A/N: So, I have the chapters for Dissociation and We Do What We Must all written up, but I haven't been able to type anything. My laptop is broken, so I can post nothing. I prefer updating on my laptop, so the fact that I'm posting this is bothering me reeealy bad.

Anyways. This is an AU I've had in my head for the longest. I've got all the chapters planned out, all that's left to do is write 'em. This is gonna be 20 chapters even.

About the AU: Technical reverse Bat-bros, but the only change I'm making is Jason is roughly eight years older than Dick, who is nine. Tim is three years younger than Dick, and Damian isn't in the picture. You guys'll find out who's the Talon soon, don't worry about it. For now, s'a secret ;) The cover image is no hint, whatsoever. (Also, it's not mine. At all (sadly)).

Now. Onto the fic! Enough rambling!

Please Enjoy and Review! :D

Talon in the Belfry

"Objectification is above all exteriorization, the alienation of spirit from itself."

-Nikolai Berdyaev

Prologue

It is Talon.

Before it was Talon, the Grandmaster says Talon had a name. Grandmaster also said that if Talon proved itself, Talon would get its name back like Uriah and William did. Like *Charles, Talon's Handler and Trainer, did. As far as it knows, it has been Talon for...

It does not know. After Talon's first Outing with Charles, it was frozen. It was eventually awaken, but when, Talon does not know. All Talon knows is that when it first laid eyes on the Court, it was tiny and thin.

It had seen its reflection once before becoming Talon, and it remembers sharp blue eyes and tan skin with hollow cheeks and skin stretched thin over bone. Enough time has passed that, by current day, Talon is tall with lithe muscles across its body. Its eyes are vibrant gold, now, and its skin marginally lighter than when it was a fledgeling.

Enough time has passed that Talon has become successful in all its missions and assignments with utmost precision.

Every now and again, whenever Talon is unfrozen, it will see its old Handler, Charles. The Court allows them out together as rarely as they encounter, and those few missions are Talon's best and favorites.

On those scarce assignments, Charles will talk to Talon about his own missions. Which is nice, because Talon is never allowed to speak. Not to the Court, not in the Nest; only to targets, is it allowed to speak to. Even then, it is only to give a death sentence, and it is quite boring to have one-sided converstaion.

Killing people isn't the only thing Charles updates Talon on, however.

Charles tells Talon of his escape plans, and how they are coming along. Charles knows Talon won't breathe word of his plan to the Court or any other assassin, and Talon never intends to. Talon truly and honestly hopes Charles escapes the Court successfully. However, where Talon will not rat out its friend, it will not aid Charles in the development of the plan. Charles claims to understand, but wishes Talon would join him now as they stand overlooking Gotham's skyline from the top of a cross, which sits perched above a cathedral.

Talon glances over at its previous Handler. "Charlie," it drawls, "you know I will not join you; I am Talon. I belong to the Court of Owls. I am the Court's tool, not an independent being."

Charles sighs and meets Talon's gaze. "But you were, once. If only you could remember. Don't you want to govern your own life? To do what it is you want instead of the Court's bidding?"

"How will I do what it is I wish to, if I know not what I want? All I can remember is the Court; all I have known with current memory is the Court." Talon shifts its gaze back to the twinkling lights of Gotham and her inhabitants. "What is a Talon without its Owl?"

Charles frowns to himself, but before the elder named Talon could speak, Talon interrupted with a question. Talon does not want its only friend to tear himself up over things of which are out of his control. No, Charles taught it better.

"To whom will you flee to?"

A chuckle is Talon's reward for its efforts. "Slick aren't you? Very well." Another chuckle slips through Charles' lips. "Geez, could you make me seem more of a coward?"

A smirk. "Yes."

"'Course you can." Charles shakes his head. "If you must know, I plan on seeking out Gotham's Knight."

Intrigued, Talon folded its arms over its chest as an eyebrow rose under the mask. "Gotham's Knight?"

Charles nodded. "You've heard of the Batman, yes?"

Talon itself then nodded. It had indeed heard of the Batman. The Caped Crusader. The Dark Knight. Gotham's Knight. It had even fought the older Vigilante.

To say the least, it had been disappointing. Sloppy form. Needed improvement. Talon had told the Caped Crusader as much before melting into the shadows to return to the Court. It does not know why it didn't kill the man. To kill the Batman then would have been rather simple, all things considered. Instead, whenever they meet, Talon gives Batman singular tips on improvement.

Talon is not sure why.

"We have met before," it answered.

"Rumors have begun to spread. He intends on taking down the Court. To do that, he will need insider information, will he not?"

It now understands. "He will." Flashing a sharp grin, Talon said, "Brilliant. For your sake, Charlie, I hope this plan of yours works."

Charles flashes Talon a bright, toothy grin. "We should be finishing up. The Court will soon grow suspicious."

Both unnamed and named Talons leapt from the cross, flipping and twisting so professionally, if anyone saw them, they'd think the two to be circus performers.

And, if you listened hard enough, you'd have heard the named Talon say, "And it wouldn't be fleeing, it would be tactically and wisely retreating."

After that, if you listened even harder, you would hear one of Gotham's rarest sounds.

The sound of a Talon's laughter.

A/N: *Charles is an OC who I will provide further information on in the third chapter (which I will be working on until I get a new laptop -_-)

Up next: To be a Talon Stay tuned and please drop a Review. They really make my day. (Seriously. Just type up a favorite sentence if you want and drop that in the review section with "Nice Job" and I'll love you for it)

Much appreciated guys! Toodles!