One More Year

by Writing and Procrastinating

Kori's 17th birthday appears and all she wants is for this year to be over, get away from her abusive step-father and quit the only job he'll let her have. But after meeting her best friend Rachael Roths friends and a very handsome Dick Grayson who is mysterious, charming, dexterous, and the only boy who could ever get her to blush. She wishes it would never end. RXS AU

2. Chapter 2

Hello thank you to everyone who reviewed, it really means alot! This is another updated chapter!

His fingers gently cleaned the gravel out of my cheek that had embedded themselves in my flesh. I winched when small rocks fell into the metal bowl I held, I tried to look away from the bloody cloth. Not because of the blood, blood never phased me it was the memory of why they were there that I did not want to see.

My step-fathers friend Paul was nothing like this, they hurt me, cut into my flesh and not one of them tried to stop another for attempted assault. They laughed and jeered and it was very terrible. Oh X'hal I was so grateful for Dick Grayson! Yet he could not stop the tears that I tried desperately to hold back.

I was safe yes? That did not stop my tears from falling. I was safe right now, but what of when I got home, and my step father did not see me there? And, I still could not shake the feeling of those men off me. Dick placed his arm around me, a gesture I assumed was meant to make me feel comfort. He rushed me to the mansion's medical room. Why they had a medical room was a mystery to me, perhaps if you were a billionaire you didn't need a reason for it, other than to seek immediate care. Either way I didn't really need a reason because it kept from my step-father knowing anything, that was reason enough.

Dick gave me a hopeful smile "it's okay Kori, you can cry." He said seeing me struggle to hold myself together, and I gave him a very sad but thankful smile and continued to push out the unwanted feelings.

Which for some reason was funny to him. "Why must you laugh?" I said with red-rimmed eyes.

"I don't know, you're strong and I'm not used to seeing that." He then chuckled again, "you have every reason to cry and you're here trying to hold it together."

"So that is humorous to you?"

"No, not really."

"Then why laugh?"

His face scrunched up and his nose did this weird twitch, "I don't know, it's a reaction."

"Oh." I did not understand him, but I stopped questioning.

"I see people hurt more times then you'd think, and just I'm not used to seeing most people just try to hold it together. A few weeks ago, this girl fell off her bike and I helped her get a band aid and she acted like she was broken."

"Mr. Grayson I assume that would have something to do with who you are, I assume she was the flirting with you." This made him make some kind of ruffled sound that meant I was right.

Silence fell upon us as his eyes glanced over me and his face got very red, "Uh… so is there any other place that needs care?"

I removed my jacket and began to remove my shirt when he blanched and screamed "Kori no!"

I stopped midway "is there a problem?"

"Um uh why are you taking off your shirt?"

"Because I am damaged, there is honestly nothing wrong I will cover my front." I said turning on the chair, so my back was to him.

"Okay, sorry I just uh…"

I started giggling, Richard Grayson shy? He became red faced again. "Okay now you stop laughing."

"I agree that it is rather amusing Master Richard."

I eeped and jumped, spinning around to see a tall man dressed exceptionally well, with a manicured mustache and he seemed to hold timeless elegance. "Your blundering about is rather comical, I can see why the young lady is laughing." He then turned to me, "beg my pardon miss, I have brought some clothes for you."

"Kori this is Alfred, our butler," he then grinned and lowered his voice to seem secretive "but he knows he's like a grandfather to us."

"Greetings! It's lovely to meet you." I said smiling wide.

"Pleased to meet you as well Miss Kori." Alfred then looked to Dick "Master Richard when you are done there is some chocolate pudding in the kitchen, if Miss Kori does wish to have some. Master Jason is in his room and I am retiring to mine," he bowed at the waist towards me "it was a pleasure to meet you, no matter that it was brief. Good night."

"Pleasant shlorvaks!" I said waving goodbye.

"Ah schlorcks?" Dick said trying to pronounce the unfamiliar words.

"It translates to "dreams" such as one would say 'sweet dreams' it is the way of my people."

"Hmm that's interesting. Any way please lean forward." I did as he was told, not liking the feeling leaning forward did to my skin.

"Fucking bastards." He breathed.

I became panicked "what?"

"I can't believe they did that, God Kori I'm sorry."

"Please Dick, what did they do?"

"They carved 'slut' into your skin."

