Hi, sorry, I posted this chapter then took it off. My Bad. 'Twas an accident. Here it is, re-posted. So, uh, thanks. That's it; go read the story now.
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Part A
Richard had just closed the door on Kori and was about to go take a shower when he heard her announcement. She had called him a coward. No one had ever called him a coward, or anything as insulting as that. The worst he had ever been called was Dick.
If Richard weren't so angry he would have laughed. Kori was never one to make such a scene. He'd bet the neighbors would have something to talk about for a while.
He went to take a really quick shower, then changed into a pair of black, loose fitting, casual slacks and a coal gray, v-neck sweater. He'd left his hair down to dry. He sat down in one of his leather recliners in order to brood more efficiently.
He knew what it was to be Slade's chosen. It meant being the best; the fastest, the strongest, the smartest. For a time, Richard, as Robin, had been Slade's chosen. There were privileges and rewards and freedoms that one enjoyed. But Richard also knew a female chosen was different than a male chosen.
Slade saw only one use for a female, and it wasn't to pass along his secrets of running a school of thieves, con artists, and all around delinquents. Stuck in Richard's mind was a slide-show of Starfire and Slade. Still frames of Slade touching Starfire; a stroke on the cheek, a swipe oh his hands through her hair, a caress of her breasts, and lower, more intimate places. He saw a picture of Starfire; her head thrown back, mouth open, eyes closed in ecstasy. The man inducing such a state was not Richard, but instead, it was Slade.
Richard was beyond caring about the probability, or even possibility, of that scenario. The sticking point was, that was what Kori…Starfire would have been doing. And she knowingly agreed to it.
Richard jumped when his phone rang. He glared at the offending object, but other wise ignored it, letting the machine pick it up.
"Richard, this is Barbara. I know you're there, but seeing the condition Kori was in when she got here, I know you won't talk. So, I called to say that she didn't have her clothes she was supposed to buy. When she got here, she seemed extremely pissed. All I can say is, I absolutely would not want to be you right now. What did you do now?" Barbara seemed immensely thrilled at the prospect of Kori's anger towards Richard.
That was all Barbara said before she hung up. Richard just groaned; he wasn't finished thinking about what Starfire had thinking, agreeing to become Slade's favorite. Instead of returning to his thoughts, he picked up the phone and called Victor. The conversation was short; Richard asked if Kori's clothes were there, Victor confirmed and then Richard told him to take the clothes to Bruce's house. He hung up the phone, but not before hearing Logan yelling like an excited teenybopper at the prospect of going to Bruce Wayne's house.
Richard drove to Bruce's house on his motorcycle. Maybe Kori was right. Richard had left and he didn't leave an explanation. But after what he saw…they really needed to clear the air between them. Even if it meant…shudder…talking. For five years Richard hadn't spoken with Kori, had only watched from afar. Now, through harrowing circumstances to be sure, he had been given a second chance. Things would not be the same as before, but they could be better.
He got to the manor and was met by Alfred, who was wearing a frown on his usually impassive face. Now Richard really knew something was wrong, if Alfred was frowning.
"Where's Kori?"
"She is in the workout room. Master Bruce is with her now."
Was that a chiding tone Richard heard from Alfred? He walked down the hallway to the stairs, up those and finally down another hallway.
He heard Kori before he saw her. She was laughing. It was real and light and happy; it was carefree. It was something he hadn't heard in years. And, it was something he missed immensely.
Richard stopped at the door and watched her. Kori was breathtaking; the sun glistened off her skin, her hair shone, her outfit clung to all the right places. He immediately cut that line of thought off when he noticed Bruce in the room too.
Richard leaned against the doorframe. For a second Richard was transported back to when things were simpler, more innocent. Or as innocent as they could get when one lives under Slade's rule. However, Barbara's voice was an unpleasant interruption. Any reminiscent feelings Richard was experiencing left as soon as Kori stopped laughing and looked at him. She was absolutely stunning.
"Did you really thing you could call me a coward and honestly get away with it?"
Kori didn't say anything, just stood staring at Richard, anger smoldering in her eyes. Richard pushed himself off the doorframe and walked into the room. He noticed the sparring droid lying in a heap on the floor.
"Is that your doing?" Kori just nodded.
Richard reached down and grabbed the bottom of his sweater, then pulled it over his head and threw it in a heap in a corner. Then he kicked off his boots and socks, tossing them after his sweater.
