Y/N L/N

That was the name that you chose to use for many reasons, mainly to honor your mother, who you knew almost nothing about, and also to piss off your father, whom you knew too much about

When Dr. Fate prophesied that your destiny would be even greater than most, the stakes were raised so high, it was a nightmare. John Constantine took it personally to raise you by throwing in the toughest challenges possible, training you almost as harsh as a specialist in the army

Like that time he left you stranded in Hell for a week. You managed to escape and used your own charm and even befriended the one in charge of the place, who you currently know as "uncle Luci"

However, luck wouldn't always be on your side, and you knew that very well. While you had the Amazons and some magic users to help you, you preferred to do things on your own

That had been the case for the last eight years. But recently, you've grown to open up to those you considered family

Especially Zatanna and Boston (AKA Deadman), with who you were currently talking to in the House of Mystery, drinking some tea next to the fireplace and eating a few cookies

You: And that's when I said: "That's not the Necronomicon, it's her dairy, you wanker!"

Boston: And then what happened?

You: Let's just say the guy can't draw a thing now

After that, you shared a laugh with them because of the story you were telling. Sometimes, you like to save the best ones for them

Zatanna: Sounds like he could use some glasses too

Boston: Yeah, that was great!

Laughter kept going for a bit longer. Once it was over, the conversation continued

You: Ah, I missed this...

You grabbed a cookie and ate it. A smile mixed with a bit of nostalgia appeared on your face, but there was no denying the calm you were experiencing

Boston: You know you're welcome anytime, bud

He raised his cup with a smile of his own as a sign courtesy, something characteristic of him

Zatanna: And talking about which, how are the others? I've heard you've gotten closer to them since we last talked

The moment that was brought up, the entire ambient felt different, an insane amount of pressure and nervousness could be felt coursing through your body...again

Boston: Aye, becoming quite a lady-killer, huh?

The ghost's statement evoked a warm sensation all over your face, the familiar feeling of embarrassment

You: Well...I...I guess Rachel and I have spent some time together, but to exchange spells and whatnot

Boston: Suuure

You: R-Really! Yeah, she's nice and all, but that's a bonus, you know?

Now focused on trying to convince the others, you tried to remain calm, but we're startled anyway by a soft hand gently placed on your shoulder

It was Zatanna, who was giving you a sympathetic look and a warm smile

Zatanna: Y/N, it's alright

The magician's motherly approach brought a wave of calm and a welcomed sense of safety. Both Zatanna and Boston had kept your secrets, even without asking them

If there was anyone you could trust with something so...personal, it would be them

You: *Sigh* Alright, alright...I might have a thing for the girl

You closed your eyes and braced for the worst...but nothing happened

Instead, you opened your eyes and found them smiling brightly, quite proud, actually

You: I... You're taking this way better than I thought

Boston: Oh no, I'll make a big deal out of it, but first, we have to know something

You: What is it?

Zatanna: Have you told her?

Suddenly, an odd feeling of defeat passed through your mind

You: I...no, no I haven't

Your ghost friend floated over and sat next to you on the couch, wrapping his arm around your shoulders

Boston: Well, what are you waiting for?

Slowly but surely regaining your composure, you adopted a serious posture

You: It's not that simple, you know

Zatanna: Why not?

Their genuine interest in the topic only made it harder to find answers to their questions

You: Well... There hasn't been an opportunity yet

You heard a chuckle coming from next to you, It was Boston

Boston: Pal, take it from someone who's been around for too long, don't just "wait for your chance"

Zatanna: Boston is right, Y/N. If you like someone, you can't just wait for the opportunity to tell them, you have to make one

She was often the voice of reason, and if the stage magician found herself agreeing with the ghost, then it was for a good reason

You: Right...any ideas? I mean, since you seem to be the experts and all

You asked with a joking tone, but it was still a call for help. Zatanna was no stranger to love, there was even a small rumor that she was quite fond of the Batman herself

So if anyone knew how to approach an emotionally distant person, it was her

Zatanna: Well, if she's as special as you think, she'll make time for you

Boston: Yeah, and when she does, make sure you charm her with confidence. Give her something to remember

Your "aunt" walked towards you and kneeled down to meet your height, placing a hand on your back

Zatanna: And the most important thing: Be yourself

After that, she proceeded to give you a hug, a tender sign of affection and support so characteristic of her

Zatanna: Don't leave anything unsaid, alright?

While talking about your feelings and crushes wasn't your favorite thing to do, but the woman's charming nature made it quite difficult not to feel safe

You: Alright

She broke the hug and gave you a peck on the forehead before holding you by the shoulders

Zatanna:...But you better tell us what happened

Boston: Yeah, I'll even bring the best snacks and everything

The ghost's statement earned a chuckle from you. Meanwhile, Zatanna was smirking at this attempt to lighten the mood

You: You convinced me with that, mate

Then, out of the corner of your eye, you spotted the grandfather clock indicating 1:34 already. Time sure went flying when you visited the house

You: Well, looks like I have to go back to the tower

You stood up and prepared to leave, but a hand suddenly held your arm back

Zatanna: You sure you don't want me to remove that cast for you? It'll take just a second

The previous mission with the Titans did not end so well. You got your arm broken by a giant monster and the team almost died just to protect a coin that was stained with holy water

But truth to be told, your magic energy was still replenishing, so you had to use it wisely and interestingly enough, fixing your own arm was not one of your priorities

Zatanna, on the other hand, was trying her best to hide the worry behind her smile and the tea you were drinking before. You answered her by nodding while making a smile of your own

You: Yes, I want to see how much can I do with just one arm

Upon hearing this, Boston patted your shoulder with a smirk

Boston: Tough guy, huh?

