Not Part of the Job [ORIGINAL]

32. Shattered

{trigger warning for gore and death}

"Good finding skills."

Once Damian made it back to the boat, Slade helped him get Raven inside. Damian followed behind her, noticing her unease when she was alone with Slade. Her hand searched for his as he sat down beside her.

"Why did he do this to her?" Damian questioned as they began to sail again down the river of boiling lava.

Slade shrugged as he rowed. "I suppose he assumed a child would be defenseless against him."

Damian glanced over at Raven, whose gaze was fixed on the ground. Her violet eyes held a dullness to them.

"You okay?"

Raven looked up slowly to look at him. "No," she responded and returned her focus to the ground once again. "I don't know why you came for me, Robin. He took my powers. I'm useless."

Damian furrowed his eyebrows at her words. "You do remember."

She nodded shamefully. "Bits and pieces," she admitted. "I know of our past, but not much at all from today. Why are you wearing Tim's uniform?"

"It's a disguise from your father. And regardless of how much power you have, I wasn't going to leave you," he spoke, a small smile pulling at the corner of his lips. "The Teen Titans and Justice League are distracting your father right now. Slade and I came to find you."

Raven widened her eyes the slightest. "He can't hurt them. I put a protective spell on everyone before leaving."

Damian wore a relieved expression before she continued. "But, he can mentally damage them. He is able to mess with their mind. Or, his slaves could hurt them instead."

"We'll get you there and help them soon," Damian quickly assured her.

Raven gave him a small nod and leaned her head against his side.

—

When they reached the surface of what used to be their beautiful world, the three of them began heading towards Trigon's new throne, where their friends currently were fighting.

"Thank you again, for uh, helping me," Damian spoke, looking up at Slade as they walked side by side. His arms were holding onto Raven's short legs as she rode on top of his broad shoulders.

Slade met his gaze with a calm expression. "No need to thank me. Most of this is my fault if we're being honest."

Damian gave a crooked smile before returning his attention forward. If they were really being honest, it was Damian's fault. If he had killed Raven before, Trigon wouldn't have been able to escape.

But, that wasn't an option to him anymore. He valued her life more than anything in this world; even his own.

"There he is," Slade spoke as the large red demon came into view. He was sitting content on his throne, amused by the inner-demons he'd created to battle the vigilantes. "Cocky bastard."

Before heading directly for her father, Damian and Slade brought her to the only building that still remained from Trigon's rule; a church.

"Raven, are you sure he took away all of your powers," Damian questioned after setting her down on a pew. She nodded her head in response, her eyes closed as she did so.

"What about your mother?"

Raven raised her head up at the suggestion. The thought hadn't occurred to her. At this point, Raven had given up trying to fight her father.