Chapter 23 - Moments
I promised a long chapter and I delivered. This chapter is my favorite chapter so far and is designed to pass alot of time, but still give you some funny, nice, and important moments before the real plot begins in the next chapter. Oh, and guys don't apologize for constructive critisism, it improves the story and is welcomed as long there is a good reason behind it. 305 reviews and 50 favorites for an update. Review and enjoy.
PS: I am a hard person to make laugh, but to the guest reviewer who went by the name EAT THAT COOKIE, you my friend are hilarious.
The Tricking Or The Treating
Monday, October 31st 7:00 PM - Richard and Kori's house
Normal POV
It was the first day back to school and therfore football practice, which was followed by an intense training session with what would become the Titans after Nightwing believed they were ready. All Richard really wanted to do was curl up on the couch with his girlfriend and watch a scary movie or two to celebrate Holloween. Kori however, had a different idea.
Afetr escorting his friends out the door he headed upstairs to her bedroom, where she had rushed off to after they had exited his workout room. "Hey Kori, he called as he walked in, "I was... what are you doing?," he questioned when laid eyes on her dressed in a Wonder Woman outfit, and her room in a mess.
"I am looking for my pumpkin basket," she answered, without even turning to look at him. "Oh, never the mind, I have located it," she exclaimed gleefully, as she threw the green jacket that had been laying on top of it onto the bed.
He didn't even know where to begin. "What?," was the only thing his brain would allow him to say.
She cocked her head to side. "It is the Holloween Richard, we are going to do the tricking or the treating, yes?"
"Umm Kor, trick or treating is for little kids," he said, holding his hand up to his waist for emphasis.
"I do not see how the acceptance of free candy is only for children," she retorted.
Richard ran his hands down his face in frustration. He knew he somehow should have anticipated this. "Teenagers just don't go trick or treating, Kor. They usually go to Halloween partys or stay up late and watch scary movies." Richard couldn't stand trick or treating. Ever since the year Batman had grabbed the wrong Robin by mistake and he had to walk home, he had hated it, and usually chose to stay inside, not even going out to patrol.
"I do not wish to go to a party with teenagers who are the drunk, and I do not like the scary movies, but I do like the sweetness of candy," she replied matter-of-factly.
"We can go to the store right now, and you can have all the candy you want."
"That would not be the fun," she pouted.
"I don't see what's fun about dressing up, going out in the cold, and knocking on stranger's doors, asking for candy," he retorted.
"Richard, Pleeeeeeeeaaaaaaaasssssssse," she pleaded, giving him her best puppy dog eyes. She hated to stoop to that level, but it always worked before, and was kinda asking for it.
He sighed, wanting to rip his hair out of his head. "Damn it." He just couldn't handle those eyes and he knew she knew it "...Go get in the car."
She eeped and gave him a quick bone crushing hug before flying out of the room, pumpkin in hand.
"Next year Tim's going with her," he grumbled before turning to walk out the door.
The Date
Friday, November 4th 11:15 AM - Jump City High School
Normal POV
Kori and Gar sat in their fourth period class room. Kori was in the process of drawing an army of bunnys in her notebook, while Gar was in deep thought.
He and Raven had offically been dating for a week now, but he hadn't had the chance to take her on date. He was so busy with school, practice, and not mention Richard's insane training schedule, and besides, he didn't even know where to take a girl like Raven on a date. A horror movie? The library? Or possibly a graveyard? Somehow none of those seemed right.
All he was sure of was that Richard had gave everyone the entire weekend off, and he wanted to take her somewhere Saturday, but where? Maybe he should ask a girl? Gar glanced over at Kori, who was concentrating very hard on the notebook in front of her.
"Psssst, Kori," he whispered, getting her attention.
"Yes?," she asked, looking up.
"I need relationship advice, I wanna take Raven on a date, but where should I take her?"
Kori beamed a huge smile. She never got to talk about relatioships with Gar or Vic, so this was huge for her. "McDonalads is very generous with there musturd," Kori informed.
"Uhhh, I don't think that's Raven's scene, what else you got?"
"Hmmmm," Kori's eyebrows scrunched as she thought. She then snapped her fingers together, a gesture she had picked up from Babs during her time in Gotham. "I know where you can take her," Kori proclaimed in a hushed tone.
"Where?" Gar asked.
"Richard and I were sent tickets to attend the play Romeo and Juliet by Willam Shakespear, but he said he did not wish to go because they were only using us for the publicity, but you could take friend Raven."