Blood drained from my face and I turned to look at him ashamed, I hoped he did not think that of me. Or wonder why they would write such a thing other than to be cruel. Did they know I worked at the adult bar? Did he know? I turned to look at the ground those cruised tears coming on again, this time I was unable to stop them.

"Hey," he said soothing coming around to lift up my face and look at him, "don't listen to what they said or wrote. I know it's terrible, but hey" he said smiling "because of it I got to meet you." He then winched, thinking that was the wrong thing to say.

"Oh Dick we would have met at the party tomorrow night, or er tonight."

"So I got to meet you sooner, and you saw me kick some butt." He smiled this lopsided grin that I was beginning to love. " But I'd rather none of this have happened."

"Well I assume that Alfred's pudding will make up for it." I said with a small smile.

He smiled but his eyes did not, nothing would make up for it. The comfort of them off the streets and in jail helped a bit. I could not dread on the 'what if's' either, Dick was being so kind, and to someone he hardly knows. This kindness I never knew, Racheal was my best friend and even she had not expressed this kind of niceness. Yet again it's not every day you get jumped. I am pretty sure that if it was her, in place of him she would have done whatever she could to make sure I was safe.

Oh I forgot I live in Gotham. Where most people are not kind, they are vicious and cruel. At least, that was the Gotham I knew.

"Please forgive me if I seem weak, I am normally quite resilient."

"Please don't apologize." He said pained.

"Okay I will not, instead I will thank you Dick for showing me the most niceness anyone has ever given me."

By now he was cleaning up the cuts on my back, "you haven't had an easiest life, have you?"

"Does anyone? I assume even you Mr. Grayson has faced some form of hardship." I turned my head trying to look at him.

He looked on as if seeing another time that I had no knowledge about. I couldn't decipher how serious that past hardship had been. He was adopted, so it must have had to do with that.

"Yeah, even we billionaires face problems. Like your butler going to bed before getting you the best chocolate pudding in the world." I could tell he was making with the jokes for there was affection in his tone when talking about Alfred and pain in his voice that was not their before.

I placed the back of my hand to my forehead and leaned back a little "oh how will you go on!"

Which caused him to laugh some more "I'll manage. Also I'm going to be sticking a needle in you now, is that ok?"

"Uh have you done this before?"

"Me? Yeah countless times, I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've fallen off my bike or wrapped Bruce's car around trees or tried to stop street fights."

"You have stopped them before? Why?"

The needle penetrated my skin and it stung for a brief moment, nothing too uncomfortable. "Well why not? My parents were killed in front of me I don't want other kids to have to face that too. If I can help some people now before becoming a cop then I'm going to do it."

"I-I am sorry to hear about your parents. I hope they at least died in peace." I also hoped that was the right thing to say, I understood not having parents. My step-dad you could hardly call a parent. Still I pained for Dick, for what the media portrayed him as. This rich playboy like his father, who I knew for a fact kept that appearance up.

"S'ok it was a long time ago."

"But I understand the loss of a parent, it is a great pain even if many years have passed."

"Oh, what happened to yours if I can ask?"

"My father's passing happened long before I could really remember him, bits come back now and again, but noting's ever steady. My mother's death happened about three years ago, there was some sort of confrontation in the streets of Gotham and she was shot…I now live with my step-father."

"Sorry to hear that Kori, my parents died when I was twelve. We lived in a circus and were called "The Flying Grayson's" I grew up on train tracks and trapeze wires, preforming acrobatics for any and all to see." His voice grew somber "then one day I overhead a guy named Tony Zucco try to get money from our circus, of course the owner turns him down and he puts acid on our wires. And then they just fell." I could hear him cut the sticking and felt this cool goo follow where there were stitches. "Bruce had been there, took me in, I went to the police station countless times trying to get them to hunt down this guy and then I myself tried to get him. Bruce helped, billionaire who owns half of Gotham could practically do anything he wanted so we found him. And I don't know, I just never wanted to stop helping so now I'm going to become a cop."

"That is very noble of you, I am glad that you ended up with Bruce. So, you could bring your parents murder to justice." I was not about to talk about how the justice system can be corrupted. How the rich seem to get off easy while the poor remain poor. Either way, if he took the law into his own hands I believe he would cause good change to Gotham's Justice system.

"Yeah I was lucky, I mean he's an orphan too. Has a sweet spot for kids like that." He then leaned back, "all done."

