More “Birds of Prey” fanfiction! Black Canary meets Batgirl! Will the duo ally or, will Batgirl shove the Canary from Gotham’s nest?
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“I knew I’d run into one of you,” Black Canary said.
“You should be glad it’s me and not Batman, Ms. Lance.” Batgirl said.
Canary did a double take. “How the hell do —”
Batgirl pulled a bola out of her utility belt. “Duck.”
Canary didn’t understand at first. When she saw Batgirl about to throw the bola in her direction, Black Canary quickly did as commanded.
The man Canary was interrogating got bold and went for his gun. Batgirl’s bola cable wrapped around his arms, pinning them to his sides. His hand seized the gun, firing off a shot into the air.
Black Canary spun low, kicking the tied-up man’s feet out from under him. He slammed onto the ground. The impact shook his gun from his hand. The man remained conscious, but he wouldn’t be going anywhere.
Batgirl stooped to the man she’d disarmed and used bat-shaped zip-cuffs to secure him. “In Gotham, we secure criminals before interrogations, so we don’t get shot in the back.”
“Good advice,” Canary said. “Too bad I left my zip ties in my other stockings.”
Batgirl threw Canary a sideways glance. She then moved to secure the other fallen man. “What’s your interest in Kano?” she asked.
Black Canary crossed her arms over her chest. “Tell me how you know who I am?”
While zip-tying the second thug, Batgirl asked, “Why did you admit to it so quickly?”
A frown from the Canary. Finished with the thug, Batgirl stood up and faced the other vigilante. “Batman told me about the incident in Burnside,” Batgirl said.
Not wanting Batgirl to see her expression of guilt, Black Canary turned away from the girl.
“He can be a hardass, but he has his reasons,” Batgirl continued. “He knew you didn’t mean to endanger Mishima, but in his eyes you lacked the training to —”
Black Canary’s anger beat past her embarrassment. “Lack training? I studied with the deadliest assassin in the world, and he thinks I lack training?”
“Maybe discipline is a better word.”
Canary’s lips parted to speak, but she lost the words.
“We’ve all been there,” Batgirl said. “You think he welcomed me with open arms?”
Canary’s eyes narrowed. “Yet, here you are.”
Batgirl put her hands in front of her disarmingly. “All I’m saying is, I think your heart is in the right place. You do things in Gotham the way he wants them done — no killing, no accidental killings, with discipline — and you might leave here with your crime solved and no bat-boot in your butt.”
Black Canary crossed her arms while considering.
“As for your question about identity,” Batgirl said, “it wasn’t hard for anyone looking to link the appearance of a sound-blasting vigilante with the Ashes on Sunday tour. Which I was following, by the way.”
Canary looked oddly at Batgirl. “You’re a fan?”
“Even have the underground EP.” Batgirl lost her edge as she said sheepishly, “I’d love to have you sign it after we get through this.”
“That was a Japan-only release! I don’t even have a copy of that!”
“My roommate Alysia brought it back from visiting her folks in Japan. She’s a fan too.”
Black Canary stared at Batgirl — and then broke out into a laugh. “Gotham’s fearless girl vigilante wants my autograph?”
It was Batgirl’s turn to hide her embarrassment.
Black Canary approached her and put her hands on the younger girl’s shoulders. “Girl, you get me through the thing with Batman, I’ll do a concert in your living room!”
Batgirl beamed with excitement. “I may hold you to that.”
Black Canary looked at Batgirl. She didn’t look past her teens, yet she convinced the big bad Batman to let her defend Gotham City. If she was good enough for him, she’d damn sure be a good partner for her.
Thinking back on the Kano and identity situation, Canary frowned and dropped her hands to her hips. “So how long have you been following me?”
“Since the hotel,” Batgirl said. “Nice choice, by the way. Sylvia’s Restaurant around the corner has the best Southern fried chicken in the city.”
Black Canary put an arm around Batgirl’s shoulders. “See? This is fate! We’re destined to team up and find out why China White sent Kano here!”
Batgirl politely moved Canary’s arm from around her shoulders. “Batman and I will handle that. If anything leads back to Seattle, we’ll pass that on to the authorities.”
Canary threw up her hands. “C’mon, Batgirl! You know how slow the system is! That’s why you wear the mask and prowl the streets!”
“Batman said if you started making trouble, I was to tell you to go home.”
Canary tilted her head. “And you always do what your boss tells you?”
Batgirl’s eyes looked to the side. “He’s not my boss,” she said, though her lowered tone showed a bit of apprehension.
Black Canary took Batgirl’s shoulders in her hands. Batgirl looked back at her.
“China White is Seattle’s problem. Let me and Sonya help so she doesn’t become a Gotham problem.”
Batgirl looked away.
Canary moved to stay in Batgirl’s line-of-sight and added, “And I’ll sign every last piece of Ashes on Sunday memorabilia you have. And throw in VIP passes for you and your roommate if you’re ever in Seattle.”
The Gotham vigilante bit her lip. Then her head dipped to one side as she reacted to something only she heard. Then she said to seemingly no one, “Understood. I have the bird in the cage.”
Canary guessed the vigilante wore a commlink in her cowl. She talked to Batman. Black Canary noticed she suddenly held her breath.
Batgirl turned her attention back to the Canary.
“Bird in a cage?” Canary asked.
Ignoring the comment, Batgirl said, “You’re in luck. Riddler’s back in town, so Batman’s busy.”
Black Canary studied Batgirl. The auburn-haired vigilante looked reluctant but said, “You’re strictly an observer, though. Don’t get me into any trouble.” Upon Canary’s smile, Batgirl added, “I mean it.”
The Seattle vigilante put her arm back around Batgirl’s shoulders. “Would I do that to a fan?”
Batgirl gave her a sideways glance.
What’s the Riddler up to? That’s a story for another time, but I’ll drop some hints later.
Next week we’ll continue bringing together the Birds of Prey as the Seattle and Gotham vigilantes descend on the Chechen!
While writing this fanfiction, I used Green Ronin’s Mutants and Masterminds, 3rd Edition RPG, to leave some things to chance. Check it out!
Like this Birds of Prey fanfiction? Check out Mark’s original “Shadowdance” saga books!
