Chapter 9: Your Past Always Catches Up With You
Kori looked down at Roy, shock written on her face. "Roy-I-I don't know what to say," Kori stuttered nervously. "Say you'll marry me," Roy replied with a sheepish grin.
'I'll always be here for you Starfire, I promise I'll always be here to protect you.' Kori shut her eyes tight and shook her head. 'He lied to me.'
Kori exhaled and smiled at Roy, "yes, yes I'll marry you."
2 weeks later
Kori looked down at her ring and smiled, "you're coffee Miss. Anders." Kori smiled as she took the coffee from the lady behind the counter and left the shop.
Sipping slowly she walked down the street. Not really having a destination, just enjoying the beautiful sunny day, though sunny a nice breeze blew over the city. Kori looked up at the sky, she loved days like this.
Kori turned the corner and smiled, "Karen, Victor!" Kori smiled running up to them. "How are you two, I haven't spoken to either of you in what seems like a while. I've been quite busy between shoots and, other things." Karen raised an eyebrow, "I think I know what other things, Roy called me a few nights ago."
Kori looked up, "he did?" Kori sighed, "I wanted to tell you." Victor looked at Karen and she shrugged her shoulders at him. She then turned to Kori and laughed, "Tell us what? Roy said you had news to tell us and that you two would be busy for a while. That's all. Vic and I have been trying to call you but we haven't been able to reach you at home or at your agency."
Kori's eyes widened, "I got your message at home on my machine, I have just been so busy and I'm so sorry I-" "its okay don't worry about it." Victor said with a chuckle holding up his hands.
"So what's this big news anyway Kor?" Karen asked. Kori smiled, holding out her hand, "I'm getting married."
Karen's eyes lit up as soon as she saw the ring, "I'm so happy for you hon! Does Raven know?" Kori looked down, "Raven is angry with me at the moment." Kori looked up, "she found out about Garfield and she also found out that I knew."
After giving Kori a hug she pulled away holding onto Kori's shoulders, "you have to let me design your dress for the wedding. When is the wedding?" "We don't know yet, we're still talking about it." "I already have ideas for your gown running through my head at a mile a minute."
"Calm down Bee," Victor said resting a hand her shoulder. Karen turned around as if insulted. "Calm down, calm down, she's getting married! How can I calm down?" Victor looked at him watch, "because we're late." Karen's eyes widened, "why didn't you tell me, we have to go. I'll call you later Kori." With that Karen was at the large glass doors of a huge building across the street waiting for Victor to join her.
Kori smiled up at him, "I'll see ya soon," he said giving her a hug and heading across the busy intersection.
Pushing the heavy glass doors open Richard walked into the sunny day. Loosening his tie and unbuttoning the top few buttons of his shirt he looked into the sky, 'it wasn't this nice earlier, how long have I been in that meeting room?' Looking down at his watch he sigh. "How did it get to be 2 o' clock already?" he asked himself heading down the street. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket, "Yeah, my meeting's done; I'll be right in front of the building."
Kori walked down the busy street slipping past various people who had stopped to window shop. Kori pulled out her cell phone to look at the time, "it's 2 o' clock already! The whole day has practically gone by!" 'Maybe I should go eat, I ran out without breakfast. Coffee doesn't fill you up very much. I should eat at that delicious Chinese restaurant. I don't have my car; I'll have to get taxi.'
Kori walked to the curb looking for a taxi to pass by, 'hopefully it will stop for me.'
Marcus opened the car door for Richard as he stepped in and leaned back against the black leather seats. "You can head home Marcus." Richard ordered as the driver sat in the drivers' seat. "Alright sir."
Richard starred out the window; Marcus had picked him up only about ten minutes after he had called. Starring at the window Richard yawned and began to dose off, until what he saw out the window made is eyes widen. "Pull over here Marcus, I'll be right back."