I reached over to the pile of clothes that Alfred had left me and put the oversized shirt on. Noting the "Gotham Gymnastics team" logo written on the front. Then went to the bathroom to change my pants for his sake more than my own. I jumped at my face in the mirror, I had expected a huge cut of some sort but not the mangled skin that was already beginning to bruise. I laughed humorlessly to myself, just when the other bruises had begun to go away. At least this time I wouldn't be lying when I said I got jumped. Hopefully some makeup would cover most of the cuts and discoloration for the party later.

Walking out Dick was sitting on this chair that spun around and he was spinning and stopping and spinning again. He had cleaned the little stitching materials and cleaned the area he did all his doctor save Kori Anders thing.

"That looks like fun." I said smiling.

"Eh yeah I mean kids do it all the time in the doctor's office right? Here no one can tell me to get off it." He smiled expecting me to understand, I tried too but I didn't, having rarely gone to the doctor's as a child.

"ah well anyway, there's pudding to be consumed!" and he jumped up grabbing my old clothing and made sure I was following him through the decorated hall ways, adorned with beautiful paintings and exquisite light fixtures. Twists and turns, many hallways and staircases. It was a wonder we were not lost.

"Okay I'm going to let you in on a Wayne secret." He said walking backwards, "this pudding is. The Best. In the World. You can't tell anyone of this tantalizing desert or the big bat will come and get you."

I giggled once more, blushing at how quirky yet charming he was acting. "The big bat?"

He laughed whole heartedly "it's what we call Bruce because he's always up at night and can be very discounted and he loves to suck blood" he said like in those vampire movies I watched on Halloween. Which of course made me giggle even more. I knew part of why he was acting this way was because he wanted me to temporality forget what had happened earlier, laughter was always a good cure.

"Anyyyyywayy, rule is you can't have whipped cream on top unless you can walk down the aisle on your hands," he puffed up his none existent collar, "me being well the dashingly handsome Flying Grayson can do that and turn it into a flip, but since your my special guest I'll let you get by without that." He said winking.

"Oh do you not believe I am up for the challenge." I teased.

"No, you might be able too but I don't want you to tear your stitches." He said serious.

"Perhaps some other time then?" then my eyes widened "not that I'm saying I'd come over uninvited just that it would be great take the challenge!"

"No it's cool I knew what you meant."

"That is good to now then, we'll let see if in fact this pudding is the best in the world."

Dick shook the spoon at me "do not doubt me young one, for I have tasted most puddings in the grocery store, making me the best judge of this." He then put a dollop of whipped cream and slide a bowl over to me.

Dramatically I took the spoon and pretended to study it, carefully taking a spoonful to my mouth. My eyes grew wide with delight. "Oh this is wondrous! Truly!"

"I wouldn't lie to yah," he then got that lopsided grin, "okay maybe about the dashingly handsome part buuuttt the pudding was spot on."

I blushed again, not about to tell him that he in fact was this dashingly handsome man, who held the best chocolate pudding in the world. Or that he was making me blush like a little girl constantly. It was so very strange, but our new-found friendship was a wonderful thing.

"Kori can I ask you something?"

I got nervous for a second "yes?"

"Look I know people get jumped like you did all the time, and I'm sorry to bring up this topic when you've probably forgot about it a little. But did they just randomly jump you or was this planned?"

I wish he had asked other questions before asking this one, only because I was trying to forget. His humor had been working and now the memories kept flowing. I would be fine of course, I've had many unpleasant things happen to me and I was strong. I can handle this. Just, I would have preferred other questions.

"The previous week I was waiting at the train station to go home, when two of those men came up and were preying on this women and your young son. At first it seemed to be only crude comments thrown at her but once they tried touching her I could not stand still. So I attacked and knocked them both out, I never thought to tie them up or call the police, these things happen all the time and it certainly was not the first time for me, but now I wish I had called the police then maybe I could have prevented this incident or whatever sick things they could done to others."

He looked proudly at me, it was an unfamiliar look to me but I loved it all the same. "It's not your fault if anything happened to anyone else, the fact that you did stop them that time was amazing, and a lot of people try to avoid the police or for you, like you said it wasn't the first time. And I'm so sorry you've experienced this a lot, but now if it happens you can call the police let them know." Dick then moved to sit next to me on the counter instead of standing across. "Where do you live Kori?"

"West Gotham" He made this face like he had just eaten something very unpleasant and wished to spit it out "God, that's the worst part of this city."

"Oh not the worst, were I work can be dangerous too."

"Where do you work?"

I bit my lip wishing I had not said anything about my work, "I-I am sorry Dick I would rather not say" I said bowing my head.

