Running From Sin City

Chapter 9: Letting down the barriers

I dedicate this chapter to moonlitsfantasy, Skyler-A-Teliov, ComixFan1224, Tskukikage1213, sb1, xStarfirexRobinox, TAUT13, and lilacprincessmay. You guys rule!

Disclaimer: No, no progress on my conquest of owning the Titans. I forgot to mention in the last chapter, I also sadly do not own Codename: Kids Next Door.Bummer. Nor do I own Starbucks which truly isn't that much a bummer because I'm honestly not a fan of coffee.

However on the bright side I do—(author pauses due to tugging on sleeve, it's Miranda.) Miranda: She does own me! Me: You're surprisingly cheerful. Miranda (in a matter-of-fact voice): I haven't gotten into character yet. Me (to anyone who's bothering to read this): Are all child stars like this?


As the citizens of Jump City prepared to greet the day by going about their morning routines, Kory was trying to coerce her new "daughter" to come out of the bathroom. "Miranda!" Kory called through the wooden door. "Sweetie, that lady wasn't Mommy!" Silence resounded throughout the apartment.

Kory sighed in a defeated tone as she slid to the floor. Fifteen minutes earlier Kory had been making pancakes awaiting Miranda's arrival into the kitchen. Unfortunately Kory had made the mistake of having the television on as Miranda entered the room. The news had been on, the broadcaster mentioning a homeless woman who had been shot at late last night. As Miranda brushed her messy bangs away from her face, she saw the woman had lengthy black hair and dark blue eyes. Before Kory had the chance to tell the little girl otherwise, Miranda had sped into the bathroom, slamming the door clearly indicating that nothing was going to make her leave the tiny sanctuary.

Kory tried again. "Miranda, trust me honey. That lady was not Mommy. Mommy is fine; she called a little while ago saying that she and Daddy are okay." Kory knew that she was lying through her teeth. Koma hadn't made any form of contact since she had left for safety, but what else could she do? She did know however that the woman who had been attacked wasn't Koma because Koma's eyes were a much darker blue; they were almost a royal violet. Not to mention the homeless woman's skin was as pale as the moon itself, therefore Kory made the conclusion that the victim was indeed not Koma.

The more she thought about it, Koma was in a way homeless and there was a possibility that the woman's skin had been so pale because blood had been drained from the body. Kory shivered, burying her face in her hands.

Kory tried thinking rationally. Surely if Koma was indeed the one shot at, wouldn't she have had some form of identification on her? The woman had been a Jane Doe. Kory wracked her memory trying to recall if Koma had ever gotten her license. So many questions whirled through her mind. Thank X'hal she had called in sick because at that moment she was ready to force open the bathroom door and see if the toilet was available.

Miranda's voice yanked Kory from her reverie. "Why did Mommy leave me?" Her voice was thick with emotion. Kory bit her lip. How on Earth was she supposed to tell an eight-year-old that the reason her mother left her with a stranger she was apparently related to because she had inadvertently treated her daughter like a trophy, lost the game she had been playing and was now running from a man who had won her daughter and, oh yes, had the potential of being a killer? Kory knew that she had to come up with another version of this lovely fairytale somehow.

"Mommy left sweetie--" Kory broke off, trying to piece together a decent excuse.

"Because she hates me," Miranda stated bluntly, not allowing her aunt to continue.

Kory's eyes widened with shock. "That's not why she left you here!" She exclaimed. "She left because she and Daddy needed to…"

"Stop lying!!" Miranda screamed. "I was a mistake! I heard her say that! She doesn't love me! That's why she gave me to you!"

Determined to stop Miranda from berating herself any further, Kory threw herself against the bathroom door. Surprisingly it wasn't locked causing the vexed red-head to careen into the sink.

"Oof!" She gasped, plopping down beside the bewildered looking Miranda. "Of course it wasn't locked," Kory thought, a wry smirk lacing her features. "This is California. It's going to get hot; therefore wooden doors are going to swell leaving their owners to believe that they are locked."

She smacked her forehead and muttered, "I'm so stupid."

"Join the club."

Kory turned to look at Miranda. Her heart nearly broke at what she saw. Miranda's eyes were red, black locks tumbling into her eyes. Tears were running in rivers down her tanned cheeks.

