A/N: So HUGE shout out to one of my guest reviewers who has been pointing out my grammar mistakes, totally appreciated! Also, something you brought up, all my chapters are up to date, the reason why there are like 3 less is because I combined 4 of them into 2 (the prologue chapters) and also remastered them a bit. I didn't mean to confuse anyone, so I apologize if I did! Also, I'm sorry this chapter took so long to post, I've been busy with work and I also had a bit of writer's block. And fair warning yet again: it's really late and I've no doubt there are going to be a ridiculous amount of mistakes, so I apologize in advance! Anyway, thanks to all of you who have been reading and I hope you've been enjoying the story! As well as those who have reviewed/favorited/followed me, you certainly help the inspiration!
Summary: Nightwing awakes prisoner next to the man who has haunted him for years: Slade Wilson. They are forced to work together to get out of their situation, and all the while Nightwing must accept some things that may just break the bird completely.
Tim Drake had been in deep thought, his fingers entwined and pressed against his lips as he was slumped in his chair, staring up at the monitor in front of him. Cassandra Sandsmark was not far away, the both of them had abruptly ended their conversation by the blinking red dot on the large screen. The both of them nearly had the same mind not to move, as if frozen by an unknown fear.
"I thought the tower was offline." Cassandra finally said, her eyes shifting to Tim who still had not breathed a word. A sensor in the tower had gone off, despite its vacant presence on the island across the country.
"It is. Cyborg shut everything down when they left." The boy finally answered, leaning forward and further studding the three-dimensional tower on the screen.
"Except the security, it seems." The blonde retorted, crossing her own arms and moving behind Tim's seat. "Some curious kid? Someone looking for information?"
"No…Cyborg's security is still up. If someone broke in, the whole city would know. Some one signed in." Tim explained, furrowing his brows and scratching at his jaw.
"Then what's the problem? One of the older members are probably reminiscing, maybe even using the gym. Who cares?" Cassandra then said after she realized there would be no excitement that night. It was then that Tim brought up another screen, a picture of Nightwing and his Titan file suddenly on display before them, leaving the blonde's jaw to drop and her eyes to widen.
"He's back."
Dick had gone wide-eyed, his lips parting at the man's words that kept repeating in his head. He could feel his face turn bright red, his heart pounding hard, and his body radiating a panicking heat. It was growing harder to breathe properly, as if the room was suddenly lacking oxygen. I don't understand, Dick wanted to breathe in hesitation, but the boy understood all too perfectly. And that was what scared him the most, as the boy had known and yet still continued in his journey. Perhaps he had wanted the same thing…perhaps he had just needed a little push. But as he looked back to the man's grey eye, he saw a look of concern, his brow raising curiously.
"Something the matter, Dick?" The man asked, as if he had not said something so unexpected, and studied the boy who took a step back and put a hand to his own forehead.
"Yeah…I…what did you say?" The boy looked at Slade from beneath his brows, afraid the man might see through his pretense but the man simply nodded.
"I said: There is no going out of my way, Dick. This is my way. It has always been hard not to see the fire you possess when you fight. I can help you achieve more than you could ever imagine. There is nothing more that I can truly learn, but there is so much that I have to teach." Slade continued to study the boy uncertainly. "You could say that it is, perhaps, one of my desires." Dick let out a breath at that, pushing his hair back for a moment as he realized his own mind had conjured up the man's response. Did he want Slade to say those things?
"I believe your lack of proper nourishment is beginning to get to you." Slade then suggested, a small smirk forming on his lips as he rested a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"I think you're right." The boy admitted, soon able to calm himself before letting out a few breaths and lifting his head to look at the man. "Sorry. I…I really appreciate this, Slade. You don't-." But his words had been cut off then by the man who broke eye contact and looked above them.
"It sounds like we have company." The man said as Dick began to boil, his jaw clenching as he heard the same sounds the assassin did. The echoed patter of footsteps reached the boys ears and he let out a growl, only imagining who it could have been. I should have never signed in. But the boy's mind had been elsewhere at the time, and he knew he could not let a mistake like that happen again. "You should go up there." Dick was pulled from his thoughts then, realizing Slade had been studying his fuming features.
"What's the point? I don't want to see any of them." Moving away, he folded his arms against his chest, counting his second mistake as he was sure that his ignorance must have pissed the mercenary off. To his surprise, it didn't.
"The same point as coming to this tower. Like I said, over time it will be nothing to you. They know you're here. There's no reason to hide. Besides, if you run they'll only chase you. And haven't you learned by now that it's simply better to give in?" The boy's cheeks went red once again, and the color deepened when a large hand was felt at the small of his back, pushing to guide him towards the large doors.
