Chapter 43

"I wonder what that's all about," Rachel muttered as both Kori and Barbara charged from the ballroom. "Do you think Dick and Bruce ran into trouble?"

"Kori didn't seem too concerned," Garfield said with a shrug. "Just angry."

"Wonder what she needed Barbara for then?" Victor said, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"What's going on with you and Barbara?" Garfield asked, his eyebrows raised.

Victor scowled at him. "What do you mean, what's going on with me and Barbara?"

Garfield grinned cheekily. "You're all cranky and nervous. And you keep arguing with her. OOOOOH! You like her!"

"Do not."

"Do too!"

"I do not!"

"Vicky and Babs, sitting in a tree-"

Victor planted his hands on his hips and glared. "Listen, grass stain. I can kick your ass if you keep this up. Or I can just start interrupting you and Rachel all the time again. Your choice."

"We still have incriminating evidence," Garfield said gleefully.

"Like I'm really scared. If you were actually going to use that, you would've done it already."

"Have you talked to Dick about her?" Rachel asked, joining in on the conversation. "He might have something to say on the matter."

"Why?" Victor asked.

"Huh?" Garfield asked.

"Weren't you listening during that training session?" she asked, her eyebrows arched. "Or read the paper this morning? Or see how uncomfortable Dick is with Kori actually being friendly toward Barbara?"

Victor and Garfield exchanged a glance. "Um… no?" they replied at the same time.

Rachel rolled her eyes. "Boys."

"I knew there was something going on," Garfield said hastily, his palms held out to placate his girlfriend. "I thought it was just because she got all upset that Dick hit Bruce."

"So… she and he… and they... dated and junk?" Victor spluttered, his face full of shock.

Rachel nodded. "For quite some time too I gather."

Victor smacked himself in the head. "Aww, man!"

Garfield's face grew sly. "Whats wrong with that? I thought you didn't like her."

"Yeah, well. Even if I did, and I'm not sayin' I do, it ain't right to go after a friend's ex."

"Says who?" Garfield asked. "Dick's moved on. He has Kori. I really don't think he'll mind."

"If you're really worried about it, you can always ask Dick what he thinks," Rachel included. "He might even help you."

"Oh yeah," Victor drawled. "I'm sure Dick's going to be real forthcoming with advice. Besides, I'm not really interesting in her."

"Sure you aren't," Rachel said tonelessly.

"Can we drop it, please? And grass stain, you call me Vicky again and I will deck you."

Garfield bristled. "As if!"

Rachel snorted and moved away from the arguing boys and headed over to the long table of food against a wall.

"Hey baby," a voice cheekily said. "Which witch are you?"

Rachel rolled her eyes and ignored the voice as she poured herself a drink from the punch bowl.

"Aww, not feeling particularly festive? What can I do to make your night all better? Back rub? Foot massage?"

She turned to face him, a sharp retort on her lips that suddenly died. "Kid Flash?"

The red haired, blue eye boy, who was dressed as a pirate, widened his eyes in surprise. "Huh? No way, why'd you think that?"

"I'd recognise your cocky aura anywhere," she muttered, her expression dark.

The blood drained from his face and he peered at her before a glimmer of recognition flashed in his eyes. "Raven?"

She nodded.

"Oh, man!" he said, deflating. "I am so dead, aren't I?"

"That's a distinct possibility. What are you doing here?"

"I was invited. Well, my uncle was anyway; I just kinda tagged along. And the name's Wally."

"Rachel."

He flashed her a cheeky grin and stuck out his hand. "Hi Rachel. So… um… what are you doing here?"

"I was invited too," she said, her eyes narrow as she shook his hand.

"Really? Who by?"

"I really don't think that's any of your business. I'm guessing Jinx isn't here, or you wouldn't have been flirting."

Wally gave an embarrassed chuckle. "Nah, this isn't really her scene. She'd be too tempted to steal stuff. Besides, she said," his voice got falsetto. " 'Both of us can't leave the Tower for a stupid fancy dress party'. She's in charge for a while."

"She's in charge?"

Wally smiled dreamily. "Yeah, she's actually very good at being a leader. Just never really had a chance to show off her skills I expect." He reddened again. "Um… you won't tell her will you? About what I said? I really wouldn't have done anything, it's a way to break the ice and all."

Rachel regarded him seriously. "Depends. Don't do it anymore, you'll hurt her more than you realise."

