A/n: I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry! Time to explain myself…
I got to go to college. YAY! But I found out super late, so I had one week to get ready and move to another state. Then I had to get settled, and go to events, etc. But now I'm pretty well settled in, and here I be.
Playsintherainicorn: I know, quite the cliffy. I'm glad you are excited about the story! It really means a lot to hear you are so interested!
Thebluecrystalrose: Hmm…. Perhaps.
Akiry: I'm so glad that you are still reading! I'm trying to make Dick's transformation as gradual as possible. His big moment was definitely his breakdown, but he's still struggling!
Captain Planet: Thanks again for your advice! I think the reason I have so much trouble sometimes is that I don't really let anyone read anything I write before I post it, so I just have to rely on my own judgment and proof reading… out of curiosity, you said your boss is making you learn how to cut from your writing… what is your job?
Candiandi97: Indeed, Robin lurks, but Dick is the prominent personality right now. No, Slade isn't going to be happy at all… thanks for reading. As for the other Titans… you will see.
READINGhearts17: It was a low blow of Slade, I agree.
Thaliag.2: I pulled a twist! Glad you liked it!
UninhibitedAmbitions: I'm a sucker for evil Grayson also. Glad you enjoyed!
SladeRavenFan: Dick followed his good side, and yes, Slade was trying. As far as his promise, I will somewhat explain it in this chapter. I'm so glad you liked the explanation of the contract (not heist). As for the panic attack… well, keep reading.
Darkerthanlight: Thank you so much! That really means a lot! I will continue it, but sporadically, as I am now a full time college student!
RavingNarniaAnarane: Glad to hear you like the story so much! I'll be your best friend, sure!
Superherofan01: Thank you!
SupernaturalyfreakisSG-1fan20: What episode was that? I would love to watch it!
Guest: Haha I will keep updating, though not as frequently as I was.
The boy's screams picked up where the dead man's had ended, echoing loudly in the small room as Slade tucked the gun away quickly and pulled the boy to him. He clasped his hand over the boy's mouth, muffling his screams as he hissed in his ear, "We do not have time for this." Dick continued to struggle. Slade gave him a firm shake. "Listen to me! We need to get out of here." Dick calmed down as Slade continued speaking to him. "We must be quiet, and we must be quick. Can you do that?" Dick nodded, a tremble running through his body. Slade removed his hand from the boy's mouth, keeping a light grasp on his wrist as they began making their way out of the building.
The alarms were blaring, the loud noise setting both of their already frayed nerves even more on edge. Slade kept a grip on the boy until they made it back to the junction that would lead them to their submarine.
Dropping down into the water and making the short swim back to the sub didn't take long at all. Once inside, Dick immediately retreated to his seat and sat down, buckling himself in, and never once looking at Slade. His cheek was red where Slade had struck him mere moments before.
With a silent sigh, Slade reached into his belt and swiftly removed the blindfold, holding it up for Dick to see. The boy tensed. Clearly the boy thought he was in trouble, and why not? Slade had done nothing to dissuade him of that notion.
"Relax," he instructed. The boy reverted his gaze to the floor and took a slow, shaky breath through his nose as he attempted to follow the order.
Slade, realizing that was the best he was going to get at the moment, tied the blindfold around the boy's eyes, and made his way to the controls. He would have to speak to the boy, though. It was best to get this cleared up now, than keep him in fear. That would only set them back several steps.
It was only after they found themselves back in the sub, on their way back to the island that Dick felt himself start to calm down. He was no longer trembling, and he hadn't made a sound since Slade has clamped a hand over his mouth to shut him up. Having the blindfold on wasn't helping, though. He was listening intently, hoping to hear Slade coming before he felt a fist on his face, or something worse. He took slow, shaky breaths, still not exactly composed. He ran a hand over his face, wincing as he put pressure on the bruise forming.
Even though he had been listening intently, he was still caught of guard when Slade said, "I apologize for that," coming towards Dick after setting the sub on auto pilot. Dick blinked in confusion before turning his gaze to the floor.
