Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans.


Airen was out of breath. As far as she was concerned dancing with Johnathan could be qualified as an extreme sport. It was as if he was trying to kill her. Airen hated to admit it, but it was possible he might actually be winning their little game.

She had finally managed to escape the "dance of death" when he had noticed her struggling to keep up. He had then politely suggested, with a firm arm around her waist, that she sit and rest for a moment. Barely able to breathe, she had agreed.

Airen placed a hand on her chest waiting for her heart to slow down. She was in shape, she had to be, but the intense dancing had taken it out of her.

She looked around the crowded room looking for her missing rival. He had vanished saying something about drinks once she'd been firmly seated.

Airen glared in the direction she had seen Johnathan go. She had started a game that at this point she wasn't even sure she could play, let alone finish anymore. He'd been right, she'd had no idea what she had gotten herself into, but there was no way she was going to let him know that. She would just have to find some way to up her game. But how?

"Enchanté mademoiselle." Airen turned toward the voice next to her. A man with chestnut hair and brown eyes smiled and bowed smoothly at the waist.

"Enchanté de vous rencontrer aussi monsieur." Airen stood as she spoke.

The man's face brightened. "Ah! Vous parlez Francais aussi?"

"Oui." Airen smiled at him pleased at his reaction.

"And you speak it very well." He switched to English to pay his compliment.

"Thank you, sir," Airen responded.

"May I?" The man motioned to her hand.

"Of course." Airen extended her hand to him. He grasped it firmly and brought it up to his lips. He gently brushed her knuckles with his lips never breaking eye contact with her. When he was done kissing her hand he continued to hold it. He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles and maintained eye contact.

Airen shifted in her seat, suddenly uncomfortable. At first, he had seemed kind but now he seemed kind of creepy. She cleared her throat and pulled her hand from his grasp.

"Is there something I can help you with?" She spoke as politely as she could but made sure her voice was firm so as to not give him any ideas.

"Only to make your acquaintance." He stepped closer to her and leaned down so that his face was close to her own.

She moved back to try and keep space between them but bumped into the table. His smile grew and became unsettling. He was definitely creepy.

Airen stood from her seat forcing him to step back momentarily. Unfortunately, her change in position did not deter him for long.

"I must say, I have never in all my years of attending such events ever met a young lady such as yourself." He eased closer to her until he was pressed up against her just slightly. She had absolutely no desire to touch him, but she placed a hand on his chest to push him away.

"Tell me, who are you? Where did you come from? You must be so lost and scared being here without anyone you know. Please, allow me to show you around." He trapped her hand to his chest by placing his own hand on top of it. She forced herself not to grimace in disgust.

"No thank you, but I do appreciate your kind offer. Now if you'll excuse me…" She tried to move out from under him, but he held fast to her hand.

"Oh, but I make the best escort out of them all here. I'll even show you the private portions as well." He grinned as his free hand moved around and grabbed her butt. He pulled her the rest of the way into him and squeezed her butt.

Her eyes widened and a small gasp of surprise escaped her mouth. No one had ever touched or grabbed her in such a presuming manner before. It made her blood boil.

Airen glared at the young man in anger. She had tried to be polite, but he was taking things too far. She reached around and grabbed his wrist forcefully. She firmly pressed her thumb into a pressure point in his wrist causing his hand to release and relax as it went numb. She stretched so that she was nearly nose to nose with him.

"Listen and listen well, I have tried to be polite with you but that is clearly not working. I have no interest in you, nor do I have any desire to go anywhere or do anything with you. You will take no for an answer and you will leave me alone for the rest of the evening or I will be forced to demonstrate just how well I can defend myself. Are we clear?" Airen said with a sickly-sweet tone and a smile on her face.

His eyes grew wide in surprise and then lowered in anger. He tried to move away from her and wrench his wrist out of her grasp but she held on too tightly for that. He growled in frustration but reluctantly nodded in agreement.

"Good. Now kindly remove your hand from my rear."

She released his hand and gave him a small shove putting some extra "oomph" behind it. He stumbled backward before managing to regain his balance. He stood, straightened his jacket, and checked his hair before glaring at her.

"You little…." He looked around and noticed that people were watching. He plastered a fake smile on his face before refocusing on her. "Sweetums, I believe that you and I are destined to experience far more than what I just showed you." He smiled suggestively at her and then looked her up and down slowly as though she were a piece of meat. Airen fought back a shudder and forced herself to remain visibly neutral, though on the inside she was mentally gaging.

