Footsteps Of An Angel

"Death Leaves a Heartache No One Can Heal, Love Leaves A Memory No One Can Steal"

Ch:10 – Innocent

"We need to get back, now!"

Batgirl and Xavier had just risen up to run back to his bike when two small blasts threw them back. Cursing and coughing, they both looked up to see Astrid standing there with about twenty more men. Red X felt the need to get up and crack every bone in her body, but the striking resemblance to Rachel made him miss a beat.

"Well, now." She smirked, "This is going to be interesting."

-Cut-

"Can I be honest with you Kory?"

She was dancing with Bruce in the ballroom, it was their second dance and frankly she hadn't been more agitated in her life. Her eyes were darting all around the place and she could only thank her gods that Bruce wasn't being very conversational, until now.

"Er, yes. Of course" she gave him a confused look.

He cleared his throat, "I have hated you fiercely since the last three years."

Kory looked at him with a start, her attention fully grabbed. But he went on, "Many times I had been grateful about your death. Thinking it was best for Richard that he didn't have someone like you in his life anymore."

"I never imagined you to like me and I don't blame you-"

"But ever since you have returned, I have to admit I have never seen Richard like this before." He paused, and looked at her, "Richard and I always had our differences, maybe because we are very similar in most cases. And despite many attempts, all through the years of raising him, I have always failed to take care of him, truly, take care of him. I was young, I had many ideas of changing Gotham, instead of giving him a normal life all I gave him was a life in the darkness. I have always been guilty about it and if I could ever take it back, I would."

They had stopped dancing now, and Kory looked at him for the first time as a father figure, as a growing man. Who had laden himself not only with the responsibility of the city but also of a family. She had always looked at him as the Batman, the hero, the dark knight of Gotham. But she never imagined he would say all that to her.

Before she could say anything he cut her off once more, "I am grateful to you, for taking care of him, like I never could."

"I gave him pain, I never could give him anything more than more problems" she replied quietly, "Every life I touch, everyone I know… They have all had to suffer."

"We all have our share of mistakes and bad choices, Kory. And after all this is over you will see how much happiness you can give to others. Everything in life is given to us; it's up to us how we deal with it."

"I…"

"Sometimes we do things to protect the ones we love, even if it hurts them."

She looked up sharply, was this a sign? Was this some way of telling her what she was doing was wrong? Did he know? No, he couldn't. Could he?

Narrowing her eyes, she was about to ask him when Richard's voice came into her ear telling her about Astrid and Red X and Batgirl.

Bruce frowned, "Meet me out in the balcony, Kory's with me."

He moved swiftly through the crowd and as she was about to follow him she felt a hand on her shoulder, sending a chill up her spine. She felt hot breath on her ear.

"I hope you saved me a dance."

-Cut-

"How could he let her escape?" Bruce roared once he came out into the balcony where Richard waited for him.

"She had access to disabling the security. That's not it: I had been keeping an eye on Rachel's cell phone signal. It just showed up ten seconds ago." Richard told him, handing him a tracking device which showed the signal's position.

"Roy." Bruce muttered, "He is here. And he's up to something."

"We need to find him." Richard took the device from Bruce and put it inside, "Where's Kory?"

There was silence; they both looked at each other, thinking if the other was thinking the same.

"No." Richard hissed through gritted teeth, his finger went up to his ear, "God, dammit. Kory! Kory, can you hear me?"

There was nothing else to be heard beside from the static.

"Fuck!" He ran out and down the stairs, his eyes frantically searching for the sight of her. On the dance floor, near the bar, anywhere. But there was not a glimpse of her.

He was running past the huge glass windows that he saw her, at last. In the gardens, there was a thin layer of snow on the ground as more of it fell down from the sky but he knew it was her, bright red in the white snow. And she was not alone, Roy was with her.

"Bastard!" as fast as he could he was pushing around people and trying to get outside. Once out of the building and in the cold freezing air he saw that Batman was already there and fighting Roy, delivering punches and kicking, not giving Roy any chance to fight back.