"I—I was the one who wouldn't… who couldn't—"
"I promised you I wouldn't make you, didn't I?" Slade said, sitting next to Dick. "I should not have struck you, but it was the quickest way I saw to get the job done. Whether you were willing or not, the contract had to be filled, Dick. I did what was necessary. If I had not done what I did, you would have fought me every step of the way, and we may not be alive now. I did the right thing, Dick. Perhaps you cannot see it right now, but one day you will."
Dick didn't respond. He remained looking at the floor. Batman had once said something similar to that. "You'll be alright, Dick. You might not be able to see how, right now, but one day you will."
And all of the things Slade had said… he had wanted to kill Tony Zucco, that was true, but… but he had been taught all his life that people don't deserve to be killed. And he still believed that. Didn't he?
He sat stiffly as Slade placed a hand on his shoulder. "The reason that I was so angry, Dick… it wasn't because you couldn't do it. It's because I expected that you could. I thought you had progressed so far. I see now I was wrong. You weren't ready."
Dick couldn't help but feel disappointed in himself. He was so confused. Had he done the right thing or not? Whose standards were right? Was Batman right, or was Slade? Who should he listen to?
"I should not have reacted so strongly," Slade said, repeating himself, and Dick understood that he wasn't being punished when Slade had hit him. He felt a shudder wrack his body as the thought hit him: that would come later. Somehow, through the confused fog of his mind, the idea still scared him.
Slade saw that he was getting nowhere, so he stood and left the boy to his thoughts. He sighed as he sat down at the controls for the final leg of their journey. He had been so certain that the boy was ready, that Dick would do as he was told without question. The boy had too much damn nobleness in him. He was sure he had the Batman to thank for that.
As they returned to base, Slade pushed his thoughts aside. They would just have to keep working and try again. The day would come. They were close. He could feel it.
He rose from his seat and once more made his way over to Dick, to help him from the ship while he was blindfolded. The boy trembled beneath his touch.
"The rest of the night is yours to do with what you wish," he said, leading the boy inside. "I'll see you tomorrow morning for training." With that, he removed the blindfold and walked quickly away, leaving Dick just as frightened, and even more confused.
They needed a Titan. That much had been made clear, but it had been two weeks since they had come to that conclusion, and no sign of the teens had been found in Jump, or at least, none had been reported by Titans East. That having been determined, it had been decided that Martian Manhunter would use his telepathy twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, to determine the location of every super powered being in the United States. If the powers he detected matched the Titans, he would establish a brief connection to determine if it was one of the four they were seeking. Thus far, there had been no luck, leading them to believe that the Titans weren't in the United States. They were relying on the idea that Slade would do what he had done with Beast Boy, drop them somewhere they were easily accessible to their enemies, most of whom were based in Jump. It was trying on J'onn, and he used the time between these bursts of power to rest, but, as he had told Batman when the idea was suggested, "I know what it is to care for a child. I will do what you ask." Batman would never be able to express how grateful he was to the man for his efforts.
Deathstroke was no one to mess around with. Already, the Titans had been missing for four and a half months. There was no telling what was being planted in Dick's head, what he was enduring. Beast Boy had told them some of what Dick had been put through, and Batman didn't think he'd ever been so angry. To think that someone had taken is boy, his son, and…
His fists clenched. It was almost time for J'onn to do his scan. The sooner they got a Titan, the sooner they could make the antidote to the power suppressant. That was a step in the right direction. The cost to Dick, however, if a Titan was released, was higher than he preffered to think about. With a swish of his cape, Batman returned to the monitoring room. One thing that Dick had taught him was to hope. He hoped that tonight was the night.
Raven looked up at the knock on here door.
"Come in," she called. The door opened, revealing a damp and distressed Dick, mask still on his face from the latest mission. He must have seen her staring at it, because he ripped it off his face in disgust and threw it on the floor. He began pacing wildly back and forth as the door closed behind him, tugging at the hair that hung limply in his face. "Dick? Wha—"
He turned to look at her, and the look in his eyes nearly broke her heart.
"I failed him."