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The taxi came to a stop. Jason had told her it was probably best not to fly in, since technically this wasn't a solely superhero event. Actually, that's not what he said. It was more along the lines of "Bruce would let me get killed again if you flew in" or something snarky like that. Kory had only grinned awkwardly. She really wasn't all that comfortable with this set up. She felt rather… out of place.
But Jason had begged, "Come on Kory, if I go with no one, I'm going to have to deal with all the mockery from those losers the whole night."
Said losers were the other young members of the Wayne household, Kory could infer, though she didn't really think those were necessarily accurate descriptions based off of her own interactions with them. Though to be fair, they were his adopted brothers. And there was really no telling what kind of antics took place behind any family's closed doors. But at the mention of… well, at their mention, at the possibility, Kory had felt her stomach tighten.
"Your brothers are going?"
Jason's tongue almost retracted down his throat unnaturally at what he deemed a deep insult. Almost, but not quite, "Well, Damian will be. Tim probably. Dick won't be."
The lump in her throat subsided slightly and after a pause, she finally relented, "Okay."
The cab driver opened the door and she stepped out. Yes, this feeling was… most certainly one of being out of place. Again. Everyone else was arriving in limos. Or Hummer SUVs. And everyone else looked… normal. She was on the other hand "a golden skinned beauty"… That's how Roy put it. But really, she was an alien and people gawked from the corners of their eyes as they quickly turned away from her, though that wasn't really why she felt so…
She couldn't finish her train of thought. She didn't really want to.
She looked around for her escort who came up the road on his motorcycle with it screeching to a halt, kicking up gravel and dirt. Many of the guests gasped and coughed, thinking that he was going to crash into them. But Kory didn't move. Jason wasn't that stupid.
"Hey babe, thanks for coming."
Okay, maybe he was at least a little stupid. Kory smiled tightly at the name. She still wasn't sure how she felt when people called her that. As she had "matured", she had found many people began saying that she was beautiful, whether to her face or behind her back. But beauty wasn't everything and right now, she much rather just wanted to kind of fade into the background. That's all.
"It is no problem," She told her friend.
Jason jumped off the bike, put it into park in the middle of the road and extended an arm for her to take. She sighed and took it while valets glared at Jason angrily. If he wasn't Wayne's son… the fact he was making trouble for them in forcing them to deal with his obnoxious bike would have landed him on their unfriendlies list which would have gotten him barred from the gala.
The two however walked into the main hallway of Wayne Manor without any problem. It was lit up so brightly that even the sun's brilliance seemed challenged. Fountains of drinks, chocolate truffles, waiters carrying hors d'oeuvres around for the guests, the decorations of silk and glamourous diamonds wrapped around the banisters and hanging from chandeliers, all at least over a century old… Kory had almost forgotten what a party at Wayne Manor was like, but this brought it all… all of the memories back.
Jason's stride was long, longer than Kory's. He was actually taller than her. Go figure, so in the heals she was in, she had to walk rather quickly to keep up. She was almost tempted to levitate a bit. But she didn't. This was after all, a social galla. Not the JLA's annual Christmas party. At least the heals made up the height difference, though she didn't really think Jason cared for that. No matter. She wasn't really there to tend to Jason's every whim. She was just there as a friend.
The long strides though took them straight to the grand hall of the manor where the chandeliers sparkled like thousands of stars. It was quite beautiful….
"So, are you a fan of sushi?"
"Sushi?"
"I'm not really, though Tim and Dick will get into eating contests to see who can stomach the most wasabi on their fish, but I think that's the main hors d'oeuvre tonight so…"
Kory shrugged in response.
"Maybe Alfred can provide us with some junk food instead," Jason mused with a smile.
He scanned the crowd. Kory saw many of the guests, to her surprise eyeing her. She normally never took notice of when people did this, but she was a little surprised seeing how there seemed to be a good number of international guests in attendance. She would have thought the number of stares would be less because of that.
When you had 'orange' skin in the 'real' world on this planet so to speak, you get used to people looking. There had even been a time when she had taken advantage of the fact and used her looks to model in her early twenties. After all, her golden glow was what so many women spent thousands of dollars on at tanning salons for. But these days, she didn't particularly desire such attention.
