Shayera Hol blinked slowly trying to push the darkness and mist out of her view. When she could see freely she found she was chained against the wall by her arms and legs.

This was by no means a good sign.

The Thanagarian yanked hard on the chains but they didn't budge an inch and she moaned in annoyance.

Perfect.

She glared around her and her heart skipped a beat as she noticed the unconscious Nightwing figure to her right. Unlike him however the hero was tied by his hands behind his chair, his head lolling to one side unconscious. She sighed with relief seeing that Nightwing had only a few cuts and no serious injuries.

For Shayera to see Nightwing so helpless, in such a vulnerable position…it made her heart ache and she felt her stomach churn nervously.

She had never experienced this feeling before and soon discovered that she was…afraid. But not fear for herself (no, after all she had been trained since birth as a fierce warrior and she had overcome that fear so many years ago) but fear for Nightwing. Because whoever had kidnapped them it was obvious that he was evil otherwise he wouldn't have kidnapped a hero too.

Even so, Shayera couldn't understand why she feared for Nightwing's well-being. She had only met him twice (among other things, also as an enemy and this was a rather important detail), yet here she was worrying about Nightwing's life.

Maybe it's because he saw the good in you when even you didn't know about it. Whispered a treacherous corner of her mind.

Shayera frowned but she let out another sigh.

She couldn't help but agree with her mind.

Though Shayera was helping her people of Thanagar conquer Earth, Nightwing had seen beyond the barriers she had created and he had seen the good in her.

This must be why Shayera cared about the hero.

"Nightwing!" Shayera whispered frantically hoping to wake up the hero. "Nightwing!"

After a few more tries Shayera sighed with relief as he saw him fidget slightly. She could imagine that he was blinking behind her mask (curious she quickly wondered what color her eyes were before she brushed the question away, deeming it silly and pointless).

"Did I get hit by a truck or something?" groaned Nightwing, still confused and disoriented.

"No, just from a very powerful shock wave."

When he heard the voice of the Thanagarian army captain he jerked his head in his direction, regretting it almost immediately after when he felt the vertigo forcefully overwhelm him. "Shayera?" the hero asked confused.

"Glad to see you awake." although hers contained a great deal of sarcasm, there was also an undercurrent of truth and genuine concern underneath it.

"Where we are?" he asked ignoring her sarcasm.

"Someone had the brilliant idea to kidnap us." she grunted.

"Are they recording us?"

"No, there is no camera."

"Well." there was a pause. "How are you?"

Shayera ignored as she felt warmth blossom in her chest at the genuine concern in Nightwing's voice. "Fine even if I should ask you."

"I've been through worse."

That… wasn't much of a reassurance now that she thought about it.

"Did you happen to see who kidnapped us?" the hero asked.

"No, they haven't shown up yet. Since this is your world, would you have any vague idea who that might be?"

"The fact that they kidnapped both you and me, and tied us pretty tight, makes me think they're professional supervillains. Sadly, most super-villains want me dead."

This wasn't reassuring at all, and Shayera felt anger build in her chest as he told her that many villains wanted him dead.

She blinked, confused and surprised by the fierce anger she was feeling (and has never felt before) but she had no way to think about it when the two of them heard the warehouse door flung open to reveal two menacing male figures.

"Shit." she muttered the acrobat staring at the two men with a flat gaze.

Shayera had a strong feeling that Nightwing knew them and from her reaction it seemed that they weren't two-bit criminals.

"We are pleased to see that you have regained consciousness." spoke with an arrogant grin the masked man whose blond hair could be seen.

"Who the hell are you?" snarled Shayera glaring at them behind her helmet.

If the two super-villains were surprised that she spoke English, they didn't show it.

"Why don't you get your new boyfriend to tell you?" smirked the other white-haired man who stared directly the hero.

Nightwing set his jaw. "The masked idiot is Lawrence Crock aka Sportsmaster, a world-renowned mercenary with bad parenting skills, while the older one is David Cain, a ruthless assassin with equally bad parenting skills."

