Change.
Things change, people grow up and life goes on. But what will happen when the Titans move on with their lives and one by one leaves? Growing up is hard. They still are, and always will be friends, is what they all said, but the Titans...were no more. BBRAE-ROBSTAR
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Chapter One: Departure.
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Richard was the first to go, and they would be lying if they said they hadn't seen it coming. Ever since his big Nightwing transition, he had seemed distant, even to Kori, which was surprising because she was always the one he didn't keep anything from. But even she was left in the dark regarding his plans to depart from the team.
The day had started out like any other, though the others could clearly see that there was something on Richard's mind. They couldn't remember the last time he had been so preoccupied.
The boys could easily shrug off Richard's behavior, but Raven knew something was wrong.
"Are you okay?" She asked him, once again catching him in deep thought, as he stared out the large common room window.
Richard turned to her and smiled, quickly disregarding her concern.
"I'm fine." He quickly reassured her, but she was still skeptical. "I was just thinking about supper." He explained, glancing back out the window. "Tell the others I'm going to cook tonight."
Richard spent a lot of time in the kitchen, preparing an extravagant meal of homemade pizza. He even went as far as setting the table, planning for everyone to sit down together and eat as a family.
The others had quietly voiced their suspicions to each other, theorizing as to what Richard would undoubtedly announce at dinner.
There was speculation that he was going to announce that he was changing his uniform again. Or maybe his hero name. Or perhaps he was going to proclaim his love for Kori and finally propose.
But it was none of those things...
Richard glanced around the table as his friends enjoyed their meal. He smiled happily as he watched them laugh and converse with one another. But then his smile faltered, and he knew it was time for his long-awaited announcement.
Richard cleared his throat, getting the attention of his friends, and they all turned to face him as he slowly stood up, forcing a smile as he addressed them.
"I'm sure you all are wondering why I have prepared this dinner. I wanted to celebrate us, a team, a family, and I couldn't ask for a better one." He smiled, glancing around at each of his friends as he spoke. "We have had a great ten years together... But things change." His smile than fell and the others looked at him in concern. "It's been an honor leading you guys, but it's time for me to start a new transition in my life."
"Dick, what are you saying?" Victor questioned, asking what everyone was thinking.
"I'm leaving the Titans." Richard answered.
The table had gone silent, as each one of them gave him a shocked or saddened expression. Some were in complete disbelief at what he was saying, while others weren't surprised at all.
"Is this some sort of joke?" Garfield asked, forcing a light chuckle. But he stopped as Richard shook his head.
Kori suddenly stood up from the table, staring at Richard sternly. But her serious expression quickly broke as she immediately covered her face with her hands, uncontrollably crying as she stormed out of the room.
"Kori, wait!" Richard called, hastily running after her.
He left the common room and rushed down the halls, running into her room. His face pained as he stared at her back, watching as it quivered with her sobs.
"Kori, I'm sorry."
"Why are you leaving us, Richard?" She asked him desperately as tears fell down her face. "Why are you leaving me?"
"I know this feels sudden, Kori, but I've thought a lot about this. The Titans don't need me anymore. Jump City doesn't need me." He tried to explain to her.
"But I do." She told him sternly, turning to face him.
His face contorted painfully as he stared at her. He wanted nothing more than to run up to her. To hold her tightly and take it all back. But he couldn't.
"Kori, you know you mean the world to me. And it pains me to hurt you like this... But I have to go."
She stared at him in pained disbelief, her mouth quivering with heartbreak. She squeezed her eyes shut, turning away from him before speaking.
"Then go." She told him in a harsh whisper.
He opened his mouth to respond, but he couldn't find the words to say. He sighed heavily, giving her one last heartbreaking glance, before turning and leaving her room.
Richard went to his room and began to pack his bags. He kept it light, only packing the essentials. He wanted to cause as little pain as possible, and he figured the sooner he left, the better.
His brow suddenly furrowed as he heard his friends come to his open door. "I'm sorry guys but you can't talk me out of it." He told them, his back turned to them as he continued to pack.
"Dude, why are you doing this?" Garfield asked him, his voice clearly showing how upset he was.
"Yeah, man. I don't know what midlife crises you're going through, but we can help you through it." Victor told him earnestly.
"I'm not going through any midlife crises." Richard informed them. "I just feel that it's time for a new start." He explained, turning to face them.
"We aren't kids anymore." He said, looking at their youngest member. "We're all grown up, and you don't need a leader anymore." He finished, looking at Victor.
Garfield sighed, looking down unhappily, before turning and leaving the room.
But Victor stayed, looking at him with confusion.
"Okay, I get that change is inevitable, and I understand wanting a fresh start. But are you really going to begin this new transition without Kori?" He asked, looking at him critically.
"Kori is a Titan, and belongs here at the Tower." Richard told him, continuing to pack his bags.
"You are also a Titan." Victor informed him, his tone serious.
Richard sighed, shaking his head. "Not anymore."
Victor's face furrowed into a saddened expression as he let out a heavy sigh. "If you say so." He spoke before quietly leaving the room.
Richard put a couple final things in his bag before zipping it shut. But then he let out another sigh, hearing someone back at his door.
He harshly turned around. "Guys, I already told you. You can't talk me out of it-" But he quickly cut his sentence short as he stared at Raven.
"I'm not going to try and talk you out of it, Richard." She told him calmly. "I just wanted to say goodbye."
He couldn't help but glance down sorrowfully, the word hurting more than he thought it would.
"I hope you find whatever you're looking for in Gotham." She finished.
He quickly looked up at her. "How did you know I'm going to Gotham?"
She gave him a knowing look. "Old habits die hard."
...
Goodbyes were difficult, especially when they were sudden and unwarranted. Richard wished his departure had a better outcome, but that wasn't the case.
Victor and Raven were the only ones able to keep themselves composed enough to see him off.
Garfield was clearly upset, It could have been his denial of the departure, or perhaps his anger at his now former leader that resulted in him not giving a proper goodbye.
Kori couldn't keep herself together long enough to leave her corridors. She was understandably taking it harder than anyone. Her eight-year relationship abruptly ended in one night, and she was left unable to cope with the pain of it.
...
Two weeks had passed, and despite Richard's hopes that they would continue on, things just weren't the same without him- their leader…
The others tried to continue on with their lives, but the tower just wasn't the same without the fifth member of their team. It was difficult to heal from their friend's departure, especially when Kori was inconsolable.
The boys often cooked her meals, trying to keep her strength up. Meanwhile Raven spent a lot of her time in Kori's room, holding the broken-hearted alien while she sobbed, and brushing her tangled mess of hair.
But then, after a long night of contemplating, Kori finally left her room. The others were surprised to see her walk into the common room, calm and composed as she addressed them.
Kori smiled confidently before informing her friends that she was going to follow Richard to Gotham.
None of them were going to try and talk her out of it. They could clearly see by the look in her eyes that her decision was made.
And with that, Kori gave them each a large, meaningful hug, and a proper farewell, before flying off to Gotham with nothing but the clothes on her back.
...