Just Drabbles
Disclaimer: You know, I should really follow suit and just make a standard disclaimer in my profile. The Teen Titans aren't mine.
Chapter 17: The Jewel of Charta (A continuation of Mona Lisa Smile)
While the occupants of Jump City University either slept or partied, one lone light let its soft glow, coupled with the moonlight filtering through a glass pane, provide Kori Anadyr the ability to see as she typed up her piece on California's risk of leaving the continental United States and become an island, her latest article for the Jump City Chronicle. The twenty-three year old was in her second year of Grad school, her first year of a four year internship with the newspaper.
Once she finished typing out her last sentence, Kori stretched, smiling as she remembered the reason why she had switched her major from English to Journalism.
Kori stood on the uppermost tier of the college observatory, hers and Richard's unofficial "place". The place for them to meet, share sweet kisses and talk about everything and yet absolutely nothing at the same time. She stared out at the afternoon sky, watching it melt into twilight, the first few stars of the night winking into view. Leaning on the railing, she reveled in the warm wind caressing her face, it reminded her so much of Richard's touch.
"There she is, the beautiful, exotic Kori Anadyr, fiery tresses being kissed by the wind as those jeweled orbs stare out at the sunset."
Kori frowned, completely confused by her boyfriend's poetic words. Was he trying to serenade her without music? She turned only to see Richard was watching her with--
"A video camera?! Richard Grayson put that away!" A blush as rosy as the sunset dusted Kori's cheeks as she tried to dance away from the camera's line of focus.
Richard chuckled, "Aw, come on Kor, this is for my film class. I need to do a film bio on someone I find to be worldly and cultured."
Kori put her hands on her hips, "You mean you want to film the transfer student in her natural habitat?" Her eyes hardened as they narrowed dangerously."
Richard put up his hands in defense. "I never said that Kori. You did. I want to film you because I find you to be quite a lady and yes, having grown up in another country does have it's advantages. Really, it's just an interview on your thoughts on life here on campus in comparison to life back in Tamaran in a matter of social and political speaking."
Kori remained tense, "I don't know Richard. I told you I was shy and a camera solely designated for taking pictures was bad enough."
Richard pouted, "Please Kori? It won't be that long of a process." He wheedled. "Just a ten minute interview.
Kori sighed, she knew she wasn't being fair. After all, Richard hardly asked anything of her. She nodded, "Alright Richard, I shall do the interview."
Richard grinned, "Thank you. You know, if you become comfortable in front of the camera, maybe this could change your English major into a Journalism major."
Kori giggled and arched an eyebrow, "Because I have a pretty enough face to be an anchorwoman?"
Richard nodded. "Anchorwoman, sports reporter, field reporter." He shrugged, "I mean, if you want to."
His girlfriend became thoughtful. "It would help me see the world and get to know different cultures." She looked him in the eye. "Did I ever tell you the reason why I decided to be an English major?"
He shook his head. "My father wanted me to be an ambassador like himself and my mother wished me to be a teacher like herself. I wished to tell stories, perhaps my ventures as a journalist will help enable that and in a way, I can make my parents happy."
Richard chuckled. "I guess I'm a bit more of a rebel. My father wanted me to go into business, but I knew that I would graduate as a puppet, a shadow of who he is. I'm an individual with thoughts and ideas and a will of my own." His smile became wry. "It took my dad a little while to accept that."
With a smile full of understanding, Kori kept her eyes locked on Richard's as she reached for the camera. Wresting it from her boyfriend's grasp, Kori pointed it at him and began to speak in the striking and charismatic voice that belonged to a seasoned anchorwoman. "This just in, Richard Grayson, son of illustrious philanthropist Bruce Wayne confesses to his sweetheart that deep down, he is a bad boy."
Kori leaned back from the lens and grinned, prompting Richard to stick his tongue out at her.
She giggled. "What a glorious reaction from Mr. Grayson." Her laughter became louder. "Perhaps you are right Richard. I just might have to change my major after all."
Kori was brought out of her musings by the vibrating of her cell phone. Glancing at the id, her smile became wider as she saw it read, Richard-cell. Speak of the devil.
She flipped the phone open. "Greetings, Richard. It's nice to hear from you, I haven't heard your voice in so long."
Richard laughed, an undercurrent of regret lacing it. "I know, I'm so sorry about that. It's just classes have been brutal. Plus my father was in town for the past two weeks and then on top of it I've been working on that exhibit." He let out an exhausted sigh.
"Oh, yes, how is that going?"
Richard's voice became relieved. "It's finally done. Actually, the reason why I called was because I was wondering if you'd do me the honor of attending the fall festival milady."
Kori giggled. "Richard, why do you always talk in such an old fashioned tone whenever you are with me?"
"I don't know really." He responded. "I feel like I have to be a perfect gentleman with you and who has better manners than the chivalrous medieval men of yester-year?"
"You would be in the right, my good sir," Kori answered through her laughter, playing along.
"I shall see you at seven o'clock?"
"Seven it is."
"I am most sorry, Richard, but the look on your face after dunking for apples was just too funny!" Kori exclaimed. "Especially with your soaking wet hair plastered to your face. Although at the same time it does make you look extremely handsome." She pretended to be a Southern Belle waving a large lace fan and trying hard not to swoon. She batted her long eyelashes, hamming it up and eliciting a laugh from Richard.
