Life's Canvas

Chapter 18: Pain All the Same

Richard shifted his position on the couch, tugging Kori up closer to him. He sighed wearily. This was not a tale he enjoyed recounting. Kori touched his arm gently, letting her hand linger a moment as to tell him she was there. "Well… I was born into a family of acrobats. I know, kind of weird that I used to live at the circus, but it's true. There was me, my mom and dad, and my brother. Our little family was called the flying Graysons, and we were famous for our closing act. That act was probably one of the most dangerous, because it was done without a safety net… but we were good, so it didn't much matter.

"When I was about seven or eight, maybe nine, we came to do a show here in Gotham. As you can see, I never left. There was a gang lord that the owner of our circus owed some money to. I remember hiding behind one of the tent flaps, watching the two of them bickering back and forth. The circus owner refused to pay any money. The gang lord left, but not without some violent threats. I guess I was scared, because I never talked to my mom and dad about it. I just went and got ready for our performance.

"Kori, you should've seen it. It was completely full in the big tent, and there were lights flashing and it was just the most exciting moment of my nine-year-old life. To say the least, I was too drunk with adrenaline to be thinking about the gang lord's threats. In fact, I was much more consumed by the rumors that the almighty Bruce Wayne had come to see our show. When it was our time to go up… everything went perfectly. I was a star, the youngest trapeze-artist out there.

"So I finished my part of the show and I was just standing up there on the platform when my parents went out to do the final act, with no safety net and all. It went smoothly at first, and then I heard the most sickening sound in the world," Richard paused, a slight shudder running through his body. Kori squeezed him tightly. "I heard it; there was someone cutting the ropes. I tried to find out where it was coming from, I swear, but I couldn't see anything with all those lights. And then I looked up to yell a warning to my parents but all I got out was this worthless little scream… 'cause they were already falling.

"I watched them die, Kori… both of them. And I heard them hit the ground… I-I saw their bodies break." Richard shook his head, eyes closed. "I guess one of the goons set the circus on fire, but I don't remember much other than getting down the ladder and running over to my mom and dad and looking into their eyes. That was the worst part, because you can't even pretend their alive when you see their eyes. It got really, really hot and I realized the tent was on fire and there were people screaming and crying, but I was just… lost. Everything seemed to be dim and unreal. That's when Bruce grabbed me. He literally grabbed me around the waist, hoisted me over one shoulder and left the circus without a word.

"It's hard to imagine Bruce having done that, but I guess fifteen years ago had him a little more daring and whatever… I remember screaming for my parents, and crying, and wanting to kill myself for being too late and too stupid to warn them. But that was that, and they were gone. Bruce made me his ward and I left what was left of the circus to move into Wayne Manor. About a week later they told me my brother had died in the fire," Richard fell silent. "The rest… well, I was kind of a crazy kid and being the heir to the Wayne fortune… you could pretty much look up the rest of my life in the Gotham Daily tabloids," Richard muttered bitterly.

"I never asked to be rich and famous, either. I don't give a damn about it, honestly. I'd rather have just had my parents live. It seems almost criminal that my life is in the lap of luxury now that their gone," he sighed and sucked in a deep breath. So now it was out, and the wounds felt raw again. Hell, it felt like someone had just poured a bottle of alcohol and shaken salt onto them. Richard heard Kori sniffle. "Kori?" he asked quietly. Kori looked up, trying to wipe away her tears.

"That's absolutely awful. How c-can you bear having seen them die?" she whispered. Richard's blue eyes became dark.

"I can't… couldn't. I can now. Because… because I think you actually understand," he propped himself up on his elbows so he could gently kiss her cheek, his lips taking the tears from her face. She hiccupped and clung to him.

"You're so amazing, Richard," she murmured, her head buried in his chest. Richard frowned. What? "You're such a great person, even though you went through all that… most people would become so cold and bitter to the world," she blubbered. Richard looked up towards the sky. He was cold and bitter towards the world… sort of… not anymore…

"Stop crying, Kori, you promised you wouldn't pity me," he said quietly.

"I don't pity you… I just… it must hurt so bad. I couldn't have even imagined…" she shook her head. They sat there, cradling one another and silently pouring out their understanding to one another, healing each other in the embrace. It would've continued for quite some time, but a raucous and disturbing pounding sounded at the door. Kori jumped in surprise and Richard quickly slid off the couch. The two quickly journeyed to the front door.

As Richard swung it open, Kori screamed. A thin, lanky young woman toppled through the door and collapsed on the foyer floor. Richard slammed the door shut behind her and knelt down beside her where Kori was already franticly brushing dirty hair from the girl's face. She was pale, almost ghostly looking. "Terra!" Kori gasped. Terra coughed and sputtered, blood dribbling from the corner of her mouth. Kori looked up at Richard wide-eyed. Terra shuddered, her eyes wild.

"K-Kori… I'm s-so sorry for what-what I've done," Terra rasped. Kori stroked the matted blonde hair back from her friend's face, a forgiving light in her eyes.

"Truly, it's fine Terra, but please… you're hurt, let's get you some help," Kori looked to Richard, asking him wordlessly to fetch help. Richard darted up and went to call 911.

