Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans or any related DC characters. Just Psyche.


Chapter 12

Robin and Starfire were standing in the center of the Batcave while Batman was lecturing them about carelessly confronting two dangerous criminals.

Robin chose to interrupt him, "We've tangled with Deathstroke. Compared to him, Ivy and Harley are petty thieves."

"Yes," said Batman, "Petty thieves that have the capacity to kill and maim without remorse. Plus, all of those times you faced Deathstroke, you were with your team. This time, you took on two known murderers by yourselves."

"We won didn't we," Robin said.

"It was reckless," said Batman, "You could have both been killed."

"But we weren't," said Robin.

Batman glared at him, but Robin glared right back. Starfire stood back, watching both of them with a concerned look on her face.

Batman broke the glare first by turning away, "We're going up to the Watchtower in two days, so do what you have to do tomorrow."

"Fine," said Robin, "Can I tell her?"

Batman turned and glared at him. After a few seconds he responded, "Fine..."

Then he turned to Kory, "As long as she doesn't tell anyone."

Robin nodded before pulling off his mask. "Kory, I know you were looking forward to meet Bruce Wayne, but you already have."

Kory looked at him confused, "What do you mean?"

Batman turned and faced her before pulling off the cowl.

"Kory," Dick continued, "This is Bruce Wayne."

Kory's mouth gaped open, and her eyes got wide.

"Both of you should get changed and go up to the house for dinner," said Bruce before turning to his computer, "tell Alfred that I'll be up in a few minutes."

Dick nodded before turning to Kory.

"This way," he said before walking into the next room.

Kory followed him.

The teen heroes changed into their civilian clothes before walking up the staircase and emerging from behind the grandfather clock in the study, where Alfred met them.

"Master Richard and Miss Kory," he said, "Dinner will soon be ready, if you'll follow me."

Dick nodded, "Bruce will be up in a few minutes."

Alfred nodded before leading them to the dining room. When they arrived, Dick pulled out Kory's chair for her to sit, before taking his own seat. Soon, Bruce walked into the room.

"Good evening Master Bruce," said Alfred as he pulled out Bruce's chair for him to sit down, "Dinner will be served shortly."

"Thank you Alfred," said Bruce as the butler left the room.

Bruce turned and faced Dick and Kory, who were seated next to each other.

"So," he said, "Other than tangling with Ivy and Quinn, what else have you done since arriving back in Gotham?"

Dick narrowed his gaze before answering, "I went to see Babs."

Kory glanced at Dick confusedly, but Bruce nodded knowingly, "I assume then that Tony told you."

"Yeah," said Dick darkly, "What I want to know, is why you didn't."

Dick's emotion caused Kory to shiver. She had only ever seen this side of him when they were dealing with Slade. Truthfully, it scared her.

"What would you have done, had I told you," asked Bruce.

"I would have come back," Dick said.

"Which is why I didn't tell you," said Bruce, "You have a responsibility to your team and a duty to protect Jump City. If I would have told you about Barbara, you would have abandoned it…"

"Damn it Bruce," Dick shouted as he stood up and slammed his fist against the table, "I'm not the same little, crying, orphan kid you found in the circus. I know how to balance my priorities. Besides, you know how I feel about Babs. You should have told me…"

By the time Dick had finished his outburst, his tone of voice had softened and a few stray tears were visible on his cheeks. He sat back down as Alfred walked into the room with a cart of food. After he served it, they ate in silence.


By the time they finished eating, it was getting late, and Dick and Kory made their way up to their rooms. Before going into his room, he walked her to hers.

"Good night," he said he said as he kissed her lightly on the cheek, "I'll be right down the hall if you need me."

She nodded, and he turned to leave. She quickly grabbed his arm and spun him to face her. She answered the puzzled look on his face with, "I need you."

He smirked and nodded, and, after glancing down the hallway to saw that the coast was clear, he quickly pulled her into her room. As soon as the door was closed, he captured her lips with his and started pulling at her shirt.

"That's not really what I meant," she said as she gently pushed him back.

"Sorry," he said, "What's wrong then?"

"I just wanted to talk," she said, "And I have some questions."

"Ask away," he said.

"What were Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn talking about when they said that you were replaced?"

"Right," Dick said, "I did say that I'd tell you later. After I left Gotham and we started the Teen Titans in Jump City, Bruce found someone else to be Robin here. His name was Jason Todd. He was an orphan kid that was living in the streets. He was Robin for four years while I was in Jump. Two weeks ago, he and Batman were in Ethiopia looking for his mother. Somehow while Bruce was distracted, the Joker got a hold of Jason. I'm not really sure what led up to it, but Joker set off explosives and killed Jason and his mother. I only met Jason a few times, but I found out that Bruce adopted him. He was my brother for however short a time."

By the time Dick finished, Kory was wide-eyed with tears forming, "That's awful. I'm sorry for your loss."

"I didn't really know him," Dick said, "I just wonder how Bruce and Babs are taking it."

"You mentioned 'Babs' earlier," she said, "Who is 'Babs?'"

Dick sighed, "Barbara Gordon. She was Batgirl up until about a month ago. Again, it's because of the Joker. Barbara's father is the commissioner of the Gotham PD. The Joker was targeting him, but Babs answered the door. He shot her in the stomach, but the bullet hit her spine. She's paralyzed from the waist down."

By now, Kory wasn't the only one with tears in her eyes. She pulled him into her embrace.

"You must care deeply for her," she said.

He pulled out of her arms, "Four years ago, I thought I was in love with her."

Kory's eyes widened, "You mean…?"

Dick nodded, "Doesn't matter anymore. I have you now, and I know 100% for a fact, that I love you."

They embraced again. When they pulled apart, Dick placed a passionate kiss on her lips.

"Look," he said, "I have to go to my room for tonight. I'll see you in the morning."

He got up and turned to leave.

"Wait," she said, "The friend that you went to see when we arrived this afternoon; was it Babs?"

"Yeah," he said, "Do you still want to meet her?"

Kory nodded.

"Tomorrow after breakfast then," he said.

"Goodnight Dick," she said, "I love you."

"I love you too, Kory," he said, "Goodnight."


Please review. Next chapter will take place back in Jump.

Also, I have a question: Do you, the reader, want me to skip when Starfire meets Barbra Gordon and go straight to when they go to the Watchtower, or do you want me write that scene?
You can answer in a review, or the poll that I posted on my profile.