Gar thought for a moment. That was actually a great idea, Raven would love a play, especially one where people died at the end. "Kori you are a genius, I owe you so big."
"Do not do the mentioning of it. I believe it is glorius that you and friend Raven are dating."
"Yeah, I really like her," Gar replied with a grin on his face and a glazed look in his eye.
Kori giggled. "You are sure that it is only like and that you are not in the love with her?," she teased.
"What? No, we only been dating a week," he waved her off dismissively, but his face was betraying his tone, smiling goofily at the mention of love.
Kori shrugged. "I loved Richard, before we were doing the dating, besides you have known each other for over a year."
"Yeah, but you guys were really dating before you had made it official..." He paused for a moment, "She hasn't said anything, has she? I mean about loving me?," Gar asked, sounding a little to hopeful.
Kori giggled again. "What is said during the girl talk is not spoken of again."
"Kori, that is...," Gar began to complain, but just then the bell rung, singaling the ending the end of class.
"I believe the expression is saved by the by the bell," Kori grinned before scampering out of the room to meet Richard in the hallway, leaving a now emotionally conflicted Gar behind.
After the 38-10 win that night in the game, making the Steelers 9-0, Gar headed into the locker room along with Vic and Richard to change back into his normal close. After that was completed, he headed out of the locker room to meet Ravne by Vic's car. He still hadn't asked her about the date, but now was as good a time as any.
"Hey Rae," he said as he approached.
"Hey, where are dumb and dumber," she asked, referring to Richard and Vic.
He laughed nervously. "Uhhh, I think they're still changing, but can I ask you something?"
She raised an eyebrow, but nodded.
Gar glanced over at Kori who was nodding with a huge smile on her face. "Kori and Dick were sent tickets to make an appearance at a Romeo and Juliet play, but they aren't going, so I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go?"
She smiled lightly. Gar was cute when he was nervous, and she was actually pretty impressed he wasn't trying to take her to a horror movie or something. "Yeah, sounds fun," she agreed.
Gar beamed a smile before wrapping his arms around her and giving her a soft kiss.
Everyone stayed over at Dick and Kori's house that night, and the first thing Gar did the next morning... well, afternoon when he woke up was to go and try to find Raven.
He headed down the stairs, but when he enetered the living room, he found only Richard and Vic setting on the couch watching a game.
"Hey dudes," he began, walking up into their fram of vision, "where's Rae at."
Richard shrugged. "Her, Kori, and Bee have been locked up in Kori's room all day."
"Yeah, we knocked on the door, but Kori and Bee basically told us to go away, so we been down here," Vic added.
Gar frowned as he wondered what they were doing up there. Was Raven having second thoughts, and Kori and Bee were trying to convince her to go? Was she sick?
He had to know. "I'm going to see what's going on," he said before turning to walk out of the room.
Vic looked over at Richard. "He's so not getting in."
"Nope."
Upstairs, Gar knocked on the door.
"Richard, Vic, I have told you we are the busy, you must shoo," came Kori's voice.
"Kor, it's Gar," he he called back.
It was quite for a moment before the door cracked open just enough for Gar to be able to see half of Kori's face. "Yes?," she questioned.
"Where's Raven?"
"In here."
"Can I see her?"
"No."
"Why?"
"We are the busy, you may see her later. Come back at five," she replied before shutting the door in his his face.
"Kori," he called again.
"Shoo," she damanded.
Gar walked away from the door, grumbling under his breath. Walking into his room, he checked the clock, finding it was already two. 'Just three more hours,' he thought to himself.
The hours passed by, spending nearly the whole time getting ready and pacing nervously back and forth across his room. He was back at Raven's door at five on the dot. He knocked at a rapid pace, until the door was answered, but it wasn't Kori this was Raven. She stood there wearing a dark blue dress, and had the slighest bit of make-up on. Gar's jaw dropped. She had to be the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.
"Raven you look... wow," he breathed. Now he understood what the they had been doing all day.
She blushed. "Thank you, are you ready?"
He wordlessly nodded, his mouth still agape and a little drool was even peaking over his lower lip.
"It's a good thing we're going to a Shakespear play, you could learn to use your words better," she joked, hooking her arm around his.
Down stairs Richard, Kori, Vic, and Bee stood at the front door seeing Gar and Raven off.
"Okay," Richard began, handing his keys to Raven, "have fun tonight, and whatever you do..."
"Yeah I know, don't let Gar drive," she interjected.
He gave a thankful nod in response.
"Dude, I am a great driver," he defended himself.
Vic looked at him blandly. "You had to take your driver's license seven times."
