Lazarus’ Pit: The Demon Lost Her Heart

[Disclaimer: An alternate timeline of Daughter of Trigonand Lasaruz’ Pit: The Demon Lost His Head; Both characters are 25+]

 Raven was a woman who came out of nowhere. A full-grown woman of unknown origins that had power that could not be explained had abruptly entered earth.

The Justice League saw her for what she was—a threat. 

Raven, however, simply affiliated herself as neutral but on occasion helped the Justice League when faced with an extinction level threat. Even though she fought by their side she would make it evidently clear that she was not good nor was she evil. And because she has helped The Justice League a few times; The Justice League became lax in keeping an eye on Raven and labelled her as an antihero instead.

Damian Wayne or as he is now known as– Damian Al Ghul had a different kind of story. He was more bad than he was good and he now leads the League of Assassins. However, there was a time in his teens where he allied himself under the Justice Leagues’ guidance and closely with and directly under Batman and their version of justice. Now Damian fought for a different kind of justice, one which painted him black in the eyes of the Justice League.

But on occasions, when the world faces possible extinction, he would step up and put his differences with the Justice League aside and maybe that was how the two crossed paths. 

The Justice League wasn’t quite certain if that was how Raven and Damian met, but it is a fact that they are rather uneasy with this development.

Raven and Damian became known as lovers and the Justice League was even more worried over this progression when it was revealed. 

They were dangerous. And even more so for Raven, who they recognize as a being who could level the planet, who also regularly threatens them to do so if any harm comes to Damian Al Ghul.

So, when news of Damian Al Ghul’s demise reached the Justice Leagues’ ears, it felt as though the entire earth was holding in its own breath.

“I told them, didn’t I? If anything were to happen to you, I would destroy this planet.” She mumbled to her dead lover, whose head was resting on her lap as she caressed his pale cheek. “So, tell me, why didn’t you take my threat seriously? You loved this planet more than I, so why would you allow yourself to turn out like this?”

And as natural as it is, as the dead could not speak, her lover did not respond to her.

A man running towards Raven screamed ready to swing his sword on the woman on the ground, who thought she was preoccupied with her loss. 

And oh, how wrong he was.

He stopped from his advance as he was engulfed in purple flames. Raven’s eyes that were violet had started to glow.  

The man didn’t even have the time to scream, or maybe she couldn’t hear his wails of pain, it didn’t really matter– not even a body was left of the man in the following second. She exhaled and purple flames circled her and it stretched for a meter in width.

“How noisy.” Her eyes glow brighter, the same shade as her violet eyes. She cradles her lover on her chest with vacant eyes that continue to glow a steady violet. And then everything around her seemed to slow down and turn grey. And Raven’s violet eyes slowly turned red. 

The red in her eyes matched the sky as she grew horns. Her skin slowly turned red. The grey sparrows that were flying and the grey leaves that rustled around them slowed to the point that they were close to being frozen in time.

“Raven!” Someone called out, and the transformation on her skin halted, but the earth still remained close to being frozen. Raven’s skin reverted back to its usual paper white hue, but her horns remained, her violet eyes red and the whites were now black. She turned her head to see Batman still in color and moving perfectly fine, a grim smile on her lips. Wind blows and an unkindness of ravens caw and fly overhead.

Batman covered himself from the sudden strong gust of wind and dust by using his cape as a shield. When the wind stopped and the cawing subsided, he placed his arm down. Raven and Damian were no longer where he had seen them. 

The sky was still red, everything was grey except for batman. His Justice League comms started ringing, there was color on the flashing screen.

Raven and Damian reappeared in front of the Lazarus Pit in Nanda Parbat. She looked down on Damian whose skin was blue.

“We shall reunite my love.” She said, as he was lifted up gently by her magic in a purple hue as he floated in front of her. With a small wiggle of her fingers, Damian hovered above the green liquid and slowly went down to the waters of the pit. 

Raven watched quietly as the green liquid consumed him. And an ache in her chest that she could not fully describe was felt as she stared at his body being swallowed by the Lazarus Pit. 

