Hey pplz! This is a quick authors not coz I have to go really soon but just a few things. Thanks for all your reviews, they mean a lot to me. I'm sorry this chapter took so long, schools started and the teachers find it fun to give me homework. Enjoy!
Chapter 24
I laughed softly as he glared back at Drake; who stuck his nose in the air and started walking. I have no idea what it is with guys; they're so possessive… and get jealous so easy. We started out after Drake; Diesel at the front and Blaze bringing up the rear. I just realized… Somehow Bee, Rachel and I were in the middle of the group and the guys surrounded us. There; point proven.
We walked for about an hour, Drake following his compass, Gar complaining about walking for too long (In which he tried changing into different animals) and Nightwing scowling at Drake's compass like it was evil.
"Calm yourself. He knows what he's doing" I whispered to Nightwing who snorted in disbelief.
"If we get lost I'm blaming it on him" He whispered back.
Another hour later and we were trekking through dense jungle; I was beginning to get suspicious, nothing had attacked at us, and everything was silent. It was unnerving.
"Nothing's attacked us yet; that could be a good sign" I said quietly, trying to make the best of the situation.
Suddenly a twig cracked to our right, and Nightwing whipped out his bo-staff and positioned himself in front of me. I noticed that Cy and Beast Boy did the same for Raven and Bee; much to the girl's disgust. Ignoring them I noticed that Blaze and Diesel had their hackles up and were growling low in their throats. Something was out there.
Another crack sounded and Raven whispered.
"There's more than one of them; and they're big"
Why do I always speak to soon? Do whatever Gods are out there take pleasure in proving me wrong? I tensed and pulled my bow from my back and strung it with an arrow. I could barely see the outlined shape of a creature moving through the bushes, but it was there none the less.
"It's not friendly" Raven stated, her eyes closed and her hands on her temples as she zoned in on the creatures.
"Attack?" Drake asked quietly.
"Yes" she muttered and I took aim.
Loosing the arrow it hit its mark and a shrill shriek pierced the air. I watched Nightwing slip into battle mode as five… things came at us. They moved like a human, on two legs, but they were like birds feet. They had the bodies of women, but long leathery wings instead of arms. Their heads were full of lustrous hair that cascaded down their backs, but the lower part of their face was like a bird; beak and all.
"Harpies" Bee spat as she flew into the sky. Both Raven and I followed suit, as we waited for the creatures to come closer. Obviously the guys didn't plan to do that. Nightwing and Drake rushed forward, Drake loosing bolts of burning energy and Nightwing leaping over ones head and planting an exploding disk on its back. Its howled as the disk activated, leaving a gaping hole, and I finished it off with an arrow straight through its head.
Raven muttered 'Azarath Metrion Zinthos' under her breath and picked one up, swinging it by her magic and slamming it into a tree. Blaze and Diesel were running circles around one, herding it away from us, into the bushes.
I loosed another arrow at ones back leg watching it fall with pleasure. Cyborg blasted one a fair few meters back with his sonic cannon with a murmured 'booya'. One was left, and it was gawking at Nightwing…My Nightwing.
Swooping down I landed between the black haired Harpy and Nightwing. I glared darkly at the creature and it glared back at me.
"I want him" The harpy hissed at me, her eyes darting to a suspicious looking Nightwing. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Raven and Bee fighting off the wounded Harpy I'd shot, and Drake, Cy, and BB fighting off the Harpy that Raven had slammed into a tree.
Locking my gaze with the Harpy's once more I gave her a challenging glare. Suddenly she leapt forward, springing at me and knocking me to the ground. Her clawed fingers dug painfully into my shoulders and I heard Nightwing call my name.
"I want him" She hissed at me again. Her breath was rank and I felt like passing out. She knew I was competition; damn she was right. Bringing my legs up I kicked her in her stomach, sending her backwards. She landed gracefully as her wings swept her down. Jumping to my feet I threw my bow around my back and smirked.
"Bring it Birdie" Obviously she did not take it lightly to be called a 'birdie' as I soon found out. She flew forwards and lashed at me, and I jumped to the right just in time – but her long talons caught my side; drawing blood. I gasped as she grinned through her beak. I saw her stalk closer to Nightwing; who was fighting off another Harpy who had recovered. I noticed that Beast Boy was knocked out cold on the ground, and Drake was sporting a tear across his chest.
