Just want to say thank you all so much for reading, reviewing, favorite-ing, and following this story. This story is a fun outlet for me even though I don't update often. Thank you all for sticking through this! I hope this chapter is a fun read, just Dick and Slade this time.

Exchange: to give up for something else.

-X-

He had two suitcases with him. Dick was surprised he even had enough clothing to fill them both. He felt like he wore the same dull outfit each day.

He had etched his "map" of the haunt on a small section of the newspaper Wintergreen gave him and tucked it neatly in a pair of boxers. Dick left the pillows and blankets on the bed and his Flying Grayson's poster on the wall. Dick had stared up at the poster and heavily debated rolling it up and tucking it in his suitcase, but at the last moment, he decided to leave it here at the haunt. At home Dick said to himself. That's what it was, wasn't it?

Dick took a step closer to Slade. There was always a strong chance of him getting recognized, no matter how dark the sunglasses were or how big the hat was, it was a risk. Dick looked at his passport in his hand. Richard Wilson. That was the name Slade had given him. Joey, Grant, and now Richard, apparently.

"Where's your friend with the missing tooth?" Dick asked. He looked around the airport. The place was buzzing with people trying to get home for the holidays. Someone would bump into him before shouting "Sorry, Merry Christmas!" and rushing towards the gate. Dick did what he could to prevent someone from knocking his glasses off his face.

"He's on his way towards us now." Slade explained. Dick squinted his eyes and stood on his toes to look for the man coming towards them. The sea of people was thick and dense and Dick struggled to see through the crowd.

He heard Slade chuckle, "I realize you are not tall enough to see him."

"No kidding." Dick huffed, "You gonna put me on your shoulders?"

Dick laughed at his own remark but Slade paid no mind to it. Dick cleared his throat to bridge the awkward gap, "He sure is..." Dick picked his words carefully, "Friendly."

Slade nodded, "Indeed." He said, "He's been like that since I've known him."

"He knows a lot about you." Dick noted, "He told me to say hi to your wife last time."

"Ex-wife."

"Does it really bother you that much?" Dick asked, "I thought you didn't even get the divorce."

"It doesn't bother me, personally," Slade responded, "But if Adeline got wind of it she'd make her way all the way here to correct you. She has the divorce paperwork, I have yet to sign it."

Dick glanced up, "So she broke it off with you?"

"Yes." He affirmed, "She had every right to. Enough questions for now."

Dick nodded and stood straighter when he could finally see Jefferson push his way through the dense crowd towards them. The man was just as eager to see them as the last time. The man gave Slade a firm handshake before turning and giving Dick a hug as though they were old pals. Jefferson pulled Dick close and squeezed Dick's face against his chest. Dick could see Slade laugh at him.

"Oh, its so good to see you both!" Jefferson said with a joyous grin as he released Dick.

Dick breathed a sigh of relief, "Nice to see you too." Dick muttered. He adjusted the hat on his head and pushed his glasses higher up his nose.

Slade shook Jefferson's hand once again, "A pleasure to see you again, Jefferson. The wedding was spectacular." Slade commented, "I apologize I had to leave so early but the ceremony was absolutely wonderful. When is the honeymoon?"

Jefferson smiled ear to ear. The gap in his mouth was filled with a tooth now, "Not until after the holidays! Kassi and I love the holidays so much we wanted to get married on Christmas day but her family would have none of that." He laughed, "I'm surprised I didn't see you in the crowd, Lieutenant! I'm so happy to hear you came." Jefferson looked past Slade's shoulder, "Have you got Wintergreen with you?"

The man shook his head, "No, he's staying here in Gotham for the meantime." Slade dropped a hand on Dick's shoulder, "My boy and I are going on a trip for the holidays. California, as a matter of fact. I'm not sure when we will be back. We're going to check out a few schools out there, see if he finds something he likes."

"Really? What grade are you in now?"

"High school." Slade answered before Dick could speak, "The boy's so smart he skipped a grade or two." He responded with a wink. Dick shook his head. Didn't Slade wink every time he blinked already?

Jefferson clapped his hands together, "'Atta boy!" He cheered, "Smart like your dad! So are you and Addie getting together for the holidays?"

"No, just me and Richard this year."

"Ah, I see." Jefferson winked and hit Dick's upper arm, "Looks like you won't be getting a little brother anytime soon!" The man laughed, "Three is enough for ya, huh?"