Damian had told her the properties of the Lazarus Pit.

And she waited. And waited. And waited.

Until instead of kneeling with her legs folded underneath her, she sat on her butt. Her knees were bent in front of her as she waited by the edge of the pool. 

And she waited.

She brought her knees closer to her chin as she continued to wait. She started to become agitated.

Was the Lazarus’ Pit not working? Could it not revive the dead?

Was Damian wrong?

And the black in Raven’s eyes turned white again, her eyes no longer red but purple and her horns resided until they were gone. Perhaps Raven reverting back to her actual appearance emphasized the pain she was feeling. It was so painful that she took the form of the woman he loved. 

If she has to, then she will put the whole human race at stake to bring him back from the dead. Her iris turned solid red with the decision as she clenched her fists.

A tan hand finally came out of the green liquid, followed by screaming and a deranged Damian aiming towards Raven with an outstretched hand. Before his hand could even touch her throat, Raven’s fingers were already outstretched towards her lover’s forehead, a violet glow emitting from her fingertips.

She shushes him gently, and his eyes slowly dims. Damian blinked and gulped down saliva, swaying a little. After a few more blinks his eyes cleared up and he looked at his lover with a gentle gaze.

“Raven…” Damian called her name out, as his face showed his confusion. His hand that was awkwardly outstretched towards Raven, cautiously touched her cheek. Raven placed a hand over his hand that was on her cheek and with her freehand she gripped his wrist. Her eyes closed as she leaned onto the hand on her cheek.

She had almost lost his touch, his body temperature that was certainly not there anymore– but now that is just a thing of the past. 

Damian Al Ghul was now alive and breathing.

“Welcome back, my love.” She softly whispered to him with a loving tone. Her red eyes reverted back to normal when she opened her eyes again. And the earth felt like it could finally breathe. Time went back as it should be, and the grey tone of the world reverted back to its original colors and hues.

“What did you do?” He asked as he too felt the shift of the entire planet, his free hand splashed on the water. He looked down, and realized where he was. He was certain that he was killed but now that he was gazing at the waters of the pit, he knew he really did.

He knew he was killed. He knew his last thoughts were seeing her one last time. He wanted to hold her and tell her he loved her so much.

He knew he had died. And yet, here he was breathing and alive.

“Raven—” His eyes locked onto hers.

“Do not worry about it.” Were her final words as she edged near him and rested her forehead against his. “I have told you this before, there is no price I am unwilling to pay for you.”

He couldn’t respond because he too would do the same if it was her, but– he stared at her and cupped both her cheeks.

He wondered how much pain she felt seeing him like that. He knew that she didn’t care much for this planet and its people, after all she had not grown up here on this planet. In fact, when Damian and Raven met she didn’t care much for anything but she then started to deeply care for him and only him.

“I would have done the same thing.” He whispered as he knew that he would. Damian leaned down to kiss her and she closed her eyes.

If Damian had died she would have destroyed this planet. She would not want this earth to remain to haunt her due to the loss of the man she loved. But she would also do everything in her power to return him to her side.

If Raven had not done this, he would not feel her warmth again. 

She wouldn’t feel his warmth again.

The thought was something she could not accept, even when she was so very close to having that as her reality. 

Raven had seen the devil, lived and grew up in hell with the devil as her father. This earth– him– Damian, was the only thing that linked her to being relatively normal. She knew she was part human, and it was him who made her really feel that part of her. 

She wasn’t going to allow herself to lose him.

“I love you.” She whispered to him, holding his head against hers. Tears falling from her eyes, this was the first time she cried and this was the first time Damian had seen her tears.

“I love you too.” He replied back sincerely.

They shared a tight hug after and Raven’s violet eyes turned red and the whites were black as she gave a sly smile. 

The beauty of this earth was only Damian, if he was not here– turning this place the way her father wants wouldn’t be a problem. 

