part-time student, full-time fangirl

Dick groaned and moved to lay Mar’i down in the crib.

“I would not do that,” Kory warned, a smug smile crossing her face when their daughter began to wail.

“Well, what would you do then?” 

Kory rolled her eyes and stepped closer, adjusting his arms so that he cradled Mar’i close to his chest. Miraculously, the wailing stopped, and he looked down to see her tiny fists curling up against his shirt, her head snuggled into his warmth.

“Wow,” Dick said quietly, a slow smile spreading across his face, “nine months and I still haven’t learned a thing.”

His wife sighed and rested her chin on his shoulder, studying the line of his jaw and the dark stubble he had taken to wearing since Mar’i was born. 

“It will not get any easier when you go,” she said. 

“C’mon, Kory, we talked about this. I took an extended paternity leave. Those don’t come around too often. I need to get back on the force.”

“You did not take a break from being Nightwing,” she shot back, “you have been working this entire time, Richard, you are spreading yourself too thin. It will not be easy for Mar’i. X’hal, it will not be easy for me.” 

“We need to get back into a steady routine. I need to go to work. I need to start shaving so I don’t look homeless -”

“You would not dare,” Kory gasped, sounding horrified.

“ - need to get used to me being away for work because we want her to grow up with a somewhat normal life. I can’t keep taking vacations, and I’m not going to quit my job.”

He felt a hand slide up to his shoulder and along his collarbone, coming to touch the stubble at his neck.

“So,” Kory said softly, “what you are saying is, if you went on the paternity leave once again, you would stay home and be with us?”

“As much as I love the practice, I can’t keep getting you pregnant so I can get out of work, Star,” Dick said in amusement, catching her fingers with his hand and bringing them to his lips. 

She frowned and drew her hand away, “I do not see why not. And I do not see why you must shave your beard.”

“Because it’s unprofessional.”

“But the chief has a beard, as does your head detective.”

“And that’s their style, not mine. I have a beard for two reasons. One is sleeping in my arms, soundly, for the first time in weeks. And the other is to entertain your weird beard fetish.”

“It is not a fetish,” Kory said heatedly, “you are simply incomparably attractive to me when you wear your facial hair.”

Dick grinned. 

“I love you, babe. But the beard is gonna go.”

“Mar’i will not recognize you without it.”

“Yes, she will.”

“Fine. Then I will not recognize you without it.”

“Oh really?” Dick asked, leaning in to kiss her cheek, “wouldn’t you recognize this?”

“I would never allow a stranger to get so close to me,” she replied haughtily, crossing her arms.

He rubbed his jaw teasingly against the side of her face, smirking when he felt her body rumble in response. 

“Even if they can make you purr like I do?”

Kory blushed and shook her head, dropping her gaze to the sleeping child nestled in her husband’s arms.

“You are certain I cannot convince you to stay on the paternity leave?” she asked mournfully, changing the subject before he could tempt her further. The dim glow of the stars they had covered Mar’i’s bedroom with lit up the lines of his face marvelously, drawing her into his warm blue eyes. 

“Not unless you can have a baby in the next few hours.”

“We can make one,” she tried, widening her eyes pleadingly, “have you not enjoyed these last few months with us?”

Dick sighed and stepped away from her to settle Mar’i into her crib, pleased to see his daughter sleeping soundly. 

“Come here, Star,” he said softly, bringing his arms around her waist and holding her in a standing snuggle, “I have loved every minute of being with you two. But we both knew it wasn’t going to last forever. One of us needs to work to keep up with all the shopping you do with Donna and Babs,” he added cheekily.

“But -”

“I won’t be going back full-time for at least a month. Half-days and case breaks only. And when Mar’i is a little older, I’ll ease into a more regular schedule. It’ll be gradual. And we’ll be able to get back into our regular patrols in no time.”

Kory sniffled and buried her face in the curve of his neck, breathing deeply.

“I am sorry,” she said sadly, “I am being unreasonable, and I know that. I just...I will miss you. And I will miss your perfect beard. And I will miss seeing you hold her at all hours of the day. I hate it when we are apart, I am always worried something will happen to you. I never know when to say goodbye.”

Dick sighed and tightened his grasp on her, dropping a kiss on the top of her head. 

“We knew what we were getting into when we signed up to be heroes, Star. That much hasn’t changed. And I know it’s scary to wonder, but we can’t be in this bubble forever. That’s not who we are. And that’s not the kind of example we want to set for Mar’i.” 

Kory pressed her lips against his jaw, cupping his face with both hands.

“I love you so much,” she said fiercely, “and I will do my best to make this easier for you if you would only just -”

“I’m not keeping the beard, Kory.”

She pouted and unwound herself from him.

“Clorbag.”

“I love you too, dearest,” Dick said drily, “it seems your separation anxiety was quick to disappear.”

“The only separation you need to be concerned for is that between you and all of your razors,” she said mischievously, darting into the hallway to beat him to the bathroom, “and every other sharp object I can hide will be hidden.”

“Don’t touch my shurikens!” Dick yelped, groaning when a sudden cry sounded from behind him.

“Fucking hell,” he mumbled, bending over to pick up his daughter and cuddle her into his chest, “Kory and her hormones, you and your...well, you’re a baby, so it’s not really your fault. I mean, of course, you’ll miss me. We spend all day together.”

Mar’i looked up at him with wide, curious eyes, as if encouraging him to go on.

“You let me talk about pretty much anything. Your mom does it too, but sometimes she falls asleep or gets bored and she’s not terrific at hiding it when she’s not interested. You also threw up on your Uncle Jason the first time he held you, which was pretty cool.”

She babbled something in baby and gripped his shirt, pulling herself into an easy float above his arms.

“You seem to like my music more than anyone else’s. And you fall asleep on top of me when we’re watching the game,” he continued, bringing his fingers up to tickle her tummy. 

Mar’i giggled and lost her balance, falling back into his hands.

“Let’s see...you’re definitely the cutest baby the world has ever seen. You behave perfectly with all your uncles and aunts. Even when Damian tried to kill you. You just zapped him with a little starbolt and laughed.”

