It was a dark, rainy Monday in Jump City, as Kori scribbled notes in the notebook in front of her in English class. She loved the way everything seemed to glow and glisten when it rained. She had been riding shotgun with Bee to school this morning when the first droplets started to drizzle from the sky onto her windshield, creating a beautiful mosaic of the world on the other side of the glass. When they'd arrived at the school, she hadn't even bothered to take the umbrella Bee had offered her before she darted out of the car and started twirling around in the middle of the busy parking lot. When she had stopped, she noticed Richard watching her with a huge grin on his face from the steps up to the school.
But she couldn't dwell on the rain too much right now, because there was a test on English idioms coming up this week that she desperately wanted to ace, and she had a lot of work to do if that was going to be even remotely possible. Though she was very fluent in the language, the slang and sayings always seemed to trip her up, making her feel even less normal than she already was.
What the heck was "elbow grease"? And what does the MIA in "go MIA" even stand for?
She was especially disappointed when Vic told her it wasn't literally going to rain cats and dogs today.
When the bell rang to dismiss the students to their next class, Kori groaned, slamming her notebook closed. She felt like she was never going to understand idioms. "I feel like I am doing surgery on a rocket."
"I think you mean rocket science," Rachel corrected.
"Or brain surgery," Vic added.
"See? This is impossible!" Frustrated, Kori threw her belongings in her book bag, and rushed to her locker, exchanged her books for her freshly washed gym clothes, and headed to the locker room.
In the locker room as Kori changed clothes, she could hear the other girls talking excitedly about their weekends and homecoming. It had felt like an eternity ago when she had been crowned queen.
When she walked out into the gym, someone came up behind her, covering her eyes. "Um, hello? I do not know if you have noticed, but it is quite difficult to walk with one's eyes covered."
Richard chuckled. "It's just me. Your hair's still a bit damp by the way."
Kori turned around to face him, her face breaking into a smile, and flung her arms around his neck. Richard returned the hug, grateful that this one wasn't bone-crushing. "I do not mind."
"Perhaps I should join you next time. Looked like you were having a lot of fun," he said.
"Indeed! The rain is most glorious!" Richard pressed his lips gently against her temple before releasing her as Coach Medlin blew her whistle.
"Alright. Hope you all had a great weekend, but the fun's over. We'll be weight training today. Everyone pair up, and we'll get started."
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By the time the school day was over, the rain was pouring down heavy, with lightning streaking across the sky, causing loud rumbles to break through the sound of the showers and wind. This did not, however, deter Kori in the slightest as she ran out into the parking lot, beckoning Richard to follow her.
"Don't you think this is a bit dangerous?" he practically yelled to make himself heard, already drenched from head to foot.
"I am not frightened," Kori said, spinning in a circle, then grabbing him by the hands. "I have you."
Richard smiled, allowing her to take the lead, the two of them dancing in the pouring rain. For several minutes, they spun around each other, when Kori collapsed into his arms, exhausted.
"Where's Bee? Isn't she supposed to drive y'all home?" he asked, scanning the parking lot, but not being able to see more than twenty feet in front of him.
"She and Rachel are studying in the library for their exams, waiting out the storm," she said matter-of-factly.
"Would like me to take you inside so you can dry off?" Richard suggested, brushing his wet hair back off his face.
"Actually, I'd like to go home," Kori replied. "Will you take me?"
So, against his better judgment, Richard found himself mounting his bike, grateful he had finally thought to bring a second helmet, as Kori climbed on behind him, pressed against his back, and wrapped her arms tightly around his torso. He drove slowly, carefully. Making sure to triple check for other vehicles when switching lanes or making turns.
After a ride twice as long as normal, he pulled into Bee's driveway and parked his bike as close to the door as possible. Grabbing Kori's hand, hand escorted her to the door. Once she had it unlocked and open, she turned around to look at Richard. "I thank you, for the ride."
"Of course," he replied, about to turn and walk back to his bike, but he could feel Kori's hand shaking slightly in his own. Her eyes had a nervous longing he had never seen before, making her green irises shimmer like emeralds. He could no longer resist her. He moved quickly, afraid of missing the opportunity, and pressed his lips firmly against her own.
Kori's body tensed up at the sudden contact, but relaxed almost as quickly as his tongue slid across her lip, begging to deepen the kiss. She obliged, tangling her fingers in his wet hair. Richard grabbed her waist, pushing her over the threshold and out of the rain, closing the door behind them, all the while never losing contact with her plush lips.
There was a hunger and a fearlessness about her that he had never experienced before, no invasive thoughts of the Citadel flooding her mind like they had with Xavier. There was a safety and security in Richard's arms unlike anything she had ever known.
But Richard knew better than to move too fast with her. She was too pure, too precious. He couldn't screw this up. So rather than opting for the bedroom like he would with most girls by now, he led her over to the couch, where she snuggled up against him, her eyes fluttering closed, her head resting on his shoulder.
And that's how they stayed until the storm died down, and Bee and Rachel walked through the door.
"Boy, you could've at least told me you'd be bringing her home. We searched the whole school over trying to find her!" At the sound of Bee's voice, Kori's eyes sprang open, and she sat up a bit ready to greet her friends. But Bee continued. "And if the two of you were doing the dirty on my couch, I'm going to expect you to clean it."
Kori's brow creased. "Doing the what?"
"Never mind," the other three said in unison.
Richard stood up, Kori following suit. "Don't worry, Bee. We kept it PG," he said, then turned back to Kori. "I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?" He planted a quick kiss on her lips, then walked out the door.
After the door shut behind him, Kori looked back at Bee. "Please, could one of you tell me what 'doing the dirty' means." But both Bee and Rachel just shook their heads and left for their respective bedrooms.
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That night, Nightwing patrolled the city streets on his bike, making several trip by the girls' house to make sure they — but especially Kori — were safe. It was a quiet night in Jump City, not that he minded. Maybe he'd get a little extra sleep tonight.
The streets were still shining with puddles from the storm earlier, but there was no longer a cloud in the sky. Just a big, full moon, and a couple of stars bright enough to outshine the downtown lights. He considered the idea that perhaps those stars where other planets with their own bustling, bright cities, but just as quickly shook the thought off as being too absurd.
Beep beep beep.
He picked up his communicator. "Nightwing," he said monotone, expecting trouble across town. But he didn't expect the gruff and raspy voice he heard.
"Dick, Gotham needs you."
Nightwing pulled his biked to the side of the road, barely comprehending what he was hearing. "Bruce?"
"Gotham's in trouble. I need your help," Batman said.
"And what exactly do you expect me to do? In case you've forgotten, I'm 2,500 miles away." He rolled his eyes under his mask. He had zero intention of ever returning to New York, no matter what Bruce said.
"I need you to hop on the earliest flight and get here as soon as possible."
Nightwing scoffed. "Yeah, that's not happening."
"Dick, listen to me. The Joker is trying to take over the city."
"Nothing new there," he replied, already bored of this conversation. "I think you can handle it."
"He's got Barbara."
Nightwing felt his heart sink into his stomach. Babs. "She's not my problem anymore." Then hung up. So much for a good night's sleep.