Raven Roth and Damian Wayne: The Walk of Life (Book 1 Of 2)

Chapter Twenty One

A/N: Thanks for everyone saying get well, i feel mostly great now and so New chapter for you all, it's taken longer than I would have liked cause my laptop blow itself up. I looked at it, it looked at me, it grab a grenade out its butt, pulled the pin, flipped me off and blow the hell up. So I wrote this in my phone, and it's awkward to write like that, I find anyway. I'm sooorry... Enjoy though :)

John paced around the house of mystery scanning through one of its many books mumbling to himself as he went. Zatanna had taken a seat at a small round table with her own stack of books that could possible shed some light on how to stop Trigon. "Must you mutter? You're rather distracting." Zatanna teased with a smile. "Love, when am I not distracting? Besides, I might have something here." John replied in a way that was meant to be playful but had too serious a tone to be noticed. "What's is it?" asked Zatanna getting up from her seat and moving to look over John's shoulder. "Well the kid relies on Azarath for her power and containing dear ol' dad and this book seems to be all about her. The two have tangled before, Trigon and Azarath. If I'm reading this right and Trigon is regarded as the devil, he isn't I've fought Lucifer it wasn't fun, then Azarath would be God.  She is Trigons exact opposite but that's not the interesting part. During one of their late struggles a relic was crafted, a staff or spear of some kind that's tipped with a crystal, possibly similar or the same as the crystal our young Raven has him trapped in." John explained allowing Zatanna to read over the pages of the large book. "Sounds like we should definitely look into it, would it be magic based? I could try to locate it if that's the case." She asked. "That's the strange bit and problem, it's not. Though the crystal Raven has is magical charged to a degree but this thing isn't. So tracking it is an obstacle. Gunna have to talk to the kid and see if she knows of it, heard stories about it, rumours, anything at all for a lead." John said snapping the book shut and grabbing his coat. "really need your coat to go into Wayne Manor? You know we're inside already." Zatanna laughed but John didn't reply as we walked out of the house.
"It'll be fine Raven, father has been working with everyone on worst case scenarios because that's how he thinks. Start with the worse or hardest task and the work back from there, it's a psychological method too. Get everyone's worry and fear out at the start and build optimism from there." Damian said as he sat on the bed in the isolation chamber with Raven. Raven rested her head on his shoulder and Damian felt his cheeks flush. "I know he means well and it's not just to save the world but me too. It's just a little disconcerting to watch steps being taken to subdue or incapacitate you." Raven replied softly and sleepily. She hadn't been getting much sleep down in the cave, only drifting off relatively peacefully when Damian had decided to join her to offer some comfort. On the other side of the cave Bruce was running simulations with a few members of the forces he'd gathered. He'd divided them into squads, currently training with the heavy hitters that he had Clark leading. The squad consisted of Clark, Diana, Arthur, Kara, Karen and Victor. He'd known they'd work well together on paper, the bulk of the team were members of the league after all, it was simply a matter of integrating the younger kryptonians into that flow. He'd given them a 50/50 chance of working out, the girls were notoriously hot headed and even Clark was unsure if they'd keep their cool under the kind of pressure he knew Bruce could lay on them. After reading through the reports and talking with Clark, Diana and Barry, Bruce had set up the holographic simulator to hit harder than what they'd stated Trigon had put out. He knew this time would be different, he'd be angry, put out all he could, he would not be stopped a second time. "Alright, that's enough. Everyone take a break." Bruce called out as he shut off the simulator. The group took to resting on the floor, they'd been going for a few hours nonstop. Even the senior members of the squad were beginning to get worn out. "Man, this is crazy. And you two did this once already?" Arthur said as he sat resting an arm over one raised knee. "We have. I know he was tough but. Bruce have you done something to the parameters of the hologram?" Asked Diana as Bruce approached the group. "I have, I reprogrammed all the safeties. It can't kill you, it can however, break you. Any of you. It's no good training to fight the same Trigon you fought last time. He will be hitting harder than that. Last time as far as he cared you were all just there, pests