Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Teen Titans…also warning - some might find some things on here a little disturbing, only the flashback. It all depends on your view. So beforehand, I'd like to apologize in case some do (which I doubt anyone will).
Gar
Orchid placed down the Sunday paper on the counter, having read the same article three times already. She glanced at her watch only to that see Gar was running ten minutes late. "Come on, Gar. Where are--"
The sound of the door chiming, indicating someone had just walked through it, silenced her. "Okay, I'm here Or-chid," the late employee panted as he caught his breath from the lack of oxygen. He wasn't supposed to be there today, but after receiving a call to fill in for her early morning, he ran as fast as he could. He used his baseball cap to fan himself, hoping for a light wind to cool him down, and threw his backpack aside.
"You alright? You look pale."
"I'm good. I guess I just don't have the energy I used to." Gar wiped off the perspiration that had gathered on his forehead and proceeded to put his well-used cap back on.
"You sure. I don't really have to go, you know."
"Don't worry," he assured her, composing himself. "I'm fine."
She grabbed her things from behind the counter and began walking near the door. "I know you were supposed to start tomorrow so I appreciate you covering for me. It's just that Van only had tickets for today and I really want to go."
"Go on," he waved her off, "…enjoy."
She took a look around the store, doubt filling in her eyes, "So you think you can handle the place by yourself?"
"It'll be a snap."
"Alright," she nodded. "I should be back before two."
Once she was out the door, he picked up his bag and hid it behind the counter for safe-keeping.
The door chimed again, causing him to look up only to see Orchid standing in the threshold. "And Gar…please don't destroy the place," she groaned, "or Delilah's going to have my ass."
"Give me a break, will you? I'm not that bad." He placed himself behind the counter as he waved goodbye to his co-worker, hopefully without any more interruptions. He reached for his backpack and retrieved his literature. Taking a long look around the empty bookstore, he sighed tediously. This is gonna be a long day.
It had been an hour or so and the book shop remained free of sound. There was an occasional laugh here and there granted Gar had spent the whole time reading his manga comic book. "Oh, Snooks. You dirty dog!" he laughed at the comic character.
Suddenly, an unexpected clang sounded and it startled him from his position. Gar looked up to see the same girl from the day of his interview entering through the door. The very girl he presented himself as a fool when he ogled her.
Well not this time, he thought. "Hey," he greeted, happy to have some other form of life in the bookstore other than his own.
"Hello," she echoed, making her way to a back section of the store.
From behind the counter, he wondered where she had disappeared off to after making herself scarce for several minutes. "Do you need any kind of help?" he shouted from a space away, still choosing to remain behind the counter.
"No. I've got it, thanks."
In a sneaky maneuver, Gar raised himself a bit off his chair, hoping for a clear view of this enigmatic girl. "Where are you?" he asked quietly under his breath.
"You wouldn't be looking for me, would you?" she asked appearing in the opposite direction, a thick leather-bound book in hand.
"What--" he pointed to the opposite side of the room, wondering how she had teleported nearby, then back to her, "how?" With a raised brow, the raw beauty walked up to the register and placed the novel gently on the counter. "I wasn't looking," he added, "just wanted to make sure you didn't need any help, is all."
"How helpful of you. I'd like to purchase this."
"Sure thing." He grabbed the book, glancing at the title. "Hey, this is a classic! I've seen it at the Metro-plex four times already." He beamed from ear to ear, bringing up four fingers.
"Fascinating," she said blandly, gathering her credit card. It was as if she could feel Gar's anchored gaze on her, a feeling that caused her to grow hot with anxiety. Or was it all in her mind?
"Kinda makes me wonder why people don't just rent the movie? It's more entertaining. Not to mention a lot faster to get to the end."
She handed over her card, all the while accidentally touching a part of his palm. Somehow, she couldn't stop herself from peering into his eyes, taking in the unusual color of jade in his irises. "If we all did that Garfield, then you'd be out of a job."
He chuckled nervously, "Good point. But you can call me Gar." He waited for a response from the unruffled woman, but received nothing. "Well?"
"Well what?" Now she was clearly baffled.
"Aren't you gonna tell me your name? You know, me Gar. You…you. That's how this whole introduction thing works," he gleamed.
She stood immobile, centering herself on his grin, and not sure of what to do next. Here she was in front of this person who for some unexplainable reason, mystified her. She didn't know him, he didn't know her, but she felt a sense of compassion emanate from him. Yet her relationship with Malachi caused her to always rethink her evaluations of people carefully.
Gar shrugged. "Well if you'd rather not tell me--"
"Rachel," she answered finally, breaking her silence.