Dick stared into her perfect green eyes and couldn’t help but feel a wave of sadness come over him. Nine months did feel too soon, in some ways. Mar’i had only just started walking. And her babbling was becoming increasingly more frequent. How long would it be before she said her first words? Would he even be there when she did?

“I’m going to miss being home, just so you know. A lot. But I definitely have to go. So you and your mom can’t try anything funny, okay?”

Shit. Were his eyes wet? Was he crying?

“I won’t be gone for too long tomorrow. Just in the morning. And then we can spend the rest of the day together.”

Mar’i raised a palm and rubbed it against his beard, showing him a gummy smile that was punctuated with two tiny baby teeth. 

He was definitely crying. 

“Anyway, I’m going to put you to bed now and stop your mom from destroying all the sharp things in the house, because I’m going to have to shave in the morning and that’s just a reality she’ll have to face -” 

He pulled Mar’i away from him slowly, lowering her back into the crib, retracting her immediately after the shrieking began.

“It’s bedtime, starshine, please, please go to sleep.”

But Mar’i, with a stubborn sense of persistence rivaling that of her father and mother, continued to scream and cry until Dick was snuggling her close to his chest, her fingers curled up in the cotton of his t-shirt.

Which is exactly how Kory found them thirty minutes later, having thrown out every razor-like thing she could possibly think of. Dick was still standing there in the center of the room, in the glow of the stars they had painted together, staring down at his daughter with tired, watery eyes. 

“Ah,” Kory said smugly, “I believe I am not the only one with a case of separation anxiety.”

Her husband looked over at her, something unreadable in his expression.

“How serious were you about making another one?”

Kory smiled wickedly. 

Raven shrugged, her attention focused on the heavy mystery novel in her hands.

“Whatever the rest of you want.”

Cyborg scratched the back of his neck, leaning back in his seat, “I think it would be good. BB’s right, it’s been a while since we took a break, and even longer since anythin’ struck in Jump.”

“Okay,” Robin said slowly, turning to his girlfriend, “Star?”

Starfire hesitated, unwilling to meet his gaze.

“Truthfully,” she said, “I do not think it is a bad idea for us to do the taking of a break, even if it only brief. I do not wish to leave our home indefensible again, but I believe a vacation could be great fun.”

Robin considered this, narrowing his eyes.

“Are the three of you in on this together?” He asked, glaring at Beast Boy.

“No way! We’re just the smartest ones in the room, man,” the younger boy shot back.

Robin sighed, “I don’t think it’s a good idea. We can’t predict what may happen in the time that we’re gone. Not worth the risk.”

“Then how about this -” Beast Boy said quickly, leaping to his feet, “we’ll play you for the vacation! One big challenge, winner take all.”

Starfire didn’t miss the way her boyfriend froze, a sinister smile curving on his lips. His weakness for competitions was hardly a secret in the Tower.

“I’m listening.”

“It’s easy. We pick an activity, we play the activity, and if you win we’ll never bother you about going on a vacation again.”

“I love the sound of that.”

“But,” Beast Boy added, “if we win, the Titans get to go on some kind of fun trip every year from now on.”

Robin couldn’t resist a harmless challenge like that, especially when, win or lose, the outcome wouldn’t be terrible.

“One last question, Beast Boy. Who’s my competition?”

Beast Boy smirked and for a moment, Robin wondered if he had made a terrible mistake.

“Whoever has the best chance of beating you.”

Robin agreed to three one-on-one sparring matches in the gym about a week later. It would be easy, he supposed, and maybe embarrassingly so. Beast Boy had never won in a fight against him. Cyborg’s strength was always undercut by Robin’s agility. And Starfire was full of weak spots he could easily poke and prod until he had her giggling on the floor.

To his surprise, however, she was the one who was waiting for him when he arrived at the designated time. Her long, cherry-colored hair had been thrown in a high ponytail, and her gorget was gone, revealing an achingly smooth, tanned neck that disappeared into a white karate gi.

“So you’re my competition today?”

She smiled, her eyes twinkling with the promise of a secret. What wasn’t she telling him?

“It would seem so, Robin.”

“And the others?” He asked, noting their absence in the room.

Starfire’s smile widened.

“I believe all three of them have journeyed to the mall for the afternoon. I trust you will have no trouble admitting your defeat when they return.”

Robin raised an eyebrow, an odd wave of heat flaring in his belly.

“That’s cute, Star. Whenever you’re ready to do this, we can do this. Do you have any ground rules for this match?”

“As a matter of fact, we do,” she said airily, swallowing a giggle when she saw the bewildered look on his face, “the first condition is that we cannot use powers or weaponry. The victor is the opponent who secures at least two of three matches. Victory is signaled by either a verbal confirmation to yield or ten seconds on the mat. Any questions?”

Yes, he wanted to say, what did you do with my girlfriend?

“Those are fair terms,” Robin agreed, “I don’t think I have any of my own. But you better not go easy on me, Star. No holding back.”

“Oh, Robin,” Starfire replied, a dazzling smile gracing her lips once again, “when have I ever done that?”

The game was set. The rules had been established. The consequences agreed upon.

They stood six feet across from each other and bowed, sinking into their stances. And at the count of three, they began.

He had never expected Starfire to strike like lightning.

Maybe he had been distracted by the glimmer in her eyes or the way her hair whipped behind her in a crimson streak. Maybe he’s been a little too captivated by the strangely sexy growl she’d emitted when she had pounced forward.

But there, with his back pressed against the mat, and her legs bracketing his hips, he could only muster up enough brain power to utter a quiet ‘whoa’ in amazement.

“Yield for me,” she demanded, her eyes flaring.

“I yield,” he replied automatically.

The look of determination on her face gave way to utter joy as she giggled and climbed off of him, extending a hand to help him up.

“That was not nearly as difficult as I expected it to be,” she mused, dancing away from him.

Robin, having realized he had been tricked, only glared at the Tamaranian princess.

He would not lose their second fight.

Once again, they stood six feet across from each other and bowed, sinking into their stances. Robin focused on the position of her hands. He had a hunch she would knock her body into his and cage him on the ground again. She was quick. He needed to be quicker.

