Only in Darkness

9: Old Friends

Washington, District of Columbia

2018

Bags in hand Dick held open the front entrance of the red brick apartment building for the two girls. Rachel walking right through while Marlowe followed slowly, free hand rubbing against her eye as she yawned – still partially asleep.

The nineteen year old was a pace or two behind Dick and Rachel as they walked down the hallways of the building. Her duffle bag and canvas Staff carrier straps crossed over her chest while she carried her case in her left hand. 

She may be half-asleep but she had seen the street signs outside and knew where they were and to say the least, she definitely didn't expect to be back in DC so soon after what happened the last time she was here. Which was a big bunch of nothing but disappointment, failure, and embarrassment.

"Who are these people again?" Rachel questioned, she couldn't remember what their names were, or if Dick had even told them his friends names in the first place.

"Old friends, truth is I haven't seen them for a long time." His knuckles rapped on the oak door thrice, the man leaning on the door jam. A woman with Platinum blonde hair tied into a braid over her shoulder opened the door, soft music spilling out into the hallway from inside the apartment. Her pretty smile dropping at the sight of Dick.

Marlowe tried to come off as nonchalant but suddenly a lot of things clicked into place and she just wanted to bash her head into the ground.

"Hey." Dick greeted lightly.

"Hi." Confusion and disbelief colored Dawn's voice and bled into her eyes, especially when Rachel stepped forward with her hand out, introducing herself formally. Dawn giving the girl her name while shaking her hand.

Marlowe had never felt more uncomfortable in her life.

"Can we talk?"

"You're about four years too late, but sure." Dawn opened the door for them to come in.

~~*~~

The wind had picked up, Marlowe distancing herself from the two adults as quickly as she could once getting to the roof, but not sitting with Rachel either. Instead standing on the opposite side of the bird cage, taking in the view of rooftops and alley ways below.

The sound of doves cooing mixing with the quiet car sounds and horns as Marlowe pulled her lined rain jacket closer to her. Aware of the eyes burning holes into her back but acting as if she wasn't. She didn't want to know what they were saying about her.

"That's Starman's daughter?"

"You might have head he retired, she took over apparently. She goes by-"

"Stargirl." Dawn finished for Dick, the man looking on in confusion at her. Dawn shifted, facing Dick a bit more, "She passed through about a month ago, kicked up some dust. We never crossed paths though. As soon as she showed up, she was gone."

Dick looked to the girl looking off the side of the roof, her hair whipping around under her beanie.

"She's helping out for the time being. Whoever is after Rachel has people in the department. We needed someplace safe to regroup. Think about what I'm gonna do." Dick trailed off, his eyes following an invisible path from Marlowe to Rachel. Dawn's doing the same.

Marlowe could feel the change in the air right before Hank appeared. Already rolling her eyes at his 'I'm an alpha male, grrrr' posture as he all but stalked up to Dick and Dawn.