EUPHORIA

The Weight of Guilt (Part 2)

The Weight of Guilt

Damian couldn’t breathe. The weight of his actions pressed down on him like a thousand tons of stone, suffocating him, threatening to break him in ways that the Lazarus Pit never had. He had hurt Raven. He had almost killed her. His own hands had caused her pain—something he couldn’t undo, no matter how hard he tried.

As he held her in his arms, trembling with guilt, the green glow of his eyes began to fade. The remnants of the Lazarus Pit’s influence slipped away, leaving him feeling cold, hollow, and utterly ashamed. He couldn’t meet her gaze. He couldn’t bring himself to look at her, not when the memory of how he’d raised his hand to her, how he’d almost taken her life, haunted him.

Raven, still gentle and calm despite her own injuries, cupped his face in her hands and tilted his chin up, forcing him to meet her eyes. She could see the torment in his, the self-loathing that consumed him. Her heart ached for him, for what he had been through, for what he had done, but she couldn’t let him drown in it. Not now.

"Damian," she said softly, her voice full of understanding and love. "Look at me."

His breath hitched, but he obeyed, his eyes finally locking onto hers. They were filled with tears, raw with emotion, but still—still, there was love in them. She had never doubted him, even in his darkest moments.

"I almost killed you," he whispered hoarsely, his voice trembling as he spoke. "I didn’t mean to... I didn’t want to... but I still hurt you."

Raven shook her head gently. "Damian, you didn’t want to hurt me. I know that. This wasn’t you. It was the Pit, and Talia—she manipulated you. You were just trying to survive."

"But I hurt you," he repeated, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "I almost lost you, Raven. I almost lost the one person who truly... cares about me."

Raven reached up and softly brushed the tears from his cheeks, her fingers trembling slightly from the intensity of his emotions. "Damian," she said again, this time with more firmness in her voice, "you didn’t lose me. I’m right here, with you. I’m not going anywhere."

"But I could have killed you," he rasped, his voice breaking. "I could have... if you hadn’t stopped me, if you hadn’t fought for me, I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself. And that thought... it terrifies me."

Raven took his hands in hers, squeezing them gently. "I know you, Damian," she said softly, her eyes locking onto his with an intensity that conveyed her deep understanding. "I know you would never hurt me on purpose. The guilt you feel is real, but it doesn’t define who you are. You are not the monster you think you are."

Damian’s heart shattered at her words. He could feel the weight of his guilt pulling him further into the abyss, but Raven’s unwavering support was the only thing keeping him from falling completely.

"I’m sorry," he whispered again, his voice barely audible. "I will never forgive myself for what I didz to you. I’ll never be able to make it right."

Raven leaned forward, pressing her forehead against his. "Damian," she whispered, "you don’t need to forgive yourself yet. But you do need to believe in yourself again. I’m not going anywhere. And I won’t leave you alone in this darkness. Not ever."

He closed his eyes, the guilt threatening to swallow him whole. But then, through the fog of self-loathing, he heard her words again, and a flicker of hope ignited within him. She wasn’t afraid of him. She wasn’t going to leave him, no matter how far he fell. She was here, still holding him, still loving him.

Damian opened his eyes and stared into hers, and for the first time since he had been consumed by the Pit’s power, he allowed himself to feel something other than guilt. He let the love he felt for Raven flood through him, pushing back the darkness.

"I’ll always protect you," he said, his voice steady now, a promise that reverberated through every fiber of his being. "No matter what happens, I will always protect you. I swear it."

Raven smiled softly, the corners of her lips turning up just slightly. She could see the sincerity in his eyes. Despite everything, despite the darkness and the mistakes, he was still Damian. Still the man who had saved her countless times. Still the man who cared more than anyone else could understand.

"I know you will," she whispered, her voice full of trust and affection. "And I’ll always protect you too. We’ll get through this together, Damian. Always together."

For a long moment, they stayed like that, his arms wrapped around her, their hearts slowly beating in unison as they both tried to heal from the trauma they had just faced. Damian knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but as long as he had Raven by his side, he would find the strength to face anything. He would fight for her, for them—because, in the end, she was all that mattered.

And with that thought, he finally allowed himself to breathe, to feel the weight of his promise settle deep into his chest. He would always protect her.