"Rachel," he repeated, getting a feel for her name. "See that wasn't so hard, was it?" He chuckled. "It's finally nice to match the face with the name. And it's such a pretty one too."
Pretty? What's pretty? "My name is pretty?" she asked, raising a skeptical brow.
He gazed up, thinking for a moment, then back down to the register. "Yeah, that too."
Judging from his pleasing demeanor, it was difficult to opinionate if this guy was serious or not. However, that didn't change the fact that she was flattered by him, a very rare occurrence. "I thought Orchid would be in today. She usually works every Sunday."
"She asked if I could cover for her," he mentioned, sliding her card through the charge machine. "I didn't mind really."
"At least you're keeping busy." She pointed to the book he had placed down in order to tend to her.
"Oh, that," he said, forgetting that he only used it to guise his comic, the latest issue. Can't have Delilah catching him goofing off, now can he? "I've been busy reading it all day."
Rachel tilted her head to get a better look at the title of the hardcover and a strange expression formed on her face. "Cries of the Fallen? It doesn't seem like your kind of book."
He wanted so badly to impress this girl. Figuring he'd be safe with a more intellectual review, he went with the first thing that popped into his mind. "No way! This book is amazing. Great characters, awesome writing. An all-around fun read," he beamed.
"Really?" She grabbed the book, flipping through some pages. "What part did you like the most?"
"Uh…" he thought for a bit, gulping. He hadn't anticipated that question. "I found chapter five to be um…highly entertaining."
"Odd," she mumbled to herself. "Chapter five, huh?" she asked once more. Gar's idyllic grin only made her coil her eyes, and she put the book back on the counter. "Last time I heard, Cries of the Fallen was a book of poetry and it had no chapters. Furthermore, it's a book about torture and death in the 16th century."
Gar sat in stock silence. This was officially going down as the worst attempt at wooing a girl...ever. Gar laughed nervously and tried rectifying his mistake the best he could. "Would you believe me if I said I was testing you?"
As much as Rachel wanted to smile at his childish antic, she kept her serious nature.
"Do you ever smile, Rae?" he asked bluntly, giving her back her credit card once her order was finalized.
Rachel didn't know whether to be offended. Who was he to ask her this question? She took back her card, "Do you ever stop, Garfield?"
"Do you always answer questions with other questions?"
She stared upwards towards his head. "Do you ever not wear that appalling cap?"
"Hey, my cap is cool," he whined, taking it off and giving it a once over. "It was--" until he stopped mid sentence. "Wait. How did you know I always wear this cap?"
Immediately, she realized her slip-up. "It's a high approximation," she suggested without a care, cautiously avoiding his analytical look or the fact that he had one over on her now.
"That was you, wasn't it?" he guessed, a bit of amusement on his part. "Back at the arcade? You were out, looking in."
"What?" She was plagued with utter disbelief that he'd actually seen her that night.
Clearly he was right as the the stunned look on her face spoke volumes. "You should have joined us."
"I haven't the faintest idea of what you're talking about. Now if you don't mind, I have more important things to do with my time than debate you on anything." She turned around to leave.
"Um…" he called, "Rachel?"
"What?" she gritted, bothered with the idea of having to face him. The last thing she wanted was his apology.
"You might want to take your book with you," he smirked as he held the novel out to her. "After all, you did purchase it."
She stormed over towards the counter and roughly grasped it out of his hands. "Thank you," she huffed, then made her way toward the entrance door.
"Enjoy your book," he beamed, not all put off by her angry tone. "Oh, and don't forget to visit us again soon." He waved, though it didn't matter as she hadn't bothered to look at him as she left. Gar watched as she walked out the door with only one thing circulating in his mind
Very interesting girl. She'd probably murder me in my sleep, but I'd like to get to know her well.
Kory
"Brush...brush...brush." The dampen-haired redhead chanted as she searched throughout her bedroom for her hairbrush, but to no avail. "Brush, where are you?" She stopped in the middle of the room, hand on her hip, while the other held onto her terry cloth towel to keep it from falling to the ground.
"Great!" She brought an exasperated hand up into the air. "I have to pick up Dick in two hours and my brush decides to go on vacation." The sudden sound of her doorbell chiming caused her to jump in surprise. "Oh, now what?" The last thing she needed was company.
Quickly she trotted down the stairs, growing impatient with how the visitor constantly rang the doorbell.
"Hey, I'm coming!" she yelled as she reached the door. After readjusting the lavender bath towel tightly around herself, she opened the door and viewed a bald portly man dressed in an apparent automotive tech jumpsuit with a clipboard in hand. "Yes?" she asked.