Both of you chuckled at this comment, your aunt's worry slightly fading

Zatanna: Alright, good to see your humor is still intact

You: Of course, it's my best weapon

With that said, she opened the door for you and you waved them off before walking out of the building

However, when you did, the ambient itself changed

Boston: Y'know, I think we're making a breakthrough here

Looking over her shoulder, the stage magician gave him a confused look

Zatanna: What do you mean, Boston?

Boston: Well, Y/N's not the most open when it comes to a heart to heart talk, you know it

Zatanna: Yeah, as stubborn as his father...

Her gaze saddened as she sat on the couch again, covering the side of her head with her hand as a sigh left her lips

Zatanna: And that's exactly why I didn't tell him about what happened with Bruce...

The ghost gave her a sympathetic look and chose to float near her

Boston: Aww, don't be sad, Zee. Y'know Bats ain't one for cuddles and tea

Zatanna: I know...

"I just don't want Y/N to have the same luck as I did"

The door led you back to the tower, and currently, you were in the middle of a hallway. However, as soon as you arrived, your phone started ringing

You answered it and as soon as you saw who was it, a smile appeared on your face

Jen: Hello, Y/N?

You: Jen! How's the birthday girl doing?

A giggle could be heard from the other side of the call

Jen: I'm fine, the guys are taking me shopping and just won't let me pay for anything

You: Well, those are good friends, besides, it's your day

You started to walk down the hallway while the call continued

Jen: I guess you're right. Thanks again for giving me the day off. I'll make sure to save you some cake

You found yourself smiling at this. Ever since you took Jennifer as your apprentice, you thought she would be so hard to train and even to get along

And yet, there you are, giving her a day off because of the special occasion and by the sound of it, she really needed it, especially once she told you about this guy who threatened to kill her in an alleyway

You made an appointment to have some specialized training after that, but for today, she was free

You: I'd like some, thanks

But then, a sigh followed one from her. This caught your attention in seconds

Jen: That'll only make worse what I have to say...

The tone of the conversation turned serious the moment she said that. You reached a window and just stood in front of it

You: What is it?

Jen: The thing is I have a case for you, but it's not fair! I'm here enjoying myself and you're still working your ass off to keep us safe!

Fear was washed away just as quickly as it appeared. Jen's kindness was one thing to admire, she had seen quite disturbing things and she remained as a tender spirit

Because of that, you soon found yourself smiling at her

You: Don't get bummed out about it. Ain't no rest for us Occult detectives anyway

Then, you leaned on a handrail nearby, getting comfortable while talking

You: So, what do you have for me?

Jen: Well, my friend Rick has something in his house that keeps making a mess out of it. Imagine how hard it is to explain that to the police when you are investigated for a noise complaint

You: No kidding. So what kind of mess does this creature make?

Jen: Throws things around, paintings fall on their own and the occasional screaming, you know

You: Oh, so just a regular spirit, then

Jen: Yeah, I didn't want to leave you an overwhelming task...besides, I know you'd be lost without me

Her comment earned a brief laugh from you

You: Cocky, aren't we?

After that, she joined you in said laughter

Jen: But anyway, thank you so much for helping me out again. I'll make it up to you, promise

While her promise was well-intentioned, you couldn't agree with her on this

You: I'll tell you how: Enjoying the hell out of that party, because breaks aren't something common around here

Jen: Alright, I'll see you soon, then!

The call ended shortly after that, but your thoughts on the matter didn't

While Jennifer was hardly essential for your work, the company was quite appreciated. However minor cases like that helped You clear your mind

This time, it could help to figure out how to proceed with the "Rachel case" as your mind now called it

???: Oh, you're back

You turned to find the source of the voice, it was Rachel herself with a book in her arms and a small smile

Of course, being her the topic of discussion just a few minutes ago, it was not easy to look at her in the eye, still, you tried

You: Allo, Rachel. How are you?

Rachel: I'm fine, just studying some spells. What about you?

You: Just got a call, a contract to investigate a haunted house, nothing serious

After exchanging smiles, there was a moment of awkward silence. However, your mind working as fast as it did, it gave you a solution to both problems at once

Maybe if you brought her along, you would have time to tell her. After all, it was just a haunted house, how difficult could it be?

You: So...wanna tag along?

At first, the goth was surprised by your invitation. She checked her book for a moment and then back at you

Rachel: I could use some practice

You smiled at how easy it was to convince her, but then noticed a complication

You: Great...just one thing, tough

Rachel: What?