"Kori, I d-don't have much time… it's pointless. I just… had to get to you and t-tell you. Carmen… she's going a-after you. Y-you and Grayson… she's going to strike at-at…" Terra took in a few rattling breaths and more blood slipped from her mouth. "The party…" she groaned and her eye glazed over. The girl let out a dying his of breath and went rigid. Kori dropped Terra's body and scrambled back in horror, stumbling back into Richard's arms. She twisted to face him, and his expression was grim.

"The police are coming. You can't go to that party now…" he said darkly. The hate in his eyes frightened Kori.

"Richard…"

"Damn your sister, Kori. Damn her!" he hissed, gripping her arm tightly. Kori flinched.

"Richard… no," she whispered back. Richard's eyes widened momentarily, and he let go of her arm. His gaze drifted to the dead body on the foyer floor.

Within a few minutes, wailing sirens announced the police had come. The barged through the door and the head officer let out a string of curses. Terra's hand had slid off of her chest, revealing a deep wound. Carmen had been vicious…

The officers were quick to remove the body and take pictures of the scene, collecting what meager data they could off of the body before hustling it off to the autopsy labs. From the look of Terra's blood-shot and crazed eyes, they thought she might have been drugged too. A policewoman approached Richard carefully. He reflexively held Kori closer to him.

"Mr. Grayson? Miss Anders? A word please…" she said. Her tone implied this was to be a private conversation. Richard led her warily into Bruce's office just off the foyer. He still refused to let Kori go. "Miss Anders, did this 'Terra' say anything to you before she passed on?" the officer asked, her tone cold and down to business.

"Yes… she said she was sorry for what she had done and she need to tell me… to tell me that Carmen was going to strike again. At the party tomorrow night," Kori said quietly, her eyes down-cast. Richard uttered a low noise, one which Kori thought suspiciously close to a growl. The officer nodded slowly.

"Miss Anders… if this information is correct, I believe there is a way for us to apprehend your sister. If you are willing," she said. "I'm no going to pressure you. It's admittedly very dangerous for you, considering what capabilities your sister has shown thus far. Mr. Grayson, this could also be a bit risky for you as well," the officer added. Kori locked eyes with the policewoman fearfully.

"Don't you DARE think about doing anything to endanger Kori," Richard snapped. Kori touched his arm gently.

"Tell me what needs to be done. I can't sit and let Carmen hurt more innocent people," she said, her voice wavering slightly. She had an inkling as to what would be asked of her, and off hand, playing bait for her vengeful sister was a rather terrifying notion.

Author's Note: Hehe, here's the next chappie! Tomorrow's chapter is the last one save the epilogue... wow, it's kind of sad to see this coming to an end, huh? Thank you for all of your support throughout the story, Lil lik Star, linkinparkh2over, pilzberrydoughfeak,xxterraxx, MyMonkeyIsOrange, rock'n'rollbitch, Social Butterfli, thugette,strodgfrgf, XxJeterxX, Freedom Dancer, and all of you others who have been so wonderful, thank you so much you all are great. I'm hoping to have my one-shots up here in a day or two, so please, please keep an eye out for them. And to all of you who have asked me to read their work, it's an honor that you want my opinions on your work and I promis I WILL look at all the pieces you've asked about, but it might take me a little time so please don't get offended if I haven't reviewed yet or something.

Titans News: Well, this is one of the last editions of titans news for this story... MyMonkeyIsOrange, thank you so much for the info! Everyone, the guy who does the voice of Cyborg has spoken and says their "might" be a r/s kiss but he's not supposed to say anything. I'm gonna take that as a 98 yes. For those of you asking about where I get my info, there are so many sites and sources I couldn't name OR remember them all. I get a lot from various forums and titans web pages and actual titans news websites as well as getting info from all of you. In fact, all of my movie infor has pretty much been given to me souly by reviewers :) I could try to find a couple of the URLs if you're really set on it, Pesche. Just let me know. I can't promise I'll find too many of them, though. (BTW, italian? that's cool. it's a fun word to say, too...lol...pesche, pesche... i like that!) Well, everyone keep your fingers crossed about Prophecy tomorrow. I REALLY don't need the r/r shippers going crazy right beforeStranded... they'll sort of dampen my spirits, you know? Oh, and if it turns out to be too r/r ish,then I will make sure to give you a one-shot that's all r/s goodness to help ease the evilness...

Chapter 18'sTeen Titans "Fun" Fact:

In the old comic series, Starfire was the first to make a move in her relationship withRobin. And at first, he denied his feelings. But then she was captured and her life was in dangered. Robin saved her and on the return trip home he admitted he did have feelingsfor her and wanted toenter into a more serious relationship butshe might find it hard due to his tendencies to act a little like the Bat... But we all know how that relationship went! Probably the most famous couple of the Teen Titans... and one that eventually resulted in a wedding and baby Nightstar (Mar'i Grayson) according to one of the various plot lines. Unfortunately, Kori died shortly after in that plot line and was unable to raise Mar'i. On top of that, Richard distanced himself from his daughter because she was such a haunting reminder of the woman he'd loved... and lost.