Bluejay: The Protégé of Black Canary

Escaping the Harbor

Huh. I'd been through a lot of weird (and mostly dangerous) situations within the past month, but I think playing deadly laser tag with a superhero definitely took the cake.

I thought back to our previous conversation and fought a puzzled expression. By 'finer details,' did Robin mean, like, slappin' handcuffs on me or something? And why would he want to help me escape? I'd just pointed a gun at him! Plus, he'd just caught me red-handed associating with criminals.

I wanted to ask him about the handcuffs deal, but I held my tongue and decided we had more pressing matters to attend to. That, and I didn't want to remind him in case it was something later on his 'to do' list. Robin and I ran through the dark maze, slipping between shipping crates and darting over corners. What a duo we are, I thought.

"This way!" I pointed to the right. "That's the closest exit of the harbor!"

We slowed to a stop, peeking over the corner before we darted across the street again. Thankfully, The Intergang weren't exactly stealthy. We could hear them shouting from almost two blocks over, and Robin and I were sure to steer clear from them. In addition, I noticed his effort to stay close to me. Every time we paused to peer around the corner of a freight crate, Robin always held his arm in front of me. His ease with me made me uncomfortable. I'd literally pointed a gun at him, like, two minutes ago!

"So," Robin began casually as if nothing had happened. "What did you steal from them?"

I could feel my cheeks flame and I glared sharply at him.

"I didn't steal anything!" I responded defensively.

Robin didn't seem satisfied with my answer. He gave me an arrogant look, leaned a little closer and asked,

"Then why do they want to kill you?"

I stared at him, slack jawed for a moment and unable to scrape together an answer, least a witty comeback. My frown deepened.

"That's none of your business!" I quickly blurted.

"Uh, it is a little bit if I'm in the process of saving your life." Robin said.

But instead of shooting me a rude look like I expected him to, he just gave me another cute, crooked smile. I noticed Robin tilted his head a bit, a lock of messy black hair brushing against the top of his brow. I was about to protest how I'd been absolutely fine until he had shown, when my heart leapt in my throat. My stomach churned as we were about to turn the corner of the crate, and I grabbed his forearm.

"Wait!" I yanked him backwards.

Wisely, Robin obeyed my warning, although he gave me a confused look. We clung to the wall, waiting silently. Suddenly, someone fired twice at the end of the street, but not at us. The two red orbs came shooting across the length of the road, hitting a corner of a different crate with a loud crack. A deep crater was left in the metal.

"Oi! What the hell?!" A man yelled in protest.

He emerged from behind the crate, a glowing spear in his arms. The shooter emerged from the other end of the street. I couldn't make out his expression in the dark. He lowered the gun in his hands.

"Sorry. Thought you was the Bats. He ran off when the girl split."

"He's getting all the workers out..." Robin breathed quietly.

His breath tickled my neck.

"Any sign of her?" The first man asked. "Boss promised a share of the shipment to the one who brings her in." He grinned.

His comment made my skin crawl. I swallowed hard and felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. What were the chances I'd get out of this tonight? I felt something touch my shoulder, and I involuntarily flinched. But it was only Robin. I could barely make out the shape of his face in the darkness, but I could see the intensity in it. It translated, it's going to be alright.