Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Teen Titans.

Xavier

He froze in shock, a mazed expression still on his face. "What are you doing here?"

"Wait..." Babs rose out of her seat somewhat, finger-pointing at Kory, who shared Xavier's shock. "You know her?"

Ignoring his date's scowl, he continued to stare at Kory in marvel. "She's Ryan's sister."

Babs realized she did indeed share a slight resemblance to Ryan Anders, Xavier's longtime best bud and college roommate.

Xavier moved around their table to get closer, reaching out his arms to embrace Kory in a hug, and she followed suit. "I never thought I'd be seeing you here tonight," she finally spoke. Their hug lasted only a couple of seconds before she pulled away, only to be met with his battered wounds. "Ugh," she groaned, feeling at the cut just above his eye. She never did grow accustomed to the aftermaths of his boxing matches. "I never could get used to this."

Dick looked to Babs, watching realization emerge on her face as well as her impatience with Kory. He looked back at the two friends, whose attention remained solely on each other, with an appalling feeling that there was something more to them than just meager acquaintances. He directed a confused 'what's going on' gaze Kory's way as she peeked over Xavier's shoulder. Immediately, it dawned on her why she was there in the first place and she focused back to her mission, excusing herself to retreat back to her seat.

Xavier returned to his seat besides Babs, "So cutie, you never said why you were here."

"She's here with me," Dick answered for her. He found himself bracing an arm on the rim of her chair, a territorial gesture that was so unlike him that it scared him. Why though? What caused him to show such a display of possessiveness for her?

Caught in the midst of a laugh, Xavier paused. "What?" He glanced at Kory, who nodded.

"Yes," she stuttered. She leaned in closer to her date, understanding that she still had a job to do that night. "I'm here with Dick." But if she knew Xavier, he wouldn't be very understanding.

"Is that a fact?" Xavier questioned as he leaned back in his chair, like a general who was just informed of his army's defeat. "Sorry. That just sorta took me by surprise."

"It's not really that much of a surprise. I mean, Kory and I are together after all," Dick informed him.

Xavier jerked his head abruptly to him, "Together?" Xavier turned to Kory, "You two? You're seeing each other?"

She shut her eyes for a short second, avoiding his incredulous stare while hearing a few whispers come from around the table. She turned to the two elder couples at their table who continued to watch the spectacle unfold. "Shouldn't you be enjoying your crab cakes?" And they quickly looked down to their appetizers.

She knew she had to face him, had to keep up with the façade, especially as Babs and the rest of the table seemed just as interested in knowing the answer. Kory rearranged her expression with a small grin on her face. "Yes. Dick and I just started dating." Looking into Dick's deep blue eyes, she said, "I know it's only been a short time but sometimes you just know when it's right."

"When it's right?" Xavier echoed. His deriding chuckle, along with the pompous shake of his head, did little to ease the tension already clouding the air. "You know, it's funny you feel that way because Ryan never mentioned you even having a boyfriend."

"I don't always mention everything to my brother," Kory defended.

"I guess I can understand your secrecy. Seeing as how he doesn't allow just anyone to be with you." He stressed certain words, aware that Kory would get its hidden meaning. He directed his attention to Dick, who had placed the palm of his hand just above Kory's on the table. In a more condescending tone, he said, "So, Dick," he called, "being as how your Kory's new love buddy-"

"Xavier…" Kory intervened with a threatening glare, "stop."

Xavier brought up his hands innocently. "What am I doing, sweetheart? I mean, we're all friends here." He looked around the table before focusing his carnivorous eyes on his fresh foe, "Aren't we, Dick?" You would've had to have been numb to not feel the brutish intent of his words. His lips curled upward at the subtle flinch of Dick's eyes whenever he delivered his obvious pet peeve of a name. If anything, it gave him pleasure seeing Dick's uneasiness with him.

"Sure," Dick gritted, already unfeeling of this gentleman. "However, I think you should lay off a bit. You're making Kory feel a little uncomfortable."

A smirk on his face as he flicked his fingers on the table, Xavier scoffed and gazed up to Dick. "Don't kid yourself by acting like you know anything about her."

Kory side-glanced to Dick, shaking her head with a sigh. She had a firsthand knowledge to the extent of Xavier's cockiness, specially when it came to other guys trying for her affection.

But Babs intervened, "Will you both stop behaving like children?" She leaned in to her date, uttering under her breath, "You're supposed to be my date, remember? Now start acting like it," she huffed.

"I'm just messing with the kid, doll. Who's fault is it if Chuckles can't take a joke?"

"You're not joking around. You're acting like a fool."

"He's the fool," he indicated to Dick probably louder than he should have, catching everyone's attention. He turned to Dick again, asking, "What is it they say about debaucherates like you?" Dick looked his way, knowing the question was directed to him. "Wines, dines and sixty-nines?"

Kory leaped out of her seat and around the table, storming over to him. "We need to talk outside."

"I'd love to, gorgeous, but I'm having a little of fun with-"

"Don't make me get a leash." She tugged at the sleeve of his tuxedo, lifting him off his chair.

"Ok," he singsonged, remembering just how serious she could be when she wanted to. "I suppose I could use a smoke anyways."

Babs began rising out of her seat. "Wait, Xavier-"

"Alone!" Kory reprimanded, shuffling Xavier out with her, causing a reddened Babs to quickly sit back down, embarrassed from the stirring of a few people who unfortunately caught wind of their ongoing drama.

Dick

"That was weird," said Rachel, who pulled up Kory's vacant chair. "And to think I was going to miss coming tonight."

"You saw that?"

"I'm the next table over. What do you think?"

"Great," he mumbled.

"Who was that guy?"

"Babs' date," he sent her a look, as did Rachel, to which she responded by sticking her nose in the air and turning away.

"Whoever he was, it didn't seem like he cared very much for you, Richard," she stated, ignoring Babs' gesture.

"Yeah, well...I'll be sure to return the favor."

Babs chose this moment to intervene. "And what about your date? She just up and left with him and you do nothing?"

"They're talking, Babs. What am I supposed to do?"

Babs narrowed her brows, "Forgive me, but that woman doesn't have a considerate bone in her body."

Rachel edged closer to the table, keeping her dark eyes on Babs. "I don't think you're one to talk."