Slade laughed, "Three boys is quite the handful. Do you have any of your own yet?"

Jefferson sighed, "We've been trying but no luck yet. We're hoping for twins." Jefferson cast a glance down at his watch, "Look at the time! Let's get you guys boarded on that plane. Follow me this way."

Dick stuck by Slade's side as they followed Jefferson through the airport. Jefferson was nice, Dick noticed, and very personal. The man idolized Slade as though he was Superman himself. The Slade he knew was nothing to idolize, Dick thought to himself. He could hear Wintergreen's voice in his head reminding him how Slade was trying his best or that he really cares. Dick shook Wintergreen's voice out of his head. Jefferson and Wintergreen both knew a different side of Slade than Dick knew. They knew the military side- the hero side. Dick could scarcely imagine would it would be like to work side by side with Slade for justice.

Dick lost track of how long they had been walking before they made it to the small, private runway for the richer people in Gotham City. The sun hardly poking above the horizon. He felt someone nudge his arm.

"Whatcha got the sunglasses on for?" Jefferson poked him again, "The sun is barely up!"

"It helps me pretend I'm still asleep." Dick joked.

Jefferson burst out laughing, "That's a good idea!" He held his stomach as he laughed, "I'll have to try that sometime. These overnight shifts really get to ya!"

Dick laughed as well, "I hear you. Especially with the way S-" Dick stopped himself a fake cough, "Sorry, excuse me. I was saying with the way my father drives its impossible to get any sleep."

The word left a rotten taste in his mouth.

"Oh, no kidding!" Jefferson slapped his knee, "Some things never change, do they? They wouldn't even let him drive in the military either!" Jefferson laughed again, "Now listen," Jefferson leaned close, "Don't go telling your pa I said that. They didn't let me drive either."

The boy nodded, "Your secret's safe with me." Dick smiled. He extended his hand, "It is nice to see you again, Jefferson."

Jefferson took his hand tightly, "It's Jeff for you! There's no need to be formal with me. I'm only so formal around your pa because he sure knew how to knock some sense into ya if you disrespected him."

"I can imagine." Dick laughed. They parted ways and Dick heaved both his suitcases up the small steps. Slade was already sitting in a chair with a glass of... something in his hands. Dick had to admit he didn't know a thing about alcohol. An attendant took his bags for him before disappearing into a different section of the small plane. Dick removed his glasses and winter clothes down to a shirt and sweatpants. Dick sat across from Slade with his legs crossed below him.

"It's about time." Slade remarked, "I was thinking about leaving without you."

Dick shook his head, "It's not my fault that dude's obsessed with you." Dick ran a hand through his hair, "And me, apparently."

"That's why I like bringing you along." Slade smirked, "Allows Jefferson to gawk over you instead of me."

Dick watched as Slade tipped the glass back to his lips, "Isn't it a bit early for alcohol?"

"Seven hours on a flight with you." Slade put the empty glass down on the table between the two of them, "I could use something to take the edge off."

"Very funny." The boy rolled his eyes and turned to look out the window. He could remember Slade mentioning California to Jefferson. A far distance from Gotham City. Dick took in a deep breath and sunk into his chair as the plane began to lift into the air. There was no going back now. Slade hadn't provided any time frame for when they would be going back to Gotham, if they were going back to Gotham.

When they successfully made it into the air, Dick looked out the window again and down at the city as it got smaller and smaller. He had spent the last four years of his life in Gotham City. Dick realized he hadn't planned on leaving Gotham anytime soon, even after beginning his apprenticeship with Slade. That chapter of his life was quickly coming to an end. Would the Justice League think to look for him in California?

Dick decided to break the silence between them, "I didn't take you as a snowbird." Dick began, "California? Really?"

"I figured a warmer atmosphere would be good for you." Slade responded.

Dick shrugged, "You sure it's not a tactic to become the leader of California once it breaks off from the rest of the United States?"

"You believe all that?"

"You don't?"

It was Slade's turn to shrug, "As a matter of fact, I couldn't be bothered." He explained, "Don't tell me you believed in the world ending this year as well."

"I've heard crazier." Dick said, "Practically lived it, in fact."

"Have you now?"

