Updated. Also, I should have probably said this better before, but, I am updating this story because I have a lot of inconsistency with it as well as poor grammar. Now, there is still going to be bad grammar, but not as bad as before. The story is also hopefully going to make more sense. After I have updated everything, I am going to post the new chapters. Since for the first time in so long I actually have free time. (College is great but damn does it and a job take up so much time).

I hope you enjoy. Please let me know what you think :)

Hands were all around me. Pulling, grabbing, holding too tight. Painful.

Bodies gravitating and blood pumping, the room smelt of sex and sweat.

Pounding music. Too loud.

Spilled drinks, vomit.

Heat, there was so much heat.

It was too hot.

I couldn't breathe.

I clawed at the hands holding me down, while dancers swam around me glittery tongs and bras being thrown and someone was trying to cover my mouth.

I screamed.

But my voice would not leave my throat. He was here. I knew it. His drunk demeanor and breath. I could feel his presence, his stench.

The menacing voice. "You're coming home Kori."

I woke with a start, clutching my heart with my eyes frantically dancing around the dark room. The bed was too big, not what I was used too. The light on the wall with peeling paint was not where it should be, instead there was a smooth bedframe with soft pillows.

Oh.

I was not in my small bedroom above the cheese parlor, I was in a guest bedroom. No, I was in my new bedroom. I took a deep breath glaring at the clock that read 2:37 am, at least I would have time to sleep…if I could bring myself to sleep.

I ruffled the pillows, pulled up the covers and tried to find sleep again. I found myself drifting. Falling into that soft period of even breathes and a calm mind.

It did not feel right. Something was off, I was too hot. There were those eyes again, and his face.

I screamed and threw the covers off of me, feeling their hands still on my skin and I tried to rip them off. Too late to realize that I was awake again, this time fully awake with heavy eyelids and red rimmed eyes. I leaned back into the pillows with a groan while I heard footsteps at the door.

That soft tap again.

"Kori?" His angelic voice coming from the wall. I wanted to be closer to it.

I rose and opened the door, eyeing a messy haired Richard; eye's red with exhaustion, which probably matched mine. "Are you alright?" He whispered.

I shook my head. "I am not."

"May I come in? It's kind of cold in the hallway."

I opened the door slightly then stopped, "is that appropriate?" I asked unsure.

"I mean I don't see why not, you screamed. If you do not want me to I can leave." He said stepping back, but I reached out to him. Grazing my fingers along his wrist then I pulled them back to my side.

"Richard…I…please." I said sliding the door all the way open. He nodded, then walked beside me to my bed, sitting cross legged opposite me.

"What happened?"

I played with the quilt ruffles, then glanced to his face. The moon shone beautifully on his skin, it being the only light in the room. I could almost forget about what woke me with a start.

"Kori?" He asked again, reminding me that I had not said anything yet.

"My apologizes," I mumbled, then took a deep breath. "I was having the mare of nights, it was most unpleasant."

His fingers rested on top of mine. Not taking my hand but letting me know he was there. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Will you hate me?"

"Hate you?" He said astonished, "why would I hate you?"

I looked out on to the moon, stars twinkling with a beautifully clear sky, wishing my thoughts…my life could be so clear, so simple. Lives never tend to be though. "It involved my previous occupation, and…him." I mumbled.

I felt Dicks arms wrap around me and pull me into his chest. The pillows acting as another barrier around us, as the bed took in both our weights. His chin rested above my head, fingers doing soothing little circles on my back, and I questioned if he was an expert at making me feel better. I instantly relaxed under his soothing touch, his lips kissing the top of my head. I felt warm, I felt safe. I was in a huge mansion with gated doors, a place that my step father could not get to without setting off alarms.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He had asked after a few minutes, "or I can just hold you." I could practically feel the hint of a smile on his lips.

"Can you not do both?" I said, not wanting him to let me go.

His body shook with tired laughter "I suppose I can." His voice hinted that he had every intention of doing both.

"Suppose? Are you not aware of your own capabilities?" I teased.

"Were you not just having a mare of nights?" He said playfully, "how are you so happy?"

I either was too tired to control my response, or simply I did not care if he knew the truth. "Because you are holding me and I feel safe."

"Oh." His arms tightened around me, "I'm so glad to hear that." He said breath tickling my neck, his voice filling with emotion.

"It was about my step-father. He…he would not let me go…he was taking me back." I then hid my face in his chest, my words becoming inaudible.