"And the only reason they passed you was because all the driving instructors refused to get in the car with you an eighth time," Richard added.
Gar scowled.
"You two stop," Bee scolded them before turning back to Raven an Gar. "Have a good time tonight guys, and don't do anything I wouldn't do," ahe said with a wink.
Raven just rolled her eyes. "C'mon Gar."
He nodded and the couple walked off toward the garage.
"Have a glorius night friends," Kori called a she waved them off.
"They grow up so fast," Vic said, throwing an arm around Bee's shoulders and whiping an imaginary tear from his eye.
Hours later Raven and Gar exited the theater where they had watched the play.
"Well, what did you think? I mean did you have fun?," Gar asked hopefully as they made there way to the car.
She smiled lightly. "Yeah, I really did. It was sweet of you to bring me here."
A huge smile crossed his face and he wrapped his arm around her waist. "This is just the start."
Raven leaned into him. It was just the start, the start of something completely knew to her, but something amazing as well.
Working Girl
Saturday, November 12th 6:00 PM - Richard and Kori's house
Normal POV
Kori hurridly walked into her and her boyfriend's house, in search of said boyfriend. She and her friends had went to the mall, spending nearly the entire day there, but Richard stayed home, saying only that he was wroking on something very important for the Justice League, and he didn't have time to go.
She was upset that he wasn't able to attend, but during her time out something glorius had happend and she just had to share her news with him. Quickly rushing upstairs and the back down stairs to the Nightwatch, she found Nightwing setting in front of his computer, right where she had left him that morning.
Because he was completely focused on the file in front of him, and the that fact that she was floating, he never heard her come up. She wrapped her arms over him, causing him to jump, startled by the sudden contact.
She giggled into his ear. "It is only me boyfriend Richard...," her brows scrunched, "or Nightwing. I am not sure what to call you."
He laughed and spun around in his black rolling chair to face her. "It's just us, you can call me Richard."
"Very well," she said smiling and taking a seat in his lap.
"Did you have fun?," he asked, wrapping his arms around her.
She nodded. "I did, and I have glorius news."
"Oh?"
"Yes, after we left the mall, Vic took me to McDonalds to get the burger with cheese, and I saw a sign that said the were looking for someone to work there, and I filled out the application and they did hiring me," she exclaimed. "I start tomorrow, is that not glorius?"
Richard didn't seem as enthusiastic about it as she was. "Kori, why did you get a job? You know you don't have to work, I've been taking care of you for months."
Her smile fell, replaced by a dejected expression. "You are not happy for me?"
Seeing he had hurt her feelings, he quickly elaborated. "No, it's not that, it's just I don't understand why you want to work when you don't have to."
She sighed. "I am not like you."
He raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Confident. When I was little my sister did the picking on me, and then when I came here everyone was mean to me except you and our friends. It has made me skittish, and I believe that having a job will booste my confidents and make feel the independent," she explained. "It is only part time, and will not interfere with the hero training, so can I do it?"
"I can't tell you what you can and can't do, it's your choice. If it's what you want then I'll support you all the way," he said with an understanding smile.
She beamed and pecked him on the lips. "I thank you, will you take me to work tomorrow morning at seven?"
Richard nodded. "Of course." He glanced at his files on his computer desk. "I really need to get back to work right now though."
She gave a light smile and nod. "Very well, I will bring you something to eat shortly."
He kissed her. "Anyone ever tell you you're the best girlfriend in the world?"
She giggled as she rose from his lap. "And do not do the forgetting it."
He chuckeld as turned back to his files. "Love you."
"Love you as well," she called back as flew toaward the door.
The next morning Richard pulled into the McDonald's parking lot, Kori in the passenger seat. "You ready?," he asked, looking over at her.
"I have the flys of butter," she responded, rubbing her stomache.
"Don't worry, you'll do fine. Want me to walk you in?"
She nodded. "Please."
Richard opend his door and jogged around to the other side of the car to open her's. Once she was out he clutched her hand in his own. "C'mon," he said with reassuring smile.
Kori took a deep breath and nodded. She was so nervous, and yet super excited. She didn't want to make a fool of herslef in there, but was enthusiastic about having her own money to spend instead of having to use Richard's, or rather Bruce's. It was kind of amusing in that she was the only person in the history of ever to work at McDonalds when she had a credit card in her pocket with enough money on it to buy the entire comapany.
Once they reached the inside everyone in the restraraunt froze in place. Did Dick Grayson just walk into McDonalds? And why was he holding hands with a girl in a McDonald's uniform? Wait, was that Kori Anders? Why was she working here? Needless to say, the people inside had the right to be perplexed.
