Meeting Your Shadow
Chapter 3
Disclaimer: You should know the answer by now…
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"Kor, I'm sorry I left so abruptly yesterday. Barbra's an old friend and we hadn't talked in a while." Kori could tell that Richard was truly sorry, but she still had a reason to be mad at him…Right? "A-are you mad at me?" Richard was taking out the big guns now. How could she say no to that voice?
"Of course not Richard." So she lied a little.
"So your not mad that we didn't have our annual Friday Movie Night?" Why'd he always have to do this to her? She sighed and continued.
"No Richard…I'm not mad." Another little white lie couldn't hurt.
"Thanks Kor, you're the best!" Now that made her feel a little guilty.
"Oh yeah…anytime Rich." How com Richard was always so sweet to her? It only made Kori more in…lust with him.
"Well I better go do something…" But when he said things like that all of his sweetness dissolved away, and anger took over.
"Ok, I guess I'll just talk to you later then."
"Thanks again Kor, yup talk to you later." Men.
"Whatever Richard." And with that Kori Anders hung up, leaving Richard confused. "That's just how I roll…" She grinned at herself and shrugged her shoulders in defeat.
Kori slouched down further into the couch. She felt horrible. Her best friend was most likely going out with some tramp that will probably just break his heart. She had to do something, but what?
For some reason, Kori was sure she would explode at any moment. It felt like her stomach was going to fall out her butt. Why was she so…jealous? No! Se couldn't be. Why in the world would she be desirous of some woman who just happened to steal HER man?
"Wait," Kori thought out loud "MY man? Since when has Richard ever been MY man?"
Since forever, and you know it darling. Her conscience was back. Dammit.
"Haha, very funny. I don't like Richard that way, what are you…thinking? He's gorgeous, smart, nice, funny, and my BEST FRIEND! But no way, no how, am I in love with Richard Grayson." Kori concluded with a 'humph'.
That's what you want to think Kori.
"NO, it's the truth. Do I need to spell it out for you?"
No not at all. But just face the facts Kori; you're in L.O.V.E. with your best friend, Richard Grayson. It certainly isn't an unspoken rule that you can't love your best friend…Think about it. A poof could be heard in Kori's mind, a sign that her conscience had left the building.
"I can't possibly be in love with Richard…Could I?"
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Richard sighed in content as he hung up the phone, after having a very thorough conversation with Kori. He was very relieved that she had forgiven him so soon.
"Maybe I should make it up to her." Richard thought for a moment and then continued his oncoming thoughts out loud "I should call her back and ask if she wants to watch a movie…Yeah." And with that Richard picked up the phone and dialed the phone number that he had long before memorized.
"Master Grayson, you have to patrol tonight. Master Wayne can not make it, he has a very important conference in New York." Alfred called, warning Richard.
Immediately Richard hung the phone up and sighed, now how was he going to be sure Kori wasn't mad at him?
"What time do I have to leave?"
"The usual time Master Dick." And Alfred strode away with a sigh.
"So that gives me…Half an hour." Richard stood up, and sluggishly headed toward the Bat Cave.
Arriving at the cave, Richard changed into his Nightwing attire. Whenever Richard had to go on patrol, it was like he was two different people, like he had two lives…which he pretty much did. One person was a bachelor heir, and the other a super hero; trying to save lives. Sometimes it confused him why he was ever became Nightwing, or Robin at all, but when he was helping save the city, it was worth it.
Finally, after putting on everything but, Richard held his mask. The only thing that separated him from Nightwing. His arch nemeses could easily pull it off whenever they wanted, but nobody ever did. It was strange…
He stood there for a couple more seconds before giving up and putting it on. He was Nightwing again.
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Twilight stood atop a vacant building. She was on patrol, looking for something that was wrong, ready for anything.
Being atop of buildings, the wind lashing her face and hair around, always made her comfortable. Even though she hadn't been a superhero for long, it felt like she had been on all her life.
Her thoughts then brought her back to Nightwing. He had been a complete and utter JERK. It was a wonder how the citizens of Gotham City liked him. Whoever was under the mask, must be a horrible person, probably a man that had no life, no friends, and no love. Then when she thought of Nightwing and his secret identity self that way, it made her feel guilty.
From the corner of Twilight's eye, she saw a shadow move. Someone had been watching her.
She stood there in silence for a few minutes; no thoughts were going through her mind. Then the shadow came out of hiding. It was Nightwing, boy was this her lucky day.
"Hello Starfire…" Nightwing mocked.
"It's Twilight." Twilight snapped angrily.
"Snappy are we?" No answer "Fine, give me the cold shoulder why dontcha."
Twilight glared at him through her mask and stalked away, who did that Nightwing character think he was?
She then jumped off the roof gracefully, trying to get away from that…person. She didn't have to deal with him. He was just trying to cause trouble.
Before Twilight could set foot on the cold concrete, Nightwing yelled out to her.
"Sorry I lit your spark there Nightlight."