Before she could say anything a familiar voice came from behind her.

"Is there a problem here?" Airen turned to find Johnathan arriving with two drinks in his hands.

"No," Airen said quickly. Johnathan raised an eyebrow before frowning at the man.

"Well well well, if it isn't Logan. How are you this fine evening?" The man sneered at Johnathan.

"Charles." Johnathan glowered at the man. "Do we need to have a little chat?"

"As a matter of fact, we do. This young woman was just threatening me." Charles looked smug as he made his declaration.

Airen's eyes went wide and she opened her mouth to protest when Johnathan put his arm around her shoulders.

"Really? My little Angel? I highly doubt that. She wouldn't hurt a fly. You on the other hand, well, the way I see it I need to be keeping you away from her, not the other way around." Johnathan took a sip of his drink as Charles gaped.

Airen raised an eyebrow and looked at Johnathan suspiciously. She didn't know whether to be relieved or concerned over his quick defense of her. Johnathan caught her looking at him and raised his own eyebrow in question. She frowned at him but took the drink he offered her from his hand that was slung around her shoulders.

"Wha-what..?" Charles glared at them his face turning red. "How dare you! I'll make you regret that! And you, you little bitch…" Charles focused on Airen and took a step toward her.

Before she could react, she felt Johnathan's hold around her shoulders tighten and pull her into him. He set his drink down on the table behind him and stepped toward Charles.

"You come near her again and you'll have a wheelchair as a lifelong companion, got it? She's off-limits." Johnathan growled.

"Or else what? Do you really think such an empty threat can scare me? You touch me and I'll have your badge! You'll be off the force before you can say you're sorry!" Charles sneered, but he backed away.

"Or else I tell your daddy dearest just how much of his money you spent covering your ass in the club lawsuit." Johnathan bit back.

Charles' face paled significantly and his expression changed from anger to blatant fear. He glanced around to see if anyone was listening. Noticing several interested on-lookers he tossed one last fearful and slightly threatening, grimace at Airen and Johnathan. He then spun around and walked quickly away, disappearing into the crowd. After making sure he was gone, Johnathan turned to Airen.

"You okay?" He asked quietly.

"Huh? Oh, yeah." She said. Without realizing it Airen had relaxed into his side. She had been clinging to him like a scared little girl. She pulled herself away from him looking away to try to hide the flaming blush that was flaring on her cheeks.

"Did he hurt you?" Johnathan looked at her with such concern in his eyes and with such gentleness in his voice that for a moment she almost believed that he cared for her. Almost.

"No. But I think I hurt him though."

Johnathan chuckled. "That's okay. He needed to get the message."

"Yeah, but it took you delivering it." Airen rubbed her collarbone anxiously, propping her elbow on her other hand that was crossed against her torso. She kept thinking about how he had pressed her up against the table and how she couldn't escape. Normally when she dealt with those types she would crush them in an instant, but she hadn't been able to do that. She couldn't let anyone see….she couldn't make a scene.

Johnathan nudged her gently, looking concerned. "What's wrong?"

Airen shook herself out of her daze and made sure her facial expression was controlled. "Nothing." She threw the comment over her shoulder lightly as she continued to hide her face from him by people watching. She took a sip of the drink he had handed her earlier and nearly spit it back out.

"What the heck is this?" She demanded.

"Water," Johnathan replied.

Airen turned to face him frowning in disapproval, her blush gone. "Uh, why?"

"You're 18. The legal drinking age is 21. And I don't see a parent or legal guardian around unless there's something you're not telling me." Johnathan taunted with a smirk.

He was standing close, way too close for her personal comfort, but he was different from the other guy. Johnathan's presence was….calming. Comforting even. She felt safe with him. Safe in a way that she had never felt before. She again blushed thinking about it.

"But I've already had champaign." She protested, glaring up at him hoping that, if he noticed her blush at all, he would attribute it to their dancing earlier.

"Yeah, and I overlooked that, but now as the present law enforcement officer, it's my job to ensure that no laws are broken. So water." He nodded to her glass. She rolled her eyes but gave up arguing. He was probably using this to punish her for her taunting him on the dance floor.

She took a sip of water in an attempt to cool down the heat rising up her neck to her face at the thought. For someone who was so irritating, Johnathan had his moments of tolerability. He wasn't a bad dancer either, but she would never admit that, to him anyway. Not to mention the fact that he wasn't too bad on the eyes, or that he could be pretty smart too if he actually used his brain. And the way he had been protective of her? It was enough to make a girl melt.