Richard, ignoring the stairs, turned to look ar Kori. "If you need me just call me, okay?"
"I shall be the okay," she replied, more to assure herself than him.
"Okay, I'll pick you up at three."
"Very well."
He smiled lightly and pecked her cheek before turning and walking out the door.
Kori turned to around the room, seeing all eyes were on her. Maybe she hadn't thought this through to well.
At three on the dot, Richard pulled up to McDonalds, but he found that the parking lot was completely full, so he had to park at the Burger King across the street. What was going on? He'd never seen any restaraunt so busy. When he walked through the door he saw that inside was just as crowded as the parking lot, and he didn't see Kori anywhere.
The next thing he know someone lept onto his back and coverd his eyes with their hands. He smiled, knowing the smoothness of those hands anywhere.
He pulled her hands off and she dropped to the ground. Turning around he found her beaming a huge smile at him. "Richard, today was glorius. Everyone is most nice, and they talked with me about many things. I learned how to work register of cash and a very nice man tought me how to juggle the burgers of chesse. Oh, I also got the tips," she exclaimed, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a neatly folded stack of bills before handing it to him.
As he counted the money his eyes went wide. "Kori, this is seven hundred dollars."
"Yes, the manager said that I am an attraction, so the day had been quite busy, and people were very generous," she responded.
Richard couldn't help, but to smile. She seemed so happy, and that made him happy as well. He handed her the money back before wrapping his arm around her waist. "When you get rich and famous don't forget about me, okay?," he joked.
She giggled. "I will not, but may we go home now? I love working, but my feet hurt."
Richard chuckeld. "Yeah, I'll give you a foot message on the couch," he said leading her out the door.
Kori smiled brightly. She an amazing boyfriend, great friends, a job, and a foot massage waiting for her when she got home. Life was good.
Heat
Sunday, November 20th 2:00 AM - Richard and Kori's house
Normal POV
The students of Jump City High were offically out for Thanksgiving break, and no was happier than that fact than Kori and Richard. They had went to bed much earlier than normal because they had a flight to Gotham at 9:00 AM Sunday morning. Richard was excited for the feast Alfred was making, and Kori just wanted to see Babs, who had became one of her bestfriends quickly.
Richard was sleeping peacfully, dreaming of swinging through the air as the people in the circus cheared loudly, but suddenly he was stirred awake by what sounded somewhat like helacopter in the distance. He blinked open his eyes to find that the sound he was hearing was not a helacopter, but Kori who was snuggled up against him. She was... purring?
Shrugging it off as an alien thing he closed his eyes and tried to return to sleep, but she began to pur louder and nuzzle him with her nose.
Richard, knowing he wouldn't be able to sleep like this, tried to move away to the other side of the bed, but her grip tightend on him, holding him in place. In fact her grip was so tight, he couldn't breath. "kori, wake up. You're crushing me," he yelled through a struggled breath.
She opend her eyes, and her death grip on him istantly loosend. "What?," she asked through half lidded eyes.
He panted until he caught his breath. "You were sqeezing the life out of me, and making some kind of purring noise."
Her eyes widend. "I was purring?"
"Yeah, what's up with that?"
She didn't answer him, only rocketing from the bed to the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.
Richard quickly followed and knocked on the door. "Kori, what's wrong?," he asked, his voice full of worry and concern.
"I'll explain in the morning. Please go to another room for the rest of the night," she called from the bathroom.
"You can't just kick me out of my own room, and I have the right to know if something is wrong with my girlfriend," he retorted.
"I have slep in here for months, all my close are in the closet, and my tooth brush is in here, I believe this is our room, and nothing is wrong with me, I just need time to figure how to explain it. Please just go till the morning," she pleaded.
Richard growled. "Fine, but I'll be back in here first thing in the morning."
"Very well," she replied, and Richard could tell she was as far away from the door as possible.
He grumbled under his breath as he walked away, but before he exited the room he heard the shower turn on, and by how loud it sounded he could tell she had the cold water turned all the way on. Why she taking a cold shower in the middle of the night?
Thinking through the possibillitys, he headed to Kori's "other" room and laid down on her bed, to anxious for the morning to sleep.
Richard considered 6:00 AM morning, he was walking through his bedroom door 5:55 AM. Those last five mintes were just to much to bare.
Kori, who was sitting the middle of the bed, dressed in a pair his jogging pants and a baggy white t-shirt, moved off the bed, putting it in between them.