Dick could tell Slade didn't believe him, "I have." Dick answered, "One of the last things we did as a team was undergo a training simulation. Martian Manhunter used his powers to connect us all within in a... mental simulation. Going into it, we knew it was fake. We knew it was fake when the Justice League was slaughtered and we knew it was fake when half of Earth's population was completely obliterated. But Artemis died and M'gann's mind took over and we couldn't tell it was fake anymore." Dick looked at his fingernails and picked at them as he spoke, "I saw a lot." Dick finished, "I know it wasn't real, but... you know how it goes. Ex-military- I'm sure you've seen worse."

"It affects us all differently," Slade explained. His voice was encouraging to Dick, "There's no competition for who has seen or experienced worse." Slade glanced down at Dick for a moment, "I, however, was much older than you are when I was in the military."

"It wasn't even real." Dick reminded him.

"There's no shame in having emotions, Dick." Slade responded, "They can be a hindrance at times, but they are what make us human."

Dick looked away from Slade, "Bruce never asked me how I felt afterwards." He admitted, "He... He just acted like nothing even happened. I get it, he was busy but before I woke up I thought I was alone again." He took the sunglasses off his face and sighed, rubbing his eyes, "It was always business as usual with him."

"Even outside of the uniform?" Slade inquired.

The boy shook his head, "Once I knew the secret, there was no separating Bruce and Batman. Unless he was in front of a crowd, he was the same, cowl or not. That's just how he was though. He wasn't the type to be a dad but that didn't mean he cared any less." Dick spoke more to himself than to Slade, "He just had a different way of showing it. I spent more time with him than anyone else. I knew he cared."

"There's no doubt in my mind either."

Dick didn't acknowledge Slade's comment, "I think the worst part of it all was sending them to their deaths." Dick explained, "I-I knew Superboy and Wally and myself weren't going to make it out of there alive. I think they knew too. I know it comes with the title- the hero title. It's the risk we take, but... but actually doing it."

"There is no easy way to send a comrade, or a friend, to death." Slade explained, "Be grateful it was not real; however, it is alright to be affected by it as though it actually happened."

"You don't think it's a weakness?"

"No."

"Is it hard for you too?"

"When I was younger, yes. I don't keep many people around me anymore." Slade took a drink, "Of course that's no longer the case. In this apprenticeship, I will make sure you are protected at all costs. Should the situation arise, I will do everything in my power to ensure your safety."

"What about you?"

"Do not worry about me." Slade told him, "I will survive."

Dick was unsure if Slade's words comforted him and gave the man a slight nod of the head instead. Dick had to admit that he had yet to even consider the fact that death could one day overtake Slade just as it did Bruce. The thought sent chills down his spine.

Slade noticed Dick's discomfort, "Let us talk about something different." Slade suggested, "It's nearly Christmas."

"It's tomorrow, right?" Dick asked and Slade nodded, "What do you normally do for Christmas?" Dick inquired.

"Will and I don't do anything." Slade responded. He took a newspaper from the table between them and cast his eye downward. It had been years since he had done anything to celebrate the holiday. Slade strained his memory to remember the last time he spent a Christmas with his family. 2006, was it? Before Slade could remember, Dick began speaking again. Slade looked up from his paper at the boy.

"I meant before it was just you and him," Dick explained, "When I started living with Bruce he made the effort every year to spend at least a few hours with me. And at least two dozen gifts." Dick laughed, "He was definitely the kind of person that thought the more the presents, the better the Christmas."

Dick smiled at the memory, "I think Bruce forgot I grew up in a circus. I wasn't used to doing very much on Christmas in the first place anyways."

"What was Christmas at the circus like?"

"Nothing crazy, surprisingly," Dick answered, "Everyone cooked and brought a part of the meal to share. All we did was share. If you got a gift for someone, it was a gift for the circus. What about you?"

Slade's attention was in his paper again. "I'll admit I wasn't home for as many holidays as I should have been." Slade spoke from behind the paper, "I'd send home presents but I was not around often. When Grant was old enough, he'd come to spend the holidays with me."

"What did you guys do together?"

"Hunt."

Dick scrunched his nose. The idea was very off-putting to him.

"So you and Grant were pretty close then?" Dick inquired.

Slade nodded, "The boy would have killed to be more like me." He stated, "And I mean that quite literally."

Before Dick could respond, Slade tilted his head to gesture behind Dick's shoulder, "Allow me to change the subject. My laptop should be just behind you." Slade said, "Retrieve it and I can show you the files from our previous mission."