Thankfully, Jason didn't take any notice of it. Most guys would, she had come to realize. They would be enjoying having her on their arm. But Jason was just focused on food. Perhaps that's why she was alright doing this for him, even if there was a slight age gap between the two of them. He just saw her as a person, as his friend, which was a relief in a sense.
Spotting a small black head of hair, Jason smiled, "Hey runt, you seen Alf?"
The 'runt' turned around rather perturbed by the nickname and glared at Jason. If this had been the first time she had met the infamous Damian Wayne, she probably would have been intimidated by the face he was making. However, she still recalled her annoyance of him at the time of their last encounter where he had proceeded to bark orders at everyone, including her. She had just barely managed to put up with it…
But in spite of the superhero costume he wore, his behavior had still proved one thing: He was still very capable of being a child at times, even if he was the grandson of the notorious Ra's al Ghul. And he was, even she had to admit, carrying a lot of baggage as a result. Perhaps knowing that though was why even as annoyed as she had been with him, she still gave him the benefit of a doubt and now presently didn't feel naturally intimidated by him as others did. After all, no one should be written off due to their lineage.
"Screw you, dead man," Damian scoffed, turning away.
Jason grabbed the kid around the neck and proceeded to mess up the younger's hair, much to the annoyance of Damian.
"Jason, let- agh, go!" Damian yelled, or at least yelled as much as whatever conscience he had allowed him.
"Aw, come on don't be like that. And you remember Kory, right? Be polite, say hello," Jason told him.
Damian elbowed Jason in the gut and freed himself. Looking up at Kory, Damian scanned her over before nodding and quietly saying, "Hello."
Kory managed a smile, "Hello. Long time no see, Damian."
"Yeah, whatever, you actually came for this idiot?" Damian scrutinized.
"Uh, well…"
"I would have thought you'd have better wits," the younger remarked.
"Yo, she's just here as a friend," Jason interjected.
"No duh, genius. She's got better options than you," Damian remarked, "I just was wondering what you had to give her in order to get her to come."
Kory was about to respond when a voice came from behind, "Kory is a kind person. I'm sure she came because this loser begged."
The brother between the two, Tim, came up from behind them, holding a pizza bite in his hands, smiling. Kory beamed back. Tim was always a sweetheart and while they rarely saw one another these days, Tim was always a bright boy, er, teen, that Kory respected and enjoyed working with. Come to think of it, he was almost a legal adult wasn't he?
"Hi Kory," Tim said, turning his attention to her.
"Hi Tim," she replied.
"Where'd you get that?" Jason asked, his mind seemingly still primarily on food.
"Why, you hungry?" Tim asked, popping it in his mouth quickly, Jason's prize now gone as he munched.
"Why you little," Jason muttered through his teeth, all while his eyes scanned the crowd around them, as though… being alert for something.
"Being Alfred's favorite has its benefits," Tim taunted, "So Kory, what have you been up to?"
"Nothing really," She said, "Still working in Key West."
"Hurricane season is over, right?"
"Tim, are you really asking her about the weather?" Damian snapped.
Tim eyed the younger, "It's called having social skills, something you could benefit from."
Damian grumbled under his breath as Tim's attention returned to Kory who answered, "Um, yes, but we did not really take the hit this year, thankfully."
"That's good to hear."
"Alright alright, enough about the weather. Tim, Timothy- Timmy, Tim the darling apple of Alfred's eye, come on, where's the real food?" Jason pestered, not caring for the small talk conversation at hand.
Tim looked at Jason oddly at the last nickname, but it was then he noticed that in reality Jason's attention didn't really seem to be on food. What was he... "It's all around you, chill out."
Jason eyed Tim, irritated, "Why don't you show me then?"
"What are you blind?"
Jason glanced over at Kory, "Clearly not, but Damian might be."
Tim made a face of disbelief as Jason continued, "Damian, can you be a gentleman and entertain Kory for a minute while Tim and I go find the food?"
"Huh?"
"Great, thanks!"