Richard frowned from the other side of the bed. "Kori what's wrong?," he asked sternly.
She studied the floor, her cheeks flushing. "I do not know how to tell you."
"Just say it, we don't hide things from eah other, remember?"
She shifted from foot to foot nervously. "I am... I have come into... heat."
Richard was confused, and his face expressed it perfectly. "Huh?," was all he could manage.
She glanced at him before her eyes fell to the ground again. "As I have said, Tameranians are descended from a feline like creature, and because of that Tameranian females go through a week long cycle every six months in which we become fertal and desire physical contact from their mate, similar to an animal in heat. I have never experienced the cycle before because I had never had sex until we did it. I am sorry, I should have told you, but I was not keeping the track."
Richard blinked, focusing mostly on the her being fertal part. "So, you can get pregnant if we have sex?"
She nodded. "I believe our DNA is similar enough that we would be able to mate."
"Well ummm, we just won't have sex for a week," he reasoned.
She shook her head, finally looking at him. "It is not that simple. I am fighting the urges at this moment and it will get worse the longer into the cycle I am. Eventually I will not be able to contol it, and will need you. If you were a Tameranian male you would be able to sense it, and would have the same urges. It is customary on Tameran for the couple to lock themselves away in there sleeping chamber for the entire week," she informed.
"Well, I mean I'm not ready for kids, and we can't just lock ourselves away when we head to Wayne Manor. There's to many people around," he responded.
"We cannont go to Gotham."
He raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"When I get futher into the cycle, any female I see will be seen as a threat and I will be very agressive," she explained.
"Umm, I don't know what to do," he said, scratching his chin. He wanted to see his family, but he couldn't take the risk of Kori going Starfire on some poor girl. "If you're gonna be attacking any female in sight, it's probably best we stay in the house, and I think I have twenty pack of condoms in my nightstand."
She frowned at him.
"They're from before I met you," he defended himself, holding up his hands.
She was quite for a moment, and Richard could tell she was thinking. "It will not be enough. If you do not wish for a child, you will need to purchase more."
Richard's mouth fell slightly agape. "I thought you said it only lasted a week."
"It does... well, actually only five earth days."
Oh boy, he was gonna be really sore. "Ummm okay, I can handle this," he assured himself, walking over the closet and changing.
When he took off the baggy white shirt he was wearing, Kori bit her bottom lip and willed herself to stay in place. This was very hard for her.
A now dressed Richard turned to her and began to approach, but she held out her hand, halting him. "Do not come closer unless you are ready to begin. Go purchase your protection, and contact your family. Tell them I am very upset that we are not able to attend."
"Umm, right," he responded, taking a step back. "Just stay here, and don't leave the room for anything. I'll be back in thirty minutes tops."
"Hurry," was all she said, and Richard noticed she was as stiff as a statue.
He nodded before quickly heading out the door. It was going to be a long five days.
The Cycle Aftermath
Saturday, November 26th 1:00 PM - Richard and Kori's house
Richard laid in bed, not even considering the idea of trying to move. He'd been shot, thrown threw walls, and had broken ribs, but this was the most uncomfortable pain he's even been in.
Whatever douche bag said a guy coud never get enough sex obviously had never met a Tameranian girl in heat. Sure it was fun for the fist two days, but after that he was wareing down, and by day five it was just a nightmare. In fact the only thing he could equate the final three days to was being malled by a bear.
Richard groaned as he shifted so that he could adjust the ice pack between his legs, and just the Kori walked in carrying a food tray.
She sat the tray on the nightstand before taking a seat on the bedside and began rubbing his stomach. "I am truely sorry, Richard," she apologized for the millionth time.
"It's okay, I know you couldn't help it, but I think I've had enough making love for about a year," he joked.
Kori frowned at him in response.
"I'm kidding baby," he assured. "Lay down with me?," he asked, holding his arms out.
She smiled and moved to lay her head down on one of his outstreched arms.
Richard ran his hand through her silky hair as he stared into those endless green eyes of hers. "You know, I can honestly say I like this more than sex at this point. I think that's when you know your head over heals in love."
She smiled and kissed him lightly. "I enjoy this very much as well." Her eyes widend as she rembered something." Oh, I have a message for you."
"Oh?"
"Yes, the Superman called you while you were asleep. He wanted to thank you for taking on the project and to invite you and the Titans to the Justice League's Cristmas party," she replied.
Richard thought it over for a moment. "Would you wanna go?"
She nodded. "Yes, last year I did not know what Cristmas was and therefore could not celebrate it, but I would love to do so with you and our friends."
