85. Sherwood
Two and a half days later…
During the gentle rise of a Sun in the East…
Golden rays of light crept over the hills of the surrounding wilderness, filtered down to the waters, glittered off the Bay, past the suspension bridge, and onto the mainland of the urban sprawl that was the City.
And stretching above it all like a crucifix was Titans' Tower. With metal 'arms' stretching wide. Dancing a shadow across the calmly rolling waters surrounding the rocky bluffs of the island. It was a symbol of security. Of hope. And of justice.
And just the sight of it completed the serenity of the landscape. Its quaint beauty. Its silent embrace of the warm morning…
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
BLAM!!! BLAM!!!
"Aim for the head!! Those bastards are still there!!"
"Son of a—"
BLAM!!!
BLAM!!! BLAM!!! BLAM!!!
In a alleyway with brick walls reflecting the infantile rays of the rising Sun, four gang members held the high ground on a fire escape and took aim from their side of the building at a dumpster two dozen feet away. Behind the dumpster two heroes huddled. One clad in green with blonde hair and a beard. The other—younger—in a dark, sleeveless combat suit with a mat of short red hair. The two vigilantes were identically equipped with a bow and a quiver of arrows.
"Well…," Speedy gritted his teeth and slumped—panting—against the back of the dumpster as bullets ricocheted all around them. "This certainly beats a Grand Slam breakfast at Denny's…"
CL-CL-CLANK!!!
Bullets sparked as they impacted the dumpster.
Green Arrow drew another bow. "All part of a balanced headache." A beat. He smirked down at his apprentice. "Exhilarating, isn't it?!"
CLANG!!!
Speedy winced as a bullet bounced off too close for comfort. "Positively breathtaking." He gulped. "We've been chasing these creeps all night. Can't we give it a rest?!"
"Not when we've come this far…," Green Arrow pulled the arrow tight on his bowstrings. "The Titans wanted us to see to the safety of this City during their absence…and we must attend to this mess!! Keep them from getting the briefcase!!"
Speedy glanced bravely around the corner at a leather case resting besides a knocked-out thug in the center of the alley.
"I've played better games of fetch…"
"Indeed," Green Arrow smirked. He leapt up, dodged a bullet in mid-air, and unleashed his arrow into the center of the space between the buildings. PTWING—FLASH!!! It exploded in a sphere of electrical pulses. The gunmen on the fire escape were temporarily blinded.
"Augh!!"
They covered their eyes and stumbled back.
"Go!!" Green Arrow shouted.
Speedy sped. He gritted his teeth and jogged into the center of the alleyway. He slid to a stop and reached his hand out to scoop up the briefcase.
One thug quickly recovered his sight, took aim, and fired.
BANG!!
POW!!!
Speedy gasped as the bullet ricocheted near his boot. He rolled to the side, drew an arrow, aimed up, and fired.
PTWING!!!!!
The arrow struck the gun out of the thug's grasp. CLANK!!! "Dah!!"
"He's getting the goods!! Stop him!!"
One thug leapt down from the fire escape, landed in front of Speedy, and raised his foot to kick the boy in the head.
Speedy growled—"RAAAUGH!!"—and swung the end of his bow up like a staff, smacking the man across the chin. THWACK!! He charged up to his feet and struck the man hard in the chest with his shoulder. WHUMP!!!
The thug fell back.
PTWING!!!!
Green Arrow launched a projectile that struck the falling thug's shirt and pinned him back against the brick wall of the alley.
With adequate cover, Speedy grabbed the briefcase and ran back towards the dumpster under bullet fire. Green Arrow launched a flurry of arrows past his apprentice, holding the thieves on the fire escape at bay and ruining their aim.
The eyemasked redhead rejoined his master and slumped back against the safe side of the dumpster, hugging the briefcase to his chest and panting. "Remind me to practice the shuttle run more often…."
"Yes…we can set that up in training back home," Green Arrow smiled. "With explosions!"
"Oh joy…"
BLAM!!!
BLAM!!! BLAM!!!
Furious that their precious, stolen money was out of their hands…the remaining gunmen unleashed a flurry of lead.
Green Arrow sheltered himself behind the dumpster and uttered: "Now would be an adequate time to abandon the scene."
"About damn time!" Speedy spat.
The two rushed out of the alleyway. Speedy took point with the briefcase in his arms. Green Arrow ran backwards, unleashing projectiles on the fly.
As the master and apprentice reached the end of the alleyway, an open street lay before them. Bright with the golden rays of the rising Sun.
That is…'bright' until a white van screeched to a stop, blocking the exit. The side door opened up and three gunmen from the thieving gang filed out. They raised pistols threateningly at the running two.
Green Arrow and Speedy skidded to a stop.
"Hmmm…" Green Arrow's eyemask narrowed.
Speedy sweatdropped. "Somehow…I don't think this was in the job description…"
The thugs cocked their guns and took aim---
SWOOOOOOOSH!!!!
A black shadow streaked in from the background and…
CL-CL-CLANK!!!
The barrels of all three thugs' pistols fell loose from severed edges.
The gang members gasped and…
SWIIISH-THWUMP!!!!
The shadowed figure rushed immediately back in with a kick into one thug's side, spun around, struck another thug in the back hard with the length of a wooden sword, spiraled, and elbowed the third hard across the chin. WHAM!!! SLAP!!! WHACK!!!
All three new gunmen were down for the count.
"………" Green Arrow and Speedy stared….blinking.
I looked up at them….smiled….saluted…and—SLASH!!! I stabbed Myrkblade in reverse, impacting the front tire of the white van. POW!!!!!!
The vehicle lurched. The last two gang members inside the van bailed out and ran—panicked—towards the far end of the street.
Speedy's eyemask convulsed. "Um…..Noir?"
