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I've been daddy's little girl since my first cry
And it was hard turning eighteen, saying goodbye
You told me I was gonna take the world by storm
And Mama said you cried all the way home
The Girl You Think I Am - Carrie Underwood
The day came faster than Dick would have liked.
He was dreading it since the moment he found out, the feeling pooling in his gut like liquid fire. But he squashed it down with an explosion of pride that filled his chest, his face lit up by a smile so wide his cheeks hurt when Rachel announced at the table that she applied for college. She had always longed to be a normal kid and the fact she was going to finally experience it the way she wanted filled him with nothing but joy.
He was happy for her. After everything she's been through, she deserved it.
Still, selfishly, he never wanted the actual day to come.
He woke up with his gut twisted and a lump in his throat. Spent a good few minutes merely staring at the ceiling, his fingers mindlessly drawing aimless patterns on Kory's arm while she still slept snuggled to his chest. Facing reality actually felt impossible.
Last night, it was so easy to act like none of this is happening. The three of them went on patrol — he spent most of it watching Kory and Rachel play around with their powers like two little kittens, laughing so hard their stomachs were hurting by the end of it. They brought home some pizza. Gathered on the couch and put on Rachel's favorite movie. Dick watched the credits roll with both his girls curled up to his sides, his fingers carding gently through Rachel's white curls, while pointedly ignoring the existence of her suitcase and a box of her stuff already packed in the trunk of his car.
At least she wasn't taking everything.
Yet.
He was really trying not to think of this night as a goodbye night, a night of lasts. Last patrol, last movie night, last 'cuddle session' as Kory loved to call it. It's not like Rachel was leaving for good; she was still part of the team, she planned to remain engaged as much as she could. And the college wasn't that far away, the drive was nothing for him. She'd be coming home every few weeks and he and Kory can visit whenever they want.
They've actually had it worse when she was on Themyscira, where he couldn't visit, couldn't call, not even send a text. And he'd survived that. They all did.
Then why was this separation anxiety or whatever it was spiking now? How was it possible to feel over the moon and like your world was falling apart at the same time?
Sighing softly, he looked down at Kory. She was still sleeping peacefully, her long eyelashes resting gently against her cheeks. She liked to tease him about being nervous, poked fun at his swirling protectiveness in the last few weeks, but she was going through it too. He saw how she kept Rachel a little closer than usual, the two always hand in hand, arms wrapped around each other. Ever since the boys left and the three of them were the only ones left in the Tower, if Rachel wasn't glued to his side, she was inseparable with Kory. Like they all came to this silent agreement to soak up every second they had left together.
The girls went shopping so many times Rachel now swore she had enough new clothes to fill up her entire dorm room. Last Saturday, they left him all alone at home while they enjoyed their spa day. They went on their little 'girl adventures', documenting each one with so many pictures that his phone couldn't stop buzzing from the influx of messages.
Sometimes he wondered if Rachel wasn't feeling overwhelmed by all of this. If she wasn't getting sick of them. But then he'd catch her grin when Kory laced their fingers together, and she would start swinging their joined hands like a little kid. Or he'd find them sprawled on Rachel's bed, the contents of Kory's makeup bag spilled between them while Kory very carefully instructed Rachel through a certain makeup routine. He'd see the gleam in her eyes when she came to him to ask if they'd be going out for coffee in the morning, he'd feel her hold on to him for a few seconds longer each time she'd find him eating breakfast in the kitchen and swing her arms around his neck, hugging him from behind. Last night when the movie ended, Rachel pulled herself up from his chest with a smile, her hair a mess from how much he played with it; she wished them goodnight and, with her blanket sprawled around her like a giant cloak, she shuffled back to her room like it was any other night. And yet, when Dick looked down at himself, his chest still warm from where her cheek had been pressed, he saw little wet spots on his t-shirt, unmistakably from tears.
They were all struggling with what was about to come, but none of them wanted to admit it out loud.