He nodded. "Then that's what we'll do. They usually have their cristmas party on the 23rd, so we could have our little party the 24th."
"Oh this is going to be glorius. May I do the decorating?," she asked gleefully.
"Sure."
"And make the Cristmas dinner?"
Richard sucessfully hid his grimace. He loved the girl with all his heart, but cooking just wasn't one of her strengths. "Umm, how about we let Vic handle the cooking?"
"Very well. Oh," she again exclaimed, "will the Santa Clause come?"
Richard blinked twice. He honestly felt like he was talking to a child at this point. "Umm yeah, I'm sure he'll bring you something nice. Anything you think you want?"
Hey eyebrow scrunched. "Can I have a phone? I would like to do the texting during class."
He chuckled. "You can have whatever you want."
"Then yes, I would like the phone. What would you like?"
He smiled and kissed her. "I have everything I want."
We Are Champions
Friday, December 15th 9:55 PM - San Francisco 49er's football stadium.
"Grayson drops back in the pocket, scans the feild, steps up, and he throws. Stone's there... Touchdown Steelers! After and undefeated season, the Jump City Steelers have won the state championship!," the annoucer exclaimed, his voice becoming more excited the quicker her talked.
Everyone from Jump rushed onto the field to congradulate the team. Kori managed to find her star All-American quaterback on the fifty yard line and ran to him, leaping it his arms.
"You won," she exlaimed, knowing how important this game had been to him. He had been so nervous all day, but he had done it, throwing seven touchdowns, and running for another.
"We won, everybody from Jump did this together," was his reply. "We are champions."
A Watch Tower Cristmas
Saturday, December 23rd 5:00 PM - The Watch Tower
Normal POV
Nightwing stood in front of his team, looking them over, his face stern. "Okay, listen closely, we're here as heroes, and that means I expect you all on your best behavior," he said stairing down Beast Boy. "Once we walk through that door," he pointed the door to his left, "you're going to see some of the world's greatest heroes and I don't need a certain member of my team fanboying."
Beast Boy scowled. "Dude, I'm gonna be fine."
"I'll put him on a leash if he get's out of control," Raven promised.
Nightwing wordlessly nodded.
Starfire looked at him through her glowing green eyes. "Stop being the scrooge, N'laene."
"Sorry Star, I'm just trying to make you guys understand whatever you do is going to reflect on me."
She floated over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "We shall all be the have, you need not worry."
He nodded and gave a light smile. "Alright, let's go," he said heading to the door.
When they walked through the entrance, the Cristmas music that was playing over the speakers reached their ears, and Nightwing scanned the scene. In the far corner Batman was talking with Wonder Woman with a seemingly not to happy Catwoman looking on. Near the punch bowl to his right stood Robin and Superboy, and not far from them were Speedy, Aqualad, and Wonder Girl.
Superman, who was dressed in a Santa suit, meaning he'd lost the bet with Batman that they had every year, was putting the presents under the tree up on the room's stage with the help of his wife Lois Lane.
The Flash was eating of course, while Green Lantern was dancing around the room with Hawkgirl, and Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter, and Aquaman were having a conversation.
And finally Zatanna, who was approaching them... Oh boy. Zatanna and Nightwing had a fling in the past, which was really a freinds with benefits relationship, so this wasn't good.
"Hey, it's been awhile wings," she said flirtasiously, putting her hands on his chest.
Nightwing glanced at Starfire, who wasn't a happy camper at the moment. He took a step back, causing her hands to fall from his chest. "Nice to see you again as well. Let me introduce you to my team. Cyborg, Bumble Bee, Raven, Beast Boy, and Starfire," he said taking her Starfire's hand in his own when he introduced her.
Zatanna glanced down at their hands before looking back up at Nightwing, a knowing smirk on her face. "I see... Batman said you had finally excepted Project Titan." She then turned to look at them. "It's nice to meet you, I'm Zatanna."
"You as well," Cyborg greeted for the group.
Nightwing turned back to Zatanna and was about to continue the conversation, but a red streak followed by a gust of wind stopped him.
The next thing he knew the Flash was at his side with one arm over his shoulder and the other around Zatanna's.
Nightwing smiled. Wally West, A.k.A the new Flash, had been his best friend ever since he was nine or ten, and the first ex-sidekick to make the transition to the Justice League.
"Hey buddy, I didn't know if you were going to show up." He turned his head at an odd angle to see the people behind Nightwing. "Who are they?"
