Milk And Cardamom | S. Brown ✔

[40]

Dora knocked on the door of Alex's room before entering and saw that Luke was going through some pictures on his phone. She didn't have to see who those pictures belonged to because she knew already. "Steph will miss you a lot too," she remarked softly as she sat down beside him.

He looked up, features set in an unreadable expression, "it all ended too soon... Much sooner than I would have wanted."

She nodded, "yeah but hopefully it's not going to stay like this forever. You could meet Steph again after the Bat vigilantes solve this case and it would be safe for you to return."

"Hopefully..." He sighed, eyes glancing out the small window, "hope is sometimes an illusion, Dora."

"Stop being pessimistic," she rebuked him though her eyes were soft as she took in his distressed state; it was no doubt evident that he was conflicted right then, "the Bats will stop Deathstroke, everything will be okay soon and then..."

But the sound of gunshots interrupted them and despite the wound on his leg, Luke bolted out of the bed, hand tightening on Dora's wrist, "he's here... Shit, he's here!"

He ignored the blood staining his bandage because at the moment all his mind could focus on was the fact that Deathstroke had turned up at the coffee shop and they were all going to die because of him.

Isadora, Alex, Susan, Eliza and Tyler. Five more people who would suffer just because he refused to accept his father's offer of joining him.

Dora was unable to process what had happened so suddenly but the sound of the gunshots neared until it seemed as if the glass windows of the shop were smashed due to the consistent firing.

The whole building was shaking with the bullets raining in on all sides and though Luke was trying to protect Dora, her face had gone white as a sheet, realizing that Alex was still downstairs where the intensity of the shots was much higher.

"Alex... Alex!" She tried to go down but Luke didn't let her. Tyler, the boy who helped with the shop, stumbled upstairs.

He looked hurt and was clutching his arm, "Dora, Al says call Selina for help. And both of you go to her apartment through the balcony. Go!"

"But Alex... Is he alright? Please tell me he's fine," she was panicking and though Luke held her close, he knew he would not be able to contain her if Tyler's answer turned out negative.

"He's not hurt very bad but please call Selina, she will alert the Bats," the boy dropped to the side, his palm tainted red, "please..."

However, Selina had already informed the Bat vigilantes upon hearing the commotion and she was herself in the balcony. The vigilantes were in the shop area battling off Deathstroke and Shadow Walker.

"Dora, Lucas, come with me," Selina called over to them, gesturing them to step into her balcony so that she could take them to safety.

But before they could leave, a shadowy form slithered up the walls and Luke grabbed Dora's hand, pulling her away from the railings where the form had materialized terrifyingly. She screamed as a tendril reached out towards her but Luke came in front of Dora as a shield because he knew very well that the creature would hurt her first.

And he could not let her come to any harm due to him.

The sound of the gunshots had lessened as Deathstroke had been met with resistance from the vigilantes. But he had sent Shadow Walker up to look for Luke and seeing the boy there, those unnatural red eyes gleamed sinisterly.

"Come with us or everyone suffers," the raspy voice reached them.

But right then Alex had managed to climb up the stairs as well, blood dried on his forehead and spectacles either lost or damaged in the commotion. Dora rushed towards him, supporting him and her brown eyes dashed in worry, taking in his injured state.