A/N: Hi guys, I've had this story idea for a while now so let me know what you think. If there are any mistakes please let me know and I will change them; I was up late typing this so may have gotten sloppy. Anyway, on to the story, please leave me a review to let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, I wish I did cus if I did the original teen titans would still be on. Anyway all rights go to their respected owners.

An unexpected meeting

000-Slade Wilson-000

Location: Haunt-Jump city

Date: 7th July 2013

Time: 7:30 Am

Slade was sat at his Desk, deep in thought; going over-yet again, all of the possible candidates to become the perfect apprentice to follow in his foot prints; to be a worthy heir.

He had been, for a long time searching for the perfect pupil, though his search had thus far all been in vain- all of the candidates so far had come up short; they were to weak- both mentally and physically or just plain unsuited for his needs. He needed someone fiery, strong willed and unyielding.

Now that he thought about it he was after a younger version of himself. It was only logical; only someone who closely resembled himself could possibly be a worthy heir.

Where?He thought as he ran his hand through his snow white hair in vexation,where would I find such a child? Maybe I'm being too picky.

Just then his old time friend and Butler, William Wintergreen, walked into the room; he looked over in Slade's direction.

"Any luck?" he asked raising a questioning eyebrow at the man.

"None. All of them are too weak. I've searched and searched yet come up with nothing" Slade sighed, rubbing his good eye.

"Maybe you want too much Slade. What exactly are you after hmm? A second chance at parenting perhaps?" the old man asked in an accusing tone, with a wry smirk plastering his face, and his arms crossed over his chest.

Slade responded with a sharp glare directed towards wintergreen.

"don't even go there Will" Slade's reaction only caused the man's smirk to grow twice its original size; it was obvious he was amused by the lack of a solid answer from the man.

"Calm down Slade. No need to get your breeches in a twist. Really, you could turn someone to stone with that look" wintergreen chuckled.

"If only, Will" Slade answered with a small smirk of his own.

"Now, now Slade. Don't get greedy, what with your enhanced healing and fighting abilities you hardly need to be able to turn someone to stone. Then again, with a face like yours…" Wintergreen trailed off with a sarcastic tone and light grin.

"Watch it will; if you carry on you may just end up with a bullet in your head" Slade said with a mischievous twinkle in his uncovered eye.

"Oh please Slade; you wouldn't kill me. No-one else would put up with your infuriating ego" Wintergreen stated in a bored voice, shooting a dry look at Slade.

"I guess your right Will, no one else would put up with me. I guess I'll finally get some peace and quiet" Slade said with a wry Smirk as he stood up. " I have a contract in Gotham tonight so I'd best be going now, I need to prepare for any chance that Gotham's Giant rodent might show up, besides I can't spend all of my time searching for a seemingly non-existent apprentice now can I? "

"Giving up then?" wintergreen asked, looking up at his long-time friend.

Slade looked at wintergreen and shook his head "Not giving up- merely postponing my search until further notice" Slade said. Without saying another word the mercenary left the room to suit up. He had a contract to fulfil.

000-Dick Grayson-000

Location: Haly's circus-Gotham City

Date: 7th July 2013

Time: 8:20PM

"Whoohoo" A young daredevil by the name of Dick Grayson yelled as he ran, jumped and flipped over the countless obstacles obstructing his path.

"Dick-sweetie, time for dinner" Dick stopped at the sound of his mother's welcoming voice and changed his course to head towards his family's trailer.

"Coming mom" was the young hooligan's chipper response as he raced towards his mother.

When Dick arrived at the door, he was hit by the mouth-watering aroma of his mother's home made sausage, mash and onion gravy. Dick took his seat at the table, giving both his parents a bright smile and tucked in to his food- scoffing it down as quickly as humanly possible.

"Slow down Dick; your food isn't going anywhere" John Grayson said with a small chuckled at his son's eager behaviour.

"I wanna go practice! " The wide eyed, seven year old announced.

"You can practice in a minute, my little Robin; you're going to make yourself ill if you eat that fast" Mary Grayson smiled softly.

"Done!" Dick exclaimed with a sheepish smile, before he jumped out of his chair and ran to the main tent. He reached the entrance but was stopped by the sound of voices; Dick hid behind the flap of the entrance and began to listen.

"All I'm saying Mr Haley, is that it'd be such a shame if some kinda tragic accident should fall upon your precious circus. If you were to hire me and my brothers here, that wouldn't happen; that I can assure you of" An unfamiliar voice said.

