~.: De's POV :.~
I woke with a start, agony flaring in the pit of my stomach as I struggled to sit up. My ears were ringing and the sounds of people talking throughout the hallway and in the room I was in were just making the ringing in my ears worse. Blearily rubbing at my eyes, a sharp intake of breath from my left startled me and I winced as I sharply turned to glance at who else was in the room with me. Dick met my bewildered gaze and he quickly had me settle back down against the infirmary bed I was placed on. It was then that I remembered just what exactly had happened. Flashes of light and screaming filled my mind as I recalled the incident and I put a hand to my head as I groaned at my attempt to recollect the memories of what had occurred.
"Just lay back and relax, baby," Dick murmured, taking one of my hands in both of his affectionately before placing a kiss on my forehead as another sharp pang flashed through my stomach, "You were shot and you need to stay as still as possible so you don't disturb your stitches," he explained carefully, looking me in the eyes with a worried expression on his face. I frowned at him, moving the blankets to reveal a tourniquet wrapped around my abdomen, a distinct crimson stain decorating the white cloth.
"Ugh, I look horrible in white," I laughed drily, attempting to smile but Dick frowns at my statement as I bring his hand to my face and muzzle my cheek against his palm since I can't exactly hug him like this, "Where's Aria...?" I suddenly asked, looking up at him once more as he sighs and draws his thumb along my cheekbone delicately.
"She's okay, she insisted on going to... Addison's room..." He murmured, using his freehand to rub at the back of his neck as he sat down on the side of the infirmary bed. I winced at the mention of his other twin sister as the memories of the shooting resurfaced. Addison had been shot twice, I remember it clearly now. The splattering of her blood all over my face, chest, and shoulders as she collapsed on me after being shot through the skull and stomach. It was a memory I now wanted to suppress more than anything. Why couldn't it have just been a nightmare?
"Nightwing?" A voice at the infirmary entrance cut off my troubled thoughts and Dick and I looked up to see Riley standing in the doorway, a stranger hanging back a little bit behind her. Dick sighed in annoyance, running his freehand through his hair.
"Riley, I don't have time for you to be causing trouble," he grumbled but as soon as the other guest made themselves visible, he raised an eyebrow in confusion, "Who's this?" Riley sighed, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder as she leaned against the doorframe.
"That's why I came to get you, birdbrain," She huffed as the strange girl and I met eyes, "She says she's been having problems with her powers so she wants to find a mentor," As she finished speaking the girl tore her gaze from me to stare at the ground while she scuffed her feet against the wooden floor. Light frost formed underneath her boots and I exchanged a curious look with Dick as he observed the girl's abilities.
"Okay, well, I'll see what I can do, I guess," Dick finally replied, standing up carefully so as not to hurt me, "For now, what's your name, kid?" He inquired, walking toward the newbie while I sat up as best as I could. The girl kept her eyes on me while Riley left the room and I couldn't help but feel like there was a connection that I sensed between her and I. Something old and familiar, like the dusty pages of a book long forgotten.
"My name is Lexie," As the girl spoke her name, my heart stuttered to a stop for a moment and I was plunged into two memories I thought I'd gotten rid of over the last few years passing...
*** Five Years Ago ***
"De!!! Are you done yet? The guys are here now," Aria's voice called through the door of her bedroom while I managed to straighten out my outfit. Aria I'm fixing my hair in the mirror, Aria barges into the room, followed closely by Lukas, "Deanneeeee, why didn't you respond when I kept saying your name?" I laughed as I turned to face her when Ryan suddenly walked into the room, looking embarrassed as a smaller girl clung to his side.
"I'm sorry I don't do more than one thing at once," I giggled at Aria before turning to Ryan as he blushed and shyly hugged me in greeting while the girl beside him backed off a little to look me over curiously. Catching sight of her, I cocked my head and waved at her but she shied away, her hair falling in her face as she backed up. Ryan sighed and pulled out of the hug so he could gesture for the girl to come closer.
"This is Lexie," he explained to me gently while Lukas and Aria set up the tv so that we could watch a movie together, "She's the little sister I told you I had to bring with me," As I nodded, Ryan looks back at Lexie who doesn't budge an inch and he heaves another sigh, before surrendering, "I'm really sorry, she's shy," I giggled at his response, shaking my head slightly before snuggling against him.
"It's alright, I used to be pretty shy too," I reassured him while smiling warmly at his little sister, "Hi, Lexie! I can't wait to be friends with you!~"
*** Three Years Later ***
It had all came as a surprise when the I got a phone call from Ryan's mom. He and I had been planning to go out to a family dinner so that he could make an announcement. He wouldn't tell me what the announcement was all he told me was to make sure I was ready to be picked up by him at 5:30 in the afternoon. It was currently edging closer to six when the phone call registered on my cell as I stopped mid-pace in the living room of my apartment.
"Deanne? It's Ryan- he's at the hospital. There was a car accident and- The doctors told me that he is not going to make it... Do you need a ride to the hospital? I can come pick you up after I get Lexie from school," My mouth was hanging ajar in shock, my pulse roaring in my eardrums as I clutched the phone to my chest. Ryan is at the hospital. That single thought circulated through my brain as I managed to agree to getting a ride from Ryan's mother. The love of my life is going to die...
*** Present Day ***
"Ryan's little sister...?" I murmured softly, resisting the pang in my heart as I said his name. Lexie looked up at me as I spoke and Dick's eyes gleamed with recognition, "I haven't seen you since..." I trailed off, not wanting to continue the sentence as Lexie approached me. She nodded quietly in response, frowning slightly at the sight of the tourniquet around my abdomen.
~.: TO BE CONTINUED :.~