Feeling a wave of relief he ran down the stairs and went up to them, by the time he got there Batman had Roy on the ground, already surrendered.

"It was a mistake coming here tonight, Roy." Batman was saying. But Roy only laughed.

After taking of his jacket and draping it around Kory's shoulders, Richard had pulled out his gun and had a protective hand on Kory's arm, he pulled her back. They both watched as Roy continued to laugh.

"Did you people honestly think I am that stupid?" Roy was grinning and shaking his head, he then sat up and immediately Batman had kicked him in the gut. He rolled over and looked up, "Watch it, Batman! You wouldn't want to do that."

This time he sat up again and looked at Richard, "You can't imagine how long I have waited for this moment, Grayson."

"The moment where I beat the shit outta you? Oh, you can't imagine how much I've waited for this." Richard spat back and took a step forward when Kory grabbed his arm and pulled him back. "Kory, what the hell? Let me go."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, I really imagined you all to be a little more smart!" he had started laughing again, he appeared like a maniac, on the ground, beaten up and yet still grinning.

"What are you talking about?" Batman growled.

He laughed harder, "Tell them, tell them Kory!" he looked over at her, "Oh, I can't imagine the look on their faces!"

Richard turned to Kory, who had her eyes on the ground, "Kory, what is he talking about?" When she didn't answer, he cupped her face and made her look at him, "What is he talking about?!"

"I am going with him." She replied, her voice steady and even.

Richard froze, his eyes wide, "What do you-"

"I am going with him!" She repeated loudly.

They both were looking at each other, Richard, gob smacked and so overwhelmed he couldn't think and Kory, her eyes emotionless and steely. It reminded him of the time when they first met as teenagers, when she was reserved and had this similar expression. All her secrets hidden in her eyes, she had been so hard to hold but he had held on to her, not letting go. And now, she was slipping yet again.

"You're… You're leaving me?" he asked, finally finding his voice.

"Yes, yes I am." She replied.

"I'll come for you." He whispered, "I'll find you". He had never heard his voice like this, ragged and desperate. For her, to have her and Trevor, this was all wrong. Roy was supposed to be caught and he was supposed to go home and marry her and have a family… And… He didn't care if Roy was standing there, he didn't care if he sounded pathetic. He wouldn't lose her, not again.

"No. You won't. I don't want to be with you, Richard. Don't you get it? I don't. This is who I am and this is where I belong. I belong… I belong with him, it's the truth." Kory's voice shattered through his heart, it was breaking him, to see everything spinning out of his grasp. "Being with you, it's not enough."

After one last look she pushed his hands off herself and turned away. She walked over to where Batman stood, she looked up at him, remembering the conversation they just had a while ago and hoped somehow he would understand. But even if he didn't there was no turning back now, she shivered from the cold and tugged around Richard's jacket wishing to find strength from it, "You will stop looking for me, and keep on living your lives." She took in a sharp breath, trying to keep herself steady, "If you keep your end of this deal and leave me and Trevor alone, Rachel and Emily won't be harmed and they will return back. If you don't leave me alone, I will personally see to it that you bury their bodies." She narrowed her eyes, "And then, your identities won't be a secret no more. Everyone will know the man behind the mask, you won't be so happy then."

Roy had stood up and walked over to Kory, putting hands on her waist, he glanced over at Richard, "This is the moment I have waited for, where I win. Where I take what is mine and watch you look helplessly."

"Don't touch her." Without wanting to, Richard growled out.

Immediately Roy drew his hands away and held them up in a defensive way, his eyebrows raised in amusement and a grin on his lips, "You got a problem with me touching her, Grayson?" A fresh glint lit up his eyes and he slowly licked his lips, "What will you do when she touches me?"

"She won't." His hands were balled up into fists by his side, just wanting to bang Roy's face, he was all but shaking with fury.

With a challenging look, Roy said to Kory, "Kory, won't you show him how right I am?"

Kory's shoulders stiffened but she turned around.

