Authors Note: Hey, yeah so ..I'm sorry for not updating a week after like I said I would. Life was sorda crap these last two months and I just couldn't do this. I kinda shut down on everything to be honest, I even failed one of my classes. So please, I'd appreciate if everyone'd just keep their rude PM's to themselves, this is my story after all. If you all keep sending me the rude remarks about how I need to update asap and how much of a jerk I am for letting your hopes up then maybe you all need to be reading from a different writer. Point, blank, period. But to all of those who are being very supportive, thank you so much. I have not given up on the story and I never will until it's done. I don't like it when people write a good story then leave it, ooo IT KILLS ME! Anyways, thanks again! I love y'all!

TTTTTTTT

I curled up by the television screen, my eyelids growing heavier with fatigue as I lazily tossed recently popped popcorn into my mouth. It was one o' one on the dot and I hadn't moved much since Richard had dropped me off earlier, with the exception of changing into sweatpants and a high cotton shirt, all very comfortable. Honestly, I refuse to think of him, well, kinda. He only brings back bad memories and, quite frankly, I'm over him. I have my own life to live, my own story in the making, it's not over yet. And hey, look at how good I'm doing without him! Well, it could go vise versa.

The screen of my phone blinked at my side, it was a call ..a call from Karras.

"Hello, my love." I answered quickly, my voice sweet and silken.

"Koriand'r, it's so pleasant to hear from you dear. How's my princess doing?" Karras's tone was amused and relaxed, just as I'd remembered.

"Today was fine, I just stayed inside all day and watched a few movies ..I've been very lonely." I purred, knowing it'd get some sort of rise out of him.

He sputtered out a raspy cough and recovered with a hearty laugh before speaking again, "You know I cannot see you until the settlement on Tamaran has been dealt with .." He trailed off, "and we wed."

My lips curled into a small smile. "Yes, the wedding." I know. How could I forget? I'm so excited for this wedding, though it's only for the sake of my country. Over the few years, I've learned to love Karras, but maybe in don't love him in the way he seems to love me, if he even loves me at all. He's actually a great person. He's been serving in the Tamaranian military for some time now, he enjoys serving for his people, he is very proud of his heritage. As am I. He is also sensitive, he has so much control over himself, his body. It is the law on Tamaran that the groom of a princess, or any other man, may not touch me in any intimate or vulgar way or form, nor may he speak to me in such manners. Karras and I have only broken this law once, but nothing more happened than a little kissing just to see if he's any good at it (Oh, he is!), even then he drew back, fiercely loyal to my father. Sometimes I wished he'd just let loose and have a little fun, not that I don't like this conservative tradition. So far, this has been kinda fun at least, he reads to me, he takes me out, he watches movies with me, everything a boyfriend should do. Now, he's been gone for three months to settle a treaty between the Gordanians and Tamaran, I do miss his company. He's a good friend.

"Stay strong, my dear. I must go, I will see you soon enough, my Koriand'r." He sighed in greif, remorseful. He misses me too.

"Goodbye Karras, send my love all over." I sighed too, he never has time to talk either. He hung up first, obviously in a rush.

All alone again, just me and silkie, my beloved cat.

I'm not really one for social media but this was the perfect time for a, how do you say, selfie?

I studied my phone for a moment, biting down on my lowing lip in concentration and deep thought. I recently got the phone, literally a day before Richard's arrival, and I still have no idea where the camera is. Aha! Finally!

I tapped the small camera icon and smiled in victory, a perfect selfie smile. Wait, what's this? Why am I not in the camera?

"What the .." I mumbled to myself as I tapped everything on the screen as fast as possible. Try as I might, I could not figure it out.

Suddenly, the words 'switching to front camera' popped up and my face illuminated the screen. I smiled again and congradulated myself with a small pat on the back.

I stared at the screen. There didn't seem to be a 'capture photo' icon, it looked like a phone call, except with my front camera on? It looked like I was calling Rachel?

Rachel's face flashed on the screen, mouth twisted in confusion, "Hi."

I made a small sound but contained the shock as to how I did this, she spoke again. "Kori?"

"Mhmm ..hn ..wait! I can hear you!" I looked up to see her a bit more confused.

"Um, have you never facetimed before?" She asked me in her usual monotone.

I chewed nervously on my bottom lip and sank into the sofa. Dead giveaway.