"If it was a fight you really wanted, instead of talking, I would have been accommodating."
Richard was standing in front of Kori; clad only in a ribbed undershirt and his black trousers. His hair was dried, and hung to just below his shoulders, and his blue eyes flashed with anticipation.
"You are angry enough at me to want to fight?" Kori couldn't quite hide her disbelief. If Richard was willing to fight her, even in just a sparring capacity, then his feelings about the whole Slade thing absolutely had to run deeper than she had first anticipated. It also proved her correct. Richard was twisting it to how the situation affected him. Kori realized that Richard was answering her question.
"Sure. As you know, fighting is a great way to release tension. Although, I could think of a much better, a much more satisfying way, to release our tension." Kori caught Richard's insinuation and her spine straightened, her eyes narrowed and her jaw clenched. It was a defense mechanism, his sarcasm. But even recognizing it for what it was didn't diminish the sting.
"Oooh, I see I've struck a nerve. Isn't that how you and Slade released the pent up tension?" Richard's manner was no longer teasing, but straightly accusatory. He was egging a response from Kori, and he got one. Kori practically flew at Richard.
Logan, Victor and Raven came up to the doorway, but after hearing what Richard said and seeing Kori's reaction, they wisely opted to remain outside the threshold and look in.
Richard wanted more than a reaction from Kori. What he actually wanted was for Kori to tell him Logan was wrong. He wanted her to say that what he saw that last night was a lie. He wanted the pictures out of his head, wanted to stop dreaming of them, of Starfire and Slade' together in Starfire's room.
Richard welcomed Kori's attack. He wanted to know he wasn't the only one distraught at these circumstances. Kori threw a punch towards Richard, which he easily blocked. She kicked, he blocked, she lunged, and he dodged. On and on it went.
Richard was momentarily surprised Kori could fight so well. Of course, he recognized the style as his. He couldn't help the smidgen of pride he felt at Kori's abilities. His earlier assessment that she could take care of herself was just strengthened.
Unfortunately, the two were at an impasse, neither one having the upper hand. They fought their way all over the workout mat. The two combatants lost tack of time, instead getting lost in the fight.
The others watched. It was like watching a choreographed dance, a deadly one. They also noticed that neither Richard nor Kori were pulling their punches. Every time one landed a blow on the other, all felt the impact. Raven noticed something the others hadn't, and quietly she told them.
"Kori's tired and injured. First that fight with Terra and the fact that she's been here, working out for sometime already." While this was true, Logan, too, voiced a statement.
"Both of them are holding back." Raven looked at Logan, surprised. When she glanced at Victor, she saw he was nodding in agreement. Of course they would know. They lived with the two of them for years.
Barbara had over heard the short, quiet conversation and her screech of "What? You're kidding," momentarily broke Kori's concentration. It was enough to give Richard the advantage he needed. He grabbed her fist, which was aimed at his face. Then he grabbed the other when Kori tried to punch him with that one. Richard now had Kori by both wrists, so tripped her. Kori would have gone down hard, but Richard's hold on her prevented that.
After she was down, Richard straddled Kori and pinned her arms above her head, effectively keeping her in place. Well, sort of, she still squirmed and writhed. Richard had to admit, he was enjoying the sensations of Kori beneath him this way. That was until the unbidden image of Kori under Slade this way came to mind.
"Why'd you do it? Why'd you agree to becoming Slade's chosen?" When Kori still resisted Richard's hold on her, he only tightened it. Sensing that she wouldn't get anywhere by pissing him off any further, Kori stopped fighting. She blew a wisp of hair off her face, as her hands were otherwise engaged, and glared up at Richard.
"Why would you care? Any right you may have had in dictating the choices I made, you lost when you left. So, I ask again, why do you care what choices I made in regard to my past and becoming Chosen?"
Richard's grip on Kori's wrists tightened at her words, and subconsciously he knew there her wrists would be bruised. So he loosened his hold, but only slightly.
"You did know what you were getting yourself into right? When you agreed?"
Kori didn't get a chance to answer because right then Barbara spoke up.
"What does it mean to be Slade's chosen? I mean, is it like some title or something? Are there perks and benefits? Cuz, I gotta say, I'm confused." She tried to keep her queries quiet, however, her voice carried in the cavernous room.
