Devil in My Mind

It's not too late.

Upon completing a few sharp but clean kills, a lesser Devil Trigger aids Dante back to Titans Tower. The palm pad, a key to enter, still recognizes his print. He lets himself in and briskly heads to Raven's room.

"Titans? Someone home? Where's Raven?"

No one's there. No one's home. It's nearly soundless and her room saddens him.

He wants Little Raven back, needs her in his arms, wants to hold her like he did in Heaven.

Deliberately, he revisits her bookshelf filled with trinkets and many works of literature. Sharing a similar taste to Vergil's, Raven's collection fills Dante with fondness and a cutting sense of loss.

"Really sorry, honey. I know how tough it is to be alone when you're a kid."

The scent of delicate flowers occupies the space, flowers like the ones in the sanctuary. Sweet and soft. Fresh and rejuvenating. The fragrance is so nostalgic that he finds himself on the verge of tears.

The doors open in the den, the sound of the Titans returning to the tower.

"Don't worry about it for now," he hears Robin say, "just go lie down and rest, okay?"

A small, "Alright," follows.

Dante can feel her heading straight to him. The door slides open with her magic.

His heart skips a beat as she enters. He holds his chest, overwhelmed.

She's still a little girl! Wearing her little, white cape and covering her eyes with her hands, as though the room is too bright. Even though it's actually quite dark. She's worn and tired, haggard and weak.

Her powers shut the door behind her as she staggers in his direction. He kneels so she can find her place in his arms. With them outstretched, he lovingly beckons her.

"Little Raven! Come here, Baby Bunny!"

She opens her eyes. Then gasps with joy! Immediately she rushes to him.

"Daddeeeeeee!"

He holds onto her tightly, savoring being this important to someone. Savoring the chance to have her while she's still small! As he scoops her up, she tells him...

"I thought you were gone and that I might have to go to sleep and never wake up so I could see you again!"

"What? Ah no, there's no need for that. Listen, I'm sorry I didn't come sooner but I'm here now."

"I'm so glad you're okay! I didn't think you were real but I wanted you so bad! I used to cast this one spell before my birthday, about having a dad. And I would recite it the same way every year. And it was describing you, to the detail. So, I don't know what happened! Did it come true or am I just insane?"

Sitting on the bed, he snuggles her, then pauses to look her in the eye and stroke her face, as though she is certainly belonging to him.

"You're not anymore insane than I am. Shh, everything's gonna be okay."

"I'm sorry."

"What for? You did nothing wrong. There's nothing wrong with wanting a father. Alright? I'm honored you chose me. I'm not going anywhere, okay? I'm right here."

"I barfed."

"You're sick?"

"Yeah, I'm really tired. Will you tuck me in?"

His heart starts to ache.

"Alright," he says, trying to hide it.

He lets her crawl into the bed and watches her get under the covers. He then tucks her in and sits beside her.

"Why did you barf, what happened?"

"I lost my powers," she says, somehow with a sweet smile.

This hits him hard. He runs his fingers through his hair distressingly, his eyes watering.

"What's wrong?" she asks.

"No. No, how do we fix that?"

"I don't think we can. It's okay, it was worth losing them."

She reaches for his arm. He rests one hand on her shoulder, then begins stroking her hair with the other.

"My friends made a new shop for you."

"Did they? I'll be sure to thank them. And thank you, for saving me."

"Don't be sad. I'm so glad you're here with me."

"Me too. I wish I could have done this in the past. Sit with you, be with you. Kill demons for you."

"It's okay, Dante. You're right, you're here now."

He takes it in, the features of her ghostly face.

"This is the last time I'm gonna see you again, isn't it, Little Raven?"

"Only if you leave me. Do you... still want me? Even though I'm all grown up now? I love you. I love you so much."

Tears pour down her cheeks.

"Don't cry. That was a real trade off you made. I don't know when it's gonna hit you that I'm not that great. Never, I hope. But I promise I'll still be here, if you promise you'll wake up. Deal?"

"Deal. Stay with me until I fall asleep. Please?"

"I told ya I'm not going anywhere."

"Good. I feel so peaceful."

For a moment, he pets her hair, which makes her incredibly drowsy, incredibly quickly. He watches her slowly blink, then close her eyes. Then suddenly, her hair goes white. Her body supernaturally finds it's age, reclothing herself in her clean black pajamas.

She relaxes with a subtle sink into the pillow and a small sigh. Completely, her breath leaves her as she becomes frighteningly still.

"Raven?" he says, firmly gripping her shoulder. Nothing.

Stunned, he springs to his feet and gazes at her desperately, waiting for this to resolve itself. But even a few seconds means it's taking too long. His heart rate shoots through the roof, he can feel himself about to panic. He shakes her.

"No. Raven. Ah, Raven, no!"

Terrified of the worst, he pulls the covers back and wraps his arms around her, lifting her young-adult body and sitting tensely on the bed.

"Come on Raven, Raven no, we're not doing this!"

She's quite limp, in no way reactive to him. He presses her into him, her forehead against his neck.

"Bunny? Baby Bunny did you just keel over on me?"

He looks at her face, on the cusp of being swallowed by terrible heartbreak.

"Bunny please, you don't want me to cry, it won't be pretty."

He shakes her again.

"Bunny! Oh my fucking God, are you serious?!"

Squeezing her, he negotiates...

"Oh no, oh honey, oh please no, oh please don't do this to me! God, what a kick in the dick!"

He's about to alert the Titans and rush her into the medical wing, when beautifully, her chakra fills the entire room with ultramarine. With a deep breath and a soft smile, she holds him back and coos in her returning sleep, nuzzling him warmly, her life force resetting. The air becomes cool and calming. He exhales with massive relief and rocks her, catching his breath.

"Wow, that shit scared me! Jesus fucking Christ, you almost gave me a goddamn stroke! Oh man, oh damn, wow. Alright, yeah, I think it's time for bed. Holy shit."

He kisses her chakra, rests her onto the mattress, then tucks her in once more.

"Goodnight. Love you... a lot. See you in the morning, honey."

Quietly, he exits her room.

Once in the hallway, after the door's slid noiselessly shut, Starfire spots him and kinda freaks, thrilled to see him!

Gasp! "It's Dante! Friends, he is back and he is here! Dante, you are okay!"