Long Past Dawn

"Hi I'm Stephen and I guess I'll be working with you." I don't have a clue why but he seems to be blushing, maybe it's just the light.

"I'm Dawn Amor, nice to met you, Stephen." He smiles and damn he has dimples for days, and yes dimples as in plural as in one on each cheek. Somehow it's almost like my heart skipped a beat, maybe it's just lack of sleep.

"Wow you're suddenly all smiles," Batman says in a complete monotone. I can tell he has mixed emotions about this whole thing, one of which seems to be irritation.

"I don't mean to be rude but..... What's he here for?" Ok for all I said not to be rude that sounded really rude, didn't it?

My comment only seems to make Stephen more fl.u.s.tered. So Batman answers for him, "He's a hacker, the only to get past my firewall undetected so he's here to help us get past any unwanted....." He clears his throat like he's still deciding what words to use, "Computer problems."

Uh-huh. Computer problems eh? Ok then, if that's what you're playing at then ok.

"Um, I'm sorry I just didn't catch your last name..." I say trying to not sound rude again because God knows that I'm doing a great job of introducing myself as not rude.

"Ah um that's the thing... I don't have one. I'm kinda off the system if you know what I mean... or any system for that matter...." he finishes off with an awkward laugh.

Annnnnnd I did it again... I obviously can't read any mood and might as well shut up.

"I-I'm sorry I didn't realize...."

"Don't worry about it... It happens a lot..." He gives another awkward laugh and I know he's lying. Please Earth swallow me whole right now.

"Dawn, Stephen's room will be right next to yours so why don't you show him where it is," Batman says, I can tell he wants us out of earshot to tell the others something.

I nod and lead the way for Stephen towards the back of the warehouse where my room is and for once I notice the door next to mine, I didn't realize that there was one there, but then again I didn't think anyone else would be joining the team so...

"Umm, I guess this is your room then..." I say pointing to the door, then remembering how the doors open and kinda wanting to see his reaction when said doors open, I go over to the door and say, "Open."

The door, like mine, slides open with a beep and I turn around to see Stephen looking in awe at the door. "H-how does that work?"

"I don't know..." Honestly, I'm starting to wonder how half the things here work.

"T-then maybe we could work it out together...." He says and I swear he is blushing this time. Oh well, I'm bored so maybe we can try.

"Sure that sounds cool. But first I'll leave you to unpack, I'm next door if you need anything..." I say before turning around and going to my room.

I get through the door and as it clicks shut I go over to the shelf and grab a sketchbook and some pencils, I don't know why but so far I've been feeling really agitated like something's wrong...

I spend a couple of minutes just sketching aimlessly, I sketch mom and Charlie, Stephen, Batman as Bruce Wayne, and then me with my wings. None of them are top-notch and certainly not my best work.

I then drop my sketchbook and remember my plan from this morning. I go over to the shopping bag I dropped by the door and rifle through it until I find what I want; a box of red hair dye.

And I'm not talking about that naturally reddish ginger stuff I mean the dark scarlet stuff.

I look up at a loose strand of my blonde hair that's fallen from behind my ear. Yeah, I can work with this.

An hour and one steamy bathroom later I walk back out into my room with my new hair color. I can pretty much imagine the looks on everyone's faces when they see my new hair. Well, except for Question, cause you know, he doesn't have a face..... Yeah, bad joke I know.

I pick at a still slightly damp lock of hair, the scarlet looks good in it. Ha, maybe I can get my own superhero name now.

I wonder what it could be? Nah I'm not creative enough to be coming up with my own superhero name.....

Well since no one's called me through yet what should I do to kill time? I don't have a phone or anything, mom didn't think I should have one... I guess I know why now.....

I sigh and sit back down on my bed. 'It feels more like a dollhouse' Batman's words seem to still be in my ears like he just said them.

"What the hell do you know?" I mutter before falling onto my back with a thud, the sheets feel fresh and inviting. I try to stay awake but when I remember the feverish sleep I had last night, the bags forming under my eyes and I think that if, even for just a minute, maybe I could take a little nap.

***

'You get me knocked up at 17 and now you just want to leave?!' A glass smashes, they've been doing this a lot. I don't like it when mommy and daddy fight.

'Ha. I never asked for a kid.' Daddy doesn't want me?

'So what?! It's my fault now?!' I here mommy screaming in the kitchen, I can feel the tears pull at the corner of my eyes but mommy only gets worse when I cry.

'I wish I never met you. You're only dragging my life down.' Daddy says, poison in his voice. Daddy's going to leave? But I don't want him to.

'Shouldn't I be the one saying that you emotionless b*stard?!' Mommy shouts, throwing another glass to the ground. I let the sob escape my lips, I don't like it, I don't like it, I don't like it.

'I let you live in this house. I protect you from my family and yet you give me this?' Daddy's family? Who are they?

'Ha? You say you protected me from your family? Yet you didn't lift a finger when that f*cking mother of yours tried to kill me?! I did everything for you! I hope you burn in hell you f*cker!' Another glass breaks and I can't stop crying, I try to cover my mouth to stop the sobs but I can't.

'Everything? Yet I've seen you with more men then I can count. I can't stand women like you. Get out of my house now.' Daddy says, his voice cold and emotionless like a sharp knife. 'And take that thing with you.'

'You won't even take your own flesh and blood?' Mommy sneers in his face, 'I guess you really are a f*cking iceman.'

'My flesh and blood? How do you know she isn't from someone off the streets? Where's your proof?' What? Daddy's not my dad? But mommy says he is...

'Tch... You're such a pain.' Mommy says before turning around and walking out of the kitchen, she pauses when she sees me in the hall, 'What the hell have I told you about crying you brat?'

'I-I'm sorry...' I mumble, I don't want to make mommy mad...

'Yeah right. Come on get your stuff we're leaving.' Mommy says, heading towards her and daddy's room.

I turn to look at daddy, he's still wearing his suit but I can't see his face, I raise my head to see but I still can't see his face. His face, what does it look like? I can't remember..... Who was he again? What was his name? Why can't I remember?

'Dawn, wake up'