Back to Reality, or something like it

Garlo stood before a large squadron of soldiers all prepared for the mission ahead. Those with powers had been divided into smaller groups with the more normal warriors. All looked anxious and nervous at the same time. Taking an entire section of the city wasn't going to be easy, not by any means.

He saw her coming from the center of the crowd, cutting a line straight toward him. Her dark hair and lavender eyes catching his attention right away. The young woman stepped directly in front of him, staring up through the eyes of his mask. "What are you doing here?" He was sure he already knew the answer, it was evident all over her face and the tense look of her body.

Her smirk seemed to radiate, both irritating him and encouraging more physical thoughts. He hated it and loved it at the same time. "I'm going with you, is that a problem." Not a question, but a demand against retaliation.

His eyebrow raised, though she couldn't see it. "Your with me. We have an entire building to ourselves. is that a problem?" It took a lot of self control not to laugh.

Raven stood with her hands on her hips, a smirk still planted on her face. "Think we will have to kill some demons?" There was something in her voice he couldn't place.

"Some, why do you ask?"

Raven's smile took over more of her face, "How about another little wager?"

Garlo's eyes widened then narrowed. He cracked his neck slightly. "What kind of wager?" His voice was low, thick, a certain hunger loud in his throat no matter how much he tried to hide it.

"Simple, whoever can destroy the most demons wins. The winner can ask anything of the loser." She tapped her foot as if impatient.

Garlo shook his head, "More questions, what is it with you and asking questions?"

"No questions, they can ask anything, a favor so to speak. Anything at all." Raven leaned close, her face less then an inch from the mask. "What do you say?"

Without looking from her, he answered. "The only real question is what should I request of you." He turned to the crowd. "Titans, GO!"

_______________________________________

Raven and Garlo looked at the building in front of them. It wasn't really tall, only five stories, but it was a known nesting location for some of the stronger demons.

Knocking the door down with a single kick, the masked man ran inside and immediately caught two blue skinned humanoids right in his path. As he surveyed the room and found it empty he spoke just loud enough for her to hear. "That's two for me and....none for Raleen. Still need to think of what I want."

The gothic girl's hands changed to claws just in time to slice the snake like creature that was sneaking up behind Garlo in half. Holding the head for him to see she smiled. "One for Raleen, two for Garlo. Not that big a lead."

He smirked in return, this might not be as easy as he had originally thought. Still a piece of cake. Raleen was after all, only human.

________________________________________________

Queen Raven sat on her thrown, lounging across both arms and staring at the centerpiece of her collection. Her father's heart throbbed in unison with the hundreds that surrounded her seat. All were magically synchronized with her's and would remain beating until her own stopped, which would never happen of coarse. Four yellow eyes blazed in amusement. All was going according to her design.

The rebellion thought they were taking a strategic position in the city, all according to her orders. The spy she had placed was doing exactly as ordered, soon she would get rid of the little bitch. Soon she would take what she truly wanted and nothing would stand in her way. Laughing hysterically, she stood and stretched. So little to do, and all of the resources and time in the world, her world, to do it with.

_______________________________________________

Raven stood in what must have been an apartment on the fourth floor, wiping her claws on a discarded sheet. "Ten to ten, we're tied Beast Boy." She could hear him grating his teeth in the other room over the name, she smiled at how badly it got to him.

Garlo suppressed a growl, he was getting tired of her referring to him as a boy. It was degrading, thousands, maybe even millions of lives depended on him, and he had worked hard not to let them down. Now here was this girl that gave him no respect no matter how he powerful he showed her he was. It was ridiculous.

The reached the stairs to the top floor at the same time, each smirking at the other as if to say they knew they would win. The masked man made it to the door at the top of the stairs first, and tore it off it's hinges. A quick look around the floor showed.....nothing. This level was barren, no demons and no furniture.