The clock on his phone said it was close to 6 AM. He should get up, prepare breakfast. They'll be heading out right after.
So, as much as he didn't want to, Dick carefully untangled himself from Kory's embrace, leaving a sweet kiss on her temple before sitting up. She stirred, murmuring something so sweetly while she reached over the empty space he just occupied that for a moment he was tempted to lay back down, but instead forced himself to get up and get dressed. The knot in his gut only became tighter, and while his throat unclogged a little, the breath he took while staring at himself in the bathroom mirror came out shaky and uneven.
Today, his little girl was leaving the nest. And he could lie to himself all he wanted, but he was nowhere near ready.
Rachel entered the kitchen not long after him, scratching her head as her eyes still heavy with sleep searched around for a coffee pot. Dick's heart skipped a beat or two when he saw her; she was wearing one of his t-shirts, clearly slept in it from how wrinkled it was. It hung on her like a dress, the hem way past her hips, and it made her look much, much smaller. And younger.
One tiny good thing about today? There will be one less shirt thief in the house.
(He'd pack her a separate suitcase with his t-shirts only if she asked him to.)
Pushing the thought away, Dick slid a full mug across the kitchen island her way. "Good morning, sleepyhead."
"Good morning," she replied, her lips stretching in a lazy smile. She dropped on one of the stools in front of him and accepted the mug with a grateful nod, both her palms curling around it immediately. But she didn't lift it to drink, not right away; for a moment she simply looked at it, seemingly lost in thought.
Dick leaned on his arms against the counter and watched her closely. There were dark circles around her eyes that had nothing to do with smudged makeup; clearly, she didn't sleep well. Must be nerves, he figured. He still remembered how nervous he was on his first day.
"So," he cleared his throat when he noticed how thin his voice was. "Ready?"
She looked up at him as if she just noticed he was there, blinking in surprise. Dick watched his question register in her mind as the slight confusion melted away. And she gave him a half-smile, one corner of her mouth twitching as she dropped her gaze back to her mug while she twisted it around in her hands.
"I'll… tell you when we get there. Okay?"
Jesus, this kid.
Rounding the counter, Dick was behind her in all of two seconds, his hands landing on her shoulders gently.
"Okay," he whispered, planting a kiss in her hair, before moving quickly to the cupboards. "So what do you say that we make your favorite breakfast?"
"Strawberry vanilla pancakes?!"
When he turned, her eyes were blown wide, blinding him with childlike excitement.
He showed her the flour and baking powder he was holding and grinned. "Strawberry vanilla pancakes."
"Yes!"
Kory found them both covered in flour and choking on laughter. She helped them finish, barely able to contain her own laugh, especially when she ran her fingers through Dick's hair only for a cloud of white dust to lift in the air. They kept up the banter until their plates were empty and stomachs full, and Dick almost forgot what was supposed to happen next.
Almost.
Was there still time to call it all off? Was there a way for him to rewind time a little, or freeze it, so it wouldn't go as fast as it did? Was there a way to keep her here somehow, just like she is right now, hair in disarray, his t-shirt swallowing her whole?
He wished there was something, anything, he could do, when Rachel's grin started fading into a tight, forced smile, nervousness seeping back into her body. She took her plate to the sink and washed it, hiding behind the curtain of her hair, and Dick exchanged glances with Kory, who looked just like he felt.
"I'll go get ready." Rachel said quietly and left before either of them could say something.
Once she was out of earshot, Kory let out a deep sigh. "I guess we're not the only ones feeling sick to their stomachs today,"
Dick's eyes were still glued to the now empty hallway. "Guess not."
He didn't turn when Kory got out of her seat, for her arms snuck around his waist a moment later when she pressed herself to his back, her cheek landing on his forehead.
"Are you ready?"
He let a long, deep sigh escape him.
"Not at all."
"Yeah, me neither." She nuzzled her face into his neck with a sigh. "You promise you won't cry? Because if you cry, then I'll cry too and we'll do nothing but embarrass her and–"
Dick lifted one of her hands and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
"I promise I won't cry."
