REVERSED DC:
Trials and Tribulations
====
Okay, before I tell you my story, let me start off by saying this. I don't know how in the actual fuck I ended up in this situation. I didn't get the truck-kun experience. I didn't die. I didn't get whisked away by some random omnipotent being. I just went to bed, and next thing you know, I wake up in Gotham city of all places.
If there's a god responsible for my suffering, kindly go fuck yourself.
If this is some kind of shitty self-insert experience, then to the writer writing this piece of shit for others' enjoyment, kindly throw yourself off a bridge and get eaten by a Megoladon.
Regardless of whichever is responsible for my predicament, it doesn't change the fact that I'm in the world of DC Comics. Well, sort of. You ever read one of those weird fanfics where some poor shmuck gets sent to a parallel world where gender norms are reversed? Yeah, I'm in that kind of world. Women outnumber the menfolk, can't show off nearly as much skin without being accused of being a shamepless slut, yada yada yada. Oh, did I forget to mention we're also kind of expected to wear dresses?
If I didn't know any better, I would swear I got dumped in that one reverse isekai fanfic. I don't remember the title other than that the MC was as dense as Bakarina, which is…kind of impressive, if I'm being honest.
Anywho, introductions! My name's Rhodes Edwards. No, that is not my real name, but I'm not dumb enough to use it in another world where I likely have an alternate counterpart, DC universe or no. Not that it matters, since I'm in another body. And not just any body, oh no. I got stuck with the most popular femboy in all of anime and manga.
Spoiler: MC in Casual Outfit (sorta)
Yeah, I'm in Astolfo's body, and no, I didn't get any Servant abilities. I'm a regular human. The only consolation prize is that my "cheat" so to speak is the Omnitrix. As a diehard fanboy of the original cartoon series back when Cartoon Network had decent shows and not the kiddy crap it has now (Ed, Edd, n' Eddy forever!), I was over the moon.
…not that it dampened the fact I was still fucking Astolfo.
Okay, so if you're unaware of what it means to be in a reverse world, let me explain it to you, specifically in the event you are the protagonist. Typically, you're a handsome bastard, which means girls will flock to you like mice to a wheel of cheese. On paper, this sounds fantastic. And depending how reversed the setting is, you have an instant harem. Sounds good, right? In reality? It's the fucking worst. Women either see you as a notch on the belt, or a trophy husband they can parade and show off, and in the worst case, whore off to their friends. You're lucky if a woman approaches you for reasons other than concern, condescending as it might be, you're lucky.
In the best case, you're a hentai protagonist with a dick to match and can "conquer" dominant women who think they can make you their living dildo. That's usually how it goes in those kinds of stories. I don't know if that is the case for me because I steer as far away from those kinds of women as possible. I'm not looking for a harem, tantalizing as the prospect might be. While I'm open to the idea of dating at least two women, I'm a one-woman man, and the polycule relationship has to be consensual on all our parts. I'm not averse to sex, but I would rather the relationship be built on dates and cuddles and passing out on the couch watching TV over engaging in sodomy in the bedroom.
…what? I'm a wholesome bastard, so sue me!
Now, you must be wondering, why am I bringing this up? Well, I would like to remind you that I am in the body of Astolfo, the biggest trap in the history of anime. Which means, by the standards of this reverse world, I am a walking neon sign for thirsty women of all kinds. I would also like to remind you I ended up in Gotham city, which sadly still has a reputation for being the shittiest place to live.
My start in this world wasn't exactly what you'd call stellar. I woke up with the mother of all backpain due to being dumped on a park bench. Worse, the fucker responsible for dumping me here didn't think it prudent to leave me with something to make my life easier. I had no ID, no money, no phone, no nothing. My first day consisted of avoiding shady back alleys, steering clear of several women who eyed me like a piece of meat, and going to the public library to get my bearings. The important bits worth remembering was that there was no Justice League, not yet. As to be expected, the female heroes were dominant and popular, though Superman was still among the greats. Batman's still a local superhero, but Batgirl is more popular. Going off pictures, it was pretty early into the Bat Family career as there was no mention of Nightwing, meaning it was still Barbara and Dick Grayson.
The second day was the freaking worst. Astolfo was pretty young-looking, so naturally, police officers were wondering why I wasn't in school. As a college dropout suffering from ADHD and understandably wary of the idea of going back to school with hormonal teenagers, I noped the fuck out and gave the boys in blue the slip. My day didn't improve as my efforts to find employment went nowhere. Few were willing to hire a kid with no apparent education, and the ones that were willing to offer a job were sketchy as hell. In the end, I got a part time job at a laundry mat working the graveyard shift. The second day ended with me almost getting mugged, thankfully thwarted by the timely arrival of the one and only Batgirl.
P.S., Barbara Gordon is a shameless flirt in this universe. The only reason I gave her the benefit of a doubt is because when I told her I was homeless, she pointed me in the direction of a homeless shelter run by Wayne Enterprise.
My third day was marginally better, but not by much. The folks at the shelter were kind. My only gripe were the women who treated me like I was a kid. Just because I looked young now didn't mean I was. Mentally, I'm a thirty-something adult. I bit my tongue and kept my annoyance in check, but I could tell they noticed. Some of the old codgers were amused by my "youthful rebellion".
On the fourth day, my luck turned around. One of the Endless or another god must have taken pity on me because a woman by the name of Monica Oldershaw took an interest in me. She wasn't a social worker, but she worked for the next best thing; the Troubled Youths Program, coincidentally also funded by Wayne Enterprises. They take in kids with troubled pasts and work to give them more opportunities in life, be it helping them find new employment in a better environment, setting them up in the foster system, or enroll them in well-off academies. I didn't trust her at first, but she spent several days badgering me like a worried soccer mom before I eventually caved in. It worked out in the end, though; Monica set me up with identification and worked to get me out of the neighborhood.
A few days later, and I was out of Gotham. It was only because I took advantage of the setting and played up my "troubled cute boy" looks that Monica didn't put me in foster care or send me off to school. Instead, she set me up in a decent apartment and helped find me a well-paying job.
And now we cut over to the present day. Still with me? Good. Now, surely you must be wondering what a guy in a reverse world has been up to in the six months he's been here! Surely, I must have become a hero with the Omnitrix and kicked butt, right? Well…no. See, as much as I love the Omnitrix, I'm not exactly eager to become a crime fighter, namely because of the cons, and it ain't just because of the reversed gender norms and societal expectations. Being a hero is a full-time job, and at best, it requires a balancing act between your crime fighting days and your social life. And as a guy looking for a girlfriend who isn't interested in whoring me out to her friends or boasting how I'm a good lay, I'm in no interest to ruin my love life.
So, no. I'm not a hero. Yet. I'll get to that.
Instead, the protagonist of this story of ours is a mundane man. To be more precise—
"Ohthankyougod, this is just what I needed to start my day!" the officer worker said as she chugged the expresso down her throat like a man in the Sahara desert. "You're a lifesaver, Rhodey! Casey doesn't pay you nearly enough."
I laughed. "Enjoy your coffee, ma'am."
--I'm working as a barista in Jump City.
Yep, you heard me. Jump City. Future home of the Teen Titans.
It's a marked improvement from Gotham. Sure, it has its problems and the typical criminal activities you'd expect in the world of DC comics, but I don't have to worry about getting mugged or dragged into an alley.
