BlueBeetlesGal and ChillinVanilla have submitted their amazing entries for my one-shot competition ^_^ It's open until the end of this book remember, but check out these two entries!

I throw papers into their fitting piles, scattered across my desk. Telysha and the other ADA's jog in, asking for what to do next and I snap back at them orders.

Things are crazy. Hectic.

A sudden influx of crime has occurred in the city over the past week. It usually does, being the start of the year and all.

Two weeks in and chaos.

It is annoying for many reasons. It brings a mountain of work for us here in legal, terrorises the city an most of all; Jason and the others are out every night.

My bed is cold. And lonely.

I worry about him, Tim, Dami, Dick and Bruce out there, in the 'wild'. As well as cops like Gordon and my sister.

As for my other sister; she either stays home with the dogs, explores the city with some muscle following her for protection (ordered by my dad) or comes in to help Kalie. She's shopping right now though.

The phone is ringing like a bell, constantly. Kalie is panicking with her little experience and I am on the verge of breaking down, trying to keep all of the crimes in separate files, for when we have to fight the cases.

At the same time I'm sending off my ADAs and their lowers to investigate current cases, meanwhile trying to maintain what's happening in the courts right now.

I should break down. But I don't.

Every time I feel a little too on edge, like I might pull my gun out and shoot up my desk, I take a seat and hold my necklace pendant in my hand.

Following up with a deep breath, things get better. I can power on for the next hour or so, before I need to calm down.

"A package has arrived for you," Kalie says, walking in and placing a box on my desk. "Do you need anything?" Her hair is a little haphazard and she is obviously tired.

"I think we both do," I say, opening my large bottom draw. I pull out my work aesthetic, a bottle of whiskey, and two glasses. "It will help."

She smiles slightly, taking a seat across from me.

I pour the smallest amount in each glass and hand one to her.

"Haven't drunk since I left the bar," she tells me. I look at her in surprise.

"Then you definitely need it," I say with a grin. She smiles, drinking some.

"Leona warned me about this. She said the stress would grip me, like a vice," she says. "The start of the year, Valentines day, St Patricks Day, 4th of July, Halloween. They all bring crime. This city is so messed up," she says softly. Her expression turns to confusion. "Why the hell did you come here of all places?"

I have to laugh at that, as I finish my drink.

"It was the place I knew I could make the most difference, because it needed it," I say. She seems to mull over that, as my eyes fall to the package. Sighing, I reach out and pull it forward.

I expect evidence or files or something. More to add on the stress of the day.

The lid comes off with a struggle and the last thing I expect to find sits in there, poised to attack. I leap to my feet and jump back defensively, and Kalie squeals.

A huge, black, armoured scorpion is in a stance, poised to attack. It leaps at me. My killer instinct to whack it to the side mid-air occurs.

It lands on my desk and tumbles, so I grab the nearest thing- the whisky bottle -and smash it over the top of it. It squeals in pain.

I expect a different reaction. I expected it to be in pain, too much to move. But I can tell immediately by the crumpling of the outer shell that it's metal. This is a droid. 

Changing things up I flip the broken bottle neck around and stab it down on the centre of the torso The combination of force and whiskey is what stops it, sparks flying and the slow dying of a scorpions squeal.

~

"Whadda ya say?" The Clown Prince of Crime says excitedly. He's practically tapping his heels together as he speaks to the woman, Sukiyo.

"I do not see how torturing Venus Meadow will benefit you," she says. She is reluctant to go into business with a madman.

"Word on the street is the good ol' Red Hood has a little soft spot for the pretty little DA. If I torture her with the pain he went through it's sure to cause damage. You benefit from the scars it leaves on her and I get one angry fight with the red boy!"

Sukiyo hums to herself, striding slowly across the room. 

Causing Venus Meadow pain was one of her many plans. Inflicting similar damage her engagement to Hiroshi caused Sukiyo seemed like a good idea.

And that meant ruining the relationship between her and the Red Hood. 

"I have ways of breaking them," she admits softly, fingers gracing over the scorpion she planned to send today. It will mislead Venus in believing where her enemies are.

Sukiyo turns to smile at the Joker.

"But I believe your plan will be a brilliant edition."

~

Jason doesn't let go of me.

Not when we're standing in the dining room of Wayne Manor as Dick, Damian and Bruce speak, Tim somewhere analysing the scorpion.

