Veil of Shadows ๋࣭⭑⚝ Dick Grayson

3 ๋࣭⭑⚝ 'Not' Just a kid

"Well, she is very well-mannered for her species."

"I know you meant that as a joke, but people usually say it with a smile on their face."

"Oh, really?"

"Bruce."

"Alright, alright. I apologize." He chuckled softly, his smirk breaking the tension as he glanced at the woman sitting across from him on the couch.

"I thought that having an actual kid might have softened you up. Instead, you stay just as hard." Laurine sighed, taking a small sip from her teacup.

"Cut me some slack," Bruce muttered, shaking his head before turning to the two teens outside, play-fighting in the garden. "It’s still only been a few months since I brought him in."

"Does he seem happy?"

"Well, he’s certainly not dead."

"That’s a pretty low bar, Bruce." Laurine gave him a subtle side-eye over her teacup.

"Not for me." Bruce’s voice hardened slightly as his gaze returned to her. "One of the only people Dick sticks to... she’s his shield."

"Well, there will come a day when he’ll be her shield." Laurine smiled faintly, shrugging as if the future was already written.

---

"Jules..?

... Jules.

Juliette—!"

The brunette jolted upright, her head whipping around in alarm. Her wide eyes darted over her surroundings, her breaths uneven as she tried to orient herself.

Dick let out a quiet sigh of relief and returned his attention to the road. "Jesus, you scared me," he mumbled.

Jules blinked a few times before glancing down at her hand. Rachel's slender fingers were wrapped tightly around her pinky, as if she’d never let go. The girl sat quietly in the backseat, her face turned toward the window, where the passing greenery blurred into streaks of green and gold.

Rachel’s grip on her hand fluctuated, her fingers occasionally squeezing as though seeking reassurance.

The car came to a halt in front of a modest diner.

"I’m sure you’re both hungry," Dick said, turning off the engine. "We’ll stop, grab a bite to eat, and then get back on the road. Sound good?"

Rachel nodded hesitantly, finally releasing Jules’ hand as they climbed out of the car.

---

Inside the diner, they slid into a booth by the window. The warm hum of idle conversation and the clinking of dishes surrounded them.

"Thank you," Dick said politely to the waitress. He turned to Rachel. "You want a hot chocolate or something?"

"Just coffee. Black," Rachel answered, barely sparing him a glance.

"I bet they have marshmallows."

"I’m not a kid, okay?"

Dick blinked, caught off guard, though he quickly masked his reaction.

"Two black coffees, please," Jules interjected smoothly, offering the waitress a polite smile.

Once the drinks arrived, the silence between them settled thickly. Jules pulled out her tablet, her stylus dancing over the screen in a soothing rhythm.

"Sketching again?" Dick asked, breaking the silence.

"It calms me down... most of the time," she replied without looking up.

"You sure you don’t want a drink?" He raised his mug teasingly. "From what I remember, you run on sixty percent caffeine."

Jules rolled her eyes but didn’t respond, focused on her work. A moment later, the aroma of coffee filled her senses. She glanced up to find Dick holding his mug in front of her.

"Drink," he insisted, his tone light but firm. "Your powers aren’t much use if you can’t focus."

She hesitated, staring at the mug before reluctantly taking a few small sips.

Dick smirked and turned to Rachel, who hadn’t touched her cup.

"You gonna drink that?" he asked.

"My mom didn’t like me drinking coffee," Rachel murmured, her tone distant.

Jules watched as Rachel grabbed the sugar container and poured an alarming amount into her coffee, stirring quietly.

"Sweet tooth, huh?" Dick chuckled softly.

Rachel glanced at him briefly but didn’t respond.

"Rachel," Dick began, his tone careful. "Has anything like... what happened before ever happened to you?"

The teen set her mug down, her hands trembling slightly. "No... not like that. I didn’t mean to kill that guy."

"We know that, sweetie," Jules said gently, setting her tablet aside and leaning forward. "But how... how did you do it? What happened?"

Rachel brought the mug to her lips, hiding her face as she avoided the question.

Jules sighed, turning to Dick. "Where are we going now?"

"To see some old friends," Dick said casually, though his tone carried a sense of urgency. "They’re safe. They’ll give us a place to regroup, figure out what to do next."

Rachel’s shoulders slumped. Her gaze remained fixed on her mug.

Jules nudged Dick subtly with her elbow, gesturing toward Rachel with her eyes.

"You’re scared," he said gently. "I get it. But sometimes, there’s no time to be afraid."

When Rachel didn’t respond, Jules leaned forward, her voice soft and steady.

"Rachel, I promise you, nothing’s going to happen to you," she said, reaching across the table to take the girl’s hand. "No one’s going to get you. Okay?"

The teen looked at her, then at Dick, before exhaling shakily. "Where else am I going to go anyway?"

Jules gave her a small, reassuring smile. "With us," she said firmly.