Disclaimer: I don't own Young Justice, but I do own Andie Kyle.

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Robin stepped out of the limo. He waved to Alfred; nodded at Bruce, and walked away. I watched as the car travelled deep into the streets of Salt Lake City – until someone hit me from behind. The sidewalk bustled with activity; I scooted sideways to avoid another body check.

A kid trod on my foot; I scowled at the little boy; his mother scowled at me. I pointed to his spiked football boots, as if to say 'yes, he's a kid, but that doesn't make it less painful.' She stalked off, throwing an evil look over shoulder.

Robin stood, oblivious, to the churning sea of people. His fingers flew over the keys of his wrist computer; eyes glued to the screen.

I cleared my throat, cheeks flaming. "Listen, what we discussed in the limo-"

"Can stay in the limo." He stopped typing.

I eyed him. "Don't you want to talk about this? You know, seriously?"

"Don't we have enough 'serious' going on?" He turned back to his watch, effectively ending the conversation. "We need to find Klarion."

"Fine." I took a deep breath, smothering my annoyance. "Where do we start?"

Robin angled his watch towards me. A hologram newscaster popped up, sharing information about a riot in the shopping district of Salt Lake City. "We'll follow the chaos." The translucent reporter gained a few stares, and Robin shut off the hologram just as a pair of girls approached.

They sidled up to Robin's side. The girl with a deep tan looked him up and down. I rolled my eyes. We don't have time for this. Her sidekick, Ms Hairy Lip, rested a hand on Robins shoulder. My fingers itched to break that hand.

"You look lost," says Queen Tan, "Need us to show you around the city? Helping cute guys is my favourite pastime."

He blinked, as if just noticing the hot girls invading his personal space.

I grabbed his arm. "Do you mind? We're kind of busy."

They turned to me with appraising looks. "And what exactly, are you?" said sidekick Hairy lip.

I reached up to peel her hand off Robin's shoulder. "His girlfriend."

"Girlfriend? So," Queen Tan leans forward, "nothing's permanent, right?" She looked at Robin with a dazzling smile. "Lucky for him."

My patience snapped, and I stepped forward, raising a fist. Robin blocked my target; I glared at his back.

"It's best if you girls leave," his voice adopted a sharp edge. "...The smell of desperation makes me sick."

I heard a gasp from Queen Tan, followed by the smack of skin on skin. Robin's head snapped sideways. Seconds later, the girls flounced off.

I stepped back. "Why did you stop me?" He turned around, and I eyed the mark across his cheek. He could have dodged that; he didn't try.

"We both know you would have won that fight."

"So?"

"So, it would have been boring to watch," he said, lip twitching.

Everything's a joke to you, I think, exasperated. I pushed the rim of my cap away from my eyes. "On second thought, those girls can have you."

He raised an eyebrow. "So what you're saying… is that we're not exclusive?"

"No... I... It's..."

He flashed a grin at me. "I'll tell Zee the good news."

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Robin yanked on my arm, and I staggered back, falling into him. Seconds later, a masked boy sped past on his skateboard.

I should have seen him coming. I shook Robin off, embarrassed. "A simple 'move' would have done wonders."

He raised a brow. I chose to ignore the judgment in his eyes. "What?" I said, striding ahead. It was getting dark.

We moved deeper into the Shopping district. The streets were lined with demolished stores and dwindling fires. I hopped over the remains of a Burger stand.

"They've already trashed this place." My eyes followed a hooded figure as he ran through an alley - No doubt a straggler from the rioters.

Robin nodded. "Keep moving."

The stench of burning rubber stung my nostrils as we trawled through the streets. In the distance, glass shattered; someone yelled. Seconds later, there was a chorus of victory 'whoops'.

"We're close," Robin said, overtaking me.

I jogged to catch up, and as we turned a corner there they were: A herd of boys - or flat chested girls - broke through a bakery display window. They were in and out within seconds. Across the road, the owner of an electronics store fought back. And lost. With a cutlass against his throat, he swiftly unlocked the shutters...

And watched as they stole his livelihood.

I grasped Robin's wrist, dragging him closer. "We need to stop this."

He shook his arm free. "I don't think so. We're here for Klarion."

"You can't be serious."

"I am." He leant closer, and his breath tickled my nose… but then he pulled my cap off. My cat ears twitched with the sudden cold. "Do I really need to give a reason?"

I snatched my hat back. "You just did," I muttered.

"We'll split up," he said, pulling off his hoody to reveal his Robin costume. After digging through his pockets, he produced a black mask.

"You came prepared." I commented.

He nodded, and tossed something towards me. "Keep the line free."

I looked at the comm unit clasped in my palm. "Who else am I going to call?"

He shrugged, "Wally… Artemis… some other boyfriend?"

"Ha. Ha." I turned away to begin my search.