It's a busy day, much as it has been in the months I've come to work here. As it's a weekday, businesswomen and office workers storm the place to spend their breakfast and lunch here. The café isn't too big, but it can house over sixty people no problem. The cozy atmosphere and banging choice in Jazz music also helps. It's a thousand times better than working at some dingy laundry matt.
The tips also help. Since I'm the ultimate femboy, I rake in a lot of tips, especially if I feel particularly bold and wear the sorts of clothes men are generally expected to wear.
(I don't actually like wearing skirts, mind you, but it is…disturbingly easy to muster the courage to actually put them on, much less admire how I'm rocking it. I dunno if that's Astolfo rubbing off on me or what, but I'm hoping that is the case. I'm a manly man, god dammit. I refuse to become a cross-dresser, no matter how good I look in a skirt!)
The only downside to this job is the fact that I'm not only the new main attraction of the café, but also the eye candy. You would think that I'd be used to women undressing me with their eyes, but I'm not. It's just another reminder how fucked up this world is. I smile and wave at my customers, putting on the cutsy act for the safe of money, but I hate every second of it.
…maybe I should go out as a superhero. At least then I could vent my frustrations on whatever asshole has the misfortune of crossing my path. Guilt free and perfectly legal human punching bags.
"Hey, handsome~"
I suppressed a groan and put on my best smile. "Hello, ma'am. What can I get for you today?"
"How about a mochiato? And maybe a kiss for good luck?"
I was about to politely tell the woman off for sexual harassment when my boss, Casey Managan, came up from behind and bared her teeth. "Don't even think about it, Stephanie."
Spoiler: Casey Managan
Despite saying she was in her mid-forties, Casey looked close to late twenties. She was a bombshell of a woman, dyed silver hair tied back into a long, wild ponytail spraying across her shoulders. That she wore jeans hugging her hips and a thermal black turtleneck only added to her appeal and looks as a stunning housewife. I was worried she was going to be yet another thirsty woman, and worse looking to take advantage of me, but Monica assured me she was nothing of the sort. Indeed, my fears turned out to be for nothing because A) Casey was married, and B) she was like Hughes from Fullmetal Alchemist and proudly showed off pictures of her husband and their daughter to anybody willing to listen.
It went without saying that the second she learned about my circumstances from Monica, she hired me on the spot and ensured that I was never alone to deal with troublesome customers, like Stephanie here.
"Lay a hand on my employee here, and I'm banning you for life."
The woman pouted. "So stingy~ It really is unfair how you get to hog the cutie all to yourself."
"He's nineteen, for fuck's sake. You really wanna go there?"
That was a lie, by the way. At least I think it was a lie. I'm not really sure how old I am because of how young Astolfo looks.
Stephanie got the message and wisely backed off, but for the sake of getting money, I nonetheless took her order. Casey sticked around long enough to make sure there was no funny business, then went back to her side of the café to take orders from the folks at the tables. If the line got too long, customers could take seats at the nearby tables and wait for a barista to come and take their order when they had a chance. Besides me, Casey has two other people working. One was a fellow man in his forties, a homely fellow named David, and the other was a shy girl named Becca. I got along with David well enough since we're both dudes (it helped he was a fellow gamer and was as obsessed with Warframe as I was) whereas I barely interacted with Becca, though not for a lack of trying. The poor girl blushed anytime I looked her way, and she could barely eke out a sentence before retreating out of embarrassment.
…was it wrong I wanted to bully her?
It's barely the afternoon, and already I want to go home and clock out to dreamland, I thought tiredly. I shouldn't have stayed up all night catching up on that Korean drama Monica recommended.
"Um, excuse me?"
I pulled away from my thoughts, once again donning my plastic smile. "Hello," I started before blinking. "Oh, you're new."
Spoiler: Kara
A blonde-haired girl stood across from me. While I didn't commit all my customers' faces to memory, I didn't remember meeting her. She was young, maybe in her early twenties, sporting short blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing a plain white t-shirt and denim jeans.
"You can tell?" the girl asked, surprised.
I nodded. "I haven't memorized everyone's faces, but they come by often enough. Never seen you here before."
"It's my first time here in Jump City," she said with a smile. It was a little early to tell, but she seemed like a good one. She was eyeing me, sure, but she wasn't being pushy or flirty. "I'm a little nervous, to be honest. New city, new opportunities…"
I chuckled. "I know the feeling, trust me. What can I get you?"
"What's recommended for today?"
"Ever had a cortado?" She shook her head. "It's an espresso mixed with warm milk. We have three different kinds; a condensada with sweetened condensed milk, a cortadito which is the same as a condensada but with sugar, and a leche which uses steamed milk. We've also got different flavors if you're feeling adventurous."
"So many to choose from…" The girl looked at the menu hanging behind the counter, pursing her lips. After a minute, she turned her attention back to me with a sheepish smile. "I don't suppose 'surprise me' is an option?"
I smiled. "One caramel cortadito cortado, coming right up. That'll be three dollars and twenty five cents." The girl nodded and pulled out her wallet. "Can I get a name, miss…?"
"Kara."
My mind grinded to a halt.
…you're a little early, Supergirl.
My surprising meeting with Kara Zor-El aside, today turned out to be a productive day. The occasional flirty customer aside, I scored a decent amount of tips today. Better yet, I got tips without wearing a skirt. Another mark of manliness for this damned body of mine! My good mood was bolstered with the fact that I managed to save up enough money to splurge at the local GameStop. Oh, how I've missed you, PS2! Oh, how I've missed you, Shadow Hearts!
You have no idea how happy I was to know that game series and Sony still exist, even in this fucked up reverse world.
I got a few weird stares, some looking on in amusement at me doing a little happy jig as I walked. Between the money I saved up using tips and my upcoming paycheck, life was looking up for me.
…still, I won't lie. I felt lonely.
I don't really have anything special or real attachment to my old life. I was your average joe stuck working at a dead end office job for a boss I hate but tolerated because he signed my paychecks. I didn't have any real social connections as my group of friends drifted apart after high school. I didn't even have any real family to speak of, either; my sisters and I could barely stand each other even as adults, my dad died while I was still in elementary school, and my mom was just…there. My only real familial connection were my grandparents, and they were long gone.
Even in this fucked up reverse gender world, I should have considered it a second chance. Maybe a way for me to finally get a girlfriend. That was on the bucket list and my second highest priority, but it's not the be-all, end-all. In fact, I genuinely didn't know what I wanted out of this life. Sure, I might bitch and gripe about the setting, but for better or worse, it's home now.
…so, really, what did I want to do? That question haunted me for so long. A question I didn't have a real answer to. At the time, my life was going well. I had a paying job, I had a roof over my head, and I had a decent hobby to enjoy, if you could call playing video games a hobby. Becoming a hero was an option, but I wasn't committed to the idea just yet. Like I said, being a hero meant taking on all the responsibilities and the curse that comes with it. Once you dip your toes in that world, you can't back out. Not without asking yourself why you want to back out, or if you could really go through with it.
The Omnitrix felt heavy on my wrist.
Still, I smiled and tried to remain optimistic. There was plenty of time to think and ponder…
…in hindsight, I shouldn't have tempted murphy like that. Why? Because whether by fate or fucked up circumstances, I ended up running head first into the "plot" of this shitty story of mine.
