They're falling fast.

On their first encounter, a second date was far from a good idea, but Dick Grayson and Lee Quinzel saw something in each other. A freedom from their masks that they couldn't resist. Lee's thoughts don't even stray to the Joker, and Dick refuses to think about the Batman.

But could this denial lead to a dangerous future for them both? If Batman discovers his romance, could Nightwing be forced to sever ties with Lee Quinzel? Or if the Joker finds out about Harley Quinn's infidelity, will he cut her off from Dick Grayson?

Dick sat bolt upright, gasping, his face and neck covered in a thin sheen of sweat. He shuddered and his hands flew to his chest. No blood. Looking around, it took him a moment to regain his bearings; to realize that he was in his own bed in his own room, and that it was pitch black because of the curtains, not the nightmares. He flopped back down onto the pillows, rubbing his he breathed deeply and calmed his racing heart, he tried to push the images from his dreaming away, but he knew that they'd be haunting him even as he was awake. He shuddered again.

So much for a peaceful day of sleep, he thought. After his rendezvous at the Batcave with Tim last night, Dick had taken the day off from the GCPD and instead spent it catching up on the sleep that he'd lost in the past two and a half days. He rolled over to go back to bed, and that was when he caught sight of his alarm clock.

Shit.

Dick threw the covers off of himself and leapt out of bed. It was six forty-eight. He was supposed to meet Lee at seven. He grabbed a semi-clean pair of pants and yanked them on, buckling the belt that had been left in the loops from the last time he'd worn them. Okay, they're clean enough, he thought angrily, and then pulled on a fresh maroon v-neck. He jerked on his tennis shoes as he stumbled into the bathroom, brushed his teeth and yanked a comb through his hair, and then sprayed cologne on, taking care to get some on his unwashed jeans. Dick's hair spilled into his eyes as he hurried back through his room and grabbed his jacket, and then he emerged in the living room as he yanked it on. His wallet dangled from his mouth and he snatched up his phone and keys. He hesitated for a moment, and then grabbed a retractable escrima stick as well. He locked the door behind him. After stumbling and then sliding halfway down the stairs to the door of the apartment building, he was off.

He was glad that he'd finally gotten his motorcycle fixed. As he tore down the streets of Gotham, he couldn't help but laugh. After his last crash it had taken him nearly two months to fix it; he was lucky to have his squad car to get around, but he'd missed the bike. He pulled up to the corner that Lee had told him to meet her at, relieved to see that she wasn't there yet, and pulled his black mirror-visored helmet off. He slipped the keys into his pocket and got off.

"You're late." Lee came up behind him and wrapped her arm through his, pulling him along.

"Whaaat!? No I wasn't! Well, I was, but so were you!" he protested.

"No I wasn't," she giggled. She was wearing a deep navy blue sweater that accented her pale collarbone, and her jeans were of a dark wash tucked into black boots. Her mass of blonde hair was pulled back into a sloppy ponytail, leaving the planes of her face prominent. Her eyes gleamed behind her glasses. When Dick glanced away from her, he noticed she was pulling him into one of the shadier neighborhoods in Gotham.

He didn't want to seem rude, so Dick followed her despite every fiber of his being screaming at him not to. Bruce had practically trained him to never go here as a civilian since he was twelve years old. "Where are we going, Lee?" he asked uncertainly.

"To get the best wings in all of Gotham." She said it like it should have been obvious. They strolled past some boarded up houses that looked like they should have been condemned, but lights were on. Dick looked away from them sadly.

"Sounds great," he said as his stomach growled. With a start he realized that he couldn't remember the last time he'd actually eaten anything. He'd been running on protein shakes and the occasional meal for almost three days. "I am… really hungry," he confessed with a smile, as he laced his fingers with hers. Glancing down, he noticed that the tied ring made out of the Haly's Circus trapeze safety net was around her finger again.

Lee smiled back before the smile slid from her face. "Did you bring your badge?"

Dick raised an eyebrow and looked at her confusedly. "Well yeah, I always bring it." He said as he slid his wallet from his pocket to show her. "Why?" She wrapped her hand over his, covering the badge.

"Because here you are not a police officer." She glanced around at the buildings. "There is no love for law enforcement here."

"All right. I'll try to keep it under wraps, then," he smiled, slipping the badge into the back pocket of his jeans, but she could tell that he was getting more and more uneasy.

