Darker Shade of Hero
Disclaimer: Just own the cast of blackbird
A/N: I always assume no one reads this because John isn't some bubbly little girl who's catwoman's sidekick but I was wonderfully surprised with two lovely reviews! Really guys thank you so very much! It means the world to me that you gave this story a chance! Also in regards to the way John treats Artemis he's saying things that I feel she should be called on and I just don't like her, at all. she is completely a turn off to me.
Chapter Two: Unpleasant Union
"Rise and shine kiddies," Blackbird says leaning on the door frame. They have no way of telling whether it is day or night. Blackbird has his full face mask back on which looks awkward with gray jeans and a well-worn AC/DC t-shirt.
"The show is about to start," Blackbird chides as he turns and walks back down the hallway. Once the team returns to the main room the see Crow and Batman standing toe to toe. Both are completely calm but the rage and hatred is so thick in the air its visible.
"Damn this is like Darth Vader Vs. Ironman," Titan, now in jeans in a gray t-shirt, whispers nudging Blackbird's shoulder.
"I don't understand the reference," Blackbird monotones. "Besides this has happened like ten times since I've been living with Crow."
"Dang I've only seen seven," Robin mutters. Neither seemed fazed by their mentors impending verbal battle.
"The league has no business in what I do," Crow says coolly.
"Dropping woman off buildings warrants concern," Batman says. "And your integration methods are boarding on criminal."
"In his defense that's me about 90% of the time," Blackbird points out feeling a need to defend his mentor. "And I dropped Vera off a building too. So yeah if the league should be pissed at anyone it should be me." Crow gives a snorted laugh.
"You've done a wonderful job or raising him," batman says in a harsh tone with a straight face. Crow smirks (though it's under his mask).
"I know," Crow says. "He makes me prouder and prouder every day." The mocking in his tone is so clear that it might as well be spelt in neon letters.
"Now if you don't need anything else please take your little 'team' and leave," Crow says. Batman doesn't move but does something no one expects; he pulls out a picture of a woman. Blackbird approaches his mentor's side.
"Irina Asratyan," Crow says lightly. "How did you get this?"
"She contacted the league," Batman says. "I believe she's an associate of yours?" Blackbird gives a snort of distain.
"Former," Crow says. "We haven't spoken in six years." Batman nods.
"She has information that could be of grave importance to the league," batman says. "Though we are in great disagreement on this; the league would like you to work with us on this matter. It seems you are one of the few people with extensive knowledge of these people."
"Unfortunately that's true," Crow growls. "And as much as I loath to admit this, I'd prefer it be me handling matters with them than anyone else. I will work with you, but it leaves the issue of what Blackbird will be doing during that time period.
"What," Blackbird whips his head to stare at Crow. "No way! I don't trust Irina, I don't trust the people she works with and I don't trust the league! I'm not letting you do this alone." Crow puts a hand on Blackbird's shoulder.
"You know what comes with her," Crow says. "I don't want you in the same country as him let alone within a few feet."
"Come on that was six years ago," Blackbird snaps. "I can handle myself!"
"I know," Crow says. "I…I just don't want to risk anything. Prosto poverʹte mne moyego syna." Blackbird sighs in defeat.
"YA, otets , yego vsem ostalʹnym, chto menya bespokoit," Blackbird says back. "But I really don't want to be here alone all the time."
"Perhaps you could stay with the team," Batman offers though he should ever so slightly unsure.
"Don't really want that either," Blackbird sighs.
"I'll go with you," Lucas offers. "My life gets really boring without you anyways."
"Then it's settled," Batman says though no one in the room really seems settled with the idea, not at all.
?
The computer announces the code to let Blackbird and Titan into the cave and the two are, for lack of any better words, bickering like an old married couple.
"Dude it's your own fault," Titan says. "Take normal classes, for normal high school kids and you'd have more time to sleep."
"Oh shut it," Blackbird says. "Unlike you I don't get full rides for sports and shit!" M'gann is the first to approach the pair. She is taken aback to see that Blackbird, still wearing domino masks with civvies, is walking with a cane.
"Oh no Superboy didn't do that to you did he," the Martian asks worriedly.
"No," Blackbird says. "This has been this way for…I don't have the slightest clue when this happened. One just my leg just stopped working. Probably that compound fracture being reset with a hammer and cloth."
"Dude censorship," Titan sticks out his tongue. "That's gross!"
"World doesn't have censorship and neither do I," Blackbird says. "Besides she asked." Titan rolls his eyes.
"I'm Lucas by the way," the red head says. "And he's not going to tell anyone because he's all untrusting." Blackbird scoffs.
"Well," Blackbird shoves his hands in his pocket. "Anyways sorry I kinda mind blasted you with weird shit. I don't like people in my head."
"It's alright," M'gann says. "I should remember things like that aren't always okay on earth."
"Yeah Bird maybe you should take note from that," Lucas teases. "Quite poking around in everyone's head."
"I like blackmailing material," Blackbird shrugs. "You never know when you're gonna need blackmail."
"You really do take after Crow," Robin says as he comes into the room with Wally.
"Better than the alternatives," Blackbird shrugs. Looking at Robin and Blackbird one can see that Blackbird has almost a foot of high on his fellow bird themed hero. Blackbird is also slightly more built. Still their hair is similar in color and wearing a domino mask they look even more similar. The two stare at each other, as if they are sizing one another up.
