CARMEN, riverdale.

' lachrymose '

🐍

   "SHE'S CHANGING, brother, so much. And I'm scared. You saw how she dealt with all the turmoils that happened and I'm scared of what Carmen may do." Robin admitted to his bestfriend.

"It's always been killing her, hasn't it?" Apollo had a somber voice, eyes heavy with tiredness as they sat in the kitchen, cups of coffee and Carmen isolating herself once more. Granted, it was only a little after six o'clock but he wasn't sure what to make of that after the attempted attack earlier at Murdock Agency.

"What-What if I'm not doing a good job at being a father anymore, Robin? What if I'm actually letting her down instead of making her happy? I just-I just want to be the best father I never had, she deserves all the best," Robin had true fear in his eyes that Apollo hadn't seen before.

The Barnes man grabbed him by the shoulder firmly, "There's no way to be a parent, brother. Whichever way you may be, your effort and your dedication and love counts. Maybe the kid's just going through some tough time, adjusting with the move or something."

"We couldn't stay in New York and you know that. You pull a shit like that again, I'd skin you alive when I see you, Apollo."

"I know, I know-"

"Carmen?" The two men turned to see the said girl heading the same way for the front door. Her gaze was empty as she glanced at them.

"Meet up with Betty, go to Pop's." She told them emptily.

"You-You practically haven't eaten the whole day and you're going out again? Do you realize how dangerous it is now that Novak seems to know where we are?" Robin had a desperate, pleading undertone.

"I'll be home soon," She dismissed, completely disregarding his words and left wordlessly.

"Novak's still coming after you?"

"Bastard doesn't know jack shit when it comes to quit," Robin scowls. "Terrorizing her every chance he gets her alone."

"Then why would he go after you instead of Carmen? She walked all the way from that highschool to our compound. Something's missing, don't you think he's actually targetting both of you?" Apollo talks sense to him, give him something to think about. Now that he was here, Apollo was sure that the two Murdocks had to have their moments alone, too. Where the other wouldn't hear effectively.

Robin stayed silent, though he wanted to conduct justice for himself, in his own rules, it's still Carmen and Apollo above all. Granted, they were the only family he had, and the only home he ever came home to. He'd kill anyone who tries to get to his family when they shouldn't have.

"He wants to break us apart, Apollo. He'd get me because he knew it'd break her like when he supposedly killed you, and he's going after her to break me. He's trying to destroy us, that's why we left. I don't even know how they knew where we are, but I don't want to take my chances anymore. Too low on trust, you're the last one," Robin shrugged, swaggering over to the fridge. He takes a bottle of beer, twisted the cap off and took a swig.

"You should be watching over her," Apollo said disapprovingly.

"You can watch over her now, if you'd like." Robin shrugged again, pouring the beer into the cup of coffee he had. Apollo stared at him as if he'd lost his mind, and with all the chaos going on, he wouldn't be surprised if he did.

"I'm supposed to be dead,"

"Well now you aren't."

"Goddamit, Robin."