Widened salacious eyes ogled back at the girl not expecting this kind of a morning greeting but promptly reclaimed his professional disposition. "Ms. Anders?" he asked as he checked to his paperwork making sure he mentioned the correct name.
"That's me. Can I help you?" He reached out his palm for a simple handshake before introducing himself.
"Tito Carmino. I'm from Gotham AutoTech Pro. I was hired by Mr. Grayson to oversee the reparation of your vehicle…a 1970 Jaguar XJ6, vehicle identification number A2X--" he read from his clipboard but was interrupted by Kory.
"Oh, yes sir. I understand. Is there a problem?" she bit her lip worried of any bad news.
"Problem? Why no miss. In fact," he moved out of her way to reveal the shiny golden Jaguar parked in her driveway. "it's perfect."
"Goldie?" she whispered silently admiring the newly repaired vehicle as the sun's rays glistened down on her exterior in all her glory. "You brought her back from car heaven!" she shrieked grasping the man's shoulders as she jumped up and down elatedly.
He chuckled at her astonished and jubilant behavior, still admiring her choice of clothing or lack thereof. "But how could you be done so fast? I mean, it's been only four days!"
"Well, let's just say that Mr. Wayne and Mr. Grayson are some of our most important clientele. They tend to get more precedence amongst our other cases."
Although she was donned in only a towel, that didn't stop Kory from examining the vehicle openly. Thankfully, the previous damaged area look as precise as it did before.
"So are you pleased with the results, Ms. Anders?"
"Are you kidding? She looks better now than the day my father got her."
"I am glad to hear that. We do aim to please our respective clienteles but if you have no other questions, could I get you to please sign this form. It indicates you have received the car in question back into your possession."
"Oh, of course. I really appreciate how quickly you worked on her." she said signing her signature on the contract forms.
"Mr. Grayson explained the very importance of this car to me so she went above the others in our garage."
"Oh." she uttered feeling a little guilty for his clients.
"Well, if you have any concerns or questions relating to your car, feel free to give me a call." he informed her handing her his business card.
"Thank you, I will." she beamed happily. She breathed a sigh of relief that she no longer had to worry about her father's stern reprimand. Now he'll never even know…I hope.
"You have yourself a very good day, Ms. Anders."
Dick
"Roy for the last time…yes I'm really with her and no she is not interested." Dick reiterated over the phone. "Look, I'll talk to you soon." he said quickly hanging up the phone. Maybe in the next century.
"I'm sure Ollie has his hands full with that boy." Dick swayed his head behind to see Bruce's strapping figure making its way towards him.
"Well what can you expect with Ollie for a role model, all that skirt-chasing he does. He hasn't quite grasped the concept that Kory isn't interested."
"Speaking of which, I've been meaning to ask you. Don't you think it's rather sudden…this thing with Kory? You've only just split with Babs."
"I'll give that it didn't take long for me to mourn our relationship but in all fairness, it didn't take her long either."
"Of all reasons, you're doing this out of spite?"
"Of course not! For you to even think I'd stoop that low is depreciative of you."
Bruce raised a scrutinizing brow at the manly ward. His adoptive father's mannerisms, always serious and sometimes broody, was just another thing he'd grown up with so it didn't daunt him in the least.
"Geez Bruce…it's not like Kory and I are eloping on the next plane to Vegas. I just like her. Is it so hard to believe I could actually like someone who isn't so into herself?"
"I'm only judging from your behavior since your breakup with Babs and up until you began seeing this girl."
Resisting the urge to coil his eyes at his remark, "I know you liked Babs but remember, she broke it off."
"Did she now?"
"What are you saying…you don't believe me?"
"What I think is immaterial, Dick. It's your life and I trust you to make the right decisions. All I'm saying is to be aware of the repercussions of your choices. I know I'm not one to be giving any kind of relationship advice…"
"Then don't."
"But…" he emphasized, not liking to be interrupted. "I wouldn't like to see Ms. Anders get hurt. She seems like a very nice young lady ."
Alfred's, the Wayne's longtime butler, immediate presence caused the men to acknowledge him and discontinue their small conversation.
"Master Bruce, you have a call from the vice-president of the TrinityCorporation. He needs to ask you a few questions pertaining to your meeting next week."
"Yes, thank you Alfred. I'll be right there." he looked towards the elder man. "I let you be on your way." he mentioned to Dick before leaving.
Dick took a seat on the leather recliner as he felt upon Bruce's advice. It made him laugh quietly to himself, the irony of it all. Bruce actually thinks Kory and I are together…everyone does. Then almost immediately, the grin ceased mortally. Is this really even about Babs anymore?
