'He knows who we are, we can't just leave this alone anymore.' Jason was pacing around the living room.

'By the sounds of it, Wilson has known our identities for years and he hasn't acted upon it. I don't think he's interested in going public with the information.' Said Tim, level-headed as always.

'No, he's just after Grayson.' Said Damian, arms crossed, leaning against the piano. 'How the hell did he know about him anyway?'

Bruce sighed deeply. 'Dick's eyes started changing colour just before he ran away from home and joined the Titans. Deathstroke probably caught sight of them and from his history with the court put two and two together.'

'Do you think we should be worried about what Joey said?' Said Jason, pausing his stride for a moment to look down at Bruce on the couch. 'About the court coming for him?'

'It was always a possibility, but that is a problem for another time. Right now we need to focus on keeping Nightwing away from the mercenary.'

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Dick sat on the rooftop of Wayne Manor, looking up at the night sky full of stars. He'd first come up here the night he arrived at Wayne Manor. Eight years old, terrified, unsure of his future. Now here he was, twenty-two, terrified and still unsure of his future. But the rooftop still had the same calming effect, the feeling of being up high and safe from all the troubles that were on the ground.

His phone started to ring in his pocket, he straightened his leg against the roof tiles so that he could free it from the confines of his tight jeans. It was a withheld number.

'Joey?'

'Hello, Richard?'

The voice was not Joey's, but it was one he recognised just as easily.

'Slade.' He said, keeping the fear from his voice. He wasn't going to bother wondering how Deathstroke got hold of his phone number.

'You found out my name.'

'Seems only fair, don't you think? You seem to know so much about me.'

'Indeed I do little owl. And you must know there is only one way this can end.'

'With you behind bars.' Dick offered. The hatred was starting to boil his blood. He could feel the familiar twitching in his fingertips, a growing need to release the thing inside him.

'I know the names of all your little family. Bruce, Jason, Timothy, Damian. All it takes is one phone call and their names go out to every inmate in Arkham.'

Dick froze, a leak of their identities would be the end of Batman, the end of Gotham...the end of his family. His father, his brothers would either be killed or arrested. Slade took his silence as understanding.

'You're a smart boy, I'm sure you can understand the deal I am offering.'

'Why are you doing this to me?' Dick whispered, knowing he didn't have a choice.

'You're a force to be reckoned with Nightwing. More so once you harness the Talon DNA inside you. In the chess game, I am playing against the court, you are an important piece that I would prefer to be by my side than against me.'

Dick growled. Why did everyone suddenly think he was going to join the Court of Owls! He expressed this to Slade but the man merely gave a dark chuckle.

'Do you really think they will allow their Gray son to walk free? No, they are waiting for the right moment. Then they will come for you. But, I can protect you.'

'Like you protected Joey?'

There was silence on the other end of the phone and Dick knew he had hit a nerve.

'Meet me on the roof of your apartment building. And I do suggest coming alone. We wouldn't want your families secret to leak out, would we?'

The line went dead and Dick let out a shaky breath. He felt like he was going to be sick. He didn't have a choice, it was either him or his family.

Making his way off the roof, Dick descended back into his room and headed for the stairs. He refused to let himself look around and take in his surroundings one last time in the fear it would break his resolve. No, he had to do this and he had to do it now.

When he reached the stairs he saw Bruce walking up them.

'I was just coming to find you.' He said kindly. 'You alright?'

Dick nodded.

'I know you're probably upset about what Joey said, but give it some time.' He rested a hand on Dick's shoulder. 'He'll come around.'

Dick couldn't help himself, he flung his arms around the older man and hugged him tightly. After a brief moment, Bruce hugged him back.

'Thank you.' Dick whispered.

'For what?'

'For just...always being there.' He released him and continued down the stairs, leaving Bruce to watch after him.

He didn't see anyone else as he descended to the cave to zeta to Blud Haven.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

'What's with that face?' Rose asked as her brother approached.

'Nothing...I kind of lost my temper at Dick.'

Rose raised an eyebrow. Joey didn't often lose his temper.

'Was it because of what I told you?' His silence confirmed her theory. 'You know he can't help it right?'

