The buzz of normal conversation hums throughout the halls of the bank. The final financial transactions are made between customers and tellers as the hours the building are open crawl to a close. With the sun setting earlier then days passed, the most optimal time approaches.
A girl sits over to the side, reading a book, tapping her foot to the rhythm of the song on her headphones, or maybe it's just nerves. Her large fashionable sunglasses take up most of her face and her hair pulled back into a tight ponytail, her normal visage is well hidden. She stares over the edge of her book and scans the area. Several teller windows are already closed down, the number of civilians is low and the night security staff is still twenty minuets from the start of their shift. The girl rests her black leather gloved hand to the side of her face, using her chin to press a button on her wrist. "Magpie? This is Morning Song. Do you copy?"
Over the seemingly normal headphones, a voice responds, "Yeah, I hear ya Ami. Who came up with these dumb code names anyway?"
"Uh, Mammoth and See-More, I think. Anyways, Jinx, Everything's set. The only problem we might have is the innocent people. They-"
"Took the risk by going to a bank at closing time." An annoyed woman's voice replies.
"Yes but, don't you think-"
"No. I don't. I just do."
Ami sighs, "But there's some kids here..." she breathes, looking at the brunette boy and girl pulling on their mother's coat for her attention.
"Ami." the voice says sternly. "You need to get your mind into this. Think of Brother Blood. Think of us. Think of your friends." The last one gets to her and a small fluctuation in her breath lets Jinx know she's hit a cord. "We're not going to hurt anyone, if we can help it. You got that Night Light?"
"Aurora."
"Wha?"
"I changed my name. It's Aurora now." she clarified.
Jinx sighs. "Fine, call yourself whatever you want. The HIVE Five be there in forty seconds." Ami can hear the line go dead and the transmission end. Ami places her wrist back down in her lap and turns the page in her book.
She quickly senses someone approaching her. Looking over her book she sees a security guard approaching her. He smiles warmly at her so she returns the smile. "I'm sorry Miss," he begins, "But the bank is about to close and I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
"Oh." Ami replies, looking back at her book. {Ok. Time for phase one. Just do it like you practiced...} "Miss." he says more sternly, losing his smile. "If you would please exit the building..." He gestures towards the doors on the other side of the building.
"Yes, I heard you the first time." she replies uneasily.
The man sighs. "Come on." He grabs her by the arm and forces her up.
She quickly pulls away. "Why I never!" she calls, trying her best to pull off this act. "Man-handling me!? I have half a mind to sue you and this bank for harassment!" Ami is now yelling. The other patrons of the bank look at her with annoyance and the other guards are coming closer. "How dare you treat a woman that way! I merely wished to finish my book in peace but you insisted on using force to make me move! I have never been so offended!"
"You gotta fiery one there, don't ya Doug?" One of the other guards jeers towards the man standing next to Ami.
{That's it... all eyes on me...} she thinks. {Now time for the finishing touch.} "Whatever happened to chivalry? You men are all the same." She turns and picks up the over sized bag that was next to her chair. "If this is how you treat lady, I hope you get what's coming to you."
As the words leave her lips, her eyes wander over to the doors. Five familiar faces enter and half the guards turn to face them. "Sorry, the bank is closing, you're going to have to leave." One calls to them.
"Oh, well then we'll make this fast." The creepy voice of Gizmo echoes as he locks the doors behind him.
"What're you-"
"These guys are really dumb." Jinx says, crossing her arms. "Dumber then Billy, dumb."
"Hey!" Billy hollers in stereo, as he makes 3 more of himself.
All the guards draw they're weapons and aim them at the newcomers. "W-Who are you!?"
Mammoth laughs. "Must be new in town."
"Then let's give them a warm welcome." Jinx sneers.
As the vixen's eyes turn pink the men start to shake. "Do-don't move, or-or we'll shoot."
The ends of they're guns start to melt. "No, you won't." Ami says from behind them. They turn to looks at her, her eyes glowing white. "And firing those at all now would probably be a bad idea."
"Alright listen!" Jinx announces to the room of now scared people. "Everyone not wanting to get blown up should hit the floor and put their hands on their heads. In case any of you tellers have pressed your emergency button, I can assure you, no one got it. It has been disabled all day." Her eyes scan the civilians. "As for the rest of you, any attempt to stop us, or be a hero will be returned by us killing you. And trust me, we can and will. Esteemed members of the security staff, please remove your belts, hats... and what the hell, your shoes too. Can't have you guys hiding anything to 'help' you." The boys have already begun emptying the cash drawers into bags and taking jewelry off patrons. As the guards begin to obey commands, Jinx adds, "Now, where is the manager?" She stares around to only be met with silence. "I said," she charges her hand with energy and points it at the woman hugging her kids in the corner, "Where is he!?"
"He uh..." a red-headed woman from behind the counter slowly rises up. "He left early..."
"Beautiful..." she sighs. "Billy!" The called boys race beside her. "I want you to watch these people."
"Can do!"
"Sure thang!"
"Yepper doodle!"
"And Aurora!" she calls across the room to the blond girl. "I need you to blast a safe open for me..." the pink haired girl heads for the back so Ami follows her.
The girl silently traces in Jinx's steps, until she can no longer keep silent. "Were you really going to hurt those kids?"
"Might have winged the mother to start, but if I had to... yes." she replies coldly.
"But it's just money. That's a life. How can you-"
"Because I'm bad. I always have been. Always will be." she cuts her off with icy breath.
