Overwhelming Power

(Two days since the barrier went up outside of Bayview)

John Constantine stood outside the barrier surrounding the small town of Bayview, puffing on a cigarette. The air was crisp, and the snow crunched under his boots as he shifted his weight. Detective Chimp was crouched by the barrier, inspecting it with a magnifying glass, his breath visible in the cold air.

"Any luck yet, Bo?" John asked, his voice tinged with impatience.

Detective Chimp sighed and stood up, shaking his head. "No, John. Whatever's powering this barrier, they've hidden the source inside. We can't disable it from out here."

"Of course it fucking is," John muttered, flicking his cigarette at the barrier. He rubbed his eyes, feeling the exhaustion from the previous night. He and Zatara had been busy battling cult members, and sleep had been a luxury he couldn't afford.

John walked closer to the barrier, pressing his hand against it. A shimmering, almost invisible force pushed back. "This is bad, Chimp. Real bad. I've seen a lot of shite in my day, but this barrier... something nasty's coming."

"Yeah, well, you always know how to come out the other end, don't you?" Chimp replied with a smirk, adjusting his magnifying glass.

John chuckled dryly. "Survivor's instinct, mate. Knowing when to turn tail and run has kept me alive this long."

Just then, the ringing of his phone broke the quiet. John took his hand off the barrier and reached into his pocket, pulling out the device. Seeing Zatara's name on the screen, he answered quickly.

"Zatara! Finally gonna come and take over, I'm—"

"John! Kent is dead, the Helmet is gone, and the artefacts have been ransacked. Get to the Tower of Fate now!" Zatara's voice was urgent, almost panicked.

John felt a chill that had nothing to do with the cold weather. He put the phone down and looked up at the sky, letting the snowflakes fall on his face. "Fuck me," he whispered.

He turned to Chimp, who was watching him with a concerned expression. "What's happened?"

"Kent's dead. The helmet's gone. Artifacts, too. Zatara needs us at the Tower of Fate. Now."

Chimp's face hardened. "Goodness, John. This is worse than we thought."

"No shite, Sherlock," John replied, stuffing his phone back into his pocket. He took one last look at the barrier. "Whatever's behind this, we'll have to deal with it later. Right now, we've got bigger fish to fry." He started walking, the snow crunching under his boots with each step. Detective Chimp followed, struggling to traverse the terrain on only two feet.

"You know, for a bloke with such a dark outlook, you sure do end up in the thick of things a lot," Chimp remarked.

John chuckled. "Yeah, well, someone's gotta deal with the shite no one else wants to touch. Might as well be me."

John and Detective Chimp trudged through the snow-covered forest, each step crunching underfoot. John's mind raced with the news from Zatara. Kent Nelson, is dead. The Helmet of Fate, gone. Artifacts stolen. Things were getting worse by the minute.

John stopped and pulled a small, weathered lighter from his coat pocket. "Alright, Bo, time to open a door," he said, flicking the lighter open and striking the flint. A small flame appeared, and with a flick of his wrist, the flame grew into a swirling, golden portal.

"After you," John said, gesturing to the portal.

Detective Chimp stepped through without hesitation. John followed, and they emerged on the other side in front of the Tower of Fate. The sight that greeted them was shocking. "Bloody hell," John muttered. The tower was in a state of disrepair, something he had never seen before. Cracks ran up the once-pristine walls, and debris littered the ground around the entrance.

Detective Chimp's eyes widened with curiosity. "The Tower of Fate exists out of space and time. It can only appear here by the will of Doctor Fate. What happened?"

They moved closer, the snow crunching under their boots. The large doors of the tower were ripped off their hinges, lying splintered on the ground. John and Bo exchanged a glance before stepping inside. The interior was worse. Books and scrolls were scattered across the floor, and the air was thick with the scent of magic and something else—blood. They turned a corner and saw Kent Nelson's body sprawled on the floor, lifeless.

"Bloody hell, Kent," John whispered, kneeling beside the body. He closed his eyes briefly.

Before they could process further, Zatara appeared from around the corner, looking exhausted and frantic. "I'm glad you're here," he said, relief evident in his voice.

"What the hell happened here?" John asked, standing up to face Zatara.