"Who's to say I've really given in just yet?" Dick then challenged without thinking, turning his head to the side and watching the man smirk. "I may find that city life isn't for me, and book the next flight back to Nepal." A chuckle was then heard and the hand on his back gently squeezed at the firm flesh.
"I think that once you sleep in an actual bed tonight, you won't be booking any flights for a while. And just as well, as I'm not planning on giving you up anytime soon." Those words made Dick's inside's twist, his heart thudding and he could feel the same overwhelming sensation he had only moments before, begin to come back to him. What is wrong with you?
"You're right." Dick scoffed, stopping and turning towards the man who who dropped his hand from the boy. "But I think it'll be a burger that keeps me from going back." He clutched his stomach at that, listening to the man chuckle yet again.
"In any case, you require both. Now, run a long. I'll expect you here, tomorrow, in the afternoon. And before you start raising any more suspicions, take this." A black key card was then handed to him. "I made my own door." the man explained with a smug look before nodding his head towards the door. "Now, go."
Dick hesitated for a moment, realizing there were still so many questions to ask, but he did not want to refuse the man, especially when there was someone above them who needed tending to first. With a curt nod, Dick turned and made his way out of the underground compound and up the stairs where he was suddenly in hunting mode. Crouched and silent, his eyes sharp as he looked for the visitor. It was when he climbed back up the tower and back to the room Slade had attacked him in, that he saw a flash of red.
"…Bart?" The boy then said aloud, standing up straight with a crooked smile on his face. A genuine one. Before he could even see his friend, his arms were wrapped around him, crushing him against his body. And Dick wasn't reluctant as he hugged his friend back.
"I can't believe you're here…I…I thought you were-." He could hear Bart's voice crack, his arms only tightening around him. Dick frowned at that, thinking back to what he had done to his room, the memories he wouldn't allow himself in Nepal, and even the idea…the knowledge that Deathstroke was watching him at that very moment.
"I know. I'm sorry. But I'm okay, look." It took him a moment to back out of Bart's arms and extend his arms, letting his ex-teammate get a good look at him. "Still in one piece." Dick smirked and watched Bart wipe at his eye, his lips twitching into a smile but only for a moment.
"Yeah…you are." Another moment and they both continued to study each other, the silence growing unbearable until the speedster finally spoke up. "You look different."
Dick scratched the back of his head at that and lowered his chin. "Yeah…the hair, right?" His mind flashed to Slade for a moment, remembering the way his hand moved through it. No, not now. There's no time for that.
"Everything." Bart answered, giving Dick another sweep of the eyes that made the boy feel naked, but it was the solemn look on the Flash's face that had given his thoughts away. "No more blue?" he then asked.
"Something like that." Dick replied, looking down at his uniform where he had completely covered his mark.
"I see." Bart stepped forward, his chin low as if disappointed. "No more Nightwing, then?" He was blunt, but Dick expected nothing less, and he wouldn't lie, nor would he sweeten anything.
"Listen, Bart...lets do this somewhere else. Grab something to eat...catch up." The boy suggested, stepping forward and smiling hesitantly. Flash crossed his arms at that, and Dick could see he wanted to say 'yes', but-
"After the Titans get here. They're on their way, everyone wants to see for themselves. We have a lot of questions." Of course, the speedster had always been the first to arrive, he should have known the rest would be coming to find him.
"Of course you do." Dick narrowed his eyes and scoffed. "I guess I'll be going myself then." But before he could take another step, Bart stood in his way.
"I can't let you leave." Bart gave Dick a hard look, and it was almost disturbing the way the boy had gone from happy to see his friend, to remembering why he had left in the first place. And that made him angry.
"You aren't going to stop me. I may have founded the titans, but I'm done with them. I don't answer to them, or anyone." Dick scowled, his fists clenched and his eyes narrowed. He wished he had his mask on then, for he was sure the rage that filled his blue hues would burn the skin of the speedster. Bart was taken back by this, his own brows raising and his lips parting.
"We're just…we're your friends, Dick. We're just concerned…I mean… we thought you were dead. Something must have happened, right? It's been six months…hell it's been a year since we've even talked."