Kory lifted Miranda into her lap. "Miranda," she began in a firm, yet gentle voice. "Mommy does love you." Miranda looked away, doubt clouding her face. Kory lifted her chin. "Look at me, I am telling the truth. Mommy loves you." She stroked some black hair out of Miranda's face. "Oh sweetie, you could never be considered a mistake to her."

Miranda buried her face into the crook of Kory's neck. "Then why did she leave me?" She whimpered.

"Mommy and Daddy left you here with me because—"She fished around for an excuse. "Because they needed to take some time to learn how to mature a bit so they can be better parents." She closed her eyes and held her breath praying that Miranda would buy her excuse.

"So Mommy and Daddy don't hate me?" Miranda asked.

"Of course they don't hate you. You're too precious to hate sweetie." This caused Miranda to giggle.

"So what do we do now?" Miranda asked, lifting her head. Kory looked thoughtful for a moment then said, "You're going to get dressed and then I'll show you that it's okay to be a kid, all right?" Miranda gave her aunt a genuine smile then darted toward her room.

Once the little girl's black hair whipped away from her sight, Kory sank against the cabinet exhaling a long breath. "I just hope that you'll be able to act like a child for a long time."


Kory and Miranda's first stop of the day was at the River Ridge Library, the largest library in all of Jump City. Miranda gaped at what she saw. There eight floors, each dedicated to a different genre for both children and adults with the exception of the first floor which served its purpose as information/check-out center, children's story-time area and home to Starbucks.

Kory noticed the expression on Miranda's face and chuckled. "I take it you've never seen so many books in one place before, huh?" Miranda shook her head, eyes still fixated on the myriad of pieces of literature that stood proudly before her. "Well what are you waiting for?" Kory continued. "Go on, pick out something to read."

Miranda hung her head and mumbled, "Actually Aunt Kory, Mommy never taught me how to read."

Kory smiled. "That doesn't mean you can't ever learn how to read," she countered. Kory took Miranda's hand and led her to the children's fairytale section located on the second floor. "This section is where we can find stories such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, whatever you want!" Kory frowned as she realized something. Looking down at Miranda who was staring at a copy of Aladdin, Kory asked, "Did Mommy ever tell you and bedtime stories?"

Miranda looked up and nodded. "Uh-huh, lots of times. My favorite story was Beauty and the Beast. Belle was so cool; she wasn't even scared when the Beast said she had to remain at the castle as his prisoner. Mommy told me the story so many times that I told her the story a few times too." Miranda eyes were shining with pride at this little piece of information. Kory nodded and smiled as she reached for the Aladdin book, inwardly pleased that her older sister did have some motherly feelings in her.

By the time the two Anders girls were finished with the library, they had a pile of fairytale books to help Miranda learn to read including a copy of Beauty and the Beast.

"All right, now we're off to Mr. Jenkins's Toy Shop!" At the words "toy shop", Miranda's eyes lit up as she exclaimed, "A toy shop?! Let's go, let's go, let's go!!!" She quickly yanked Kory in the direction of the car.


In Mr. Jenkins's Toy Shop, Miranda oohed and ahhed over every doll, teddy bear, board game and puzzle as her eyes fell on them. Kory herself was eying a Sugarplum fairy plush ragdoll that she remembered fancying as a young child but never receiving such a toy for it had been deemed as 'a foolish and frivolous toy' by her adopted mother's standards.

As she reached out to stroke the doll's purple satin skirt, a shadow fell over her. Kory tensed, preparing to use any means necessary if the person behind her was one of the men after Miranda. She spun around only to meet a pair of sunglasses that belonged to none other than— "Richard!" Kory exclaimed, hoping the relief in her voice wasn't too evident in her voice. "What are you doing here?"

Richard smiled, "I'm here looking for a gift. A friend of mine is having a baby."

Kory brightened, "Oh really? Any of the rich and famous a mere mortal like me would only dream of meeting?"

Richard rolled his eyes but answered her question nonetheless. "Her name is Diana Prince. Well actually it's Diana Kent, but I've always known her as Ms. Prince."

"You mean Ambassador Diana is married?" Kory asked.

Richard frowned, "You know her?"

Kory shook her head. "Not personally, but she's on the news quite a bit."

Richard nodded his understanding then looked sheepish. "Um, do you have any ideas as to what I should get the baby? Events like these aren't a part of my expertise."

Before his girlfriend could respond, Miranda came bounding over to the couple asking excitedly, "Aunt Kory! Can I please have that dolly?" She pointed at the very doll Kory had been looking at mere seconds ago.

