"So, how are you feeling?" Nightwing asked as he walked through the door of his and Artemis' house in Palo Alto.

"A little better. My headache is gone." Artemis said as she turned the tv off. She sat on the couch and Nightwing sat down next to her. She leaned on him and rested her head on his shoulder. About a few hours ago, Artemis went shopping with Miss Martian and Supergirl, but they ended up getting knocked out. She stayed home and slept or watched tv the rest of the day.

"I'm glad to see you're feeling better." Nightwing smiled, wrapped his arm around her and kissed her.

"Well, I have been pretty sleepy today. So I should head to bed already." Artemis said as she got up and went to the bedroom, then she turned to him, "are you coming?" Nightwing shook his head.

"I have a personal mission with Batman tonight. As much as I'd love to, I have work."

"Oh, that's a shame..." Artemis smirked and walked into the bedroom and fell on the bed. Nightwing groaned.

"Don't tease me, Arty! I have to go!"

"Fine. Maybe tomorrow then? Just be careful. Okay?" Artemis asked and walked up to him giving him a hug, then a quick kiss. Then she walked back to the bedroom and shut the door behind her. Nightwing walked to the door and opened it, but was startled when he saw Robin and Batgirl standing at the door.

"You weren't planning on leaving us behind were you?" Batgirl asked as she put her hands on her hips. Nightwing crossed his arms.

"Come on, Dick! You know you want to let us come along!" Robin smirked, earning him a groan from Nightwing.

"Fine." Nightwing finally answered and walked past them and out to the Batmobile where Batman was waiting.

"You really wanted them to come along didn't you?" Nightwing asked Batman as all three of them got in. Batman nodded and started up the Batmobile.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Batman asked.

"Positive." Nightwing replied. Robin looked at him.

"But you're past--"

"Is far behind me. Besides, I should get over my fears." Nightwing interrupted. Robin looked at Batgirl, who shrugged.

"Well, here we go." Batman said and he turned on his GPS tracker. They followed the radar until what they were tracking had stopped. They parked the Batmobile about a mile away where no one could see it. Then they peeked out of a cluster of nearby bushes at the Haly Traveling Circus tents and the train.

"So, remind us why we're here again?" Robin asked. Nightwing pulled up his wrist holographic computer.

"The Haly Traveling Circus is a world-wide traveling circus that travels around the world, making it the perfect train for traveling everywhere to steal weapons." Nightwing said.

"Although the team did eliminate the Parasite about six years ago, there have been a few coincidental New Genesis Tech robberies in the secured warehouses in the ares. Nightwing has convinced me to help him prove that Haly is clean and that there is no reason for the circus' closure." Batman concluded.

"Wait, New Genesis Tech? That red glowing tech that Superboy was messing with?" Robin asked.

"A little like that..." Nightwing said as he looked through his binoculars at the site.

"Sphere is New Genesis Tech." Batgirl told Robin.

"Okay, all clear. Let's go." Nightwing whispered, and they all snuck closer.

"I'm with Robin. We'll check out the train cars. Nightwing and Batgirl, you two take the tents. If anything goes wrong, meet at the planned rendezvous point when called. Haly should know we're on this mission. He knows who and what we're looking for, so if he sees anything suspicious, he knows to report it to us immediately." Batman said and they all nodded in understanding, then split up and headed to their designated areas.

"Beta in place." NIghtwing said through his transmitter. Batman replied.

"Alpha in place. Let's go."

__________________________________

Batgirl and Nightwing snuck around the circus looking through crates and barrels.

"So what exactly are we even looking for?" Batgirl asked.

"Not sure, but most of the places that were robbed were New Genesis Tech, plus some regular non-alien equipment like scrap metal or a wrench. Putting two and two together, it sounds kind of like they're trying to build something with the New Genesis Tech." Nightwing explained.

"Well, what is possible to be built with New Genesis Tech?" Batgirl asked.

"Modern weapons of destruction: explosives, guns, black holes, portals, time machines, anything destructive." Nightwing answered. About five minutes of silence later, Batgirl was the first to speak up.

"So...you and Artemis, huh?" Nightwing turned to her suddenly.

"Yeah..." Nightwing said.

"How many girls have you actually dated, Dick Grayson?!" Batgirl asked putting her hands on her hips. Nightwing chuckled nervously.

"Well, there's Zatanna, Rocket, Bette, you, then Artemis."

"Too many. You are a dog." Batgirl chuckled. Nightwing looked at the ground and chuckled, also remembering that that's what Wally had called him. He looked up at Batgirl and saw she was watching him.

"I mean, Artemis is different. Starfire was here, Artemis made sure I wasn't...you know, 'moved' by her looks. Of course I wasn't, but that showed me how much Artemis really cares for me. I'm sorry to say this, but as far as caring goes, Artemis is the best. But don't worry! As far as...other things go...you qualify." Nightwing said. Batgirl smiled and walked up to him.

"'Qualify', huh? Not 'win'?" Batgirl asked.

"...what?! No! I'm sorry, I really didn't mean it that way!"

"I'm just glad you're happy. Artemis, I agree, is a pretty and kind girl. You really are a very lucky man, Dick." Batgirl said then she wrapped her arms around him and put her mouth right next to his ear and whispered, "and she is a very lucky girl to have such a strong, hot, and sexy boyfriend." Nightwing smirked, and he could feel her smirking too. Then she gave him a kiss on the cheek, and she walked away, leaving a blown away Dick Grayson under a mask.

They continued their search and reached the giant show ring at the center of the biggest tent. Nightwing stopped Batgirl in her tracks.

"What?" Batgirl asked.

"Something's not right..." Nightwing replied. Batgirl scanned the area. Suddenly a spotlight turned on and it fell on the two of them.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to the Haly Circus! And now, for our next acts: Nightwing and Batgirl!" A voice boomed through the empty tent. Nightwing and Batgirl slowly backed away looking around in search of the too familiar voice.

"...that voice... that voice I was hoping to never hear again..." Batgirl muttered.

"The Riddler. This is all too uncomfortably familiar!" Nightwing yelled.

"Awww. I hate big words! They're too much on the ol' brain." The Riddler replied on the loudspeaker.

"Well guess what? All your stupid riddles are 'too much on the ol' brain'!" Batgirl yelled.

"Now that's not nice, Little Girl! Tell you what, I'll give you one of my 'stupid riddles'! How's that sound?" Riddler asked.

"Oh joy...they're totally to die for..." Nightwing muttered as he crossed his arms.

"No, no! You're really going to love this one! Took me all night to come up with it! Okay, here we go. What do you call someone who shucks stalks of corn and loves spying on people? Come on! You kids gotta get this!"

"A stalker?" Nightwing asked as he looked to Batgirl, who just rolled her eyes as the Riddler started cackling.

"You kids are good! You're close! It's  the Stalker! Ta da!" The Riddler announced. Suddenly, the entrance to the tent was blocked behind them. Then a light flashed and the Riddler appeared with a figure standing next to him. The figure stepped out. It was a really pretty girl that had an evil look in her eyes. Nightwing and Batgirl stood gaping.

"We may have an issue here..." Batgirl muttered.

- To be Continued -

Hey guys! Forgot to tell you, this is a villain I made up! ;)