Teaser

The Hive Update: Ah, it's been one hot summer, things should be cooling down right? My Gothamites, I can promise you that this is gonna be an interesting school year. In fact, something tells me that this summer is a cool breeze compared to what's bound to happen this year - The Hive.

A girl with wild red hair grabs her sticker-covered luggage out of baggage claim. She turns around and scans through the crowded airport. This girl wasn't any ordinary girl; along with her voluminous hair, her golden-brown skin shimmered under the lights, and her jade-colored eyes held a certain shine to them.

She scratches away at her tattered sweater, the loose threads getting caught in her hair and nails, wondering which direction to head first. "Kory, Kory!" A familiar voice calls out, Kory turns to where the voice was calling and sees her uncle pushing through people. "Uncle Galfore!" They embrace each other, "How's my beautiful niece? " "Great!" She said a little too ecstatically, her uncle gave her a questioning look "Don't you fool your Knorfka, I know when you're faking something" She nods "Fine, I-I'm doing fine" letting out a shaky breath.

He gives her a comforting smile, "It'll be okay Kory, your parents are assuring themselves that they are doing the right thing,—" "—By sending me out to a foreign land and expecting me to forget everything that happened?" "Kory, you have to understand why they did what they did—" "Uncle Galfore, I'm sorry—can we please leave this place? All these people crowded together is freaking me out." "Oh right, of course! I'm sorry, here let me grab your luggage. The rest of your things have already arrived at the loft," Galfore picks up her luggage, and begins to push through the crowd as Kory follows behind.

Two motorcycles zip through the open road, one red and the other blue. One tries to get ahead of the other, they're neck and neck, the two drivers look at each other. In the distance, you can see groups of people crowded around watching in anticipation. The two finally cross the finish line, the crowd cheers and they come to a halted stop. A fiery red-headed boy cups his hands around his mouth.

"And the winner by a mere inch…Dick Grayson!" The guy covered in blue clothing takes off his helmet, shakes out his black hair, and puts on a pair of sunglasses. "How about that Jase? Looks like you're coughing up a whole month's allowance!" the other racer took off his helmet and runs his gloved hand over his shaved head, "Yeah, whatever. Fuck you, Grayson, I let you win." Two twin girls sashay over to where Dick was standing. "That was like, some race Dick" one giggled, "Yeah, where'd you learn to race like that" He puts on his charming smirk "I'd be happy to tell you two ladies over a light lunch, but I'm taken. —" "Don't worry, we won't tell your girlfriend. We'll even sign NDA's," He thought about it for a moment, then smiles and put his arms around them both, the red-headed boy saunters over, "Hey Dick, where are you headed?" Dick glances between the two girls, then removes his arms from them. "Taking these lovely ladies' home," "Does Babs know?" Dick winced at the mention of his girlfriend's name. "Yeah, it's just a friendly drive home. Nothing major," He hits the two girls with his signature smolder, they swoon. Dick turns back around to Wally and clicks his teeth in thought.

"How about you take my motorcycle back to the garage and I'll see about getting you those new kicks you've been dying for" "As if I'd be your lackey and take your bike back for some sleazy kicks" "Alright…how about two pairs?" Wally stares at him for a moment then reluctantly puts out his hand "Fine," He throws the keys to him, "Ladies," the twins giggle at Dick's flirtatious nature while he walks them to his car.

Wally puts the keys in the ignition and turns on the motorcycle only to see that the tank is almost to E. "Of course he forgets to put gas in the car and makes me pay for it," He turns his head over to Dick and yells, "Hey ass, I hope you know this is being added to your very LARGE tab!"

"Welcome Home!" Galfore jams open the door to the loft, revealing a box covered living room with different labels plastered on them. "Wow, pretty nice place you got." She looks at the room before her. A small flat screen tv on top of a tv stand, a loveseat across from it, a rickety coffee table in the middle, and a couch against the wall. A familiar piece of art hangs above the tv, Kory's eyes light up "Is that the art piece I painted for you? From last Christmas?"

"Ah yes, my favorite art piece. I had to show everyone how talented you are," "You mean you had to show the furniture in your living room how talented I am," "Pish posh, I know talent when I see it and you my dear have it." She playfully rolls her eyes at him, "Let me show you around," He carefully places the luggage on the ground and guides Kory around. "Downstairs we have the guest bathroom, living room, and kitchen," He opens the door to the small guest bathroom revealing a sink, mirror, and toilet across from it.