At the count of three, they began.

As he suspected, she leaped forward, bracing her shoulder in an effort to connect it with his sternum. He side-stepped her motions expertly, grinning when she righted herself and landed, albeit clumsily, on both feet. She snarled and kicked her foot outwards in an attempt to trip him up. He retaliated by pinning her body against the wall and throwing a swift jab to her side.

“Yield, Starfire,” he commanded, pinning her wrists to her side. She glowered at him, clearly unhappy with the defeat.

“Starfire,” he pressed. 

“I yield,” she grumbled, “but I will not lose a second time.”

“I don’t plan to either, beautiful.”

She didn’t respond to that, but he couldn’t help enjoying the soft flush that crept up her neck when she turned away.

Six feet across from each other, with fresh, blazing determination - Robin was ready. Starfire was ready. She had a trick up her sleeve. A dirty, terribly evil trip. Beast Boy had suggested it and she hadn’t planned on utilizing it, but now the temptation was far too great.

At the count of three, she stayed still, waiting for him to make the first move. They mirrored other’s motions, moving intently, slowly in a circle. Their actions were precise and sharp. She wondered if he would let her get close enough to make a move. 

He threw the first punch, a gentle tap on her shoulder. A slight brush up against her back. 

He was toying with her, playing a game. He was making this round last a little longer.

It infuriated her to no end. 

Robin came close again, throwing another jab to her side. This time, she kicked her leg out and hooked it behind his knee, forcing him to stumble back and fall to the floor. Her hands came behind his neck, and suddenly, her mouth was on his. 

And he melted into her kiss immediately, instinctively, as if he had no other choice but to kiss her back with as much passion as possible. His fingers grabbed at her hair, removing the elastic that secured her ponytail. Her ruby colored locks tickled his nose. 

What were they doing again?

With a loud smack, Starfire broke away, an apologetic look in her eyes.

“You have been pinned for over ten seconds, Robin,” she said quietly, “which means -”

Robin’s eyes widened. 

“No fucking way.”

“You have lost this challenge.” Starfire finished, unable to stifle the laughter that bubbled up in her throat.

“You cheater! You planned this whole thing, didn’t you!” He cried out, rolling them over, and running his fingers along her ribcage, “whatever happened to Tamaranian honor, Star?”

She squealed with laughter, kicking her legs in the air as he continued to torment her mercilessly.

“All - is - fair - in - the - love - and - war - Robin, please!” she gasped out, tears pooling in her eyes. 

“Well, a deal is a deal,” he relented, pausing his tickling, “so you’ve won the vacation challenge. But you can tell Beast Boy that’s the last time I let him challenge me to anything. Especially when he couldn’t bother to show up.”

“That was my suggestion, actually,” Starfire said meekly, a heavy blush filling her cheeks, “I did not wish for any witnesses to be in the room if I needed to...take things a step further.”

Robin stared at her in amazement before bursting into laughter and clambering off of her.

“God, you are something else entirely, Star,” he said fondly,.

She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and smiled.

“Then, you are not upset that you lost?”

“I’d hardly call it a loss,” he joked, raising a hand to cup her cheek, “but no. I don’t mind losing to you in the slightest.”

Starfire beamed and leaned in to kiss him, her fingers gripping the white V of his gi. 

“You know,” she said thoughtfully, “we could continue to spar for a while longer if you would like. We have at least another hour before we could possibly be interrupted.”

“Are you proposing a rematch of sorts, Star?”

“In a manner of speaking.”

Robin grinned.

“You can stay with me on a trial basis until we have things sorted out with the others. I can try to get you something more permanent if you’re planning on sticking around for a while.”

“I am ready to do whatever you ask of me, Robin.”

They had been like that for about two hours, seated across from each other in his small kitchen. Robin was dead tired and deep into his fourth pot of coffee. The others - Raven, Beast Boy, and the guy they now called Cyborg - had agreed to meet with him and Starfire at the island later in the evening, so they could discuss a few things. Until then, or until she had somewhere else to go, Starfire would be staying with him. So there they were, a few hours after dawn- ground rules needed to be laid out before anything else happened. 

“We’ll have to go over some cultural review as well. You’ll need to brush up on Earth’s laws and fill out some paperwork formally declaring your presence in Jump.”

“If that is what you require, I will take care of it.”

“You might want to contact your planet of origin and sort out those affairs as well. If you were taken by those other aliens by force, you might have a case for -”

“I was not,” she interjected, a painfully tight smile drawn across her lips, “taken by force, unfortunately. But I will be sure to contact the ambassadors of my home planet and confirm I am well.”

Robin was surprised that she never questioned his requests, no matter how uncomfortable they seemed to make her. Sometimes she would fidget under his gaze, before taking a deep breath and staring at him with her wide green eyes. Her back would straighten and her fingers would release whatever they were gripping. And with a sweet smile, her nerves seemingly melted away, she would tell him, 

“I trust you, Robin.”

Which was the strangest thing she could have possibly said. 

 Trust. 

She trusted him. She took him at his word in matters that concerned her life and well-being. She trusted him to save her. She trusted that he cared. 

And Robin, while flattered, was far too pragmatic to let this slide.

“You...trust me?” He asked slowly, testing the word on his tongue.

She nodded emphatically. 

“Very much. You have been unequivocally...nice to me, even though you do not owe me anything, nor have you asked for anything in exchange for your kindliness. It does not go unappreciated. I admire your willingness to assist me in my hour of need and am indebted to you beyond measure. The very least I can offer is my full trust in your words.”

“Starfire, you can’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Put that much faith in any one person,” he snapped, his temper beginning to rise, “you’re going to get yourself killed or worse if you don’t build some walls soon. Go back into crazy warrior mode or something. I don’t know what it’s like on your planet, but around here, it’s common for people to lie and cheat and steal. ”

“I do not believe you are one of those people.”

Robin rolled his eyes, “quite frankly, you don’t know anything about me. I think it’s pretty naive of you to think that every person who comes along and saves you at the right moment is going to be in your corner forever.”

He could have sworn he saw a ripple move through her, a sharp flash of green in her face. Just as quickly as it came, it had disappeared. Her hands came to the edge of her skirt, fingers digging into the shiny purple fabric. 