I looked at him.
"I….er……..you……why….?"
BLAM!!!
A bullet ricocheted off the nearby wall.
Green Arrow and Speedy spun around.
"Never mind…," the apprentice uttered.
The two heroes whipped out their bows as the gunmen from the other side of the alleyway rushed in with pistols firing.
I twirled Myrkblade and ran up a wall to approach the gang members' right flank.
BLAM!!! BLAM!!!
Bullets flew.
PTWING!!! PT-WING!!!
Arrows flew.
Some met with exploding shards of lead and metal alloys in the air.
I blurred through this mess, teleported into smoke form, flew through the fray, and materialized in a blink between the three remaining gunmen and jumped straight up with a spiral. I had Myrkblade held directly outward and contacting the weapons of the thugs.
CL-CLANK!!!!
Two guns flew apart from my strikes.
Two thugs gasped.
The third aimed at my airborne figure….
SWIIIIISH-CLANK!!!
Speedy's arrows knocked his gun out.
Green Arrow ran up with a warcry. "RAAAUGH!!!"
He uppercutted the third gunman with his bow. THWACK!!! And spun to trip one of the first two with it. THWUMP!!!
The last man turned to run…as I came down from my leap just in time to jab him in the chest with the hilt of my sword. WHUMP!!!!
He gasped and stumbled back into Speedy's arms. The redheaded archer smirked, took a breath, and body-slammed the crook into the concrete of the alley. WHAM!!!
"Nnnnnghh…."
All the thugs were out cold.
CHIIING!!! I sheathed Myrkblade, took a deep breath, and bowed with a smile.
Green Arrow clapped jollily. "Your arrival here is most surprising, Mr. Noir. But I shall not complain over its punctuality." He smirked.
"Noir! My man!" Speedy walked over. We exchanged high fives with me and smiled. "A pleasure as always!"
I nodded.
He blinked under his eyemask and leaned his head to the side. "Where're the other Titans?"
I whistled innocently. I shrugged. I pointed West.
"You're here alone?" Green Arrow remarked. He slipped the bow onto his back and folded his arms. "Why is that?"
I glanced down at the unconscious thugs. I motioned towards them.
"Thrill of the occupation, huh?" Green Arrow chuckled and scratched his beard. "I suppose some of us are simply heroes to the core. Glad to have you in our presence, my boy!!" He patted me mightily on the shoulder.
I tried not to wince.
"As you can see….eheheh…," Speedy sweatdropped and showed off the briefcase. "Things are slowly returning to normal."
I nodded, eyeing the bulletholes in the walls of the alley.
"H-Hey! While you're here, maybe we can all f-find a way to…..oh….I dunno," Speedy lingered, "…radio the other Titans and ask if maybe they'd l-like to get their butts back over h-here and help us out with a few th—OOF!!"
Green Arrow elbowed him and tried to cover the whole thing with a smile. "By all means! Let them have the vacation they so deserve!! Heh heh heh!!"
"……," I stared at him.
A beat.
Green Arrow swallowed. "Okay, so maybe you can help us…," he muttered.
Speedy coughed. His master glared at him. He simpered back.
I took a breath, smiled, and gestured towards the archers' belts.
"Huh?? Oh, of course…" Green Arrow whipped out a few sets of handcuffs from a Medieval-like satchel and handed a few to me. He and I proceeded to restrain the unconscious bodies of the four gunmen on our side while Speedy went to take care of the three by the white van.
"Terrible gang business…that's what it all comes down to," Green Arrow said. "Drug money. Lots of it. Things were quiet around Town for a while since the death of that 'Dagger' fellow you kids keep telling me about. Then the next minute you know it…everyone of the most vile sort is waking up again from the criminal mire of this urban landscape. Ha!! Just because Speedy and I may not be a couple of locals doesn't mean we can't thrash evildoers mightily!!"
I finished handcuffing a thug and looked at him. I pointed curiously at the briefcase left behind by Speedy.
"That's going straight to the police," Green Arrow nodded. "I'm sure Decker would be happy. In the meantime, we also need to call some police men out to round up these crooks!"
I stood up, nodded, and turned around. I started to walk towards the end of the alleyway.
"Um….," Green Arrow's eyemask twisted in curiosity. He stood up and gestured. "Might I ask where you're going, Mr. Noir?"
I spun to look at him. I smiled and mouthed: "Home!"
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Two and a half hours later, after a breeze by the police department and its evidence department, I found myself up in the Main Room of the Tower. And for once, it smelled different to me. Not that something bad happened in there since the time I had left. But rather, it was that odd sensation of one's habitat seeming to smell different after a long way away from home—if you could call it home—and---
"So….uh…..as far as we know….uh…," Speedy's rambling interrupted my thoughts. He was doing his best to rush around the Main Room and clear the couch and tables and chairs free of potato chip bags and bits and pieces of laundry while trying to distract me from the fact that he was rushing around the Main Room and clearing the furniture free of potato chip bags and bits and pieces of laundry. "…these gang members…..uh….they're all….uh…c-circulating drugs through this one underground kingpin named Harrison….yes….and….ahem…..eheheh….so far we've run into plenty of Harrison's men but not the big H himself…ya know?"
I nodded, breathing in and enjoying the feel of being….'home' again. I smiled and turned about. I still had my backpack on from the long, solo trek home. I felt smelly and dirty all over from days of sweating in the August Sun, blurring and walking Eastward.
I trotted over towards the Main Computer where Green Arrow sat, typing away at a search prompt.
"We've done as thorough a search as we can with your archives…..considering…," his voice lingered.
I eyed him curiously through my shades.
The blonde, eyemasked superhero sweatdropped. "Considering….that….our resources have been…"
"We can't make heads or tails out of your damn computer," Speedy uttered, his arms folded.
