ILLUSION || Jason Todd

TWO

❝THE CURTAINS FELL GOODNIGHT❞

TEDY, IT'S OVER NOW

When Detective Dick Grayson came into the interview room holding a disposable coffee cup, Lorelei almost let out a prayer to her lucky stars. Whether it be coincidence or fate Lorelei did not care, either way, it brought Dick Grayson into the room she was in.

It may not have been the way she wanted to meet the former Robin but it was certainly much better than genuinely having a criminal record. One conversation and she could explain everything. From meeting Bruce to landing in the back of a cop car in Detroit.

Lorelei couldn't contain the smile that grew on her face as Dick took a glance at the two girls as he shut the door, walking towards the small bin in the corner of the room. "Hi there," He began, dropping his emptied cup into the bin. "Word on the street is you two like playing baseball with bricks and cop cars."

It was true, that is how she got there but regardless, Lorelei squirmed a little in her seat as she realised not only is she facing Robin but he's going to lecture her. It was embarrassing. She was star-struck, frozen in her chair as the two girls remained silent, their eyes stuck on Dick.

"I'm Detective Dick Grayson." He said, introducing himself as he sat down on the chair in front of the two girls. "Any of you wanna talk about what happened?" He asked, eyes drifting between the two girls who remained quiet.

Lorelei sat a little straighter on her chair, looking between Rachel and Dick, waiting to see what Rachel was going to say but she was wide eyed, also frozen in her chair. "I was just trying to help Rachel." Lorelei said slowly, surprised at her own sudden shy behaviour.

Dick gave a small nod at Lorelei's response, understanding her kindness to help a stranger. Lorelei knew there was much more that needed to be said, she was here for a reason, to find Dick, but she couldn't. Not with Rachel around. "I'm not sure if you-" Dick began to say, stopping himself as Rachel interrupted him.

"You're the boy from the circus." She said, bringing Dick's face to harden as he processed what Rachel had said. Lorelei, too, turned her attention to Rachel as she mentioned Dick's life in the circus. The Flying Graysons. Where it all began. "Please, can you help me?" She asked, leaning a little into the table.

"Who are you? Is this some kind of sick practical joke?" He asked, his friendly tone from before completely vanishing into the thin air that surrounded the room while Lorelei remained quiet. It was a sensitive topic, one that was not her place to butt in, so she opted for the viewer role while secretly wishing she had some snacks on her as she watched the scene unfold, only partially to fill her hunger.

Lorelei leaned back into her chair, getting a little more comfortable as Rachel spoke. "I remember, people were happy that night," She continued as Dick leaned his arms on the table, understandably growing frustrated with the situation.

Dick shifted his gaze back to Lorelei as Rachel paused. "What the hell is this?" He asked, bringing Lorelei to the realisation that she told Dick she was helping Rachel. Then, it dawned upon the blonde girl that he believes she is part of this, bringing his past to haunt him.

"I-I don't know, I was sent by-" She began to stutter, stopping herself as Rachel began to speak once again but truthfully, she didn't mind. If Lorelei continued, it may have brought more questions from what Rachel was saying and, in Lorelei's opinion, if Rachel is dealt with sooner, she could begin her mission with Dick.

Rachel kept her focus on Dick as she spoke, ignoring Dick questioning Lorelei's involvement. "Your parents, I watched them fall, you kept wishing it was a dream. Wishing you would wake up."

"Who put you up to this?" Dick asked, having enough of whatever games he assumed Rachel was playing, putting Lorelei on a backburner to remain his attention on Rachel.

"Everything led me here. To you." Rachel said, interrupting her recounting of a day she would have been too young to fully remember like that in detail, despite how traumatic it would be to have witnessed.

Lorelei, who had no idea what was happening and was just as confused as Dick, remained silent. "It can't be by accident, you've got to help me. I don't know how-" Rachel began to say before being interrupted by Dick, who made a comment about wanting help how that makes someone throw a brick at a cop car. "You don't understand!" Rachel replied, visibly upset by whatever situation she was in.

"Okay, make me understand." Dick said, his tone still harsh as he leaned back on his chair, frustrated at the situation but, as proven, willing to at a minimum, understand Rachel's situation, offering his help where he can. It was admirable to Lorelei, to have such kindness whilst provoked.

"Someone killed my mum!" She answered, causing the room to go quiet as the former Robin and magical girl processed what Rachel had admitted. "She's all I had." Rachel added, causing Dick to pull out a small pad of paper and a pen, asking for a name and address. "The only person in the world who cared for me. I am alone now." She gave the pen to Dick as he listened to her.

"Listen, I'm gonna check this out, okay?" He said standing up, bringing his attention back to Lorelei, who nervously smiled under his gaze. "You, I want a word with." He gestured to the young mage to follow him as he opened the door, the young girl silently complying.

"Don't leave me here." Rachel pleads, watching the two about to leave the room, a realisation that she was going to be alone settling in. Her pleas cause Dick to turn around, muttering that she vandalised a police car, ensuring she was not going anywhere. "You don't understand, you need to lock me up." She said, pleading once again before adding that there was something inside of her, claiming it was evil.

She was scared, everything about her emitted fear, Lorelei could sense it a mile away without her special abilities, it was enough to make her feel bad about leaving her and under other circumstances, Lorelei would have stayed. But this was not what she signed up for and selfishly, figuring out a murder was not something she wanted to be part of. It was well above her non-existing payroll. Perhaps she would have stayed if she had been on missions with Bruce but that was not the reality of her situation. Lorelei was just a glorified magical girl who was too scared to put her suit on and actually make a difference. Which is why she was here. To sort her shit out.

"I can't give you the kind of help you need but I will find someone who can." He said before turning back to the door, opening it as Rachel begged not to be left. "Look, I'm sorry. I really am." He apologised before walking out, causing Lorelei to follow after him once closing the door.

It had taken Dick no longer than two minutes of walking to find an empty interview room and gesture for Lorelei to enter, the door closing behind them as Lorelei stood against the wall, not bothering to sit down.

"Who are you?" Dick asked, turning to her, arms crossed and also ignoring the chairs and desk in the middle of the room. It seemed they both wanted this to swiftly be over. Lorelei for the reasoning of food and Dick to stop staring at her like she's the cause of Rachel reciting a horrible day and Dick for the reasoning of solving the murder of Rachel's mother.

The blonde girl sighed, scratching her head as she twisted her mind to find the right way to cryptically tell Dick what she needed to say. "I'm Lorelei Hansworth and I was sent here to find you by Bruce." She said, giving a small smile as Dick sighed at the mention of Bruce. "It's about the nightly activities, I'm having... issues."

"We can't do this here," Dick said, earning an understanding nod from Lorelei as she agreed with him, knowing there were safer places to have this conversation and DCPD was not one of those places. "Can you wait in my car? I've got stuff to do." He said, waving the notepad that held Rachel's details.

Lorelei groaned, knowing this may take a while but ultimately, nodded her head, agreeing to wait in his car. At the physical agreement, Dick swiftly took Lorelei to his car, allowing her to sit in the passenger seat whilst he dealt with the rest of his workload for the night, claiming he would be done soon; if Lorelei didn't know better, she would have believed him.