You: As lovely as your cloak might be, it draws too much attention. We need to remain in a low profile to not cause a bigger mess

A haunted house was like a beacon of the supernatural, if you were to treat this without any uninvited guests, you had to maintain things normal...and that included your appearance

As weird as that might have been, you obeyed without hesitation, didn't even daring to do otherwise

Rachel: Azarath Metrion Zinthos

Right after she chanted that, a strong wind came your way, going right past you and purple and pink lights illuminated that corner of the hallway for a moment before going back to silence

Rachel: Alright, you can see now

You turned around slowly, in an awkward motion, but what you saw next, you were not expecting at all:

Rachel: So, what do you think? Too casual?

Words failed you as you stood practically in awe of what you were looking at. Rachel was already a cute girl before, but seeing her in something so casual and charming? That was, indeed, a sight to behold

You: W-What? No, I ... If anything, I-I think you're totally lush (good-looking)

The goth actually giggled at your attitude, that rare gesture that you were still getting used to

Rachel: Well, I'll keep that in mind, thanks

Without further due, she started to walk away, while you were forced to snap out of it by this action and followed suit. And now returning to the task at hand, you recalled what would be needed to complete it

You: Right, I'll need something from my room before we do it

Rachel simply nodded and you resumed your walk. It was becoming increasingly difficult to keep your mind clear now, it was funny how just one small detail could jeopardize everything

You: So...R-Rachel, how did you come up with that outfit?

Rachel: Kori likes to hang out in the city and just like in this case, we need to keep a low profile, so she helped me choose one

You: Makes sense... Well, you chose well, if I say so myself

Rachel: Coming from the guy in a suit, it means a lot

You could feel your confidence returning the moment you realized what she had just done

You: Rachel Roth, did you just make a joke?

Rachel:...Maybe

You two laughed it off, soon finding yourselves near your room, but there was something or someone else there as well. It was Tim Drake accompanied by Rose Wilson

However, they didn't act hat natural, if anything they were startled by your arrival and of course, that was never a good thing. You chose to break the ice with them and stopped your conversation with your friend to look at the other Titans

You: Allo, guys

Tim greeted you with a nod, something not rare from him

Rose: How's the arm holding up?

Despite the whole act, you could tell Rose did mean to know how were you doing, so you answered with the same courtesy

You: Good enough to cast a spell, no pun intended

She snickered at this, while the other teenager stepped up

Tim: Where were you?

You: Oh, just drinking tea with aunt Zee

While your answer was casual, you made a deep analysis of the scene

They remained hauntingly still, Rose was subconsciously shuffling her feet and Tim was clearly up to something with his attitude...Not to mention, they were outside your room

And so, you subtly looked behind them to see if his room had been tampered with, then after three seconds, you returned your gaze to meet them and try to uncover everything

You: So, can I help you, mate?

Suddenly, you saw the former Robin sigh, as if he was failing to find an alternative

Tim: This might sound weird but...Have you done something to me?

This question was so out of place, even Rachel was caught off-guard by this. The only one who didn't react awkwardly (not as much) was Rose, who was chuckling for some reason

You: Excuse you?

The young man facepalmed upon realizing what he had just said, sounding even worse than he thought

Tim: Sorry, that came out wrong, but I really don't know how to explain it. Look, I faced a demon, but it ran away saying that I had your "scent". Care to explain?

Now you understood what he meant

You: Well, we do spend some time together as the Titans. Maybe some of my charm rubbed off on you

You soon found himself chuckling at his own statement but failed to amuse Tim

Rachel: But in all seriousness, Y/N and I placed some spells around this place.

You: You know, to keep you out of mystical problems

Tim seemed to be quite immersed in his own thoughts. Whatever was going on, it could wait

You: Well, we're going to leave now

And so, you went into your room, Rachel stood outside, waiting

Tim: Already? But you just got here

He disguised his frustration with ease, Rose helped keep the tone friendly...too bad you were a detective too

Rose: Busy man, huh?

Your laughter confirmed this as you walked out of the room, holding a small bottle

You: You know it, luv

Tim: And where to this time?

You: We're going ghostbusting, want to join us?

While you were clearly joking, Timothy was actually considering it. Everything was fine... until it wasn't

Tim: ...Actually, yeah, I do

This declaration earned a moment of complete silence. Of course, nobody believed what was going on

But even worse, if he did, he could endanger your plan

You:...You sure about that?

Tim: Yeah, I'm curious

And now, there was not saying no to him, it would look too obvious. You would have to improvise, then

You: Right...well, get yourself into some civies, we don't want to get unnecessary attention in this one

Tim: Right, I'll be right back, then

He walked away from the scene and you two were left alone to talk with each other

After a couple seconds, it was you who broke the silence, now growing impatient

You: Rose, you're the most rational one here, what just happened?

Rose: I wish I knew what to tell you, Y/N, but you know Tim

Rachel: He can be really curious sometimes

Her voice made you look at her with an intrigued expression on your face

You: Is that so? I mean, I knew he would hop in eventually, but not so soon

Rose: Well, maybe he finally gave in, you've given us some pretty fucking solid evidence that magic does work

That didn't make sense at all, there was something else in play

You: ...I doubt it

The way you said it appeared to have caught Rose off-guard. Rachel, on the other hand, preferred to remain silent

Rose: What? Why?

