Author's Note: I'm sorry for not updating sooner, but I kind fell into a funk with my writing. But, I'm back now! This was at the top of my to do list so I hope you enjoy!
Warning: Future/Referenced sexual content, Language, and this is a slash! F/F with background M/M. Don't like it? Don't read it.
Disclaimer: I really wish these were my characters, but they're not. :(
Third POV
The early signs of fall were beginning to show in Gotham city as a soft breeze ruffled through the trees, their leaves showing just hints of orange and yellow. Rachel nervously walked down the steps in front of her house in the cool evening air of October. It had been around a month since she had finally made friends. Ever since then she had to admit that she was, happy.
For once.
Every day at school she ate lunch with them and once a week they went out for pizza. As it turns out she had at least one class with each of them. Dick and Jason were both in her Math class while just Jason was in her Business class, Kori was in her science and art class, and all three of them were in one of her study halls. It was pretty great to finally look forward to those classes and to be happy in them. It was amazing, actually.
Rachel opened the backseat door of Dick's car and slid in right next to Kori as they all greeted her with smiles. Every time Kori looked her in the eyes it was like she was plunged into cold water and it always left her frantic and breathless, and very, very embarrassed. The two boys of course were very aware of her obvious crush but they let her be, and Rachel greatly appreciated it.
"Good evening, Rachel" Kori smiled, grabbing the other's hands and bouncing in her seat excitedly, "You get to do the sleep over with me!" At that Rachel flushed and smiled as the car began to move.
"I promise it won't be awkward" Dick said from the front seat, shooting her a wink over his shoulder that she shook her head at.
The more time she spent with them the more comfortable she was. The goth didn't really have a place where she could just be herself, except with them. They were quickly becoming her favorite people, but really there wasn't much competition in that department as Kori began rambling off things to her.
In all actuality, the red head had spent a good amount of time planning this to make sure everything would be perfect. Which of course Dick and Jason teased her about, relentlessly. It wasn't her fault that she really liked Rachel, okay? Besides, it had taken her a month to convince Rachel to finally accept her invitation to come over to the Manor.
Fortunately, it was only a five minute drive and as they pulled up to the gated driveway everyone laughed at Rachel's astounded "Holy shit."
Kori smiled and said "It is beautiful, is it not?"
"It's definitely something" the goth mumbled, Jason throwing a grin back at her.
"Yeah, the first time Dick brought me here I pretty much refused to go inside, but I was coerced eventually" he said, smirking at a glaring Dick Grayson.
Rachel loved their dynamic.
Then a thought struck her, and she wasn't sure how to comfortably ask as she began "So, do your parents know or...?"
"Know what?" Dick asked, parking the car in a huge garage and stepping out as the others followed.
Chuckling, Jason leaned over to Rachel and mock whispered "He's really slow, but yes, our parents know how gay Dick is."
"Hey! I'm not the only one who's not straight in this garage" Dick huffed, sticking his tongue out at Jason and firing something in Tamaranian to Kori which made the redhead chase him into the house as they heard screams.
Jason sighed and shook his head, resting an arm around Rachel's shoulders as they walked inside after them. "Those two I swear, it's like I'm their mother."
At that Rachel laughed, feeling surprisingly comfortable in Jason's company. "Yeah, they are quite the handful."
Smiling at her, they took their shoes off but he stopped her from walking ahead for a moment. He looked around, making sure they were alone, before whispering quietly "I know you have a crush on Kori."
Rachel's eyes went wide as her heart began racing, a deep crimson flush spreading down her cheeks and neck. She opened her mouth to deny it only for Dick to come racing over and jump on Jason, climbing up him like a tree and sitting on his shoulders. Rachel was happy for the distraction as Jason mumbled profanities.
"Dick, you have such a fat ass. You're crushing me" Jason whined, two strong hands gripping his boyfriend's hips to keep him steady.
Said boyfriend swatted at the other man, grumbling "You love my ass so shut the hell up and run Jay run!" he ended with a squeal as Kori came bounding into view.
