AN: Thank you for the lovely reviews! :3

I couldn't resist, I had to update soon!

Without You, I'm Sick

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"Master Richard, it is time to get up now" The elderly English accented voice called out as he cleared his throat. Richard groaned as he got up, instantly twisted his body, his hands grasping the edges of the bed at his sides making his muscles slightly flex. His eyes were still closed as he took in a deep breath and slowly peaked open one blue eye.

He noticed his butler Alfred and sighed taking the cup of tea from his silver platter. Adding one spoonful of sugar, he chugged it down quickly, letting it slightly burn his throat. He made his way to his bathroom. His head was still buzzing from the previous night. It was honestly one of the more entertaining night's he's had in quite some time. He didn't know how fast he did it, but he convinced a girl to let him use her body for body jello shots as he took one by one off her thin frame.

He danced for the majority of the evening until he sweet talked his unique pink haired new toy to take him home with her. He didn't usually go for the girls with different dyed hair colors but every once in a while it did help to spice up his amusement for the evening. He found it to be kinky and thrilling.

Richard stood underneath the shower head letting the cold water run down his body. As he closed his eyes and scrubbed himself down with his Axe body wash, he ran his fingers along his collarbone and that's when he felt it – the hickey.

It was one of the taboo rules that he broke but lately he just didn't care. He didn't care if anyone saw it or questioned him about it. He was Richard Grayson, son of billionaire Bruce Wayne, whatever he did with his money, fame, and time was his own business.

Turning the knobs, the water shut off, and he got out as he wrapped a towel around his waist. Shaking the water out of his head, he cleaned the mirror from the droplets of water. Staring at himself, he examined how big the hickeys were, he had three that were still red with a hint of a bruising purple. He smirked thinking that this new toy was a rough one; it was a shame that he could no longer see her. His other rule: never aim for the same woman twice.

Once he was dressed in black jeans and a blue shirt, he headed downstairs to the kitchen were Alfred was drying the dishes he just washed. "Shall I prepare the car for you today?" Alfred asked as Richard shook his head. "No, I'm thinking of staying in today. Maybe I'll catch up on a movie or two" He shrugged as he took an orange from the fruit bowl.

"Should I call Miss Anders to accompany you?" Alfred asked as he sets the remaining dishes in the drying rack.

Richard raised an eyebrow confused, "Why would you?"

"Today is Friday, Master Richard. She has called about ten times in the past two weeks asking about your whereabouts" Alfred stared at Richard, even though he didn't say it, he was quite astonished that he's been neglecting her so much lately knowing just how good of friends they are.

"Two weeks?" Richard's eyes widen as he stopped playing with his orange, making it almost roll off the counter.

Alfred nodded giving him that stoic expression of his as he excused himself from the room and left to tend to the laundry and other chores.

Richard sat there thinking about it, that weird feeling he would get in the pit of his stomach returned. He left Kory all alone for two weeks and he had no idea it was that long. It felt so much shorter and to think it all started after he did that brunette two weeks ago. She awoke this monster in him, this sex craving maniac. He was civil, sane, and smooth when it came to his playboy tactics but he just didn't know what the hell happened.

He knew that instead of that, he should be worrying more about his own grave; the one Kory would surely dig up for him. He knew he was in trouble this time; he's only ever ignored her for such a long time once during summer. He went away to a summer sports camp, instead of training and learning, he was too busy chasing after ever skirt he saw.

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The doorbell rung as Kory when to get the door, when she opened it, she heard her visitor gasp. "Kory! What the hell happened to you?" Her friend asked as Kory flung her arms around her friend and hugged her as she cried. "Rachel, it's horrible. He's ignoring me!" Kory cried as Rachel calmed her down and closed the door behind her as she took Kory by her hand and lead her into the living room.

Her condo was a mess, mounds of ice cream cartons, clothes scattered everywhere, and photo albums thrown all over the place. Rachel cleaned a part of the couch so she could sit down as she made Kory sit next to her. "Okay, sweetie. Tell me what happened" Rachel smiles as she lightly squeezed Kory's hand.

She sighed and wiped her eyes with her free hand. "It's Richard, I've tried calling him but Alfred keeps telling me he's not home. Rach, I know he's a playboy, I know what he does late at night, I know about it all… Yet part of me wants to erase knowing. Part of me wishes that he would stop but how can I tell him that? It's never been a problem before because we would still have our time to hang out together… but… but… I feel like I'm losing my best friend!" Kory sniffed as she pushed away her photo albums where she kept precious memories in, precious moments she's had with Richard.

Rachel hugged her knowing clearly that this was more than about being best friends. She could tell that Kory felt more for Richard than she would lead on. While she continued not to say it, Rachel would always be there for her to support her, and help her out with her problems. "Kor, what if he's been busy? Maybe Bruce has him running part of the company now? There's plenty of reasons why he's been ignoring you for two weeks besides the fact that he can be such a womanizer" Rachel formed a smile trying to make the mood light.

Kory sighed and nodded, "You're probably right. I just miss him, that's all" She said as she got up from the couch and went into the kitchen to make herself some hot chocolate. She was probably exaggerating but she couldn't help it. In her country, her people were known for connecting with their emotions, just like how some people connect through food or a type of national sport or holiday.

