TT Ch3: What Are Friends For..

"Honey, breakfast is ready!"

"Morning, Marie."

"Morning, Mark. Have you seen Gar? I've announce breakfast but his chair's empty and his plate's still full. I wonder where he is."

"Yeah. I checked Gar's room when I woke up, he wasn't there. I don't think I've seen him this morning either."

"That's because I got up really early today." Mark and Marie turned around to find their son at the back door. He stood there looking at his parents with his bright blue eyes and his blonde hair swayed in the wind as he closed the door behind him. He wore his novelty t-shirt he got from a comic book convention and his black baggy pants. "Did someone say breakfast?" He smiled, showing his perfectly white teeth. "Because I'm starving!"

"Gar! I thought you'd still be in bed. After all we have a long trip ahead of us today." His mother didn't take her eyes off her smiling son even as she sat down on the table next to her husband.

"She's right and why are you dressed like that?" His father put the newspaper down to take a good look at him.

Garfield sat down and put a whole strip of bacon in his mouth "Yeah I would think so, too but I wanted to go to school today to see my friends" he talked with his mouth full and then swallowed. Before he could put another strip in his mouth, his mother pulled his plate away.

"Please don't talk with your mouth full, honey.  It's very unpleasant."

"Fine." Garfield pulled back his plate and he tried to fit his whole breakfast in his mouth. He chewed once and swallowed all of it at once. He gulped down his glass of milk to help the food go down. "...ahhh... there all gone." He smiled at his mother but she just rolled her eyes at him, unamused.

His father just laughed at his son's strange behaviour. "Haha.. well if you want to go say goodbye to your friends before we go, that's fine.

"YES!" Garfield jumped up, knocking his seat over. "Thanks, dad."

"We'll pick you up at the end of school but, you better get going because your bus is here and I'm definitely not driving you to school." His dad started reading the newspaper again, missing Garfield's expression. He ran out of the house hitting everything on the way out.

'No! I'm going to miss it!'

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"Robin, please be of hurry! Or we shall miss the bus of yellow!"  Koriand'r looked out the window and watched as the blonde boy down the hill, raced after the bus. "Or we shall do the chase of yellow transport." She wore a pink dress with flower prints at the bottom which caught the sunlight.

"Don't worry Koriand'r. We don't have to catch the bus. James will drive us to school." Robin wore an orange buttoned shirt with brown pants and of course his signature black sunglasses. Robin slowly pulled her away from the window and out of the house. There their ride was waiting.

"WOW!" Koriand'r was so amazed by the long black vehicle in front of her. "It is of... long length and colour black of silkiness! Please Robin what do you call this bus?"

"It's not a bus Koriand'r." Robin took her hand and led her to the door. The man standing nearby opened it wide to let them in. "It's called a limousine."

"Wow! The inside is ever so fascinating." As soon as the man closed the door behind Robin, the car drove off the driveway.  Koriand'r fidgeted with the devices and buttons inside the car.

"I'm guessing you don't have these on your planet?" Robin looked at her with a nervous smile, hoping she won't press the wrong buttons.

"No, we do not but I so wish we had!"Koriand'r stopped what she was doing and suddenly went quiet.

"Oh" Robin didn't like seeing her so quiet and sad. He quickly tried to change the subject. "Umm... I'm sorry you have to go to school with me." But truthfully he wasn't.

"Huh? Friend Robin, do not apologize please. I am most happy to see to this school with you." Koriand'r smiled again. "But please, what is this school?" and to a questioning look.

"Oh. I almost forgot to tell you. School is a place where they make kids go to learn and study. It's where parents dump their kids so they won't have to deal with them." Robin's hand formed into a fist as he looked out of the window.

"Ha! That is most horrible!" Koriand'r gasped at the thought of families not wanting their kids around.

Robin looked back at Koriand'r and loosened his hands. "Oh it's not all bad. You get to go to school with your friends and you can make a lot of friends in Gotham High, Koriand'r."

"I shall?" Koriand'r looked at Robin with hopeful eyes.

"Well, yes. But first we need to change your name. We don't want people knowing you're from another planet."

"Huh? Why is that friend Robin?"