"Friends? So I need to stay here and I have to answer questions because we're friends?" Dick thought back to Nepal then, and realized how much he'd rather be there in that moment, warm bed or not. He didn't want to deal with this. He had forgotten about all of them and now it was flooding back to him full on. What he had also realized, was with the hostility hanging in the air above them, he knew if he had continued his harsh words, one thing would lead to another…
The boy was in no shape to fight, and that was clear in his mind. Malnourished, exhausted, and his mind in havoc over Slade's words, there was no way he would walk out in any better shape, especially not if the titans were on their way. With a sigh, Dick rubbed at his temples before looking to Bart once more.
"Listen…we can talk, I promise. But not now. I'm not ready. There's just so much to explain…the others will understand. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon." The boy put on his best mask then, hiding the rage boiling inside of him. But Bart wasn't entirely convinced, only enough for him to look away in thought.
"If it was me…or someone else…you would stop at nothing to find out what happened." His friend then said, throwing Dick off who felt a tinge of guilt in that moment, his eyes looking to the floor.
Maybe. Maybe before.
"I'm sorry, Bart. I have to go." And just as the boy suspected, the speedster did not come after him when he ran down the tower and out onto the island. His eyes shifted anxiously, watching the sky as he mounted his jet ski, being sure that no other members were in sight as he drove away.
In the tower, Bart had paced the room, fighting with himself and debating whether or not to run after the Boy Wonder. The titans wouldn't be happy when they arrived, but Bart was more concerned with what he had witnessed. It was hard to believe the young man he had just encountered was Dick Grayson. Not only did he not look the part…but the look in his eyes, the feelings he was radiating…none of it had felt right.
"Where is he?" Wondergirl inquired from behind, the Flash not having heard anyone behind him as he was lost in his thoughts. Beast Boy stepped forward then with his arms folded across his chest.
"He was here. Not too long ago either." Bart gave them a nod before letting out a heavy breath.
"Yeah…he didn't want to talk. There was something…way off about him." Bart replied with a bit of resentment, his arms crossing.
"Did he at least say why he was here?" Garfield asked, only to be answered with a frown.
"I didn't even get the chance to ask. I mean…he said he was okay. He looked okay. It was just…weird." With a sigh, Cassandra turned to Beast Boy.
"I'll inform Cyborg and Raven…perhaps one of them has gotten in touch with Starfire by now." With a nod, the green-skinned boy moved to Flash and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, man. Dick is probably just going through one of his…funk's." Bart nodded, but they hadn't seen their leader. They didn't get the sick and uneasy feeling that he had.
"Where's Robin?" The Flash suddenly asked, his brows furrowed at the absence of one of their members.
"Playing Batman at the moment." but Garfield's eyes went wide when Tim cleared his throat from behind them.
"Well, you weren't wrong." Tim smirked, his arms folded as he looked at his team. But the smirk quickly vanished as he dropped his arms and looked towards the hallway lined with rooms. "I think maybe you guys should see this."
They were then lead towards Dick's room, where it was obvious Tim had gone through first upon entering the tower, checking for anything out of place. The titan's were then staring into the destroyed bedroom, a frightening silence thick between them.
"Was there a fight?" Cassandra asked, crouching down and picking up one of the paper clippings from the ground.
"It doesn't seem that way. The marks on the wall, the destruction of the table…it doesn't suggest that there was another person." Robin explained, his own eyes shifting around the room.
"You're saying he did this himself? Just… because?" Bart asked in shock, stepping into the room and taking a look for himself.
"This isn't exactly the first time." Beast Boy then said, his features turning serious. "Take a look around the room…it's plastered with Deathstroke. How many years did Nightwing lock himself away trying to hunt the guy down?" Wondergirl nodded in agreement.
"Cyborg mentioned this to me a while ago. Do you think Dick snapped again? Went on another hunt and turned up…unsuccessful?" The blonde asked, searching her teammates who didn't seem to have a straight answer.
"It's hard to say." Tim finally spoke. "Dick never really spoke about it to anyone. Batman and I were convinced that once he had left Jump, he had put it behind him."
Beast Boy frowned at that, bringing one of the articles closer so that he could get a better view of the masked man they had fought all too often. "You guys never saw him that way. If you had…you'd understand that Dick was never going to put it behind him. The guy haunted all of us…but Dick…" Tim could see the look on Garfield's face, and with a few strides he stood before him.
"I'll talk to him." And with that, he gave Beast Boy a small smirk and the article from him.
Dick was taking full advantage of the shower when he had returned to his apartment, leaning against the cool tiles and letting the hot water massage his skin. His mind was racing, thinking back to the stressful events he had already endured with his first day back. It had only been a few hours, and already he wanted to leave. It was nice to forget everyone, to not worry about anything else but food and survival. Even Slade, who he was still having trouble pinning. Not even the scolding hot water could wash away the feeling of his hands, and Dick couldn't understand why. It wasn't a bad feeling…far from it…but why had it made him so weak? So vulnerable? Another twist in his stomach and he couldn't help but think of the months before, the way the man had saved him, spoke to him, stretched him…
Stop…what are you thinking?