“I was offered as a prize by my own people,” Starfire said quietly, “given into service under one of the cruelest races in the galaxy. I was disillusioned by promises of loyalty and protection long before then. I do not offer my trust so freely and I am not as naive as you may believe. But if there is someone who has been as kind and just as you have been, who has succeeded in saving my life and gifting me the freedom I have always wanted, I am going to choose to trust them. I am going to choose to see the good and believe in something more. Just like you did.”

His brow furrowed, confusion crossing his face. 

“I did what?”

She rose from her seat and approached him slowly, holding both of her fists outwards. There was a crackle of green light around her palms, a warm flicker of energy that danced at her fingertips.

“I was standing like this. I could have killed you in an instant,” she said. 

His fingers itched for his utility belt, but he set his jaw and allowed her to make her point. 

“I had already destroyed much of your home. I was angry. I was a threat to you and many others. But you saw through me. You gave me a chance to prove I was worth more than what I appeared to be.”

Starfire drew her fists back to her sides and returned to her seat, looking at him squarely in the face. Her eyes drank in the curve of his jaw, the smooth line of his nose, and the slight flush on his cheeks. She stared into his mask so intently, he wondered if he was wearing it at all.

“I will choose to see the good, Robin. I will choose to trust and believe in others,” she said finally, “But most of all, I will promise to always trust and believe in you. Now you may call me naive or foolish, but do not forget - I will always have these to protect me.” 

She held up her hands and allowed a flare of green to pass through them, enjoying the look of surprise on his face as it was worn down into amusement.

“Well, then,” Robin said, clearing his throat, “you know what you’re talking about. I’ll...I’ll trust you can take care of yourself, at the very least.”

Starfire beamed and allowed the flames to die out. 

“Then it seems we have an understanding. If there are any other items you believe I must take care of in order to establish my presence on Earth, I am eager to know what they are.”

He felt his lips twitch before he gave in and allowed a genuine smile to take place.

“What do you say we get something to eat, rest up for a bit, and finish this conversation with everyone else? I’ll pay for food.”

Starfire grinned.

“As I do not have any Earthen currency, I am afraid it would have been your responsibility to cover the costs regardless. But yes, that sounds satisfactory. If it is not too much trouble, may I use your balcony for a moment?”

“Uh...sure. What for?”

His eyes widened when she yanked her tall purple boots down to the ankle and kicked them off, unbuckling the wide silver belt around her waist and setting that aside on the kitchen counter. Starfire made quick work of discarding her armbands and reached for the gorget around her neck, only to hesitate and draw her hands back to her sides. 

“Tamaranians require sunlight to recharge our energy,” she explained, moving a few feet past him to access the sliding glass doors that led outside, “it is preferable that the maximum amount of skin be exposed during the process. I do not yet know the Earthen standard for indecency, but I believe it is safe for me to assume nudity is frowned upon.”

Robin coughed and rubbed the back of his neck, fighting the urge to allow his eyes to trail past her long, ruby colored hair and down to her longer, deliciously golden legs. 

“Yeah, uh, you’d be correct in that assumption.”

As soon as the first drops of sun hit her skin, she closed her eyes, tasting the pure energy as it flowed through her veins.

This girl was dangerous. Ethereal. Wondrously and impossibly captivating. 

Robin didn’t dare speak. Teenage boy thoughts be damned, he was a professional. If he let himself turn to goo over every pretty girl that came his way, he would be no better than Bruce.

“You know,” Starfire said, tilting her face towards the sky, “I could inform you of the exact composition and properties of light and solar energy by a single taste. I know of the greatest beings in the galaxy, the structures of strange planets, the feeling of stardust as it grazes your body. And despite how normal these have all become for me, I cannot help but feel small in comparison. My power and strength is nothing compared to what the universe has to offer. In many ways, I am like stardust itself - the tail end of something far bigger and greater than I could ever be. Is that not a curious notion?”

It was the first of many incredible things she would say to him throughout their friendship as their feelings grew and bloomed and blossomed and changed and remained. But at the time, it was the most exquisite thing Robin had ever witnessed in his life, and his heart felt a hundred times more foreign in the moments that passed afterward. 

He glanced around the room and smiled; Alfred had really outdone himself this time. Dick brushed his fingers along the row of lilies that lined the entryway, admiring the splash of pink roses that stood out amid the white flora. Their saccharine smell lingered in the air as he walked on through the room, studying the impressive set-up.

They had chosen to host their wedding at Wayne Manor, which was gorgeous and private and comfortable. With graceful vaults and arches that curved into a smooth dome and made the polished marble floors gleam in the glittering sunlight, the ballroom was easily the most elegant waste of space Dick had known in his house. And, it was finally being put to use the way it deserved. 

Alfred had thrown himself into preparations the moment he’d heard. Even in his old age, he was a force to be reckoned with- he had florists ready, caterers selected, a decorating committee arranged, and invitations delivered within days. Thirty-six hours before the ceremony, he had marched in with an army of specialists and had set to work on the hall. 

It had been divided up in such a way that the service, reception, and dinner would all be hosted within a few feet of each other. From the thick maple doors of the entryway, she would walk in, fiercely beautiful as ever. She would make her way past the rows of chairs towards a trellis made of fine gold, twisted with flowers and leaves. Posts would be in line with its sides, thin gossamer curtains tied with ribbons from wall to wall, effectively cutting off access to the space behind. After they kissed, the entire party would pass through the curtains and into the garden, where they could immediately enjoy the reception, while the bride and groom snuck off to change into clothes better suited to dinner and dancing. At the end of the night, they would bid their goodbyes and steal away into the night as they had for the past twenty-two years. 

Dick had envisioned this moment for half of his life in different ways. The bride used to change, often switching between the various women in his life at the time- but as time went on, the vision became clearer and more obvious. It could only be her. She’d always been there, a shadow flitting in and out of the window, playing with fire fearlessly. 

Something probed his arm gently, snapping him out of his thoughts.

“Does it remind you of ours?”

He smiled and drew her hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to her palm.

