Invaded
Chapter Two: Earthlings
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Downtown Star City
January 5
04:01 AM PDT
The snow crunched beneath loudly as I landed in a crouching stance on the rundown rooftop of an old apartment building. The snow, which had began falling gently hours before, fell harder. This, however, did not stop the prostitutes which lingered on Star Boulevard below.
Downtown Star City was notorious for being littered with prostitutes and scum gang members. Crime rattled every graffiti covered corner. By nature, humans were savages and this is proven here.
I stood on the ledge of the rooftop, crossing my arms. Large, neon colored signs lit up the boulevard, adding to it's glory.
"Touched that you'd come all this way for me," Red Arrow sarcastically announced his presence. I turned, facing the ginger and masking my annoyance.
"I need your help," I admit. Red Arrow momentarily drops his hard demeanor, showcasing his surprise before masking it back up with a scowl. "I told you a million times, I'm not joining your little Justice Junior Squad."
I rolled my eyes, stating, "Deathstroke has a new apprentice. I need you to use your contacts to find out what you can about her."
Red Arrow raised his eyebrow, placing his hands on his hip. Momentarily, I could make out Black Canary's motherly influence on him and I wondered if we would ever be a family again. "And why should I help you?" Red Arrow questioned.
"You're a hero-for-hire now, right? Well, this is me hiring you." I explained.
"How much?" Red Arrow questioned. "Two hundred if you say yes. Another two if you do some digging. Four hundred if you find something worthwhile."
Red Arrow smirked, "You're willing to cough up six hundred for a lead? You must be desperate, sister."
I walked past him, dropping two hundred dollars in twenty dollar bills at his feet. "If I'm desperate, then what does that make you for allowing me to buy you, brother?"
Star City
January 5
09:34 PM
Black Canary and I moved in silence as we approached the broken skylight of the bank. Black Canary paused, analyzing the rooftop before turning to me, "Just this one skylight is broken."
I crouched, pointing at the jagged ends of tempered glass still intact on the edges of the large skylight. "They defiantly broke it with something. From the lack of professionalism, I say we're dealing with a Class D rogue." I noted.
Black Canary nodded, agreeing, before adding, "Twenty bucks it's Cupid."
I chuckled, watching as she jumped down. Under her boots, shards of glass crunched. I landed beside her, retorting, saying, "Double that it's not."
Black Canary smirked, before walking past the broken glass casing. "They're sloppy but it seems like nothing was stolen. According to the blueprints, this jewelry store is divided into two floors. A lot of the diamonds on the first floor aren't real, which could explain why our thief didn't take any."
I furrowed my brow, confused, "Fake diamonds?"
Black Canary began walking up the steps that neatly displayed a sign saying you need a worker to enter the second level. "The real diamonds are locked in a safe on the second floor. The second floor is where they display the diamonds and they're under heavy watch and guarded by-" Black Canary cut herself off, stepping over four bulky built men laying on the floor.
Their noses bleed severely and faces bruised. Black Canary and I bent down, checking for pulses. "Alive," I breathe, "but we need a med team here, now."
"Agreed. Looks like whoever broke in didn't find what they were looking for." Black Canary stated.
"On the contrary," a familiar deep voice rasped, "I found exactly what I was looking for."
Deathstroke's foot connected with my chest with enough force to push me off the second floor balcony. I landed in a crouching position, grunting. Deathstroke jumped down, cracking his neck as he stood.
Somehow, I could tell he was smirking under his mask which only enraged me more. I charged, swinging my fist which glowed bright red with an orb. He ducked, slamming into my torso. I grunted, connecting with the floor.
Deathstroke leaned down, gripping my neck. I struggled in his grip as he lifted me, holding me eye to eye with him. My feet dangled, barely brushing the ground. I ignited an orb, aiming it at his head. His one visible eye squinted, not of fear but of annoyance.
"Listen to me," he growled, "and listen very careful. Stay out of my business." Deathstroke lifted a gun, cocking it as he aimed it at me. I spat in his eye, allowing for the orb to explode in his face. He yelled, releasing his hold on me and cupping his burning mask. I kicked his chest, sending him stumbling back.