Without a second thought Jason took off, Dick screaming at the red head as she chased them through the house. Rachel watched after them, smiling to herself, and then felt very self conscious. Those three were so close, and the feeling of not belonging began to bubble in her chest as she stood alone in the foyer. Anxious worry trickled down her spine as she willed herself to remain calm.
However, she wasn't allowed to sulk long as they came running back and Kori paused as the two boys kept running. Without saying a thing Kori scooped her up in surprisingly strong arms and Rachel squealed as she was placed a top the other girl's shoulders. "Hang on Rachel, we shall duel the boys!" she yelled before taking off, Rachel laughing and holding on tightly to the other's shoulders.
Before long they found the boys and they had a Great War, ending up with everyone on the floor laughing. Rachel couldn't stop smiling as she watched Kori giggle, before the redhead was looking at her again as her breath caught in her throat. How could no one else see how gorgeous this almost woman was? With her curly red hair that was all over the place and hanging in her beautiful green eyes.
It took a while before she was able to bring herself to look away, saying something to Dick that had him beating her with a pillow as the other two laughed. Once they had all settled down they decided on watching a movie in Kori's room. The boys laid on the floor as the girls laid on the bed.
Apparently Kori was obsessed with Mean Girls and about gave up on her crush on Rachel when the goth admitted to having never seen it. Mean Girls it was, then. As the movie progressed, the least interested she became. Instead she chose to watch the bubbly red head beside her, captivated. Kori was aware of her staring, and when she turned to look at Rachel...
Their eyes met and neither breathed.
Everything around them seemed to fade away and something drew them together, closer until they were barely apart. Then there was knocking on the door and an older man was stepping inside with a small smile. Rachel immediately sat up, clearing her throat and trying to will down her blush. What had just happened? She didn't know.
"I believe you asked for pizza, Master Dick?" Alfred said, smiling as he handed over the boxes to a thankful Dick.
Kori shook off what had just happened and plastered on a smile, squeezing Alfred in a hug before introducing him to Rachel. "My my, is this the young woman you keep blathering on about" the old butler said, a twinkle in his eye that instantly put Rachel at ease as she blushed and shook his hand.
"Yes it is!"
"Kori is in love!"
Throwing a pillow at Dick for the last statement, thankfully in Tamaranian, she sent Jason a warning glare as he looked at her innocently while shoving a slice of pizza in his mouth. Kori rolled her eyes before waving goodbye as Alfred left, Rachel trying to hide her amusement and how good she felt that Kori talked about her. The two girls sat on the floor with the boys in a circle as they ate pizza and joked around.
It was nearing eight o'clock when Dick gave Jason a look and the other male nodded, smirking evilly as Dick suggested "So, do you guys wanna play a game?"
"Yeah, how about truth or dare?" Jason added and Rachel groaned.
Of fucking course, she had a bad feeling about this.
Confused, Kori cocked her head to the side saying "I do not understand, what is the truth or dare?"
"It's a dumb game stupid kids play where someone asks you truth or dare and if you pick truth you have to answer whatever question they ask truthfully and if you pick dare you have to do whatever they dare you to do" Rachel droned, glaring at the boys for suggesting it.
"Come on, Rachel, it'll be fun" Dick urged, Jason agreeing with him.
Thinking for a moment, Kori finally chimed in "I wish to play this game."
The boys cheered as Rachel groaned, only for Kori to give her puppy dog eyes which absolutely no one could resist. "Fine" the goth pouted, crossing her arms across her chest indignantly.
"Thank you, Rachel" Kori said, flashing her a smile and bumping shoulders playfully.
Despite herself, Rachel couldn't help but smile back. She had a serious problem. This started their game, and thankfully it stayed rather innocent. At first. Over time the questions got more embarrassing as did the dares. Especially Jason's.
Mischievously smirking, Rachel gulped as Jason looked her in the eye from across the circle. "So, Rachel, truth or dare?"
"Um" she hesitated as she thought over her options, Kori had already dared her to run around Wayne Manor screaming without a shirt on so of course she said "I pick truth."
