Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to the Teen Titans or any characters in the DC Universe.
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"Rae, how am I supposed to sleep if you keep caressing me like that?"
The gray sorceress smiled softly before replying.
"Do you really want me to stop?"
"I didn't say that." He replied.
Her smile widened as she acknowledged her triumph. He was putty in her hands.
"Rae?"
"Yes Gar?"
"Tell me about when you used to be a Titan."
Raptor withdrew her caressing hand.
"Why?"
"I just wanna know. How did you become a Titan and why did you quit?"
Raptor sighed.
"It all began when Starfire came to Earth, escaping from the Gordanians. Jinx, Mammoth, Gizmo and Terra tried to protect Starfire from the Gordanians but when the aliens armed their particle weapon there was nothing they could do."
"Where were you then?"
"I was a petty thief at the time. Nothing big, I just stole enough to live off of. I had just run away from Azarath and I was all alone. People picked on me because I was gray and had purple hair. So I'd sneak into bank vaults at night and steal a hundred bucks here and a hundred there. The banks never knew they had been robbed; they just chalked it up to either accounting errors or internal fraud. Anyway, it worked great. Terra was actually on my trail at the time. She knew I was doing it, but she didn't have any proof."
Beast Boy was listening mesmerized, unaware that Raptor had resumed caressing his naked figure.
"So as the Gordanians prepared to destroy the city I stepped in and offered to help. I teleported them aboard the Gordanian ship and they took care of the rest."
"You kinda did the same thing back in my universe, except you weren't a thief."
"For all you know, maybe she was."
"I don't think so. Anyway we fought the Gordanians on the ship. You, I mean she actually saved my life that time."
Raptor gave him a passionate kiss before replying.
"Remind me to thank her if I ever get the chance, lover."
Beast Boy sighed heavily. He missed Raven but Raptor was … intoxicating. He knew that Raven had never made him feel this way. Then again, they had never made love together. Somehow he doubted she would be as enthralling as Raptor was.
"So what happened next? Did they invite you to join the team?"
Raptor shook her head.
"No. Jinx and Terra were against it, especially Terra."
Beast Boy let a small snicker escape his lips.
"What's so funny Gar?"
"In my universe Terra was the outcast and you didn't trust her."
"I see. Anyway, they didn't invite me into the team at first. It was only later at Starfire's insistence that I was asked to join the team."
"How'd that work out?"
"Not so good. Jinx and Terra were always on my case and they never trusted me. It was a long year Gar. I did my best and put my life on the line to protect the city but in the end I was rejected. Terra always badmouthed me to the local press which was more than happy to trash me, but I hung on, mostly because of Starfire's support."
"What happened then? And where did Star go?"
"She had to return to Tamaran to depose her sister, who had overthrown the government and had herself proclaimed Empress."
"So Star went home and Blackfire came to Earth. That was a lousy trade."
"Blackfire isn't as bad as she seems."
"I don't know Rae; she was bad news where I come from."
"Maybe so. So to make a long story short after Starfire left they replaced her with See-more."
"Him? The guy was a total loser in my universe."
"He's a loser here too. So after he joined the team Jinx and Terra decided to make my life miserable. It wasn't long until Slade made me an offer I couldn't refuse. That's where I met your counterpart. We hit it off immediately and it wasn't long before we became lovers. Slade didn't mind, I guess he figured that as long as we were getting laid we wouldn't give him any trouble."
"But you did. Didn't you?"
"Not really, he started it actually. He tried to use Gar to control me. He'd send him away alone on dangerous mission unless I obeyed him. At first I complied but then he went too far and started to demand sex from me."
"And that's when you killed him?"
"Yes."
Beast Boy looked clearly troubled upon hearing Raptor once again confess that she killed Slade.
"You don't approve, do you Gar?" She asked in a monotone that was eerily close to Raven's. He turned away before replying.
"While I don't approve, I understand."
She grabbed his chin and gently turned his head back to her.
"You do?"
He nodded. "A long time ago I tried to kill Slade because he said Terra didn't want to be with me. Lucky for me it was a Sladebot, otherwise I would have become a murderer."
"Gar, sometimes killing can be justified."
