Veil of Shadows ๋࣭⭑⚝ Dick Grayson

5 ๋࣭⭑⚝ Surprise..? Or not.

"According to those files, the man who came after you may have been part of some doomsday cult."

"How charming.." Jules muttered in annoyance.

"They apparently believe it's their destiny to prevent the end of the world." Dick continued, then glanced over at the teenager in the backseat. "Does that mean anything to you?"

Rachel remained silent for a few seconds, turning away to look out the window. "Well, back when I was a kid, you know, I didn't get too angry or scared... because bad things happen."

"Like what..?" she asked softly. Then she frowned upon getting no response.

"I guess I'm an orphan, too, now." She saw the detective tense up slightly, exchanging a short, uncomfortable glance at the teenager. "That billionaire, Bruce Wayne, he raised you?"

The brunette couldn't hold back a small scoff. "Raise is a generous term."

Dick sent her an endearing glare before replying, "...Yeah."

"Must've been cool.." The teenager was able to break into a tight smile.

"It was... complicated."

"Does it ever go away?"

"What?"

"The feeling you got left behind."

The man's eyes wandered to her, then the teenager. "Yes."

She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow at his very dishonest response.

"Well, no... not entirely."

Jules faltered when she saw Rachel's lips quiver slightly. "You're going to leave me too, aren't you?"

"Rachel, that's not going to happen." She cut in, fully turning her upper body to face her.

"Yeah... We're not gonna to do that."

.˳·˖✶𓆩𓁺𓆪✶˖·˳.

"So, who are these guys?"

Dick glanced back at her question, then vaguely replied, "Old friends... the truth is we haven't seen them for a long time."

"Just you," she mumbled sarcastically, giving him a subtle side-eye.

The man sighed, raising his fist and knocking three times.

The door slowly swung open, revealing a soft-looking blonde whose expression fell slightly as her eyes landed on him but lit up the second she saw her.

"Hi, love!" she giggled softly and quickly embraced her.

Dawn brought her in tighter, grinning ear to ear. "It's good to see you again in person, Jules."

The two pulled away slightly as she glanced over at the pair standing by the door, staring at them in confusion.

"Hey," he greeted in a low tone.

"Hi."

"Hi." Rachel thankfully and surprisingly was able to cut through the silence, reaching out to shake the older woman's hand. "I'm Rachel."

"Dawn," she smiled at the girl softly.

She briefly frowned when Rachel's eyes widened the minute her hand came into contact with hers, and the teen awkwardly pulled back her hand slowly.

Dick's eyes wandered between her and Dawn for a minute. "Can we talk?"

The blonde looked over at her, gently rubbing her arms, then turning back to Dick, shaking her head slightly. "You're about four years too late, but sure." She opened the door wider and stepped to the side, watching as the two made their way inside.