Ok so happy Valentine's Day (late!) I really tried to post this the 14th but the realized I didn't have internet until the 15th so sorry about that!
I'm trying to post everything as quick as possible just so you know and feel free to pm me ideas or something you want to happen between characters because this is your story and you should have an opinion so yeah
Let's get this show on the road!
Disclaimer: See last chapter
PS: I just remembered I didn't explain who Anna Wintour is, she is one of the most influencial people of the fashion world and the editor of Vougue magazine so yeah I don't own her whatsoever (and how do you own a person by the way) i simply admire her a lot!
I kept hugging myself while I sat there wondering if this was some kind of sick joke they decided to play on me, which I knew it wasn't but held to my only hope nevertheless.
I hugged myself tighter burying my face in my knees, wishing with all my will for this to be nightmare and soon enough I would wake up and Tim would come in to ask me if I was okay as every single morning; but it didn't happen so I wished to disappear and never be seen again, for the land to suddenly open a hole and trap me in there or, by some kind of miracle, to drop dead right there. Some more sobs escaped my lips as I thought all of the possibilities but my body didn't want to move just yet.
"KORI!"
Fast footsteps approached me and finally stopped a few meters away from me, I didn't even have to look up to see who it was.
"Kori" whispered a rather breathless Tim sitting beside me and wrapping his arms protectively around me "look I know that what Bruce did wasn't the best idea he's ever had but he did because he cared for you and if it matters, know we won't tell anyone"
"I'm not worried about that" I said as I cleaned my face with my hand
He looked at me with a questioning expression "Then what is it?"
"They won't hurt us again? Right?" I asked in a whisper
"No they won't. I promise princess" He said before kissing the top of my head. I hugged him and he gently hugged me back "We should go inside Bruce is freaking out right now. He's scared; he thinks you're going to do the same as last time princess. Bruce just wants what its best for you, we all do" He said before releasing me and standing up
"Promise me one more thing" I said as we walked back inside
"What is it Kor?" He said before I smirked
"You'll help me prank them right?" He laughed at this and I could see the devious smile on his face while his eyes glinted mischievously
"Sure thing princess"
Once inside we went to my room, avoiding the party, and I cleaned myself up and headed to the party again. We roamed around for a while and Tim didn't leave my side until Alfred reminded me that I had yet to give a speech (as Bruce told me to do) and told me that after that Bruce had called me into his office/ studio to have a talk. I sighted.
Great
Tim walked me to stage and helped me up once there the chatter and noise died almost immediately, the media came to the front and extended they tape recorders and/or they microphones some even had cameras. I grabbed a microphone and walked to the center.
"Well hi guys, I guess, as everyone has already done I wanted to share some word with all of you. First of all thank you for coming tonight it's been a crazy time but I know we've had crazier ones and plenty more to come but thanks to all of your work my first line is out and probably nobody will see it coming. So it saddens me to announce that I will be taking a short break from everything from posing to creating new crazy designs" Everyone stared at me wide eyed at this statement "I am only human guys and I need a break it will be just a couple of months I promise and I'll be back before you knew I was gone I guess it's an I'll see you later" I said before stepping down and walking in Madame Wintour's direction
"I really am sorry if I have disappointed you Madame Wintour" I said bowing my head slightly only to receive a chuckle form one of the most influential people some in the fashion world
"No worries dear, even fashion needs to rest at some point plus you will never disappoint me Kori" She smiled kindly at me "And call me Anna"
"Thank you so much Anna" I said with a small smile playing at my lips
By now everyone had gone back to what they were doing before and chatted among themselves yet again but there were some brave ones that went into the dance floor while the others stayed in the sidelines watching the beautiful dresses flow to the melody and rhythm of music while wishing to be there or summoning enough courage to ask someone to accompany them.
I excused myself from Anna and went up to Bruce's office, after all he would still want to talk to me. I grimaced at the thought as I got there and walking to the room without even bothering to knock; I knew Bruce would be sitting on the sofa near the window looking outside with a glass of wine or cup of tea in his hands
"You wanted to talk?" I said in a monotone voice before I realized there was someone else in the room, and to both my surprise and annoyance, it was no other than the former boy wonder. I was about to make a remark and storm out but Bruce knew me well enough to not let that happen.
"Yes, I actually wanted to talk to both of you, Kori, please do have a seat" He said before I could even open my mouth, he had a smug look on his face, I rolled my eyes at his and his sudden formality.
