Donna Troy Will Rise to Meet Tomorrow (risetomeetit) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2020-09-24 15:05:00 |
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Things were, well… when life made it clear that Donna should leave New York and a case showed up in Orange County? It had been a sign of sorts. After all, she knew Dick had moved back there a few months after Raven had, so it was a sign. If one believed in such things. Whatever it was, Donna was in Orange County and figured that a surprise visit had been in order.
GPS was an amazing invention as it allowed for her to find Dick’s house so she could knock on his door. Only when she had gotten there? She’d seen him jump out of a window. Which had led to so many questions. And worries. There was a lot of worry actually. Not feeling like tracking him when she was still new to the area, Donna had returned to the condo she’d gotten and decided on a new course of action.
Which was why the following morning, she’d gone to get some donuts and went to where she knew he had gone to work. Thankfully it seemed he was in and not in interrogation, so with a smile as she got her visitor badge and saying she wanted to surprise her friend (there may have been a donut bribe involved), the brunette made her way to the desk that had been pointed out to her and sat down across from where Dick was working.
“Care to tell me why I saw you jump out of a window last night?”
Who needs greetings when amongst friends?
Nope, no interrogation yet today unfortunately. He was sort of itching to. He’d been running at full power since his return to the station, which had made the captain happy enough to ignore his little AWOL adventure the week prior. Downside to that was, now he was covered in a mountain of paperwork. The worst part of the job. It definitely wasn’t a glory gig.
“That all depends, what exactly did you see?” Was this before suit or after suit, he needed more information before he could answer that, but he didn’t deny it. “And what were you doing at my house last night?” No hi, how you been. Because what were normal conversations?
He gave her a suspicious look for a moment.”How’d you even get in here?” He glanced at the guest tag. “No, let me guess. Cid’s a sucker for a jelly donut.”
There were consequences to actions, like a mountain of paperwork. Not that Donna was aware of Dick’s disappearance act as she had only just shown up in the area. So instead she just debated which question to answer first as she leaned back in the chair she was in.
“Never underestimate the power of a good donut. If you give an actual answer you might get one yourself. I haven’t decided yet.”
So she would just go answer the questions in reverse order. That worked. Still, it was good that he wasn’t denying what she had seen. Though after knowing one another for so long, it was really best he didn’t even try to deny things when it came to her. She wouldn’t put up with it.
“Well, you might notice that I’m actually in Orange County and we aren’t in New York so I was planning on surprising you with that fact and instead saw you, in a rather...interesting...get up, jumping out of a window.”
If his arrest record wasn’t so good, it was likely Dick wouldn’t have gotten away with that little escape. But there they were, and there he was still with a badge for the time being. “What if I told you I joined a traveling circus?” Not exactly a lie, but not a truth either. At least in this world anyway. He picked up a file from another officer's desk nearby that he’d been waiting for. Something he’d been looking for, he’d have to remember to tell that guy later that he had it in hand. He was bad at slowing down anyways.
“Or would you believe a trick of your eyes?” He highly doubted she would, so he went with the first one while he idly flipped through the file in hand, not really looking but using it as more of a distraction tactic.
“I did, detective now. I notice things.” He responded with a smart ass smirk and tapped his temple with a finger.”Usually.” He’d have to improve the security on his house, but that aside, he shook his head with amusement. “All this way to see me?”
In response to the question about joining a travelling circus? A pointed look was all that was needed to answer that no, Donna definitely would not believe that. So for now? Dick was not earning himself a donut.
Then the next option?
“Losing potential donut points here, Grayson.”
That was the answer to that, no she wouldn’t believe that either.
“I’ve noticed.” Of course she did, it wasn’t like it was a new development and she’d seen him when he’d been in New York. Still, it had been timing of her arriving and going to knock when it had happened. Even so, “Oh yes. Obviously.”
Dick rubbed at the back of his neck. “It’s complicated?” There was literally no way he could actually discuss that suit in a police station. Especially not with how his head had been the last couple weeks. He was trying to be normal again, or at least put on a front until he was-fake it until you make it and all. It was easier said than done though. “You’re not going to let up on it are you?” He asked awkwardly.
As he reached his desk and put the file he’d been holding down on it, he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Look I can’t say anything here. Or leave just yet. I’m on kind of a tight leash right now.” He admitted with a shrug as he pointed down at the stack of folders on his desk.
“When have I ever let up on something?” Especially when she was concerned about Dick? So no. There was absolutely no way she was going to just let this go. Especially once he admitted to being on a tight leash. Which meant something had happened. More than what had happened in New York that had led Dick to deciding to come back to Orange County in the first place.
She did nod at the comment that he couldn’t say anything there. “Fair enough. There’s always lunch or after work for that.” Just so long as she got answers. And she would get answers.
