-Dick's POV-

I crouched down beside the dead body. My partner, Amy Rohrbach, had already began studying the scene. She carefully peeled off her gloves and stood up.

"He has multiple signs of head trauma," Amy told a nearby officer, "However, he also has signs of heroine overdose. We will have to take this to Forensics." I bit my lip. The man was wearing a classy business suit. He was obviously important, but I couldn't identify him.

Amy hopped in her car, gesturing for me to follow. I took a running jump, sliding across the hood and into the window. She wasn't impressed. She rolled her eyes and drove us to the office.

When we got there, she shoved me into my chair after I tried to get up. "Dick, no running off. This case is important and you need to do your job," she shoved her finger into my chest. I groaned. Her painted nail barely grazed my Nightwing costume underneath. I liked being Officer Grayson. Being a cop allowed me to get tons of intel about Bludhaven's crime without putting myself as a target. But, I also still had to be Nightwing. I was hot on the heels of Red Hood. Being a cop full time made it impossible to chase after him.

And I had other fish to fry.

After three hours of wasted time researching a druggie case, my shift finally ended. Amy tried to stop me, but I bounded out before she could even touch me. I immediately took to the skies and ripped off my cop uniform.

The day time made me a very obvious attraction. People pointed and shouted at me as I flipped through the air. The more people that stopped in the street to watch me, the more I let my ego inflate. I began to show off a bit. I did trapeze trips in the air, running along buildings and swooping down over the crowd. A little girl let go of her mother's hand and took off, running into incoming traffic. The mother shouted out just as a car came whizzing by.

Seeing the danger, I dive bombed out of the sky, grabbing the girl around the waist as we were launched straight back up into the air. She screamed as we went flying. I smiled and hugged her to my chest. The girl softened and giggled, letting her arms dangle like she was Supes himself. I swung down and gently dropped her down in front of her mother. 

"Thank you, Nightwing," the mother grinned, shaking my gloved hand. I nodded.

"You're welcome, ma'am," I flicked my wrist in a salute and took off again. Before my feet left the ground, I saw something out of the corner of my eye.

A woman shuffled down the street quickly, a laptop and binder under her arms. I only saw her face for a brief second before she whipped around and began to walk the other way. I wasn't sure, but the body shape and the glimpse I had of her face pointed me to the conclusion that Athena Thomas was roaming the streets of Gotham in street clothes.

I grappled above the sidewalk, scanning the crowds of people walking along the streets. To me, she stuck out like a sore thumb. I identified her almost immediately. She flipped her pony tail over her shoulder as she looked up into the sky. When she noticed me, she ducked her head and shuffled through the crowd quicker.

Sensing a chase, I also picked up speed. I grappled a bit ahead of her path and landed in the middle of the sidewalk. She stopped dead in her tracks as the crowd fanned out. With a smirk, Athena turned on her heel and dashed down the sidewalk, turning down into an alley. 

"Challenge accepted," I mumbled to myself, grappling after her. She scaled a chain link fence and continued to run through alleys, trying to take turns to throw me off and double tracking her steps. But, I had the higher ground. Or rather, I wasn't on the ground.

I knew the area. Predicting that she was going to hit a dead end, I dropped down behind her and continued to run after her. Just as I thought, she came face to face with a concrete wall. I put my hands on my hips. 

We were both panting from the chase. She managed to still hold onto both of her items. The thick binder was tucked underneath her right arm and the laptop was snuggled underneath her left. 

Pursing her lips, she took a deep breath. "Well, hello Dick. Long time no see," Athena smiled a smile as fake as her feelings for me. 

I ran my fingers through my sweaty hair, purposely showing off the scar on my head. She chuckled softly. "Now, I didn't think you were suspicious. That is, until you started running. Now I have to question you." I made sure the camera and microphone in my mask and com were recording as I stepped forward.

"Although we both know that I could get away from you, I'll play your game," Athena gently placed her items beside her as she plopped down on the ground, "ask away, Grayson."

She sat crissed-crossed with her back against the concrete wall. Her usually intense face was care free, like she was any other normal twenty year old. She was slightly tanner since the last time we saw each other. I tried really hard not to smile at the thought of Athena enjoying the beach. It was so out of her character, yet she had told me when we were dating that she really loved the ocean.