just buzzing around. This time, he knows you, hates you, and is out to get you. That's what you're up against. So Kara you need to be faster. Karen you need to follow the others work with them, you're not alone here. Clark you're the head of the squad, delegate, direct, command, you see an opening you can't reach but someone else could instruct them. Trigon can get out at anytime, could be best case scenario, weeks, or worst case, when I'm done with this sentence. You have to be ready, I have to be ready, we ALL have to be ready." Bruce said as the others let his words sink in and self review in their minds. Bruce let out a sigh "I know I've been pushing, more than I usually do. The world is in our hands. But right now, that is my secondary concern. It's selfish, out of character and against everything that we, I, would ordinarily stand for. Damian and Raven are MY primary concern, Damian has always, struggled, to connect with well anyone, myself included. Now suddenly he's found someone he relates to, gets on with, cares for and though he'd stumble in saying so, someone he loves. Now there's a risk of him losing that, losing her. I will NOT allow that to happen. We should call it a day, rest up." Bruce explained, revealing far more of himself then any of the others had seen before. Kara got to her feet and walked behind Bruce as he turned about to leave. "No. We go again. I will be faster. Karen will flow with the team. Kal will command. We will beat this, thing." She said unto knowing that her inner determination was visible to all by the red glow building in her eyes. "Well save it for a moment will ya love. I need a chat with the big bad bat and our young devil spawn. Raven too." Said John grinning at his own joke as he walked into the cave. "Do you always take things so light heartedly?" Asked Arthur getting to his feet. "Sorry fishking, kinda who I am. So I think we may have something but I need more details on it. That means a chat with the kids." John concluded as he took his final steps towards Bruce. "Alright. Honestly, everyone take a break, Trapping squad needs a round on the simulator anyway so let them know I'd like them down here. Let's speak with Raven and Damian. Also, I'm no devil." Bruce said as he began towards the isolation chamber. "you kind of are mate. When immortal, spectral death wreaths consider you A) a pain in the arse B) someone who can alter the fate of a damned person and C) a man to be feared for having incorruptible will. Your a bloody devil." Retorted John to Bruce's lack of amusement. "Father. Constantine. How are things coming along?" asked Damian. "Sorta why we're here. I found a book in the house that talks of both Trigon, and Azarath. So dear Raven, what do you know of your father's fight with Azarath?" John asked stepping inside the chamber, Bruce close behind. "Trigon has fought Azarath? I, I didn't know that. Was he defeated? Does the book say how to stop him?" Raven began rattling off questions but Bruce held up a hand with a smile. "One at a time. I'm sure John will get through most of them anyway, let's just listen for now." He said, he understood why she'd want to know as much as possible, being locked away down here wasn't what Bruce wanted for her, it was just necessary right now. "Have you heard of 'The Staff of Azarath'. The blank look means no. Well it's more of a spear if my translation is correct. Long, golden, shrinks and grows to fit whomever is wielding it. Oh and tipped with a crystal, like that one." John said and pointed to the gem on Ravens forehead. "Could it be used to house Trigon?" Damian asked, stern faced and wanting John to just get to his point already. "No." Was the dull reply. "Then what use is it? We need a away to keep Trigon locked up." Protested Damian. "Damian, please. I know you're worried, and want to help as soon as you can but everyone is trying too." Raven interjected, taking Damians hand in her own. "I get it I do. The spear is made of the same crystal as the one you have there. If fact they are the two halves of one larger crystal. That crystal was created by Azarath herself, she grew it into existence. It was then split into two, one a prison and second a weapon. The spear is that weapon, but it's crystal isn't magically charged like the prison crystal and can't be used as such. So why do I want to know about it? Well that brings me to the prison crystal, it's failing. It's not you or your power that's draining, it's the crystals. It wasn't meant to hold Trigon after it had been broken. If the crystal is broken then so is the magic and no matter how much we pour into it, it can't be repaired. So, we need the back up plan. The spear, because of the properties of the Crystal, it can pierce Trigon skin. Azaraths back up plan, was to kill him."