Thank you for the wonderful response to the last chapter.
My heart goes out to all the victims of Hurricane Irene. For us, it proved to be a nuisance event in my direct vicinity, but for so many others, it's been horrible. I'm so sorry if you were effected.
Short chapter alert. It's a good stopping place. More to come soon. (School starts this week = more time)
Disclaimer, reiterated: I do not own DC Comics nor Warner Brothers, the Teen Titans, or the characters this AU (alternate universe) fic is based on. I do, however, own the plot.
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Double Take
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Chapter 74
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Kori ducked into the bathroom to check her makeup after spending time with Richard in the hallway behind the reception. He was intercepted first by Rachael, who managed to hold Babs at bay with a glare.
"What did you do?" Rachael hissed in a whispered tone.
"Nothing. Kori followed me out of the hall, not vice versa."
Rachael gave him a look.
"Really. She's fine. We talked, nothing bad happened."
"Where is she?"
"In the Ladies Room."
"If you upset her... you know I'm a White Witch..."
"Which means you use your powers benevolently-"
"Yes, but that doesn't mean everyone benefits, Dick."
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Babs closed the distance between her and Dick. She swallowed her frustration, knowing full well that Dick had been with Kori, but then again, she was trying to bend over backwards, to be as reasonable, as nice as possible.
"Hi."
"Hey." Dick stiffened and then realized the propriety of the situation: Babs was his date, so he gave her a smile, and kissed her on the cheek, "Dance with me?"
"I was hoping you'd ask."
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Rachael went into the ladies room. One of the stall door was closed. "Kori, are you okay?"
"I will be out in a moment, Rachael." Kori couldn't cover up the fact that she was vomiting again, as she wretched for the fourth time into the commode.
"I'm here Kori, take your time."
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"Hey Dick, have you seen Kori? She owes me a dance." Xavier said as he met up with Dick and Babs after the two had danced together for a while at the bar. Babs smiled politely.
"Not for recently Xavier, no," Dick replied evenly.
"Xavier, I'm free to dance," Babs said.
Xavier cocked a brow at her, "I'd enjoy that."
Gar walked up to Dick, feeling compassion along with the usual amusement he felt when Dick was in one of his 'woman trouble' situations.
"How are you holding up, Dick?"
"Next question, okay Gar?"
"That bad?
"I messed up, but we all knew that, right?"
"Well yeah."
Wally and Roy walked up, and Roy spoke. "Can anyone join this shindig?"
"Hey Wally, Roy"
"Dick's just admitting he fucked up."
"Thanks Gar."
"Admitting it is the first step." Roy said. Dick gave him a meaningful look. "Just sayin'"
"What are you going to do about it?" Wally asked.
"Get her back."
"Kori right?"
"Wally, are you that clueless?"
"I'm just double checking. I don't always get stuff. I'm fast but I'm not always-"
"Sharp?"
"Bright?"
"With it?"
"Thanks guys, with friends like you, who needs-"
"Door knobs?"
"Turnips?"
"Trench coats?"
Dick laughed. "You're making me miss the ER guys."
"When are you back, boss? Not that I want the-"
"Abuse?"
"Butt whooping?
"Quit it!"
"It'll be a while. How my hand is going is my second least favorite subject. Things have been rough, guys."
"And moping around has done wonders for you."
"Thanks, Gar."
"You should have called us." Wally said sincerely.
"I know, I know." Dick said as he took a long pull from his drink.
"Come on guys, let's get back to the party." Roy suggested.
"Sounds good." Dick replied.
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"Stop doing the fussing."
Rachael rolled her eyes. "That's Gar's job. The last thing I do is fuss, but you need to make it through the evening."
"Fussing makes nerves worse."
"I'm a good fusser." Tara announced as she walked into the bathroom. Kori was doing the final touches of putting herself back together.
"Is fusser even a word, Tara." Rachael half growled.
"I thought we had a truce, Rachael."
"We do. Sorry, I'm projecting." Rachael gave a week smile to her blonde coworker.
"What did Dick do now?"
"The usual, he-"
"Stop it you two! Stop the fussing and the not-trucing and the projecting!"
"Sorry Kori," Rachael said.
"We owe Karen and Victor our best behavior and a good time, uh-" Kori burst into giggles.
Tara laughed, "You meant that it would be best if we enjoyed ourselves."
"Exactly."
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Kori walked back to the table with Rachael and Tara and met up with Dr. Red.
"Xavier."
"Have you been avoiding me, Princess."
Kori stiffened.
"Sorry Kori, I meant it as an endearment, perhaps-"
"Try Kori." She said as sweetly as she could muster. She glanced over at Dick and Babs, slow dancing.
