Chapter 9 - Air

The girl in the red dress sat down at the table, across from Xaviour Redd. Richard had to make do with standing over their table, unseen by Xaviour but seen by Kori, much to her dismay. She begged him with her eyes to leave, but Richard paid no attention and was merely content with observing them, for now.

Xaviour opened the menu and scanned the meals with bored eyes. The main thing about dates was to impress the girl, but how could he do that when Kori didn't trust him? His hazel eyes glanced up to look at her. Right now she was just pretending to be sweet for some unknown reason, she actually seemed nervous and on edge.

His eyes narrowed in thought, had something happened earlier that had shaken her up?

Since she was sure there was no need to impress Xaviour, she said "I'll just have the pizza."

Perhaps it was a good thing that she felt that way around him, there wasn't any need to strive for his approval. If she were on a date with Richard, she would be inclined to have something less laid back. But why did I decide to wear such a beautiful dress? She thought to herself.

"That sounds like a good idea, I'll have the same."

When the waitress walked to their tables they ordered their meals along with red wine.

Richard noticed Xaviour eyeing the waitress as she walked away. His fists clenched at his sides as Kori looked up and smiled "so Xaviour, may I ask why you've been wanting to go out on a date with me for so long? Most guys wouldn't bother."

"Im not most guys." He took a sip of his drink and smiled

"don't you have allot of attention from guys? I didn't think me asking you out was such a crime."

Richard rolled his eyes and looked at Kori "how can you stand this guy? Hes a total slime ball."

Kori glared up at him "leave me alone!" She hissed

Xaviour rose an eyebrow in confusion "pardon?"

Kori blinked and blushed scarlet "they never leave me alone! Urr...that's why I don't like going out on dates, they all turn out to be total jerks."

The man across from her nodded in understanding "so that's why you were so..."

"rude? Yeah I'm sorry about that." Kori swirled her hair around her finger in nervousness, the last time she had been on a date, it hadn't exactly gone well.

A hand suddenly stopped her fidgeting, and Kori looked up at Xaviour who smiled in a very charming way. Richard narrowed his eyes as Xaviours rough palm stroked Kori's tenderly. This guy was using every trick in the book and Kori was falling for it.

I have to do something Richard thought.

"You don't have to be so nervous around me Cutie. I wont bite." Xaviour's hazel eyes looked into Kori's green ones, who had completely forgotten about Richards company. She was leaning closer in fact, without noticing and inwardly Xaviour smirked. It had been awhile since he had charmed a women, or even had one in his bed. His play boy days, those days when he used to be popular and admired were long gone thanks to his best friends disappearance.

But just as Kori's lips were in reach, the red wine bottle tipped over with a bang on the table, and the liquid poured down onto Xaviours lap. He gave a cry of outrage and stood up, completely humiliated.

Kori blinked and then frowned looking over at Richards innocent face. Glaring at him with the best death glare she could muster, she tried to make Xaviour feel less embarrassed.

"Don't worry about it Xaviour, it will stain unless you pour some white wine over them, but I have a feeling you don't want to get any more wine on you than you do now." She laughed "best to just leave it, don't let it ruin our night." Kori smiled sweetly and Richard frowned in disapproval.

Xaviour, who was startled by the wine and even more shocked about Kori's kind tone blinked and nodded slowly.

This is a disaster, very smooth idiot. He thought to himself before replying

"Sure thing Kori. I'm just going to the bathroom to see if I can get cleaned off a bit."

A blushing Xaviour clumsily made his way out of the room and into the men's toilets. Richard watched him go and then turned to Kori

"wow, what a catch. You are aware that hes a loser and hes just using you?"

Kori narrowed her eyes at him "what the hell are you doing Richard! Your ruining my date on purpose!"

"well excuse me for trying to protect you from users like that. I was under the impression that you liked intelligent guys, not some loser wanting a one night stand." Richard shot back

Kori looked down, slightly hurt from his comment. When she spoke again, her tone was quieter and filled with a secret pain "the last guy I liked just wanted to use me as well. Maybe that's the kind of guy I'm drawn to, but that doesn't mean you get to decide who I can and cant date."

