A/N: So this is the sequel Tale of Assassins, a lot of people wanted this so I decided to write it! The last two chapters will be pretty dark, because I may be killing one of the main characters. I have not completely decided yet but still, just a warning, again, it is the second in a trilogy. Enjoy the story! R&R!

A Hero's Tale

Chapter 1: New Beginnings

It had been almost a year since the Court of Owls had been destroyed. Dick Grayson and Artemis Crock had been living together in the former home of Joseph Powers. Which he had acquired illegally, but Bruce Wayne had decided to be generous and pay for the entire thing.

"Hey," Artemis asked her boyfriend, Dick, "Can you pass me the ketchup. When eating unhealthy food it's always best to try get what every type of vegetable or fruit you can."

No answer.

"Hello?" she spoke confused, it was like he was in his own little world, "Earth to bird boy. Are you still in there?"

"We're being watched," He spoke as if he had not heard what she had said, "Somebody is watching us right now," He was fixated on what little pane of glass in the window, "Pass me the knife right now," this was not a request, it was a command, "Do it. NOW!"

Artemis quickly passed him the knife scared of his tone, and as soon as she removed her hand from the knife, the glass behind her broke. BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG The machine gun fired continuously, but never making contact with flesh.

Dick saw five men out of the corner of his eye, but he assumed there would be more of them. He threw the knife and hit one of the men right in the heart. The other four men took one look at the dead body and rushed on our position. Dick jumped up knocking two of their heads together, killing them both, blood coming out of their skulls. BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG FWSSHHH Suddenly two arrows were coming out of each of the other two intruder's body.

"They're probably League of Shadows," Artemis spoke after a minute of silence, "Still want me to come back."

"We have to move," Dick spoke, looking up at her, "We have to stay one step ahead of them."

"I agree," A voice spoke out of the shadows, and as the voice spoke, Batman stepped out of the very same shadows.

"I told you to leave us alone!" Dick yelled at him, "It was part of our deal!"

"Surely paying for this fine establishment should grant me a short conversation," Batman spoke, eyes narrowing.

"You have 5 minutes," Dick spoke again not happy at all.

"What do you want?" Artemis asked, not sharing Dick's anger and trepidation.

"I want you to join my team of heroes," Batman asked, removing his cowl to show his honesty.

"We're not heroes," Dick said with much more malice than he intended, "We're killers."

"No. You were killers," Batman said, trying to justify his position.

"We just killed five people," Artemis said, "So..."

"No. Well you..." He was clearly trying articulate, but also failing, "Yes, you have killed people, but you do not have the mentality of killers. You have the mentality of heroes. Not because of what you say, but because of what you do, that's what makes you a hero."

"You done you're inspiring speech?" Artemis said in a snarky manner, "Because I'd say it was in the top 5 of speeches that I've heard. But, then again most of the speeches were about how I should kill someone. So... Yeah..."

"I'm not telling you," He said restating his point, "I'm asking you because I think you would be good at it. You can say no. But if you change your mind, you know where to find me." With that he vanished

"I actually have no idea where to find him," Artemis said concerned.

"I do."