"Safety measures. We don't want the H.I.V.E. knowing where you are." Robin's face turned serious. Koriand'r looked down, refusing to look at Robin. He quickly caught the change in her."Koriand'r, is something wrong?"

"You sound so much of the man of bat." Robin was shocked by this. Of all people in the world, he was the person he didn't want to be like. Koriand'r noticed his change of expression "I am sorry friend Robin. I did not mean to-"

"I'm sorry, too, Koriand'r. I didn't mean to sound like him. I know how much he scared you last night. But don't worry. He doesn't always talk to people that way" 'Yeah, sometimes its worst!'

"Robin..."

"But please, call me Dick. Not a lot of people should know who we are. Bruce registered your name in the school files as 'Kory Anders', and you're James' niece from Switzerland. I hope you like that name, Kory" For the first time that day Robin smiled. He truly smiled with so much uplifting at Kory.

Kory smiled back at Robin, "It is a name I shall be called at this school of learning." They smiled at each other for a while and the rest of the trip Robin told Kory more about school.

"Master Dick, we have arrived." James opened the door and Kory and Dick got out. As soon as James drove off, a familiar voice called out.

"D!"

Robin turned around to where the voice came from and he was glad to see who it was. "Wally!"

It was a boy with reddish-brown hair and green eyes wearing almost the same thing as Dick but looked less expensive, "Dude! It feels like I haven't seen you in weeks!" Wally put his hand on Dick's shoulders and started to mess up his hair.

"That's because you haven't. You've been so busy studying." Dick took Wally's arm off of his shoulder and fixed his hair. "I'm telling you, you're smart! No, prep-school won't let you in."

"I know, I know but still..." Wally noticed the girl standing beside his friend. "Hmm... well, D. Aren't you going to introduce me to your girlfriend?" Wally looked Dick with a suspicious look.

Dick was surprised by the accusation and was taken aback. He then turned red "She's not my girlfriend!"

"If she's not then... why are you blushing" Wally pulled Dick's red cheeks.

"Friend Dick, why do this boy attempt to pull your skin off?"

"Huh?" Wally stopped pulling Dick's cheeks. "D, why does she talk like that? Is she... an alien or something?"

Kory was shocked. She remembered what Dick had told her in the car. "No! I am not a being of which from another planet!" Kory waved her hands in the air, dismissing the accusation.

"Kory it's alright. Wally's my best friend and it's alright that he knows. He always is fast with catching on."

"Ahh... so she is an alien." Wally took his eyes off of Kory and looked back at Dick. "I guess you've been having a lot of fun lately while I was studying,... Robin"

"I wouldn't call it fun..." 'Having to look after the city with Bruce is definitely nowhere near fun.' "but yes, she is alien. From Tamaran. The H.I.V.E. was after her last night."

"So that was what uncle Barry was talking about."

"Wait! I thought you were studying last night! Why were you with Flash?"

"Sheesh. Calm down will ya? You sound like my mom." Dick was annoyed by Wally's remark. "Actually Barry came to visit me. He had something to tell me. Something about my future and he also told me about the trouble in the park, last night. He said this was the start, then he just left."

"That is strange. Do you know what he could've been talking about?"

"No idea. All I know is my future is how I want it to be as long as I hit the books."

"Please friends! What is this you speak of hurting the books." Dick and Wally only just remembered Kory was there. Wally started laughing.

"Oh I like the way she talks! She's funnier than you, D!"

"Please Dick, why does he laugh at my way of talk?"

"Oh, never mind him, Kory. He's just being mean. Wally, I think you should-"

"Dick! Wally!" Kory and Dick tuned their heads to see who it was while Wally kept on laughing.

"Cassie!" Cassie ran up to Dick and hugged her. Kory wasn't very happy about that. Cassie had long blonde hair and blue eyes. She wore a red tank top with a gold eagle on it and jeans with a belt that had a 'W' for its buckle.

"Dick, who is this human who suddenly holds you as if you are one?"

"Huh?" Cassie stopped hugging Dick and looked at Kory. "You never told me you had a girlfriend." Then she looked back at Dick and gave him the death stare. "So you just finally decided not to tell me anything anymore. I thought I was your friend."

"Well, Dick has declared himself to me as of his friend and promised to be of the best." Kory grabbed Dick's arm and away from Cassie.