"I've waited for you for so long, you can't imagine what it's been like." Roy said, "Kiss me, my crimson angel."

The old endearment had Kory give out a small, inaudible whimper. Bringing back so many memories of the days when she was innocent and naïve and carefree… And so in love with Roy. Never in a million years could she have thought this would happen.

Richard's heart sank further, his world spun around wildly as he watched… Watched her turn around, she kept looking at Roy and she slowly put arms around his neck and kissed him, their lips moving together, his tongue in her mouth, her fingers in his hair, the jacket which was around her shoulders sliding down and forgotten. Roy's hands were touching her, her hips and waist and back, moving up and down… Touching and feeling her warmth. She kept on kissing him, the same lips which had kissed him, and those hands which held him, which felt like magic against his own skin.

And he watched, breathless as his girlfriend kissed another guy, helpless and hurt. So helpless. Roy was right, he had won.

Roy broke off and turned to Richard, "Is this enough? Or would you rather watch me-?"

Vision blinded by tears and fury which lashed out, Richard went forward and attacked. Which Roy blocked easily and landed a blow on his jaw and then a forceful kick in the chest. Already drained, mentally and physically, the air blown out of his lungs, Richard spun from the attack and fell down on his knees. Then Roy was pressing his knee against his back, holding back his hands and leaned towards his ear.

"I will touch her everywhere, Grayson, and I will keep on fucking her for the rest of her life. I will fuck her every day and every night, and in the morning she'll be so screwed she won't be able to walk. I will fuck her like the little slut that she is and I will make her life miserable. So miserable that the only pleasure she'll get will be from me, pounding away in her pussy and then she'll beg for more." Roy's voice filled his head, and then Richard felt a hot, numb blinding pain in his back, a dagger, "Oh, and Trevor? He's mine, Grayson. Mine."

And then they were gone.

-Cut-

It was a little past midnight when Batgirl and Red X arrived back at the Batcave. They had been fighting off Roy's thugs and then after dealing with them, had went around the city, searching hopelessly for something… Anything. Anything but disappointment and more despair.

When they arrived they were met by Alfred, who silently nodded towards the metal table top where an unconscious Richard lay, his chest bare apart from the white bandage around his middle. Batman stood beside him, his cowl gone. He looked more haggard and old than he had ever looked.

"What happened, Bruce?" Batgirl had gone up to them and stood by Richard, looking down at his pale and unconscious form.

At first he didn't reply, silently replaying the scene that had occurred. So much pain his own son had to deal with, right in front of his eyes and yet he had allowed it, for the sake of so many innocent lives. Who was to blame? What was he to do? He had failed, the Batman had failed.

"Kory left with Roy, we are to leave her alone and she'll give back Rachel and Emily." He finally spoke in an emotionless tone.

"What about the kid?"

"He'll stay with her."

Batgirl was gently fingering the bandage around Richard's torso, "Did Roy…?"

"Stab him?" Bruce replied, "I had to knock him out to get him back here, to get stitched up. He wouldn't move, after they left. There was too much blood loss."

She nodded and then looked over at Red X, who had his mask still on so she couldn't read his face or see his eyes. He just stood back, not moving.

"You didn't have to knock him out," Red X finally spoke, "He'll be furious."

"I couldn't let him bleed to death in the snow could I?" Bruce roared as he turned around to face him. Red X remained silent, his eyes on his brother. "Yeah, I know." He then muttered.

"Get some sleep, both of you." The cowl was back on and Batman was already revving up his bike.

"Where are you going, Master Bruce?" Alfred asked.

Batman ignored him, "Keep him on pain killers and keep him in lockdown if you have to. Do not let him go anywhere until I get back."

"Yes, I will." The butler replied and watched as the Batman went out. He then turned to the others, "Can I offer something to eat?"

By now his mask was off and Red X turned to Alfred, "How did she escape? How did she know how to disable the alarms?"

The old man kept his face stern but hesitated before answering, "Miss Kory, I believe, had slipped her the passcode."

