The Callahan Archives (In The Shadows)

fifteen.

The next day.

Cam and I took a detour through the town square after investigating a series of robberies in a small jewelry store. The driver was a few streets over so we took the long way.

This streets were pretty busy today, so we got a few stares from people since we were dressed completely in black with weapons with us. Any of the agents being out in the public for extended periods of time, is usually pretty odd.

"Well, I think it went relatively well." Cam sighed, searching her pocket for something.

"Yeah it did actually I...." I trail off as I look up to see two women walking our direction, one talking the others ear off.

The blonde woman looks up and squints at me and Cam, probably wondering about our attire. But the more I look at her the more familiar she looks. She's walking with a ginger lady, and they're both holding shopping bags.

The ginger lady dropped one of her shopping bags, and I stop Cam from running into them.

"I'm so sorry! We're blocking the sidewalk I apologize.." The blonde one says as her friend picks up her bag.

"Oh no worries, it's not a big deal." I give the blonde a smile, and she furrows her brows.

"Wait a minute... you look familiar." She points at me, while still balancing shopping bags on her arms. I look over to Cam and she just gives me a look.

Before I could respond 'No', it finally clicked.

"Lianna?" I asked hesitantly.

"Lloyd?" She responded, and I winced at the use of my biological name. Cant blame her, since she doesn't know about my new name.

"It's me, but I go by Arrow now." I try my hardest to give her a genuine smile.

"Oh I see." She smiles and nods, understanding almost immediately. "How have you been then?"

I look over to Cam and she's trying not to laugh.

"What's so funny?" I ask her quietly.

"Who names their kid Lloyd..." She chuckles and I roll my eyes and focus back on my sister.

"Hey June." I wave to Liannas friend. "I'm alright, how about you two?"

"Were good!" Lianna exclaims, putting her free arm around her ginger friend.

"So.. who's this?" Cam asks, contributing to the conversation again.

"That's my sister, Lianna." I start.

"And this is my girlfriend, Juniper." Lianna finishes and smiles brightly, as she boasts about her long time friend and girlfriend.

"You can just call me June.." Juniper says bashfully. She's always been pretty shy.

"Good to see you again," I give her a nod.

"Who's this then," Lianna gestures to Cam. "Your girlfriend?"

"Uh, this is my coworker, Camari." I chuckle at her use of the word girlfriend. Cam rolls her eyes at me.

"Hi, it's good to meet you guys." Cam waves at the two girls.

"Y'know Id really hate to cut this short, but we're still on the clock," I put a hand around Cams waist without even thinking, "and we need to get back, sorry." I give them a sympathetic look.

"Oh yeah, no worries!" Lianna searches one of her bags for a piece of paper, she scribbled something on it and hands it to me, before grabbing June's hand. "Message me and we can keep up some other time." She gives me a smile.

The two girls walk off the opposite direction of us. I let go of Cam and the two of us walk in a comfortable silence go the car where the driver was waiting for us.

I had thought, after not seeing my family at all for years it'd be weird, and it wasn't as bad as I thought.

"We're here." Cam roughly nudged my arm, and got into the car before me. She scooted over and I sat beside her.

Just as I buckled my seatbelt and the driver sets off, my phone screen lights up with an incoming call from Bernard. Cam is oddly quiet next to me.

"Hello?" I pick up the phone, a gruff slightly angry voice answers.

"Arrow. Where are you.?" Bernard asks, seemingly very displeased.

"Chill.. we're in the car on our way back right now." I respond in the calmest voice I can.

"Do not tell me to chill out. That's very disrespectful of you, Arrow. Something could've happened and then I wouldn't know." He said lowly, pretty pissed off from before our call.

"I'm sorry, Sir. We're almost there. Im ending the call now." I sigh.

"See you." He hung up before I could.

[•••]

The rest of the day went by slowly and Bernard was pissed all day. I managed to sleep that night, unlike the majority of the time. Thank you, melatonin.

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