You: I'm not saying that I'm not bloody amazing, but come on, you've had Rachel in the team for...

You then subtly looked over your shoulder to consult Rachel, who couldn't help but smile at this

Rachel: Three and a half years

You: Right, thanks, luv

Then you shifted your attention back to Rose to present this evidence

You: If Mr. Red Robin wasn't convinced during all that time, there's no way I did it. I mean Rachel does some pretty hardcore things sometimes

Tim: Have some faith in me, Y/N, it won't kill you

His voice confirmed the return of their leader, this time wearing semi-formal clothes but bringing his utility belt along if he ever needed it

Somehow, he attracted the same amount of unnecessary attention

You: I said civies, mate, you don't strike me as an innocent bystander

Tim: That's coming from the man who practically wears a suit while beating monsters

Neither Rose nor Rachel could contain themselves and let out a short laugh. He had a point

You: What can I say, I've never been a fan of them capes and thighs

Tim: Right, everything ready?

You: Yes, hop in

Reluctantly, you opened a portal in front of you, a house could be seen on the other side of it. You waved goodbye to Rose before walking into it followed by Rachel and later, Tim himself

And now, you were outside a regular house. This was the address Jen texted you after that call, so you didn't waste time and headed straight to the door

Tim: Why are we here?

You: Got a contract in this place, says a ghost is haunting the place non-stop

Tim: Contract?

Rachel: That's what he calls a mission

Shortly after you knocked on it, the door was answered by a young man about the same age as you but had the appearance of an aspiring rock star

???: Yeah?

You: I'm Y/N L/N, heard you had a ghost problem

???: Oh, right! You with Jen, right? Yeah, I sure do

He opened the door completely and stepped away as an invitation. Jen was apparently a good friend of his, weird he wasn't with her at the moment

???: Please come in, man

Followed by Titans, you walked into the house, starting to inspect the place immediately and so did Rachel

You: So, what can you tell me about this ghost?

???: Well, it likes to toss things around like a madman, sometimes I even hear a couple of screams or just plain gibberish, the usual

No new information was given

Tim: You don't sound so scared of it

He turned to face the teenager with suspicion, but he got an answer shortly after

???: Oh, I AM scared, it's just easier to talk about during the daytime

Then, the goth girl motioned them to be quiet, then after a few seconds, she talked again

Rachel: I sense something, it's the spirit

You: Where to?

She pointed at a room with a closed-door next to the kitchen. You slowly approached until you noticed that rocker following you

You: Stay here, mate. Things might get weird in that room

However, before the door was opened, you looked back at your friends for advice

You: Don't let it touch you, it's going to get worse if you do

They nodded in confirmation and you proceeded to enter the room. The place itself was nearly empty, just a window leading to the back of the house and a pair of paintings

Rachel: It's here, I sense it again

This time, you took a more direct approach and walked to the center of the room

You: Listen whoever you are, we know you're here, no point in hiding or spooking

Realizing what you were trying to do, she stepped up as well

Rachel: We're here to help you

A painting then fell down behind you, effectively earning your attention, but something even worse happened right after that

Tim suddenly gasped and collapsed on the floor without any explanation, but you already knew what happened

Rachel: Tim!

She kneeled down to help him, but he slapped her hand away and angrily stepped back up, with eyes glowing white, thus confirming the theory that he had been possessed

???: You fellers get the hell away from me!

Now that you were in direct contact with the spirit, you tried to defuse the situation

You: Alright, no need to possess my friend. We're the good guys

???: Like hell you are, you stink of black magic!

The goth stepped forward, with her hands up as a sign of surrender in an attempt to help you

Rachel: That's because we're magic users, but we aren't here to-

???: YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!!

She couldn't even finish her sentence because the madman had just jumped off the window and tried to make a run for it

You rushed towards the broken window and saw the direction he was heading to

You: Bloody hell, I said not to let the ghost touch him!

Sighing in annoyance, you jumped off the same window followed by Rachel, who was flying in a hurry to catch the possessed Tim Drake

However, being in the body of someone who was practically an athlete, the ghost was able to maneuver his way easily out of your traps and Rachel's attacks, sometimes aided by his own utility belt

Rachel: Why didn't you just seal the room!?

You: Because I didn't think he would escape through the sodding window! Who does that?

She was flying as fast as she could, while you were transported by a magic disk. The best you could do at the moment was to keep up with the ghost, but also thinking of an idea to capture him

Fortunately, you reached a park with open space and no witnesses, it was there that you chose to carry out the plan you and Rachel had come up with

You: Hey Rachel, you thinking what I'm thinking?

Rachel: Yes, do it now!

Without wasting any time, you played your part. your hands began to glow and suddenly, a small crowd appeared in Tim's way. They were all illusions, but enough to keep him busy

So busy that it provided an opening for Rachel to act. She raised her hands and began to chant

Rachel: Azarath Metrion Zinthos

Then, her black energy wrapped around the former Robin's legs like barbed wire, effectively making him fall and even roll due to the speed he was using

You: Finally, well done, luv

With him unable to move, the chase was over. You were the first to approach Tim while Rachel remained alert

You kneeled next to him, unamused

You: You done running?

