Birds of a Feather

2

I flew down to the garage and hopped on my motorcycle. When the rest of the titans left, Robin's bike had been left here so I took it to get repainted and drove it into most battles. I found it easier and less obvious then entering from the air.

The drive to the park was short, only a few blocks in from the coast of the mainland. I parked a few streets away and tried to use my powers to sense where the Joker and Harley were. It was strange for Gotham criminals to venture all the way to Jump and while I told Cyborg I was fine; I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous.

I stood in the shadows of a nearby office building to observe the scene in front of me. The two appeared to just be standing there, clearly it was a trap but not even my powers could find anything threatening the area. I stepped out into the light, ready to be tricked at any moment.

"Aha! Harley, I told you she would come! Such a pretty bird indeed! I can see why he likes this one!" The Joker cheered as I came into his view.

"What are you doing in Jump?" I asked back. I looked around and couldn't detect any civilians within a few blocks' radius, nor could I detect any injured. The Joker and Harley Quinn were truly just standing in the open.

"Birds of a feather stick together!" He laughed as he took a seat on a nearby bench. Birds of a feather?

"What have you done with all the citizens?" I reply. Harley strolled up to me swinging the mallet she was carrying nonchalantly. I stayed still trying not to let my guard down. She stepped so close to me I could smell the mint gum she was so loudly chewing.
"Don't worry birdy. Your peoples were told to clear the area. We don't want them or you really, but we needed to get to you ya know?" she laughed as she threw down my hood and grabbed my jaw. "Where is he?" she screamed. I stood straight, truly having no idea what she was talking about. In the distance, the Joker stood up and walked over to us making sounds of disapproval.

"Now Harley. That's no way to treat the pretty bird. After all, she might break." He looked at me intently as Harley let go of my jaw. My hand instantly went to it trying to soothe some of the pain. "I think you'll find I don't break so easily. If you're not here for me why are you here?" I asked. The Joker laughed his unbearably annoying laugh and swung his cane around. Harley started joining in on the laughter nervously looking for approval from the Joker.

It was through his incessant laughter that I felt it. A pent-up feeling of anger and frustration that was not my own tugging on the strings of my mind. A shiver ran down my spine and the hair on the back of my neck was standing on end. My eyes went wide with confusion and without my hood to hide me the Joker stopped his laughing and ran to me. He grabbed my arm and his face got closer to me as if trying to see into my mind.

"So, he's here. Fantastic! Like I said Harley, birds of a feather stick together." He said in a dark voice looking around at the rooftops above me. "Oh, isn't it wonderful mistah J? You'll finally get your bird!" Harley said as she too started looking around at the rooftops.

My mind was racing at a mile a minute trying to figure out what all of this meant. The birds of a feather, emotions that weren't mine and the Joker's 'bird' confused me, but it clicked as the emotions of rage grew stronger in my mind. As if this day could possibly get any worse, I could sense the Joker's target somewhere behind me through the bond that had been created when we were only teenagers.

"Oh birdy! Come out and play! Don't want your pretty Raven to break now do we?" Harley yelled as she seemingly followed my eyes to a rooftop across the street from the park. It was then I knew what was happening, I was being used as bait which was certainly not okay with me. While I've never been known for my dramatics, I widened my eyes and looked fearfully across the street from me.

"Ah, so that's where he's hiding." The Joker laughed as he followed my worried gaze. In this moment of distraction, I ripped my arm free of his grasp and managed to pick up the Joker with my powers, throwing him as high as I could towards the building behind me. I watched as he sailed for a second afraid that I was mistaken, and the bond wasn't as accurate as it once was. But the worry was set aside as I saw the almost shadow like figure drop from the roof of the building behind me and land square on the Joker's body.

"That wasn't a very smart thing to do dollface." I heard Harley yell as she swung her mallet straight for me. Thankfully, I'm quicker than her by a long shot and dodged with ease, watching her stumble over herself with a lack of balance. In the distance I could hear struggling and caught a glimpse of the fight but was again interrupted when I heard Harley huff in annoyance and charge at me again. I stopped her mid run easily, simply holding her in black magic while she struggled for escape.

"You know I read your background information. You're a brilliant woman Harley, you could do much better than him." I smirked as I looked over to the Joker struggling to stand up. Harley scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah like your lover boy is any better?" she laughed. I looked at her quickly confusion probably written on my face. She smirked and looked over at the fight behind her. "You mean you don't know? Bird Boy only has his heart set on a special little Raven. Why do you think we tracked you down? Why do you think he's here?" She snarled. In the brief second that her words caught me off guard she managed to struggle just enough to break the magic surrounding her. Before I could think she was running yelling behind her "Think about it Raven!"

I would easily have caught up to her if it were not for the gunshot that rang out in the distance. Almost as if the world turned in slow motion, I watched as the Joker dropped his gun and sprinted in the same direction as Harley. I could feel the pain in my own left leg, but I could feel the rage more than anything. I ran over, hoping the bullet didn't hit any major arteries or anything more than my healing powers could handle.

I reached the scene and was met with the face I had been dreading since the moment I could feel his presence. His black hair had grown out, no longer in its signature spiked look. His uniform changed from the colors of a stoplight to a very subdued black and blue, but his mask remained to this day. I extended my hand as he looked at me. I could feel shock enter his system, probably from his wound but part of me had hope it was from seeing me again.

"Good to see you again Raven. Wish it were in better circumstances." He smiled as he took my hand and stood up. He winced with pain as he tried to apply pressure on his leg, which I immediately ripped off the end of my cape and tied around the bullet wound hoping to slow the bleeding.

"My bike is two streets over; we need to get somewhere safe where I can concentrate and heal you." I said monotone, trying at all costs to avoid eye contact. I conjured a black disk for him to sit and elevate his leg on as I walked us back to my bike. I could hear him laugh from next to me. "What? No hello?" He smirked.

I sighed, mostly out of annoyance. I looked over at his masked eyes and for the first time acknowledged him. "Hello Nightwing."