Richard's eyes softened and he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He sat down opposite her "I never meant to hurt you Kori. I'm sorry for lying to you. Even if you wont forgive me, the situation if different, I'm not some guy just after your body. I really need your help, I'm just confused and desperate that's why I acted the way I did."

Kori tried to will herself not to listen, she didn't trust Richard, but she couldn't help but feel sympathy for him. He was a ghost after all.

She looked up at him "your no different from Xaviour in reality Richard."

The ghost sighed and nodded "yeah, I guess we are similar." He frowned in thought "its like I knew him though, I cant...I cant remember from where but hes familiar to me. This whole situation is familiar."

Kori's green eyes widened "what do you mean?"

Richard put his hand to his head, feeling a dull ache in his mind as he tried to piece things together. "Its like I used to do what hes doing right now. Charming girls and drinking, partying. I...cant believe I did that, but its like it fits."

He looked away sadly "maybe the reason why I used you is because I used everyone when I was alive."

Kori's heart clenched and her hand nearly moved to touch his. Nearly, but she didn't do it. Instead she brushed back her hair from her face and thought for a moment.

"If I ask him some questions, do you promise to leave us alone and not annoy Xaviour?"

Richard's blue eyes blinked and he hid his hand from her sight as he said "I promise." He crossed his fingers as Kori nodded and Xaviour rejoined them. Richard quickly stood back up, having to walk through Xaviour as he did so.

Xaviour sat back down, the stain still on him, but he had managed to calm himself and get back to trying to charm Kori.

The waitress walked over with their meal and placed it in front of them before walking away.

Kori took a piece of pizza and eyed the bottle of mustard next to her. She picked up the yellow bottle and began squirting large amounts of mustard all over the pizza until it was completely covered.

Xaviour blinked a few times and hesitantly picked up a piece of pizza himself. "I'm guessing you like mustard." He asked awkwardly

Richard smiled fondly at Kori, who gave off the appearance as a hot young single girl, who was sensible and kind. Koris antics however were more childish and fun, but he liked that. She was different and herself.

Kori grinned "oh yes, I love it to death." She took a big bite out of it, heedless of the mustard that now covered most of her chin and lips. While she chewed, she wondered how she could possibly bring up the subject of Richard.

Xaviour hesitantly took a bite out of his own pizza slice, a little grossed out by Koris love of mustard.

Richard, whether by his curiosity about the taste of food, or his longing for touch, reached out without realising. His pale fingers touched the side of Kori's mouth who jumped at the contact and looked up at him.

Xaviour looked up "are you alright Kori?"

Richard shook his head and brought his hand away, mumbling "sorry" under his breath. Kori blinked and focused on Xaviour "yes, fine. Actually I was wondering Xaviour, what do you do for a living?" She dabbed her lips with her napkin, wiping away the mustard.

Richard looked at the man seated at the table "perhaps I knew him from work?"

Kori nodded slightly at the ghost as Xaviour replied.

"I currently work in a bar." He chuckled bitterly to himself "life's never been more glamorous."

Kori furrowed her eye brows "was there a time before that, where you enjoyed a better job?"

Xaviour smirked "your sharp Cutie. Yeah I did, I used to work for Wayne Enterprises."

Wayne Enterprises. The words pierced through Richards mind and he gasped, his hands going to his head.

"loosen up Richard. You take work way too seriously." Words echoed from long ago as the room began to spin, Kori didn't notice Richards reaction as she asked "Wayne Enterprises, that's owned by Bruce Wayne isn't it?"

"yeah, I used to work with his adoptive son Richard."

Adoptive son Richard cried out in pain, as memories flooded back, piercing his mind like needles.

He suddenly saw a bar in front of him, and looking over he saw Xaviour sitting next to him. The memory was faded at the edges, like he was tipsy from alcohol consumption.

Xaviour smirked "you'll get promoted and eventually own the company yourself, there's no question about it. Why are you so stressed? Drink, find a girl to entertain you or something."

Richard rolled his eyes, cluching the glass of wine, or was it vodka, or...oh he couldn't remember.

"Its not that simple. Ive been doing this for so long Xaviour, its boring. I need a challenge, something different than just those three things you've mentioned. That's all I have in my life to satisfy me, drink, girls and work."

