Imaginary

Chapter 4:

The Date

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Richards P.O.V.:

"Yes."

"So, I'll pick you up tomorrow around 8, is that okay?" I asked the gorgeous red head before me, grinning since I got a date with her. I really hope Ryan doesn't mind...I'll deal with him later though.

"Yeah, that's fine," she replied with a gorgeous smile; a smile that made me melt. What the hell was wrong with me?

"Kori, I really want to stay but it's late and I have work tomorrow, so let's go," Ryan called out to her; and like a puppy she followed. "Ryan, can I talk to you?" I said as I walked towards Ryan and Barbara, watching Kori make her way to the car. "Yeah, what about?" I felt my face getting hot, was I getting nervous? I never get nervous. "Well, I'll just follow you to your house, we can talk then." Ryan gave me a look that pretty much said "What the hell is going on" and replied saying "Sure."

My stomach was aching.

I waited a few minutes after they left to get in my car and leave, I just really really hope he doesn't over react. After a few minutes we arrived, finally, to his place. We all sat down on the couch and an awkward silence filled the room. Knowing Kori's condition, Ryan's attitude, and my own attitude, I really didn't want to upset any of them. So like the gentleman I am, I waited till Kori went to bed to say anything about our date. I watched her as she gave Ryan a kiss on the cheek and then she turned; and gave me that smile. God did she have a beautiful smile, and she headed up the stairs. I turned around to see Ryan eying me with curiosity. I really hope that God was on my side tonight. I've seen Ryan pissed off, and I've seen Ryan fight. "So," he started out cautiously, "What did you need to talk about that you can't talk about in front of Kori?" My face felt hot again, I thought I was going to loose everything I just ate. "Well, Kori is what I need to talk to you about.." Ryan scrunched his eyebrows together, "What about Kori?" He sat up straight in the couch. "Well..I..we want to uh um, go out tomorrow night..just her and I, to well um get to know each other a bit better.." I waited for him to say something. Anything. But he just sat there, in silence. And what an awkward silence it was.

Then his face went red. I mentally said a prayer.

"You, the god damned playboy of Gotham, my supposedly best friend, wants to 'get to know' my sister better?" he yelled outraged, "Are you fucking kidding me?" He completely misunderstood the words "get to know." I opened my mouth to say something, to elaborate the situation when a fist hits my face. Without thinking I immediately punched him back, "Ryan, calm the fuck down. If I wanted to fuck your sister I would have gone to bed with her a few moments ago." Dumb on my part because that just pissed him off even more, earning myself another punch in the face. My nose was bleeding know, blood dripping off my face and onto my new shirt. Bastard. I decided not to punch back, "I just want to talk to her, I don't know why you're making a big deal about it. She seems cool. It's a friend 'date'," I made sure to air quote date. "Dude, you can trust me with your baby sister. Alright? Calm down Ryan, geeze." Ryan sat down, and eyed me again, "If one god damned thing happens to Kori because of you, I swear to god I will kill you."

I smiled, "I won't do a god damn thing. I promise."

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Normal POV:

The date..

Richard pulled into the Anders driveway, face a bit bruised because of the night before. He didn't really care though, he was just happy he could take Kori out on a date. He walked up to the door and knocked a couple of times before letting himself in. Where was everyone at?

"Kori?" Richard hollered, "Are you almost ready?" Kori ran out of the bathroom to look down from the stair balcony, "Yeah, just one more minute please!" and ran into her room, closing the door behind her.

Ryan came out of his room on his cellphone, "Hey Richard," his face was bruised as well. "Kori asked questions about the face, I told her me and you were wrestling like old times last night and got a bit too aggressive." He looked at Richard with a smirk, "I suggest you stick to the same story." Richard grinned, "Sure. You have any plans tonight?" Ryan chuckled, "Yeah, Babs is coming over for a 'romantic' evening." Richard wanted to puke, "I really don't see what you see in her, Ryan." Ryan laughed again, "Probably the same thing you see in my sister. So I sug-"
"Okay, I"m ready!" Kori hollered down, walking gracefully down the stairs. She gave her brother and Richard her famous smile before kissing Ryan on the cheek and grabbing Richards hand. "I won't keep her out too late Ryan, hopefully we won't interrupt anything," Richard said leading Kori out of the house.

