I’ve Got A New Attitude

From the diary of Penelope Halwind:

New Year’s Eve

“I’m in control, my worries are few…” The Pointer Sisters

The woman in the mask waited, watching the doorway. She knew the people inside were up to no good, but she was still startled by the explosion.

Nightshade was on his way to the crime scene already when the explosion went off. He recognized Joker’s car before he saw Joker and crew leave the bank. He radioed the boy and told him to go back to the manor.

About an hour later when the Commissioner walked away from a shadow filled alley, the woman made herself known. She got to the nearest roof as fast as she could and saw Nightshade crouched down with a hand by his ear.
“I want you to train me” she yelled.
He looked at her and stood up. She could feel him assessing her. “Why?”
So she had to go over it one more time. It hurt, but she knew she wouldn’t get anywhere with him by lying.
Two weeks later she went with him to apprehend her first ‘costume;’ The Question. He was at a familiar club, thinking he had gotten clean away. He wasn’t even IN costume. Boy, did she blow it. She froze in the middle of the fight because she was sure he recognized her; him and one of the bouncers.
“This isn’t going to work” she told Nightshade. “I’m grateful for everything that you have shown me and don’t blame you if you don’t train me anymore. I just want to stick to the kind of people who hurt me.”
“I understand. You can always ask me for advice. In fact I wish you would.”
She smiled. “Thanks.”

Everything seemed cool until it was almost Valentine’s Day. She was out with her boyfriend at Pigeon’s Place when he said:
“You start school again this week, right?”
“Yeah. Break’s over.”
“I hear your campus has a guardian angel.”
“You know, I’ve heard that too. I’m glad she’s there.”
He took her hand. “It’s pretty bad that something always seems to happen around Pledge Week. Some frat house, some college, somewhere.”
She frowned. “Yeah.”
“Some girls even get attacked just passing by a house throwing a party.”
“A shame…”
“Some get tied up and tormented until morning.”
She glared at him.
“No rape, no anything to take someone in over.”
“So you figured it out.”
He took her to the dancefloor and pulled her close. Close enough to whisper in her ear. “You don’t think I notice how you move, Jen? I WAS working the night you almost helped Nightshade take in my best friend.”
She pulled away far enough to look into his eyes. “You aren’t going to pull some macho crap on me are you?”
“No, but I want you to apologize to Stanley.”
“Ok. I owe him that. What about you? No speeches about how I shouldn’t be Valkerie anymore?”
“Hell, no. It not only gives you something to do while I’m working, but it’s sexy.”