Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans.
Rated M: For language and sexual content
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Previously on Weak:
"Oh dear, you are serious."
"If you're not comfortable that's totally fine. I mean why would you choose Richard's adoptive father?"
"It's not even that… I just didn't think you—anyways you seem more a brother to Richard anyway. Oh what the heck… why not?" I smiled. I like this guy. He's entertaining… entreatingly devious.
He put his cup into the sink and headed towards the stairs when he stopped to brush his lips on my cheek. I could immediately feel the rush of blood to my cheeks.
"Good night." He said smiling.
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I just remember being stunned. Standing in the beautiful marble kitchen in the Wayne Manor. By the time I got back into the guest room, Richard returned to his bedroom. I had no idea how this was going to work between Bruce and I. But I guess I didn't care about that… I was more concerned with the fact that it was Bruce who suggested this whole plan.
What was he getting at? Is this all a joke to him? Does he want to get back at Richard?
Another part of me told myself to shut and go with the flow and that's when I fell asleep.
I woke up that morning with Alfred bringing breakfast into my room. "Good morning, Miss Anders."
"Alfred, you know me better than to call me formally like that."
"As you wish, Korinna." He smiled.
I didn't mind him calling me Korinna. It was a beautiful name and I could never imagine him calling me Kory. It just didn't settle down with him or me.
He brought me scrambled eggs with sausages. It was my favourite and since it was made by him, I already had a wonderful start to my day!
Then it hit me.
What do I do now? I mean now, I'm supposed to "date" Bruce and make Richard jealous. Was the plan in action already? And even before I could say anything, Bruce knocks on the open bedroom door.
"Morning," He smiled, as he straightened his tie. Heading to work so late…
"Aren't you late for work or something?" I asked, with a confused look.
He chuckled. "I own the company; I can go to work if I wanted to."
"But Richard wakes up at the crack of dawn to go to work, when he was the one who drank with me." I smiled.
He looked down. "Spend the day with me…"
I gave him a quizzical look.
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2 weeks later…
You're what?
That was the text Rachel sent me when I told her I was dating Bruce. I replied…
I told you it's complicated. I'll tell you when I sleep over there!
He brought me to the office during lunch time so everyone was out for lunch. Who would want to stay around? But of course, Bruce was called into work. So I was left walking around the office by myself. In a wife-beater and skinny jeans, I totally fit in. I was waiting for the elevator to upstairs to go to Bruce's office when—ding!
"Oh…well if it isn't Kory the rebound…"
"Oh hi Babs… nice to see you too…" I got into the elevator and pressed the highest floor. I whispered, "Bitch…"
"What did you call me?"
"Oh nothing, Babs. Are you going to see Richard?"
"Yes. I am. How about you, stalker?"
"Oh I'm not here for Richard." That was when we both reached the top floor. Ding!
She was surprised. She was probably thinking that if I wasn't there for Richard then I had to be there for Bruce. This probably baffled her. She had never been properly introduced to Bruce before so for me to know him and come to see him… probably intimidated her.
"Kory! There you are…" Bruce said coming over. Richard followed him looking down at his papers.
"Richard!" Babs exclaimed. "It's been so long!"
Richard looked up from his papers and saw me and Babs standing outside the elevator. He didn't know what was weird, seeing Babs there or seeing me there in a wife-beater and skinny jeans.
That's when Bruce spoke up, "Kory, do you mind going to dinner with Richard and I for a business meeting. I promised to spend the day with you and this was so last minute, I want to make it up to you."
Richard looked at me. I smiled and nodded. "I'd love to."
Babs started cracking up, "Is this some kind of joke? You were here for Bruce?"
Bruce looked down and chuckled to himself. He took my hand and pulled me into the elevator with him. "Richard, I'm sure you can take the other elevator with—Barbara was it?"
Richard's eyes stayed on me, even as the elevator doors closed and Bruce whispered exclusively into my ear. "I apologize for today…"
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Bruce drove me to my apartment to change into something formal for the dinner. I was having trouble figuring out what to wear, which wasn't a problem because Bruce ended up raiding my closet for anything appropriate. He had taken his coat, undid his tie and rolled up his sleeves. And I have to admit he looked pretty damn good. He didn't seem high mighty as I expected him to be.
"Hmm… I think this will be appropriate." He said lifting a tight black dress, above the knee with a low scoop back. And then he picked up one of my black velvet pumps. "Leave your hair down in loose waves."