Garlo turned to the young woman beside him, this meant only one thing. "A tie, I guess neither of us get anything from the other." Somehow this wasn't as satisfying as even her winning. He didn't like having an equal, it just felt wrong.

Raven looked at him, an eyebrow raised. "Why not the opposite? Since we both won, why don't we both get a request? As long as it's not to get out of the each other's."

The masked man nodded, "Time to get back, check on casualties."

_________________________________________

The music danced along the room, filing the ears of everyone present. It was a celebration on a mission accomplished. Most of the general populous had come in for a dance and feast in honor of all those who had died in this stage and all before it.

Garlo stood on stage once more, a place that he seemed to be more and more as this war went on he mused. Raising a mug of some fruity concoction he called for attention. "This, is for all those who have fallen, so that so many never will." A cheer went through the crowd and everyone drank.

A low growl escaped his lips as Sharon sauntered up seductively. He was really getting sick of her, he thought after last time she had learned her lesson. By the look she was giving him, apparently not.

Tracing her fingertips along his chest, she stared into the eye holes of his mask. "How about a dance Garlo, just a little moving up and down against each other. What do you say?"

The nodded figure shook his head, rolling his eyes to himself. "I don't dance Sharon, period."

The red head was about to protest when another voice interrupted. "It's not that he doesn't dance, but he can't. I have seen his groove, it's definitely not for public witness."

Raven repressed a laugh at the look in Garlo's green eyes, a combination of humor and annoyance. He moved past the woman in front of him and leaned in close to the gothic girl. "Are you so sure about that Raleen?"

The lavender eyes shined brightly as they stared at him. "Prove me wrong.....if you can that is."

As he took her hands in his, the music seemed to slow and soften. They moved around the dance floor for several minutes, pressing tightly against one another, breaths slightly shaking as the close proximity began to wake something deep inside them both. They could sense the eyes on them, but neither thought anything of it.

Suddenly, after so long silent, Garlo whispered to her. "Time for my request Raleen." He waited for her questioning look, then continued. "I want a rematch, in the simulation room."

Raven smirked up at him, inclining her head slightly. "Let's go then, right now."

He dipped her, leaning close enough to kiss if the mask hadn't been present. "So eager to go down screaming?"

"Yes." He didn't catch the double meaning of his own words, or her response. The thought that she didn't seem to be afraid of a rematch partially irritated, partially excited him.

Turning they both exited the room, leaving several people staring after them, including a less then calm Sharon.

_______________________________________________

Vic watched as the two combatants entered the training room. He immediately locked the door. Heat sensing cameras revealed concentrated body heat in certain places, and he had an idea as to where this would lead. As stubborn as these two were, it was only a guess, but an educated one.

Smiling Raven stood on the far side of the room, waiting for her opponent to get ready. A clanging sound vibrated around the room when the mask went flying, then to her surprise, his coat/cloak and shirt joined it.

Standing before her bare chested, she could make out scars. More scars then she had ever seen on a single man, or any two men for that matter. Looking up she smiled, "Got any desert images?" As soon as she spoke it, the room was suddenly a vast wasteland. Diving forward, she tripped the green skinned man just as he was rushing by.

He came up spitting sand out and glared at her, swinging his fist at her only to have it blocked. A swift kick was caught by his hand, jerking her up and to the right, sending her sprawling on her back. Jumping on top of her, he barely avoided the claw the went right by his head.

Grabbing one wrist in each hand, he pinned her to the grainy floor. Even though she was pinned, her lips suddenly turned up in a grin.

Reaching up, she pressed her lips to his, taking him completely off guard. They were so soft, so inviting. So warm.

Bringing one hand up, he caressed the side of her cheek softly. Pulling away, he stared into her eyes, his breath quick and ragged. Urges boiling up in his body.

He felt her teeth sink into his lip, but somehow it wasn't an in fury, it was something to cause sensation. They groaned into each other's mouths. He felt her hands move from his grip, claws gently teasing and leaving welts over his skin. Another groan went through his body as he pushed down harder onto her body.