He was still struggling to get himself free but to no avail

???: Let me go you rascal!

You: I will, as soon as you understand that we're not going to hurt you

???: Bullshit! You've been chasing me around for fifteen minutes!

Rachel: Because you made us

You: That too, but just think about it, mate, if we wanted to destroy you then we would've done it in the room

The spirit stopped struggling to free himself when he heard that but was still not quite convinced, so you chose to take a different approach, something less aggressive

You: My name is Y/N L/N

???: Y/N as in that feller who helps them unfortunate ghosts?

There was a hint of hope in his voice as he said that, you couldn't help but smile at this, he was finally understanding

You: The same, you believe me now?

The ghost took some time to consider this, but then Tim's eyes opened wide and his mouth too, releasing a now visible spirit in the form of a cowboy

???: Sorry for the inconveniences, Mr. L/N

The man was sitting down, no intention to get up at the moment

You: It's fine, Mr...

He was being formal, so you returned the courtesy while waiting for him to finish your sentence

???: Thompson, Clay Thompson at your service

He shook your hand as a greeting. The ghost could make itself tangible or intangible at will by the looks of it. You sat down to continue the conversation in a rather friendly way

You: A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Thompson. This here is my friend Rachel and the fellow you just possessed is Timothy

Clay's eyes went wide in the realization of what he had just done to your teammate

Clay: Oh my, I'm terribly sorry 'bout that!

You motioned Rachel to assist Timothy with his recovery while you continued to talk to the ghost, ensuring he said there

You: Don't worry, he'll be fine. Guess you had fun running away in the body of an athlete

The man couldn't help but chuckle at this statement

Clay: I won't deny it, it was pretty damn funny

It didn't take long for Rachel to wake Tim up using a spell of hers. The young man woke up coughing for a couple of seconds

You knew for a fact that he would be fine, so you didn't pay much attention to him, instead, you went back to the spirit

You: Now, Mr. Thompson, can you tell me how did you recognize the scent of black magic?

This question almost erased the smile off his face

Clay: It's a long story, but I guess that won't convince you

You: You guess correctly

The ghost sighed before adjusting his hat and finally spoke

Clay: Well, the thing is, when I was alive, I came across an old hag, she accused me of killing her children

Tim: And did you do it?

Both of you looked at a still recovering Timothy, who in turn was looking at him

You: You feeling better?

Tim nodded as he sat down next to you, with Rachel sitting on the other side

Clay: Sorry for taking your body, pal

Tim: Don't worry about it. Please continue

His words were nice, but one could tell he was interested in the story Clay had to tell

Clay: Well, I didn't kill her children, I just turned them over to collect a bounty, they swung a day later, but that woman soon found out that I captured them

Rachel: What did they do?

Clay: Murder, train robbery, stealing from the church, you name it. Those bastards had no limits and I ain't regret what I did

You: Fair enough, what did the woman do to you?

Clay: She might have hired some of Satan's very own demons to go after me. They have been haunting my entire existence

Rachel: How so?

Clay: They make sure that everything that can go wrong does go wrong. Even now that I'm not around anymore since 1892, those things still chase after me

Tim: So you sheltered yourself in that man's house?

Clay: He's part of my family, good to know my bloodline is still going, but I don't know if them demons are after the family too

Rachel: And you tried to warn him, that's why you moved things around and such

Clay: Something like that, at least he was smart enough to call you

You: This curse isn't that hard to lift, first we have to defeat the demons that are after Mr. Thompson

Clay: And how do we do that?

Rachel: We lure them to us

You: Exactly. Curses appear at a certain time, what time was it when the hag's children died?

Clay: Around 6:05

You: What time is it?

Tim: 3:15 p.m

You: More than enough, then

Tim: Alright, what do you need?

Without answering, you stood up and began to walk away

You: To work, excuse me

You conjured a fireball and threw it into the area where they were sitting, acting as a fire

Then, you used the bottle you brought along and started to draw a line around the area using the liquid inside. Once that was done, you returned to the fire

You: Alright, this is how we'll lure those tossers: Mr. Thompson, I need you to remember your old life, the bounties you collected

Clay: Including the one that got me cursed?

You: Especially that one

Clay: Alright, I'll see what I can do

With that same attitude, you looked at Rachel

You: Darling, make sure to keep him in line, don't let him be consumed by the negative emotions and if possible, amplify the positive ones

Rachel: I'll start now, then

Shortly after that, Tim approached you

Tim: I know it's none of my business, but what is the purpose of that?

You: By amplifying Clay's emotions, we'll lure the demons faster

Tim: Alright, what do you need from me?