Babs' head snapped at Rachel, eyes furrowing madly. "Tell me, Rachel. How has being a social leper been working for you?"

"About as much as being a demanding witch has been working for you."

Dick listened to the women squabble until finally speaking up. "Ladies-" he mediated to deaf ears.

"Me? ...a witch? Ha!" Babs added with an arguable laugh. "Look in the mirror. Shouldn't you be flying off in your broomstick to meet with your coven?"

Dick was beginning to feel a slight throb in his head. "Babs-"

"Wow, Babs. You've finally discovered humor. And it only took you nineteen years," Rachel insulted in her stoic timbre.

"Can you two control yourselves?" Dick pinched his forehead from the mounting argument that was erupting. "This happens every time you two come across each other. Is it so hard to just play nice for one night?"

"Tell her." Babs pointed to Rachel. "She's been antagonistic to me since day one."

Dick looked to his friend, thinking to himself when did he become the resident referee of the group. "Rachel?"

"Why am I always to blame, Richard?"

He turned his head over to his ex-girlfriend, tired of their incessant quarrels. "Babs-"

"Naturally, you take her side. Just as you always did when we were together."

Dick rested his elbows on the table, bringing his head into his hands. He was frustrated with how their plan had now taken a surprise twist. Who would've expected Babs' new beau to be an acquaintance of Kory's, or at least he hoped that was the extent of their relationship. But judging from the hostility Xavier exhibited, he was beginning to doubt it.

Things were quiet until Babs spoke up, "You know, I've been thinking-"

"Hope you didn't stress your brain too much."

Dick sent Rachel a hard stare, though she found it as threatening as a mouse. "Fine." She rose from her chair, "I'll just be going then." She directed her eyes towards her disputant. "My coven awaits." As much as she enjoyed using Babs as her own verbal punching bag, a hassled Richard was one she tended to avoid. She did a double tap on his shoulder, a gesture to which he nodded, understanding its meaning.

"Don't hurry back, dear." Babs rolled her eyes, casting a nasty look at Rachel's back as she headed off to join her father's table.

Dick swayed his gaze towards the direction of the lobby, where Kory had disappeared with Xavier not minutes ago. He stared as hard as he could at the lobby doors, almost as if the harder he watched, the sooner she'd appear, until he realized someone was gawking at him. He slowly side-glanced to see Babs had somehow managed to sneak into Kory's chair and when satisfied with his attention, said, "Like I was saying before we were rudely interrupted," she sent another glare towards Rachel's table ahead. "There's something that I've been needing to tell you."

Dick felt a soft touch of his hand and looked downward to see she had cupped it with hers, but looked back to her when she had stopped speaking. "You were saying?"

"I've been doing a lot of thinking about us and what I told you back at the restaurant." She smiled, her fingers doing all the flirting for her. "Well, maybe you were right."

He blinked back in confusion, realizing exactly what she was implying. "I was?" Again, he felt her stroke his hand, only this time more avidly. Though he had to admit, even if he did miss her touch, it didn't trigger the same stimulation it once had, and he found this to be odd. He gazed at her sentiment, then back at her. "What's going on, Babs?"

In a more sincere tone, she said, "I'm sorry that I ever hurt you. You have to understand that I was confused."

"You were confused?" He shook his head and shrugged, emphasizing the senselessness of her excuse. "So you ran to Xavier?"

She, too, shook her head. "It wasn't like that, Dick. He and I only started dating after we broke up. I never cheated on you."

Dick's mouth tightened, though he didn't know if it was from the idea of her and Xavier's romance, or his uncertainty with her telling the truth. Whatever the reason was, he conceded his point. "You left me for another guy and you didn't have the decency to tell me the truth. If we were having problems, you could have told me. We could have tried to work through them. It would've been a lot better than what happened at the restaurant."

"I agree, wholeheartedly." She brought her hand to her chest, leaving it there. "I was wrong. But Dick, even you have to admit you're not perfect."

"I don't claim to be, Babs." He wondered how this conversation had accomplished in making him the bad guy, or yet why he felt the need to have to defend himself. "I still can't figure out what I did wrong? Did I hurt you at all?"

"No," she answered, her voice trailing off into the rest of the chatter at their table. She caressed his jawline with a single stroke, remembering just how soft he felt, especially after a clean shave. "You did nothing wrong."

Without realizing it, Dick brought down her hand away his from his face and back onto the table. Seeing her smile back at him, his hand played with hers as he looked into her blue eyes. He expected to feel that familiar tinge of warmth he usually felt when their eyes would meet, but was surprised to find himself wanting to gaze into a brilliant green.

"We've shared so much together, Dick. It would be stupid of us to just let it go, don't you think?" Dick just looked on, not answering. "That's why I feel that if we both tried, maybe things could work out. A second chance to make it right," she offered with a toothy smile.

Almost immediately, Kory's advice prompted him. The ball is in your court now. If she thinks you're still interested, she'll use it to her advantage. Interesting how it all made perfect sense now, he thought. "And what about Xavier? Is there trouble in paradise already? Or is he just disposable?"

Her lips curled into a weak smile. "He's not disposable, Dick. And as much as I care for him, he and I have an understanding."

Dick perked an ear, "What kind of an understanding?"

"He won't ask, and I won't tell."

He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms, sickened by her answer. "Well, Kory and I do have an understanding, and we don't work that way."

Babs scoffed, "Oh, come off it, Dick."

"Come off what?"

"You and someone like her? I just can't see it."

A little offended, he asked, "What does that mean?"

"You know what it means." She added, "She's nothing like us."

Now he was mildly curious. "Us as in who? You and I? Us as in you and Helena? Us as in you and Bruce? Who exactly is us?"

With the sudden state of exasperation in his voice, Babs gave him a sharp look. "Why are you defending her to me?"

"Because you don't even know her but you find the need to judge her. Just like you did with my friends. Just like you did with me. You're turning into Helena 2.0 and that's not who I fell in love with."

Babs' eyes flared and her mouth fell open in total shock. "Where is all this this coming from?" She gazed past the lobby, realization setting in. "It's that woman you're dating, isn't it? She's changing you, Dick. You've never acted like this before."

Dick kept his composure simple. "I'm not the one who's changed."

"Me?" Babs fingered at her own chest. "You think I've changed?"

