Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Teen Titans.
Richard's POV
"Can I have two dozen?" Richard grabbed his wallet waiting for the street merchant to tell him the price.
"Twenty bucks." he smiled back and thanked Richard for his business.
Richard drove in his SUV for a good twenty minutes until he came across a gated sacred ground. He exited his vehicle and walked through the entranceway, passing countless memorial stones as he traveled to them.
The air held such a placid eminence that he was thankful, for it was something he desired at the moment. But then he came across it, it had been so long since he was last here. He sat down Indian-style and closed his eyes pondering for a bit.
"I brought you all something." The sound of the crinkling clear wrapper ricocheted across the memorial as he placed the floral adornment on the ground gently.
"It's been awhile, huh? Don't think for a second that I've forgotten you…I never would." his forlorn sigh made it evident that his mind was at a crossroad.
"You know, I never quite understood what you meant about love. How could I…I was only ten." he chuckled lightly. "But it all makes sense to me now. How you said it was the very fabric in life that keeps you sane and as one but at the same time it could break you whole."
"Well I think I might be broken."
"I did something stupid…really stupid. And I think I'll pay for it for the rest of my life."
"If you could only tell me what to do right now because…I'm lost without her." Richard grabbed at his hair in his despondent search for an answer.
Richard went to grab at his wallet once again only this time he pulled out a picture. He smiled briefly at it and turned it to face the momentous headstone. "Her name is Kori. She's beautiful, isn't she? But her real beauty is deep within. We had it taken on our first date." He looked at it before replacing it back into his wallet.
"Well I just thought you'd like to see who I was talking about." At that absolute minute Richard squinted and looked above as he felt the light drops of water falling upon his face.
"Typical." he muttered and began rising from his position but stopped surprisingly. He caressed the cold feel of the granite hoping his words were heard by their mystical ears. He went to give a thoughtful kiss to the feminine moniker before departing.
John Grayson Mary Grayson
1966-19991968-1999
Together in love, together in life, and together in spirit
Kori's POV
"Answer…please…" Kori begged quietly. It was the end of the school day and she grew worried with every passing second. She had rang Richard's cell phone five times before now, during and after classes, but with no reply. In an effort to rectify things, she was planning on traveling to his home in hopes of talking things through. She got into her car and as she called his phone again, she gripped her fingers letting loose her frustration on the unfortunate leather steering wheel.
In all fairness, she had no reason to be angry. It was after all her fault, she didn't give him a chance to explain himself…again. He still wanted her and wanted to repair what shattered hope they still had. She didn't deserve him, she knew it but she'd be damned if that was going to stop her for a chance at finally being happy.
Concern rose when Kori arrived at Wayne Manor and found Richard's car not parked in its usual space. But that wouldn't stop her determined heart and she made her way up to the door. In a timely manner the door opened as Alfred proceeded to greet her.
"Hello Alfred."
"Miss Anders, it is very fortunate to see you again. How may I assist you?"
"Thank you but I just need to know if Richard is here?"
"Why no Madam he is not. He hasn't arrived home from the academy as of yet."
"I see…that is all I needed to know. Thank you, Alfred."
"Good day, Ms. Anders."
Deterred, she sat back into her car and drove home. Where could you be? Where could you be? And you still don't answer my calls. The sound of her phone began playing its tune and she made a grab for it, hoping Richard was on the other end.
"Hello?"
"Hey Vic. What's up?"
"What!"
"What do you mean…what's wrong with him?"
"Well where is he…" she questioned, "the hospital? Which one?"
"So you mean we can't see him right now?" she asked making a right turn. "Tomorrow!"
"I knew it. I knew something was wrong with him."
"Of course I'm going to visit him. I know…I know. He's a strong guy, I'll know he'll be fine."
"No. I'm on my way home right now. I've been calling him but he hasn't answered my calls." she stated remorsefully. "Yes, I know it was stupid of me to think that way but how can I tell him that if he wont speak to me?"
