Jae couldn’t help the grin that pulled at her mouth as she crouched on the ledge of the building beside Wraith. Her blood was singing in her veins and the wind was tousling her hair and everything just felt right for once. She could hear everything from up above. The whisper of the misting rain that was still slicking over the night, Wraith’s eager little pants as he gazed down at the street, a distant car alarm, and the palpable thump of her own heart. It feels ridiculously good, Jae thought just before she tried to tamp down on the sensation.
Jae glanced at Wraith from the corner of her eyes, smirking slightly at the boy’s obvious enthusiasm. She could only make out the excited gleam of his green eyes and the crooked arch to his mouth from below his mask but his stance practically screamed for action. Admittedly, she was as eager as he was for something, anything to happen, but she was hiding it better. At least she hoped she was.
The backdoor to Jezebels lay right below them. The door opened up onto an alleyway with only a single light hanging over the door, casting greasy yellow shadows in a ten foot perimeter. Jae could hear the muffled ruckus of the barroom from their position. Seedy music and boisterous, drunken laughter cuts through the damp night with an eerie indignation.
Wraith squirmed beside Jae, his eyes flicking over her as that crooked smile leapt to his wide mouth again. Jae couldn’t restrain her answering grin, her fingers tightening reflexively on the rough brick of the building. Wraith leaned in closer to her, his grin hitching up a little higher until it was almost manic.
“Not really what I call a first date but not so bad, eh?” Wraith hummed, laughter tinting his voice. Jae’s smiled dropped from her face instantly. A cold sense of dread weaseled into her gut even as she felt the blood rising to her cheeks. Her reaction must have been obvious because Wraith’s smile lost a few degrees of tilt as he eyes suddenly searched her face with uncertainty.
“This isn’t a date,” Jae hissed, not actually meaning to make her voice that cold. Wraith’s smile fled completely from his face, disappointment flickering to his eyes.
“But back in the alley,” Wraith murmured anxiously, his hand motioning in the air like the words had failed him, “Weren’t we flirting?”
“No,” Jae gasped, her cheeks burning. Her heart beat a furious tempo in her chest, making her head swim.
“But I thought-”
Wraith’s question was cut off by as the backdoor to Jezebels slammed open. Jae wasn’t sure if she wanted to thank the three toughs that exited for interrupting Wraith or curse their perfect timing. Jae settled on focusing the majority of her attention on them even though her body was rapidly becoming acutely aware of Wraith’s every movement.
Jae’s eyes narrowed as she studied the alleyway like it’s a crime scene photo, every detail imprinting into her mind. Four men had exited the bar, the three muscles and Eddie, who looked scared shitless. One of the big toughs had Eddie by the back of the neck as he marched him into the alley, flanked by his partners.
Eddie trembled as the larger man flung him against the brick wall of the building Jae and Wraith were perched upon. Jae winced sympathetically. Eddie threw his hands up over his face as he cowered.
“I told you guys the truth! I was ambushed by a kid in a skeleton costume and a girl that was glowing blue!” Eddie squealed. The three tough guys snorted, exchanging a scornful look between them. The one nearest to Eddie cracked his knuckles threateningly as he leaned over Eddie, dwarfing the teenaged thief.
“Shut up Eddie. The boss told you to get his money and bring it back and you fucked up. Now you want us to believe that a skeleton and a chick that glows in the dark attacked you? You know what I think?” the big guy snickered and grabbed a fistful of Eddie’s hair, yanking the teen’s head back sharply, “I think you got greedy and took the boss’s money. Now either you start telling us the truth, or Pat and Elmo here are gonna make you remember.”
“I told you everything already, Don!” Eddie whimpered. Don shook his head and stepped back.
“Okay boys, let him have it,” Don sighed. Pat and Elmo snickered, lurching towards Eddie. Jae’s eskrima whistled through the air, shattering the light and sending the alley into darkness. The eskrima dropped to the ground with a hollow, metallic thud.
“What the fuck was that?” Don snarled, his eyes moving up and down the alley. Pat and Elmo grunted. Eddie sobbed.
“Oh God, it’s them,” Eddie sniffled.
“Shut up, kid,” Don snapped, edging his way towards the door.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you…” Wraith’s sing-song voice hung in the dark air. Eddie screamed and threw himself to the ground. Jae grinned as she slithered the rest of the way down the drainpipe and dropped to the ground silently. Her eyesight in the dark was far better than a human. She could see Wraith drop to the ground on the opposite end of the alleyway, caging the four men in between them. Jae crouched, twirling her remaining eskrima as she waited for Wraith’s signal.