The drive to Bludhaven brought Rachel out of the shell of nervousness, making her sparking with almost euphoric excitement instead. She rambled on about the classes she was going to be attending, every gossip about every professor Tim kept feeding her with for the past two weeks he's been there himself and what she's going to change about her dorm room, everything planned based on the pictures she found online. She exchanged some new ideas back and forth with Kory, both asking for his opinion which, to their annoyance, Dick couldn't deliver and somehow, those few hours on the road passed by in the blink of an eye.
The campus of Bludhaven University was soaked in sunlight, the whole place buzzing with the life of college students rolling around. None of them paid them any mind when their little group walked by, Kory and Rachel with their hands interlocked while Dick dragged the suitcase. Tim was already there when they arrived and now he was leading the way, carrying the box Rachel instructed him to be very careful with.
"I know the place looks small in the pictures, but it's actually huge, you're gonna love it." He blabbered on. "And it's on the last floor so you can see the whole campus from the window! No elevator though," he added with a tinge of pity, eyeing Dick and the suitcase.
Dick huffed out a laugh. Like a few flights of stairs was going to scare him.
His phone buzzed in his pocket and he took it out, smirking at the message. Rachel was a little ahead with Kory, both showing each other random things around the campus, so he called her name to get her attention. Once she turned, he couldn't resist the grin from spreading over his face.
"Before we go and get you settled, there's one thing I want to show you." He jerked his head in the direction of the street. "Look."
Watching her jaw drop and her face morph into a look of absolute shock was better than any reaction he had ever imagined.
The roar of the engine was unmistakable. Even after all this time being stuck in an underground garage in Gotham, this old Porsche was purring like it did the first time Dick got behind the wheel at fifteen years old. The shiny silver polish reflected the sun, making more than a few heads turn around when it pulled up to the sidewalk near them. The driver's window started sliding down slowly, revealing Gar leaning against the steering wheel, all smug with a wide grin and shades on.
"Special delivery!" He shouted, sticking his elbow out.
Rachel looked between him and Dick with wide eyes.
"You got it back?!" She screeched.
"When?" Kory was the one asking before Rachel could even take a breath, a blinding toothy grin on her face as well.
Dick shook his head and smirked, all smug. Yeah, he didn't tell anyone about this little plan of his; Gar only found out a few days ago so he could help him deliver the gift.
Just as the boy got out of the car, Dick walked up to him, the two shaking hands. Then he turned back around and replied. "A while back. I tracked it down when we first settled in San Francisco."
Rachel and Kory looked at each other, both completely stunned. Gar handed Dick the keys before tackling Tim in a hug, both boys gripping each other excitedly as they watched Dick cross the little distance between him and the girls, toying with the keychain.
Now his heart was racing. He had imagined this moment so many times; funnily enough, the very first time he envisioned it was when he watched Rachel fall asleep in the passenger seat, clutching her backpack to herself as they left Detroit in the rearview mirror. That's when he got the idea.
He took her hand and placed the keys in her palm, then gently curled her fingers around it.
"Wha-"
"Remember what I told you that first night?" He asked, watching her brows furrow. "It's a family heirloom. It's time for it to be passed down."
From this close, her blue eyes looked like deep pools of crystal clear water. As what he said finally dawned on her, they glazed over with tears.
"And you're giving it to me?"
She sounded genuinely shocked. Like she couldn't wrap her head around it. Like she couldn't understand why he decided she should have it.
The lump in his throat had returned. Dick covered her hand with his other one, squeezing tight as he dipped his head to catch her eyes.
"I am. Take care of her and she'll take care of you. And if you ever feel homesick, even just a little bit, just hop behind the wheel and hit the road."
She let out a wet chuckle, wiping away a stray tear.
"I can always teleport." She said, her voice tight and paper thin.
"What happened to being a regular kid?"
This time they both laughed, barely keeping their emotions at bay.