"I'm afraid, Mr Zucco… "A voice Dick recognised to be Mr Haley's started.

"Please call me Tony" The man he assumed to be Zucco interrupted.

"As I was saying, Mr Zucco, I do not pay out protection money; so if that is all, I would appreciate it if you and your brothers would leave" Mr Haley said in an even tone.

"Alright. We'll go, but I'd hate to see anything bad happen to this place" Dick couldn't see his face, but Zucco's tone sounded very dangerous and sinister.

Dick started to creep backwards when he heard movement, but was stopped dead in his tracks when Zucco and what appeared to be his brothers exited the tent.

Zucco's eyes met with Dick's, causing the boy to squirm under the gaze. The man, upon seeing the boy's discomfort, flashed him an eerie smile. Dick gathered up all of his courage and struck the man with a hard glare before running over to his parents, who were currently exiting their trailer.

Dick slammed into his dad, who lifted him up in the air and spun him around a few times before settling his son on his hip. John chuckled lightly at Dick and proceeded to ruffle Dick's hair affectionately; getting quite a few meek whines from his son.

"Hey champ, where you going in such a hurry, the show is that way. Come on kiddo; we need to get you ready" John smiled.

Dick turned his head around to find Zucco gone. He turned back round to face his dad and said "umm…maybe we shouldn't go on tonight" Dick suggested timidly.

"Why not sweetheart?" Mary asked her son.

"There was this guy and…" Dick started before he was cut off by his father.

"Everything will be fine Dickie; there is nothing to be afraid of" John Grayson reassured Dick with a smile. Dick, being as naïve as any seven year old; took his father's word as law. If his dad said everything would be fine-everything would be fine. There was no doubt about it.

He allowed his dad to carry him through the back entrance of the show tent and help him get into his costume; He still wasn't too fond on the design- a red vest with an "R" above his chest and dark green leggings, but he wore the outfit with pride all the same. Before long, Dick found himself standing at the top of the trapeze with his parents. Like hundreds of times before they waved, smiled and Dick received a number of "awws" from the audience.

His father skilfully swung down and flipped to grab hold of the nearest swing before somersaulting to the next one in time to catch his mother, who was flipped towards him. Everything was going great- As usual-it would soon be his turn. He was exited to; once again perform his recently perfected quadruple somersault.

Dick's excitement was quickly extinguished when he heard something rattling above him; he cautiously looked up and, to his immense dread saw the bolts holding the trapeze wires up were loosening, just as his father, once again caught his mother. Their combined weight was enough to send the wire and his parents crashing down to the ground.

Before Dick could truly comprehend the situation, he heard a sickening crack and a series of terrified gasps, though no one screamed as loud as the distraught seven year boy. He stood there shell shocked, until he felt himself being carried down by who he recognised as Mr Haley. When they reached the bottom, Dick caught sight of the crumpled bodies of his parents.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Dick screamed at the top of his voice and tried to escape from Mr Haley's grip "No…no…no, no, no, no, No! lemme go!"

Mr Haley stroked Dick's hair and allowed him to cry his heart out on his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry Dick; let's go kiddo you don't need to see this. It'll be alright Dick. Shhh It'll be alright Dickie" The man said as he began to rub Dick's back soothingly. How can he say that Dick thought they're dead at this thought the boy cried even harder.

Dick burrowed his head in Mr Haley's shoulder, seeking all the comfort he could possibly get in this horribly surreal situation.

000-9:40PM-000

It hadn't been long before cops were swarming the place, it was almost as if they were taking over. That many officers scared Dick; he didn't know what was happening. He knew what he saw- he just couldn't understand; everything had been going so well. Zucco Dick thought it had to be him. Who else could it have been? The cops who had interviewed Dick had dismissed it as an accident- but Dick, despite his young age knew better.

Another officer then walked over and asked to speak to Mr Haley. He set Dick down gently, before looking the boy in the eyes.

"I'll be back real soon okay Dickie" The man told him with a sad smile on his face; it was clear he was worried about something.

But What?

Dick pushed that thought away- he didn't need anything else crowding his young mind.

"Mmmhhhh" Dick mumbled in response. He watched as Mr Haley turned and walked away to talk to the police officer.

He couldn't hear much of the conversation and quite frankly he didn't care. He did, however, break out of his trance when he heard shouting.

"What do you mean he can't stay with us? Mr Haley yelled; annoyance clearly evident in his voice.