Richard would have willingly and gladly committed a conscious act of murder. He did NOT want to deal with Babs right now. He closed his eyes and hung his head, his hair tickling Kori's face. Luckily for her, Logan answered. When he saw how angry Richard was getting at the interruption, he tried to keep his voice quiet. But it seemed a moot point; the interruption had already occurred.
"It's sort of like being the vice president. You're second in command. You get nifty bonuses."
"So, why's Richard all upset about it? Did he want the job or something?"
"He had the job, but he left. Being the chosen is different for a girl than for a guy. While they are still second in command, there is one extra job they have to do." Logan was clearly uncomfortable with this. He didn't want to have to explain to Barbara how it was different.
"How's it different for a girl?" Neither Logan nor Victor answered. Richard glared down at Kori, disgust mixed in with his anger now.
"When you agreed to being Slade's chosen, you made an oath to him. You made him an oath of fealty; you gave him your mind, soul, and your body. You lowered your value to that of a common whore. Only difference is you weren't paid, at least not in cash. Tell me, Starfire, what did Slade give you as payment for services rendered?"
"Tell me Dick what truly has you so angry? Is it that Slade touched me, or that you didn't? Am I now not pure enough for you?" Kori spat the words. Richard wouldn't listen to reason, or explanations. His objectivity was gone; his emotions were involved. They always had been where Kori was involved. Still, that didn't mean he could insult her. Kori was doing what she needed to do to ensure her continued survival.
"Tell me Starfire, did you enjoy his touch? Did you enjoy lying on your back for him?" His hands once again tightened on her wrists, this time painfully so. Richard barely noticed, he didn't notice the gasps from the audience, he barely noticed Kori's gasp of pain. He was no longer in Bruce's training room. He was back on that last night. He remembered it all vividly.
Robin decided to check on Starfire. She had kicked him out of the infirmary mere hours before. She had put her foot down and decided that Robin, at least, should get some rest. He chuckled a little at the scene. Starfire was cute when she got all determined. But he quickly sobered when he remembered why Starfire was in the infirmary. Changeling.
His wounds were deep and very serious. They were worse than the last time. Robin knew this was a test. Slade couldn't care less if anybody died while Changeling was getting information. But he wanted to test the boy's loyalty and dedication. So far, Changeling failed, twice. The next time, he won't fare so well.
Robin was worried about Starfire as much as he was worried about Changeling. Somehow, she had managed to catch Slade's attention. She just turned 16, and she caught a lot of attention from the male population of the school, but Slade's was different. He was older and it somehow seemed more lecherous.
Robin walked up to Star's room and was about to knock on the door, but stopped when he heard a noise from within. Instantly alert, he cautiously walked up to the door. Very quietly, he opened it and peeked inside. At first, Robin couldn't see anything, but when his eyes adjusted to the darkened room, what he saw churned his stomach. He saw a man and a woman, a young woman, in Starfire's bed. Initially, Robin wished he had the wrong room, but he was deluding himself. He heard a throaty moan. It was husky and full of passion. And it cried out a name that clenched Robin's jaw.
"Slade!"
Robin had heard enough. He quickly turned on his heel and walked away from the room. He walked just down the hall towards his own room. He was almost there when Blackfire stopped him.
"What's wrong?" She was uncommonly nice. Usually she just barely nodded a greeting to anybody, even her sister.
"Nothing." Robin's answer was curt. He really didn't want to talk about it. The possibilities were flying around in his head at what he saw. He still didn't fully comprehend what he saw, but he knew he didn't like it. That was Starfire's room, and the voice sounded like Starfire's…but it didn't add up.
"You're lying. I can tell something's wrong. Why don't you tell me about it?" Blackfire put he hand on his shoulder. That got Robin's attention, only because it was so odd. What he found even more odd was that he did want to talk about it. He wanted to tell someone what he just saw, he wanted to know what it meant, and he wanted to know why he felt awful about it. Robin wanted to know why he suddenly wanted to rip into Slade, why he wanted to bath in his blood after what he saw in Starfire's room. There were emotions raging inside Robin that he didn't understand.
Slowly Robin nodded, and he led Blackfire into his room. The two sat down on the bed and Robin told Blackfire everything. He told her whatever was hidden in his heart, hidden in the darkest recesses of his mind. Robin told Blackfire things Starfire didn't even know.