However, as soon as she said it, Jason full on grinned and she began to sweat. She obviously picked the wrong option, now to wait and see how bad it actually was. Please not about Kori, please not about Kori, please not about Kori... "Okay, what's your sexuality, Rachel?"
Kori froze and Dick gaped at his boyfriend, before smacking his shoulder and whispering harshly "You can't just ask someone that!"
"Why not?"
"Because! It's not-"
"It's okay" Rachel interrupted, plastering on a smile despite the internal panic she felt as Kori watched her, "You're all my friends and I trust you, so I guess it's okay."
Thankfully, Dick took pity on her, adding "Well, if it helps I'll tell you mine and Jason will tell you his, isn't that right, dear?" he glared, giving Jason a 'say no and you won't touch me for a year' face.
"Ugh, fine."
Then suddenly Kori piped in "I shall as well."
Dick and Jason just smiled and nodded at her, but Rachel began to feel incredibly nervous. Oh god, what if Kori wasn't into girls? Then she would die, she'd shrivel into a gross raisin and turn to dust. Well, that one time she was talking about Donna so she had to kind of like girls, right? Jason sensed her unease and offered "If you want I can go first?"
"U-Um, yeah, sure."
Feeling a tiny twinge of guilt, Jason flashed her a smile. It was all part of the plan him and Dick had devised, sort of, because it was obvious the girls needed a little push, and maybe this would help, but he still felt bad for embarrassing her. "Whelp, as for me I'm bisexual, and as you can tell I ended up on the more gay side" he ended with a smile, looking over at Dick and winking.
Playfully rolling his eyes, Dick shoved his boyfriend's shoulder replying "You're a dork, and I'm demisexual. Somehow I got feelings for this sack of trash next to me and now I'm stuck with him."
"Love you too, Dickiebird"
Kori was listening, smiling to herself as she played with a strand of her red hair. She spoke up before Rachel had the chance to try, adding "I myself am what you call pansexual, as on Tamaran we do not have sexualities and are free to love whomever we choose."
"Wow, that's pretty amazing" Rachel said, the boys agreeing with her. Then the three turned and looked at the goth expectantly who blushed and looked at the floor saying "I-I've never really told anyone this before, but, um, I-I'm a lesbian."
They all smiled at her and cheered her on for coming out to them, and it made Rachel smile and blush despite trying to hide behind an affectionate eyeroll. "Really? You don't need to cheer."
Grabbing her hand, Kori gave it a squeeze saying "It is wonderful, Rachel, that you trust us enough. Do you not feel better having said it?"
Eyes darting down to their joined hands, she nervously licked her lips as she looked up at Kori saying "Actually, yeah, I do feel better."
Kori's insides twisted as the purple haired girl smiled at her. It seemed everyday she smiled more and more, and the red head felt good having been responsible for something so beautiful on more than one occasion. Hearing Rachel confirm her suspicions made Kori feel giddy, now knowing she could have a chance with the other girl. After all, she was crushing on her, really really hard.
"Just kiss her already" Dick suddenly interrupted in Tamaranian, making Kori chuck a pillow at his face as the other two laughed, despite how Rachel started shaking ever so slightly.
For the rest of the night they played truth or dare until around midnight, and then the boys left to go to Dick's room to 'sleep'. Uh huh, suuure. Rachel didn't mind though as she laid in Kori's ginormous bed, looking at her friend's bright green eyes in the dark as they talked into the late hours of the morning.
They exchanged whispered secrets in the night as well as general information like their favorite colors and foods. Rachel had never laughed so much in her life. When they woke at eleven in the morning after only having slept for a few hours, Rachel didn't even mind that Kori was wrapped around her. Actually, it was really cute, except for when the boys had to spoil it and imply something else had happened.
Stupid boys.
More weeks passed by and they grew even closer. They were practically joined at the hip and knew everything about each other. Of course, like all best friends, they had their arguments but they rarely happened. Then, somehow the entire school found out that Rachel was a lesbian, and even though a select few didn't care most people took that as an opportunity to make her life even more of a living hell. Rachel knew Kori had spilled the beans, and so she stopped talking to the red head.
She stopped talking to all three of them, actually.
