Chapter 69

"We live in a world where they hate a man for killing dozens and still hate the man who kills the man who kills dozens." Starfire continued. "Even their own defenders, soldiers, required to kill are seen in a negative light for their acts even though it is done for their benefit."

"Look around you, Raven. The commoners have come out, they are watching you, recording your actions. What you do will change how you, us and many are seen."

"Many humans are guilty of hypocrisy. Us too. If you kill him, you will be condemned. By closeness, so will we. They will hate us, seek to capture us. The league will be your enemy and those of us who defend you will be considered enemies as well. All because you want to satisfy your desire to punish at the wrong time."

Rage stared at her for a few moments before turning around. True to Starfire's words, many people had begun to come out and film the proceedings from a closer distance now that the battle was over. From what some of them were saying, she knew they'd seen everything. Heard everything. Raven's life wouldn't be fun for a while.

Starfire sighed in relief when her friend's eyes reverted back to their default purple. Raven stared at her before sighing.

"I have to call someone." She muttered, flying off in the direction of the tower. Starfire watched her leave, ignoring Robin rushing past her to take the unconscious Mumbo for medical care. Shortly after, Beastboy came flying out of the hat, just as unconscious.

Sighing, she picked up the bodies of both her teammates and made for the tower as well. She just hoped Robin wouldn't try confronting Raven when he got back.

—

Raven listened to the phone ring, ignoring Robin's calls for her to come out. She was in no mood to try to defend herself or listen to his rants about morality. Her emotions were calmer but she could still feel the tension even from outside her mind.

Eventually, someone picked up the phone. "Raven?"

"Naruto."

"Ah, you remember my name? I thought you'd forgotten I exist after the last time-"

"I need your help." Raven interrupted him before he could go down memory lane.

"I'm guessing it has to do with your little session with Mumbo?"

Raven paused. Huh, the news must have traveled fast if it managed to reach Naruto in a night. "You've heard of it, huh."

"Of course, it's difficult not to hear of a teen titan putting on an eldritch horror show, tentacles and all and nearly killing a villain. Poor guy, he'll probably land in the same ward as the light guy."

Raven rolled her eyes, unable to feel guilty for the man's plight. "He allied himself with the Church of Blood."

"You should have finished the job then. gods know those bastards need less members regardless of how powerful or weak."

"He got the mark too."

The line went silent. "The same mark Slade got?"

"A less powerful one, but similar. It's probably gone now, I think I destroyed that hand."

"See, that's the thing Raven. You really should have finished the job. The mark isn't drawn on the flesh. It's embedded into one's very soul. It marks you as Tr-"

"Don't say it." Raven warned, getting an irritated sigh.

"If you want someone who'll only say what you want to hear, hang up and call a politician. Anyways, it marks you as Trigon's agent. The first of the souls he'll consume when he arrives. The dude would simply go to his realm when he dies."

Raven blinked. "So he'd die regardless? What's the point in killing him then? Wouldn't it mean the same thing?"

"The mark's a fragment of Trigon's being. An infinitesimal fragment, but a fragment nonetheless. The closest thing I can use to explain it is the cultivation process of grafting."

"Like cutting a piece of a tree and attaching it to another to grow the desired crop?"

"Exactly. That mark grows in power over time and by the time he arrives, he eats it and gains back what he lost and more. Until then, the wielders of the mark grow in power over time and practice. It grows at the same rate as they do. I'm not going to lie to you, Mumbo's only going to get more powerful even if he does nothing but sit in a chair and recite nursery rhymes till your dad comes knocking."

Raven rubbed her head, grateful for her emotion's sudden quietness. They were probably listening to the lecture as well.

"But he can't come to this realm without me. And I've banished him once and lost the gem."

"But you're still his daughter. They're going to use you as a vessel rather than a gateway for his arrival. That's why they still want you."

Raven sighed. "I.. thanks, but that's not why I called."

"Huh, what for then?"

Raven paused, her mind went back to the last time she'd gotten his help and her face burned.