The Gallery

DamiRae

A woman in a black fitted business dress with her black hair twisted to a low bun stood in front a large painting of a woman. She studied the art crucially as if it held a greater meaning. 

She had entered the art gallery located in Gotham on impulse. She had just happened to pass by the place for the third time this week and she finally decided to go in. She didn’t expect that she would be staring at the piece before her for hours.

A man in a black crisp suit stood beside her and stared at the artwork. “Hello miss, I think you are rather entrapped by this piece.”

“Hmm, I suppose I am. I can’t  seem to understand this piece.” She simply replied not even turning to the man, who then glanced at her, his green eyes showing amusement. He ran his hand through his black hair, the muscles under his suit seemed to be more distinct due to the motion. It was clear that the man was very fit underneath the crisp suit, the skin that peeked out of his sleeves gave an alluring aura.

“But you must have some kind of opinion on it.” He added putting his hand down and looking back at the art on the wall.

“I don’t quite understand it.” She sighed and glanced at the man beside her, her violet eyes widened slightly as she realized that the man beside her was rather attractive. The faint light from the surrounding gave his bronze skin a beautiful glow that she could not help but appreciate– the paleness of her skin made her think that she was a blank piece of paper, rather insignificant compared to the man beside her.

But she also noticed how dim the place has become since she came in. Her violet eyes brushed past his strong shoulders and she noticed that it was dark outside. 

“My how the time seemed to pass.” She whispered as she looked back at the piece, perplexed, this time about how long exactly that she was standing in front of this particular painting.

“Oh you noticed? You’ve been standing on this particular piece for hours.” The man beside her said no malice in his voice. He put his hands behind him still looking ahead. “You must have your own thoughts about this piece?” He added softly unrushed despite her and him being alone in the gallery now.

“It is quite odd.” She began and then shifted her standing position with a leg out and her arms crossed. “It is clearly an image of a woman, it isn’t really that abstract– and yet it brings out a very abstract feeling inside of me.” 

“It’s simply an image of a woman, I find it interesting that you see it so abstractly and feel the same about it.” He remarked as he looked at the painting of a woman who was smiling and behind her was green grass, trees and marble ruins. 

“It really isn’t an abstract art. I just wonder if this woman is the artist’s muse.” She said and shook her head and they both chuckled at the same time. Startled by the unified laughing, she looked his way and to her surprise he was looking at her too.

“Why would you think that?” He asked sincerely. She was captivated by his gentle green eyes and she blinked a few times embarrassed and looked back at the painting.

“It just seemed that the artist–” She glanced at the plaque. “Damian Wayne captured the beauty of the woman in his eyes.” She said thinking that the name was awfully familiar. The man beside her looked at the art in confusion.

“I personally don’t agree with you.” He said his tone revealing his plain confusion to her statement.

“And why is that?” She asked as she looked at him matching his confusion as she stood up properly.

“I think I should know. I’m an artist.” He said and she was startled. “If you’re implying that the artist is in love with this muse, so to speak, you are gravely mistaken.”

“I don’t think one can make this kind of art if,” She glanced again at the plaque. “Damian Wayne, didn’t feel any sort of affection for this woman. Do you think he’d paint anyone in this way if he didn’t love her?”

“I think I would know if he loved her,” He turned to her. “Hello, Damian Wayne.” He held his hand out to her in a polite manner and he smiled at her shocked expression.

“Oh, I’m sorry– I didn’t–” She stuttered and glanced at his hand that started to look awkward. “Rachel Roth.” She introduced herself as she took his hand. “I–” 

“It’s alright,” Damian chuckled, cutting her off. “I like hearing others’ opinions on my work.” Rachel’s face turned pinkish at his words as she let go of his hand and looked back at his work. “But I do admit your statement is something I’ve never heard of.”

“It’s–” She sighed. “I just felt envious of the girl in the painting. Like what would make her look at someone with so much love. You must be a very lucky man then.” Rachel’s tone seemed dreamy but then her dreamy state was broken by Damian’s contagious but sincere laughter that echoed inside the empty gallery.