Garfield turned from where he was talking to Victor and looked across the room at her, his eyes narrow.

"So, are the others here too?" Wally asked cheerfully, changing the subject.

"Yes," Rachel replied as Garfield crossed the room. "Here comes Gar now."

"Gar?" Wally asked, swiveling his head around, before his eyes widened in surprise. "That's Beast Boy? How do you guys look so different?"

Rachel smirked and held up her hand. "Hologram ring."

Garfield draped his arm around Rachel's shoulders possessively as he reached her side. "Hi Rae," he said cautiously, and Rachel knew he was ready to leap to her defense if she needed it.

"Gar," she said softly. "I'm sure you remember Wally."

Garfield frowned in confusion while Wally gifted him with a cheeky grin.

"Fastest kid alive ring any bells?" Wally asked cockily. "Or perhaps just the ones around your neck. Seriously, couldn't you come as anything other than an animal?"

Rachel snorted with laughter.

Recognition dawned in Garfield's eyes. "No way! Dude! Hi! Whatcha doing here?" he exclaimed as he removed his arm from Rachel's shoulders and dropped it to her waist. "How many others did Dick invite?"

Wally cocked his head, his eyes widening in surprise. "Dick? As in Dick Grayson? As in the heir to Wayne Enterprises Dick Grayson?"

Garfield cringed while Rachel scowled at him. "Er… opps?"

"You mean our illustrious leader is the Dick Grayson? Wow. I always thought they looked similar, but… well… So, can I meet him? I mean…"

"He and Kori aren't here right now," Rachel said with a dark glare at Garfield. "Business came up."

"Kori?"

"Star," Rachel quietly said.

Wally sobered, the cheeky grin slipping from his face and he shuffled nervously. "How's she doing?"

Garfield and Rachel looked at each other. "She's doing much better now," Rachel replied eventually. "She was sad for a long time, but she's mostly okay now."

"Mostly?" Wally asked with concern.

"Can't handle crowds too well, or strangers touching her."

He shrugged. "That's understandable. It's hard to imagine the hell you guys went through in there. I know how bad it was for us, and there were only the three of you."

Rachel and Garfield looked at each other again.

"Yeah, well…" Garfield said. "Hey, where's Jinx?"

"Back at the Tower. This isn't really her thing."

"I'm inclined to agree with her," Rachel muttered.

"Spoilsport," Garfield good -naturedly said .

"What are you guys doing over by the food without asking me?" asked Victor, ambling up to them. "Oh hey, new friend. Hi, I'm Vic."

Wally smirked. "Wally. Didn't hardly recognise you without the red eye, Cy."

Victor blinked in surprise before he peered closely at Wally. "Speedster?"

"Yup."

"Yo, this is so totally wicked. Nice seeing you. Love the pirate, swashbuckler suits you."

Wally eyed him. "Thanks Yoda."

"I'm Anakin before he went bad. I figured it was a nice play on that 'he's more machine now than man' thing."

Wally raised an eyebrow. "Right," he drawled. "Shouldn't you have come as Darth Vadar then?"

"Aww shuddup."

TTTTT

Something hummed beneath her, a soft vibration. She could hear a rushing of wind and someone's voice murmuring softly.

"Get down to the Batcave. We're coming in now."

Starfire groaned and put her hand to her head, feeling a sticky wetness beneath her fingers and a sudden flash of pain bolt through her head. She timidly opened her eyes, seeing the world swim into view. She struggled to focus, trying to ignore the stabbing pain in her head.

"K'norfka Batman?" she asked hesitantly recognizing the back of the person that sat in front of her.

He glanced over her shoulder. "You're awake? That's sooner than I expected."

Starfire groaned and sat up properly, placing her head in her hands.

"Easy. You took a nasty knock."

She blinked up at him blearily, a slight frown crossing her face. They were in some sort of compartment, flying through the air and she likened it to being in the T-Ship. She turned her head. "Richard?"

Batman was silent although she felt a small jolt as whatever they were flying in went faster.

Richard? Her mind came up empty. He was there, but not quite. His mind held the vague sense of blankness she had encountered both times she'd entered when he was unconscious.

She twisted around in her seat. If he were unconscious, surely he'd be here too. Batman wouldn't have left him. But her search came up empty. There was no one else there.

The compartment she was in was suddenly engulfed in blackness as they entered some sort of cave and Starfire recognised the Batcave.

