" Stupid bird boy." Walker thought. He has suspicions about Grayson, but since the University incident, he had been keeping a close eye on him. This was why he was discreetly parked in front of Wayne Enterprises, keeping tabs on every move he made.
There had been a rivalry between the two of them, dating back to childhood. Whatever Walker did in school, sports, relationships, Grayson was better. Walker gritted his teeth.
" Grayson," he hissed out. The poor orphan boy who was adopted by Bruce Wayne after a tragic family accident. He was handed the world on a silver platter. Ungrateful bastard. Walker had issues. He worked hard to excel in life, and overcome the hard life he was handed, but whatever he did was not good enough.
He had seen the way that Robin looked at the red haired babe, and smirked.
" Nicely done Grayson," he said out loud. With the intensity in Robin's eyes when the girl was in danger, it was obvious she was more than a stranger to him. He had watched Grayson date from the sidelines over the years and not once did he see him have that intensity.
He had been following Grayson more intensely, and saw that the girl, which he learned her name was Kori, and Grayson had been spending a lot of time together. He had watched them go to dinner together, he watched the way that they looked at each other. The intensity matched.
He laughed out loud. Stupid fool. Falling in love is dangerous. Richard made the mistake of loving her. The trail was obvious.
Walker had been been put in jail, but he could easily escape now. He had seen two friends, not friends, idiots, to try and get rid of Grayson. Walker had over estimated Grayson. He had put up a fight. But know Walker was done. He was tired of being second best. He had tried to join the Dynamic Duo, and change his reputation. If his set-up worked, then poor Gotham city would be with out Robin, but they would have a new hero.
Walker perked up as he watched Richard exit the building, and was handed keys to a shiny black car. Richard quickly, and smoothly entered the car and drove off. Walker started his car and followed.
Richard was not paying attention to his surroundings. He was following the familiar path to her apartment. He had rehearsed what he was going to say. It was going to take bravery, but he knew that she felt the same way. He enjoyed their relationship, but he knew they could be more. He loved her. Passionately. Fiercely. He wanted to plan for the future. He told her he was in this for the long term, but he wanted to show her. He smiled as he thought about the black box in his pocket.
When his parents passed, the only things he had were family heirlooms. His family was poor. The bracelet that his father had given his mother was one of the only things that survived. Her wedding ring has survived, but Richard thought giving her a ring would have been to forward, so that was safely in his room. The bracelet however was simple. He wanted her to know he cared.
He pulled into her parking lot, took a deep breath, and headed up to get her.
Forty-five minutes later they were in a booth of an Italian restaurant. The conversation was light, and they were both glowing. Richard wanted to give it to her over dessert. He knew that in a little while he was about to hopefully take their relationship to the next level.
Kori placed her hand on his. She smiled at him.
" This has been so much fun." She said. That smile of her made his heart flip. Richard took a deep breath,
" Kori, I want to talk to you about something." She gave him a puzzled look. He continued, " I think that you are well aware of my past." she nodded her head, " You know that I have been called a 'womanizer' and 'playboy' but I wanted to let you know that was an old Richard. I have grown up since then, and I want you to know how much I care." Kori blushed.
" I am aware that in the past you have been promiscuous in your relationships, but I have never thought that you were like that since we have met."
" Good, because I want to tell you something." He leaned closer to her. They both knew what was coming, they felt it. Their hearts were full and both of them were trembling. " Kori, I-" and then a gunshot went off outside.
The entire restaurant went into chaos. Some were hiding under tables, some jumped up and wanted to escape through the kitchen.
Kori's eyes were wide, and Richard cursed.
" Stay here, I am going to call the authorities." He said as he stood up, and put his hands on her shoulders.
" Richard, please-"
" Don't worry about me, I am just going to help the police. I've done this before." He have her a small smile, and a little bit of tension released. " Stay here, and make sure no one leaves. I know you can do that." She nodded.
Richard ran out, grateful that he wore his suit underneath his clothes. Alfred had made a way the make the suit fit perfectly under a suit, cape and all. As Richard slipped on his mask and transformed into Robin, he saw across the street, a body. The police were surrounding it.
" Robin!" An officer yelled, " Bat Man took off that way!" He said pointing north. Robin gave him a salute and took off.
Kori stood up, and decided to make sure that people were okay. The police had come in and told them that the killer had moved on, and told them that the scene had to be cleared before they could leave.
There was a man, in a baseball cap sitting alone at a table. She walked up,
" How are you sir?" She asked kindly.
" A little shaken." A voice said form underneath the hat.
" I understand," she gave a smile, " Gotham can be frightening, but I am sure that Bat Man and Robin will take care of it, they are probably already taking care of it." She put her hand on the mans, trying to be comforting.