"Wow, well, this was a complete waste of my time." She sighed, rubbing her temple with one hand.

"Gee, I'm sorry."

"Do you know what Google is?" She deadpanned, squeezing her eyes closed.

"Yes."

Her eyes burst open, brows knitted together in an almost angry expression. "Use it. "

Click. And she was gone.

I must've caught her at a bad time.

I sighed and set my phone aside before I did something else stupid with it.

My hair draped around my face and I didn't even bother to move it. That's the second stupid thing I've done all day, I must be on a roll.

TtTtTtTtTt

I pulled into the garage of my hotel building and hopped out, making my way to the elevator shaft. All of a sudden, someone tackled me onto the ground with a loud thud, my arms flailing behind me to brace myself for the fall.

"Arg!" I yelled as all air was expelled from my lungs, my lower back and ribs screamed their agony.

I looked up to see playful green eyes dancing and staring back into mine, a single strand of red hair flopped down into the mans face.

"Hey Dickie!" Wally exclaimed while getting up and wiping the dust off his shirt that'd recently collected due to our little tumble.

I stood up beside him, not to happy about his 'friendly' greeting, in fact, my elbows felt a little scrapped up. "Hey Wal. How long have you been waiting for me to pull up?" My tone was harsh but not too harsh.

"Oh, just about an hour. Well, I was chillin' in your place this morning and decided to go do a little grocery shopping for you." He dropped his voice to a low whisper, "That mini fridge is sad."

I scoffed at him, "Well, that's what your fridge looks like when you're hardly ever there, I'm only here for the week. It's practically only the place I sleep in."

Wally West, my best friend, always has been. He had short feiry hair, that was messy and unkempt most of the time (He claims the ladies love it.), a muscular but slender build due to the fact that he's an all star in track and cross country, and the greenest most friendly eyes ever. He's a chick magnet, though he sucks at flirting. He's always been my comical relief, always looking to cheer me up when I'm broody, well okay, all the time.

Speaking of cheering me up all the time, he goes with me wherever I go, same as I with him. We were always alongside each other in everything, we're practically brothers, we would never let anything happen to one another.

Back in high school, since we were both on the track team at one time, we would hang out a lot. He definitely takes after his father, his whole family were a bunch of track stars. Because my adoptive father is the 'almighty' Bruce Wayne no one ever really gets close to him, he only has a handful of contacts in his cell, one including Wally's father, which is a real reliever. Yeah, our dads hang out. It just makes its so much easier for us to keep in touch. Wally and I love each other. And no, not in a weird, guy-on-guy way, just to make that clear. Like I said, we're practically brothers.

"Still haha, a guy's gotta eat." He laughed, already munching on a bag of chips I didn't even know he was holding.

I shrugged and made for the elevator again.

"Where you goin' buddy?" Wally asked between bites.

I turned towards him, now walking backwards to the shaft, "Um, inside?"

"Nah, nah, nah! Let's go out for drinks, c'mon! Jump needs their dynamic duo back! Let's go raise hell!" He chuckled.

"Okay, uh, funny thing about that actually ..we've been partying for five days now. I'm sure Jump has seen enough of our 'dynamic duo' act." I laughed, stopping in my tracks and shoving my hands in my pockets, rocking back on my heels.

"C'mon bro! I'm hungry." He pleaded, a few crumbs falling off his shirt.

We stood in silence for a moment or two before I finally caved in, "Finee."

I hung my head while he celebrated quitely and pulled my keys out my jacket pocket while I released a defeated sigh.

Once I unlocked the car, he hopped in singing, " Nana nana nana nana, Grayson!" Over and over again.

I couldn't help but smile at his bliss, but upon exiting the garage I turned on the music anyways, resulting in him singing along to 'stunting like my daddy' in a failed Lil' Wayne mockery.

All I could do was laugh and sing along with him.

We arrived at the Twisted Root not short after leaving, it was only a few blocks around from the hotel. I don't usually drink when I'm not partying with my friends or stressed, which I don't have a lot of in Gotham, well stress yes. So, instead of taking a down a jager with Wally I started sipping on Pepsi mixed with Rum, it's not bad but it does leave an after taste.

"It's been nice being here, bud." I chuckled, it really has been nice being around these parts again. Wally simply smiled as a return of my statement.

