(Five Years Later)
(For a moment, we're gonna be in a general POV meaning its like third person)
"You're not going to believe this."
Conner looked over, prompted by Nightwing's words just as much as M'gann was.
"What?" she asked.
"She's back," was all Nightwing said.
"You're kidding," M'gann said, excited yet not wholly believing his words.
Nightwing grinned.
"Who's back?" Robin, the new one, asked.
He and Beast Boy looked over with curiosity.
"You still have that staff Batman gave you?" Nightwing asked.
"The one he calls Sanchez? What about it?" Robin inquired.
"Because the girl who use to own Sanchez just rolled into town."
"And she assaulted a store owner," Nightwing reported.
"Like old times," M'gann laughed.
"I bet she hasn't changed a bit," Conner mumbled. "So, who's going to welcome her?"
"I got it," Nightwing said. "Watch the cave you guys."
With that, he was gone, running out.
"I wonder if she found her answers," Conner muttered.
"One can only hope," M'gann said.
He hadn't stopped running, reducing his speed to a slight jog as he looked around.
"You totally passed me," a familiar, yet seductive, voice taunted him.
He looked up, staring into familiar red eyes surrounded by black.
"I'm looking for Robin," Ariel said, no recognition in her eyes.
"Well you may have to keep looking cause Batman got himself a new Robin," Nightwing reported.
"What happened to the old one?" Ariel asked.
Nightwing pointed his thumb at his chest.
"He found his own wings."
Her lips curled into a smile as she realized who he was.
"I knew you would."
She rose from her seated position, leaping into the air, spinning once and then landing perfectly.
"It's been awhile," Nightwing declared.
"Five years," Ariel agreed.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" he stammered, taking in her more female figure.
She had more curves than she had back then and she took advantage of the fact, wearing a bodysuit under her long trench coat. Fur lined her boots and the inside of the jacket.
"Mostly," she admitted. "There are still some that are unanswered. But they led me back here."
"Well, what'd you find?"
"Luthor and Cadmus aren't fully responsible for my gasoline blood," Ariel told him.
She began to walk and he followed, listening to her.
"Some little alien, Kroloteans, I think, they made me."
"Does that mean they're involved with Cadmus?"
"Maybe," Ariel said. "Like I said, more questions than answers."
Nightwing smiled, catching her shoulder.
"The important thing is you at least found some answers. And you're safe and back home. I could not ask for more."
Ariel smiled.
"I'm impressed. We were something from a childhood meeting and you still held on to that."
Nightwing smiled. Oh, at some point, he'd have to tell her about Zatanna.
"Does anyone else know I'm back?" Ariel suddenly asked.
"Just M'gann and Conner and two new recruits," Nightwing answered.
Ariel stopped, facing him, the snow around her feet heating up. Her black highlights framed her face and the red had gone from the blood red it use to be, fading into actual fire colors. As the winter wind lifted it into the air, it looked like a flame, fighting to avoid being snuffed out.
"Good. No one can know I'm here outside you. I'm sure you can make the rookies forget. I need to stay hidden for a little bit, okay?"
"Why?"
"Let's just say I had to really invade some personal space of some top villains and it could be problematic if they find me."
So that's why she kept moving and ducking into the shadows as much as possible.
"Who's after you?" Nightwing asked.
"Ever heard of Sportsmaster?"
Oh had he ever.
"I've avoided him so far and I know I can still. I've got a place to stay set up but we'll have to cut down how much we see each other," Ariel went on.
She brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, looking up at him.
"I think that's gonna be the hardest part for me."
"We'll manage," he promised, kissing her forehead.
Ariel sighed deeply before drawing back and kissing him on the lips. Heat flowed between them, fading a bit when Ariel pulled away.
"So," she said as if nothing had happened. "What's going on with the others?"