Raven slowly blinked, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the dark. But they didn't. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to logically think over things. The room was also pitch black because they had drawn every bit of curtain possible. So there was a possibility that was the cause of the darkness. Especially since there wasn't the least bit of pain left in her eyes.

Reaching out her hand, she laid it lightly on her partner's. Gar was still dead asleep. Even as he had finished helping her get ready for bed, she could feel him beginning to fall under. They were both safe and his body was firmly reminding him to get some very needed rest. Subconsciously her body reached for all the signs she wouldn't even have thought to look for. The sensation of his breath washed over her hand as she raised it. And a feeling of calm gratitude was filling his dreams. He was sleeping on his side, facing her, and she didn't need to see him to know that.

Everything down to her small bedside alarm clock had been unplugged. Not only saving her eyes but disturbing her sense of time. No doubt, though, they had slept past sunrise. Flicking her hand, she began opening the blackout blinds. Just a crack. She had done it quickly enough that she hadn't given herself time to over analyze the behavior. After all, she had done it every morning for years. The light stung and quickly her eyes shut. After a few brave blinks, she fully opened them back up. The room was cast in the purple hue of her curtains, still hanging over the window. But a hue she could see.

Gar shifted beside her, causing her to freeze. Then he simply rolled to his back and kept sleeping. Letting out a breath, she carefully levitated off the bed, allowing him to get used to the weight shift in tiny amounts. Till she was safely off the bed and he none the wiser. Floating around the room, she let her eyes explore whatever they could. The titles of the books shifted into focus as she got closer. Touching each one lightly, she set them to memory. The shape of each letter and how they curled or abruptly stopped after each word. The color or intricate patterns. The scuff or tiny crack in the tops of the covers from years of being open and shut. A bemused smile peeked into her face as her image appeared in the mirror she floated in front of. Although she swore she didn't care about her looks much, she was happy to see her violet eyes still shone even in the dim light.

Passing by each of her trinkets she touched them, focused on the color and texture of each piece. Nothing was guaranteed, and someday she could wind up in the same position again. So she wanted to soak up everything she could. Though, if it were to happen again. She neared the bed and walked up to Gar's side. If it were to happen again, she would be fine.

Flying up, she raised a leg and straddled her partner. Without realizing the situation, he softly rubbed his hands over her bare legs, smiling till his eyes opened. They shot open with shock and he sat straight up, almost knocking her off. Before she could stop him, he covered her eyes with one of his large hands.

"Gar," she said, flatly and relaxed. "I'm fine."

Slowly he pulled his hand back, squinting his eyes at her. After a minute of staring into her eyes, he pulled back.

"All that and you're just fine..." he teased, relaxing as he put his hands under his head.

"Mostly, I'm not ready to walk outside yet." She replied, rubbing her eyes at the thought. "But," sighing she reached forward and rested her elbows on his chest, "I do think I should train more blindfolded."

"Yeah," he agreed. "At our new place?"

"What?" Raven sat up on her hands.

"Duo?" He asked with a raised brow.

"You were... you were serious about that?"

"Yes."

"Well... I mean, I..."

"It hadn't just crossed my mind because of the temporary disability. I had been thinking of it for awhile."

"Oh," Sitting fully up, she watched his face grow more somber. Though he still kept a touch of his hope. He had obviously taken her agreement at face value. But she had answered out of fear.

"Where would we go?"

"Anywhere! That's the beauty of being us." His arms came out with a grand smile, gesturing to his sides at the expanse of the world. "I had thought we could maybe go see Marcus, you can take up that teaching offer."

Raven nodded lightly, the thought of leaving sinking in.

"You do realize that if it was just us, you wouldn't have been able to leave me with someone else?" She asked.

"Yes. I thought of that last night. But if it were the two of us, we would be better trained to fight just the two of us. Don't tell me you haven't noticed we've been picking up on each other here and there during fights? We've been getting better."

"We have," she had to agree. Biting her lip, she narrowed her eyes at him. "You really want to fight with me and only me?"

"Yeah. I do." He grew slightly uncomfortable and shifted higher up on the bed. "In Gotham, Dick and I got a little... hot headed, to say the least." Raven puffed out a dramatic snort. "It happens. But between the two of us, we were just fueling each other on. We fought all the time. Sure we got the job mostly finished. But I knew if it had been you and me, we wouldn't have done that to each other." His hands rose to lightly run over her arms. "You calm me down."

