CHAPZ 4.
Guys, I'm SO sorry for not updating, but I've been having family issues, emergency trips to Mexico, and of course, it didn't help that my laptop kept shutting down for updates, and it wouldn't save anything.-_-
This is the fourth time I've written this chapter, and even though I loved the original, I don't have a photographic memory and therefore can't recite it from memory and write it exactly how it was.:/
Anyways, it's time for reviews:
ohyouknow88: I'm so happy you like this! :) I highly doubt my muse is going to let me do that soon, though. But I bet when he finds out, it'll be epic. :)
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Angst: Thank you and trust me, I'll keep writing this. :)
Hey-wazup-stalker: *Bows* Thanks. I will, don't worry. The more chapters come out, the more fun it gets to write it. :)
AI NO OWN PJO
(sadly…)
Now on with it!
Recap
Sky blue eyes, partly messy black hair. The same face, even after all these years.
Robin.
Chapter 4
It couldn't be. This isn't happening. I'm having an extremely vivid dream about seeing him again, and this isn't happening in real time. No, this isn't real. It just can't be real. I'm daydreaming about him again, thinking about how I would confront him again. It just isn't real. I just need to convince myself of that fact.
But it is real, Robin is right across from me, staring at me, and I'm staring back. Is this some kind of joke? Is the universe finally tired of me, and has decided to torture me with this?
Of course, a little part of me, the sixteen- year old Starfire that used to be present, is overjoyed at seeing Robin again. The twenty- year old Kori though, is slightly cautious, wanting to take careful, watchful steps ahead. I've been hiding from everyone for so long; I don't know how to approach him again.
Either way, I masked my shock with an amused expression, even though I know some of my surprise came through. His confused expression said it all.
He then gave me an apologetic smile, and stood up, beginning to walk towards me. Out of courtesy, I stood up also, waiting for him to approach.
"Hello," he said, "My name is Richard Grayson, or Dick, whichever you prefer. I'm sorry for not noticing you, I was just thinking." I smiled, letting my sadness show, and replied.
"Hello. My name is Kori Anders. I suppose you're my boss?" I asked, already knowing the obvious answer.
He smiled. "Yes, I am. Can I call you Kori?" I nodded my consent and he nodded in acceptance.
"Can I Call you Richard? I'm not fond of your nickname." With that said, I scrunched up my nose, something I used to do when I was younger. I did it to see if he would recognize and remember the movement. Apparently, he did, because he saw that, and lost himself in his thoughts once more.
To keep the conversation flowing—partly because it would be awkward if it stopped suddenly, partly because I wanted to hear his voice again— I asked a question I knew would get a response from him quickly.
"If you don't mind me asking, what were you thinking so hard about? You seemed in pain." He grimaced, proving my point.
"It's fine, and I don't mind, and I was just planning things out for the company." It was an obvious lie, and I wasn't convinced at all that was the truth, but I let it go.
"Oh, ok then." I smiled, showing him I wasn't going to push, and asked, "Do you need anything? Can I bring you something or help you at all?" he shook his head.
"No, thank you. I'm fine."
"So, will you have to have any absences? Sorry, I need to ask you that. You don't need to answer if you don't want to." He asked.
I waved off his concerns, answering, "No, it's fine. I will have absences because I have a three year old daughter who's a very active little girl, and I constantly have to go to her daycare." I felt my eyes soften while talking about my beautiful Marie.
"I see," he replied, "I understand, and that is a reasonable response." He smiled again, and I nodded, not wanting my voice to show how pained I was. Here we were, talking about our daughter, yet he doesn't know it.
"Thank you. If you ever meet her, you'll understand even more." I managed to say. I laughed quietly and moved my face away from his line of vision, not trusting myself to keep my emotions from creeping onto my face and giving away my feelings.
"What is your daughter's name?" he suddenly asked me. "I'm just curious."
I smiled, displaying some regret, and answered, "Her name is Marie."
He nodded. "Good name. If I had a daughter, I would name her Marie, too."
I smiled again, albeit it was a bit harder to keep it up. He seemed to notice, and quickly changed the subject. "So, did you get hired by Bruce?" He inquired. I nodded
"I don't mean to sound rude, but shouldn't you call him Mr. Wayne?" I was confused as to why he wouldn't address him as Mr. Wayne. Even though he is one of the bosses here, Mr. Wayne is everyone's boss here.
He laughed for a bit before replying. "No. I'm his son, so calling my father Mr. Wayne would be a little weird, don't you think?"
'Wasn't expecting that,' I thought. So Bruce adopted Robin. That would probably explain why he's one of the important people here. Bruce gave Robin/ Richard an important role in his company, and is most likely his heir. The question is, when did he adopt him?
It must have been after I disappeared, I concluded. Robin would've never kept that a secret from me, willingly or not. He either would've told me, or I would've coaxed it out of him.
While that information sunk in, Richard was lost in thought, too. I wanted to hear him talk again, so I asked, "You're his son?" He came back from his place in the clouds and nodded. I was still a little surprised, but I didn't say anything more, having the news mostly sink in.
He then asked me a question that shocked me to the core. "Kori, are you from Tamaran?"
I didn't say anything, feeling like a deer caught in headlights. He couldn't have figured it out already, could he? I mentally cursed myself for giving him hints I thought were subtle.
'Apparently, they weren't, and look in what predicament I'm in now,' I thought bitterly.
