Return Flight (Open)

Status: Open

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She bounced across the skyline, leaping left and right in a zig-zag pattern as she sky-walked across the rooftops. It had been a while since she had been in Jump City, and her memories of this place were conflicted, as always. Some of this lifetime, others of other lifetimes. Still, she was always drawn back to this place, no matter how much she tried to run away from it.

Some of those memories, no matter how distant, no matter how bittersweet, were too endearing.

The Swallow soared across the skies, this time in the daylight instead of the darkness of the night. Any trouble plaguing Jump City today would have to deal with one of its oldest protectors, even though she wasn't quite that old anymore.

And indeed there was trouble to be dealt with, for Jump City, or at least one of it's newest protectors, would need her help. Below her was the sounds of crunching metal and cracking pavement as two figures battled. The larger figure roared and swung a large, heavy maul, and a much, much smaller figure dodged and ran, avoiding the weapon as he flung bolts of pale blue lightning.


Sometime before this, Taz had been about to end his patrol when he heard the sound of crashing. Running towards the sounds, the young Titan skidded to a stop in front of a bank, only to jump as the large doors burst apart, along with the stone work around it. A large, horned figure loomed withing the resulting cloud, glowing orange eyes glaring at Taz as a deep voice chuckled. "Heh...Well, well, if it isn't Lightning Wolf. You know, kid, a pup like you should know better than to get in the way of...The Minotaur!""

The figure stepped forward, revealing himself to be a heavily armored, powerful looking young man, a few years older than Taz. The armor was what seemed to be a custom made, if slightly crude, exoskeleton that seemed to be adapted from construction equipment. Though a helmet covered most of his face, Taz could see a mocking grin appear on Minotaur's face. Hefting a bag filled with cash, the criminal sat it to the side, letting the handle of his maul settle into a ready grip. "I'll give you one chance, squirt. Out of my way."

Taz scowled at Minotaur, settling into a ready stance, and the crook's mocking grin widened. "Alright then. Can't say you weren't wa-ACK!" A blue bolt of lightning impacted his helmet, causing his helmet's HUD to glitch and blind him. "You cheeky little..." He lowered his hand to glare at Taz, only for his vision to be filled with the reinforced sole of a boot as Taz rushed over, delivering a speed enhanced dropkick. "Take that, bully!" Minotaur's head rocked back, and he took a step back, unleashing a nasty swing with his hammer. Taz flipped over the vicious blow, delivering a two footed stomp to the powerful crook's wrist and used it to leap back. Minotaur rubbed his wrist, seething, and hefted his maul, venting steam out of his helmet. What followed was a quick series of attacks and dodges.

Taz ran forward to deliver another dropkick, only to dodge another blow, sticking his tongue out at Minotaur. However, the rook merely smirked, his hand coming around to grab the boy's collar. "GOTCHA, YA TEEN TWERP! Now, let's see if you can fly, you agile little pest." Minotaur hefted the boy, then sent him soaring up into the sky. Taz flailed, trying tor recover and find a way to recover safely. "Aaaah!"   -Nonono!! This is going to hurt!-

She saw the slight movement out of the corner of her eyes, her vision far beyond that of an ordinary human being's. Without a second thought, she moved, reacting on pure instinct and kicking the air underneath her with her right leg, propelling her in the opposite direction. She twisted her body into a diving position, bringing her legs together and spreading her arms outwards like a bird's wings.

"Gotcha!" she shouted, flipping across the sky once and bringing her spread-out arms forwards to catch Taz bridal style.

"Whoa, who shot you into the air?!" she exclaimed, before following Taz's trajectory, allowing her keen eyesight to pick up Minotaur down there.

She flipped again, Taz still in her arms, before slamming her feet down onto the thin air and shooting herself downwards towards the ground.

She flipped for a third time near the end to break her fall by landing on the thin air beneath her feet once more, then touched down on the ground and stood Taz up on his feet beside her.

"Alright tough guy," she said, standing up straight and levelling a glare at Minotaur. "Put the money back where it belongs while I'm asking nicely."

Taz's eyes traced across the ground below him as it quickly approached, desperately seeking something he could catch himself on. The tarp roof of a foodstall or door, powerlines, anything. When he failed to find a way to save himself, he ceased flailing and instead braced himself for the impact, arms hiding his face. When he feels something...actually, someone?!...catch him though, the young Titan twitches in surprise and slowly lowers his arms, one eye cracked open. Seeing who exactly had saved him, he tilts his head curiously before giving her a wide, grateful smile.

Blinking at her question, he tilted his head again before beginning to point Minotaur out to her. She managed to see the crook before he finished the movement, though, and flipped. Giving a surprised and slightly frightened squeak he quickly wrapped his arms around the older girl, not wanting to need caught again. As she sets down on the ground, he gives a sigh of relief and smiles up at Simca again. "Thank you."

As she addressed Minotaur, he turns his attention to the crook and glared. As he settled into position again, lightning crackled down his arm in clear warning. Meanwhile, Minotaur watched the rescue in surprise. As the pair of heroes settled back onto the ground, he gave a mocking grin, leaning casually on the haft of his maul. "Well, well. Puppies can fly....with a little help." He smirked as Taz growled, and the smirk widened as Simca warned him to put the money back. He gave a laugh and responded. " Aww...I'd love to do what you ask, little bird. Really, I would, buuuuut...I.WANT.THIS.MONEY." He drops the mockingly friendly air to glare at her for a few seconds, then grins again. "Besides, even as scrawny as he is that little brat beside you is a Titan, and I sent him flying. So what, exactly, do you think you'll be able to do to me?"