"Let's see, a week ago, you left me for this guy and now you're talking about wanting to get back together and not inform your boyfriend about it. You don't care about the hell you put me through when you left, do you?"

"Your feelings were all I cared about. You have no idea of what I went through when I thought I hurt you. I'm just trying to show you how much I still care for you. Nothing's different."

"You're different. We're different. Things are different."

She leaned in closer. "They don't have to be." With a couple of fingers, she moved his chin to gaze at her. "You still love me. I can feel it. I've always been able to read you so easily." Babs continued to edge closer, and he could feel the warmth of her skin until they were only mere inches apart. He felt himself moving towards her. He was only a couple of seconds away from contacting her lips before his eyes widened and he abruptly pulled away. He began to back away from her, leaving her dumbstruck as to what had happened.

He breathed hard. "I can't," he told her. "It wouldn't be fair. I'm sorry." Dick's mind screamed at him to kiss her, this was what he had wanted all along. For what seemed like the hundredth time that night, he looked towards the lobby doors. The longer she took chatting with Xavier meant the sooner he would find himself giving into his ex-girlfriend's seductions, exactly what Kory told him not to do.

Breathing heavily, she too, backed away, embarrassed to form any kind of eye contact with him. She got up and moved to her original seat, and would have to wait for Xavier to return in silence.

Kory

Kory pulled at the sleeve of his tuxedo as they exited through the double doors of the banquet hall and into the surprisingly empty lobby. He'd added more muscle tone since their last encounter, as she was having a difficult task tugging him along, like a stubborn mule.

"You know, come to think of it, babe." He traced a gloved finger on her bare shoulder and ran it down her forearm. "I wouldn't mind that leash about now." How childish he could be at times, she thought. She stopped tugging and let him go, only to stand there and study his every movement.

Xavier Redd was a work in itself. His tall, statuesque body, fit for any world renowned sculptor to mold to perfection was simply irresistible, especially to her. From his alabaster skin, down to his midnight buzz cut, both succeeded in bringing out the smokiness of his gray eyes. Such a sharp contrast to her own picturesque features, that the two would often be told how well they complemented each other. He was the embodiment of a bad boy. And not the dangerous "watch out because he'll steal your money" type but the "watch out because he'll steal your heart" type, and for a long while, that's exactly what Kory thought he did.

Being her brother's best friend since grade school, it was inevitable that the twenty year old would become a constant figure in her life. Like a silly schoolgirl, she dreamed of him so much growing up that she became enraptured with him. But he was a forbidden fruit, and she hungered for a taste of him. There was always a tender spot for Kory in his heart and she knew it because he'd told her many times. It wasn't until one night when Xavier gave into his emotions, that night being Kory's first savor of intimacy. Since then, he had always remained in her heart and mind.

Now in the privacy of silence, she stood before him, waiting for an explanation as to his behavior. Though all she got was Xavier fishing around in the inner breast pocket of his tuxedo for a pack of his Marlboro Reds, something he was never without unless at practice, where he was sure to face his coach's wrath if he sensed a hint of cigarette smoke on his best boxer.

His gloved hand grabbed at one and lit it coolly, relishing the sensation as he puffed away. Impatiently, Kory grasped at his cigarette as he was in mid drag and threw it to the floor, crushing it with her heel. "What is wrong with you?"

"Oh, sorry." He ushered the pack of cigarettes towards her. "Did you want one?"

She shooed them away, "You know what I'm talking about. What is your problem?"

"I'm not the one with the problem." He resettled the pack into his breast pocket. "It's that dickhead in there who's got the problem."

"Don't call him that. Dick is a nice guy."

He scoffed. "He's a jerk-off is what he is. He has the nerve to say I'm making you uncomfortable," he echoed Dick's sentiments. "Someone should mention his obsession with hair gel." Before Kory could get a word in, he asked, "So what's really the story with you and this guy?"

Her tone of voice was nonchalant, "I told you. We're dating."

Though his hands were masked by black gloves, she could almost see the nervous strain they were under as he used them to run through what stubble of hair he had. Seeing this, she asked, "Why so upset, Xavier? We're just dating-"

"Dating," he repeated to himself, turning away from her for a second to come to terms with the fact that she was no longer his. Yes, it was true. He had no right to be bitter because he, too, was seeing someone else.

"Hey, I didn't exactly see you here all alone," she defended.

He turned back to her. "That's different."

Kory pinched her forehead in frustration, sighing. "Let's turn off the hypocrisy for a minute. What do you expect me to do? Leave because you have a problem with me enjoying myself with someone who is not you?"

"Well, there you go, doll. Couldn't have come up with a better plan myself."

"Are you listening to yourself?" She brought her hands to her hip. "I'm not doing that, Xavier. I'm not leaving."

"But if you don't leave, what will become of our children?"

Her green eyes sparked with annoyance and she crossed her arms. "Can you be serious with me for one second?"

"You want to talk serious?" He moved closer, "Alright." His tone was gravely in manner, so unlike the untamed and mysterious charmer that he was known to be, that it surprised even her. "You said you felt something right with him. What did you mean?"

Kory blinked back, cursing his question in her mind. "I just..." she paused, stuck between words. "I can't..." she paused again. Surely she couldn't tell him the truth about Dick's compromise as it might jeopardize the results. "I don't have time for this. I have to go." She circled and began turning away.

"Nah," Xavier shook his head, rushing her before she could leave past the doors. He grabbed her elbow and brought her back to him. "We're not done here. You haven't finished answering me. Are you actually falling for this guy?"

"Xavier, I have to go before Dick wonders where I am?" She pulled away from him.

"I don't care what Dick thinks," he spat out, mocking his name once again. "Are you or aren't you?"

"What do you think? We've haven't even been together a week," she revealed. Kory felt bad for what harmless fibs she was dishing to him, but she had no other choice. "Look, we just like each other." His depressive gray eyes tugged at her heart even as she continued. "Things feel right between us and we're going to see where they go."

He focused on her face, his strong jaw clenched tightly. "How did you two meet?"

"Why should any of this matter any-"

"Because it does," he answered vehemently before she could finish with her answer. "I want to know." He turned down to the ground. "I need to know."

"No, you don't." She shook her head. "We aren't together anymore. We won't ever be." There was a long uncomfortable silence that followed and she found herself growing uneasy with how quiet he remained.

