Chapter Four

After changing into civilian clothes, Superboy, Supergirl, and Impulse had immersed themselves in the games of a nearby arcade and Robin was there more just to keep an eye on them when Drake saw the man.

He looked normal, but his eyes made Drake feel edgy and he felt the base of his neck itch like he was being watched. He excused himself from the group a few minutes later, saying he was just stepping out for some air. They let him without a second thought, which made Drake wonder if it was all just an act or if they really did trust him. He decided that they were just incredibly naive. To his relief, Robin would send him small glances every once in a while just to make sure he hadn't run off somewhere.

He approached the man when he was certain that the man wouldn't make the first move. "Can I help you with something, Sir?" he asked cautiously. The man was silent for a while.

"My name is John Jones." The man introduced himself slowly. "I'm a detective." Drake blinked.

"Oh, I'm relieved, Sir! Maybe you can help me! See, me and my friends have been watched for the last ten minutes, or so, by a strange man." He retorted sarcastically. Jones just took the comment in stride.

"You must forgive me. I have a habit of observing people." Jones told him apologetically.

"Then please observe someone else in some other place." Drake smiled menancingly. "Far away."

"You seem displeased that your friends trust you so." Jones stated, Drake blinked silently. "You see a great betrayal in the near future?" Drake sniffed condenscendingly.

"What are you? A mind-reader?" He smirked and Jones' eyes flashed.

"You don't seem to think it's impossible."

"I've heard of some alien from Mars who could read people's minds."

"Are you afraid of it?"

"I don't deny it. I enjoy my privacy."

"Your heart is heavy. Something is forcing you to raise your hand against your friends. Who is it?" Drake's breath caught in his throat.

"Leave, now."

"You appear ignorant of the world and inexperienced, but that is because you wish for others to underestimate your knowledge."

"Withdraw, Manhunter, now." Drake hissed, then realized his mistake. "Tell Batman that if he wants to know something, let him ask me himself." With that, he walked away, returning to his friends and pretending that the conversation never took place.

"Well?" Jones turned to see Bruce leaning on a lamp post on the corner of the street close enough to watch the confrontation but too far to hear anything.

"Well," Jones began. "I think you are too cruel." he stated simply. "He is only a child."

"He is a dangerous child." Bruce pointed out, sounding more like Batman than Bruce. "What do you think?"

"He will betray them at one point or another, that is a fact. Whether he plans to hurt them or not is a different story altogether." Bruce raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?" Jones sighed.

"He's not planning on staying forever, Batman. He loves his work, crime or no. He has a loyalty to it that he refuses to bend. Even if it's for a friend. Someone hired him with malicious intent against Young Justice. He will carry out his given assignment, but he may be lenient." Jones explained. "And you were right about him being diligent in his research. He knew me before he approached." he added slowly.

Bruce nodded, taking in all the information. "Anything else you can tell me about him?"

"He feels betrayed by the law and has no respect for it. He showed signs of revulsion when I told him I was a detective." Jones shrugged his shoulders. "Other than that, I can only tell you that he thinks Young Justice is too naive and feels protective of them." With his work there done, Jones quickly left.

Unbeknownst to them, Drake watched their exchange from the shade of the arcade entrance.