Slade had constantly been on his mind ever since the day they had met, yet now, it was different. The man was filling his dreams and thoughts in ways he had never expected. And he wanted to hate himself for it, he wanted to hate the man, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Not when it seemed the mercenary was playing along…implying things that only confirmed the boy's thoughts. With a groan at himself that echoed through the shower, he shut the water off and stepped out, drying his hair and toweling down his body before pulling on a pair of black briefs. Even as he combed his hair in the mirror, he couldn't remove the image of Slade doing the same back in the hotel, forcing him to throw down his comb and walk out of the bathroom where he froze.
He could feel a shift in the air on his bare skin, and his heart fluttered for a moment, wondering if the assassin was the presence he was feeling. But it became evidently clear that it was not him as he took another step into his bedroom. How long had he trained himself to feel Batman's presence?
"I guess Bart didn't pass on the message?" Dick asked over his shoulder, turning to see Robin with his arms folded, watching him silently.
"He did, I just ignored it." The boy didn't so much as smirk while he spoke, and although his mask covered his eyes, Dick could tell that he was taking in his appearance, just as Bart had done. "But he was right…you look different. What happened?"
Rolling his eyes, Dick moved to his bed and threw back the covers before sitting on the edge. "I went soul-searching." Dick replied sarcastically. "And after six months, figured out I just needed a change in hairstyle."
Tim scoffed at that. "I'd believe you, and I'm sure a small part of that is true…but I saw your room back at the tower. It raised some questions."
Dick frowned at that. They were both trained detectives, and Dick could only imagine what Robin had been able to piece together. "Your relationship with Deathstroke is well-known, Dick…Batman and I…we thought you were good. We thought it was over. Listen…we both wore these colors, we have both answered to the same man. I consider you my brother…and when you disappeared…I couldn't help but think the worse. I mourned for you, Dick." The young man frowned more, his chin lowered as a small battle stirred within him.
I didn't think once of you, Tim. I couldn't. I'm sorry.
The guilt was heavier this time, but he thought back to Slade which kept him grounded. The man was right, there was a point in leaving. There was a point in forgetting everything. "And seeing you here…now…alive…I don't care that you look different, I just care that you're alive. And I care about what drove you away…I just need you to tell me. When I saw your room, when I saw all of those articles…I mean, what else am I supposed to think? It's been years, Grayson-."
"You think…this is about him?" Dick suddenly asked, his brows furrowing. It had then occurred to him what the boy was getting at it. "You think I have some sick obsession? No…no you and everyone else. You all thought that I had some problem because I worked hard in hunting down a man who caused destruction to everyone."
"Worked hard? Dick that's putting it lightly. You had a problem, everyone else could see it. What else am I supposed to think when you disappear and come home only to return to the very city and destroy the room that has his mask plastered all over it!?"
Dick got to his feet then, his fists clenched and face red. "Problem?! The problem was that Batman trained me to hunt down the enemy! To never stop, to never settle. But I was young then, Tim. I didn't realize that whether I beat the man or not, it wasn't ever going to make a difference. I didn't leave because I was hunting down some ghost from the past, I left because I was trying to undo everything that made me that way!"
Tim stared at Dick in utter silence, his eyes wide at the young man with grit teeth and chest swelling with rage. He could see it now, what Bart had been speaking about. But why? If it wasn't Deathstroke…then what? Could he truly resent Batman so much?
"Bart was right." Tim then said, taking a step back. The boy was not about to argue, especially as it seemed he knew nothing of the situation. "You have changed." With a turn of his heel, Robin began walking towards the door, his chest tightening as he wished it was all a dream. The boy he had looked up to, who he had seen as a brother, was close to nothing but a stranger.
"Good, that was the point." Dick muttered as Tim walked out and slammed the door.
Dick had hardly found sleep that night, despite his exhaustion and the comfort of his bed. His blood continued to pump dangerously with the anger peaked inside of him. He wanted to move, to train, to get it out of his system, but all he could do was lay in bed and stare at the ceiling. The only thoughts that seemed to calm him slightly was the ideas of what the mercenary would be teaching him the next day. And before he knew it, the sun was rising, and he had finally found sleep. Although when he had awoken, his eyes heavy with exhaustion, he realized there was no time to eat or shower as he was going to be late for his first session. Throwing the covers off of him, he stumbled towards the closet, pulling on a pair of black pants and a white tank top, knowing there was no way he was touching his Nightwing uniform.