"You'll be fine," she assured him, a hand brushing his solid chest. "Just don't arrest anyone." They passed from residential buildings to a more lively part of town. There were some bars, a gas station, and a few other commercial buildings. Lee dragged him toward a squat looking bar. She pulled the door open and led him into the dingy interior. It seemed like the whole room stopped when they entered. The door banged closed behind them.

"Well look who it is." A short, vast, and balding man with beady green eyes squinted at Lee and Dick from behind the bar. He lifted the counter and rushed toward them, his arms outstretched. Dick instinctively backed up a step, readying for a fight, but the man threw his arms around Lee and bear-hugged her tight; he laughed, a hearty guttural sound, and stepped back. As the man examined Lee, Dick shoved his hands in his pockets and bit his lip. "What are you doing here?" the man asked Lee.

"What, I'm not allowed to visit?" she smiled, just as Dick leaned against a table. There was a tremendous crash as the dirty dishes that had been teetering dangerously close to the edge fell and smashed on the floor. Dick stared at them, horrified, and then looked up at Lee helplessly.

"Shit. Shit, sorry," he bent down and started picking up the pieces. When he'd finished, he straightened up. His cheeks were a bright scarlet. "I can pay for that. I'll… yeah, I'm already paying for that…"

"Um, Joe this is Dick," Lee gestured between the two, "and Dick this is Joe." The man named Joe squinted at Dick suspiciously.

"Lee, why did you bring a cop into my bar?"

Dick let out a strangled cry before grabbing Lee's arm, his other hand instinctively moving to the small of his back. "I thought you said-"

"Joe, stop being mean to him," she cut over Dick with a disapproving look at the older man. Joe smiled.

"I just wanted to watch the boy squirm."

Dick frowned uncomfortably and relaxed, his hand backing away from the escrima stick slipped down the back of his jeans. He paused. "Where are you from, Joe?" he asked, attempting to be semi-conversational. The man's accent was quite interesting, after all.

"Brooklyn, my boy." Joe clapped Dick happily on the shoulder. The force of the blow was much harder than necessary, and he almost pitched forward. Dick saw an amused look cross Joe face, like he was passing his test. Lee was relieved to see a smile tugging at Dick's lips. His hand flew to his stomach after it growled loudly, and he looked at Lee.

"You promised me wings," he nudged her with his elbow. Lee rolled her eyes before grabbing his hand. Dick smiled broadly and his hand tightened confidently in hers. They wove through the tables to a far booth. Joe trailed behind them. They slid into opposite sides of the booth.

"What do you want to drink?" He looked at Dick first.

"I'll just take a Coke," Dick crossed his arms on the table and smiled. Joe nodded and turned to Lee.

"And what will you have?" he asked. "A Shirley Temple," he mocked.

"I was ten," she protested as a blush crept across her face. Dick liked when she blushed, and he smiled between the two of them. Joe laughed and waved away her protest.

"No, I know what to get you." Joe walked back toward the bar. As he left, Dick realized what it was about his accent that was so interesting to him. It was a thicker version of Lee's. Lee had obviously spent a lot of time around the man.

"Sorry he is a little overbearing," she apologized.

"No no, its ok," his warm smile spread across his face again. "So you grew up in Gotham?"

"Yeah, just down the street actually." She glanced around the bar. "I pretty much was raised in here." Joe returned with their drinks. He set the Coke in front of Dick and a glass of red wine in front of Lee.

"She's a bigger fixture here than the bar itself," he said. Lee blushed. "Or she was. Until she got herself out of here." Joe beamed at her proudly. "The whole neighborhood was going to pitch in when we heard she was going to be the first of us to go to college."

"Then I guess it's a good thing I won that scholarship," she muttered darkly. "We both know he wouldn't have let me keep the money."

Joe frowned with distaste. "We would have found a way to keep it from him." Then he glanced between the two of them. "Anyway, you're wings are on the grill. You two lovebirds have fun." He left.

Dick ran a hand through his hair. "Your dad?" he asked, looking at her sympathetically. It was times like these when he felt guilty about being adopted by a billionaire. He had always thought that there were more deserving people out there, like Lee; even though it had been the best thing that had ever happened to him.

"Yeah. He was... not a nice man, I guess you could put it, but I had this place. Joe and his wife Helen practically raised me." She glanced at Joe who was serving a customer at the bar. "When she died, I felt like I was the only family he had left. So I try to visit." She smiled wanly.

"That's very kind of you. Bruce and I are like that. But now he has Damian…" Dick sighed. "I didn't know I was going to be meeting your family so soon," he winked.