"Move!" The harpy I had been previously fighting commanded of Nightwing's opponent. The blonde harpy gave a crow and attacked Drake; not before I shot a starbolt at her behind. I took pleasure in watching her feathers smoke.
Nightwing turned to look at the new Harpy; who zoomed up into his face.
"Mine" She stated; batting her eyelashes at him.
"God your breath stinks!" Nightwing exclaimed, holding his nose. I laughed so hard I started crying. The Harpy looked thoroughly offended and I think she was having second thoughts of Nightwing being 'hers'. But then she saw him glance at me out of the corner of his eye and she glared at me. Nightwing saw and quickly rammed a fist into her stomach, making her bend in pain and then delivered a swift kick to her chest, sending her back into a tree.
"How do we kill these things?" Nightwing asked me hurriedly as he pinned her to the tree with his staff.
"How the hell should I know? I don't go around fighting breath stinking bird ladies!" I retorted, throwing a starbolt at a flying Harpy that was coming at Raven's back.
"You gotta drive something through their hearts!" Bee shouted from beside Beast Boy; stopping any Harpies from coming near him. Nightwing's eyes took on a strange gleam and I watched as with one fluid motion he whipped out his sword, twirled it, and sunk it straight though the chest of the screaming Harpy. I noticed she glared at me before she went limp; lovely.
Raven also took Bee's advice and whipped the dagger from her thigh; and with a grunt flung it with perfect aim at her attacker's chest. The Harpy screeched and fell from the sky with a thud. Drake unsheathed his own sword and rushed towards Bee and beast Boy; plunging the blade through the back of the ready to attack Harpy; the tip showing through the front of her chest. I saw Bee shiver.
We all stopped; staring at each other, and then I counted the dead Harpies; four. One was missing. Suddenly Drake yelled out at me,
"STARFIRE DUCK!"
I complied without a second thought, and watched as he ripped a dagger from his boot and fling it to where I was standing seconds ago; straight into the chest of the remaining Harpy. I exhaled loudly as the Harpy body fell onto my own; her foul breathe making me dizzy. Drake ran to my side and kicked the body off me and helped me to my feet. I swayed dizzily from the fumes and fell into his open arms; resting my head on his chest for support. I breathed in deeply as my head cleared and I pushed myself away from him. I saw Nightwing wipe the black blood from his sword and sheath it; glaring at Drake with pure loathing.
Moving to look over the dead Harpy I stared at it suspiciously.
"Is it just me, or is everything getting weirder by the minute?" I asked, raising a brow.
"Even I'm not used to all this shit. I mean… Harpies? What the hell kind of a planet has freakin' Harpies?" Drake exclaimed; throwing his arms in the air.
"Well; we are on an unknown planet. This, by the way, holds the most important inanimate object in the world!" Raven snapped sarcastically as she started to heal the long cut on his chest.
"Of course; they like to ruin my clothes too!" Drake snapped; looking at his torn shirt.
"Stop being a baby and hold still" Raven commanded; glaring at him as she continued her work.
"Blaze!" I called out; looking around for any signs of the blood red coat I'd grown to look for. Blaze and Diesel came trotting out from a copse of bush; looking quite bored.
"Lot of help you were" I scolded him, and he merely cocked his head and walked away.
"I told you they were nothing but over fed mutts" Rachel muttered as she finished tending Drake's wound and moved onto me. I let her heal the cut patiently; off in my own little world thinking. I love Nightwing; I really do, but… the way Drake holds me; the way he held me back then when he saved me, it brought back memories of when we kissed… his comfort. But once again; he wasn't Richard; and it was Richard I truly deeply loved.
"You're done Kori" Raven stated as she moved to where Beast Boy was slumped near Bee.
Nightwing instantly moved to my side and ushered me away.
"Are you ok?" He asked me quickly, feeling me all over for any cuts or bruises.
"I'm fine" I assured, holding his hands in my own. He studied my face; his mouth set in a frown.
"Kori… you know I love you; more than anything" He told me quietly. I reached up and peeled off his mask.
