ɢʜᴏꜱᴛꜱ | ᴅ. ɢʀᴀʏꜱᴏɴ

chapter 18

18. separated

•—✽—✽—✽—•

the morning after

"I MAY HAVE ANOTHER OPTION," ANGELA said as she sat at the table eating breakfast with Rachel, Kory, Gar, Dick, and Paige. "I have a house. In Ohio. It's been in our family for decades. I was hoping that we... All of you are welcome there for as long as you want," the woman offered, taking note of their current living situation. "I have more than enough room, and it's the least I can do. Although I do wonder what happens to your home when you've been locked away for five years."

"Back taxes," Kory began, "ton of unopened mail, I imagine. What did you have in your fridge?"

"I don't think you'd want to eat whatever's left in that fridge," Paige mentioned, scrunching her nose up at the thought of eating anything that has been sitting there for the past five years.

"This could be like our secret base," Gar said, turning to face Dick. "This is so cool, isn't it?" Everyone chuckled at Gar's comment but Dick. He seemed to be lost in his own thoughts and not listening to their conversation.

Rachel tilted her head as she took notice of his lack of response. "Isn't it, Dick?" He sighed as he turned to look at her and everyone else around the table.

"I need to go somewhere. I don't know for how long, but all I know is that I need to figure out what I'm gonna do now that I'm not Robin," he explained. As he spoke, he tried to look at Paige but she avoided his gaze with everything in her.

How could he just leave? Why now, she asked herself. The sound of her chair dragging across the floor interrupted Dick as everyone's watchful eyes took notice of her sudden exit.

Paige didn't want to seem selfish by not wanting Dick to leave. She knew that it would happen eventually but she didn't think it would be so soon. On the other hand, she wanted to stop him and tell him that he shouldn't leave and that he should stay with them, that he should stay with her.

Not long after, they had all accompanied Dick outside before he left. "So, what? This is like the end of the team?" Gar asked, trying to hide the hurt in his voice.

"Technically, we were never really a team—"

"Speak for yourself," Paige scoffed, crossing her arms.

"I'll see you all again sometime," he said before bringing his attention to the girl who had yet to voice her opinion on the matter. "Rachel..."

"She'll be okay," Kory said, before bringing him away from the group to talk privately. "I'll get them all to the house safely, make sure there are no stragglers on our tail."

"Then what?"

"Then, I guess it's time to be Kory Anders."

"And who is she?"

"Maybe whoever I want her to be," Kory smiled thinking about the possibilities that were in front of her since she had no idea who she was.

"Must be something to have no past."

"Oh, yeah, it's something alright. I hope you find out who's inside of there, Dick Grayson," she said, pointing to his chest before they both broke into short chuckles.