A.N. : Hello everyone. Its Kelpiee :) I know most of my readers have long left this story, but I have a new update on Chapter 1 as of late. I know, I know, where in hell have I been, and why do I keep updating chapter 1!? Yeahhh, well I can only answer that with a: I'm a perfectionist and I hate making mistakes! Sooo, I didn't bother to conjure up a scene for chapter 2 because I thought, "Hey! I'll get to it when I get to it!" But I never did. Except for tonight! At 3:17 am. I've always been a night-owl, and so it doesn't surprise me that I'm here, writing, at this hour. But believe me I am so grateful to sit here and be able to write my story. I would like to thank fanfiction members for stopping by and giving my story a chance, for giving me a chance. That's really great. Thank you.
You knowww, maybe if someone could really give me the biggest criticism on my work, I could possibly use your insight on how to further expand on chapter 2. For now, I've some ideas, and I plan on fleshing them out when I have the time. Again for them loyal fans out there, keep TT love strong, for it is because of you guys willing to read that I am able to write. Thank yuuu and enjoy the ride :)
...
Having the presence of a loved one fill a space, that intimate feeling of routine becomes a comfort, and other times it becomes a worry. Richard knew that in any given moment, she would have preferred to be in that space. Filling it with her energy, spending time inside this space because this space was hers to own. After recent events in his life, her study in the left wing of the house was abandoned by its usual inhabitant, not by choice but by chance.
Vanilla-white candles once hovered lazily around the room, haphazardly, mind you. The usual clinking of glass bottles, the sound of falling books, and frustrated sighs were absent now. Yelps were expected when one opened this particular door; oftentimes catching a raven-haired bird bumbling about, absorbing, and applying every experimental result produced by her practice to her collection of knowledge. Although, tonight, her absence was evident, and quite frankly, it sucked. She would've been here tonight, tinkering with her plethora of ancient scrolls, and mystical tomes, where most of them littered the shelves. There was a long, black couch she was once enamored by. He remembered the way her legs lazily hung over the armrest; how her body sunk into the black fabric that made up a large portion of the furniture. Its cushioned pillows sat on the window sill on the left side of the room, liquid moonlight spreading on the pillow's slick surface. In the middle of the room, the scratches on the dark hardwood floors weren't easy to miss. The reason for their existence escaped him.
His haunted eyes scanned the room. Within him, a certain sensation nestled itself deep inside his rib cage, tickling him with the desire to cry. His heavy-set footsteps fell upon the carpeted floor with no urgency. His body felt lethargic with alcohol, and he knew it would render him immobile eventually. The bountiful energy he was often associated with was nowhere to be found these recent weeks. The things he loved were of no interest to him. He was aware of his personality's drastic change. Barbara kept suggesting he see a grief counselor every so often on his visits back from work. He couldn't be bothered to help himself, though. He decided to keep pushing it off until he could not.
In his hand, Richard held the bottle that had accompanied him from the dark, and lonely kitchen, down the dimly lit corridor, and into his dead wife's study. He breathed again, gingerly swinging the alcohol inside the bottle to and fro, making it crash against its cylinder prison. He kept swiveling the auburn liquid before swallowing the last of it with a satisfied hum. He took notice of the gin cabinet in the corner of the room and felt a sick relief.
More for me, he thought aloud, the words barely a whisper as they left his mouth in waves.
After a while of calm pacing he ignited a peaceful blaze within the confines of the fireplace that adorned the wall facing the door. Loosening the restraining tie around his neck, he reached inside the cabinet and produced another bottle of malt. He pulled up a chair nearest to him, sat down and began to release his overwhelming grief. The tears spilled all over the floor, leaving spherical drops in front of the fireplace which would soon disappear with the help of the nearby flame. His shoulders shook with controlled grace, his cries extremely conscious of their sound, snot dripped from his nose, and traveled to his mouth that was open and gasping. He allowed himself𑁋no, he forgave himself this moment, over and over again for the past two weeks.
The bottle of gin was pressed against his chest, his arms wrapped around it as if it were the only thing that would help him breathe. The gnawing pain he felt was catastrophic, barreling, and disintegrating him from within, he knew it would kill him, one way or another. He wished it would, God, how much he wished it were him instead of...
He sighed harshly, a large heavy whine escaping him.
His tired and dismal gaze stared at the fire pensively, the warm tendrils of heat licked at his dampened cheeks, comfortably preparing him for sleep. He felt a weight on his eyelids, every flutter heavier than the last. This odd sudden feeling of fatigue began to overtake him, even as he fought to keep his body from reclining into the seat, it felt as if something were settling him into the chair, telling him everything would be okay. Feeling the fog settle in his mind and the numbness in his muscles, he breathed heavily and closed his eyes as he inched closer and closer into a dreamland slumber.
…
The reddish purple dusk saluted the starry blanket beginning to appear above them. The window on her side was open, warm air rushed in, taking her dark mane into a dance of tangles and her blouse seizing into a gentle flutter. He could faintly see the shimmer of saliva beginning its voyage down the side of her mouth. He smirked and rolled the window up, containing a bit of his laughter for how silly she looked. The rest of his laughter was released, mentally.