Smiling down at him, she remembered all the times he had done the same to her. A swirl of purple curled over his green skin as the sun passed behind a cloud. The patterned curtain cast varying shades over his body, and her eyes followed them for a long second before rising to meet his again.

"Alright," she slowly answered. "But," she interrupted his celebration, "Can we go somewhere else first?"

"Y..yeah," he was thrown off. "Where?"

And now she was, "I .. I don't know. You're the spontaneous seize life one." Really, she just wasn't ready yet to take on the commitment of not only leaving her home, but an even larger role of some sort of master or guru. Nor was she ready to admit either of these things.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll think about it." Tapping her side lightly, he guided her off him, "But first." He gave her a quick wink before crossing the room to use the bathroom. By the time he got back though, he had a solution.

"Hey, how about..." he stopped as his knees hit the edge of the bed and looked down. Standing back up, he held a small bottle in his hand.

"What?" she asked.

Smirking, he laughed at the item. Then as if just remembering they were having a conversation. "Huh. Oh, I was thinking of some cheesy resort. Just to see what the big deal is. Like normal people." He said, still focused on the bottle, shooing her over as he sat down. "I found this last night pulling out your extra pillows." Holding the bottle up, he let her read it. "I had forgotten about this."

"Oh," Raven rolled her eyes and sighed. She had chucked the supposedly "g-spot stimulation" under the bed after the third failure. "I had meant to throw it in the box, but I missed."

"Box?" his voice rose in question.

"Yeah? The box under the bed. I thought you knew about it."

"No, you've always just made things appear." Practically bounding off the bed, he reached under. "Do you really keep your stuff in a little box under your bed?" Grunting, he strained his voice as a box slid against the floor. "I mean large box."

"Oh, it's not that big!" Raven laughed as the box was dramatically plopped on her bed.

"Isn't it usually a shoe box?" He asked, pointing at the larger container.

"Depends on who you're talking to," she answered, raising her chin.

"Fair enough," he flashed her a quick crooked grin before throwing open the box top. "Seems you've expanded your collection since our first outing." Digging through, he started pulling out various items. A tangled mess of "leather" hung from his hands and he raised a brow. But Raven just shrugged with a small smile. The further he went, the higher his excitement and amusement rose.

"Did this little curl do anything for you?" He asked, rubbing the nub of a vibrator.

"I feel like it should have," reaching up she pushed her finger over the end and held it for several seconds till it hummed to life. Barely. "But do you feel this? What is this?" Huffing, she clicked it off and threw it to the end of the bed. A flash of blue caught her eye. "But that one, that one is my favorite if it's just me." He held it while she pointed out the differences. As she talked, she caught his attention shift from the buzzing item to her. His eyes danced over her face. Although she expected the rise in desire, it was his rise in admiration that caused her pause, the words slowly coming to a halt.

"and that's um.. that's it... What?"

"I think this is the most we've ever talked about your sexual desires." It wasn't a joke, a slight reference to her words the night before, but completely sincere.

"Yeah, well, " she was at a loss for words. Immediately, her eyes flashed to the tiny useless bottle. The embarrassment and anxiety of walking into that store with him had almost physically hurt. Each time she had gone back, or to a new one, it had gotten easier. Till the last time she went, she actually struck up a conversation with the lady working the counter. It was that intuitive lady that suggested one of the items he hadn't gotten to yet. An item she had gotten in a moment of bravery, though doubted she would ever use. Without explaining, she reached in past him and rooted through the box till her fingers found the velvety soft fabric she sought.

It came out in one fluid flick as it came free of the handcuffs resting on top and Gar's eyes widened.

"Ha, is that a blindfold?" He asked, taking it from her outstretched hand.

"Yeah, the saleswomen was great, I'll give her that. She explained the thrill of it and in the moment I got caught up in the idea." He only nodded, running his thumb over the straps. The emerald eyes didn't leave her to look down though, his curiosity had been peaked.

"Yeah?" The smile was already forming before he finished his question. He knew. "I could just shut the blackout curtains again."

Shaking her head, she pointed at the cloth in his hand. A small smirk flashed but was replaced by a firm press of his lips and a rise in concern.

"Can I give you the drops first?"

