SHATTERED WORLDS | DC (2022)

Year 5: Raven and Damian

Raven

The stark contrast between what the Titans Tower used to represent and what it had become weighed heavily on Raven's heart. The monolithic structure that once stood as a beacon of hope and unity now felt like an isolated monolith amidst the chaos of a fractured world. It had been years since the incident in Metropolis, and the aftermath had shaken the very foundations of heroism and friendship.

After leaving Superman's regime, Raven, driven by hope, had sought out her former allies, the Teen Titans. Each journey to reconnect with a past friend, however, met with heartbreak. Starfire had retreated to her home planet, Tamaran, looking for solace among her own people. Blue Beetle had gone underground, fearful of the regime exploiting his scarab's power. And Wally West... he had tried to escape the speed force, distancing himself from the world that had brought him and his friends so much pain.

The few who had chosen to remain on Earth and live seemingly ordinary lives had also turned her away, either too broken by the past or too fearful of the present. They had abandoned their heroic personas, hoping to find some semblance of peace in anonymity.

With each closed door, Raven felt a growing chasm of isolation. And so, she had decided to retreat to the one place that had once been a haven for all of them - the Titans Tower. The once lively and bustling hub of youthful energy was now eerily quiet, save for the whispers of old memories and the ghosts of days long past.

This sanctuary, where she'd believed she could shut herself away from the heartache of the outside world, was now disrupted. The sudden appearance of The Flash, with Damian's lifeless body in his arms, was a grim reminder that the past could never truly be left behind, no matter how high one's walls were built.

In the once peaceful Titans Tower, the eerie silence was broken by a sudden rush of wind, as Flash appeared with Damian's limp form cradled in his arms. Without hesitation, Flash's hands darted around the room, retrieving medical equipment that had been left behind after the tower was abandoned. He quickly set up an IV drip, connected Damian to a heart monitor, and hooked him up to a makeshift ventilator.

The entire process was a flurry of movement, his crimson form a blur against the cool blues and grays of the room. Raven watched, paralyzed for a moment by the sharp contrast of Damian's pallor against the white sheets of the makeshift bed. She quickly snapped back to reality, her mystical powers shimmering to life, wrapping Damian in a cocoon of healing energy.

Once the immediate danger had been addressed and Damian's vitals began to stabilize, Raven's tired eyes met Flash's. "Wally," she began, her voice rough from hours of chanting, "what in Azarath's name happened?"

Flash began recounting the events, his voice steady despite the evident concern in his eyes. "I was on the other side of the city when I got the call from Arthur," he said, referring to Aquaman. "He sounded urgent but distant, as if he himself was still piecing together the puzzle. When I arrived at the shore, the waters were tumultuous. Yet there was Arthur, rising from the depths with Damian's lifeless body."

Raven clenched her fists, struggling to grasp the scenario. "And this voice he mentioned?"

Wally nodded, "That's the part that has me perplexed. Arthur said it was almost like a siren's call, but instead of leading him into danger, it led him to Damian. It wasn't commanding, more like a gentle nudge. Guiding."

Raven pondered, her gaze distant. "A guiding voice in this chaotic world? It seems almost... otherworldly."

Flash gave a weak smile, "The voice saved Damian's life, whoever or whatever it was. In these times, perhaps we need such mysteries. A glimmer of hope."