After all she had gone most of her life thus far without their friendship, so she should be able to again, right? It was mid October, but despite the chill, Rachel chose to forgo the cafeteria once more. It had been a week since she had began avoiding her friends as again she sat under a tree in the courtyard, grabbing her lunch out of her backpack and beginning to pick at her food.
Why did everything in her life have to go to shit?
After a few minutes into eating, she heard footsteps crunch on the leaves on the ground and she sighed. Rachel half expected for a fight with a stupid school asshole or a fight with Kori, either one she didn't want. Instead, however, she was surprised as Dick stepped into her line of sight.
"Hey" he said, flashing her a small smile.
Warily she glared up at him, saying "Hey."
"Mind if I sit with you?"
The goth shrugged, and he took that as a yes as he plopped down on the ground opposite of her and began eating his own school bought lunch. Confused, she looked around and behind the tree towards the school. "Something wrong?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Where's your other half?" She asked, confused.
"Oh, we broke up."
Eyes growing wide, she practically yelled "What?!"
Chuckling, Dick said "I'm kidding, I'm kidding, he's in the cafeteria with Kori."
Rachel calmed down some, and then asked as monotonously as she could manage "Why aren't you in there with them?"
"Because believe it or not I'm your friend, too" he snipped, staring at her and she swallowed hard at the hurt in his eyes, "or did you forget that?"
Mind scrambling, she stuttered "I-I just thought-"
"Well, obviously you thought wrong" he said, taking a bite of his sandwich and giving her a level look.
"I'm sorry."
Then just like that he was smiling, responding "I accept your apology."
They ate in relative silence for a while before Dick finished his food and sighed, saying "Look, I'm not here to apologize for Kori or defend her but I've heard what happened and I think you should give her a chance since I know it's not what you think. Despite that, however, Jason and I are just as much your friends as we are Kori's. We're always here for you. In fact, I had to convince Jason to stay in there because he wanted to come with me once we figured out where you were considering you avoid us like the plague in class and don't respond to any of our texts or calls."
Rachel simply nodded, willing herself not to cry. It didn't work.
"Hey, don't cry" he sighed, crawling over and sitting next to her.
Putting her head on his shoulder, she sniffled "It's just, I've never really had friends before and I figured you guys were so loyal to Kori that I wouldn't matter. I thought I could just go back to the way I used to be but it's been killing me."
"I know, I'm sorry Jason and I didn't reach out sooner."
"I'm sorry for being an asshole."
Dick smiled and slung an arm around her shoulder. They sat in silence for a little while before he asked quietly "Why did Kori accidentally revealing your secret affect you so much?"
Sighing, Rachel sat up straight and buried her face in her hands saying "I don't know, I just expected more of her I guess because-"
"Because you're kinda falling for her?" Dick interrupted with a smile.
Bitterly chuckling, Rachel said "Yeah, falling hard."
"You know she has a thing for you too, right?"
Sighing, she let her head fall back on his shoulder huffing "I know."
Dick smiled, saying "Ya know, I used to feel the same way about Jason."
"Really?"
He nodded, looking off into the distance with a smile as he explained "Jason was a new kid in eighth grade in my class. My teacher gave me the responsibility of showing him around and helping him in class, considering we were half way through the school year. At first he didn't like me very much and I didn't care for him, since he was crude and kind of mean. By the end of the year though we were friends. All summer long we were inseparable, and when Freshman year came around it didn't really change."
"But, when did you guys become more than friends?" Rachel asked, eyebrows furrowed together.
"Well, as freshman year started I started to notice that Jason was changing in my eyes. Of course puberty helps with that I guess, but I just became really attracted to him. I've had crushes before, but they were always on people I had grown close to and I hadn't known that demisexual was a thing so I just assumed it was kinda 'normal' and I knew it was happening again. Apparently Jason was attracted to me too because one day when he was sleeping over at my house he kissed me, and the rest is history."
Sitting there, Rachel absorbed in this information as she looked over at Dick saying "So, you think I should just go for it?"