While he was talking, Blackfire inched her way closer and closer to Robin. He didn't notice at first. He was feeling strange; his vision was blurred and his head was spinning. Something wasn't right, but Robin couldn't put his finger on it. The last thing he cognitively remembered before his world was taken out from under him was Blackfire whispering in his ear.
"Let's see if there's a good reason you're nicknamed the Boy Wonder."
When Robin woke up a few hours later, Blackfire was gone. However little doubt was in his mind of what he'd done. The evidence was everywhere. His clothes were lying in a haphazard heap on the floor; his blankets were too. The bed smelled like Blackfire. So did Robin. Disgusted with himself, Robin went to take a shower. He rubbed his skin as hard as he could until it was raw.
He felt bad. He felt betrayed by what he saw in Starfire's room, but he also felt like he betrayed her. Things were going too fast and Robin couldn't handle it right then. So, after he took his shower, he snuck into the hallway. As he went passed Starfire's door, he couldn't help but stop and lean he hear against it, listening for any sounds. He heard nothing.
It was late at night, and the alarm systems were sure to be on. However, Robin wasn't Slade's chosen for nothing. It meant he was the best. So Robin by-passed the security system and made his way into the night. When he wagered he was far enough from the headquarters, Robin stopped and looked back. The lights in the infirmary were on, and he felt a moment of guilt for leaving without telling anyone. But the feeling passed when he noticed the lights in Starfire's room were on too. Turing his back on the school, Robin made his way to a city he hadn't gone to since he was eight years old. Back to Gotham.
"Richard?" Kori's voice was small. She noticed his eyes had a far away look, like he was seeing something no one else did. His grip on her wrists hurt, but in all honesty she was afraid to tell him. She was afraid of Richard, something she never thought possible.
"Richard? Please, let go." Still, he did not respond. "Robin, you are hurting me." That got his attention. Richard looked down at Kori and his eyes focused again and his grip loosened on her wrists. That was all Kori needed. She reared her head up and head-butted Richard. He reared back with an exclamation of pain. Kori used her now free wrists to push Richard off her. After he was, Kori rolled away and stood up.
Richard was rubbing his head and grinning. He was impressed; he didn't see that coming. He stood up a little more slowly.
"Are you going to answer my question, Kori?" Richard's eyes were narrowed, and he spoke through gritted teeth.
Kori hid any feelings of fright she felt towards Richard. He may have changed in the last five years, but she knew deep in her heart that he wouldn't hurt her, physically. Emotionally was a whole different matter.
"How else was I going to get close to Slade?" Kori shrugged carelessly, putting up a calm façade, but her heart was beating so hard she was surprised it didn't just beat itself out of her chest.
"So you whored yourself?" Richard's voice was incredulous. That didn't sound like Kori at all. He knew she'd changed, and he knew she would have taken his leaving hard. But that seemed so out of character.
Richard looked at Kori, she seemed so calm and collected, like fucking Slade was not big deal. Her question from earlier came back. Was he really so angry because she slept with Slade, or because she didn't sleep with Richard, himself? Logan interrupted Richard's musings. He came storming into the room, and Richard was sure that if it were possible, steam would be spouting from his ears. His eyes were angry, and his stride was too.
"That's enough. Why don't you tell him the truth? Why are you letting him think these things about you Kori?" She looked down at the ground; all steam leaving her. Richard saw her shoulders slump.
"Please Logan, stay out of this. This does not concern you." Her voice was small and tired. She didn't want to fight anymore, with Logan, with Richard, with anyone. She just wanted to go into a hole and hide from everything and everyone.
"Like hell Kori. I won't stand by and let Richard judge you like that. I don't know why he left, but he did. He doesn't know what that did to you; he doesn't know what happened to you because of it. It broke you Kori, when nothing else could have, that did. You walked around like a wraith for weeks. You didn't smile or laugh. Nobody liked seeing you that way. At times I don't know if his leaving was the worst thing that ever happened to you or the best. You were forced to stand on your own, and you did. You blossomed into a brilliant person, and you became stronger for it." Logan seemed to realize what he was saying and blushed slightly at his impassioned speech. But Victor came up and stood next Kori, placing his hand on her shoulder.
