Closer Than Your Shadow

Hotel Room Blues

November 27th 12:06 a.m.
Gotham

Jacob and I finally got to my door as it turned 12:00. After we left Dom's house he asked me to help with his cut and new burn mark. We sat in his beat-up car and I re-bandaged his hand while we watched the people coming in and out of CVS. He paid me with tacos, and I had no problem whoring out my limited medical experience for food.

I didn't ask him how he was feeling because I knew I'd just get an angry answer. I opted not to mention the burn at all.

"Do you think Dom's serious about the new job? It's worse than the jewelry store."

"He'll make us do anything he wants. As long as it gets him the most money; even if it gets us killed." He looked over at me as if he suddenly realized that all of this was new to me. Dom just recently decided I was ready to do jobs. He just recently decided I was expendable, "So don't say anything to him about it, okay?"

I nodded yes, "Do you know when Alex is coming back? He's probably coming with us too, right? Dom needs everyone for this."

"I'm not sure yet. We didn't really get a chance to talk before he left."

"Oh."

I opened my door; he did the same. We both left the hallway without saying goodnight.

I closed the door behind me, and Robin was waiting on my couch. The sparse streetlights from outside were hitting the left side of his face so it casted a black shadow on the right. Something about him was off. It took me a minute to pick it out.

His mask was different now, his eyes were covered with a white patch.

I forced myself to put my bag on the counter without acknowledging him. Or how tall he was when he finally stood up.

"Are they ready to throw in the towel yet? I hoped last night might've thrown them for a loop."

"They're ready to put your head on a spike."

He let out a small breathy laugh. It could've been soft, but with the voice changer it was harsh and gritty.

"We need to go soon if we're gonna beat traffic."

"Go where?" My arms crossed as he headed for the cracked window.

"You could say it's a recon mission."

"For what?"

He sighed. My questions were starting to annoy him.

"You'll understand once we get there." He stepped onto the fire escape and waited for me to follow. I didn't want to go on another long trip. All I wanted to do was smoke a joint and watch some T.V. But I didn't think he was asking.

He put his hand out for me.

"Is this how it's going to be now? You forcing me to go along with all this shit." I was tempted to just lock him out. I felt safer with the window dividing us.

"For your foreseeable future, yes."

"Great. Terms and conditions then. No more getting beat up and no more arresting my friends. And no bricks." I figured he knew what I meant by my friends. I pulled my hair back from my face and tied it into a knot at the nape of my neck. I couldn't tell if his eyes were on me or if the room was getting smaller.

"I never asked you to throw the brick. Now I know your aim isn't anything to rely on."

I scoffed, "fuck off."

I grabbed onto the bricks and he stepped back to give me room. The 3-foot-long fire escape didn't have enough space for both of us. This was torture and being this close to him made it hard to breathe. He was constantly examining.