"It's fine you don't have to tell me if you don't want," he then did this small half laugh" I don't know it's just easy talking to you, I hardly tell anyone about my parents I just figured you thought the same" he then did that laugh again.

"No Dick," I said touching his arm slightly then pulling back realizing physical contact may not be appropriate," it has been easy talking to you, I never realized how much I've told you. Only Rachael knows most about me but still not all, and I had not opened up to her for months! You it's been minuets…There are just somethings I wish to not disclose."

"Some people are just like that you know?"

"Truthfully I do not, rarely do I ever talk to people at my school."

"You must go to West Gotham High right?"

"Oh yes," and I sighed "I wish that I went to Gotham Academy though, I would not even mind getting up earlier, I already get up with the sun. But it's so expensive...I do not know if I can. I have been working every chance I get to save up for the possibility too."

"You know there's scholarships you can sign up for and some students they let them in for free, I can help you get in."

"You hardly know me Dick, you don't have too." I also did not really want him to help me get in, I wanted to earn getting into GA, I also did not want to come off that I was looking for him to just give me things because he was rich.

"Yeah I've hardly known you and you already know about my parents and have tasted Alfred's pudding, consider yourself my friend. I mean it."

Warmth flowed through me and I couldn't help but tackled him in a hug. This bubbling joy filled me at him considering I was now his friend, a friendship I was looking forward too. Not because of his wealth or him helping to rescue me tonight, but because he was so warm and made me feel warm and bubbly, I practically felt like flying. And then his arms hugged me back, fingers stroking up and down my spine. If it had been my choice I would probably have never left, but he started to pull away, so I let him.

"You give nice hugs" he said his face a little pink and his hand running through his hair.

"I thank you."

"No problem," we dipped into silence then finishing off the pudding and cleaning up the dishes. He then yawned and glanced at the clock.

"Holy time vortex, would you look at the time Kori!" He then covered his mouth "please pretend you didn't hear that!"

I giggled behind my hand noting the time was nearly 4:30 am and continued laughing when I saw him red faced and start blundering about.

"Ah yeah please ignore that, God I used to Ah used to say stuff like that to Bruce. I ah,"

"Literally dude shut up, you bring a girl here and you screw it up." Dick stopped and glared at the darkened hallway from which a groggy Jason appeared.

"Jase don't be a prick."

"Don't be a Dick." Jason laughed while Dick got red faced again.

"Sometimes I wish I went by Richard," he muttered under his breath. While I giggled again.

"And who's this..." Jason then looked at me, "Kori? Well this is weird."

Dicks head shot up "you know each other?" His eyed us both curiously.

"Not really, little red head was outside the library last Monday." He stood very close to me "now how did you end up hear with my lame brother instead of me?" There was a confidence in his tone and the scent of alcohol on his tongue which I detested.

"I'd rather not say." I said meek. Which only caused him to smile wickedly at Dick.

"Oh did dick-bo finally get a girlfriend?"

"She's not my girlfriend Jase, I just ran into her, literally I almost hit her with my car. I felt bad so I brought her back here for some of Alfred's pudding" he smiled holding the container of it for emphasis.

"Yeah, explains her bruised face, sorry he sucks at driving," Jason said giving me a sloppy smile, "I came down here for some milk. I'll leave you too alone," he then shouted once out the door "don't do anything I wouldn't do."

I had a feeling he would do a lot.

"Thank you for lying, I don't like it but in truth I did not want him to know." I said once Jason was out of earshot.

"Yyyeah it wouldn't be smart right now, and I don't want you to have to rehash anything."

"Thank you Dick, now I believe I must be getting home bef-"

"You don't have to go home, stay here." He said cutting me off. Then stood a bit uncomfortably.

"I couldn't intrude."

"Kori I brought you here I live in a mansion, and I'm not comfortable sending you out unless I can see how your wounds are healing. Please stay." He was very serious and sincere, and I did not want to go home. My father would be angry I was not there to make him food, but I decided I would let him worry. Too tired to make the effort home, too tired to deal with him at this point and time.

"Okay, thank you."

He got excited "it's no problem! Here follow me," he took my hand and dragged me to a blank wall.

"Ahh Dick there is nothing here."

"Oh there isn't? Hmm I could have swarm there was" he then leaned his hand on a scanner and the side wall moved over "yeah I guess your right nothing's here." He teased while the only thing I could think of was sticking my tongue out at him.