"Where is Nightwing?" she asked, her voice becoming sharp. "And Batgirl?"

Batman cast a glance over his shoulder at her again before he landed. She blinked as the compartment hatch slid back and Batman leapt out and headed to the computer console.

"Batman?" she asked again. "Where are they?"

"You need to rest Starfire. Let me handle it."

Starfire had had enough. She zipped from her seat, dashing through the air and grabbed Batman by the front of his suit, lifting him into the air, her eyes glowing a furious green. "You will tell me what has happened to Nightwing and Batgirl and you will do it now."

"Starfire!" Cyborg snapped from somewhere behind her. "What are you doing?"

Starfire kept her eyes fixed on Batman's cowled eyes. "Something has happened to Nightwing and Batgirl and he will not answer my question."

"Starfire, you're bleeding," Raven said sharply.

"Put me down, Starfire," Batman said impassively. "We have a small window of opportunity before the Joker does something to them and I need to locate them. I had to pull off the attack to take care of you. It won't take long to establish a location of Batgirl's tracking device."

Fury drained from her and she placed him back on the ground, releasing his suit. "The Joker has them?"

He gave her a sharp nod before continuing to the console.

Starfire frowned, before she drifted down to the ground and knelt on the floor and settled herself before closing her eyes resolutely.

"Wow, this is place is so cool," a voice said and Starfire snapped her eyes open.

"Who are you?" Batman snapped, swiveling in his chair to face Kid Flash.

Kid Flash swept into a bow. "Kid Flash, at your service, Mr Batman, sir."

"He was at the party," Beast Boy said timidly.

Batman arched an eyebrow. "I don't recall this being an open invitation."

"We've already stressed on him the importance of secrecy," Cyborg said with a warning glance at Kid Flash. "We couldn't ditch him, he would have followed."

Batman's eyes narrowed before he gave a sharp nod and turned back to his console. "No more Titans. The five of you knowing is enough."

"Yes, sir!" Kid Flash saluted.

"And don't do that," Batman snapped.

"Are you okay?" Raven asked quietly as she came to kneel by Starfire's side. She reached out to Starfire's ribs, closely examining the wound, her hands glowing with power.

Starfire winced and pulled away. "I am fine."

"Stay still," Raven muttered before glancing over her shoulder. "Guys, Starfire's been shot."

"What?" Cyborg blurted, crossing quickly to their sides and dropped to a knee to inspect the wound himself. "What the hell happened?"

"I was not paying attention. Please leave me to concentrate."

"What are you doing?" Beast Boy asked with concern as he too knelt beside her.

"I am going to revive Nightwing." Starfire resolutely shut her eyes, blocking out all noise of the outside world. Richard.

Hey Star, are you okay?

She frowned through her relief; she had not expected him to answer so quickly. Raven is healing my wounds as we speak. Are you damaged?

Killer headache. I'm pretending to be unconscious. Heard you calling for me before, woke me up. Thought I'd wait for you to call again in case I distracted you.

Do you know where you are? Is Batgirl with you? Batman is attempting to locate her tracking device.

Yeah, she's here; I can see her out of the corner of my eye. She's still unconscious. Not surprised he has a tracking device on her; she'll be pissed however. Are you sure your okay, Star? You took a pretty nasty hit there.

She felt Raven's hands shifting from her ribs to her forehead; gently tilting her head back and Starfire fought not to wince. I am fine Richard, truly. I am worried for you.

I'll be okay. Been through worse scrapes. Are you in the Batcave?

Yes.

Ask Batman to run a search. Might help him locate us faster. I can hear running water and a foghorn. We're in some sort of storage room in factory and I can smell… well… gingerbread. Can't see much, besides the floor. I'm trying not to move my head.

"Batman," Starfire said, opening her eyes. "Nightwing and Batgirl are safe for the moment although Batgirl remains unconscious. Nightwing requests that you do the running of a search. He can hear running water and a foghorn. He believes that he is in a factory and can smell gingerbread."

Batman swiveled on his chair to face her, his eyes narrow. "How do you know this? In fact, how did you know we were in that safe? Nightwing said that he couldn't get a signal out."

Starfire cocked her head, while Beast Boy used a cloth to wipe the blood from her forehead now that it was healed. You have not told your father we share the a'tiyk valm?

Is he being difficult? No, I haven't told him. He gave her the mental equivalent of a sigh. Go ahead.

"Nightwing and I share a bond, called the a'tiyk valm amongst my people. Nightwing and I have the telepathy."