Airen shook her head. She could not start thinking like this. She did not come here to become over emotionally attached to some boy that she would have to leave behind. She needed to keep him at a distance. She needed to focus on why she was here. What she needed was a distraction.

"Thank you." She whispered.

"For what?" Johnathan was cute when he scrunched up his eyebrows like that.

'Stop it!' Airen told herself.

"For stepping in."

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?"

"Good question. Why did you?" She asked him.

"Because you're important." He answered.

'Great…yeah that's gonna help me stay away…..'

"What?" Airen said stunned.

"You're important to my sister which by association makes you important to me." He quickly clarified.

"Oh," Airen replied, slightly embarrassed. She looked down at her drink to hide yet another blush creeping to her cheeks.

'Okay, not exactly a love confession, but still….it wasn't a complete diss. Gah! Why do I care!? What is wrong with me?!'

"Do mind if we not dance anymore tonight?" She asked.

"Sure, you feeling alright?"

"Yeah, I just….I'm fine." She smiled to reassure him but he didn't seem convinced.

"Alright."


Sparrow sat perched on a rooftop overlooking the financial district of Gotham. She sighed as she swung her legs back and forth. It'd been 6 months and no progress. Sure, she knew where he was and all, but she still couldn't bring herself to go to his doorstep. Fear gripped her every time she even thought about it. Fear wasn't the only thing. She also felt incredibly hurt and angry. How could he be so unfeeling? So selfish?

Sparrow sighed. She couldn't blame him, really. It wasn't like it was his fault. But the least he could have done was try and go after them.

Sirens wailed in the distance alerting Sparrow and bringing her out of her thoughts. Flashes of red and blue lights blinked in the distance. She tracked their movement as they came closer to her lookout spot. She stiffened as she waited to see where they would go. The lights suddenly turned down a street farther away and the sirens began to grow quieter.

Relaxing, Sparrow continued her watch over one building in particular. She'd been tracking a group of thieves that had been breaking into high-profile financial buildings to steal papers and stats on the companies' profits. She'd been working on tracking them for a while and she knew that tonight they were going to be breaking into the building across the street from where she was staked out.

Sparrow stood up and stretched. Her uniform stretched with her beautifully. She loved her uniform. It had taken a lot of sneaking around and late nights to get it. But she'd finally been able to get it made. She had "borrowed" some files from her mother's computer before she left. Among the files was her contact information for the people who made her uniforms. When Sparrow had arrived, she had taken advantage of her mother's information and friendships to design and get her own uniform.

Her uniform was a formfitting two-piece that fit like a dream. It was made from a stretchable material that was waterproof and flame retardant. The pants were black and hugged her hips perfectly. A black utility belt sat on her hips right at the top of her pants. Her shirt was sleeveless with a black collar that covered her neck. The majority of her shirt was dark red and had a black Sparrow with its wings extended on her chest. The hem of her shirt stopped just above her waistline leaving her midriff exposed. She completed her uniform with black boots, black fingerless gloves that came up past her elbows, and a domino eye mask. She also opted to turn off her holo ring leaving the two silver armbands on her upper arms exposed. It also left all of her scars exposed as well. She had also decided to keep her long blonde hair tied back in a ponytail to keep it out of her face.

"I know you're back there. Might as well come out." Sparrow called behind her. A dark figure landed on the roof behind her as she sat back down.

"He's looking for you." A deep voice said from the shadows.

"Well, I'm right here." Sparrow pushed off the ledge and dropped a couple of inches before she flew up. When she passed the edge of the roof, she flipped so that she was hanging upside down facing the person she was speaking to. She crossed her arms and smirked.

"This isn't a joke. He's been looking for you for a while now."

"So? I thought he was supposed to be the world's greatest detective."

"He says that you haven't wanted to be found."

"And how does that make him feel? That the great big bad bat can't find a little old bird like me." Sparrow smirked.

"You shouldn't be playing this game. He'll find you. And you don't want to be on his bad side when he does."

"He has a good side?"

"Very funny."

"Seriously, if he hasn't been able to find me by now what makes you, or him for that matter, think he'll be able to later? Maybe he's right, maybe I don't want to be found. By him at least."

"And why don't you?"

Sparrow shrugged. "Reasons."

"You can't hide forever."

"Not trying to. Not even trying to hide. I just don't want to get sucked into the little bat brat routine."

"That's what you think he wants with you?"