Kory picked up the doll and handed it to Miranda saying, "Of course you can Honey."

Miranda hugged the sugarplum fairy tightly before looking up and asking, "Who's this man?"

Kory looked at Richard and said, "This is Richard, Miranda. He's my boyfriend." She gestured to Miranda and said, "Richard, this is my niece Miranda."

Richard stuck out his right hand and with an amiable grin said, "It's nice to meet you Miranda."

"It's nice to meet you too." Looking at his sunglasses Miranda asked, "Are you Aunt Kory's Prince Charming?"

Kory held in a giggle as Richard blushed. "Maybe," he responded. Looking at Kory he continued, "If she'd let me."

Kory hummed then replied, "I don't know…I was never really a fan of being a damsel-in-distress." Changing the subject she said, "Miranda, Richard is here looking to buy a gift for a friend of his who is having a baby, any suggestions as to what he should get?"

"Get a stuffed bunny!" Miranda exclaimed immediately. "'Cause even if the baby's a boy, who's to say that bunnies aren't cool for boys too?"

Kory looked at Richard and said, "Get a stuffed bunny."

"She's a very insightful little girl," he noted. Kory nodded then handed Miranda a twenty dollar bill allowing for her pay for the doll herself.

As Miranda skipped away Richard asked, "So when did you plan on telling me that your niece was in town?"

Kory looked over the collection of stuffed bunnies as she responded, "Miranda arrived late last night, after our time at Jinx's Hex." Looking at her boyfriend she continued, "Her parents left her with me while they took some time to do a little soul searching."

Richard raised a skeptical eyebrow at this. "Soul searching?"

Kory gave a soft smile. "My sister had Miranda at a young age and was neither financially nor emotionally prepared for such a large change in her life as a having a baby would be. Therefore she left Miranda with me in hopes that when she returned, both she and Miranda's father would be better prepared for the challenge being parents." She picked up a butterscotch- colored bunny and handed it to Richard. "Get this one."

Richard smiled at her, "you're doing an amazing thing. Taking in your niece so suddenly."

Kory smirked before giving him a quick kiss. "Perhaps you should tell Mr. Wayne that. After all, he did take you and Rachel in without any preparation." Before Richard could respond however, Kory whipped off his shades exposing his sapphire eyes to the tiny store. "And I thought you said you were comfortable with showing your eyes to me?"

"Yeah," Richard said. "You, but not anyone else!"

Kory rolled her emerald eyes before kissing Richard once again then saying, "I'm taking Miranda to get some ice cream. Would you like to join us?" Richard nodded. "Then meet us at the Flying Crane Café in fifteen, okay?" Another nod.

Kory tossed his sunglasses at him then went to take her niece's hand who was patiently waiting at the door. Before the two had completely left the store, Miranda turned and gave Richard a small wave. He couldn't help but grin and wave back.


After having paid for the stuffed bunny and once the key to his Mercedes was in the ignition, Richard flipped open his cell phone and hit the button for the first contact on his speed dial. After the second ring, a deep voice answered.

"Yes?"

"Me," Richard said. "Listen, I was just wondering, did you happen to collect any information on whatever, or possibly rather, whoever Ares was after that Koma Anders had in her possession?"

There was a moment's pause as Batman went through the crime file pertaining information on Ares.

"A few witnesses have heard him shouting about a large sum of money being owed to him while several others have heard him mumble incoherently about a little girl being used as a prize." Batman's voice sounded disgusted as he read the final part of his notes.

Richard grimaced. He had been afraid of that. "Thanks for the information." He was about to hang up when Batman asked,

"Why do you ask now?"

Richard's voice was steely as he responded, "Because I know that Kory's an unwilling pawn to this sick game now."


Okay, major apologies for this being so dang late. Writer's Block had once again reared its ugly head leaving me with an idea for this chapter, but no idea how to form the plot into sentences. I actually know what I'm doing for the next chapter, so that'll be up a LOT faster.

I gotta admit there wasn't as much drama in this chapter as intended. There should be more in the next one however. And yes, Kory does know of the situation, Richard just thinks that the reason she gave him about Miranda being there was the truth coming from her. Ah, lovesickness can make you a little bit blind.

And no, I don't own any of the aforementioned fairytale characters.

Read and Review, s'il vous plait!