"I'm sorry sir but he can't. He'll have to stay in a juvenile detention centre until there is a place in the orphanage" The man replied.

"Are you crazy? The boy has just lost his parents and now you are going to treat him like a delinquent! Out of all of the boneheaded, ridiculous things I have heard in my life…" Mr Haley trailed off unable to finish his sentence through his anger.

Delinquent?

Dick didn't know what that word meant but it didn't sound good. He didn't want to go to some centre- he wouldn't go. Despite his fear he didn't want to go wherever the police wanted to take him so he ran back to his trailer, luckily there were very few cops there. He didn't want to stay long so all he took was a red jacket and a photo of him and his parents, which he slipped in his jacket pocket, put it on then ran off into the darkness.

000-Slade Wilson-000

Location: Crime alley- Gotham City

Date: 7th July

Time: 10:15

Slade had just finished up in Gotham; easy contract- locate and kill his target.

Simple.

He now, wanted to get back to jump as soon as possible and was on his way to his private Jet so would be home by Morning.

Slade was walking past a dark alley way when he became aware of what sounded like a child sobbing. He had finished his contract, so it wouldn't hurt to go and check the noise out.

As he walked into the alley he heard a quiet gasp and some movement. Well this is getting weird Slade thought to himself amusedly.

He was greeted by the sight of a hooded young boy. The boy scampered away in fright and put up a meek fighting stance. Slade was rather annoyed that he couldn't see the boy's face so with lightning fast reflexes, he grabbed the boy by the front of his Jacket and roughly yanked the hood down.

Slade was beyond surprised at what he saw; an incredibly young boy with messy raven locks and dazzling blue eyes. The main thing that caught his eye was the puffy redness around the boy's eyes and the tear stains trailing down his cheek.

"Hey lemme go!" The boy yelled and back flipped out of Slade's grasp by kicking him in the chest.

"Well, that was certainly unexpected" Slade said with a hidden smirk as he dusted himself off.

The boy had no choice but to back up as Slade advanced towards him, once again he took a weak defensive stance.

Soon the boy had nowhere to go and Slade pinned the boy against the alley wall; a hand on each of his shoulders. The boy shuddered and started to struggle, but to no avail- Slade was just too strong for the boy.

When the boy realised this, his shoulders slumped, he ducked his head and broke down in tears. The boy looked completely terrified and utterly helpless to the point Slade almost felt bad. Almost. Slade moved his right hand to the boy's chin, tilting it up so the boy was looking at him.

"What's your name, boy?" Slade asked, his voice as monotone as always.

The boy trembled but didn't answer. He was scared and Slade didn't blame him.

"It's okay kiddo, I'm not going to hurt you" Slade said uncharacteristically softly, trying to reassure this timid Boy.

He wasn't going to hurt him

"Di…Dick Grayson" The boy; Dick stuttered. Slade looked thought full, of course! This boy was Richard Grayson the acrobat; it would certainly explain the backflip from before. This boy was a child prodigy.

"I've seen you preform- your incredible. How old are you Dick?"

"S…seven" the boy replied quicker, this time.

Slade's visible eye widened, a boy his age shouldn't be out on his own.

"What are you doing out here alone? Gotham has quite the reputation for murder you know"

"my mommy and daddy are dead… the police are trying to put me in a delinquent place. I won't go. I won't!" The boy said, his eyes glistening with tears.

"I'm not suggesting you do" Slade said slyly" you can come with me and I'll train you"

"I don't wanna!" the boy yelled before kneeing Slade in the crotch. He released Richard and groaned. Well that boy continued to surprise him.

"That was rude…" Slade growled dangerously, Grabbing the boy by his hood before he had chance to run off.

"Lemme go you creep!" Dick yelled and wrenched out of Slade's grip with such force he fell over. Slade chuckled and pulled out a chloroform soaked cloth and walked over to kneel beside the boy, pushing it to his mouth before the boy could get up.

"No! What are you doing? Stop! No,no,no,no" the boy's muffled voice came out as his eyes began to droop.

"Goodnight Richard" Slade said softly as the boy drifted off to sleep. He pocketed the cloth before carefully picking up the boy bridal style. Slade smiled under the mask.

This boy was promising. He had fire, spirit and talent. Maybe he has found the perfect apprentice in this young boy.

What were the chances?

-Ventus 101-

A/N let me know what you think, should I carry on? Please read and review guys.