"Common this is a secret passage way to my room, and the guest room right next to mine. That way if you need me all you need to do is crawl through this tunnel I'll show you."

"Are you sure it would be okay to disrupt your slumber?"

"I don't mind, honest. Now here's my room," he said opening up to a big room with a king sized bed in the middle a leather sofa at the end of it facing a huge flat screen TV, with the newest game consoles above this breathtaking marble fireplace. He had two doors one I assumed was a closet and bathroom. There were books everywhere and photos of people I assumed were his parents, along with a huge "Haley's Circus presents: The Flying Grayson's!" Where a man and women stood with their hands on the shoulders of a young Dick, they were wearing green leotards with a red shirt and three yellow stripes on the chest. It reminded me of a traffic light but looked like it fit his family well.

"My parents wanted to stick out and attract kids when we were flying in the air, so that's why our costume is so colorful."

"It is beautiful Dick, your parents are beautiful."

He laughed nervously and scratched the back of his neck "yeah they were something, uh anyway follow me to your room." Dick walked into his closest and pressed another scanner, "I set it so that if you type in a password it'll let you through." Then he walked into the passage way and opened another panel.

The room was familiar with a big bed and fireplace, there was a small bathroom and closest and a window sill that looked out over there vast yard and forest that covered the Wayne manor.

"Everything you need should be in the bathroom, and when you wake up please let me know." He began to turn around and then remembered something.

"Oh and the password is Robin, goodnight Kori"

"Goodnight Dick, pleasant shlorvaks"

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I woke to the sun shining in through the window in the strange room with strange sheets and strange smells. There was no distinct smell of pizza in the oven or burning cheese sneaking into my room from the floor below. No hollering on the streets or snores from across the hall. Oh everything was so glorious! To the silken sheets that melted on my body to the mahogany furniture that adorned the room, and a bathroom all to myself. Even if only for just today, I cherished this time to myself. Dick had asked me to wake him once I did, but the thought of leaving this wondrous bed made me feel meager and tired. I simply never wanted to get out of bed.

I giggled to myself and flopped down on the sheets, running my fingers tips over the bed spread and feeling the silk beneath me. Then brought my arms up above my head and stretched smiling, soon turning on my side and cuddling my neighboring pillow to my chest. Loving how content I was to just lay here all day. Except my eyes rested on a little bird sitting on a branch outside the window, I stared in awe then got up to look at it closely. Rarely do I ever see anything other than a brick wall out my window, here I could see luscious green grass and beautiful gardens, blooming forests that surrounded us and the city of Gotham in the far distance.

I was caught up in the beauty of the land before me when there was a small tapping on the adjacent wall of me, it opened up revealing a bed head Dick Grayson wearing a red night shirt and grey sweatpants.

"Greetings!" I said rushing up to him and giving him a hug, "is it not a glorious morning!"

He stumbled back and gave a small chuckle "I can assume you slept well."

"Of course!" I said bounding over to the bed and falling back with my arms wide again, "how could one not with a bed this soft?" then I rolled over onto my stomach and pulled my cuddle pillow to my chest again. "I have never slept in anything so wonderful before."

Dick walked up to me, his hands in his pockets and gave a lazy version of his lopsided smile "if you think this bed is great you should try mine." He then went wide eyed, "not to like sleep in, just ah" he became his red faced self and scratched the back of his neck "I just mean that you seem to love this one and mine is really soft and bigger and you seem to like pillows and I have four I just thought that you ah, would like to check it out."

I giggled up at him "your blundering about again Mr. Grayson." I teased.

While still scratching his neck he looked at me through his lashes, "I suppose I am." This simple act of his made my heart flutter and cheeks grow warm. I hide my face for a moment in the pillows and looked at him with one eye.

He coughed trying to clear his throat "ah so Kori, Alfred is downstairs making pancakes which I hope you like, and if not we have practically anything you desire."

"Do you have zorkaberries?"

"Ah zorka what?"

I sat up and invited him to sit down on the bed with me "zorkaberries are the most delicious, sweet yet tangy berry one could ever taste. My mother used to make pies out of them and I would always try to steal some along with my brother."

He sat cross legged on the bed, "well we don't have those sorry and oh you have a brother?"

" It is the o and k! I am just grateful to be here!" My eyes downcast, "I used to have a brother," I then looked out the window remembering Ryans face all purple and gooey shoving the sweet berries into his mouth before my mother or Kom would take them back. "He passed along time ago, I have a sister as well but it has been years since I have seen her."