"So, how are you and Jen?" I asked, looking to spark up a conversation.

"Ah, well, we broke up .." A down of his second shot, this time a sex on the beach, "but I'm not trippin' bro, I'm really digging this new chick, her name's Artemis. She's a real fighter, you know?" He laughed, nudging me with his elbow as he wiggled his eyebrows at me.

"Ha, you do like em' feisty." I laughed along with him as he nodded his head in my direction.

"Yup, I like everything spicy. No fun without it." Another shot, "Yup. Let's get off me, what about and and Kori? Dick, you remember you have a lady waiting for you back in Gotham, right?" Wally turned to me, concern etched in his words. "Bruce hasn't rubbed off on you, right? You're not that kinda guy ..anymore. I know you man."

"It was a terrible mistake, you don't have to tell me that much. I don't know how to tell Barbra. I don't know if I even want to, to be honest. And Kori ..man Kori, I just don't know. I love her but I'm not in love with her ..I think. I think, no, I know I love Babs. I'm just so confused man .." I confessed, looking down at my drink and stirring it with my straw.

"What do you mean? There's a difference?!" Wally shrugged.

"Yeah, huge difference. I love you Wally, I'm not in love with you though. If you're in love with someone you want to progress with them, hold a steady relationship and bond, get married, start a family, grow old together. I don't think of you that way." I laughed half heartedly.

He stumbled off of the bar stool, as if pretending to get shot, clutching at his chest, "My heart! Arggh!" He quickly snapped out of it and sat back down, only after a few onlookers threatened his famousity by whipping out their cellphones.

"I'm hurt." He laughed aloud, tears tethering on the edge of his lashes.

"Alright, chill out man, you're so .." I didn't finish my sentence before I felt a rough hand on my shoulder. I turned around quickly, trying to find the face to the figure behind me.

I breathed a sigh of relief, no ass kicking today.

"Hey Vic, Gar. " I smiled and leaned back against the countertop, somehow I knew Wally would invite them. Goddamn it, it better not be the reason I'm thinking too. My smile fell and melted to that of guilt. Intervention time, so there actually might be some ass kicking after all.

The two boys took a seat and ordered some drinks, I vaguely noted that their drinks were nonalcoholic. Well, shit. They started talking, all light hearted conversation at first, I noticed the topic on girls being hinted throughout it until the topic on girls was the subject.

"So, when do you plan on proposing to ol' Babsie, Dick?" Gar laughed, tipping his drink towards me.

I shifted in my seat, uncomfortable. "Um, well you see, I kinda have a lot of things I need to sort out first." I stammered with and uneasy smile, gulping back a bit of bile.

Garfield knitted his brows, a confused expression plastered upon his face.

I gulped again and waved my hand, so maybe they didn't know about Kori.

"You know what, let's just let this g-" I chuckled lightly.

"Dick." Wally drug out, warning in tone.

It was silent for a long while. I bured my face in my hands, my face reddening and stomach twisting in fear. I could feel Wally's glare boring into my skull, it was unbearable. Time to confess.

"I kinda, sorta, slept with Kori." I mumbled quiet and unintelligible.

"What? Man, you know we can't hear you." Vic laughed, pulling my hands away from my face.

"Kori." I stated simply, obviously enough to trigger an chain reaction. Victor and Garfield's jovial mood was wiped away, the smiles turning to that of as firm line almost in unison.

"You didn't." Vic breathed, "Do you still have feelings for her?"

"They aren't what they used to be." I answered truthfully.

"So what are you getting at?" Vic leaned closer to my end of the bar.

My mouth refused to open, my jaw seemingly had a mind of its own. My fingers where beginning to twitch as well, my legs aching to just get up and run all the way back to Gotham, aching to leave all of this behind me.

"Dick." He asked again. "You didn't .."

"You asshole!" Garfield jumped up, slamming his palms down on the countertop. "You knew she was trying! She was trying so hard! She's engaged man! Due to be married any day now and you just waltz right back in her life and screw with her emotions!? Can you even imagine how she's feeling right now?"

