Thanagarian

Chapter 8

A week or two later Hawkgirl told me I could start helping the cops with small cases. "New York City needs to know that Hawk Kid's got its back."

"Really?" I asked, in absolute awe and disbelief.

"Of course, but you can't protect the city in jeans and a tee shirt. Here." She said. She pulled out a suit of light armor and handed it to me. I took it, staring at it in awe and amazement. "Thank you." I whispered. "Thank you." Then I hugged her, holding her like I would never let go.

"Abi," She finally said. "You're suffocating me."

"Oh, sorry." I pulled away and dusted myself off, then looked at the armor in my hands. I ran to the bathroom to change into it. When I looked in the mirror I saw someone who had spent their life training, muscular arms, refined head, flat stomach, thick red hair, freckles and piercing green eyes.

The armor was a deep royal blue with gold on the edges. The gold formed thick lines that came together to form an 'x' in the middle of my chest and where the two lines intersected was the Thanagarian crest in red. There were royal blue and gold shoulder pads and gloves made of the same material as the gold. The top ended at my fourth rib up, leaving a few inches of my stomach exposed. The bottom had a gold belt with a handle for my axe, then royal blue pants that hugged my leg and stopped at my boots which were blue to match. "It's perfect." I breathed.

"You think so?" Hawkgirl asked. I nearly jumped out my skin, she had a knack for sneaking up on me. She walked up next to me and plopped my mask on my head. "There you go, kid, all ready to save the world. Kick ass kid, and use those insults well, I didn't teach 'em for nothing." I nodded and grabbed my axe, eager to kick butt. I jumped to the window, smiled, then jumped out. My wings caught the air and my red hair billowed out behind me as I flew, breathing in the cool air.

I heard a girl scream and banked down to see several people trying to force her into a car. There were a lot, too many to fight so I made my plan. I was unsure whether it would work flawlessly or I would have to fight but I hoped for the former. I counted the number of people, four, and took into account the girls position. I landed on a roof top to watch a little more, in the off chance the girl escaped I didn't want to get myself in an unnecessary fight. I heard the wail of police sirens in the distance and the four people became desperate. A man picked the girl up and tried to shove her into the car but she bit him. I saw her bag laying a few yards away and made a mental note to pick that up too.

I spread my wings and jumped down, aiming my battle axe for the car. I punched the guy holding the girl and he dropped her. Taking my chance I scooped her up and with a flutter of wings I was airborne again, their angry yells echoing in my ears. Finally I heard the screech of tires as they pulled away and sped down the street. I recognized the girl in my arms as the same one who I had saved. She had been harassed a few weeks before. "You sure are good at getting in trouble."

"And you sure are good at showing up in the nick of time. Who are you anyway?"

"I'm a hero, they don't share their names. Just call me Hawk Kid."

"That's too long." She complained. "I'm gonna call you Wings."

"Okay..." Wow, the first person I rescued and they don't even use my name. "What's yours?"

"Misty." She replied, taking in the sights.

"Well, Misty, where should I leave you?"

"Just outside the Richard Rodgers."

"Sure thing." I banked and spotted the old theater after only a few minutes of soaring above the city. I landed, folded my wings, and put the girl down. I stretched out my arms and opened my wings to their full span. "Stay out of trouble, Misty."

"I'll try, Wings." She said. I spread my wings, got a running start, then flew off. I got back to the warehouse to find that Hawkgirl was gone. I looked in the fridge to find it close to empty, the only things left was a bag of untrustworthy cheese and an almost empty milk carton. Sighing, I changed into my everyday clothes and walked to the window. "Bye, Jet." I crooned, then I took a deep breath, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

Within ten minutes I was walking down the aisle of Stop and Shop throwing stuff into my basket. I had poker money and allowance to spend, all in all it totaled almost one hundred and fifty dollars, Mom had never let me buy anything. "Save it," She had said. "For college." Whelp, I knew I wasn't going to college now. I stood in line at the deli counter and felt everyone's eyes on my wings, it's not a good feeling. I took my meat and hurried down the soap aisle. Empty, thank God. I paid for my things and left, glad to be free of those judging stares. I was walking back because a storm was brewing and I didn't feel like being fried when I felt a raindrop. Hugging the bags close I ran, the rain bouncing off my mask.

I reached the warehouse and threw open the door, struggling in against the pouring rain and battering wind. "Whew!" I said when I finally got the door closed. "It's nasty out there." Jet jumped off the couch and trotted up to me, his thick tail wagging slowly. I put the bags down on the table and started unpacked when a soaking wet Hawkgirl came through the door. "That's some nasty rain out there." She said, hanging up her mace. "You go shopping?" She asked.

"Yep, and I saved a girl."

Hawkgirl nodded. "Huh, good for you."