Chapter 10 - Take off the mask

Xaviour took at good look at Kori once she was unconscious, he had carried her to his car and was now driving along the moonlit road towards a large mansion. Her long hair was still thick and beautiful, she was only slightly taller but had filled out well, he knew he didn't deserve her forgiveness but he figured if he did this deed she would.

X smiled at what he could expect from arriving at Richards mansion, the spiky haired know it all would probably kick him out as soon as he dropped off Kori but he didn't mind. After he had been arrested he had been to rehab and sorted out his drug and alchol problem, after that he went to a shrink and sorted out his anger and bitterness towards all life. Once all that had been sorted out the only thing left to do was to try to reconcile himself, he still had his wild morals but he wasn't as let go as he used to be...after all...

he was engaged.

About a year and a half ago he had met a beautiful violet haired girl in a coffee shop, it turns out this beauty was all he could ever need to make him settle down. He needed her and with her alone by his side, he knew he could do this and make peace with Richard, either that or at least give a well rehearsed apology.

His fiancees name was Rose Wilson, who was his old headmasters daughter, Xaviour could safely presume that Mr. Slade hated him will all his might but it didn't stop him from propose to Rose three days after Slade gave a firm warning to him. What could he say? Obedience was never one of his strong points.

He pulled up to the drive way of Wayne manner and stopped next to the inter comm which buzzed loudly at his arrival a soft voice called out "May I ask who this is?"

Xaviour smiled wearily at the voice of Alfred, the old guy would probably have a heart attack at the sight of him.

"An old friend, who has a damsel in distress with him, just tell Richie that Kori's passed out please Alfred."

The buzzer beeped once and the gates opened soon after, sure enough Richard Grayson appeared at the doors, looking frantic and stressed. Xaviour smiled, this would be fun.

He opened the door and calmly watched Richard freeze in shock, they stood like that for awhile, staring at each other, the air thick with tension on Richards behalf before finally X spoke "Calm down Grayson, I just came to drop off your girlfriend... can I come in?."

Richard narrowed his eyes but none the less nodded and let X pass into the house with Kori in his arms.

OOO

A pair of emerald eyes opened in the sunlight - Morning, Kori figured as she stretched her arms over her head and yawned. Upon doing this she realised many things, first was that she was in a bed, second was that she had no memory of getting there and third was that she had no idea where she was!

Jumping out of her cat-like stance and onto the floor she ran to the nearest door to find Richard right outside.

"What the heck happened?! Where am I?" Kori yelled at his surprised face, he held up his hands and stepped back "Whoa, calm down you passed out whilst drinking so Xaviour dropped you off here." Richard seemed disappointed with her when he mentioned the word 'drinking', Kori inwardly smiled and replied

"Xaviour? What happend to him?"

Richard shrugged and didn't seem to interested in the conversation, she didn't expect him to really, X wasn't Richards favorite person. "He dropped you off and we had a talk, he said hes engaged, happy and deeply sorry for what he did to us...nothing very exiting"

Kori glared at Richard for the lack of information, he looked rather bored talking to her and she realised that he had put back on his old mask, the one which he pretended to be unemotional to protect himself from pain. She sighed and tried to push back her anger, maybe she could help him again but it was likely that would hurt her too, she couldn't take off the mask like she had done in high school.

It was hard enough the first time, trying to get him to open up...I suppose I was the only one to care enough to try

Why was he wearing the mask again anyway? Did he not want to show emotions anymore? Was this because of her? She knew it was and that he was probably just doing it to ignore any resurfacing feelings he was having for her, she knew that she could feel many for him just begging to be realised.

"Where did X go?" Kori finally responded

"He left." Classic Richard mask - responding in 1 or 2 words at maximum,

She let her anger loose unable to take talking to him like this " What the heck is your problem?!" her voice portraying just the right amount of shrillness to make him flinch.

"Take a look at this and you'll see why..." His own voice sounded harsh as he gave a newspaper to her, Kori's eyes widened at the front page article it read : Fight breaks loose for Gothem playboy :

At 10.30 on Friday night Korianna Anders and Barbra Gordan were spotted fighting in a disco on main street. The word is that the two ladies were scrapping over Gothems playboy Richard Grayson, heartthrob of the year.