"Oh." Dick said playing with a lose string on his pants, "Kori I don't want to intrude or pry or anything, but I need to know," he locked eyes with me, those sapphire blues holding so much depth and emotions I couldn't tear my eyes away, "why are you so scared of your step-father?"

I did not want to answer this question, I did not want to talk about how cruel he was or the things he did. How I was practically his slave and not his step-daughter, never would I be seen as a daughter to him. That pained me more than I wished, for I cared for him when he paid me no mind. But there was something about Dick that made me want to wrap my arms around him and somehow he'd magically make everything better. It was foolish and naive to think he could do such a thing, he was only human and we had only just met but X'hal I prayed he could. Also I am the only one who can make my situation better, not a boy. Still, his presence made me feel better, made me know there might be someone else out their other than Racheal who cared about me.

"I am most sorry Dick, you have been so kind but I cannot." I shut my eyes and turned away from him ashamed.

I felt his hand on my shoulder "it's okay Kori, you don't have to say anything. I just wish I knew." Emotion swam within me, like a huge wave that tears pricked my eyes, I turned and rushed into a hug. Wrapping my arms around his waist and burring my head in his chest. I was so grateful to have a kind friend like him, that I could not express how grateful I was without a hug. Hugs make everything better. It took him a moment before he wrapped his arms around me and rested his head on mine. This kind of contact was so foreign to me, this 'closeness' we shared. Physical contact was a huge thing for me when I was younger, always affectionate touches from my siblings and parents. Nuzzling noses and sweet kisses on the cheek goodnight. I never realized how much I missed it until I was holding him. He felt so warm and safe I never wanted to let go.

So it pained me when he pulled away and made me look at him with a small touch to my chin, "you can tell me when you're ready, if you ever need to okay? I'll be here for you."

"I thank you."

"Okay enough with this let's go get some pancakes, I'm starving." Dick said changing the subject and jumping off the bed, outstretching his hand for mine, which I took and got off the bed. His eyes trailed over me with a sheepish expression.

"Um Kori you should probably put on some pants."

I looked at him confused "but this shirt covers everything." Alfred had given me the huge Gotham Gymnastics black shirt that rested mid-thigh, surely it would not be a problem considering it was night attire.

"Ah yeah I mean it does just er well if your comfortable wearing it then its okay." He then strode out the room, I quickly put on some night shorts to be careful and then followed him down many different halls from last night. They lead through what looked like a family wing seeing how the table was warn and looked out on their beautiful backyard with a huge pool off to the side.

"I'll grab us some pancakes while you can enjoy the view." Dick then walked out of the room soon being shooed back in by Alfred wearing a pink apron and still looking elegant.

"Okay okay Al, I'll sit down." Dick sat down to the chair opposite me, "he never lets me help him out, even with pancakes!" He said raising his voice.

I giggled once more I could not stop giggling, it was so strange. But he made such a sweet face when I did that I couldn't stop. " Do not Jason and Bruce join us for the break of feasts?"

"I mean sometimes they do, like if Jason and I have school we'll share a quick breakfast or Bruce will come down to drink his coffee and lecture us about something, but typically it's just Al and I."

"Not today Master Richard, Jason has an early morning with Miss Barbra, he would not like to be late." Alfred said placing down a silver tray with pancakes and the maple syrup, soon rushing back in to give us orange juice and some fruit.

"Oh he's going to get his butt kicked from her." Dick laughed almost maniacal.

Alfred paid Dick no mind then bowed "Enjoy."

"Oh wait Alfred!" I said rising a bit out of my seat, "would you not share this breakfast with us?" I smiled glad to get the proper saying down.

"I am sorry Miss Kori but it would be imprudent for me to stay." He then walked out of the room with great pose.

"Don't be upset about it Kori, he likes to maintain an appropriate relationship with us. He knows, as I've said, very well that he is part of the family. But there's a line he will not always cross."

"Yeah old Al, great guy, killer cook." Jason said walking into the room and sitting at the end of the table, he draped his arm over the end of it and smiled at me like he knew a secret I held.

"So…Kori what was it like sleeping with bum old Dicky here?"

"We did not share beds." I said matter of fact.

"Surrree you didn't, he just wants to seem prude." Jason jeered at Dick, who just shoved too many pancakes into his mouth and glared at Jason.

