BEFORE DAPHNE COULD tear her eyes away and disappear in the kitchen again, the man at the door caught her. His brown eyes almost bore into her blue ones and there was a slight confusion in his features. Dawn noticed and she turned her head in the direction of the redhead. "I didn't want to intrude," the man spoke, his voice sounded deep and yet soft at the same time.

The white-haired woman turned towards him again. "No, it's okay. Why don't you both come in?"

In that moment Daphne could finally move again, she turned around towards the microwave, trying to desperately forget those imagines again. She could feel a headache forming behind her temples, as she tried to calm her beating heart, repeating that the girl had nothing to do with her nightmares like a mantra.

"How are you, Dick?"

Immediately the redhead looked upwards, after hearing his name. It was familiar and the redhead was pretty sure that Dawn had mentioned Dick before. It took her a few moments before it made click inside her head. Suddenly she remembered the framed photo they had at the side and she was more than sure that this Dick was the one on it.

"Can we talk?" Dick asked her, eyes wandering around the place until they landed on Daphne again. "In private?"

Unsure Dawn turned towards the redhead who had heard every word that left his mouth. She gave Dawn a nod, showing her it was okay and so Dawn and the two strangers went up to the roof, where they had their pigeons. Dawn loved them and even when Daphne always found it more than weird, she knew that the white-haired woman loved to take care of animals.

Pulling the popcorn out of the microwave, Daphne made herself comfortable on the couch and eating the finished bowl.

•

As the front door suddenly opened, the redhead sat up on the couch, the empty bowl stood on the table next to her and her eyes landed on the person that walked into the room. "You're here early," Daphne muttered as her blue orbs watched Hank as he was walking towards her. He flopped down next to her, throwing her a little smile.

"Finished work earlier than expected," Hank answered her and let his eyes roam around the room. "Where's Dawn?"

After his question, his eyes landed on the bags on the side that the two strangers brought with them. Confused Hank glanced at Daphne again and the red-haired woman leaned her head on the side of the couch. "Visitors. Old friends, the guy had an odd name," Daphne answered him and scrunched up her face a little as she remembered his name. "Dawn called him Dick, so it's a really weird name don't you think?"

Suddenly Hanks whole composure changed. His features lost their softness just like his lips lost the smile of his, his eyes turned cold and the redhead had to blink. "Hank what's-,"

"That bastard."

Daphne was shocked and confused hearing Hank using such a word. Sure, Hank swore more than both woman together and yet he had never used this word before. "Why are you so angry all of sudden?" The redhead followed him as he walked towards the door ignoring her calls. But before he could slip away fully, she grabbed his forearm bringing him to a stop. "Jesus Christ, Hank what is going on?" She asked him again, blue eyes filling with worry.

He gritted his teeth, yanking his arm from her grabs. "Go in your apartment Daphne," was the only thing he muttered and now anger stirred inside of her. She pressed her lips to a firm line, brows furrowed together. "I'm not a child for you scold and you can not tell me what I can and should do," the redhead told him trying hard not to hiss at him like an angry snake. Hank stared at her, his brown eyes showed his emotions to quickly and she could slowly see the regret of his words in his orbs.

"Do as you wish, I'm going into my apartment."

Without a second glance, Daphne turned around and walked towards her door. She heard how he said her name but the redhead could be just as stubborn. With a yank of her hand, the door closed in front of his face almost hitting his nose in the process.

It was like a fire bubbling inside of her. She knew how hot-headed Hank could be, but she never saw him acting out like this. The situation felt like a bad dream and the redhead slumped down into her own couch. The ticking sound of her clock on the wall was the only thing you could hear in the room. She was tired, she knew that much but the fear of seeing that nightmare again settled deep in her bones.

So Daphne came to the conclusion to do the one thing that always calmed her down; she started to draw.

