Wow! So, it's been what? One month? Two? All I can do is tell you guys how incredibly sorry I am! I don't want to bore you all with my complaints of school and work so I'm just going to apologize. Truly, I'm completely utterly sorry and thank you all for being so patient.

The good news is, it's spring break, so hopefully I can get a few more chapters out before I go back to school.

Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans. Nope.

Stage Presence

Chp. 20

"Hey, I apologized. Could you quit with the silent treatment? Please?"

Raven focused her sight directly past Richard as he led her across the dance floor in a simple waltz. He rolled his eyes, disappointed in her childish mood swing. It wasn't like her to be upset about something as trivial as a new year's kiss. Yet the tight pull of her lips and the betrayal hidden in her eyes proved different.

Without warning, he stopped their movements, and stooped down to press a kiss to Raven's cheek.

"Happy New Year, Raven."

For a brief moment, she stared up at him in disbelief before falling back into her normal composure.

Tugging him back into the box step, she smiled softly. "Stupid."

He shrugged, meeting her eyes, a silent apology crossing between the two of them. Another part of the secret language they shared.

"So what delayed you from keeping your promise, Mr. Grayson? Could it have been one of your dedicated performers?"

He shrugged again, this time avoiding her pointed gaze. He hadn't planned on saying anything to Kori, especially of that nature. He hadn't even been aware that he felt that way about the red head. A part of him was certain the words had manifested in the heat of the moment, as do they always when he's faced with a beautiful woman. But another part of him found nothing but truth in his words.

Kori had been uncharacteristically quiet following his confessions, avoiding words with sweet kisses. She diverted his attention; their midnight haunt carrying on longer than he had planned. Now she was locked in a dance with Victor as he paid Raven the apologies she deserved. They would pass the pair from time to time, and he would catch her smiling in response to Vic's charm. His glances in their direction didn't go unnoticed.

"He's not going to steal her away."

"I know," he responded, defense rising in his haste. Violet eyes narrowed in confusion, and he suddenly found himself cursing Raven's empathetic nature.

"What did you do?"

"Nothing." A pathetic lie; one, no doubt, she saw right through.

"Bullshit. Tell me the truth, or your little girlfriend gets to hear the homecoming story."

He rolled his eyes. Here they were, nearly adults and still threatening one another with the shit they pulled in high school. It would probably be more fun if he actually had something to fight back with. Raven had always been a no-shit business kind of girl.

"There's nothing to tell, Rae. We went out on the terrace, we kissed. Pretty standard New Year's if you ask me."

After a moments consideration, she nodded, satisfied with answer. And yet, he wasn't.

"But-"

She raised her eyebrows in question, silently urging him to continue.

"I said something…"

"What could you have said that would be so bad, other than your normal pick up lines I mean." He dismissed her joke, an immediate tip off to the seriousness that she had overlooked.

"You didn't…did you…." She rambled on, her hand growing limp in his own. When he didn't answer, she could only continue her stammering. "You did….you told her…that you love her?"

Nodding numbly, he attempted to focus on swirl of colors before him. For a moment the silence reined supreme, both of them falling captive to their own thoughts. After a minute or so, Raven spoke up.

"Well, as long as you two aren't acting all lovey dovey every second of the day, I guess I can deal with it. But any of that 'I love you more. No I love you more,' shit and I'll have to run you down with a taxi cab."

"I doubt you'll have to worry about that, Rae," he replied, his brow knotted in concern.

"Yeah, I guess," she reasoned with a smirk. She glanced at him again, her head tilted slightly to the side. "Wait…she did say it back, right?"

"Nope."

Again, silence befell them. She seemed lost to something, though whatever it might have been was beyond Richard. Finally, she spoke.

"I told you that once…I love you…"

"Rae-"

"And you turned me down."

"That was a long time ago, and it was right after…Besides, I was a jerk back then." He managed a grin, sighing with relief as the light returned to her eyes.

"You still are," she replied with a broken smile. "It's just, back then, all we had was each other. I guess a part of me wanted it to stay that way."

"I know, but that was a rough time for you-"

"Don't, Richard," she interrupted, ice returning to her voice. "Just don't."