In actuality, there was nothing funny about my situation: I was on bad terms with Wally and Artemis. I hardly spoke to M'gaan. Conner didn't care what the hell I did. And Kaldur, well, Kaldur was too much of a 'leader' to be approachable.

The result: I had no one else to call.

I glanced at Robin. He's the only person I speak to. I tried to ignore the voice in my head that screamed 'loser '.

I had to make some friends.

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I poked my head into an alley way, drowning out the war cries from the rioters. "Klarion! Are you there?"

Silence.

I sighed; it's not like I expected an answer, but still, a girl can hope. "Robin."

"Yeah?" His voice emerged through a faint buzz of static. I tapped the comm unit attached to my ear. "Any luck?" He asked.

"No. We're not going to find him like this. We need a plan."

"This is my plan."

I glanced at the empty alleyway; I was certain he was having the same results. "…And how's that working out for you?"

"Just keep looking." He ordered, before cutting the connection.

"Fine." I snapped, wondering how a genius could form such a stupid plan.

I turned away from the alley, pausing when shoes scuffed against the pavement. I peered into the shadows, stepping into the narrow opening.

"Congratulations. You found me." The voice was that of an eleven year old; high pitched and gleeful, like a child playing hide and seek. I pondered, briefly, how anyone could have such a whiny voice when they weren't even complaining. He stepped into the glare from the street lamp.

He looked exactly like his profile picture: Long nose, thin lips, and narrow eyes. I scanned over his slight frame; he looked to be in his early twenties. But I've seen his file. Klarion is older. Way older.

I bit my tongue to keep from commenting on his… horns of hair; I needed him on my side, after all. I dug the glamour out of my pocket. "I've got an offer to make you."

"I know. Word travels fast." He grinned, but that smile faltered when a ginger cat wrapped itself around his leg. "Not now Teekl," he said, shaking it off. His eyes followed the glamour that dangled from my fingertips. "What do you want for it?"

I fished the ancient document out of my pocket. "I want you to perform this spell for me." He reached forward, but I pulled away. "Do we have a deal?"

His lips lifted up at the corners. "First, I need to see the spell. Who's to know If its beyond my magical abilities?"

I hesitated, briefly, before giving in. "Fine," I said, handing him the paper, "but if you tear it, the deal is -"

It burst into flames.

'No!" I yelled, springing forward. He sidestepped my frantic leap. I attacked with a high kick, certain It would crack a bone or two. Only it didn't. Because it didn't land. I spun around, searching for his frail, bird-like stature. Each second my anxiety grew: Klarion was burning the only spell in existence that could cure me.

The brush of fur on skin was my only warning before the glamour was tugged out of my grasp. I dove for the cat. It danced away with a showy display of dexterity.

"Klarion!" I yelled, rising to my feet in desperation. Something hit me from behind. I went sprawling to the floor, my hat flying off. The pavement scraped my arms.

I rolled over, onto my back, and there he was- floating over me. Klarion lay on a comfortable bed of… nothing. Even his pristine suit defied the effects of gravity. Above his head were the remains of my spell - slowly cooking in a blaze of blue flames.

I shot up.

Klarion hit me back down. I winced as my head knocked against the pavement.

"Bad idea. A sorcerer's flames tend to...stick."

Stick? I tensed, and eyed the fire. An image of Zatanna came to mind. I thought of her body, dressed in permanent burns, mottled black and brown. And then I thought of me, in her place. I wouldn't be able to handle that; to live with that.

So I stepped down; I turned my head and listened to the crackle and pop of burning paper. I lay there long after the ash had fallen and the fire's glow had gone. Even as Teekl reappeared with the glamour in its mouth, I lay there. It didn't matter anymore.

Klarion crouched down, and collected the necklace. The cat purred.

The sharp tap of heels announced the presence of another person. Perhaps a partner. I didn't have the interest to turn and look; I couldn't muster the curiosity to care. And why should I? In a few weeks, days even, I would cease to exist.

"Where is it?" The voice was smooth, and tight with control.

"Burnt. Like you asked," replied Klarion.

"Is it the last one?"

"It's the only one," came Klarions incredulous reply, "spells like that can't be replicated; the paper is just as powerful as the language written on it."

"Good … I see you've already collected your reward."

Klarion lifted the hand that held my glamour. "No. This is just extra. I still expect to be paid."

A laugh. Very high. Very feminine. "Don't be foolish."

My heart skipped a beat. I recognised that laugh. I'd memorised those words.

"She's moving." Klarion said.

"I'm well aware." The heels came closer. "We'll discuss your payment another time."

"We better," Karion's whine was gone, replaced by a sulky grumble. Seconds later he vanished.

I rose to my feet. I made a point of dusting myself off before I allowed my eyes to roam upwards. "Selina." The word was bitter in my mouth.

"Hello, Andrea." She stared at my cat eyes, her lips pulling up. "Finally."

Don't you just love some good mother/daughter bonding? Nxt chapter coming soon.