Quit? Like Hell I Will.

"I don't know that there was any single thing that caused it," she began, sounding a bit defensive. "Nightwing pulled me aside as I was getting ready to head back to Gotham U.  He said that the time had come that he couldn't ignore the fact that I posed a risk to the team and myself, and he was taking me off the active list altogether and keeping me on the reserve list until I decided to make a real commitment to training and got my sh-...my act together."

Kori listened, her brow creased in a frown of confusion, lips pursed and face devoid of any emotion. As soon as Bette had finished Kori's frown deepened and she shook her head.

"I don't believe Nightwing would do something like that just because." She bit down on her lip and nodded slightly. "He must've had a reason for doing what he did." A look of determination crossed her face. 'And I'm going to find out what.' She promised herself, while turning to look at the blonde sitting next to her. "And what did you say to him after he said all that?"

"I know what his reason was, Kori. He thought the same thing they all probably did.  Come on, we all know I've never been the best fighter on that team, non-meta or otherwise.  I tried.  I really did, but I couldn't keep my skills as a crime-fighter on par with the rest of the team.  Nightwing said he was putting me on reserve...I kept my comm with me, always, for like a year, and I was never called during all that time, not even once.  So, I took the hint.  Finally.  He was just being nice when he said I was on reserve, but in fact I was just one less problem he had to deal with."

She paused to pull herself together for a moment. It was a stupid thing to get upset over, after all this time.  "It doesn't matter what I said, he'd made his decision, and you know what he's like when you start arguing with him on his decisions.  I tried to explain that I was dedicated, I just needed to find a mentor to train me...but he said he had to get going, and when I turned around, he was gone."

Kori stood up arms still crossed over her chest as she did. "I still believe that Nightwing would have a reason for doing it." She muttered under her breath. Pursing her lips she frowned as if she were thinking something through. Making up her mind she turned to look at her friend. "Listen to me Bette and listen closely. You may not be the best fighter on the Team but you certainly are not the worst either. All of us were at the point you are once in our life. Even Nightwing. Even me." Her lips pulled into a soft smile, as she leaned forward to place a hand on the young woman's shoulder. "And if Nightwing doesn't assign you with a mentor then fine. I'll step up and take full responsibility of teaching you all that I've been taught." She crouched down so that Bette's face was above hers. "You have a fire within you Bette. A fire that burns brighter than anything I have seen. And I would like to see you go far as a hero and as a person."

She should have been grateful. She should have thrown her arms around Kori and hugged her, and swallowed her pride at that moment.

Bette's dignity, however, had taken too much of a pounding in recent years to do that. It was clear from the stiffening of the blonde's shoulders that she wasn't receptive to any of what Kori was proposing.

"You do realize, don't you, that I'm about the same age as Nightwing?  I'm not a bloody child, Koriand'r!" she growled, "So stop treating me as one! It's not his responsibility or yours to find me a mentor, it's mine, and I already did in Batwoman. But you wouldn't know any of that because you've been gone for years! And Nightwing probably doesn't either, nor would he care what my fighting skill is now, because I already told you, it's evident I'm not ON the team anymore."

Then she pointed a finger right into the Tamaranian's collarbone, "And for the record, I never once claimed Nightwing did it without a reason.  He doesn't do anything without a reason, and I should know, since I've known him even longer than you, Princess! He's the best team leader there is , and I don't think he kicked me off the team on a whim. I think he did it because he thought I wasn't good enough, and never would be - not for the team, and not for him , either..." she felt the lump in her throat about to choke off her own voice.  She shook her head, her eyes searching Gotham's broken skyline, anywhere but in Kori's pupiless eyes.  "All I wanted was to send him a card for his birthday, not dredge all this up and open old wounds, Kori..."

A wave of emotions rose in her. Sadness. Anger. Understanding. Of course the one that overruled all else was hurt. Tamaranians felt emotions on a much higher scale than any other being. Kori had never understood why humans took the feeling of love for granted, or any other good feelings. They were more focused on spreading the bad feelings.

