The room was thick with unease. The usual brightness of Titan Tower felt dulled after what had happened. Roy stood by the door, his question lingering in the air. Nightwing exchanged a glance with Beast Boy before speaking up.
"Raven's been having nightmares—more than just bad dreams. She had one right in front of us, and we couldn't wake her up," Nightwing explained, his voice steady but clearly worried. "Something is off."
Starfire floated next to Raven's bed, her hands wringing nervously. "It was as though she was trapped within her mind. She cried out in pain, but we could not reach her."
Roy's usual nonchalant demeanor shifted as he processed the severity of the situation. "Do you think it's Trigon again?"
"Possibly, but… it feels different this time," Nightwing admitted, crossing his arms. "There was something else—a woman, green magic—Raven mentioned it before collapsing."
"Whoever or whatever that was, it's powerful enough to mess with Raven, and that's saying something," Beast Boy added, his usual humor nowhere to be found.
The room fell silent, each of them weighed down by the unknown. Roy's jaw tightened as he paced slightly. "Look, we need to consider our options. If it's Trigon or something worse, we're gonna need backup."
Nightwing's gaze flickered toward the floor before he looked back at the group. "I've thought about that. The League could help, but…"
"But?" Roy pressed, sensing the hesitation.
"But if we go to the League, they might view Raven as too much of a risk. We know how Batman and the others can be when it comes to things they can't control," Nightwing continued, his tone cautious. "They might isolate her, try to contain the threat, rather than help her."
Starfire's eyes widened. "They would not. She is our friend!"
"They wouldn't mean to hurt her," Nightwing clarified. "But the League operates differently. They might see this as a crisis they need to handle—by keeping her under constant watch or worse, removing her from the team."
Beast Boy ran his hands through his hair, clearly frustrated. "So, what? We just sit here and hope Raven can figure this out on her own?"
"We need more information before we do anything," Nightwing said, his mind clearly racing through potential strategies. "Raven might not even want the League involved. This is her battle as much as it's ours."
Roy nodded, his lips set in a thin line. "Then we figure it out ourselves. I know a couple of people we could consult without setting off alarm bells at the League. We just need to be careful. If the League gets wind of something this big, they'll step in."
Starfire, her eyes filled with a mix of worry and determination, looked down at Raven, who was still resting but clearly troubled. "We will not let her face this alone. No matter what."
Beast Boy finally sat down next to Raven's bed, gently placing his hand over hers. "We're here for her. We've always been."
Nightwing placed a hand on Starfire's shoulder. "We'll do this together. We just have to be smart about it."
---
Back in the Time Nest, Circe's breathing was shallow, her chest rising and falling as the weight of the battle clung to her. The Time Nest, usually serene, now felt heavy with the aftermath of their brutal fight. The ground still hummed with residual energy, and the scent of blood and scorched air lingered in the atmosphere. She wiped at her face, smearing the blood that had dried against her cheeks.
Across from her, Gohan was still kneeling, fists clenched, his forehead pressed to the ground as he seethed in frustration. His voice echoed through the area: "Why!? Why was my Ki not working?"
Diana made her way over to him, holding her shoulder. She placed a comforting hand on his back, but the tension in the air was palpable. They had all underestimated their enemy. And Circe… Circe had underestimated the world around her.
Her eyes drifted to Vermont as he tapped his staff against her. He had bruises on his cheeks and a busted lip, he too had minor blood stains.
The familiar surge of healing energy washed over her body, and for a moment, she felt relief. Her wounds began to close, the sharp pains that had racked her frame dulling into a soft ache.
"Thanks..." she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. Normally, she would have made a quip, something to lighten the mood. But there was no room for humor here.
Then, her eyes landed on Trunks, unconscious, his Ultra Ego form having taken a toll. His power had been a spectacle—ruthless, unrelenting—but it hadn't been enough.
Her head lowered, and she bit her lip, the metallic taste of blood lingering in her mouth.
Strix stood nearby, loyal as always, her exhausted gaze locked on Gohan, ready for orders but clearly shaken. She, too, had pushed her limits, and still, it hadn't been enough.