Blue Gem
Disclaimer: none of the characters are mine, but belong to DC comics and co.
Once upon a time, there was an emergency of sorts: the Republicans won the U.S. presidential elections, and Bruce Wayne had to leave Gotham city for once in favor of D.C. because the interests of his business depended on this (to a point, but still). This meant that the Caped Crusader had to be AWOL too – luckily that the rest of the extended Bat family was there to pick up the slack, starting with Nightwing – and so, there he was, entering the Gotham museum, intent on capturing a couple of thieves, (neither of whom was Catwoman or her minions, BTW), and showing them the error of their way, (sarcastically speaking).
"This is far enough," he told them flatly, not trying to imitate his mentor and father figure, (it did not really work), as the thieves stopped in a gem exhibit, (it was a new one for Gotham city). "Surrender now and I'll go easy on you."
Instead of replying, (or responding anyhow else), the man in the couple jutted his finger behind Nightwing. The younger vigilante looked back - but there was no one, or nothing, just a mirror hanging on the wall.
Nightwing looked at it, instinctively, and then back at the couple, (the woman of the couple was busy retrieving one of the gems – a sapphire, ignoring all the other stones), and then back at the mirror, several times.
"Okay, I'll bite," he finally reached a conclusion. "What am I missing?"
"Vampires," the man smiled, his eyes flashing gold and fangs jutting briefly from his mouth, before returning his face to normal. "You think that we're scared of you, little bat?"
"Aw man," Nightwing all but groaned, as he pulled out his batons. "I hate you supernatural types!"
Instead of replying verbally, the vampire pulled out a battle-axe from the sheath behind his back and charged at the young hero.
Batman and all, now, trained Nightwing, but he had not had much experience with vampires – not yet, so he was caught somewhat flat-footed at his opponent's supernatural speed…and the sharp axe blades were not easy to block either: there was nothing antique about that axe, it was brand new. Thus, he backed away, blocking and parrying, until he backed into the wall, and as a shining axe blade rose to stab and slice…it was blocked by a scimitar of some sort.
"Go and stop her," the sword wielder yelled, (and no, it was not Selina Kyle – the cat burglar just did not DO swords, BTW).
Nightwing looked, and sure enough, the other vampire had already acquired the sapphire in question and had it attached to some sort of a mitten. Considering that, they was vampires, and thus – nothing good, Nightwing charged at her.
The vampire woman blasted him with a lightning bolt of some sort.
Nightwing, who was already dazed and bruised, did not fully dodge it in time, and blackened out.
/ / /
"…And the saddest thing of all?" Nightwing would finish the story to his girlfriend, Oracle. "I'm pretty sure that I was saved by Talia al-Ghul of all people."
"Batman isn't in town. Why would she be?"
"Because of that blue sapphire gem, I suspect," Nightwing muttered darkly. "The vampires certainly went only after it."
"I don't like it. If the League of Assassins – well, Ra's - would sent Talia personally, then it might be important. We must discover more about it ourselves."
"Agreed."