SON OF BATMAN

Raven had already seen Trigon's looming figure behind them, his massive form bound in those fragile, crumbling chains. She knew that he was there. She knew that he always had been there. But what she does not know but hopes for is that she would have the strength to make sure he'll always be there. The weight of this responsibility had carved itself into her very soul, a perpetual shadow that grew heavier with each passing moment.

Despite all that, some part of her, a small, desperate fragment of hope, wished that when she turned around again, he would have vanished, that he would have been nothing but a figment of her nightmares. That tiny spark of hope flickered like a candle in a storm, fragile yet refusing to be extinguished completely.

But he was still there.

The sight of him, just as monstrous and immovable as before, made her breath hitch, and her panic deepened. His crimson form seemed to pulse with barely contained power, each movement sending ripples through the ethereal chains that bound him.

His burning eyes were fixed on them both, his cruel smile widening as if savoring her terror. Seeing him there, unchanged and unyielding, only served to tighten the grip of dread around her heart.

She turned back to Damian, her struggles growing more frantic, but the fear was now tangled with despair, as if the reality of Trigon's presence crushed whatever slim hope she had clung to. Her movements became almost desperate, like a bird beating its wings against an invisible cage.

Years ago, when Damian was still with the Teen Titans, Raven had lived under the constant shadow of Trigon's threats. He had sensed the bond growing between her and Damian, and he used it mercilessly against her, threatening that he would kill him.

Trigon's threats were not idle, Raven knew that all too well. She had witnessed firsthand the devastation he could unleash, had felt the echoes of his power coursing through her own veins. She knew the cruelty and reach of her father's power, knew he would stop at nothing to break her spirit. It was that fear, that bone-deep terror for Damian's safety, that had kept her from leaving with him when he chose to leave in the past. She stayed behind, convinced that distancing herself was the only way to protect him. Each day of separation had been a self-imposed torture, a sacrifice she made willingly even as it tore her apart inside.

But now, he was here, right before Trigon's eyes, and her terror surged anew. The reality of their reunion, which should have been a moment of joy, twisted into something nightmarish under her father's burning gaze. The very thing she had feared for years had come to pass. Damian was standing face-to-face with the demon who had vowed to destroy him. That realization made her panic even more, a dread that settled deep in her chest like ice. She had spent so long trying to keep him safe, and now, all of that effort seemed to be unraveling in an instant.

Raven's panic only grew as she struggled in Damian's arms, her voice rising in frantic desperation. "Let me go!" she pleaded, her fingers clawing at his chest, trying to push him away. Each word was tinged with desperation, her voice cracking under the weight of her fear. But Damian remained silent, his gaze steady and intense. He pulled her closer, his grip unyielding, and though he said nothing, there was something in his eyes, something fierce and unbreakable. It was as if his very stare spoke the words he wouldn't say: Never.

Raven's struggles faltered as she caught the look in his eyes, a raw determination that made her heart skip a beat. She saw no hesitation, no fear, only a fierce, silent promise that he would never let her go. A shuddering breath escaped her lips, her resistance melting in the face of that unwavering resolve. But the fear, the fear still remained, clawing at her from within.

The more she struggled, the more his arms tightened around her. His embrace was like steel wrapped in silk, gentle yet absolutely unyielding. Raven's movements grew weaker, her desperation slowly giving way to exhaustion as the fight drained out of her, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

Still, he held her, his eyes locked on hers, refusing to look away, refusing to abandon her. The intensity of his gaze seemed to pierce through the layers of fear and doubt that had accumulated over years of isolation.

Raven's struggles weakened further, her frantic movements fading as all the strength left her body. Her head slumped against Damian's chest, and she stopped fighting, her breaths shallow and uneven. A quiet, broken sob escaped her lips, her fingers gripping his shirt weakly as if clinging to him was the only thing keeping her from falling apart completely.

Damian's embrace softened, his grip turning from unyielding to gentle as he cradled her against him. He held her there, letting her cry, his own heart heavy with the weight of everything she'd been forced to endure. He said nothing, letting the silence settle around them, letting her feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, grounding her in the reality of his presence.

Slowly, Raven's breathing steadied, the wild panic ebbing away until only a hollow exhaustion remained. Her body grew still in his arms, and he could feel the tension slowly draining from her limbs. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and tender. "Raven," he said, his tone carrying a warmth that cut through the shadows lingering in her mind.

She pulled back slightly, lifting her head to meet his gaze. Her eyes, still glistening with unshed tears, locked onto his, and for a moment, it was as if the entire world had narrowed down to just the two of them. His presence felt like a lifeline, a promise she didn't dare believe in, but desperately wanted to.

"You don't have to be afraid anymore," Damian said softly, his thumb brushing gently against her tear-streaked cheek. "Now that I'm here, you won't ever have to worry about him again."

For a moment, Raven just stared at him, her breath catching in her throat. Shock rippled across her features, her eyes widening as if she couldn't fully grasp the meaning of his words. It was as though she couldn't believe what she was hearing, as if the very idea was impossible, a promise too good to be true.

Her lips parted, but no sound came out. She looked into Damian's eyes, searching for any sign of doubt, any hint that he was merely trying to comfort her with empty assurances. But there was none. All she saw was a quiet, unyielding resolve.

Slowly, the shock began to fade, replaced by something warmer, something she hadn't felt in so long: hope. A flicker of light sparked in the depths of her violet gaze, and she swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper as if afraid to even speak the words out loud. Could it be real? Could he truly end her torment and save her from the endless darkness?

She wanted to believe him, needed to believe him. For the first time in years, the suffocating weight of despair seemed to lift, if only slightly, and she clung to that fragile hope with everything she had.

But reality is often cruel, and before she could savor the first sliver of hope she felt in years, a deep, rumbling laugh echoed around them, filling the air with a mocking, almost tangible force. The sound reverberated through the realm like thunder, each echo carrying centuries of malevolent power. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and a chill spread through the air as the shadows around them seemed to deepen.

"Such arrogance…" Trigon's voice boomed, a sound that seemed to shake the very fabric of the realm. The words dripped with centuries of contempt, each syllable laden with dark promise. His massive form loomed even larger as his red eyes burned with a dangerous, simmering fury. His gaze was locked on Damian, and his cruel smile twisted into something darker, more malevolent. The air itself seemed to grow heavier, charged with the weight of impending confrontation.