Dick nodded his head before twisting in his chair. He peeked his head over the corner of the chair and peered down into the pouch attached to the chair. He reached over and pulled the laptop out. He placed it on the table between the two of them. Slade bent forward and unlocked the computer screen. He pulled up the files on the Thermal Blaster. Dick leaned in close to read the screen.

"Do you think you can really build it?" Dick asked.

"We." Slade corrected him, "We will build it once we get settled in the new haunt. I have been looking into using Xenothium for a power supply for new equipment and uniform models. Xenothium can be tricky to use, and very dangerous in some cases, but its power is limitless for us."

Dick kept his eyes on the screen, "Where is the new haunt?"

"Jump City."

"Never heard of it."

"It's a city along the coast. A few miles south of Star City." Slade clarified, "There's a lot of nightlife and young adults. Most notably, there's no supers."

"Oh boy." Dick said sarcastically, "Maybe you'll let me go outside for once."

"You're still Dick Grayson." Slade reminded him, "You are not only famous, but also plastered over every missing persons list in the country."

"Everyone's looking for me yet no one can find me." Dick spoke to himself more than to Slade.

The older man shrugged, "Without me, there is nowhere for you to go. Unless you plan on changing your name and dying your hair."

Dick raised an eyebrow, "Not gonna happen." He shook his head, "I don't want to end up looking like you."

"My hair wasn't always white, you know." Slade rubbed his goatee, "It used to be blonde."

"Then you hit 60?"

"25."

"25?" Dick asked, "What happened?"

Slade reached for a bottle with an amber liquid. Dick glanced at the bottle but found no label for what was inside. Dick had never been around alcohol much, except for Bruce's functions where the guests were bursting with wine and champagne. Bruce never drank alcohol and Dick was obviously never allowed anywhere the stuff. Dick watched carefully as Slade brought the bottle to the lip of his glass and poured some in. The liquid swam around the partially melted ice cubes and settled to the bottom. He watched Slade screw the lid back on and take the glass back in his hand.

"It's a story for another day, Dick." Slade brought the glass to his lips and took a long sip. The glass was empty again.

"What are you drinking?"

"Whisky." Slade poured another glass, "You're too young for it."

"I wasn't asking for any." Dick said, more to himself than Slade. He looked over the laptop again, "Will you tell me what happened with Superboy? When you said that phrase?"

"Red sun?"

Dick almost flinched as though the words could somehow affect him. He couldn't forget the way Superboy's body froze up and hit the ground like a ton of lead. He couldn't forget the way Wally had looked at him, begging for some sort of answer from his best friend. He couldn't forget the way Artemis looked at him with disgust, and he certainly couldn't forget the moment he realized that when it came to Slade, his friends could do absolutely nothing to stop him.

Dick nodded to acknowledge Slade's comment.

"Nothing irreversible."

"Slade."

The man pulled the laptop on his thighs. "It's a safety mechanism programmed into Project Kr's brain." Slade typed at the computer before pulling up a file on Superboy, "The phrase 'shuts him down' so to speak. In the event that Project Kr ever went rogue, the phrase completely stops all mobility and thought processes, though he is comatose."

Slade put the laptop back out for Dick to read the file on Superboy. His eyes skimmed the words on the screen, soaking in the information. There was hundreds of pages of information on Superboy.

"Luthor told you all this?"

"Most of it."

"Did it hurt him?"

Slade shook his head, "No. Like I said, its merely an 'off' switch. He likely doesn't even remember what happened."

Dick reached forward to scroll down on the screen to continue reading Superboy's file; however, Slade beat him to the controls and turned off the screen. Dick watched the screen go dark, cutting him off from the information. He had only scratched the surface on Superboy's file, Dick could only fantasize about what other information Slade had on the rest of the team- the rest of the Justice League. He'd have to destroy this database, every database before he left Slade, Dick thought. Although he could not remove the information from Slade's memory, at the very least, he could remove all of Slade's evidence. At that point, Slade's allegations would only be theories. There was still hope that he could escape without compromising the Justice League.

Unless, of course, the Justice League intended to throw him in jail.

"Do you have files like that on everyone?" Dick asked.

Slade nodded.

"Even me?"

"Even you."

"What's on mine?"

"Nothing you don't already know."

Dick scoffed, "Come on, you know what I meant. Let me see it."

"Allow me to make a proposition, I'll show you your file if you show me mine?"