"I thought that did satisfy you?" Xaviour rose an eyebrow in confusion.

"It did. But I don't know anymore...I'll never be seen as anything more than Bruce's son will I? Your right, I will get promoted, whether I deserve it or not." He hiccuped and rested his head on the bar, slumping into it in depression.

"Whats the point in it all?" He whispered miserably.

The memory faded away and he fell to the floor in a heap. Kori, who was alarmed by Richards fall, suddenly felt helpless as she couldn't help him without causing a scene.

Richard clutched his stomach for a moment until the last waves of dizziness faded away. He looked up at the man whom he had considered his best friend for so long, and yet he couldn't place the faded feeling of anger towards him.

Was there a reason why he felt so hostile toward Xaviour whenever he touched Kori?

He was doing so right then. Xaviours hand was on hers, as if he wanted pity. Richard narrowed his eyes and tried to calm himself. Even if he was angry, he had no reason to be. From that last memory, it showed him that Xaviour had been there as his drinking buddy, a fellow bachelor who had no idea what he wanted from life.

Richard realised that he should have felt pity for him, not contempt.

"He disappeared a year ago. No one ever found him and his father isolated himself because of it. The enterprise is still going but Bruce stays out of the public eye. I was fired not long after Richard disappeared."

Kori looked down and didn't shy away from hos touch "that's horrible. I wonder...I wonder what happened to him."

A strange look crossed Xaviours face which both Kori and Richard caught before it slipped away as if it had never been there. "I have no idea. He was a good friend."

Xaviour remembered an old trick that Richard himself used to employ when charming women. He would tell a sad story, much like Xaviour had just done, and then kiss the women's hand. This would then turn the women's pity for him into the need to comfort him, and he could kiss Kori.

He kissed her hand gently and Kori blushed. Richard felt like throwing up as he watched, his hands shaking at his sides.

Leaning forward again, Xaviour was finally able to capture Kori's lips with his own. And though they tasted like mustard, it was the sweetest kiss he could have asked for.

Kori was hesitant, but it would be rude not to respond wouldn't it? It had been so long since she had been kissed, and the sudden feeling of loneliness swept over her. Yes, she had been lonely for so long. She hated that feeling, and right in the moment she gave into it and kissed him back.

Xaviour pulled away, smiling "see, wasn't so bad was it?"

His head was unexpectedly shoved forward, right into his pizza. The most alarming thing about that abrupt shove into the food, was that that hand on his head was too large to be Kori's, and far too cold. Very cold.

Richard removed his hand and stepped back, his expression was venomous to say the least. His blue eyes lit up by the candle light in a way that was both frightening and enchanting.

Kori gasped and Xaviour's head rose from the plate, his face covered in tomato and cheese. To say that he was annoyed was a definite understatement.

"What the hell just happened?" He attempted to wipe off the food and Kori felt a bubble of laughter rise up inside her. She held it back firmly "I have no idea. Are you alright?"

He growled "this is the second thing that's happened! What is with this night!"

Kori blinked and then remembered what had happened on her last date. Her sudden movements and odd behaviour... she looked up at Richard with a scowl.

Do you have something to do with that as well you phantom?

Xaviour sighed "sorry, I will be right back, again." He left the table and Kori drank from her wine

"you totally broke your promise Richard. Richard?" She lowered her drink, looking around for the said ghost who was nowhere in sight.

Xaviour complained to himself as he washed his face, "damn cursed night, stupid sexy girl with her bad luck towards me. I mean Ive been a perfect gentlemen, why does this keep happening to me?"

His eyes closed as the water got to his eyes. As he raised his head, wiping the moisture from his face and eye lids, his blurred vision slowly cleared.

Instead of the mirror showing only his reflection, a second man stood behind him. One with cold blue eyes, jet black hair and a familiar stern expression. Xaviours eyes widened "Richard!"

He was suddenly grabbed and thrown against the bathroom wall. But though he felt the tight grip on his clothes, he saw nothing infront of him when he looked. He looked over at the mirror and could see Richard again "what the hell is happening?"

Richard frowned "I have no idea why I feel this rage towards you Redd, but if you ever touch Kori again, I wont hesitate to make your life a world of pain."

