Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans, Batman or any quotes included in this fanfic.
Chapter 1
"It takes a minute to like someone, an hour to love someone, but to forget someone takes a lifetime."
—Anonymous
Kori Anders' editor, the tyrannical, balding Mr Newbury of the Jump City Post, slammed the morning's newspaper down on the table with such force that she jumped back in fright, watching in horror as the coffee mug vibrated. A fat finger jabbed at the small newsprint of an article halfway down the front page. Kori's bright emerald eyes scanned the page for a headline, and it wasn't long before she found one: Grayson Returns to Jump City. Beneath it was a small, blurry photo of—Kori thought she was going to have a heart attack for the second time in a minute—someone who, incredibly, resembled Robin.
Kori dismissed the idea as being absurd—after all, there were plenty of Robin look-alikes. And besides, after nine years, Robin had probably changed considerably. Eagerly, she picked up the Post and skimmed through the article.
…Richard Grayson announced today that he will be returning to Jump City on Friday after nine years of absence. Grayson, orphaned at the age of nine, was adopted by Gotham billionaire Bruce Wayne (CEO of Wayne Enterprises, WayneCorp and Wayne Industries). He is also the sole heir to the company which has made the Wayne family one of the richest in the USA and the world.
It is rumoured that Grayson will be transferring to Jump City as director of the new branch of Bruce Wayne's company. A reliable source has stated that there are also personal reasons for Grayson's return to his former home, although specifics were not cited. This was denied by the Wayne Company spokesperson, and Grayson's own publicist also remained discreet.
However, the truth will be revealed in two days when Grayson reappears in Jump City for the first time in almost a decade. In a short telephone interview, the 24-year-old disclosed that he "missed the city" and "can't wait to see it again" although he adds, laughing, "Gotham does seem a bit like home now, after so many years."
When asked about personal life and the reasons behind his nine-year-long absence—
Newbury yanked the paper forcibly out of Kori's hands. "Now, Miss Anders. You were wondering why I called you here?" Kori briefly registered his thunderous, booming voice. A vague thought formed itself in the back of her mind: Robin has been gone for nine years. He would also be 24 years old now…
Newbury paced around the room and stood with his back to Kori. He was a short, squat silhouette against the brilliant morning sunlight that fell into the 34th-floor office. Gazing outside at the view of Jump City's skyscrapers, he boomed, "You're currently Jump City's best-known female reporter with a reputation that's about to get one hell of a lot better. So, in my opinion, there's no better person for the job."
He sat down heavily in his computer chair, his red face concealed behind a mist of hazy cigar smoke. A spring squeaked loudly and the chair rocked violently for a moment. "Now, I want you to interview Grayson. I hear you have good connections, so I presume that won't be a problem. I don't care how you do it, I just want the story to be on Saturday's front page, got it? Or Sunday, latest." A puff of cigar smoke floated like a grey veil across the room. "Yes, yes… make that Sunday. I shall be generous and give you an extra day after the press conference on Saturday. But the article had better be good. Understood?" He didn't wait for an answer before continuing, "Good. Any problems?"
"No, sir. It will be on your desk before Saturday. I gather that my presence will be required at the airport on Friday morning when Mr Grayson arrives, as well as at Saturday's press conference?"
Newbury stared at her as if the answer was the most blatantly obvious thing in the universe. The cigar bobbed up and down vigorously as he nodded. Thankfully for Kori, the intercom chose to buzz at that moment, signalling an incoming message from the secretary. Newbury hurriedly waved Kori off. "Dismissed, Anders."
Kori nodded gratefully at those merciful words. She hurriedly gathered up her files and stumbled dizzily out of the cigar smoke-filled office.
Kori waited impatiently, fingers drumming lightly on the surface of her desk. She glanced at the clock, whose hands pointed to 16:27. Today had not been a good day—everything had gone downhill since she was called to the editor's office that morning—and time seemed to crawl even slower than it usually did on a Wednesday afternoon.
The phone was picked up in the middle of the second ring. "Hello?" a gruff voice answered. It belonged to Victor Stone, otherwise known as Cyborg, another former Teen Titan. Victor was 26, and after graduating with a degree in computer engineering, he had started his own software and cybernetics company. Within just a few years, he had become one of the most well-known and prominent figures in the business world—which meant he had some very useful connections.
"Greetings, friend!"
"Yo, Starfire, is that you?"
Kori smiled, idling twirling a pen between her fingers. "Yes, friend, it is I. I hope you and Bee are well?" Victor was now dating Karen Beecher, formerly known as BumbleBee of Titans East. However, between the Titans themselves, they still used their old code names, out of habit.
"Never been better. I guess you called to collect the favour I still owe you?"
"Yes," Kori affirmed, "I presume you heard about Richard Grayson's return to Jump City? It was on the front page of the Post today."
There was a short pause, during which Kori's sharp Tamaranian sense of hearing picked up the faint whirr of computers in the background. Then Cyborg said slowly, "I might have seen the article. What about it?"
Kori thought she heard an undercurrent of reluctance in her friend's voice, but decided she was just being oversensitive. "I have been dispatched to interview him for the Jump City Post and I was wondering if you could aid me in arranging an interview—a private one, before Sunday."
There was another short pause as Victor Stone thought for a while. Kori could envision him thinking, a crease forming on the half of his forehead which was human. "Hmm… well, I'll see what I can do for you. I did have a deal with Wayne's company a few months back… they might remember me, but you never know. Have you tried calling for an appointment?"
Kori bit her lip. "Yes, I requested a meeting, but was denied an appointment rather rudely. I shall try again tomorrow, but I suspect they would simply deny my request again." Kori recalled the secretary's satirical words. If you're Kori Anders, then I'm the Queen of Sheba. I've answered at least 50 calls allegedly from Miss Kori Anders today. Look, whoever you are, we don't have time for prank calls. I don't want to have to repeat myself: Get. Lost. After just two years, Kori had become such a well-known character around town that her name was misused and abused by tricksters, and Kori had difficulty convincing people who she really was unless they saw her in person. Her trademark green eyes always cast a faint emerald luminescence which was unmistakable.
Victor sighed. "All right, I'll try my best; call up a few old friends or something… I think Karen might have some useful connections… you might also want to try Raven and Gar; they might be able to help. I can't guarantee a meeting, Starfire, but I'll call you if I get anything."
"Then thank you, Cyborg. Your help is greatly appreciated."
On the other end of the line, Victor frowned, deeply troubled. "Don't thank me yet, Starfire. Don't thank me yet."