Shayera felt sorry for whoever was the son or daughter of these two criminals. She wasn't someone she would judge at first sight but she had to admit that the figures of David and Lawrence weren't very promising and fit for a poor child.

Lawrence growled and took a menacing step towards the Bludhaven vigilante but he was stopped by the other assassin who barred his way by placing a hand in front of him. "Don't waste energy on him. At least not for the moment."

Sportsmaster snorted but listened to his partner.

"What the hell are you doing in Washington?" Nightwing asked.

"Do you think we found you in Washington?" laughed Lawrence. "We found you passed out miles outside the city."

How the heck was that shock wave? It was the thought of the acrobat. "And I see you had the brilliant idea of kidnapping us." he commented casually.

Shayera found herself surprised by the casual and casual way Nightwing was carrying himself, as if he were having coffee with two old friends rather than being held hostage by two dangerous assassins who could kill him at any moment.

"Exactly." David Cain clicked his tongue. "You know, it's been a long time since I tortured someone. And you Lawrence?" he asked, addressing the younger man directly.

"Same thing." he grinned. "And you happen to be our unfortunate victims." continued the mercenary in a mock voice of compassion.

Shayera stiffened and glared as deadly as she could at the two assassins. Unfortunately for her, it didn't have much effect when she was chained with no ability to move freely.

David walked to the right of the warehouse entrance and flipped the light switch revealing several tables containing a large array of torture weapons that had previously not been visible due to the darkness. Both Nightwing and Shayera cursed silently when they saw this.

"Hey, wait a minute beautiful people! I know people like you enjoy torturing heroes." Nightwing began in an almost joking tone of voice. "But wouldn't it be better if you two let my new friend go there?" he asked, indicating Shayera with a nod of his head.

The Thanagarian's head snapped sideways at the hero, shock and disbelief written all over her face despite the helmet she was wearing.

Was Nightwing seriously volunteering to be tortured instead of him as well and that she should be set free?

What the hell?

She had to admit that Nightwing had a lot of courage to make such a proposition to their captors. Not everyone would have demanded such a thing and Shayera felt her respect for Nightwing grow even more.

Though she had no desire to leave Nightwing alone at the complete mercy of these two killers. She could never leave Nightwing alone.

Despite the bad situation they were in, Shayera felt a strange but pleasant sensation warming up in her chest.

But she didn't have time to dwell on it under the circumstances.

"Are you seriously asking us to let go of one of those damned aliens who are trying to take over the Earth?" Sportsmaster asked incredulously as he couldn't keep out of her voice the surprise he was feeling at the first Robin's request.

Nightwing managed to shrug, a lazy smile on his face. "Alien or not, she is still a person like all of us and she does not deserve to be tortured."

Shayera could do nothing but stare silently at Nightwing, unable to open her mouth to form the words.

"And you, yes?" David asked raising a skeptical eyebrow.

"If that means keeping her safe, then sure." Nightwing said with a shrug again.

The two assassins exchanged a brief glance. "Who are we not to satisfy your requests?" Cain said looking back at the vigilante.

"We will not free your little alien friend, we will simply leave her to watch you being tortured until you are killed. After that it will be her turn." declared with a snide Sportsmaster.

"What? No, not even in the slightest! You can't seriously accept her proposal!" Shayera growled indignantly. "Don't you dare torture him for me! Take me instead and leave Nightwing unharmed!"

"I'm sorry baby but it's too late now." David smiled and he and Lawrence walked over to the gun table.

"What the hell are you doing?" Shayera hissed at the hero in a voice too low for the two assassins to hear.

"Trying to save you." Nightwing answered without missing a beat, his voice steady and sure without ever faltering.

Before she could say anything the two assassins returned and approached slowly and menacingly carrying several weapons. "So, ready Nightwing?" Cain asked with a smirk as he rested a knife under Nightwing's chin, the blade grazing his throat.

Shayera felt anger build in her chest. "Try to hurt him and I will kill you in the most painful way possible!" growled Shayera dangerously pulling violently on the chains without success.

However, Nightwing's next words made her stop in surprise.

"Nah. It will be for next time."