"Master Dick?" he trekked his head to see the prim butler and following close behind, the girl who, just recently, ignited something unaccountable within him. Something that he didn't even know he had stored deep inside.
Giving the girl one last smile, Alfred departed himself to the kitchen leaving the pair some personal time together. "Hey!" Dick greeted.
"Hope you don't mind, Stud-lee let me in." she smiled pointing to the absent butler.
"Not at all. Actually, I thought you might've…" but was quieted when he was trampled into a massive hug by the redhead.
"…forgotten about me?" he finished in her embrace.
"Impossible." she said as she gingerly kissed him on his cheek sending a tint of pink to his cheeks.
"Seems like your more chipper than usual."
"Maybe it's because of what I have right here in my purse." She began fishing around inside and pulled out a pair of keys while noisily dangling them.
"Is that to your Jag?" he inquired worriedly. "But it's only been four days?"
"Can you believe it! And I know it's all because of you."
Yes, he had told Tito to be extra careful with this car. He even went as far as to order the parts midnight express for a speedier repair. Hindsight was now telling Dick that the fast service he had preferred maybe wasn't the best way to go. Not to mention, he already had Babs practically begging for him. This meant their deal would no sooner be over. Would Kory forget all about him once they both had what they needed?
"…Dick?" she snapped her fingers loudly. "Hun, did you hear me?"
"Huh?"
"I said are you ready to go?"
"Oh, sorry. Uh…yeah just say the word."
Before long, they were seated in Kory's Mustang traveling to their mysterious destination. Unfortunately for him, she refused to leave until Dick allowed her to blindfold him. Fidgeting with the black cloth, he heard her speak up…
"I'd ask how LA went but seeing as how you found it necessary to call me almost every hour, it's like I was practically there."
"You liked me bothering you, admit it."
"Well, let's see. You've kinda grown on me which, I have to admit, is hard for a guy to do."
"It's just my power of magnetism." he offered cockily.
"Don't make me turn this car around." she warned playfully.
"No…no. I'll behave. So are you going to tell me where were heading?" he asked trying his best not to mess with his itchy blindfold.
"Come on, don't you believe in surprises Dick?"
"Not really. I told you, I'm not easy to surprise."
"Baby, I'm up for the task." she taunted sexily as she turned to look at him. For some odd reason seeing him with his blindfold on, appearing like a lost little child, sent an empathic feeling into her pits of her stomach…
He seems…helpless, vulnerable even. Like his relationship with carrot-top. He's worthy of something so much more but he's too stubborn to think otherwise. And yet here I am, helping him win her back. Why? She sure as hell doesn't deserve him. So does that make me an accessory to his heartbreak when she ends up hurting him again?
Babs
She nipped at her fingernails anxiously, foreseeing what was to come ahead. Pacing her hardwood floors, hundreds of nit-picking thoughts swam in her mind. Once the society circuit of Gotham received word on how the commissioner's daughter was dumped by her less than proper boyfriend, she would be the subject of a many ridicule and mockery.
She had tried for so long to be accepted and with the unknowing help of Dick as her boyfriend, she had been. Although she knew he never quite grasped the whole elite circle with a warm hand, actually he was more against it, but that didn't stop all the distinguished people of Gotham from accepting Bruce Wayne's ward welcomingly.
After her talk with Dick and his inspiring words of friendship and consolation, she had begun to see him in a much more respectable and amorous light. Knowingly, she had let the exciting idea of what was to become her new college life go to her head. She paid less and less attention to him, ultimately injuring their relationship. But now, all she wanted more than anything was to be with him again, how she had missed him…everything about him.
When he arrived at the Wayne gala with Kory's hand in tow so lovingly, it was all the affirmation her heart needed and she knew that she was still in love with him. Every smile, every whisper, every laugh, every touch, every soft gaze he gave to that girl made Babs wrench with guilt and sorrow. His deep affections used to be for her but now they were meant for another. This was not the way things were supposed to be.
How had she stupidly let Xavier replace him for a moment, she'd never know. It was all Xavier's fault. Quite coincidental that he and Kory used to be lovers. I wouldn't put it past her if she had something to do with it, trying to use Xavier to ward me away from Dick for herself. Oh, God…I need Dick back…I need him!
Dick still had to be in love with her, right? He wouldn't just get over Babs within several days. What she meant to him couldn't possibly be interchanged by this devilish of woman so easily, right? Besides, people like Kory and Xavier belong together. It's pretty obvious they love each other just as much as Dick and I do. I need to find a way into Dick's life again…but how?
