The next several nights were unusually peaceful for Nightwing. There were no petty thefts. Slade was laying low. No criminals had broken out of the prison. And most unsettling, there had been no sign of Killer Moth since Richard had broken his daughter's heart. If she even had one. Nightwing had been on high alert every evening, patrolling the streets of Jump City on the look out for any trouble that he was sure would come his friends' way. The absence of any disturbances in the city was puzzling to him, and had made his strategy to get Killer Moth arrested a difficult one to execute at best.

Nightwing found himself riding his motorcycle down Bee's street for the eighth time that night. He just had to know that Kori was safe. It was now 2am, and as he passed by he noticed that there was still light shining through the blinds on her window. It had been that way every night. He wasn't sure she ever turned the light off. Maybe she preferred to sleep with it on, but he hoped there wasn't anything troubling her at night. Jump City wasn't exactly the safest place to reside, so it really wouldn't be all that irrational to not want to turn out the lights.

For the fourth time that week, Nightwing turned into his hidden headquarters, located under his house, without having to engage with any villains or criminals. As he locked up his bike and put his uniform back on the hanger, he checked his radars one last time before setting his alarms and going to bed.

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"Look, all I'm saying is that if Mr. Steelman really expects people to actually watch the halftime show tonight, then he's clearly never been to a high school football game!" Gar ranted to Kori as they left marching band rehearsal that morning and headed to their next class. Tonight was the first home game of the season, and Kori was really excited to get to see Richard take the field. According to Gar, he was the star quarterback. She had no clue what that meant, but she figured that didn't really matter. She'd enjoy watching him play regardless.

Once inside the English classroom, Kori took her normal seat by Vic and Rachel. Vic had on his football jersey, sporting the number 24 and his last name 'Stone' on the back. Rachel had her nose buried in a book as per usual. "Hey Kori! You excited for the game tonight?" Vic asked with a wide smile on his face. He was pumped for the first game and ready to take on the Hornets. He was the best wide receiver the school had seen in fifteen years. Between him and Richard, the school was counting on a blowout tonight.

"Indeed! And I am quite ready to do the marching with the band as well!" Kori chimed, beaming. She and the rest of the drum line had been working really hard to perfect their cadences and she was feeling confident for her performance tonight.

"Lame," came a scoff from behind her. It was Kitten, all dressed up in her cheerleading uniform with her hair tied with a bow in a high ponytail. Kori shrunk in her seat a little in her presence. "Everyone knows that the marching band is just full of a bunch of geeks and weirdos who won't even get a scholarship. Not like marching is a sport." Then she turned and sauntered away to her seat.

Rachel rolled her eyes. "Ignore her. I'd like to see her try to memorize a full show of music and play a heavy instrument while marching in a hot uniform in the 80 degree weather."

"Yeah," Vic agreed. "And the marching band does more to pep up the crowd than the cheerleaders do. The game wouldn't be nearly as exciting without a good fight song." Kori grinned at them, her confidence restored.

"I thank you, friends. I am most excited for the game of the football. And it seems so is most everyone else." About that time, a group of girls walked through the door to take their seats, giggling and their darting to Kitten and back again. They each had on t-shirts made to look like football jerseys, with the number 16 and 'Grayson' printed on the back. Kori remembered seeing a few girls with the same shirt in band rehearsal as well. "Is it normal for so many girls to dress identically for such an occasion?"

Rachel followed Kori's gaze, noticing the conflicting emotions battling on her face as she took in the sight of the girls. "They all probably heard that Dick is single again. Almost every girl in the school has a crush on him."

Kori picked up her pencil, tapping it lightly on the desk as she decided to study the desktop with particular interest. "I see. Then perhaps it would be best that I did the backing off."

"You kidding, Kor?" Vic scoffed, knowing good and well that Dick had developed some severe tunnel vision since Kori showed up. He probably didn't even notice his name on half the school's backs. "Nah, you just need to get one of those shirts for yourself. Dick would love it."