Kory spent her afternoon just talking to Rachel and laughing at stories that Rachel told her about times she and Gar would get into trouble because he was such a goof. They had a good time until Kory fell asleep on the couch. Rachel smiled as she got ready, grabbing a post-it note and pen, she decided to leave her a note for her to find when she would wake up. Just when she was finishing up her little note, she heard the door knock.

Looking through the peephole, she saw that it was Richard. She opened it and narrowed her eyes at him, "She was pretty upset with you, you know?" She said.

He nodded, "I know, that's why I need to talk to her"

"She's sleeping right now," She paused as she pointed her navy blue nail polished manicured finger at his chest, "Don't continue to hurt her Richard, she's not like all the other girls" Rachel told him and walked out.

Richard watched her leave as he closed the door behind him and went to Kory's side as she peacefully slept on her couch. He kneeled down on the floor right next to her face as gently ran a finger on her cheek caressing it. "I'm really sorry, Kor" He whispered as he felt the moisture of a teardrop.

He felt the pain again as he got up and went into her hallway to get her a blanket. Lifting the black blanket up to her shoulder, he bent over and placed a kiss on her forehead. He knew that he royally screwed up big time. He knew that she could be fragile, just knowing that she was hurt, hurt him.

Richard sat down, taking in a deep breath and sighing. It wasn't until he sat down did he notice the condition of her place. He bit his bottom lip as he decided to clean up for her. While he was putting stuff away, he picked up the last photo album. He was about to put it away just like all the other but he stopped when a single picture slipped out. It was one of them back in middle school, they looked like such nerds. He chuckled remembering how he and Kory would sometimes sit down and go over these album, retelling memories, and laughing at the events that followed.

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Kory woke up a half hour later, inhaling a deep scent that could only be of one person, she knew that he was here. A smile crept up on her lips as she noticed that her place was clean and back to normal. She got up and went to take a shower, after she decided to head on over to Wayne Manor.

Ringing the doorbell, Kory stood outside as she rocked herself back and forth on the balls of her heels, her hands over each other on her back; she had a thoughtful expression as Alfred opened the door.

"Good evening, Miss Anders" He nodded smiling at her.

Kory gave him a sweet smile back, she's always like Alfred, he was such a nice man with a great loyalty to the Wayne family. "Evening, Alfred" She greeted as she stepped in.

"Master Richard is up in his room" He said as he politely dismissed himself to tend to the hot dinner cooking in the kitchen. Kory went upstairs and straight to his room, lightly knocking on his door using their secret knock, she could already hear movement in the room. The door opened briskly as Richard looked at Kory as if he was ready to burst, "I'm really, really, really sorry Kor!" He went down on his knees and hugged her midsection.

She giggled and balled up her hand into a fist as she lightly hit his head. "You're forgiven, again, just" She paused and sighed, she knew it sounded almost pathetic but she couldn't help it, she was used to expressing herself through emotion, "Promise me that you won't leave me again for so long" She continued, "It's really lonely when you're not around, I'm really lost without you" She bit her bottom lip, frowning.

Richard slowly got up as he felt all the air knocked out of him, as if he was just tackled down, that now all too familiar uncomfortable pain returned. With one finger, he lifted her chin up, so he could look into her eyes. He could clearly see the hurt and loneliness in her gorgeous emerald eyes.

"I promise" He whispered. She softly smiled at him as he took her hand and lead her out of his room. He honestly didn't know if he would keep his promise, if he could, or if he even had the will to. He was just confusing himself, maybe he should stop drinking and clubbing.

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With her silver rollerblades strapped securely on, Kory wiped away the small white feathers that stuck onto her green short shorts. She held tightly onto her loose pillow as she turned the corner and tried looking for Richard.

One thing that she found to be unfair about this game was that she wasn't as familiar with the entire manor like he was. Well he did live here; she sighed and slowly made her way down the hall. Once she spotted his blue shirt, she grinned and managed to strike him on the arm with her pillow. Richard was taken off guard as with his quick reflexes, grabbed Kory by the waist and pulled her down with him. She laughed as his fingers started to tickle her.

He laughed and smiled as he tickled her, he loved to hear her laugh. Kory wiped the tears from her eyes that were caused from her laughter as she looked up to him. Her smile suddenly started to deflate as she noticed the small circular bruises on his neck. She felt as if an arrow just struck her in the heart and burst into flames. Getting up, she picked out the feathers again. Richard felt the mood in the room shift and change as he got up himself.

He was about to ask her if she was okay when she took off into the next corner. Kory stopped before turning the corner as she looked back and put up a façade. "Try to find me" She winked and took off into the direction of the family den.

Kory was no fool; she knew this would happen sooner or later. She wished it were later or never. She's never seen one of those on him before but what if he's always had them all over his body and not his neck? She hated over thinking things. Maybe she should be taking his example and act just like him, maybe then would she have some perspective on this attraction he had to the no commitment relationship style.