"Richard I know you love me, and I love you too, Drake isn't going to take me away form you" I said softly, caressing the side of his face lightly with the tips of my fingers.
"I know… it's just… The way he was looking at you when he well… saved you, it was more than just a friendly look. He loves you Kori. Even though he might have said he didn't; he does."
Well jeez, complicate things! I sighed and looked away.
"Kori; do you still love him?"
At this I turned my full attention back to Nightwing. My answer… this was the subject I was wary of. I had to say this correctly to portray the right message – or else it would break his heart.
"Before I start I want you to promise me that you won't interrupt" I told him, and he nodded.
"I promise" He answered; nodding slightly.
"I do love Drake. But not in the way I love you. My love for him is… is a dying love, like an inflating balloon that can't be saved. We had something, you could call it a fling, but it wasn't real love. My love for you is unbreakable, undeniable and stronger than PVA glue" Ok so not romantic. "You are the one thing in my life that has gone right. Throughout my life, I've been used as a slave; have had to keep my real identity hidden. You were the one person, who I thought I hated, who understands me. Drake could never understand me, my life, like you do. I love you Richard Grayson, more than anything in the entire world"
Richard stared at me for a long moment, and I began to feel nervous, please let me have worded that right. I know it wasn't the most romantic thing in the world but-
Oh no. I most certainly worded that right.
Letting Richard pull me closer to him he rested a hand on either side of my hips; while mine wrapped around his neck loosely. His lips moved against mine in a soft rhythm; the kiss sweet and slow. It wasn't lustful like most, it was perfect. My eyes instinctively closed as he traced slow circles around my hip with his thumbs, and I ran my fingers slightly through his soft hair.
"Do you plan to stop broadcasting your love to the entire frigging planet?" Drake shouted from behind Nightwing. Right behind Nightwing. I gasped at the shook and stumbled back, Nightwing doing the same.
"Finally" Drake smirked at Richard, and then offering a hand to help me up. Nightwing was so not in the mood for this. He was seriously ticked off.
"You pompous, up yourself, immature git!" Nightwing shouted, pushing his face into Drake's angrily. "Have you not heard of minding your own business?"
Drake contemplated his answer.
"No" He said simply; amusement lacing his voice.
"What so funny?" Nightwing demanded, his mouth set in a fierce scowl.
"Just you" Drake replied, crossing his arms over his chest. Nightwing raised a fist menacingly. "Is that a challenge?" Drake asked, looking amused.
"No, because you wouldn't be able to handle fighting me" Nightwing retorted smugly, moving to help me up.
"You just can't stand the fact that Kori loved me. You can't handle that I kissed her. That I held her. That I had my own way-"
WHAM
Nightwing's fist connected with Drake's nose and sent him reeling backwards to the ground. Nightwing helped me up as I stared with and open jaw.
"Kori, can you hold on just a sec?" Nightwing asked me, and I nodded blankly.
Drake stood up and touched his nose tenderly.
"Bastard" He spat, lunging at Nightwing. Nightwing smirked and dodged to the side, sticking his foot out and tripping Drake over.
"The three lessons of fighting. One: Never attack in anger" Nightwing recited comically, watching as Drake got up and his eyes started to glow. Lunging forward again Drake jumped up and feinted a hit to Nightwing's face but stopped and side-kicked him in the stomach. Nightwing grabbed Drake's foot and twisted it, sending Drake to the floor again.
"Lesson two: never glance at where you're going to attack when you feint a move" Nightwing smirked.
"You think you're so perfect don't you Nightwing. You have friends, you have looks, you have all the moves, and you probably have every girl back on your planet chasing after you. You have money, you're famous, you have Kori" Drake glowered at him. "You take everything from everyone. You probably have loving parents who told you stories when you were young, took you on outings to your favorite places. Told you that they loved you. You grew up with a loving family. Is there anything you don't have?"
Nightwing stiffened before replying coldly.
"My parents were murdered when I was seven. I was put up for adoption and was adopted by a man with money and a huge business. He was never around. No one told me stories, he never took me out, I was forced to live my life in secrecy. And you know what? I killed my parent's murderer"
Well that its, hope you liked, please review!
Ell