Blackbirds

PART 7

Nightwing watched the car circle the mall parking lot yet again. Using night vision goggles, he clearly saw the dark haired woman inside alternate between talking on her cell phone and flipping off the driver behind her. He glanced over at Green Arrow.

"Think she's our contact?"

"That or she really wants a quesadilla." the archer responded sarcastically.

Nightwing glanced sharply at his companion. It had been two days since the first date fiasco and Green Arrow was being petulant. Yes, he had met him in Star City. Yes, he had agreed to join Nightwing on his case. But no, he definitely was not making it easy to apologize.

"Wish she'd lay off the horn."

"It could be a signal. Morse code, maybe."

"Could be she wants the jackass behind her to stop kissing bumpers."

"Or that." conceded Nightwing tightly.

Green Arrow watched as the unknown driver swerved around the woman they were watching, cut in front of her and slammed on the brakes. The woman pulled sharply to the left to avoid a collision.

"Oh, now that was just rude."

The archer deftly selected an arrow and nocked it. Let fly. The shaft pierced the column, locking the steering wheel to the right so that the car started going in circles.

"Nice shot."

The woman's car slowed to a stop in front of the now boarded and abandoned !Que Quesadillas! restaurant. After a moment, she threw the car into reverse, neatly sped backwards between two parked police cars, snapped the front end around and shot through a yellow light.
Green Arrow packed his bow. "Looks like a no show."

"You don't seem surprised."

"Hey, it happens." The archer gave a non-commital shrug. "People say they're gonna show and don't. You get over it."

"Yeah, I can see how you've gotten over it." Nightwing's eyes narrowed, suddenly suspicious. From past experience, he knew Green Arrow wasn't above getting even with another superhero if he felt he'd been wronged. Especially if could find a particularly irritating way to get revenge. They had been waiting for three hours in a cold drizzle for Ollie's supposedly "sure thing" contact to show up. Nightwing was sufficiently irritated.

"You set me up."

Ollie smirked. "And they say Bats is the world's greatest detective."

Nightwing dropped to a crouch, swept Green Arrow's legs from under him, quickly pinned him against the rooftop. Anger darkened his eyes. "Don't--ever--use one of my cases for your personal vendetta again."

Green Arrow shoved him off. They both scrambled to their feet, squared off against each other. Green Arrow was incredulous at Nightwing's comment. "Don't make it personal?" He poked him in the chest. "Listen, pal--" Poked again for good measure. "--you come into my city--" Poke. "--sniffing around my neighbors--" Ollie's faced reddened. "--my friends--and that's not supposed to be personal?"

"I'm investigating a terrorist threat against a U.N. ambassador."

"No. You're. Not." Green Arrow emphasized slowly. "You're here 'cause some Bludhaven scuzz ran his mouth off at an SOC meeting." Nightwing's jaw tightened. "You're here 'cause he threatened Donna." Ollie held up a finger. "That's one possible threat." A second finger went up.
"And one possible target. Period. Don't make it a witch hunt against good people."

"Good people?"

"Damn straight!"

Nightwing blinked, shook his head, looked at Green Arrow not sure what to say. "Wow..." He raked a hand through his hair. "Wow...you really--I mean, I thought--" He shook his head again, searching for the right words. "When I saw you at the meeting I just assumed--I thought you were there undercover, too."

"Now you know better."

Nightwing frowned, puzzled. "How can you do it?"

"Do what?"

"How can you work with metas--trust them during a battle--if you hate them?"

It was Green Arrow's turn to be puzzled. "I don't hate 'em."

Nightwing searched the archer's eyes. "No?"

"No." He reiterated firmly. Then added wryly, "Some of my best friends are metas." That brought a responding chuckle from his companion. Nightwing relaxed and Green Arrow was struck by how much his body language expressed his emotions. "It's still early." He blurted out suddenly, hoping it sounded casual.

Nightwing looked up from packing his night vision goggles. His eyes brightened with interest.
"You have something in mind?"

"Dry off, grab a bite to eat, talk?"

A knowing smile played across Dick's lips. "Just talk?"

"You have something in mind?" parroted Ollie.

Nightwing let his gaze slide across Green Arrow's tight fitted leggings. Let the heat deepen in his eyes as he openly admired the rest of his body. "Always."