Now… didn't I tell you I'd have another one up a lot sooner! How's less than six hours sooner? Thanks for the support! Enjoy.

Half an hour later I'd lost track of how many shots I'd taken and, to be honest how many 'J's in the word 'Jameson'. The bartender was great though, putting up with my venting and fits of giggles whenever he himself was telling a story – coming from the important fact that I was laughing at all the wrong times. I gave in easily to the weightlessness of being drunk, how emotions were lighter than air. I barely noticed the stool being moved and occupied next to me. Not until the new arrival spoke.

"This is what you took from me saying get some sleep?" Nightwing asked. He really did have the exasperated tone perfected.

"I recall that was your suggestion. Not an order general."

He was about to answer when the sound of someone clearing their throat brought our attention forward. The bartender obviously wasn't used to nor trusted guys in masks annoying his patrons.

"You alright there Miss?" He asked. Aw! He's defending me! The Irish people are amazing…

"I'm fine tanks Cormac," I pushed my power into the words then. "Nothing out of the ordinary about this guy. He's a friend."

Cormac's expression relaxed. "Can I get you anything then?"

I could see Nightwing about to refuse when I spoke up. "Three of the same Cormac!"

He chuckled and filled the glasses, placing them in front of my masked 'friend'.

"I really hope these are for you," he sighed, staring at the whiskey like it was an armed foe.

I couldn't help it, I laughed at his expression. Something I felt I hadn't done in way too long. The sound made his lips quirk. "Come on Nightwing, grow a pair. We're not working til tomorrow and this might actually let you relax."

With a deep sigh, he downed them neatly, so easily that I was disappointed. I had hoped drinking would be something he wouldn't be good at.

"Is that why you're here?" He asked as Cormac replenished our liquor. "To relax?"

I shrugged before swallowing another, the burn was dulling the more I drank. "You got me."

"Still can't sleep?"

I frowned at him, which he avoided by downing another three shots. I shook my head lightly, "I can sleep just fine…" the lie tasted bitter through my teeth.

An hour later I stepped outside for air, Nightwing suggested he followed encase I collapsed but I could tell the alcohol had hit him too. The fresh air didn't help my swaying vision, but it felt good on my fevered skin. Leaning back on the bar wall I pulled a pack of cigarettes out of my pocket and lit one. I raised it to my lips only to catch a glare.

"What?" I asked blankly.

"Do I even need to say it?"

Rolling my eyes I dragged deeply on the cigarette, welcoming the numbing sensation. Soon I'd feel nothing and finally be able to rest.

"Bad habit," I said post-exhaling. "One of many."

Nightwing leaned back against the wall next to me, I was far too aware of his arm nearly brushing my own.

"It's all right to admit you're terrified." His voice was soft, instantly making me defensive.

"I'm not –"

"You're hands are shaking Fray," never thought I'd miss the condescending tone he usually used when speaking to me. I glanced down and noticed that he was right, I took another drag of the cigarette, my trembling white knuckles easy to see close up to my face.

"I didn't want any of this," I breathed. Unable to meet his piercing gaze I instead stared upwards, the stars easily seen with the minimal street lights.

"I know. I understand –"

"No… you really don't." I wanted to round on him, yell scream, lash out but I couldn't summon the energy. "The place we're going, it's worse than just bad memories. It's… everything I've been running from, protecting Sadira from, protecting myself from. Every instinct in my body is telling me to run."

"And you're not," Nightwing detached from the wall and faced me. Made me make eye contact with him. His blue irises seemed to glow in the dim light. "That's how strong you are. You're here doing what's right instead of running away. Doesn't that make you trust your strength?"

"My strength?" I shook my head, smiling despite the fact that nothing about this situation was funny. "I'm wasted on smoke and whiskey in an old bar in the back ass of nowhere. I doubt I'd even be able to run ten metres without throwing up and you call that strength?"

He placed both his hands on my shoulders, the heat of them easily felt under my lighter clothing, his thumbs brushed my collar bones making it hard to think clearly.

"You are strong enough to face whatever is in that base." His voice held that finality to it that I almost believed him. "You need to have faith in yourself you need –"

I cut him off by stepping forward, the words choked off by or sudden proximity. He had leaned down to speak to me but with my movement our closeness was intense. I couldn't see anything around his masked face, I could feel every breath against my lips.

"I don't need faith," I whispered the words, knowing that he could feel them on his mouth more than hear them. "What I need, right now is a distraction." Dropping the butt of the cigarette I slid my hands slowly up his thighs, hips, ribs and chest before settling them on either side of his neck, pulling gently Nightwing placed his hands on the wall behind me, steadying us both. We were so close now that our noses and foreheads lined up.

Obviously losing patience Nightwing pushed forward, trapping my body between his and the wall. Our mouths collided, all thought of being gentle as lost as our control. His lips claimed mine, pushing it open so that our breaths merged in time for his tongue to plunge inside. He tasted of whiskey and night time, something I found quite ironic not that I even cared in that moment. His hands which had been holding my hips now trailed beneath my shirt, his fingers creating trails of fire up my abdomen until reaching the base of my bra.