"Well," he puckered his lips into a tight scowl at the truth of her words, "it's not right. It's bullshit is what it is actually." He side-stepped past her, his stride assertive and dominant as he made his way back to to the party.

"Why do you do this to me every time?" she asked as he walked past her. "You know we can't be together," she continued as he stopped in his tracks to look at her, "so why do you do it?"

"I do it because I know you feel the same way I do. The chemistry is still there, it always has been. It's something we can't change. Don't try to deny it. If Ryan hadn't-"

"But he did, X!" She didn't mean to raise her voice to him, though he remained unscathed. She tried a little softer this time. "My brother...your best friend, he caught us. We really hurt him and I hate us for it."

Xavier swallowed hard at the thought. "He felt that I betrayed him. So much that we didn't talk for a month." He laughed at the memory. "Hell, we could barely stand living in the same dorm. And that's because we've been friends since what? …sperm?"

Kory formed a little smile. "Now do you really want to go through that again?"

"But why should that be my fault?"

"It shouldn't..." Kory stood there, her eyes never leaving him. She really had no explanation to offer him that he hadn't already heard at least once. "But we both know Ryan will never accept us together. He couldn't then, and he won't now."

Xavier saw as a strand of her ruby bangs fell to her face and with a grin, he tucked it back behind her ear. "I might have promised him I wouldn't pursue anything with you," he told, looking to her, "but I can't forget you. Believe me, I've tried. It pisses me off that he thinks I'm not good enough for you."

"You know that's not it. Ryan knows better than anyone what a great guy you are. But you have to remember, he's also my big brother. And given that he's extremely overprotective of me-"

"He thinks I wouldn't treat you right, Kory," he snapped back. Quickly he withdrew his temper. "Sorry." He gave his temples a series of rubs, stating, "I'm not in a good mood right now."

"I don't blame you. I've met your date," she joked, rivaling the smile that crossed Xavier's lips.

"Hey, she can be a little vixen when she wants to be."

Kory laughed, though not at his comment and he sensed this. "What's so funny, cutie?"

She brought up her hands innocently, teasing him. "Oh, nothing."

She moved closer, wrapping her arms around Xavier's waist, who in turn enveloped her as well, though much tighter. She decided to ignore just how low his hands had landed on her lower back, instead resting her head against his chest as he gently swayed her side to side, remembering how much he loved her delicate feel. "You're my star, Kory."

He felt as she suddenly stopped her swaying for a beat, and Xavier instantly knew why. It was his words. It was his mantra every time they were together. He started it the first time they became close and he never ceased to tell her. Whether it was because she shined like a twinkle star, looked like a movie star, played sports like an all-star, partied like a rock star, or his favorite...made nice like a porn star, he couldn't decide because she was the incarnation of the word.

She shut her eyes, breathing in his scent. "And you're my fire, Xavier," she replied with her own, just as she always did. He towered over her 5'7" frame, giving him easy access to kiss the crown of her head.

"So when you gonna tell Mr. Moneybags you're really hot for me, huh?" Kory, on the other hand, looked up at him, giggling again. He exchanged a look with her. She seemed to be hiding something, but he didn't know what. "That's it, doll. Are you gonna let me in on this joke of yours, or what?"

She tried to smile back. "Ok, fine," she said, defeated. "Do you know that we're both dating ex-lovers?"

"What? I don't get it."

"Dick and Babs," she indicated to the charity ball, "...they used to date each other before they got with us. In fact, she dumped Dick to be with you."

He moved away from her, grabbing her by the shoulders as if he couldn't believe the news she just reported. "Is this a joke?" he asked.

"Really," she said with a nod. "You must have made quite an impression on her, you stud." She laughed again, bringing a finger to her grin. Meanwhile Xavier's pronounced jaw clenched while his gray eyes narrowed in total concentration towards the doors. When she noticed his undivided gaze back to the lobby doors, she asked, "Xavier? What's wrong?" She turned as well, hoping to see what had him so alarmed.

"Nothing, cutie." He grabbed the side of her cheek to face him, not wanting to worry her. "I just realized something, is all."

Her eyebrow lifted into a questionable stare when she felt the fabric against her cheek. She grabbed his hand, puzzled as to why he would decide to wear a pair of black snug gloves designed to match his tuxedo to this ball. "What the..." she giggled. "Why are you wearing these?"

He shrugged without a care. "Commish didn't think it was appropriate." He proceeded to take off his gloves, revealing the huge red X with its edge outlined in black that he had tattooed identically on both outsides of his hands. "Or appealing to the eyes."

"Commish?"

"Babs' father is the commissioner of Gotham, who happens to hate my guts. He finds me to be a bad influence." He slowly formed a broad smile to rival the Cheshire cat from the famed child's book. "Seems like she downgraded from Mr. Moneybags to Mr. Pennyroll." Again, he shrugged at the notion, uncaring of Jim Gordon's assessment of him.

She shook her head playfully. The twosome turned as the lobby doors had swung open from a couple who appeared to be departing early. "We really should get back inside," she said, letting go of him. Just as she had reached the doors, she turned to face him. "Promise me you'll play nice for the rest of the night."

He followed just behind her. "Sorry, doll. But if you think I'm belligerent now, wait until I've had a round of drinks in me. Heaven," he indicated to her, "and Hell," he pointed to himself, "meet for a night of fun, and I'm gonna need all I can just to get me through the rest of this shit."

After they reentered the ballroom, Kory noticed how the guests had grown more raucous, unlike how she had left them earlier, causing her to wonder how long they'd spent talking outside. As they got closer to approaching their table, they came to speedy halt once they caught sight of their dates, who appeared to have cozied themselves up to each other during their absence. As much as she hadn't expected to walk in on that scene, what she hadn't expected more was the jerk she felt in the core of her heart. She couldn't quite understand why the idea of Dick and Babs so engrossed with each other pestered her deep inside. Wait. Nothing wrong here. This is supposed to happen.

But her thoughts belied her expression. Before she could suggest anything, Xavier came up with his own assumption. "Oh, yeah," Xavier uttered, bringing her down from her thoughts. He hunched down to her ear, saying, "He's a really great guy, alright." His sarcasm dripped more with each word. "A great guy who still has a hard on for his old chick."

Kory rolled her eyes superficially at his zinger, yet she cracked up inside. "What am I going to do with you, you dirty boy?" He always could make her laugh at any given moment, and she was grateful for that.