I was walking past an alley when I heard noises. That by itself wasn't unusual when there were all kinds of people lurking in shady places like that. Just because Jump City was better than Gotham by a wide margin didn't mean the alleys were safe. What was unusual was that the sounds were muffled. It was like someone put a noise filter, smothering the sounds as if trying to silence them.
I frowned in confusion. I should have walked away, then. It would have saved me the trouble. But, as they say, curiosity killed the cat. My feet started moving before I realized just how off this felt. I stepped into the alley in pursuit of the source of the strange sounds.
As I neared the corner, the sounds were no longer being muffled. I could hear them in full. I jerked in surprise, wincing as the screaming chorus of the damned filled the air. At that moment, something came flying past and slammed into the brick wall to my right. I'm not ashamed to say I yelped like a scared girl, especially not when I saw the ugly bastard.
It was a demon. There was no other way to describe it. It looked human, having arms and legs, but that was it. Its red flesh was leathery and rolled into thick layers of fate that made Jabba the Hutt look slim, sharp talons for claws that dug into the brick wall as it pulled itself out of the small crater it made, a mouth lined with shark-like teeth, blazing green eyes, and twisted ivory horns sprouting from either side of its head.
"What the fuck?!"
I stumbled back, reaching to activate the Omnitrix and transform into the first alien I saw pop up on the dial. That was when I saw her.
I couldn't forget her, even if I tried. She is, after all, one of my favorite superheroes.
Spoiler: Raven
Shadows clung to her like a mantle, wafting like liquid and melding with the darkness behind her. A cloak resembling feathery wings sat over her shoulders, her hood pulled over her head like a cowl. Beneath the cloak was a black bodysuit, a belt of oval-shaped rings clinging to her waist. Black-and-red hair spilled out from under the cowl as glowing white eyes glared at the demon.
"Crawl back to whatever hole you squirmed from, hellspawn."
—This is how it started.
REVERSED DC:
Trials and Tribulations
====
"Holy shit!"
In hindsight, trying to figure out the source of the muffled noises was a bad idea. Like I said earlier, curiosity killed the cat, and even if death is cheap in comics, it's still an unpleasant experience. Granted, I had no way of knowing whether I could come back to life, but I was in no hurry to experience what death felt like.
Sorry Death-chan, but I'm not in a hurry to meet you so soon. Or any of the Endless, really.
I had no idea if Raven was aware of my presence, only that she was hyper-focused and suffering from what I could only assume was a severe case of tunnel vision. Getting to see one of my favorite superheroines up close and in action should have been an amazing sight to see. Instead, it was terrifying. Even from my hiding place, I could feel the rolling waves of frustration and anger, which was a little surprising and even more worrying.
I might be misremembering, but wasn't an angry Raven the worst Raven to deal with since it meant she'd go all demon-y?
Speaking of, why was she even fighting a demon in the first place? I'm no comic nerd like my friends, but I didn't recognize the scrub she was fighting at all. I did consider the possibility he might be a one-off or a mook, but he was surprisingly durable. Raven was throwing spell after spell at him, smashing him around the alley like a rag doll, and he somehow found the strength to keep fighting, even managing to get a few clean hits in.
I wondered what was the best choice in this situation. Raven didn't need help, not from what I saw, but I also knew it was a matter of time before I got caught in the crossfire. The logical choice was to get out of dodge and let Raven go ham without complicating things by getting kidnapped.
I could also intervene and use the Omnitrix, but there was a chance Raven might identify me as an enemy. Just from looking at how she was acting, she was running on adrenaline and anger. If I was being honest, I didn't fancy my chances of not getting killed by an angry Raven suffering from tunnel vision.
A garbled cry of pain erupted next to me as the fat red demon bounced off the ground like a ragdoll, only coming to a stop next to my hiding place. It growled and glared angrily at Raven, who was readying another spell when it suddenly noticed me. Our eyes met.
It grinned.
"Crap," was all I could get out when it reached and grabbed me by the arm just as I was about to get away. Its touch was scalding hot, like a hot cup of tea in a thin plastic cup. It pulled me forward, then wrapped a burly arm around my neck. Tight enough to hold me in place, but just loose enough to still breath.
My presence caused Raven to falter, the shadows around her rippling with newfound hesitation. I could tell she was angry, but now that her fight with the demon became a hostage situation, she had clarity. She was still angry, but now for a whole different reason.
"Let her go," the witch growled out. Her voice had an echo, overlayed with another, more masculine voice. I could only hope that wasn't Trigon I was hearing. "Now."
The demon said something, speaking in a tongue I did not recognize. It sounded like gibberish. Whatever he said gave Raven pause, her anger diminishing further in favor of worry and fear. The demon was still grinning, keeping me in its burning hot hold. Sweat rolled down my face in waves. I felt like I was in a furnace.
—poke.
I went ramrod straight. Something was poking at me from behind. Something heavy. It didn't take a genius to realize what it was.
Oh hell no.
"Okay, fuck that noise. Hero Time it is!"
I activated the Omnitrix, and without looking at the faceplate, slammed my hand down.
Ben described the act of transforming as taking a nice big stretch. Experiencing what it felt like to go from human to alien, I instantly knew he was underselling. It didn't feel good, it felt fantastic. I felt myself unraveling, a joyful tingling sensation overwhelming my senses with a spike of adrenaline that made my heart race. The feeling was replaced by heat. I felt an overwhelming fire explode from my wrist and swallow the rest of me.
I felt amazing.
It felt incredible.
Instantly, I knew who I became. I couldn't stop myself from smiling. There was no alien more fitting for me to turn into.
Raven
This was the worst possible situation. It was bad enough that she was tired and hurt, but a demon had shown up out of nowhere. She caught it before it could cause trouble out in the city, and while it was far from the worst she's dealt with, it proved surprisingly resilient. The fact it was dogged in its attempts to capture her only confirmed her worst fears. It knew who she was, what she carried within her. Naturally, that made the already-festering frustration built over the course of the last few weeks reach its breaking point. She felt that seductive anger, that destructive impulse buried deep within the confines of her mind, bubble to the surface.
It was dangerous to allow herself to feel such emotions. She buried her anger and rage for a reason. She kept her feelings in check, struggling to maintain control over herself and the dark magicks at her command as she wailed upon the demon with all the power she could muster without breaking the silencing enchantment or causing wanton destruction.
She never realized a civilian had somehow made it past her enchantments, not until the demon snatched her. She'd been hiding behind a dumpster, no doubt cowering and fearing for her life, struggling to break free of the demon's grip.
"Let her go. Now."
The demon laughed. "I think not, little spawn. It's been ages since I've tasted human flesh." It tightened its grip over the woman, just enough to make her flail and struggle. Raven faltered at the sight and the mounting rage cooling to a simmer. "And what a sweet fragrance this creature has. Truly, human women are fine dishes…"
This fucker…
As Raven questioned what to do, she saw the demon sniff the poor girl. Its eyes widened in delight, and its smirk widened to the point its flesh rippled and strained to keep itself from splitting apart. "Oh… This human's male! Even better!"
Panic spiked through her chest. The civilian was male? Okay, this was bad. Very, very bad. She had to—
"Okay, fuck that noise," the male—a boy judging from how young he sounded—suddenly bit out as he did something to his wristwatch. A green light flickered from its faceplate. "Hero Time it is!"
He slammed his hand down on the watch, and the alley was filled with green light. Moments later, a wave of ungodly heat ploughed through the air. Raven winced and shielded her eyes, finding the light too bright for her senses. She heard the demon cry out in pain, followed by a crash. When the light faded, she lowered her arm and found a bizarre sight in front of her.