"I… I don't know Rae."
Raptor sensed she was travelling into dangerous territory and decided to change the subject.
"So you had feelings for Terra?"
"Yeah, she was my first real crush."
It was now Raptor's turn to sigh.
"So in some ways my real counterpart on your side of the fence is Terra. That's interesting."
"She redeemed herself Raven."
The sorceress climbed on top of Beast Boy, who moaned softly.
"I'm beyond redemption, Gar."
Beast Boy stared up into Raptor's face. Her amethyst eyes were no different than Raven's.
"No Rae, you're wrong, you aren't beyond redemption."
She sat up, exposing the scars on her midsection.
"How can you be so sure of that? I've done terrible things."
"Because I love you. I couldn't love you if you really were evil Rae. You're just confused about who you really are."
Beast Boy saw tears flow down her face. She then collapsed on him, burying her face in his shoulder.
"I love you too Gar. I really do."
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Raven had retreated to her room to meditate after the armored car had left for its trip to the airport, where a Wayne Enterprises business jet waited to transport "The Beast" to Gotham. Unfortunately this proved to be a vain attempt as she was unable to settle down. She had been a wreck the first few days after her boyfriend vanished before her eyes and she had slept poorly during that time and was unable to meditate. After a few days she had been able to settle down somewhat and was able to complete a few feeble attempts at meditation. She had continued to improve since then but was now suffering a serious relapse since she saw the blond changeling dragged away to Gotham.
She had been sitting on her bed in the lotus position for almost an hour and heaving a loud sigh she gave up her attempt at meditation. After stretching her legs out she dropped them to the floor. She leaned forward and cradled her head in her hands.
What if Starfire and Cyborg can't find him, or they find him dead? What will I do?
She turned and looked at the portrait on her nightstand.
I can't lose him, I just can't. I should have been more assertive that day; I should never have allowed Cyborg and Starfire to experiment with that infernal machine.
Raven felt her tears drip onto her thighs.
How could there be another Garfield that's evil. He was so vile, and yet …
Raven shook her head violently
No! I'm not attracted to that monster. He looks like Gar, but he's not Gar. Get a grip on yourself, Raven!
She moaned in frustration.
But if Gar never returns then … he's all I've got.
Raven's face flashed with a look of anger.
If my counterpart does anything to hurt him, I swear I'll go to that dimension myself and kill …
Raven's murderous reverie was interrupted by a loud knock on the door. She calmed herself before answering.
"It's open, come in."
The door slid open and revealed Robin and Starfire's figures. Both wore grim expressions on their faces.
"There's bad news Raven." Robin informed her in an emotionless monotone.
"When it rains it pours." She replied bitterly. "So what happened this time?"
"The armored car, it was ambushed by the Hive-5."
"Is he OK?" Raven asked as she leaped to her feet, her voice dripping with apprehension.
"They captured him. Other than that, we don't know."
Raven leaned against a wall.
"This can't be happening."
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The young man woke up to a splitting headache, slowly opening his eyes. At first he thought that he was still in his cell at Titans Tower but once he become lucid he was able to see that he was somewhere else. The memory of had happened slowly came back: The armored truck had been rocked by a powerful explosion. Beyond that he had no memory.
He got up out of the lumpy, military grade cot he had been sleeping in and paced around the cell he was trapped in. Like the one at the Tower it had a force field which kept him inside. He explored the cell, much like he had at the Tower, to see if there was any way to escape. He found that it was just as airtight as the first cell.
Just as he gave up looking for a way to escape the main doors to the cell block opened and he saw Jinx and Gizmo enter the room. He immediately addressed them.
"I know what you're thinking, but I'm not the green idiot the Titans call Beast Boy."
"We know." Jinx replied. "So how about you tell us who you really are."
The changeling looked surprised.
"You do?"
"You might not be Beast Boy snot muncher, but you're as dumb as he is." Gizmo replied.
"Which isn't surprising since you have his DNA." Jinx added. "So who are you?"
The changeling sized up his interrogators. He was familiar with them of course; back home they were Teen Titans, which meant that in this universe they were not.
