Disclaimer: don't own

Acceptance

"Tell Wintergreen it was nice to meet his son."started Dick the conversation as he sat down.
He had chosen his dining room for their conversation, on the table were two plates with each one fork and spoon and twos bowls with a ladle each, one filled with noddles the other with a tomato sauce.
Two glasses and a bottle of water complemented the setting.
Honestly it was nothing but a power-game, he put the mercenary in a position were he had to trust Dick enough that there wasn't poison in the offered food or something else, like crushed glass which could cut his windpipe, and eat it like a good little boy.
Yet, after his own rather pathetic display the day before, he felt like this was needed.
Furthermore he was still dressed in his uniform including the weapons and the handcuffs, an improvement to his previous nudity, and somehow the uniform made him feel better about himself.

"He will be glad to know that his son is doing well", answered Slade without missing a beat in a clam voice, as if he just hadn't called his attempt to manipulate him.
The older man was dressed in his civilian attire, as if to show that his presence meant no harm, while the single gray eye was locked on the relaxed facial features belonging to the younger man.
It was pleasant to see the lifeless features in a softer light and given the attire he was rather sure why.

"Would you like to sit down?", offered Dick. unconsciously mimicking the same tone, looked at the chair across him and tried to stay relaxed under the sharp gaze of the other.
A glint of something the hero couldn't identify flashed for a moment through the older man's eye as he sat down with a slight smile, it unsettled him,

"I hope you like a vegetarian sauce", commented Dick while trying to regain his clam posture and sat down, too.

For a moment neither Slade nor Dick moved, waiting for the other to take the first bite, finally Slade took from each bowl and raised a full fork to his lips.

"You know", he started conversationally, " there are three ways to interpret that you are waiting for me to take the first bite.
The first way is that this is a test of trust, whenever I trust you enough not to poison my food,
An other interpretation, would be that you are waiting for me, your guest, to eat as a show of good manners.
Finally it could also be a show of respect towards your superior.
"However", he paused as he carefully took the first bite, "neither of us uses poison, it goes against our honor to have an unfair fight so the first guess seemed wrong."

A pause which gave Dick enough to curse his own failed attempt to manipulate Slade while putting himself in a submissive position.

"And you have displayed in the past more than once that you lack any inhibition to curse rather rudely in front of me, which means this dinner is a sign of respect or did I conclude something wrong?", he asked with a slight smirk.

"I just wanted to keep you out of my bedroom", replied Dick mock sweetly which earned him a chuckle.

"Now that's a shame isn't", played Slade along, still in a very good mood.

The younger man just rolled his eyes and started his meal, too.

"It might be that you are clothed and with weapons but you seem more confident", noted Slade during their meal in a neutral tone

"The handcuffs are a nice bonus, too", answered Dick lightly.

"Back to the bedroom talk", teased the mercenary and the hero sighed in extravagant weariness.

"But you don't need the uniform to carry weapons don't you?", asked the mercenary in a neutral tone.

"I prefer to stay in uniform", responded the younger man and nearly cursed as he saw the glint of something in the others eye flash up again.

Slade's behavior grew sober as he paused his meal and pulled on a piece of skin around his neck which turned to be a skin colored chain with his old dog tags.
Despite the years of knowing the older man he hadn't known that Slade sill wore his old army insignias,somehow it didn't surprise him.
"The chain is skin colored so your enemy don't see it and won't be able to use it as a weapon against you," figured Dick and got a small, serious, smile in return.
"A possibly weakness I shared with you", he paused as the implications of his words sank into the others mind.

Slade, at least to some extent, trusted him...

"These small metal plates are like you badge and uniform, they show and remind us that we aren't civilians but men with an oath.
Yes we have different moral codex's, we have ours and they have theirs.
Without commentary each one is correct, but the separation is very important, especially when you are faced with question to which you belong.
Now you sit here in your uniform, I dare say you made your choice didn't you?.

Understanding, the glint in his eye had been understanding, figured Dick finally as he allowed the words to sink it and closed his eyes as if in defeat.

"There is a honor code among soldiers, rules how to and even more not to treat a fallen enemy. For example you don't hurt them even more once they are down.
Or this is at least how it should be," Slade's tone grew bitter for a moment, as if remembering things he had rather forgotten.
"I see you as an enemy if you go between me and my target", he spoke again in a serious tone, but I don't dislike you as a person, actually I value you as someone who could one day be my equal.
Staying with a bunch of self-righteous civilians who you used to care for will destroy you and I don't want that to happen."


Silence stretched between the two as Slade finished his speech, no more words were spoken that evening.

'civilians'
He walked down the halls of the tower with a new self-confidence.

'civilians'
Ignoring the dark looks or pointed show of looking away from him he continued on his path.

'civilians'
Slade was right...

'civilians'
His enemy...

'civilians'
A man who still wore his dog tags...

'civilians'
Heroes, just a bunch of civilians playing dress up.

'civilians'
His own police badge secure on his right ankle.

'civilians'
They didn't understand.

'civilians'
He was a cop, a real one.

'civilians'
And he didn't understand them.

'civilians'
Did he ever agree with them, or did he just follow orders like a good subordinate?

'civilians'
They had raised him after their ideals since he had been eight...

'civilians'
He had followed their teachings and now they hated him...

' weak civilians'
They didn't have the spine to follow their own ideas of right and wrong.

'Weak civilians'
They didn't have the spine to face a real battle.

'Weak civilians'
They needed someone else to clean their mess.

So he simply smiled a small polite smile and hold his head high, clam self-confidence radiating from him like light from the sun.


Disgusting.

If you asked Wally West to describe his former best friend in one word it would be the disgusting. Their friends were killed because of Nightwing and what did the man do? Smile like everything was alright in the world, as if it wasn't his fault that they were death...

Revolting.

How could Dick be so heartless, when had his friend become such a monster?

Shorter Chapter I know, but more would be too much right now, next chapter next week Saturday :)