Thanagarian

Chapter 7

That afternoon Hawkgirl had received a call for assistance to help the team on an assignment in Japan. She said she would probably be home late and jumped out the window. However she flew in again and took the batteries out of the radio. "Don't need you getting anymore ideas, hero." Then she left for real, I ran to the window and watched her fly away. I looked at the black dog on my bed and remembered our walk together. It all seemed so long ago. He hadn't been on a walk in so long, instead he just used a special stall in the bathroom that was full of newspapers. My mouth curved into a smile and I grabbed his leather leash off the wall. "Ready Jettie?"

Ten minutes later we were flying over the Hudson River. Jet had his mouth open and his tongue out, his ears flapping back in the wind. Ferries were congregating below me and I waved with my free hand, but I doubted they could see me. I flew until I found a small wooded area and touched down, placing Jet on the ground. He wasted no time sniffing and running and being a dog. We walked for about an hour until I found a bench in a small clearing cut through with a shallow stream where I unclipped Jet's leash and let him run. He took off, running in lopsided circles and playing in the water. I found a stick on the ground and threw it for him again and again, watching him gallop through the creek to get it.

Finally he collapsed in a panting muddy heap at my feet and I sat down next to him. "You ain't nothin' but a hound dog," I sang. "Cryin' all the time. You ain't nothing but a hound dog, cryin' all the time." I ruffled his ears and ran my hand down his muzzle. "Oh you ain't never caught a rabbit and you ain't no friend of mine!" He joined in with a howl and I laughed, it had been a long time since we'd shared a moment like this. "What a good boy." I told him. "Who's the very best boy in the whole wide world? You the very best boy in the whole wide world!" He closed his eyes and panted, the sun warming his dark coat. I sighed and lay down next to him, embracing us both with my wings. I felt the small wags of his tail against my side and pulled him close, smearing my clothes with mud.

"You ready to head back, Jet?" I asked, playing with the fur on his neck. He barked and wagged his tail, slobbering in the dirt. "I'll take that as a yes." I stood up and ruffled my wings to get the dirt out from between the feathers. Jet slopped up a drink from the stream then came to my side, his tail wagging as he waiting for me to grab him. I picked him up with a grunt then shoved off, kicking up dirt in my wake. Jet's slobber flew back from his mouth and into the wind, causing me to laugh when I thought of the unfortunate person receiving a sudden shower. "You're such a good boy!" I crooned. Soon we were flying back over the Hudson River. All the ferries had left and the water was empty. I flew low and dragged my fingers in it, Jet dog paddled until I lifted up again. Now his underside was soaking wet and muddy too.

When I touched down in the warehouse I fell forward and caught myself with my hands. "That was close." I said to the muddy dog in my arms. I let him go and he made a beeline to his water bowl, leaving muddy prints behind and slopping water over the sides of the dish. "Oh Jet," I sighed. I grabbed the mop from its post against the wall and cleaned the floor, then looked at the muddy, smelly dog sitting on the floor. "You sir, need a bath." I dragged him into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Once the water was warm I shoved him in and lathered him up with my shampoo "You'll smell like Citrus." I said in a high voice.

"Abi!" I heard a voice. "I'm back! Where are you?"

"In the bathroom, Hawkgirl, I'm giving Jet a bath." I called. I looked at the water running down the drain, it was clear save the soap, I covered my tracks well. Hawkgirl came into the bathroom and saw me soaking wet, my wings and clothes dripping water, Jet standing in the shower with his eyes wide, ears back, and tail between his trembling legs, and splashed sink water on her face. "What was the call for?" I asked as I turned off the water. Hawkgirl sorted, blowing water off her lips. "Some sea monster." She replied.

"Fun." I answered, drying Jet off. He had never liked baths and was thankful this one was over. "What a good boy." I praised. He stepped out of the shower, then took off. "Jet no!" I yelled as he went straight for my bed. He jumped, but didn't find himself in the warm embrace of blankets, instead he was caught in Hawkgirl's iron grasp. He whimpered and struggled until she gave him back to me. I pulled his collar on and tapped his nose. "That wasn't very nice, mister, you're lucky you're so cute." I gathered him up close and buried my face in his scruff.

Hawkgirl put a pot of boiling water on the stove and dumped pasta into it, then put sauce into a second pot. "I'm gonna say you want sauce on your pasta." She said.

"Hawkgirl, you know me too well." I replied, pulling Jet up onto the thread bare couch. I cuddled him, wrapping my wings around us and flipping his erect ears back and forth. I heard the familiar clatter of plates as Hawkgirl put dinner on the table. I put Jet down and flew off the couch, settling into my chair with a flutter of wings. Towards the end of the meal there was one last roll left. Hawkgirl and I were both reaching for it when our hands touched. She locked her fingers around mine and put her elbow on the table. "Arm wrestle for it." She said. I had no choice but to agree as I wasn't about to back out and I couldn't pull my hand free if I wanted to. "Let's do this." I said. Within a few seconds my arm was pinned to the table and Hawkgirl had the roll in her mouth. "Ha!" She laughed. "I win!"

"Thanks captain obvious." I grumbled

"You're welcome lieutenant sarcastic." She chirped.