"Jet sure is scary..." Alacrity chuckled a little, "is it hard to have a boyfriend like him?"

"Oh, not at all. He's only scary like that if you don't do as you're told." Night Owl smiled as they turned a corner, "but other than his really leader-like side, he's really sweet. I mean, sure he can be really quiet sometimes... Most times... But he's a great guy. He dreams of becoming the leader of the team when he's older."

"Well, he can definitely play the part." Alacrity nodded, then sighed, "we need to keep going. The sooner we can find things out, the sooner we can get back Bart. I'm just really worried about him, you know?"

"I know. I feel like that every time we go on a mission. You never know if you'll see the person or people you love ever again." Night Owl shrugged, "but that's what keeps me going every day. Just like your drive to find Bart. You'll get him back. Your love for him is what makes you stronger."

Alacrity smiled and nodded as they approached a small house in Opal City.

"This looks... Creepy." Alacrity muttered as they walked up the steps and onto the porch, "should we at least change into civilian clothes?"

"Nah. No need. It's almost midnight, and we're kind of in the middle of nowhere." Night Owl said, "besides, if we need to make a run for it, you've got it all covered, right?"

"Sure... But what if this isn't the right place?"

"Well, only one way to find out." Night Owl took a quick breath before knocking on the door. The entire house looked so worn out and run-down. So worn out, in fact, that even a teenager would think it was a haunted house.

"Who's there!" A voice screeched from behind the door.

"U-uh... Our names are Alacrity and Night Owl. We're here to speak to a Mister Richard Swift?"

Silence.

Until the door slammed open, "what do you kids want with me?!"

"We just came to talk to you... You know, we're looking for our friend and we think you might know a thing or two about his disappearance."

"... What's the kid's name?"

"Bart Allen." Alacrity answered, hoping with all her heart that he could tell them something.

The man only stared at the two, then shook his head, "never heard of him."

"Well, uh, do you have some connection with these two men?" Night Owl pulled out a photo of the blue and yellow blurs from the video message sent to them when they were looking for Red X some time back, "I know it's blurred, but does this seem familiar at all?"

"No."

The door slammed shut, and Alacrity and Night Owl were left empty-handed.

"We're part of the Young Justice team, and we need your input on--"

"Young Justice, as in the petty pep squad for the Justice League?!" Richard Swift opened the door again, only a crack.

"Yeah."

The man only stared at them, smiled, and replied, "then send my regards to Flash."

Then he slammed the door shut again.

"Huh... O-okay..." Alacrity muttered, "so that's it..."

"That smile..."

"Huh?"

"That was a very evil smile..." Night Owl shook her head, "something's not right about this guy."

The two began walking down the sidewalk, when suddenly, Richard's house blew up to pieces. Flaming pieces of wood flying everywhere.

"What the..." They turned to look at what was remaining of the house on fire.

"Who did this?!" Alacrity ran up to the house and scanned past the flames, "I don't see anyone... As if it were all just abandoned."

"Better get going. Before the cops get here. Wouldn't really want to have to face them, they'll think we're the ones who did it. Come on." Night Owl told Alacrity as she hopped on her motorcycle and drove away, Alacrity running after her.

________________________

Those idiots... And now I'm stuck with one of them... Black Bat screeched in her mind as she and Red Hood drove their motorcycles through Gotham City.

"So what? Where are we headed?" Red Hood called.

"Oh, shouldn't you know that, team leader?"

"Hey, it's not my fault you got stuck with me!"

"Well, technically, it is. If only you had kept your giant mouth shut, you would've still been with Damian!"

"Well yeesh, sorry, but honestly, I'd rather have to fight under your command than his."

Black Bat stopped suddenly and stared at him.

"Hey?! What's up?!" Red Hood shouted as he stopped next to her.

"You'd.... Rather listen to me than Damian?"

"Well yeah, duh." Red Hood crossed his arms, "but don't take it the wrong way, Cass. I'm just saying that you know more than the kid."

Black Bat nodded and continued on, him following close behind her, Jason... That means more to me than you might think... Well, I guess only one of you are idiots.

"Okay. This is the place, I think."

"So now you know..." Black Bat rolled her eyes, "okay. This is an image of the guy we're looking for." She pulled out an image of Hartley Rathaway.

"Yikes..." Red Hood stared at the picture and shook his head, "he could use some work on his face..."

"Ever looked in a mirror lately?" Black Bat smirked, "alright. Let's go. But stay on the down-low. We don't want to grab attention."

"Whatever you say, Mom..." Red Hood said as he ran around the apartment building to enter through the back.

Black Bat sighed and ran through the front. She stayed behind marble pillars as she let people pass, then she snuck past the front desk with no one noticing.

Really nice apartment buildings... This Rathaway guy must be rich or something... Black Bat thought as she ran into an empty elevator. She pressed the button for floor 22 multiple times, then hit the close button rapidly, making the door close. She quickly bent down, took off the wire cover, and wired the elevator to keep going up and not stop. The elevator dinged, alerting her that they reached her floor. She screwed the cover back in place and waited for the door to open. Once it did, she ran down the hall in search of Red Hood.

"Hey Jason." She whispered into the comm, "what's the room number?"

"Black Bat! Don't come here!!"

"What?! Jay?!"

"Rathaway's not any ordinary guy!"

Black Bat could feel the worry rising inside her when she heard Red Hood shooting, and not only that, she heard men yelling in the background.

"Where the hell are you guys?! I don't hear any yelling!"

"Wrong address! It's the top floor!"

Black Bat ran to the door leading to the stairway. She slammed the door open, shot her grappling hook as high as it could go, and flew up to the top floor. As soon as she opened the door, there was smoke.

"Red Hood!" She shouted in between coughs as she felt her way through. Now she could hear the yelling, punches, and gunshots.

"Black Bat! Don't come near!" She heard Red Hood order.

"No! I'm coming to help you!"

"You've been warned."

Black Bat heard an unfamiliar voice, "who is that?!"

Suddenly, Red Hood ran into her and he grabbed her face.

"Wh-what the heck are you doing?!" Black Bat could feel her face burning, but she knew that not from fire, but she suddenly realized she was blushing. She shook her head,Why Cassandra?!

"Cass, get out of here!" Red Hood shouted because he knew he was covering her ears on purpose. Suddenly, the sound of a flute rang through the halls.

"Jay!" Black Bat cried as he started crumpling down onto the ground. But his palms never left her ears. He was covering her ears to give her a fighting chance, "I'm not leaving you here, Jay."

"Oh how touching..." a figure started walking towards the two of them as Black Bat knelt down and held Red Hood, "don't worry. When you both die, I'll make sure you two are buried next to each other."

Black Bat stared in horror at the man standing before her, wearing a green cloak, green gloves, holding a flute, and surrounded by rats.

"Y-you're..." Black Bat stuttered, "You're Hartley Rathaway, aren't you?!"

It all makes sense now... Black Bat thought, That list of people... Captain Cold, Killer Frost, this guy, they're all...

"Oh no, Red Hood, wake up! We need to tell the others! Red Hood!" Black Bat shook him.

"Don't even try, Sweetheart. He's been lulled into a deep sleep, lasting 24 hours." Rathaway smiled evilly.

"Who the hell are you?!"

"Me? Well, I'm better known as the Pied Piper."

Black Bat's eyes opened wide at the realization, but it was too late. Because the last thing she heard was the sound of his flute right before she suddenly blacked out.

Jason...

- To be continued! -