"Alright…yeah I'll talk to you later." she hung up before throwing her phone to the passenger side seat.
Kori arrived home in a matter of minutes. Galfore, who was standing out in the front lawn, conversed with Helena as he spotted Kori getting out of her car.
"So dear Kori, how was school today?"
"Fine." she said dully dragging herself inside with a minor depressed look to her.
"Do you wish to…"
"No. Thanks." she answered flatly already knowing what his question was.
She quickly changed into some comfort clothes fully aware she wouldn't be going anywhere else that Friday night. She laid on her bed and stared at her cordless phone. She decided she'd try one last time to phone him…
Bab's POV
"Roy and Garth are on their way here." Richard informed putting his phone back into the base set.
"Well I hope they hurry, the movie is going to start in thirty minutes. It will take that long to get there." Babs complained.
"Just as long as we get home early." Babs looked at him confusedly.
"Garth's swim meet is tomorrow and he said he needs his rest." Richard reminded her. Babs nodded but soon began coughing madly grabbing at her throat. "You alright?" Richard asked.
"Yeah I think I just need some water." her hoarse voiced sounded.
"Coming up. Besides I need to go to my car. Can you believe I've had my phone in there all this time?" he chuckled lightly, turning away. "I'll be back with your water." After seeing Richard head out the door, she couldn't help but smile with him in mind. That's one thing I always loved about you, Dick. Your thoughtfulness…maybe there still is a chance for us. Kori doesn't understand you. We've known each other for so long and we've grown together as well…and I will show you we deserve each other.
Just then, almost as an forewarn omen, his bedroom phone rang. Babs jumped at the abrupt ring but being how it wasn't her call, she decided to let the machine pick it up…
"Richard…Richard please pick up the phone. I'm so sorry…please if you're there pick up the phone. I know you're angry with me and with very good reason but I really want, no I need to talk to you. I still love you…if we could just talk. I guess you're not there but when you get this could you call me. I love you…and I miss you."
Babs narrowed her eyes at the machine almost blaming it for Kori's message. She stared to the door making sure no one was around. On impulse, she lifted her finger to the red button and pressed it. 'Message deleted' announced the mechanical voice. Only moments later Richard peeked his head into his bedroom, "Hey!" he shouted shocking his friend out of her spot, insuring her a near heart attack. "Come on, they're here." She sighed graciously, relieved he hadn't caught her in the middle of her ruse.
"Coming." she called after him leaving his bedroom.
Ryan's POV
"What the hell are you talking about? Are you crazy!" Ryan shouted through the receiver of the phone, pacing around the living room like a madman.
"You get your ass back here now!" he yelled the most his voice would let him.
"Koma…Koma!" but the sound of the dial tone was heard indicating she was no longer on the other end. "Damn it." He turned to the stairs as he heard footsteps storming down.
"Ryan what's wrong? I heard you all the way upstairs."
"Your sister, Koma, just called me so I could congratulate her. She, in all her drunken infinite wisdom, just flew to Reno and eloped!"
"What?" Kori chuckled.
"With some jackass she just met at a some damn nightclub!" Ryan continued his shouting lacking the ability to maintain his composure. He gawked at Kori's nonstop laugher…
"You think this is funny?" he questioned running his hand through his short red locks.
"Hell yes. Good riddance, Koma."
"Jesus. What is happening to this family?" Kori merely rolled her eyes, crossing her arms playfully.
"Nothing is happening to us Ryan. We're just growing up. She's a big girl and like a big girl, she's going to do whatever the heck she wants. Don't lose sleep over this. When this doesn't work out, and it won't…we all know you'll be there for her, just like Dad always was." Kori guaranteed him and strutted herself back up the stairs and to her room.
Ryan took a seat on the living room couch resting his elbows on his knees. Ever since his father passed, so much pressure had built up on him. Like a ton of bricks, it was weighing him down. First his grades began slipping, and Terra, then his father's business needed him and now his family life was in peril. He exhaled letting out a tired groan, trying hard to clear his mind. After weeks of contemplation, he decided now was the best time to do this. He scouted through the list of numbers on his phone…
"Mr. Brenner, yes this is Ryan Anders. Yes, thank you. Listen I've been thinking alot about what you said and well I think it's finally time."