I smirked.
Green Arrow glared at his apprentice. "Yes….I suppose that is a way of wording it, young ward."
"Ain't it, though?"
I walked over by Green Arrow's side and gestured curiously at the computer screen.
"Well, you see….it's this…," Green Arrow moved the mouse, clicked, and brought up a window in the computer menu. "Every time we access the archives, we put in the password that the Boy Wonder supplied us, but approximately twenty seconds into booting up the criminal records of the local scene, the program crashes on us! Speedy and I have resorted to walking into the police department and begging Decker for a look into his files to find something on Harrison. With no luck of course. We simply can't fix this defunct computer!" "Quite humiliating," Speedy's eyemask winked and he smiled. "Get it?"
I pointed at the chair and looked humbly in Green Arrow's face.
"By all means," He stood up and gestured for me to sit in his place.
I took my backpack off and slung it over the back of the chair as I squatted down, rolled up to the computer console, and cracked my flesh knuckles. I typed blazingly away. Thoroughly used to the prompt.
I entered a search for 'Harrison' and cross referenced it with 'underground drug trafficking' and imputed the query for the past five years. When I was asked by the computer for a password, I entered it in. A few seconds into it—as Green Arrow predicted—the computer system froze.
"See?" Green Arrow removed his green cap and rubbed a frustrated hand through his blonde hair. "Damnedest thing I've had to contend with in ages…"
I blinked through my shades. I glanced down at the computer tower. Gritting my teeth, I effortlessly gripped it, leaned it to the side, aimed, and kicked my boot into its metal side in the precise spot.
CLANK!
The computer hummed loudly for a second, clicked, whirred, and returned to silence. In the meantime, the program unfroze and the search continued unhindered. As a matter of fact, quite an extensive list of search results piled up on the screen in reference to 'Harrison' within a span of half a second.
"………," Green Arrow blinked. "Give me smoke signals and carrier pigeons anyday."
"Heheheh….," Speedy shook his head. "Told you we needed to get a computer of our own."
"I prefer gathering information the natural way."
"Lemme guess…punching people for the truth."
"There's nothing wrong with that, my boy! Not if you punch lightly!"
"Then how come we've been knocking our heads over the computer so long till Noir showed up?"
"It's this blasted City! So modern! So futuristic! So—"
"Shhhh!!" I hissed with a whisper. I finished a keystroke and pointed at the screen.
Speedy leaned over the back of my chair and looked. "You got something?"
I nodded.
Green Arrow narrowed his eyemask and read aloud: "'Charges of drug trafficking were lifted when the court was convinced of Harrison's alibi on June 11th, 2003. The suspect claims that he was in the Eastern District of the City at the time a police chase loss track of what was assumed to be his white van with a matching license plate fleeing the scene of an exchange in Downtown. Specifically, Harrison speaks of overlooking the construction of the brand new storage facility for his City-Haul moving business.'"
I held up a finger.
I took a breath…keystroked….and….
A second pertinent article appeared.
This time, Speedy read: "'On January 14th, 2004, a call to 9-11 brought police officers to investigate the sounds of gunshots in the Eastern District on Billiard Street, a block away from the City-Haul storage facility'…"
I performed another keystroke.
A third article.
"'August 4th, 2004, a man found overdosed on narcotics on the corner of Billiard Street and Bluffside Avenue…'"
I swiveled around, smiled at the two men, and suavely rested my hands behind my dark head.
The archers exchanged glances.
"Looks like we got a place to visit!" Speedy mused.
"…………"
"I said, looks like we got a pla—"
"Yes!! We must disembark!!" Green Arrow emphatically gestured northeastward.
I chuckled and jumped up to my feet.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
"Mr. Harrison sir!"
A jittery man of middle-age jumped. He turned around—trembling—and ran a shaky hand through gray and brown hair as he swallowed and wide-eyed his subordinate.
"Bad news. Those two damn archers took away the money from last week's gig. And what's more, one of the Titans is back to help them!"
Five thugs had stormed in on Harrison's office at the City-Haul storage facility. They all seemed paranoid and shifty eyed, but none of them matched the anxiety prevalent in their boss' body and expression. Harrison stood behind his desk in the long and narrow office. Above them all, a wooden ceiling fan circled lazily.
"Sir…they can be breathing down our backs at any second!" another gang member said. He pointed at the metal safe awkwardly half open in the corner and the drug money sloppily leaking out. "I suggest we relocate that stuff and get the Hell out of here!"
"Just one second!!" Harrison barked with a finger held up.
The thugs silenced themselves.
"…….."
"…….."
"…….."
Seconds passed.
Harrison stood there with his finger held up. He trembled.
Silence.
The thugs shifted in their positions.
One bit his lip….and eventually cleared his throat and uttered: "Um…s-sir?"
"Was that one second?!"
"That was quite a few seconds, sir."
"Oh." Harrison blinked his bulging eyes. A beat. "What were we talking about again?"
The thugs sweatdropped.
"Um…..sir….we're in deep trouble."
SMASH!!!!!
The windows shattered as two archers dove in.
The thugs spun and gasped.
Green Arrow and Speedy got to their feet and drew arrows, aiming at the gang members present.
Harrison gasped at the top of his lungs.
"Well, if it isn't this City's highest profiled drug dealing gang assembled with guns ready to be drawn and a bunch of dirty money gathered in the corner?" Green Arrow smiled. "I hope you boys aren't half as bad fighters as you are organizers!"
One thug growled and pointed a pistol as he and the others stepped back towards the entrance to the office. "You can't just barge in here and start busting heads!"
Speedy smiled. "Yup. You're right. But Noir can!"
SMASH!!!!
The door behind the thugs shattered as I kicked my way in, teleported, and materialized with a swing of Myrkblade.
