Rei didn't say a word. Grayson said he would handle everything even though everything inside of her said to not allow a man be a hero, to save her and make her the princess in distress. She had no plan, no saving grace, and least of all, the fiery priestess didn't have the one thing she'd ever admit aloud: the courage.
She stood on top of her tabletop, screaming at the top of her lungs as Grayson slammed the broom to the ground once more. Was it over? Did he truly take care of that despicable creature? Her heart was tight in her chest, and her breathing was shallow. Rei could handle monsters and demons any day of the week without second thoughts, but let a roach in her temple and she was about as good as Usagi with English.
Grayson lifted the broom to check if it was dead, but it looked like the roach was hanging onto the broom for dear life. To Rei, it appeared ready to do some world wrestling federation finisher on it then take her out next. Its leg twitched three times; Rei counted the kicks to the broom as it moved its round butt as it pushed off the cleaning product. Without warning, the bug flew into the air. The reincarnated fire-wielding soldier couldn't breathe for a moment; it was like the sight of the creature had taken every breath away.
Her life flashed before her eyes, and she remembered telling Minako not to be so dramatic. Was this the gods way of mocking her before certain death? This was most certainly life threatening.
Just as the flying roach lifted off into the air, Grayson caught it with a martial artist's ease. She heard it crunch in his hands as he grabbed a paper towel and wiped it off of him and into the trash can.
Before he could turn all the way around, Rei handed him a bucket of water and liquid hand soap and next to that homemade soap. There was a towel to dry his hands folded to the right side with a note in kanji that he roughly translated as: "Thank you."
When he looked down at the note further, it gave detailed directions on how he should wash his hands. Grayson sighed and followed the note even though his body language said that he thought it was belittling.
"Hino, I'll be on my way if that's all you need." There was annoyance detected in his tone. She called him over, but Rei never explained the real reason why she wanted him to come to her temple. The bug situation got in the way, and for whatever reason, she was happy that he came even for something so trivial.
"There was something else..." Should she tell him? The situation was more than just serious. It was life changing. Before she could finish her sentence, a man with sandy blonde hair and green eyes the shade of a lush forest and porcelain skin that matched her own walked in.
The man was tall with features that could give most models a run for their money. Wide shoulders, slim waist, clearly worked out, and the whitest teeth Rei has ever seen, she scowled at her father as he bowed at Grayson and came further into the kitchen. "Kim-san will be here soon."
Kim Dae-Hyun was her situation. Governor Hino, also known as her father, decided to arrange a marriage interview for his daughter. The Kim family were a large conglomerate family, having one of the largest medical equipment companies in the world. Until last week he had lived in Seoul, Korea, but then he decided to come and meet her; Rei assumed it was to see what she was like without anyone knowing about it.
He came to her temple everyday of the week, buying tons of items and making small talk with her and her friends. One day, he finally revealed himself to be a suitor for Rei and saying that like her father, and after seeing the example of Donald Trump, he too wanted to he a politician.
"Kim-san spoke to his father and said that he is completely in love with you. He would like your hand in marriage." Her father spoke as if he were making a deal with her soul and mind. "His father is a big supporter of myself and is known to have stock in Wayne Enterprises." He continued to explain without any sort of emotion. "I would hate for me to lose my backing with their family because of something so silly as a marriage vow."
Rei's eyes widened.
Dick was about to leave, not wanting to be involved in something that was clearly family related but stopped upon seeing Rei's face. He hasn't known her long and couldn't say they were friends, but he'd never known her to look so... pitiable. Her eyes, usually so full of fire, almost seemed ready to cry.
"Papa..." There was a hesitation in her voice as if she were afraid to say the wrong thing. "If I get married..."
The older man finished her sentence without listening to her tone or looking at the young girl's posture. "It would be beneficial for you and for your family. You can probably even move your grandpa into a home where nurses will be able to handle his health instead of you needing to be constantly at his side."
Rei's eyes were wide and seemed to be in shock. She straightened her posture and her face slowly became more calm. Dick had to wonder if the calm exterior that he'd always seen her with, that mysterious aura, and always "too cool for words" was more of a mask than the one he was in right now. She changed the subject. "Since you're here, I can let grandpa know, and we can have some tea together. Grandpa would like that." Even with her face looking serene, she couldn't hide the sadness in her words.
Her father turned around and smiled. Dick recognized him almost immediately. He'd seen him more than once in Gotham at Bruce's board meetings, one of the stockholders who had some of the highest shares of the company, and he'd had dinner with the family more than once. Apparently, he had known the Wayne family since he was a child and his family had left Gotham the morning that Bruce's parents were killed.
"Unfortunately, the city needs me." He sounded like Bruce. It was no wonder they were friends. "I wouldn't have the time, sweetheart." He patted Rei on the head then looked at his watch. "Maybe next time. ..." He paused for a moment, a glint of sadness in his expression. The Boy Wonder had to question whether Rei and her father realized they had similar gestures. "You look so much like your mother right now."
Rei nodded but didn't say a word. Finally, she turned to the young man in the room then said, "Papa, this is Grayson Richard. I'm sorry I didn't introduce you earlier. Grayson-san, this is Governor Hino, my father."
Her father seemed to recognize him and half-smiled as if unsure how to react to him. Dick knew immediately this was the real reason why Rei invited him over after hearing the older man talk about this Korean millionaire. "Wayne-san said he moved out here. I didn't believe it."
He extended his hand to shake Dick's hand. Just as he told Rei he would have a plan to solve her problem, the once Robin did just so. "Yes, I asked him to move us out here after meeting your daughter once." He lied. "I, too, would like to marry your daughter if you'd allow me."
Dick turned his smiling face to Rei whose face had turned from being as red as a tomato to as white as a ghost within seconds. He winked at her.
Governor Hino stopped what he was doing and looked at his daughter who smiled in return. She looked as confused as he did.
"Is this true?" He asked her.
Dick responded before she could ruin his plan. "Hai, t'is true. We didn't know how to tell you, but this seemed like it would be a good as any."
The father smiled and laughed for a moment. "It seems you not only share your mother's looks but also her taste. That being said, I think it would be good to meet with both suitors to see who best fits you. Thank you Grayson-san, but as I told my daughter, I best be off."
With that, he pat his daughter on her head once again, shook Dick's hand one more time, and left without saying a word to his father.
Dick looked out the window, waiting to see the father pull off. He scanned the room for any new electrical devices left as a precaution then turned to Rei. "I solved your problem as I said I would."
"Or made it more complicated." She sighed then smiled and for the first time since he met her, she seemed genuine. "Thank you though."