Cambridge's POV
The physician went over Xavier's medical records one last time, making sure he didn't miss anything. He shook his head disapprovingly and began his way to Mr. Redd. As he suspected, Cambridge stood just outside of his son's room conversing with a potential client on the phone. He ceased his call and looked intently at the doctor who was responsible for monitoring X's condition.
"Mr. Redd, I am Dr. Daniels." he extended his arm to shake Mr. Redd's hand. But then he quickly got straight to the point at hand.
"It appears that my records show we found large traces of Xynothium in your son's blood. Luckily we were able to give him a dose of as it counteracted the fatal effects of this drug. Although, he will still need to recuperate for a couple of days."
"Pardon me…but what exactly is Xynothium?" he asked acting ingenuously.
But this physician narrowed his eyes in offense. He knew Cambridge all too well, he was a ruthless man who harbored corrupt morals. "It is a rather powerful, dangerous and highly unstable steroid, Sir."
"My son does not take steroids, Dr. Daniels. Clearly your findings are wrong and inconclusive." he barked in a more of a 'no one will find out about this' sense.
"Mr. Redd, I can assure you my readings are not of questionable nature. These tests are precise and accurate. Also this drug is a very rare and very expensive one…how he was able to acquire it amazes even me. Might you have an idea as to how he was able to get his hands on it?" he gave Cambridge a skeptical tone and an unfavorable eye.
"What exactly are you implying doctor?" Cambridge warned, knowing he was the butt of his insinuation. But he knew nothing would come of his implication, his company had donated quite a large sum of money to this hospital over time. And Dr. Daniels knew this…
"Nothing at all, Sir. If you'll excuse me." he glowered before heading the opposite direction, upset with himself at his own cowering ethics.
Cambridge's sneering eyes followed Dr. Daniels until he turned the corner. But then they caught sight of something that bothered him even more. His sneering eyes quickly turned into slits as he stared down the woman at the nurses station. He'd recognize her anywhere…her raven hair, her hazel eyes, her slim body and her voice…
"Could you please tell me Xavier Redd's room number? I was told he was in this department."
"Your relation to the patient?" the nurse inquired bored stiff.
"I'm his mother." she answered speedily.
Kori's POV
The next day Kori woke up a little late into the morning. With a hint of gloominess, she lifted herself out of the bed and headed straight into the shower. Feeling the warmth of the hard water gave her body an exhilarating experience. Her mind drifted off to the thoughts of yesterday. Richard had never called her back and Xavier was still in the hospital. If only the warm liquid could extract her problems out of her psyche. After enduring fifteen minutes of a much needed treatment, she quickly dried herself off and prepared for the day.
First thing was first and she was going to visit X at the hospital. She prayed that he was in good health and this was nothing but a flu or something not detrimental. She searched her walk-in closet and scoured for something to wear. Ultimately she decided on comfortable but snug dress denim jeans. She coordinated it with Xavier's favorite shirt, which was a black tight sleeveless top with a bulky red 'X' adorned in the middle that stopped just below her navel. She wanted to at least try to boost his spirits with her attire. She finished putting on her beaded black open toe sandals and headed downstairs with her belongings, blowing her side swept bangs out of her face.
"Ms. Anders, would you like breakfast this morning?" Helena asked.
"No, thank you. I'm already late for meeting Xavier today. I'll just pick something up later." she smiled generously at her and left to her retrieve her car.
She quickly rode to the hospital and made her way to the information desk. After a series of stops from nurses to security desks, she found her way to Xavier's room. Immediately she found Cambridge but saw that he was in a heated discussion with an attractive woman. She remained in place as she guiltily listened to their sophisticated quarrel.
Ava's POV
"The decision has been made…now leave me alone."