"That's what I'm trying to figure out," Zatara replied, looking around the chaos. "It's like they knew exactly what to take and where to find it. The Helmet of Fate, the artefacts..."

John ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "This isn't just a random hit, Zatara. This is coordinated. Someone knew the defences, knew what to look for."

Bo was examining the room, his keen eyes taking in every detail. "Any idea who could have done this?"

Zatara shook his head. "No clear leads yet. But whoever it is, they're powerful. The barrier around Bayview, this attack... it's all connected."

John Constantine took a long drag from his cigarette, the smoke swirling around his head. He turned to Detective Chimp with a serious expression. "Bo, can you put that big brain of yours to use and take a look around? We need to figure out what the hell happened here."

Detective Chimp sighed, nodding reluctantly. "Alright, John, let's see what we can find."

Bo adjusted his magnifying glass, an enchanted tool that picked up traces of magic and energy, and began to move around the tower. His steps were careful, his eyes sharp and focused. He started at the spot where Kent Nelson lay dead, examining the ground and the surrounding area.

"The fight started here," Bo muttered to himself, running the magnifying glass over Kent's body. He stood up, his eyes scanning the room. "John, Zatara, come here," he called, beckoning them over. "Look at the scorch marks. Someone used a high-level spell, something that severed his legs and brought him down fast."

Bo moved to the entrance where the door had exploded inward. He ran his magnifying glass over the splintered wood and the surrounding stone. "This door wasn't just broken down. Its magic has been completely destroyed. Whatever did this, it's beyond anything normal magic can achieve." He turned to the room where the Helmet of Fate had been kept. The pedestal was empty, and the surrounding area was disturbed. Bo's eyes narrowed as he examined the traces of magic left behind. "They knew exactly where to go. They made a beeline for the helmet. See these marks? They used a containment spell to neutralize any defences around it."

He moved his magnifying glass over the pedestal, picking up faint traces of energy. "There was a ward here, a powerful one, but it was disabled quickly. Whoever did this was prepared and knew exactly what to expect."

Bo straightened up, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "It would take a being of considerable power to drag the Tower of Fate from where it resided and force it to materialise, or perhaps they had access to a powerful artefact."

"Unlikely mate, they'd need something like the Spear of Destiny to alter reality like that," John stated.

He walked back to where John and Zatara stood, piecing everything together as he spoke. "First, they hit the door with a powerful spell, breaking it down. Then, they took out Kent. After that, they went straight for the Helmet of Fate, using containment spells to neutralize any wards or defences."

Bo pointed to the scorch marks and the disturbed areas as he talked. "This wasn't a smash and grab. This was surgical. They had a plan, knew the layout, and executed it perfectly. They must have had help, I don't want to inspire paranoia but perhaps we have a traitor among us."

"I wouldn't go that far Bobo, heroes are not the only ones who've had access to the Tower of Fate," Zatara commented.

John nodded, taking it all in. "So, we're dealing with someone who knows the tower's defences and had the power to break them. Bloody fantastic."

Zatara looked around, his face grim. "We need to find out who they are and what they plan to do with the helmet."

Bo sighed, pocketing his magnifying glass. "It's a start. We know they have the Helmet of Fate, and we know they had the power to breach this place. Now we need to figure out their endgame and stop them before it's too late."

———————————————————-

Kara waddled through the halls of the Watchtower, her large belly pushing her shirt outward and exposing her stomach. She never imagined a pregnancy could be this difficult, especially for a Kryptonian. The added weight and constant fatigue were new to her. Despite the discomfort, she moved quickly, almost giving in to the temptation to fly. The lab results for the bone samples should be back by now, and she was eager to see them.

Next to her walked Kori, who continued to chatter excitedly about the barrier they had discovered around Bayview. "Honoured Mark will be so thrilled when we finally find him! Oh, I can't wait to see his face, to feel his strong arms around me, to—"

"Kori, focus," Kara said, trying to keep up with her friend's manic pace while balancing her own discomfort.

"Oh, but I cannot! The excitement is too much! To think that we might be close to finding Honoured Mark!" Kori exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

They finally made it to the lab. To Kara's surprise, Batman was there, though he wasn't in his usual uniform. Instead, he wore a black shirt and trousers. Her cousin Kal stood next to him, looking expectant.

