Disclaimer: I don't own TT.
.:With Richard:.
Richard woke up the next morning at around 9 o'clock am. He did his normal morning stuff: washed face, brushed teeth, etc. Then he went to the kitchen to get some breakfast. He, of course, expected Kori to be up and doing something.
He arrived in the kitchen to find no Kori. That's odd, he thought to himself.
"Kori? Are you up?" Richard asked in the silence of their penthouse. No response. He checked the balcony to see if she was there, but with the door closed so she wouldn't have heard him. No Kori. He went back to the hallway and stopped in front of Kori's room. He knocked and called out, "Kori?" in a soft voice. He heard a groan in return. He knocked again and, this time, opened the door and stepped into the multicolored room. "Kori? Are you okay?" Richard asked. He saw her shift in her bed. He walked to her bedside and put one hand underneath the sheets, searching for her forehead. He found it and gently laid his hand on her forehead. She was burning up.
"Mmm, Richard? Is that you?" Kori said quietly. She poked her head out of under the covers. "I don't feel good." She murmured. Richard sighed. He looked over at her bed side and saw the note on the table, still untouched.
"You are burning up, Kori. I think you have a fever," Richard stated concerned. He hurried to the bathroom to get a thermometer out of the first aid kit. He headed back to Kori, told her to open up and stuck the thermometer under her tongue. After the 'beep' signifying that the reading was done, Richard pulled the thermometer out of Kori's mouth. It read 102.7 degrees. Kori moaned under the blanket.
"Yup. You are definitely sick. I gonna go get something for you to eat," Richard said. He darted to the kitchen to find something to eat. He realized that they didn't have any food; they were supposed to go food shopping today. Damn, he cursed to himself. He got Kori a glass of water and returned to Kori's bedroom.
"Kori?" he said gently, "Kori?" he said again. She hmm –ed in reply. Richard continued. "I'm going to the store really quick because we don't have any food. I'm gonna call Rachel to come over and watch you while I'm gone, ok?" he heard an mmm in response, which he assumed meant yes. "Ok, then. I'll see you later," he said. He kissed her forehead and practically ran to his room to change his clothes and left the apartment to get her orange juice, chicken noodle soup, her favorite, ice cream. He bounded to the front door and closed it. I know she will want that ice cream when she is better. I'll just get the basics today and we will go get all of the groceries when she is better. She won't forgive me if I bought all the food by myself, he thought to himself in the elevator going to the garage, chuckling.
He headed to his car and opened the door and left the parking garage.
Richard kept an eye out for the first corner store he saw. There it is, Richard thought to himself. He pulled up to the parking lot of the mini-mart and look at the sign of the store: "Mini-Mart," it read. Hmm… how original. He hurried into the store to get to groceries.
.:In the Mini-Mart:.
He kept chanting "orange juice, chicken noodle soup, ice cream" in his head. As he continued through the store getting what he needed, he just thought something. Damnit I forgot to call Rachel. Oh well, I'll be done soon. With that, he sped up his pace to the cashier, knocking over a woman with her cart. He paid for everything with a twenty dollar bill and told the cashier to keep the change. He dashed to his car, shoved his groceries in the back and sped home.
.:With Kori:.
Mmmm… I don't feel well. She turned over in bed snuggling deeper in the covers. Then she heard to door open and close.
"Richard?" she whispered out. She heard footsteps heading in the direction of her room. Her head turned in the direction of her door to see who it was, of course, expecting Richard.
"Hey," a deep, slightly familiar voice said.
"What are you doing here, Xavier?"
.:With Richard:.
Did I lock the door? He thought to himself. In his mind, he retraced his steps, trying to remember If he locked the door to their penthouse. Damnit. I forgot I planned to leave the door unlocked for Rachel to get inside, WHO I FORGOT TO CALL!!! Damnit. Real nice, Richard. If Kori is in there with a bad guy she can't protect herself because she's sick. So again, Richard sped up to get back home.
.:With Kori and Xavier:.
"Well, you didn't call me today and I didn't get your number. So, I called people and found out where you live. But I can see why you didn't call me," said Xavier. Kori still laid there in bed, only her eyes poking out from under he blankets.
In all honesty, Kori forgot about calling Xavier.