SLASH!!!!!
Pistols shattered. Thugs gasped and were shoved towards Green Arrow and Speedy.
The archers let loose concussion arrows. FLASH!!!!! FLASH!!!! Thugs fell back, unconscious.
Shots were fired. Myrkblade swung and slashed. Arrows soared. Bodies fell and groaned as they went out cold. Shouts of surprise and frustration. Flashes of exploding arrows and a sparking, wooden sword.
Harrison watched from behind his desk. Trembling. Fidgeting. Sweating.
SLASH!!!! I swung Myrkblade so close to a man's back, his shirt flew apart into tatters. He gasped as I twirled around him and struck him across the chest with the broad side of my sword and then uppercutted him with a kick. As he fell back, I spun Myrkblade gracefully into a position, dashed over to Harrison's desk, vaulted over, and restrained him from behind. The man gasped and convulsed in my gasp.
PTWING!!! FLASH!!!
"AUGH!" the last thug fell back and slumped down a wall in the office from the last of Green Arrow's projectiles. The hero and his ward Speedy marched threateningly up to the desk and frowned at the leader in my grasp.
"Harrison, you're to be indicted for drug trafficking and criminal negligence, among a handful of assault charges and illegal weapons possession."
"Just what do you have to say for yourself??"
The man in my hold blinked. He coughed, wheezed, and smiled with thin eyes. "Maaaaaan….I am soooooo stoned right now. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
Speedy and Green Arrow stared. They exchanged glances.
I gave them a helpless smile from behind the cackling leader's back.
Speedy scratched his head. "Well…can't say we've had easier stings…"
Green Arrow shrugged and handcuffed the deliriously hysterical Harrison. "The important thing to do in this situation, apprentice, is not ask questions."
"Ha ha ha ha!!!" Harrison shook. "Dudes….a-are you really…..like…..from Sherwood Forest or something?"
"Yeah," Speedy folded his arms and smiled as Green Arrow carted him away. "And you're the merry man."
"Woo hoo!! I'm the merry man! HEY! Can the merry man feel the earth beneath his feet?! Cuz I sure can't!"
CHIIING!!
I sheathed Myrkblade and walked around the desk to Speedy's side.
"And I thought I saw everything….," the redhead mused. I smiled and shrugged. A downed thug to my left started to stir awake. So I kicked him in the head. He went under again.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
"Gentlemen, I just want to make a note of something…," Commissioner Decker began from behind his desk in the office. Outside his door, the hustle and bustle of the police department echoed in and filtered through the man's speech as we sat across from him and listened. "For the last two and a half weeks or so, you two…Green Speedy and Arrow—"
"Actually, it's—"
"Yeah yeah, whatever. Anyways, the two of you have been hanging around our City in the Titans' place. And from what I hear, the two of you are….supposed to be really expert crime fighters and all that jazz. But yet, for the last nine days you two have found it a virtual impossibility to catch up with the drug trafficking case. And within the last twenty-four hours, just ONE of the Titans comes back and suddenly you have Harrison as our man!"
Speedy and Green Arrow looked at me.
I smiled and waved innocently.
"So, what's the freakin' deal?!" Decker cackled. "You gotta work in a committee of three or some shit?!"
The lieutenant rushed in through the door with a file. "Sir, you may like to look at this—"
"Not now!!" Decker barked.
The lieutenant rushed out.
"To put a long story short," Green Arrow smiled and gestured, "…my apprentice and I were struggling to familiarize ourselves with the tools of the trade that the Titans employ themselves with."
"Oh! That's rich!" Decker folded his arms and glared. "And what about transportation, huh? That giving you heroes a problem? Should that black robot Titan come back and give your car battery a jump or something?! Huh?!"
The lieutenant leaned his head back in the door. "Um, sir…about that file. It's important in regards to—"
"NOT NOW!!!"
The lieutenant moaned and was gone.
Decker pointed a jabbing finger at me. "It's all your fault this City's been so on edge until now with the druglords! You and your hormone leaking Titan friends think that it's okay to be lighthearted and lazy. So what do you do?! You go out on a vacation! Having fun! There's no time to have fun! Not while you're alive!!"
I smiled and shrugged.
Silence.
Decker fumed.
A beat.
"Now!" he shouted.
A beat.
"NOW!! You moron! I said NOW!"
"Oh…ahem…," the lieutenant rushed in from outside and showed Decker the file. "This was rounded up from Harrison's apartment upon a thorough search following his arrest. It contains at least twelve possible leads into drug gangs in Gotham, Metropolis, Bloodhaven, and a few other cities. We're making calls around to alert the authorities in those districts…but only if you give us the green light, sir."
Commissioner Decker scratched his chin.
A beat. He asked the lieutenant: "Is the coffee machine fixed?"
"Sir??"
"Are you deaf?! Is the coffee machine fi—"
"Last time I checked, yeah. Why?"
"I give it a green light…," Commissioner Decker signed his name and motioned the lieutenant along. "Now go make those damn phone calls."
"Sure thing," the officer walked out.
"And half a cup."
"Excuse me?" "My coffee, dammit! Have Debbie bring me half a cup!! What, do I have to be telepathic?!"
"Right on it."
We four were alone again.
Decker tapped his hands to his desk. He looked at me.
I smiled back at him.
A beat.
"Still got that Wyldecarde outfit, kid?"
Speedy winced.
I slowly shook my head.
"I kinda liked the goggles, actually," Decker said.
Silence.
I leaned my head to the side, grinning curiously.
Decker moaned and shook his head. "I swear….I'll never truly know the definition of 'the good guys' after having dealt with the likes of you." He stood up and offered each of us a hand. "The more butt you kick, the more……th-the City is happy. Keep it up."
