Dick could hear his phone buzz. He almost didn’t answer it but he knew who it would be at this time of night and he didn’t want to ignore her. He didn’t want to make her feel like he was ignoring her at least. But answering the phone was difficult. He held his pendant in his hand but didn’t have the heart to open it.
Popping it open he stared at the two faces, the tiny baby faces of himself and his brother when they were too young to know about the world. When all they knew were their parents and each other. It felt like a lifetime ago.
His brother’s face appeared in his mind, eyes glowing like fire and mouth twisted in anger and pain. Pain that Dick had caused. He shut his eyes and looked away trying to dash that image as fast as it had appeared in front of him. Chest heaving slightly, he rolled to the side and wanted to swear and curse.
Reaching for his phone and rolling over again, he stared at the newest messages and it was Samantha. Not in the group chat but directly to him.
Samantha: Hey Dick.
Do you want to come on patrol tonight?
If not. I get it
Dick stared at the messages and sighed. He didn’t know how to respond to her. He wanted to. Knew he should but he couldn’t muster the ability to move forward. He felt stuck and yet he found himself typing out to her.
Richard: I don’t know
My heads all over the place.
Samantha: Take your time
I’ll be fine out here.
Richard: Lilys not with you is she?
Samantha: No
I’ll be fine
Solo patrolling isn’t new to me
Richard: No.
Ill come join you
Samantha: It’s fine Dick. Seriously
Richard: I don’t want anything to happen to you
Even on accident
Samantha: Okay
Meet me on 57th
We can work forward form there
Richard: Ok
Dick nodded and put his phone down. He got off the bed slowly and made his way toward the door. He got to the door and ran straight into his uncle. Keenen looked at his nephew with a raised eyebrow and smiled. “Hey mijo. Where you heading?”
“Hey tio,” he tried to smile back. “Going out to meet Samantha.”
“Oh a date huh?”
“Si, something like that.”
“You two are being safe right?”
Dick made a face and groaned. “Si tio,”
“Making sure mijo. I don’t need any grandkids running around.” He laughed clapping him on the back and Dick paused for a second realizing what he’d said. Dick stepped forward and hugged his uncle tightly taking him off guard but he hugged him back. “Not that I don’t appreciate it but everything okay Richard?”
“Yeah. Just, thanks for all you’ve done for me tio. Since taking me in and raising me. I wouldn’t have gotten here if not for you and I don’t say thanks enough. I love you”
Keenen smiled down at his nephew and sighed hugging him back, “I love you too Richard. I’ll always be here for you.”
Dick stepped back from his uncle and nodded quickly wiping his eyes. “Let’s get breakfast tomorrow morning.”
“Oh are you buying this time?”
“Come on tio. Don’t you wanna get breakfast for your nephew before he goes off to the real world?”
“Nice try mijo but you’re not leaving just yet.”
“What can I say? I tried,” he smiled and checked his phone. “Can’t keep Samantha waiting.”
“Be careful,” Keenen said winking and Dick made a disgusted face before running out of the house.
Catching the train he stuck with it for a few stops before jumping off three stops later. Checking back and forth on the platform he walked over to the railing and leaned over it seeing the ground. It was a decent way down and the other building was fairly close with a tall fence. And knowing Samantha she wouldn’t be ground level.
He waited a few minutes longer for the platform to clear out until it was just him. Lowering his arm he called his chain out and felt it slink against the ground. Leaning forward he jumped off the railing and swung his arm forward. The chain shot forward and wrapped around the fence. Swinging forward he braced and hit the wall hard.
Grunting he grabbed the chain and climbed the side building before rolling over the top. Sliding across the rooftop he stumbled and rolled to the side holding his side. He stared at the sky holding his chest and tried to breathe, his chest burning.
Pushing himself to his feet again he grunted and glared at the ground. He could see his brother’s whip wrapping around his chest. He could feel it squeezing on his ribs and then explode from the tip and throw him back into the sand wondering if his bones were broken.
Coming back to the present he groaned. Even with his geist helping him along he hadn’t healed 100% and falling just now didn’t help matters. Pushing himself to his feet slowly he shook off the pain and kept going forward getting another of his chains ready to go.