"I'd ask how you are, but I already know," said Xavier, looking at Kori's eyes and her form under the blankets. He looked around the room. "Nice room," Xavier said, trying to start a conversation. Kori just smiled in return. She wanted Richard back now. She was hungry.
.:With Richard:.
Richard pulled up to the garage and parked his car in his designated slot. He would have ran to the elevator but didn't due to the bundle of groceries in his arms. He jammed the button corresponding to Kori's and his floor. Hurry up, he said looking up will the elevator to go faster, which of course didn't do anything. Finally.
.:With Kori and Xavier:.
And another silence, both of them thought.
Xavier kept trying to turn up the charm but wooing a sick girl wasn't exactly he had in mind.
Kori just wants him to stop talking and offer to get her something to eat… or she wants Richard to get here, which ever comes first because Richard is supposed to be bring food for her, unless he eats it first.
.:With Richard:.
Richard rushes to his door. He puts the groceries to one side of his body and jumbles for his house keys in his pocket. Then he remembers that it is unlocked.
"Real smart, there buddy", Richard says to himself, "stupid."
He opens the door and calls out Kori's name.
"Kori, I'm home!!!"
.:With Kori and Xavier:.
Xavier whipped his head around. Who the hell was that?
Kori perked up. Finally!!!
.:With Richard:.
He walks into the kitchen and puts the groceries on the kitchen counter. Then he dashes to Kori's bedroom at the end of the hall and enters it.
So what did you think?
Ha ha just kidding!!! ;P
.:In Kori's Room:.
The first thing that Richard sees is that guy from the club who tried to hit on Kori.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Richard asked, walking over to Kori's bedside, opposite of the guy so he doesn't jump him.
"Richard, you remember Xavier?" Kori asked in a small voice, one part due to her illness the other because to the staring contest between the men was a little intimidating.
"Of course, how could I forget?" Richard answered with clenched teeth. He really didn't trust this guy.
"Nice to see you again, Dick," Xavier said with a coy smirk, knowing that would get him angry. Then a thought struck him. "Wait. You live together?"
"Yes," said the two in unison. Richard was getting really tired of Xavier in Kori's and his house. Then there was a silence, with Xavier looking back and forth from Kori to Richard.
Richard was beginning to become irked by the way Xavier head was looking back and forth from him to Kori. What the hell is he looking at? A few seconds pass. Okay, he has to go.
"If you are done looking at us, I think you should go," Richard said coolly. Xavier looked taken aback, being told to leave so bluntly and tried to play it off like it was nothing.
"I don't think that Kori would-" Xavier started.
"Ahem, actually Xavier, I need my rest and Richard will take very good care of me here," Kori said in a small, gentle but firm voice. Xavier nodded. He went over to Kori and kissed her temple.
"Get better Kori, so we can meet again." (I know, a little cheesy) Kori blushed and gave him a little smile.
"I'll show you out," Richard stated. He got up and opened the door to Kori room and held it open for Xavier to exit. With a glance and a wave, Xavier departed Kori's room and Richard followed. The walk was to the door silent. As Xavier was about to leave the penthouse completely Richard obviously had something he wanted to say.
"Stay away from her," Richard stated in a firm, low voice. Xavier looked back at him in amazement, like he can't believe that he just said that to him. Richard crossed his arms for emphasis.
"Who are you to tell me what to do?" Xavier asked, in a somewhat child-ish way. Richard had no answer but he still stood his ground. "You've had you're chance at her. From what she told me before, you two go a ways back. If you didn't her then, what makes you think you can get her now?" He scoffed. "Your chance has long gone. It's my turn and they don't call me "Playboy of Gotham," for nothing. I always get my girl." With those words and a little smirk at the internal affect his words caused at the previously "intimidating" Richard Grayson, he left the place.
.:With Richard:.
What in the hell was he talking about? "My chance has long gone?" What was that supposed to mean? Richard kept thinking these things as he sat down on the couch.
.:With Kori:.
Okay. It doesn't take this long to show someone out of our penthouse.
"Richard," Kori called out. No answer.
"Richard."
"Richard!!!"
.:With Richard:.
Oh shit!!! Kori!!! Richard ran to her room.
As soon as he got to her room, he was bombarded with pillows.
