Closer Than Your Shadow

I Fall To Pieces

December 4th 11:49 p.m.
Gotham
14th street

"What happened to undercover?" His friend mumbled. She looked over her shoulder, but no one was coming. They hadn't cared enough. After all it was just a few kids who got beat up. That happened all the time. But it was more than that. I don't think he could stop himself. He was brutal.

"Undercover?" I questioned.

Dick's hands stayed in his pockets as he walked. He didn't seem as on edge as his friend, but something was different about him.

"Are we going to act like that didn't just happen? Who the fuck are you?" I stopped walking and they both turned back towards me.

She looked at Dick and waited for him to answer but he didn't.

"I'm Donna, Dick's friend from the GCPD." Donna introduced herself. Oh great. Two cops. What would I ever do with just one? I turned to Dick for an explanation, but he was mute.

"What was that?" I barked.

"I think it's time for me to head home. Nice to meet you Claire, and Dick?"

"Mhm?" he finally answered.

"You owe me for the scuffs on my boots. You said it'd be an easy day and now my favorite shoes have Chad on them." She walked into the dark alleyway with her middle finger over her head. I shook my head and scoffed.

"Shouldn't you walk her home?"

"If anything, Donna would be the one walking me home."

I didn't care for him to elaborate but I said, "Fine. Let me ask again. What the fuck was that?"

"I was there for a lead on another case."

"Case about what?" I dropped my arms from my chest.

"I needed to find someone."

"At the Viper Room?"

"Guy named Anatoly. I heard he's a regular there. Why were you there?" the implication clear in his voice.

"Remember when I said you'd judge me. Better to just keep it up in the air."

He side-eyed me but I stayed quiet.

It was my turn to brood. Tonight's accomplishments we're overshadowed by him.

I thought he was... no.

"If I pissed you off about that, I'm sorry." His eyes were dead ahead. All I wanted was him to look me in the eye. But I knew he wasn't sorry. He didn't mean a word he just said.

"I'm not pissed off." They deserved it. But the way he attacked them was itching my mind.

"I heard what they were saying to you," he explained.

"And it made you that mad?"

"I wasn't really going to break their wrists."

I couldn't help it and I let a small laugh fall from my lips.

"What?" he questioned with a slight smile.

Then the giggles started, and my chest warmed up. Two shots of top shelf whiskey will do that.

He shook his head, but he started laughing anyways. The sound was nice, light and dark with a soft finish. It made me want to hear it again.

"Donna seemed nice. A little threatening but nice," I said.

"She's always like that, even when we were kids."

"How long have you known her?"

"Since I was 13," he answered as he watched the people pass us. Every now and again I swore he was checking our 6.