Life can change || Invincible x DC

The Void

Raven lay in bed, her head resting on Mark's chest. She could hear his heartbeat, steady and strong, and it calmed her. She let out a soft sigh, nuzzling against him, her fingers tracing gentle circles across his chest. "I don't want to get up," she said, her voice a soft whisper in the quiet room. Mark chuckled, his hand rubbing her back slowly. "I don't either," he admitted. "Maybe we should just stay here. Forever."

"That would be nice..." Raven murmured, pressing her cheek to his skin, closing her eyes. But despite the comfort of the moment, a slight crease formed on her brow. She was troubled, even if she didn't want to admit it. Mark noticed instantly, feeling her tension. "What's wrong?" he asked, the concern clear in his voice.

"Nothing," Raven replied, not lifting her head.

"Don't give me that," Mark said, squeezing her closer. "I can tell when your emotionless expression is slightly more... sad."

Raven smirked a little, but only for a moment. She lifted her hand and gently slapped his chest, though the touch was more affectionate than annoyed. "Idiot," she muttered, but the smile quickly faded, replaced with unease. "Do you ever think... maybe us meeting wasn't... natural? Like something—or someone—organized it." Mark's hand slid up to Raven's hair, his fingers running through the dark strands, gently combing them back. He lifted her up from his chest, shifting their position so that he could look into her eyes. "I prefer to think it was destiny," he said simply, his voice soft but certain. He leaned in and kissed her, pressing his lips against hers with all the tenderness he could muster. Raven's eyes fluttered shut, the tension in her body easing as she melted into the kiss.

When they finally pulled apart, Raven's eyes shimmered with tears. She didn't let them fall, but they were there, hanging on the edge. "If this is my destiny... I feel like I don't deserve it," she said, her voice trembling. Mark's expression was serious, his eyes unwavering as he cupped her face. "There is no happiness you don't deserve."

A low rumble echoed around them, and Raven's body tensed. Darkness began to encroach on their surroundings, swallowing the bed, the room, everything. It was then she realized the truth—this was all a lie. A dream. She clung to Mark tightly, her arms wrapping around him as if to anchor herself to him, to this moment. "I don't want to go back!" she cried, her voice almost breaking.

Mark's arms held her just as tightly, his chin resting on the top of her head. "It'll be okay," he whispered, his voice soothing, though it felt far away.

The darkness surged, crashing down like a tidal wave, and all she felt was emptiness, the warmth of Mark's touch fading away as the void consumed her.

Raven's eyes snapped open, and she found herself staring up into the darkness. The only light came from the torches that surrounded her, casting eerie shadows across the stone plateau on which she lay. She was on a cold, hard altar, her back aching from the rough surface. She glanced down at herself, and her breath caught in her throat when she saw her swollen belly. She screamed as she saw it start to swell further, the skin stretching tight as something moved beneath it.

The pain shot through her like a blade, and she arched her back, her head snapping back to look up. There was nothing—no stars, no ceiling, just endless, consuming darkness.

"Daughter. I am glad you are awake."

The voice was unmistakable—low, distorted, and filled with dark power. Trigon. Raven's eyes darted to the stairs leading up to the plateau, where her father's presence loomed. He was not in Marks body anymore, instead inhabiting the body of one of his followers. She was relieved that he had let Mark go but she worried if it meant he had killed him. "Where have you taken me?!" Raven's voice was sharp, angry, but her words were cut off as another contraction wracked her body. She screamed in agony, clutching her stomach as it writhed beneath her hands.