"You do?" Kid Flash blurted. "Wow, that's so cool!"

Starfire flicked her eyes to him and he held up his palms to her. "Okay, okay, secret. I know. Sheez, you guys like your secrecy junk."

Batman pursed his lips. He swiveled back to the console, typing rapidly. "Anything else?"

"I will ask." He wishes to know if there was anything else?

Isn't that enough? Okay, hang on. There was silence in her mind for a moment. There are several boxes stacked against the wall. The bits I can make out reads A-R-D-Y Bakery.

"He can see a box, he can read 'A-R-D-Y Bakery' on its packaging."

Batman turned back around to her. "Is he sure?"

Starfire frowned. "You believe you know his location?" She took Cyborg's offered hand and rose to her feet.

"Yes." He stood sharply, his expression hard as he addressed the Titans. "Listen up. You will all do exactly what I say, when I say it. The Joker is dangerous and I cannot have any of you going off half cocked. I'd prefer not to take you at all, but I have this feeling that if I don't, you'll find your own way there and screw things up." He poked a finger at Kid Flash. "I don't know you. I don't know your powers, I don't know if I can trust you and I don't particularly want you here."

"Nightwing trusts me," Kid Flash said cockily. "I'm a Titan. Can't leave my leader in trouble. I'm the fastest boy alive. Ain't nothing that can outrun me. I'll make an excellent scout."

Batman narrowed his eyes. "Can I trust you all to do exactly what I say?"

The Titans as one nodded.

Batman glanced at Starfire. "I suppose it's too much to ask for you to remain here?"

She shook her head resolutely. "He is my chosen. If you do not take me, I will simply follow and do the 'screw up'."

His expression was intense. "We cannot afford you to have one of those episodes. I cannot be worried about you."

"You will not need to."

He gave her a long calculating look. "Fine." He tossed out several small earpieces to the Titans. "Put those in. Tell Nightwing ten minutes. I'll explain things on the way."

TTTTT

Nightwing risked turning his head slightly. He still couldn't see anyone. There were none of the Joker's minions stationed around them, no cameras that he could see without raising his head to take a good look around the room.

He was strung up against a wall, his arms stretched wide, chains around his ankles and wrists; Batgirl strung up the same beside him. His arms hurt from being stretched out so much and his head was killing him.

"Psst."

Nightwing cast a long glance sideways out of the corner of his eye. "You awake?"

"Yeah," she whispered quietly, still hanging her head, feigning unconsciousness. "What happened?"

"We got stupid," he muttered darkly.

"No, really? Couldn't tell," she replied sarcastically. "Is Starfire okay? I can't see her here."

"How am I supposed to know?" he muttered.

"She told me, Nightwing."

"Oh."

"Yeah," Batgirl mumbled. "Explains a few things."

"She and Batman made it back to the cave. They're getting ready to launch a rescue."

Batgirl snorted. "That was supposed to be our job. Why'd you want us to come anyway? Wouldn't Raven have been a better choice? She can teleport, can't she?"

"Oh yeah, like that would really work. 'Hey Star, I'm locked in a safe. There's a bomb and I have ten minutes left. Can you send Raven to come and get me?' She was pissed off at me enough."

Batgirl gave a light chuckle. "Better you than me."

He grunted quietly and rotated his wrists minutely to see if he could twist them free. The chains gave a quiet jangle. "Can you see anything from there? I can't see anyone around, without lifting my head and looking. They would have reacted to us talking if they were close, but you never know."

Batgirl was silent for a moment. "Can't see anyone either. Think it's worth the risk?"

Star, how long?

We are almost there.

I'm going to lift my head and have a look around the room.

Be careful, Richard.

Always. Nightwing gave a fake groan as though he was just waking up and groggily lifted his head, his eyes quickly darting around the room.

They were in some sort of storage room, large cardboard boxes were stacked against the walls and the only exit seemed to be a solid metal door, with a small window carved in it at eye height. He could see the back of someone's head beyond the window. The room was being dimly light by a fluorescent light hanging from the ceiling and there didn't seem to be any windows in the room. Nor did there seem to be any cameras or henchmen.

"Seems safe," he muttered. We're definitely in a storage room, Star. Only entrance is a large metal door, I can see a guard standing on the other side.

I will pass that information on, she murmured quietly. We will land on the roof in a few minutes. Kid Flash has already gone ahead to begin the scouting. Raven will search for you with her mind. She will come for you once Batman is ready.