“In the best ways. Al really pulled this one together brilliantly.”

His wife sighed, intertwining their fingers.

“It is worth it. Their happy ending is long overdue.”

“Yeah,” Dick agreed, “it’s about time. How’s the bride looking?”

“Like a million of the dollar bills,” Kori replied cheekily, “truly, you may never have eyes for me again.”

He laughed and cupped her cheek, taking in her appearance. His eyes lingered on her full lips, the glimmer of happiness in her electric eyes, the slight pink flush that ran from her cheeks to her collarbone. Her hair had been pinned up into an intricate bun, stray curls framing her face. She was a vision in the soft gold gown Selina had asked her to wear as one of the bridesmaids. 

“I don’t think I could ever have eyes for anyone other than you, beautiful.” 

Kori beamed and slid her free hand to his chest, gripping the lapel of his suit jacket to pull him into a sweet kiss. Her mouth moving achingly slow against his while he fought to remind himself they were in an unconcealed, public space. 

She pulled away and giggled, smoothing out the fabric she had crumpled.

“Your restraint is impressive, my love.”

“It had better be,” a deep voice resounded from behind them, “as I recall, you two are already married, so I doubt there’s much more you can do at a wedding that you haven’t done before.”

“You’d be surprised, Dad,” Dick said cheerfully, “but I’m not looking to upstage your night, so let’s leave it at that.”

“Hello k’norfka Bruce,” Kori said eagerly, hurrying to press a kiss to her father-in-law’s cheek, “you look very handsome! How are you feeling?”

Bruce patted her shoulder affectionately, a rare smile lighting up his face, “like I should have done years ago. You look lovely, by the way.”

“I was just telling Richard to reserve judgment until after the bride has arrived. Selina is truly...indescribably wonderful.”

Dick didn’t miss the dreamy look that crossed his father’s face.  

“And the flower girl? As radiant as her mother?”

He didn’t miss the way his wife blushed at those words either.

“Provided she does not ruin her dress again, Mar’i will look perfect,” she replied with a sigh, glancing at the doors, “in fact, I believe it is time for me to check in on her. Please excuse me, k’norfka Bruce. Richard, I will see you before the ceremony.”

Bruce shoved his hands into his pockets and watched her leave.

“How are you feeling, Dick?”

 “Shouldn’t I be asking you that? It’s your wedding, after all.”

“It’s about time, don’t you think,” Bruce replied with a grin, “I made her wait twenty-two years.”

“I’m still amazed by that, y’know. Star and I tied the knot...what, six years after we started dating. I can’t believe it took you guys this long.”

“Well we’re here now, aren’t we?”

“Only because Selina was boss enough to propose.”

“I would’ve proposed when the time came!” Bruce said indignantly. 

Dick snorted, “Yeah, in 2068, when you’re too close to death to fear commitment.” He glanced around the room, gaze falling on a nearby satin pillow, “Is the ring-bearer going to show up today?”

“He’ll pitch a fit, but yes. The kid’s a fan of Selina. Plus, he misses you.”

“The devil? Inconceivable,” Dick muttered. 

Bruce cuffed him on the back of the head, “He’s your brother.”

“So is Tim, but you don’t see him slicing me up in ‘training sessions’. Speaking of, where is he? Why am I the only one here?”

“Jason plans on popping in during the reception. Tim’s bringing Stephanie so he’s at her house. Alfred is with Damian.”

“That’s not what I mean. Why am I the only one here, now?”

Bruce shifted uncomfortably, and rubbed the back of his neck, ”You’re the first, you know. I’ve always held the others up to you, even when I shouldn’t have. You were a brat, but you were also my first son. I wanted you to be here for that.”

“Dad.”

“No jokes, I’m serious.”

“I am too.”

“Well...good.” 

“Yeah.”

They stood in silence, eyes fixed on the rows of chairs and the trellis directly ahead. 

“So…”

“Hit the bar? A couple of pre-wedding drinks?” 

“Is that what Garfield and Victor did with you?”

Dick laughed as he lead his father out of the hall, “Are you kidding? They wouldn’t let me near the mini-bar. Said they would beat my ass if I was tipsy at my own wedding.”

“Clearly you’re not concerned about me.”

“Nah. First, Silena is more than capable of sobering you up with a single glance. Second, you’re Batman.”

“Ha ha, very funny. I’m pretty sure Kori would do the same if you’d stumbled down the aisle. That woman can pack a punch.”

“Do I detect a hint of fatherly pride there, Dad? Are you finally coming around to your daughter-in-law?”

Bruce rolled his eyes, nudging Dick with his elbow.

“Knock it off. You know I respect her and care about her. She’s a fine young woman. I couldn’t have chosen better for you if I’d tried.”

Dick softened, “I was kidding, but...thanks. It means a lot to hear you say that. She loves and admires you so much. And she tells Mar’i stories about you all the time. She won’t let me ruin your image even a little.”

“She gave you the home you needed, didn’t she?” Bruce said quietly, “Your relationship with me and this house and everything you had turned away from was different after she came into your life.”

“Yeah,” Dick agreed, clapping his hand on his father’s shoulder, “my home is wherever she goes. And she always seems to know what I need when I need it. That’s why she cares so much about this place.”

“I’m sorry for all the shit I gave you in the beginning, you know. I think it pushed you to be strong and decisive, but I am sorry if it hurt you.”

“Not gonna lie, I was pretty pissed for a while. But Star always understood. Always gave you the benefit of the doubt.”

“She’s a special girl.”

And Dick could have gone on about how perfect his wife was - how incomparably sweet and passionate and fiery she could be. How strongly she fought for their family. How lovingly she accepted everyone into her heart.

But he simply nodded and raised his watch to check the time, grinning at his father.

“How about that drink, old man? Push away some of those pre-wedding jitters?”

Bruce’s lips twitched in amusement, but Dick still caught the happy creases around his eyes.

“As long as Alfred doesn’t catch us, I’m game.”

“Afraid he’ll kick your ass?” Dick teased, swiftly dodging a well-aimed slap upside the head.

“It’s my wedding day, son. I get a free pass. I’m looking out for you.”