"I love it, Dick. Thank you."
Without warning, she collided with his chest and squeezed him tight. His arms wrapped her shoulders and kept her there, unwilling to let go. Over her head, Dick caught Kory's gaze, watching them fondly with her arm flung around Gar's shoulders, their heads leaning against one another. She smiled at him, nodding, and he smiled back.
He gave himself a moment before pulling away, but left a hand on her shoulder.
"Ready to take it for a spin?"
Her smile was absolutely blinding.
"Are you kidding? Gar c'mon!"
Both kids climbed into the car at lightning speed, Rachel behind the steering wheel and Gar claiming the shotgun. Rachel reclined in her seat, eyes wandering around the inside of the car and Dick could tell, even from afar, that she was getting flooded with memories. She put the key in the ignition and the car roared to life, both teenagers nearly rocketing out of their seats at the sound.
Dick stepped to the door and leaned into the window on Rachel's side. "Just careful, okay?"
She winked at him. "Yes, sir."
They disappeared around the corner with a screech of tires anyway.
Dick dropped his head and sighed. Ever since he got the idea, part of him knew he might start to regret it for this very reason.
Kory hooked her arm through his elbow and pressed herself to his side.
"You had this car all this time and you didn't tell me?" She asked, her tone teasing — and just a tiny bit accusatory.
Dick slid his arms around her waist, pulling her closer.
"I didn't want you to steal it again." He teased with a sly smirk, his voice dropping a few octaves. Kory's heart instantly picked up the pace against his chest.
She clicked her tongue. "Very funny, Grayson. Very funny. Now let's make sure our geniuses haven't already crashed it, yeah?"
He was already pulling out his phone.
"Let me call Gar."
"Whoa, it actually is huge!" Rachel gasped when she entered her dorm room, looking around the space over the edge of the box she was now carrying, its contents nearly spilling out. She put it down at her feet and walked in further, turning on her heel to take in everything around her.
The room was indeed spacious. Walls painted with warm beige color, contrasting in a nice way with dark wood decorations and furniture. Two large windows were set in recesses, letting in a lot of daylight, and the window sills were wide enough to sit on them comfortably. There was a dark marble fireplace with wooden trim and a nice, comfortable cushion chair in front of it, perfect for reading. A half-filled bookshelf and a large wardrobe on the inside wall, right next to the door to an adjacent bathroom and two beds between the windows, one still waiting for an owner — for now Rachel was going to have this room all to herself but was open to having a roommate in the future.
Dick set her suitcase against the wall and let his eyes wander around. For a small community college, this was… a lot. The dorm happened to be in an old, historical building, hence the big rooms, creaking stairs, lots of wood and fireplaces all around.
And it was going to be her home for the next few years.
Why was his chest suddenly so tight?
Rachel looked at him with big, sparkling eyes, smiling nervously. "So? What do you think?"
He pushed his hands into his pockets and blew out a breath; his mind was infuriatingly empty.
"It's, uh… nice!" He managed to say and internally cringed.
But it made Rachel giggle, so…
"Yeah, it is nice."
"You like it?"
"I love it." She said, eyes lifting to a vintage looking chandelier above her head. "Not the same as my room at the Tower, but…"
Her smile vanished slowly when she trailed off. Her hands brushed down the sides of her black dress and she looked to the side, more specifically at the beds. She walked up to the one closer to the fireplace and plopped down on the mattress, bouncing on it a little.
She ran her fingers over the sheets slowly. "I guess I'll have to get used to it."
Dick could swear another crack just appeared on his heart. Part of him wanted Kory to be here, but she stayed behind with Gar, quietly letting Dick know that she wanted to give them a moment alone before she joined them. She'd be better at the whole talking thing. Dick might have been preparing speech after speech in his head for weeks now, but when the moment finally came, his mind was blank.
He ran his hand through his hair.