Tim felt himself being dragged off as Kory found herself stuck alone with Damian who seemed… less than pleased with the predicament. Once Tim and Jason were out of earshot though, Tim pulled his arm out of the elder's hand.
"Alright, as stupid as you act sometimes, you know that you could get pizza bites from the kitchen freezer and Alfred is over there in plain sight and wouldn't have the chance to stop you, so are you looking for who I think you're looking for?"
"Bingo, bird-brain," Jason stated, semi-scanning the crowds, "You know where he is?"
"Like he ever stays in one place."
"But he's here, right?"
Tim looked at his older brother, his expression, doubtful, like this wasn't a good idea, "Jason… you shouldn't be messing with this."
"Oh, can it. This is the perfect opportunity for them and you know it," Jason answered back.
"But…"
"No 'buts'," Jason said, "I'm sick of them constantly going around the mulberry bush avoiding each other like they'll turn into pillars of salt if they see one another. Now, are you going to help me or not?"
Tim blinked, stunned that Jason had actually made a Bible reference, before looking down, thinking about it and sighing.
Meanwhile, Damian and Kory were making out in their current predicament… less than well. Tim was right, Damian did lack in the social skills department. Mostly there was silence. Kory held her arm awkwardly while Damian munched on hors d'oeuvres.
"Sooooooo…." Damian finally said after a long silence and feeling slightly weird being a ten year old just standing next to a gorgeous twenty-something year old who was being eyed by most of the people in the room for her beauty. What was he supposed to do in this situation anyway?
"Hm?" Kory offered, though in all honesty, she was also unsure how to proceed.
"Your hair… looks longer…." He finally said.
And with it, Damian felt like kicking himself. What kind of remark was that? He hated Tim for being right, the know-it-all.
"Uh, yeah, I grew it out some," Kory said, "Did you grow?"
"I'm always growing," Damian snapped like it was the most obvious thing in the world… dang it. He was so bad at this, "So… have you ever been to Wayne Manor before?"
"Once, a long time ago," Kory stated.
"Ah... well, is it befitting of one of your status?" He asked, referring to her royal heritage, though his tone held a bit of annoyance in it. If she said no, she was clearly obscenely stuck up in his mind. Nothing could be better than his father's home.
"It is…" Kory trailed off slightly, looking at the beautiful mansion all around her. It was, to her, truly…
"Glorious," She said finally, the word lingering in the air, even as the mingled conversations of all those around them echoed in the room.
"Glorious?" Damian wasn't sure what to do with that word, and in his annoyance, he thought best to tell the alien to do a better job with her word choice, "You know, your English syntax could use some work. Seriously, that language-learning-kissing skill of yours can't be that in depth if-"
"Damian, don't be rude."
Damian froze like ice. Considering how snippy he could be, it was almost comedic, but Kory had frozen as well. The boy turned around to see his father, who placed a hand on his shoulder. It was the man of the hour: Bruce Wayne.
"Kory Anders, if I'm not mistaken?" Bruce said, holding out a hand, "What brings you all the way up here from the great state of Florida to see us?"
Hesitantly, Kory took the man's hand. They shook, his grip was strong, but hers could be as well, "Um, Jason asked me to come."
"Ah, well, I'm sorry my son caused you so much trouble."
Mr. Wayne was uncharacteristically charming and lighthearted. It was kind of freaky for her. Most of Kory's interactions with Mr. Wayne had been… well, he wasn't "Mr. Wayne" when she saw him normally. He was normally imposing, commanding of respect, and unnaturally dark in nature. She could sense that all of that still existed in him, even underneath what she could only see as a kind of facade, but she went along with the trifles of high society as he did considering their surroundings. In other words, she did her best to treat him like the wealthy owner of Wayne Enterprises that everyone here knew him to be.
"Oh, no… it was no trouble at all," Kory said, looking down at the ground as their handshake dissipated.
"Well, where did he run off to?" Mr. Wayne asked.
"He went looking for food and stuck her with me," Damian muttered.
Mr. Wayne glared at the younger and shook his head sternly, "You'll have to forgive him, he's still not used to these functions. And I'm sorry for Jason; he's a bit of an… well, he's rather clueless at times when it comes to considering the undue burden his requests may cause on others."