"Do you have it?" Kara asked almost desperately as she waddled over, her belly leading the way.

"Bruce is just finishing up now," Kal said, watching his pregnant cousin approach. Despite the seriousness of the situation, he couldn't help but find her waddle somewhat comical.

"Oh, I am so excited! I cannot wait to see Honoured Mark again. When we find him, I want to show him the new dance I've been practising. And then maybe we can spend some quality time alone, you know, get really close and—"

Kal winced slightly as he listened to Kori's enthusiastic rambling. Kara did too, though she was used to Kori's odd quirks by now. Bruce, however, remained unfazed, typing away on the computer with his usual stoic expression.

"It's done," Bruce said finally, bringing the results up on the big screen. They had collected a sample of Mark's DNA when he had first come to the Watchtower after he was injured. The sample they collected from the bone fragments was a match. Kara and Kori screamed in excitement, their voices echoing through the lab. They immediately hugged each other, jumping up and down despite Kara's pregnant state.

"Oh my! This is wonderful news!" Kori exclaimed, practically squeezing the life out of Kara in her embrace.

"Careful, Kori! I still need to breathe!" Kara laughed, pulling back a bit but still smiling brightly.

Kal watched them with a mix of relief and amusement. "So it's confirmed. Mark's DNA is a match. He might still be alive."

Kori finally let go of Kara, her excitement still palpable. "We must prepare for his return! I have so many plans for Honoured Mark. I want to make sure he knows how much I've missed him, in every way possible."

"Slow down Kori we still need to find him," she said as Kori dragged Kara out of the room.

As Kara and Kori left the lab, Clark turned to Batman. "Thanks for doing this, Bruce," he said, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.

Bruce nodded but didn't reply, his eyes still on the screen, lost in thought.

"How've you been?" Clark asked, trying to break through the stoic exterior.

Bruce continued working, his face unreadable. After a moment, Clark sighed and decided to get to the point. "The League could really use Batman right now, Bruce."

Bruce stopped typing and turned slightly. "Batman is gone," he stated simply, the finality in his voice leaving no room for argument.

Clark put a hand on Bruce's shoulder, his grip firm but compassionate. "Dick wouldn't want you to give up like this."

Bruce stood up abruptly, his glare piercing through Clark. Without another word, he left the room, his footsteps echoing down the hall. Clark was left standing alone, the weight of the moment pressing down on him.

———————————————————-

(Four Months Inside Bayview)

Mark yawned and stretched as he came down the stairs, scratching his head. He walked into the kitchen, where Raven was already seated at the table, a book in her hands. "Morning. What's for breakfast?" he asked, a smile tugging at his lips.

Raven didn't look up from her book. "Whatever you decide to cook," she replied in her usual calm tone.

Mark chuckled and shook his head. "Of course, what was I expecting?" He moved to the fridge, opened it and scanned the contents. He pulled out some eggs, bacon, and a loaf of bread. "How about an omelette, bacon and some toast?" he suggested. Raven glanced up briefly, giving a small nod before returning to her book. Mark set to work, cracking eggs into a bowl and whisking them with practised ease. He thought about how much Raven had loosened up since he'd been here. When he first arrived, she was almost like a ghost, barely acknowledging his presence. Now, they shared meals, talked, and even played games together.

As the bacon sizzled in the pan, Mark couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. He'd managed to bring a bit of life back into this old house, and maybe even into Raven herself. He flipped the bacon with a spatula, humming a tune under his breath.

"Do you ever miss it?" Raven's voice broke through his thoughts.

Mark glanced over at her. "Miss what?"

"Your old life. Before you came here," she said, still not looking up from her book.

Mark thought about it for a moment, then shrugged. "I don't remember much of it, to be honest. But yeah, I guess I do a bit. There are bits and pieces that come back sometimes. Faces, places... feelings. It's hard to miss what I don't know."

Raven finally looked up, her violet eyes meeting his. "It's strange, isn't it? Being in a place where no one knows you, where you don't even know yourself."

