Pairing: Jason T. / Stephanie Brown

summery: masquerade ball...

Stephanie sighed taking another tiny sip on her Champaign but didn't take her eyes off the dancing people in the middle of the room. Wayne manor, Bruce Wayne was having another one of his charity dances for the rich, famous and the noticed but as the third son of the billionaire playboy Tim Drake, someone she thought and hoped was her date to this masquerade ball had suddenly bailed to leave his home. No explanation, no 'I`m so sorry' not even 'hey Steph, sorry for bailing on you'.

Nope, not a word, she saw his take a swift look around the room, then leave maybe he was coming right back but after and hour or so into the party she doubted it. She wasn't even the type of person to go to these things! no she much preferred her warm comfrey sweats and a tank top while she lazily lounged on her bed looking at articles about her code name Spoiler. She was her own number 1 fan...to her it was a bit depressing.

Tim was hesitant about inviting her anyway and the only reason she said yes was because one she didn't want Boy Wonder to face this horridly boring party alone, and two because it was a chance to find out more about Tim Drake that wasn't in the papers and three to see in the small connection between the two she was reading was real, apparently not.

She`d even went all out to get something to make herself fit in and not look like a yutz in front of the millionaires. Steph wore a long dark blue sleek dress, plain but pretty, with a modest open back spaghetti straps, a silver line running around till it reached the open back of her dress. She had on a matching eye mask, similar to her dress color with a sliver diamond outline around the edges. Her unruly blonde hair refused to comply with anything she tried to do so it hung in simple light curls going just past her shoulders. needless to say she thought she looked good, but obviously not enough to get Tim to stay or give much of to no explanation of his departure. what and ass-hat.

So now she was standing beside to serving table, sipping away her drink while in her opinion being very stalker like, she watched in a slight pout as other people danced.

"Looking for something?" asked a cool voice behind her, it sent a small shiver up her spine. She looked over her shoulder she eyes following a tall man, looking to be in twenty or twenty three around there, as he came to stand next to her, he too two wore an eye mask, no real deign only black but it didn't cover beautiful icy blue eyes. if it wasn't for the height and the face the small bit of his voice she heard she should have thought those blue eyes and unruly black hair belonged to Tim.

"Not particularly, just wallowing." she replied honestly. The man chuckled lightly, "And why is that?"

Stephanie smirked and took another sip of her drink before looking back to the dancers, "My date left, sad isn't it?" she hoped he didn't hear the fact she was cursing Tim in the word date, he probably did, "His loss, but why are you still waiting around?" he asked curiously.

Because I`m hoping he`ll come back and admit to being sorry and I`ll of course forgive him? she thought to herself, she just went for the half truth, "I like watching other people have a good time, thought it might get me off my bad mood."

"Hmm." the man blinked slowly, nodding. Great, he probably thinks I`m a stalker now, picking out my next victim.

"Why should I feel bad because he`s got better things to do?" she muttered a little upset, she never meant to say it out loud or for this stranger to hear it but she did and he did.

"What an Ass-hat." the man stated plainly. Steph giggled into the rim of her glass, "Right?"

once she put her glass on the table did he speak again, "your not from around here, are you?"

Steph blinked at him, "Um, I`ve lived in Gotham for awhile but if you mean around here as in these upper class parties no, never."

"Hmm," the man nodded again, "I never like these things either, but what the hell, free food and drinks."

Steph smiled, "Only other reason I came. I haven't talked to any one else here but I hear these people are snobs."

"You heard right," the man nodded, "in about an hour all the men will be over here getting drunk while the women huddle in small gropes talking about...crap."

Steph giggled lightly again, "So you know your fair share of dances?"

The man gave a small smirk, "I have to, I was adopted into it, but I turned away from them when I was old enough, doesn't make a big difference to my life. if you don't count wasted time."

"Don't forget humiliation," she chuckled, he raised a questioning eye brow and she shrugged, "I have dancing, gravity is not my friend."

The man chuckled, "I`d love to see that." she opened her mouth to say something but the man grabbed her hand and pulled her into the crowed. of dancing people. He spun her around once so she was leaning against his chest ever so slightly, she blushed a bit when she fingers could feel hold toned he was even threw the shirt and jacket. her hands met his and they went back and forth.

"Your not to bad at this." he said. she blushed a bit more, "I could say the same to you."

"I never said I was bad at it, just that it was boring." he stated, "I might have to take that back."

"Why?" she asked. He tipped her back keeping eye contact till she was pressed to his chest once more, "This isn't boring."

Steph could only smiled and blush slightly, she hadn't realized her thoughts about Tim were out of her head completely. She was so using her vigilante privileges to find out who this guy was, he was just everything. her heels touched the floor in a ballet pattern to was like she was on the roof tops again, and the way this guy danced was commanding in nature and if she could say so a little sexy.

He spun her around again and this time she came back around she felt her balance falter and she accidently wrapped her leg around his right when he dipped her again. their faces were so close she held he breath till they came back up. she draped on arm around his neck and bit her lower lip, "Told you, Gravity and me don't mix."

"Hmm." he blinked again in thought, she didn't know if that was a good thing or not but the way his eyes were on her just made her not care.

she wrapped another arm around his neck and smiled, "who taught you how to dance, If you don't mind me saying you don't really seem the type to dance."

The man smiled, "I`m just trying to impress you. I really have no clue."

"It worked, I`m impressed." Stephanie giggled at his response. She leaned a little bit more against his chest and his hips rested on her hips, and god, his blue eyes, they were so getting to her, Tim was- wait, no, this wasn't Tim, what was she thinking? she couldn't, shouldn't hook up with some guy she cant even see every detail of his face! She liked or thought she liked Tim, and maybe he liked her two.

then where is he?

It didn't matter, if there was even a small chance between her and Tim someone she`s been crushing over since she saw him then could she really ruin it was this, perfect, blue eyed guy that was awesome...no...she couldn't. there was a chance she`d never see this man again. she didn't even know his name.

Stephanie hadn't realized she was so close to his face, she blinked a few times then loosened her arms and took a step back, "Um, I`m sorry, but I should-,"

"Get home, yeah," he nodded running a hand threw his hair, "Um, at least let me walk you to the cab."

She bit her lower lip in thought before meeting his eyes and nodded. They walked past the people and out the front door. They waited out front for a moment before the man turned to her, "Listen Sorry about your date bailing."

she waved it off even though it still was a big downer Tim left, "Don't worry about it." she said looking away and rubbing her upper arm in the cold night air. The man chuckled at this, "Stubborn girl." he muttered and took off his jacket before draping it around her shoulders. She looked up at him and smiled, "Thank you-

"Jason." he smirked shoving hands into his pant pockets. Stephanie smiled, she pulled off her mask just as he pulled off his and smiled, "Stephanie."

"You know," Jason smirked stepping a little closer to her, "It`s not every day I met some one so..."

"Crazy?"

"Sure." He chuckled, Stephanie rolled her eyes, "Jason I really like you."

"Good," he smiled, "that means I can do this."

She didn't have time to do anything not that she would have anyway before he pulled her close to his chest and their lips crash together softly. she brought her arms to wrap around his neck. She had to thank Tim for this...