Shadow's POV

It been 2 freaking months and I still haven't got my life together yet and being at the boys' home wasn't getting any better. At first I thought I was getting pushed around by the older boys because I was the new kid but apparently that wasn't the case. I had also been doing some research as both Shadow and Derek Archer on Nightwing. You can call it a passing curiosity. I probably wouldn't admit this to anyone but I kind of looked up to him even though I had never actually never net him before. I guess I just respected the work he did in Bludhaven and I liked how he stood for everything my father hated.

It was getting late so I made my way back to my dorm room which I shared with 7 other boys aged between the ages 14-17. I was the youngest in my dorm and because of that the rest of the boys made it their responsibility to make my life a living hell. The moment I reached my bunk I knelt down and quickly removed the loose floor boards and started to prepare my uniform for tonight's stake out. I made sure I had all my weapons which included my katana, shurikens, and dagger, mini cross bow with the arrows and a 9mm pistol with the silencer. Everything was ready to go but I couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. Tonight was the night of the biggest drug deal of the year and there's no doubt it going to get very heated especially when Nightwing turns up tonight.

As I returned the floor boards I heard my 'room mates' approaching the dorm. I quickly finished up and jumped on my bunk.

"Well if it isn't the little freak." Mike Stilson laughed as he entered the room.

I gritted my teeth and glared at him and all his buddies. This guy has been getting on my nerve recently and if I was to stay in his presents any longer than 3 second, I might actually kill him. I smiled at that thought and preceded to think about all the ways I could torment him using all my training.

"Did you go out and have fun with your friends today…oh that's right you don't have any loser" he continued to taunt me.

"Leave me alone" I said as I glared at him

He snorted at this and the minute he opened his mouth again was the minute things got personal. "You know I just realized, no one knows why you're in a boy's home, not even the cops. So…what's your story freak? Did you get kicked out or did you make a runner, or are mommy and daddy dead?" Mike said with a smirk on his face.

HOW DARE HE BRING UP MY MOTHER! My father, I understand but he will not dishonor my mother's memory. She was the only thing that ever meant anything to me. For the next few moments I saw red. I jumped off my bed and lunged at Mike punching him in the face repeatedly. I could see the shock written all over his face. His nose was bleeding and most likely broken. I didn't stop until I heard one of the boys whisper "he's going to kill him!"

I stopped then and looked at my hands. They were shaking and covered in blood. Had I just become my father? I got up and ran through the door and I didn't stop until I was at least 50m away from the home. I walked through the park and even though it was only 3:00pm it was empty. I kept my head low and walked at a steady pace. I looked at my hands again 'what would mother say?' I asked myself. She would be so disappointed right now. I mindlessly walked through the park remembering the day I saw my mother die.

Flashback

It was a beautiful spring day and all the kids were playing outside enjoying the cool breeze. All except me. I was hidden away in our basement which my father had turned into a training facility. My mother sat on the seat next to the stairs watching me and my father spar. I was 6 at the time but I was already fighting like a pro. I punched, kicked, lunged and dogged and after 1 hour of the same thing I was starting to tire. My mother realized this and looked at me with the concern showing in her eyes but unfortunately my father realized too and weakness was not tolerated in this house. He pressed his offence harder and faster until I couldn't keep up. In 10mins I was on the floor bleeding nose and lip. I had a swollen eye and a bruised check. My mother instantly ran to my aid and I hugged her tightly because at times like these I needed to know that I still had someone to live for. She returned my hug just as tight before peeling away to asses my injuries.

"There is no room for weakness Richard, you are destined for great things and I will not tolerate failure" my father warned me

"Please dear he is only 6 years old. She should be playing outside with the other kids his age not cooped up down here" my mother intervened

He glared at her then signaled me off to have a shower. I went upstairs took a shower, got dressed then came downstairs. I stood in the hallway and what I saw made my blood run cold. My father had a knife at my mother's throat and looked at me with his cold piercing eyes and said "everybody has flaws but in order to create the perfect assassin, the perfect weapon, you need to find that flaw and destroy it. Your mother is your flaw. She makes you soft, makes you weak but not anymore" my heart almost stopped beating when I saw him slit her throat, when I saw her body fall limp on the ground.