"You will get used to it," he told her, softness coating his voice. Rachel raised her eyes at him, her gaze immediately drawing him closer. "It might be hard at first, but… I'm sure it'll get easier with time, when you acclimate to this new reality."
A sad smile tugged at one corner of her mouth. "Are you trying to convince me or yourself? You've been a wreck since yesterday, Dick. I didn't have to try hard to sense it."
Dick lowered his head, chuckling softly. So he's been caught. He should have expected it, to be honest; Rachel had always had an incredible ability to read him like an open book, even without her powers.
She stood up, the twinkle in her eye turning playful as she crossed her arms and approached him.
"You know, Gar says it's called the empty nest syndrome."
"Oh really?"
"Mhm." She nodded. Now she was standing right in front of him. "And you have it."
"No, I don't."
"Yeah," she poked at his chest, grinning. "You do."
Fuck. Okay. Yes. He had it. Sue him.
"Okay, maybe a little bit." Dick admitted, to Rachel's great satisfaction. "But I can't help it, okay? It feels like just yesterday you were pouring an insane amount of sugar into your coffee and asking me to take down mirrors for you. And those blue streaks in your hair…" he sighed and reached out, curling one of her white strands around his finger.
As she shook her head, Rachel chuckled at his antics. But when she took his hand and held on, their fingers intertwining, her expression softened.
She gave him one of the most beautiful smiles she had in her arsenal, the one that always made him go absolutely weak and willing to do anything she asked him to — but her eyes got filled with tears.
"And just yesterday you were telling me you really believe I can learn to control my powers. And giving me your jacket. And holding me when I was scared of my own reflection." Her voice cracked and she took a shuddering breath. "And you'll still get to do that. Just because I'm away from home doesn't mean I won't still need it sometimes. Just because I grew up doesn't mean I don't want it. That I won't miss it."
There was no point fighting it anymore; his own tears clouded his vision. He's been trying so damn hard to be strong today, to ignore the gaping hole in his chest that grew larger with every passing second. Today wasn't about him, it was about her and the start of a new chapter in her life. He could wallow in his melancholy back home all he wanted but not now.
Dick pinched the bridge of his nose and shut his eyes, trying to stop the flow. Still, one salty drop found its way to his thumb.
"Rach?" He choked out her name. His voice was thick and shaky.
"Yeah?"
A beat of silence that stretched into infinity.
"Come here before I completely lose it."
Her laugh was like pure sunlight. Her arms wrapped around his waist the next second and Rachel pressed herself to his chest, fitting there like a perfect puzzle piece with her head tucked under his chin and cheek resting against his collarbone. She smiled into his neck, nuzzling her nose into his skin the same way she always did and squeezed him so tight he almost lost his breath.
And that was his undoing.
He nearly crushed her to him, one arm going around her back while the other went to her head, palm resting gently over her white curls. Dick inhaled sharply, unable to repress the crashing wave of emotions that flooded him and he turned his head to press a long, hard kiss to her forehead.
She was so little the first time he held her. He had to bend his knees so she could put her arms around his neck. Now, wearing heels that could very well be a part of Kory's closet, she was nearly as tall as him.
Where did the time go?
"I am so proud of you." Dick breathed into her hair, holding her tight. "And I'll miss you like hell but I'm happy that you'll be here, doing your thing, making a life for yourself. So go out, have fun, make your dreams come true. Fly high and remember I will always be there to catch you if you fall."
The collar of his polo shirt became damp; she was crying now, too. Rachel burrowed closer, inevitably leaving mascara stains on his shirt. On instinct, he started swaying them slowly, the deep ingrained need to comfort her resurfacing.
"When did you get so good with words?" She asked with a voice quiet and incredibly high pitched.
God, she sounded so young.
Dick blinked away the tears and smiled into her hair. "Kory made me practice."
"'Course she did."
Rachel pulled away but only slightly, still staying in the circle of his arms as she wiped the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand.
