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Kory's phone pings from its place on her nightstand. It's early, but she's hoping it's a text from Dick.
It's not.
It is a news story about him though. The headline GOTHAM'S GOLDEN BOY DICK GRAYSON BACK AGAIN with a photo of Dick looking absolutely miserable attached. Dick had been in Gotham for the last week, home for the holidays because Bruce asked. They were working on their relationship so Dick said he'd go but clearly he was unhappy about being back in the city. If there was a way to be with Bruce and not be in Gotham, she knew he would have preferred that. Rachel had helped her set up alerts for Dick Grayson, Richard Grayson, and Gotham on her phone so she could stay up to date since they didn't get to talk as much as they would like. She was worried about him, knew what extended time in that city did to him, but respected his decision to go.
Kory tapped on the news article and almost giggled at this photo of Dick. He looked handsome, but so so miserable. Every new photo of him, he looked more and more annoyed. She had wanted to go with him, just for moral support, but Dick declined saying it wouldn't be that long and he didn't want her to have to be in Gotham again. He knew she hated that city almost as much as he did and his gift to her this Christmas, his words, was that he was sparing her another Gotham adventure. The city was enough of a nightmare, he didn't want to drag her back to the pits just because he was lonely. Which she appreciated. And also hated.
Turning over in bed, she tapped out of the news story and brought up her text chain with him. Morning, she sent with a picture of her face buried in their pillows. She knew she was unlikely to hear from him because him and Bruce were knee deep in holiday charity events, but she wanted him to know she was thinking about him.
He surprised her by responding immediately. Morning, he sent with a blowing kiss emoji.
K: What's on today's Wayne agenda?
D: The annual Wayne Jingle Ball 🤢
Kory laughed out loud at his message.
K: What's so bad about this Jingle Ball? Besides the name?
D: You mean besides everything? The suit, the having to talk to people, the DANCING?
Kory took a minute to respond, digging through her photos of them before she found what she wanted.
K: I don't know, Grayson. You clean up pretty good...
She attached a picture of them from their first date. They're at dinner and he's looking down shyly while she snapped a photo of him in his black suit.
Dick took a minute to respond with a picture of his own.
D: For you and you only, Ms. Anders
He attached another picture from their date, this one from the photo booth they snuck into to make out in at the carnival after dinner. Kory laughed, snuggling further into their bed.
K: The bed is so big and lonely without you hogging all the blankets.
D: I'll be back and hogging the blankets soon. I've got to go, we've got another charity meeting coming up. Talk later.
Kory sent him a picture of her blowing a kiss and then set her phone down. She missed him more than she thought she would. They'd been dating for a few months and hadn't spent any major time apart in so long that this felt like forever. She knew he missed her just as much. He would sneak off to call her at night, late after dinner or even later, after patrol. She would talk to him until one of them fell asleep some nights. Kory knew he didn't want to drag her to Gotham and she wanted to respect his space, but maybe it was time she make a surprise appearance...
Dick tugged at the knot of his tie for the third time, adjusting it. It was uncomfortable, he was uncomfortable. Even though this was his favorite suit, everything about it felt wrong. He'd been on his best behavior for so long, trying to fix things with Bruce, trying to do what needed to be done for both of them and for this hellhole, but he missed home. He missed his family. And god, did he miss Kory. Missed her laugh and her smile and her smell. Missed her kiss and the way she fit into his arms. Missed waking up to her and falling asleep with her. Missed the sounds she made when he kissed her neck...
He took a deep breath. Two more days and he was on the first plane out of here.
Another waiter walked back carrying a flight of full champagne glasses and he plucked one off the tray, finishing it in two big gulps. He grimaced as he finished it, placing the empty glass on the next passing waiter's tray.
Fuck, he hated this damn ball.
The Wayne Jingle Ball had been a tradition for the past 15 years. Dick had been to almost every one of those except the last two: one because he had just left and was starting his job in Detroit and the next because he was getting Titans Tower started again in San Francisco. As much as he hated it, this Ball did a lot of good. Bruce always managed to raise a bunch of money for local charities and schools. But good lord, getting that money took a toll on his soul.