We each shook his hand.
Speedy remarked: "Just the City is happy? What about you?"
"I don't get happy. I get pissed."
"Well….heheheh…that's more than obvious."
"Now please leave my office."
"Why?"
"CUZ I'M PISSED!!"
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
"Ha ha ha ha!!" Green Arrow laughed. "And he looked like he was gonna blow his top at any minute too!"
Speedy drew an arrow and grinned. The three of us were on the edge of the Tower's rooftop at night. "Yeah. I've worked with Decker before. I don't think he'll ever have to worry about an assassin's bullet. What, with that blood pressure of his. Ahem. PULL!!!"
Green Arrow pressed the trigger on the end of a cord attached to a rectangular device. Upon his activation, the device shot out a whirling disc of clay out into the night air surrounding the Tower.
In the moonlight, Speedy squinted his eyemask and aimed before letting loose his arrow. PTWING!!!! SWIIIIIISH-CRACK!!! It struck the clay disc down the center, perfectly shattering it.
I clapped and smiled. I sat cross-legged a few feet away near the edge. I was playing a lonely game of solitaire with a trusty deck of cards.
"Nice one, apprentice," Green Arrow nodded. "But can you handle striking two at a time?"
"Only if you can handle watching me, old man!" Speedy blinked under his mask as he drew two arrows.
"Take your best shot. Lord knows, they're harder to hit than Harrison's brainless thugs!"
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. PULL!"
Green Arrow pressed the trigger. Two discs shot out into the night. They arched apart from each other.
Speedy gritted his teeth, concentrated, and shot two arrows with a space of repositioning the bow in between the shots. PTWING!! PTWING!!!
CR-CRACK!! The clay discs exploded at almost the same time.
I whistled and returned to my solitaire.
"Showoff," Green Arrow grunted.
"I learn from the best," Speedy beamed.
"I would hope so!" Green Arrow smirked. "I have to say, I've been proud of you the last few days! You've been showing the crooks what-for like a true, blue crime fighter!"
Speedy blushed and tried not to show it. "Just a….ya know….thirst for justice and what not."
"Or is it the desire to kick butt royally?"
"Oh, that too."
"Heh heh heh!! You will do yourself a lot of good as a leader someday! Should you ever join the Titans, you'd give Robin a run for the money!!"
"Oh….th-that's not gonna happen anytime soon," Speedy scratched the back of his head.
"Why? Because you're too shy?"
"No. Cuz you won't let me go, ya old man!"
"Apprentice, how many times have I told you that the decision to mature is up to you and you alone?"
"Not to offend Noir over there or anything…..but….h-how's joining the Titans a 'mature' thing?"
I chuckled breathily and continued with my solitaire.
"Because it's all evolution, that's why!"
"Whatever you say…."
"Seriously, it is!! It is the willingness to change and embrace the future that makes you mature! In the future there are many things. Destiny and optimism as much as there are death and pessimism. Being willing to take and make the best out of anything that comes your way is the key to becoming a hard-edged crime fighter! But only if you embrace that willingness! Do you understand me, ward?"
"No, but I appreciate it anyways."
"Ah…you were always slow on some things. But you do seem to shatter the ever-living-crap out of clay discs!"
"True that, old man. Speaking of which….PULL!!"
Three discs flew out.
Speedy grunted and unleashed three projectiles in a row. PTWING!! PTWING!! PTWING!!!
Again, an almost all-encompassing, simultaneous CRACK!!!
This time, Green Arrow clapped. "Marvelous. Now I—of course—could take two out with one arrow and shatter the third from the sheer concussion of the impact!"
"Suuuuuure you can!"
"Do you desire to see me, apprentice."
"Ahem. S-Sure you can…," Speedy muttered, blushing.
I scooped up my cards, slid them into the deck, pocketed them, and then stood up with a stretch and a yawn.
"Retiring for the evening, Mr. Noir?" Green Arrow asked.
I smiled with tired black eyes under my shades and nodded.
"I suppose it would be best that we….ya know….stayed here still and all," Speedy remarked. "We promised to watch over the Tower and the City till the Titans came back. And…..not to insinuate anything bad or whatnot….but you don't count as all the 'Titans'."
I chuckled breathily and waved a hand.
"We're honored to be tackling crime in your presence," Green Arrow said. He cleared his throat. "And lord knows we can do with all the help we can get in this wacky City."
I nodded with a smile. I headed for the stairwell and waved them good night.
"Sweet dreams and all that good stuff, Noir," Speedy said. "It's about time you crashed."
'Crashed'…..
I felt a happy sigh flutter through my lungs. I hadn't yet been down to my cellar room since I arrived from the vacation and assisted in Harrison's capture. And I was oh-so-tired.
I more or less hurried down the stairwell, making sure to collect my backpack from the Main Room.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Upon descending into my darklit room, I quickly slumped my items down onto the bed, stumbled into the bathroom, stripped, and all but collapsed into the shower. A very warm and relaxing shower. The residual memories of the vacation washed away for a few seconds as I breathed in the steam and let the memories waft back up at me.
And I thought of the wide stretches of sandy beaches in Virginia. The boardwalk under a glittering night's sky. Then I thought of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains and the endless pine and the wonderful cottages of the Feldmans' resting at the base of a mountain. Then I thought of the open Plains of Kansas and the road leading to and from it. The urban lengths of Kansas City crossed my mind. And finally the farmlands of Smallville rolling on and on and on.
When my mind reached the image of smashed pumpkins, I helplessly chuckled and felt relaxed in the fact that not all aspects of the West were bad. Perhaps, the entire time…I had been overreacting. I could very well have been remaining with the Titans on their vacation at that very moment. But it was easy to think of such things when one was back home. Safe. Secure. Psychologically sound.