Kory gave a small smile. Normally, she was a very expressive person. She would go out of her way to fly up into the sky with incomparable joy, cry into her pillow at the loss of an animal at the aquarium, or angrily rip apart her food as she ate it when something had recently annoyed her. But right now, all of that, she couldn't. She was so stiff around him, the fearsome dark knight…
"Hey, Bruce!" Kory breathed a sigh of relief as she heard Jason come back into the circle.
"Did I hear correctly in that you left this lovely young lady here all by herself?" Mr. Wayne asked the second eldest of his sons, when he noticed residue from the bike ride on the young man's attire, "Is that dirt on your pants?"
"I didn't leave her alone. Damian was with her," Jason responded, two full beverage glasses in his hands, "I wanted to get her drinks."
"You shouldn't leave her with Damian," Mr. Wayne chided.
"Excuse me, but she was fine!" Damian piped up.
Mr. Wayne rolled his eyes, though Kory got the distinct impression that he had muted the full range of the eye roll from what would have naturally been far more pronounced. The billionaire grabbed Damian by the shoulder before politely determining to withdraw with his youngest, "Please excuse us, Ms. Anders, and enjoy the rest of the evening."
Knowing that he was in trouble, Damian stiffly walked off with his father, while Jason rolled his eyes, "Don't mind him, he's probably mad because they're playing that Kryptonite song right now. You should have seen his face when it came out, he was utterly disgusted that Superman would let someone write such a sappy song about him. Oh hey, here, hang on."
Her friend handed her a glass and moved to grab someone passing by, "Dick! Where've you been, we've been looking everywhere for you!"
It was in that moment though, in such a suddenness that Kory had to control the grip on her glass. Jason. He had just said-
"We?" Dick turned and their eyes met, the question gone, but now a red color was coming to Kory's face, despite every muscle in her brain screaming for her body to stop its natural reaction.
"Yeah, what've you been doing? Probably filling up on sushi, am I right, Kory?"
But Kory couldn't say anything. All English words had all but vanished from her tongue.
Jason had said he wouldn't be here. He had said he wouldn't be here. He lied!
"Of… of course not, I've been socializing, much like you should be," Dick stammered, unnaturally, Jason noticed, in a reply, though Dick's gaze was suddenly towards the ground and not at his adopted brother, a kind of restlessness and unease coming across his demeanor.
Now it made sense why Tim had asked him to go and get him some pizza bites from the kitchen. Because to get there, he would have had to pass Jason and to pass Jason would have meant running into any of Jason's guests. In this case, unbeknownst to him at the time, that meant…
Her.
But somehow, deep in his gut, he found himself pinning it all on himself. How could he not notice her? Her flaming hair always a tell-tale sign that she was present, keeping her a stand out from the crowd. Perhaps he was just… maybe he was just blocking out anyone who looked like her subconsciously… because he couldn't take the guilt.
At the same time, Kory's gaze was matching Dick's and was planted firmly on the floor too. She was so mad at Jason right now; she couldn't believe he'd tricked her like this. She and Dick weren't mad at each other or anything. They weren't in a fight. But… as of late, they had both just been kind of… trying to move on…. Perhaps, she reasoned as her English seemed to be returning to her slowly, that was the English phrase that described it best. And they couldn't exactly do that if they kept seeing each other like this…. But still, in comparison to his mentor, Kory still somehow felt... relaxed around Dick. Or as relaxed as she could be.
But at some point, Dick's eyes came up and focused on her. She was beautiful. She always was of course, but… wow. The pink dress, while form fitting on the top, slided down her hips gracefully like a waterfall, beautifully cascading like an angel's gown around her. He was reminded of that time practically ten years ago that he'd been forced to go to a prom with a villain's daughter and she'd tagged along as back up… She had been so stunning that night that it had made him angry that he was stuck with the hand of another woman on his arm. The only thing different this time seemed to be the three quarter sleeves that were decorated in stunning light green crystals that matched her eyes.
Her eyes…
Which still weren't looking at him.
Jason had planned this, for once. He knew it. Or maybe he had help from the other Titans. They all had been probing into his personal life more than normal as of late, come to think of it. He wondered if they had been doing the same to her. But still… It didn't really matter, because… well, here she was.