"Let's start with the obvious. Are you or are you not working with Red Hood?" I asked, squaring my shoulders and locking my emotions away. Athena closed her eyes as she stretched out the muscles in her neck.

"I can't deny nor confirm," she yawned, opening her blue eyes and focusing them on me. Her gaze seemed to be studying me, all her focus concentrated on me specifically. It was the same feeling that one gets when someone you admire stops to listen to you talk. I felt my cheeks get hot. I hoped the alley was dark enough not to see the pinkness.

I struggled to get back to business. Barbara's face popped into my head, making me feel guilty. "You let Red Hood go once I injured him."

"Yes." She confirmed.

"And then you prevented me from going after him."

"Yes."

"So, you are helping him?"

"I can't deny nor confirm," Athena repeated, "Was I allowing him to get away because he is my partner or was I preventing you from hurting a man while he was down? Was I doing it to help my personal needs or was I helping a citizen? Selfish or selfless?"

Athena was good at twisting my mind around with her devious words. I bit down on my lip and regained my focus. "You have been busy. Many witnesses have said that they have spotted you and Red Hood stealing trucks and other cargo vehicles."

She tilted her head, revealing her sharp jawline and slender neck. "Yes, but witnesses have also claimed to seeing fights going on between Nightingale and Red Hood on rooftops. I read the Gotham Gazette. Do you?" 

She was right. I didn't know why I hoped that she wouldn't read her own headlines. 

"What is your motive for stealing drugs and other goods from Mob bosses?" I switched subjects, feeling embarrassed. Athena didn't even hesitate.

"They're Mob bosses," Athena grinned, "should they not be stopped? Should illegal substances and weapons not be handed over to the GCPD?"

Once again, she rebutted, leaving me speechless. I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Athena noticed my pause in the conversation. She laughed and smiled lovingly, as if we were old friends. 

But, we weren't. At least, not anymore.

"Oh, Grayson. Never change," Athena pushed off the wall, picking up her binder and laptop, "Until next time, Grayson. Keep questioning. And maybe there will be a time when we stop fighting." 

She brushed past me and I did nothing. I let her merge back into the busy streets of Gotham. Athena disappeared just as quickly as I had captured her.

Feeling flustered and frustrated, I returned home as the sun went down. Barbara was preparing some spaghetti.

"Hey Dick," she called over her shoulder, "you hungry?"

I sat down on the couch and pinched the bridge of my nose. "Very." I sighed, leaning back and closing my eyes. A strong aroma of tomatoes and basil filled my nose. I cracked open one eye. Barbara placed a plate in front of me and studied me.

She crossed her legs underneath her and cradled her spaghetti. "What happened?" Barbs asked, taking a huge bite of pasta. 

"Nothing," I lied.

"You usually finish anything I put in your hands in less than a minute. You haven't even touched your spaghetti," Barbara slid my plate closer to me, "so, what happened?"

Of course. I could never lie to a detective's daughter. "I'm sorry for lying to you. But, it's really nothing. Just a little work trouble. That's it." I technically didn't lie, so Barbs let it slide. I picked up my plate. The scent made my mouth water. Barbara really was an amazing cook. I chowed down, finishing the whole entire pile.

Barbara giggled and stood up. I watched as she stalked towards me. Her eyes were dark with desire. Slowly, she put a leg on either side of my lap as she lowered her body down onto me. Her arms snaked behind my neck as she pressed her chest against mine.

Her long nails stroked the bare skin exposed on my neck. She pressed her lips to my cheek, kissing her way down. Barbara was sexy. There was no doubt about our physical attraction. But, Athena's smugness was consuming all my energy and brain power. I let my body and basic urges take over, but there was no feeling in it.

~~~~~~~~~~I'm on a diet you guys so yes, describing spaghetti is definitely helping and torturing me at the same time. How's your guy's summers going? I have been writing a lot, though, not exclusively this book. I am working on a few original pieces. I actually have a question for you guys. Do you think Icarus is a nice girl name? I've only been heard it used for a guy, so I was wondering if it sounded weird for a girl's name...~~~~~~