This required the help of her friend, someone who knew of exactly what should be done. It wasn't a secret how her friend felt about Dick's new lover. With that, she knew she'd be more than willing to help Babs devise a plan for Kory to leave Dick or vise versa. Of course, the last thing she wanted was for anyone to be hurt in the waged war for Dick's heart but sometimes you have to go through extreme battles for the one you love.
She picked up her phone and nonchalantly dialed a number. "Helena, could you come over? I need your help with something."
Kory
"Ok, we here." She eagerly exited her car and opened the door for Dick, who still had no earthly idea where he was.
"No peeking, I mean it!"
Slowly he climbed out of the car as she helped him with each careful step. He immediately felt a blast of cool breeze hit him. Where the heck are we? He experienced himself being walked into a certain position until she ordered for him to stay put.
Finally she peeled off the blindfold and he realized they were high up above a frondescent hill overlooking the entire city. He was introduced to an expansive view of the big top circus that was being held below them. Although miles away, the nostalgic sights and sounds paraded across the air reaching them easily.
"What the…" he whispered.
"You…don't like it?" Kory stated sadly as she viewed the glum look on his face. "I know its not La Porte D' Or…or anything like those fancy restaurants you're used to but…"
"No Kory…this…this is beautiful. " he expressed gently taking in the vast scene. The gust of wind pounded away at him, and for a split second cleared his mind from his troubles. He never knew such a wondrous and peaceful place could exist. "Actually, I think I'm in love already."
He felt as she nudged him on his arm and pointed behind him. He gazed at the direction and found a throw with a picnic basket set up for them. "You did all this for me?"
"For us silly." she joked as she indicated for him to take a seat. Quickly, she began taking out the food from the basket, handing some to Dick. Out came a bag of popcorn, cotton candy, corn dogs and other kinds of treats you'd normally find at a circus festivity.
"I figured why not have our own little private circus." she shrugged.
"You're one amazing and surprising girl, Kory."
"Now I never get tired of hearing that."
After twenty minutes of scarfing down every last bite of anything edible, and a frivolous fight for the last cotton candy bit, they sat on the edge of sturdy cliff.
"What's wrong, Kory? You've barely said a word to me."
"Nothing, it's just…coming here always reminds me of something, that's all."
"What does it remind you of?"
"I don't like to talk about it."
"If it's something bad, then why'd you bring me out here?"
"Because like I've told you a thousand times, Dick. You're worth it."
"If I'm so worth it, then tell me what's bothering you." Kory gazed skeptically at him before opening her mouth only to shut it once again. "I'd like to think you could trust me, Kory."
"It's not that I don't, Dick." she sighed softly. "I've never even told any of my close friends about this, so it amazes me that I'm even telling you."
"I remember, it was nine years ago and the circus had just come into town. Well my parents thought it'd be nice for all of us to go as a family. So we get there and immediately I fell in love with it. The rides, the animals…the performers."
From her tone, he could tell this wasn't going to end in a 'happily ever after' routine you would expect from someone with her disposition.
"I can't for the life of me remember why my parents told my sister Koma to watch me. And you've met Donna, right?"
"The pretzel girl, yeah."
"Well she showed up and we ran into her."
…"Koma!" the ruby-haired girl shouted through the ruckus of the celebratory crowd.
"Koma!" she pulled at her sister's shirt vying for her attention. With one final tug, she blinked back in fear at the glare she was receiving from her older sister.
"What Kory!" she raised her voice.
"I lost my kadescope." Empty-handedly, she looked up at her sister with sorrowful eyes.
"Your what?" she asked irately.
"I think she means kaleidoscope." Donna added.
"So get another one." Koma suggested before turning back to her friend, who smiled apologetically at the little girl.
"But I don't have any more…"
"Kory! I don't care! I'm talking to Donna right now…behave and leave me alone!"
"Calm down, remember she's only eight." Donna bit back.
"And she's getting on my nerves, Donna. If she was your sister, then you'd understand completely. I always have to put up with my parents dropping her off on me. They do have a son too, you know?"
"It's because they know she looks up to you, Koma…just the same way I look up to my sister, Diana. Trust me, you'll appreciate it later." Feeling badly for her outburst, Koma nodded out of regret.
"I guess you're right, besides she can be…" but stopped short when she glanced behind her only to see Kory was no longer there. "Kory?…Kory!" she shouted panic-stricken.
"Where did she go? She was here a minute ago." added Donna, scouring the area.
"Kory!" The two friends hollered as they viciously searched nearby for the missing girl. The continuing shouts of her name only to come out answerless brought welling tears to Koma's eyes.