His unnamed apprentice dropped down, limping from her battle with Black Canary. The apprentice pulled out a black remote, pressing a button. With a flash of white, they were gone. I sighed, hunching over as my fresh bruises ached. Black Canary jumped down, landing in the spot where Deathstroke and company had vanished from.
"So it's true," Black Canary sighed, "Deathstroke has an apprentice now."
I nodded, wincing as I stood straight. I flew up towards the skylight, using my telekinesis to levitate Black Canary. After landing on the rooftop, Black Canary placed a hand on my shoulder. Her blue eyes were tired yet stern. I didn't have to read her mind to predict what she was about to ask.
"What did he mean when he told you to stay out of his business?" Black Canary questioned.
I swallowed hard, "I've been looking into his apprentice," I admit. "Why?" Black Canary asked, exasperated.
"I need to know who she is," I explained. Black Canary pinched the bridge of her nose before scowling at me, "So you can what? Draft her into the Team?"
I took a step back at her verbal slap. Black Canary's hard expression softened, reaching out for me. I pulled away, "Don't." I warned. "Phe, that's not what I meant-"
"Then what did you mean?" I asked. "We don't just take every troubled kid who runs around in spandex and leather," I snapped. "And so what if I want to save her? Isn't that what we're supposed to do anyways?"
Black Canary sighed and suddenly, in the pale moonlight, I could see how tired she was. "Phe," she began, "you can't save everyone. Some people don't want to be saved."
I glared at my blonde mentor, "I can still try."
Black Canary grew visibly impatient, partially from the long night and our argument. "No, you will not. I hereby suspend you from any Deathstroke related cases."
"You can't do that!" I yelled, watching her walk away. "And why not?" Black Canary turned, placing her hands on her hip. Momentarily, I recalled many childhood memories of my mischievous conduct where my mom would stand like that. It gave both my mother and Aunt Dinah an air of authority.
"Because I'm not your sidekick anymore." The statement came out softer than I intended. Black Canary's arms slipped from her hips, her stern scowl falling into a look at bordered hurt and surprised. Black Canary regained her composure, retorting, "And since when?"
"Since I was asked to join the Justice League." I stated softly. "You turned it down." Black Canary stated flatly. "Because I don't want to be in your shadow anymore. We're two different people, with different goals. We have a complete different mindset. I just can't be the Phoenix you want me to be."
Black Canary stood in silence momentarily before turning away and walking away.
I stood in silence, alone, breathing heavily from my outburst and resisting the appeal to cry.
"Phoenix? This is Red Arrow. I have the information you wanted." Red Arrow's voice broke through the static of my ear piece.
Downtown Star City
January 5
11:59 PM PDT
Red Arrow landed sloppily, stumbling to a halt. I crossed my arms, shivering as Red Arrow gathered himself.
"That was quick." I noted. Red Arrow nodded, grumbling something about needing the money while fishing for something in his pocket. He held up a flash-drive, explaining, "The apprentice goes by Renegade. From what I gathered, she's been working under the radar for Deathstroke for a couple months now."
I furrowed my brow, "A couple months?" I echoed. Red Arrow nodded again, continuing, "Under the radar until now. Some of my sources say she might be part of a group of super elite young powered humans. They said that there was talk of a counter team for, well, your little League."
My eyes widened, "They're building a team of young super villains basically."
Red Arrow merely shrugged, "That's what I was told. Anyways, everything I uncovered is in this flash-drive."
I reached for it but Red Arrow lifted it higher, giving me a knowing look. "Right," I sighed, "the money." I reached into one of the compartments of my utility belt, retrieving five folded hundred bills. I counted it out in front of him before handing it to him.
Red Arrow furrowed his brow, "There's an extra hundred."
I nodded, "I know. Take care of yourself Roy." I walk past him, taking the flash-drive from his hand and flying into the cold night.
I flew towards the manor before halting, momentarily levitating above the large city. I had to share his new knowledge with Nightwing.
Author's Note: I hope you enjoy. Please review!