She had missed him. She had missed him so terribly with her whole being, aching and miserable and physically drained without him beside her. She wondered why his absence had taken such a heavy toll on her these last few weeks. It had never been quite so unmanageable in the past. He had left a few days after her last heat cycle - perhaps she was having difficulty adjusting to his absence after nearly a week of constant contact. 

Tug. 

And then there was that. A strange pull from inside her chest, like her energy, the very essence of X’hal itself, was seeking him. 

Tug.

It seemed to happen whenever she yearned for him most. During their frequent facetime calls, when she crawled into bed or roused in the morning, and often when she moped on the couch, waiting for him to come home. 

Tug. 

It was an insistent, sharp little nudge. She had yet to understand why it was occurring or what it meant. She hoped Richard would help when he returned. 

Tug, tug. 

That one woke her up. 

Tug, tug, tug. 

She rubbed her eyes blearily and glanced at the clock on her nightstand. 2:36 AM blinked back at her. 

Tug, tug, tug, tug.

There were footsteps on the stairs. Had she missed the quiet thud of the boom-tube in their basement? Her senses were usually far more acute - why were they dulled now?

Tug, tug, tug, tug, tug, tug, tug.

Kory sat up and switched on the light, reaching for the t-shirt she had been snuggling. She drew it to her chest, just in case her home intruder wasn’t her husband. 

Tug, tug, tug, tug, tug, tug, tug, tug, tug -

The door flew open with a loud bang, revealing a tall man with dark circles under his eyes, and the biggest grin she had ever seen. Kory’s heart caught in her throat, her eyes growing wide with excitement.

“Richard,” she breathed, scrambling out of bed.

Her husband dropped his suitcase and opened his arms, catching her and immediately drawing her into a scorching kiss.

“I missed you, I missed you,” she chanted, tears pooling in her eyes when he pulled away. 

Dick squeezed her waist gently and pressed his lips to her forehead, “I missed you too, Kor. I’m sorry I couldn’t come sooner.”

“You are forgiven,” she murmured, her fingers curling around the collar of his jacket, “once you remove this and come to sleep with me.”

He gave her a wicked grin and straightened his shoulders.

“You could remove it for me.”

Tug, tug, tug, tug, tug, tug, tug.

Kory blushed, smiling sweetly as she tore the jacket from his form. Dick yelped and looked at the tattered remains in dismay.

“Oops,” she giggled, floating out of his reach, “did I do that?”

He laughed - another sound she had sorely missed in his absence - and lunged, tackling her to the bed, his hand tickling her sides relentlessly while she thrashed between the sheets.

“Say you’re sorry, Kor.”

“I - will - not,” she replied defiantly, shrieking when his fingers danced along her ribcage.

Tug, tug, tug, tug, tug.

Dick stilled, ceasing his attack to study her curiously.

“Richard?”

He touched her cheek and sighed, pressing his forehead against hers. 

“It’s nothing, babe, I just...felt something strange. And being with you, it’s like it’s filling me, y’know? Like we’re connected.”

She gripped his shoulders and tilted her head upwards, rubbing their noses together. 

“I have been feeling it as well. Quite literally - it has been the strangest sensation as if something has been pulling me towards you.”

“Yeah?”

Kory nodded, a dreamy smile gracing her lips.

“I love you, Richard.”

“Love you too, beautiful.”

She watched him unbuckle his belt and fumble out of his jeans, stripping his t-shirt off and tossing it aside. Her eyelids felt heavy, as if they could give way to sleep any moment, and it was all because he was here. It wasn’t a dream. Richard was home. 

Kory waited for him to get under the covers, his body quick to tangle with hers beneath their soft duvet. She leaned over and switched off the lamp, running her fingers through his hair while she made herself comfortable.

“Goodnight, beloved,” she whispered, and her heart fluttered when his voice, for the first time in weeks, answered back.

Tug, tug, tug. 

Sleep came easily to Kory. It did not for Dick.

Tug, tug, tug, tug, tug, tug. 

Not for lack of trying of course. His wife was snuggly and warm and, usually, the perfect sleeping partner. But there was something flashing brightly behind his tightly shut eyes, and he couldn’t figure out what the hell it was.

“Kor.”

“Mmmph.”

“‘ou using your phone right now?”

“Noooo.”

Tug.

“Turn off the light.”

“I did, Richard.”

“No, you didn’t.”

“Mmmph.”

“Babe, I’m serious,” he said, blinking one eye open, “we’re both too tired for anyth - what the fuck.”

He shot up, tearing the covers away from her body.

“Kory, wake up.”

“Richard, I have not slept at all in three weeks, can this not wait for one night?”

“No, it can’t,” he said desperately, “this is too weird.” 

She opened her eyes and sat up, shooting her husband a dirty look before following his line of sight to her stomach. 

Which was, indeed, glowing. A lot. Bright, electric green waves of energy came off of her skin, sizzling in the air.

She gasped and clapped her hands to her mouth.

“Oh...oh, oh, oh, oh, Richard, we, I, it is - “ Kory waved her hands excitedly, unable to find the words.

Dick stared at her in confusion.

“Words, Kory, words.”

“Baby!” She burst, throwing herself on top of her husband, “I am pregnant, we are having a baby, Richard!”

“Holy shit,” Dick blurted out, a bright grin breaking across his tired face, “Oh my God, are you serious?”

“Like I have never been before,” she mumbled tearfully, burying her face in his chest, “my energy has not been calling to yours, our child has been calling for you. Tamaranean fetuses require a steady supply of energy from both the mother and the father, I cannot believe I did not see it sooner.”

“So that’s it then, right? We’re having a baby? I’m gonna be a dad?” 

Kory giggled at the wonderstruck look on her husband’s face. 

“We are having a baby, beloved,” she said happily, leaning up to kiss his jaw. 

He folded her up into his embrace, his hand never leaving her glowing belly (which they had decided would be the first issue to discuss in the morning, provided they were actually able to fall asleep), stroking her skin until he had memorized the feel of her all over again. She laced their fingers together, heart so full she wondered if it could possibly burst. 

Tug.

Their little family was growing. It was all she had ever asked for. 