You: You can relax for now. Your time to shine will come

Once again, you walked away yet again, only taking a couple of steps before kneeling down and adopting a meditating posture that you learned from the Amazons

You: I'm going to kill time my way

Without much effort, you closed your eyes and lost your connection to the world

While a wandering mind was unpredictable, it was quite obvious what were you thinking about

Things were not going as planned. This case for bigger than what you expected, not that you minded, but not even now you could talk to Rachel

Just the thought of it sent shivers down your spine, what would happen if she accepted and you actually ended up together? What if she rejected you and your proposal ruined the relationship?

So many things could go wrong, so few could end up right, it was frightening

While she was not the easiest person to read, you could tell when she disliked the company of others and she had never rejected yours, so why start now?

Many excuses like that would flow throughout your mind. For someone who fought demons on a daily basis, you never thought you would find yourself scared of anything

...Y/N? It's time

You opened your eyes to a cold, yet smooth hand touching your shoulder, letting you know that the very same you were thinking about was the one to wake you up

You: ...Right, thanks

The time has come to face the spirits who were chasing the ghost of Clay Thompson, but you had a plan

You: Alright, everyone. Listen up, this is how it's going to be...

The wind began to blow over the place, carrying the leaves fallen from the trees under a grey, dead sky. The only sounds remaining to be the breeze and the fire that still illuminate d the place

A sinister whisper entered the field, followed by another, and another until a crowd was gathered in the area.

The whispers belonged to black, robed figures that never touched the ground, yet floated surrounded by mist

These were the creatures responsible for the man's inability to rest in peace

However, when they arrived at the scene, they found only Clay himself, sitting by the fire and looking at it with expressionless eyes

Clay: Hundred and twenty-one years, a hundred and twenty-one years you've been after my soul...

He looked at the creatures with anger, not even afraid of their presence

Clay: That ends today, you ethereal bastards

One of those monsters started to approach him, floating and preparing to strike. Clay remained unfazed by it

The moment the beast swung its claws at him, not a single one of them touched him, but they were scorched before they could

And soon enough, the f/c colored flames would consume the entire being, who screeched in pain by this

The rest of them backed away in shock of this. Their numbers would be reduced if they dared go near that shield again

Suddenly, a black raven made of energy emerged from the ground and in a swift motion, cut some of them in half

A small sphere was thrown into the field, soon exploding and covering it with smoke. Once it cleared, the three of you were in the way of the spirits

Tim: The clock's ticking. We got five minutes

You: Stay within the line, do not let them take the ghost

Upon seeing the new obstacle, the curses roared, growled and screeched as they launched themselves at their new prey, who prepared yourselves for the battle

Since they were monsters, there was no reason for the heroes to hold back

While in battle, you finished off a spirit that tried to sneak up on Tim by setting it on fire

You two exchanged a nod before returning to work. Your body might have been fighting the enemy, but your mind was somewhere else entirely

This very mistake was what caused you to be dragged to the ground by one of the creatures. It was about to bite you when a bullet went through its head

It was Mr. Thompson the one who saved you. You were thankful for it, but you couldn't allow yourself more mistakes like that

Your mind focused on the battle for just a couple minutes was all it took for you to gain the upper hand, thus preparing the next part

You: We're pushing them back! Do it now!

Tim threw a set of grenades that blinded their enemies, then Rachel created a barrier that not only threw away any near enemy but also trapped them all in one area

Finally, you raised both arms (despite the cast) and with a powerful glow in them, you chanted:

You: "Det illis infernum"

The ground the creatures floated over started to shake, light snuck past the cracks and shortly after, many decaying hands violently dragged the beasts and forced them to descend into nothingness, all of them

And now, you three took the opportunity to regain your breath it, getting to recover from a successful fight against the curses

You: That'll do it...

Tim: And why didn't you start with that?

You looked at the former Robin, who was leaning on his staff to stand up

You: It takes time to prepare, besides, just had one try

Clay: And now what?

You: For you to get to the afterlife, we have to get rid your bond to this place

Clay: Fine, and what is it?

Rachel: In this case, your body

You turned around and started to give orders yet again

You: Luv, see if you can find it

Tim: I'll go with her

With no other option, you nodded and watched them walk away

You: I'll start the preparations for the ritual...

A portal was opened and both of you crossed it. It led to an open field with a rock big enough to be used as a seat, which you did

Clay: I know that look...

You looked at the man who sat next to you, he was smiling as if he had remembered something

Clay: That's the face of despair, hating to be away from someone, am I right?

Your expression changed from confusion to surprise upon hearing that. It was clear that Mr. Thompson knew more than just firing a gun

You:...You are, how did you know?

Clay: That's the same look my wife gave me when I had to leave Blackwater for a contract, took me two weeks

You: Is that so? Sounds like she wasn't fond of the distance

The man laughed for a moment, his gaze fixed in the landscape ahead, memories making their work

Clay: Yes, my Annie was a real piece of work. She could cook an astounding meal one day and clear out an entire gang the other

You: Huh, sounds like quite a charmer

You weren't quite fond of the thought of someone else showing off their partner when you were in the middle of a crisis relating to that

Clay: When you find that "special one" you'll be damned if you didn't keep 'er around. But as you know, my spirit is still here

Growing slightly annoyed of it, you looked at him straight in the eye with a more serious approach

You: Where are you going with this?

