Thanagarian

Chapter 6

When the sun filtered through the dusty windows and onto my eyelids they flickered open, revealing the green eyes beneath. Hawkgirl and I looked a lot alike, we could pass for mother and daughter if we really wanted too. Although I've never seen her without her mask I'm pretty sure she has green eyes, she had that whole red head thing going on so it makes sense. I looked around and saw the warehouse was empty, Hawkgirl was probably serving monitor duty at the Watchtower. Nothing but the training mat, thread bare couch, table and chairs, fridge, stove, counters, radio, and cabinets. I stretched my arms and yawned, then swung my legs out of bed.

Jet shut his eyes and refused to move. "Come on Jettie Bettie." I teased. "You know what they say, Carpe Dium, seize the day." I opened my wings to their full wingspan (five feet) as I walked across the cold floor to the toaster. Still not fully awake I jammed my toast into the toaster and shoved the handle down, watching the slices of bread slide down into the heat. I turned on the radio with a violent slap and the old thing jumped to life with a man's voice. "Suspects were apprehended. Good work boys." I went to pull on my clothes and opened the closet, my mask resting on its stand caught my eye and I pulled it off. My first gift from Hawkgirl, sort of a welcome present.

At that moment a voice sounded above the others. "All units dispatch to 31st street, white male in white tee shirt with tan shorts was reported to have been forcing a 14 year old child against a wall; molesting suspected."

I looked at the mask again. "Time to shine." I said. I put it on, it felt weird, but natural. Burning toast forgotten I hurriedly pulled on a royal blue shirt and black pants. Nothing fancy but this girl needed help. I grabbed my axe from its position beside Hawkgirl's mace, which was currently missing as well, then I flew out the window. 31st street was only a minute or two away as the Thanagarian flies. It was exhilarating to be flying out in fresh air, the city sights and sounds below me. I banked sharply at the sound of a scream and saw them, a rough man and a young girl about my age. She was fighting but he as just too strong for her.

I landed hard and stumbled forward a bit, I was still working on landing, and drew my axe. "Drop the kid ad I drop my axe." I said. He turned around and his eyes widened at my folding wings. Man was he ugly, he had a stubbly chin, thick eyebrows, and a leering toothless grin, not to mention he was very, very drunk. "Make me bird nose." He hissed. I brought my palm to the axe handle and looked at him. "Really? Bird nose? That's the best you could come up with? Oh well, don't say I didn't warn you." I swung my axe and it hit his wrist. He screamed and let go of the girl.

"You worthless bird brained ass!" He screeched.

"Run!" I yelled at her. "I won't let him get you!" Then to him because I don't stand there getting insulted, "You useless lump of human lard!" I hissed. He tried to follow the girl but I got his attention with a well aimed punch to the ear. He whipped around, his fist aiming for my head. I tilted it back just in time but it hit my nose and nearly knocked the mask off my face. I felt the warm trickle of blood begin to run and cursed him. He reached for my wings and pulled out a few feathers. "You idiot!" I screeched. "Do you know how long those take to grow back again!" I hit his head with the butt of my axe and wrapped my hands around his meaty neck. "You are about as attractive as butt fungus and as nice as ring worm." I slammed his head into my knee. "You are an insignificant little man who thinks harassing innocent people suddenly makes him big." I slammed his head into my knee again. "You are weak and stupid with nothing in that thick skull but a box of rocks."

I let go and he crumpled to the ground, groaning. I wiped the blood off my face with a sniff and wiped it on the hem of my shirt. I heard the distant wail of police sirens and turned to the girl. She had short, dirty blond hair, jeans, a tee shirt, and sneakers. I spread my wings and clipped my axe back into its holder on my belt. "Hawk Kid." I said. "Pleasure meeting you." I turned round, then faced her again. "Let's not share this with reporters. Any of it, in fact, just run." With a mighty thrust I was off and gliding towards the old warehouse.

I didn't know if the kid ran, but I hoped she did. If she told and Hawkgirl found out she'd have me stuffed and mounted on a wall. I flew through the window and landed with difficulty (again) and stumbled forward a bit. I went to the bathroom first and took off my mask, then washed the blood away. "That's gonna hurt in the morning." A voice said. I whipped around and saw Hawkgirl standing there. Oh crap. "What happened?" She asked.

"I-uh..."

"The truth please."

"Okay, this guy was attacking this girl and I saved her."

"How bad did you beat the guy?"

"I called him a lump of human lard."

"That's my girl. But never again, if you go out without permission on more time I'm having Black Canary babysit."

"I'm sorry, it was an impulse. But I promise it won't happen again!"

"It better not." She said, then handed me an ice pack. "Use this, it helps." She offered.

"Thanks." I replied, pressing the cold ice to my nose. I walked out of the bathroom and put my mask back on its stand in my closet and hung my axe next to Hawkgirl's mace. "Hey Hawkgirl?" I asked.

"Yes." She replied.

"I'll make sure to sleep 'till noon." She laughed and sat down across from me. "Poker?"

"Why, so you can lose again?"

"No, I need money."

I laughed and grabbed my deck of cards. Jet came and sat down at my feet, chewing his rawhide bone. "Hit me." Hawkgirl said. I slid her a card. "Royal flush." She said, drawing out the words. "Damn!" I cried as she snatched the ten dollars from the pile. "There goes my savings."

"You asked for it." Said Hawkgirl.

"Liar, you did."

"Did not." She retorted innocently. I crossed my arms, leaned back in my chair, and made a disdainful grunt. She laughed and mimicked me. We played for a few more hours, I got my ten dollars back and Hawkgirl still needed money. After poker we played chess, a game she'd brought from the Watchtower, and she crushed me. I went to bed that night perfectly happy and feeling like she forgave me.

A/N: The rescued girl in this chapter is Maplefang's Misty from her book, Running to Heaven with an Angel, go read it, it's awesome! It was also her idea for Misty to be molested, so you can thank her for that. Thanks for reading everyone!