"Wow, someone's bossy…" I said chuckling.
"Hey… this isn't for me. This is for Richard. You do want to make him jealous don't you?" He pushed me into the bathroom to change.
"There's another thing," he said through the door as I was changing, "It involves you getting comfortable with me."
I paused. I finished putting the dress and shoes on. I untied my hair and let it fall. I got some mousse and scrunched my hair in waves. My hair smelled good. "Ok… I'm listening."
"I only know it's been only two weeks… but that's exactly why being physically close would tick Richard off…"
"Go on…" I said getting more intrigued.
"So, I suggest we show him how intimate we are. But that's only if you're comfortable. He knows me… and he will think I'm just using you, when indeed you're using me."
"Oh, I like." I said chuckling as I got out of the bathroom. He was sitting down, but when he saw me he stood up. His eyes…were scanning up and down my body.
"…Also Babs is going to be there."
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"What is she doing here?" I heard Babs ask Richard as he escorted into the restaurant.
I think at this point I was shitting myself laughing. But I began to question why Babs was there in the first place. Bruce then explained it to me.
"Babs is married to a multi-millionaire CEO who is interested in merging with Wayne Industries. She wanted to deal with this herself because she knew that Richard would refuse. His ego is too big to accept without a little persuasion."
I walked silently. Did Babs really mean that much to him still? Even with her marriage in the way… would he go that far for her? What was it that he liked about her?
"Are you alright, Kory?" Bruce asked, concerned.
"How is this plan going to work, if he's already into Babs?"
I was starting to lose hope now.
He smiled and whispered. "Men always want something they can't have, which is why I'm sort of attracted to you."
He kissed my cheek then and left my side to shake hands with other clients who were also dining in the restaurant. Have I made a mistake in choosing junior instead of the senior? I laughed to myself.
"What's so funny?" Richard asked pulling out my chair.
"Oh nothing, Richard."
He bent over to lean into my ear, "You have a lot of explaining to do…"
"There is nothing to explain, Richard."
"Oh there is…"
Richard moved on and helped Babs with her chair as she gave me a glaring look.
Bruce finally sat down as he finished talking to other business men. He moved his chair over closer to me, as he called for the waiter.
The night became professional as soon as the food came. Babs became professional and discussed what her hubby wanted. Of course I enjoyed my meal but felt uneasy as Richard stared me down the whole night. Bruce was sensing the tension already and asked me to dance.
"Would you like to dance?" he extended his hand and I took it.
I walked over to the dance floor and they were playing a string version of Someone Like You. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah… it's just weird to sit there… With him and her and to think that he could be thinking of her and me at the same time."
"You have to put a strong face, or you'll never convince him. It's time to show him that you've moved on… even if you haven't. He'll feel a sense of loss once he realizes that you're no longer his and that you're no longer in love with him."
Something deep inside broke. I was no longer his… he couldn't have me. But it's not like he wanted me… and that's what hurt the most. I could feel my eyes water.
I sniffled. "But it's too hard… " I could feel the tears coming… and we were almost at the angle where Richard could see my face.
"You can't give up, Kory. Besides we've only just started." Before I could even reply… his lips caressed mine. Soft and gentle. It was comforting and for once I felt a sense of relief.
The biggest player, Bruce Wayne, was kissing me. In public. In front of Richard.
I didn't think of the tears that were hidden from our kiss. Or the flash of a camera from the paparazzi. For some reason that didn't even matter to me. I like to believe it was because I was so stunned. But I think it was more the fact that I felt safe. Guarded. Like someone had my back. That perhaps things would turn out for me.
Before I could recover from the sweet kiss Bruce had given me. We were already surrounded by security, cameras, and snooty reporters.
"What's her name?"
"Who's this mystery girl?"
"How long have you been dating?"
"Is this just another fling?"
I smirked at the last question. Perhaps it was a fling but that didn't matter to me. We all had our reasons and although Bruce's weren't obvious, he had still had his reasons –or reason.
In the back of my mind that should have concerned me.
"Bruce…" I called to him as he held me close and shielding me from the reporters. I dug my face into his chest.
"I'll take you to my place and you can stay there." He whispered into my ear.
We gradually walked towards the exit to our limo assisted by security and bodyguards. Richard and Barbara were already in the limo by the time we came in.
"What the hell was that?" Richard shouted, as the door closed behind us.
"Oh Richard, you shouldn't be surprised. This happens all the time and I'm sure you've had your share." Bruce replied in as-matter-a-fact tone.