Spoiler: Heatblast
The demon had been thrown into a wall, and standing in the boy's place was a tall figure made of dark red rock. It was a head taller than the demon, broiling lava flowing between the gaps and spaces of its body and coalescing into two-toed feet and hands as big as a gorilla's. Orange-red flames swirled around its head like the wafting flicker of fire from a candlestick.
"What the…?" Raven stared in bewilderment. She almost mistook the creature for a demon, but she felt no revulsion, no reaction from its presence.
"You…" The demon climbed up its feet. Steam wafted from the scorch marks adorned on its chubby flesh. "You're not human!"
The molten creature's face twisted into something resembling a smile filled with mockery. "Never seen a pyronite before, ugly?" it asked. Then it noticed the burn marks on the demon's body. Its smile turned vicious. "Well, what do you know? Looks like between the two of us, I'm way hotter. Good to know." It raised its hand, conjuring a ball of flame into its palm. "Guess that means I can roast your ass into a lump of burnt charcoal! Starting with your fucking balls!"
The demon snarled in outrage. "You dare challenge me, insect?! I shall see you suffer a hundred deaths!" It opened its maw. Thunder cackled from its mouth.
Raven's eyes widened in panic. "MOVE!"
First came the sound of booming lightning, then the cackling boom. Raven leaped into the air, her magic coalescing into the familiar shape she'd known all her life while the so-called 'pyronite' flew upward in a burst of flame from its hands. Looking down below, Raven saw the alley burnt and in ruins, garbage and trash cans destroyed beyond repair with patches of fire and smoke swarming the dirty patch of concrete and brick. She frowned and saw the demon up on a nearby rooftop, glaring at the two with burning hatred.
She reciprocated immensely.
"Hey," the pyronite called out. "I bet you got questions, but you wanna team up and roast this pig?"
Ordinarily, she'd have refused outright. This creature was an unknown, possibly not even of this world. And yet, something about it gave her pause. She felt emotion, genuine and clear as the blue sky above.
Joy. Excitement. Anger. A cocktail of emotions, divided between the demon and, oddly, her. The creature knew of her…and it wasn't afraid.
It was…an unusual sensation.
"…fine by me," she said hesitantly, turning her gaze back to the demon. "Just don't get in my way."
The pyronite laughed. "After you, lady!"
"Rhody"
I was so glad I spent the past few months learning how the Omnitrix worked and what aliens I had. I was sorely disappointed to know I was limited to ten, but I wasn't about to complain, not when I had my all time favorite as part of my startup roster.
[Heatblast] had always been my favorite alien. He was the coolest, being a walking, talking pile of lava and molten rock that could spew fire from his hands. Even now, the memory of Ben's first transformation and the shenanigans he caused in that time never ceased to make me laugh.
It was exhilarating, knowing I could burn down Jump City with the snap of my fingers. A villainous thought, but what could I say? I was running on a power high!
And luckily for me, I had the perfect training dummy.
Even better, I got best goth as a dance partner, I thought with a laugh.
Still, I couldn't afford to let my power high get the better of me. The last thing I wanted was collateral damage from getting too excited and going overboard. For now, I focused my thoughts on the demon and how he might smell burnt to a crisp.
Could you tell I was maybe a little pissed the bastard popped a stiffy on me? Actually, should I be concerned demons are that depraved?
…ah, whatever. He'd be dead soon anyway!
The demon spewed another blast of thunder. Raven and I dodged it with ease, the former retaliating by divebombing right on top of him. Her magic exploded in a black flurry, almost like a bomb. The demon jumped back, but I chased after him, landing right behind him and driving a heated punch to his backside. My flames exploded outward like a shotgun blast, knocking the demon right off its feet and down into the ground. It clawed into the ground to cease its retreat, eyes burning with hate.
It lunged for me, talons primed to cut me apart. Raven intercepted, blocking it with a barrier. I jumped over her and threw a fireball. The demon evaded, jumping away and avoiding my attack before spewing another blast of lightning in my direction. I couldn't evade in time, taking the blast head-on.
Fun fact: an alien's sense of pain differs from a human's. Some aliens have a higher pain tolerance, whereas others are more sensitive. As you might expect from a race made of molten rock and plasma, a pyronite's sense of pain was lower than a human's.
That didn't mean it didn't hurt like a motherfucker.
The blast knocked me out of the air and nearly threw me back into the ruined alley below. Raven snatched me mid-air in a bubble of darkness, then set me back down on the ground. The demon rushed at her from behind, but the half-breed wasn't so focused on me as to leave herself defenseless. Without even turning around, she casted another spell and repelled the fat monstrosity, even scarring it by cutting open its flabby flesh with jagged claws of raw magic. Her magic warped and changed shape, becoming the familiar form of a black bird.
"Azarath mentrion zinthos!"
"Holy shit, she said the thing," I whispered like a giddy fanboy.
Credit where it was due, the demon was a tough bastard. The fight dragged on for another two minutes before it finally got tired. We'd been hammering away at him while enduring his assault in turn. Raven had seen better days, her bodysuit damaged in some parts and her cloak in near tatters. Several cuts decorated her face and hands. As for me, I took the brunt of several lightning blasts whenever the bastard tried for a cheap shot. I was glad my new pyronite form could endure, but it still hurt dammit!
The demon itself looked like it was on its last legs. It was stumbling, panting heavily, and clutching at the blackened remains of what used to be its left arm. I managed to get lucky and grab hold of him toward the end of the fight and seared the arm, turning it nice and crispy.
It glared at us hatefully, which I was almost convinced was its default expression at this point. It said something in its native tongue that only Raven seemed to understand.
"You first," the girl replied coldly, eyes glowing white. A shadowy bird rose from behind her, ready to dive and destroy.
The demon snarled at us. Then, suddenly, it started glancing around the rooftop. Was it looking for an escape route? I doubted it. It knew there was no way it could escape without either of us killing it first. Dread started to seep in as I saw a malicious smile flitter across its mug before it turned around, exposing its back at us, and took off running.
"Hey, get back here!" I shouted as Raven I chased after it.
The demon jumped over the edge of the rooftop and down into the streets. My heart plummeted when I realized what it was going to do. People who were minding their own business suddenly stopped and stared, frightened by the sudden appearance of a red monster that was now cackling with electricity all across its body. It zeroed in on the closest people.
A mother and her son.
"NO!"
Raven blitzed past me in a streak of jet black energy, moving faster than I'd seen her do before. I followed her lead, moving as fast as my fire could carry me, my molten core hammering away at my insides in fright. The demon rushed at the parent and child duo, arms spread as if to embrace them. Its lightning reached the apex of its buildup. For a moment, I thought I could see its skeleton as its body lit up like a Christmas tree. Raven reached it first, wrapping her darkness around him like a ball. I landed right in front of the parent and child duo, shielding them with my back.
"GET DOWN!" I shouted.
For a moment, the world went still and silent.
In the next second, it exploded with a deafening roar of pain.
Everything turned black.
I don't know how long I was out. A few seconds, maybe a few minutes? The fact I was still a pyronite meant a short while passed, and the Omnitrix wasn't flashing red in warning. All I knew was that when I came to, I felt fear and relief.
Relief that Raven managed to reduce the size and power of whatever the demon attempted.