"We watched you. You did become better, but you were missing something. I don't think I saw that sparkle in your eyes again. At least, not until you saw Richard at the funeral. You two, your relationship was hard to define back at the school, but it was special. Don't let anything that happened in the past ruin that. Work it out, whatever it is. Because if you don't, we have no chance against Slade. If he can destroy what you two had, then he can do anything. I know you two care deeply for one another. Let each other know that too."
Victor left shortly after he said that. Kori and Richard were speechless. So, too, were Logan and Raven. Victor was never one to talk about anything that even touched on the subject of emotional. But that didn't mean he wasn't observant. They all knew he spoke the truth.
Sensing Kori and Richard needed some time alone to finish their discussion, Logan, Raven, and Bruce left. Barbara was going to stay and watch, but Bruce grabbed her by her shirt collar and dragged her away from the training room.
"Hey!"
Part B
Kori and Richard stood apart, facing each other. They were avoiding eye contact, and for the first time ever, the silence was awkward. Richard, hating it, decided to break the silence.
"Why didn't you tell me the truth?" Kori's gaze shot to him, and Richard could see she was hurt by the question.
"If you truly trusted me, truly knew me, I would not have had the need to explain. You should have known I would never welcome Slade's touch. I only accepted to become his chosen as a means of getting closer to him."
"You pack one hell of a punch." Kori blinked at the sudden change in subject.
"I learned it from you. I learned a lot from you. Tell me, why did you leave?" Her head was cocked to the side, like it was whenever she was honestly curious about something. The hurt seemed to be gone, only the need to know was present in her voice.
"I…I made a mistake." Richard looked up and saw her eyes sparkle and a small smile tug at her lips. "It has been known to happen. Anyway, I thought I saw something, but it turned out to not be true."
"What did you see?"
"Really not important. Believe me." Richard added the last part when Kori looked like she was about to question it. Richard now knew that Kori was really in the infirmary with Logan. She'd told him so in the café, just before it blew up. So, who was in Kori's room with Slade?
"Is that why you left? You saw something you thought was something else?" Kori was confused. It didn't seem like him to just leave for something like that. He would want to investigate and find out what was going on.
"That's not the entire reason." Richard was reluctant to tell Kori what else happened that night. Sometimes when he thought back, that night seemed like a dream. He hadn't really had sex with Blackfire, but deep down, he knew it actually happened. However, he also knew that he was drugged somehow. He didn't know the reasons why Blackfire did what she did, but it happened and there was nothing Richard could do to change the past. But he could tell Kori, and he did. He told her everything that happened, and after much debating, he told her what he saw in her room.
At first Kori didn't say anything. She just stared at Richard, her face expressionless. She was trying to process Richard's story. Her first words surprised him. And such was his surprise, Richard actually laughed.
When Kori said, "I think I need a drink," and heard Richard laugh, it broke the strain the serious subject matter brought about. Kori thought to herself that she liked hearing Richard laugh. She rarely heard it, even when they were younger.
When Richard was able to catch his breath, he suggested they go to the kitchen. They walked into the kitchen, grateful to find no one else was there.
"What's your poison?" Richard was curious what Kori would want to drink. He honestly couldn't see her as the drinking type, but he supposed drastic times called for drastic measures.
"The strongest thing you have got. A little Dutch courage for this would be of great help to me."
Richard chuckled as he went through Bruce's supply. The strongest thing he could find was some whiskey. So he poured two glasses, decided to do away with the nice little shot glasses, and go with the big ones. He could use a little bit of the Dutch courage himself.
The two walked over to the little kitchenette and sat down, facing each other. Neither one had touched their drink yet.
"Richard…" Kori started talking but stopped, took a deep breath before she continued. "How does one start a conversation like this? What does one say to one's best friend, when he slept with her sister?" Kori didn't seem to find the right words to fully express her thoughts. So, she lifted the glass to her mouth and took a long drink. However, she was not used to drinking whiskey, the strongest alcoholic beverage she'd ever drunk being wine and champagne. She coughed a little, but managed to hold it all down. Her voice was a little croaky when she spoke.
"This is good, but I think I am now full of all the courage I need." Richard laughed a little, but said nothing.
"You left because you believed you saw me having sex with Slade in my room. So, as a result, you had sex with my sister." Kori restarted the conversation. They needed to get this done with in order to move on.
"Well, that's putting it in its simplest terms, but basically, yeah."
"Why did you not wait and ask me? Why did you just assume that it was I? And how could you for a minute, believe that I would leave Logan alone when he was injured?" The last question was asked a little heatedly. Richard took a long, long drink from his glass, and when Kori noticed, she pushed hers towards him. Richard raised an eyebrow.