I looked at Jason puzzled. "There is nothing wrong with sharing a bed with someone, I would not lie to you if we did such. But Dick gave me my own bed and my own set of fluffy pillows that I am very glad to say I had to myself. He was is not this 'prude' you speak of, he is rather kind."

"Uh yeah, do you not know what prude means?"

I looked up and placed a finger to my bottom lip in concentration, searching my brain for some definition of the word but came up blank. Shaking my head I said "I do not."

"It means someone who is proper, but Jason's definition is someone who is bad with girls. Now get out of my seat!" Bruce Wayne said batting him with a rolled up paper. Jason swiftly moved to the other side of the small table and stuffed some pancakes in his mouth and dared not to look Bruce in the eye.

Bruce then eyes me over, "and seeing how you are here Jason is wrong."

"Greetings!" I said smiling, "my name is Kori Anders."

"Pleased to meet you," he said politely.

"Morning Dad, Kori's my friend from West Gotham." Dick said looking at his father funny, who looked up from his paper and glanced from me to Dick, almost as if there were talking to each other.

"Yeah, she goes to West Gotham High, you've heard of that school right?" His voice was almost pleading while Bruce's response was mild.

"Yes of course I have."

"Yeah well she's the top of her class."

I eeped again, "how did you know that?" I said staring at Dick while he just smiled.

"Cuz it's obvious." He said with a lopsided grin which was slightly smug at being correct.

"Don't be too quick to judge Dick," Bruce said warning.

"I'm not Dad, just observant." Which only caused Bruce to glare at him. There was something in the air shifting, almost an unknown tension rising that I felt I should not intrude upon.

"There about to fight," Jason whispered into my ear. I jumped a little at his closeness and the death stare Dick gave him.

"No were not Jase shut up."

"Aw now we have a cranky Robbie."

"Hey! Don't make fun of that name!"

"Robbie is crabby, Robbie is a baby." Jason taunted.

"Jason I swear to God I will hit you if you don't shut up!" Dick said seething.

"Like you could do any harm," Jason said leaning back.

"Oh you wanna beat!" Dick said standing up and placing his hands on the table.

Jason copied him and stood up too. "You couldn't put a dent in me!"

"Boys." Bruce said in a low voice that was almost chilling. "We have a guest, please if you want to fight go outside."

Dick then looked at Jason and bite at him and smiled sheepishly at me "Sorry Kori."

Breakfast was then finished in silence, with Jason fumbling in his pockets and pulled out a cigarette and liter, bringing it to his mouth I covered my mouth to avoid the smell of smoke.

"Jase seriously you can't smoke in here, look at how uncomfortable it's making Kori." Jason then looked over to me smiling with the cigarette in his mouth and mumbled an apology. I blushed of embracement. He then got up still talking with the cigarette in his mouth.

"Well it was lovely and all having breakfast with yah, but I have a date and need to take a drag. Hope to see you around some more Kori," he said winking then left the room.

I leaned over a bit to whisper to Dick "I hope I did not make him leave?"

"Nah your fine he just likes his ciggs." He then gathered his dishes and stood up, "I should probably drive you back home soon so you can get ready for the party later."

I was saddened to leave but knew I could not hide here forever, "it was wonderful meeting you." I said to Bruce and he flashed me a billionaire smile before sipping his coffee. I gathered my dishes as well as Jason's then followed Dick to the kitchen and began washing them off.

"Kori you don't have to do that," Dick said standing beside me.

"Alfred has prepared the meal, I would like to thank you and him by cleaning up."

He chuckled "Kori I clean them so don't do it."

"Well that only makes me want to clean them more."

He playfully nudged my shoulder, "my mansion my rules." Which then Bruce said "my mansion," and the giggles came on again. We then quickly cleaned the dishes and Dick grabbed my hand and dragged me back to his room and the room I had stayed in, the beds where already made and new pair of clothes lay folded on my bed.

"I told Alfred to get you something nice to wear, so he went shopping." I tried to imagine Alfred shopping in the young lady's section of a department store and the image of him in his pink apron. Dick left through the door this time to his room to change and give me some privacy while I went to the bathroom to shower and change.

The water didn't sting my wounds like I thought it would, and they barely pulled at my skin again like I thought they would. Then I jumped realizing that everyone saw how beat up I was, but no one made a comment. Which, if I am to be honest, was quite nice. But looking back in the mirror it was horrible looking at the stitches. Not all of the word they wrote in my back needed stitching, but it had not healed enough to cover up the ragged red lines. My cheek on the other hand seemed to be healing well, still sore of course but it stung only a small bit. The memory of last night quickly formed and I pushed it out before I let it manifest enough to bring me to tears.