On his way to the tower, he slowly began to remember the events of the night before, with both Bart and Tim. He was certain he would be hearing about it from Deathstroke, but hoped they would just focus on training, as there was a lot of anger needing to be released. And yet again, as if the man could read minds, Deathstroke commented on it immediately as the boy walked into the underground compound.
"I see my orders on sleep and nutrition were ignored." The comment was lighthearted, but Dick knew he was a man that did not like being disobeyed.
"It was a long night." The boy muttered, dropping his gym bag on the floor and taking off his boots before pulling a pair of sneakers out. As he was bending down to pull them on, a large hand was felt beneath his jaw, forcing him to look up at the assassin who was dressed in black pants and a long sleeved shirt where the sleeves were folded at the elbows.
"I can see that. Perhaps I should make a cot for you here." The man teased, letting go of his jaw. "Less visitors."
Dick smirked and kneeled to tie his laces. "After last night, I'd gladly take you up on that."
"Perhaps. If you're good." Dick smiled at that, glancing up at Slade before working on his other shoe. "I see you've ditched the uniform?"
"It was too tight." The boy muttered.
"That's a poor excuse." The man retorted, folding his arms and burning his eyes into the boy who let out a sigh.
"Well it is. And I'm not Nightwing. He was a different person. One I'm trying to forget." The boy explained, feeling his blood begin to boil yet again at the thought as he turned to put his boots into his gym bag.
"Hm, I don't think it is too wise to forget him completely. It is his mistakes you will be learning from. Starting with turning your back to your opponent." Blue eyes went wide as he went to turn around, just in time to duck the kick that had flown at his face. The rush of adrenaline forced a smirk onto Dick's lips, his fists clenching as he prepared himself.
"I think my first mistake was agreeing to learn under someone who fights dirty." The boy replied, ducking another kick that had brushed his cheek, but not the cross that sent him flying backwards.
"Actually, your first mistake was not coming to me sooner." Grunting at the the pain throbbing in his chest from the blow, the boy forced a smirk and got to his feet. "Bit rusty, aren't you? Or did you happen to spar with the wildlife-." Slade ducked his kick and blocked the second one, amusement beginning to dance in his one eye.
"No." The boy began, moving back and forth with the man, ducking, sliding, blocking, trying his best to avoid the strikes of the assassin, all the while trying to find an opening. "Besides, I may be rusty, but I spent years studying your techniques." There, an opening. And as he swung his first towards the man's jaw, nearly connecting with it, at the last second, Slade moved his head out of the way, grabbing his shoulder and wrist. With Dick's momentum and a sharp turn of his body, the boy was thrown over his shoulder and down onto the padded floor where Slade's knee pressed his face into the mat.
"Not all of them, it seems." When the man finally moved off of the boy, he rubbed his face where the knee had been, staring up at the mercenary who held his hand out. Suddenly feeling discouraged by the way he was being thrown around, and only within a few minutes, Dick let out a breath and frowned.
"So this is what a signed up for, then? Fighting you until I learn something?" The boy grumbled as he took the man's hand and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet.
"Don't be so sore, boy. But you are going to wish you were fighting me when I'm through with you." At that, he walked further onto the mat, the boy following hesitantly as he kept the words in mind. "You've filled out, yes, learned survival, and more importantly, you've found a spiritual comfort and state of mind for yourself. But your body has been weakened. For you to learn what I have to offer, we need to fix your foundation and build you up." It was then that Slade pulled out a small device, the lights suddenly flooded the compound, showing the full training courses that seemed slightly familiar to what the Titans had used. Dick had no doubt Slade had taken some of the designs for himself.
"So the basics then?" Richard asked, nearly scoffing. "You do remember that I lead the Titans, right? Was trained by Batman?" Slade raised his brow at that.
"Are you suggesting that what I haven't even revealed to you, will be too easy?" The man asked dangerously, though Dick folded his arms and stared at the ropes hanging from the ceiling, the balancing poles, the large tires, and the multiple other obstacles around the floor.
"Nothing can be worse than what I've gone through." But the boy learned quickly that Slade did not bode well with challenges, and wished he had shut up while he had the chance when the man let out a chuckle.
"We'll see about that."
I feel like this is a bit of a weak chapter. My mind is already on future events and I've already written some chapters far in advance that are way more exciting than this, so I apologize if it's not my best! And as always, reviews are welcomed!