"Listen to me, you bitch. I buy people like you all the time. You may think you're a high rise judge now but lets not forget, I know what you really are…a filthy whore."
"You just stay away from me and stay away from my son!" she seethed menacingly before heading toward her destination…
"Ava?" he warned immediately seeing her face him.
"When all this is over, my son will come back to me. He'll know that everything I did was out of my love for him."
"You're a sick bastard." Cambridge's uncouth smirk sent an sinister quiver down her spine making her aversion for him presently known. He turned after contently feeding off her defenseless state and continued down the corridor adjusting his tie, satisfied with himself.
Ava held nothing but regrets when it came to Cambridge. All but one, and as much as she loved Xavier within the pits of her soul, he was a dead ringer for his father. After receiving a call about Xavier's illness from one of the physicians, she took a midnight flight to Gotham City to be by his side. After the doctors were able to revive him, the mother and son had a good talk…a long good talk. After she was ordered out of the room so X could rest up a bit, she'd been confronted by Cambridge. However, Ava was broken of her thoughts after hearing a sweetly voice…
"Excuse me?" Ava turned her head to see an enchanting redhead calling to her.
"Yes?" she answered.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't help but overhear, are you Xavier Redd's mother?" the girl asked rather surprised.
"Yes…yes I am." she grinned happily. The girl's friendly smile shone freely as Ava wondered how she knew her.
"Hi. I'm Kori Anders." she went to shake her hand.
"Kori…oh, yes. Xavier has spoken of you a great deal. I'm Ava Xavier." Kori raised an eyebrow at her name. "Yes, I named him after me. I wanted him to at least have something of mine."
Kori grinned at the thought. "How is he? Can I see him?"
"Well he's had quite a few visitors today and he's a little tired. But something tells me he wouldn't mind seeing you one bit. Come on." Ava joined hands with Kori and led her to his medical room. They turned a corner down the corridor and she lightly knocked on his door.
"Yeah?" he said wearily.
"Go ahead sweetheart."
Kori's POV
Kori opened the door anxiously unsure of what to expect as Xavier gradually came into view. He was resting in the medical bed in an inclined position, with his eyes peacefully closed. If it wasn't for the medical gown he was masked in, she would have thought he seemed in perfect health. She stood there absentminded about what to do next.
"So is the time right?" At the pleasing song of her voice, he quickly sprang his tired eyes open and gazed back with shock at her even standing there but alleviated some when he saw her smiling back at him.
"Cutie, you always did seem to have impeccable timing. Haha…my shirt." he laughed but refrained after feeling at his sore throat. He noticed how she shuffled with some things behind her back. "And what do we have behind our little backs?" he pointed mischievously towards her back.
"Oh, just some things I brought for you. I thought you could use them." she presented her hands to him to reveal her purple ipod along with his favorite maker of racing magazines. "For your reading pleasure…" she handed him the literature, "and for your listening pleasure." she said handing him her musical device. "I went ahead and downloaded some 'Pink Floyd' and 'The Doors' music for you."
He scoped at her with an amazed stare. "You didn't have to do all of this, Kori."
"Yeah…yeah I did." she whispered promisingly as she edged closer to his bed.
"So I met your mother. She seems really nice." she said as she seated herself in the available chair.
"Ironically, she is. All this time I spent hating her, I never really did. I just blamed her for a lot of my problems. That everything wrong in my life was somehow her fault. I guess it was easier to hate her than to hate myself."
"You mean your father?" Xavier's nod was a sufficient answer.
"Growing up he always made me believe she was no one. Just someone who didn't want me since the day I was born. And since he was my father, I deserved to go with him. Who would of known he would have made my life a living hell."
"He doesn't deserve you, Xavier. All these years he's tried to make you feel inferior when in reality, he is the inferior one." she advised. He stared out the hospital window in wonderment. To her he seemed like a blind man, one who had never seen a day of color in his life, trying hard to grasp the concept of a rainbow. And her heart went out to him.
"So how about telling me why you're really here?" she continued.
