Author's Note: This is an AU about Robin x Starfire/ Nightwing x Starfire. I've taken a bit of creative liberty here with the characters so as the fit the plot better.
Premise: It has been Kori's dream to work for Wayne & Associates ever since she was a just a student. The only thing standing in her way is Richard, who, despite Kori's efforct will not stop haunting her mind.
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters, all original characters and plots are the property of the creators. Any publicly recognizable figure, setting, etc belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 1: Celebrations
"Congratulations Kori!" Lilith smiled brightly at the younger girl. "And also, cheers."
There was a small clink of glass, as the two girls bumped their glasses against one another.
"Thanks for coming out and celebrating with me," Kori yelled over the loud music blaring from them.
Lilith had been Kori's roommate until just a few weeks ago when Lilith moved in with her boyfriend Wally. In addition to that, she had been the only close friend Kori had in the foreign city.
"I'm sorry, my so-called party is so gloomy," Kori admitted.
"Not at all," Lilith replied sincerely. Although Kori no doubt had a very upbeat and friendly personality, she had only Lilith to call as a close friend. Besides, an occasion so personal to Kori deserved an equally intimate celebration.
"So why are we here?" Kori asked. While Kori never minded such crowded places as the club, Lilith kept her distance from them.
"We're here to celebrate new beginnings right? I thought we'd try something new." But if Lily was being honest, she wasn't enjoying this as much as she'd hoped.
Not being able to hear each other very well, the two resorted to finishing their drinks. Both of the girls gulped down their apple martinis and repressed the urge to gag afterwards.
When the music finally switched to something quieter, Kori leaned in. "What else are we supposed to do at clubs?"
"Hit on men or women." Lily shrugged. "But since I can't, you go ahead."
Kori looked around and shivered at the thought. "No thank you." She had already caught a couple of guys checking her out, and none of their stares was very flattering.
"Okay, how does this sound? We go back to your place. Open a bottle of red wine, order Indian food and watch movies instead?"
Now that sounded like fun. Kori nodded eagerly, not wanting to stay there any longer.
Although neither of them wanted to admit it, the martinis were starting to get to them. They weren't at the point of being piss drunk, but certainly drunk enough for their brains to slow down. Their state coupled with the high heels they had put on, made for an ungraceful walk across the dance floor.
Kori vaguely noted being touched a tad bit inappropriately while they made their escape but forget it quickly as she was flooded with relief.
"Fresh air." Lily gasped. The club was packed to the point of being suffocating.
Stumbling past the door, Kori ran into something. It wasn't hard enough to be a pole, she observed. It was more muscle then metal.
"Excuse me." Firm hands grabbed her, stabilizing her. Once she stood steadily, the man moved past her and into the club.
"Hey, cuties." Another voice called.
"Just keep moving Kori." Lily nudged.
"Where are you going?" The voice called out again. In her somewhat hazy state, Kori could make out that it belong to a large bearded man.
It was hard to measure the distance the two girls had covered, but it was at least a block or two. The man kept calling out to them, whistling as he followed.
Slowly the number of voices increased and it wasn't their imagination. It was because the number of men actually had increased.
To Kori's alcohol addled brain the voices sounded like the screeching of vultures- loud and vulgar.
Kori held back her urge to puke, as a soggy hand clasped her wrist. Instinctively she jerked her hand forward and elbowed the man who had grabbed her. Even in her drunken state, her blow had enough impact to topple the intoxicated man to the ground.
Kori wasn't certain but from the looks of it, Lily has taken down another one of their stalkers.
By now, the gang of men had begun to yell, intensifying Kori's throbbing headache. "Shut up. Shut up." she kept muttering.
"We need to run," Lily whispered. "I'll find us an opening." Lily held something in her hand that gleamed under the street light, but Kori wasn't sure what it was.
Wielding the shiny object as a weapon, Lily attacked the man advancing towards her. Blood spilt from the man's hand as the object made contact with his skin. The object, Kori would later realize was a broken glass bottle.
"Run!" Lily yelled and without question, the two girls bolted. The heels were definitely slowing them down, and the men were closing in. They didn't have time to take them off.
"X'Hal!" Kori heard herself scream.
"Stop right there. NYPD." Kori recalled the voice from before. It was the same man that she had run into moments ago.
The men chasing them halted, almost frozen in fright. "Nothing's going on." She heard one of them say.
"Then beat it." The man replied. After making sure their followers had left, the man directed his attention to the two women. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, we're alright. Thank you, officer." Lilith replied.
A small smile played briefly on the man's lips. "I'm not a cop. I just had enough sense to act like one."
He moved forward, standing underneath the streetlight. That's when Kori saw him.
He had sharp features, an angular jaw and striking light blue eyes that were accented by his contrasting dark hair. There was something about the way he looked at her, made her stare a bit longer than appropriate.
"That was smart of you," Kori noted.
"And so I've heard." he smiled once again. "Anyway, you ladies need a cab?"
"Thank you." Kori bowed slightly. It had slipped her mind that the gesture was not so common in the west.
"Goodnight." He wished as he shut the cab door.
A memory of him smiling as he faded into the distance was fresh in Kori memory.
Characters introduced:
Kori Andres (Starfire)
Lilith Clay (Omen)
Wally West (Kid Flash)