I shrunk a bit, my shoulders slumping, because yeah, I did deserve this. No matter how hard I try, I always manage to screw things up between her and I. Maybe we'll never be able to be friends again. Everyone thought we'd look nice together, that we'd be the ones getting married first and having kids, living the good life. Apparently, looks are deceiving. Our relationship was never really stable. Well, at the beginning it was, but after a while we just grew tired I guess. She grew tired of my nonstop attention from females, I grew tired of ..I just got greedy I guess. I was immature and stupid, took her for granted. Me leaving just tied the knot on our future. It was for our own good.

I sighed softly and rubbed my eyes, today was more emotionally tiring than I first took on.

I glanced at Wally, he look troubled and uncomfortable for some odd reason. I'd feel the same way if someone was threatening my best friend too, but why did it seem like there was an underlying sense of hurt?

"Hey Wal, wanna get outta here?"

Victor snorted, "Ch'yeah, before I stick my foot down Dick's throat." He mentioned towards Gar with a nod, he was grinding his teeth, both hands balled into fists.

"Let's go man, gotta stay pretty right?" Wally laughed nervously as he ushered me out and away from the two boys, after leaving the bartender a friendly tip, that is.

We hopped into my car simultaneously and let silence fill the atmosphere all the ride to Wally's house.

When we arrived, I locked the doors and pulled up into the driveway. He still lived in the same suburban house. His mother and father moved out and left it to him, his own house now.

"What gives?" Wally asked in frustration, every time he'd try and unlock the door manually I would simply lock it again.

"C'mon Dick!" He threw his arms up in exasperation.

"Are you going to tell me what's bothering you?"

We sat in another silence, he just kept staring at me.

"Well?" I pressed, raising a brow.

"I just told you."

"No, you didn't."

"Yes, I did."

"You didn't even say anything."

"Exactly."

"What?"

"I didn't say anything, nothing is bothering me."

I groaned inwardly as he let out a loud laugh, holding his stomach and tossing his head back as he did.

"Wally, I'm serious!" I couldn't help but laugh along with him.

"Ah, we can save it for another ti-" He was cut off by the vibration of his cell in his pocket, a grin splitting across his face.

He fished out his phone and looked down at the screen with a couple of taps, he grin spread even wider. "I have a date." He chuckled.

Finally, I clicked the doors open. Before he could leave I gave him a small pat on the arm.

"Congrats. I hope you and ol' girl get along well."

"You know we don't." He chuckled again, "Remember? I like em' fiesty." Wally winked before stepping out of the car and stiding into his house, pride radiating off of him.

God, he still reminds me of when we were young.

Wait, he didn't even tell me what was wrong.

TtTtTtTtTt

Kori danced around her bedroom in her pajamas, which just happened to be the same clothes she'd wearing all day. She swayed and dipped to the rhythm of 'Dead or Alive' by Bon Jovi. Sure, she didn't look like that type of girl, but she was. She enjoyed all types of music, it had no matter to her. All songs she'd found appealed to her, from Taylor Swift to even Travis Scott. Hell, she'd listen to whatever she want, not like anyone could do a damn thing.

Kori noticed what other people listened to, all the time actually, it was all part of the learning experience.

She noticed that Richard predominately listened to hip-hip and rap. All. The. Time.

It's not like she didn't enjoy it, because she did, it just got repetitive and boring to listen to now. He used to listen to it all day when they used to date. It was cute sometimes, though. Like when he used to try and sing her a very vocal song to and outrageous beat. She wondered how he sounded now, "Maybe we should hang out again tonight .." Kori thought to herself before an excited gleam twinkled in her eyes and she began digging for her phone for the thousandth time that day. She quickly found Richards name in her address book; it was now under favorites. For emergency reasons, she claimed.

New message comp.

Contact: Richard :)

Hey, is it too late to hang out or what?

Sent- 9:15pm, Read- 9:21pm

...

Recieved- 9:23pm, Contact: Richard :)

What's up?

Received-9:23pm, Read- 9:24pm

...

"Maybe I should just call him instead .." I mumbed to myself, setting my phone on the night stand momentarily.

Yup, I think I will.

I picked up my phone and just as I was about to dial up Richard, Karras's face began flashing on my screen indicating that he must be calling me.

"Karras?" I answered in the sweetest voice I could muster, the feeling of guilt suddenly making itself at home in the pit of my stomach.

"Kori, hun?" A feminine voice rang through the phone.

"Who is this?" My tone dropped and came off a bit hard, why is a girl calling off of my fiancé's phone? I could've sworn he was busy.

