Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Teen Titans.
My name's Richard Grayson. I'm 24 years old and I had the world right outside my window. I had everything I needed to have the life everyone dreamed of. I'm the adoptive son of Bruce Wayne, owner of Wayne Enterprise. In just a few years, I would be inheriting the company so Bruce could retire. That's a long shot now. You're probably wondering how I ended up like this. How someone with a bright, successful future ended up here. It's time for me to share my story. Nothing censored. Every detail that makes me cringe and wish I had done something differently, anything. I'll skip straight to where it all began. The day Kori Anders strutted her way into my life.
It was the first day of autumn and leaves were already dancing their way down from the trees here in Jump City. I was 22 at the time and didn't know half of what I know today. Chills raced across my skin as the wind blew while I ran my hand through my hair and walked into my buddy Victor's auto shop.
"Hey Rich man! Strange seeing you on time for anything, you ready to go meet up with Gar and Rachel?" Victor asked me. He was African American and tall, towering over most people at 6 foot 7. He was bald by choice and one of the most athletic people I have come to meet.
"I'm on time? Next time I'll have to pay attention to the time, wouldn't want to make a habit out of this or anything." I chuckled. We were meeting up with two of our other friends. The four of us have been like a family as long as I can remember. I can remember growing up with them and the countless summers we spent together, just the four of us. As we stepped out of my car and made our way towards the pizzeria where we usually ate to catch up Vic called out to what I presume was a friend of his.
"Now I know Miss Kori over there isn't pretending she doesn't see me!" Victor shouted.
I glanced over to where he was shouting and did a double take. Walking out of a strip club was a tall and tan girl, who I assumed was Kori. She had long red hair, somewhat waved, that reached halfway down her back. I looked a little closer and noticed her eyes. The most exotic and striking green eyes I have ever seen. Her skin looked flawless. She looked naturally tan, but she seemed a little pale. Her smile, if the sun wasn't out she'd be lighting up the whole city with it. Hold on did she just come out of a strip club?
"Victor!" Kori exclaimed. She ran towards us and Victor picked her up, swinging her around in one of his famous bear hugs. "I wasn't paying attention! Don't go thinking I was ignoring you now!" She finished while laughing. He placed her down on the ground carefully.
"Damn girl when was the last time you ate? You look like a walking skeleton!" Victor asked curiously. Now that I took a good look at her she did look thin, almost unhealthy. She was wearing an oversized white shirt with a simple black skirt that hugged her legs. On her legs were fishnet stockings with combat boots that reached up to her calves. She looked around a few times anxiously before answering.
"Oh you know the other day. I've been busy today, never got a chance to sit down and eat yet!" She spat out while she played with her auburn hair.
"Well little miss you're going to sit down with me and my friends to have a slice or two of pizza, got it?" He ordered her.
"Oh, I don't know I wouldn't want to intrude or anything." She said while pulling at the seam of her shirt.
"You're not intruding, I invited you. My friends won't mind, right Richard?" He looked towards me waiting for an answer.
"Not at all, the more the merrier." I responded coolly. She looked over at me. "I'm Richard by the way; it's nice to meet you." I smiled at her and went to shake her hand.
"Richard? Yeah, I see you in the tabloids quite a bit. I'm Kori; it's nice to meet you as well." She smiled as she reached out for my hand.
"Well now that everything is settled, you're coming with us Kori."
After about half an hour all the introductions were done with and the pizza had been served. Kori seemed to get along well with Gar and Rachel, and getting Rachel to talk to new people was near to impossible. She was fitting right in, like she had been a part of this family for years. Kori, Rachel, and Gar sat on side of the booth while Victor and I sat on the other.
"Dude how can you eat meat on your pizza and not feel guilty?" Gar started the typical of all typical Gar and Victor fights.
"You better keep your scrawny ass over there and mind your business Gar!" Victor shot back.
"I'm guessing Gar's a vegetarian?" Kori joined in the conversation.
"Not an ounce of meat in this body baby!" Gar gave her a toothy grin.
"That's why you look similar to a twig then?" Vic taunted him.
"Okay guys enough. Shouldn't we get to know Kori better instead of your every day fights?" I asked annoyed. Something intrigued me about this girl. I wanted to know more about her. She looked at me with those big green eyes and giggled.
"Oh there isn't anything interesting about me." She said shyly.
"I'm sure there's got to be something." I said while smiling at her.
"Yeah! Where do you work?" Gar asked. Victor silently laughed and Kori began to blush and looked around for an escape.
"Oh, uh you know." She said while looking at Victor.
"They're not going to judge you little sis. Kori's a dancer guys." Victor answered for her.
"Like a ballerina?" Rachel asked while taking another small bite of her pizza.
"Uh. No…more like…exotic dancer." Once Kori finished her sentence I choked on my drink.
"So you're a stripper?" Gar asked while raising his eyebrows.
"Yeah, it's the only job I could get with my circumstances. Hey I've got to start heading home. Thank you for inviting me Victor. How much do I owe you?" She said awkwardly. I guess this answers my earlier question of why she was walking out of a strip club.
"Who do you think I am? You owe me nothing Kori. Please be safe, and don't be a stranger now. I expect to see more of you around, got that?" Victor sounded like a protective older brother to Kori. I wondered how he knew her and for how long. The relationship that linked them to each other seemed just that of a sibling relationship.
"You got it boss. I really do appreciate it. It was so good meeting you all. I hope to see you guys soon!" She flashed us a billion dollar smile and fled out of the booth like that.
"Guys, I have to go." I barely managed to finish my sentence by the time I was chasing after her. I swung the door opened and looked around. I caught a glimpse of red hair walking across the parking lot. I started jogging towards her.
"Hey! Wait up!" I shouted. She turned around and looked at me curiously with her hair blowing through the wind.
"What's the Richard Grayson chasing after me for?" She asked with a playful look on her face as she continued to walk.
"And what's that supposed to mean might I ask?" I asked as I caught up to her.
"Oh nothing. Is there something you needed?" She asked.
"You said you've seen me in the tabloids before. I can guarantee you most of what's in there isn't true. And I was just wondering why you left so fast."
"I wanted to get home before it's dark and I've got quite a long walk ahead of me, sorry for running out like that." She giggled, but before I could answer there was a bright flash followed by many more. Paparazzi. Damn it. The bright flashes were followed by more than ten photographers hoarding around us.
"How are you this evening Richard?"
"Who's this?"
"Richard Grayson has a new girlfriend!"
They swarmed us with questions, none of which I had any intentions of answering. I looked over at Kori, she looked panicky and looked at me for help. I had to get her out of there before they squashed her.
"Come on guys, give her some space." I asked them as I pushed some of them away. I grabbed a hold of her arm and started pulling her towards my car.
"Let me get you out of here, I'll drive you home, no charge." I winked at her and she laughed.
Well there's the first chapter! Please review and give any suggestions, give me inspiration Hopefully I'll have the next chapter up within a week or two and get this story on the road
Peace & Love