"Listen, none of it would've been possible if it wasn't for you." She said, lifting her eyes at him. Dick held his breath. "If we haven't met… I don't know where I'd be right now. Definitely not here. I mean, I've never imagined myself going to college. And look at me now."
Despite her best effort, a new teardrop appeared in the corner of her right eye and slowly rolled down her cheek. Dick brought his hand up to brush it away with his thumb, then left it there, cupping her face in his palm.
"You're going to do so great, I know it. You will thrive here, Rachel."
"Thank you. For everything." She grabbed onto his wrist and leaned into the touch. "I love you so so much."
God, this girl. It should be impossible for someone to step into your life and completely turn it around like she did to him. All it took was one look. She opened the door that allowed him to let Kory and Gar in. She crashed through the walls he had spent years building up and let the light in, getting rid of his darkness. All he did was return the favor.
He pulled her in and kissed her forehead, pouring all his love that was spilling out of his heart into that one single act. They never said it until now, they didn't have to. It went without saying. It was apparent in every touch, every look, every little thing they did for each other.
But in such a monumental moment like this, some things shouldn't be left unsaid.
"I love you, too, sweetheart." Dick whispered, resting his forehead against hers. "More than you know."
For a good minute or two they simply stood there, in the middle of this room that was going to become her home, and held each other like they were never going to let go. Dick closed his eyes and melted into the embrace, soaking up every precious second, committing it to his memory. The way it felt to have her ear over his heart. The soft weight of her head against his chest. The floral scent of her hair.
Rachel was right, it's not like it's the last time they get to do this. They'll visit each other as often as they can. She'll be home for Christmas and spring break.
But this time it definitely felt special. One of a kind. It was the end of an era, but also the start of something entirely new. Every ending is a new beginning, his mother used to say. Just like the end of one move you do in the air is the beginning of your next one. These words had never been truer to him than they were now.
Rachel's fingers grazed his cheek. When Dick opened his eyes and lifted his head, he found her looking at him. Her eyes were still wet, but a small yet playful smile was dancing on her lips.
"You promised Kory you won't cry." She reminded him.
So she heard him, then. Little eavesdropper.
"She's not here, is she?" Dick pointed out and Rachel shook her head, giggling at him, before she dropped it back on his shoulder and snuggled back in.
Another minute of their embrace passed in silence. Dick was willing to turn it into an hour, or even a day. Kory will have to drag him back to the car if he's ever going to make it back home.
"You know, one of us will have to let go eventually." Rachel murmured against his collar.
He snorted.
"You first."
"No, you first."
"We're so bad at this."
"Yeah."
Dick let out a deep sigh. "Okay, together on three. One. Two…"
They both took precisely one step away from each other, but never let go of each other's hands. Dick held on tightly and caught her gaze, making sure he had her undivided attention.
"If you need me, you call." He was dead serious now.
Rachel rolled her eyes, though without any malice. "I will."
"Even in the middle of the night."
"I know."
"Keep an eye on each other with Tim. Especially at parties."
Another eye roll. "Dick, I–"
But he couldn't be stopped now.
"Watch out for those sorority guys. I don't want them anywhere near you, is that clear?"
"Dick–"
"And don't stay up all night studying. Trust me, a perfect score isn't worth it. You're smart, so you got this, you don't need to–"
Her hand landing softly on his cheek shut him up.
"Dick? I'll be okay."
Here it goes. The last nail to his coffin. Prepare him for his funeral because he was not going to make it out of here alive.
He took her face in his hands again, thumbs brushing her cheeks.
"I know you will, honey." He said, choked up again. "I know you will."
Rachel simply held onto his wrists and beamed at him, failing to hide her trembling lip.
"Didn't you say you weren't going to cry?"
Amused and taunting, a third voice came from the direction of the hall, and when they turned to the door, they noticed Kory leaning against the frame, arms folded. The glitter on her short purple dress was sparkling in the sunlight it caught from the windows.
Dick threw one arm around Rachel's shoulders and shrugged.
"Yeah, I lied."