"Well, I've been parched the whole night, so forgive me if my priorities are a little off..." Jason began to tell them both with a stretch, when the music changed to a slower beat to… A waltz tempo.
Jason smiled so widely that it couldn't have been more obvious if the Daily Planet had published a whole article about it on the front page with his glowing face on it. Tim had played his role to a T. The younger man grabbed the glass out of Kory's hand and chugged it down as though to naturally affirm his earlier proclamation.
Owari ni shiyouda nante,
Iida shita no kimi deshou,
Owari ga kuru koto nante,
Kangae rarenakute
"Kory, your glass is empty, I'll go get you another one. Dick, why don't the two of you dance while I go get that," Jason said, without allowing for either of them to speak in objection before he quickly disappeared into the crowd.
And then, there was nothing but silence. Silence save for the music behind them, sad, and melancholy, singing in a language that Kory felt was familiar, though like one she had forgotten after years of lacking in its use.
Ikura omoi tsutae,
Dore dake hold back mite mo
Kory swallowed and Dick rubbed the back of his neck. He, however, understood the words, which somehow, felt like a prompt...
Yuuragu koto wa nai
"Um, Kory?
She looked up at him.
"May I have this dance?"
Hyojo kaenai kimi wa
Dick bit his lip, hoping that the words of the song wouldn't be accura-
Kory looked at him, surprised, "Uh... sure."
Namida wo sotto otoshita
He blinked, also a bit surprised, but then nodded before holding his hand out to her. She took it and they walked out to the luxurious, marble dance floor. Dick took her left hand while his right held her waist, ever so gently. They faced each other, for the first time in what felt like years.
Te no todoku basho na no ni,
Kokoro wa kept away ,
Owari oshimu youni,
Boku kara te wo kasanete
Their feet began to move in the square shape that waltz prescribed. It had been so long since they had last danced together. It felt like years. It probably was. So much had happened. They had dated when they were younger, much younger. As teenagers. She had been his first love. But at some point, the world just seemed to pull them apart. It had been a bad idea. Their line of work dictated that to care deeply about someone, it was a danger, a hazard. That's what they had been told.
A memory flashed in Dick's mind, fresh with a salty sting.
"Don't you understand, I can't keep doing this to you Star! Every day, every day we're out there and something happens to you because of me, I can't-"
"But… I have told you, I do not care if I am hurt. I will take that risk to be with-"
"I don't want you to-"
"If you are willing to take that risk for me, why may I not do so for you? Please, Nightwing, Dick, I…"
"It's not just that Star-"
"You know I can protect myself and I never will blame you if I am unable to-"
"That's not the issue!"
"Then what is?"
She had rushed to him, holding his hands tightly, tears in her eyes. And his heart ached.
"I…"
But he'd been unable to finish his sentence. Because he couldn't admit the truth. Because she was, it seemed, so much stronger than he was. He couldn't bear… he couldn't bear to watch her suffer because of him. He knew she was strong. He knew she would never blame him. But he'd always blame himself for her pain and he couldn't take that guilt, especially anytime, everytime something hurt her, especially if it… was just him. Him failing to measure up to be the man she deserved.
And so they had parted…. He had parted. He couldn't take watching her get hurt again, especially by him, by his obsessiveness, by his overwork, by those seeking revenge on him, by his own shortcomings and his inability to protect her by being better... And yet, here she was, still standing. And dancing, no less, next to him, with him… but her eyes, they still looked sad, similar to how they did that day.
"I'm, um, sorry that Jason dragged you here," he said quietly.
"Oh, no, it is okay, I was fine with it…"
'Was'... Dick felt himself swallow.
Together Fallin' down,
Ochite yuku,
Kako wo go ma kasu youni,
Fureau hada ni ai nante mo
"You've practiced Waltz since the last time we've danced?" He asked, trying to make small talk.
Kory smiled slightly, "Just a bit, I thought it was an important Earth custom to learn."
Her smile. Dick felt his heart beat a little faster, even as the lachrymose lyrics being sung entered his ears and he spun her with the music's sorrowful piano tones.
