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Chapter 13 by micdan282 micdan282

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Lonely Hours

The days dragged.

Without her sessions with Devin to break up the monotony, Rikki found her workdays stretching endlessly—gray and lifeless, like a week without sunlight. The office felt colder, quieter. The usual stream of parolees filing through her door blurred together in a haze of paperwork and half-listened-to stories. Devin had always made things more complicated than they should’ve been—but he had also made them interesting.

And now he was gone.

She hadn’t spoken to Finn much, either. A few polite texts exchanged between long silences. No phone calls. No late-night video chats. He’d decided to stay at his place for the rest of the week—space, he’d said. Time to think. And she was trying to respect that. But the distance felt like a punishment she hadn’t expected. He’d always been patient, sweet, constant. She thought telling him the truth would bring them closer, not fracture them further.

She tried to remind herself that he had every right to be overwhelmed. Finding out your girlfriend wore a mask at night and fought killers wasn’t exactly easy to process. And when he found out about Rogue Knight nearly killing her—well, it wasn’t surprising he needed space.

Still… what had he expected?

He’d known she was Nightingale. He’d known that meant danger, risk. She wasn’t exactly hiding the bruises or late nights. Did he think she was invincible?

And yet, when she wasn’t out patrolling, she found herself at home, lights off, nursing a glass of red wine alone on the couch.

Missing him.

Even if she didn’t want to admit it—she missed Devin too.

That part hit harder than she liked. She’d ended things with him for all the right reasons: ethics, responsibility, guilt. Finn was the safer choice. The right one. But that didn’t stop the memories from sneaking in. The late-night conversations, the reckless closeness, the way she felt like someone else around him—less guarded, more alive. She hated that part of herself a little, the part that still wondered what it would feel like to see him again.

Rikki stood and crossed the room, pouring herself another glass. She didn’t even bother with the lights. The shadows were easier. They didn't ask questions.

She took a long sip and glanced at the window again, watching the world continue without her.

Outside, someone was honking their horn. Sirens wailed in the distance.

Inside, Rikki sat in the dark.

Alone. Again.

What's next?

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