"I am Diam'irn, Karras's lover. I cannot live in silence any longer. I have given my heart to Karras, and I must hold his heart to be mine and mine only. We are with child, who is now three months, mind you. Our sons name is Bri'irn, Karras has been helping me secretly, but I simply cannot stand by and bear to watch him leave halfway across the world to lay with another of whom he does not love. He loves me. I just cannot accept this marriage, it is not right!" She cried, "I need him, our child needs him. Therefore, you cannot marry him. No matter how much Tamaran depends on it."

"Listen, Diam'irn, your decision is ignorant, foolish, plain selfish. You act like it is my doing, I did not choose him. It is an extreme displeasure talking to you, listening to you rant about how I am wrong. This entire conversation is foolish. How dare you talk down upon me, do you not know I could have your head on a pike to surprise all who defy me? I am Koriand'r, heir to the title of Grand Ruler of Tamaran and you will not speak to me in such tones." I jabbed my finger at the phone accusingly, enraged. "I will take pity and consider your situation, but do not ever speak to me that way ever again." I hissed into the phone, teeth clenched, now fuming.

How dare Karras keep this from me! How dare this woman, too! The audacity, hah, feels like déjà vu.

I should tell my kenorfka about this, he may or may not take pitty on them.

A smirk whipped across my face as I listened to the poor girl fail at containing her tears.

"I wish you two the best." I lightly giggled into the phone, sickenly sweet, I then hung up before the girl had a chance to speak again. Well, looks like I deserve to have a little fun tonight.

"Hey Kori, how's it going?" Richard answered on the third ring, accompanied by a soft laugh. How cute.

"Let's go clubbing tonight." I stated simply, more of a demand than a question.

"Um, alright." Cough. "I'm feeling kinda sick though .." Two more coughs, obviously fake.

"Cut it out loser, what's the matter? Too wimp to party with a big girl?" I teased, a chestire like grin curving across my lips into an upward spiral.

If anyone knew Richard, they knew better not to challenge him.

TtTtTtTtTt

Kori walked towards a small table at the far end of the club, she just picked a random and non-grimmy booth for them to sit in.

Grayson watched her, following close behind so not to loose her in the crowd.

Her shirt was a tight rolling stones croptop that exposed her bare, toned stomach. A short leather skirt rode low on her hips and hugged her thighs, if you were to follow her flawless legs down the mile they were you'd hardly even notice she was also wearing matching leather, ankle high heels. Not many noticed, too engrossed with the uppermost part of her gorgeous body.

Her curly hair practically flowed over her shoulders and bounced with her every move. She caught the eye of every man and woman alike, Grayson twitched slightly, restraining to react in another overprotective manner. He wanted nothing more than to throw a blanket over her and toss her over his shoulder to take her home where more conservative clothing was.

He frowned at the thought of anyone, guy or girl, trying to make a move on her.

He used to like these scenes; the parties, the blinding lights, the blaring music. But honestly, he couldn't careless for them now. He even regretted drinking and partaking in illegal extracurriculars with his closest friends those two days ago. He silently prayed that the press hadn't seen him walk into Tunnel, Bruce would have his head after Babs cut off his balls and shoved them up his ass. He's the son of a millionaire, heir to Wayne Enterprises and lover to the commissioners daughter, there would be no way he could live it down if it ever got out.

This club was well known for speeders and rich coke-heads who had nothing better to do with their night than try and fuck as many hapless women as possible or try and coax more unethical, snobby folk into their little circles.

Grayson sat himself down across from Kori at the small booth, resting his chin in his hand in a very bored looking fashion.

"So do you want anything to drink?" Kori smiled down at him, setting her purse down on the table top.

"Uh, y'know, a regular cherry coke please." He smiled back up at her politely.

She looked at Grayson for a second, just looking at him like he was some kind of difficult crossword puzzle she just couldn't figure out.

Eventually, she seemed to shrug it off and turned her back to him, making her way towards the bar.

Once she was out of veiw and earshot, he began hear a fainst giggling coming from behind him. Grayson sighed and shook his head. Tipsy girl arriving in five ..four ..three ..two ..

"Hi! My friend Jessica thinks you're really cute!" A petite girl squealed. She was a little on the short side, her hair a strawberry blonde in the strobe lights and he barley made out her eyes to be the darkest shade of brown. Her dress was a glittering simple black, a tad bit too tiny for any boyfriend's liking.

