Life's Canvas

Where secrets lie

Chapter 7: Where Secrets Lie

Life's Canvas

Chapter 7: Where Secrets Lie

Richard fell painfully from his bed, grimacing as dull pain shot up his spine. He pushed himself to his feet and was nearly out the door, headed quickly to Kori's room, when a petite form blew past him and dove underneath his covers. He stopped, turning around with very large blue eyes. His gaze came to rest on the small, shivering lump under his blankets and walked over slowly. Soft sniffs greeted his ears.

"Kori? What are you...?" he laid a tentative hand on what he assumed was her back. "Kori?" he asked again. The covers shifted and she peeped out at him with fearful eyes. Tears streaked down her cheeks. "Kori, what happened?"

At that moment, Alfred came swiftly into his room. "Master Richard, Miss Anders' room window has been smashed in. Shall I begin cleaning up the glass?" the old butler asked.

"Uh, yeah, go do that.... Kori, talk to me," he said absently. Kori shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut.

"I want Roy... oh, Richard please let me call Roy..." she whimpered. Richard gave her a baffled look.

"Roy? Who's Roy?" he asked. Kori simply looked over at his phone.

"Please... I need to call Roy," she mumbled, still shaking. Richard was confused, but he handed her the phone none the less. Kori's slim fingers flew over the buttons and within seconds she was cradling the phone to her ear as if it were her life line. Richard could do nothing but watch her apprehensively. Was she ok? He noticed a slender trail of scarlet slip down her shoulder. She was cut... He brushed her hair out of the way and lightly touched the cut. She shrunk back from his hand and he frowned. Standing, he paused.

"I'm getting something for that cut... I need to see if there's any glass in it too. You, uh... call this Roy guy or whatever..." he shook his head and jogged from the room, a little tentative of leaving her alone that frightened. Kori held her breath as Roy picked up the phone. His sleepy voice came from the other line.

"Oh Roy... it's happened again- no. No, I'm not at home. I'm-I'm in Gotham. Mrs. Logan sent me here. She thought it would be good to get my mind off of... yes, but-Roy, please." She hardly noticed Richard had reentered the room until she felt his hands moving lightly over her cut. She winced, but stayed put.

Richard listened to her end of the conversation in puzzlement. "Really, Roy, I'm going to be fine. I think. I'm not alone, I promise. Richard Grayson is here," she was quiet a moment, her tears drying. Her cheeks flushed suddenly, evidently taken off guard by whatever this Roy character had said. "Oh, definitely not. I promise, he's just a friend-my boss. I'll be careful, honest. But... would you mind coming out here tomorrow, for just a little while. I'd feel much better if you came. Thank you, Roy," she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She jerked briefly, the disinfectant Richard had just put on her shoulder stung terribly. She gave a muffled yes to whatever Roy had just said and then she sighed. "Ok. I'll-I'll see you tomorrow then? Thank you so much Roy, I feel so much safer when you're with me. Uh, I'm sure I'll be fine for the rest of the evening. Okay. I-I love you too, alright, bye," she ended the call and looked up to find Richard staring at her somewhat dumb-struck.

Had he really heard her... she loved this guy, Roy... was that really what she'd said? He felt something drop in his gut and he went cold under the realization that he was... jealous. He didn't know why, it wasn't like. It wasn't like he'd thought about that.

"Richard?" she asked quietly. He blinked and came back to reality.

"Oh, right, your shoulder will be fine... Kori, what happened?" he asked, forcing himself to concentrate at what was at hand. He wasn't like that. He didn't feel that way for her. Not after one day. Besides, he didn't feel that way about anyone anymore.

"Nothing. The window, the window broke is all," she murmured, averting her gaze.

"You're not telling me the truth," he said quietly.

"No, really. The window broke, there's nothing-nothing else to say. Roy is coming to see me tomorrow. Before I go with you to the gallery. That'll be ok, right?" she asked. She swallowed, obviously still frightened. Richard raked a hand through his hair and sighed. Fine, she didn't want to talk about it. Either way, there was something bigger going on.

"Sure, whatever. As long as you're gonna be ok. Do you wanna go alone? To see, uh, Roy?" he was sorely confused at the moment, and off hand it was killing him. Who the hell was Roy? Why wouldn't Kori just tell him what happened? Was someone trying to hurt her? And why was he so friggin messed up by it all!

"No... I mean, you can come with me if you'd like to meet him," she coughed. Richard nodded slowly.

"Ok," he muttered. "You should try to get some more sleep. I guess you're gonna be meeting him here in a few hours anyhow," he shrugged. Kori nodded, but made no attempt to move. Richard sank down on the bed beside her. Still, she didn't move.

"I should go back to my room, shouldn't I..." she murmured. Richard shrugged.

"I could put you in one of the other rooms, the glass is probably cleaned up now, but the window won't be fixed until... well probably not for a couple days," he glanced at her. She didn't answer, but rather scooted out from under his covers. Kori leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. Richard nearly leapt away, surprised and all the more confused.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have just burst into your room like this. In fact, I probably shouldn't have come here at all. Not with-I'm being selfish. Coming here... putting you in... danger like this..." she didn't seem to realize what she was saying, and trailed off as she slipped into the world of dreams. Richard swallowed. In danger? What in the world? He looked over at her, her frame relaxed as she leaned against him and her face content with only her drying tears indicating she'd ever been frightened. Richard shifted her on his shoulder and leaned back against the wall. He closed his eyes. He'd sort things out in the morning, or at least he'd try to.

Moments later, he'd fallen back asleep with his arm loosely draped around her waist and the scent of orange flower and jasmine flooding his senses. In the morning, it was inevitable he'd mentally kill himself for letting a coworker sleep in his room, but at the moment, Kori had him so exhausted it didn't matter. He'd never had anyone tire his so much in his entire life. Nor had anyone captured any sort of feeling from him so quickly.

TT

Enjoy ! Until next time .