Eventually I let out a breath and sat under the warm shower, hugging my knees to my chest. Embracing the warmth, the oblivion, the steam. Closing my black eyes and thinking…
Thinking…
It was great to be home.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
Dear Diana,
It's my first night back from vacation, and I feel more relaxed now than I think I ever did during my short trek westward with the Titans. And perhaps there is a little bit of irony in that. But such is of little importance.
The reasons for my impromptu return to the City can be debated. Perhaps it's a cowardly move. And selfish too. I just do not desire to head westward anymore. Even if it means being separated from my friends in the time being. In a way, what I'm doing is ever so slightly virtuous. I get the chance to return home and assist the Green Arrow and Speedy in defending citizenry and whatnot.
Already, the three of us have put an end to recent attempts by a gang to proliferate drugs and dirty money. Some junky fellow by the name of Harrison is in police custody as I write this. It certainly is a good feeling to have put to end the criminal streak of a certain, nasty group of people. Perhaps—since I've been so distracted by this recent travel westward—there have been little chances for me to perform the just action of crime fighting.
Although…that isn't entirely true. As much as the Titans and I attempted to rest during our vacation, we managed to tackle Booker—the former FBI maniac—as well as Metallo and Intergang, as I'm sure Superman can fill you in about the next time you two meet at the Watchtower. I suppose that when someone is a hero, he or she cannot resist stopping evil in its many forms. In my case, I can't seem to relax unless I'm constantly in the action of protecting this City. So I imagine a vacation is pointless for me. I just hope the other Titans are enjoying themselves for the rest of their vacation's duration now that I am absent.
The last time I saw my friends, these were the observations I could make of them:
Cyborg is still as joyful as ever in leading this vacation forward. To an extent, he has mellowed a bit in contrast to the ecstatic character was upon setting out from the Tower. But he's still got his hands to the wheel and is controlling this time of peace and tranquility for the Titans. He went through quite a bit of struggle in fighting Metallo once or twice. But he didn't seem too phased from that. For that, I am glad.
Beast Boy has also mellowed a bit. I think the changeling has been a real bundle of energy lately, and this vacation is finally helping him exhaust some of that fervor. When the Titans get back, I think we all expect for the green elf to begin things on a firmer, more mature foot. But then again, pigs might start flying tomorrow. Who am I to guess?
Starfire is the most jubilant of us. As if that wasn't normal. But I think the incident with Nova'm really did her some good. She's having less episodes of somberness than she was before the vacation. I think reason loneliness for her planet and her people have been quenched by meeting a boy prince of her own ilk. I look forward to seeing how Starfire and Nova'm get along in the future. For the time being, Starfire is as happy as ever to be in the company of her friends.
Robin, the leader, seems to be softening up. This is only a supposition on my part, though. I've not known Robin long enough to observe him enough during times of leisure to know how exactly he acts when he's 'at ease'. But I see a bit of the hard edge being slowly taken away from him. Then again, the soonest the Titans all rejoin here at the Tower and engage in battling crime throughout the City, I'll probably be seeing the old Robin again. And, well, I surely cannot complain. I admire his to-the-point attitude when it's most needed.
Raven seems to be balancing out just fine. She's recovering both emotionally and socially from the partial emergence of Trigon and the trial of Slade. After dipping her toes in a closer circle of friendship with the Titans, I do believe she's settled back for her usual stoicism and seriousness. But don't get me wrong, I don't have a clear perspective of who or what Raven is. I seriously doubt any of us could. She is that complicated. But I do believe she's relaxed in as much as Raven can be 'relaxed'.
Over time, I suppose I'll learn to realize how much I miss the Titans. The longest I've ever spent separated from them (or most of them) was back during my excursion with Beast Boy to Westhaven. One could count the trial with Slade and Dagger……but…I was pretty much 'with' the Titans in one sense or another during that period of time.
But enough of that. I have some much-needed sleep to catch up on. Then I'll be prepared—hopefully—for whatever challenges may await me and my present companions, Green Arrow and Speedy. If I have any input concerning the two to relate to you, I'll attempt to write concerning such, Diana. I personally think that the Green Arrow could make an excellent addition to the Justice League. But I honestly don't know how kosher Superman and company would be with two 'green' people on one team. Ah well.
Sincerely,
Noir
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
I sat cross-legged on my bed with the laptop in my grasp. I was clad in casual dark-gray pants and a black tanktop for sleeping. I leaned back with my hands over my head and stared at the letter on the word processor.
Silence.
The enclosed oil lanterns on the wall flickered quietly.
I took a deep breath. The sight of the laptop before me evoked a strangely happy feeling. Like that of mysterious company. I went and checked my e-mail box yet again. But there was nothing.
Nothing from the Messenger.
That meant I could still relax.
Thinking about the Messenger made me think about Diana, Supergirl, Sandy, Speedy, and all the other random individuals outside of the circle of Titans whom I have made friends with.
And then I thought of some more…and I smiled.
My fingers went back to the laptop.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
P.S.: I think I have two people I want to visit tomorrow. How I do miss them……
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
That done, I saved the file.
I then shut down the laptop, put it away, and switched off the oil lamps. In the utter blackness, I took off my shades. I could still see well enough to play darts if I wanted. I wandered over towards the bed and gripped the metal disk of my left prosthetic in three key places with my right hand's fingers.
CL-CL-CLICK!!! HISSSS!!! WHURRRRrrrrr…..
The metal left hand snapped free. I took it in my right hand and placed it on a mantle that Cyborg had crafted for me on my bedside table. I took a deep breath, gently placed the sleeping eyemask over my black optics, and went to sleep with my one opposable limb.
And…again…it felt good to be home.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
"I'll be back with that microwave!" a man said as he was halfway out of the pawn shop. "I swear! It works like a dream!"