"Well you took me to your circus. I figured I had to top you somehow." She giggled.

"I'm still trying to figure out who is going to be on top."

Lee froze for a second like she couldn't believe he had actually said that. Dick couldn't believe he had said that either. To his relief, she laughed. He broke into a grin and laughed as well, his cheeks pink. Joe looked at them suspiciously from the bar and Dick looked away quickly, still snickering a bit.

When their laughter died down, Dick tapped his fingers on the table. He bit his lip and then took a sip of his soda. Am I actually nervous? He stared at her for a moment. Think of something to say, Grayson… "You look really nice tonight. Well you always look nice, just tonight you look… nicer…" Real articulate, you moron.

She chuckled a little at his awkwardness. "You don't look too bad yourself."

Dick sighed gratefully as their food came with an entire roll of paper towels. He took another drink of his soda and then picked up a wing, taking a bite. He stared at Lee. "Son of a- you weren't lying. These are fantastic!"

"I don't just come here for the company," she said before taking a wing for herself. She tore some of the skin away before setting it down to get a paper towel. Dick tried to eat as politely as he could to pretend like he wasn't starving. He wiped his mouth with a paper towel and sat back in his seat.

"So you grew up in one of the darkest parts of Gotham, but still you managed to find this one little area of happiness. Bruce always says there's a silver lining," Dick shrugged. "It's nice. I'd probably come more often if everyone didn't hate cops so much."

"Well, we're just a couple of therapy sessions waiting to happen."

"Good thing I've got my very own psychologist," Dick smiled.

Lee reached for her glass of wine. "Maybe I need to start charging you." She smiled before taking a sip.

"Nah," he smiled. "I don't think I could afford you. You're kind of a big deal down at Arkham, aren't you?" he asked, picking out another wing.

"Youngest full time member of the staff in Arkham history," she said proudly; she grabbed her second wing.

"Thats quite impressive. So you didn't even finish college before going there?" he looked at her, then added quickly, "not that there's anything wrong with that. I dropped out of Hudson University after one semester. And I've dated lots of girls that didn't go to college. I mean a few. I haven't dated lots of girls; actually, I've only dated, like, four…" He trailed off and stared at her, horrified. "Wow. I'm just going to shut up now," Dick muttered, shaking his head.

"No you're fine. I've had a pretty lame love life too."

"Well," a smile flashed across Dick's lips as he picked up another wing. "Let's hope I can fix that." He took a bite and then nearly choked as Joe practically materialized behind him, his eyes narrowed.

"Fix what?"

"The plumbing at my apartment," Lee lied smoothly. Dick snorted and then covered his mouth as Joe walked away. He winked at Lee.

"Nice save," he smirked. "Joe is glaring at the back of my head, isn't he?" Dick asked. Lee glanced over his shoulder and then nodded. He shrugged and grinned. "So, when do I get to come see your apartment? You know, since you need your plumbing fixed."

"Don't push your luck, pretty boy. I can still tell Joe what you really said." She smirked.

"Why does everyone call me that!?" Dick demanded in exasperation.

"I don't know," she admitted examining him. "I wouldn't call you pretty or a boy."

Dick raised an eyebrow. "Ignoring the fact that you just did, what would you call me?"

"Staying on that line of nickname? Well, then it would have to be... handsome man. But let's be honest, that's ridiculous."

"That is ridiculous. I'm way too immature to be a man." He snorted. They were both distracted as a loud microphone feedback shrieked through the speakers.

"Sorry," a girl on a stage in the far corner apologized into a mic.

"Oh no," Lee muttered. "It's time."

"For… what?" Dick asked hesitantly, turning to the stage.

"For that," Lee said pointing. Dick looked just as the girl pushed a button on a karaoke machine and music burst out over the speakers.

"No way," Dick's face lit up. He grinned at Lee. "They do karaoke!"

"Unfortunately, yes." Lee winced as the girl wailed the first lines of Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You.

"I call next dibs," Dick cried, downing the rest of his soda.

"You go ahead." Lee went for another sip of her wine.

He bit his lip and grinned, his eyes sparkling. "What song do you want me to sing? If I sing, will you go once too?" Dick practically bounced in his seat waiting for his turn.

"You go ahead, but I am not singing," Lee told him.

"Oh come on! There's no way I can bribe you?" he begged, looking at her hopefully; his big blue eyes pleading.

"Nope, no way. I don't do singing." She crossed her arms over her chest. The girl screeched through the chorus.

