CHAPTER 11:
Damage Control.
Danny

It was no secret that I admired Raven.

She is strong, cunning, trustworthy, an amazing fighter, and has pushed past the boundaries she created for herself because of her own fear.

But, I feared that this admiration for a teammate was turning into admiration for a woman.

A crush, as many call it.

But that is all it is. I cannot develop romantic feelings for Raven, as I am leaving in a few months to finish my trials and become King of K'un Lun.

"Hey! Why isn't Phoenix picking up the damage with us?" Sam called out as Director Fury and Raven started to board the quinjet.

"Because Phoenix has work to do."

"I'll tell you all once this is over," She mind linked with us and told us before the jet closed it's doors and she was gone.

But what I didn't realize was that I was staring up into the sky, watching the jet go back to the helicarrier.

"Iron Fist and Phoenix, sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G-! First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes-OW!"

"We can joke about all that puppy love later, but what just happened seems pretty serious," Luke spoke up.

Puppy love?

_______________

Raven

"Jared, Jesse, and Jacob all have the same energy readings as you. Our security cameras have captured a few moments that you'll want to look at," I looked at the footage to see the three boys just talking to themselves, but then Jacob noticed the camera and. . .

His eyes. . .they're like mine.

Jacobs eyes turned blood red, and a second pair of eyes appeared as he smirked at the camera and winked.

"They're. . .my brothers."

"Exactly, now do you have any idea what they're doing here?"

"I can think of two," I tapped on my gem on my forehead.

"They've most likely figured out that you're their sister, and that you've somehow contained Trigon. It would be best to keep you in the helicarrier until-"

"No!" I burst out, and he quirked his brow.

"Uhm, I mean. . .we don't know what they want, and the only way to find out is to talk to them. Yes, we don't know if they'll act out in public, but I know I'm stronger than them. And if they already know I'm their sister, then that means they won't hurt me."

"What about your team? I cannot risk these things hurting them."

"Then send me in alone one day. At school, I'll confront them. And if they lash out, send them in," I saw devilish intention in their eyes, but wasn't sure about them being violent. And having siblings, sure it's something I've always wanted, but I can't let that cloud the fact that they serve Trigon.

"Team, glad that you're here," The door opened and they all sat down, staring at the screen with Jacob and his eyes.

"Is that. . .Jacob? One of the new kids?" Ava questioned.

"Phoenix, explain," Fury sat back and I sighed.

"Jacob, Jesse and Jared aren't human, atleast not fully. They're like me. . .they're my brothers through Trigon, and we don't know what they want but tomorrow, I plan to confront them alone."

"Alone?! No way!"

"It's too dangerous, Raven," Danny looked at me, his eyes pleading for me not to do this.

"If they decide to lash out, you will all be on standby," Fury told them.

"And. . .there's something you all need to know about Trigon. But, before I say anything, I just want you all to know how grateful I am that I was able to make such great friends on this team. And I understand if you don't want anything to do with me anymore," I held back the tears, knowing that they're amazing people but fearing the worst.

"Trigon is a conquerer of worlds, and he doesn't do it to rule them. He does it to cause chaos and death, he thrives off of it. I get my powers from him, and I do the best I can with it, but I know that I can never reverse the damage he's done and the lives that he's taken," I stared at my hands, feeling disgusting that I shared DNA with that monster.

And Danny grabbed my hand, his thumb rubbing in reassurance.

"And he's always done it all by himself because. . .because he's a demon. He rules his own dimension of Hell, having thousands of followers who would die for him.

And those followers chose my mother to be his bride. They were performing the Bride of Satan ritual, and none of them expected it to work, but it did. And Trigon came through. My mother, the lucky bride, didn't hesitate to take his hand and follow him to his Hell dimension. But after he revealed himself as the red skinned and horned Devil that he is, she ran off with no one to help her. And pregnant, with me.

But people from Azarath, a kind and beautiful place, found her and came to her aid just before I was born. Trigon couldn't reach me in their dimension, so we were safe. Since I was always told to suppress my emotions when it came to my powers, I became curious about the monster who helped create me. I must have inherited my mothers terrible judgment because I summoned him, and he. . ." A tear trailed down my cheek.

"He destroyed Azarath. The one place where I was safe, and I led him there. He killed everyone, even my mother. He took me to his Hell, and I hated every second of it. But I found a way to trap him, and left to Earth where the Titans found me and took me in. But, I was created for a reason. I was his portal to Earth, his number one conquest, and on my birthday, I released him. We got lucky and now he's always with me, locked in this gem and I refuse to ever talk to him because he could break the chains and finally take Earth. I hope you don't see me for what Trigon has done, but for what I'm trying to do," It felt surprisingly amazing to get all that off of my chest, but I still feared what they may say.

"Raven. . ." I kept my eyes shut.

Here it comes.

But didn't hear the judgment, the accusations, only heard some shuffling and then felt warmth.

What. . .?

They all wrapped their arms around me in a group hug, and I felt everything. Sympathy, pain, remorse, guilt.

Not one shred of hate.

"Raven, we could never hate you," Ava proclaimed.

"You're not your father and you will never be him. You're so much more than that."

"You're an amazing and awesome hero, and I'm positive your mom would be proud of you if she saw you."

Sam. . .

"See? No room for judgment because there is nothing to judge," Danny smiled at me, and I let a genuine smile pass through.

Finally.

A family.