"I know," was all Kory replied, smiling at him softly as she entered the room. She approached Rachel and immediately pulled her to herself, crushing her in an embrace just like he was doing a moment ago.
"I might not have any college experience but I know these are going to be the greatest years of your life." Kory said, squeezing her tight.
Rachel grinned as she returned the hug, resting her hands on Kory's back. "Oh, I don't know. What I've been through with all you guys is pretty hard to beat."
Kory took a shuddering breath. "Stop, now I'm gonna be a mess, too."
They pulled away, still holding onto each other. Dick watched Kory's lips widen into a wobbly smile, tears gathering in her emerald eyes. Rachel was close to crying again too, smiling through it as hard as she could.
Kory laid a hand on her face, cupping her cheek in her palm softly.
"I am so proud of you. We all are. You are going to do some amazing things here. You are strong, and smart and beautiful, no one can stand in your way. You walk your own path now and I cannot wait to see you shine."
"Kory…" Rachel's voice broke and fresh tears spilled from her eyes. "You are the reason I can do that now, you know that? You showed me choosing my own path was possible. You made me feel strong and beautiful. I've learned so much from you."
"Oh sweetheart… Can we stop talking like this is goodbye?" Kory briefly turned to Dick with a wet laugh, wiping at her face. "This is not a goodbye, okay? This is 'see you later'. I see you back home in a month, got it?"
"Of course."
"And you call."
Rachel laughed. "Of course I'll call."
"Now come here."
She pulled her back and Rachel fell into Kory's arms with a laugh that was more a sob, her face scrunching up when she gave in to her tears. The two clung to each other like they were sewed together, unable to break apart, arms wrapped tight around each other's backs and holding on for dear life. Watching them from the side, Dick felt his own tears returning, a tidal wave crashing against the shore. He loved them both so fucking much. His life would have never been what it is if it weren't for these two.
Without breaking apart, both girls extended a hand, reaching for him at the same time. Dick didn't waste a second; he was there in two quick strides, wrapping his arms around them both and enveloping them in a hug.
Rachel turned her head into his shoulder and he dropped a quick kiss into her hair.
"I'm gonna miss you guys so much." She said through her tears; he could hear the smile in her voice. "I'll be calling so often you'll be sick of me."
"Never." Kory chuckled.
"That's actually impossible." Dick added.
An elbow collided with his ribs.
"You'll change your mind when I interrupt your tenth make out session in a row."
When he woke up today, Dick knew he'd be crying.
But he didn't think he'd also spend this day laughing. Because right now? As the three of them looked at each other, tears still glistening in their eyes before they all erupted in a fit of uncontrollable laughter, he could swear he had never laughed so much in his entire life.
When the door to his car shut behind him, the cacophony of campus life got cut off and replaced by nearly overwhelming silence. Dick reclined in his seat, the back of his head hitting the headrest, and he closed his eyes, taking a long, calming breath. It didn't help; the lump stuck in his throat was still suffocating him.
Kory's hand slipped into his own, their fingers laced together tight.
"Are you okay?" She asked softly.
He looked at her; she was watching him closely, a worried frown twisting her beautiful face.
"Not really," he admitted with a sad smile. Tried to swallow and cleared his throat. "Can she please stop growing up so freaking fast?"
"Oh, baby," Kory signed and reached to his face, leaning over to kiss him sweetly. Dick closed his eyes and let himself get lost for a moment in the feel of her lips against his. However, the bliss was short lived and ended when she pulled away.
"She'll be fine. You have nothing to worry about, trust me."
Her thumb brushed gently under his eye — it came out wet.
Dick smiled and took her hand, pressing a brief kiss to her wrist before pulling it away from his face.
"I know." His gaze dropped down and he started to play with her rings mindlessly. "I guess our little nest is officially empty now."
Kory chuckled and settled back into her seat.
"Maybe it's time we start trying to fill it back up."
Something in her voice got his eyes snap back to her in a second – and he could swear the way she was looking at him raised the temperature in the car by at least twenty degrees.