Nai no kamo shirenai kedo,
Saigo no Slow Dance,
Hitomi wo tojita mama,
Shizumu going down,
Dakedo kimi wa kuchizu ke wo kobande ita
With the spin, Kory felt herself float a bit. However, even as her feet raised a smidge above the ground, she grounded herself as quickly as she could. She couldn't do that. She couldn't let herself be carried away again. It wasn't fair to him. He hadn't felt right dating her anymore…
"I am... sorry if my being here makes you uncomfortable though," Kory said, almost in a whisper, as their hands came back together.
Dick looked at her, shocked, "No, no, it's okay; I don't… I don't mind."
His gaze went to his feet. He was such an idiot.
I love you so much,
Koto ga mistake na no ka,
Ano atsu sugita kisetsu ga,
Bokura wo kuruwa sete,
I want to shorten the distance between us
He often thought about them. About the times that they spent together. When they would laugh, when they would explore new places, when they would fly, when they would oppose all evil together, when they would cry together, when they would hold one another… and when she would somehow make him believe that everything would be okay… when she was his Starfire and he was her Boy Wonder.
Oikakete bakari de mo,
Sore demo ii to omoeta koi,
But even as I cling to you ,
Tsukamita katta,
Kimi wo hanashitaku wa nakatta
He felt so selfish. It was so wrong of him to even consider caring about her like this again. He just hurt her. He always hurt her. Even when he left her. Yet… Her eyes didn't hold any malice towards him, to his surprise.
But the astonishment Dick was feeling was not even close to a revelation for Kory. She couldn't be angry with him. She knew she couldn't. She understood, really she did— It… It was just all so hard. She had finally accepted that they weren't meant to be. That it wasn't going to happen. She was trying to move on, let him move on, and she felt guilty for being there like a glaring reminder of the past…
But as the tempo continued, picking up a very slight speed, Dick found himself sanctioning the truth that he held deep down - the truth of how much he loved and cherished that past, their past. He just... he couldn't deny it.
Saikin kenka bakari,
Jojoni kizuki hajimeta,
Maybe we are two people who just don't match,
But I still love you
He had constantly been told growing up how morally irresponsible it was to love another person. And as time passed, that lesson rang all the more true with each passing day, considering no matter what they went through, no matter how many battles, dangers, and trials they faced, 'love' always seemed to put one of them in danger… particularly her. At least, that's what it felt like to him. And for what? For someone eras flawed as himself, whose only strength seemed to be making her sad… And yet, their pace began to gain some speed, some beat, some rhythm which their hearts matched one another's perfectly... and he felt it. He knew it. He knew he still loved her.
"Kory?"
"Yes?"
You're fallin' down,
Ochite yuku,
Atomodori dekinakute,
Orokana koto to wakatte iru
Her eyes, though they shown with a jeweled brightness, were still reserved as they had been since that day. But there was an emotion, something... something which he couldn't pinpoint. Something she seemed to be keeping from him. There was a wall, a barcade. And despite himself, he found himself wishing to see past that, into her true self, her feelings, her world, her soul… just one more time. But it was wrong for him to wish, to even desire such a thing from her, to know her present thought, after everything he'd put her through.
Richard Grayson… why can you not see that only you can make me happy…
It was the only thing she could think as he held her.
Uso no ai demo ikara,
Our Last Slow Dance,
Our eyes meet,
I'm sinking , going down,
Dakedo kimi wa boku kara me sorashita
Kory prayed that what she wanted wasn't showing. She didn't want to guilt him into anything. She didn't want him to be pulled out of the flow of his life, which was now finally stabilizing, just for her. She didn't want to be that…. She wished he wouldn't look at her. To not look and be happy…
But he couldn't look away
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Motto kara wakatte ta,
Umaku ikanai koto nante
Jason watched from the punch bowl with Tim, who was standing on his tip-toes to see over the many heads of the crowd. Damian's gaze passed by his father between bodies, surprised to see what was happening. Bruce followed the boy's eyeline, the sight, unexpected, even to him.
But none of that registered to the two in the center of the room.