Thankfully, my face wasn't showing any of my emotions, it was just shock. Seeing this, Richard quickly added, "I'm sorry. It's just that you remind me of someone I used to know."
I got over my surprise swiftly and smiled sadly. I shook my head. "No, sorry. I'm from California," I lied through my teeth.
He didn't seem to notice the lie, because he looked disappointed, yet he looked like he had expected the answer. I smiled sadly at him, even though he couldn't see it because he took a sudden interest in the floor. After a few seconds, though, he looked up and smiled. I noticed his eyes didn't have the same rebel spark they had when we were younger. It saddened me, since I knew I was the cause of the absence of that gleam in his eye, but nevertheless, I smiled back.
Then, a sudden thought popped into my head. What if I asked him if he's Robin, to confirm it?
'Do it!' a voice in my head told me. It was as enthusiastic as my past identity had been, so I had dubbed it Starfire. It is most likely my conscious, but I still named it as my younger self.
'No,' I thought back. 'It would be rude, and I already know the answer.'
'Yes, but having him doing the answering of the question would confirm what we know!'
I sighed mentally. 'No, Starfire.'
It had long ago stopped being awkward talking about me. I had to, because I would hear people talk about Starfire, and I had to act as if I was just another citizen of Jump who had admired her and missed her.
'Yes! Please do the asking! Please?' I sighed–mentally– once again, and conceded.
'Fine. I'll do it. Happy now?'
'Oh, yes! I am most joyous!' Starfire exclaimed happily.
I sighed out loud, even though it was quiet, and gathered up the courage to ask, "Richard, are you Robin? The leader of the Teen Titans a few years ago?"
He looked startled, not expecting the question. Unlike him, though, I didn't say anything else. I just waited for his reply.
After some seconds, he said, "Yeah. That's me."
I smiled, nodding and saying, "I had a feeling you were Robin." That made him smile, too.
"Thanks," he told me, and that's when the phone rang.
"Sorry. I have to answer," he said before I could say anything. He picked up is cellphone off of his desk, which was vibrating. "Hello?"
Because I'm Tamaranean, I had "bat ears" as humans called them. So I could clearly hear the person on the other side of the line. And I instantly recognized the voice, even though it had changed slightly over the years.
"What do you think of her, man?" Cyborg asked Richard.
"Vic, stop bothering me. I'm working right now, like you should be doing right now," Richard told him.
I heard Cy chuckle and say, "That was a low blow, Dick. Nah, I'm on my break. This is why I'm calling you. By the way, expect two more calls. Gar and Wally will want to know too." I wondered who Gar and Wally were. Probably some of the Titans.
Richard groaned. "Why can't you three leave me alone? I'm trying to work, you know. And you guys aren't helping." He then looked my way. I was already sitting at my desk, organizing the stuff around the way I wanted.
"We can't. We're your bros, man!" Cy laughed, then said, "Now tell me, what do you think of her? Wally, Gar, and I picked her out this time, and we made sure she was like her."
I'm sure they were talking about me and Starfire, and I became interested more and more in this conversation. I'm not usually an eavesdropper, but this time, I couldn't help it.
"And let me tell you, she is a lot like her. Her hair, eyes, and accent aren't the same, but she reminded us of her, you know? Something about Kori is like her. We just can't figure out what."
I cursed myself mentally. I had to get better at acting. Some acting classes would be beneficial.
Richard shook his head, looking fed up. "Victor, look," he said, "I'll never move on. She's still out there, and I'll find her. No matter what I have to do, I'll see her again, face to face. Nothing you, Gar, Wally, or Bruce do will ever change my mind."
That exclamation choked me up. He still loves me, he's looking for me, and he won't stop until he finds me. Oh my God.
The vibrating of my own cellphone captured my attention, and I looked at the caller ID. I smiled gratefully at the name, Sunnyville Daycare.
"Hello?"
"Kori!" Jess said, sounding relieved. "You need to pick up Marie."
"I'll be there in ten minutes," I promised.
""Just hurry! Please!" I sighed. She must've either used her powers, or climbed on something, and they can't get her down.
"Don't worry, Jess. I'm coming. Bye."
"Bye Kori."
I quickly scribbled a note, explaining where I went. I was glad for the distraction, since listening to Richard talking about stopping at nothing to find me was getting to me.
'Richard, Marie's daycare called me while you were on the phone and I have to go. I'm sorry for leaving so soon, and on my first day, but I'll be back as soon as I can.'
Kori.
I left the note on top of a neat stack of papers, gathered my things, and quietly walked to the door. Before I turned the handle, I spun around to look at Richard again.
How I had missed seeing him. Every day was hard, knowing that I wouldn't see his face smiling at me. That's why it's so surreal to have him right in front of me. To have him be my boss once again, just like four years ago. I smiled, and then left the office, letting him finish his call with our old friend. I managed to hear the end, though.
"Yeah man," Vic said, "you know we're always here for you, right?" I smiled. The guys of the group were always close, and it clearly shows that they treat each other like brothers. Raven and I were similarly like that, which is why it was so difficult leaving the team behind.
"Yeah, and thanks. Bye Victor."
"Bye Dick."
With another smile, I left my Robin to finish talking to Cyborg, and went out the door.
Soo, how'd you like it? I say again, I'm SO sorry for not updating, but the reasons in the beginning are true, and yeah. :)
Please review! They inspire me, and when I'm inspired, I write faster and the chapters come out faster. :)
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That's it, I guess. Until next time, people!