"What in the hell were you doing over there?!?! It doesn't take that long for you to show someone out the house!!! I could be here coughing my guts out and you're out there contemplating the universe!!!" Kori yelled out in one breath and then started coughing. At the first cough, Richard went into stern-mommy mode.
"Okay. You get into bed and I'll make you some soup," Richard said while picking up the pillows that were previously used as ammunition. He picked up the last pillow as he was heading out. He giggled internally as he turned around, threw the pillow at Kori and bolted through the door. As he left he heard Kori yell, "Hey! I'm sick here and you throw a pillow at me!?!?!?"
.:With Kori:.
Kori was getting into bed and laughing at the moment she and Richard had just now, but she coughed again and got the chills. She hurried into bed and snuggled under the blankets.
.:With Richard:.
Richard was cooking Kori's meal, but he was a little preoccupied. He couldn't help but think about what Xavier said to him about his relationship with Kori. Richard shook the thoughts out of his head. He would think about the later. Right now, he had to watch over Kori. Richard poured the soup into the bowl and set in on the tray he took out to help transport the food. He took a cup from the pantry and poured orange juice into the cup and also set that on the tray. He took the medicine out of the cupboard and put two aspirins on the tray next to the juice. He picked up the tray and walked steadily to Kori's room.
.:In Kori's Room:.
"Hey. How do you feel?" Richard said softly. He put the tray down on her bedside table and gently put his hand to her forehead to feel her temperature. She was still a little hot.
"Like crap," was her response. Richard chuckled a bit.
"Well, maybe you'd get better by eating," Richard said, sitting down on the side of her bed, holding the bowl of soup for her. Kori scooted a little to make more room for Richard. She sat up and swayed a little and kept her eyes closed. She held out her hand for the bowl. Instead, she found that a spoonful of warm soup found her way into her mouth. She opened her eyes and found Richard blowing on her soup for her. Richard, then, moved the spoon in front of her face.
"Richard," Kori said kindly, "you don't have to do this for me. I can feed myself." Kori said reaching for the bowl. Once again, the spoon was shoved in her mouth.
"I know," was what Richard said in return and started blowing on another spoonful of soup.
Awww… he is so sweet. Kori thought, while she was being fed another spoonful of soup. She felt really touched by the simple and kind of embarrassing gesture. And in no time, she finished her soup and took her medicine, supervised by Richard.
"Thank you, Richard." Richard was picking up the dishes used to feed Kori. He turned around to look at her. She had pure gratitude shining through her eyes. That's what Richard loved about her eyes: her beautiful eyes could always portray what she was feeling.
"No problem, Kor. That's what friends are for," he said looking at her. Her eyes flashed an emotion he tried to read, but she blinked and it was gone. He finished picking up the dishes and left the room, heading towards the kitchen. He left to give Kori her peace and for him to think.
.:With Kori:.
As soon as Richard left, Kori sunk back into her sheets and started to think. I mean what else is there to do?
Is that all we will ever be: friends? I loved Richard for a long time and he still hasn't notices anything. Maybe I should try not to love him??? Hmm…. No I already tried that. That hurts too much. I can't picture myself without him. Being a friend and in his life was better than nothing.
Kori picked up a random book from the one of her nearby shelves and started to read to occupy her mind.
.:With Richard:.
Richard felt like an old-fashion house wife. Carrying the dishes and cooking for his spouse. Except it's his roommate, friend, whatever you want to call it, but not his spouse, wife or girlfriend. And that fact bothered him. He didn't know why, but that fact bothered him. And so did that cliché phrase bothered him to: that's what friends are for.
Why am I thinking about this recently? Nothing between us has changed. Well at least not that I know of… has Kori changed? No, she always has been her cheerful, smiling, friendly, kind, caring, out-going, beautiful self that I have always known. Have I changed? I don't think that I have. The only major thing that has happen recently is that we have moved in together, but that should change a friendship….
Richard's mind was troubled. He decided to call Rachel after all to tell her that Kori was sick. He was sure that he was on three-way when he called Rachel. She probably was talking to Karen. That was about ten minutes ago.
Everyone should be here about… now.
ding dong Richard was already at the door before it could get to the 'dong'
Karen practically shoved Richard aside and headed to Kori's room. Rachel was walking behind her. Gar and Victor stepped in calmly after the stampede.
