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Kori enlists Dick and Wallace to show her around town, while she's waiting to get back to her own photo op. In the meanwhile, the words spoken are unsaid to some, though for these former lovers, they ring crystal.
Is Dick afraid of even trying to make amends with his ex, or is Starfire exactly the same?
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Chapter 5: Bicycle Built for Two
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Kori explained to mostly Wallace, that she was here for a shoot in the city, Dick's city. She'd taken five and was just wanting to "stretch the legs out." She'd not expected to see Richard on a day off, as Raven had told the heroes about his acceptance into the BHPD.
"I am just stuck up these days… with a desk job, nothing crazy big."
"And here Cyborg said you were "head over the heels" for your "job of your very own dreams" come to life…" She frowned, knowing Dick looked insecure besides his pal Wally. "Are you on a day - off?" She asked, "I am never with much rest between the camera and my staff at the agency." She boasted, looking at her nails, painted and worked in a French tip style today. Dick nodded, nervously letting out a chuckle, softly, as to not seem upfront with his…. ex.
"Well, Dick got a good check and I asked him to come. He'd rather be home lifting weights and being Night –
"I'm not very creative when it comes to getting myself immersed in a project for, recreational…purposes."
Kori blinked, checking past her shades a Dick rubbed the back of his neck. He was too busy worrying about his new job, when he'd get a call to action from the chief. Eventually.
"Then, if you would like….to do with, helping me? I am not using my powers and on the street one should, "be unseen" in my line of the work. I was wondering; if I have very average men by my side, the people of your city might in fact leave…me to be."
Wally gawked and turned to Dick, who'd become solid as a boulder in the road.
"A…AH.AM…Y – YEAH…Wall? Can we? I, I mean, Star is a friend and a Titan? We won't bother her, just…body g –
"You are a distraction." She pursed her lips with a hand to her well - formed hips, seeing as adulthood had made her less of a gazelle as in their youth. She was more a –
"I do not wish for your eyes to be so unforgivable…Please stop, and do you both, agree?"
She waited for their answer, and Dick nodded back, Wally following the man's cue. "Today, we can be your tour guides, mama." Wally flashed her a smile and she simply, curtly did so as to nod and smile back, ignoring Dick's pleading looks.
"As long as you do not cling to me, I will not be noticed by my fans." She said, making Dick feel very used. Far from a cheap thrill.
/
They were supposed to watch out for her, to keep fans off of her back…but who knew it was a full time job??
Wally panted and came back as soon as he'd checked the shop she'd chosen over, trying to be the speedster while knowing he wouldn't be caught.
"Are you supposed to do that today?" Dick asked, but he…was packing Wing's tools since day one. He'd already come Batman – style prepared as Wally snickered. "I think you could do with tagging along a little more. She, freaking wants you to trust her –
"And she wants to get back at me, don't you see how…." Great. Dick was already feeling like he'd fallen off that bandwagon when they'd broken up.
"You don't hate her. She knows how to protect herself and she's just….just…."
"Am I, what?" Kori stepped out with now, new shades, bigger ones and a different hat and pants. She really wanted to be missed by her fans.
Her hair was tight up on her head and under the cap, a way celebs took to fighting the paparazzi.
"We aren't…. We got hungry, just now. Thought it would be along time. I know a quant place by the next block, right?" He turned to Wallace, who nodded viciously.
"I'll go see if I can get us a table!" He sped off as speedy and fled, leaving the two to scratch each other's eyes out. He didn't want to get caught up in it. Dick had been sooo close to getting blasted to 31ststreet.
/
Star and Dick did not walk next to each other, as she was too long legged to let him catch up.
"Um, are you…"
"You are not having, the fun." She said under her breath. "I believe you told me that you have, the trouble in having any, anymore." Her voice was distant, sad. He wondered that, before she walked further on ahead and went to where Wally was waving at them from the vestibule. "Dude and lady dude! Dick, and Kor? Here! Got us a real good spot!" Dick and Kori went through, yet not next to each other. They couldn't be mistaken as a power couple.