"I don't know, beautiful. But that leash is sure coming to mind right about now," he said, slapping her straight across her behind. She jolted a little from his spank but viewed as a plump woman holding a basket of decorative flowers crossed her path. "Excuse me," she called to her, an idea already formulating in her head.

Dick

Dick felt an arm wrap around his shoulders and from the heavenly scent that ensnared his senses, knew exactly who it was. Kory stooped down beside him as her other hand held a blossomed red rose which she offered to him before she sat back down. "Having fun yet?"

"Hey," he greeted. He slowly took it from her, gazing down at the only rose he'd ever received in his life, the gesture rendering him speechless. It was usually customary for him to bring his date flowers, but this was a first. He smiled thoughtfully at her, "Thanks."

"You're not the only one who knows about romance."

"Apparently not." He grinned again. "So everything alright?"

"Oh, peachy," she waved off. "Xavier promises to be a good boy from now on." She watched as he rounded the table, settling back into his seat and oblivious to the fact that he was being spoken about. Kory looked to Babs who conversed with Xavier, a smile on her face as he said something funny to her. She flipped her attention back to Dick, who would take an occasional glance at the couple, as much as he thought no one noticed.

Without warning, Kory slid up to him, placing a kiss on his cheek. She hadn't known why she'd done it, but it felt as if that was what he needed the most at the moment. For a couple of seconds, Dick gazed into her brilliant green eyes, a color unlike anything he'd ever seen before and welcomed a contented sigh, for something told him her kiss wasn't meant for display, but more for himself. He viewed her lips part but could easily read them. "Here I am," she mouthed. Both blushed as they caught themselves in the moment and turned away from one another, like a pair of bashful teenagers on their first date who waited patiently for the other to make the first move.

The look on their ex's faces, who had been watchful of Kory's little kiss of endearment, wasn't pretty. Xavier seesawed his gaze between the two, placing his elbows on the table as he intertwined his fingers, a stern look cast on his face. Babs, on the other hand, was a bit more forward with her approach. "So Kory, what do you do again?"

"What do you mean?"

Babs suppressed a laugh, not understanding how her questioned could be misconstrued any other way. "What college do you attend? Your major? Who's your family? I don't know, dear. It's called a conversation."

Xavier's face took on a sour expression and his lips tensed, not liking the tone or manner Babs took with her. Kory's eyes went alert and she glanced to Dick on what to say. Telling Dick's ex-girlfriend that she was only in high school wouldn't have helped their situation, only escalated the problem. "Uh...Kory's actually in," Dick looked to her, unsure of what would be considered an appropriate answer, or at least one that wouldn't garner more questions. "She's in hi-"

"She's hoping to get into ballet school, Babs," Xavier intervened, in a tone more serious than Babs had ever heard him. "She's studied it since she was a little girl. I should know. I've watched her grow up." He relaxed in his chair, though his eyes never left Kory's who sat opposite him. "Buxton Ballet Academy, wasn't it?" Kory nodded, answering him. "At least, she was the last time we..." Xavier smirked, with a mischievous chuckle, leaving his statement open for question.

Babs cut Xavier with stare, willing him to be quiet. "Yes. Thank you, Kory," she scolded at him.

An announcement from the emcee cut through the tension when he informed everyone in the banquet hall that the next course would be served momentarily. Soon after, waiters had arrived with a sumptuous dish, presenting them on the table before the guests.

Dick could have sworn he heard a small groan escape Kory as she looked down to her plate, hesitant to pick up her fork.

"Dick?"

He turned to Rosemary Penderghest, one of the elder guests who was seated at their table, once she called to him. "How on Earth did Bruce manage to acquire Fournier? He's almost always unavailable on such short notice."

"Oh, Mrs. Penderghest," Dick offered with the most uncomfortable grin he could manage. "You know Bruce has his ways."

"If he could only do something about that damned speaker." Mr. Penderghest complained, thumbing towards the podium located at the far right of the ballroom.

"Well," Babs joined in, "I think everything tonight has been spectacular."

Xavier, however, cringed at the sight of the beige pâté, served with a toasted baguette on the side. "What is this frou-frou stuff?" he asked Babs before looking to his plate in disgust again.

Babs hovered a crabby stare to him, hinting that he must have been an idiot to not have known this delicacy in the first place. "It's goose foie gras."

"What?" he misunderstood, swallowing hard at the notion of having to eat this. "Is it French for fur grass?"

Kory giggled. She was familiar with some of the more richer cuisines but not much. "It's French for fat liver, Xavier."

"I can't eat this," he remarked, pushing his plate back a little. "Besides, I'm training right now and coach has me on a strict diet. Anything fattening is not on my menu."

Babs breathed hard. "Just eat it," she clenched, not caring for any more of his stunts tonight, pushing his plate back towards him.

"Babe, unless you're a fan of regurgitation, I'm not touching this shit."

There were a few gasps at their table and Babs found herself levitating towards her outspoken date, whispering, "Will you watch your mouth? You can't talk like that around these people."

"Big deal." He flicked a hand in their direction. "They probably don't have their hearing aids turned up loud enough to hear me, anyways." He pushed away his plate once more. "I'll just grab something later."

"Must you always make everything so difficult for me?"

"Must you constantly nag down my throat?" he retorted in a low hum.

At the scene, Dick smiled inwardly, trying to drown out the arguing couple, but watched as Kory picked at her plate. He moved closer to her, draping an arm on her chair, and spoke lowly into her ear. "Not a fan either, huh?"

She looked to him with a faint-hearted smile. "Give me dim sum over haute cuisine any day."

"I know what you mean," he nodded, gazing down to his own plate, deciding he, too, wasn't really hungry for such delicacies, nor was he eager to remain at this ball any longer. "Hey," he patted her arm, "the party will be over soon and..." he looked across the table to see Babs in the midst of another lecture, even as her boyfriend ignored her irate fashion. "I think we've accomplished what we wanted to tonight. Want to get out of here and get some real food?"

"But what about the lovebirds?" she asked, motioning her eyes over to them. "Shouldn't we-"

"Nah," Dick waved off. "Let's let them stay in love one more day. So what do you say?" Seeing her pearly whites was all the reinforcement he needed. He shifted out of his seat, "Let me notify Bruce that you're not feeling well. Then we'll be outta here."