"But I can ..."

"Vic made me promise." He stated, cutting off her words. She knew he wasn't actually worried at all about some promise. Already prepared with drops in hand, he approached her. "I mean it's not like it would do harm right?"

"I don't know," she shrugged. Victor had stressed it as Gar carried to the room, and again as he checked on them before bed. Only bringing extra blankets to make sure Gar had given the last drops. Tipping her head back, she waited as he plopped the drops in. The sensation wasn't as cool as it had been before, but still welcomed.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"You're probably fine, I just..." He stayed hovering over her, eyes darting around trying to find something in hers that proved there was any sort of damage.

"I know."

A tentacle stretched out and in a flash, the bottle was back on her bedside. In the time it took her to glance over and back, his hand had reformed and was holding the cloth.

"You know, he also told me to bandage your eyes if any light got in."

"Oh?" She had meant to play naive or at least sexy, but the word ended in a small laugh. He was so fluid at switching it back on.

"Yeah, and I would hate to break the rules." His voice deepened as he leaned in again.

"Of course." The fabric was soft and although she could see a tiny bit of light peaking through next to her nose, her heart gave a little jump. Not enough to cause any real alarm, but Gar's hand still slipped around her wrist. The gesture was more for her than anything and she smiled as he came closer. Tilting slightly forward as he climbed on the bed, she raised her hands to grab him. The sensation of his emotions moved towards her and reassured her of his exact location. Missing by just a few inches though, her fingers poked into the side of his face while the other hand went way off into the distance.

His laughter was beautiful and a tad mischievous. There was no doubt he could have avoided her slow approach. He had let her hit him to prove a point. Two warm hands wrapped around hers.

"I think the point is you don't have to do anything." Guiding her back, he laid her down on the bed. It seemed like cheating to know almost exactly where he was and sense his emotions. Such as a flare in anticipation as his breath neared her neck.

Then a kiss on the other side made her jump. He let out a small victorious snicker as he had caught on to her tricks. A trail of kisses traveled down her neck till they reached the edge of her shirt. Gradually Gar's weight left hers and was replaced by the tug of her shirt on her back. Taking the hint Raven hovered up just enough to let him slip the shirt off. Everything was tender and carefully slow. Even the way he slipped the shirt off the tips of her hands was well guided, his hands running along each arm as the loose shirt was freed. The very tips of his fingers tickled up her sides triggering a line of goosebumps to follow.

Raven shivered under the touch and arched as the fingers finished their travels up her arms to hold them above her head. The kisses were a different sort of needy than they had been before. There was no clawing at clothes, smashing of faces, or nips at each other's lips. They were unhurried and full of every bit of love he could give. Pushing through the obvious desire, delight, and love she found a bit of worry remained from the night before. Perhaps that's why he was being so gentle. The kisses moved down the other side of her neck, light and prolonged.

But then there was also a small pit buried deep below his mosaic of positive emotions. A little nagging rock of nervousness.

"Gar?" She whispered. He hummed against her neck in response, puling away when the first word caught in her throat.

"I think it's going to be hard for me to leave the tower." Offering her own doubts, instead of prying into his, softened his little rock. He gently pulled the blindfold up till it rested on her forehead.

"Me too. We don't ha..."

"No. No, I'm ready. I'm just a little nervous. This is a huge step."

"Oh," he bit his lip and pushed up to his elbows, hovering over her. "I guess you don't want that ring then?"

"What?! You're joking," she stated. His nerves had only decreased not flared up. Yet, her body still tightened as she waited.

"Hah, yeah. That would be entirely impractical in our line of work." He laughed and leaned down for a quick peck. "But now just moving in together seems like less of a big deal."

"You're not funny," she muttered, though her smile broke at the end betraying her. Truth be told, she had already explained she hadn't wanted a ring in a casual conversation between friends. But part of her had gotten excited at the mention. Her eyes soaked up every detail of his face before he gave her one of his crooked grins and slid the fabric back down. He was right though, not only was she ready to start their lives but now she was actually considering marrying someone.

A/N: Thanks for following! It's been an adventure. I wasn't sure if this is how I wanted to end it or have another sex scene. But for now, this seems right. I do have plans for an epilogue but not making any promises as I've been sparse in my publishing ;) But either way, it would be set several months out. ~TnE