He couldn’t hear anything which meant thankfully there weren’t any wraiths prowling around. He was still a few streets away from 57th which meant he had some new buildings to hop. Or if he was being smart, he would do this instead. Letting his chain out he walked toward the edge of the building and tossed it around a nearby transformer. Making sure it was sturdy he climbed down the side of the building.
Hitting the pavement, he grunted and pulled his chain back to him and then let them fade away. Walking back onto the street he felt the glare of the lights of a passing car and glared back. He walked down the street until he hit the corner. Checking his phone he cleared the notifications from his group chats but had nothing new from Samantha.
Dick walked a few steps forward and leaned against the traffic light but he felt the sand under his feet again. Looking ahead and seeing the red light he saw a small explosion of red. Watched Lily’s arms dive forward and slash across his brother’s body. Watched her direct them to keep going but the flame chain shot at her and even the cloak wasn’t truly enough to protect her from the burn.
She screamed and he snapped out of the moment hearing a pair of boys running down the street and shouting at one another. They couldn’t have been older than six. Blinking quickly, he smiled in their direction and then looked toward the lights, waiting for it to be time to cross. But they just suddenly sprinted across the intersection and he sighed shaking his head. Except one of them tripped and stumbled against the ground.
A truck honked its horn trying to slow down and he vaguely heard someone scream. Dick was already running forward. Didn’t even think twice about it. He sprinted across the intersection, his geist appearing and wrapping around the boy. He dragged him backward as the truck swerved past. Groaning he got to his feet and looked at the little boy. “Estas bien? I mean you okay?”
He stared at Dick dazed as if he didn’t realize what had almost just happened which Dick didn’t blame him for. He just nodded absently and Dick sighed getting to his feet and making sure the kid was good to. A woman ran over to them and immediately hugged the boy fussing over him and Dick guessed that was his mother. While she distracted his geist disappeared as if it had never been.
She finally looked at Dick and grabbed his hand shaking it profusely. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You saved my little boy.”
Dick smiled and shook his head saying it was nothing. The light finally changed colors and the other little boy ran over hugging, who Dick could only assume, his brother. Their mother held both of them tighter and Dick took that moment to walk away no needing to stay any longer there. Sighing he kept going down the street but frowned.
The mother and her two sons together, he remembered an old picture he’d found in Keenen’s place. A picture of his mother holding the two of them tightly and grinning, identical grins on both boys faces. He wondered if that was how they would have looked. If that was how him and his brother would have behaved growing up together.
“Is that how a hero acts? Saves a pair of kids and then walks into the distance?”
He smiled looking down at the ground and then turned as Samantha walked toward him. She leaned and kissed him and then he squeezed her hand as they walked next to each other. “The kid was in trouble and I’m glad I could help.”
“So humble. Where has this version of you been my entire life?”
“Muy gracioso.”
“I mean you are just brushing over the fact that you saved someone’s life.”
He smiled at that and nodded. “I just acted. My geist did the rest. And apparently it was el gemelo.”
She squeezed his hand lightly and nodded, “You okay?”
“Which part?” he started to say and then stopped frowning. “I still can’t stop thinking about last week. Haven’t been able to sleep or really just stop seeing the fight. Flashes here and there. Keep wondering if I could have done something different but I know I couldn’t have. So now I’m just trying to make it through the days.”
“I’m sorry Dick,” she raised his hand slightly and kissed it but looked at her. “I’m here. Whatever you need.”
“Entender,” he kissed her hand as well. “What’s the legion said? Aside from the stuff that they’ve told me.”
“You think they’ve told me different things?”
“Come on capitana I’m a warrior. You’re a captain. If they didn’t tell you different stuff I’d be disappointed.”
She shook her head, “Yes I have been talking to the other captains and the commander. Captain Betty has been vouching for you and commander Lin likes you well enough. Which is odd. You have that personality. Warrior Janet and warrior Lyra both managed to recover from their fights with Rey.”
“Bueno, I was worried about that,” he frowned. “I guess they’re not really fans of me either are they?”
She waved her free hand, “They’re grateful that you stopped your brother but they also understand how hard that must have been for you. Sirius is an outlier, not the norm.” He nodded his frown not fading. “I think Commander Lin said it like this, ‘That warrior has a good heart. Take care of him. We need more like him.’ Or something like that.”
“Wait take care of him? Like I don’t watch over you all the time.”
