Okay, this is my new story for Nightwing.

Chapter 1: Meeting

Athena's P.O.V.

I didn't think my life could change so much in just one day. I woke up this morning and went down to my parent's home in Brooklyn. It was pretty far from Manhattan, but I didn't mind. I stayed there for the whole day just cooking with my mom while my dad was watching a game in the living room.

"So, Athena, do you have a boyfriend?" my mom asked.

"Where did this come from?" I asked nearly cutting myself with a knife.

"Well, you live alone, you're finishing up college, you're a beautiful 21 year old, you should have a boyfriend," she said.

"Um, no," I said.

"And that's how it's going to stay," my dad said.

"Dad, just because I don't have a boyfriend now, doesn't mean I don't want one," I said.

"So you want one," he said while raising his eyebrow.

"I mean when I want one," I said.

"I don't want to see you with a guy that I don't approve of. So, I'll personally introduce you to guys I do approve of," he grunted.

"Dad! That's not fair!" I said, uh, yelled.

"You need to understand that it's dangerous where you live. I don't want anything happening because of some guy," he grumbled. I stormed out of the house. I can take care of myself. I don't need anybody to take care of me. I can handle anything that comes at me. I walked around the neighborhood. I bought a soda and sat on the rooftops just thinking about what happened. I may not want a boyfriend now, but what about later? I'm not a baby anymore. I never really was. Even when I was an infant, I grew out of stuff quickly. My thoughts were interrupted by gunshots coming from down the street. I jumped down from the roof of the building (with the help of fire escapes) and ran towards the gunshots. I stopped and hid behind the corner of a building. From where I was hiding, I could see a gang bothering a middle-aged man. A few more shots were fired and the police came as the gang ran away. I walked up to the victim to get a closer look.

"Miss, are you okay?" A cop asked me. I was petrified. The victim was my father! Those gang members are going to pay.

"This-this is my father," I whispered.

"I'm so sorry Miss. Let me give you a ride home," the police officer said. I was going to get those members.

"Do you have photos of those gang members?" I asked.

"Yes, only a few," the cop said.

"Could I have them?"

"Of course."

We made it to their house and the police officer explained everything to Mom. My mom was crying her eyes out. The police officer gave me the photos before leaving. I had to stay with my mom for a week before going back to live on my own. We had the funeral and after that, Mom has done a good job in trying to forget about what happened. She's actually a lot happier, but she hasn't forgotten about Dad completely. She loves him. How could she? Me, on the other hand feels guilty. My last moments with my dad spent on fighting with him. Nothing will stop me from finding the guys who killed my dad.

One year later

I was jumping rooftop to rooftop all night: on patrol for any criminals. I can't believe it's been a year since I've been doing this. A year since my dad died. I shook the thought away and kept going. There was nothing today, so I just sat along the ledge of the roof and looked at the moon and thought about everything that's happened after Dad died. I became Shadow: a crime fighter in black. I basically wore the same thing as Black Widow: black skin-tight leather pants, a sleeveless black shirt, black heals, and a skin-tight leather black jacket. But I also had a black belt without a symbol on it and a whole bunch of weapons and stuff. To top it off, I had a sword made of silver that was also on my belt and I had a dagger tied around my thigh just in case. I found the gang months ago and I pounded their heads in, but I didn't have the heart to kill them. By the time, I got used to the idea of beating the villain up and handing them to the cops. I went home and had a good nights sleep. No crime tonight, and no working tomorrow. Yes!

Next Morning

I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing. It was on a level 8 (the loudest it could go btw) and it was not on vibrate. I groaned and picked up the phone.

"Hello?" I mumbled.

"Athena! Hello honey!" my mom said, "Look, I was invited to go to a party tonight. A good friend of mine, Bruce Wayne, is throwing a party for his son. His son, Richard Grayson just moved to New York, so it's like a welcome party."

"Okay, so why does this involve me?" I asked.

"He said I could bring whomever I want, and I want to bring you."

"Mom, I don't know…"

"Please Athena. You should meet him. He's a nice young man and it's been a while since we've been to a party together as a family."

I sighed. "Alright, when's the party?"

