Robin
Summary: A twisted reflection of what Dick could be if his parents had lived. 500 word Fanfic Reddit prompt: Any Other Sunday.
Mary Grayson stands amidst the members of the Court of Owls. Talon has returned from a successful mission. Raymond McCreary is dead. He was the one who got away. But they never get away; the Court of Owls has nests everywhere. There is no escape from them.
John smiles beside her. "Well done, son. You always were the best."
"I am the Gray Son of Gotham; of course I'm the best. The best Talon the Court has ever produced."
"Yes, you will lead the Court to glory, we rule this city from the shadows, but we're expanding. Jump City is a cesspool that must be purged."
"What about this team, the Teen Titans?" Dick asked.
"They're nothing, you can kill them easily. But we have a scheme to stop them, it will be a spectacular show," Mary tells him.
"What sort of show? What role am I going to play?" Dick asked his mother.
"You're going to play the marvelous role of a troubled young man who wants to be a hero, one who was forced into a life of crime by a supervillain. With a sob story of a young orphan that lost his parents after they were murdered by a mobster. The Titans will eat it up, and once you've gained their trust completely, you'll slaughter them all. And then the city will belong to us."
Dick scowled, "Playing the hero is so disgusting!"
"You know better than to disobey the Grandmaster, I am your mother, after all," Mary Grayson told him.
"Of course, Mom of course!" Dick scowled. "And just who is going to be the evil supervillain that is forcing me into this life of crime?"
"I am," Slade says, stepping into the light. "It's an honor to meet you Talon. I'm impressed by your work!"
"I've heard you're good," Dick smirks. He wanted nothing more than to thrust circus knives through Slade's heart.
"I'm flattered, but there's just one more piece of this puzzle to make this plan perfect," Slade told him.
"And who is that?"
"Raptor," Slade replied.
"Richard," Dick spat out the name. One of his mother's old flings, he's annoyed the golden-eyed creep is still around. But his mother had the man wrapped around her finger and he'd do anything for her.
"And one more thing, Dick, you'll need this!" his mother tosses him a costume.
Dick's first reaction to the red and yellow costume is the urge to vomit; it's too cheery and stupid-looking. He'll look like a loser.
"Do I have to wear this ridiculous outfit?" he scowled.
"Yes, Robin, you do," John told him.
"Robin?" The vigilante name is idiotic and dumb; at least they could give him a cooler sounding "superhero" name.
"Tell them it's a term of endearment, given to you by your mother," Mary told him, there wasn't any warmth or love in her eyes. She'd stopped calling him that long ago.
"All right, I'll be going now," Dick turned to leave.
"Dick, I love you," Mary told him. She didn't mean it. She never did.
"I love you too," he says it robotically. He's always said it when he leaves, he doesn't mean it either.
"We're proud of you, son," John said. He actually means it.
Dick Grayson leaves the Court of Owls in disgust, he hates them all, but this is the only life he knows. He can't wait to get rid of his parents and keeps contemplating how to kill them in their sleep. He wishes they were dead.
But he has a job to do: Kill the Teen Titans, and if he has to play a troubled teen trying to be a hero he'll do that. He'll do it because he's the best at what he does. He's the fiercest killer in Gotham City.