"Oh God, Donna. She's gone. Where is she?" she cried out cupping her face, stopping the flow of tears about to erupt. If anything horrible happened to her baby sister, she would never forgive herself. True, Kory could be annoying as little sisters go but she still loved her like no other.
"Let's go get your parents." Donna ordered as she grabbed her hand, making their way back.
…"ello piggies." the little girl giggled as she stood by the cage that fenced them. The sound of oinks caused her rosy cheeks to light up. She looked toward the crowded mass of people at the circus, the one that she briefly drifted away from to gaze at the circus's pigs. Deciding to go back, she pulled out a piece of cotton candy she had stuffed inside her denim overalls pocket and fed it to the pink oinkers. Not expecting anyone to appear, she was startled to hear the crinkling sound of the bushy grass making contact with heavy footsteps.
"Hello princess." she heard a guttural voice sound from behind. She turned quickly to see a man dressed rather sharply in a dress shirt and slacks. "Why are you here all by yourself?" he smiled minutely, fumbling with something behind his back.
"I wanna…I wan-ted to see the piggies." she pointed towards the cage.
"Oh. So you like animals, I gather."
"I love them." she smiled hugely.
"As luck would have it princess, I happen to have my own. Would you like to see it?" After receiving a nod from the cute girl, the man brought into view a white animal.
"Mister, what is that?"
"It's a ferret. Would you like to pet him? He won't hurt you."
"Can I?" she begged, approaching closer to the two.
"Of course, princess." Taking in her image, he smiled wishing to get nearer to the girl. He kneeled down to meet her height and eagerly grabbed her hand to help her pet the animal. She stroked at its fur and immediately fell in love with the peaceful mammal.
Giggling madly, "He's silky."
"Yes…just like your hair, my dear." He took hold of a piece of her garnet locks and felt at its smoothness. He loved the feeling, as indecent and wrong as it was…he loved it. Growing bolder, he moved away from her hair and used his finger to trace her ear delicately.
"I think he's hungry. He keeps licking my hand." she mentioned.
"I have some baby carrots in my car, they're his favorite. Why don't we go feed him?"
Though a slight ting in her gut told her she should ask her parents first, she stared back at the crowd guiltily but decided feeding the animal wouldn't take long.
"Ok." she answered. The gentleman rose to his feet and held her hand as they began trekking their way back to his car, which was parked a good feet away.
"Mister, can I hold him?" she asked using her free hand to point to the ferret. The only priority on his mind was keeping the little girl happy long enough to lead her to his car, so he complied.
Hearing her giggles of adoration for the young animal made his insides stir with intoxication. He didn't know why he was like this but his perverse fascination with young girls wasn't something you could dare comprehend. And this girl, this innocent being, blind to the most vile and morally depraved aspects of the world would be his greatest conquer yet. He couldn't contain himself as he found himself releasing her hand only to gently lay it across the back of her neck. However, now with every step closer to his car, he grew more daring and tenderly began massaging the crook of her neck.
Kory felt as the man's hand caressed her skin and it caused her to tremble uncomfortably. Her overpowering sense of uneasiness told her to go back immediately. She stopped walking and began pedaling slowly the opposite direction.
"Um…mister, I think I'm gonna go back now. My Mom and Dad will be mad if I don't."
"But princess, we're almost there. We won't take long…I promise." he assured her with a small grin. His platinum blonde, almost white, hair was gelled back into a strict state which brought out the arctic blueness of his stern eyes. It was his demeaning eyes that she instantly now read as mistrustful.
"No…I want to go back." she began heading back to the circus. Without warning, she was grabbed into a dangerous embrace as he forcibly began carrying her to his car.
"Let me go!" Her cries of help were muffled as he threateningly covered her mouth. She screamed quietly into his hand as his arms hugged her tightly continuing to aggressively drag her. His paced quickened for fear that someone near might see her dreading abduction. As much as she struggled against her confinement, it was futile as he was a hulk of a man and much more powerful.
"Quiet!" he silenced her. Kory, who still held the ferret along with her, let go of the animal afraid that it may have been hurt by her squeezing arms. The ferret, however, didn't jump off but instead traveled down the stranger's arm and eagerly bit him on his hand just below his thumb. The bite was severe enough that it broke skin and drew an ample amount of blood.
"Aarghh! You pathetic useless rat!" Stunned from the pain, he unwillingly let go of the terrified girl. Now free from his hold, she dashed as fast as she could back to the circus, not once trying to look back at the man.
"Get back here!" she heard him shout after her. Running madly, she saw to her left how the ferret had also joined her in the race back to her family.
