Helloohhh! Chapter 20 (what a big number! A ''2'' with a big fat zero next to it…anyhow…)
Chapter 20…geeze, hope it'll be a good chappie loll! Enjoy, en most emportantly, review please:) I tried to make it a really special and important chapter. Yay!
Disclaimer: I don't own them!! (the TT)
Enjoy.
For the second time in one day, Kori woke up wondering where she was. When she opened her eyes and gazed up at a white ceiling she knew that she was lying down somewhere in her apartment. The last thing she remembered was Richard's hand covering her mouth.
Then she remembered where Xavier was.
In jail…the slammer.
But she didn't feel like thinking about things that would suck all her energy and good mood away. She felt like believing George when he said that Xavier was the one, just because she wanted this nightmare to be over.
On the other hand, she didn't want Xavier to be the alleged stalker. How could one of her best friends to that?
Not wanting to think about that subject, she hit her head several times on the soft surface that she was lying on repeating: ''Stupid, stupid, stupid…'' She then heard a loud snore, but didn't pay much attention to it.
Her and her crazy imagination!
Rolling to the side, she blindly looked for some more area to lay her frail, tired body but instead, she fell on another soft surface…not exactly comfortable though… Still extremely tired, her eyes still closed, she examined the surface she was on, moaning.
Some parts were soft, some hard… And since when does my bed go up and d—Her eyes widened as she looked down and spotted an amused Richard Grayson staring at her. Her long red hair fell on his shoulders and surrounded them like a curtain of fire.
''You just can't keep your hands off me, hun?'' he said, still lying beneath her. ''Really Kori, you should stop—''
''Oh please Richard,'' she cut him off, trying to get off Richard who was lying on the floor. But he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her closer to him. She tried to get up but he was too strong. Duh. ''I don't crawl all over you so just give it a break Richard!'' she said, trying to get him to let her go.
He raised a sexy eyebrow. Damn eyebrow… ''Oh yeah? First you faint and literally fall in my arms. Then you examine my upper body. I know I'm irresistible but gosh Kori!'' he teased. He tightened his grip.
Kori rolled her eyes. ''First of all, mister Grayson, when I fainted I would have landed in anybody else's arms if I had the choice, but you were following me. So it is your fault.''
''My fault?'' he asked surprised. ''You were the one running away like a crazed chicken. Don't forget that I live here too, so it's normal that I would have been making my way here. Later, I put you here, I checked your apartment…I saw some really nice paintings. You like the water, hun?'' he said, commenting about her sunset paintings, oceans…
''Thanks for the compliments and yes; I do like water. But—''
''So you're a good swimmer I suppose.''
''Uhh… No. I swam once but never touched the water again.'' Richard waited for an explanation. Kori understood. ''A friend drowned. So…umm..yeah…'' she finished.
She tried to look away, but she couldn't. She just kept on staring into those sapphire eyes. She had never seen anything as gorgeous as those. She finally succeeded to look away. But Richard couldn't take his eyes off her.
''Can't get your eyes off me, hun Richard?''
''Didn't you ever try to keep those hormones under control?'' a sexy smiled tugged the edge of his lips.
Kori rolled to the side and ended up on the bottom. It still didn't help her present situation since Richard still had her pinned to the floor holing her arms and trying not to fall on her.
''Maybe I'm the irresistible one.'' She said, smiling.
''You sure about that?'' he said approaching his face to hers, flirting.
Trying really hard not to smile she tried to look away but couldn't. The only thing that she could look at was that face…Richard's damn good looking face. Staring down at the red head goddess he pressed his lips against hers without any permission.
Kori thought about pushing him away but she just responded as passionately. It wasn't the time for her to be all confused. When she kissed Richard there was so much more than with Xavier… She could feel it; she just hoped that Richard could feel it too…
From his chest, she snaked her hands up to his neck and played with the tip of his hair. Then snaked her fingers through his jet-black spikes. And that drove him crazy.