She sniffed trying to fight back that hard urge to cry. She wasn't going to cry, she wasn't going to confront him. She would continue this one sided romance, continue to be drunk of his love, continue to be the best friend he has and support him, no matter if her own heart was crumbling. "Cheers to the lucky girl who has stolen his heart for the night" She bowed and dropped her pillow onto the couch.

She waited for Richard to find her so then maybe she could either escape him again or simply laugh it off and get over it in five minutes. Richard stood in the same position in the hallway for five minutes. Dumbfounded he wondered why she was so quick to leave him when he scratched his neck and felt the little bumps. His eyes widen as he realized it then, how stupid could he be? He's never been this careless before. "Oh shi- Kory!" He yelled as he sped off.

He reached the den to find Kory facing the lit chimney. "Hey, gave up already?" He tried to joke as he remembered their game they were playing just moments ago. She turned around, "Yeah, guess you win again" She bluntly said. The carefree, light, and bubbly aura was gone from her words.

"Are you okay?" He asked as he knew she wasn't.

She nodded and looked down, "Fine. Guess I'm just tired from our game" Kory then looked up and her smile appeared as she was about to get closer to him but the corner of the room's rug wasn't flat causing her to trip on her rollerblades.

As she fell, she slammed her knee against the coffee table, the edge ripped through her skin, and puncture through. Her knee started to bleed as she sat there on the floor wincing from the pain. Richard quickly went to her side, as he sat on the floor, and gently placed a hand on her now red and bleeding knee. Her knee twitched from the touch of his fingers gently brushing around her wound. "Stay right here, I'll go get the first aid kit" Richard got up and went to go look for it.

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Richard came back a few minutes later walking as he left his rollerblades in the hall by the corner. Sitting on the floor next to Kory's knee, he took out a antibacterial wipe and a band aid. "You were always the clumsy one" Richard chuckled as Kory's leg twitched from the cold of the wipe. She bit her bottom lip as she could feel the alcohol cleaning away at her wound. "Guess we can't all be acrobats" She stuck her tongue playfully at him.

He chuckled and agreed. Nowadays he would rarely think about his past life, it was just too painful, but it's been ten years since then, he finally stopped dwelling on the past, he learned to move on and now be able to think about the good times from then. He sure did miss his mother; she was his mentor, his good judgment, his inspiration. More importantly to him, he was her little Robin.

"Earth to Richard" Kory waved her hand back and forth trying to make him snap out of it. He did as he accidentally ran his hand all down her smooth leg. He ignored his perverted mind and looked up at her, "Hm? Sorry, I wasn't paying attention" He apologized.

She sighed, trying to hide her blush, and sarcastically replied, "Gotham General Hospital just called. They want their brain back"

He chuckled as he tapped his head, "This ol' thing? Nah, what could they possibly want with it?"

She was about to say something witty back when Alfred cleared his throat, announcing himself into the room. "Dinner is served" He said as he excused himself.

Kory took off her rollerblades as Richard helped her up. "Hungry?" Richard asked as he offered his arm to her. She placed her hand on her chest pretending to be surprised at his chivalry as she wrapped her arm around his, "Very" She giggled as they walked down the hall.

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As her flight was landing, she sighed contently, she was happy to be back home in Gotham. She has been traveling the world for about six months now and nothing sounded better than coming back. Once her plane landed, she quickly grabbed her things and made her way out.

She made her way through the crowds of people as she tried to find the elder police officer with that white full set of hair with hints of gray, that brown coat she knew all too well, and of course his cheesy welcome home sign with her name on it. He never seemed to forget it when he would come and pick her up.

As the crowds of people started to lessen as families reunited, hugged, and helped to get their luggage – She finally was able to see who she was searching for. She ran up to him as he dropped his sign and she her luggage.

"Dad!" She happily said as she hugged him and held him close. She's been away from home for so long; she's forgotten his scent of his favorite country tobacco.

He hugged her back, happy to have his daughter back home from her long trip. "Barbara" He smiled as he patted her shoulder and helped her get her things.

Commissioner Gordon chuckled as he asked her all about her trip, wanting to know everything, he filled her in on all that she's missed during her absence, as he told her that her brother was very excited to see her. She was a little taken back from that, surprised, seeing as how he too also traveled so they weren't really close siblings. Nonetheless she welcomed it, eager to get home and share her gifts as well as get to hang out with her estranged older brother.

Even though she was happy to be home, she just couldn't wait to surprise him; the only guy that's ever held any interest to her, the charming, chatty, and very handsome – Dick Grayson.

He was the only one would ever affectionately call her 'Babs'

She was back and ready to set her ground on his heart. "Six months sure requires a lot of catching up to do" She whispered to herself grinning as she looked up at the dark starless night. The big bright full moon and gray hued clouds made her happy, lifted her spirits, and gave her hope.

She remembered the last time they had to depart, it was hard on her, she didn't want to but she had to, it was part of her job after all. She could still remember his exact words as he gave her one final kiss at the terminal of her departing flight, "Without you, I'm sick"

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Done! To be continued.

So it's clear that Kory loves Richard, more than a friend but what about him?

Dun dun dun Babs is back! What will happen now?

Remember to R&R, Alert, etc. Plz & Thankies! :]

Until next time~ ;D