"Hey, man. What's wrong with Kori?" Victor asked seriously. Gar just nodded and listened in. Richard explained about yesterday.
"Kori wanted to walk in the park, then in started raining. Kori still wanted to stay out. So was stayed out a little longer," Richard said. He conveniently 'forgot' some other parts. "Then we came home. She went to shower then went to bed. She didn't see the pill I put on her bedside table for her to take so wouldn't get sick." Vic and Gar both nodded and they all followed Karen and Rachel into Kori's room.
.:In Kori's Room:.
"Oh my god Kori!!! Are you okay?!?!" Karen asked. Rachel rolled her eyes.
"Bee, she isn't gonna die because on a measly fever," Rachel said in a 'duh' tone. Karen waved it off.
"Is Dick taking care of you? He better be or I'll-" Karen stared getting up to berate Richard, but Kori cut her off.
"Bee. Relax. Richard he been taking very good care of me. He made me soup and gave me orange juice," Kori said, leaving out the part where he fed her. Rachel nodded but Karen still looked skeptical.
"Well, I'm going to be looking after you until you get better. I will just send the boys off somewhere," Karen said, looking pensive. "I will just give them forty bucks and send them to the mall. They can play in the arcade and eat in the food court." Rachel shook her head and rolled her eyes behind Karen. Then the guys entered.
"Hey. How are you feeling Kori?" said Gar, approaching the bed. Vic and Richard followed.
"I'm fine," said Kori. As soon as she said those words, Karen pushed them out the door and into the living room. Kori waved to them good-bye from her bed.
"Has Karen been using Vic's weights to get in shape?" Rachel asked, raising an eyebrow. Kori shrugged. Rachel pulled a book off the shelf (a/n she has her own stash off books there just in case) and Kori took her book of her bedside table. They both started to read like nothing happened.
.:In the Living Room:.
Karen ushered the guys into the living room.
"Okay, boys. I'm gonna give you forty bucks and you guys go to the mall," Karen said, fishing two twenty-dollar bills out of her purse.
"But what about Kori?" Richard asked. He wanted to be here for her.
"I will be taking care of her," Karen said simply. "Now go and have a good time." Gar took one of the bills and ran before she could change her mind. Vic took the other one and calmly walked out the door, with Richard in tow.
.:In the Mall:.
The first place that they were dragged to, by Gar, was the arcade.
"Let's play this!!! Wait! No, this one!!!" from Gar went on for about ten minutes before Vic challenged Richard to a game: Time Crisis, which Gar immediately rushed over to call dibs on playing winner. Richard always loved this game, playing detective and stuff. After awhile of game play, Richard came out on top. Richard cheered in victory, while Vic somewhat sulked.
"Vic, you could keep playing. I'm going to the food court," Richard said giving his gun to Gar. Vic grinned, anticipating victory. He knew he was better than Gar at this game, but he look over at the retreating figure that was Richard's. He knew something was wrong. He'll talk about it with him, but he had to beat Gar first. Vic and Gar pressed the start button.
.:At Home:.
Karen was going crazy. She was dusting everything and wiping down everything and washing everything and scrubbing everything.
"You know Kori," Karen said while scrubbing one particular tough spot, "the reason why you could be sick is that your home is so dirty." She tried to get Rachel to help out. Rachel flat out refused and Kori had a pre-made excuse: she was sick. So Kori slept, read, and drank stuff Karen was giving her, Rachel read and Karen ran around the house cleaning everything and checking on Kori. In Kori's opinion being sick was pretty dull.
.:With the Boys:.
After beating Gar at every game at the arcade, a triumphant Vic and a downcast Gar met Richard at the food court. They found Richard sitting at a table with two other chairs with a smoothie and fries lying in front of him.
"I gonna get some food at Tofu Time," Gar said excited. Vic shivered and sat down across from Richard.
"What's buggin' you?" Vic asked Richard. Richard looked at him.
"Well, the guy that Kori met at the club was in the house today when I got back from buy Kori stuff to eat. Before he left he said… things that made me think about my relationship with Kori," Richard said. Vic rubbed his chin in thought. Could Dick be finally realizing his feelings for Kori? He had to answer carefully.