Fear that she had gone and gotten herself killed.
The surrounding area was a wreck. Windows were blown to pieces, building exteriors were cracked and nearly shattered to pieces, and the asphalt was upended and in a crater. A gaping hole exposed Jump City's sewers and piping.
"Fffuuuuck…" I groaned out, pushing myself to my feet. I didn't have a concussion, but my ears were ringing. Wait, do pyronites have ears?
No, I needed to focus. The demon went and turned itself into a suicide bomber. A final act of spite. It knew there was no chance of winning, so the best it could do was deny us satisfaction by taking as many humans down with it in one final blaze of unholy glory. Just looking at the scene, I knew there was a chance the bastard might have succeeded. The civilians furthest away from the blast appeared unharmed, but the ones closest to the blast didn't come out unscathed. I could see people lying amid the rubble, some with visible injuries.
I saw the mother and her son, the ones Raven and I shielded. She was slumped against the wall and holding her son. The boy seemed relatively unharmed, and the worst I could make out at a glance was a bleeding wound on her forehead. I reached out, careful to keep a gentle touch and with as little heat as possible, and checked for a pulse.
She was still alive.
"Thank god," I muttered in relief before turning back to the epicenter.
I found Raven almost immediately. She was half-buried under some rubble, the bastard's suicide attempt having blown her into one of the nearby buildings. I quickly went over to her and pulled off the rubble atop her. Her outfit was now in tatters, and her face scuffed and covered in cuts and bruises and burns. The shallow breath and small rise and fall of her chest was a good indication she was still alive.
Now that I got a better look at her, though… I realized Raven hadn't had the easiest time. Even with all the damage she suffered in the fight, there were enough signs to tell me she probably hadn't had a bath in days. She was thin, way too thin for a girl her age.
I gently scooped her into my arms. "Don't worry, Rae. I got ya." I didn't know if she could hear me or not. I didn't care.
All that mattered was making sure she lived to see tomorrow, and whatever the future had in store for us.
Unbeknownst to Rhody at the time, there'd been someone watching him and Raven. A man in the crowd, grizzled with a face full of scars, a steely eye, and an eyepatch.
He stared at the retreating form of the alien as it flew off on a platform made of fire and rock, carrying a battered and beaten girl in his arms. He hadn't seen the battle in full, merely the tail end of it, but it was enough to earn his curiosity.
It seemed this contract wouldn't be as boring as he thought it would.
REVERSED DC:
Trials and Tribulations
====
Raven
The first thing she heard as her consciousness stirred was music—a bevy of tunes accompanied by the ever-enjoyable sound of a saxophone.
Hey, everybody!
Let's have some fun!
You only live but once, and when you're dead, you're done!
So let the good times roll!
"Let the good times roll~" a familiar voice sang along to the radio. "Don't care if you're young or old~ Get together, let the good times roll~ Hah, even in a crappy world like this, my favorite music endures. If only All Time Low were a thing here… Ugh, shitty RSM world screwing everything over!"
Raven groaned as her senses slowly returned. She opened her eyes, blinking to adjust to the light, and found herself looking up at a gray ceiling. It took her a few moments to realize she felt sore and…comfortable. As in, really comfortable. It felt warm and soft. She was reluctant to remove herself from its fluffy confines, but years of paranoia and caution were deeply ingrained to where she couldn't afford to trust blatant luxuries. She pulled the covers off her, then paused as she noticed something else. Whoever brought her saw fit to change her; her original attire was gone, replaced by a pair of baggy sweat pants and a simple black tank top that felt a little too tight around the chest.
She narrowed her eyes and took stock of her surroundings. The room was remarkably barebones beyond having an open dresser and bookshelf. Past the open door, she saw what looked to be a living room. Slowly, Raven pulled the blankets off her and carefully made her way out of the bedroom.
Okay, so an apartment, not a house, Raven thought. The living room looked too small, and the sliding glass door on the other side led out to a balcony. The sound of sizzling oil indicated there was a kitchen as well.
Speaking of, there was an overwhelming smell in the air. It overpowered her senses, overloaded them almost. It was almost enough to make her go weak in the knees. Her stomach rumbled in demanding agreement. Worse, it actually hurt. She couldn't remember the last time she ate.
Actually, how long have I been out?
"Oh, hey, you're awake," a familiar voice called out from behind her. If not for the fact she didn't feel any hostility, only amusement and relief, she would have lashed out with her magic. She turned around, finding the pink-haired boy from earlier. His dress shirt and pants were replaced by a plain white t-shirt and khaki slacks. In his hands was a plate full of food. "Wasn't sure I was going to have to toss this in the fridge for later. You hungry?"
Again, her stomach growled.
Betrayed by my stomach, unbelievable…
Raven's cheeks burned as the boy laughed. "I'll take that as a yes."
She tried not to like the food. She really tried. It was a losing battle all the same.
"I'm not a five-star chef, so sorry if it tastes a little funny."
Please, stop.
This was torture. It would have been one thing if she could sense some kind of negative aspect in him, maybe some lewd thought or desire, but there wasn't anything like that. Just amusement at watching her devour a Salisbury Steak like a starving woman at a feast. Worse, she found him easy on the eyes. Now that she wasn't worrying about a potential hostage situation and fighting off a hellion, Raven had a better look at the boy who may or may not be human. He was cute, almost annoyingly so, like pretty boy levels she'd seen in those cheesy romcom manga whenever she needed something decent to read. Even the fact he looked like a girl only made him look prettier.
And he wasn't even wearing makeup, either. The fact he wore women's clothes told her he was a tomgirl, or something along those lines.
In any other situation, this would be the ideal setup for a romance flick. A girl fights a demon, stops it from turning into a suicide bomber killing millions, and a cute boy nurses her back to health.
Thing was, Raven knew that was just childish delusions. The real world was different. It was cold, it was cruel, and people…people could be worse than demons sometimes. She didn't want to believe the boy helped her out of the kindness of his heart. It was just too good to be true.
There was also the fact he turned into some weird lava monster. He didn't feel like a demon, but she'd been tricked before. He could be using a charm to hide his true nature from her.
"What's with the intense stare-off? Do I have something on my face?"
Raven blinked. Had she really been so deep in thought? She looked down and saw that she demolished her food. There was hardly any left.
"Sorry," she said somewhat sincerely. "It's just… I'm not used to this."
"What, having a boy make you dinner? Isn't that every woman's dream or something?" the boy shot back cheekily.
Raven scoffed. "Don't flatter yourself, pretty boy. And…thanks for the food." She was genuine with her words. Loathed as it was to admit, the food tasted incredible. She couldn't remember the last time she had a home-cooked meal.
The boy grinned. "Happy to be of help."
"How long have I been out, anyway?"
"A few hours, actually. It's almost sunset."
Raven looked out the window. Sure enough, the sky was tinged dark orange and the sun fading past the horizon.
"So…" the boy started. "I have to ask. What was with the freak of nature? He was, like, an actual demon, yeah? Biblical demon?"
She sighed. She was expecting that question to come up sooner or later. The best thing to do was to wipe his memories and go on her way. She couldn't afford to stick around, much less get attached. She knew better after the last time she let herself get comfortable and complacent.
…still, he did save her, and he showed remarkable capabilities, too. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to tell him? At the very least, he should know what to watch out for.
"Yeah. A lesser demon, a bottom-feeder for the most part. It's…a long story. To give you the short version, I…attract them. Don't ask me how or why. All I know is that wherever I go, something always follows."