Damn he wanted her, to smell her, to feel her, to taste her. Slowly, he began to rise, prepared to leave. Suddenly her claws sank lightly into his shoulders, holding him in place. Staring into her eyes questioningly, he breathed deeply. It was an attempt to calm himself, and didn't work well.

"What about my request?" Her lips were red, a bit of blood from his still staining them.

Garlo jerked his neck to the side, stretching his muscles and popping the joint. "What is it?" His voice barely more then a growl of mixed passion and frustration.

She turned his head to look into his eyes, a hunger visible within them. "Give in." One leg had mysteriously wrapped around his waist and he found himself being pulled further toward her.

One of his hands moved down quickly, then hesitated. His eyes never left her's, and he could see that she wanted this as much as he did. There was something wrong though, not with her, but him. The last woman he had been intimate with had changed, everything had went wrong. What if it happened again.

His fingertips were on the bottom of her shirt, a mere movement from getting to her heaving chest. She could sense he was afraid though and thought frantically to figure out a way to get him to keep going. It wasn't wanting him any more, she needed him. Comforting wouldn't work, it would make him believe she thought he was weak, it was just how his mind worked. No, she had to try the opposite, goad him, make him think of this differently then just intimacy, like a game.

Her voice barely a whisper, but the impact was heavier then anything she could yell. "I knew you couldn't do it, just no nerve."

A gasp filled the room, the gray shirt now ripped right down the center, her breasts exposed to his hot breath. Another flick of a green wrist and her leggings were ripped down the middle, leaving her most intimate parts open to his scrutiny.

A low thick growl emanated through his body, a primal look combining with the passion and hunger in his eyes. "No nerve? What nerve you have girl, do you really think you can get away with that?"

"Of coarse." The words were hoarse and shaky, a blatant lie.

Nipping along her neck, he smirked against her skin. He would win this little game, he would goad her telling him exactly what she wanted.

It didn't take much, she had been craving his touch since his hand had touched her cheek. a single hand over her chest, his lips on her neck, the pressure that was building between their hips. Only a few moments, and she was moaning loudly. "Damn it, what do you want?"

Biting lightly, his teeth leaving red marks just below her breasts, he looked up at her. "This is your game, what do you think I want to hear."

A mouth encircled her nipple, sucking in with shuddered breaths. Her mind raced, she would have said anything to get him to continue. Somehow, after what had happened in this room before, it seemed there was only one way she could say it. "I yield."

She didn't realize he had lost his pants, but suddenly she felt her entrance being stretched to accommodate him. A sharp intake of breath as he pushed into her fully, breaking her maidenhood. She hadn't realized it would hurt so very badly. The primal need in his eyes hadn't faded, but he paused, waiting a long while before moving slowly in and out.

The pain was still there, present but so was a pleasure. It was a pressure that was building quickly, even if the pain remained. She had thought of this for too long, her claws ripping deeply into his skin as an orgasm consumed her.

On her release, his animal instincts took over and he began moving in and out of her as fast and hard as possible, compounding both pain and pleasure. Soon, he felt it welling up deep in his throat. A savage howl escaped his lips as he bit into her right breast and shot deep inside of her.

They lay there, shuddering for a time. The world seemed to have stopped.

Raven smiled, it still hurt, still throbbed, but it also still felt good. Lightly touching his cheek, hearing him purr as his eyes started fluttering closed. "My Beast Boy."

Garlo's eyes sprang open, he jerked up to stare at her. "You..." His finger was less then an inch from her face. "Only call me that when we are alone." He had meant to say not to call him that, but that wasn't what came out. Something had changed. He could feel it. He had given in to his passion, and nothing bad had happened. Nothing bad would, he told himself.

They laid there, feeling the sand fade around them as they fell asleep.

Just when a tired smile came over the green man's features, the entrance to the Titan Menace base blew wide open.

Something bad was about to happen.