"Kori I can't hear you when you talk in my chest." His voice remaining soft.

I turned and sighed, "Richard I am not sure how much I wish to disclose with you…if it is wise too. I am most unsure because it is late, and I am restless."

"Then you can tell me in the morning."

"If I sleep he will reappear." I tightened my arms around him, "and I do not wish for you to go."

"I won't go, I can stay here all night if you want me too." My heart jumped, blood rushing to paint my cheeks a deep crimson. So much elation at having him say he can stay.

"Will not Kitten call you a cheater." I said smiling into his chest but trying to tease him.

He laughed loudly, "Yeah I don't think she'd like to hear about how I got to have you in bed."

"Oh Richard that sounds so scandalous, shall we alert the media? Surely they should know that Dick Grayson has a women in his bed."

"No, that Dick Grayson is in a women's bed." He teased. Then rested his cheek on my forehead, "but honestly what happened?"

I sighed, "very well."

"If you really don't want too—" he began.

"It is the o and k," I said taking a breath of bravery.

"There hands were everywhere like before. I could not get them off nor scream for help. Of course, that only encouraged them, so I like to believe it was my dream self that allowed me to be so foolish." I was vaguely aware of his ragged breathes, or how he stilled when I said like before. However, I was too tired to stop myself, wanting relief from the burden. "And I was back at work, with the dancers and the bodies, and they would not let go and he said I'm taking you home and I could not, I would not I"

He kissed me.

Wet soft lips against my trembling ones.

Oh.

"Richard," I breathed unable to process my mare of nights to his kiss.

"Shh." He said taking ahold of my lips again, soft delicate kisses. Fingers running through my hair, down along my neck. A warmth stirred within me, my breath becoming hot and heavy but still slow and curious.

His kiss was not demanding or urgent, there was emotions behind it. Emotions that said I am here for you, I care for you. A kiss I never knew you could experience.

I pulled away ever so slightly. "Why did you do that." I said my breath hot on his neck.

"Because I've wanted too for a while," he gulped clearly nervous, "you were so upset all I wanted to do was kiss that pain away."

I smiled against his lips, "I thank you. Even though that is the cheesiest of lines."

His arms tightened around me again, lips to my forehead. "Yeah well, it is true. You can tell me everything now or later as you said." My heart swelled, and I rested my tired head in between his neck.

"I think it would be better later," I kissed the bottom of his neck and he kissed my fingertips as he held me close to him.

I was slowly aware of my evening breath, his steady heart beat and the warmth his body radiated with mine. "Kori." He whispered timid, as If scared that speaking louder would break what wonderful thing was happening.

I was scared too.

"Mmhmm." I mumbled.

"I've never done this before." Richard said looking up at the ceiling, voice so quite I almost did not hear him.

I opened my eyes, "is this the o and k for you?" his eyes glanced down.

"Of course," he smiled, "I meant this. "

"I do not understand." I said raising my head so I could look at his face.

"I've never felt this way, I've never held someone like this. I've never kissed…" he smiled as if remembering as did I, leaning his forehead against mine "this is not something I am used too."

"Neither have I." I murmured, my lips finding a soft spot on his neck, allowing him to continue.

His fingers tilted my chip up, his soft wet lips meeting mine again. My chest tightening with a hunger of emotions, belly stirring and tingling with each little touch. "Your lips are so soft," he murmured, kissing them again.

"As are yours," I said breathless back.

"I don't want to stop," he said equally breathless.

"Do not."

I kissed him softly again, then kissed my way along his jaw and down his neck. Not really knowing if what I was doing was right or not. Not really caring either because it felt right. His fingers clenched on my shoulders, and he quietly whimpered when I kissed the base of his neck.

"Kori," he said pulling me back to him, capturing my lips in his again, it was a bit more urgent then the kisses before, he pulled back resting his forehead on mine. "We should sleep, it's late." He chuckled, "and Al may kill me if he finds me here." He teased.

"You are not leaving are you?" I said with more disappointment then I meant to show.

"I'm staying right here," he smiled giving my one last sweet kiss. "We just need to be up early."

I nodded sleepily, dreamy from his lips and proximity. "Pleasant scholvocs." I whispered dipping into sleep.

"Sweet dreams," Richard said head falling back on the pillow. The world slowly spun us around, warmth and happiness moving around us. The calm promise of sleep seeped its way into me. Everything felt wondrously right.