Back to Reality, or something like it

Red X's first reaction was to send three of his x shaped blades flying through the air at the green skinned man who was now tearing his restraints from the wall. The edge sank into the flesh of his left forearm even as it expanded to rip his shirt sleeve. Garlo didn't even flinch. His eyes shown yellowish-green as a pair of fangs sunk over his top lip before stopping, His dark green hair flowed from his head, hanging limply in his eyes as a smile crossed his lips. He was neither the beast, nor the man he had been a moment before, it was as if the two had merged if only for a moment. His chest tore through the fabric of his clothing, leaving him in pants and his cloak. as the chains gave way under his immense strength, the tearing sound caused Raven to look up and the two villains to stare at him in surprise.

Within his mind a discussion was taking place, Garlo's rational mind had found a common link with the beast. "Remember our deal....I give you my power, and I get a say in the decisions" If they hadn't been connected at such a primal level at the moment it wouldn't have been more then a growl of triumph, but now.....something more important had gone on.

"Ok....what was it you wanted to do then?" The thought was lenitive, almost in fear of the answer.

"First, tear those two to shreds......then I want to..."

The green man beast smirked, his fangs gleaming as he stretched. Slowly he strode forward, confident steps. He was beginning to like this inner self of his...at least for a moment. He wasn't caught off guard, though he did not bother to dodge the glowing neon blast of energy that came at him. Instead he allowed it to hit him, taking in the minimal amount of pain and using the smoke screen produced to jerk to the right, planting his feet on the wall and springing back at Red X from the side.

He was thrown to the side at the last second by another blast from the red headed alien, sending him spiraling into a wall head first. While picking himself up from the floor, he noticed the three blades still sticking from his arm and pulled one, holding it in his claws. Jumping, he dodged a blast coming from the strange girls eyes at the same time her masked partner ran toward the hooded figure. A swing that looked to miss the smaller man actually snapped the restraints on Raven's left arm. She smiled when her eyes met his and her hand engulfed in dark energy. Her talon screeched across to her other chain, tearing it from the wall.

Within seconds she was free, and had swiped her hands across the face of the detracted woman, bringing forth a loud shriek of pain and surprise. Her eyes closed and the inside of her eyelids was slightly singed by the energy coming from within before she could stop them. Arching her fists in violent, blind attacks, she was kicked in the head. While she reeled for an instant, Raven jumped at her, tackling her to the ground as she attempted to wrap a dark claw over Starfire's throat.

The shriek of his lover caused Red X to turn for a fraction of a second.....far too long. Wrapping his arms around the other man's throat, tightening quickly to cut off his air. He was shocked at the flexibility when his face was met with a boot. Just before letting him go, Garlo threw him against he wall, following right behind at a charge. Barely missing the downed figure as Red X leapt out of the way and right in front of the door. "Another time perhaps, fall back Starfire." With that he fled, and would have left the red head behind if she hadn't used all her strength to toss Raven from her and fly at his voice.

Raven whirled toward the opening, her eyes bright with anger, sweat pouring from her face. She completely missed the movement to her right, until she was pressed between the wall and Garlo. Her eyes widened, breath catching as she looked at him. What was he thinking? What would the beast that was so obvious just beyond the surface force him to do? Her heaving chest brushed against his bare skin, flesh on flesh as his fangs brushed over her neck, then a stabbing pain that forced her to cry out. The sensation only lasted a second, but when he pulled away, his chin was stained with her blood.

She stared at him for a minute in utter shock until her voice finally shot from her lips. "What in the hell do you think you are doing?" With a heave, she pushed him back, a claw going to the skin wound.

The green man smiled, wiping his face with his arm, the two blades still buried within his muscle. "Simple, marking you....."

The gothic girl looked at the blood on her hand then back at him, "Marking me? What the hell do you mean ma......" Her words were cut off quickly by three words.

"As my mate."

Not a single noise slipped from her lips....her heart pumping a mile a second....she couldn't register anything until tender fingers caressed her cheek. She hadn't even noticed him move. "I need someone strong....someone smart....I need someone.....that...I need you Raven...I always have...and I want you by my side....this is my way of ensuring that you will."

Her lips quivered as his brushed against them, then again when he pulled away. "No words, we must go..." An arrogant smirk crossed face. "We still have a bitch to take care of..."

Raven nodded, trying to tie her tattered shirt together to cover her breasts and new wounds. It barely held as she stretched her arms and wings. Her mind was still reeling from his words...was this the kind of commitment it sounded like...was she ready for it....looking at him...yes, yes she was.