Their lips still locked, he pushed her fiery red hair out of her face and gently picked her up. She just stayed hanging there, in his arms, holding him close to her. She knew that no one could ever hurt her now, because she felt safe.
Kori pulled her lips away, ending the kiss. But Richard wasn't finished yet since he glued his lips back on hers, hoping they would stay stuck like this forever.
Where was his crazy glue when he needed it the most?
He picked her up and after pulling away he took her hand. ''I want to show you something.''
--
Opening an opaque door, Richard led her inside. Kori narrowed her eyes, trying to identify something. Letting his hand go, she walked bare foot on the concrete floor and suddenly felt a small plastic surface.
She hesitated and took another step forward before realizing that nothing was there; she only has the time to feel cold water at the tip of her foot before Richard caught her, his arms tightly around her waist. She looked at him with a puzzled look. Then he pressed on a small button a many little lights lit the large indoor pool in front of Kori.
She stared up at Richard. ''What are we doing here?'' she asked. He knew how much she didn't appreciate this.
He grabbed her shoulders softly and shook her gently as if trying to wake her up. ''You've got to overcome this. Come on Kori. You've got nothing to loose.''
She could still see his icy blue eyes even if they were standing in complete darkness. Then pushing him away, she made her way towards the door. But Richard quickly grabbed Kori by the waist and lifted her up. When he arrived at the edge of the pool, a screaming Kori begged him not to drop her.
…too late!
Richard didn't even regret it. She knew she wouldn't get mad… she couldn't get mad! Not at HIM!
He dived in after her and when he hit the water he didn't hear anything. It was the same peaceful sound as he could remember when he was a child. He wanted Kori to experience that, especially during this difficult part of her life.
Still under water, Kori stared at Richard. She was surprised and shocked. But it wasn't as bad as she thought.
Bad memories flooded her mind once more, but she knew it would be the last time.
Giving herself a push, she swam over to Richard and gave him an underwater-hug. He pushed her floating hair away and wrapped his arms around her as he brought her to the surface.
Kori clothes were sticking tightly on her skin revealing her curves and Richard's hair fell on his face. He took off his shirt, took a deep breath and dived in once again. Kori followed him down.
For those few moments, she finally felt happy.
Once she caught up to him, he grabbed her waist and pulled her to him. To Kori, she felt as if they were slow dancing in a silent slow-motion world. She couldn't ask for more. She closed her eyes and smiled as she laid her head on his shoulder as they sunk to the bottom.
She looked at his sapphire as that seemed to match the blue water, and she pressed her lips against his.
Their worlds collided once again.
If they would die together, it would be here; like this.
Now she knew that it was safe to let it all out, to scream, to cry. Tears formed in the corner of her eyes but quickly joined the rest of the water surrounding them. Even though her tears would be lost forever in this pool, she knew that she left a piece of herself in this place… in this very important place.
Suddenly, she heard something heavy hit the water. They pulled away. Not even having the time to spot what she has looking for, Richard's body was abnormally jerked away from hers. Then a gloved hand grabbed her by the neck as the other one gently touched her cheek.
She recognized the gloves…the same leather gloves, with the same dogs sewed on them. It was that…man. The one who just couldn't let her go.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Where was Richard?
She looked up and saw a masked figure. She knew it was the man. Kori could only see his eyes through the black ski mask. Then she remembered:
Air!
She needed air!
Hitting him in the gut, she managed to reach the surface and as she gasped for air she looked desperately around for Richard. No sign of him. She tried to spot him in the bottom of the pool but a hand grabbed her by the ankle and tugged her to the bottom, far from air.
But, she held on tightly the to the side of the pool. She wouldn't let him win the game. Another gloved pair of hands grabbed her wrists strongly, even violently, and pulled her to the surface. She looked up, trying to see the face of her hero but she only spotted another masked face.