"Well, we'll plug it in when you're back with it and test that dream, alright?" Daniel said with a wave. "And if everything checks out, we'll pay you cash for the dream."
"Heheheh! Okay!"
"Have a good day!"
"You too, man!"
Daniel went back to inspecting the CD drive of a new stereo player he had gotten earlier that morning, trying to clear away second thoughts.
"Almost lunch time…," Renee said from where she was straightening the counter.
Daniel smirked without looking. "Uh oh!"
"Uh oh what?"
"That's the first sign, isn't it?" he looked at his wife, eyeing the early visible traces of pregnancy. "I'm not gonna have to go out for late night pickle and ice cream runs, will I?"
"Well, who else am I going to ask?" Renee cackled. "I doubt our little girl is old enough to drive!"
"Little boy."
"Pfft! No, it's going to be a girl."
"What, you see the future?"
"I can just feel it."
"Really now…"
"You couldn't possibly understand!"
"Ah! The pregnancy card!" Daniel stood up and leaned over the counter, smiling at his wife. "What'll I ever do with you?"
"Go on pickle and ice cream runs," she leaned over and pecked him on the lips. She leaned back. "Oh, and start saving up college money."
Daniel chuckled. "I think one of those is doable."
"Which one?"
"Lemme think about it."
"Tell me!"
The bell above the door rang, signifying the entrance of another customer.
"Whoop! A potential buyer!" Daniel exclaimed.
"Pfft! Don't try backing out on this one!"
Daniel looked over her shoulder and smiled. "Hey there! How can we help…..you…………t-today….."
Both he and Renee froze.
I smiled, wearing a denim jacket, jeans, and a white undershirt. I waved.
"Erhm…..h-hi," Renee stuttered. A beat. She smiled. "Where've you been?"
I shrugged and casually pointed 'West'. I then smiled and pointed at a clock on the wall.
Daniel glanced. He nodded at me. "Y-Yeah….almost lunch time…"
I grinned wider and held up coupons for Steak N Shake.
The two chuckled.
I mouthed: 'My treat'.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
"Business is getting better. It's hard to believe," Daniel said over a booth table of steakburgers. "People keep pawning stuff in and buying from us. If I didn't know better, I'd say that we've gotten more popular since our place became the focal point of that one battle between you and Dagger's men."
I leaned my metal hand against my chin over the counter and nodded.
"I think it's sick," Renee muttered. She took a bite of food—interchanging oddly between soup, salad, and fries. "I wish people did business with us for less than brutal reasons than that!"
"I think it's a little different…," Daniel remarked. "I'm scared to think that people are pitying us."
I whipped out a pen and wrote on a napkin. I swiveled the writing around so that the two could read it upright.
"Heheh…I dunno," Daniel scratched the back of his head. "We're not that nice. Well, Renee's certainly an angel. But I'm no caliber for a super socialite in these parts."
"Bah…we're both in this together or we're not!" Renee remarked.
I chuckled breathily and smiled at the two under my shades. I wish I could tell them—in ways far nobler than simple scribbles on a napkin—that they were the nicest, damn people on this planet. And no matter how old they'd be, the two would always be cute and precious and God's gift to the human civilization.
Instead, I simply sat there and listened intently to their words:
"But man…things in Town have been so much nicer since Slade went bye-bye," Daniel said. "People are going out more at night. Bayside Plaza is practically filled to the brink. We're getting more tourists in…"
"Oh…hehehe…and if you must know," Renee winked. "You've gotten more popular, Noir."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Heck…we had a solicitor in the shop the other day trying to sell us posters."
I stared at her.
"……..of you."
I mouthed: 'Oh'.
"Doesn't that feel wyrd in the least, Noir?" Daniel asked. "You've got posters of yourself now!"
I chuckled breathily. I was well aware of this fact…
"I think people have finally seen through….ya know….the whole 'Wyldecarde' thing and realized how much you were trying to help out the Titans," Renee said. At the end of her speech, her voice went dry and she tried not to look at my metal left hand, but in so doing she pointed it out immensely.
I smiled slightly and held the prosthetic for them to see better.
Renee winced, but Daniel actually ran a finger over the metal joints. He whistled.
"State of the art…," he said. He glanced at my shaded eyes. "Lemme guess. Courtesy of Cybot?"
I mouthed 'borg'.
"I never watched Star Trek."
I shook my head. I flexed my left hand and swiveled it and its joints around.
"Wow…," was all Renee could manage. "They got you as good as new!"
I smiled. I had only battled the shivers twice that day. It wasn't so bad…
"We're just glad the majority of you made it," Daniel said. "Who else would we have these mysterious excursions to Steak N Shake with? Eheheheheh."
I chuckled breathily too.
Silence.
Renee and Daniel looked solemn.
I leaned my head to the side curiously.
"Do….do they understand you, Noir?" Renee inquired.
I blinked. I was still confused.
"The Titans."
I raised an eyebrow. No reply to that was simple enough. Neither 'yes' or 'no'. I eventually shrugged…but smiled.
"Guess that's not our place to inquire," Renee simpered. "Just…after you stayed with us for that period of time…ya know…during the Wyldecarde days…we could tell. You're never really comfortable no matter where you are. Is this true, Noir?"
I stared at them blankly. Fighting for a reply.
Suddenly, the Titan communicator on my belt vibrated and chimed.
I jumped. I held it up to my ear and clicked a button.
"Something's up, Mr. Noir," Green Arrow's voice stated. "I suggest you come and join us atop the old apartments beside Heaven Avenue in the Eastern District."
I nodded and sent him a morse code response of confirmation. I pocketed the communicator and glanced at the couple.
They stared at me. Silence.
I smiled.