Clay: The thing is, I'm afraid that after this after I get to the "other side" I won't find a damn thing

Then, irritation turned into sympathy. Fear of the afterlife was something very common among spirits

You placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, making him look at you

You: As an expert of the paranormal, I can assure you that she is waiting for you

That was enough to spark hope on him again, smiling shortly after

Clay: Alright, I'll take your word for it. You haven't failed me so far

You nodded to this, there was a small moment of silence after that

Clay: What about you, got any ladies waiting for you?

You: I got one, but I'm not quite sure that she's mine, to begin with

It was astonishing how easy was to open up about it, but since you were stuck in that thought all day, might as well get it off your chest

Clay: Well, if she's the one, every minute of the wait was worth it. Just got one tip to make sure

You: Which is...?

Clay: When you're at your lowest, she won't say "I'm sorry" she'll say " I'll help you get back up" and will stay with you even after that

You: Wow...Did experience tell you that?

Clay: Absolutely, Annie was the only one that could get me out of the bed

You: Huh, you were a lucky man, Clay

He sighed, but happiness could still be seen in his face

Clay: Yes, I was...And I wish the same luck to you, friend

You smiled as thanks for that but didn't say anything

About ten minutes had passed and you remembered the other part of the mission. You picked up your communicator and spoke to it

You: Oi, did you find the body yet?

Tim: Yeah, we're on our way now

Shortly after that, you spotted Tim and Rachel crossing a portal and carrying the body

You: Alright, we can continue now

You got up and carefully removed part of the sheet so the remains could be seen.

Then, you kneeled next to it and placed one hand where the heart used to be, closing your eyes

You: "Ingenuus nunc"

Then, you asked Clay to reach out for the hand that was still under the cast, he complied

"Ab anima alia nunc patiar requies "

After this was said, you let go of both Clay's hand and the corpse, now being engulfed by flames in a peaceful way until there was nothing left, not even the sheets

As the body disappeared, you could sense Clay's presence starting to weaken but then, you saw the being that was to take him away: A white horse

With a smile, you looked back at Clay

You: There's your ride

Clay: Thank you, friend, mark my words when I say that I'll never forget this

As a way of saying goodbye, the man gave you a quick hug and a pat on the back

Clay: Remember what we talked about

The hug was completed and so, you two walked towards the horse

You: I will. Now, I believe you have people waiting for you

The man got in the animal, who accepted him with ease

Clay: I do, it'd be unfair to keep 'em waiting

Then, he took off his hat and tossed it to you with a smirk

Clay: So long, Y/N L/N

He got the horse's attention by pulling his reins, making it stand and neigh for a moment before it galloped away from the place

You all watched him be set free while reliving his own memories, that overwhelming feeling of peace was always welcome

You: This is my favorite part of the whole thing

At a certain distance, the horse started to glow but it didn't stop nor slowed down, not even when it started to fade away

They kept going at full force through the field until eventually, there was nothing but a breeze, a calm one

Clay Thompson might be gone, but his words remained with you all the way to the tower, where you continued to meditate on the situation

He was a clear example of the best-case scenario for having a partner, but to gain her love, he had to search for it

He made his own opportunity

And it was about time you made yours

With this mentality, you conjured a rare bouquet of flowers decorated with black roses and violets. A spell that you had been practicing all week

And so, with one deep breath, you made your way out of your room and into Rachel's, which was next to yours

However, when you got there, you spotted Garfield, that green teenager that you hadn't seen in all day, holding a bouquet as well

You: Oh, hello, Gar...wait, are those flowers?

Garfield: Yup! For mah lady! One year together, can you believe that?

You: Huh, that's nice. Who is the lucky lady?

Garfield: Right, forgot to tell you...

The world itself slowed down and everything suddenly lost its meaning the moment a single sentence was told:

"Rachel's my girlfriend"

At that moment, it was just you and Garfield in that hallway, nothing else

And it was not by magic, but your own doing

That statement...did he really managed to earn Rachel's very own heart? Him?

No...That was not possible. Rachel was a smart, skilled and beautiful girl and Garfield was... Garfield

How in hell was that a thing!?

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, you mustered the strength to open your mouth and continue

You:...Rachel?

Garfield: Yeah, I know, who would have thought, right? Yeah, she's pretty secretive about it, don't tell her I told you

While he remained annoyingly happy, you were testing your patience. It took all your might to not do anything stupid like throwing a punch at the green boy in front of you

Still, that didn't keep your fist from being clenched so tight it was starting to hurt, but not that it mattered

You: How...how did you manage to charm someone like her?

Garfield: That's the best part dude, C'mere

He motioned you to come closer. Once you were, he whispered, almost snickering

Garfield: I have absolutely no idea, dude

While Beast Boy laughed at his own statement, you looked at him as if he had just told the worst joke possible, because in a way...he did

He stopped laughing after a short while, his attention shifting to the object in your hands

Garfield: So, anyway. What those flowers for?

He pointed at the small gift on your hands. Almost forgot you had them with you

And now, you had to make something up to avoid the fact that you were just about to give Rachel a love declaration

You: Oh, this is...