Dick's cheeks flushed slightly, "I don't have a file on you." He admitted, "I wasn't able to figure anything out before..." Dick waved his hand in the air "Before all of this. I couldn't even find Batman's file on you. It's like you didn't even exist until now."

"I'm sure it was there. You didn't know what to look for." Slade reminded him.

Dick shrugged, "I knew a little bit. You're description doesn't fit a lot of people. Heck, I would have thought Kobra or Ra's Al Ghul was after me if it wasn't for the fact that you only had one eye."

"Yes, it's quite unfortunate."

"Was it hard adjusting?" Dick asked, "To only having one eye during combat?"

Slade reminisced a bit, "It was a minor setback, of course, but nothing I could not handle. We improvise, we adapt, and then we overcome. That's the thing about you and me, Dick. There aren't that many people like us. When things get hard, we work harder, faster, better. We do not give up and we do not let anything get in our way. Ambition like that is rare to find."

"That's the mindset of a hero, Slade."

The older man chuckled, "You know, Richard, you have become quite the enigma yourself. There's so much darkness in this world and in your life; yet, you remained completely untouched by any of it."

Slade's comment was bizarre, but Dick decided to think nothing of it. He turned his head to look out the window. He still failed to pinpoint what Slade expected from him. Yes, Dick managed to steal a few things under Slade's name, but Slade knew as well as he did that he would never become an assassin, a mercenary. Dick looked out of the corner of his eye as Slade tipped the drink back again. He noticed Slade was drinking a lot, but the man didn't seem to be intoxicated.

"Do you drink often?" Dick asked.

He shook his head, "Very rarely."

"It seems like you're drinking a lot." Dick told him skeptically, "Bruce didn't drink."

"Alcohol doesn't affect me like it does normal humans."

"What does that even mean?" Dick hadn't even realized he asked the question out loud. Slade had a tendency to be cryptic, but Dick knew the an was hinting at something more. It wasn't until Slade spoke again that he realized he talked aloud.

"I am not quite exactly what you would call immortal." Dick shot up at attention, "But my accelerated healing factor puts me close enough to it, that I may as well be."

"Immortal?" Dick's eyes were wide, "You're immortal?"

Slade nodded, "With my accelerated healing factor, the chance of me dying is slim to none."

"I thought you were human."

"I am."

Dick shook his head, confused, "But then... how?"

Slade leaned back into his chair, "I was chosen to undergo an experiment during my time in the army. The intent was to create an army of super soldiers, metahumans, if you will." Slade made a fist with his hand and opened it slowly, examining his own skin, "The experiment was... somewhat successful. I was the only survivor; however, I must say I have quite enjoyed the... benefits."

He made eye contact with Richard, "Accelerated healing, superhuman strength, agility, heightened reflexes. Most notably, I can use up to ninety percent of my brain capacity. Significantly larger than your average human. Have you ever gotten that feeling that I somehow always seem to be one step ahead of you, no matter what you do?"

Dick nodded.

"That is because I am."

Dick was flabbergasted, "You've got to be joking!" Dick sank back, "I've been fighting a metahuman this whole time?"

"Indeed you have." Slade confirmed, "And after a few more years of training, you might actually pose a threat."

The boy ignored Slade's comment, "Then why didn't your eye grow back?"

"My healing factor is impressive, but not perfect. My eye was completely destroyed and my body cannot create something out of nothing."

Dick cackled, "Wow." He shook his head, "I'm whelmed. I don't think I've met anyone that's immortal before. So are you like..." Dick pondered for a moment, "A hundred years old?"

Slade chuckled, "Fourty-eight."

"Hundred?!"

"Years." Slade corrected, "Do I really look that old to you?"

Dick shrugged his shoulders, "Everyone looks old to me." He stated, "But the white hair definitely doesn't help."

Slade leaned back into his chair and rubbed his goatee, "Ah, yes."

The boy sat back in deep thought. Slade was immortal. He knew something was... off about Slade. There was absolutely no way a normal human could be as quick, as intelligent, and as calculated as Slade was. He was superhuman. Though Dick was in awe of Slade's abilities, he realized now that they would never be achievable for him. And no matter how hard he trained, no matter how hard he'd try to escape, Slade was always going to be a few steps ahead of him. Sometimes helping him forward and other times standing in his way.

A thought crossed his mind, "You're not trying to make me immortal, are you?"

He shook his head, "Of course not. I wouldn't give anyone else this curse. If they want it so desperately, they can seek it themselves."