Nigtwing turned, forcing the Flash, Zatanna and Starfire to turn as well. "Cyborg, Bumble Bee, Raven, Beast Boy, and," Nightwing pulled Starfire so that she was in front of him, "Starfire. They're my current team from Project Titan"
He nodded before focusing on Starfire. "That's the Kori girl you're dating isn't it? Batman filled us in on her."
Nightwing nodded.
Flash smiled widely at the girl. "Hi, I'm the Flash. You're all my boy here talks about everytime I speak to him."
Kori blushed and glanced at Nightwing before looking back at the Flash. "I am glad to hear that."
Flash gave her a cheeky grin and an eyebrow wiggle in response.
"Alright guys," Nightwing began, "have fun tonight." He focused on Raven. "Keep him out of trouble," he instructed motioning to Beast Boy, who frowned.
She nodded, and Nightwing turned to mingle with the rest of the party's ocupants, Starfire, the Flash and Zatanna at his side.
The next two hours consisted of Starfire dancing with everyone, ranging from a heavily blushing Robin to Wonder Girl, who had somehow became her knew best friend in those couple of hours, Nightwing talking with the core members of the Justice League, the topic of the conversation mainly being Project Titan, Beast Boy fanboying just like he wasn't supposed to, Raven chasing her stary eyed boyfriend all across the room, and Bumble Bee and Cyborg dancing.
The party had a good while left and Starfire's feet were hurting, so she took a seat at one of the tables sat up to the side. She was becoming very tired, and was thinking about asking Nightwing if they could leave early, but she could see that he was having what seemed to be a very serious conversation with Batman, Wonder Woman, and the Flash, so she just decided to wait.
After setting there quitely for a minute, she saw a young red haired teen approaching, a mask covering his eyes. He was about her age and around the hight of six foot. He had short red hair, and nice smile. His muscles weren't very big like Nightwing's, but they were still very toned. Starfire had to admit he was pretty cute.
"Hey, I'm speedy," he said, sitting down beside her, and extending out his hand out.
She shook it lightly and smiled. "I am Starfire."
"Starfire huh? You must be a member of Nightwing's squad."
She nodded. "I am."
"I saw you dancing around here, and I thought I would come talk to you."
"I thank you. My friends are all busy, and Nightwing is talking."
He raised an eyebrow. "Nightwing's not your friend?"
She cocked her head to the side. "He is my best friend, why do you ask?"
"You didn't include him when you said your friends were all busy."
"Oh, I apologize, you do not not know, Nightwing is my boyfriend," she informed
Speedy's eyes widend behind his mask. It probably wasn't be a good idea to hit on his future bosses' girlfriend. "Oh, you're right, I didn't know."
"We have been doing the dating for a long time now," she informed him, a goofy smile on her face.
"I guess there's no way I can covince you to be my new year's eve date then, huh?," he joked.
She giggled and shook her head. "No, I do not think Nightwing would like that very much, but I shall dance with you if you wish."
He shrugged. "I'll take what I can get." He took Starfire's hand and led her to the dance floor where the two spun around and round until speedy caught a cramp in his foot and had to sit down. Starfire, feeling reenergized, went in search of her next dance partner, who turned out to be Cyborg, followed by Bumble Bee, the Flash, who tought her to twerk, Wonder Girl again, Superboy, Catwoman, and Green lantern.
Starfire had also kept a fairly close eye on her boyfriend, especially anytime him and Zatanna were in ten feet of each other. She could sense a past between them, but he showed no intrest in her as anything other that a friend during the duration of the night, which pleased her greatly.
Hours passed at the night finally came to an end, which Nightwing was thankful for. Five more minutes and he was positive Beast Boy would be clinging to Superman's leg, Raven would have killed Beast Boy, Starfire would be trying to dance with Batman, and Cyborg and Bumble Bee would be dirty dancing. Needless to say, as of now the Titans were a disfuctional group, but none of them would change anything... except if Kori tried to cook tomorrow, then they would definitely want to change something.
Promise
Sunday, December 31st 11:55 PM - Jump City
Normal POV
Nightwing and Starfire set on the edge of the largest building in Jump, in the exact same spot that Kori was in when she had first met Nightwing. They were watching the huge firework show that the city was putting on in amazed silence.
If Kori wasn't so mezmorized by the beauty of the fireworks, she might have noticed Nightwing reach into his utillity belt and pull and a small balck velvet box. "Kori," he said getting her attention.
"Yes, N'laene?"
"I got you something," he said handing her the box.
She staired at the box with interest before looking back up at him.
"Open it," he instructed softly.