Kori smiled, about to respond, but it was then that the bell sounded, signaling the start of class. So, she instead turned her attention to the front of the class where Mr. Parsons was ready to begin the lesson. Her questions would have to wait.

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Kori exited the locker room dressed in her gym clothes and began stretching with the other students who had already made their way out to the basketball court. She was grateful that the standard gym attire meant she wouldn't have to see Richard's name adorned on the backs of the girls in the class. She did not like just how many of them there were. Everywhere she turned, she was faced with another wannabe future Mrs. Grayson, with hair that would cascade so perfectly down her back and makeup that brought out I'll of the best features on her face. Kori felt her cheeks begin to flush. She hated that feeling, one of vulnerability. Despite everything that her heart was telling her, she knew she needed to forget about—

"Hey, Kori," came Richard's voice from her right. She turned to face him, and it was like she was immediately hypnotized by those gorgeous blue eyes, forgetting exactly what her brain had just been warning her.

"Richard!" she exclaimed. "It is most glorious to see you!" Richard chuckled, loving the way she got excited every time she saw him. She threw her arms around him, surprising him with a tight hug. He felt the wind being knocked out of him, but managed to reciprocate, savoring the way she felt, the way her head rested so perfectly on his shoulder. Then she released him, and he found himself missing the feeling of not being able to breathe from the sheer strength of her bear hugs. "My apologies. I should be more careful. I do believe I heard something pop."

"Don't be sorry. I think you just released about five years worth of tension in my back," he grinned at her.

Kori was lost in her thoughts for a moment while Richard just watched as the concentration creased her brow. "I was wondering. I have seen so many girls wearing shirts that have your jersey number. Perhaps I should do the purchasing of one myself?"

"Don't," he said flatly, not taking his eyes off of her. She turned her head to face him, trying but failing to hide her disappointment. "That'd make you just like all the other girls. You don't need it." Confusion flashed across Kori's face, but he didn't say anything more.

Coach Medlin blew her whistle. "Okay, class. Today, we're playing dodgeball. Grayson, Harper, you're team captains. Pick your teams." Roy and Richard made their way to the front, then did a round of Rock, Paper, Scissors to determine who would get first pick. Roy chose paper, but Richard chose scissors.

"Kori," Richard called, and she jogged up to stand beside him. Roy flashed him a knowing grin, mouthing 'Should've guessed." Once the teams had been chosen, everyone took their places on either side of the basketball court and waited for Coach Medlin to blow her whistle, signaling for the game to start.

By the end of the game, Richard and Kori were the only ones still standing on their team, having worked together wonderfully to protect each other from the flying red balls. Roy's team still had himself, Garth, Isaiah, and Antonia. Garth sent a ball in Richard's direction, but Kori was quick to grab it just before it hit him, putting Garth out of the game. Then she flung the ball at Isaiah, throwing it a little to hard, causing him to fall hard to the ground. Roy picked up the ball and hurled it right back at Kori, but she effortlessly dodged it. Richard made a move to catch it, but it hit the ground before his hands could grab it. Then another ball came for Kori. This time, Richard jumped in front of it to snag it from the air, but it bounced off his palm. Roy and Antonia shared a high-five, having knocked Richard out of the game. Kori watched as he walked over to the side of the court, then focused her attention on the two opposite her. She picked up the ball and threw it much harder than intended at Antonia, who just barely dodged it. Kori picked up another ball and used it to block the one Roy had just thrown at her, then quickly hurled it in his direction. Antonia moved to catch it, but it instead bounced off her stomach.

Now it was just Kori and Roy. They stood still, each poised to make their next move for just a moment. Then Roy made a sudden rush for a ball that was on his side of the court. Kori also quickly grabbed one on her side, not removing her eyes from Roy. He smirked, contemplating how he wanted to make his move. Neither of them ready to release their ball, Kori slowly inched her way closer to another ball that lay on her side until it was right at her feet. Then she threw the ball in her hands with all of her might at Roy. He dodged it, unleashing his own ball at her. Kori moved quickly to grab the ball that was at her feet and use it to block the oncoming attack. Then she threw the ball at Roy as he was running towards the back of the court to grab another ball. Kori's ball hit him square in the back, knocking him off his feet, and securing her victory.