"What the hell are you doing here! You're supposed to be home!" she heard him holler again but obviously not to her. This caught her attention and she turned to see who the man was speaking to. With a fast glance, all she could muster from far away was a blonde young boy who was riding along on his bike. He too, sped away on it after hearing the man's dangerous tone…
"That's when I finally reached the circus. Apparently, they had the whole place looking for me and when I got back, they went hysterical."
"I had no idea Kory. I'm so sorry you had to go through something like that. It's horrible when…wait…hold on a second, you said this happened nine years ago?"
"Yeah, why?"
"At Haley's circus, here in Gotham?" he asked making sure he was correct.
"Again…yes. Why?"
"No…this can't be." He shook his head still not persuaded.
"What's wrong, Dick?"
"It would have to mean…" he stated but didn't finish his sentence. His thoughts drifted off leaving Kory to curiously wonder what in the world he was talking about.
"Nine years ago I was performing in that circus with my family here in Gotham about that time."
…the young boy watched as his mother and father finished putting the last touches of their acrobat uniforms on for their act, causing him to look down at his own simple red shirt and jeans. Hands crossed as he displayed his infantile behavior, he was angry at his parents for not letting him join in tonight's showing.
"I still don't get why I can't join you all tonight."
"My boy, your mother has already told you why. You just healed from the flu and your mother does not want you to perform tonight. Please respect her wishes."
"But I'm fine Dad…look." the young lad proudly performed several quick backflips.
"You've gotten so much better but the answer is still no, son." the exotic muscular man informed him with his Romanian accent.
"This bites." he sulked.
"I do not understand…what is 'this bites'?" he asked his son, not fully comprehending the lingo of today's generation.
"Nothing Dad, it's just an American saying."
"My love are you ready? We are set to perform in ten minutes." said a older but radiantly beautiful woman.
"Yes dear. First I must see the manager about a few things." He gave his wife a tender kiss before leaving the two alone.
"Mom, please can I…"
"No!" she ordered defiantly.
"Fine!"
"I am doing this for your own good. Now wish us luck, my Robin."
"Uh…Mom, remember when I'm not in my uniform…please don't call me that. It's embarrassing!" he looked around hoping no one had heard her.
Chuckling quietly, she kissed him motherly on his cheek. "I'm sorry. I forget, my love."
"Mary…we need you!" called a crew member.
"I will be back, my love."
For the next few minutes, Dick used his time to stretch his ever growing muscles. An exercise that was second nature to him, it helped his agility during his performances. Any chance he had, he would somehow find a way to practice his acrobatic maneuvers during his day. He was on the floor in mid stretch when he heard a shout called to him.
"Hey kid!"
He turned to see a boy not much older than him standing a few feet away. He looked too much like him, it was frightening. If hadn't been for his gray eyes, some might speculate whether that was his older twin.
"Have you seen this girl?" the boy asked bringing a small wallet-sized picture into view. On the picture was the face of an angel or so he thought. Her crimson hair done to perfection while her green eyes sparkled at the camera, her glorified smile set into place. Dick was quickly awestruck with the young girl.
"Who…who is she?" Dick dreamily asked the panicky boy lifting himself off the ground.
"She's missing is what she is." he answered with a hardball attitude.
"What's her…" but Dick wasn't able to finish his question when someone yelled out to the young boy.
"X, come on…we're going to check the other side of the area!" came a voice from a far distance. The boy, conversely, took one last hard look at Dick and ran towards where the voice had come from.
Dick retreated back to his parents who were waiting for the announcer to finish with their introduction. "Mom, Dad…we have to help some people!" he informed them.
"What do you mean, my love? We are about to perform any moment."
"But there's this girl who's missing and she needs our help."
"Oh my love, that is terrible. But we can not simply stop our performance right now. Maybe once we are finished…"
"But it might to late by then!"
"As much as we want to help, my boy…it is out of our hands. I have seen security guards all around. I'm sure they are assisting them with the search of this young girl."
"But…"
"My love, when our performance is over we shall help." his mother assured him. Knowing they were right, he resignedly nodded his head and left them to perform.
"And all I kept thinking from then on was how I wanted to be the one to save this girl…the one to find her."
Kory was so touched by his profound words that she tenderly touched at both his cheeks but didn't pull him into a kiss. She hypnotically stared straight through his deep caribbean blue eyes, maybe the greatest blue she would ever witness in her life.
"Well you've found me." she whispered delicately. She leaned in closer but suddenly changed course and placed her head softly in the crook of his neck, where she kept it. She was enveloped in his scent, one that would now haunt her.