The three tough guys were blindly edging back towards the door. One of them tripped over a trash can and went sprawling to the ground. Don gulped and panicked, rushing for the door. Now, Jae thought to herself and let the blue, glowing energy burst from her hands and light up the alleyway. Don wailed as he threw himself backwards, away from Jae. Jae grinned and took a menacing step towards him, the light in her hands crackling like lightning.
“Oh my God!” Don whimpered, shaking his head, “The kid wasn’t lying! You fucking glow!” Jae laughed at the man, which seemed to send him into an even greater panic. The distraction was all Wraith needed.
Wraith’s movements were lightening fast as he pounced on the first tough guy. She snickered as the guy let out an undignified squeal just before Wraith’s elbow met his nose with a sharp and sickening crunch. The tough guy screamed and grabbed at his face, clutching his broken nose. Wraith moved with an eerie, fluid silence worthy of his namesake and brought the big guy down with a blow to the solar plexus. Jae felt a little thrill rush through her veins as she watched the costumed teen twirled around the first tough guy and leap at the second man that had tumbled backwards over the trashcans.
Jae’s attention flitted back to Don just as the man’s chunky, shaking hand slid into the front of his jacket. Jae didn’t think as she burst into motion and closed the distance between Don and her in the blink of an eye.
Time moved slowly as she kicked Don under the chin, sending the man’s head snapping back and sending his arms flying to his sides. The pistol in his hand went flying, skidding across the wet asphalt. Jae’s eskrima sang through the air, catching Don across the jaw and sent him spiraling into unconscious. The entire process took a matter of seconds.
Jae’s head snapped up as she heard Wraith grunt. Her eyes tracked the costumed teen as he gripped his ribs and fell backwards against the building. The last tough guy standing had Wraith cornered as he threw meaty, bone crushing punches at Wraith. The teen dodged the first fist, letting it hit the brick wall behind him. The pain seemed only to enrage the big man and his next blow connected hard into Wraith’s belly, bring the kid to his knees.
Jae roared as she leapt forward, launching her whole body at the last guy. His movements seemed infinitely slow as Jae soared through the air at him. Jae’s eskrima snaked out in a vicious backhand and caught the big man across the face. He stumbled backwards, his eyes rolling back into his head. He toppled over unceremoniously to the ground.
Jae landed in front of Wraith, her body crouched with catlike grace, her body still singing for action. Wraith scrambled to his feet, edging to the side of Jae. He gasped, holding his ribs, his breath coming in little pants. Jae flicked her eyes at him, assessing him as she rose up from her crouch; the glowing in her hands flickered out. Wraith grinned up at her, but his jaw was tense with pain. Jae moved forward without thinking and slid her shoulder under the arm not cradling Wraith’s side and let the older teen lean his weight on her.
Neither teen spoke as they moved silently through the darkened alley; skirting Eddie’s whimpering form and pausing only for a moment to retrieve Jae’s eskrima from the puddle of shattered light bulb.
Wraith’s arm was heavy and warm across Jae’s shoulder as she retraced their mad dash until she found an acceptable nook in an alleyway to release Wraith. The boy leaned backwards against a building with an appreciative grunt. The city sounds seemed distant to Jae’s ears as she studied the alleyway, forcing herself to calm down. The blood in her veins sang with adrenaline, her skin prickling with excitement. Every sense seemed heightened. She could smell Wraith’s sweat and cologne on her jacket along with the fainter, tackier scent of blood. Jae tensely listened to the winded pants falling from Wraith’s mouth and something else. Jae craned her head to the side, listening intently to the sound. It was odd, out of place in the dingy backstreets. The whispering catch and rasp of heavy fabric filtering down from above them. Jae looked upwards just in time to see a slash of crimson and black flash across the rooftops. Jae felt her jaw drop open as her eyes made out the silhouette of a man against the gray storm clouds. For the briefest second, Jaelyn could have sworn the caped figure was looking directly at her.
“Ah, so you saw him, huh?” Wraith laughed in a strained voice. Jae snapped her mouth shut and glared at the teen. He winked playfully and jerked his chin back up to the rooftops.
“You know people can go their whole lives in Haven and not see the Blackbird once,” Wraith murmured conversationally, but there was a touch of wonder in his voice. Jae smirked. If only he knew who her mother was.