"So what are we doing?" Kori asked looking out of the window. Richard smiled, "Why do you look out of windows so much?" Kori frowned, "Well..I..I asked you a question first." Richard looked at her, "Something wrong?" Kori didn't respond for a moment, "No, not really..it's just when I was in an asylum the windows were barred..so I like looking out of unbarred windows. Outside things fascinate me.." Richard felt horrible for asking her about the windows, he kept forgetting about her condition. She didn't seem crazy at all. "Well to answer your question, I was going to take you to a nice dinner and then a movie. Then, I'm going to take you to a favorite spot of mine. A place I went to growing up when I was upset or angry, or just wanted to get away. Best view of the stars in Gotham."
Kori was ecstatic, not only because she was on a date with a gorgeous man, but she loved star gazing. She looked at his face again, "So, wrestling with Ryan huh?" she said now noticing the bruises. He gave a small smile, "Yeah. We got a bit too aggressive. I'm surprised you didn't hear us." Kori smiled the rest of the drive.

They pulled into a restaurant called Marcella's, it looked very fancy. It was an Italian restaurant, Richard hoped she liked Italian. "What is Marcella's?" Kori turned to ask Richard. "It's an Italian restaurant, do you like Italian?" Kori nodded her head, while Richard got out of the car and walked around to open her door. He grabbed her hand and walked to the door. "Grayson," Richard said walking up to a man at the front desk, "Of course, follow me Mr. Grayson." Richard and Kori followed the man to a table in a secluded area in the back, there was two lit white candles and a vase with flowers on it. The lights were dimmed, and there was wine. Kori was beaming, "Richard this is wonderful." He couldn't help but to grin, he pulled out her chair for her. "I'm glad you like it," Richard whispered in her ear before pushing her in, smelling her hair in the progress. She smelled wonderful, like strawberries. After they ordered their food, they talked. Not about anything in particular, just everything. Kori was kind of reluctant to answer questions about the mental asylum, but after a few minutes she eased up. Talking about it wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. "Dinner was great, Richard. Best meal I've had in a long time," Kori said before taking another sip of her drink. Richard gave her his famous smile, "Yeah the food is great here, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'll go take care of the bill, and then we'll go to the movies. I'll be right back." Richard said, getting up to go pay. Kori was falling for him, hard.

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With Ryan and Barbara.

Knock, Knock, Knock. Barbara knocked on Ryan's door, "Ryan, seriously. Let me in." Barbara stood outside in the freezing weather, waiting for her boyfriend to get his lazy ass to the door. The door opened to show a shirtless Ryan in a towel and wet hair. "Sorry babe, I was in the shower." Ryan gave her a kiss before moving aside to let her in. Barbara looked around, "Where's your sister?" "She's on a date." Barbara wanted to laugh, "A date? With who?" Ryan headed up the stairs, "Richard Grayson." Barbara almost died. "You let your sister go out with him? Why?" Barbara followed him up the stairs into his room.

Ryan was looking for clothes to put on, even though there were most likely going to be taken off in a little bit if things went well. But it was cold, and he wanted warm clothes. "Well, if you haven't noticed my face, it's obvious that we had our words. He promised not to do anything and I trust him. Why do you care? You let your sister fuck him." His words came out more bitter than what he wanted. Barbara glared, "Well since you seem to be in a pissey mood, I'll just leave." Ryan couldn't help but roll his eyes, Why must girls be so dramatic. "Babe, come on. I didn't mean to sound like an ass, I was just saying. Don't go, I'm making dinner." He replied smoothly before wrapping his arms around her and giving her a kiss on the lips, "I love you." Barbara smiled, "I love you,too."

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Back with Richard and Kori..