The nights were never long enough when they were together. Dick swears he could lie with her forever, just the two of them, touching and tasting and laughing until the rest of the world disappeared. He loves her, so much that he used to wonder if he would ever be able to love someone as much as he adored his wife. 

Her cheeks were pink when she leaned in, brushing her lips against his teasingly. He whimpered when she pulled away, catching her palm and pressing his mouth against it, watching her with dark eyes. 

“Help me get ready for bed?” 

The desire that had pooled in his stomach gave way to pure adoration. He nodded and clambered off the bed, bounding over to her side and scooping her up into his arms. 

She suppressed a giggle and wrapped her arms around his neck, allowing him to carry her to the bathroom. 

Gar flicked on the light and whistled, admiring the polished marble and crystalline glow that filled the room.

“Not bad for a shotgun wedding, huh?”

“We owe Kori big time, you know. She was ready to cry when I told her we wanted to elope early.”

“I’m surprised she didn’t follow us here.”

Raven snorted, patting his chest to let her down, “Believe me, she tried. I had to remind her several times that we would still be having a formal ceremony in December. This was her compromise - she insisted on booking the most expensive honeymoon suite in Vegas in exchange for her silence. I have no idea how she’s going to explain that gap in their finances to Dick.”

“Best sister ever,” Gar commented affectionately, nipping his wife’s ear, “okay, where do we start?”

She touched the top of her head and frowned, wrapping her fingers around the band of the veil that was half-attached to her hair. 

“There are some pins here that you could take out. And then start on the buttons on the back of my dress? I can take the choker off myself.”

“Sure.” 

Her hands went to the clasp of the white ribbon around her neck while his combed through her hair, unpinning the purple waves that were contained beneath the sheer fabric. He glanced around the bathroom, his gaze landing on the massive claw-foot tub that sat a few feet away from them. 

“Hey, Rae, how does a bath sound?” He murmured, sliding the veil off of her head and placing it beside the sink.

“Bubbles and all?” 

“I’m on it, can you finish your dress by yourself?”

She nodded, smiling at his reflection in the mirror.

“Just undo the first few buttons and I can do the rest.”

He took his time with them, not missing the opportunity to press his fingers against her bared skin. Her eyes fluttered shut while he did so, her mouth falling open when his breath warmed her flesh. 

“Don’t get distracted,” she warned.

“Me? I would never,” he teased, pressing a kiss to the back of her neck before seating himself on the edge of the tub. He turned on the faucet and placed his fingers beneath the flowing water absentmindedly, his attention fixed on her. 

Gar spent more than his fair share of time wondering how he’d been so lucky. How, after years of fighting and facing the worst of the world, he had wound up tasting heaven and claiming a piece of it for himself. Moreover, allowing himself to be taken time and time again by its allure, ferocity, and wit. 

Even in the weeks leading up to their wedding, a tiny part of him was certain it wouldn’t happen. It couldn’t happen. Arella would withdraw her blessing. Steve and Rita would blow them off in favor of a mission that required their immediate assistance. Something would get in the way. And as the first ceremony neared, Gar began to panic. 

On the sixteenth of October, two full months before their scheduled trip to Azarath and the subsequent white wedding they had planned to host in Jump, Gar asked Raven to marry him again.

She had only raised an eyebrow, shutting the novel in her lap and setting it aside on her bed. 

“I feel like we already had this conversation.”

“I mean, now. Like, now, now.”

She pursed her lips. 

“What about the actual wedding?”

Gar shook his head, bouncing with excitement. 

“Don’t you see? None of that stuff matters, Rae, not when we have each other, not when we want to get married and we’re ready to do it.”

Raven crossed her arms, eyeing him suspiciously.

“Okay, what’s wrong with you? I thought you were excited about doing a bigger thing. The whole Doom Patrol promised to be there, everyone in the Network is showing up, Vic’s been planning the ‘bachelor party of the century’ for ages. My mom’s even convinced the Head Priestess to let us bring the others to Azarath for our binding. We can’t just cancel on these people, Gar.”

“Is there something so wrong with me wanting to be with you for the rest of my life as soon as possible?”

She scowled.

“What is this, do you think we’re going to call it quits five minutes before or something? I planned on being with you for the rest of my life the moment I said yes to you. Isn’t that enough?”

“If words were enough, I wouldn’t have proposed at all.” He snapped, running a hand through his hair. 

“Okay,” Raven said sharply, rising from her seat, “I don’t want this to go any further. We aren’t fighting about this. So you can either tell me why you suddenly want to elope or you can walk away from this conversation, and we can pretend it didn’t happen.”

Gar squeezed his eyes shut and sighed tiredly, rubbing the side of his face.

“Sorry. That was too far, I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I know.”

“You know I love you more than anything in the world.”

“I know that too.”

“I just, ah, I guess I’ve been waiting for something to go wrong,” he confessed, fidgeting nervously, “Vic and Sarah had to postpone their wedding twice because things came up. Kori almost died three weeks before her bachelorette party and Dick broke six bones saving someone else on their honeymoon. I’m so fucking tired of being afraid, Rae. I don’t want to lose you. I don’t want anything to get in the way. I just want you to be my wife.”

Her glare softened immediately and she stepped forward, circling her arms around his waist and pressing her cheek to his chest.

“I’ve been picking up waves of concern from you for weeks,” she confessed, “I just didn’t know if you wanted to talk about it. I’m sorry, Gar.”

He dropped a kiss on her head, rubbing her back soothingly.

“I got defensive. I shut you out. That’s my fault, not yours. But I still want to get married, right now.”

“Gar -”

“We don’t have to cancel our other plans, Rae, nothing needs to change! We can sneak off to Vegas tonight and get hitched and nobody would even need to know -”

She rolled her eyes, snuggling into his form.

“Bold of you to assume Kori wouldn’t find out.”

“- about us at the end of the day, right? I just want to be married to you. I want to call you my wife. No matter what goes wrong tomorrow or next week or the night before our marriage.”

“Okay.”

“So I don’t see why we can’t - wait, what?” Gar blinked and gripped her arms, pulling her away from him to study her face, “You mean it? We can go?”