Searching through every possible answer to this predicament, you found one that while not fake, it was not true either

You: ...It's a birthday gift, for my friend Jennifer

The way you said that kept him from investigating further, he appeared to believe it. It never took much to fool someone like that

Garfield: Huh, she has a good taste in flowers, kinda like Rae

If your first was clenched before, no wonder just how close were you to make it bleed from the raw strength of your own nails piercing your skin

Garfield: Welp, see ya later, man!

Of course he didn't get the message, but the teenager chose a wise time to leave before it could get worse somehow

His voice made you snap out of it and just stood there as he walked into Rachel's room with that same carefree attitude

You: Yeah...see you later... friend

The fact that the green boy had left gave you the opportunity to let out some steam, finally

As soon as the teenager entered Rachel's room, a flame began to engulf the bouquet of flowers you had with you

It began to consume then in a silent, yet violent motion, leaving no part intact until there was nothing in your hands, not even ash

But it didn't feel good at all, it didn't change a thing. Your face was still fixed in the spot Garfield was standing on, you hadn't moved in the slightest

The only thing that was changing, the subtler and purest manifestation of your current state... was a tear, a single drop that was going down your cheek

Of all people... why her?

You were not one that is usually caring about anything, but this, this couldn't even wait for you to go back to your room and let it all out

And this scene was witnessed by someone else, a stranger to the topic, but someone aching to know.

Worry, sadness and empathy could be read in her face. This girl knew the feeling of loss and defeat all too well

It pained her to see her friends having a rough time, especially when it was a personal matter

But with you? That was different, not that she didn't care, in fact, she cared too much

Just as she kept thinking about it, her eye went wide as the memory of a recent conversation returned to her

Control room, 6:04 p.m

"...I-I dunno, Kori...it's just too damn hard to do it, Y'know?"

This declaration earned a giggle from the princess, but still kept herself in a helping posture

Kori: I'd never thought I'd ever see you nervous, friend. I know you are no stranger to attracting men

The person she was listening to, was Rose Wilson herself

Mercenary, daughter of the world's deadliest assassin, Titan and now...emotionally troubled

She was consulting Kori on something she was aching to get out of her chest, but a topic that she was not particularly familiar with

Rose: *Sigh* It must be weird...sorry, I'm still kinda new to this whole "feelings thing"

Starfire tilted her head to the side, curious as to what she meant by that

Kori: You mean "to love someone"?

The white-haired tried to fake it, but she failed in acting confidently. Being vulnerable wasn't a feeling that she was fond of, especially given her backstory of trouble and betrayal

Rose: Well...yeah...

Kori: I understand it, but believe me, Y/N is a kindred soul despite the bitterness, if you show kindness to him, he'll show it back

Rose: I mean, we've talked and all but...

Gently, she was interrupted by her friend, who snuck in and managed to place a hand on Rose's shoulder to get her to focus

Kori: What is your fondest memory of him?

Getting the message, the mercenary attempted to find an answer to that. Rose had shared a lot with you during your stay in the Titans Tower, some good memories, some other not so much

But still, there was no denying the impact you made

Rose: Well... That one time when we played video games together and beat the guys, it was soo much fun...

She found herself smiling fondly at the memory of that event, but soon enough a frown appeared on her face as she dug deeper into it

Rose: ...Or at least until Wally had to screw things up

Koriand'r gave her a sympathetic look, nodding softly in agreement

Kori: Well, he is not known for meditating his words before saying them

I don't know, I feel like I haven't done enough for him,

Kori: Rose, you are an amazing person, if you haven't done anything for him is because you haven't had the chance

Kori: Patience is a virtue, I'm sure that if you wait patiently, you'll get that opportunity

Rose: A-And how do I know that's my chance?

"You'll know it when you see it"

Rose: You'll know it when you see it...Damnit Kori, you better be right about this

Sighing deeply, Rose gathered her strength and walked towards you

Rose: Hey, Y/N

You: Allo, Rose...

Rose: Woah, you alright? You sound...bad

You: *Sigh* Not the time

Rose was worried she might have ruined her chance, but she lightened up as soon as she recalled what she used to do in times of grief or sadness

Rose: It seems like you need a quick solution to this. The drink s are on me

Her statement was both weird and sudden, maybe you weren't the only one struggling to talk at the moment

You: Come again?

Rose: Yeah, it might not be the best option, but I can assure you, it'll help you out

You: I don't know, Rose...

She placed a hand on your shoulder

Rose: Hey, you don't have to talk about it, just drink with me, alright?

Upon looking at her, you saw that she wasn't sporting her usual smirk

But a genuine smile, a sympathetic look and most important of all: The true intention to help you out

Judging by the way she was behaving at first, you could tell she was not used to being that "shoulder to cry on", but at least she was trying, for you

It was at this moment that certain advice echoed throughout your mind:

"She won't say I'm sorry, she'll say I'll help you get back up and will stay with you even after that"

Clay was right

...And who knows? It might be fun, could be worth the shot

Pushing your hatred and sadness aside for a moment, you finally looked at the girl in the eye and smiled while saying:

"Alright, lead the way"