Xavier let out a ferocious growl, "How many times is she going to betray us?!" he ran his fingers in his hair, "How many fucking times is she going to kill him?"

"Some tea would be great, Al." Batgirl turned to face Xavier and took his arm, "Let's go and move Dick to a proper bed."

-Cut-

Roy had a whole group of men waiting for him with cars to get them back to the base. It was far off in the outskirts of the city, near the docks. Astrid had joined them mid-way, in a black McLaren, sitting in the passenger seat obviously unable to drive because of her leg.

She had laughed and waved over to Roy, and then the two cars had a friendly race which Roy won.

Once they arrived, Roy immediately had a bottle of champagne waiting which he popped open and took a few gulps from. Laughing, he then walked up to Astrid and kissed her long and hard, the champagne poured down over her chest. Kory, took it all in, feeling sick. She felt unreal and was trying not to think about what she just did, trying not to think what Richard must be going through. The only thing which kept her going was that she would see Trevor, she could hardly contain herself.

"Welcome back, sister dear." Astrid sneered at her, taking off her spoiled leather jacket and top, exposing her bare chest to the appreciative eyes of Roy and other onlookers. "Hardly back and you've already started fighting" she gestured to her shot leg.

"Yes, have to say it myself," Roy had immediately groped her breasts and had his face buried in them, "It wasn't very nice of you to shoot your sister, Kory. Bad girl."

She felt sick by every passing second, Kory rolled her eyes, "Every whore has her day."

Roy threw his head back and roared with laughter, "You see?" He came over to her and squeezed her ass, his voice husky, "That's my bitch."

She got a glance at Astrid's murderous glare before Roy was kissing her lips, "I want to fuck you, Kory."

"Not before I see him, Roy." She pushed him back, "I wanna see Trevor."

He didn't pay any attention and pulled her closer, biting her lower lip and his hands feeling up her dress, "It can wait."

"No…" Kory tried to protest against his kisses but he was adamant. Her hand then went down and grasped his crotch, which made him stop and take in a sharp breath. "I need to see him first." She said more sternly, looking into his eyes.

Roy looked at her before his face broke into a sly smirk which made her wanna throw up, "Fine, baby. You go see him. But you have a lot to answer to in bed."

She ignored his comment and waited as he ordered a guy to lead her to where Trevor was. Kory followed him inside the building and up and down few corridors until the guy unlocked a door to reveal a room, bare and cold. It was empty apart from a bed and a TV, a few battered toys were scattered around and she could feel her heart sinking further. She could make out two figures on the bed, Trevor and Em, both sleeping, covered in a blanket.

The guy locked the door behind her and the sound woke up the sleeping pair. Before Kory could get a hold of herself and take a step further, a bright and clear voice rang through the air and pierced her senses.

"Mommy!"

Trevor was faster than her and he was already out of Emily's arms and running towards her, she found herself taking two eager steps and taking him in his arms. His tiny body clung against her, his familiar scent and comfort. And then, then at last she let herself come undone.

-Cut-

The pain in his back was white hot and searing, he grit his teeth, trying not to cry out. His vision was blurry and everything seemed too bright, his mind foggy. He had woken up briefly a few times before, though he could not register for how long he had been like this. He was in his bed, he could tell from the ceiling, the feel of the sheets underneath him and the smell of Kory's perfume that faintly remained.

This time when he woke he saw Bruce standing beside him, looking down at him with an unreadable expression. Richard's mind tried hard to work, to say what he wanted to ever since.

"Stop the… The meds." He finally managed, his throat felt so dry but he didn't care, "Please… St-top them."

Bruce visibly gave a small start before sitting down on the bed, his hand on Richard's shoulder. Richard didn't seem to hear, he could feel the meds kicking in once again but he was trying so hard to reach out.

"Dad…" he gave a final murmur before falling unconscious.

Bruce closed his eyes and sighed, drawing back his hand.

'I'm sorry' was all he could think.

-Cut-

I suppose it's pretty short but a lot of intense stuff happened there. Sorry, yet again, for the long update. I know I'm lousy.

RainWalker104