The Devil's Daughter (Damirae)

Chapter 2

Raven's Journal:
Oh. No. What did I just do?

I've been better at controlling my emotions for a very long time. What the hell had happed? Well, at least I'd gotten a chance to talk to him about something while we were in there. It didn't help that he'd been topless.

At least he didn't know the true reason I'd been staring at him.

I'm not usually one to obsess about looks, but damn! Damian was hot! He's not "hunky" but he had muscle to spare, if somewhat toned. And his eyes...

Damnit! Why was I still thinking of him like that?!?

I needed to think about something else. Get my mind off of him.

I walked towards my room when I heard crying. I realized it was coming from... Garfield's room? That didn't make any sense. Garf never cried. What was going on?

I opened his door. I saw him, on his bed, crying. I had to speak to him.

"Garfield what's wrong?"

I noticed the piece of stone in his hand.  "Oh I was just... you know... thinking of her." I noticed that it was a chipped piece of stone from Terra's powers.

He was mourning again. I didn't know what to say- I'm not good at this kind of thing. So I told him a cliche.

"She's in a better place now, Gar."

"Why did she have to die? Why did Slade have to manipulate her? What did we do wrong?"

I looked at him, baffled.

"I should have known! I should have helped her when she was down. I should have forced her to leave the cave with me. I should have resisted my urge to press the goddamn button! WHY?!?Why did I see nothing? Why?"

I sat there, now somewhat annoyed. Why does everyone blame themselves? It's arrogant to believe that there was always something you did wrong. This is just the way things are.

I snapped, more rudely than I meant to, " Garf, there was nothing you could have done. Put your past behind you. I don't want you to hurt yourself because you think you could do more than actually can.

Terra's death is not your fault. No one person is at fault for it, other than Slade and Brother Blood. Now, we all have, and we all will, make mistakes, but the key is not to blame ourselves for our mistakes but to learn from them and live on."

He looked at me, tears in his eyes yet smiling. "Thanks. I needed that."

"It's not the first time I've dealt with guilt. I know what it feels like to feel guilty, thinking, 'I could have done this, or I could have done that', and it is a feeling that eats you up inside. It tears you to pieces wondering what would have been if you hadn't screwed up."

We talked for a little while. About guilt. About Terra. He had apparently kissed her on the beach before the last battle. He had truly loved her, and he truly believed that she had loved him back. She probably had. We were some of the first people to care for her in the way that we did.

Soon Kori sent him out on patrol. I went to the kitchen for something to eat. On my way I saw Damian leaning against a wall. He was clearly thinking.

Then he spoke. "I heard you talking to Logan. He sounds sad. Like he needs to get his anger out somehow."

"What he needs is help. Not to be judged," I retorted.

He smirked and said, " Oh, my plan is not to judge him." His smirk became an evil smile. "But I also don't intend to practice ineffective pontification as the rest of you have been attempting for months to no avail."

I groaned, "Oh no, what are you going to do?"

"Bring Garfield to the training room tomorrow. Force him if you have to. Trust me, this is what's best for him."

He then turned towards the training room and started to walk away.

"But what are you planning, Damian?"

"You'll see!" He shouted back.

I walked halfway to the kitchen before I realized my appetite was gone. In its place was a mixed feeling of curiosity and dread.