Kid Flash? How'd he get here? He glanced at Batgirl as she raised her head and gave her a brief smile. "Raven's going to come for us in a minute," he murmured softly.

He was at the party of costumes. Batman is not happy with his presence.

Yeah, I bet. He began twisting his wrist again, trying to loosen the chains around them in an attempt to free himself.

The door opened and the Joker strolled through, toying with a cattle prod in his hands. "Hello kiddies. Did you have a nice nap?"

Don't sent Raven, room isn't clear. The Joker just walked in.

"Let us go," Batgirl said, straining against her restraints. "You evil, twisted bastard."

Joker pointed the prod in her direction, electricity sparking from the end. "Manners, little lady bat. I could just go straight to the torturing if you prefer, but it's been such a long time since I've seen the baby bird, I thought we could catch up first." He dragged a box to the center of the room and sat on it, crossing one leg over the other and resting the cattle prod on his lap. "Hello baby bird," he said as though they were the best of friends. "Love the new uniform, it's so dark, just like daddy Bat. And I'm so glad you got rid of the cape. Much more becoming."

Nightwing raised an eyebrow. If the Joker wanted to chat, that was fine, it would give Batman and the Titans more time to get here. "What do you want, Joker?"

The Joker pulled a sad face and batted his eyelids. "Aww, why does everyone keep asking me that. Can't I just want to spend Christmas amongst friends?"

"Do you try to blow up all your friends?"

A sickeningly sweet leer formed on the Joker's lips. "Just Bats. But then, he is a 'special' friend isn't he?"

Nightwing suppressed a shudder. He really didn't like the way the Joker said that.

"Eww," Batgirl umuttered nder her breath and Nightwing cast her a glare. He really wished she'd just shut up. He didn't want Joker to become too interested in her and start poking her with that prod.

Joker licked his lips. "So, tell me about that glowy eyed girl. She was especially yummy. And I saw you being all concerned over her. Is she your little play thing?"

It took all of Nightwing's concentration not to react. "Why? Harley not giving it to you anymore?"

It was completely the wrong thing to say as the Joker shot to his feet and pressed the cattle prod against Nightwing's neck.

TTTTT

Starfire hunched over in her seat in the T-Ship, her hands clenching her head in pain as Nightwing's scream echoed through it. Oh X'hal, what was the Joker doing to her chosen?

"Star?" Cyborg asked with concern as he landed quietly on the roof of the factory beside the Batplane. "What's wrong?"

She shook her head as the protective bubble that encased her in the T-Ship her disappeared. Richard!

"What's wrong?" Batman asked, heading over to them.

"Not sure," Cyborg said, helping Starfire out of the capsule.

"I am fine," she said rubbing her temples to clear the echo of Nightwing scream of pain. "We must hurry."

"Found them," Raven announced, opening her eyes and floating out of her capsule.

"The room is not clear yet. Nightwing said the Joker is in with him."

Batman nodded. "We'll need a distraction then. Starfire, come with me."

TTTTT

The Joker removed the cattle prod and cackled gleefully. "What a lovely gurgle. You're like music to my ears."

Nightwing gasped and hung limply against the restraints as Starfire screamed his name in his mind. Fuck… Star, we're outta time.

We come. Hold on.

"You fucking asshole!" Batgirl shrieked, straining against the chains.

"Batgirl, calm down," Nightwing rasped as the Joker turned in her direction. "The Joker just has poor restraint that's all. Can't handle someone else dishing it out."

The Joker raised an eyebrow at Nightwing as he tapped the cattle prod against Nightwing's shoulder. "Did you actually enjoy that, baby bird?" he asked, running the handle over the front of Nightwing's chest and Nightwing fought not to flinch. "You've become fun in your old age. I can give it to you-"

One of Joker's minions burst through the door. "Boss, there's something happening out here. There's a funny red and yellow-"

The Joker rolled his eyes, calmly reached into his jacket, pulled out a playing card and threw it at his minion. There was a quiet gurgle as the card was impaled in the minion's neck before he flopped to the ground.

Nightwing's eyes widened while Batgirl went pale as the Joker tossed his head. "I said, no interruptions when I'm torturing the bat family." He turned back to Batgirl and Nightwing, grinning madly. "Now, where was I?" he asked, rubbing the handle of the cattle prod against his neck as he cocked his head in consideration. "Oh yes-"

A boom rocked the factory and the Joker spun around. "What now?" he muttered disapprovingly. "Be right back, kiddies," he called gleefully over his shoulder as he exited the room, shutting the door behind him. "We'll have some more play time in a moment."