He frowned. "Fine. I'm gonna go humiliate myself for you."

"Please do," she interjected.

"This is for you Lee!" he hit the table dramatically and went to the bar to ask for another soda. Joe walked over to the table where Lee still sat.

"Is this kid serious?" he asked.

"I don't know, but I kind of hope so," she admitted. Dick returned to the table, clapped Joe on the shoulder and set his drink down.

"I'm half gypsy, grew up in a circus and was raised by a billionaire. I'm deadly serious. About the song, and about her." Dick pointed at Lee, and then stared at Joe, as if daring him to challenge him. Joe met his stare for a moment.

"Well Lee, you sure can pick them," he said before turning and heading back to the bar. Dick grinned at Lee, kissed her cheek, and then went to the stage. Lee watched as he flicked through the options on the karaoke machine. He grinned suddenly and an upbeat acoustic guitar sounded over the speakers. Dick grabbed the mic and started belting out the words.

I am Superman, and I know what's happening.

I am Superman, and I can do anything!

Dick grinned widely. The first thing Lee noticed was that he wasn't looking at the screen for the words. He knew them. The second thing she noticed was that his singing voice wasn't all that bad, and it was directed at her. Joe sat down in the opposite seat and glanced at her, trying not to laugh.

You don't really love that guy you make it with, now, do you?

I know you don't love that guy 'cause I can see right through you.

I am Superman, and I know what's happening.

Dick winked at Lee, and she had to smother her laughter.

I am Superman, and I can do anything.

Dick held the mic with one hand and pointed at Lee with the other, like he was at a Backstreet Boys' concert. People in the bar had turned curiously and now were laughing and watching him sing. One girl let out a cheer from the bar.

If you go a million miles away, I'll track you down, girl.

Trust me when I say I know the pathway to your heart!

Lee was laughing so hard that her stomach cramped as she was unable to make any noise but a few minor squeaks. Dick's eyes sparkled.

If you go a million miles away, I'll track you down, girl.

Trust me when I say I know the pathway to your heart!

I am Superman, and I know what's happening.

Even Joe was laughing now, and everyone in the bar had turned to watch Dick's all-out performance. He belted out the last few lines.

I am Superman, and I can do anything!

"Good Night Gotham!" He laughed as the song ended. The applause was enthusiastic. It was as if the quiet little bar had come to life, and all it took was one outsider willing to humiliate himself. Dick strutted confidently back to the table and smirked at Lee. "That's how we do it in the circus."

Joe shook his head and stood up. "You're crazy, kid. But you seem good." As he turned to walk away, he whispered. "Treat her right, or I'll snap you in half, Cop." Joe patted his shoulder and left them.

"Ready to go?" Lee asked Dick. He smiled.

"Lead the way."

After Lee said goodbye to Joe, the two of them walked hand in hand out onto the dark street. They made their way back to the corner where Dick's motorcycle was parked.

"You're really not that bad of a singer," Lee giggled as they stopped by the bike.

"And I've never heard you laugh so hard," Dick grinned that swoon-worthy grin of his, running a hand through his dark hair.

"Well it is only our second date," Lee pointed out with a sweet smile. Dick nodded and bit his lip. Lee stared at him for a moment and then pushed herself onto her toes and kissed him, hard, her hand clutching onto his jacket to pull him down closer to her. Dick was taken aback, and he blinked in surprise, and then he slowly kissed her back; his eyes closed. He wrapped his arms around her waist, dragging her body up toward his, her feet barely on the ground. Her hands slid into his hair as Lee kissed him again and bit his lip. She'd been dying to do that since the first time she'd noticed his habit. Dick gasped; one of his thumbs hooked in a belt loop while his other hand slid into her sweater and rested on the small of her back. He kissed her back earnestly, her hands grasping the side of his face. When she reluctantly pulled her lips away from his with a moan, Lee closed her eyes and stroked the side of his neck gently with her thumb. He panted a little, his heart racing. Their heads remained bent together.

"Want to come back to my place?" Dick whispered.

"That's not exactly a romance novel-worthy line," Lee breathed, smiling.

"I know. So do you?"

"God yes."

Dick grinned and handed her his helmet, getting on the motorcycle. Lee put it on and then jumped gracefully onto the back, wrapping her arms around his slender waist as he revved the engine. As they drove off, not a single one of her thoughts strayed to the Joker. And neither one of them turned to see Batman standing on the rooftop, glaring down at Dick as they tore away.