With a smile he nodded, bumping her shoulder as they heard the bell ring "Yeah, I think you should, you might be surprised as to what happens."
Then with that the two stood up and gathered their things, Rachel thinking over what Dick had said and mind already coming up with ideas that she promised to tell Dick and Jason later. They went their separate ways for the rest of the school day, Rachel promising to him to hear Kori out. She made good on her promise as that night she went to Wayne Manor and knocked on the door.
Alfred smiled as he greeted her at the door, exclaiming "My my, miss Rachel, it is good to see you."
"It's nice to see you too, Alfred."
"Well, come in" he offered, stepping aside to allow her to step through the door, "Master Kori is in the greenhouse if you'd like to see her."
Self consciously rubbing her arm, she nodded with a blush saying "Yes, I'd like to see her."
"Right, follow me" he ushered, smiling as he lead her through the house.
When they arrived, she stood at the entrance debating whether or not to enter. Alfred patted her shoulder and walked away, leaving her alone with a knowing smile. Taking a deep breath, Rachel pushed open the door and stepped into the greenhouse. The plants in there were beautiful as she walked along the path, keeping an eye out for her friend.
Finally she spotted bright red curls and sighed to herself. Kori was sitting in the grass a little ways off the path, a sketchbook in her lap as she looked at the flowers for a reference. Her back was turned to the goth so Rachel walked over and sat next to her friend quietly.
After a moment Kori sighed, beginning "X'hal, Dick I told you-" only to stop mid sentence as she looked at Rachel, "oh."
"Hey" the dark girl said, offering a small smile.
"Greetings" Kori replied, flushing and tucking some of her curls behind her ear, "I thought you were Dick."
Chuckling, she said "Yeah, I could guess."
Kori smiled before her face fell, setting aside her sketchbook as she scooted closer to the other girl, beginning "Rachel, X'hal, I am so sorry. I did not do the sharing of your secret on purpose. I am so very sorry, I understand if you no longer wish to be my friend." Her eyes began tearing up and it was hurting Rachel's heart to see her friend cry.
With a sigh, Rachel brought her knees up to her chest and set her chin on them saying "Well before it comes to that tell me what happened."
Taking a deep shuddering breath, Kori tried to calm down and whiped at her tears. "I keep what you call the diary" Kori began, dragging some of her hair over her shoulder as she nervously played with it and looked at the ground with shame, "I keep it with me in my backpack to write in during free time. It is so I always remember my time here, and I mostly write in Tamaranian in case I lose it so no one can read it. Except, when you told us that you were a lesbian, I did not know how to translate that so I wrote that sentence in English and I lost my notebook by leaving it on my desk. Donna gave it back to me, but she must have looked through it and saw that and somehow it got spread and I am so sorry. You can see my journal if you want."
I am such an asshole, Rachel thought bitterly to herself as she sighed "No, you don't need to, I believe you."
Despite trying not to tear up, the redhead began crying as she asked "Are we still the friends?"
"Yeah, we're still friends Kori" Rachel smiled, giggling as the other girl tackled her in a hug that landed her on her back, "and I'm sorry for being a prick and just assuming that you did it on purpose."
"It is okay, I forgive you as well."
Despite her awkwardness Rachel returned the hug, ignoring the chorus of 'aww' that came from behind them as the two girls looked over to find Dick and Jason watching them with grins. "We are all friends once more!" Kori yelled, everyone cheering as Rachel laughed.
Kori grinned at her and once again it took her breath away. Right then Rachel decided that maybe she should just go for it. If she didn't, someone else was sure to notice how amazing this young woman really was. Rachel began planning in her mind as she sat up and was promptly dragged inside for them to have a movie night, content to be with her friends for now.
Well, there you go! I like this chapter but I also don't, eh I don't know, I'm too critical of myself. :p What did you guys think? Obviously in the general canon these characters sexualities are different (as far as I know) but I gave them what I thought fit for this fic. If you don't know what one of them is don't hesitate to (politely) ask me! Don't worry, they'll get together in no time. If you liked this don't forget to fave, follow, review, or all 3! Please and thank you ;)
Coming Up: Confessing your love is hard