Kori squealed gleefully, jumping in the air. Richard came over and clapped her on the back, and Roy joined as well. "Good game, Kori," Roy said, holding his fist out to her. Kori looked at it, uncertain. "It's just a fist bump," he quipped. Cautiously, Kori raised her own fist and tapped it against his. "Gotta tell you, you really got it in you."

Kori smiled. "You gave me a — how do you say — run for the money," she replied.

With that, Coach Medlin blew her whistle, and signaled for the class to head back in to the locker rooms to change for their next class. As Kori was about to walk into the girls' locker room, Richard grabbed her by the wrist. "Wait here," he said, then disappeared into the boys' locker room. Kori stood there waiting for about thirty seconds when he reappeared with a folded up white shirt in his hand. "Here, I thought you might like to wear this one instead of the same shirt as all the other girls. I've got a few extra for games, and I figure it'll look better on you than it does on me."

Kori unfolded the shirt. It was one of his own jerseys. A wide smile spread across her face, and she threw herself around him in another bone-crushing hug. "I thank you greatly, friend Richard." She could feel tears brimming in her eyes from the act of kindness, but she forced them back. Richard watched her as she skipped into the locker room to change before heading in his own.

Kori re-emerged first, the large jersey slipping down over one small shoulder, other girls giving her dirty looks as they passed her. Richard came back shortly after, dressed in an identical jersey. He had to pause to catch his breath at the sight of her in his shirt. She looked so gorgeous, and he found himself having to hold back from tossing his books on the ground and crashing his lips into hers. No, that would surely scare her off. He'd follow her lead, take things at her pace, and if friends was all they'd ever be, at least he'd know he made her happy in this moment.

"Told you it looks better on you," Richard said with a crooked smile. Kori's cheeks turned pink at the compliment. "Now, shall we go to lunch?" He held out his hand, hoping she would choose to take it.

Kori hesitantly slipped her hand into his, intertwining their fingers together and trying not to be distracted by the gawking and whispering from the other girls as they walked down the hallway. When they approached their lunch table, their friends had already sat down with their trays.

"Whoa," Bee said, catching sight of them.

"Well, that took no time," Gar added.

"Greetings, friends!" Kori exclaimed.

"Boo-yah! Pay up, Gar!" Vic hollered, and Gar fished in his pocket and slapped a 5 bill in his hand with a scowl on his face, then folded his arms over his chest.

Richard raised an eyebrow and looked at Rachel, who had lost interest in her book upon seeing the two of them approach. "They made a bet on when the two of you would start dating," she said in a bored tone.

Richard rolled his eyes and started to let his friends know that they were not going out, when Kori looked up at him hopefully and said, "So, we are doing the dating?"

"Are you doing more than dating?" Gar asked, wiggling his eyebrows, his disappointment from losing the bet forgotten.

Richard slapped him on the back of the head, then replied, "We're taking things slow."

"Dude, she's already wearing your clothes! No girl has ever gotten away with that! How slow could you be going?" Gar retorted, rubbing the back of his head.

Richard ignored this comment, then squeezed Kori hand before releasing it. He headed over to grab some lunch, and Kori watched him go, a dreamy look in her eyes.

"Alright, girl. Spill it. What's going on with you and Dick?" Bee pressed.

Kori thought for a moment. "I am uncertain," she finally said. "And there are so many other girls that also have the crush on Richard. Perhaps there is too much competition."

Bee rolled her eyes. "Girl, you have got to be blind. It's not a gold rush when the gold chooses you. And Dick clearly chose you."

Kori couldn't help but let a small smile spread across her face at Bee's revelation. But still something inside her just kept nagging that it was all too good to be true.