Richard decided to take Kori to Crank 2 High Voltage. It was pretty amusing, they shared popcorn and a drink. Richard felt different when he was with Kori. He didn't feel like he had to impress her; like they've known each other for years. He didn't want to be too bold on the date, but he did end up putting his arm around her during the movie. A move he knew Ryan would disapprove of, but she didn't care. He knew she didn't because she responded by holding his hand that was in his lap. Richard found it very hard to control himself around her though. He wanted her in his bed right now, naked beneath him, and moaning his name. He knew tonight wouldn't end like that though.

When the movie was over, Kori felt like the luckiest girl alive. Tonight was the best night of her life, she felt love-struck. She continued to hold Richards hand, though not the hand she was holding before, as they exited the theater. Cassie, the girl from the diner, approached them. She laughed at Kori, "I see you didn't listen to my warning. Stupid girl." Kori felt angry, she has never wanted to hurt someone as much as this Cassie. Cassie had ruined her night, and Kori wanted to punch her smirk off of her face. She was about to say something, but Richard cut in by telling her to fuck off and to shut the hell up. They walked silently back to his car.

"Did you really use her for sex?" Kori blurted out as Richard backed up his car. He sighed, "Kori, I have a reputation around here for being a playboy. She was drunk, I was drunk, it just happened. So yes and no." Kori wanted to cry, was he just using her? "Is that why you're on a date with me, then?" Kori asked looking at him with her emerald eyes that showed her depressing thoughts. Richard looked at her with wide eyes, "No! Of course not, Kori. I want to get to know you. And by the way tonight is going, I'd like to do this again sometime." Kori smiled, "of course."

"Close your eyes," Richard said as they turned onto a road along a beach. "Why?" Richard chuckled, "Just do it Kori, please." Kori did as he said without another word. A few moments afterwards she heard Richard get out of the car. "Richard?" Her car door opened, "Keep them shut Kori." He grabbed her arm and led her around. After walking for what seemed to be an eternity, he told her she could open them. Kori gasped, the view was beautiful. Richard wrapped his arms around her from behind, "Do you like it?" Kori turned in his hold to face him, "I love it." She wrapped her arms around him and gave him the biggest hug she could muster. He couldn't breathe by the time she was done hugging him. Richard chuckled and sat down on the blanket. He patted to a spot next to him, asking her to sit next to him. He laid back on the blanket, and looked up at the stars. He felt a warm body lay next to him. "Kori," he whispered, as he turned to look at the side of her face. "Hmm?" she replied. Richard slid his fingers down her arm, giving her goose bumps. "You look gorgeous tonight." Kori blushed. Richard grinned knowing he was to cause it. "Th-thank you, you look gorgeous as well.." she stuttered out, blushing worse than before. She hadn't really had been hit on before, or had a conversation with a man before besides Ryan. She was nervous. Richard brought a gentle hand to her face, and propped himself up on his elbows. He leaned down and kissed her. After the first kiss he paused, bring his lips a little bit above her lips and looked into her eyes. He kissed her again, this kiss was more passionate. She didn't know what to do, or what to think, so she kissed him back.

As they kissed, Richard ending up being on top of her, allowing his hands to roam all over her body. His hand roamed up her arm, and held her hands above her head. He licked her lips, asking permission to enter her mouth. She more than happily allowed him. His free hand, was still roaming her perfect body. He cupped her breast and continued down to her skirt. He kissed down her face to her neck.. Richard stop. You promised Ryan. You told her this isn't why you were on a date with her. Stop it. The voice in Richards head did cause him to stop, even though he didn't want to. He gave her another kiss, not as passionate as the previous kisses and stood up. He pulled her up, "I told Ryan I wouldn't keep you out too late."

Authors Note:
Ah! This is like 4 pages long :O Hope you enjoyed this update, the next one will be in about 2 weeks, if I can update any sooner. I was going to end this chapter after Ryan and Barbara, but I wanted to put some romance between Richard and Kori. Well, Review please! This chapter took forever for me to put together so sorry if some parts sound weird. Overall I think it sounds pretty good. Happy Sunday!

--Lynn