Babs + Kory

The party guests had downed down to about half, Kory noticed. It had been about ten minutes since Xavier had excused himself to the mens' room, leaving the duo of redheads to sit in silence as Dick had yet to arrive from speaking with Bruce.

Babs sat in her chair going over Kory's image with seething eyes, waiting for any wrong move for her to make. Not that Kory hadn't noticed the pair of blue eyes focused solely on her. She just refused to give her any acknowledgment.

Babs placed her left elbow on the table, using her hand as a form of stool for her chin. Her stare lingered until she spoke, "Hard to believe what a small world we must live in."

"Excuse me?"

"Don't play the innocent routine with me, darling. You wouldn't be the first of Dick's girlfriends to fail."

"Unlike you, Babs, I don't have a routine that I use on Dick. But I can assure you, I won't make the same mistake you did with him."

"That's Barbara to you, and that's if you're even given the chance."

"What do you know about it?"

"Only that Dick has been in love with me for years. We may have had our problems, but we've always worked through them. And we'll work through this one, too. Understand, you're just a fling. Nothing serious will come of your relationship. In the end, Xavier and I will have had our fun, and Dick will come back to me because we love each other. But you wouldn't know about that, would you?" Though Babs gave her no time to answer. "You'll have to learn to accept that he doesn't feel the same way for you. I'm truly sorry to have to be the one to tell you this."

The idea that Babs felt she could treat one of the more special persons in Kory's life like an object sent her to another level of anger. "You know, I'll never understand what Xavier sees in you to put up with what you're doing to him."

Babs remained stoned-faced. "Just don't get too attached, Kory."

"Fair enough," Kory bit back with a mischievous grin. "I know how the game is played. Now I think it's only fair for me to let you in on a little secret about your boyfriend." She propped a forearm onto the table, edging closer to Babs. "Xavier talks in his sleep," she nodded. "He does. You see, he has the tendency to say my name. So much, in fact, that it's gotten him into some trouble with his past girlfriends. So don't get too angry with him. It's not that you're not fulfilling him. It's because I'm just that good." She cupped her mouth, whispering out of the guest's earshot. "Just ask Dick."

Babs drew back, her eyes narrowing. "This conversation is over." She rose from her seat. "Excuse me, but I have some friends I'd like to speak with before the end of the night. And that would be a much better use of my time than staying here and talking with you." She left, not bothering to look back.

"But we were having so much fun," she said to Babs' retreating back. "Sour puss," she mumbled, grabbing her drink off the table. As much as Kory hated to admit it, she knew Babs was right to a certain degree. Dick did love her. Why else would he go through so much hell to get her back?

Sipping into her glass of water, she was startled when she heard a monotonous voice from behind. "You shouldn't take heed to what she says."

After spilling a small amount of water onto herself, "Shoot," she moaned. She grabbed her napkin and began wiping down her chin.

"Sorry," the woman apologized, gathering a chair beside her.

"No, it's alright. Despite what some girls around here might think, I won't melt into a greenish puddle of blob." She tossed the napkin on the table and put out a hand for the woman to shake, "I'm Kory."

She was hesitant, but shook her hand anyways. "Rachel."

Kory noticed how the woman examined her closely that she began feeling a bit uncomfortable under her stare. She tilted her head, her lips overcome by a snug smile. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You're the proxy," she stated as a matter-of-fact.

"What?" she stuttered.

"Relax," Rachel said, knowing Kory wasn't expecting her to know anything about her and Dick's bargain. "I know about the whole secret love you and Richard have going."

"Richard?" Kory questioned. "Oh, you mean Dick, don't you? He told you?"

She nodded, answering both questions simultaneously.

"Oh," was all she could say at first. "You said your name was Rachel. As in his neighbor?"

"Finally someone who pays attention to him more than his bank account."

Kory gave her a look before realizing her odd sense of humor. "That girl, Babs Gordon," she thumbed to the far distance, "do you know her?"

"She's the reason you're in this mess."

Kory couldn't help but wonder just how much more attractive Rachel would be if she would only learn to stop making such temperamental faces. "Our families travel in the same circles. It's a curse. Richard is about the only normal person I know here."

Kory smiled. "Tell me, what exactly was their relationship like before?"

"Richard's and Babzilla?"

Kory nodded. "Has she always been like this wrecking ball intent on destroying everything in her path?"

"Can't say the idea hasn't crossed my mind. But if I had explain it, I'd compare it more to a tyrannical existence, maybe." Kory's eyes broadened, stunned that Dick would ever allow himself be in such a destructive relationship with this woman. "No. Wait," Rachel paused, causing Kory to look back to her. "I'm being too harsh. To be fair, she wasn't always like this. She used to be semi decent even."

"Why do I have trouble believing that?"

"Really. She was Richard's first serious girlfriend. He'd do anything for her. It's only after she started hanging around Helena and the rest of the witches of Eastwick that she began changing. He was too blind to notice at first, but that was when their relationship took a turn for the worst."

"Aww," Kory frowned. "I hate sad love stories."

"I'll tell you though, the reason those two lasted so long was because of the great effort Richard put into making her happy." Rachel gazed around the hall to find the aforementioned, and stopped at a table of about five high brow women, laughing away at, more than likely, someone else's expense, she thought. "Since then, she's kept a tight leash on him. Trying to change Richard to fit their standards."

"Their standards?"

Rachel palmed around the hall, indicating the guests.

The redhead looked towards the ladies' table. "But why?"

"Because she's Babs. Look, I don't doubt that she loved him, probably still does. She simply just doesn't deserve him."

"Well, you're right about that. Someone like Dick is a rare find now and days. He should be treated with a little bit of dignity."

Rachel sent a curious stare her way. "So you still going to try and get them together again?"

"We had a deal, and I promised him." She gazed once again to the table where Babs was seated, wincing, before looking back to Dick's best friend. "Even if it does go against my better judgment. Besides, he really does seem to love her. Maybe theirs is a relationship only they understand."

Rachel resigned, shrugging her shoulders. "All I know is, I'll be here for him when she breaks his heart again."

"I like you, Rachel." Kory grinned sincerely. "You seem like the only level-headed person in here. A little rough, but you don't sugar coat things. Friends like you must be a reason why Dick's able to stay grounded."