And right now Bette was doing the same.

Although, she had her reasons.

The orange skinned alien gave a small nod and stepped away from her friend. "I know you're hurting Bette,” she started, her voice soft and eyes shining with sadness and hurt, "And I know that you think I left because I wanted to. But believe me when I say that I left because I had to." She gave a small sad smile as she stood next to the edge of the building. She held out her hand. "I am sorry if I tread on an unwanted area, my friend. I only sought to help you. Please forgive me and just give me that card you wanted to send Dick so that I can fulfil my promise."

Bette took a deep breath, trying to collect herself and what remained of her composure, and give the other woman all the patience she could.  "Kori, I know why you had to leave Earth and return home. No one blames you for that, myself included.  I just meant, you have to appreciate that things have changed since you've been gone. I've changed, and not just my uniform.”

“Of course I forgive you, but... I don't actually have the card with me. I'll have to get it from my dorm at school."  She folded her arms around herself and managed a smile, "Thank you for trying to help fix things, though. This is just one of those things I guess that only time can heal.  I'll get over it, eventually."

Kori looked at Bette, for once no emotion showing on her always expressive face. "Tell me something Bette. Why do you want to fight so badly? Why do you want to protect people? Everyone has a reason to help people. And what is yours?"

Bette had to think about it, even though her own brush with death last year, and her long recovery after, had made her question why she had not walked away from crime-fighting forever. “I know my original reasons when I was a kid were considered stupid by everyone who does this for vengeance or justice or honour, but that’s not what keeps me here now,” she answered slowly. “I guess...it’s because I can. People still need helping, and I love doing it.  Frankly, I don’t want to be on a team that tells me I can’t help just because they think I’m not as good as they are at doing it. Whatever, I feel free on these rooftops. Alive. It’s just...right that I’m here. Maybe I need to prove that, at the least, to myself.”

Kori nodded after listening to what Bette had to say. "Then focus on that. Focus on the fact that you're doing it for you. And not for approval from someone else." Kori gave a small nod. "You say you do it to help people. I say that's a good reason. You know you can help people and you want to do it then do it. Why wait for someone else to approve of it?" She was treading in dangerous grounds. Given Bette's pride this could either blow up in her face or work out for her and Bette. But Kori was kind of used to dealing with situations such as these. She had been a princess. She had dealt with this kind of stuff before.

Bette laughed good-naturedly. There was a certain amusement to be had from the irony of what Starfire was saying. “Why wait for someone else’s approval, indeed!  That’s why I haven’t been. Like I said, I’m independent now. Sure, I’m guided by Batwoman, and...others…”  There was no need to mention Uncle Jake to Kori. “But decisions on taking risks are mine alone.  I’ve paid a price for some poor choices, but they’re my choices to make.  The only real downside to not being on a team is that if I find myself in over my head, there’s not many I can call on for help, and I’ll admit it gets real lonely some nights, but that goes both ways, doesn’t it? I don’t get to be called on for help like I used to be, either.  I do miss that,” she admitted quietly.

"Then I can tell you that you can always call me if you need any help." She reached forward to place a hand on the other girls shoulder. "Bette you're a wonderful person and a remarkable hero. I'm glad you're working on your own and being so independent. And you've found yourself a mentor." She dropped her hand from her shoulder. "And as for the not being called in part it'll work out I'm sure of it." Or rather after she talked to the Team about it. She wouldn't force them to call her. Just call her at times when crises arose or there was an emergency.

“You’re a good friend, Kori.  And, I’m sorry I lost my temper earlier. I guess some old wounds run a little deeper than others.” She didn’t wait to be invited, and stepped in to hug the redhead. “Don’t sweat about the team thing. He made the decision, and I’ll learn to accept it, eventually. They’re stronger without their weakest link, and now I’m stronger too,” she smiled as she let go.