Not when Alfred tends to the cuts in my palms of my hands. He keeps a death grip on my waist, like I could be attacked any moment.

Well, I could. 

"Where did you send Kalie?" Dick asks me.

"To Ginger. My sister too," I reply. Dick nods slowly, telling me that was a good move.

Tim emerges, no mask but the rest of his uniform, unlike the others. He's holding a piece of the scorpion in his hands.

"No doubt," he sighs. "It's from the League of Assassins." 

A silence settles over the room. I feel Jason finally release me, an unreadable expression on his face as he stares at the floor.

Damian looks like he's in disbelief. He closes in on Tim, snatching the piece out of his hand. The small metal scale has the sigil of the League of Assassins on it.

His Grandfather's sigil. His mother's.

"These have been used by us-...them before," he admits softly.

I'm being targeted by the League of Assassins? 

Multiple reason run through my head, the first and most obvious being Talia Al Ghul wants me dead. Second is the LOA are still rivalling with the organisation that trained me to fight. Next it someone is targeting Jason or Damian, known associates of me and the League. And last, someone is using League assets.

I repeat this to them.

"Who did you train with?" Damian asks in an indignant tone.

"The Warriors of Red Dust, for a few years," I reply.

"Australians," he mumbles under his breath. "Well it's not them. We've no quarrel with them. They're not targeting me. So..."

All eyes but mine fall to Jason, who is now edging away from me slowly.

"She hates me. It's no one's fault but my own," I say before any of them.

"It may not be Talia. They could simply be targeting-"

"Me?" Jason snaps, interrupting Bruce. "Just say it like you fucking want to. I brought this on," he yells. I take the four steps between us and I reach out, grabbing his arm.

"Jay, you know this isn't because of you, okay?"

"How do I know that?" He says. I sigh, closing my eyes because I have no answer.

"Venus," Bruce begins. I turn around. "I think you should stay here, at the manor for a while. Your little sister as well. Your assistant should probably stay with Ginger. We'll have extra surveillance for your workplace as well. Is this okay?" He suggests calmly.

Jason won't look me in the eye, but I smile and Bruce, nodding.

"Yes, thank you," I say. He nods back.

"Dick, Damian. You two and myself will escort Miss Meadow to her apartment. She'll collect her things and return here. We need to be on high alert, understand?" The two nod and leave to change as Bruce gives orders to Tim.

~

I pack my bag quickly. Jason decides to accompany, still sulking. Nightwing stays at the door, Robin perched outside and Batman... I don't know, honestly.

Tim is picking up my sister, so I grab her stuff as well.

Things seem eerily quiet as I stuff things into my suitcase. Jason is by my side, helping. He makes sure to put in my Red Hood shirt. At least he's still being him.

"What about Levi and Kira?" I ask.

"Alfred picked them up from puppy school," he replies. I take a deep breath and nod. I need to calm down. Everything will be fine.

I glance at my beautiful apartment again. I'm so sick of leaving it. And my plants are going to die... This is fucked!

When we return to the manor, Caelan is sitting on the staircase with Tim beside her. They're talking, if I can hear correctly, about Star Wars.

I'll never admit it out loud that I love that series. Only Caelan knows I'm a closet geek.

"Miss Meadow. If you follow me I can show you where your room is," Alfred says to Caelan politely when he enters. Levi and Kira are on leashes at his sides.

"What the fuck? Why aren't they running rampant like they do with us?" Jason complains. Levi and Kira never behave for us.

Alfred gives a kindly smug smile, "I'm very good with animals."

He hands me Levi's leash and Jason Kira's.

The dogs sleep at the foot of the bed, like they usually do. I shower and change into shorts and a singlet.

Jason is nowhere to be seen, which is upsetting, because I would have liked to be comforted. Especially since I haven't seen him in weeks.

I call my dad and tell him what happened. He begins swearing in Russian about 'Nanda Parbat scum'. I calm him down with the knowledge that Caelan and I are staying in a heavily guarded mansion.

Only in the early hours of the morning, when sleep has only barely touched my consciousness does Jason slide into the bed behind me.

But he doesn't touch me. Doesn't pull me in.

Instead he speaks. One sentence that I did not expect to hear, whispered into the darkness whilst he thinks I'm asleep.

"I can't lose you."