"What else could he possibly want with me?"

"I don't know, maybe to try and find out who you are, where you came from, and why you're in his city."

"Well tough, cause that's privileged information."

"You really think he won't find out?"

"Not anytime soon."

"Why do you have to be so difficult?"

"Why do you have to be so demanding?"

"Would you please stop hanging upside down? You're going to kill yourself."

"Sure, once you stop hiding in the shadows like some gangster out of a 1930's movie."

The figure stepped out to reveal a young man about 20 to 21-years-old. He had dark hair, was tall, and had a muscular build. He wore a black uniform with a green Hawk on his chest with its wings expanded. He completed the look with black boots, gloves, and a domino eye mask.

Sparrow flipped so that she was right-side up. She floated over the roof's edge sitting with her legs crisscrossed.

"Good to see you again Hawke. Catch any good movies lately?"

"Are you gonna answer me or not?" He asked clearly exasperated. Sparrow placed her figure on her chin and pretended to think for a minute.

"Hmmm….nope." She grinned playfully at him. He sighed.

"I don't understand you."

"Good, cause you don't need to."

"I beg to differ."

"I'd like to see you try." She grinned broadly at his frustrated look.

He suddenly turned and placed his hand on his ear.

"Yeah? Okay well- can anyone else-? No? Alright fine. I'll be there in a second." Hawke turned back to her. "I have to go."

"So I heard."

"Do me a favor, let him find you?"

"Not a chance." She smiled at him. She imagined that he was rolling his eyes under his mask.

"Yeah, I figured." With that, he turned and transformed into a black hawk. He took off and flew toward where the sirens had gone.


"Well, what do you think?" Tony scratched the back of his head. Johnathan crouched down to get a closer look at the body.

Johnathan frowned in concentration and fought back a yawn. It'd been a very long night. After escorting Airen home from the fundraiser at 11 something he'd rushed home, changed into his uniform, and then gone on patrol. And not the police kind. Batman had needed the extra hand tonight, especially since the fundraiser had gone off without a hitch. No one could remember the last time that a formal event in Gotham City had taken place without some sort of "interruption". Not 20 minutes after he'd reported in, Oracle had sent him on an errand for the bat. He'd had to track down a new hero that had shown up in Gotham at the beginning of the summer.

So far he'd been the only one that could track her down and even then it took him over an hour each time. Tonight had been no different. It had taken him 45 minutes to get her scent and nearly an hour and a half to find the source. He couldn't explain it, but for some reason, her scent seemed familiar, which was how he found it at all. It was unique yet reminded him of something or someone that he knew, but he couldn't quite place it. It was one of the many things of late that had created the habit of bothering him.

He hadn't even been allowed to finish that chore before Oracle sent him to investigate a fire. He'd just finished his investigation when work had called him into a crime scene.

Johnathan glanced at his watch and groaned. It was already nearly 4 o'clock in the morning. He'd been up since 5 the previous morning with no reprieve. He stretched his stiffening neck and glared at the dead body before him.

The Bat Family was going to have to get un-shorthanded and soon, or he'd have to have a talk with Bruce. He needed a day off and in the worst way. He still couldn't fathom how almost every single bat child had managed to get out of the fundraiser and been unavailable with valid excuses for patrol for over two weeks. Bruce had even gone so far as to call Dick to see if her could spare a night or two in Gotham. That of course hadn't ended well.

"I think…" Johnathan stood and took a step back. "That I need some coffee before I even begin to process the scene."

Tony grinned. "Way ahead of you."

Just then a low-level rookie walked in with several cups of coffee. Tony and Johnathan accepted theirs and both took sips. Johnathan reveled in the taste of piping hot strong black coffee. He'd learned to drink it black in the military and he was never going back.

"Okay, so now that you have your coffee….what do you think?" Tony asked.

"I-" Something out of the corner of his eye caught Johnathan's attention. He turned to look and noticed the building across the street. It was the same building where he had met Sparrow earlier.

She had been staking out a building, he knew that much. He turned and took a closer look around the room. It was clear that a fight had taken place. A desk was overturned, papers were everywhere. Blood splattered the walls and floor and bullet holes were everywhere. There were also spots on the walls that looked like they had been burned or charred with something.

Johnathan went back to the body and took a closer look. The guy was laying on his stomach face down and had several bullet holes in his back. The guy had also taken a serious beating. His face was black and blue, and he had a bloody nose.

"What did you do?" Johnathan muttered under his breath.