Curse. Dick latched onto that word. Slade couldn't die, theoretically. He couldn't die like his parents did. He couldn't die like Bruce did. Dick's heart sank at the losses he had cruelly endured but he felt an odd comfort in the fact that Slade couldn't die. Slade wouldn't abandon him- he couldn't? Dick's mind raced at the thought.

"Why do you have to be a bad guy?" Dick asked bluntly, "We could have worked together, we could have been partners."

"We are partners."

Dick shook his head, "You know what I meant. Things could have been different."

"There is no changing the past."

"But being a hero is your past. You're a war veteran, for crying out loud! You were a hero!"

"It wasn't as glorified as you care to think."

"But-"

"But nothing, Richard." Slade cut him off, "It benefited me at the time. Nothing more, nothing less. You give me and so many others too much credit. Not everyone is good. Not everyone is capable of doing good. Thinking everyone is redeemable will only get you killed."

The answer didn't please Dick, "Why did you join the army then? What was the benefit?"

"That story, is actually for another day. Let us keep the peace. I've told you enough about myself for now." Slade gestured forward, "It is your turn."

"Don't you already know everything?" He retorted.

Slade shook his head, "I know facts." Slade pointed out, "Facts don't define us. We define ourselves."

Dick released a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Slade wasn't looking to argue with him. Dick didn't want to argue with him either. They argued too much, Dick noticed. It was because the opposing lives, opposing thoughts and opinions constantly clashing together. But not today, Dick told himself. They could be civil today.

A few moments went by before Dick spoke, "I don't think I have anything to say."

"Very well."

Slade got up from his seat and took the amber bottle with him. He opened a cupboard and placed the bottle inside, "We should be arriving in California in approximately 4 hours." He closed the cupboard, "Now would be an ideal time to get some rest."

Dick sighed and sank in his seat. California. It felt like an entire lifetime away from Gotham. Even if he ever escaped from Slade, Dick didn't know the first place he would go. He'd have to find Star City and get a hold of Green Arrow. He looked up as Slade took his place across from Dick. There wasn't much room for them to go their separate ways. Dick knew there was no chance he could bear a four hour flight with Slade in silence. And he doubted the man would start to play music or movies. Dick almost laughed at the idea of Slade putting on a Disney classic.

"Bruce and I used to play a lot of basketball together." Dick spoke quietly, "He called it "training" but it was just an excuse for us to just hang out. Sometimes we'd even listen to a game while on patrol. Bruce would call it a distraction but I knew he only said that because his favorite team would always lose."

Dick grinned at the memories, "Apparently Gotham is only good at producing crazies, not athletes."

The boy laughed at himself before lounging back into his chair. He brought his knees to his chest and rested his heels on the edge of his seat. He looked at Slade in the eye.

"Do you know who killed him?"

"No."

"Does the League know?"

Slade shook his head, "No. There was little to no evidence."

"They said the same thing about my parents." Dick sighed, "They said there wasn't enough evidence to arrest Tony Zucco for what he did to them." Dick kept thinking. "His murder must have been a part of the plan to split dimensions. Do you know who caused that?"

"Klarion was the culprit behind it." Slade answered.

"How else could they have known we would be there?"

"You were not hard to find." Slade responded, "It wouldn't have been difficult for anyone else to follow you."

"No..." Dick's mind worked like a detective's, "No. I don't buy that. It wasn't hard for you to find me because you're Mr. Ninety Percent Brain Capacity. You knew I was running from you before you even knew I was missing."

"Fair enough. Then what do you think compelled Batman to be there?"

"Batman knew I'd try and escape." Dick responded, "He knew one of his buildings would be the first place I would go to, if I couldn't make it to the Manor. I practically grew up in those buildings. I know them inside and out. It would have been the safest place for me to get to. Either the culprit was already there or they followed Batman..."

Dick spoke before Slade could provide input, "Do you know why Klarion caused the dimension split?"

Slade rubbed his goatee, "A distraction, he had put it. For what, I do not know."

"He must have been working with someone else." Dick spoke, "Klarion is too chaotic to plan something like that. He attacks without hesitation, without calculating the outcome. He just causes chaos for the sake of chaos." His mind kept working. Lex Luthor? Kobra? Mr. Freeze? Riddler? Mallah? Wotan? Ra's Al Ghul? Sportsmaster? An assassin for hire? A mercenary for hire? The more he thought, the more endless the possibilities seemed.