She smiled and touched his cheek. 

“I love you, Gar. I would never say no to marrying you, no matter when you had asked. I just didn’t want you to make a choice you couldn’t defend.”

“So...we’re getting married? Tonight?” 

Raven nodded, gazing into his bright eyes. 

“Let me talk to Kori and see if she can cover for us. Go ahead and pack some stuff together.”

He morphed into a wolf and let out a loud howl, bounding around her excitedly before knocking her to the ground and licking her face enthusiastically.

“Down - boy,” she managed between laughs, scratching behind his ears. She rubbed her cheek against his affectionately and rose from the ground, adjusting her cloak and heading into the hallway. 

It would be a few days before they managed to slip away, having obtained permission and “the essentials that you must take with you if you wish for me to keep your secret!” that were so lovingly bestowed upon them by their dear sister. But in the end, it was absolutely worth it.

“GAR.” 

A loud shriek from Raven broke him out of his reverie, drawing his attention to the scalding water that was burning his hand. Gar yelped and pulled his hand away immediately, wincing at the stinging sensation on his reddened skin.

“Idiot,” Raven scolded, taking his hand in hers tenderly. She clasped her cool fingers around it and closed her eyes, breathing deeply.

“Azarath Metrion Zinthos.”

A gentle trickling washed over the injury, soothing it until the pain had faded to a faint tingling. 

“Thanks, babe. My bad.”

“Go and change out of your suit, I’ll finish making up our bath,” she ordered, shaking her head.

He obeyed immediately, loosening his tie and placing it with the growing pile of her discarded accessories. His suit jacket, dress shirt, and undershirt landed in a crumpled heap on the floor, his dress pants and socks following soon after. A fluffy robe hung invitingly beside the bathroom door and he couldn’t resist slipping into it.

“Done,” he chirped, approaching his new wife, who was also swathed in a fluffy robe identical to his. 

She smiled up at him, drawing her fingers out of the tub and shaking them dry. 

“It’s almost ready, though I’m tempted to just curl up in bed wearing these.”

“The goal is to get naked, not bundle up.”

“Maybe your goal is to get naked,” she shot back, “but mine is to be cozy.”

He grinned.

“We can get cozy and naked. Let me warm you up -”

“Oh look, the bath is full,” Raven said airily, smirking when his ears drooped, “I’ll add the bubbles, you can light the candles.”

“Do you plan on teasing me all night or...?”

She flashed him a rare grin, her dark eyes glinting mischievously.

“Would I really be your wife if I didn’t?”

Gar pouted and wrapped his arms around her waist, burying his face in her hair. 

“I love you.”

“I know.”

“I love you.”

“I know,” she breathed, placing her hands on his and lacing their fingers together.

“We did it. We’re married, Rae.”

His nose sought out her skin, his tongue tracing the shell of her ear slowly. Her dreamy sighs were music to his ears.

The jewel in the center of her forehead flared black for a moment, the lights around them flickering in tandem with each brush of his mouth against her body.  A growl rumbled from deep within his chest, the echoes of his inner beast stirring to recognize their mate. She smelled sweet and clean, like a burst of fresh air on the ocean breeze. 

“Gar,” she murmured, stepping away from the tub, “wait.”

She pushed him off of her gently, biting her lip as she studied him in the soft lighting. His eyes were a warm, dark, emerald shade of green, filled with desire and happiness and longing. His shoulders had broadened in the last few years, complementing his added height and sharpened jaw. But beneath the figure of a man, she could feel the same boy who had called her weird while never truly minding her weirdness. His heartbeat always quickened at her touch. His gaze always brightened. His ears always twitched.

“I love you too,” she whispered, slowly loosening the belt around his waist and pushing the robe off his shoulders. She turned her head, and he followed her gaze, promptly stripping out of his boxers and climbing into the tub. Slowly, with a quiet hesitancy he hadn’t witnessed in a long time, she raised her hand, sending black flashes of energy to each candle that had been placed in the bathroom. Her eyes glowed, and the dimmer on the light switch lowered, leaving them in darkness lit only by gentle flares. 

He watched unashamedly as the robe slipped from her form, revealing a band of dark blue lace that hugged her breasts and hips tightly. A strip of white lace sat high on her thigh, looking strikingly bright against the smooth grey of her skin. 

“Something borrowed and something blue,”  Raven said shyly, “I figured we could keep things a little traditional.”

“Yeah,” Gar replied, mouth going dry at the sight of his near-naked wife in the candlelight, “Something old and something new?”

She neared the edge of the tub, bracing herself with his shoulder and climbing in. 

“The necklace was my mother’s. I’ll wear it again in December. As for the new...”, she stroked his hair gently, “I plan to keep my new husband on my body for the rest of the night. That counts, right?”

“Works for me,” he mumbled, running his hands up her legs. 

“Careful with the garter, that’s borrowed. Feel free to tear into the underwear as you please.”

She stood before him, sighing with delight when he gripped her hips and pressed a kiss against the curve of her waist. He hooked his fingers beneath the garter and slid it down her leg slowly, tossing it in the direction of his discarded clothes before focusing on the dark lace that curved around her ass.

“Hell yes,” he hissed, nipping at the seams with his teeth. 

Bathwater splashed over the edge as his enthusiasm overcame him. She giggled and thrashed in his hold, her laughter turned to breathless moans and pants and cries, some of which were so animalistic they rivaled his own. Waves rode out into a quiet stillness until there was only her body and his, two pieces wrapped together to form a whole. He stroked her skin gently, lavishing the parts that had been darkened by his relentless mouth. They toweled off and drained the tub, wrapped in their fluffy robes once more, and snuggled into their bed, rejoining their bodies over and over again.

When morning came, it was to bring forward the two lovers into the life they truly deserved. 

I want you for a lifetime, so if you’re gonna think twice, baby, 

I don’t wanna know, baby, I don’t wanna know.

Everything is just right, but if you’re gonna think twice, baby, 

I don’t wanna know, baby, I don’t wanna know. 

If you wanna take it to an even higher level, 

all you gotta do is say the word you know I’ll follow,

If you wanna take it to an even higher level,