“I am serious, there is nothing going on with me and this lady in this painting.” He tried to hold in his laughter but she raised a brow at him. “I swear!” He raised his hands up. “I would never paint a lover and put them up in an exhibit.” 

“Oh really? Why is that?” She asked him as she stared at him,

“Maybe I just don’t like sharing.” He shrugged a faint smile on his lips as he looked at the blonde woman in his painting, trying to see what Rachel was seeing with seriousness. 

It was her turn to laugh, “I see.” She shook her head and gazed around her surroundings.

“You’re the only one left here.” Damian said as he looked at her and saw how she just recently noticed how completely empty the space was.

“I didn’t know– you should have said I was bothering you– I mean that you are close.” Her violet eyes glanced back at him and they locked eyes. He smiled at her and she couldn’t help but smile back.

“But you seemed so engrossed in my work, I couldn’t disturb you.” Hearing this she laughed.

“Shouldn’t the building be closed?” She asked as she looked around looking for security.

“I own the building.” He replied and she froze and she shook her head with a small smile on her lips. 

“Now, that explains why I haven’t been kicked out.” She smiled at him.

“Well you have been standing here for hours, and it is quite late, if I may be so bold, would you want to have dinner with me? We can discuss this artwork further.” He offered and she was surprised by the invitation. 

She came here out of impulse, she probably should head home.

“Alright, I’d like that.” She agreed unexpectedly. Well she did enter on a whim, whatever happens after could be considered on a whim too. Like having dinner with a stranger, something she would never do on a normal day. He offered his elbow to her and she hooked her arm over his.

“I think you shouldn’t say never, who knows, maybe one day you will have your lover hung on one of these walls.” She smiled at him as he led her out the building.

He laughed at her statement, “I don’t think that will happen, Miss Roth.” To which she silently smiled.

~.~.~.~.~

Almost five years passed by and there by the same wall but with a different painting, stood the same woman with black hair in a bun, but this time she wore pants and a purple hoodie. She was quietly watching the painting of a woman who was in a white dress and standing around water turning around as if twirling with a picnic hat with a white bow. The only feature that was noticeable on the woman in the painting was her soft smile and her long black hair.

“This seems oddly familiar.” A man with black hair and in a black suit said as he stood beside her.

“Hello, Damian. It’s been a while.” She replied with a faint smile still mesmerized by his artwork. “You made a lovely piece.” 

“Why thank you, Raven.” He replied and looked at his latest work.

“So, I assume this one isn’t your muse?” She asked with a hint of a jesting tone and he turned to look at her seriously. 

“At one point I did tell you I would never paint my muse.” He laughed nonchalantly as he looked at the painting with endearing eyes. “And yet, here I am– showing to the world my muse.” He said as he touched the plaque with his name and the title of his work: My One and Only Muse.

“She must be really lucky.” Rachel replied and he turned to her with a small pout.

“Okay, Raven I played along because you seemed to be in memory lane, but I’m becoming jealous.” He crossed his arms over his chest as he glared at her and she looked at him as she laughed. She raised her left hand to cover her lips and with her fingers tried to hide her amusement. The diamond ring on her finger sparkled as it caught the light around Damian’s new work and she held her laughter.

“I’m sorry,” She stifled her laughter. “But shouldn’t I be the one jealous?” She asked as she took a step forward towards him, a sly smile on her lips.

“No, I don’t like sharing.” He said as he captured her in his arms in an embrace. He rested his head on her shoulder.

“No one can see my face in that painting.” She pointed out as she wrapped her arms around him.

“I’m still a very jealous man.” He whispered as he inhaled her scent. 

“Even though we’re going to get married soon?” She asked as she gently pushed him away to gaze at his face. She extended her hands to cup his face. He smiled at her at the thought that he had proposed to this beautiful woman, and that soon she will be his wife.

“I don’t want anyone else to see you the way I do.” He mumbled lost in her violet eyes and her eyes crinkled as she smiled.