"That's not important."
"It's important to me!" she didn't mean to sound quite so loud. She relaxed a bit, "Please tell me."
"I…uh…I've been jui…cing…myself up." he stuttered hoping she didn't quite catch all of it.
"What?" she shook her head not understanding what he meant.
"I've been juicing, Kori." he admitted flatly.
"Juicing?" she tilted her head in a confused motion.
"Steroids."
After seeing her heartbreaking gasp and her near teary eyes, he quickly regretted his confession. "Kori…Kori don't. Don't cry." he pointed a fatherly finger at her.
"Why…why would you do something like that? Don't you know how dangerous it is?" she informed him, her maternal disposition gracing the air.
"I'm fine Kori. I really am."
"Fine! Look around X, you're in a damn hospital. You are far from fine. You almost died!"
"Don't! Don't you lecture me too. I've already heard this bullshit from everyone and I don't need it from you!" he yelled in anger.
She looked down at the ground, taking in the outburst directed at her. The last thing she wanted was for him to isolate himself from her or anyone.
"I just…I've lost too many people already. And I don't want to lose one of my closest friends, Xavier." He looked over to her with remorse and frowned.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you. This drug…it just makes me go into these rages. I didn't mean it."
"I know, I understand." she paused for a second. "You just have to know that we care about you. Me, your friends, your mother…your father…" Xavier's sudden scoff made her stop speaking.
"My father…who do you think gave me the fucking steroid, cutie."
"What? Your father did this too you. Why? Why did you let him?"
"I didn't have much of a choice in the matter."
"Oh my God. How could he do something like this, to his own son?"
"Simple. Because he's a son of a bitch."
"Don't forget bastard." she reminded him. Xavier stared with astonishment at her recent naughty vocabulary.
"Sorry." she muttered. "But you can't stay with someone like him, X. It's not safe."
"I know…which is why I'm moving to Seattle."
Bee + Vic's POV
"Look Bee for the last time I don't need a map to see where we're at." he furrowed his eyebrows glaring at the road ahead.
"Then where the hell are we Sparks?"
"We're in that place that…you know…that place." he said unsurely.
"Well refresh my memory, will ya." she said looking directly at him with her arms crossed.
"This would of never happened if you hadn't given me the wrong directions."
"Wrong directions? I said turn left right now!" she defended herself.
"No you said turn left, then right, now!" he corrected her. Provocation was already rising in his throbbing mind.
"You lying bald mofu."
"You're the one lying, you over critical…" but he stopped.
"What? Come on say it." she challenged. But Vic kept quiet. He never meant anything he said to her and she knew it.
"Ugh…women." he choose to say instead.
"Pigs." she rebuked.
"Wha…dah…did you just call me a pig?" he shrieked irate.
"No baby…I called every man in general a pig."
"That's it…that's it!" she looked over to Vic with an attitude scowl.
"Maybe we ought to rethink this relationship. Cause all you do is tell me shit all the time. And I'm sick of it, woman!"
"Yeah well…all you do is leave me to clean up the mess you get us into." she bit right back at him.
"Oh…yeah!" he countered.
"Yeah!" she shouted.
Stillness. Quietness. Silence. Nothing was said just an angry man behind a wheel who took his frustrations out on the road, while the woman next to him sat infuriated with arms madly crossed. It had been ten minutes later and none had given in yet, only the sound of the radio played. They couldn't take it anymore…
"I love you baby!" they shouted simultaneously. Vic stopped the car on the side of the road and began kissing Bee's hand as a sign of forgiveness. She grabbed him and initiated a kiss usually being the forceful one. He looked around the deserted road and raised an eyebrow wickedly.
"Why the hell you staring at me like that?" she asked.
"So miss I ain't scared to do anything, what about the side of the road?" he said with a mischievous grin.
"Pig…" she slapped him across the forehead. Vic looked at her disappointedly.
"Well hurry up…I ain't got all day." she smirked back. Vic quickly began undoing his shirt grinning happily.
