Valeria- Damien Wayne

Azarath

My stomach was in my throat by the time we entered whatever dimension Raven decided we just had to be in so that we could understand her lie. It didn't help that this place felt like what I imagined the apocalypse would; an overwhelming amount of fear and death was suffocating me. Damien's arms around me comforted me now more than ever and I nuzzled my head into his chest for more of that and warm safe feeling I had come to acquaint with him.

“Safe to say we're not in Kansas anymore” beastboy interrupted my train of thoughts

“It's not any starfield I recognize. Where are we?” cory questioned Raven

“We’re in a different dimension, post-apocalyptic of course,” I said without missing the way raven seemed to sink more into herself at my description of this place. As much as I enjoyed Damien holding me I’m sure he was getting tired so I began to shift myself onto my feet and get off of him but he didn't allow me to get far. Instead, he allowed me to get onto my feet and put his arm around my waist and held me up on his side. I blushed at how close we were now that I could actually register it.

“Somewhere my father can't see us.” raven broke my reverie so I just leaned into Damien's side and allowed him to help me stay on my feet.

“Alright let’s hear it,” Damien demanded.

“There’s so much.” she turned to us with pain in her eyes then continued to tell us the story of her mother joining a cult and becoming the bride of Satan. Well, that explains her powers and why the demons came after us. This must be the evil I sensed; that means Superman was possessed and now the devil has one of the world’s strongest heroes under his complete control. Oh shit. Of course, while my mind was jumping to the worst case scenario beast boy was stuck on the fact that ravens mom “did it with Satan”.

“His name is Trigon. But basically yes,” she replied as patiently as she could.

“But they totally did it,” he responded, clearly shook by the idea.

“Garfield! That was inappropriate. Go on.” cory reprimanded.

She continued to tell us about how her mother fled and was rescued by the people of this dimension, Azarath. She spoke on how this place was peaceful and beautiful when she was growing up, but she didn't fit in so she assumed her father would have been a better fit for her. Now that I understood, I have always wondered who my father really was; if he was an assassin or just some regular joe. Maybe he was some sort of magical being, that would explain my siphon abilities.  Anyway back to Raven, She summoned him and he destroyed this world. Now that is terrifying, she must have been traumatized.

“Poor mother. Poor Azarath. I became its trojan horse. He took me to his hellish universe. I could hardly bear the horrors I saw there.” she spoke with pain leaking through her voice and I could feel the remorse leaking out of her.

“Why did trigon want you and vale?” Cory asked softly.

“He wanted earth. He's a conqueror of world but he needs a powerful conduit to open earth to his control. Vale is a threat to that, she could theoretically, siphon him to death.” that would kill me but I could see myself doing that if it would save my world from the fate that azarath had to go through. I would do it.

“And your half human. His way in.” Damien remarked

“But my magic was stronger than he realized. Before he could use me I was able to trap him inside of a crystal. It should have held him. Perhaps if I had stayed there it would have. But I wanted a home.” her pain made me realize that she and I needed to have a talk. The team is so focused on impending doom that they haven’t thought about the personal pain she is probably going through right now and in all honesty if I was going to make this work I have to let them in. I have to treat them the way I do my siblings, I have to protect and support them. All of them.

“Why didn't you go back to Azarath?”

“This is Azarath,” she responded guilt was seeping through her entire aura.

She turned to the team and made one of her portals to our dimension so I turned to Damian and said “you go first, I’ll be right behind you.” he looked back at me with a face that said ‘sure you will’. I guess he knows me better than I thought he did.

“Raven. Wait just let them go ahead u think we should talk,” I said.

“Um. ok. I guess,” she responded clearly thinking I was going to yell at her for the situation we were now in.

“I just wanted to ask if you were ok with all of this. I know this must be a lot for you.” I was trying to be as gentle as possible with her.

“Why do you care? We haven’t exactly been getting along.”

“Because I get it. Having to escape shitty parents and looking for love, when you thought that it had all been destroyed. Or that you weren’t worth it. I completely understand that and I wanted to let you know that I'm here if you need to talk it out.” I was trying to let her know that I would be there for her if she needed it but I was struggling to find the words. Nothing felt like it was enough so I told her my story, all of it. I told her about Ella and my biological mom and the league, hell I even told her about the Allens and Batman.

“Thank you. I guess I should apologize for the way I have been acting lately. I’m just used to being the only witchy girl around and Garfield and Jaime had been joking about you replacing me because Batman and Damian seem to love you so much and I guess I just started to overreact and take it out on you.”

“I get that. No one likes the idea of being replaced lets just not let that happen, us girls have to stick together,” I replied remembering what Lois and Iris had always taught me.

“Yeah I guess we do,” she replied opening up a portal home and we both walked through to find the worried faces of the team.