Note: technically not a new chapter,but I wrote too much to just continue the story, so I will rewrite it. Hopefully better :)
Will get a new story, here just a little teaser^^
Updates should be every Saturday
NO important Oc, just a minor plot points.
Disclaimer: don't own
Summary: Summary: Sacrifices are a necessary evil, every soldier worth their title know this. AU set after invasion features an emotional vulnerable Nightwing, heroes to concerned with their own grieve and a manipulative Deathstroke.
The young hero sighed as he entered his apartment, patrolling was the only thing that kept him sane these days.
Feeling far older than he was, he stripped of his costume and went to the bathroom, walking through a nearly empty living room on his way.
The pictures of his former friends who now scoured his very existence were removed. All these happy smiles of the past seemed to mock him.
Yet even with the security of the regular patrolling and his new extra time for his civilian identity didn't help the growing emptiness inside him.
The maybe worst part was that he understood their anger, Nightwing was the reason other heroes died and now to blame for their death.
A hollow laugh escaped his lips but was drowned by the falling water in the shower.
They had a right for their anger, so he let them, took their anger with a smile, being a hero meant making sacrifices...
Having had Batman as mentor and unspoken paid for his education with emotional support helped, too.
Slowly he moved to his bed, too tired to put on clothing and closed his eyes.
Lack of sound awoke him, like a deer sensing a wolf his instincts screamed at him to move and not to move, carefully his opened his eyes and was greeted with the sight of Slade in his civilian clothing standing in his door way.
The single gray eye moved from his nude form to his eyes and remained there for a few seconds, as if expecting him to move, he didn't
Why would he?
If Slade was paid to kill him he wouldn't stand a chance either way, he suffered enough on a daily basis, a clean painless death would be a welcome relief.
His eyes widened, was he really about to welcome death?
Why not?
His family and friends, friends who hated him and a mentor who as always couldn't care less
Why not welcome death...
"You did the right thing you know."
The smooth voice of his enemy interrupted his thoughts.
"Yes coming from a high function sociopath this means so much to me", he said sarcastical, but instead of angering the older male he only got an amused smirk in return, which didn't really surpirse him. Slade liked to be in control-
"Would you prefer my old sergeants words? 'sacrifices are a necessary evil, one life is nothing compared to the lives of your fellow soldiers, or the more poetic version the police 'Making an unpopular decision for the common good is the mark of a good police officer.
Dick froze, those words sounded good and he had worked with them hadn't he?. Yet why of all the people had it do be Slade to understand him? "What is it to you?" he asked instead in a soft tone, too confused for anything else.
"Do you know what I think of heroes?" asked Slade in return,"they are civilians playing dress up, none of them really understand the world out there. But you acted like a real soldier during the inversion, to be honest I've gained a certain amount of respect for you because of it while the others lost what little I had for them."
That was unexpected to say the least, "they are not weak", Dick started as Slade sharply cut in," they can't handle their own emotions so they punish the man who saved billions of lives, those ignorant backstabbing civilians are weak."
He winced not only because of the harsh words, but because a small part of him agreed, didn't the billions of lives he saved matter at all?
"Answer me one thing, do you regret your actions, actions which saved billions of lives fo the price of a few heroes who willing risked their lives everyday for their cause?"
Dick paused, he mourned what his actions had done for the life of others and some selfish part even for his social life , but no he didn't regret that he saved the world...
The answer must have been written all over his face, because Slade gave him a small pride filled smile.
A nine year old Robin, desperate for his mentors approval, basked in the warm glow while his adult self-awareness screamed of the impending danger it promised.
"Any soldier or higher ranking policeman for that matter would be proud of your decision if you don't belief me asked your captain, officer Grayson.
Slade gave a short nod as a goodbye and left, leaving a storm of emotions within Dick behind.
A graveyard, with the taste of bile in his mouth Slade moved through his former apprentice nearly empty apartment. Spartan furnished would be the kinder way to describe the flat. His boy seemed weak, like a beaten dog accepting the abuse and going so far as to welcoming death. He wouldn't tolerate such behavior in his chosen heir and partner.
Circumstance like these made him wish for his old trigger and a Nightwing unaffected by the probes. Yet he had one ace, captain Crawford his butlers real son, to confirm the things he had told the hero.
His words alone wouldn't be sufficient but to have them spoken by someone Dick respected without questioning the persons moral should be enough...
He couldn't wait for tomorrow night...
'Weak civilians', the phrase hunted his not quite sleep until the alarm clock rang, reminding him of his civilian job as a police officer.