Bluejay: The Protégé of Black Canary

Birds on a Roof

My tongue felt like cotton in my mouth when Dick asked me to go with him. Wally quickly blurted a lame excuse, running back towards the kitchen before I could decline. But without a reason to turn him down, I ultimately I agreed to go with him. While I went back to my room to change into my Bluejay suit, I felt like I was going to be sick. 

I was going to be alone with Dick. It would be the perfect opportunity to confess everything to him- but that was exactly what I was afraid of doing. So many things could go wrong, and we had just repaired our relationship. I wasn't ready to lose him as a friend, even if he didn't see me romantically. Dick was waiting for me at the Zeta Tube, checking something on his holographic computer. The blue hues lit him up, highlighting the sharp angles of his face.

"Where are we going?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

Dick smiled as he saw me approaching, and was quick to turn off his computer.

"Gotham. But don't worry, we'll be perfectly safe. We're just collecting a sample." He shrugged, although a muscle in his face seemed to twitch.

I swallowed, trying to remain calm as I pictured all of the different ways this could go. With a flourish of his arm, he gestured for me to set foot into the tube. I complied, and Dick followed me as the tube began to spin. A bright light began to emanate, and the familiar tingling sensation of teleporting returned to my blood.

"Recognized. Robin B01. Bluejay B08..."

When the carbonation in my system finally subsided, I assumed we arrived safely. However, I wasn't familiar with our location. I had used many of the Zeta Tubes in Gotham, but this one seemed to be new. I expected to be inside of an abandoned phone or in an old subway car, but I was wrong. I opened my eyes, but there wasn't a speck of light to be seen everywhere. The only thing my senses could detect was the cold air nipping at my exposed face. I reached out to my left to make sure Dick was there, my fingers brushing his own.

"It's okay." Dick murmured. I could hear the smile in his voice.

"Where are we?" I asked, resisting the urge to lace my fingers with his own.

I jerked my hand away from his. He doesn't like you, I had to remind myself. I bit down on the inside of my cheek, folding my arms over my chest. Suddenly, dim lighting began to stream into the entrance as Dick reached forward and pulled aside a tarp. He held it open for us as we stepped away from the Zeta Tube and into the cold winter air.

We were in Gotham alright- the smoggy sky and the bitter air confirmed it. Only the usual perspective I usually had was a bit... different. I expected to see a spray painted brick wall, or a glimpse of the dirty street, but instead I found myself staring at the tops of skyscrapers, and the dark horizon of the Atlantic Ocean. Small snowflakes fell from the sky, covering the roof in a flawless coating of powdered sugar.

"On top of Wayne Enterprises." Dick answer casually, like it was no big deal.

Oh. My stomach turned in on itself. In the darkness, I studied the various roofs around us, and could faintly see the airplane lights in the sky. Gulping, I approached the edge of the building. An awful, intrusive thought sprung to mind as I looked down at the pinprick-sized cars and pedestrians below me. What if you just jumped? I wonder what would happen.

(Of course we all know the answer, though: SPLAT)

Dick brushed aside some snow with his glove and sat down on the ledge, as if it was second nature to him. He eyed my weary expression, a small smirk playing on his lips.

"Careful. We're about seven hundred and eighty feet in the air." Dick advised.

I winced, leaning back away from the edge and taking a sweep of our surroundings. The rooftop of the skyscraper looked bare, save for the doorway that lead downstairs, and a shed with a tarp, which I now knew served as the camouflaging for the Zeta Tube. At first, it didn't look like anyone really ever came up here, but my assumptions were proven wrong once I spotted an old McDonald's bag, and a few empty Starbucks cups. I smiled, wondering how many long nights Batman and Robin had spent here on patrol.