aquaman had Aqualad pinned to the ground by his trident, and Superboy was flat on the floor as Superman stepped on his chest.

Before the blade could go any deeper, a wave of dark energy pushed Talia off from her son.

"Leave my friends alone," Raven ordered, her eyes red as she spoke.

Damian grabbed his neck once the sword dropped to the floor. Raven quickly crouched down to look at him, her eyes dulling at the sight of blood seeping through the gaps of his fingers. She whispered a spell underneath her breath as she healed his wound before returning her attention to Talia, who was really Trigon.

Talia extended a hand out. "This mortal body can only offer so much. Let me out, and I will stop this," she spoke. "I will allow these few feeble humans to live in my new world."

Raven lowered her head in shame. "I'll go."

"No!" Damian yelled and extended his arm out to grab her, but Raven quickly moved away and cast a spell to create a portal. Talia grinned as she followed Raven.

Raven glanced back one last time at Damian, a tear rolling down her cheek as she closed her eyes and stepped through the glowing portal, disappearing into nothing. Once the portal vanished, his mother's now limp body fell to the floor, along with the rest of the formerly possessed Justice League members. They each remained on the floor, each of them unconscious.

When a hand rested on his shoulder, Damian jumped in surprise. Gazing up, he found Nightwing hovering over him, a sad expression on his face as she helped his younger brother get back on his feet.

Below them, the city they once knew as home began to burn while it turned to stone.