She looked back down at the box, and slowly did as instructed. When she finally saw what was inside, a gasp escaped her. "Richard, it is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen," she said, studying the ring with a huge diamond at it's center. She looked back up at him, a questioning expression on her face. "Please, what is the occasion? Cristmas is over."
He smiled lightly, stairing into her green eyed from beneath his mask. "It's a promise ring. The loop is made from the core of a asteroid, so that it doesn't burn up in your starbolts."
She cocked her head to the side, not understanding. "Promise ring?," she repeated, still not undertsanding.
"A promise ring is something that a guy sometimes gives a girl here to show that they are promising to marry them," he explained.
Kori eyes widend. "We are getting married?," she asked breathlessly.
"Well, not yet," Nightwing clarified urgently.
She looked crestfallen. "Oh,... but we are getting married?," she checked.
He smiled. "Yeah, I want to if you do."
She beamed a smile and tackeld him to his back, smashing her lips into his as she slipped the ring onto her finger.
When they broke away she reached into her bra and pulled oout the cell phone that she had gotten for cristmas. She had kept it there because her uniform had no pockets unfortionately.
"What are you doing?," Nightwing asked as she began to search her contacts.
"I must call our friends and tell them this glorius knews," she replied, sounding more giddy than he had ever heard her.
"Kor, I don't think you undermmm," he tried to explain, but she covered his mouth with her hand before he could.
"Shhh, I cannot hear if you are talking," she said as she put the phone up to her ear.
"Hello?," Bee answered after three rings, sounding like she had been woke up.
"Friend Bee, I have most glorius knews," Starfire said excitedly.
"Kor," Richard began.
"Shush," she said sternly even though tears of happiness were beging to form in her eyes. She took flight, so that she could hear better and he couldn't interupt her coversation.
"What's going on?," Bee asked groggily.
"Richard and I are getting married," Starfire gleefully replied.
A pause. "WHAT?!"
"Yes, is it not glorius?"
"What's going on baby?," Starfire heard Vic ask.
"Dick and Kori are engaged," she informed him, sounding almost as giddy as Kori.
Another pause. "WHAT?"
"I know, that's what I said," Bee exclaimed.
"Kor," Vic began, obviously now holding the phone, "you and dick are getting married?"
"Yes, he got me the ring," she replied.
On the ground Richard just looked on with intererst. She seemed so happy, happier than he had ever seen her. All he ever wanted anymore was to make her happy. He scratched his chin as he continued to listen.
Back in the sky, Kori and Bee were back talking, both speaking in that high pitched voice that happpes when girls get excited. "Hold up," Bee said. "We're about to call Gar and Raven, then we will call you back."
"Very well," Kori responded before hanging up and flying back down to the roof.
"Bee and Vic are most happy for us us," she said hugging her chosen tightly, tears of pure joy still in her eyes.
"Are you happy?," he asked seriously.
"Oh, more than I have ever been. You do not know how happy you have made me tonight," she replied into his ear.
"Hmm." Just then his phone rung. He checked the caller I.D to see that it was Gar calling.
"Hello," he answered.
"Dude, you and Kori are engaged?," he questioned loud enough where Kori could hear even though the phone wasn't on speaker.
He paused for a moment, deciding rather to listen to his heart or his brain, but when he leaned back and saw her smiling face, the answer couldn't have been any clearer. "Yup."
Titans, GO!
"Saturday, January 6th 9:00 PM - The Nightwatch
Nightwing stood in front of five teenagers. No five heroes. The daughter of the most powerful being in the galaxy, a green changling, a Cyborg, a half human half Bee hybrid, and an alien princess, who just happend to his fiance, though no one outside of that room was yet aware of it.
"I have watched you carefully the last two moths," he finally began. "You all have truly transformed from a group of individuals to one team, and I can confidently say that you are ready. You are offically Titans."
"So, we finally get to come with you?," Beast Boy asked.
Nightwing nodded.
"Dude, yes!," Beast Boy exclaimed.
He was in mid high hive with Cyborg, when the alarm in the Nightwatch went off. Nightwing rushed over to the computer to see what it was, finding a giant green blob monster was attacking the city's south side.
He turned to his team and shouted to one phrase, the two words that made the last months of insane traing programs worth it. "Titans Go!"
And so it began.
Yep, so tell me which little section was your favorite... I'm curious. Also, I have a prompt that I have fallen in love with, but I can write it because I am focused on this story, so if you are a commited writer with a thing for Dick/Kori AU, and will have time to write frequently please PM and I'll give you the promt and let you go at it.