Songbird

Chapter 5 ~ Rooftop

Jace stared at the man in the doorway. This stranger had the same hazel eyes and nose shape as Felicity. Jace guessed they were related somehow, but he didn't want to assume.

Before he could speak, City took charge.

"Wesley, calm down. This is Jace," said City, gesturing to him. "He walked me home from Indigo and fought off some street thugs."

"Thugs?" asked Wesley sharply.

"I'll tell you more inside," said City. She sighed and looked at Jace. "Thanks, Jace. I'll see you Friday?"

"Friday at 6," said Jace with a smile. She smiled warmly back and stepped inside. Wesley gave Jace a glare before shutting the door a bit more forcefully than usual.

As Jace walked to the street again and got in a taxi, he thought about Wesley. He had seen so familiar... Where had Jace seen him before?

Then he remembered; Wesley had been to the Pit with a group of rowdy friends a few times in the past. He hadn't been recently, and no one knew that Jace was Songbird, so he had no reason to worry... But he still felt uneasy. Jace did not want City to find out about his side job.

Isaac and Devin were waiting for Jace when he got home. Jace told them all about the cliché way he saved the day, and how he had met City's brother.

"Ooh, her brother," said Isaac, thinking out loud, totally ignoring the fight and skipping to the drama. This was typical for the friends of Jace. They were used to his fighting, but not his love life. "He shouldn't know that you're Songbird; you probably have nothing to worry about."

"That's what I was thinking... But still," said Jace, frowning.

"Where does he work?" asked Devin.

"Auto shop somewhere in the city," replied Jace, remembering a previous conversation with Felicity. "He seems protective."

Isaac scoffed. "Of course he's protective; he's her older brother."

"But at least you got another date with City!" Devin exclaimed.

"Don't blow it," warned Isaac, waving a finger at Jace. "I actually like this girl; unlike literally all the other ones you've brought home."

"Thanks," said Jace with a roll of his eyes while Isaac and Devin exchanged grins. "I'll try not to."

The week dragged on for Jace. He worked at Tim's gym every day while Isaac worked at Papa John's and Devin went to his classes. As Thursday came around, Jace was feeling more nervous than ever.

"You're seriously going to the Pit the day before you go on a real date?"

"Yes, Isaac."

Isaac and Jace stood at the ladder going down into the subway that led to the Pit. The cold was still biting, but the wind was not as strong today. Jace was feeling his usual calm before a fight.

"But... what if you get hit in the face and then you're super ugly for your date?" asked Isaac, throwing his hands to his head in an exasperated manner.

"You're more worried than I am," said Jace. He began his descent down the ladder. "I won't even let them hit me; you'll see."

Devin had homework to do that night (as Isaac had pointed out, claiming he was glad to not be in school), so it was just Isaac with Jace. Isaac got the responsibility of collecting bets, something Devin usually did.

Jace made quick work of the night. He won his two matches, all without a single hit to his face. He was one of the only fighters at the Pit who could manage such a feat.