Kori opened the door to the cab, "thank you for-" Kori looked up as the door was closed shut, "Richard? What are you doing here?" Kori held her coffee cup in her left hand and subconsciously covered her ring with her right hand. "I just came out of a meeting and was heading home when I saw you. I haven't been able to reach you." Yes I know I have been quite busy. Oh! Your arm has recovered!" Richard looked down at his now sling-less arm, "yeah, I got that sling off a few days ago. I feel good as new." "That's wonderful." "Are you busy now?" Kori raised an eyebrow, "not at the moment, no." "In that case, would you like to get something to eat? Maybe we could talk?" Kori looked down, "alright." Richard gave her a smile as he led her to his car. Marcus stood by the door holding it open for Kori and Richard. "Thank You," Kori told the driver as he once again sat in the drivers' seat. Richard turned to Kori, "how about Chinese? I know this great place." Kori smiled slightly, "you read my mind."
"How is Raven?" Kori asked spearing a piece of lemon chicken with her fork. Richard looked up, swallowing a spoonful of fried rice. "She's okay," "Good, was she angry about you letting me come in that day?" "She handled it better than I thought she would." He answered with a laugh. "What did she do?" Kori asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Well…
Richard walked back into the dinning hall, "Raven I-" "You set me up!" Richard sigh in defeat, "Yeah, I know and I'm sorry but you have to realize Raven that-" Raven slammed her hand into his chest pushing him back. "How dare you tell me what I have to realize! You have no right to boss me around!"
Richard grabbed both her wrists, "you're right," he said looking down at her. "Kori is your friend Raven, she'll always be your friend. You know that she would never hurt you, don't you?"
Raven looked down and tried to pull her hands away. Richard held her wrists tighter pulling her towards him. "Don't you?" he repeated.
Raven glared up at him. Seeing the look in his eyes her face softened. "Yeah, I know" she said with a long sigh.
Richard pulled her into a hug, "she would never want anything to happen to you Raven; if Beast Boy was really dangerous Kori would never put your life at risk."
Raven pulled away, "His name is Garfield and, I know alright, I know" walking out of the room she rushed up the stairs.
Kori looked down at her left hand which she now realized had subconsciously grabbed the table edge with, hiding the ring from view.
"Thank you for defending me, I'm glad that you talked to her. I just hope that she will listen. I only wish that she will give me a chance to explain." Richard reached his hand over the table, resting it on her right hand. "She'll come around, you know Raven."
Kori smiled, looking down at her right hand. Slipping it out from under his she reached for her wine glass. "Yes, I hope so." She sigh leaning the rim of the glass against her lips.
Richard stepped into the back of the limo after Kori and sat down. Clearing is throat he looked at the floor, "Kori, would you like to come back to my place for a little while, just to…talk?" Kori looked up at him, "By Raven will most likely not want me to-" "Don't worry; she's at a meeting with her editor. She's staying overnight at a hotel."
Kori sigh shakily, "Alright, it's not too late so I suppose its okay." "Don't worry I'll give you a ride home." "Okay." Kori said turning to look out the window.
Richard led Kori into the living room. "Have a seat Kori." Kori nodded and took a seat on the edge of the sofa, wrapping her right hand over her left. Richard turned his back to her and sighed. 'How should I approach this? I mean do I just come out and ask, what happened to our child or-"
"Richard?" Richard spun around, "huh?" "I asked if you were okay." "Yeah, yeah fine." Richard rubbed the back of his neck as he walked over to the sofa and sat down next to her.
"Kori, can I talk to you about something, important?" Kori looked up at him, "of-of course." Richard grabbed her right hand, yanking it away from its grip on her left. Looking down Richard dropped her hand and stood up.
"You're getting married!" Kori stood up as well backing towards the door. "Yes, yes I am." Working up her courage she stepped towards him. "Is there something you want to say?" She said with a glare. Richard stepped up to her and grabbed her shoulders. "You can't get married!"
"And why not!" She screamed at him. "Because I love you!" Kori starred up at him, "you've said that before and you lied!"
Kori sunk to her knees, her hands covering her face. Bending down Richard grabbed her wrists pulling her up to his chest. "That's not true! I've always loved you!"