Grayson eyed her up and down, kepping his facial expression as emotionless and bored as possible, but truth be told, he thought she was kinda cute.

"Oh?" Was all he said, the slightest smile struggling not to make itself know on his lips.

"Yeah!" She giggled again, "You look familiar, a lot like this guy Dick Grayson. Do you know who that is?" She asked, shifting her weight onto one foot and cocking her head slightly along with her hip as he twirled her long hair between her fingers. She had a very charming smile.

"Depends, do you know who you're talking to?" He shot back with his own award winning smile, pearly whites and all.

She stopped twirling her hair Grayson watched as her smile broadened.

Suddenly, she covered both hands over her mouth and screeched so loud that he could've sworn the entire club was looking their way. She flung herself onto him and peppered his face in kisses, her plump lips leaving red stains all over his face.

Her friends came around soon after and took their seats at his booth, all slightly intoxicated. All of the girls there were mainly focused on him, all making googly eyes at him, all shoving their cleavages practically out of their dresses and designer shirts, one of the girls (Jessica apparently) even had the arrogant confidence to make herself quite cozy on Grayson's lap.

So yeah, Kori had all the rights to be a little 'pissy' during their stay that night.

Kori sat at the very edge of the booth, watching all the skanks throw themselves at him, listen to their annoying fake accents compliment him on every little thing and talk about how much they admired him.

After about ten minutes of the stomach churning torture, she finally decided to make her move.

Fed up and bitter, she climbed over fangirl after fangirl to make her way to Grayson, who looked uncharacteristically uncomfortable. Though his left hand seemed to be firm against Jessica's ass, he was doing a terrible job at hiding how much he wanted to get up and make his leave. Well, it was apparent to Kori at least.

Once seated next to him, she wrapped her arms around his midsection and shot several rude glares at the other girls, they just sorda shrugged it off, which only served to aggravate Kori even further. A primal grown emerged from deep in her throat gaining a weird glance from Jessica, who slowly slid herself off of Grayson's lap and away from her. Her hands still found residents on his chest though, Jessica even still kept her face hidden away in the crook of his neck. Kori could've sworn she saw the slighted smirk on the girls lips as she nonchalantly presented him with a few kisses just below his ear.

Grayson gulped and his eyes frantically found Kori, just begging for saving. Kori responded with a mischievous grin as she plopped herself down in his lap instead, throwing her feet over the side of his legs and wrapping her arms around his neck, silently shooing away Jessica.

He leaned up to her ear and whispered his thanks, "This has been great and all, but can we go now?"

Kori only laughed a bit and looked down at him, "Not without my dance." She then stood up and climbed her way back over the girls and twirled towards the dance floor, struting backwards onto the dance floor and with half lidded eyes, beconed Grayson forward with as finger.

He stood up in a trance like state and made his way to meet her at the dancefloor, the small army of Jessica's possy following close behind.

He reached out to her, his grip fierce as he pulled her against him, not too flush though. Grayson's hands quickly found their way to the soft flesh of her waist. The bass, of whatever song was booming through the club, beat against her chest and caused and involuntary smile to break across her face. Seeing this, Grayson smiled himself, mostly because of the way her hips moved along with his.

They lost themselves with the rhythm of the music, dancing with little twirls and flirtatious laughs, grinning like idiots. Teasing touches and lingering fingers, all the while the possy of now dangerously jealous girls watching on, faces twisted in distraught.

He was smart, he knew what Kori was doing. He tried all he could not to fall under Kori's spell. He really did. The amount of restraint he had on himself could've literally had him on his knees. He wanted her. God knows he did, but he knew it wouldn't be fair.

It wouldn't be fair for Kori, he'd just be sending her mixed signals and getting her hopes up. It wouldn't be fair for Barbra, he really wasn't up for cheating on her twice. I wouldn't even be fair for himself either, he never wanted to turn back to his old way ever again.

So, he kept things as clean as possible.

No dirty dancing (or not too dirty), no kisses, he didn't even hold eye contact for too long (he didn't want her to get the wrong impression).

