Sour Candy | T. Drake ✔

[22] Freedom At Last

She lifted her eyes from the book she was reading, gaze flickering towards the clock. Taking her phone, she texted Steph to call back whenever she was free. 

It had been a month with Steph in New Haven so Dora was missing her a lot. And though they talked as frequently as possible, it wasn't the same as having her back in Gotham because she got very little free time due to her studies.

Shortly after her phone rang and she picked it up, smiling because she knew the call was from Steph. Her smile widened hearing the enthusiastic Hi from her friend's cheerful voice.

"Dora, the second I saw your text, I wrapped up all my work and called because it seems like a century since we last talked and oh my God I have so much to tell you!"

Dora laughed at her excitement, "of course, I am so glad you were free right now. I really miss you."

"Me too, sweetie, but there's a good news..."

She had left the sentence deliberately incomplete, sparking up Dora's curiosity, "what good news?"

"We might get a break for Christmas and I will try my very best to come back."

"That's great, I can't wait till Christmas then."

A light chuckle greeted her from the other side as Steph replied, "same. Anyways, how have you been?"

"Good actually," she replied, "Tim's doing great too and I met Cassandra last week."

"Yeah, Cassie's back and it sucks that she chose to come back at the time when I couldn't meet her. I'll ask Tim and the others to make sure she stays for Christmas because I'm dying to meet her. It's been two years..."

"I understand," Dora nodded, leaning back in her bed as she placed the book aside, "how's Luke?"

"Luke just dropped by. Wait, let me put the phone on speaker," Steph remarked and Dora heard the soft laughter as she switched the call onto speaker mode, "okay, guess who I'm talking to?"

"It's Dora, right?" Luke's voice sounded.

"Hi Boots," her eyes sparkled playfully as she greeted him, knowing it would annoy him. The slight groan and Steph's laugh after that confirmed her assumption.

"Hey," he spoke up as Steph's laughter faded, "how's my little explorer doing?"

"Great, how about you two?"

"Perfect."

Dora laughed, "Steph, your presence definitely has a positive effect on this sour wolf. He actually sounds happy and that's a first."

"Oh come on," Steph couldn't hold back the laugh that poured out.

"Haha not funny, Dora," Luke added, "first giraffe, then Boots and now sour wolf? You literally have no respect for me. Must I remind you that you are two years younger than me but treat like I'm the younger one?"

"I just love annoying you," she replied, laughing as well, "your reaction is always priceless. Besides, all three of the nicknames I have given you fit very well. What you say, Steph?"

"Don't know about Boots but the other two, definitely."

"Not fair, Steph, you were supposed to take my side here."

She chuckled, "sorry, I'm Dora's friend first."

"Very very unfair."

"Sour mode activated," Dora remarked, her smile widening.

It felt great to talk to both of them and even better to know they were both quite happy together. Dora had seen how detached Steph and Luke had been when their relationship had gotten strained due to everything that happened in the past year. So knowing that they had managed to mend their relationship was relieving.