Thank you all so much for your reviews! You are all extra awesome! 12 reviews for one chapter? That's the most I've ever had! This chapter is dedicated to all the people that reviewed last chapter, who should already know who they are. And special thanks to Megalyn27 for really boosting my confidence!
Warnings: Drug mentions and really that's all. This is a pretty clean chapter, but the next with Dany will not be! I promise you that!
"Red?" Dany asked from her position next to the cot where Roy was lying.
Red turned to her, his sunglasses and mask having been thrown aside, letting her see his green eyes. At first she was surprised to see them, then let it go and tended to Roy. She didn't understand what he was doing there, but he was with a look that she dreaded. And, when Red did a check on him, he found little needle marks on his arms.
"Carmen, why do you keep calling me Red? You already know my name." He asked from his position sitting on the chair nearest to the door.
No one was supposed to be entering the basement, but sometimes Benny used to 'interrogate' possible snitches. Let's just say that everyone there knew that interrogations rarely happened. More like torturing people for information, or just plain old beating them for Benny's own satisfaction. There were always chances that rookies would try to enter the basement to try to beat something out of an unfortunate person, but that always ended with the rookies getting beaten, threatened to never return, then made to live without their drugs.
She sighed and turned to him, her hand clinging to Roy's own. She was worried about him, especially with the kind of drug he could have been using. Heroin is the worst one in her opinion. "Well, I'm guessing that you're much like me."
He cocked his head to the side, wanting her to explain more. She smiled sadly, and then looked at Roy's face. He was sleeping peacefully, seeing that Benny had given him a fix before he went to sleep. "I don't want to be reminded about my life. So many bad things happened before, and the name Dany is just a clear reminder of that. So, I like to be called Carmen, because it's just easier." She explained.
Red nodded, and then asked, "So you think that I want you to call me Red and not Jason, because I want to forget?"
She nodded, "To me, it's just a way to forget the pain."
Red nodded, then leaned forward and told her, "You can call me Jason, just so you know. I'm actually getting kind of tired of being called Red, or Hoodie."
Dany smiled at him, then told him, "Well, if you want, you can call me Cam." She smiled, getting an "Unbelievable" As an answer from Jason. She turned to Roy, who was starting to move in the bed. "How did my life get like this?" She asked aloud, even if it was more to her.
Even though Jason knew it wasn't directed towards him, he wanted to know. "What do you mean, Dany?" He asked, even though the name sounded kind of funny coming out of him, as if he had never said it before.
She gave a small laugh at his pronunciation, then said, "Well, first of all, I've got a horse that's almost always in my mind that is a speedster by name. Then, I've got a big brother that loved me, hated me, and now loves me again, the Justice League looking for me, and now I've got a friend who is hooked on drugs."
Jason smiled at her, then shook his head as he chuckled. "And you're only fourteen."
That got a laugh from her too. They didn't understand what was so funny, but it just helped. With everything that was happening, it was better to laugh and smile rather than think about it so much that they'd go crazy. Roy's eyes opened, taking in the dark and damp place, and springing up, thinking that he was in trouble. Dany jumped back, releasing his hand and Jason got up, walking towards Dany and putting a hand on her shoulder for comfort.
Roy's eyes were wild, looking around the room, his whole body in a fighting stance, ready for anything that could happen. Dany and Jason just looked at him as he glared at them, then Jason smirked when realization dawned on Roy.
"Oh God… Dany?" He asked, dropping the fighting stance and taking a step towards them.
Jason crossed his arms and only continued smirking at Roy, which got a glare from the red head, but Roy quickly decided to ignore him and pay attention to Dany, who was standing next to Jason, eyes wide with worry.
"Roy, are you okay?" She asked, stepping forward, hesitating for a bit, then walking and standing right in front of Roy.
He looked down at her with a confused look, then the events of yesterday night dawned on him. He turned around, body completely tense, hating himself for what he had done. He wanted to get away, to not let any of them see him so sad and mad at himself. He was just supposed to be using it for that one time, but that was weeks ago, and after he had done it, he was addicted to it. He got high for almost three or four times a day, which explained how he got addicted so fast.
"Roy, look, I don't know exactly what happened, but I won't and don't judge you." She said, putting her hand on his shoulder to turn him around.