"Would you care to dance?" She asked him.
"I would be honored to dance with such a lovely lady."
Kori took her normal open stance, but Xavier had seen her before, and knew better than to make her feel uncomfortable. His plan was now to turn on the charm, but they were briefly distracted when Babs laughed rather loudly, sharing a joke with Dick as they danced.
"They seem happy." Xavier muttered.
"Hmm."
"She hurt me, you know," Xavier exaggerated.
"I did not realize. I am sorry you are feeling that pain."
"Well, I guess if anyone would understand..."
"I would not presume any two relationships are equal, nor the loss of them," Kori's tone was gentle. "But it has been a loss." She was hardly going to quantify it for him.
"I feel played. I really thought Barbara cared about me. But she only ever wanted Di-"
Kori halted and looked at him seriously. "Xavier, perhaps we should not have this discussion. At least not here."
"You're right. My apologies."
Xavier pushed against Kori, pushing off his right leg strongly, using his lead to reestablish the movement of their dance; she had to step back, or fall on her backside. Her eyes flashed surprise, but fell into step obediently.
Oh, he liked the control.
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Xavier was smart. He was not reluctant to have others cut in while he danced with Kori, but one person he did not cut in on was whoever Dick Grayson was dancing with. The strategy paid off. Men were flocking to Kori, and Xavier would find her again every four or five dances to 'check' on her, while Dick was in the opposite situation: women were fairly brazen when asking him to dance.
Time was ticking away and Kori and Dick hadn't danced yet. But the night wasn't over yet either.
It was time to cut the wedding cake and the servers offered champagne and coffee to the guests. Kori's stomach was very queasy in spite of additional medication she was given, and she had asked for some ginger ale. This did not go unnoticed by her impromptu date Xavier, again at her side, nor Richard, who had been able to observe her as the guests gathered for the cake cutting.
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In spite of the catcalls and the general harassment, Vic and Karen shared the cake without smashing it into each other's faces. Wally and Roy on the other hand, were not so well behaved.
Kori picked up her piece and brought it back to her seat, but decided she couldn't stomach the sweetness and wrapped in up in a napkin and put it in her purse.
"Putting it under your pillow tonight?"
"Hmm, oh yes, I have heard of that tradition. No. I am just doing the saving of it for later, Barbara."
"Oh, just wondering. Good to see you Kori, pleasant dreams."
"Nice to see you too, Barbara."
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When the band leader announced it was bouquet and garter time, Kori wasn't feeling up for it, but she could hardly not go; she was a member of the wedding party after all. She usually loved this part of weddings, not that she ever really 'tried' for the bouquet. The garter part made her uneasy, but she'd never caught a bouquet to find out what that would be like. She was surprised that Vic and Karen were planning on doing it, especially at their ages.
And Karen was making a huge production out of it.
"All right ladies, get ready... Oh wait, I changed my mind. Cut the music, cut the music. My dear friend Rachael Roth just got engaged and was kind enough to keep it quiet so as to not steal my thunder. That was so, so nice. Come on up here, Dr. Roth!"
Rachael walked over to Karen, blushing, ducking her head, unused to the attention. Karen handed the bouquet to Rachael.
"Tag, you're it. Get up here Mr. Garfield Logan and dance with her your bride-to-be!"
Everyone cheered for the embarrassed Rachael and the hyped up Gar as they danced, and soon everyone joined in.
But this time, Richard was not going to be denied. Seizing the opportunity, he went over to Kori and snatched her hand and lead her to the floor. Plesantly surprised, she did not resist. Dick held her close, closer than he knew she liked to in public but she relaxed against him, giving him all the permission he needed.
After a short time after they began to dance slow to Wonderful Tonight, when Richard knew she was comfortable in his arms, he whispered into her ear, "It should have been us tonight, Star."
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To be continued...
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Thank you for reading and please review.
White Witch: A white witch generally performs magic only upon request and also the acts are strictly benevolent. White Witchcraft, because it is beneficial, is often tolerated in cultures that reject all Wicca, Neopagans, Witchcraft, etc. (We you believe me if I told you that I know White Witches from the tawny Philadelphia Main Line?)
The tradition of placing a piece of the wedding or brides cake goes back centuries. Single persons (usually girls/women) place the cake under their pillow and it is supposed to lead to "dreams of their future spouse" (and mooshed cake). I remember my Grandmother bringing my sisters and me cake home from a wedding when we were quite young. That was the first I'd heard of it.
Wonderful Tonight was written by Eric Clapton and released on the 1977 album Slowhand. (As I am quoted as saying: 1977 – The best year for music ever.