The voice seemed so far away, like Richard wasn't really right in front of Xaviour. Xaviour looked at his friends reflection "man...where have you been. Whats happened to you?"

Without touching him, Richard was able to send a cold chill into Xaviours body and direct it at his neck as if he was holding it. "I wont repeat myself. Stay away from her."

Xaviour chocked "dude, I never meant what happened with Barbra honest! I cant believe your still angry about it!"

Richard blinked and took away the cold from the mans body. Xaviour gasped and fell to the floor, panting heavily. When he looked up, Richard was gone.

Kori placed her drink down and looked around worriedly. After a few moments, there was a gust of cool air and Richard was standing next to her once again.

Kori gave him a stern expression "where did you go? Whats happened?"

Her questions echoed Xaviours, and Richard's anger was growing stronger by the second. He grabbed her arm "we're leaving. Now."

Kori blinked and gasped as Richard pulled her up firmly, leading her out of the restaurant. When they were outside and away from the odd stares Kori had received, she tried to pull her arm away.

"Richard what are you doing! I cant just leave Xaviour!"

Richard said nothing, his steps going steady as he continued to pull her along. Pieces of memory kept coming back of the women in the red dress, Barbra. She resembled Kori so closely.

But shes not, nor never will be her. Let go of your anger Richard, let the hurt come forward. Your in pain, let her heal you.

Richard stopped and felt his shoulders shake. What was this feeling that was overwhelming him? Sorrow? No, it was stronger than that, like an agonising pain. He didn't know why he was so upset, in fact he thought he was acting completely crazy.

His hurt and confusion built up and Kori looked at him with worry. His hand that was holding her arm was shaking and was cold to the touch. She placed her hand over his and Richards eyes snapped open as she stroked it soothingly.

"Richard. Its alright, I dont know whats happened, but I do know that your hurt and sad right now. Why dont you tell me whats going on?"

Richard closed his eyes, remembering what it was like to cry. "I remember why I hate that man so much now. He slept with the one women that I loved."

Kori looked up at him "oh Richard..."

"You remind me of her, she wore a dress just like that one the night she told me. I think that's the night I died. I'm sorry for my behaviour Kori, I let my anger get the better of me. That situation was so similar, I couldn't stand him touching you, kissing you like that."

Kori's eyes lowered as she felt a twinge of pain. "So you weren't jealous of me and him? You were just jealous and angry because of what happened years ago. It was like I was the women you loved all over again."

Richard released her arm and walked over the a brick wall. He rested his hand and head against it, sorrow and past pain clinging to him. "Yes" he whispered.

Kori touched her arm where he had held it and regarded him with warm emerald eyes. Richard heard footsteps before he felt two arms slide around his torso. Kori hugged him from behind and rested her head on his back "I'm sorry for what happened to you Richard." She said quietly

"It must have hurt you more than anything. But you have to realise Richard that I'm not her, I'm here for you now. I wasn't before because I thought you were just some selfish phantom, but now I see that you hurt and confused. I don't want to see you suffering Richard, so Ive decided..."

Richard stood stiffly as Kori closed her eyes "I will help you."

It went beyond her desire for Richard to like her as she did him. Now that she knew he had no real emotions for her, and merely saw her as a shadow of his past, the last twinge of hope left in her was gone. It was futile anyway he was a ghost after all.

Now that she had seen the broken and confused man in front of her, her compassionate nature felt like she had no choice but to help him.

So she put her needs aside and tried to shove her deeper pain and affections aside for him.

Richard closed his eyes and put his hand over hers "I'm sorry that you had to be the one I cursed with my presence star."

Kori stepped away from him "dont be silly. It'll be okay now Richard you'll see. I'll help you discover your past."

Richard looked up at the stars. "No matter how painful?"

Kori merely nodded as she looked up at the heavens above as well. The two didn't notice a figure watching them from the shadows, one who could hear Kori's one sided conversation and who knew that she wasn't talking to herself. Xaviour frowned and turned, walking away.

Things were certainly starting to get twisted and strange. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it, the spark of the lighter flashing his worried hazel eyes as he walked away into the darkness.

ooo

So did ya like it? I hope you did ^^ I enjoyed writing this chapter, just cos I like it when people embarrass themselves. XD

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