She jabbed his head lightly and smirked. “Uh huh. You’d be falling apart without me. Especially after that first day.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, you don’t remember me saving you? It’s been a bunch of times now. I’ve lost count honestly how many times I’ve pulled you out of the frying pan.”
“Hey let’s not forget how many times I’ve saved you too,” he said holding up his hand. “I’ve come to your rescue since I learned about being a geist warrior.”
She giggled and pulled away from his hand and walked toward the edge of the street. “What so you’re saying you’re my hero?”
They were leaving the city behind and going toward the pier. She had run ahead of him, getting the better of him because her question almost caught him off guard. “Yeah. I am. That a problem?”
She turned on her heel and shouted back, “Come catch me then hero!”
He ran after her and for a moment he was running across the sand again, watching Samantha attack his brother. Her gauntlets coming to life and punching ice at his brother. Watching her jump forward and take his brother to the sand only to have the chain of fire wrap around her and blow her into the air. But her ice was strong enough and she threw herself right back at him.
Blinking Dick stumbled onto the bridge his arm out stretched and had to get his bearings. Grasping for the railing of the bridge he leaned against it and gasped. Samantha turned to look back at him and ran back to his side. Wrapping her arm around his shoulders he looked at her and gave her a small smile.
“Estoy bien.”
“You sure?”
“I think.”
Standing upright he let out a breath and kissed her forehead then lips taking her off guard, “Caught you.”
She blinked and then shook her head pushing him back, “Not fair.”
“Always fair,” he said leaning against the side of the bridge and pushed himself to sit on the edge of it. She stepped closer leaning her head against his chest lightly. Wrapping both his arms around her he rested his head on hers and dug his fingers into her curls and sighed to himself.
He shut his eyes and shuddered. He could see his brother fading away in front of him, turning to fiery wisps but smiling at him. He could hear him whispering, “Good bye Richard.” He could feel himself clutching Samantha close and the tears pouring down his eyes and crying into her hair.
Pulling away from her he wiped his eyes and sniffled and Samantha was looking at him. He kept rubbing his eyes and breathing slowly getting it under control but Samantha reached up and cupped his cheeks in her hands. “Dick. You don’t have to hold it in. You can let it out.”
He opened his mouth to talk but frowned staring at the ground. “It’s hard to grieve Capitana. To have lost him but know that at a moment’s notice someone could be in danger.” Samantha stepped back to let him slide down to the ground and she turned to look at the city.
“The life of a geist warrior,” Samantha said softly. “Rarely ever a moment down time or peace of mind. It’s why I wanted you to stay home.”
He shrugged his shoulders, “It’s the tradeoff for protecting people. Besides I’d hate for something to happen to you.”
“But you’re hurting,” she faced him the frustration in her voice. “You don’t need this pressure on top of dealing with what you’re going through.”
“It’s fine capitana,” he smiled at her. “Fighting side by side helps me deal with it better than just being on my own at home. Being with you in general makes things better.”
She raised her eyebrow and covered her mouth looking away from him. “Careful Dick. That sounds pretty intimate for a guy like you.”
Normally he would have laughed something like that off but this time he caught her before she backed away from him too far. She paused looking at their hands and then looked at him. She could feel that he was being serious.
“You’ve been with me since the beginning Samantha. The first wraith that attacked. Teaching me to use my geist. Fighting the wraith that killed my family. Saving my brother and then helping me fight my brother. I wouldn’t have gotten here without you. Yeah, I have everyone else but you. You’re special. I love you Samantha.”
She stared at him, not surprised by his words yet taken off guard all the same. She squeezed his hands tightly and then kissed him lightly, “I love you too Dick. And for better or worse you’re the only partner I want.”
As if on cue their heads ached and the ringing began in their ears. Their gazes met and they laughed together. “Right on time. We’ve got a job to do. Let’s handle the wraith and then maybe we can spend some time together.”
She turned to face the city to hide her smile from him. “Take me somewhere nice after we finish the wraith off.”
With that the two of them started running side by side, Samantha in the lead but Dick right beside her. They were running toward danger but neither of them was strangers to wraiths. On the contrary the wraith should be afraid of the pair of them. Dick looked at Samantha and could hear his brother’s words.
“She’s a good one. Stay close to her.”
He smiled and thought to himself. Thought to the memory of his brother, “Good advice hermano. I’ll stay by her side forever.”
The Harlequin Library 