Chapter one

Mount Justice

4:14PM

"Nightwing would never betray us!" Robin - AKA Timothy "Tim" Drake screamed in the face of Kid Flash - Wally West. "He'd sooner take his own life!"

"I agree with Robin, Kid," Kaldur said, frowning at the speedster while placing a restraining hand on Robin's shoulder. "I do have doubt that Nightwing would so suddenly turn against us."

Wally growled softly, though he himself was having trouble believing it as well. Forcing himself to take a slow breath, he crossed his arms over his chest and tried to speak calmly and rationally.

Until he remembered who had taught him to do so. Shaking away the memories of his former best friend, Wally spoke.

"Okay," he began. "Let's say Nightwing didn't betray us."

"He didn't," Robin growled, making to move forward, though Kaldur's hand stopped him. Wally decided to ignore the interruption and continue on like it hadn't happened.

"If Nightwing didn't betray us, then where is he? Where has he been for the past seven years? Remember, he vanished without leaving a trace behind or telling Batman, Robin, Red Hood, myself, Roy, Agent A-"

"He's done it before," Robin said very quietly. This served to shut Wally up, because something about the way Tim had said it had sent warning signals through Wally's brain.

"He has?" M'gann asked, finally feeling it safe to take a small step away from Connor's side and closer to the most recent Robin.

Robin took a small breath and looked around. "Let's talk where there aren't cameras. I don't want the Justice League listening to this."

"Why?" Wally asked as the group followed Robin into the medbay. Robin took a slow breath before turning to face everyone and explain.

"Because they still haven't forgiven him for it," Robin answered quietly. "He was sixteen. Just barely at least. He and Batman...Batman had always fought with Red Hood, mostly because of Nightwing. I'd never seen Bats and Wing fight each other before in my life. It was...Batman broke Nightwing's wrist and probably would have killed him if he didn't have such high morals and if Nightwing hadn't pulled a vanishing act."

M'gann gasped loudly and clung to Connor's arm, though she continued to listen to the story.

"Bats would never go that far," Wally said with a scoff. "He doesn't have it in him."

"That's what I thought to," Robin whispered before shaking his head. "Either way, Nightwing disappeared after that. When he came back, he was Nightwing. But he was...different. He took charge and didn't let others tell him what to do. He's almost-"

"A mini Batman," Artemis supplied. "Honestly, it's a little scary."

"What I'm saying is," Robin began, drawing attention back to himself. "If Nightwing doesn't want to be found, he won't be."

Unknown location

1:58AM

Dick curled in on himself and gasped shallowly, gazing at the person above him through hazy, half-lidded eyes. When the man lifted the crowbar over his head once more, Dick let out a pitiful whimper.

Laughing softly, Dick's captor tossed the crowbar off to the side and knelt in front of the once named Nightwing. He reached towards Dick, causing the broken man to violently flinch backwards, thus agitating his far too numerous injuries.

The captor chuckled as he gently reached forward again and wiped away the tears that were falling down Dick's face, drawing a path through the blood, dirt, and sweat.

"And to think," the captor crooned, standing once more and walking over to pick up the crowbar, letting it scrap loudly against the concrete floor. "All it took to bring you to your knees - so to speak - was a simple crowbar. How I ever saw apprentice potential in you, I will never understand."

A long time before, Dick would have growled and spat obscenities at the man known as Slade Wilson. Now though, he remained on his side with his head bowed, hair obscuring his eyes. Slade chuckled darkly as he turned to leave the cell, stopping in the doorway and turning back around to face his broken prisoner. He tossed the crowbar off to the side, grinning when Dick flinched at the loud echo.

"Oh, and one last thing," he said, waiting until he was sure the boy was still listening. "Happy birthday, Richard."

"Did you put the stickers back on his temples?" Psimon asked as Slade left the dungeons. The mercenary sighed and rolled his eyes.

"No, I didn't. But he's far too out of it to even think about trying to contact his friends."

"I'd rather be safe than sorry," Psimon growled. "I'm going to get Poison Ivy and some of Scarecrow's toxin."

"It's his birthday, Simon," Slade drawled, smirking under his mask and watching Psimon walk towards the greenhouse. "Why not leave him be?"

Psimon didn't answer and Slade hadn't expected him to. Shaking his head, the mercenary turned and continued back towards his room.

"Sooner or later, he'll give in," he grumbled. "Granted, his voice is pretty much shot, but I don't need an apprentice who can talk. Sooner or later, Richard Grayson, you'll be my little Renegade."

Dick flinched and whimpered quietly when he heard footsteps moving towards him.

No, please no. He begged, squeezing his eyes closed tightly as he began to cry. Please, God, make him stop!

"He won't stop," Psimon said as he walked into the cell followed closely by Poison Ivy. For a brief moment, Dick thought he saw regret and something close to sorrow in her eyes, though his attention was pulled back to Psimon when the telepath crouched down and stuck the "stickers" on both of Dick's temples.

These weren't just little kid happy go lucky stickers. No, they invaded Dick;s unconsciouss mind and thoughts and directly connected him to Psimon. If Dick had even a fleeting thought - unconscious or not - about contact his thoughts, Psimon would send a wave of agony through the boy's body.

The telepath went on as he got to his feet and beckoned Poison Ivy closer. "Slade Wilson doesn't stop until he gets what he wants."

Dick licked his dangerously dry lips, wincing slightly as he tried to force his beaten voice to work. While he had tried to ask what Slade wanted, he mostly came out as a serious of broken, high pitched noises.

"Ivy, do you have some sort of drug or something that can render his body completely limp?"

"Yes," Poison Ivy answered as she used her power to essentially paralyze Dick. "Is there anything else you need done?"

"No, I shouldn't think so," Psimon answered. He looked around until he glimpsed the bloody crowbar nearby. Pointing towards it, he spoke. "Get the Bats attention then give him that and leave. Let him figure out the rest."

Ivy nodded and picked up the crowbar as Psimon left. As soon as he was gone, Ivy walked over and knelt in front of Dick, brushing blood soaked ebony strands out of his face.

"I'm sorry," she said softly when she noted that his body was tense with pain. "I never knew they were going to take it this far. If I had...when Slade comes back, beg him for mercy."

Dick's lips parted to object, but Poison Ivy cut him off. "It will stop the pain, I promise. He'll stop hurting you. He wants you to be his apprentice, that's what all of this is for! Just do it, please! I'll tell Batman who has you, where you are. Just try and stay alive."

Knowing Dick had no reason to believe or trust her, Ivy placed a gentle kiss on Dick's forehead before using her powers to render him unconscious. Sighing softly, she got to her feet and left the room, sending one last sorrowful glance towards the twenty-five year old on the ground before leaving to head back towards Gotham City.

She had a Bat to attract.

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Hey! So it's a shit story and yeah, I know, I have others to update.

Chill, okay? I'll get there, just hold your horses.

Anyway, PLEASE REVIEW AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!