They were in the middle of a romantic interaction when the unknowingly flashing lights appeared in the rearview mirror. Several seconds later they heard a light tap on the driver side window. Unexpectedly they began shuffling away from each other at the sound of the knock.
"Hey your car was pulled over, need any…holy shit!" the officer yelled as he caught the lovebirds in a compromising position.
Xavier's POV
A half an hour later, Kori laid next to him on his hospital bed as they scanned the pages of his racing magazine. At first they were laughing their heads off until just now where it was unmusically quiet. Xavier kept his gaze on the print and pictures of his publication until he saw a clear wet drop fall onto the page. This could have only meant one thing…
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing. Nothing is wrong."
"I was honest with you Kori, why don't you try being honest with me?"
"I just feel so selfish for wanting you to stay. I mean why does everyone always end up leaving me?" she sniveled quietly.
"No one's leaving you. If I could stay I would but..."
"I know. I'm sorry." Why did she have to effect him like this. Only she could do this to him, hate himself for hurting someone. His scruples had been eating away at him with a vicious appetite. Once he was gone, he'd need someone to look after her. And as much as he'd hate to admit it, Grayson excelled at it.
"Look, I'll be leaving soon but I can't go without telling you something first."
"What?" she sniffled.
He stared into her eyes, which made what he had to tell her even more difficult. Do it…she deserves to know this.
"Uh…remember the night of your party?" she signaled a nod and he continued. "Well Kitten told me something about that. You see," he exhaled loudly not sure how to say this, "she told me this Monday that she…um…she kinda gave Grayson something to knock him out cold." he stuttered.
"What!" she jolted her head in disbelief. "What do you mean, she drugged him?"
"Yeah. Something like that. I had nothing to do with it. She just told me. I swear."
"You've known since Monday and you're just barely telling me this!"
"I didn't believe her…him."
"How could you do that? How could you deliberately not tell me?" she reproached.
"It was a mistake and I should have told you sooner. I'm sorry!"
"You're sorry…"
"God Kori. You really don't get it do you?"
"Get what?"
"I was losing you…because of him. I regret it now but I just wanted so much to believe he didn't deserve you. That he couldn't really love you like I did. That he was not better at loving you than I was."
"Wait X…"
"And then I find out that bitch actually drugged him and he never really did hurt you. He never intended for any of this crazy shit to happen because he wouldn't hurt you."
"Jesus. I told him so many mean things. He was right all along, I didn't trust him and he never really did cheat on me." she realized bringing her hand to her mouth in foolishness, although secretly she breathed a huge sigh of relief.
"So, you see, in the end he is the good guy who does love you…so where does that leave me?" Kori gazed at his melancholic grimace and went to embrace him in a sympathetic hug.
"Xavier you know you'll always hold a special place deep in my heart."
"But I won't hold the key…yeah I got that." Despite his loss, he grinned to her happy to have finally rid his conscious of this guarded affair. The knock at the door brought them out of their reverie. In came a male nurse with some supplies.
"I'm sorry but it's time for you sponge bath." he interrupted.
Kori laughed at the idea of X receiving a sponge bath from a male counterpart. She just knew him to damn well. "I'll come back tomorrow. You'll need your rest after this." she winked.
"Be careful alright." she gave him a quick platonic kiss before leaving out the door. Xavier waved a friendly goodbye, already missing her.
"She's cute." said the male nurse.
"She's alot more than that." X smiled. Quickly the nurse began reaching for his cloth and merely touched X's flesh.
"Watch the hands, Liberace." he scolded slightly, not wanting the nurse to get the wrong idea. The male nurse simply rolled his eyes…why do I always get these guys?
Alright guys...sorry I took so long to update. But here is the next chapter, I hope it was alright. As for the Vic + Bee situation, I mean come on who hasn't gotten caught by the cops while making whoopee. looks round and sees no one raising their hands...I sweatdrop And as for X, he told Kori the truth so come on you gotta love the guy. What about Richard and Kori...next chapter of course.