Only by 1:15, much to Kori's annoyance, had all the Titans assembled in the training hall, geared up in their respective uniforms and ready to spar. They arranged themselves in a semi-circle around Kori and Dick, both clad in their own proper uniforms.
"Good to see everyone." Dick began. "Now, I've heard the last few months have been slow, so I'm here to make sure you guys aren't getting rusty." He looked around the circle and made eye contact with each Titan as he spoke, and immediately noticed that Raven avoided his eyes, and Damian glared at him more angrily than he usually did. "That being said," Dick continued, "let's begin. Everyone warm up, then meet with your partners and begin sparring. 1st round partners are: Garfield and Jamie, Kori and Raven, myself and Damian. Go."
"What method did you use to choose partners Grayson?" Damian asked as he finished his stretching and moved towards the sparring mats.
"Me and Kori used the classic 'name-in-the-hat' trick." Dick answered while doing same, grinding his metal batons against each other as he walked.
"And we just so happened to be put together?" Damian drew his sword and entered into a combat stance as he asked.
Dick also entered a combat stance and the two began circling the ring, facing one another.
"Yup. You wanna talk about coincidences or do you want to fight?" Dick said. And with that, the sparring match began.
It wasn't the first time the two had fought, and both boys had a pretty good understanding of the others style and techniques. They both made attacks, and countered the others moves. They traded strikes and kicks, but neither brother relented. Damian deflected one of Dicks batons, and used the momentum to spin and strike Dick in the face with the hilt of his sword. But before he was able to continue pressing his attacks, he was met with a back-kick to the stomach which sent him flying across the mat. Putting space between the two fighters.
Dammit, I'm too damn tired to keep a good speed going, Damian thought to himself as he stood up, not letting the fact that he was both tired and had just gotten the wind knocked out of him show on his face. Unfortunately for him, anything he hid in his face, he couldn't hide in his technique.
"You surprised me with that Damian, but you're slower than usual today, what's that about?" Dick taunted as he twirled his batons and began to close the distance between the two.
"I'm tired Grayson, had a long night" Damian said through gritted teeth. He spun his sword and got into another combat stance, getting ready to go on the defensive again. Dick dashed forward and brought both his batons down onto Damian's head from above. So quick was his attack, that Damian barely managed to bring his sword up horizontally to block. The force of the attack dropped Damian down to one knee as he struggled to push back against his brother.
Dick grinned and used this as a chance to taunt Damian further. "Oh ya, Kori told me about how the last couple nights have been for you. I wonder what you and your new friend were doing so late at night that has you this tired?"
"Argh!" Damian could muster no words, only scream in anger. But for the words he lacked, he made up in a sudden surge of strength. He pushed back against Dicks batons and knocked him off balance. Damian used this chance to swing low at Dick's legs, who flipped backwards to avoided the blow. With his newfound anger, Damian charged forward, screaming in rage.
Oh shit, was all Dick could think before they made contact. Damian let out a flurry of attacks with both his body and his sword, steadily pushing Dick back across the mat. This continued for a bit, but just as Dick was starting to struggle and slip up defending himself against all of the blows, Damian felt his tiredness seep back into his body. Everything came to a climax when Damian over-committed to a thrust that Dick easily parried. Dick immediately swept Damian's legs out with his own, causing him to land flat on his back. Before Damian could react, Dick had one of his batons pointed at his throat.
"Don't forget what the Bat said; anger will only get you so far in a fight." Dick gloated while standing over the defeated Robin.
"Get that stick out of my face." Damian growled as he slapped the baton away and stood up to his feet, using his sword to bring himself up.
"Let's go again." Dick said, stretching his arms and getting back into position.
The Titans and Nightwing trained with each other for a few more hours. Damian and Raven were never partnered together the entire time, as they both noticed but didn't bring up. When the group was finished, they formed back up into a semi-circle around Dick and Kori just like they had earlier.
"Excellent training everyone." Kori congratulated.
"Yes very good," Dick also announced. "I'll be sure to tell the League you guys aren't getting rusty anytime soon. Now, I'm sure you're all hungry. So everyone go cool off and I'll order us some pizzas to celebrate."
Everyone, except Damian of course, cheered at Dick's announcement. Even Raven couldn't help but cheer. Garfield went in to hug Dick, muttering, "thankyouthankyouthankyou". But Dick swiftly pushed him away and glared at him.
"Well we better get going!" Garfield said as he quickly turned and walked away.
"Hahaha, idiota." Jamie laughed as he ran after Garfield. Raven and Damian both left as well, walking side by side. Dick smiled to himself as he watch the Titans leave, keeping a majority of his focus on Damian and Raven.
"Will you have a talk with Damian now?" Kori asked Dick, bringing his attention back from the pair. "That was the real reason for you visit, not that whole rust thing yes?"
"Little bit of both," Dick replied. "But I think I pushed his buttons a bit to much. I won't get anywhere talking to him tonight."
"Indeed, he did look rather… livid earlier. What did you say to him?" Kori wondered.
Dick chuckled as he answered, "Just some brotherly teasing."
"So if you won't talk to him tonight, does that mean-" Kori began before she was cut off by Dick grabbing her waist and pulling her close to kiss her.
"Yes, I'll be staying the night. If the princess allows it." Dick said quietly.
"Oh Dick, of course you can." Kori purred, also quietly. "Are you able to though?"
"I'm sure the Bat can handle Gotham for a few days. Besides, it's been awhile since we've had a night to ourselves." Dick slyly remarked as he moved his hands lower down from her waist.
"You're so right." Kori giggled before they shared another kiss. They broke from their embrace and left the training hall together. The two lovers headed towards Koris room and to the shower.
"I was thinking, we should watch a movie tonight. All of us I mean." Dick suggested as they walked.
Kori quickly and excitedly responded "Oh that's an excellent idea! I don't believe the team has ever done that before."
"Great, we can do that after dinner. I'll order the pizzas now." Dick got out his phone while Kori got ready to shower. "What kind of pizzas do the Titans like?"
Kori let out a loud burst of laughter before quickly calming down. "Oh you're serious? Anything large and without mushrooms is their favourite." She said before heading into the bathroom.
"Of course it is." Dick sighed to himself as he searched up the nearest pizza café. "Crustos Pizza, huh? Yup you'll do." He dialed the number and waited while it rang.
"Hurry up and come join me Nightwing." Kori called from the shower.
"Yes mam!" He quickly and loudly replied.
Next chapter coming soon, already half done, just decided to split this part in half because the pacing felt weird.
Merci Merci