"I'm Beast Boy's counterpart from another dimension."
Jinx smiled. "Good, you didn't start off with a lie. But we already knew that, we detected the portal when it opened. What else?"
"I'm a member of the Hive-5."
"That's funny; I've never seen you at any of the team meetings." She taunted him. "Do you have any proof?"
"I don't have any. The Titans took all my stuff."
"How convenient." She replied. "So where were they taking you?"
"To Arkham asylum." He replied. "For 'safekeeping' until Cyborg and Starfire can locate the dimension I came from. Apparently there was some kind of accident where Beast Boy and I got swapped. Once they find the dimension they're planning on sending me back. I guess that won't be happening now."
"Do you want to go back?"
"It depends."
"So who's waiting for you back at home? Who are the members of the Hive-5?" Jinx asked.
The changeling was beginning to like the evil version of Jinx. Plus he didn't really miss Raptor all that much; she had been feeling distant lately and had been turning him down for sex more often than he cared for.
"There's Raptor, Nightwing, Blackfire and Cyborg."
"Raptor? Nightwing? Who the hell are they?" Gizmo barked.
"You know them as Raven and Robin."
"And Blackfire is Starfire's sister, right?" Jinx inquired.
"You got that right."
"Interesting … " Jinx pondered. "So what do you want?"
The changeling grinned.
To get you in the sack.
"I thought you'd never ask. Once a Hive-5, always a Hive-5. I want to join your team."
"Who says we trust you barf-brain?" Gizmo asked.
"What do I have to do?" The changeling replied.
"For now you'll have to wait. The Titans injected you with inhibtol; your powers will be gone for a few days."
"They did what? So I don't have my powers?"
"Just chill booger brain, they'll come back."
Garfield glared at Gizmo. He was just as annoying here as he was back at home. He then noticed that Jinx was giving him furtive glances.
She isn't as curvy as Raptor but who says skinny girls aren't any fun in bed?
"Don't you want to go home?" She asked.
"Sure, but who says that's gonna happen. You shoulda seen Ravens face. Apparently she was dating Beast Boy, and from the looks of her she doesn't think he's ever coming back."
"Pfft! Raven always looks like that. Doesn't yours?" Gizmo harrumphed.
Garfield looked mildly surprised. "No she doesn't, you mean to say that Raven is some kind of gloomster?"
Jinx nodded. "Are you sure she was dating Beast Boy?"
Garfield grinned. "Absolutely. I overheard Starfire and Cyborg discuss that. I don't think she's slept with him yet."
Jinx let out a loud snicker. "That'll be the day. I'm surprised he's dating her at all. She's so creepy."
Gizmo joined her in the laugh. "Well, he's a freak himself. Maybe they're made for each other."
Garfield recalled all the good times he shared with Raptor, realizing that many of them had not even been in the bed they shared. She seemed so lost, so far away to him now.
"So, am I in?" He asked hopefully.
Jinx grinned before answering, her cat like pupils stood out on her face.
"After you pass a test. If you do then you're on the team."
"Excellent, just name it and I'll do it!"
"Like you have any choice, snot brain!"
Jinx and Gizmo turned to leave.
"We'll tell you in three days, when your powers come back." She announced on her way out.
"Three days? Aw c'mon!"
"She said three days, numbskull!"
"OK, fine, three days. How about some grub? I'm hungry."
Jinx turned around. "We don't have any vegetarian food."
"Suits me fine! Raven kept feeding me tofu hotdogs, like she was hoping I would turn into her green idiot if I ate that crap!"
A small chuckle escaped Jinx's lips.
"I'll send Billy up with something for you in a bit." She replied as the sliding doors closed behind them. She and Gizmo proceeded to the Hive-5 Common Room. Gizmo kept glancing at her.
"What is it Gizmo?"
"You like him, don't you?"
"He is kind of cute. Who would have thought that under all that green and pointy ears that Beast Boy was so handsome?"
Gizmo stuck his index finger in his mouth.
"You gotta be kidding Jinx, you actually like him?"
"Don't worry Gizmo; I'm not some stupid schoolgirl with a crush."
The bald genius mumbled his disapproval as they entered the common room.
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