Rachel repressed the grin that wanted to cross her mouth, not knowing why this girl would offer her any such compliment. It was something she seldom got from those who weren't her friends. Didn't Kory know she was considered the social piranha of Gotham's social scene? "Well, I have to go. I need to find someone before this thing is over. I just wanted a chance to meet you and see if you're really as Richard says you are."

Her lips curled into a smile. "Nice meeting you then. Maybe we could do-," Kory paused, raising a red eyebrow at her. "Wait. What exactly did Dick say about me?"

"Wouldn't you like to know," Rachel stood up with the slightest hint of a smirk on her face and left.

Xavier + Dick

Dick remained in high spirits. Just the thought of heading out for a bite to eat with Kory, well...he couldn't understand why it filled him with an unexplainable eagerness. After having notified Bruce of their sudden leave because of Kory's "unexpected illness", nature had called. He did the extra walk to the mens' room, quickly relieving himself.

Thanks to his watch, he noticed it was still early enough to grab some Chinese food. He hurried to one of the automatic faucets and proceeded to wash his hands, then drying them as hastily as he could, not wanting to keep his date waiting any longer than needed. He looked into the mirror satisfied with his appearance, until his eyes caught sight of a figure reflecting behind him.

Dick was shocked to see Xavier's reflection staring back at him, arms crossed as he leaned against the far end of the wall near the door. His jaw tightened as he used his thumb to crack the knuckles of his fingers on his right hand, almost as if in his mind Xavier was considering something. But how had Dick not seen, nor heard him come in was beyond him.

In a flash, Xavier began approaching him, and Dick could feel himself tensing up. He continued to gaze at his image through the mirror but rounded, ready for a confrontation if need be, once Xavier reached him.

"Nice night for a deal with the devil, don't you think, Chuckles?"

"Don't call me that. What do you want?"

"Just a little word with you."

"What? You going to tell me to stay away from Babs now?"

Xavier scoffed. "Quite the opposite actually. I want to help you."

"You?" he pointed, "want to help me?"

"I'll just cut to the chase, kid. You look like someone who knows a good bargain when he sees one. Let's make one of our own."

"Let's not."

It had only been a couple of steps forward for Dick before the boxer blocked his path with a hand across his chest, stopping him. Dick gazed down to his chest, then to him with a threatening glare to remove it. "You haven't heard me out yet." For some reason, this garnered Dick's attention and Xavier moved his hand away, putting his whole body in front of him instead. "Sources say you're still mooning over your ex."

"Your sources were wrong. Now," Dick gritted, "get out of my way." Xavier did as he was told and Dick used this chance to move past him, heading straight for the door, not forgetting that Kory was still waiting for him.

Xavier placed a hand in his pant pocket, and spoke to Dick's back. "No humor, no patience. You and Babs really did make the perfect couple." He stopped and turned around, opening his mouth to interject but Xavier continued. "Yeah, that's right. I know she dumped you. Heard it was for a real man." Dick's cold stare brought a smirk to Xavier's face, and he brought his hands up innocently, "Hey, Babs' words. Not mine." Xavier cocked an eyebrow, watching as the man came towards him, his walk assertive.

Dick wanted nothing more than to remove his shit-eating grin, one that seemed to come naturally to Xavier.

"You don't like me, do you, Dick?" he asked. "In fact, you downright hate me."

"Gee," he quipped. "What gave it away?"

"Fine. Let's just cut through the bullshit then. We don't like each other. I think we've established that."

"Your point?"

"My point is we both have something the other wants. And what I'm offering you is," he thought, "something along the lines of...well, a trade off."

"A trade off? Is that what you think of Babs and Kory as? A pack of trading cards?"

"Don't give me any of your self-righteous crap." He shook his head. "I've known Kory far longer than you could ever dream. I don't plan on anyone ruining things for us, especially an over-gelled scum like you," he pointed, indicating Dick.

"I'm flattered that you've thought so much about my hair," he said, glancing at Xavier's own stubble atop his head, "but there's a problem with you theory. You see, I don't want what you have. I'm perfectly fine with what I've got. So sorry, but it's not going to happen, Xavier. No deal. You and Kory are over. She and I are together now. And no amount of crap you give me is going to change that."

"Oh?" he challenged. "But don't you want Babs back? I saw the way you were looking at her tonight. Like some kind of a pathetic, desperate man. But a man in love, nonetheless."

"Shut up! Shut up with your mind games and your stupid tricks."

"Hey, I'll admit I might like to fuck with your mind, kid, but I'm not into tricks. It's just not me. I'm just offering you a simple chance with Babs again. So just say the word and she and I are done."

"You would hurt her like that?"

"Meh," he shrugged. "She's starting to get on my nerves."

Disgusted with his suggestion, he grimaced. "Well, I won't do that to Kory. She's kinda become something special to me."

"What a laugh..." Xavier's cocky chuckle echoed through the bathroom walls, making Dick shake in anger as he was beginning to hate the sound of it. "You don't care about her. All you're concerned with is the Commish's daughter and trying to serve me."

Dick furrowed, wanting to cause even more damage to Xavier's face. "You don't know a thing about me."

"Don't care to."

"You know what? I can stand here and continue talking to you until we're both blue in the face, or I can head back to my girlfriend and get on with the rest of our night," he said. "Either way, I'm the one leaving here tonight with Kory."

Xavier swallowed hard, "I'm trying to be nice here, kid. Just be thankful I'm letting you retain the use of your legs. But if you refuse to accept a good deal," he drew closer to Dick, "then you'll just have to be forced to take it." This was a speech Xavier had rehearsed time and again, and it usually ending with a submissive response from Kory's suitors. But what he didn't know about Dick was, he wasn't just any suitor. He had a backbone, and a defiant one at that.

"Right," Dick singsonged, sidestepping past Xavier as he brushed his shoulder. "I'm out of here," and began heading out the door again.

Luckily for Xavier, he lived for challenges like these. He turned again, both hands in his pocket as he followed him. "The truth is, Dick, you're not her type."

He rounded. "And what's her type? Don't tell me, it's you. The bad boy that all the girls get off on, am I right?"

"Not all girls. Just Kory," he smiled, "and your ex-girlfriend."