The night was going past fairly fast paced, he was relieved the press decided not to make an appearance, there'd already been a couple of pictures snapped of him and Kori in the airport terminal and just when they were together period, even a few photoshopped pictures of them together. Hopefully Babs knew better, so far she hasn't made any references to them, hell he didn't even know if the pictures made it to Gotham yet or not.

Most likely have, so, whatever. He didn't really care at this moment in time, all that mattered was Kori. He was completely and utterly under her miraculous spell.

When gathering her purse to leave, and carrying her shoes in her hand, Kori unexpectedly turned to him with a reminiscent smile, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, completely speechless. He arched and eyebrow at her and smiled crookedly, not really knowing what to do.

Finally, she spoke.

"Thank you for the good times, Richard." Her voice was small and vulnerable, eyes beginning to glimmer.

Grayson said nothing, only wrapped his arm around her shoulders lovingly and exited the club with ease, all while gifting her with a sincere and heartwarming smile on their way to his car.

The car ride was quiet, but not uncomfortable.

It was also very short for some reason. Too short, despite her home being nearly in the middle of a deserted forest.

Grayson eased the car to a stop and turned to look at Kori.

She looked beautiful, no, beyond beauty itself. Just like she always had, and always will be. Her face glowed from the moon shining so brilliantly against her orange-like complexion. Everything was glittering and honey. His expression softened as he adorned her unique and smooth structure. She's a goddess and she knows it.

Why did I let her slip through my fingers? Why was I so dumb? Why?

Kori shifted in her seat slightly, as if she were to get out soon. Grayson placed a hand gingerly over hers, which was rested atop her thigh, and leaned forward only a bit. His eyes flashed down from her jade eyes to her slightly parted lips, then back up to her eyes again, seemingly studying them carefully.

He licked his lips as he scooted forward slowly, his opposite hand finding her cheek and stroking his thumb back and forth across her cheek bone. He nudged his nose against hers as they both closed their eyes and breathed for a moment before he brushed his lips against hers ever so gently. Their breaths mixed together, scenting of faint cherry soda and hard passion fruit mojitos, mingling together to make an exotic and intoxicating brace.

"Wait." He breathed, as if he sensed her anxiousness emitting from her.

He opened his eyes to see her staring straight through him, a confused expression.

He rested his forehead against hers, his own expression completely serious as he guided her hand away from her thigh and pressed it against his face, closing his eyes and reveling in her touch. "Kori, I think I still lov-"

A loud ringing echoed throughout the enclosed car.

They both jumped at the sudden noise, blinking and pulling away from each other with cheeks rushing with blood.

Grayson's phone vibrated violently in the cupholder where it'd been charging, almost as if it were just waiting to break them apart.

Bruce was calling him, of course. When does he not have perfect timing.

"Dick." Bruce's voice was hard and stern, unyeilding, strictly business.

"Bruce." Grayson deadpanned, he could play that game too.

"I need you in Gotham by tomorrow afternoon."

"Such a short notice, to who do I owe the gratitude and disturbance." His voice was as sarcastic as it was haughty.

"Your job. New paperwork, and old paperwork, this all needs to be finalized before next Monday. You're little 'sub' is doing terrible at keeping up with your reports. He has no idea what he's doing."

"You hired him."

"And? Anyways, I think you get it. "

"Fine, no use in arguing. I'll be there."

Click, and the call was over in less than two minutes. Consider it one of Bruce's long phone calls.

Grayson sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation.

"I think I should be going .." Kori exhaled softly, pushing open the door and stepping one foot out.

"I'm sorry, um, I guess this goodbye ..for now." Grayson's face fell, a longing need still lingering.

"I'll see you off at the airport tomorrow, don't worry." Kori smiled, though it did not reach her eyes.

"Okay .." He smiled back, watching as she hopped out and make a weary walk towards her front door, already fiddling with her purse to look for her house key.

He rolled down the passenger side window and yelled after her, "Hey!"

She spun around, flaming hair shinning in the motion activated porch light as it flipped over her shoulder.

Grayson stepped out of the car and from all the courage invested in him yelled out at the top of his lungs, even as his face was still red and stomach in knots, "Koriand'r, I love you!"

TTTTTTTT

Authors Note: Idk, this chapter was to cliché for me. Time to kill someone.

(Yes, I will eventually fix all my spelling and grammar mistakes on all chapters once I get my lazy bones off the couch and in front of another computer screen, my bad.)