"See daddy bats still has your ID under lock and key," Blackbird says.
"You're not any too eager to show off yours," Robin points out.
"That's my choice," Blackbird notes. "So did you have to tell the speedster or did he figure it out."
"I told him," Dick says. Blackbird laughs and Wally scowls.
"Same with Luke," Blackbird smiles. "And I was literally spoon feeding him the hints!" The two laugh. M'gann and Wally note Blackbird seems to have lost a lot of the snide coldness he displayed the night before. Certainly he is only slightly unpleasant to be with at this point.
"I made cookies," M'gann says as the five walks to the kitchen of mountain Justice. M'gann has surprisingly not burned the cookies and there are several sandwiches as well.
"Do you want a sandwich," M'gann asks the two new comers.
"Sorry I don't eat meat," Blackbird says.
"You're an animal rights activist," Wally raises a skeptical eyebrow. Blackbird shrugs.
"Not in the least," Blackbird says. "Meat just makes me feel sick." Blackbird takes a bite out of one of the cookies. Conner, Artemis and Kaldur now come into the kitchen join the five already there. Blackbird gives Artemis a hard look. The way she looks and her posture does nothing to improve his outlook on her (though he does note that A as the same boots she does).
Notably because Blackbird constantly reads minds he knows more than he should about the team and sordidly he's decided the only ones not lying about something are Wally and Dick. Still he chooses not to push any of this; he doesn't plan to be with team long. Interfering seems pointless, it's not his issue, not his focus. Blackbird sighs and pulls out a thermos and pours the content into the cap.
"Eww what is that it smells awful," Artemis demands.
"It's tea," Blackbird says snaps. "It's for headaches."
"Do you suffer from Migraines," Kaldur asks showing concern for his new teammate. Blackbird sighs.
"Sort of," Blackbird shrugs. "I've had them ever since I got my telekinesis. The tea taste awful but it helps."
"You know you read peoples mind but you don't throw stuff around or move stuff with your mind like Miss M," Wally points out.
"Because I suck at it," Blackbird says simply. "I have too much force not enough control and I break stuff."
"Really," Artemis puts a hand on her hip. "And how old are you? Sixteen?"
"Well excuse me Miss Bitch," Blackbird snorts. "My mentor isn't a telepath so I don't get lessons handed to me on a plate."
"So if you lifted an apple what would happen," Wally asks.
"It would get crushed to bits," Blackbird says. "That's why I'm not allowed to pick up people."
"Dude you have to do it," Wally says.
"No," Blackbird says flatly. "It'll just make a mess."
"Don't be a girl," Wally says placing a bright red apple on the counter in front. "Do it!"
"No," Blackbird snaps.
"Oh Birdie just do it," Lucas nudges his shoulder. "He's not doing to stop whining about it until you do."
"It's a waste of food," Blackbird growls. "But if it will shut up fine." The teen closes his eyes and focus intently. The apple rises off the counter and gets about two feet off the counter before it shakes violently and then splatters against the walls, the counters and everyone's faces. Blackbird whips the apple bits off his face.
"And this kiddies is why when I say I don't want to do something, you don't pester me on it," Blackbird says. Titan laughs loudly.
"Don't worry I made him to the same thing with an orange," Lucas says. "My mom was so pissed at me." Blackbird shrugs and picks up a rag and starts cleaning the mess he made.
"Oh let me help," M'gann offers.
"He made the mess," Conner barks. Blackbird surely has set a bad tone with the clone when he attacked his girlfriend. Still the teen can't be bothered with it.
"I can handle it," Blackbird sighs setting his cane on the counter. Lucas makes an effort to help but Blackbird waves him off. Really it should be Wally who is helping because he's the one who egged the bird into doing it. Still he guesses he should push through it. Once the kitchen is clean the team goes to the couches and sits down. The groups start bittering about what to watch which ends in a screaming match between Wally and Artemis.
"God this is annoying," Blackbird growls. "How do you even tolerate these two?"
"You get used to it," Robin sighs. "Don't you have friends that fight?"
"I have a Crow," Blackbird says. "And a Titan. They Crow insults the Titan and the Titan is…"
"Terrified of that man," Titan finishes for his friends. "Your dad is insane!"
"So Crow is your father," M'gann voices. "I was wondering about that."
"But you two look nothing alike," Conner says.
"Well he's not my biological father," Blackbird shrugs. "he adopted me."
"So he's not your real dad," Conner is not trying to be mean, the clone simply doesn't understand adoption (A/N: obviously because he is not close with Superman he would not know that he was adopted and would have never had it explained to him).
"No he's my real dad," Blackbird says. "Biology doesn't matter. I never met my biological parents. Crow is the only father I've ever know and the only one I ever want."
"You don't want to meet your birth parents," M'gann inquires. Blackbird sighs in frustration.
"The only reason I'd ever want to know was to see If I'm a full blood Russian," Blackbird says. "Really that country has the twelfth highest suicide rate and fourth alcoholism rate I could be in trouble."
"it doesn't bother you at all you never met your parents," Robin asks thinking of his own parents.
"Not in the least," Blackbird says. "I'm happy."
A/N: Because the people reading this will probably never read the Original Comic of Blackbird the truth behind Blackbird's mother is she is a Russian Trafficking lord. The whole issue comes up much later in the comic after the introduction of several characters and Villains. Anyways thanks again for the reviews and I hope this chapter was pleasing too!
