Closer Than Your Shadow

A Quaalude

December 3rd 8:14 p.m.
Gotham
My apartment

"Where have you been? You took forever to text back! I thought you were ghosting me," Sasha prodded when I opened my front door for her. Her boots thumped against my hardwood floor as she charged in. She was dressed in all black and silver jewelry making her look more goth than last I saw her.

"Sorry, I've been busy with work. Christmas and all."

I passed the ziplock bag to her and she pulled a nug out. She put it to her nose. "Is this new?"

"Northern Lights from Metropolis."

"Oh cool. I'm glad you finally answered. I was about to call Jacob to see if he had anything."

"I finally had the night off. You've never bought this much before. Are you having a party or something?" I asked as I sat on the couch.

"Just something small this weekend. You should come through, Dez will be there. He said you guys were finally talking again." Her black jeans and black checkered shirt paired with her braided pigtails made her look younger than she was. If I hadn't known she was 25, I would've said she was 19.

"He said that?"

By time Dez woke up the morning after Robin gassed him, I was already home making a pot of coffee. He didn't remember Robin or how he fell asleep. He just thought it was a bad hangover. We didn't really talk when we drank from our mugs. He hugged me before he left and that was the last time we spoke.

He didn't mention Genisis again but it was taking over my head, and I wondered if I should ask him for an update or just leave it alone.

"He told everyone he came over to see you."

"Oh."

"Or did that not happen? With Dez you never know."

"No, he came over but he passed out on my couch. Nothing happened. I've been ignoring him for a while, and now, I feel bad."

"Because of Genisis?"

"Yeah," I murmured.

"He'll need us. That's all that matters. The least we can do is be there for him until they find her."

"Sasha?" I asked while she took a wad of cash out of her purse.

"Yeah?"

"When's the last time you were in the cove?"

"I live in the cove," She let out a laugh. "What do you mean?"

"I mean deep in the cove. Past 8th street."

"It's been a while. Not a place I like to be. Why?"

"I just heard something."

"What'd you hear?"

"Weird shit is happening down there."

"And that's surprising?"

"It's not. I was just wondering if you've noticed anything?"

Her eyes shifted. "I don't really know what you mean by weird but no one's safe in the Southside. You know that better than any of us. You actually lived out there. Not even I can say that."

That made me blink. I was a stranger to that place and it made me feel like a fake. I'd left that life behind so easily.

I threw my back pack over my shoulder after taking the soft hand of a Gotham mob boss and I never looked back.

"Yeah. Your right. I was just wondering."

"Well, I wouldn't look into it. Shit's always crazy down there. Here's 50 for the ounce. See you later C." I looked at the crumpled bills and she was already out the front door.