It's enough if you know,
Even if everything is different now
Kory nodded, pulling at strings for an excuse, "Yes, it is nothing. I just, I feel like I know this language, but… it is vague to me. I feel as though I knew it at one point in time, but have forgotten most of it."
"Japanese?"
"Hm?" Kory said looking up at him, confused.
"Oh, I mean, it's Japanese. You remember, that one time, you uh… kissed that one guy in Tokyo and…uh..."
"Ah…" Kory said, continuing to dance, "Yes, that… one time. That is a language that you struggled with in the past, yes?"
Dick felt a blush coming to his face. Shortly after that incident, he had actually taken to studying it late every night until, well...
"Yes, I did… But I'm fluent now," Dick confessed.
Kory's eyes raised, "You are? Then… this… this is a love song, yes? What is it saying?"
Even if we can't understand each other now,
If we can just come together,
Yokei na koto itsumo,
Kaki keshite kureta sotto
"It's talking... about a man who loves a woman, but this is their last dance," he told her.
Kory's eyes widened a bit and then, there was a melancholia in them as she took in his answer... "Oh… that is… so sad..."
Dick looked at her. Having her right here. Holding her the way he now was. When did they get so close during this dance? He didn't remember holding her that way at first. Was it just natural? Was it instinct? Was it serendipity? No, it didn't feel like that. It felt like it was occurring because of an undeniable attraction between the two of them, their souls forever being intertwined in a braid of a gloriously blazing light, his soul feeling like it was floating as he held her. How astounding was it then though that they had met at all, being born worlds apart, quite literally? He only knew of one thing that he wanted to do, the one thing that felt right, right now. Her heart raced. They were so close…
"Kory?"
"Yes, Dick?"
You're fallin' down,
And I've fallen too,
We can't go back,
And I know I'm being stupid,
But it's okay with me, even if this is a mistake
"It… it doesn't have to be."
Kory looked at him, clearly confused at the statement, and yet... It was then that he saw that flicker. That hope in her eyes.
Dick always seemed able to restrain himself.
But not tonight.
Because tonight, somehow, he had hope too.
His lips pressed against hers and their bodies finally melded together on the dance floor. He didn't want her to be sad. He wanted her to smile with all of his heart. And he wanted to be with her, knowing that if they were together… that was all that mattered. If they had that, no matter what, they would be okay. She knew it. And he… how could he not see it, know it too? It wasn't her beauty that he loved, after all. It was just her, her heart. Her kindness and her love. And her trust. Her trust in him. Even when their relationship had seemingly shattered, she had said she never doubted him. She believed in him. And she would be willing to take every risk just to be with him.
It was in this instance, this quietness, that he realized that he just had to take that risk too. To truly be happy…
To love again.
He expected her to retreat, to get angry at him, for doing this again. But instead...
Together, we're fallin' down,
We've fallen,
The past, mislead in a way,
How I love holding you,
But I may never have this chance again
Those on the sidelines watched, smiles subsequently appearing over their faces, but his reaction was the only one that mattered to her. She grasped him tighter, the feeling, the elation of being with him just once more engulfing her senses. Kory held onto him for the strength to get through the transfer as the words she was hearing began to make sense in her head while her heart pounded at one with his…. It wasn't the language coming to her brain that was diminishing her every fortification. It was the feeling of being lost in the sensation of being with him.
Our last Slow Dance ,
Keeping our eyes closed,
We're sinking, going down,
And yet... you refused my kiss...
But even as the sad notes ended the tragic story..
Kory couldn't—she couldn't let the song have its way.
Even after the language had entered her mind in fullness again, she didn't let go—she couldn't let go. She couldn't refuse. Even as her eyes became wet, knowing the predicted outcome from this… but, to her astonishment, Dick, he… he also didn't let go of her and as their lips parted, they could only hold one another close, their eyes never breaking from the others'. Only air particles separated them, practically minute at best, as a mutual understanding overwhelmed them in their chests… And looking at him, she never wanted to refuse him, to avoid him, to be away from him for the rest of her life. And on the other side, holding her, being with her, Dick found himself suddenly feeling relieved and all at ease... because he knew.
He kissed her one more time.
He knew he never wanted, no, would never let this be their last 'slow dance', ever again.