"Wait, attract?" A concerned frown formed across his face. "How…long have you been dealing with those things?"
"Longer than I'd care to admit. Look, the less you know, the better. And since we're playing twenty-questions, how about you answer some of mine, instead? Namely, who or what are you?"
"Oh, that's easy. I'm Rhodes Edwards. My friends call me Rhody. Let's see, I think I'm nineteen, I work as a barista at a local café, my favorite kind of pet is a dog, specifically a corgi, I live alone, am currently single and looking for a girlfriend that ideally doesn't want to whore me out to her friends…"
"Stop, stop," Raven held up her hands. She wasn't sure whether to be amused or frustrated with his cavalier attitude. And what did he mean by he thought he was nineteen? Was he actually older than he looked? Was he really a cute-looking man? No, stop. Focus, Raven. "That's not what I meant."
Rhodes smiled wryly and scratched the back of his head. "Right, sorry. Just trying to break the ice. I think it'd be easier just to show you." He raised his left arm, giving Raven a look at his watch. It was white with green highlights, a black faceplate with green markings over it, giving the impression of an hourglass. It looked fancy for a digital watch. Then she watched as he fiddled with it, causing it to light up and create a green ring around the faceplate. In the center was a holographic image. "This should do."
"What, what are you—"
That was as far as she got when he touched the faceplate, creating a bright green flash of light that blinded her. Raven winced, shielding her face and closing her eyes. She would have retaliated were it not for the fact that she hadn't sensed any malicious intent from him. When she lowered her arm and opened her eyes again, he was gone.
"What the…? Where'd he go?!"
"Hey!" A squeaky voice shouted. "Down here!"
Raven looked down at the table. She blinked once, then twice. She rubbed her eyes, even casting a spell to make sure her eyes were working properly.
The…thing was still there.
Spoiler: Grey Matter
"Huh," the little gray man said as he observed his form. He was as big as her hand, with bright green eyes with bar-shaped irises and pupils, and a head with two rotund lumps. A purple and black bodysuit covered most of his body, leaving only his hands and feet bare. On his back was the hourglass symbol from his watch, attached to a circular plate that seemed to be part of the bodysuit. "Well, at least I look normal. Well, normal for a Galvan, anyway. I could do without the color scheme, though. So gauche. Why couldn't I have gotten green, or white like Ben did?"
"…Rhody? Is-is that you?"
The little gray man raised a brow. "Duh. What, did you think I'd turn into Heatblast again? I'd rather not have the fire department come by and hose down the place because I went and burned down my home by accident, thank you very much."
Raven did her best impression of a fish. Questions upon questions danced in her head, struggling to comprehend the sight in front of her. After several seconds of uncomfortable silence spent staring at each other, the young woman finally found her voice again. "…what are you, exactly? A-a shapeshifter?"
"Nah, nothing that fancy," Rhodes waved his hand in dismissal. "I'm human. I just happen to have a very advanced piece of tech that lets me transform into aliens."
Raven whimpered. She felt a migraine coming on. "Aliens?"
"Yep." He jumped off the table and reached for the circular plate on his back, giving it a tap. Another flash of green light, and then he was back to normal, sitting in his chair. He raised his left arm, holding it out so she had a better look at the wristwatch. "It's called the Omnitrix. Don't ask me how I got it, because I have no freaking clue. I woke up with it strapped onto my wrist one day."
Raven gently took his hand into hers, leaning in so she could inspect it. She knew of a spell that could let her see through objects and people, exposing internal organs, skeletons, plumbing, wiring, and whatever else was buried under someone's house or backyard. When she casted the spell and saw the insides of the Omnitrix, she found not gears or wires. Instead, she found circuits. Shapes that didn't make sense.
"…I've spent the majority of my life battling monsters and demons," she started. "And now I'm finding out aliens exist too."
"Mind-blowing, huh?"
"More like crazy."
She closed her eyes. This was…too much. Way too much. This was more than she expected. She wanted answers, but she wasn't expecting something so completely out of left field. She wanted to call him out and say he was lying, but her abilities as an empath told her he wasn't. His every word was true. His watch, a piece of advanced tech years ahead of anything Earth was capable of, was proof of his claims.
Raven sorely wished he had been a shapeshifting demon, if only because it would've been so much easier to believe.
"So, my turn. How long have you been homeless?" The bluntness of his words startled her. "You're skinnier than a woman your age should be, you smell like you haven't had a bath in months, no offense—"
There was none to be had. She did stink. God, what would she give for hot water and soap right about now…
"—and your clothes had more holes and tears than swiss cheese." Rhodes frowned heavily in concern. "Just how long have you been hounded by demons?"
Raven grimaced. "Long enough to have traveled across most of the United States. I wouldn't recommend it. A road trip hounded by monsters every step of the way gets boring after the first couple of weeks."
"Jesus…"
She chortled. "It's fine. My turn. You said you woke up with the Omnitrix one day."
Rhodes nodded. "Yep. It's been six months now. Found it when I woke up in Gotham."
Raven sharply inhaled. Something in her twisted into something ugly. A feeling she hadn't felt in a long time. "Gotham? Seriously?"
"Luckily, I wasn't there any longer than a week. But, yeah, I woke up in Gotham with no memory of how I got there."
"What?"
He opened his mouth, then clicked it shut. A thoughtful expression flickered across his face, tinged with curiosity. "Say, you wouldn't happen to know a spell that lets you see someone's memories, do you?"
Raven raised an eyebrow. "What, you can't just tell me?"
"It'd be easier to just show you. I've been told I suck at explaining things."
"…are you sure? I mean, sure, I know a spell like that, but it's like an invasion of privacy."
Rhodes shrugged. "It's fine. I trust you."
Why? You don't even know me.
There it was. That uncomfortable feeling gnawing at her thoughts. It was one thing to be shown kindness, especially from a boy with no ulterior motives, but this wasn't just kindness. It was something else. Familiarity. He knew her, but that didn't make any sense. Raven would remember someone like him in her life. The worst part about this situation? It reminded her of bittersweet memories, and some bad ones. Sometimes, she hated how she could sense a person's feelings. It told her more than she needed to know, more than she wanted to know. She learned early on that hope was scary. It could make you too trusting, willing to lower your guard around people you shouldn't.
Rhodes was kind, too kind. What if that was all just an act? What if there was something else, something he kept buried deep? Countless doubts ran in her head.
"…This is gonna hurt, I hope you know."
Rhodes' smile turned shaky. "Yeah…that was what I was afraid of. Okay, so how do we do this? You just grab my head or something?"
"Just brace yourself."
Raven's eyes glowed as she reached out into his mind. There were no mental guards, no wards, nothing to shield him from those like her. Almost immediately, she saw his earliest memories; a boy waking up in the middle of one of the worst cities in America, lost, confused, unsure how he got there. He didn't understand anything; not how he ended up in Gotham, not why everyone was acting weird, or why he had alien equipment on his wrist. Worse, he had nothing. He was taken from everything he knew.
She saw Rhodes struggling to move through life in the first few days spent in Gotham. It was only by a mundane stroke of luck he met someone who gave a damn about him, or at least someone that wasn't interested in pinning him to the mattress and having their way with him. A fresh new start, a proper beginning.
Her stomach twisted uncomfortably. The memories only collaborated what she already knew. Rhodes Edwards wasn't a bad person.