Mark nodded, turning back to the stove. "Yeah, it is. But it's not all bad. I've got you to keep me company, after all."

Raven's lips curved into a small smile. "I suppose you do."

Mark plated the food, bringing it over to the table. "Here we go, one omelette and toast, chef's special." He set a plate in front of Raven and took a seat opposite her.

"Thank you," she said quietly, taking a bite. They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the only sound the clinking of cutlery and the occasional rustle of a turning page.

"So, what's on the agenda for today?" Mark asked between bites.

Raven shrugged. "The usual, I suppose. Training, reading, maybe a walk in the woods."

Mark nodded. "Sounds good."

Raven glanced out the window. "The weather seems nice enough for it."

Mark chuckled. "Yeah, hopefully, it stays that way. Last thing we need is another storm blowing through."

...

Mark stepped outside, breathing in the crisp morning air. The sky was clear, and the sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground. He felt the familiar weight of his three-section staff in his hands, its smooth wood comforting under his fingers. He had been practising with it for weeks now, honing his skills and integrating his newfound powers into his movements.

He began with slow, controlled swings, feeling the staff's sections whip through the air. Each movement was precise. As he gained momentum, the staff moved faster, creating gusts of wind that rustled the leaves and sent small twigs flying.

Raven sat on the porch, a book open in her lap. She watched Mark out of the corner of her eye while pretending to read. The gusts of wind from his practice kept flipping the pages of her book, making her frown. With a small sigh, she conjured a barrier around herself, shielding her book from the errant breezes.

Mark moved with increasing speed, his body a blur of motion. He spun the staff around his body. The wind picked up, swirling around him as if he were the eye of a small storm. He could feel the power in each swing, the strength in each movement. As she watched him, Raven couldn't help but reflect on how much things had changed since Mark arrived. She had been living in isolation, consumed by her own guilt and sorrow. But Mark had brought something different into her life, a spark of hope she hadn't felt in a long time. For the first time in a while, she thought maybe things might be alright.

Mark's thoughts, however, were elsewhere. As he practised, he couldn't shake the dreams he'd been having. They were vivid, almost like memories. He saw faces he didn't recognize, people he felt connected to in ways he couldn't explain. In most of these dreams, he was fighting, caught in battles that left him breathless when he woke up. He wondered whether he should leave Bayview and try to find the people from his dreams. But considering he was fighting most of them, that might not be the best idea. Then he thought about Raven. He didn't know much about her past, but she'd mentioned she used to be a hero. Maybe she could help him figure things out.

As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Mark continued his training. He started incorporating his gravity manipulation, making his movements even more powerful. He swung the staff with enhanced strength, creating shockwaves that rippled through the air. He focused his energy, generating a blue sphere on the tip of his staff while swinging the staff with the other. The sphere pulsed with energy, before Mark twisted around and shot the sphere through the woods pulling trees from the earth as he did.  With a final burst of power, Mark swung the staff at a tree. The impact was immense, sending a shockwave through the air. The tree cracked and then split in half, toppling to the ground with a thunderous crash.

He looked over at Raven, who had lowered her book and was watching him with a calm expression. He walked over, wiping sweat from his brow. "Hey, Raven. I've been thinking about something."

She raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Mark hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "I've been having these dreams... they feel more like memories. I see people, with faces I don't recognize, but I feel like I know them. I'm wondering if maybe I should leave Bayview and try to find them."

Raven's expression remained neutral, but her eyes darkened slightly. "And you want me to come with you?"

Mark nodded. "Yeah. You mentioned you used to be a hero, and I'm pretty sure I've seen Superman and Batman."

Raven's face hardened. "No."

Mark blinked, taken aback by her quick response. "Raven, I know it's a lot to ask, but—"

"I said no, Mark," she repeated, her voice firm.

Mark stepped closer, trying to reason with her. "Look, I get it. You don't want to leave, but staying here isn't good for you, how long have you even been here?"

Raven's eyes flashed with anger. "I said no!" she shouted, her voice echoing with a burst of dark energy. The force of her magic sent Mark flying backwards, crashing into the yard a dozen meters away. He landed hard, the impact leaving him winded and dazed. Raven stood frozen for a moment, guilt and shock washing over her. She hadn't meant to hurt him, but the thought of leaving her sanctuary terrified her. Without another word, she turned and ran back into the house, slamming the door behind her.