'Yeh, I know. I'll get over it. It's just in that moment it was just too much information to process.'Joey leant against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. He was starting to regret what he had said to Dick, even more so about pushing the young man away. Dick had looked more hurt about the push than he had all the words. 'So what did you want to talk to me about?'

'Don't be mad.'

'What?' Joey was suddenly suspicious.

'I needed you out of the way.'

Joey's eyes widened, he lurched forward grabbing his sister by her shoulders, his grip digging into her flesh.

'Rose, what have you done?'

'He gave me a new choice. It wasn't about Deathstroke and Robin anymore. He made me choose between you and Dick. I told you. No, I begged you not to go against him, Joseph.'

'You sold Dick out?'

'No.' Rose pushed him away. 'I protected you. That's my job.'

'I'm not a kid anymore, Rose. I don't need you to protect me!' Joey ran his hand through his hair. This was bad, what did his father have planned? He turned back to his sister and glared. 'What is he planning?'

'I don't know. He just needed you out of the way so that he could lure Dick to him.'

Joey turned away from her, his brain going into overdrive trying to think of a plan. Dick wouldn't be stupid enough to go to him. Would he? Who was he kidding, if Slade threatened his family, Dick would sacrifice himself in a heartbeat. Dick's mind was fragile, the last few weeks had been damaging. If he went into the custody of Deathstroke now, Joey doubted he would survive. Talon DNA or no, Dick would find a way to end his life once he knew his family was safe.

'Rose, if you care for me at all, please tell me where they are.' Joey said calmly.

'Joe, please don't do this. Is this kid worth risking your life over?'

He turned, looking at her with large eyes.

'I love him, Ro.'

Rose paused, looking into her brother's eyes. She nodded.

'Ok.'

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

'For a moment I didn't think you were going to come.' Slade didn't move from his place on the edge of the roof.

Dick stood there, his hands into fists. He wasn't wearing his Nightwing gear. This was not a time or place for Nightwing. Even his eyes were uncovered, revealing the brilliant blue. Slade knew who he was anyway.

'You didn't leave me a lot of choice.'

'There is always a choice dear boy. A smart one and a stupid one. You chose the smart one by deciding to become my apprentice.'

'Who said I would become your apprentice.' Said Dick, his fists clenching tighter.

'You did my boy, by choosing option A rather than B.'

Dick laughed a deep humourless chuckle that made Slade sit up a little higher.

'And what if I choose option C?'

Slade stood up, not sure what to make of Richard's strange behaviour. The boy was stood before him, not emitting a single ounce of fear. He was steady, a determined yet dead look in his blue eyes that had Slade's muscles tensing.

'And what would C be?'

A grin appeared on the kids face, as humourless as his laugh had been.

'To take you down.'

He attacked with speed and a deadly precision that had Slade confused. Nightwing did not fight like this. Then it dawned on him why Richard was not wearing his hero attire. He was separating himself from the vigilante. Nightwing was not able to kill. But Dick Grayson would do anything to protect his family. Now it was Slade's turn to smile behind his mask. This was the side of the boy he had hoped to bring out all those years ago.

He pushed him back and the two circled each other, both of them wound tight, waiting for the other man to attack.

'What do you plan to gain from this Richard? We both know you won't kill me.'

'Don't tell me what I will and won't do.' Growled Dick, he attacked and their dance began again. They were evenly matched, though Slade had to admit that the boy was testing his limits. For the first time, he questioned his plan to take the former boy wonder under his wing. Was this a beast he would be able to tame? Either way, he had to end this fight before the rest of the bats descended on them.

They pulled away again.

'No, I know you won't kill me.' Slade said, trying not to pant. 'I know because as much as you might hate me, I'm still Joseph's father.'

He watched as Dick flinched, his determined look faltering. He used Dick's distraction to his advantage, pulling out a high voltage taser that would subdue even Cobb down himself.

'Sleep tight, Gray son.'

He fired.

A/N You have no idea how many times I have changed the plot to this story. I can't make up my mind which way I want it to go! Sorry for the late up date! Enjoy and please review. Thanks! Karin xx