By the look on Richard's face he was madder at Bruce then me. His gaze was like a hawk towards Bruce, who clearly didn't care to notice his scowl.
There was a pause.
Barbara scooted over, closer to Richard and said "Don't worry Richard, I think they look adorable together even though it won't last long…" she said giving me a fake smile.
I ignored her evidently.
I didn't even notice Bruce holding my hand. I was in my own world. A voice in my head kept saying, "What have you done?"
I had a hard time believing that it was Bruce's idea. But I had agree to it… so that makes me responsible as well.
I look towards Richard who played "cool and collected". He was staring out the window. I didn't know what he was feeling. He was really good at that. I couldn't ever read him sometimes. And I guess that was my downfall. If only I hadn't been so naïve. I wouldn't be in this mess.
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When we got home I was asked to wait in Bruce's bedroom although it shouldn't be called that—Bruce barely slept. He seemed like the kind of guy to suffer from insomnia.
His bedroom was perfect. It was beautifully furnished with a balcony. Although it simple it was elegant. To my surprise he had a four post bed with beautiful black and ivory pillows. The bathroom attached to it was made of mostly marble. It contained both a shower and a Jacuzzi with jets for two people at most. Scented candles in every nook and corner…
We had dropped Barbara off at her place, so I'm guessing that Richard and Bruce were talking it out. It was only until heard the yelling that I grew worried.
He told me to wait. Then you should wait.
But something inside me didn't want them fighting. They didn't need this. They're family although not blood-related. Richard told me years ago. He was orphaned and Bruce took him in. So in a way Bruce was Robin's guardian. Not a father but much more a brother.
The idea of them fighting over me seemed silly; like I was some toy of some sort.
They were in the parlour.
"—When were you going to tell me?"
"You never cared who I dated… besides she broke up with you…"
"Whatever happened to not dating ex-girlfriends?"
"Well if she really meant so much to you why did you let her go?"
"Because—"
"Because what?" I interrupted walking into the parlour. Richard went white, looking at me.
"Well, Richard?" Bruce said looking at Richard with a little smirk on his face. This look emitted an amusing feeling as Richard was caught in a sticky situation.
He just looked at me. Assessing my face, trying to read my eyes and as soon as he saw the urgency in my face he had tensed up.
I was done. If he wasn't going to tell me… what's the point in asking?
"Forget it, Richard. You never were really good at communicating anyway…" I said dragging Bruce with me out of the parlour leaving Richard to his thoughts which is probably the worst thing to do.
But that wasn't my concern.
I led Bruce into my room so that we could talk in private. "What was that?"
"What do you mean? It's just two men fighting for one woman." He said chuckling to himself a little.
"And you think this is funny? I never asked you to do this, Bruce, but what is your motive? Why are you doing this? I wanted you to make Richard jealous not actually make him believe I was going to date you. If anything you're making it worse. He's not the type of guy to fight for me… that's it. It's over."
I looked to the floor not seeing Bruce advance me. But he wrapped his left arm around my waist and his right cupped my face. A kiss. And not just "a kiss" … it was a good one; real, romantic and worse totally convincing.
I broke off the kiss, "Bruce, please –don't."
He dropped his hands and turned around. I sat in the loveseat in my room, astonished. What just happened?
"I—I was always scared to let someone in… after my parents died, I never wanted to feel any emotional attachment…I never wanted to lose anyone or have them be taken from me."
"Ooh, Bruce Wayne has feelings," I chuckled as I approached him. "Bruce, I don't want to be some charity case nor do I want to be one of those girls you seem to change as much as you change your clothes."
He grinned. "That's not what I want for you either…"
"Then why are you doing this? Is this a game?"
"Kory, listen to me… I'm not good at expressing my feelings, so please?"
I sighed. "I'm listening…"
He paused… for what seemed like hours, the only thing he could say was, "I—I don't really know what I want in life. I mean I have everything. When you get everything—then what?" He chuckled, and ran his fingers through his hair.
He glanced at me, then immediately turned away and sighed.
"Bruce, it's ok… talk to me." I said sitting closer to him.
He looked up at me, "I want you."
I have no idea how long I saw there, staring into his eyes. It was like I stopped breathing… how—what. What just happened?
"I—" I was interrupted.
"I don't mean it in a provocative way… I just… want to want to be with someone. And right now, I feel like I could want you," He pauses. "No, I want you."
TO BE CONTINUED…