"What about Bruce?" Richard said eyeing me suspiciously
"Oh puh-lease like I have an idea" I said to Richard with my best HBIC tone and face
"Both of you have to start to act civil towards each other. Am I understood?" Bruce said before Richard and I started an argument
"I am acting civil, Bruce, but she's just and stuck up bitch" Richard yelled I don't know if intentionally or not but before I knew it I had slapped him across the face.
Hard
"Don't you dare to judge me pretty boy! Don't you dare! Because mister I-am-so-obsessed-with defeating-Slade, you don't know me and you can't go around calling me a bitch when you are even a bigger one. Am I wrong? Well then tell me why did little miss innocence run away? Huh? Because I'm sure she didn't have to or she would've told you. Am I wrong Richard?" I said in a sweet tone. I looked at his face and I knew I was pushing all his buttons by now I decided to continue "Or maybe that Drina girl kept you all too blind for you to notice that she was hurting from a long time by then and that none of you cared enough to see it. So don't go telling me I am the bitch because I can sure see another and bigger one here."
I smirked as he looked ready to murder me but simply turned around from him and Bruce, whose eyes were still wide from what had just happened, and started to gracefully walk to the door with the light clicking of my heels now very audible thanks to the silence that dominated the room. My internal Starfire was yelling at me when I looked into Richard's helpless eyes but pushed away my thoughts because she was no longer me and I was no longer her which was good because then I could be whoever I wanted and this was feeling really good in my own eyes.
Just when I was about to reach for the doorknob a voice came behind me.
"Says who? The girl doesn't have an idea of who she is and who will be nothing without Bruce?" Richard hissed to me. I turned around to face him trying to keep a neutral face.
"Well in all honesty yes, Bruce was kind enough to have me here after my family died and my suicide attempt. He helped me be who I am today Richard. It is no secret! And maybe I still don't know who I am but who is a hundred percent sure? I am pretty sure even you aren't that sure Richard. And Bruce, I know you did this with the best of intentions but right now I can't deal with this" I said trying to keep myself from breaking down right there but some silent tears still rolled down my cheeks. What is with today that I've cried like three times already?
"I'm sorry Kori" Bruce said "I do apologize for the both of us, Kor" He tried reaching up to my face to brush my tears away with his thumb but I took a step back and raised a hand
"Don't"
I almost regretted it when I saw his heartbroken expression. Never had I rejected Bruce in any way and today, for the very first time, I had. I watched as he took a step back and nodded.
"You know Bruce, you're always sorry for everything you do but you keep making the same mistakes over and over again and for you to learn the lesson, always, someone's life has to be on the line. And I'm tired and sick of it! You know me better than anyone; and all of this could end and you still did it! Over and over again! You know? I'm not staying with them. I'm going to go somewhere for a couple of days or weeks or months, I don't know. But when I come back I want all of this, sorted out or I'll leave again!" I looked at him, he was about to say something but I cut him off "And don't tell me it is time to face my demons because I know you genuinely care for me and Tim but we all deal with things differently. I'm not patrolling tonight so ask Nightwing or one of the titans to take my place" I said and finally went out of the room and headed towards mine.
Once I got there I immediately changed my clothes into skin tight black jeans with a plain white t-shirt, leather jacket on top of it and combat black boots. I took out a duffel bag and started to throw everything inside it; some necessary things and the ones with sentimental value for me. I opened another drawer and took out some cash I always saved in case of an emergency, took out my bat-communicator and my phone leaving them there , not before I sent a quick text to Tim telling him I was leaving for a while.
I took the duffel and walked down the corridor to the service staircase, it came in handy to know where everything was. I ended in the kitchen and quickly made my way to the garage through another set of stairs, once there I took my helmet and the keys of one to the many bikes Bruce and Tim owned, went to it and started it. With a soft purr the motor came to live. I started the gas and headed out, my helmet covering my face so no one would recognize me and with that I melted into the night.
I drove all the way to the center of Gotham and stopped the bike. Going up into an alleyway I opened a storage room and left the bike and helmet there. This storage room was yet another secret from Bruce, Tim and Alfred. I turned and found my jet black 1965 Ford Mustang, I grabbed the keys from my inside pocket and sat in there, throwing the duffel behind me. It was a car no one knew I had thus making it appropriate to disappear in, now it was really slim chance (next to none) that they would find me.
With the helmet, bike keys and bike long gone by now I started the car and hit the road in a direction no one would suspect to find me and with the Titans gone it was way better. After at least three hours of driving I got there.
Jump City