Part 9

The next morning I retrieved a duffle bag and pack the essentials. Rope, grappling gun, The Art of War (gift from Grandfather), notebook, pen, swords, shuriken, knives, and a few other things one might need when you're confronting a person you called mentor (though never out loud) that has since gone renegade.

And yes, that does include a Taser.

And because it was created by the Batman (Father), you won't be surprised when I tell you that it is a great deal stronger than the ones the police use.

I go down to the Batcave and walk over to the zeta-tube. The last time I used this . . . Not a pleasant memory. In short, it didn't register me correctly and I ended up with half the Justice League after me. Of course, given that a majority of that half had met me, I highly doubt that it was only the system confusion that caused that attack.

I make sure that nothing is wrong (the last time it didn't work because someone left a sock in the gears. An accident, according to him) and walk through.

A word of advice when you go through a zeta-beam:

Don't. Take the train instead (not my words, these come directly from the idiot known as Flash. And I agree with him. Do not utter a word).

I walk out in the most popular criminal alley-way. Grayson's thoughts at the time were that when he walked out the criminals would get freaked out. And though I loathe admitting it, he was right. This was proven when I hear (not see, due to the white dots flashing in front of my eyes. Shame) several very high pitched screams and feet running in the opposite direction of me.

I smirk, change into civilian clothes along with a pair of shades, and head over in the direction of the numerous apartment buildings.

Honestly, I don't know how Grayson can stand living in this city. I was pestered by at least seventeen homeless freaks and was almost jumped six times. Perhaps it's his personality, and perhaps it's simply that he enjoys being shocked every few seconds. Or perhaps I don't even want to know.

Yes, I believe I'll go with that last statement.

I run up a few flights of stairs once I reach the correct apartment, because honestly, who wants to wait so long for an even longer ride up that makes you feel like you've been introduced to the crowbar by the Joker himself?

Don't even continue to think the thought that I know you're thinking about at this present moment. It most certainly does not mean what you think it means.

Anyways, back to business. It takes me three minutes to finish unlocking the door with my lock-pick-wires, as Grayson is as paranoid as Father is. For Batman's sake, he has five high security locks on the blasted door! Given, it's Blüdhaven and you cannot truly be a citizen with even one less lock, but the fact remains.

Inside I find that his living room is quite disorganized while his kitchen is practically untouched. I smirk as I remember Grayson's last cooking incident at the Manor. Alfred banned him from anywhere near the kitchen for the fifteenth time. All of the other rooms are more like the front room.

I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for to be perfectly frank. I know I won't find anything that screams, 'I MURDERED A MAN! SEND ME TO JAIL NOW!' simply because he was trained by THE Batman. Everyone who is Father's apprentice learns at least something. Todd is a perfect example here. Well perhaps not. He can truly plead insanity.

I start with his bedroom, and find nothing that looks like what he's been doing lately. I check the guest bedroom, storage room, bathroom, and even the kitchen before I find myself collapsing on the couch. I straighten up and look around the living room. Lots of bookshelves and books. Mercy, I am relieved Drake cannot read thoughts. I would mock anyone else for that observation. Of course, they could be filled with other things, helpful things, but at least the titles are decent.

I set my eyes on the coffee table in front of me, and see a notebook. I flip through it, not very surprised when I see lists. All kinds of lists. Things needed for the house, restaurants, grocery lists, heck, he even has the world's richest men from number one down listed (my father being on it, of course. Though currently second, due to that blasted so-called villain, Luthor). I flip through a few more blank pages before one word at the top of a list catches my eye:

Names:

If that doesn't just scream that he's turning into a villain, I don't know what does. Well, perhaps I do. 'Targets' would be a more obvious word. I scan over the list of names, all of them except one crossed out. There are several birds, which I knew there would be. Raven, Crowe, and others that don't even make much sense.

And then I come to the name that's not crossed out, but rather, circled. The one that he's chosen.

Renegade

Hmmm, seems like I was right after all.


Because I told you that I would tell you what Damian did to Tim. The picture is based off of letters that Damian writes to Dick. You can see them on google. Simply look up (on Google Images) 'damian's letters to dick'. They are hilarious! It came from the last letter that Damian sends, which is actually to Tim.

Now is the time when I apologize profusely. I know that none of you were expecting this, and I know what you were expecting. I'm really sorry, but the next few parts are going to be some of the hardest parts that I have ever written. Please forgive me!

Thanks for all of the reviews for the last chapter, and please tell me what you thought of this one, even though it was completely unexpected.