Dick puckered his lips, catching a taste of the gloss that had rubbed on his lips from Kory's kiss earlier. "How about that?" He brought a finger to his mouth, licking his lips for added measure. "Kory's got on that sweet cherry gloss tonight. Kind of makes you wonder what else she has that's so sweet?"

Like a strike of lighting, Xavier's steel eyes shot up at him, sparking a wicked glint. Provoked by his words, he lunged forward at Dick, who readied himself for an attack. But before any contact was made, the door swung open causing the two to stare at the intruder.

"Hey, Dick," Roy called out cheerily. "I've been looking for you all night. I kind of wanted to ask you about-" he stopped when he saw another gentleman exchanging a look with him.

"How you doing?" He stuck his hand out for a friendly shake. "Roy Harper."

Xavier looked to his hand as if it had been infected with about a thousand diseases, refused it, then grimaced to him. "Fuck off, Carrot Top."

Dick's eyes flared. He wasn't going to take Xavier insulting his friends. "You're a dirtbag."

"Me?" He focused his attention to Dick again. "You're the one trying to take away what's mine and I'm the dirtbag?" This time contact was made when Xavier darted forward, pushing Dick, who automatically pushed back but with slightly more force.

A shoveling match quickly escalated into a series of punches being thrown, none of which had any success. "She's not yours..." Dick voiced out with a struggle, panting just as Xavier swung and connected with his lip. He could feel a bit of warm blood ooze onto his chin. Immediately, Dick retaliated with his own jab but Xavier managed to duck just in time, only to be caught by a surprise punch with Dick's other hand. Xavier felt a sting to his right eye, a repeat of his earlier match.

"Knock it off!" Roy shouted, though no one listened. Roy moved as best as he could to get in between the two. "I. Said. Knock. It. Off!" Though it seemed like an eternity, Roy managed to grab Dick by the waist and pull him away from the expert boxer. Both chests heaved, breathing in and out as heavily as they could, hands still clenched into tight fists as they continued their stare down with one another.

"I think I should warn you, kid. I can be a really sore loser." He shook his head, "Which is why I never do," he proclaimed, his playfulness gone, completely replaced with mortal seriousness.

Dick remained silent, and Xavier turned to leave. Nothing else needed to be said tonight. He eyed Roy with a glare, maybe because of his interference with the fight. Or perhaps he was just guilty by association. "What was I thinking? You're not Carrot Top. Your his gay lover."

Roy thought twice about insulting him back, thinking back to Dick's busted lip. The last thing they needed was any more conflicts. He watched as Xavier left through the door. "Nice friend you got there, Dick."

He looked to Roy as if he was crazy. "He's no friend of mine."

"Yeah, I kinda guessed that from his cheery disposition. Who was that jackass?"

Dick's mouth throbbed and he knew Xavier's punch had broken skin. He brought up his hand, feeling at his bottom lip. There was some blood staining his fingers. He exhaled deeply as his body still panted. "A problem."

Kory

Kory waited for him outside the lobby doors. She wondered if Dick knew where to meet her as minutes had ticked away, and he had yet to arrive. It wasn't until he walked through the lobby doors, that she grinned. She gasped once he reached her. "Dick?" She grasped his chin, raising a couple of fingers to the cut on his mouth, careful not to apply any pressure. "What happened to you?"

"It's nothing, Kory." He jerked his head away. "I just ran into the bathroom wall."

"A wall?" She tilted her head to the side, not believing him for one second. "How original. Did Xavier do this?" She didn't wait for a reply as she had already started making her way back into the party.

He grabbed her elbow, "Where are you going?" and began pulling her back to their spot.

"I know he had something to do with this, Dick. He had no right to hit you."

"No. It's fine. Let's just get out of here and get something to eat. That's what we wanted to do, remember?"

"But-"

His stare said drop it, but she couldn't. "Did you two argue about Babs? Because he felt threatened?" The look on his face was answer enough. The doors opened again, only this time out appeared Babs. "Speaking of which..." Kory mumbled, throwing her hands in the air in surrender.

"Dick?" she called, approaching him. "Bruce said I might catch you out here. I just wanted to let you-" she gasped. "Oh, my God! What happened to your lip?" she pointed.

He sighed. "Nothing Babs. I'm alright. I just need to get out of here."

"So that's why you're leaving early?"

"Yeah, and Kory doesn't feel too well. So I'm taking her home."

She looked to her, "Oh, that's too bad. Well, it was nice meeting you, Kory." She moved to give her a hug, and Kory responded by compressing her body. Embracing her, Babs neared her ear, whispering, "Watch yourself. I'm going to nail your ass to the wall."

Kory rolled her eyes at her immortal threat. She pulled away from their hug but not before whispering a soft, "You might try and do that, sweetheart. Though, not tonight. Tonight I'll be too busy with your ex-boyfriend and a pair of handcuffs," she taunted, smiling through her teeth at the ex-girlfriend. She topped off their goodbye with a patronizing kiss on Babs' cheek.

If she could have, Babs would have lunged at her for her bold gesture but not now. Not as Dick stood their side and watched.

Kory swung an arm around his waist, leading him away from Babs and the gala. She looked just over his shoulder and shouted, "Oh, tell Xavier pleasant dreams for me, will you?"

The farther they walked, the happier they were to get away from the festivities, and into a more normal night. Dick found himself placing his own arm around her waist as he escorted her into the elevator and down to the first floor. He pushed down the outstanding sensation that was taking resident in his heart every time he was in close proximity to Kory, doing his best to ignore the swift progression into something he didn't plan on.

*****

So now you have a look into Xavier's relationship with Kory. This will be explained a little further into future chapters. Just in case some were wondering, Xavier has nothing to do with Kory's "incident". I've also had quite a few wonder about Helena's character. So yes, I did base her off the Huntress comic character. And yes, I definitely know that she is way out of character, though I've never been a fan of Huntress, so no offense to those who are.

I hope this chapter was to your liking and if it seems to drag, just know that I'm trying to evolve their relationship smoothly. I will start focusing on the other characters as well in the upcoming chapters. They will be having their own troubles to deal with. Oh, and Happy Halloween to all. Here's hoping you get more treats than tricks.

Thanks for all those who reviewed. I've received new ones as well: SilpixOX44, pixiepuff101, AnimalGurl55. All of you are amazing readers and thanks for the support. I mean, you all are the reason for this story. Until next chapter...