#re do

Dick: It’s my fault... it’s all my fault. I’m so stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

Cyborg: Bro, take a breath. We’re not mad at you, and we don’t blame you. You were tricked, in a gross, almost illegal prank no less. Seriously what the hell is wrong with some people?!

Dick turned toward Kory, his voice trembling as he rubbed his arm again.

Dick: Star, I’m so sorry. I really am. I didn’t know she wasn’t you. I thought she was you, then we… we did… and it felt wrong during it. She cursed me out while it was happening. I’m so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?

Donna and Cyborg looked at Kory with sympathetic eyes, understanding that Dick wasn’t at fault for Mirage’s deception. Kory tilted her head, studying her boyfriend’s expression carefully. His body language wasn’t defensive or deceitful; it radiated shock, slight terror, and guilt.

He wasn’t guilty of anything and Kory knew that. After a few seconds, Kory closed her eyes and smiled sweetly.

Kory: I was mad, but that has faded. From how you're reacting, it seems you’re more upset and worried you betrayed me when with the full context, you did nothing wrong. It's not your fault.

Dick (surprised): What?

Kory (standing to her feet): You thought you had sex with me, that's not what this was. The fact that this Mirage woman is mocking you as if she had a perfect gotcha moment is what angers me now.

Cyborg: Exactly. You’re not a slut or a fool. What she did was wrong, completely unacceptable.

Dick (looking at the ground, voice trembling): But… but… it can’t happen again. Not again.

Kory (sympathetic smile, placing a hand on her boyfriend's shoulder): It’s okay, you're safe. Especially since what Mirage did wasn’t just wrong, it was illegal. It was a crime, and I’m going to handle it.

Calmly, Kory left the room, with Dick and the other titans trailing behind her.

Dick (unsure what's about to happen): Star, Star- Kory, what are you doing?

Kory (removing her earrings with a calm determination): I'm going to have a conversation with Mirage about what sexual assault really is, how impersonating someone else to sleep with their partner is a gross misuse of her powers and trust to others, that consent goes both ways and how what she did is a punishable crime.

She tucked her earrings into her pocket and pulled her hair into a ponytail. Dick's eyes softened seeing Kory taking this seriously and not attacking him.

Cyborg: Star, if she tries to go for your face, remember the bob-and-weave technique.

Kory: Thanks for the heads-up.

Donna (removing her rings): Do you need backup?

Kory: No. I can handle this on my own.

Garfield (Beast Boy) and Wally West walked down the hall as the group made their way to the holding room where Mirage was.

Garfield: Where are you guys headed?

Donna: Star plans to beat the hell out of Mirage. She had sex with Nightwing, he didn’t know it was her. Then Mirage mocked him like it was some kind of hilarious prank.

Garfield: Man, that’s a crime, and really mean.

Cyborg: I wasn’t aware that it fell in the crime bracket.

Garfield: He thought it was Starfire. He went in assuming she was Starfire. Yeah, that’s sexual assault. I learned about it from a top-ten list.

Wally: WatchMojo?

Garfield nodded.

Wally: Same place. Jesus. Dick, are you okay?

Dick (laughing nervously, shaking his head): No.

Wally: So that’s what she’s been bragging about all day? That asshole!

Garfield: I knew I didn’t like Mirage for a reason. Give 'em hell, Starfire. I’m going to tell Raven and the others.

Kory: Make sure Pantha is dealt with as well.

Donna (rolling up her sleeves, walking off): On it.

Dick: You guys don’t have to do this.

Garfield: Why not? Dude, you’re a victim in this.

Cyborg: He feels like he cheated on Starfire.

Garfield: Dude, you didn’t. And we’ll keep telling you that. I’m going to get the rest of the team and call Dinah.

Garfield ran off toward the meeting room.

Dick (feeling a flicker of panic): I really don’t want you to fight—

Kory: I want to fight for you, because she took advantage of you. Am I mad that she had sex with you? Yes. But that’s not your fault.

Dick: Aren’t you upset that I technically cheated on you?

Kory: It wasn’t cheating. Cheating involves a sexual or emotional relationship with someone else while in a committed relationship. This isn’t that. Mirage is the only one at fault here.

Wally: Exactly.

Kory: I understand you don’t want me to go after Tarantula, but here I will only make Mirage wish I killed her.

Wally: And I’m going to talk to Pantha about calling you a slut before Donna breaks her arms.

Kory: Sounds like a perfect plan. Dickie bear, knowing your history, I will continue to protect you. We could be friends, and I’d still do it. But if you don’t want me to confront Mirage, we can leave. You deserve to decide, you deserve comfort in this.

Dick’s eyes widened in surprise that she was taking this seriously, as she should. He hesitated until Kory gently placed a hand on his cheek with a warm smile.

Kory: Trust me, if you cheated on me, I’d tell you. I’ve gone through the life of a sex slave. I don’t want you to be in that situation.

Dick closed his eyes, releasing a relieved sigh. When he opened them, he took Kory’s hand.

Dick: Kory, don’t, like, murder her, okay? I can’t afford to bail you out of jail, and… murder's wrong.

Kory: What’s that thing you and Batman say? Letting them live after you’ve savagely beaten them is punishment enough. That I shall do. If you’ll excuse me...

Kory turned toward the doorway where Mirage was being held and forcefully kicked the door open. She stepped inside with a determined smile. Mirage, spotting her, immediately assumed a fighting stance.

Kory (closing the door behind her): We’re going to have a little thirty-minute girl talk. Chat amongst yourselves. Mirage, let's talk.

With the door sealed, the room was soon filled with the sounds of screams (Mirage’s), thrashing, and alien curses. Most of the Titans headed toward the area, listening in on the chaos.

Cyborg stayed close to Dick, patting him on the shoulder.

Cyborg (joking): I gotta get me a girl who’ll beat up my enemies, am I right?