Warnings: I do not own the characters in Birds of Pray, are the property of DC Comics and WB. I'm just taking them on a loan for a short period of time. The character of Detective Francesca Hunter is instead a creation of mine.

Rating: M (as the story progresses. Specific warning for chapters particularly explicit)

Pairing: Helena-Huntress / Detective Hunter

Author's Note: English is not my language and I don't have a beta reader, so all errors are mine. Probably in translating from italian some linguistic nuances are been lost, if anyone is interested in reading the original, all you have to do is ask.

A latest addition, this story is developed by different POV, I hope I haven't created confusion.

CHAPTER 1

"Detective Reese?"

I lifted my head from the relationship that I was reading and looked at the Captain with a questioning expression.

"Meet Detective Hunter, she is your new partner, update her ..." after he said this, he departed to return to his office.

I watched with interest the young woman who stood in front of me. Mid-twenties, tall, athletic body, dark hair, dark eyes and a defiant attitude that reminded someone else ...

When I saw the woman smile I shook myself out of my trance, I had fixed her a long time without saying a word. I stood up and stretched out my hand and introduced myself "Detective Jesse Reese" I said with a slight smile.

"Detective Francesca Hunter" she shook my hand, with warm smile in response.

"Sit down" I said pointing at the desk in front of mine "So, where do you come from, Detective?" I asked curiously.

"New York"

"Wow! And what are you doing here?" I asked more and more interested

"The Police Department of New York, in its policy of collaboration with the Departments of other cities, has selected some young detective for what you might call an 'exchange training' " she began to explain

"And you chose New Gotham, why?"

"Well, among the alternatives seemed to me the most interesting one, you have an incredible crime rate here. So if I have to learn why not choose the best, or the worst in this case ..." she replied chuckling

"If you are looking for the worst, you're happened to the right place!" I said with an ironic tone. Then I took a stack of files from my desk and stretched them towards her "Here, begins with these so you get an idea"

The hours passed in a comfortable silence, I was glad that the woman wasn't one of those people who talked all the time. Every now and then I looked at her sideways, she was immersed in reading the reports. As she examined a dossier, she taking notes on a yellow legal pad and before moving on to another, she insert the sheet inside.

"What are you writing?" I asked curious

"Comments and questions about each case, a reminder for when we will cover them together ..." she thoughtfully answered ... "your informer must be a person very well introduced in the crime in this city, his blow are accurate and that I see, you judge them very reliable ..."

"What makes you think I have an informer?" I asked surprised

"Simple deduction, Watson!" she replied raising an eyebrow "is he really as reliable?" she asked in a serious tone

"Yes, she is!" I replied curtly

"Ooookay …" she said, and without another word went back to what she was doing

I looked at her for a moment longer, but when I realized that she would have said more went back to my research. It took only a few minutes before the phone rang.

"Detective Reese" I answered automatically. It was a call from Oracle telling me of a robbery at a jewelry store downtown.

"Come on Hunter!" I said getting up

She said nothing, put on her leather jacket and headed for the exit. When we got to the jewelry found the thief unconscious on the floor, his wrists bound with plastic handcuffs.

"It seems that someone has already taken care of it" Hunter said as she surveyed the scene around her.

"Yes ..." I replied absently directing me toward the exit, I knew exactly who it was and I was hoping that she was still in the area, but I knew she would not be approached if I stayed with my partner.

I looked Reese curiously, his response was absent and caught my attention. I saw him talking to someone, I looked carefully at the person is definitely a woman, young and very fit I thought as I studied the figure. I couldn't see she well, it was dark and her dark clothing did not help. When she turned to look at me I realized that I was not wrong, young, dark short wild hair and more penetrating gaze that I had ever seen. I couldn't see the color of the eyes, but I was captured by the intensity. "Get a move on Hunter" I said flatly to myself and shaking my head went back to my work. When I raised my eyes again the woman had disappeared.

"If we're done here, we bring this scumbag to the central" I said sharply

Reese looked at me puzzled for a moment, then grabbed the thief and we headed for the car.

After we have finished filling out the relationship we were finally ready to go home. I was quite expense, the day had been unnerving.

"Do you want a ride?" asked me Reese

"No thanks, I take the subway" I answered with a tired smile going off towards the exit.

Sitting in the semi-desert wagon I was thinking to the events of the day just past, the beginning looked promising, certainly my six months in New Gotham would have been interesting. Then an intense look flashed in my memory and I shivered involuntarily, shook my head vigorously not wanting to dwell on the memory and the feeling it had provoked. I arrived at my stop and I got up and left.

I was walking back to the hotel, when the sign of a bar caught my attention. Dark Horse, why not? I definitely need a drink I thought, looking at the door. It was a nice place, I sat at the counter and ordered a beer. The guy who served me was in the mood to chat, I kindly replied to his questions, flirting slightly. He was funny, cute even, but definitely not my type. I finished my beer, said goodbye and directing me finally to my hotel.

It was my fifth day in New Gotham and finally I began to understand the mechanisms of this dark and violent city. I was finishing fill out the report of a robbery at the museum, when Reese told me there was a call. I grabbed gun, badge and jacket and hurried to follow him.

We were in a dark alley in what was supposed to be the most seedy section of town "What are we doing here?" I asked my partner.

"A tip on a illegal gambling" he replied heading deeper into the alley, his gun firmly in his hand.

I was about to follow him, when I heard footsteps behind me, I turned around to check, but I did not have time to do anything else, I felt my pursuer scream "HUNTER!" and then he fired what looked like a tranquilizer dart. I looked astonished the syringe in my chest, I started to say something but the only thing that came out of my mouth was a strangled gasp, then I collapsed to the ground.