“You’re monopolizing me.” She whispered back as she started to lose herself in his green eyes.

“Won’t you let me spoil you?” He asked, his breathing was uneven as his face inches close to hers.

“If you let me do the same.” She answered back as she stood on her tippy toes to become closer to him.

“If it’s you– only if it’s you.” He replied as he leaned closer and so did she.

“Yes, only if it’s you my love.” She said before their lips met.

~.~.~.~.~.

Bonus Scene

“When did you arrive?” Damian asked as he pulled away from their kiss, his voice gentle and his eyes oozing sincerity and tenderness.

“I just arrived.” She replied, the gallery empty except for the couple.

“And you decided to come here first?” He asked as he found himself cupping her face and gently brushing her cheek with his thumb.

“Yes, I decided to come here, to surprise you. I knew you would be here.” She leaned in on his hand as she overlapped a hand over his. “I was quite surprised to see that though.” She added as she opened her eyes and turned her head towards the painting of her.

“It was my surprise for you.” He gently replied with love in his eyes as he stared at the painting. 

“I can now clearly see how differently you painted her– seeing this.” Raven smiled dreamily. “Those many years ago, I thought she was your muse,” She looked back at her fiancé, “I stand corrected.” 

He chuckled seeing the slight mischief in her eyes. “Oh?” He pulled her closer to him. “I stand corrected too. I swore I would never show anyone my muse, but that is clearly not true anymore.” 

Damian pushed her away gently and seriously stared at Raven, “How was your business trip Miss Roth?”

Raven pulled away from him and laughed. “Well you ruined my surprise, I thought I’d walk here and cover your eyes and say: Guess who? And then we laugh.” She hugged him and rested her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. “But this, this feels much better.” She added as she looked at the painting of her. 

“So, this is how you see me.” She whispered in a dreamlike state and she felt his chest vibrate as his soft laughter entered her ears.

“It’s only you, I see.” He whispered back and she smiled at his words.

The couple was very thankful for their chance meeting in Damian’s gallery. They finally found that special someone they had talked about the first night they met. And soon, they will be waking up beside each other as spouses. 

Bonus: Their First Dinner

“Actually, my mother calls me Raven.” Rachel said as she leaned forward a bit, clearly tipsy from the wine and she laughed.

“Raven?” He said, thinking that it was a very unusual nickname. “And why is that?” He asked as he watched her giggle at herself.

“I’m actually not that sure–” She laughed and he couldn’t help but laugh, finding her laughter contagious.

“At least you have a nickname.” He tried to reassure her and she stopped laughing and stared at him seriously.

“No. Way.” She pointed at him, her vision slightly blurry. “How can you not have a nickname!” She shook her head and he laughed.

“I do, it’s just– it…” He sighed and she stared at him intently.

“It’s not coming from a special someone.” She simply said in a somber state. The both became quiet and then Rachel suddenly gulped down her remaining wine. Damian’s eyes widened as he stood up.

“You shouldn’t drink anymore!” He said as he took the wine bottle away from her reach and she laughed at his reaction.

“I can drink a bit more.” She said in a slurred manner.

“Uh, no you cannot, Rachel.” He said as he shook his head.

“Call me Raven.” She whispered as she rested her head on her hand. He looked at her a bit startled by her suggestion before he could refuse her, she smiled and leaned forward.

“I insist.” She said softly as she rested her hand over his hand that was holding the wine bottle. His eyes widened at the sudden physical contact and he looked at her earnestly.

“Alright.” He heard himself reply in a soft tone and he too was startled by his response, something out of the norm.

She smiled at him with affection and he found himself reciprocating the same thing. Today seemed to be filled with unexpected things, responses that would never be their norm. But both parties were extremely thankful for going out of their comfort zone. 

FIN.

~.~.~.~.~

Author’s Note:

I placed the bonus scenes because initially I wanted this fic only up to them talking again five years later. But then, I created the bonus scenes which break off from the initial way I wanted the fic written, but it does add to more depth to the story. Hope you enjoyed it!