/
Starfire's manners at the table had changed to the point that Dick's were in reverse. He was laxer, not the famous Bruce Wayne's ward who took his table etiquette to the next level. He was supposed to blend in, but Kori….Was so refined that it confused him.
"Is that a part of what they make models do?" Wally scratched his chin and took his glass of water, sipping it slowly for a speedster.
"Yes, and the no." Starfire chewed her chicken as if she were afraid to feel famished at all today.
"Um, I guess we changed; I can't be recognized as Dick Grayson for the sake of Wayne's rep, so I let my etiquette –
"I do not really, care."
Dick gripped his napkin. Did she just sass him??
"Well…He gulped, feeling a blush of embarrassment come to his face. "If you eat like a movie star, people might start to recognize you."
Wally dropped his fork. Not again!
He got up, straightened his shirt up and nodded with a smile and chuckled to Kori as she continued to chew her food.
Dick's coat was tugged, unmercifully by his best bud, until they were in the men's room. And then, Wally's anger split in two.
"You…. Are gonna really piss her off, Dick!" He hissed, seeing the sniffing twat of a bat brat shrug at him. OH , how wanted to smack that stupid look off of Grayson's face….
"It's true, though. Bruce is Bruce, but Batman does –
"Which was why you left! Dummy!" Wally let out an exasperated sigh. "It's my fault. Having you in the same room as her will get us up with a lawsuit from this freakin' place that YOU picked!"
"What was I supposed to do??" Dick groaned, and tried to find a stall. Shit, he'd felt like –
"Nope, nu -uh. No running away with your tail tucked until you apologize –
"Why?" Dick spun around, face screwed into a frustrated scowl. "I just did her a favor out there. She'd be noticed by the press in seconds –
"And they might just post the model eating like a boar to the whole country! We could have ruined her, and I bet she's already aware of it. Dope, no. Now, go." Wally pointed to the door, where outside, Starfire would still be playing a cow chewing her cud. "Apologize, or you are definitely on your own."
Dick pushed past his bud, waiting for Wall to say something clever. He threw his head back, then opened the door.
" Fine." Dick grumbled, looking back at the smirking red headed male. He smirked back in turn, " You pay the waiter though. I still haven't bought myself a new pair of pants yet."
Wally stood grumbling with arms crossed as Dick felt the annoyance burning off of his bestie's back. Dick sighed, no good huh?
"Fine," He snorted and Wallace walked slowly behind, making sure Dick got to the table before him.
Slower burn. By far, the speedster was too quick for ole' Wing.
/
Dick saw that Kori had finished a good portion of her… hem, three plates, and was now fixated on her cell phone as she was neglected yet again. Which Dick was used to as Robin. Ah…. perhaps it was time to say something of encouragement.
"That the agency, Starfire?" He evened out his top and sat back down in his seat. Star didn't even let her eyes leave the screen. "The meal was, mostly adequate. I will still need to leave to return to the "shoot" in the next forty - five minutes. It is straight across – town." She showed him the map of the metro she'd be grabbing on her cell. It was a real schlep and back for him…maybe.
"No butler, or burly bouncer, malady?" Dick joked, knowing Kori was actually ok with something that obviously teasing in the past.
"I require no "men" to care for me." She said, slipping her phone back into her purse, quietly trying to organize her thoughts. Dick leaned back, his meal untouched. Supper for tonight. As Babs would say – "free grub!"
"Are you not hungry?" Dick's ex was sure she'd heard him say he was before, but then –
His stomach did the talking. "Yeah…I guess, but later. I can eat like a bird at the best of times. All part of the job."
"Eating as many calories as Deathstroke or your late mentor, is not what you are surely capable of, If I understand?"
Was just pulling my arm on that one…
Dick chuckled. "Nope. Unless I give myself an ulcer, I'm fine."