"At 7:00 P.M., come over at 6:00 so we can get ready. Don't worry, I have a dress here for you." Did she plan this?

"Okay, bye."

"Bye hun."

I slept in for another hour before waking up at 11:00 A.M. I showered and grabbed a duffel bag. I filled it with make up, a pair of black heals, and I put in some clothes for staying over. I spent the day relaxing before leaving at 5:30 to catch the subway. By 5:50, I was at my mom's house.

"Hey, Mom," I greeted as she opened the door.

"Hello, Athena. Come in, we have a lot of work to do."

She did me first. She let me wear a long, black dress. It had thin, spaghetti straps and was sparkly. It was cut on the side so my left leg showed. The black heals I brought matched perfectly and my mom did my hair and make-up. She put a little bit black eyeliner, mascara, gray foundation, and red lipstick. I'm not one for make-up but I looked pretty good. My hair was put in an elegant bun with some hair that was out of place and in front of my ears. It looked really nice. After she changed, we left for the party. I can't believe it took an hour to get ready. We made it just in time. The party was in a mansion in Manhattan.

"Now, you remember your table manners, right dear?" my mom asked.

"Of course, mother dearest," I said sarcastically.

"Oh, come on Athena. Mr. Grayson is 22, just like you. He's also single. He had girlfriend. They were going to get married, but the wedding was called off. They broke it off completely after he moved to New York," she told me.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Well, you are a beautiful 22 year old with tan skin, straight dark-brown hair, and blue eyes. I thought maybe you two would be very good friends."

"Don't tell me my own mom is trying to set me up."

"Okay, I won't tell you."

I didn't say anything after that. I just stood there shocked. She set me up! My mom led me to the main table where a middle-aged man and a guy about my age were sitting at.

"Athena, I'd like you to meet Bruce Wayne and Richard Grayson," my mom said. I shook Bruce's hand and Richard's.

"Richard, why don't you show Athena around," Bruce said. Not him, too. Richard just nodded and took my hand.

The silence was kind of awkward, so I took the opportunity to get a better look at this guy. He had raven black hair was combed back. He looked strongly built and muscular. He had cool, blue eyes that any girl could get lost in. He was really handsome, if you ask me. And to think he was going to marry somebody.

"You can call me Dick, if you want," he said as he broke the silence.

"Oh, um okay," I said, "So this is your first time in New York?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"By any chance, does your Dad want you to specifically spend time with me tonight?"

"Well … can you clarify on that?"

"Has Bruce said anything to you about me. Like in a way to try to sell me to you?"

"Now that you mention it, yeah."

"My mom, too. I think that this is a set up, but, I don't see what's wrong with being friends."

He grinned. "Alright then, friends." We talked for the rest of the night about all kinds of things. Talking with him was so natural. He talked to me about his relationship with his old girlfriend and how it went down hill and I told him about what happened to my dad a year ago. We even exchanged numbers.

"Is it okay if I call you later?" He asked me.

"Sure, but just warning you now, I'm busy tomorrow."

"Why?"

"I work, but I get out 5:00 and my lunch break is at 1:30."

"Okay. I was actually wondering if I could take you out for lunch tomorrow."

"Yeah, that'd be great. Do you want me to give you the address of the building that I work at?"

"You can text it to me tomorrow." We stayed silent for a while until my mom walked up to us.

"Athena, it's time to go. I'm pretty sure you'll be busy tomorrow," she said.

"Okay," I said and let go of Dick's arm.

"See you tomorrow, Athena," He said.

"See you tomorrow," I whispered. I gave him a warm smile before leaving with my mom.

"So, what do you think of him," she asked.

"I think he's really sweet and funny. He's treating me to lunch tomorrow," I said.

"That's nice," she said with a smug look on her face.

"Mom, as friends. He seems like he would be a very nice friend, okay," I said.

We got to her house and changed into comfortable clothes. I decided to go back to my apartment instead of staying over. But of course, I went home and stayed up until 10:00 P.M. doing patrol. I could have gone later, but the party took a lot out of me. But it was worth it. Dick was really nice.

So that was chapter one. Please rate and review. Well, mainly review. And read and review my other story, A Sweet Relationship: Robin Love Story. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.