I picked up the pen and wrote on the last area free on the napkin. 'I am comfortable when I am moving'.
They smirked at that.
"I suppose that's true…," Renee sighed.
I saluted them, stood up, deposited twenty-five dollars in cash on the table, and made for the door.
-T-T-T-T-T-T-
SWOOOOOSH!!!!
In full crimefighting garb, I blurred over the sunlit rooftops and came to a skidding stop at the edge where Speedy and Green Arrow were silently perched.
"Shhhh!!" Speedy hissed and motioned for me to look down from the eight-story roof.
I walked over with Myrkblade still in its scabbard and squinted down through my shades.
A police car had been turned over viciously on its side in the middle of the street. A huge crowd of impoverished gang members were crowding around a spot a few feet away from the car where two police officers were being hassled at knife point. Two scraggly gang members had pistols.
"Those officers were on a regular beat…," Green Arrow whispered. "Looks like a riot was already underway and the poor saps drove right into it. I don't even think they've had a chance to radio into the main department."
"We're not sure what got the people riled up to begin with," Speedy said. "Perhaps they're experience withdrawal from the drug trafficking we cut off or something…"
"Anyways…," Green Arrow murmured. "We were waiting just in case you could join us. And now that you have, I propose a course of action. My apprentice and I will do our best to disarm the two gunmen with our arrows from up here. Then you can dash in and force the crowd away from the police while we provide cover fire. Once people are pushed back enough, we'll swing down and assist you in the thick of it. Think you can handle that?"
Without hesitance, I nodded.
Chiiiiiiiiiiiiing!
I slowly, quietly unsheathed Myrkblade and started to charge murk energy.
"Okay then…," Green Arrow smiled and drew an arrow. He aimed down at the frighteningly distant gunmen with an expert eye under his mask. "And another leg of the adventure emerges from the wound."
"Whatever," Speedy muttered and drew his own arrow. He trembled slightly. "Must every first volley be from so far away?"
"Need glasses, boy?"
"Nah. Just a psychiatrist."
"Shhh…..on the count of three."
I took a deep breath. Got into a kneeling pose. Gripped hard to Myrkblade.
PTWING!!!
PTWING!!!!!
I blurred down the side of the building while the projectiles zoomed past me and towards the assailants below.
CLANK!!! CLANK!!!! The weapons flew out of their hands.
Everyone around the two, frightened officers recoiled in shock.
I gritted my teeth. I reached the ground, streaked forward, teleported through the ground, and materialized besides the cops. I swung Myrkblade around, knocking daggers out of people's grasps. I dove in with a kicking foot and pushed gang members back. I then twirled about and slammed the gunless gunmen in their knees with the broad side of Myrkblade. Five people total collapsed from my attack. Other gang members, riled up, rushed in to take me on--
FLASH!!! FLASH!!!
Strobe arrows exploded overhead. I was quick and smart enough to have my eyes clenched shut at this point.
Assailants gasped and stumbled about. I opened my eyes, gritted my teeth, and mowed my way through. Smacking people aside and cutting a path (no, not severing limbs) out from the rioting mass.
SWIIIIISH-CLANK!!!
Arrows with cords at the end sailed into the wall on the other side of the street. Green Arrow and Speedy swung in, jumped to the asphalt, and rushed in with their bows as staffs that held the crowd at bay.
"Boy, are we glad to see heroes for a change!" one officer shuddered above the chaos.
Speedy spoke while swinging his staff at a couple of gang members to push them back. "Take a good long look in the mirror when you get back, man! Lord knows none of us three could have held out that long under such antagonism!"
"Heh heh heh!!" Green Arrow laughed while fighting off thugs. "Speak for yourself, apprentice!"
I smirked and stabbed threateningly at a man with a knife. I scared him off and he went running.
The sounds of sirens grew in intensity from the nearby streets.
"The cavalry's arriving!" the other officer beamed.
"Well, isn't that special?" Green Arrow mused.
The rioters started to run for it. Panicking. Panting.
Soon the street was practically empty. The only thing left was grounded pistols, a few unconscious assailants, and debris from the beat up squad car.
Speedy stood on the sidelines at ease and hung his bow on his back. "Well then…," he smirked and folded his arms. "That wasn't so bad!"
While he spoke, two bleary-eyed men snuck out of the abandoned building behind the redheaded archer and charged at his backside with daggers jabbing down.
I gasped.
Green Arrow pointed and shouted. "Speedy!! Behind you!!"
The teenager gasped and jumped aside.
But he was too late.
The daggers came down and plunged--
SWOOOOSH!!!
WH-WHAM!!!
A dark blue figure rushed in and plowed the thugs aside right before they could even touch Speedy.
Everyone one of us watched in awe.
The two men stumbled back as a female figure jumped up from her flying kick, blurred over to them, and started pummeling the daylight out of their sorry skulls. "RAAAUGH!! HIYAAA!!" Karate chops and judo kicks sailed into the men's bodies till they fell down cold in under five seconds of pure, martial arts fury.
And everything was dreadfully silent.
I gulped and took a step forward.
The woman stood around. There was a sassy smile under a waterfall of blonde hair. She swiveled about completely and struck a sexy pose in a blue jacket, black leotard, and…..fishnets?
"You boys are getting careless," she tossed her hair and uttered in a voluptuous, womany voice. "Good thing I was in town, visiting."
Speedy took one glance at her and muttered: "Ah jeez…what's she doing here?"
Green Arrow—in the meantime—had his eyemasks bulging. He stammered: "Dinah?!?!"
The blonde stranger rolled her eyes. "Pfft!! Please, Green Arrow!" she rested her hands to her hips and half-frowned and half-smirked. "After all these years, couldn't you at least do me the courtesy of calling me by my alias?! It's Black Canary, remember?!"