Dick rolled his eyes at that. “Never could get away with anything with you.” He gave a little smirk at that and frowned a minute later.”Lunch probably, won’t be home until morning.” He shrugged. It was late for most, but early for him in his shift. He ran his hand through short dark hair as she gave him that pressing look. He had the grace to look a little sheepish, but more like a kid who got caught stealing cookies from a cookie jar than anyone who’d done anything really awful. With his track record, he didn’t think an unannounced mental health break was that awful once in a blue moon, but the Captain had thoughts on that apparently. So she was going to have to wait.
“Listen, it’s going to be a few hours. If you want to just go back to my place I’ll give you the key.” He didn’t know what her accommodations were going to be, so he just assumed he was her accommodations. He really didn’t put up much of a fight about it.
“Don’t feel bad, most people can’t.” Terry had been able to but that was a whole can of worms that Donna would prefer not getting into. It may have been years ago but current events...were things that didn’t matter right then. They would undoubtedly come up - once she got her answers from Dick so he couldn’t use that to avoid the conversation.
She was used to his weird shifts though thanks to being a detective back in New York as well and so she nodded.
“Lunch sounds good.” As for going back to his place? Well, who knew if she would end up staying there. She had her own condo already but if it became clear that she should instead stay with Dick to keep him from doing something stupid? Well, the condo could easily be repurposed into a proper photography studio instead. So instead she just gave a small nod. “Sounds good.”
He gave her a look and rolled his eyes. “I’ll see you when I get home then.” He wasn’t sure what he was going to do with that. Usually he just picked up lunch, but whatever he could make cereal again. It wasn’t like he didn’t have a full closet of various types after all.
Fishing through his jacket pocket, he produced the keys and handed them over. He was about to mention the garage and not to go in it, but it was better with Donna not to even mention it at all. If he said not to, that was the first place she’d go. So he shrugged. “I’ll be home in about three hours.”
“Looking forward to it.” And she was. Well mostly. She just wanted actual answers and knew that she couldn’t give him a way out. So instead she took the keys and then nodded. “See you then.”
It was best that he didn’t mention the garage as she would automatically go there. She wasn’t exactly on planning to explore the ins and outs of his house while she waited. She had other things she could do to pass the three hours. Give her a reason though?
Getting up, Donna headed out and to Dick’s house and let herself in, pulling a book out of her bag to pass the time until he came home for lunch.
The evening seemed to drag on. Dick was unamused. It was like time had slowed to a stop with all this crap, and he was extra antsy by the time lunch rolled around. Was he really going to have to tell Donna anything? Or could he bribe. He’d first attempt bribing. She usually had a way of finding things out whether he told or not, but all the same he’d at least give an effort in attempting to hide.
His motorcycle pulled up to the house and he climbed off the back. There were two bags of things in his hand, fast food of some kind. He wasn’t one for extravagant meals. Give him a double double with bacon any day over a tiny french plate of any kind. Money or no money that’s what he’d choose. He stepped up to the house and slipped inside. Looking around quietly at first for his companion. “I got burgers.” Obviously the epitome of healthy living. Had she looked in the fridge it was likely also a bit of a sorry sight.
The only time Donna had checked the fridge was to get something to drink and she had noted the sorry state it was in. But there was always the fact that Dick was just at that point where the fridge was not in great shape towards the end of a pay period so it was only a couple of days before he could restock. She wasn’t going to assume the worst just yet in how well he was taking care of himself.
Hearing the door, she nodded at the comment of burgers.
“Sounds good to me.”
Marking her place in her book, Donna returned it to her bag and went to help. Oh, he could try to bribe but she always had been able to get the truth out of people in the end.
He could have refilled any time, he actually didn’t even need to be a cop to get by, but it was kind of his calling. He enjoyed the work and it was fulfilling, so he did it anyway. The fridge was just a neglected thing, he preferred to eat out or have cereal lately. Which he at least had milk, and a cabinet of that to survive on for a while. Everything from Lucky Charms to Count Chocula. There were worse things to be addicted to.
“Shakes too.” She could have hers if she didn’t question him? Nah, he gave it over anyway. Dick locked the door behind him, his door had several locks on it. Paranoid? Maybe. Better paranoid than dead.
He put the food on the table and rubbed at his eyes as he went over to the sink to splash cold water on his face in an attempt to wake up from the paperwork coma he was in. His place was remarkably clean for a guy his age, but he’d always been that way. Nevermind his room, but it wasn’t like they were going to be chatting in his room most likely.
“Even better.” Taking the shake with a grin, she made no note of the excessive locks. It wasn’t like she could blame him for that after what had happened with Ruby and just the life he lived in general with being a cop. Just because Orange County was supposedly safer than New York didn’t mean that crime was non-existent.