"Dick, is this true?"

"HA HA! Looks like you've got yourself quite a situation there, D!" Wally kept on laughing. Cassie hit Wally in the arm so he'd stop laughing. "Hey!"

"Guys! Calm down!" The three of them stopped arguing and looked at Dick. "Cassie, Kory is not my girlfriend and Kory, Cassie's not going to steal me from you so please let go of my arm. It's starting to hurt."

Kory let go of his arm which was now red, "I am most sorry, friend Dick." Kory looked down.

"It's alright Kory. You just forgot how strong you are on this planet." Dick started to comfort her again.

"She's an alien?" Cassie looked at Dick and he nodded. "She must be the girl H.I.V.E. was after last night."

"How do you know about the attack last night?" Dick stopped rubbing his arm.

"Yeah... wait a minute! Did my uncle visit you last night as well?" Wally looked at Cassie.

"No, Wonder Woman told me. Wait! Barry visited you? Why?"

"Yeah he-"

"Well, hello ladies." A familiar voice came from behind Cassie.

"Oh man, please tell me it's not who I think it is."

"Why not? Aren't you happy to see me?"

"You're the last person on Earth I want to see, Gar."

"Ouch!" Wally started laughing again but this time Dick was the one who hit him. "Oomph!"

"Well, looks like we have a new girl." Garfield took his attention off Cassie and to Kory, he took her hand and lifted it to his face "Monsieur, madam mussel" Before Gar could kiss Kory's hand, Dick quickly pulled it away. "Dude! You just ruined my intro!"

"The only thing that's going to be ruined is your face if you ever try that move again." Dick looked at Garfield with an angry expression.

"Oh, I get it. I'm sorry man. I didn't mean to hit on your girlfriend."

"SHE'S NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!"

"Well you sure do act like she is."

"Yeah, he's got a point. Are you sure she's not your girlfriend, Dick." Cassie started to question Dick.

"Hey! Whose side are you on, Cassie?" Dick went red again but turned his anger to Cassie.

"No ones. I was just saying."

"Well you didn't have to!"

"HEY! Don't talk to me like that, you wonder brat!"

"Oh sure! Like not enough people call me that already!"

"Time to embrace what you really are, D!"

"Oh you did not just say that!"

"Too bad, I DID!"

"Please friends! Do not argue!" Kory started to get in between them to get them to stop.

"Dude.., are they always like this?" Garfield stood aside next to Wally, away form Dick and Cassie.

"That's not even half of it... Wait a minute. You're still here?!"

"Well yeah. Kinda been standing here for a while you know, dude."

"Don't call me that! And I think you should go!"

"Okay, okay. Sheesh!" Garfield started to walk off. "I only came to school today to tell everyone it's my last day. I'll be gone for a year in Africa so try not to-" Garfield accidentally hit a girl while he was walking. The girl went forward and almost fell before someone caught her.

"Uh oh! Looks like trouble." Wally's voice stopped his three friends from arguing.

"Huh? What's going on..." Cassie followed Wally's gaze. "Oh, this isn't going to be good."

"Please Dick, what is of the matter?" Kory didn't know what was going on

"It's better if we stay out of it Kory. It's definitely not good." Kory followed Dick's gaze, which also led to Garfield and the girl he'd bumped into.

The girl stood up and faced Garfield. She had long purple hair and a fringe which covered her forehead. Her eyes were deep purple. She wore a hooded shirt and baggy jeans. "Listen, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to bump into you, I swear!" Garfield was more terrified than the people watching. 'Oh man! I hit Rachel! Rachel Roth! Not good! I knew I shouldn't have gone to school today!'

Rachel only looked at him and then closed her locker. She started to walk off. Garfield let out a sigh of relief. But then the guy who caught her stayed where he was. The guy had short light-blonde hair (almost to the colour of white) and blue fierce eyes. He was well-built for his age. The tight shirt he wore hugged his muscular form and he wore an un-buttoned shirt over it. "You should watch where you're going, kid!" This made Garfield shiver.

"Grant!" The guy turned away from Garfield and started to walk towards Rachel. Garfield was relieved again but he never thought that it was thanks to her.

"You shouldn't let people just 'bump' into you like that." Grant caught up with Rachel.