•

The redhead wasn't sure of how long she was already sitting there, drawing everything that came to her mind, getting lost in her thoughts like a trance. Suddenly there was knock on her door and Daphne stopped in her movements, a few strands of her red hair had fallen out of her messy bun, as her eyes wandered towards the door. She figured who would stand on the other side and yet she didn't know if she should open it.

A second knock was heard and Daphne bit her lip, eyes not once tearing away from the door. "Daph, I know you're in there, please open the door."

The guilt was laced in every word that Hank just said and with a sigh, the redhead stood up and made her way towards the wooden door. Slowly she opened it, blue eyes landing on the male immediately. He felt bad and Daphne could see it more than clear as his eyes told her how sorry he was. "Can I come in?" Hank asked. "It depends," she started in a slight firm voice. "Are you gonna scold me like a little child again?"

Hank's eyes moved to the ground, his head giving her a short nod. "I deserved that," he muttered before he looked at her again. She could never stay angry at both of them for a long time, so with a swift movement, the redhead opened the door, even more, signaling him to come inside.

Closing the door, Daphne followed suit and while Hank sat down on the chair beside her dinner table, she walked into the open kitchen.

"Coffee? Tea? Hot chocolate?"

"I want nothing, but thanks," Hank started, his hand brushing over his short hair for a moment. She watched him for a second, before turning towards her cupboard again, pulling out two cups. "Hot chocolate it is," Daphne muttered and he rolled his eyes.

While she made the hot chocolate her eyes flickered up to him. "So, I guess you found them," Daphne began carefully. She was curious to why he had been so furious earlier, but she was also pretty sure it had something to do with the male visitor.

"Yeah I did," Hank grumbled crossing his arms over his chest like a little boy. Daphne looked at the cups again finished them, before she walked towards the table.

"May I ask why you're so angry? Did you know him?"

A scoff left his lips while his dark eyes roamed her apartment. "More like he knew Dawn way too much if you ask me." She blinked, her hand holding onto her cup as she furrowed her eyebrows. It took her a moment to realize what he meant exactly and as she did, her lips formed a slight 'o'. Dawn had once told her about the person she had fallen before coming together with Hank, but she also remembered how she told her that it did not take a good end. So the redhead was even more surprised to hear that it was that man.

"Think about it that way," she started and Hank's eyes watched her. "At least you have a decent name. Who names their child Dick?" Daphne added and a smile broke out of Hank's lips. He had always been like an older brother she never had, just as Dawn was like the older sister she never had. "It's actually just a nickname, his full name is Richard or something," Hank muttered and Daphne just shrugged her shoulders.

"That doesn't make it any better."

Silence laid upon them while both sipped at their cups, just enjoying each other's company. It felt nice to have someone, not to talk all the time just to be there. To be present.

After Hank finished his hot chocolate he looked up at the redhead again. "I think it's time for me to head back before Dawn comes breaking down your door or something," he muttered and a laugh escaped Daphne's lips. "Do you want to come? To meet the poor guy that has the name, Dick?" The redhead wanted to accept his offer but halted for a short moment. Flashes of her nightmare came back behind her eyes and before Hank could see that something was off, she gave him a fake smile.

A smile as best as she could give in this moment. "No, I think I'll pass. Maybe when things between you had calmed down," she suggested and he just nodded. "You're right, like always." Daphne gave him a slight smile as Hank said goodbye and went out of her door.

Silence fell upon her once more, just not as pleasant as before. Suddenly being left all alone left his marks, even on her. Biting her lip she stood up; knowing that the girl from her nightmare was just in the apartment next to hers, was bugging her more and more. Quickly she put the cups in the kitchen sink, leaving it so she could clean them later before she grabbed her laptop.

Something about all of this just felt wrong and Daphne was more than ready to figure out what all of this meant.

(gif made by the amazing antigalactic 💞)

Can I just say that I truly love Dawn and Hank??

Because I truly do.

Hope you guys liked the new chapter!

Ebbyoxox