He closed his mouth, not at all insulted by Raven's anger. There were some things better left unsaid.

"So," he began, a casual arrogance slipping back into his voice, "where do I go from here?"

She didn't answer right away. Instead, she leaned in, her forehead resting against his shoulder. "It's almost time for the last dance. She'll be waiting for you."

"And you?"

He could feel her smiling against his shoulder, inhaling deeply as she moved away.

"I have my own means of entertainment."

She pulled away gracefully, and for the first time that evening he managed to notice how elegant she looked.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

He hadn't noticed Victor's presence until Kori had appeared as well, tugging lightly at the fingers that lay limply at his side.

"There's time for one more dance," he offered, hoping his smile could hide any unease that might slip through the mask. Her bottom lip was trapped between her teeth, her reluctance painfully obvious.

"Me neither," he said, leading her back towards the front hallway. Behind closed doors, the music grew softer, hidden beneath dark oak. Kori walked the length of the room, her footsteps slow and even, her heels echoing across the great span of space.

She stopped to examine a painting, a horrid rendition of the Gotham skyline, a piece Bruce had picked up at one of his charity auctions. Richard remembered the night vividly, though not for the art. Tugging self-consciously at the sleeves of her dress, she continued on her walk for a few more feet, pausing as if her name had been called.

It hadn't.

"Why did you say it?" She didn't sound angry, but her tone was not at all happy. It wasn't like her, and it bothered him immensely.

"What do you mean why? Do you not think I meant it?"

She shook her head, turning away from him to continue on her walk. In a surge of anger he stormed after her, catching her arm in his grip. He was only slightly surprised at the muscle hidden beneath her caramel skin. She had always come across as a slender, weak girl, but as he looked deeper he could tell she had some fight in her.

"Kori? Talk to me?"

She seemed to be forcing her green eyes on him, fighting her own urge to pull away.

"What do you want me to do? Take it back?"

"No!" Her reaction was quick, and it brought a strange sense of relief to him. He loosened his grip, but still keeping his hand against her arm, revealing in the feel of her skin beneath the gauzy material.

"I…did you mean it? Or was it just the heat of the moment?"

"No, or at least, I don't think it was…" he confessed, his hand dropping to his side. "But does that change how you feel?"

A ghost of smile crossed her features as she reached for his hand. Lacing their fingers together, she leaned against the wall, her head resting against the frame of the Gotham skyline.

"I wanted to say it back, but that would have been selfish of me."

Quirking an eyebrow in question, he too leaned against the wall, his free arm slung casually over her shoulder.

"Is that even possible for you?"

She giggled lightly, the spark returning to her eyes.

"You think too highly of me, Richard. The truth is, I want to love you. But then…things will change."

"And you don't want things to change?"

"No, that's not it."

He chuckled, almost amused at the circle she had led him.

"Kor, I'm failing to see the problem here."

"Do you want things to change?"

She was watching the ceiling now, waiting for him to answer her sudden question. Again she had turned his words around at him, and he wondered where she had picked up that trick.

"I…"

"It's okay, Dick. I know you're not ready for things to change. I know there are things you're not ready to tell me. Yes, that hurts, but…I can wait."

"You can?" He hadn't expected her to pinpoint his feelings so well, especially before even he was aware of them. Until now it had only been a trick Raven possessed and it was unnerving to experience from Kori as well.

She nodded in response to his question, the smile returning to her eyes.

"Forever if I have to."

He leaned in, pressing a kiss to her neck, smiling against her skin as she giggled at the tickling sensation. Tracing a path up her neck, he nipped at her chin before pressing his lips to her own. He hadn't remembered moving to stand in front of her, pressing her slender frame against the wall beneath the painting. What a picture they must have painted for any of the guests to walk in on.

Regaining a fraction of composure, he pulled away, grinning down at the red head.

"Forever?"

She nodded, ducking her head in hopes to hide the blush that now tinged her cheeks. Tilting her chin up, he pressed a light kiss to her forehead.

"Forever."

Tbc

Hopefully the next chapter will be out soon. Thanks again to all review.