Mark groaned and sat up, rubbing his head. He looked around the small crater he had created, he pushed himself to his feet, wincing as he did so. He needed to talk to her, to make her understand that he wasn't trying to force her into anything. But for now, he'd give her some space.

Mark spent the next few hours fixing the damage in the yard, using his powers to smooth out the earth and replant the uprooted grass. His mind kept drifting back to Raven and the look in her eyes when she'd lashed out. There was fear there, but also something deeper. He couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Raven struggled to get her emotions under control, her mind a chaotic swirl of memories and fears. Thoughts of her life before staying here flooded her mind—the battles, the pain, the Titans... She had built walls around herself, trying to protect others from the darkness within her. Now, with Mark, she had something good, something she didn't want to lose. But the fear of ruining it gnawed at her constantly. Power surged through her body, unbidden and uncontrollable. She had been getting stronger every day since Mark arrived, and she couldn't stop it. The energy pulsed within her, desperate for release, making her skin tingle and her heart race. She felt like a dam about to burst, the pressure unbearable.

She sat cross-legged on the floor, trying to meditate, but it was futile. Every time she closed her eyes, waves of power radiated from her, causing the house to tremble. The walls creaked, and small objects rattled on their shelves. Raven clenched her fists, trying to contain the energy, but it only made things worse. Her breathing grew ragged as she fought to keep control. "Focus... Azarath... Metrion... Zinthos," she whispered to herself, but the power was relentless. It surged and ebbed, a tide she couldn't command. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to push the thoughts away, but they returned with even greater force. The image of Mark, the one person who made her feel human again, filled her mind. The fear of losing him, of hurting him, was almost too much to bear.

A tremor ran through the house, stronger than before. She felt the floorboards shift beneath her and heard the faint sound of glass cracking. Panic rose in her throat, and she took a deep, shuddering breath. She couldn't let this happen. Not now. Not when she had finally found a semblance of peace.

She didn't understand why such a small thing had triggered her. Perhaps it was just the straw that broke the camel's back; everything she wished to never think or feel again was flooding through her mind. Her teammates, all they'd been through together... Kori... Victor... Dick.

Garfield...

"Aaaah!" Raven moaned in pain as a huge pulse of power exploded out of her, she was barely able to get it under control and stop it from destroying the house. She didn't know how long she had been meditating for but it felt like she'd made no progress, sweat poured down her forehead and her hands were trembling.

*Knock*

*Knock*

"Raven?" She heard Mark say from the other side of the door. Opening her eyes she realised the light that poured into her room from the window was gone. How long had she been in here?

"Go... away," she struggled out. However, Mark didn't oblige and instead opened the door coming inside.

"Raven? Are you okay?" Mark asked with concern as he saw her trembling form.

"Mark... please... leave," Raven stuttered out with clenched fists. Mark approached her, he was concerned about her, she had spent the entire day in her room and showed no signs of coming out.

"Raven? How can I help? What's wrong?" He asked.

"I can't control it... keeps building up," she replied.

"Control what?" He asked.

"Power!" She said as her eyes opened, they glowed red and her magic started lashing out. "Leave... NOW!" She said her voice becoming slightly demonic.

Mark shook his head and knelt next to her. "I won't," he said. However, he found himself being grabbed with Raven's telekinesis and thrown out of the house. He was slammed into the ground digging a large groove in the earth before he was thrown into numerous trees.

Mark flipped over onto his feet skidding across the ground as he watched Raven flying through the trees power flowing off her body, her eyes glowing, a large shadow of a Raven behind her.

Mark laughed nervously "I guess this is happening," he said as he clenched his fist and got into a fighting stance.

(AN: So we are almost at the peak. Ugh I can't tell you how horrible it's been to write this, you guys know me I like writing sex and action and cool stuff. I'm not good with character development, but for what I have planned I feel like it needs to be. Anyway next chapter will be a turning point for both of them... maybe a little romance will blossom. Anyway I hope you enjoyed the chapter.)

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