Heading to the table, the brunette sat down, taking one of the burgers. Really. Nothing like burgers and shakes with one of the people you were closest to. Even if she was still expecting actual answers on why Dick had jumped out of his window.
After a few minutes of eating and enjoying good food, Donna did give Dick a look.
“So. Jumping out of windows in very interesting outfits.” Not a question. A statement which brokered no room for getting out of the conversation.
He had enemies, there were plenty of criminals who didn’t like him. The locks gave him a little peace of mind. His slate wasn’t a clean one when it came to life without enemies. Those things happened when you dealt with the actual scum of the earth. There was no getting around it, so he took precautions. He was more than happy to sit in silence and enjoy the food for a while, but of course he noticed she was looking at him as he went to take a bite of the burger. “Movie star?” He tried one more time to dodge that question.
And it was why she had no question about the multiple locks. She had her questions, just not about that. Though as he tried to dodge once more with a very fake reply? Just sent him a look that said she clearly wasn’t believing that.
“Quit bullshitting me, Dick. We don’t do that. Not with each other.”
He had to try, it was weird enough to admit out loud to himself, much less to someone who actually knew him before everything fell on his shoulders. “That should tell you something shouldn’t it? It’s..complicated. “ He didn’t much feel like eating after that, so he just folded his arms awkwardly on the table so he didn’t fidget with everything and anything nearby. “There are things that happen here that are hard to explain until you’ve experienced it. Believe me even when I did experience it I tried to avoid it.” The suit was a part of who he was, he couldn’t just ignore it as hard as he tried.
“I never told you about it because nothing here is as it seems. Things happen here that science and reason can’t explain.” He hated really all of this at the moment, having to tell her about a second life when he really hadn’t told anyone. “This place is like walking a knife's edge between dreams and reality. Dreams that are more like memories of things forgotten. You can try to avoid them, but eventually you just can’t.” He didn’t ask to be a vigilante, it was just who he was now. He’d only recently accepted it.
And that was why she was worried. Because Dick had been trying to bullshit her, on top of what she had seen. Which meant that of course she was going to push for answers. Complicated didn’t scare her. Her whole life was complicated.
“Sure. And it just makes me worry more.”
But at least it seemed Dick was finally going to tell her the truth. Which honestly, the movie star thing would have been more believable. And yet this time she could tell he was telling the truth.
“....Okay. I’m going to need proof. It’s not that I don’t believe you because...honestly I actually do despite how it sounds but…” Sometimes proof was still needed.
“There's a reason for that too.” Beyond showing her things, actually having her involved in that side of his life was a hard no.Considering the activities of the night before included shoving a local mob boss in a meat factory to hang by his toes for answers wasn’t exactly something he was about to tell her he’d done.
Proof..what could he show her for proof that wasn’t literally just..getting into the Nightwing costume? He wasn’t quite there yet. “Not sure what kind of proof I can give you just yet.” He admitted with an awkward shrug.
Raven? Was the thought that came to mind. If Raven could just appear that could save a lot of complicated ideas spiraling in his head that weren’t quite fully baked yet.
Vigilante work was definitely not Donna’s thing. Catch criminals via photography and passing that information along to the proper authorities? Sure. That was one thing. But she couldn’t see herself dressing up in a costume and fighting crime or anything like that.
“I guess that’s fair.” Assuming the weird outfit from the night before wasn’t some part of what he was telling her. Or…. “Holy shit!”
Because suddenly there was a very confused and looking slightly worried Raven behind Dick and she was the one with her back to the door, not Dick. She’d just...appeared. Out of nowhere.
“Hi Donna...”
And she acted like it was completely normal.
“.....Hi….?” Looked at Dick, “The knife’s edge between Dreams and reality that you can’t ignore?”
Knew she was grieving but that didn’t mean she was suddenly going to hallucinate Raven showing up.
For them it was normal, Dick’s expression hadn’t even changed in the slightest when the younger girl appeared in his apartment. For a paranoid guy like him that spoke volumes. He didn’t tense, or worry. Nothing. He knew she was there and he just nodded to Donna’s response. “Bingo.” He had a waffle loving demon in his brain 99% of the time and wasn’t even really phased. His hands were on the table so he hadn’t texted her and asked her to do that, she’d just known.
“Everything’s fine, I think.” He gave Raven a glance and a faint smile. “Sorry, nothing to worry about.” He’d just needed a little assistance with this one as he glanced back at the other woman across from him. “See what I mean by it’s complicated?” There was a little guilt in his eyes, but that was pretty much his constant state of being these days since he had to masquerade as two people. Live two different lives.
There was so much to try and wrap her head around. Like how Dick didn’t seem phased in the slightest that Raven just showed up like that. Without being sent a text. And since he’d tried to get out of the conversation before he finally caved, it couldn’t have been planned while he’d been at work and she was reading on his couch.