"Eat, I will not drag you and Wallace around and not allow you…your own, time." She frowned at him and pushed the food closer. "You were very serious always with the Titans, as Robin. It made you physically unwell at times." She recalled it; Slade driving Robin to nearly vanish right in front of her eyes. Red X and even Brushogun's copies…
"What about your train?" Dick cleared his thought to ask. "What about getting back on time –
"I have "the time." She interrupted and pushed a glass of water with her elbow in the process, letting it accidentally tip as Wally showed from out of nowhere. There was something to catch it from the bathroom. At least he wasn't telepathic. That, would be a bit too much to ask.
"Super smooth, princess…. Yikes. That's…um…I was just getting back….Saw the glass falling while I was out." He picked up the watery mess and then called over a waiter to hand them their bill.
/
Dick had a doggie bag after all, and Wally just ate, well, fast. Kori was beside them in her most relaxed pose that…made Dick nostalgic for those days. Titans. And friends.
"Are you sure you are going to be alright going this way?" Dick knew Kori had gone to Blud before, but to look for a no name, fro- yo place?
"It has the most melt in the mouth – tip of the tongue –taste in all of this very city!" She beamed as if she'd made the stuff herself." I wish to go there before I must return to the "big apple." She frowned, almost downtrodden at the fact that the sun would be going down soon.
"Well…we can take the B train, right Wall?" Dick grinned. "We took that to get back to the square a couple of times."
"Oh. I got lost the first time you invited me, dude." Wally snickered back, whacking the other's back as he laughed "Oh! And, remember going all out when the paparazzi were going goo goo for Nightwing in broad daylight? That was what sent B to drag your ass back home for a month! Dang! I thought you'd be –
"It is here." Kori interrupted the men's love fest and flew over to the stand. It was a small hole in the wall; and yes, there would-be soft serve.
"What flavors were you going to go with, Star –
"Dick?" She turned back to Richard, her eyes perplexed. "Why do you not call me Koriand'r as Wallace has?"
Dick stopped, knowing she wasn't…
"Are, are you sure that's…"
She bobbed her head, her emerald gaze as aware of his emotions as he'd failed to be long ago.
"For today, you can. I do not want this to occur once we've parted ways. You could end up in danger because…"
"You're fine…Kori." Dick didn't stop as Wally almost choked on a fry from his last pickings.
"Ah, yes! The shop. It is right over –
A ring in Richard's made Wally bump into Dick, who knew what that meant.
Dick pulled it up, running a hand through his dark locks, looking exasperated.
"Patrol time," Dick looked up at her, looking back into what hope he had shattered with his own ambitions. "I see…" She composed herself. A strand of red hair falling from her cap's hold of it. She stared into the sidewalk, not looking at him for long before she reached out a hand.
To shake, like they didn't seem that close.
She cleared her throat. The princess's royal voice speaking over what…was necessary.
Dick's eyes grew tired, puffy as he smiled and reached out to shake it openly. Relaxing not even for a moment.
"I hope to one day see you at the top of your position at your "dream job." I wish you all of the best, Richard."
She never spoke to him, not like they had been…besides, Dick was someone else.
He nodded and let that goofy smile throw her a loop too.
"As with your work, Kori. I, hope that you are well. Let us know if the…oh!" He dug out his cell and then it became somewhat more. He was still in love and she couldn't admit it. Maybe, just…
"If you're ever here again for another photo op, I'll treat you. Wally, if he's cool with it can come too. Maybe Raven if you think she's a big traveler…Um, here." He put up his cell to show her the number as she pulled out hers. "I, will not be able to –
"That, that's ok. I don't need it. It's your privacy. You just helped me. And…I had fun today."
She froze, her eyes gazing over, but then he had one more idea. "Wally? Here, should be enough. Star, Kor. You two deserve it…He'll get you a scoop. I, have to go back to my other job now…" Starfire nodded, while Wally shook his head and sighed. Just as Dick skipped round the next corner, Wally opened his big mouth. "Dude needs a car, but you hav –
"I…. cannot!" Starfire turned and ran in the direction of the B train, her feet not stopping until she'd reached the platform. Her shoes were enough, the blisters were nothing as she shoved the cap to cover her eyes, shaking off the thoughts of Dick being….too much…and, Wally had even offered her a free scoop.
/
