DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the Teen Titans characters, or the DC Comic Characters. Nor any of the brand names found in this story!
Summary: Kori Anders, news reporter, has seen a lot in her time. With the recent killing of civilians, Kori is putting away her papers, and testing out her investigation skills. Not only worrying about becoming the next target, she is worrying about her old flame Richard Grayson who seems to be appearing a lot more often, especially when she is with billionaire and rival to Bruce Wayne, Slade Wilson. Who is killing the people and will Kori be next? Oh, and who is Nightwing?
Twenty-Four
Ronald Todd felt the sweat drip down his forehead. He nervously licked his lips as he waited for his leader's command on when to strike. The two watch from the open roof hatch as the fight went on.
"What are you doing?" Nightwing had asked.
"Getting what I want." Deathstroke had responded.
"What is that?" Ronald imagined Nightwing gulping.
"You dead."
Commissioner Gordon had nodded to Ronald and the two came busting out on top of the roof. Their guns were pulled out. Ronald's gun was aimed at Red X who approached behind the fallen Nightwing.
It seemed simultaneously when all guns shot at once. Ronald didn't even remember clicking the trigger; let alone watching as Red X's body fell to the ground in a pool of blood. He silently watched as X twitched twice before he stopped moving all together.
Commissioner Gordon had been in situations like this a lot. He watched anxiously as Deathstroke pointed his gun at Nightwing. Kori looked beyond petrified. He heard her scream. Her scream was loud, scared, and heartbreaking. As he looked up at Deathstroke he saw the hate of a man. Looking back down at Kori, he imagined her to be his little red-headed daughter, Barbra.
His shot fired, tears in his eyes as he thought of this situation, replacing Kori with Barbra. He had gotten so distracted with fear thinking of this situation with his daughter that as he shot he went past Deathstroke's face, missing him completely.
Slade smiled behind his desk. He felt powerful holding the gun and pointing it at Nightwing. He couldn't help chuckling that he had won. He had won this game. Deathstroke would prevail in the end.
As he grabbed a hold of Kori's hair he titled her neck up with the gun. He saw her body shiver as the cold metal touched her velvet skin. She shook beneath him whether from the cold or his pure presence he didn't care.
"What do you want?" Nightwing had asked.
What did Slade not want? He was getting what he wanted now, revenge on the city of Jump, taking and killing their own hero. He was getting back at Kori Anders who was hopelessly in love with the masked man of the night.
"You dead," Slade had tilted the gun up to Nightwing.
His shot was clear. He was about to click the trigger when he heard an ear piercing scream. His mind clouded, got distracted. He heard Kori's loud voice. Instantly he pushed the girl in front of him so she fell on her hands in front of him. He took his shot.
Nightwing wasn't focused on anyone but Kori. He was vaguely aware of Red X coming up behind him. He was completely aware however of the gun Deathstroke held in his hands. He knew he should be concerned for his own safety. He knew that he should probably do something about Red X who was now close to him. He also knew that if he paid attention to any other thing he might miss Deathstroke shooting Kori.
He began to get up and when three shots fired all at the same time. He didn't even think that any of the guns had been shot until he heard the booming sound that echoed in the air. He hadn't realized he himself had been shot until he felt a numbing pain all over.
The bullet hit Nightwing straight in his left arm above his wrist. He grunt falling to the ground and clutching the wound with his right hand. The blood dripped down from his wrist and tainted the soft white snow. He grunted with pain. He could feel the wound burn, an unimaginable hurt throughout his body once again.
Nightwing fought the pain though. He kneeled up, still holding his bloodied hand. He could hear sirens in the distance, everything seemed far away. There was so much blood…so much dizziness. He had almost missed Deathstroke pulling Kori to the edge of the building.
She had struggled against his grip. Yes, it was Kori, one of the strongest people that Richard had known, but every hero has their weakness. She was pulled roughly by her flaming red hair till she was nearly over the edge. It only took a small push and a smoke bomb to see the both of them gone.
If Kori had ever died, she didn't mind the idea so much. The only question was what would happen to her cat? Rachel and Garfield would adopt the furry Silkie. Her home would be cleaned out by a tearful Rachel and memory kept in contact through few precious items that her best friend found important. Her job would go to a young passionate writer, one that would be as great as herself, or maybe even better.
The only worry, the only fear was about Richard. Kori couldn't deny that even death couldn't stop her from loving that boy. As crazy as it sounded, as cliché, she could never forget him, not even with her body dead and cold in the ground.
She would hope that she could watch him in Heaven. That wouldn't be enough for Kori though. She would need to be with him, he was Richard Grayson. She couldn't watch him move on. She couldn't watch him endanger himself as Nightwing. She could only hope that Richard would be in her Heaven with her.
Dying felt a lot like flying, except, Kori was flying down. The world around her was black as she twisted in the air, her body plummeting to the ground. It wasn't like Kori could compare her current death experiences with past ones. She kept coming down, never knowing where she and the ground would meet.
Her only last wish was to see Richard again. She didn't care at the moment that he had lied. She only wanted to see him, the last face before her eyes closed before; a brief glance at one of the most beautiful things in the world, your true love.
"Fate seems nice at the moment." Kori thought in her head.
