"Questioning"

By: The Angelic Temptress

Disclaimer: DC Comics, Bruce Timm, Warner Bros. and others own all the characters, save one. No infringement is intended. The story idea is mine, and the characters are only being borrowed for practice. I'm not making any money.

Rating: PG-13 for language

Spoilers: "Starcrosssed" and parts of "The Return"

XX

Prologue:

Because it was around midnight in the darkened city of Gotham, most of its inhabitants were sound asleep.

Except for him.

As the city's self-proclaimed protector and vigilante, it was his duty to make sure the people were safe to see the next sunrise. After all, he remembered when his parents had seen their last sundown…

The city had been unusually quiet lately, the reason being that most of Arkham's inmates had been locked away recently. Sworn enemies of his were being held behind Plexiglas walls in the asylum, receiving three meals and an hour of recreation a day.

Although most of those notorious criminals were behind bars, he still had to keep a close eye on the "up-and-coming" murderers, thieves, rapists, gangsters, and maniacs. It was his duty to catch them before the police paid attention, for when the GCPD took on a case, it was usually after a person or two had been found lying face down in the pavement in a puddle of their own blood.

Tonight, nothing that extreme had occurred.

At least, not yet.

As if on cue at eleven forty-nine, the all too familiar signal hit the sky, settling on Gotham's dense clouds. Instantly, he brought an arm from beneath his cape and shot his grapple gun, latching onto another building. With little effort, he swung to the next rooftop, heading toward the police station.

Commissioner Jim Gordon stood by the powerful signal, along side a woman the vigilante did not recognize.

Wearing a leather duster, a cream-colored turtleneck, blue jeans, and black heels, the young woman appeared to be around the age of thirty. She possessed shoulder-length caramel hair, touched with blonde highlights. The wind tousled her wavy strands, getting them in her face. With one hand, she tucked her hair behind her ears and then stuffed both hands in her coat pockets.

He could almost smell her career. She was a detective, but not just any detective. She was a federal agent; he could tell by the way she stood beside Gordon, as if he were lucky to be blessed with her presence.

Almost silently, he landed behind the duo and allowed his heavy cape to hide his body.

"Commissioner?"

The female nearly jumped with surprise but tried to cover with a tough glare.

"Batman. Thanks for coming." Jim's solemn expression told his friend that the requested visit was not for anything good.

But when was it?

"What seems to be the problem?"

"There is no problem, Batman," the attractive woman assured. "I needed to speak with you, and Commissioner Gordon was the only man who could get your attention."

The Dark Knight slowly ran his poignant gaze over her shapely body, giving her the impression of a man who liked to examine… everything. He wanted to make her feel uncomfortable. Of course, The Batman never had to try too hard.

"I am Special Agent Alexia Zorica of the FBI, and I have attained a warrant for the arrest of your former teammate, Hawkgirl. I believe the Thanagarian commander called her Shayera Hol."

Batman narrowed his cold eyes. "And what does this have to do with me?"

"I have permission to question the original members of The Justice League for information on her whereabouts."

"If you've forgotten, the League has publicly separated itself from Hawkgirl. We haven't seen or spoken to the Thanagarian since the invasion."

"Well, if the six of you are as caring or as righteous as you claim to be, one of you may be aiding the traitor. After all, you did work with her for several years."

The Caped Crusader turned his back to the agent and began walking toward the edge.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" Zorica demanded as she started after him.

"I need to inform the others of your request, Agent Zorica." Before she could say another word, The Batman dove off of the building.