So all she could do was nod slowly at the question.
“Yeah….I see what you mean…”
As for Raven? Well, she could pick up on Donna’s grief that was buried beneath the shock she was clearly in. But she knew the older woman had a tendency to push for answers and if she saw something she had questions about...so it made sense. Even if part of her wanted to mutter that she wasn’t some sort of on call magic show. Instead she just shifted awkwardly.
“Do you need me for anything else, or….?” Might as well see if she should stick around or not.
Even if he had texted her though, that wouldn’t have accounted for the whole..appearing out of thin air thing she’d done, so he hoped that was at least a taste of what he’d said when he couldn’t just tell it all. There was honestly just too much to tell all in one shot, and he figured she had enough to process for now.
“No, unless you want a burger or something we’re okay you don’t need to.” He highly doubted she’d want one, but the offer was out there. Maybe he could have stuck with the whole magician thing, or magic act angle, but trying to lie to Donna was as exhausting as the Dreams themselves.
Stealing a fry from Dick, Raven gave a small nod, “I’ll leave you to it then.” With that, she vanished the way she appeared, going to Donna’s to drop off a condolence letter for her given what she had picked up from the woman before going back to work.
Watching as Raven just...stole a fry (that was normal) and then vanished how she showed up (that was definitely not normal though apparently normal for her and Dick), Donna could just sit back.
“So that just happened…”
Running her fingers through her hair, she just looked at Dick and sighed once it was just them again.
“I get why you didn’t say anything…” Even if he could have had Raven do that while they were all in New York, “But...wow.”
Dick rolled his eyes at the fry thief and turned his attention back to Donna as she spoke and he shrugged. “I mean what could I have said without it ending in Maybe let's go see some professional without you being able to experience it first hand...and...that’s kind of the last thing I want you to have to do..” He was being ominous again, but at least truthful as he awkwardly fidgeted with his own sleeve.
“Okay yeah, that’s...very true.” After all. She had believed him because Donna had always had an uncanny knack for being able to get to the truth of the matter and know when she was being lied to even if it was more believable than the truth - except where Terry had been concerned apparently - but it still would have given her pause. “Ominous much? But okay. Any tips on how I avoid these dreams?”
Part of Donna was curious, or the part of her that wanted to be better able to help Dick if necessary where it might be useful for her to experience the Dreams but there was nothing to say she would Dream the same thing as him. So for now, adding one less stress by seeing how to avoid the Dreams seemed a better course of action. She’d reassess if needed.
He shrugged at her ominous comment. He embraced being ominous at this point. It was a bat trait. Along with disappearing without a trace. Not quite as well as Raven did, but he was still getting pretty good at leaving people confused at where he’d gone after their conversations with Nightwing were finished. But that was neither here nor there for now.
“No, you could try to avoid the network, but I think it’s kind of just a thing going to happen in this city.” He finally decided to eat a fry idly, thoughts weighing on him. The idea that he still had six hours to return to after lunch loomed as well.
“Right. Avoid a network.” Which who knew how viable that would be. Donna did have a business she would need to promote even if she rarely used social media for anything else. As such, she just ate a fry as well. There was a lot to sort through, and it was something that she could focus on instead of the hollow feeling in her heart from the accident and why she had just up and moved to Orange County in the first place. Though at the moment, Donna wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.
“I guess time will tell on that front then.”
He hadn’t realized how fast time had gone by until he glanced down at his phone and frowned. “Listen, I have to get back. I’m afraid to see what else is in store if I’m late or MIA again. Stay if you want. Keep in mind I have another roommate though. Dan’s around here somewhere.” In case she decided to shower or something she didn’t want him to walk into his room. “Third door on the right in the hall is his.” Basically the only one not to go in unless he said okay for some reason.
Dick stood and moved to grab his jacket. “..I’m glad you came.” In spite of everything he was glad to see her. He grabbed at his jacket, phone, and keys. “Spare key is on the mantle.” He commented as he pointed at the mantle in the living room, a metal box where it lived. That box looked like a decorative item just like all the other decorative things on that mantle, it blended in nicely.
Saved by the proverbial bell. Oh, Donna knew she would undoubtedly have to tell Dick the reason she had moved soon enough. But with everything that had just been revealed? She needed time to process that. They could talk about what had happened in New York later.
“I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks, Dick.”
Getting up, Donna went over to Dick and hugged him, kissing his cheek, because, well, she could. “I’m glad I came as well.” She had just known she had needed to rebuild her shattered life and where better than Orange County where she already had a support system. So even if there was some weird ass shit going on apparently, at least there were those who understood.
“Get to work. We can catch up more later.”