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Dick was fascinated to watch Kory greet his family. Ever since they were back together, Dick had eased every member of her family to her, even if they already knew her at various degrees.
It wasn’t like they didn’t like Kory, but since the tension with Bruce had caused a rift in their relationship the first time around, and now the Bats were an even bigger group than before, Dick wanted to make sure things would go the smoothest it could be.
So, at first, what had been a tiny little bit of paranoia, turned into captivation; just by the way Kory greeted them, Dick knew where their relation was at, giving a lot more openness than anyone could think a "Bat" had.
With Jason, it was always a big hug. Kory cooed like Jason was still the scrawny thirteen-year-old brat and not the 20-something as tall as her bulky man. Even worse that she also called him “little wing” like he was the cutest being in the world.
To be honest, it used to annoy the hell out Dick. Didn’t help that Jason always had a shit-eating grin towards Dick and stayed in the hug way longer than necessary.
When Dick had mentioned it to Kory, she had laughed so hard she had wheezed.
Dick knew part of it was the misplaced jealousy he had over Kory’s time as an Outlaw. While he knew something had happened between them that hadn’t lasted and had stayed platonic ever since, he couldn’t stop the feeling from rising once in a while.
But once, Jason had stayed in the hug and had closed his eyes with a sigh and Dick saw a glimpse of the scrawny thirteen-year-old brat, dead too young, and it made his heart clench.
Finally, he had been able to be at peace with it.
(Mostly at peace. Jason still pushed it too much most times.)
With Tim, it was always a half-hug, she never crowded his space for too long but always asked him the right questions.
Either about a recent mission, either about Wayne Enterprises or about Conner or Bernard, she always could read what would make him hold a small talk, relax him just enough.
Dick wondered if it was their time as Titans together, or just Kory’s emotional awareness but seeing Tim ease up was always a win in Dick’s book.
Seeing Kory with Damian always filled Dick’s heart. It was no secret that Damian was his favourite because their relationship had always been toeing toward father-son more than brothers.
Kory hugged Damian tight just like Dick always did, even if Damian growled and rolled his eyes at her.
She more likely than not managed to coax Damian to talk. They had discovered their mutual love for art and while Kory knew nothing of the specifics, she was always earnest when listening to Damian’s explanation of techniques.
Meanwhile, Damian had learned to hear her feelings about art, and how it made her feel, and he had confessed one night with Dick that it had helped him understand better his feelings.
Dick always got emotional when he saw Kory with Damian, especially in those suffocating hugs, Kory always looked almost motherly to Damian and… well.
It just confirmed to Dick that he should really not fuck it up this time.
Cassandra had been harder. Kory had taken her time with the girl, approaching her with awkward signing. While Kory could learn any spoken language with a kiss, ASL wasn’t easily learnable.
Kory still made an effort to be able to discuss as Cass stayed partially mute.
Dick had no clue when it had happened, but one day, he arrived at the mansion with Kory and Cass threw her arms around Kory’s waist as a greeting.
When Dick had asked, Kory had smiled, eyes full of mirth: “It’s a secret between girls.”
On the other hand, Stephanie had been ridiculously easy. Kory had asked for a hug which Stephanie had given enthusiastically.
The blonde had literally rested her head on Kory’s chest with a sigh. “Oh my god, Jason was right.”
Dick would’ve glared if it wasn’t that he completely understood the feeling.
Duke was another that Dick hadn’t understood how it had happened, but Kory and him did this secret handshake that finished with a hug and Dick didn’t ask questions, just voiced his jealousy that he didn’t have a secret handshake with Duke.
Dick would be lying by saying that he wasn’t a bit worried when he knew that Barbara and Kory were going to be in the same room.
It wasn’t like the first time, where Dick had felt there were a lot of things unsaid in the room but it still had made him nervous.
Barbara and him had broken up mutually, with no hard feelings and a better friendship. Barbara had been the one to push him to reconnect with Kory and had been a support in the whole progression of their relationship.
He also knew that Kory and Barbs had started a friendship along the way so he really had no reason to be anxious.
Yet, nothing had prepared him for the way both girls had shrieked seeing each other, holding both hands as they blabbed excitingly about this band they had seen together.
(“Was he being silly?” Barbara had asked when they noticed his flabbergasted expression.
“When he isn’t?” Kory replied with a fond smile.)
Dick always remembered that Kory was royalty when she greeted Alfred.
“Good afternoon Ms Anders.”
“Good afternoon, Alfred,” she always replied, regal. “And I keep telling you that you can call me Kory.”
“And you know very well that I will not,” yet, Dick felt like Alfred wanted to say.
If there was time, Alfred and Kory would proceed to small talk about food and silly things Dick used to do when he was younger.
“I’m glad you and Alfred connect so easily,” Dick had admitted one night.
Kory hummed. “He is easy to connect to. That’s why I never stopped contacting him.”
“What?”
“Minus my time in space of course.”
“WHAT?”
(Dick wasn’t sure though when Alfred started to call her “Ms. Kory”.
It was only after Mar’i was born that Dick asked his grandfather figure.
“Excuse me for being old school,” the butler had explained, “but I was waiting for a wedding. When I noticed that a wedding was not occurring soon, I decided that any time was good.”)
The first time Dick had brought Kory to the mansion after officially being back together, the greeting between her and Bruce had been frosty, to say the least.
Dick had nagged Bruce about it to which the older man had said he was trying.
As Kory kept coming, often joining them to the monthly family dinners Dick was trying so hard to make the norm, their greetings became better but still on the cold side.
“Let me talk to him,” Kory had said after almost a year of Kory regularly coming to the mansion.
“He should be talking to you,” Dick argued weakly, “he was the one who kept saying like you didn’t belong here. Like you didn’t belong with me.” And it still hurt him that he hadn’t even defended her at the time.
“Yes,” she acquiesced as she took his hand, “but I understand you “Bats” better now. I know you all need a little bit of nudging before you open up.” She paused to kiss him. “Besides, he really softened up compared to when we first were together. I can see him trying.”
“You are too good,” for Bruce, for me, he didn't say but still felt like she kissed his worries away.
Dick never knew the full length of what had been discussed between Kory and Bruce.
Kory had told Dick that Bruce had apologized and, that was all Dick needed to know.
(Dick had gone to hug Bruce later that week, saying a heartfelt “thank you”.)
Yet, their greetings only got greatly warmer after Kory and Dick announced they were going to have a baby.
Only then Bruce was seen giving a quirk of the lips and every so often a reconfirming hand on her shoulder.
Kory then started to smile widely at him, talking about nurseries and baby clothes with him.
Dick knew his family liked Kory.
Scratch that, they loved Kory.
And it just got worse when little Mar’i was born.
And now, he got to be charmed by the way both his girls greeted the rest of their family.
The End.