She landed softly and spun her head around, just to see that Nightwing had disappeared into the cool autumn night.
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Kori sighed softly, and let her head fall onto her pillow. She was tired from a night of doing absolutely nothing for the city.
"Why is that stupid Nightwing always on my tail? He must have a secret life as a stalker…" Kori sighed again, as the phone rang, who would possibly be calling at this time of night?
"Hello?" She asked, tiredness seeping into her voice.
"Kori! Were you asleep?"
"No…I just lied down, what's up Rich?"
"Oh, well I wanted to catch you before you went to sleep, what are you doing tomorrow?" Richard asked curiously.
"Absolutely nothing…"
"Good! I was just thinking that since I so rudely left the other day that I could make it up to you by having a make-up Friday Movie Night! On a Sunday!" You could almost see Richard beaming through the phone; his enthusiasm was high that night.
"Sure Richard, that sounds good." Obviously Kori wasn't as enthusiastic as Richard that night.
"Ok, be at my house around 5. We can go on from there. Sorry about waking you up Kor…I was just to excited I guess."
"I would have never been able to guess…"
"Night Kor…" Richard said that with a very caring and loving tone, but the two didn't seem to catch it.
"Night." The dial-tone went off, and Kori laid back down, only to fall asleep, dreams of Richard swirled around in her mind.
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The next morning Kori woke at around eight o'clock, which for her was unusually late.
The day passed by in a big blur of boredom, say that five time fast. When it was four thirty Kori decided to get ready, she wasn't going to wear anything special because they were just watching a movie or two.
She decided on a pair of black, baggy cotton sweat pants, and a pink hooded sweat-shirt. With her hair in a messy pony tail, she opted against make-up, except for a little eyeliner.
Grabbing her keys, she locked the door and descended down the hallway to the elevator.
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After a short drive to the mansion, Kori was at the door, waiting for Alfred to answer. It seemed that she was waiting at his door a lot lately…
The door opened, sending Kori's thoughts to a screeching halt, she jumped slightly and walked into the manor.
"Hello Miss Kori, Richard will be down in a moment." Again she was forced to wait.
"Thank you Alfred." Kori sighed and sat down in the very same chair, she minas well claim is as her own, seeing as she was most likely the only one who sat in it.
"Kori! You're here, good. What movie do you want to watch?" Kori raised her eyebrow at Richard's sudden rush.
"I don't know Richard, can we choose when we get in the theatre?" Richard slightly blushed at how stupid he must have sounded.
"Oh…Yeah. Heh, heh." He rubbed the back of his neck and made a signal for Kori to fallow.
The walk to the Wayne/Grayson's mini theatre seemed to drag on and on. Neither of the two seemed to have anything worthy of talking about to say. So when they finally did arrive, Kori and Richard mentally sighed, the tension was tearing them apart.
"So…Now that we're here, what do you want to watch?" Richard raised his eyebrow in wonder.
"How about a-." Kori's words were soon cut off by the call of a voice.
"Richard! Where are you?" It was none other than Barbra Gordon, in the flesh.
When she stepped into the room, Kori could see why Richard was most likely attracted to her. She had beautiful red hair, and entrancing blue eyes that could light up a room. She was wearing nothing but designer fashion. In her mind Kori could picture her with a little dog that was wearing the exact same thing.
"Oh…Hey Babs." Richard glanced at Kori, and back to 'Babs' "I forgot to mention Kor, I invited Babs too…Babs, this is Kori, Kori this is Babs."
Kori put on a fake smile and said in her inner most fake voice "Glad to finally meet you Babs." Kori emphasized her name with venom.
"Huh, yeah nice to meet you too." Barbra rolled her eyes and walked down the small isle to where the love-seat was located; she sat down and looked at Richard expectantly. "Sit by ME Richie…" Babs pouted.
He nodded and went to sit by her, without even noticing that Kori was still in the room…Still existing.
"Yea…Sure I'll just sit here in the back…Alone…" Kori sighed, her head down she sat in the back row, alone.
Barbra and Richard silently picked out a movie and went back to their seat on the love-seat. Kori just looked on, feeling unwanted.
What am I to them? A nanny? I am most certainly NOT a third wheel either. Kori was furious beyond belief. What did Richard do? He invited her to watch a movie to make it up to her, but then what does he do! He goes and invites some wannabe blonde bimbo. Men.
As the movie played on, Kori thought about how rude Richard could be at times. When they had first met in the fifth grade, he never played her like that, he always thought of her first…But then again that was ten years ago…
After a whole two and a half hours, the movie had finally ended, and Richard and Barbra left the room, leaving Kori sitting in awe, alone.
"Well then…I feel ever so loved today!" Kori sighed…again, and rose from her seat. "I should just go, leave the two love birds alone." She rolled her eyes and walked through the mansion, and out the wide double doors.
In her car, Kori let a single tear cascade down her face. Why am I crying over something I never had? And she pulled out of the driveway, letting the Wayne manor fade away; it was going to be a long night…
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