Bluejay: The Protégé of Black Canary

Ramen and Cap'n Crunch

My fingers twitched. Every instinct I had was screaming at me to run or to yank out my bow staff from under my skirt and swing it at Linh's head. But I didn't dare. Not when Dick's life was on the line. I could only pray that Artemis would notice I was missing in time and alert the Team.

"No one is to be harmed. Make sure every Intergang personnel you have is removed from the academy immediately." I told him, my voice low and dangerous.

My dark eyes narrowed at him. But George clearly knew he had the upper hand and didn't seemed bothered. He smiled as he held the door open for me, but I wasn't fazed. By stepping into that vehicle, there was a possibility I was walking towards my own death. But I didn't have a choice.

"You have my word." He nodded.

While I didn't believe him, I had little room to bargain so I obeyed his instructions. I walked towards the car, and in a split second an idea was formed. Okay, time for you to earn that Oscar, Jackie, I said to myself. I gasped as I purposefully slipped on the curb, my shoes sliding over some loose gravel. I had to make it believable, so I put everything I had into it. I didn't stop my knees as they hit pavement, and I felt the rough ground skin my flesh.

A couple students nearby snickered as they saw my embarrassing display, unaware of how much their lives were in danger at the moment if I wasn't cooperating. I caught myself against the frame of the car, letting the notepad I was holding slide under the car, and right out of his line of sight.

"Graceful." Linh commented under his breath.

I could hear the smile in his voice, but really it was me who should have been smirking. Hopefully, Artemis would find it and realize something was wrong. But until we were away from the school, I had my hands tied behind my back. I couldn't endanger my friends. I got to my feet, my face flushing red with mock embarrassment, when it was really just hatred for this evil man.

I slid into the car, my fingers grazing over the smooth leather seats. I quickly observed the interior of the car. A smiling Ramen Noodle themed air freshener hung from the rearview mirror, and one of those bouncing hula girls was on the dashboard. I might have commented on the décor if I wasn't internally panicking.

There were two other people in the vehicle. A boney man sat behind the wheel, wearing a green baseball cap and had a mole on his nose. A muscular woman sat in the passenger seat, wearing a black jacket and had her dark hair in braid. Her eyes narrowed.

"Backpack." She demanded.

I didn't need to see a weapon to know she was armed. Linh was no warrior- these two were here to ensure his safety, and to manhandle me if necessary. I listened to her, turning over my bag as Dr. Linh stepped in the car and closed the door behind him. The woman stuffed my bag at her feet, and held out her hand expectedly again. I handed her my phone, and then the knife I kept hidden in my jacket.

"I'm no fool." The woman said in a gruff voice, holding her hand out for a third time.

Sighing, I yanked my staff out from its holster under my skirt. I was hoping I might have been able to keep that one. Gathering my things, the Katnis looking lady seemed satisfied and put them in the glove box, hiding them from my sight. Dr. Linh beamed from his seat to my right.

"See how easy that was?" He asked rhetorically.

I didn't humor him and glared at him sharply.

"I'm cooperating- now leave all these students alone." I requested.

Dr. Linh gave a signal, and we pulled off the curb and into the traffic of Gotham City. My eyes flickered to the sunroof. It was definitely locked, but a possible exit should I need it. I gritted my teeth as I imagined my elbow breaking the glass of my window. It wouldn't feel great, especially because I didn't know if it was bulletproof, but with enough force or some sort of tool, I might be able to get out. Maybe-