GOTHAM STREETS, 6 DAYS LATER
The nights that followed were long, Dinah felt. She hadn't used her canary cry since the Batman incident. For some reason, it felt wrong.
The nights that followed were short, Helena felt. She'd gone through so many crossbow bolts since the Batman incident. In this new Gotham, it just felt right. She tried her hardest not to kill any of the criminals she and Black Canary had confronted, but she wasn't going out of her way to ensure their safety. She left that much to Canary.
Huntress could see the disapproval on Canary's face, but she could see the resignation as well. Canary wasn't that much older than she was, but the lines on her face were so much more visible now.
"Huntress?" Canary asked after one of the skirmishes.
Huntress nodded.
"Jacob Kane...we're expected to give him an answer tomorrow. You got anything yet?"
"I do...I think we need to join with him and his team. As we said, things are changing in this city. Batman, Joker, Gordon, the boys...all in one night…."
To that, the Black Canary sighed.
"It's a lot to take in. Barbara talk to you about any of this?"
"Barely a word at all about anything….I don't know her as well as you do, Canary. You ever seen that from her? That look that's been in her eyes?" Huntress asked her.
"A long time ago...the same look, but still, different. It was back when we first started working together...when she was Batgirl still….she'd just split up from Batman and Robin, and I was mentoring her. With every punch she threw, every kick she spun, I saw that same look. It was determination, but never anger. This...this is a new Barbara, Huntress. I don't think we'll ever see our old friend again…"
"Is that right?" Came Oracle's voice from the comms.
"Damn." Huntress gasped.
"Barbara…" Canary started.
"Don't. You're both right. My father was my whole world. Batman took that from me. But for right now, there's no time. Barbara Gordon isn't who is important right now. Oracle, Huntress, and the Black Canary are the ones that matter right now. Gotham needs the Birds of Prey...and maybe even the Crows…"
Neither Canary nor Huntress dared say another word on the matter.
"You guys get back to the Clock Tower. It's time to confirm the verdict on Commander Kane's offer."
Barbara Gordon, Dinah Lance, and Helena Bertinelli formed a triangle around the briefing table.
Barbara didn't say a word, but instead, cast a glance over her glasses toward Helena.
Helena took a deep breath and gave a small nod.
"One vote for yes." Barbara said. She turned her gaze to Dinah.
Dinah met her eyes and nodded, the same as Helena.
"Barbara?" Dinah asked.
"My dad would want us to protect his city, by any means necessary...Yes...Yes, the Birds of Prey will join the Crows..."