Bluejay: The Protégé of Black Canary

The Injustice League

"Guys, I dunno about this." I shuffled my feet as I looked up at the platform.

"Oh come on, it's perfectly safe!" Robin encouraged from the top.

I stifled a loud groan and pursed my lips, still unconvinced. Connor stood ready, his fingers laced together to throw me into the air. Team maneuvers were an essential part of training. But because I wasn't strong enough to throw anyone up in the air like a volleyball, I was the volleyball.

"And there's no reason we're doing this when Canary's not here?" I asked dryly, casting blunt stares across the room.

All dressed in casual clothes, we might have passed for actual high schoolers, and not superheroes. Today, our babysitter was the magician  Zatara. He was a middle aged man in a tux and top hat. The first time I'd met him, I was suspicious of him pulling out a rabbit to win our affections. Zatara was in the briefing room while we hung out in the hanger before training began. I could spot the red wings of the Bioship poking out from the edge of the platform behind Robin's head. Wally pretended to get offended, placing a hand on his chest and slapping the bag of chips to his shirt. 

"What? Never! Besides, what if you need to get somewhere high fast?" Wally tried to point out.

I frowned. "That's what a grapple gun is for!" If I was wearing my suit, I would have pulled it out and shook it at his face.

"But sometimes you don't always have it handy." Artemis said innocently, examining her nails.

"You just want to see me flung into the air." I accused, narrowing my eyes. The corner of her lips twitched upwards before she could smoother it.

Kaldur stepped in, rolling his eyes at Wally and Artemis's theatrics.

"You don't have to do it if you don't want to. But if you fall, M'gann will be here to catch you. Don't worry." Kaldur insisted.

I was the most surprised that Kaldur was going along with this, but it was nice to know he had a sense of humor. I huffed dramatically, trying to gage the distance between the ground and the floating platform.

"I'll make sure you won't hit the floor if you miss. I promise." M'gann swore.

Even though their pressure had good intentions- more or less- I still didn't feel very inclined to let Connor toss me into the air like a beach ball. An image of myself splattered on the ground flashed through my head, and I instantly felt another shiver down my spine. My eyes flickered to Artemis. She thankfully understood my plea for help and decided to take pity on me.

"I'll go first." She declared, much to my relief.

Artemis took a few steps back and tightened her ponytail. I waited for her to take off her heeled boots, but to my shock she did not. At Connor's nod, she ran at him, her shoes clipping at the ground. Artemis stepped into Connor's interlocked hands, and was thrown into the air. Just as gracefully as Robin had, she flipped in the air with her blonde hair trailing after her before landing smoothly on the platform.

I regretted asking her to go first when the rounds of praise followed her. She flourished her hand in the air as a sign of appreciation, bowing slightly. I exhaled, shaking my limbs.

"You can do it! Just make sure to keep your knees bent! Easier than a handspring!" Robin advised to me. Easy for you to say. Until this year, I couldn't even do a cartwheel!

"And mind your center of gravity!" Artemis chimed in.

I grumbled to myself, the contents of my stomach churning uncomfortably.

"Ah screw it." I muttered and backed up.

"Whoo! Jackie!" M'gann cheered from the sideline.

Connor got ready for me, lacing his fingers again and adjusting his stance. I gave him a cautious look.