The graveyard was grim and bittersweet. Memories of loved ones danced in the air to the beat of a silent drum. Drake found his parent's tomb just as it had been before. Vandalized by some punk kids probably out on a joyride like they were so used to.

Atleast they had spelled the 'Joker' right this time.

"I miss you, Dad."

Robin let out a sigh. It had been five years since his mother's passing. Two since his dad's. Their tomb together was all he had left of them. Dana, his step mother, had vanished when Blüdhaven was attacked leaving him with little to no connection to his old life.

He had grieved for his mother but his dad was still as fresh a wound as ever.

Maybe it was time he moved on. Bury old bridges. He needed to be like stern like Bruce. It'd be the only way he could stay sane.

"Figured you'd be here."

She stood in a beige trench coat. Her blonde hair wrapped in a white bonnet. Stephanie Brown. Former lover. Former codependent.

"You keeping tabs on me, miss Brown?"

"I like to know when you're in town."

It was true. She didn't interact much but she watched from afar. Least she could do after everything had gone down. She couldnt drop him like her exes. Tim was too special to her.

"How's school?"

"I dropped out."

"Your mother must be upset."

"She would be if she knew."

"How can she not know?"

"I have my ways."

They looked at each other and felt a longing for older times. Oh how fate was a cruel mistress Tim thought. If only things could have worked out they might be there together with child as mother and father wed to be.

"Why did we break up again?" Stephanie asked.

"I couldn't bear the pain of losing you too."

"Is that why you're chasing after someone a little more indestructible?"

"It was just a night out patrolling together."

"Like we used to do?"

Tim laughed to himself as Stephanie closed in.

"You know your DNA doesn't line up. There's no future with her, Tim. If anything it's one ravaged with pain and destruction."

"You're one to talk."

"I know you and only want what's best for you."

"Who's your source?"

"Barbara."

"Of course. Can't a guy get a break?"

"Not in this buisness he can't."

She bent down to catch his eye.

"Dick wants you to stay away. Just for now. After what happened at the docks-"

"Nothing happened at the docks."

"Haven't you seen the news? Tim two people died."

Three Nights Earlier

STARR LABS

HOME TO KAREN STARR

"You live in your office now?"

"Cheapest rent in Manhattan, Atlee. Plus I get to shower for free in the dissection labs."

"Gross."

The two girls hung out eating Chinese food as the television went on the nightly news. Nothing new to report. Superman stopped a meteor.

Kal- L had left her a crossdimensional letter saying Krypto had fathered puppies thanks to the new cross dna treatment they had designed with Braniacs technology.

"I wonder if it works with you," Atlee said, "Bout time you push out the next generation. I'm getting old."

"You're only twenty two."

"Yet I feel ancient." Terra said, "like a fossil one would say."

"Stop."

The news went on till 11 and by then Power Girl had grown restless.

"Tonight's the night, huh? You and the boy wonder."

"It appears so."

Karen had secretly been dreading the encounter. She didn't like the idea of having to impress anybody.

"You don't have to impress him you know."

"I know that."

"You look like you don't."

Karen was jittery and didn't know why. It didn't normally go like this. She had fought on Apokolips, faced planet invaders, not to mention tussled with the Man of Steel himself. But this outing left her feeling on ends and she did not like it one bit.

"It'll be alright. He's probably nervous too."

"I'm not nervous and plus he's served with Batman. Batman. If anybody should be the opposite of nervous it should be him."

MANHATTAN

The time had come and she suited up for the night ahead. The wind fell between her thighs sending shivers up her spine.

Note to self get a longer costume. But that would defeat her odds. It payed to distract villains with her figure, but it sucked when she got cat called. However while their whistles made her cringe her whistles sent them flying.

"You're late." Robin said. He was perched across a skyscrapper overlooking the city. His cape acted as a glider as he flew into the night. Karen followed.

"Sorry I was digesting."

"I can't hear you," He yelled, "wait till we get down."

They landed on a warehouse overlooking the docks as cars passed by underneath.

"What were you saying?"

"Nothing important. How are you?" Karen asked.

How are you? Really? The boy wonder would surcum to small talk.

"Fine. Yourself?"

Wow that really worked.

"You know. Hanging in there."

Smooth. Be chill. Be cool.

"Ready to crack some heads." Karen said cracking her knuckles.

"Violence should always be a last resort." Robin said.

"Yeah. You're totally right."

Nice one, Karen. Now he thinks you're a psychopath.

"Lets get going."

They headed out into the night looking for trouble. They stopped a mugging, handled some Jaywalkers, and rescued a kitten from a tree.

"I'm naming you Whiskers."

"Now's not the time. There's a fire in progress off of Lexington and Park."

They rescued a family of five from a burning building before returning to their starting point at the docks.

"I hate the smell here." Karen said. "Like dying fish. Now that I mention it it probably is dying fish

"We made it just in time."

"For what?"

"Get down."

Karen crouched down besides Robin and used her x-ray vision to spot four guards escorting a package towards three others.

"Falcone's men. After we drove them out of Gotham they settled here."

"More rats in the big Apple aye? What's in the box? It's lead lined."

"I don't know. All I know is that what ever it is it's going for a high price. I figured with your strength we could get it back to the League for further examination."

THE GRAVEYARD

"That's when things went south didn't they?"

"Things went south a long time ago they just finally caught up to us."

"How were you supposed to know they'd have a kryptonian weapon designed to hypnotize Superman? How were you supposed to know they'd use it on Power Girl and she'd kill two thugs?"

"I wouldn't."

"And that's why you need to lie low. You need to recover. So should Power Girl. Lord only knows what she's going through. What happened after the docks?"

"We went back to her place. She was a wreck. Nearly killed me."

"Exactly why you shouldn't be messing with someone at her power level. Face it Tim. You're outgunned, outmatched, and right now even I'm worried. What happened then?"

STARR LABS

THREE NiGHTS EARLIER

They had showered at the dissection labs.

"I can't believe you're Karen Starr."

"I can't believe I killed two people."

She burst into tears as Robin held her from falling. Seemed he was suddenly the person of steel.

"I'm supposed to protect people! Not hurt them!"

"It wasn't your fault. You weren't in control."

"That doesn't excuse the blood on my hands."

She looked him in the eye and for once Karen evoked the fear and pain of what she had done into Tim's soul. He felt her guilt and the two had become one. They held onto each other as Karen cried her eyes out.

"It'll be okay." Robin said. "It'll be okay."

"How can you say that?"

GRAVEYARD

"How could you say that?"

"What else was I supposed to say? You weren't there, Stephanie. You didn't see the look in her eyes."

"And then you left, right? Right?"

"Not exactly..."

"Tell me you didn't."

STARR LABS

THREE NIGHTS EARLIER

He woke up naked on her kitchen floor with a piece of toast stuck to one side of his face. What had happened? No. Not that. It couldn't have. Tim you should know better.

Karen should have known better. She was vulnerable yes, but she was the senior crime fighter. She shouldn't have let one thing lead to another. It was juvenile and she had known from friends that capes shouldn't mingle. It left things muddled and feelings hurt more than not. Not to mention the danger of their affairs creeping into their romantic life.

But he was cute. And she needed someone. And he knew what to say to a person in her situation.

But what now?