“How many times have you seen him?” Jae asked, still watching the sky for any glimpse of the masked vigilante. Wraith hissed in pain as he tried to shrug.
“Only a couple of times,” Wraith hummed, pulling up his shirt to examine his chest in the dim light of the alley. Jae hissed at the bruise blooming across the teen’s stomach and chest. A small globe of blue light flickered to life in the palm of her hand. Jae held it out cautiously to Wraith, illuminating his pale skin.
“Thanks,” he laughed a little breathlessly, his eyes skipping over Jae thoughtfully. Jae kept her eyes locked on Wraith’s exposed chest. The bruises were going to smart, but nothing appeared broken. Wraith cocked his head to the side, a little smile tugging at his mouth, “You know you’re pretty handy…for a girl.”
Jae snorted, closing her hand over the ball of blue light, extinguishing it. Wraith made a little noise of displeasure as he slid his clothes back down over his pale, thin chest. Jae snickered as she slid in under Wraith’s arm again, helping him up.
“You’re not so bad yourself, Wraith,” Jae whispered playfully, “For a skinny kid.”
“I’m not skinny,” Wraith whined half heartedly, his arm squeezing Jae, “I’m wiry.” Jae giggled, rolling her eyes as they started off again. Wraith seemed to be walking more on his own power, leading the way, but he kept his arm looped around Jae’s shoulders. Jae blushed, but didn’t shrug his arm off.
Jae tensed under Wraith’s arm as she finally realized where they were headed. Jae flinched away, letting Wraith arm drop to his side. He hissed out a little cry, clutching his side again. Jae backed away from him, wide eyed.
“What’s the matter?” Wraith asked, glancing between Jae and the guard’s post of the Tieran Quarter.
“How did you? I never told you I… You don’t know me….” Jae felt panic rising up in her chest as her words jumbled. Wraith sighed, inching closer to Jae.
“You didn’t say anything to give yourself away, kid. But just so you know, most human girls don’t glow in the dark,” Wraith teased lightly. Jae flinched again. Wraith reached out, grabbing Jae’s wrist and pulling her in towards him. She knew automatically that should break his hold, could hurt him if she wanted to, but she hesitated and let him draw her towards him.
“I won’t ask questions,” Wraith murmured, his hand sliding up her arm until it settled on her shoulder affectionately. Jae blushed and looked away. Wraith’s hand moved from her shoulder and suddenly there was the sound of fabric being pulled aside. Jae blinked and looked up. Wraith leaned forward at the same moment, pressing his lips against Jae’s in an awkward kiss. Jae fumbled for a moment, taken aback by Wraith’s sudden advance.
And then it was as if something clicked between them. Their movements synchronized with each other just as they had during the chase. Jae’s eyes flitted close as she tilted her head to the side. Wraith reached up to cup the back of her head and leaned into her. Jae tried not to study Wraith’s movements too closely as his lips slid across hers, but she couldn’t help noting the cold touch of metal studs on either side of his lower lip, or the heat radiating off of his unmasked face. Jae sighed as Wraith pulled away, ending the kiss.
Jae opened her eyes in time to watch the bottom of Wraith’s face disappear below his mask again, but not before she noted the red flush in his cheeks and the snakebite piercings. The costumed teen shifted nervously as he stepped away from Jae, a wry grin on his face.
“Just so you know, you might not have been flirting, but I was,” Wraith murmured. Jae grinned awkwardly and gave Wraith a light shove on his shoulder.
“Whatever Wraith,” Jae paused, her teeth worrying her lower lip, “Will I see you again?”
Wraith blinked at Jae owlishly. She mentally berated herself until Wraith’s mouth burst open into an enthusiastic smile, his green eyes twinkling.
“Sure!” Wraith squeaked then coughed to clear his throat. “Sure,” he tried again, “I’m usually haunting the warehouse district.”
“I’ll keep that in mind if I ever need another thrilling, adrenaline filled date,” Jae joked. Wraith’s eyebrows shot up under his disguise.
“Oh, so it was a date, huh?” he purred, his smile sharky. Jae rolled her eyes as she turned away from the costumed teen. She bite her lower lip to hold back her laugh as she felt Wraith’s eyes follow her all the way to the guard’s post.
The two Tieran guards on duty recognized Jaelyn instantly and jumped to their feet, saluting her. Jae nodded casually to the men and glanced back over her shoulder. Her eyes met Wraith for a brief second before he melted away into the shadows. Just like a ghost.