Turning, the two left through the door, and were surrounded by rows and rows of pedestals, each holding a different item. necklaces, rings, goblets, capes, things of all sorts. Each was labeled by a plaque, and from the descriptions, they were all items of dark magic. Only two exits led from the room, the one they had entered from and one on the opposite side. Apparently they had been placed in a special chamber.

The hooded man held a hand to his lover, asking her to hold back while he stalked through the door, searching for traps.....somehow he knew it wasn't rigged, still he had to be safe. This was about more then surviving, this was about vengeance for an entire people, an entire race, and he wouldn't let anything stop him.

Even as sharp as his vision was, in the dim light he almost missed the razor wires that slid back and forth just before him. Taking a step back he swiped a claw over the metal, tearing it asunder and lightly cutting his own fingers. He stared at the blood, then ahead, there was more ahead, and he wasn't fool enough to try and cut all of them with his claws alone. Turning back, he reunited with Raven.

Shaking his head at the questioning look, he scanned the walls. "There is no way they made it through there, no one is that agile.....There must be a secret passage of some kind."

A gasp brought his attention back to the woman...who was staring strait up. Following her gaze, he saw a large opening directly overhead. The red head must have carried Red X up through it. This left a problem, he had no wings.....but she did. Looking at the gothic girl, he thought for an instant about how to ask. Before he could she spoke.

"I guess I will have to carry you up there..." Her voice trailed off as she wondered at what she was saying. Could she actually lift him....would they get half way up to the opening and come crashing down....she hadn't had any time to fly, the few hours had just been practice moving them...No, this would be a real test, both physically and mentally...to have enough control to do such a thing...

He was staring up, "Are you sure you can do it?"

"I don't know....We'll have to try." Concentrating with all her mind, she began flapping her wings, first slowly, then faster and faster, attempting to push herself from the ground. It took a few minutes of trying, but she eventually felt her feet come off the ground, the air around her swirling quickly. Opening her eyes, she began circling the room in mid air...after a few seconds she started laughing, she didn't have to concentrate as much as she moved faster and faster. It took more concentration to hover above the ground then to move. Flying straight up, she moved just below the hole, then dove down, turning up at the last second to levitate right in front of Garlo. "Well, I can do it alone....are you willing to try it?"

He nodded, trying hard not to smile as she wrapped her arms around his chest and forced them both off the ground. It was a slow process, her body was strong, but the wings were still new and not used to carrying such weight. It was actually surprising that they were able to carry her alone without more practice, but at almost fifteen feet in the air, he was in utter shock at their strength.

Thirty feet in the air, and they were almost there, Just a few feet more. In his excitement, he didn't notice her heavy breathing or the fact that they had slowed down even more. He stared at the opening...and uttered a sound of confusion when it started getting further away. Then her arms fell from around him and they both fell toward the ground as quickly as gravity pulled them. He turned his head to see Raven falling just below him, and at this rate, she would hit and he would land on her....it would hurt, breaking bones and perhaps worse.

"HELP HER!!!" The beast screamed from inside. "I can't, I don't have wings." He wanted to scream, the ground was coming at them full speed and he couldn't save her. Her wings must have given out. Their eyes met at the last instant, and he could feel his heart pounding in his ears.

He yelled in pain as the muscles of his body dislodged, tearing flesh and tendon as they reshaped, his bones popping, breaking and healing in a new form. It was painful, more then he had ever thought possible....His face elongated into a long beak, arms bursting almost instantly to enormous wings the cloak changing into feathers over the top of his feathered head and wings. His feet warped to talons as he soared down as quickly as possible, grasping Raven's arms in his claws and flying upward. Sailing through the entrance, he gently laid her on the ground, falling to his knees even as they reformed. He stared at his claws, clenching them over and over again. He hadn't changed in years, he couldn't remember the last time, all he knew is that it was near the beginning of the war, around the same time he.......started suppressing the beast.

His realization was short lived as a moan flowed from the delicate lips so close to him. She sat up slowly, holding her right wing with her left hand. "I'm sorry....My wing just gave out...I couldn't....Did you change into a giant eagle?" It hadn't occurred to her until that second, but he had.....he wasn't supposed to be able to change.

He stood, "It's not important right now...can you still fight?"

She nodded, "I can't fly, but that hasn't stopped me yet now has it?"

Garlo smiled, shaking his head no in response before giving her a hand to help her up. Turning, he searched the room and found only one other exit. "This way."

Walking side by side, the hooded, green skinned changeling, and the winged, violet eyed half demon strode with confidence. Somehow, next to one another, they both felt invincible.

That would soon change.
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Just because I feel like being an evil little bastard....stay tuned for the sequel that has yet to be named. Coming soon.