"Well, you and Kori have a great friendship," Vic said. Richard sighed.
"Well, what's bugging me is that its just friendship," Richard said looking at Vic. Vic raised his eyebrows.
"Elaborate," Vic said.
"Well, one day Kori is going to find this awesome guy that she really likes and I won't be able to do anything. She would forget all about me," Richard said looking away from Vic. "What Xavier said scares me. I could lose Kori. I can't believe that I haven't realized this until now." Vic nodded in understanding, then he banged his hands on the table.
"Did you say Xavier as in Xavier Redd? The "Playboy of Gotham"? Richard nodded.
"You can't let Kori go out with him. I heard a lot from my friends in Gotham about what he does to girls. You can't-" Vic said and then realized that Richard was still thinking about something else. "Yo, man. You and Kori are best friends. You know that she would never have you out of her life. You guys have been together through think and thin. She would never let anything come between you guys." Vic said. Richard looked at him and smiled.
"You're right. I know my best friend and Kori is not that type of person. Thanks, Vic," Richard said and they did a little handshake thing-y. Then Gar came back with a tray half empty. Richard and Vic look at the Gar's tray, then at Gar's face: it had traces of food.
"What? I was really hungry and the walk to here was long," Gar said innocently. Vic and Richard laughed and started walking out of the food court. Gar shrugged and followed his friends.
They headed to the penthouse.
.:At home:.
Karen was finally done cleaning and collapsed on the couch. Kori, bundled up with blankets, was tired of her room and walked out of her room to join Rachel, who was reading on the couch. Kori found the remote and turned on the television. The cable guy hasn't installed any channels yet so she watched channel two, which nothing interesting but calming landscapes and peaceful music. She soon fell asleep in the couch. Rachel was still reading.
It was at least thirty minutes before the guys came back.
The boys arrived to Rachel reading and a sleeping Kori. Rachel showed Vic where Karen fell asleep. Vic carried her to the car while Gar escorted Rachel down to wait for Vic who drove them over and who also had the keys because he didn't trust Gar with his car. Last time he did, Gar hit a wall because he forgot to put the car in reverse. Vic mouthed good-bye to Richard, who locked to door behind Vic.
Richard smiled at Kori's sleeping figure on the couch. Her blankets shifted off of her when she readjusted her body for comfort. She shivered due to the lack of coverage on her body. When Richard adjusted the blankets on her he realized why she shivered: she was wearing lingerie. Richard gulped and hastily covered her up.
He headed to his room to shower. If she isn't up by the time I'm done, I'll carry her to her room. So Richard showered and did his after shower routine, dried his (sexy) hair, put on pajama pants and went to check on Kori. She was still there.
Looks like I will have to take her to her room. Richard padded over to her quietly, so he does not wake her. Standing over her, he can't help but notice how pretty she looks. He put one of his arms under her legs and another arm underneath her arm and carried her bridal style to her room. She snuggled into his bare chest, he assumed because of his body warmth, and blushed, happy that Kori couldn't see it. He turned sideways as he entered her room so he doesn't bump her into her doorframe. He set her gently on her bed and covered her with all the blankets. He gently kisses her forehead.
"Good night, Kori," Richard murmured. As soon as Richard steps away from her, she moans.
"Richard? Can you sleep here with me tonight? You feel really warm," Kori asks, half asleep. She reaches for him with her eyes closed. He smiles and walks back towards her bed. He gets underneath her covers and sees a little smile on Kori's face. He lays facing the ceiling and Kori wraps an arm around him well sculpted stomach and her head on Richard's chest. Richard embraces Kori with both of his arms.
"Good night, Kori," whispered Richard.
"Good night, Richard," mumble Kori.
They fell asleep in each other's arms.
Okay, here is the chapter 6. Sorry for the long wait. School sucks.
Tofu Time is totally made up.
I hope I found all the grammar and spelling errors. If not call me out on them please.
Thanks to: cartoonstar, Harry Potter Fan 1994, SuPeR HyPeR chick 101, TerraBB4Eva, RavenSis, raeXXstarry, and RobinxStarfireLuvr. Thanks so much for reviewing!!! You all are awesome!!!
Thanks for reading and please review!!!