Anyone that knew him knew that he hated schmoozing nor was he very good at it. And tonight was all about that. He had to talk politics with husbands and had to avoid grabby hands of their curious wives. He had to dance with women all night long, women he didn't know and didn't care about in the slightest. He had to keep a good attitude about all of it, had to keep reminding himself that this was for a good cause. But his personal sense of charity was slowly coming to its end when he was getting approached for his eighth dance with a small tap on his shoulder. Dick took a deep breath and rolled his shoulders. He tried to plaster on a nice smile but knew it was more of a grimace. He turned around, hand out, tight smile in place, when the breath rushed from his lungs.
It was Kory.
Kory, who was supposed to be in San Francisco.
Kory, standing there looking like a dream come true in her long emerald gown, maroon curls tumbling over one shoulder.
"Hi," she whispered with a small smile. Dick was looking at her, surprise written all over his face. Her smile grew a little bigger the longer he was quiet. "You don't like your surprise?" She teased and that's what broke him out of his stupor. He surged forward, yanking her into his arms. Kory giggled into his ear, wrapping her arounds around him in return, pressing a discreet kiss to his cheek. Dick squeezed her tighter, feeling her warmth seep into him. He nuzzled her neck with his nose, pressing a soft kiss to the side of her neck making her sigh happily. He finally pulled away, but kept her inside the circle of his arms.
"You're here," he said in wonder, cupping her cheek gently.
"You looked so miserable, I couldn't let you fend by yourself any longer," Kory explained with a soft smile. She turned her head to kiss his palm. Dick laughed, feeling lighter than he had in days.
Kory was here. Kory was in his arms. The world was right again. An almost Christmas miracle.
Someone tapped on his shoulder and Dick turned. Another older politician, but this time his eyes were set directly on Kory. "Can I cut in?" he asked politely but ignoring Dick completely.
"No," he answered quickly, pulling Kory into his chest, trying not to sound jealous and possessive and childish. Kory tried very hard not to laugh so instead she turned her head and bit her lip.
"We were just starting up our dance," Kory tried to explain elegantly. Dick nodded his head with a barely suppressed scowl. The man nodded in understanding, eyes giving Kory a lengthy once over before minding his business. Dick watched him leave with narrowed eyes, making her laugh more. "Dance with me, Grayson," she whispered, tugging on his lapels. Dick slid his arms tightly around her and started swaying them in time to the music. They stayed that way for longer than she thought they would, two whole minutes, before his hands started drifting down towards her ass. Kory laughed, head titled back, and he swooped, pressing a firm kiss to her pulse point. "Dick," she whispered, trying to pretend that she needed him to behave and failing miserably.
"Yes?" he mumbled against her dark skin, kissing his way up to her ear. He nuzzled her soft skin and pressed another kiss to it just to hear her sigh again. "I missed you," he whispered for just her to hear against her ear. She hummed, hands tightening around his shoulders.
"I miss you too," she said back, breathier than she intended to sound.
"Kory," he growled against her throat making her smirk even though heat was pooling low in her belly.
"Yes, my love?" she cooed, still swaying to the beat and running her hands slowly down his chest. She tugged at his belt loop teasingly.
"We're done here," he declared, dragging his teeth lightly across her neck. Kory shivered, desire running through her hotly.
"One more dance and then I'll gladly peel you out of this suit," she said, leaning further into him. He settled his hands low on her back and pressed them even closer together.
"For you? Anything," he whispered, somehow both sexily and sweetly into her ear.
They slow danced, soft and sweet, in their own little bubble and the moment the song ended, Dick was pulling her across the dance floor quickly. They passed Bruce, who watched them walk by quickly with a quirk of his eyebrow and a small smirk on his face but returned to his conversation without further fanfare. Kory giggled into her hand which only made Dick walk faster. He looked at her, a mischievous twinkle in his eye, and then he was pulling her into his arms and into his room.
Jingle Ball be damned.