☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ

°•. ┊ So It Goes ┊.•°
✧ ˚ ━ come back to me, act one

CHAPTER ONE — don't leave me like this
( episode two ; hawk and dove )

✧

"This is our last stop." I announce to the twins after pulling into the gas station parking lot. "So empty your bladders, stock up on snacks, do whatever you need to."

    "Why exactly are we going to DC?"

    "To visit some old friends." I state, glancing at the boy through the rear view, as Callie grabs my wallet and heads into the store. "Hey! Grab me an Arizona Iced Tea and some Sweet Tart Ropes!" She gives me a thumbs up and when Percy finishes his list of requests, she flips him off.

    "You're just gonna let her do that?"

    "I don't know what you're talking about." I shrug with a laugh, causing the blonde to slump back into his seat with a huff. My eyes flick towards the gas gauge and I decide that it's more than enough to get us to my old friend's apartment building. Leaning my head against the seat, I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths, hoping to calm my nerves, but it only increases them. Four years. Four years since I've seen any of them. Four years since I've seen him. I get lightheaded at the thought of what our first interaction is going to be like, when something hits my shoulder, startling me.

    "Catch!"

    "A little delayed, don't you think?" I remark, shooting a playful glare her way, before laughing softly. She doles out the remainder of items that Percy and I asked for, then sits down in the passenger seat.

    "We're supposed to switch." Percy tells the girl, as I straighten my posture and prepare my muscles for the remainder of this neverending drive.

    "I haven't even been up here that long." Callie defends, which causes the boy to lean against the middle console. "You can stay back there for the rest of the drive. It won't kill you."

    "Fine." He huffs and a smile forms on my face at their banter. "But I want control of the music."

    "Not a chance." I state, using my arm to return him to the backseat and start the engine, driving out of the gas station parking lot.

    A couple hours later, long after the sun has set, I pull onto Dawn's street, keeping my eyes peeled for an open spot to park, while the incessant complaining continues. "I just don't understand why you waited to tell us that the so-called friend we're visiting is Richard!" Callie fully turns her body to face me, as she loudly voices her problem with the situation causing an exasperated sigh to fall from my lips.

    "Richard? Seriously?" She ignores my question, silently waiting for me to address her statement, as I finally find an open space. "I didn't think it was all that important. And in case you forgot, I'm the only one who has an issue with him, so I did not have to tell either of you a damn thing."

"No, you didn't tell us that Dick was the one who called because you knew that we'd talk some sense into you." Perc rejoins the conversation and my eyes roll in annoyance, feeling a headache start to build.

"Dick wasn't the one who called me! It was Dawn!" I argue, putting the car in park and flinging my door open. "And when she calls, I answer. Simple as that. Whatever problems you have with this Percy, you can keep it to yourself. I'm the adult here."

"He makes a good point. You actively chose not to share anything with us, until now when we have no other option, but to deal with them." Callie adds, as the three of us exit the vehicle and I round to the sidewalk, running a frustrated hand through my hair. I knew they weren't going to be thrilled about this, but spending the last half-hour of our drive listening to them bitch about seeing the Titans again was not where I saw this going.

"Well, Callisto, you could always take a train home and stay with Mara, while you go to school every day." I suggest, turning to face her, while Perc laughs. I shoot the boy a glare and he's quick to shut up, while his sister and I are in a standoff. The girl spins on her heel, entering the building and a slight smirk forms on my lips, a sense of success and relief washing over me.

"He better not act all buddy buddy with us." She continues her complaints, my eyes rolling to the back of my head. "You weren't the only one he bailed on–"

"Drop it, Cal." I huff, tired of this discussion and we turn the corner, finding the apartment door ajar. I hold an arm in front of the twins torsos, as we approach the scene cautiously and a loud clatter sounds from the stairwell. "Stay here."

    "But we can help–" The pair speak in unison.

    "I mean it, guys. Stay here." I order, dropping my duffle onto the floor of the hallway and rushing towards the staircase, climbing up two steps at a time, reaching the entrance to the roof. The door opens with a rusted squeak, causing me to wince at the sound, as my eyes fall upon the sight of Hank getting hit with a bat. I run at one of the perpetrators, round kicking the young girl to the side and turn to throw a punch at the kid with the bat, only to be struck in the stomach. The blow to my abdomen has me hunching over, my breath coming out as wheezes. My balance fails me, as I begin to stumble, only to recover slightly and launch myself at the kid, tackling him to the ground. The girl I kicked, attempts to stomp on my head, but I roll out of the way, dodging the assault; grab ahold of her ankle, yank her to the ground and move to rise to my feet once more.

I watch as the girl is choking Hank with a cord and the older man has Dawn by her hair, the couple calling out for one another, before my friend is launched over the side of the building. My eyes go wide, the sight eliciting a scream-like gasp from my lips and my hands move to cover my mouth; the state of shock leaves me vulnerable, allowing the younger boy to connect his fist with my jaw, the force of it makes me question if these people are even human, as I fall to the ground. I don't have time to recover, before he kicks me in my stomach and lifts me by my hair, causing me to inhale sharply. I struggle against his grasp, before he throws my body over the edge of the roof; a scream falls from my lips, as I close my eyes, bracing for impact, but it never comes. The only thing I feel is a tight grasp on my wrist, opening my eyes to find a set of dark ones that never fail to make lightheaded.

    "I've got you." The Grayson man assures and for the moment, the English language is lost on me, as I take in his features and the sound of his voice; everything about him is so familiar, yet foreign. He begins to pull himself up on the roof, lifting me up enough, so that I can grab onto the edge. The two of us drag ourselves onto the cold slate and take a moment to breathe, mentally noting that his hand is still wrapped tightly around my wrist. Once I look around the area, I am quick to rise, rushing towards the opposite end of the rooftop, looking over at Dawn's body lying on the concrete below. I spin on my heel, rushing out of the building and down the stairs, kneeling beside her.

"Hey, you're gonna be okay." I whisper, fighting the tears that threaten to spill from my eyes, as I watch blood continue to pool around her and her chest rise and fall rapidly. I grip her hand in my own, squeezing it three times, when the distant sound of a door opening and closing, followed by rapid footsteps sounds through my ears. I feel a presence drop beside me and an arm wraps itself around my figure, revealing that it's Dick. I instinctively lean into his side, allowing the tears to stream down my face and tilt my head, attempting to memorize Dawn's face. "Everything is going to be okay." With my choice of words, I can't tell if I'm trying to convince her or myself of the sentiment.

    "Oh my god..." A voice draws my attention from the scene and I look up into the young boy's eyes.

    "Perseus, call 911." I keep my tone as calm as I can, as the man beside me rises to his feet and places his figure in front of Percy's, shielding him from the sight of the women on the concrete.

    "I'm sorry." The Granger woman gains my attention, as I stare down at her through tear-filled eyes. "For all of it."

"Sorry? You didn't do anything wrong..." I breathe, my brows furrowed in confusion, as she slips into unconsciousness. "Dawn? Dawn?! No, no. Please wake up! Please."

[word count: 1543]

lexi's letters; kinda short first chapter lol