Dick eyed Slade cautiously, "You know more than you're telling me." He accused.

"A bold accusation."

"Not really." Dick responded, "You're too smart to not know more. You can't convince me that you aren't at least slightly curious to know who took down the Batman. Something you couldn't even do."

Slade looked down at him, "Something I didn't try to do." He emphasized.

Dick pressed, "You told me Lex Luthor was working with someone. Some kind of team. My theory is that Klarion is a part of that team."

"An interesting theory."

"Come on." Dick groaned, "Just tell am I gonna do? Go tell Superman? Maybe he'll hear me all the way from California if I shout loud enough?"

"Remind me why you are worthy of such information?"

"You wanted to build trust, right?" Dick put a hand out, "Trust me with some knowledge, then. You have my word it stays between us."

The older man shook his hand. "They call themselves The Light." Slade explained, "A group of villains hellbent on bringing down the Justice League. It was bought about a few months ago. They asked only a few individuals to join. It's not some rag-tag team of villains like the Penguin tried to conjure up." Dick almost laughed at the memory of Team Penguin, "I immediately declined any offer for me, or even you, to join."

"Why did you decline the offer?"

"Destroying the Justice League is an unrealistic goal." Slade told him, "They are fools for believing it to even be possible. But, back to the topic at hand, I do not suspect they had anything to do with Bruce Wayne's murder."

"You don't think so?" Dick double checked, "Why not?"

"They don't use guns."

"Lex Luthor, Klarion..." Dick began. Slade picked up for him, "Queen Bee, Ra's Al Ghul, Vandal Savage, and the Brain."

"We stole Starro from them." Dick connected the dots, "We're going under the radar because of that?"

Slade shrugged, "Not entirely but it slightly accelerated the process. Had Luthor bargained with me, all would have been settled. Vandal Savage, however, refused any attempts for negotiation. The Light will be taken care of the Justice League, eventually. But, I have no interest in entertaining them for the time being."

"That's..." Dick pondered, "A lot of people to have on your bad side, Slade." Dick chuckled nervously.

"Yes." Slade agreed. "Exactly why the safest place for you to be is with me."

The phrase didn't bring comfort to him but Dick didn't say anything. He had a lot of information to digest. Dick looked at Slade as the man presented a wrapped present before him. Dick raised an eyebrow.

"What's this?"

"Something to liven the mood." Slade said, "It's nearly Christmas, after all."

"This isn't another object re-gifted to me from Wayne Manor, is it?"

Slade chuckled slightly.

Apprehensively, Dick took the present into his lap. It was small, fit nicely between his hands, and wrapped in red paper. He carefully opened it. He removed the tape from the sides and unfolded the paper, instead of mindlessly ripping into it. Inside the paper was a black box. Dick felt for the lid of the box and removed it. Laying inside of the box was a small frame holding two photos. The picture on the left, was a picture of him and his parents. He was small, sitting on his father's shoulders with his arms spread widely in the air and his mother was right at their side. The picture on the right was one of him and Bruce.

Dick was at a loss for words. He hadn't seen this picture of his parents in years. It was published in a paper once, Dick remembered. When Haly's Circus toured America for one of the first times. The picture with Bruce... Dick had taken so many pictures with Bruce that he couldn't even remember when this one was taken. But they were happy, in the photo, smiling widely from ear to ear and Bruce's hand was firmly on Dick's shoulder. A feeling he didn't realize he missed.

Dick could not imagine a reason why Slade would present these pictures to him. He thought back to what Slade said to him when he was given the poster. We all need reminders of who we are fighting for. He could envision the picture Slade had of his ex wife on his desk. He could only imagine what the pictures of Slade's children would look like. His family. Dick looked down at the photos. This was his family, trapped behind the glass but there none the less. The respect Slade had for him and his past was unmatched, Dick decided. It wasn't fake. It wasn't forced. It was real and genuine and it was something Dick didn't even realize he appreciated so much. He felt overwhelmed with gratitude.

"I-..." He hesitated. He struggled to find the words, "Thank you." He finally said, "It's great."

Slade gave him a nod of the head, "Merry Christmas, Richard."

"Merry Christmas."

-X-

Hello!

Late update but I mean that christmas special I wanted is now in december lol. Some soft moments between Dick and Slade. Also, I know they are going to Jump City, but the Teen Titans wont be a part of this story. I might just use villains like Professor Chang.