"I know but if you had to punch every insignificant creature in this place, we'll never get to class."

"Hey! Did you just call me insignificant?" Grant and Rachel stopped walking. 'No one calls me insignificant!... Whatever that means, I know it's an insult thought.' Garfield's fear was replaced by anger.

Raven turned around, shocked by the blonde nuisance talking back at her. "I'm surprised you picked up on that. I thought you were slow."

"Burn" Cassie quickly hit Wally. "Hey! What is it today? Hit-the-cute-guy-every-time-he-talks day?"

"Just stay out of it, Wally." Cassie whispered to Wally to get to quiet down.

Garfield was offended. Of all things, he didn't like being called stupid. "Well at least I don't kill people every time I stare at them all scary." Garfield knew he'd regret those words.

The girl was angry but at the same time terrified by the little truth in the blonde one's words. The gem on her forehead started to glow. No one but Garfield had a small glimpse of this glow before Grant grabbed Rachel's arms to pull her closer to him and whispered something in her ears. "Like you said he's just another insignificant creature. Let it go, Rachel. Please." His words calmed her down and the glow stopped. She turned around and walked off with Grant.

"Phew!" Now Garfield was truly relieved but at the same time wondered what was it that he saw.

"Man! I was so sure that kid would've been toast!" Wally started to make remarks again as Garfield walked off laughing with his friends, as if nothing happened.

"I think he just got lucky for being insignificant." Cassie looked away form Garfield and towards Dick's gaze, at Rachel and Grant.

"Dick, who was that which people fear so much of?" Kory held onto to Dick's arm but she was the least scared of them all.

"It's best if you don't know Kory and don't ever cross paths with her."

'That's right. Never cross paths with me...'

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"Are you alright, Rachel?" Rachel's train of thought was broken by Grant's voice. "You've been more quiet and serious than usual ever since that kid talked back at you. You haven't spoken a single word. Is something wrong, Rache?"

"Don't call me that." Rachel kept walking in the hallways, eager to get out of this hell-hole.

"Ok, I won't but talk to me." Grant stood in front of Rachel and she stopped. She looked at him with the same glare she'd use to scare anyone who got too close. "You know that never did work on me." Grant smiled at her but she just pushed him out of the way.

"I don't want to talk about it, Grant." Grant held her hand and pulled her closer. Rachel tried not to react to this for she knows one mistake would cost her a lot.

"Too bad, I do." Rachel just stared at him, wishing he won't bring it up. "You shouldn't let what that kid said, bother you."

"Why not? He has no idea what he said could be true. I'm dangerous, Grant. You shouldn't even be helping your dad with me."

"Hey, don't say that." Rachel took her eyes away from Grant. "You're right, I don't have to help my dad and I'm not. I'm doing this because I want to help you, Rachel. And even if you are the scariest being there is in this world, I'll never leave you. I promise." Grant hugged Rachel but she tried to control any emotion that came over her. "After all, what are friends for?" Rachel tried but she just couldn't help turn red.

"Grant! Rachel!"

Grant let go of Rachel and turned on his ear-piece. Rachel did the same. "We're here, dad."

"Good. Is everything in order?"

"They have the girl. She's staying with Robin and Batman. Her powers are yet unknown."

"Good. The H.I.V.E. won't get their hands on her. We'll make sure of it. Any complications?"

"Wondergirl is in contact and looks like she's staying around, could be a problem but not too serious. Kid Flash is also in contact but confirmed to be out of business."

"Anything else?" Before Grant could say no, Rachel spoke.

"Yes," Grant looked at Rachel, he knew what bothered her but not everything. "Kid Flash was visited last night after the incident, by which he recalled was Barry Allen. I checked deeper into his thoughts and it wasn't really his uncle that came to him. It was Wally himself from the future, taking a rollercoaster through time. He told him about the incident and gave him a message."

"What was the message?"

"Unclear." Rachel was disappointed by herself for not knowing enough but she did know that every single thought and information she had, she had to tell him. "But that night, I managed to feel his presence and search into his mind. No relevant information on your plans was there."

"But was there something else in his thoughts, Rachel?"

"Yes..." Rachel thought twice before mentioning it but she knew she had no choice.  "...Me."