Nightwing groaned in pain, swinging his head to Batgirl. "Batgirl, you've got to shut up around him. He won't hesitate to do the same thing to you." He's gone, Star. The room is clear.

"I'm not about to sit quietly while he tortures you, Nightwing," Batgirl snapped, still straining against the chains.

"I know, but antagonising him makes it worse."

Raven is coming, Starfire whispered at the same time the large raven shrieked into existence in the corner, hidden from the view of the door.

Raven looked up at them and clucked her tongue. "Can't leave you alone for a minute can we?" she asked sarcastically.

Nightwing rolled his eyes. "Just get us down, please?"

"Well, now. I don't know. Don't you think Starfire might actually like you all tied up?" she asked as she glanced around the room before she paled as she saw the body lying on the floor by the door. "Azar."

Nightwing cleared his throat to get her attention back on him and away from the body, attempting to give her a cheeky smile. "If Star wanted me tied up, she can do it herself. Now, get us down."

"Eww," Batgirl muttered. "Too much information."

Raven nodded, her eyes shining with power. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos." The chains surrounding Nightwing and Batgirl's wrists and ankles shattered and the pair dropped quietly to the floor as Raven placed the remains of the chains silently on the ground in the corner. She approached them both, her hands glowing with her healing powers and Nightwing breathed a sigh of relief as his headache and sharp pain in his neck faded.

Another boom rocked the factory.

"What's that?" Batgirl asked with concern.

"That would be Starfire making a nice hole in the roof. She's being a distraction."

Nightwing wasn't sure he liked that idea.

"We stay in here until told," Raven said quietly as she healed them. "Batman wants to hit them from all angles. Beast Boy and Starfire are coming in through the roof, Cyborg and Batman are coming through some windows and Kid Flash is already around here somewhere." She held out two earpieces. "Batman said the Joker probably took your other ones so put these in."

Nightwing nodded, rubbing his wrists and putting the earpiece in his ear before sneaking quietly to the door. He peered through. There was only one guard that he could see standing outside the door. He pulled out his sticks and glanced at Raven and Batgirl. "All ready?"

Batgirl gave a sharp nod.

"On my signal, pull the door of its hinges Raven." He pressed the button on the earpiece that would allow him to speak to the others. "We're here."

"About time," he heard Batman mutter and he rolled his eyes. "On the count of three. One."

Thank X'hal. I love you, Richard.

"Two."

Love you too, Star. Be safe.

"Three."

A third boom sounded somewhere in the factory followed by a loud shattering sound as the roof caved in where Starfire was. Raven blasted the door from its hinges, smashing it into the back of the guard standing before it.

Nightwing cocked his head. "That'll work too," he muttered, launching himself through the door.

TTTTT

"Three," Batman's droned voice in her ear and Starfire spared a glance at Beast Boy before she threw back both her hands and hit the roof as hard as she could. It exploded out from underneath them casting as shower of dirt, dust and debris below.

Beast Boy dived through the hole Starfire had created, morphed into a raven and streaked through the air, with Starfire right behind him. They entered a huge, dimly light, open space. Much of the room was cast in shadow, only a few hanging lights were lit. Large pieces of baking equipment and motionless conveyor belts stood in lines around the room, leading into a huge unlit oven at the far end of the room. Men were littered around the conveyor belts below, an array of weapons resting on the belt itself.

Starfire summoned several star bolts, shooting them at the weapons with precision, satisfied when there was a small dull crack every time she destroyed a weapon.

Beast Boy nipped down to the ground before morphing into his tyrannosaurs rex form and roaring at the men causing them to scatter.

Starfire zipped down to his side; continually firing off her star bolts at the weapons while Beast Boy used his bulk to destroy several pieces of equipment before he began chasing down men.

Starfire pressed the button to activate her earpiece. "The weapons on the belt of conveying are destroyed," she murmured.

"Good," Batman muttered in return. "Go after that stash that Kid Flash found."

"Spotted the Joker," Cyborg announced.

"On my way," Batman confirmed.