They make their way upstairs and stand in front of a long hallway. "At the beginning of this hallway is my bedroom, down the hall on the left is your bedroom and bathroom." He leads her down to the last door and opened it revealing a quaint room. It had a bay window with the view of the neighborhood below her, a desk, and a queen-size bed. "Oh, Uncle Galfore, thank you" She embraced him in a bone-crushing hug, "Of course my little bumgorf, I wanted to make you feel at home." She ran over to her bed and plopped down on it looking at the ceiling in delight.

"I'll let you get settled in for a bit, later I'll take you down to my favorite restaurant for a quick bite, we come back to unpack all your clothes—""—Uncle Galfore slow down, I'm still kind of jet-lagged from the plane ride. I was hoping for you to make one of your famous dishes tonight, you know the one. Braised pork, ginger rice—-" "The one with that mustard dipping sauce you like so much?" "Yes! I've been craving it since I got on the plane," He thinks to himself for a moment, then smiles "Oh alright. I'd have to head down to the farmer's market for a couple of items, you don't mind staying here by yourself, do you?"

"Not at all. I must let mom and dad know about my flight, and then text my friend Donna photos of the city" "Okay, I'll be back in 20 minutes. Lock the doors when I leave and make sure not to open the doors for anyone—" "—Uncle Galfore I'm 16. I know the rules," "Alright alright. Call me if you need anything." She sends him a two-finger salute as he closes the door.

Kory takes out her phone and begins to look at her Facebook account. Donna tagged her in a photo with a caption saying "Missing my Kory!" She sends her a heart emoji and scrolls down to another photo of a former classmate holding keys to a new car. A message from unknown pops up on her screen, she clicks on it and instantly drops the phone in a panic. On the ground, the message reads "I'm coming for you."

Dick enters the mansion, taking off his jacket revealing the red marks around his biceps and neck. Alfred, the butler, holds out his arm for the jacket then raises an eyebrow at his master's appearance "Master Dick, were you bitten by mosquitos?" He looks at him as a blush rises to his face, "Uh yeah, pesky mosquitoes alright," "Hmm, I see. Perhaps were these 'mosquitoes' Miss Gordon?" He asks.

"Uh..yeah. Things got a bit out of hand." Alfred could see right through Dick's lie and squinted his eyes. Dick sent him an innocent smile, he rolls his eyes "I figured as much, cold spoons ought to do the job. I'll put some in the fridge for you." "Thanks, Al." "Dick, maybe suggest to 'Miss Gordon' that she should go easier next time," he walks away folding the jacket as Dick scratches at his neck in embarrassment. Jason slides down the stairs phone in his hand, "Bro, did you check out the newest HIVE blast?" Dick rolls his eyes and snatches the phone out of his hand "What is it this time?" "You know the HIVE holds a special place for you Dickypoo," Jason makes kissy faces to him, Dick ignores him and stares down at the screen where a picture of him holding a motorcycle helmet is shown.

The caption reading:

"Goodbye Summer and Hello to my favorite Sophomores! I've taken a long break to soak up some rays and caught up on some reading. Now I'm refreshed and ready to dish out some long-awaited gossip. Rumor has it a certain blonde colored cat has been sinking her claws into a creepy English teacher. Looks like the cat, I mean, kitten's out the bag."

"Ew, Kitten, and Mr. Mod? I knew she was desperate but yeesh," Jason muttered, they continued to read on.

"I've seen London, I've seen France, I've seen Barron Flinders selling his underpants…online that is. Why is he selling you may ask? Well, let's just say there's a reason as to why he's so bulky and great in the gym."

"Steroids." Both said to each other.

"And last but certainly not least, I saw a little birdy sipping from what seems to be a tall bottle of Whiskey in the back of an alley. Now Boy Wonder, I thought your daddy taught you better. Am I detecting alcoholism, do we need to call an intervention? Let's just hope that the press isn't too hard on our little Robin. Welcome back, I hoped you missed me"

Dick shoves the phone away and stomps off in a huff. "Dick, I didn't know you were an alcoholic— ""Shut up Jason! I was hanging with Roy during one of the galas and he managed to snatch something out of Oliver's cabinet. We only had a couple of swigs that's it." "It didn't seem like a couple of swigs—""—It was. Look we gotta clean up this Hive mess before Bruce finds out—." Dick's sentence was interrupted by a slam of the door, Bruce walked in, his face unreadable. "Find out about what, Dick?"

The Hive Update: "Don't worry, that was just a taste of what's to come. Plenty more drama on the way, courtesy of yours truly. Breakups, makeups, newbies, and of course me. It's time to say goodbye to bikinis and board shorts, and Hello to uniforms. Welcome Back" - The Hive