…but…
Maybe he's just showing me what he wants me to see, the cynical part of her mind told her. Maybe…
She swallowed the lump in her throat, shoving the maddening cackles in the back of her mind deep into the recesses of her subconscious. She didn't want to be reminded whose daughter she was. Instead, Raven steeled her resolve. Rhodes would hate her for the gross breach in privacy, but that wouldn't be anything new. It would be expected. It wouldn't be the first time she screwed up and alienated someone who cared for her. And wasn't it better that way, anyway? If she drove him away, there was less chance he'd get involved with her. He wouldn't be at risk.
And so the girl dug deeper, pushing past the memories Rhodes wanted her to see. She—
She hadn't sensed it until it touched her soul. A sensation similar to someone flicking her on the forehead rippled across the surface of her very being. "Ah-ah-ah. No peeking, little bird. It's too early for that."
Raven found herself thrown back into her body, flailing and screaming as she fought to keep herself from tipping backward on her seat. Rhodes, meanwhile, suddenly doubled over and clutched his head in pain. "Motherfucker!" he snarled. "My head…!"
"A-are you alright?!" Raven suddenly found herself floating over the table and placing herself next to him. She didn't understand what was happening. The pain of having her intrude on his thoughts and memories should have been a mild discomfort like a pinch. This was worse.
"I'm…" Rhodes shook his head, trying to shrug off the pain. Sweat dribbled down the sides of his temples. "I'm fine…I think… Ugh, I knew you said it was supposed to hurt, but holy hell…"
"That…wasn't me."
"What?" Rhodes looked up at her in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Raven grimaced. "I…I tried looking through your memories. The ones before Gotham. Something stopped me."
"Stopped you? Wait, I don't understand. What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said. Something is keeping me from seeing anything about your life from before you ended up in Gotham."
That wasn't what scared Raven, however.
What scared was that she couldn't sense it. At all.
It was like it was never there.
REVERSED DC:
Trials and Tribulations
====
"Rhody"
"Okay, so let me get this straight," Raven started. "You're from another world."
"Yep."
"A world where that watch of yours is originally from a cartoon show."
"Uh-huh."
"And that's not your actual body, but someone else's."
"Yyyep."
The goth stared at me, cycling through different emotions. Confusion, frustration, uncertainty, doubt, amazement, wonder. She finally settled on what I expected; utter exhaustion. Her head fell into her hands.
"…this has been one hell of a day."
I scoffed. "And how do you think I feel? I got dumped in freaking Gotham of all places, and I'm stuck as a femboy! Don't get me wrong, I appreciate how I weigh 120 pounds now, but I didn't want to look like this!"
"Femboy?"
"Term used for a guy who acts like a girl in more ways than one. Depending on who you ask, they're tip-toeing the line between still being a dude or transgender."
Raven grimaced. "Uh-huh, okay…" She stared a while longer before she sighed again. I had a feeling she was going to be doing that a lot. "This… This is weird. Like, really freaking weird. And you've been here for six months?"
"And counting," I nodded. "It hasn't exactly been a cakewalk. You saw my memories. You never realize just how awful Gotham is until you visit it for yourself."
"Wouldn't know. Never saw a reason to go there."
"Lucky you."
A moment of silence passed between us.
"…you really don't know how I got here? That there's something blocking you from seeing anything past arriving in Gotham?"
Something close to pity danced in Raven's eyes. "Yeah. I don't know what it was, but something is keeping me from seeing from your memories before Gotham. I don't know what it is, but it's powerful. I'd try again, but something tells me it wouldn't let me off with a warning like last time."
"…yeah, I was afraid of that."
While I wasn't surprised by this outcome, it didn't stop me from feeling disappointed and frustrated. Running into Raven of all people, and before the potential formation of the Teen Titans, was a stroke of luck. She was an empath, and she could peer into someone's head. I hoped that, if I managed to earn an iota of trust or play into her suspicions and caution, she would see my memories and maybe figure out who or what was responsible for bringing me here. More importantly, I would know whether I died or got yanked from my old body and dumped into Astolfo's.
I should have known better, in hindsight. I considered the possibility that someone or something placed a mental block, but I was hoping that wasn't the case.
There were plenty of theories about what could have brought me to this world. The Endless were at the top of the list, though the jury's out which one wanted me specifically. Or maybe I was just some unlucky shmuck who got the "luck of the draw" out of billions of mortals. It could have been Death, if we were going for the stereotypical "I need your help to save this world" plot, but somehow, I doubted that. She would have been more upfront and honest instead of this vague bullshit and leaving me with no idea what to do. The fact that I haven't heard from her at all for half a year made it more unlikely this was her doing.
Another suspect (and the most likely after the Endless) was Mr. Mxyzptlk, which I was seriously hoping was not the case.
"…I don't suppose you have any idea on what's responsible for the mental block?"
Unsurprisingly, Raven shook her head in the negative. "Sorry. I really don't have any idea. I can definitely say it's not demonic in origin, so there's that at least."
Yeah, there was that, I suppose.
The ensuing awkward silence was almost unbearable. Neither of us were talking, namely because neither of us was sure what to say. Raven was still processing what I had just told her, meanwhile I had no freaking clue to what to say! It was finally starting to sink in that Raven, an actual freaking comic book character come to life, was sitting right in front of me.
…maybe it was a good thing she didn't see the rest of my memories. The mental breakdown that would come from an existential crisis would absolutely be the sort of crisis Trigon needed to break out of his prison cell.
"What's your world like?"
I blinked. "Huh?"
"You said you're from another world," Raven said. "Or, well, a parallel world. What was it like? Were there superheroes there?"
Swallowing my mounting panic and trying my damnedest to keep my emotions in check, I do my best to explain what my world is like. The first thing I bring up is the fact that gender norms are swapped, which earned me some level of disbelief until we started going over the differences between my world and hers, specifically differences I either missed or was unaware of until now. My research had been somewhat shallow as I'd been focused on the superhero scene and general culture, not who was in charge. Most of the Presidents of the United States being female wasn't at all surprising. Matter of fact, the current U.S. President was Amanda fucking Waller…which raised several alarm bells, for obvious reasons.
Amanda Waller was a government agent, infamous and well-known for being a hard-liner. She had the best interests of humanity and her country in mind, which was understandable and admirable. The problem? She endorsed, if not oversaw several shady, if not downright unethical projects that skirted the line between being a well-intentioned extremist and "playing around and finding out". Cadmus and their brain child Superboy were a prime example of this. Then there was the Suicide Squad, a black-ops team consisting of "reformed" supervillains, among them being the one and only Harley Quinn.
On that note, one interesting bit of information I learned during my search for notable deviations in this world was that Harley Quinn had long since ditched the clown prince of crime and worked as a solo villain. These days, it was the lesser known (and much nuttier) Punchline who acted as Joker's other half. I half-expected the murder clown to have been genderbent, but no, he was still male, and just as crazy. Worse, the motherfucker had sympathizers downplaying how bad he was thanks to this world's twisted gender norms, complete with "I can fix him!" memes. No, I am not joking, even though I wish I were.
"Just because he took a dip in chemicals that fucked with his mind does not give him an excuse to commit mass murder a dozen times over," I bit out somewhat irritably. "He's just as crazy as he is in my world, only difference is that almost everyone wants him either locked up in the deepest darkest cell possible or dead as a fucking doornail."