"I figured you have these ramifications of guilt, and you have so many explanations, you need that whiskey a lot more than me." Maybe Kori wasn't as angry as Richard feared she would be. Or, she could just still be in shock.
"I wasn't thinking clearly. I saw what I saw, and jumped to conclusions. I was angry, and hurt, and I felt betrayed, and, yes, I even felt jealous. It just seemed easier to assume what I did, rather than finding out the truth. I really can't explain it, but I noticed things, Kori. I noticed how the other guys were looking at you, like you were an ice-cream sundae they wanted to eat." Richard winced at the picture that analogy painted. It really wasn't what he was going for, but oddly enough, it did fit. For her part, Kori didn't say anything, but she did look like she was holding back a snicker.
"Bad analogy, but still. Anyways, Slade was looking at you differently too. I didn't like it. This really isn't going well. You can't possibly understand what I'm trying to say, I can hardly understand what I'm trying to say." Richard stood up, and started pacing. His frustration was evident in the way he ran his fingers through his long hair.
"I do understand what you are trying to say, Richard. You were jealous, and you felt protective of me. It is only natural. Of all the people there, you were the one with whom I was closest. I was like your younger sister. And any attention I received from the other males, threatened you. You did not want me to be taken away from you."
Richard looked at Kori, and he remembered how she looked when he first met her, then how she looked years later, and finally how she looked before he left. Not once did he ever think of her as a sister. But the rest, she was right about. He did feel threatened that other guys were showing an interest in her. In Richard's mind, Kori was his, she always had been. Seeing her again, it hadn't changed. Richard still saw Kori as his. Even when he thought the worst, he still saw her as his. Maybe that's why he was so angry.
"I felt as if I had somehow betrayed you, after I slept with Blackfire."
Kori winced. She didn't like the fact that Richard had done so. She could understand why he did, though. She couldn't be too angry over that, he was drugged at the time.
"Richard," she began slowly. "You need not feel any guilt, much guilt, over that. Considering the circumstances, and your coercion. Besides, you do not need to feel as if you had betrayed me. We were not in a relationship. It is not something you should dwell on."
Richard stared at Kori, and then slowly shook his head. He walked over to her and held his hand out to her. When she placed hers in it, he pulled her a little, signaling he wanted her to stand up. When Kori stood up, Richard wrapped his arms around her, tightly, smiling when she returned his embrace. She lay her head on his shoulder, and his smile broadened.
"You are entirely too forgiving, Star. But you were wrong about something, you know."
Kori lifted her head from his shoulder and looked at him in the eye. She noticed he wasn't wearing any glasses to hide behind. She'd seen Richard's eyes before, knew they were a clear, ice blue. But right then, it seemed as if she were seeing them for the first time, they were even more breathtaking than before.
"What was I wrong about?" Their voices were quiet, barely above a whisper.
"About us. I never saw you as a sister. And, while it may not have been physical, or particularly romantic, we were in a relationship. It was one I treasured very much." Richard bent down and kissed her on the forehead.
Kori smiled before she put her head back on his shoulder. It was then that an amazing realization struck her. She noticed it before, but for some reason, it hadn't really clicked.
"Hey, you are taller than I am."
Richard laughed and Kori could feel the vibrations.
"Yes, I am. How very kind of you to notice." Kori pulled back and frowned slightly at his mockery, but she eventually smiled and put her head back.
"I like it." She said.
"Me, too." Richard replied. They stayed that way, comfortable in each other's arms. Both were glad things were out in the open. They still had much to do, a lot of trust to rebuild, but they felt it was possible.
"Hey you two, what-" Barbara's sentence came to a halt when she saw the embrace Richard and Kori were sharing.
Kori made a motion to brake away, but Richard frowned and tightened his hold. He smirked at the growl Kori made at his restriction.
"What was it you needed, Barbara?" Richard was calm and collected. When Kori stopped trying to extract herself from his arms, he loosened his hold, but only slightly.
Barbara's voice faltered when she started speaking again. She seemed embarrassed to have witnessed what was obviously a private moment. Richard was never one to be affectionate, especially not when there were witnesses around.
"We…um…didn't know where you were, after you left the training room. We practically sent out a search party. I…uh…I didn't mean to interrupt, but Terra has a message for Kori."