She suddenly saw his face. Well, she saw a black mask that hid ocean blue eyes. The black hair ruffled up and untamed. She could feel the sculpt of his body on her skin, heat radiating off his body. His scent was muskier than usual. His breath seemed heavier. He seemed to be falling with her.
It was two stories before Kori and Nightwing had reached the ground that Kori had finally realized what was happening. She didn't scream, she didn't panic, she just relaxed in Richard's arms as the two slammed on to the ground in a mix of blood and broken bones.
Rachel and Gar sat in their car seats watching the road for a few minutes. They didn't move. They didn't speak. Silence took over the night. All they paid attention to was the snow falling on their windshield not making a noise. The sirens in the background seemed to fade out watching each different snowflake fall to the window of the car and melt.
"Rachel, are we going to go?" Gar's voice shook.
"Yes, we are going to follow those police cars."
In a second of a time, their car was speeding off into the night. Neither said a word as they came to Kori's building. Police cars surrounded the building and the few people that lived nearby or who were walking on the street came to see the sight.
All eyes were on the building. Rachel unbuckled her seat belt with shaky hands. She walked over to the police barricade with Gar at her side, holding her nervous hand. Rachel tried to get past the barriers but a cop came over to her.
"Miss, you have to stay back, behind the barricade."
"This is my best friend's work!" Rachel yelled.
"You are going to have to calm down. A situation is going on above. We need everyone to cooperate so no one gets hurt." The officer looked calmly to the sky and back down.
"No, you don't understand! My best friend is up there!" Rachel shook in Gar's arms as the tears hit her cheek. Sliding down till they fell to her lips where she could taste the small bit of salt.
"Who are you identifying the woman as?" The officer now had a pen and a piece of paper in his hands which he had taken out from his pocket.
"Kori Anders. My best friend, Kori Anders, is up there on that roof!" Rachel pointed to the top of the building.
Three gun shots rang in the air. A scream penetrated the air.
"Oh my god!" Rachel fell to her knees in panic.
People who stood on the street scattered away hiding behind cars or trees. The officers braced themselves ready to go in at a moment's notice. Dogs were heard barking and two car alarms had gone off. Voices shouted in panic and people came out of their office buildings or homes.
"What's your name, miss? The officer asked. He paid no attention to the scene.
"It's Rachel, Rachel Roth." Gar answered for her.
She kneeled on the ground in her dress, her legs becoming wet from the snow that absorbed into the dress. She cried in her hands as Gar leaned down to comfort his girlfriend. Rachel was heard chanting some of her yoga terms, trying to stay as calm as possible.
Julia Heard had looked at herself in the mirror. Her long brown hair was tied up neatly in a bun. Her lips were covered in a nude lip stick and her cheeks were a light rosy color from the cold. Her brown eyes looked golden with eyelashes that seemed to go on forever.
She looked down at the sink where she washed her hands under the hot water. Using the soap she pushed down on the dispenser placing a small amount in her hands. The smell of raspberry filled her senses as she scrubbed her hands together under the scolding water.
Turning off the faucet she grabbed a paper towel and dried her hands quickly. She smoothed out her white button up shirt and fixed her small name tag. Stretching once, she threw out the used paper towel and walked out of the bathroom and back into her office.
People all over sat in their mini offices answering the phone calls of people of every kind. Some people called 911 to complain about a public service. Bartenders called asking the cops to remove the drunks or report a fight. Families would call about missing items such as a car. Then there were officers who called in asking for backup and paramedics.
"Julia, pick up that call!" Julia snapped out of her daydream and listened to her coworker.
"911, what's your emergency?" Julia looked at her computer calmly.
Only working at the police station a little less than a month, Julia had felt she had almost been through it all. Only a week into the job she had helped a woman stay brave over the phone. Kori Anders phone call was the phone call that made Julia really realize what her job was.
"Miss, this is Officer Thomas. At the Jump City Post building shots were fired. We aren't sure if anyone is injured but there was a scream as well. We have an ambulance here we only have one though. We need back up."
"Yes, yes, okay." Julia stuttered.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
*Hi, well it certainly has been awhile. I am not going to lie. I am glad I finally updated and did not give up. I'm so sorry this chapter was short. The next chapter will be the last one of Night's Hero. Then I will finish the secret locket and probably not post another story on the site until most of it is written. There are probably a lot of errors but I am too excited to post it!
Well I guess this hiatus is over. I can't exactly tell you why I haven't written since I am not sure myself. I actually tried multiple times to write this chapter and it was only till recently I was about to actually write this chapter. It is short but hopefully the next chapter will make up for it. I have to say I am a little disappointed in myself for not updating in forever. I honestly haven't been on the site since the last time I updated. Its good to be back but now I have to catch up on all the stories!
I lost the passion for writing and I am starting to see a pattern with myself. Hopefully this pattern will help me to organize myself and finish things! Its good to be back. I'm sorry this chapter was dull and sort of repetitive. I just needed to get something up that wasn't too short. Hopefully you enjoyed this!
By the way if you do not remember Julia Heard, she was found in the third chapter of Night's Hero as the woman who spoke Kori on the phone when she called 911. I know it is random to bring her back up but as I reread my story I felt I mentioned her once why not again? Chances are she will be at the crime scene!
Okay, I'm done now!