Raven wasn't taken aback by my rant, instead nodding in agreement. "I hear you. I don't get it. Okay, so he looks like some poor guy who's gone through some horrible stuff, but it's like you said, that shouldn't give him a pass for killing innocent people. Honestly, I'm surprised Batman hasn't killed him, or any of the heroes really."
"It's the golden rule, and the line in the sand," I said. "For Batman, though? If he's anything like the one I know of, he really wants to put Joker six feet under, but can't bring himself to do it."
"Why's that?"
"Because if he did, it meant he could start making 'excuses' the next time he killed somebody from his rogue's gallery."
The girl winced. "Damn."
"Everyone has a breaking point."
Including Superman.
That was…another disturbing thought. I wasn't some super comic book nerd like my friends were, so I wasn't up to date with most of DC outside of their animated catalogue. I owned all of Batman Beyond and Justice League, including the DCAU movies. I played Netherrealm Studio's Injustice games, and even owned the first few comics of that particular "What If…" story.
So far, this world didn't seem to follow any of the stories and plotlines I knew of. The fact Raven was already here in Jump City was a good indication that this was yet another alternate universe within DC and not just a reversed world with a flipped script. Still, I couldn't discount the possibility this world would go the way of "Evil Superman", in which case we were fucked. It took a lot to bring down the boy scout, and outside of Alien X, I don't know if I had any aliens that could go toe-to-toe with him.
Honestly, I was seriously hoping this world wouldn't take cues from the Regime timeline. That elseworld was…depressing.
Raven changed topics, much to my relief. I didn't want to continue going down that dark rabbit hole. "So, that Omnitrix thing… You said it was from a cartoon?"
"Yep, though I wouldn't be surprised if it's one of those 'cartoon is actually real and some R.O.B. just transmitted the events of that world into somebody's head'," I said. I hadn't thought that was a thing, but seeing how I was in DC Comics now…
"R.O.B.?"
"Random Omnipotent Being. A bunch of fanfic writers use 'em as a convenient excuse whenever they want to do self-inserts or crossovers and some other shit," I explained. "I'm hedging bets one of 'em brought me here." The alternative was that I was a self-insert, in which case my other self is writing a fanfic about this. And that was a can of worms I also didn't want to open, for reasons besides existential meltdown and whatnot. "Anyway, I can't say I'm not happy about having it. I used to dream of having a cool watch that lets you turn into aliens, so it's pretty much a dream come true."
"And you use it to be a hero?"
"Nope. That was my first time going hero."
Raven blinked. "Seriously?"
I can understand where Raven's coming from. My explanation of the Omnitrix was brief, and I barely touched on what happened in Ben 10, but I gave her enough to let her know I was capable of anything with this thing. I could easily follow in Ben Tennyson's footsteps and become a hero. If I had been a younger man, back when I was more hopeful and obsessed with superheroes, I would have.
But…
"I don't know if I want to be a hero."
I didn't have any grand ambitions or plans for the future. So far, all I've been doing is just going with the flow, coasting through life, and being normal. Well, as normal as you can get in a place that favors women. The thought of being a hero did cross my mind, and I understood the dangers that came with it, as well as the responsibility. And that was precisely why I hesitated.
This was a DC Comics world, filled to the brim with all kinds of heroes, from B-listers and street level guys and girls in spandex to people who travel across galaxies to right wrongs. A hero for every kind of problem.
Where would I fit in?
Did I even want to?
More importantly, would I even be a good hero?
That last one is what kept me from crossing the threshold. The uncertainty.
"Then, what do you want to do?"
Raven's question hit harder than I thought it would.
What do I want to do?
I had no real attachment to my old life, and if I had to pick between going home or staying in this world, RSM be damned, I would probably choose the latter. I had a fresh start, a chance to be something other than a desk worker working ungodly hours and going home in the dead of night. I could even snag myself a girlfriend, preferably one who wanted a committed relationship and not one based around sex.
Outside that, though…
"I don't know."
Something flickered across Raven's face, an emotion I couldn't place. She opened her mouth to say something, only to think better and close it. She looked at war with herself, as if struggling to come to a decision. After several minutes of intensive thinking, she looked up from her lap and at me.
"…for what it's worth? I think you'd be a great hero."
I smiled wryly. "You're just saying that because I helped you."
"Maybe, but it doesn't change the fact that you helped me. You could have ran, but you stayed. You trusted me." She paused, a frown overcoming her features as a thought occurred to her. "…you know about me, don't you? About…" She gestured to her head.
"About Trigon?" I nodded. "I know about him, but what he is, I'm a little iffy. From what I remember hearing, he's either an interdimensional demon conqueror or an embodiment of evil." A random thought flicked past my head. "Speaking of, I have to ask, is Trigon in the running for Worst Father of the Year like he is in my world or is he like most men in this weird ass universe?"
That got a laugh out of Raven. It was a nice sound. "A piece of shit, unfortunately." Sadly, that amused smile disappeared soon after. "He's the former, by the way. I don't know much about him myself, other than that he's a demon from another dimension and rules over it like a tyrant. The people of Azarath made sure he couldn't leave, binding him to it so he wouldn't invade our world. Before the seal was finished, though, he kidnapped several women and…" She couldn't bring herself to finish her sentence. She took a deep breath, getting a better hold over her emotions before continuing. "Trigon knew he couldn't invade our world, not while the seals kept him from leaving, so he came up with an idea. He would sire children he could use as 'hosts', a sort of supernatural taxi he could use to escape his dimension and cross over into ours."
"And he found one in you." This aligned with what I already knew about Raven. The addition of other women implied this universe's Trigon took cues from his New 52 counterpart where he had other children, all failures save for Raven.
Raven confirmed my suspicions. "He didn't just want a host. He wanted an heir. Someone who could continue his work if he perished. When Trigon implants his essence into someone, they're either corrupted by it or killed outright. Most of his kids died that way. The ones who survived were deemed failures and were cast aside. I was his success."
Her face contorted. She looked like she wanted to say more, but couldn't bring herself to. I didn't press her on it. From the sounds of it, Raven wasn't raised by the people of Azarath, at least not from the get-go. No, she probably spent her early childhood with Trigon of all things. I really thought the demon would have been subjected to the same RSM rules this world followed, but I was wrong. Oh, so very wrong.
Joker should have been a wake-up call, but I considered him a universal constant, that no matter what universe he was in, he'd always be a monster.
"Stupid question, but are you okay?"
The girl smiled sadly at me. "Yeah, just…unpleasant memories. Long story short, Trigon sent me back to Earth after he implanted me with his essence. If being a walking time bomb wasn't bad enough, his essence attracts demons to me. I'm a literal magnet for them. They can sense him. Worse, they can sense my power. It doesn't matter where I go or how far I run, sooner or later, they call catch up to me."
"How long have you been by yourself?"
"Long enough."
Another silence fell upon the room, thick with tension and unease. Despite saying she was okay, Raven clearly was not. I knew Raven had it bad in the comics, but…this? This sounded worse. Several questions ran through my head, and none of them with pleasant answers.
My stomach twisted into knots.
"…it's weird, you know? Spilling my guts to somebody I just met," Raven chuckled morosely. "I really am a hot mess." She stood up, gently pushing the chair back under the kitchen table. "Thanks for the food, and for patching me up. I'll make it up to you one of these days."
My mouth starts moving before my brain could stop it. "You don't have to leave, you know?"