At the warmness his shoulder now experienced because of her, Dick closed his eyes peacefully. He was suffering from the enriching stimulation, only because he knew he could not have her. In spite of it all, that didn't stop him from longing to taste her nude shoulder which, thanks to her off-the-shoulder acrylic shirt, was tempting him. His inner struggle was in vain as he found himself leaning in to kiss her flesh. He continued his flight of kisses onto her neck, then onto of course her bountiful lips.
Kory didn't help either as she made the embrace of their lips more passionate with every new second. Breaking away from their kiss, she looked to his shirt and nimbly began undoing the buttons, her concentration fluctuating from his shirt to his deep blues. Dick proceeded to take off her acrylic shirt and quickly wrapped his athletic arms around her waist, fumbling with her white thin undershirt. What was going to happen after their most intimate encounter was unknown but one thing was for sure, nothing would ever be the same again.
Terra
"Mom, this is so unfair!" Terra shouted after her mother as she traveled around the house preparing for her lunch date.
"Drop the attitude now, young lady."
"Ever since Dad left, it's like I don't exist. You never listen to me…you go out all the time."
"That is not true, Terra."
"Yes it is and I'm sick of it."
A knock at the door desisted the two disgruntled females out of another looming argument. "Look, we'll talk about this when I get back, I promise. J.S. is here now and you know how he can get a little impatient sometimes."
After another forceful knock, Terra sighed heavily. "Just go." she resigned as her mother kissed her goodbye amongst her cheek.
"Remember later, tonight…we'll have that talk." She waved goodbye and disappeared from the dining room. As much as Terra didn't want to be home alone, she also didn't feel the need to go out either.
Twenty minutes had passed and she still had yet to find something worth watching on the television. Flipping channel through channel, she stopped shortly after hearing another distant knock at her door. Answering it, she was scared stiff to see the same strange blonde teen from the other night. Oh God!
Internally, she slapped herself for being careless about answering the door so easily. Without haste, she made an attempt at closing the door straightaway but felt as the boy had also tried to push it open. "No!" she puffed exhaustedly. "What do you want!" she cried out still trying to close the door with all her might.
The boy's force proved to be much more than hers as he pried open the door causing her to step away from it. Though he had until now to verbally threaten her, she wondered what were his intentions with her. Then he did the most surprising thing, he put up his hands as if he was surrendering to her.
"Who are you…what do you want…why are you following me?" she struggled with her labored breath. And he said nothing, only an expressionless stare cast upon his face.
"Say something!" she yelled out in confusion. Only he didn't, he couldn't as he brought his finger to his neck where he pointed at a thick horizontal scar straight across his Adam's apple.
For some strange reason Terra felt as if somehow this gentleman wasn't dangerous at all. In fact, she found herself feeling a little sorry for him. However, her concern changed once she saw him reach into his pocket. He pulled out what appeared to be a…pad and pencil?
"Who are you?" she asked with more determination than the first time. Instantly, he began scribbling something on the notepad. He brought it up for her to see…JOEY.
"Joey?" she repeated and he nodded. "Can you talk?" but he shook his head sadly, pointing to his scar once more. "So you're mute then?" A simple nod was her answer.
"Ok, Joey. If you aren't here to hurt me, then why do you keep following me?" As he wrote away, Terra took the time to fully examine him. He reminded her much of Gar in a way, what from his blonde hair to his green eyes but she had to admit, he did have more of a tall muscular build to him. She quickly averted her gaze back to the written words he held up for her…I'M TRYING TO PROTECT YOU.
Protect me? "Protect me from what?" she asked him puzzled. After several seconds of him writing…MY FATHER!
Alright, let me just say this…I'm so sorry for the incredibly late and long update. What with the holidays and everything in between, I haven't had much time to work on this story. Though I hope the extra, extra long chapter helps put me back in your good graces. I hope so because it was unbelievably hard to write. And I'm also not really sure what I think about it. I don't like writing flashbacks, but I guess it had to be done.
Some might wonder why Babs is just so out of character, mainly because I've never really taken a liking to her (that's just me ya'll). The only ones I really care about writing somewhat in character are the Titans themselves…and she is not a Teen Titan. So please excuse me if anyone is offended by the way I am portraying her.
Also I'm not sure if a book called Cries of the Fallen exists or not, I simply made it up for this story. Also any mistakes found can be blamed on my hectic schedule.
Also, a special note to Seherb1, who actually got me to bust my butt on this chapter, so I thank you! Everyone's reviews have been great and I truly appreciate them. All of my loyal readers, you know who you are and the new ones: Ironsarekool, cartoonstar, imsucharomantic, haley, Nightstar Grayson, strwberryblonde, My-name-is-foxglove, Seherb1...all of you are amazing!