"I'm listening."
She let out a hearty laugh and squeezed his knee.
"Get us home first. And stop crying! It's not the end of the world!"
No, it was far from it, actually.
RACHEL:
Tim is here. We're going out tonight.
KORY:
Have fun and stay safe!
RACHEL:
🫡🫡
KORY:
Gar's still there?
RACHEL:
Yup. He'll be staying for a few days. He's coming with us tonight.
KORY:
Oh, that's great!
RACHEL:
How's Dick?
KORY:
Cried all the way home.
RACHEL:
Oh God. Any way to cheer him up?
KORY:
I might have a few ideas 😏😈
RACHEL:
Ew. I don't need details. Have fun tho!
KORY:
Oh, we will 🤭
You too! And send me a pic of your outfit!
RACHEL:
Will do! Love u!
KORY:
Love you too!
"Looks like they'll be busy tonight." Gar peered over Rachel's shoulder to check out the text chain. When she looked at him, he wiggled his eyebrows at her suggestively.
Rachel scoffed and pushed him away. "Obviously."
"Busy with what?" Tim, who was currently trying to button up his maroon shirt in front of Rachel's standing mirror, asked without even looking away.
"The art of baby-making!" Gar announced with a shit-eating grin as he dropped on Rachel's bed. In an instant, Tim was turning away from the mirror, eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets. Gar burst out laughing at his face.
Rachel smacked his shoulder playfully as she passed by him, her heels clicking against the wooden floor. She came up to Tim and swatted his hands away, fixing up the buttons closest to his collar.
"Are you guys sure leaving them alone is a good idea?" He asked them while she fixed him up.
Gar was the one who answered him, now lying on his back with his arms under his head. "I mean, listen, they are two fully functioning adults, okay? If they… demolish the Tower while jumping each other's bones, then… it's none of our business."
Rachel rolled her eyes but couldn't stop her smile. "Don't get me wrong Tim, I love them both but I'd rather not be there when it happens." She turned to look at Gar. "Remember Chicago?"
"Jeez, don't remind me."
"Exactly." She came back to Tim. "But… they deserve to have the place all to themselves, you know? They've been tiptoeing around each other for ages, it's about time they get to be happy."
Her heart fluttered at the thought. Sure, sometimes in the months since they officially got together, Dick and Kory got so lovey-dovey with each other it was too much sugar even for her, the sugar addict. But watching them be happy and finally, after all this time, so openly in love filled her with nothing but joy. So yes, let them turn the Tower into ruin because they can't keep their hands off each other. She wholeheartedly supported the idea.
Her eyes caught her own reflection in the mirror and she came closer, checking herself out one last time before they leave for the party. She still couldn't believe how good she looked in the dress Kory had picked for her on their last shopping trip a few days ago. How grown up she looked. The gliterry, short black dress hugged her body like a second skin, shimmering in the light. It had long sleeves just like she wanted and the shade of black, the deepest they could find, perfectly contrasted with her fair skin. The plunging neckline wasn't too low, but it was the lowest she had ever worn, the space crossed by thin bedazzled stripes.
It was the dress they decided to hide from Dick, knowing he'd get a heart attack if he ever saw her in it. Rachel smiled fondly to herself at the thought, smoothing her hands down the sides of her waist.
You will get used to it.
Yeah, he's gonna have to get used to some things as well.
Shaking the thought away, she checked her makeup one last time and turned to the boys. "So? Are we ready to go?"
Gar jumped off the bed and started shrugging on his jacket. Leather and black, suspiciously similar to one of Dick's.
"Only if you are, college girl."
She rolled her eyes at him.
Tim hooked his elbow over hers. "Ready for your college baptism?"
Gar took her under her other arm and she grinned, looking at them both.
She was ready to dance the night away. And maybe get slightly tipsy.
As Kory told her: what Dick doesn't know won't kill him.
"What are we waiting for? Let's fucking go!"