Richard would have smiled at the fact that Barbara was speechless, for once, but the news that Terra knew where Kori was stopped that urge.
"What did she have to say?"
Barbara wouldn't look Richard in the eye when he asked. It wasn't that she expected for her and Richard to ever get back together, but until she walked into the kitchen and saw him with Kori, at least the possibility wasn't completely gone.
"She wouldn't say. She only wants to speak to Kori."
"Wait, you mean she is on the screen? She managed to get past all the securities and alarms? How?" Richard was baffled. He had personally helped set up those security measures. They were supposed to be fool proof. No one who was unauthorized was supposed to be able to get through.
"Richard, worry about that later. Let us see what dear Terra has to say to me. I find that I am curious." There were no inflections in Kori's voice, but Richard could feel her tense in his arms.
"Fine, we'll go and see what she wants. But I still want to know how she got through." The last bit was a grumble, but he only did it to get Kori to loosen up. It worked, she smiled. She then grabbed Richard's arm and started to lead him out. When she suddenly stopped, Richard glanced at her with a puzzled look on his face.
"What's wrong?" Kori blushed slightly before she answered.
"I do not know where to go."
Richard laughed and swung his arm across Kori's shoulders.
"This way."
The two walked in companionable silence, leaving Barbara behind to her own thoughts.
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Thank you everyone for the reviews. I love hearing from you. It helps me to know that you like (or don't like) my story. I think this helps answer some questions in regards to Richard leaving. I know I made him seem like sort of a dick, but I think he would act in such a manner if this were to actually happen. Anyway, I hope everyone liked it, and I hope to post the next chapter AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. School and work permitting, of course.
PixieGirl2009-Thank you for the review. I'm glad you noticed the dynamics of Richard and Kori's relationship. I tried to make it subtle, but obvious. It was something I wanted to make noticeable. They do care deeply for each other, but they both have changed and need to re-establish their relationship and trust in one another.
Deathraveness-I'm sorry. I'm sorry. :::ducks and holds hands in front of face::: I didn't know what else to write for that chapter. I needed it to end there. I hope you like this chapter to make up for the cliff hanger.
Sakura-Thank you for your review. They're always great to read. I wanted Kori to fight. I mean, how can she live with Robin/Richard, for years, watching him, but not learn how to fight. Besides, she is a princess of a warrior race; she needed to know how to fight. And, (hint, hint, wink, wink, nudge, nudge), it is important later in the story.
Luvlifecharm-aww, shucks. Thank you, you're compliments make me blush. I try and update as often as possible. I live in fear of disappointed my reviewers. I hope you like this chapter as much, maybe more (?) than the last.
Darkwarlord-thanks, it means a lot that you enjoy my story. It helps to know someone does. I think I am too critical when it comes to my stories.
Willow182-I hope this chapter answered your questions. I am glad to know you like my story. Since I am a fan of yours, it means a lot to me. Thank you.
Hyper Chick- ROBIN AND STARFIRE FOR EVAH BABY!!!!!
BrassBanana-I thrive on my suspenseful endings. It keeps the readers coming back for more. You masochists you. I hope this chapter will hold you over (at least for a while) until my next chapter.
Laurelinorian-I hope I did better with the contractions thing.
Solodancer789-I love hearing from you, and I made sure to make sure that my life didn't get in my way too badly. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Kagaliangel: Thank you for making an exception for me. I love getting reviews. I am even so much of a glutton that I enjoy getting flames. (Does that just make me a glutton or a glutton for punishment.)? Thankfully, I haven't gotten many flames. I am always amazed when people review, especially when they are complimentary. I never know what to say in return, thank you seems so inadequate sometimes. But that's all I got. So, Thank You from the bottom of my heart.
SpAzZySwEeTpHiRe:Thank you for the compliment. Writing was just something I accidentally stumbled upon when I decided to rewrite a television show, I didn't like how it ended, so I wrote it to my ending. I like to think my style has improved, but maybe I'm just deluding myself. But I am glad to know people enjoy reading what I write.
Superviolist: I am glad you like the interplay between Richard and Kori. It was a point I just HAD to make, I'm glad you noticed and enjoyed it.
Again I apoligize for the mistake, the mix-up and all around screw up on my part. It won't happen again. Till next time. Thank you and Please review.
Jemi