The silence that followed was immediate. The soundless sound of a car riding asphalt lulled him to greet his crowded thoughts. He wondered about Kori'ander and Roy. Right before their departure, at their house party, she had announced that she was expecting a child. The look on her face was that of joy and nervousness all bundled together in a dazzling smile as she held a glass of cranberry juice. Roy was behind her, to the left, smiling just as widely. The group of young adults rejoiced at the declaration, hugging her with tender care. Richard slapped Roy's back and congratulated him as a cluster of familiar faces began to form around them. What a night that had been.
With a contented sigh, he turned his gaze to Rachel's sleeping form for only a second before returning his attention back to the road.
The road was empty, save for a couple of roadside trees, dark rust colored clouds encircling the horizon, cutting the heads of the mountains that protruded from the ground up, caring for a myriad of different organisms. The weather should be clear with a few distant menacing clouds, weather reports guaranteed that much, not like it stormed much out here in the Autumn months, or so he heard.
He remembered the quaint little smirk that settled on her features. He had guessed Rachel already knew way before they did, perhaps weeks prior to the house party. His lips pulled into a grin, his mind conjuring up the image of a child that held his goofy smile and her vivacious lavender eyes. His grin grew wider, and he bit his bottom lip in fantastical desire.
What is your name going to be, he thought.
"You've been driving since we left, Richard. Let me drive." Her distilled voice was always a treat to hear. A mildly amused gaze fell upon her. The maroon road in front stretched like malleable clay now, it soared up into the mountains, far beyond the fields of greenery behind them that were still shrouded in auburn light, the setting sun was to be seen another day.
"Don't worry, Rae, I can last for a bit longer. We're almost there, anyway," he denied her.
She shifted her seat and leaned against the side of the door, cocking her head back to watch the stars peeking through the tremendous blue of dusk. The car was soon surrounded by an abundant amount of trees of numerous sorts, too thick to see past the immediate tree trunks that lined the side of the road. Large vegetation towered next to them as they continued their trek up the windy road.
She was being uncharacteristically quiet, he was too.
"I'm going to draw you a bath when we get there. The bathroom is so nice and spacious, cotten towles, gorgeous view of the mountain side, you're going to love it! Bruce finally allowed me the keys to the place after my incessant begging, which is just me constantly asking for shit. After our stint as Batman, and Robin, you'd think he'd be tolerant. Nope!"
She hummed in response. His smile faltered, and he found himself distracted by the dark-haired woman sitting next to him. He took notice of her relaxed demeanor, her thoughtful gaze never leaving the sky, now peppered with abnormally large white dots, hypnotizing her. Her long fingers tracing circles on her stomach. Maybe she was just hungry, he wasn't sure. He reached over and took her hand.
"Have a stomach ache?" He thought aloud.
"No." she mumbled immediately.
"Hungry?"
"Not really."
He picked up what she was putting down. He squeezed her palm and settled for his thoughts once again, but from within the absence of speech, he heard her let out a quiet, discomforted moan.
"Stop the car."
"Why?"
He looked over and was startled to see her face turn green.
"I need to throw up, Richard! Stop the—"
…
He jolted awake, his breathing coming in fast and heavy. What was once a sweet memory soon transformed into a nightmare when he slept through the night. The memory of that night recycled through his subconscious and set stage in his dreamland, often leaving him drained, and disturbed. The room was dark now that he had regained his senses. The fireplace was empty of its flame, and he concluded that the fire had long ago died out. Richard was, once again, cold. His mouth tasted awful and he felt nauseous. The room was silent and isolating, not even the usually small noises of the house settling could be heard. He didn't think much of it. A sleepy stare searched for the small clock that could usually be found on the mantel, but couldn't make out the muddled digital numbers; he assumed it was early in the morning.
I must still be under the influence, he thought without much certainty.
Shivering, he peeked behind him and found the source of the chill in the room. The silver moonlight highlighted the transparent curtains as they rose slightly with the autumn wind. Without difficulty, he arose and headed for the open window. He furrowed his brows in minor confusion. Sticking his head out, he overlooked the street that glistened with rainwater. The air smelled crisp and clean, like mountain air. Rust colored clouds painted by the setting sun slowly floated across the dark sky, obscuring the stars behind them. The street was empty of human life as if the streets had never known of any other organism other than he; the street lights, with their old yellow light, gave the scene a golden hue. Cars were lined up next to the pedestrian path, shiny and new. Relishing the moment and the comforting smell, he inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, feeling as though he were the only person in the whole world. If that could be true, he wouldn't mind that at all. Soon thereafter, the cold air began to sicken him, a stinging began to form in his nose and he finally decided to retreat from the window, and closed it with a resounding click, still unsure of how it was left open in the first place. Richard decided to head back before Barbara noticed he was gone.
He turned.
What happened next, Richard couldn't believe, not even after his eyes adjusted, and he started to breathe again. As for the moment, he was unable to hold in his mouth from falling straight to the floor, and his gasp had full access to fly out of his mouth; mad goosebumps broke out all over his body.
"Rachel…?" he whispered in elated shock.
AN: Hey there reader! Thanks so much for coming back, or starting this chapter. Whichever! Now, I hope to see you soon this time because, I mean, wouldn't it be nice to, idk, finish this darn story!? I thought so too :) I'll see you at the end!