Thanagarian

Chapter 17

I woke up the next morning with only Rocket and decided maybe it was time I made up my trip to Misty's. I looked at Rocket, asleep on the rug, and called her name. "Hey Rocky, wanna go see your brother?" She looked at me and yawned, the got up and drank from her water dish. "Good girl, I'll get ready." I dumped the little pebbles of food in her dish, the as she meandered over to eat a little bit I pulled on my armor and mask and grabbed my axe.

Since Rocket didn't have a collar I just looped Jet's old leash around her neck. I held the braided leather in my hands and remembered the night Jet wore this, when I got my wings. "Oh, Jettie Bettie." I whispered. Rocket stared up at me with her intense amber gaze. "You need a song, little girl." I kissed her head, then hoisted her into my arms and took off through the window. It was her first time flying and I think she enjoyed it. Her sharp muzzle was thrust forward to meet the wind  and her eyes were closed. Her sides expanded as she breathed in the cold air. "You like flying, Rocket?" I asked. She sneezed in reply. I laughed, "Good girl."

I spotted Misty outside the Richard Rodgers with Angel sniffing around. I landed gently and put Rocket down, then called her name. She turned to face me and her blue eyes fell on Rocket, sitting quietly at my feet. "Is that Rocket?" She asked excitedly.

"The one and only." I replied.

"Look who came to visit you, Angel!" She told the three legged Shepherd now straining at her leash. "Thanagar's inside, I walk them one at a time." She gradually allowed Angel closer so as not to scare the grey pup but little Rocket sat bravely the whole time. Finally Angel's nose was touching Rocket's and mother greeted daughter with a lick on the head. "Come on," Misty beckoned, "Angel's done, you can see Gar."

"I'd love to see him again!" I replied. I followed Misty inside the theater and was met with the smell of cookies. "Ooh," I said, grabbing one.

"Better run, Thayne will be mad."

"Come at me, bro!" I said, making my voice ridiculously deep.

She laughed, "Careful what you wish for, here he comes." A man with red hair and stubble walked out of his dressing room. I crammed my cookie into my mouth and wiped my hands on my armor, turning away so he wouldn't see my cookie filled cheeks.

"Who's your friend, Mist?" He asked, not even looking at me.

"Oh, nobody." She replied.

"Interesting name." He replied. He was at the table with his back to us when he called out, "Hey! Who took a cookie!"'

"Run." Said Misty quietly. She shoved me forward and I stumbled a few steps, then took off after her. I was never a very good runner, I preferred flying but the ceiling wasn't too high. So I ran, with Rocket in my arms and Angel loping beside Misty. We skidded to a stop in front of a door marked 'Lin Manuel Miranda' and Misty opened the door. I slid too far on the polished wood and my shoulder hit the wall but I shoved off and slipped into the door, closing it behind me.

I folded my wings and leaned against the door. "I swear to God," I said, my eyes still closed. "He's scarier than most of the street thugs I beat up."

She laughed and I turned around. There was man there too, he had long black hair and a goatee. He held out a hand, "Lin Manuel Miranda."

I shook his hand and smiled at him. When I released his hand he examined  it. "Whew, quite a grip. You do not want to pick a fight with this person!"

"Don't worry Mr. Miranda,"

"Lin, you can call me Lin."

"Don't worry Lin, unless you're stealing things," I looked at Misty. "Or harassing people, you've got nothing to worry about."

He laughed, "Well that's good, I doubt I could outrun you." He looked at my wings. "Or out fly."

I spotted a puppy perched on a chair and put Rocket down slowly. She plopped down at my feet and looked up at me. I knelt down and ran my finger down her head and between her shoulder blades. "It's alright, little girl. You'll be safe." Angel had lain down in the middle of the room to watch both her children. As soon as Lin called Thanagar's name he gave a yip and jumped off. He grabbed a rope toy that was way to big for him and growled as he dragged it across the room. In the few minutes I'd known Thanagar he'd made more noise than Rocket had since I'd had her. "He's very vocal." Lin warned me.

"Rocket's so quiet you forget she'd there." I said. Lin put a few cookies on the ground in front of Rocket, then gave a couple to the boisterous pup. They were tiny training cookies and Rocket sniffed each one in turn, then ate it gently. Thanagar didn't even bother to sniff them, he just vacuumed the up then went back to his toy. I laughed as he struggled with it. I drew Rocket's key ring toy out of my pocket and put it in front of her, watching as she picked it up brought it to Angel. She dropped it delicately between her mother's huge paws and then sat down and licked Angel's nose. A collective "Aww!" went around the room as Angel licked Rocket back.

Then Thanagar came bounding over and threw himself on Angel, provoking a warning growl from the lighter dog. He tumbled down the other side and made for Rocket but Angel had him on his back before the pup could think. Rocket was behind Angel's other paw as she held the boy down. He looked up at her with big eyes and when she let him up he was noticeably calmer. He walked up to Rocket and sniffed noses with her, then bowed, inviting her to play. Rocket looked at me and I smiled at her, then she bowed back.

They played for about an hour and the entire time Rocket didn't so much as pant. "Wow." Remarked Misty. "She really is silent." I said goodbye to Thanagar who was currently held in Lin's arms to prevent him from following us and Lin, thanking him for letting me come. Misty led me out and Angel came to follow, every so often nudging Rocket in my arms. As we walked past I noticed the cookie plate, which had been full, was now empty with nothing but a few crumbs."I should have taken two." I said.

Misty giggled. "Then he would have killed you twice."

We walked past a man with an Afro who nodded. "He can kill you, then bring you back from the dead and kill you again. Trust me, it's happened." Misty laughed and slapped his shoulder. "What's I miss?" He asked.

"Virginia my home sweet home I wanna give you a kiss!" Misty finished singing.

"Who's your friend, Kid?"

"That's Hawk Kid, she doesn't share her secret identity."

"Then it wouldn't be a secret!" I exclaimed.

"Anyway, Wings this is Daveed, he plays Jefferson and Lafayette."

He held out a hand. "Nice to meet you, Kid."

I shook it and he held his hand. "Do you work out or something?" He joked.

"Yep." I replied. "I can't save people with flab instead of muscles!"

Outside the theater I said goodbye to Misty and Angel, then flew off. When I got back to the warehouse the sky was turning a pumpkin orange. "Holy crap, Rocket, fall is coming." Sure enough there was a chill in the air and I got goosebumps from being up so high. I landed and walked in, putting Rocket down. Hawkgirl was standing at the sink cleaning dishes. "Hey, Abi." She greeted.

"Sup, Hawkgirl."

"Miss me?"

"That's for me to know."

I hung my axe on the wall and was taking off my mask when a kid came walking out of the bathroom. I slammed my mask back on my head and ripped my axe off the wall, holding it in front of me.

I looked at the kid standing in front of me, looking at the warehouse. "Ew, it's so girly." He complained.

"I wonder why." I answered. "Hawkgirl, who's this?"

"This," He replied. "Is Garth Rodgers. Who are you?"

"Your worst nightmare." I replied.