"No need to apologize Kor, you're right, I did look silly," He admitted sheepishly. He then brightened. "Hey, would you like to come with me to the art gallery for a minute? There are just a few last minute details I want to touch up."
Kori nodded and reached for his hand, only to grasp satin. She looked at it, then raised her perplexed eyes to Richard. "Um, Richard? I believe it is you who wears ties, not I."
Richard grinned. "That's true, but tonight," he took the tie and stepped behind her. "It has a different purpose." He proceeded to slip the material over her eyes and tied a knot over her scarlet locks.
"Richard? For what reason are you blindfolding me?"
He sounded perfectly innocent. "Because I want you to get the full impact of my exhibit." He took her hand and tried to lead her but she remained frozen.
She was frowning. "I don't trust that tone of yours, Richard."
"Why not Kori?" He lifted her hand and brushed his lips against it. "Like I said, this is just for the exhibit."
Kori softened her frown and nodded. "Very well, Richard. I just don't like to be blindfolded is all."
"Sorry, Kori, but the blindfold stays on for another ten minutes." She sighed, but allowed him to lead her to the art gallery.
Fifteen minutes passed before Kori asked, "May I please open my eyes?" Her patience beginning to ebb away.
"Just a few more steps," Richard instructed gently.
Inwardly sighing, Kori took the few steps and promptly bumped into a door. "Ow," she murmured, rubbing at her now sore nose.
"Oh, no Kori! I'm sorry!" Richard's cheeks flamed red as he started to berate himself. "That was stupid of me, forgetting to mention the door, especially when you're blindfolded and now I've hurt you..."
"It's fine Richard. Please don't call yourself stupid," Kori soothed. "Accidents happen and mistakes are made."
She giggled, "Nobody is perfect although you seem to think I am."
"That's because you are perfect," Richard insisted.
"A true Modern Day Galatea, eh Richard?" Kori asked with a smirk adorning her face as she reached for the door handle. Richard got to the door first, their hands brushing. Even though they had been dating for three years, Kori still blushed when they touched. Richard laced their fingers together, and kept her hand clasped in his for a brief moment. He raised her hand and kissed it before releasing his grasp on her hand and opened the door, gently guiding her through, hand placed firmly on the small of her back.
A moment passed before Richard said, "Now you may open your eyes."
Kori eagerly removed the blindfold and blinked her large emerald eyes, trying to adjust to the somewhat dimly lit room. "Oh Richard it's beautiful!" She declared as she spun around, taking in the photographic night sky surrounding them. She looked back at him, face lit with joy. "Did you photograph every star in the galaxy?"
He grinned and wrapped an arm around her waist. "I captured on film as many stars as I possibly could." He began to name the constellations. "There's Sagittarius, Gemini, Taurus, Virgo, Aries, Scorpio," Richard continued to point them out. "Ursa Major, Ursa Minor..." He trailed off and frowned. Kori looked up at him.
"What's the matter?"
"I can't find Orion, I know I photographed it!" He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated.
Kori kissed him chastely. "Calm down," she whispered against his lips. "We'll find it."
She walked away from him, working hard to ignore the pout that had appeared. Kori circled the exhibit. About ten minutes had passed before she announced in a triumphant voice, "I found it!"
"That's great!" Richard called.
Kori's gaze remained fixed on the constellation. "While the tale of Orion himself has been told in many tongues over time, it seems that the belt is more familiar than the hunter himself." She remarked thoughtfully. She peered at the belt, smiling at the middle star. "Charta," she noted. She raised a hand and skimmed the star's surface. Her smile disappeared and a confused expression replaced it. She ran her hand over the star again, then ran her hand over the star next to Charta.
"That's odd," Kori murmured. It was almost as if Charta was raised and…cut? She gave Charta a closer look, the star appearing to sparkle and wink at her. Kori glanced back at Richard who was grinning, every trace of his frustration gone, as if he had never felt the emotion.
"Go on," he called. "Take it out."
Kori shot her boyfriend a bewildered look. He nodded. "Trust me."
She looked back at the mysterious representation of Charta and slowly traced its circumference before carefully edging her fingernail under its edge. She gasped as she watched it separate from the wall. Gingerly, Kori pulled the object away, seeing it was a sparkly stone perched on top of a silver ring.
Kori wheeled around to face Richard, surprise, happiness and shock dancing across her face. "Richard, you wish to…you want us to…" So overwhelmed with emotion, Kori barely managed to breathe out, "Truly?"
Richard walked over to her, took the ring from her grasp, knelt down and said, "Truly."
There were no fireworks, no rush of heat, the question wasn't asked. A smile worked its way onto Kori's face as she nodded then knelt down to his eyelevel and pulled him into a passionate kiss, conveying all over her love for him, Richard scarcely having time to slip the ring onto her finger.
When they broke for air, two sets of jewels glittered with a brighter fire that made the diamond adorning Kori's slim finger seem dull.
Well, I gotta be honest, the proposal scene is based off a manga whose name escapes me, but I clearly don't own.