I stepped out of the shower avoiding mirrors and quickly drying off and wrapping the towel around my hair before walking out to change. Something dropped, and someone shrieked. I looked up to see Dick covering his eyes with medical supplies laying on the floor.

"Gah! I'm sorry I'm sorry I thought you were dressed!"

"You are fine, just wait a moment." I went to grab my clothes when he stopped me, his eyes shut tight but his hands on my forearm.

"I came to check on your wounds and brought you some supplies to take home, so maybe just cover up your bottom half till I'm done." He said nervously.

"Oh yes one moment please." I quickly grabbed the clothing and ran to the bathroom, pulling over the silky underwear and surprisingly well fitting jeans. Noting later that I would have to thank him for such nice clothing.

"I am decent," I said covering my front and sitting on the bed. Dick slowly opened his eyes and gulped. With deft fingers he inspected my wounds and looked to see if the stitches were holding up well and were clean. He then instructed me on how to take care of them and soon he would have to change or take them out.

"Okay done, and when you need to change them shot me a text." He then handed me his number and I put it in the back of my jeans then went to the bathroom to finish changing.

Once I was ready I stepped out and fully looked at him and had to hold my breath for a second. He wore similar dark wash jeans that hung low on his hips with warn down brown boots, and grey-blue shirt with a black leather jacket that hugged his waist and every other part of him well. I had this odd urge to roam my hands all over him, but I knew that would not be appreciated so I held them behind my back.

He looked up and smiled sweetly "you look really good Kori."

I smiled beaming, loving that he liked my purple gypsy style shirt that revealed the smallest amount of stomach to my jeans that felt like I was wearing leggings instead. I too grabbed my leather jacket and he laughed extending his arm for mine and we strolled down to his garage.

Which had a lot of cars. A ton of cars, classic and sports cars, countless bikes and other kinds of vehicles I did not have the time to admire.

"I hope you don't mind bikes," he said straddling a beautiful black bike.

"Not at all," I then got behind him wrapping my arms around his torso after accepting the helmet he gave me, and he put one on himself.

The door opened and we zoomed out of there air hitting my face and dancing through my hair. I could hear him laughing as we sped up and I hugged him closer. The scenery was blurry but still beautiful and he expertly waived through traffic towards West Gotham. I was having too much fun to worry about if my step-father was home, how angry he would be that I was not home or even if I had to face his drunk friends. Too caught up in the wonders of Dick Grayson and the thrilling ride of the motorcycle. Which was shorter then I hoped as he slowed down turning off the exist to West Gotham.

"Where do you live?" he said shouting over his shoulder at a stop light.

"Have you ever heard of Paul's Pizza?" He was not my step-fathers friend Paul, this man was much nicer and rounder then the other Paul.

"Yeah, you live close by?"

"Practically on top of it." I joked, but he seemed to not understand or get it, speeding off towards the place I wanted to be least in the world. With every passing stoplight or building I wished I could suspend time enough to get away for a few days or possibly a year. But time could not be frozen and we had pulled up to Paul's Pizza.

"Okay where's your house, or apartment?" He said locking up his bike.

"Um, on top of the Pizza place." I said pointing.

"Oh you weren't kidding."

"No I was not." I smiled, "It was a pleasure meeting you Dick, thank you very much for letting me stay the night and rescuing me. It is something I will not forget." Then I went for another hug that he greatly accepted.

"It's not problem Kori, anytime…but like with you not being hurt."

I laughed "yes, I'll see you later."

"Can I walk you to your door?"

"Oh um," I looked for a sign of my step-father's car but could see it nowhere. "I guess just to the door would be okay."

Dick followed me up the creaky wooden steps and to my dirty beat up door that I was ashamed of, I wish I had just said goodbye on the street. I turned back to look at him prepared for his disgust but he simply had a blank expression.

"I shall see you later at Victors," I said unlocking the door, "till then, good bye."

"Goodbye Kori, see you later."

I waited for him to walk down the stairs and get on top his bike before I walked in, seeing things thrown about the room. Things that were mine, and they followed their way to my room. I grew panicked, and rushed tripping over some of my carelessly thrown drawer's and trinkets I had. I laid my eyes on the rug and through it over to reveal the opened and broken floor board and my silver box missing.

"X'hal no!"