" That's the plan." The voice said as he grabbed her wrist and looked up. Kori was about to let out a scream, when the man quickly stood up and got behind her and whispered in her ear.
" You scream and every one in here dies." He took her arm and put it behind her, pushing her through the kitchen. As they made their way through the back door, he spoke again. " You are going to get in this car, and you make one sound, I use this." He pushed a gun up against her. There was a car waiting and ready to go.
" You got her Walker?" The man said, Kori could not clearly see his face. As Walker pushed her into the back, he followed her in, gun still in her direction.
" Of course." Walker gave a dark smile. Kori was shaking, and dizzy. She was terrified. She was trying to think of what move to make. In the middle of making a plan, she felt a force against her head, and she blacked out.
Bat Man and Robin were searching for the culprit. They were not having any luck. Whoever shot the man was fast.
" I think we need to split up." Bat Man said. " You take east, I'll take west. " Robin did not nod or say anything. He left quickly. He wanted to get back to Kori. He knew that cleaning up would take time so she would be in the restaurant for a while. He was planning his excuse, when he saw a shadow move. He followed the shadow, which led into a building across the street.
Kori woke up groggy. She did not know where she was, or what happened. The abduction flashed through her head. She was wide awake now, and searched around.
" You are stronger than you look." She heard a voice say. She looked up, and saw the face of Walker. She looked around and say that she was tied to a bed. There was a rope around her wrists that were then tied around a bedpost. Her arms were sore when she woke up, and now she knew why. She sat up straighter to give her arms more support. " You are probably wondering why you are here." Walker said walking closer.
" Yes." She said, mustering up her strength, to sound unafraid.
" You made a dangerous move." He said, smiling at her. But the smile did not reach his eyes.
"Which is?" She questioned. Walker laughed.
" I see why you are so attractive to him!" He laughed more. Kori was confused. " You see, in about two minutes, your boyfriend is going to enter this room, and he is not going to walk out of it."
" Richard." She gasped. Walker laughed louder.
" That's the beauty of it." He said, touching her face. She shuddered under his touch, but she could not move. " You have no idea."
" No idea of what?"
" You'll see." He said moving closer. She felt her stomach drop. She wanted him to stop. She took a breath, and with the strength she had, she kicked him in the stomach. Walker gave a grunt as he fell back.
" You stupid-" He started until a man ran in the room breathless. It was the same man who was driving the car.
" He saw me." He heaved. " Almost, here." He said. Walker turned to look at Kori.
" You are going to pay for that." As soon as the words left his mouth, the door burst open.
Robin's eyes went straight to walker. Anger filled him. He was about to say something, until he followed Walker's eyes across the room. He let out a gasp. Kori was tied up, her hair was messed up, her face looked worn, and her eyes were wide and afraid. Walker laughed.
" You made it all to easy Robin." Walker said, walking towards to bed. Robin took a step, but Walker was one step ahead and pulled out a gun. Robin froze. " You see, superheroes who have enemies, can't love." Robin felt a rock in his stomach. " I asked if I could be a good guy. I asked if you would let me try and help." Walker stroked Kori's cheek. She jerked away, and Walker slapped her. Robin let out a hiss. Walker continued, " You always had to be one step ahead of me. Better than me. I hate you for that." Walker took Kori's face and pointed it toward Robin's.
" Don't you dare hurt her." Robin said furiously. He was shaking with anger. He dare not move, in case Kori would get hurt.
" Oh Grayson, I'm not going to hurt her." Kori looked confused and Walker laughed more. " You are going to tell her your secret, and I am going to make her watch, as I kill you."
" No!" Kori let out.
" Grayson, take of your mask." Walker said. Robin slowly took his mask off, revealing the face of Richard Grayson. " Now you know his secret." Walker said to Kori. Kori looked at Richard, with her eyes full of emotion. Walker stood up and put his gun down. "Here is how this is going to work. You are going to die Grayson, and I am going to look like the hero. You were too late to save this helpless girl. But Walker stepped up, and took the bad guy down."
" I see your plan, but who is the bad guy that you took down." Richard asked. Walker picked up his gun, and shot the accomplice straight in the head. Kori shrieked as the body crumpled. Robin cursed. " You heartless-"
" Now all I have to do, is kill you." Walked pointed his gun as Richard. " I would love to do something more dramatic than just shooting you, but I'm not a patient man."
Richard was grateful for the knife that was tucked in his belt. Walker had almost a fool proof plan. Richard looked unarmed, but Walker was dumb enough to not check. Richard knew that it would have to be fast, and his aim would have to be perfect. Walker kept talking, dragging it out. That was his undoing. If Walker had just shot him, then this would have been over. Richard looked at Kori out of the corner of his eyes. She was staring at him. He couldn't read what her face was saying, but he would have to figure out after. Richard heard that Walker was still talking, so his mentally counted to three.