Starfire signaled to Beast Boy, who nodded as she zipped into the small storage unit where KidFlash had discovered a second set of weapons. Her eyes narrowed as she glanced around the room dimly lit room. He'd said there were four men guarding it, but she couldn't see any. Perhaps they had vacated the room when she'd come through the roof.

She raised her star bolts, intent on destroying the line of boxes against the wall when something hit her in the back. She hit the ground hard, her breath expelling from her chest. She rolled onto her back and was confronted with four, huge men, each of them tapping a crowbar in his hand. They must have been hiding behind the boxes beside the door.

"Oh look," one of the men said. "It's that glowy eye girl. Let's get her."

They dog piled her before she could move.

Hands encased her wrists and held her ankles down. A weight crushed against her chest, a leering man's face hovered over her own.

She felt a tremor run through her and she gritted her teeth, fighting to quell the panic surging within her. She was pinned, trapped and fear swelled through her. The floor dipped beneath her back and the room began to roll. The sound of their breathing was suddenly too loud, the stink of sweat assaulted her nostrils and the fluorescent light that hung overhead outshone the sun. The room seemed to press in on her from angles and she couldn't seem to control her breathing.

Starfire's eyes hardened. Now was not the time to have an anxiety attack. She forced herself to take a deep, calming breath. Forced the fear away from her. She could control the fear; it did not control her. She had told Batman that he did not need to worry about her, that she could handle herself and she was not about to make that a lie. She was a warrior; a hero and heroes do not panic. Heroes did not need their lovers to hold them close and stroke their backs when they were frightened or overwhelmed. Heroes were strong, resilient.

Starfire was a hero and it was about time she started acting like one again.

The sound returned normal, the floor no longer writhed beneath her and she felt a sense of calm wash over her.

She summoned her strength, pulling her wrists out from the hands that encased them and smashed the guy that sat on her in the nose. He flew away from her as she kicked out with her legs, catching the one that held them down across the chin. She reached up and grabbed the two men that had previously held her wrists by the front of their shirts and bashed their heads together, before tossing them away.

She rocked up onto her shoulders and threw her legs in the air, leaping to her feet, before kicking the man writhing on the floor before her across the face. He slumped to the floor unconscious.

There was a small chuckle from the door and she spun to face it, star bolts leaping to life in her hands.

Nightwing stood there, a proud little smile on his face as he looked at her. "I was going to see if you needed help, but it looks like my Star's well and truly back in action."

She sighed in relief at seeing him unharmed, the star bolts fading from her hands as she relaxed before beaming at him happily.

He took two steps toward her, his hand snaking out and grabbed her by the back of the neck before he kissed her hard on the mouth. She eeped in surprise as his tongue dove into her mouth. He'd never kissed her in the heat of battle before and certainly never where others could see. And never like this. Oh this was glorious, it was as though every passionate and fiery emotion he held within him had bubbled to the surface and exploded in her mouth all at once.

He dipped her, one hand entangled in her hair at the back of her neck; the other snug around her waist as he deepened the kiss in ways she'd never dreamed possible. Every patch of her skin where he touched her was on fire and there was an aching sensation in her chest that trickled down to her loins.

Nightwing righted her again and dragged his lips away. She sucked in a startled breath and he pressed his forehead against hers briefly before releasing her. "We've got work to do." He spun his sticks deftly as he backed from the room, flashing her a cheeky smile before dashing back out into the factory. Starfire smiled to herself, her hand to her thudding heart before she summoned her star bolts once more and destroyed all the boxes containing weapons in the room.

"Beast Boy, Starfire, heads up," Kid Flash said in her ear. "Joker's on the move, he's heading your way."

Starfire zipped out of the room and zoomed over to Beast Boy's side as he morphed back to normal.

"Can you see him?" Beast Boy whispered, casting his eyes around the room.

"No," she replied softly.

"How are we supposed to get out of the way if we can't see him?" Beast Boy muttered.

She lifted a hand and conjured a star bolt, casting its green light throughout the room. She floated up higher to allow her star bolt to illuminate more of the room. Beast Boy shifted into a wolf and leapt up onto a conveyer belt beside her, his keen eyes keeping a look out.

Beast Boy growled and Starfire's eyes narrowed. Something was running through the darkness toward them.

She held her hand higher, casting more light into the room. Joker stepped into the light, emitted a high pitched maniacal laugh, pointed his machine gun in her direction and opened fire.

The green light died.

There was a high pitched yelp of a wolf in pain that was abruptly cut off.

Two bodies hit the ground.