The same masked person clenched their fist and sent it towards Kori's stomach. She flew back landing in the pool, the water covering her body. She tried to gasp for air, she tried to scream…but, nothing……only cold water. The water that was, only few minutes ago, comforting her, was now almost killing her.
The one who she thought could have been her hero was just an accomplice… and her real hero was lost somewhere, in the pool, or maybe even dead. She didn't know. She was pinned to the side of the pool wall. Panicked and dizzy she looked around… no Richard.
The silence locked in her sadness.
He won.
She couldn't hold her breath any longer…her lungs were going to explode. She let out, as if in a cough, the last bit of air out of her lungs. Her head fell limply to the side and her hair was still floating like a halo around her head.
The man was pleased as he held her strongly. But he panicked as he heard and saw his accomplice's body hit the water. He expected his accomplice to swim over to him, to help him out with what he had to do……..but the body didn't move, it just…………. Sunk.
Grabbing Kori's waist, he pushed her to the surface and roughly took her out of the pool. Then, he sat on the side trying to understand what had just happened but a strong pair of hands pushed him back in the pool.
He looked around. Nothing.
Everything went black.
Someone shut the lights.
Pitch black.
He wondered if what he was feeling was fear. Could he feel fear? He didn't know………..
He heard something jump in the pool before receiving a good strong punch in the gut then straight in the face. He floated back and clenched his stomach in pain. Everything vibrated in his ears and the darkness filled his eyes with fear.
He wouldn't loose. He doesn't loose…especially not to his game. He also knew that he makes the rules and it was his turn to play.
Before he took take out his gun from his back pocket, another strong hand pushed him to the bottom.
He didn't have enough breath… he slowly sunk to the bottom. He knew he wasn't done yet…he still had some unfinished business…and he still had more tricks up his sleeve.
But he was so close……so close……
As Richard stared at the man disappear to the bottom he quickly swam back up and jumping out of the pool he stared at Kori. She didn't move. He felt for her pulse…it was slow.
Quickly picking her up bridal style, he exited the room and walked up a long staircase. He opened up another door, which brought him to a long hallway. He walked down the hallway trying not to make a single noise.
He was in Bruce's manor but, Kori didn't know nor did Bruce. Even though Bruce said he was always welcome back at the manor whenever he wanted, he didn't think Bruce would appreciate two bodies lying at the bottom of his pool…
Bruce always hated cleaning up after Richard… well he never changed…
He silently pushed a door open and took a good look inside. He old room looked exactly the same as when he left it. He laid Kori's soaked body on his bed.
To hell with the bed sheets, he thought.
Opening his closet he found some old shirts. He grabbed one and put it on then, he grabbed a pair of shorts and changed. Then he looked back at Kori when she let out a little cough.
He sat by her for few seconds before receiving a hard kick in the stomach. ''What was that for?'' he asked.
''You. Idiot.'' She said.
''What??''
''I swallowed water.''
''Oh what a nice way to say 'thank you' after I save your life….again.''
''You could have saved me sooner, I wouldn't have minded.'' She teased. ''Where were you anyways? Scuba diving in the Caribbean? I was looking for you like hell; until that weirdo grabbed me by the neck… oh, but that's ok…I was just on the verge of DYING. Yup, that's ok…'' A pause.
''Note the sarcasm.''
''Yeah, I kind of guessed that one on my own.''
''Oh so you're not a birdbrain after all. Must be the happiest moment of your life.''
''Oh. Yeah. Happiest. For sure.''
They took a moment of silence. Kori shivered.
''You. Idiot.''
''What this time!''
''I'm cold.''
Oh right………
He quickly covered her with his warm blankets. She turned to the side and closed her eyes. Richard listened to the silence.
''Richard?''
''Hmm?''
Eyes still closed she continued, ''Why do people kill?''
It was like a little five year-old asking her mom a simple question…but the answer seemed so complicated.