He glared at the wall in front of him, fists clenched, not wanting to tell her what happened.
"Roy, you know you can trust me, right?" She asked, feeling a little betrayed that he didn't trust her.
Hearing the sadness in her voice, he turned around, steely eyes going soft when he saw her face. Her green eyes were wide with curiousity and sadness, her hair was longer than he last saw her, with it already covering the top of her ears, and her face just looked sad. She didn't look like a fourteen year old. More like an abandoned nine year old.
"I'm sorry, Dany." He said, wrapping both his arms around her, making her hug him, resting his cheek on her head.
"Don't worry, Roy. I-I understand." She said, hugging him back.
When they finally separated, Jason stepped up and stuck his hand out, making Roy shake it. "Jason."
Roy nodded at him, then looked down at Dany with a raised eyebrow. "Friend of yours?"
She smiled at him, then nodded. Soon enough, Roy was seated on the cot they had given him, Dany sitting next to him in the indian sitting position, and Jason standing in front of both of them. "Roy, could you please explain?" She asked, looking up at him.
He looked down at her, his feeling from before returning. How could he have been so stupid? He never should've gotten addicted! He was a hero for crying out loud! What the hell was he thinking when he even tried it! Oh... right... Ollie was ignoring him to the max and had replaced him with the ex-criminal. Stupid reason, but Ollie was like his father. And like that, he was shoved out of the way and replaced.
"You wouldn't understand." He mumbled.
He knew it was a weak excuse, but it didn't stop him from trying. Thankfully, right then, there was a knock on the door, and in some man's head popped in. Roy recognized him from somewhere, but he just couldn't tell.
"How's your guest, Cam?" He asked, looking directly at Dany.
Cam? Who's Cam?
"He's hazy, Benny. You got anything to tell me?" She asked, getting up from her seat and walking towards Jason.
He walked in, fixing his tie as he walked, and stood in front of Dany and Jason. "Yeah. Cam, we seem to have a problem." He told her.
She looked at Jason, both of them sharing worried gazes, then turned to Benny. "What is it?" She asked.
"Virginia just fractured her foot." He said, but continued speaking before the pair could ask something. "And, she was supposed to be performing tonight. I don't have any other back up girls apart from Wendy, and she is dancing at the Avenue." He told them.
"What does that have to do with me, Ben?" Dany asked, worried about his answer.
Benny sighed, and looked at her with sorry eyes. "I really hate asking this of you, Cam, but I was wondering if you could take her place." He said, hands clasped together in a pleading motion.
She looked at him wide eyed, then at Jason, then back at Benny. "W-where will it be?" She asked.
Roy was shocked to hear that answer. Why did she say that she could do it? She didn't have to really say it, her words gave that away.
"At the Starstruck Club." Benny answered, giving her a small smile. He also thought she would accept.
Dany's face turned into one of insecurity, then she looked at Roy and Jason. "Uh... Can they come with me?" She asked, pointing at both of them.
Benny looked at the directions she was pointing at, then gave an unsure nod. "If you manage to dress them up in something that will be accepted in there and make them believe they're your bodyguards, you can." He answered.
Dany smiled at him, then hugged him. "I'm sorry I've been so moody around you. I won't let you down." She promised.
Benny smiled at her, then patted her on the head. "I understand. I should've known better than to kill your idol. And, for that promise, try not to get too exaggerated. There are men there that don't care that I'm Benny Siegel." He warned her.
She smiled and nodded, then said, "Don't worry, Ben. I'll be sure to not do anything too adulty."
Benny smiled at her then ruffled her hair, and walked out of the room. Roy and Jason glared at Dany, already both of them having an idea of what she had promised.
"What?" She asked innocently.
"Dany, did you just agree for us to be going to a club?" Jason growled.
She nodded slowly, also stepping away slowly from him. "But, you won't have to do much but look tough and not let nobody touch me." She squeaked.
Roy got up from the bed and walked towards her, towering over her while glaring. "You do know that me and you are not allowed at club's right?" He asked. He wasn't sure about the Jason fellow.
She nodded, then said. "But at least we'll be able to catch up!"
Hope you liked it! Again, thank you all for the reviews. Five reviews and I'll update tomorrow and if I get six, I'll make the next chapter Dany's one.