"You're a liar!" she screamed pushing him away. Kori turned to run but was grabbed by the wrist once again. Before she could register what had happened she felt soft, warm lips on hers. The feeling was unbelievable, a feeling she missed. She found herself wrapping her arms around his neck before her eyes widened and she pulled away.
"No! No, I-I can't love you-I-I won't!" Kori began to scream backing away from Richard and towards the door. "You're a liar, you are! I won't love you anymore! I don't need you anymore, I'm my own person now, I've made my own life! You're a liar, a liar!"
Tears came to Kori's eyes and spilled over her cheeks. Shaking her head fiercely to get rid of past memories she found herself sinking to the floor, her hands cupped over her face. Still shaking her head Kori continued to scream into her hands.
"Kori!" Richard ran up to her and pulled her wrists once again causing her hands to be ripped from her face. Kori's head fell, "You lied to me." Still holding her wrists in his hands Richard pulled Kori to her feet and to his chest.
"I never lied to you! I love you!" He told her again. With this Kori's head snapped up and she looked into his eyes. "You never loved me! You left me, you just left!" Kori dropped her head once again and began to whisper. "Why? Why did you do that to me?" Crying again Kori began to breathe heavily. "I loved you with all my heart and you left, you abandoned me."
Richard sigh, "I know, but if anyone found out, you would be in danger. I had to keep you safe. I wasn't going to let anything happened to you. I knew that leaving would coast me everyone's friendship and you're love, but I couldn't give anyone more reason to hurt you. Please try to understand."
Kori pulled away. "Understand? Understand? How do you expect me to do that? I would've gone with you; I would have done anything for you. But not anymore, I don't need you anymore, I have a life of my own, and," Kori turned to leave, "and I've out grown you."
Richard saw her turn to leave. It was now or never, if he didn't ask her now, he might never get the chance.
"What happened to our child?" Kori froze dead in her tracks. "I told you," she stated calmly, her back still turned, "I had a miscarriage." "I know that, but why did you keep it in the first place?"
Kori sigh and faced him. "It was all I had left of you." Physically shaking and covering her mouth with her hand she stifled a sob she continued. "I wanted that baby so very, very much, because it was yours as well as mine. Raven begged me to give it up, back then; we could not afford a baby. We could barely afford to keep ourselves alive. But I told her I wouldn't do that, that I couldn't do that."
Richard walked closer to her, "why did you loose the baby."
Kori looked up at him, "Because you lied to me."
Richard looked at her, "I never lied to you." "Yes you did!" "No I didn't, I love you, I always have!"
"No! You promised to protect me!" Kori felt tears once again on her cheeks. She closed her eyes and sigh. "You promised to never let anything happen to me, you said you would keep me safe. You told me you would never let anything happen to me."
"Kori, what are you talking about?" He asked touching her forearm. Kori's eyes suddenly snapped open.
"What am I talking about?" "You-you lied! You didn't protect me, you lied! It's because of you! It's your fault!" Tears were streaming down her face as she slammed her fists into his chest with little strength. Still screaming incoherently Richard grabbed her wrists again.
"Kori! Kori!" he yelled to her as she continued to scream and tried to escape his grip. "Kori! Kori! Starfire!" With that she froze.
"What happened to you?" he whispered in her ear. Still frozen, she didn't answer. "Starfire? What happened to you? How did you lose our baby?"
Kori pulled away and looked at the ground. "I was raped."
Turning on her heels Kori ran out the door and into the now dark night.
Kori ran for what felt like miles. Breathing heavily she stopped. Leaning against the side of a cold brick wall she wiped her eyes and tried to catch her breath. Looking up at the night sky Kori sigh, "How could I let this happen? How could I ever love him?"
"Bad day? Maybe I can help my dear." Kori eyes widened as she went rigid with fear. 'That voice, it cannot be!'
Suddenly Kori felt arms wrap around her waist and neck. She was then jerked backward. Feeling the cold metal of a knife on her neck she remained unmoving.
Kori felt hot breathe on her face and over her ear as the nauseating smell of beer and cigarette smoke filled her senses.
"It's been a while, I've missed you Kori."