''Well…for serial killers, it's to fulfill some kind of fantasy…''
''Is that suppose to make me feel better?''
''Ummm……''
''No.''
Richard thought for a moment.
''Ok well, I don't know.''
Kori rolled her eyes. ''But you were talking about fantasy… what do you mean by that?''
''Well, I—''
''Hello?''
Kori's eyes popped open and Richard froze. Kori looked at him with a who-the-hell-is-that-and-where-are-we-in-the-first-place look. Richard recognized Bruce's voice. Kori quickly slipped under the bed, trying not to make any noise.
Kori motioned to Richard to follow her and she wondered why he was just standing there, looking at the door. But once she heard a voice she snuck back under the bed and listened attentively.
''I said he— Richard!'' Bruce's deep voice said, pushing the door open.
''Bruce! Hey!''
''What brought you here? You need to borrow something again?''
Richard plastered a smile on his face. ''What? Me? No. You know be better than that, Bruce.''
He laughed a good laugh. Richard remembered it well. It was deep and…funny. ''So Richard, tell me what brought you here! You didn't even tell me that you were coming. You know, phones do exist. You should call once and a while.''
''Bruce!'' he wined like a young child.
''Would you like some cheese with that wine?'' he teased.
Richard rolled his eyes.
''Seriously Richard, what brought you here? Your apartment burnt down? You forgot something? Problem with women?''
''And why should I come to you with my problems…especially concerning women?'' he asked raising an eyebrow. ''Not like you've got any experience.'' He teased.
''Your talking to one of Gotham's most handsome bachelors.'' He said, walking over to him. He let out another good laugh. ''You always were stubborn…and kind of dumb too.''
Richard crossed his arms on his strong chest, humiliated.
''Anyhow…come downstairs Richard, Alfred will get us some…'' but Bruce's voice trailed off. Richard followed the direction of his eyes and he was looking at his bed.
Bruce looked up at him and placed his hand on the bed. Still looking at him straight in the eye, he raised an eyebrow and stood up straight. He crossed his arms on his chest.
''The bed is wet, Richard.''
Richard raised an eyebrow. ''Really?'' He placed his hands on the sheets. ''Strange…''
Bruce rubbed his temples. ''You're still wetting your bed? Gosh, Richard.''
''No! Of course not.''
Bruce raised an eyebrow. ''Wow. It's worse than I thought. Did you ever go see that psychologist I recommended for you?''
''Could you please shut up?''
Bruce smiled. ''That's the Richard I know.''
He smiled proudly.
Kori desperately tried to muffle a laugh.
''But Bruce…'' Richard scratched the back of his neck. ''I'm only here to pick up some things.''
''I knew it was too good to be true. Okay. Get your things and get the hell out.'' He joked. ''But before you leave, come down and lets drink some scotch or wine and talk a bit. It's been a while.''
Richard smiled with pure joy. ''Seriously?''
''No. I was only kidding. You only drink orange juice.'' He exited the room, letting out another Bruce-ish laugh.
Making sure that Bruce had walked away, he closed the door and grabbed some shirts, a pair of pants and towels. Kori snug out of her hiding place and placed her hand in front of mouth, trying desperately not to laugh.
''I like Bruce.''
Still packing everything in a gym bag, Richard chuckled. ''He's a funny guy.''
''I can't wait to see his reaction when he gets a good look at his pool.'' Kori said.
Richard knew that she guessed where they were: in Wayne's mansion where Richard used to live. She never knew that he was adopted and she never asked why he used to live here, but she bit her tongue. She didn't want to ask….she didn't want to bring bad memories back to life.
He zipped up the gym bag and handed it over to her. ''Take this and go back home. I'll meet you in twenty minutes.'' He said, turning away, trying not to raise suspicions with Bruce.
But Kori grabbed his arm. ''I'm not going back home. Not know!…'' she said, pointing to the dark night. ''…not after what happened. What's wrong with you? Don't you remember what happened fifteen minutes ago?''