Kori's eyes widened and her hands made fists as she read the newspaper, she quickly scanned the bottom of the paper to see who had been spying on her privet life she gasped as she saw the words - Jade Nguyen.

That lieing, cheating, evil and foul whore! How dare she!

Kori couldn't believe it! She was beyond angry, so far from it that her nails dug into to newspaper and started to cut into the paper, Richard realised this and snatched the paper from her.

"Ouch! Paper cut!" Kori whined as she inspected the now bleeding finger and sighed heavily, "stupid Jade, stupid newspaper, stupid Roy." Stupid Richard.

"I know"

"Its just not fair...I'm sorry for jeopardising your future at your company."

Richard frowned at her remark and carefully took her hand in his, wrapping a cloth around her cut finger, Kori winced " You really don't have to do that, its just a paper cut -". She broke off as soon as she looked up into his Sapphire eyes

Didn't he just have sunglasses on?When did he take those off? he ignored her and continued to stroke and caress her hand making his way up her arm to her chin all the while Kori was still and shocked but giddy with joy. He must like her after all! Her heart began to pound in her chest almost bursting out of her rib cage, she took a silent breath trying not to hyperventilate as Richard leaned towards her holding one hand on her face.

Just as Kori was closing her eyes feeling all her old hope and dreams flood back to her, she could feel Starfire begging to be realised into a world of passion only she and him existed in. However just when she was sure he wouldn't pull away Richard froze. Seconds later Kori heard footsteps coming up the stairs and started panicking, immediately Richard flew away from her reach and put his elusive sunglasses back on molding into a statue of confidence. Bruce Wayne rounded the corner soon after and rose an eyebrow at the scene before him, there was his ward looking a bit too still and collected next to Kori Anders who had wide eyes and her mouth slightly open. Noticing this she snapped it shut.

"Hey Bruce, do you need anything?" Richard asked calmly, the millionaire narrowed his eyes at the question

"Yes you were supposed to meet me in the study 15 minuets ago."

Richard shrugged nonchalantly "I guess I forgot..." Kori gulped

Bruce rose and eyebrow again, his ward never forgot anything, he turned his stare on Kori and narrowed his eyes at her. ooooh of course, she would make him forget.

"Its not like you to get distracted Dick" said Bruce switching around his words, Richard flinched but remained calm he knew after all these years how to tip toe around getting into trouble with his father. - Turn the blame around on him...

"No but its not like Donna Troy to hang around here either is it? What exactly was she doing in your bedroom anyway?"

Kori watched in amazement as Bruce's entire face went red, he quickly composed himself but didn't say anything more on the subject. Richard smirked as Bruce walked away knowing he'd won yet again...

... however the millionaire turned around quickly and said "5 minuets Richard, then I expect you in the study, understood?"

Richard gritted his teeth and nodded, so much for winning. As soon as Bruce was out of sight Kori sighed and slumped against the wall. Thank God that's over

He looked back at her and tried not to let his emotions take over him again, she looked so beautiful even with her messy morning hair "Alfred will make you breakfast so go downstairs when your ready and I'll join you as soon as I can" he felt quite proud of himself, not showing his feelings to Kori might not be so hard after all.

Kori nodded and tried to force a smile onto her face only succeeding in a grimace, but to her utter surprise Richard wrapped his arms around her in a hug. His head was screaming in his skull - YOU IDIOT! but he ignored it, Kori could have sworn she felt him kiss her hair but she figured it was her imagination. He leaned back to look at her face, smiled at her startled expression and walked off leaving a very confused Kori Anders.

WHAT THE HECK!?

She tried to calm herself enough to make it to her bedroom, but as soon as she got to a pillow she filled her lungs and screamed into it. Why was he so frikken confusing?! She wondered if she could track down Xaviour to find out what he said to Richard last night and how Rachel was doing with Gar...

ooo

OK next chapter will be Rachel and Gar and how they do with confronting Terra. Ill update as soon as I can, and I truly thank you for reading my story so far :) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I hope everyone liked this chapter :)