He pulled back, making me growl, physically growl – god how embarrassing – chuckling, his lips trailed down my neck the words that came next slightly muffled against my skin.

"How far are we taking this," he breathed making me shiver. Impatience getting the best of me I dragged his chin back up before placing a tender kiss on his lower lip.

"About as far as your bedroom." His answering grin giving me the ok to grip is wrist and run into the night.

By the time we got into Nightwing's room I was in his arms, legs wrapped tightly around his waist giving me an even better angle kiss him. I was drunk, yes but I had the strangest feeling of an addiction to his lips, no matter how many times we stopped on the road back I didn't tire of pressing my mouth to his. Our tongues darted and melded together as he lay me down on the bed, my hands seemed to claw at his shirt before removing it, leaving me more than happy to explore the taught planes of his chest and abdomen. Soon after my shirt was removed, thrown and forgotten somewhere in the room. Those blue and masked eyes drank my form in, nothing special but a black t-shirt bra but from his reaction I may as well been in scarlet lace. Our lips met once more, his weight pressed my form down into the soft mattress, the added skin making us wild with need. My nimble fingers made quick work of his belt and jeans as did his with my own. When he pulled back to gaze at me again the desire to take of his mask overwhelmed me. His gaze was taking in every part of me yet I felt I could barely see him.

He rolled over then, hoisting me on top of him, my bare legs straddling his narrow hips. My hands that had splayed over his pectoral muscles slowly began to travel up towards his face as his trailed lower on my hips. His lips moved to my throat just as my fingers pressed to his temples before beginning to slide beneath the mask –

Nightwing's whole body stiffened and pulled back, still-masked eyes were wide as they bored into mine causing me to snatch my hands back.

"What are you doing?" He asked, breathless from our activities.

"I –" I stared back dazedly, not entirely sure what had just happened. "I'm sorry, I didn't realise…"

"Its fine," he assured before pulling me to him again. When our mouths met though it felt like ice water had just been thrown over my head. I wasn't wrapped up in the heat like I had been moments before. Without thinking Jackdaw's voice echoed in my head…

That guy trusts no one. How are you supposed to have anything with him if he doesn't trust you?

If he doesn't trust me…

Before I could even help it I sat up again, causing Nightwing to frown in confusion.

"Wait a second," my voice was hoarse from lack of use. "Just to get this straight… the mask is staying on?"

His confusion seemed to deepen, sitting up with me he slid backwards on the quilt, putting a bit of space between us seeing as I was making no move to get off his legs.

"Is… that a problem?" He asked gingerly.

Something in my gut knew that this conversation wasn't going to go anywhere good. My head started screaming at me to just leave it and continue with him but… somehow I just couldn't.

"Your past girls…" I went on. "Did they know your identity?"

"Yes… but as I mentioned before I'd known them for years."

"So you trusted them?"

"Yes."

The word was quick but harsh jab to the chest. I flinched despite my best efforts to stay neutral. He noticed my reaction and leaned forward, gentle hands stroking up and down my arms.

"That – that came out wrong. It's not that I don't trust you it's just that we haven't known each other very long and –"

"So you don't trust me," finished the long-winded excuse. Rolling my eyes I stood up from the bed and began picking up my clothes.

"No, Fraya wait don't do that," He stood up too trying to prevent my searching, anger sparked at his interference and I rounded on him.

"So I'm good enough to sleep with but not quite good enough to actually be told your name?" I threw the question at him. Causing him to sigh and run his hands through his hair.

"You don't understand –"

"No I understand perfectly." I cut across him. Pulling my t-shirt over my head followed by my jeans. "I can't believe I didn't realise…" I said it more to myself before turning to him once more. "Did it fail to reach your attention that every single member of your team have given me their names? They reached a stage all on their own to trust me and that was without anything but friendly feeling between me and them."

He just stood up straight and stared at me, his lips drawn out into a hard line without answering. His silence only made me angrier, the hurt making me want to lash out at him in any way I can.

"Just because you have Daddy and Mommy and whatever other past issues doesn't give you allowances to treat people this way." Anger sparked in his blue eyes, brighter than I'd seen in a long time. "Do you really think this little of me that I'd allow you to treat me like some paid whore not worth your name?"

When he finally answered his tone was black. "I don't even know why you're being so self-righteous about it when we both know you give it up for the dogs of Gotham."

Without thinking I threw my fist forward, towards his hardened features. Sadly he caught the punch in his own palm. I snapped it back, willing the lump in my throat away so my voice could sound unaffected. That I could pretend he hadn't caused the pain he did.

"Stay away from me." I hissed darkly before turning my heel.

I didn't look back or pause until I was back in my own room lying on my bed and staring at the ceiling. My chest throbbed painfully as did my throat but nothing was worse than the disappointment I felt in myself for this mess.

With a heaving sigh I turned on my side, willing myself to either pass out or throw-up so I at least could get some rest before dawn.