Ami whispers, "You're not a bad person Jinx... you saved me once... you even wanted to be my friend..."
"Yeah well, that's different." She stops and looks the girl in the eye. "I was ordered to get you to come to the HIVE. I pretended to be your friend. I 'saved' you so Brother Blood wouldn't get mad his pupil died." Jinx straightens her back. "Now come along, we've got-"
"What if I wanted to be your friend too?" Ami interrupts. "What if we really did become friends? Would you be a better person then?"
Jinx thinks a moment then replies bluntly. "No because that would make you a bad person for being my friend."
"And you would be my friend, so why doesn't that make you a good-?"
"Enough!" she yells. "We're here to rob a bank. That's something bad, or can't you get that? Now come along, I need you to blast the hinges off the vault door."
Ami continues in silence. {You could do that yourself Jinx., why do you want me to come with you? Is it cause you really do want me to become bad so we can be friends? ... I don't understand...}
Ami stands in front of the door and focuses the light around her hands, then blows a huge hole into the center of the door. "I said the hinges! I hope you didn't destroy too much with your death ray."
Ami lowers her head. "Sorry." Jinx takes the bag Ami was holding and pulls sacks out of it. Ami watches her feet enter the vault. As Ami raises her head back up, she sees Kyd Wykkyd has appeared in front of her and is heading into the vault.
"Hey. 'Outta the way, Crumb-Packer!" Ami quickly steps aside as Gizmo comes barreling through on his mechanical spider legs. "See-More's got the armored car waiting outside. We gotta hurry!" Ami studies her feet. She reminds herself what Jinx reminded her of. {The Titans. They're safe. Just do this, and they're safe...} "Burger-Brain!" Gizmo calls. "Get your can over here and help load the truck!"
"Uh, yeah. Coming."
Just as the truck is reaching maximum capacity, Ami goes back for one last load. She grabs two bags Jinx has filled with loot and heads back out to the main room. As she nears the entrance, she can hear someone, or rather several people enter the bank. "Mammoth! Stop right there!" The male voice is unmistakable to Ami. Her pace slows to a stop and her eyes water. "I won't say it again."
"What're you going to do about it? Go against the promise you made to her?" The booming voice of Mammoth responds. "You can't touch us!"
"Maybe not." A dark female voice echoes ominously, "But she didn't say anything about this." From the doorframe she's standing in, Ami can see a charge of dark energy pop a tire on the car.
{Not good.} Ami thinks. She bites her lip and tries to will herself into looking around the corner. To look at her friends if even for a moment, but she can't. She's too afraid of the disapproval. She couldn't take they're looks of disappointment. Not again. She cloaks herself in invisibility and takes several deep breaths. She hears Jinx running up behind her, so she makes herself visible from behind. She presses her finger to her lips to tell Jinx to be quiet, them makes them both invisible. Ami can't bare to look. Even if they can't see her. She can't bring herself to look at the Titans. Mammoth and the Billies keep them verbally busy and distracted as Jinx and Ami repair the tire. Once Ami patches it and Jinx has it re-inflated, Jinx calls out for the HIVE to board the truck.
"Ami. Drop your shield." Jinx whispers.
"Jinx! Where are you!?" That first male voice calls again. It makes her heart sink so much, holding the illusion is not even an option. Ami turns away and sinks to her knees as they both become visible. The HIVE boys race onto the truck.
"So nice to see you again Robin, or I guess it's Nightwing now. Either way, we need to do this again sometime. Don't you agree Ami?" Jinx turns to the girl, as does everyone else's attention.
"Ami..." she can hear Dick's voice breath though the silent room. The tears on her lashes grow heavier.
"I guess she's still a little chocked up. Bye-bye then." She closes the back doors and the truck takes off.
Wondergirl takes flight and begins after them, but Nightwing grabs her ankle gently. He shakes his head. "Just let them go..."
"That's it!?" a guard on the floor calls. "You're not going to stop them!?" The yelling man's words seem to go over the black clothed man as he slowly exits the bank.
The ride back is a surprisingly smooth one. "Not even cops!" See-More remarks.
"Bird-Brain probably doesn't want little Aurora to go to jail." Gizmo sneers. "Ya know, havin' ya here isn't so bad I guess." Ami doesn't seem to hear his words so he calls, "Hey! I'm talkin' to you!"
"Knock it off Gizmo!" Jinx yells. "All of you, go up front with Mammoth."
"But it's cramped and-"
"Now!" she screams. The boys do as ordered and make themselves scarce. Jinx sighs and sits down next to Ami. She hesitates a moment then puts her arm around the sulking girl's shoulders. "For what it's worth... I'm sorry."
"For what?" Ami sniffles.
"For taking you from your friends. From your home."
Ami wipes her face. "I can make a new home at the academy." She sounds like it's not Jinx she's trying to make feel better. "And," she lifts her head and stares at Jinx with her tear soaked face. "You'll be my friend, right?"
Jinx waits a moment then says, "Yeah. I'll be your friend." Ami smiles a little. "But, only because you look so pathetic right now. You know I would never be your friend unless I felt pity for you."
Ami's small grin does not fade. "Even if that is true, which I don't think it is, thank you."
Jinx rolls her eyes. "Right. You're welcome, I guess." Ami smiles a little more and rests her head on Jinx's shoulder.
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Aurora is such a pretty name. I likes it! And there is no DC Comic character with that name! Woo! (Marvel doesn't count, at least not here)
Not much else to say... Look for the next chapter soon.
Comments, criticisms and love are always welcomed.