Tears sprung into my eyes but I refuse to them fall. He walked over to me and placed his hand on my chin and forced be to look up at him "remember no emotion equals no weakness one day you will be just like me whether you like it or not. Do you understand?" he asked and I nodded "good. I would have wanted to have to kill your mother for no reason." He said then walked away leaving me alone with my dead mother.

Flashback end

Nightwing's POV

I was on my afternoon run when a thought made its way into my mind. With Wally and Artemis off the team and kaldur on break we need new team members. But it's not every day you walk into teenage superheroes and say 'hi want to join a team of teenage superheroes?' I was suddenly pulled out of my thoughts when I bumped into what looked like a 14 year old boy who I had managed to knock to the ground.

"I'm so sorry, are you alright?" I apologized

He didn't say anything but if looks can kill I would be dead 20 times over. I assessed him for any injuries and I noticed the small cut at the side of his head gushing with blood.

"Darn kid your bleeding. Here let me help" I said as I pulled out a tissue from my pocket and dabbed it on his forehead. He immediately winced away before he looked up with a look of realization in his eyes then he relaxed a little.

"D…don't touch me!" he stuttered.

"Let me walk you home. Do your parents know you're here?" I asked.

His expression softened but not by much. He was really guarded. I wonder what happened to this kid. He looked no older than 14. Kids his age are supposed to be riding skateboard and hanging around in packs. I don't know why but I suddenly felt over protective of this kid.

"My parents are dead. I live in a boy's home not far from here" he said looking down at his feet and I instantly felt sorry for him. I walked him back to the boy's home and when we arrived at the front gate we were greeted by an old lady who looked really mad.

"There you are you devil child!" she hissed at him

"Mike Stilson is in the infirmary because you!" he screamed at him before turning to me with a sickly sweet smile "I'm sorry if this boy disturbed you sir. It won't happen again" he said as he grabbed the boy from the back of his collar dragging him into the house.

Poor kid. I glared daggers at the back of her head. I it had not been for Bruce I would be in a mess. I walked home replaying the events of today in my head. Darn I forgot to ask for his name. I can't explain why I felt this way but I knew I had to help this kid. He was almost like a mystery I couldn't solve. I walked into my apartment and got dressed in my uniform then made my way to the nearest zeta tube.

Time Skip 12:36pm

Shadows POV

I stood at the edge of the roof watching everything play out. I was in uniform, armed and ready to go. I had my Katana strapped on my back, my dagger was strapped to my thigh and all my shurikens were in a hidden pocket in my utility belt. I decided to leave my gun and cross bow behind.

As I watched the scene play out through my binoculars I realized there were more henchmen than I had expected to see. After another 10mins of watching the scene unfold Nightwing arrived. Finally some action! I adjusted my mask and pulled on the hood attached to my cape.

I watch as Nightwing gracefully took down as many henchmen but I knew that soon he would be out numbered. I watched the henchmen surround him. This was my opportunity to strike so I jumped through the roof of the building which was made off glass. I pulled out my katana and began to dodge bullets or block them.

Nightwing's POV

Darn! I'm surrounded. At times like these I wish I had stayed in bed. I started to look around for a way out until I heard the glass from the roof top shatter and someone jump in. I admit, I was surprised by this especially since he was a just a kid! He wore a full black outfit with a cape and hood. He was holding a katana in his hands and looked like he was ready to attack.

The sound of gun fire brought me back to reality but even though I was still fighting I watched the kid. His skill was amazing and the way he wielded the katana, it was almost like he was cutting the bullets in half. His combat style wasn't like Batman's, it was more brutal but just as effective. Soon enough we had all the henchmen rounded up and all the dealers were in handcuffs and that when I decided to approach this hero.

"Um… thanks for the save but who are you?" I asked with genuine curiosity.

"I'm Shadow. It nice to finally meet you." He answered

"I've never seen you before so I'm going to assume you're new to the hero business" I said with a knowing smirk

"Yeah you could say that" he said looking down. I could tell he was trying to hide a blush.

I chuckled at this. "Kid…how would you like to join the Young Justice Team?"