Richard nodded. ''I'm sorry b—''
''Richard!'' Bruce's voice screamed from the bottom of the stairs. ''What are you doing up there? Don't tell me you got yourself locked in your room again?''
''Coming! Calm those hormones down for once, Bruce!''
Kori raised an eyebrow.
''We joke like that……….anyway, as I was saying… Look, I'm sorry. But what do you want to do? Hide up here till I'm done?''
She nodded, pointing to the closet.
''As you want. But try not to make loud noises.'' He said walking away.
Kori stuck her tongue out at him and went back to her hiding place, but a box placed on his night table caught her attention. She walked over to it and picked it up. It looked like a little wooden treasure chest.
Kori opened it up and saw a small key. She raised an eyebrow, picking up the small key. It had an odd shape.
Walking around in the room, she tried to fit the key in a doorknob. It didn't belong to his room, to his bathroom not to one of his big closets. Walking back to the night table, she started at the drawer and pulled on the handle.
It didn't open.
''You stubborn little thing…'' She pulled on it again. ''Come on…..''
Then she remembered a trick that Rachel had taught her once. She tried to unscrew the handle to the drawer, but instead it shifted to the side and revealed a lock. She placed the key in it and it opened with a click.
She stared down at what seemed to be the front page of a news paper…..a very old paper. She read the title: The Flying Graysons : Tonight!
A black and white photo pictured a couple that seemed to be acrobats. They seemed happy, smiling. She guessed that they worked in a circus since they were standing in front of one on the picture… She stared carefully looked at the woman, then at the man…
That smile, those eyes……Placing the article on the side she picked up the one underneath it. ''The Fall of The Flying Graysons: Something That Went Horribly Wrong''.
But there was no picture. Kori raised an eyebrow.
Usually, articles always have pictures….
Deep in her concentration, she flipped the newspaper to the page of the story and started reading.
''It was supposed to be an unforgettable night for the Flying Graysons and their fans. But as their high wires snapped in the middle of a show, the—''
But Kori stopped. Silently, she placed both newspapers in the drawer and shut it. She put the key back in the box and got up to go shut the light. Pressing her ear against the door, she heard silent footsteps coming towards the room. Panicked she walked towards a closet door and sneaked inside.
The room's door swung open as a man entered.
Kori held her breath, trying to spot someone through the door's small opening.
She closed her eyes.
She was afraid that her heart beat would give her away…….it seemed so loud….
The masked man walked around. ''You can run, but you can't hide.'' His deep voice said.
''Come out and play. This is our game, remember?''
Kori leaned her back against the wall, hiding behind the coats, the shirts and the pants. She only looked through a small opening. She sat down on the pile of clothes.
''I thought you liked games.'' A pause. ''I love games.'' He whispered. ''I almost won back there, but you cheated Kori. You had an extra player on your side. But you broke the rules. And you know, I make the rules.''
She took inhaled silently and held her breath once again.
''But now it's just you and me.'' He let out a small laugh. ''You know Kori, I really like your apartment. You have great talent. My favorites are everything that has to do with water. For example, you know the one with the sunset that you painted?……killer.''
He stopped in front of the closet. ''Don't you agree?''
Silence.
''Come on Kori, you're making this way too easy for me.'' He swung the closet door open. ''Got y—''
Nothing.
He raised a curious eyebrow.
''Come one Kori.'' He said, on the verge of anger swinging the closet door open.
Nothing.
He took a step forward and looke in the closet. Clothes were hanging everywhere, more clothes on the floor. A bump here, another there, a shoe here another one there. A bag, underwear…….. but no Kori.
He stepped back and closed the door, making his way out. But he took one last look over his shoulder.
Nothing moved, nothing breathed.
Nothing seemed alive.
OK! Was that long or what! Gosh!
Pleasee tell me what you think. Good ? Bad? REVIEW! Thank youu.
-cryingdove.