"Is it just me, or do most of the spaceship models seem kind of dinky compared to War World?" Dick asked as he and Roy strolled past one of the government exhibits.

"Of course they do," the older boy replied. "But everybody's got to start somewhere, after all."

"Still, Earth's clearly gonna have to work really hard if we're gonna catch up anytime soon." Dick's voice lowered a bit as they rounded another display. "He's still following us."

"Damn. I'd hoped we'd have lost the guy by now."

"You still have no idea who it is?"

"Nope." Roy answered grimly, despite the still pleasant expression he was wearing. "Which sadly also means I don't know if he'll make a move in here or not. Our best bet is to keep moving and stay in the crowds."

"Like I couldn't have figured that out myself-"

"Oh, Roy! Roy Harper, isn't it?" A woman's voice called out, causing both boys to pause and turn. Approaching them was a well-dressed lady Dick thought he recognized from some celebrity gatherings, who in turn had a sullen looking teen following her.

"Ms. Bertinelli," Roy grinned despite himself. This was one of the few millionaires Ollie knew whom the former street kid actually liked - something about her no-nonsense attitude in a class generally filled with snobs and sycophants.

"I didn't realize you were going to be here, Roy. Is Oliver around too?" Bertinelli smiled at them.

"Still off by the front entrance, last I checked, but that was a while ago. By the way, this is my friend Dick Grayson."

"Bruce Wayne's ward, I believe." Dick nodded, blinking as the woman shook his hand. He'd grown up learning to tell what kind of work a person did based off of their hands (he himself had the callouses of an acrobat, as had his parents), and Ms. Bertinelli was clearly not as high class as people were led to believe. Her grip was firm, with skin toughened by some form of constant hard work - not unlike Bruce's hands, come to think of it. "Oh, and this would be my own foster daughter, Artemis Crock."

"Hey." The blonde teen shook with both Roy and Dick, and again the younger boy noticed the same thing about her own hand.

"Hi. I think I saw an article about you two a little while ago."

"Yeah, Helena just took me in a couple of weeks back. Hell of a transition, know what I mean?"

"You mean going from wondering about your next meal to five-star food every day?" Roy rolled his eyes. "Oh, yeah."

"I don't suppose you boys would mind if Artemis hung out with you for a while? She hasn't exactly hit it off with any of the other kids we meet on my business trips." Ms. Bertinelli explained with a bit of a bashful smile.

"Nah, we don't mind, do we Dickie?"

"Nope! It's hard to get along with the high society jerks, so we fosters need to stick together." The small boy grinned, causing the teens to snicker and Bertinelli to give them a grateful smile.

"Thanks, I'll call you later when I'm finished up, okay Artemis?"

"Yeah, that's fine." As soon as her guardian disappeared back into the crowd, the girl asked if her new acquaintances had any plans.

"We're mostly just wandering around." Roy told her, before grimacing slightly. "We, ah, actually have something of a tail at the moment. Older guy who won't stop following us around. Not sure if he's a news guy or something creepier, just so you know..."

Artemis' eyes widened. "Eyepatch dude with the white hair?"

"You've seen him?"

"Yeah. Helena told me to keep away from him, right before she spotted you two."

"Well then, I guess we get to pass on the lessons for Avoiding Stalkers 101." Dick gave her a sympathetic look. "Something we've both sadly had to learn since joining the upper class."

"You moved up in the world too, huh?"

"Oh yeah - I used to be in the circus..." They ended up discussing their various disconnects with the switch of social situations, continuing to meander through the convention center while keeping a surreptitious eye on their tail. For what was supposed to be something of a fun day, it was turning out to be more nerve-wracking than any of them had anticipated.

-C-

Slade was circling around a rocket ship display in order to gain a better angle for watching his prey when the woman appeared in front of him. She was a looker, certainly, dressed in a form fitting outfit that was nonetheless highly practical for movement.

The mercenary stiffened automatically before plastering a warm smile onto his face. "Lady Talia."

"Mr. Wilson." His new opponent purred, stepping close enough that she could speak to him without being heard by any passerby. "I don't suppose you care to inform me what you think you're doing here?"

"Looking for prospective apprentices," the man answered honestly, knowing that the daughter of the Demon's Head was too dangerous to lie to, even over something as serious as this.

"I suspected as much. Hence why I've decided to warn you, Wilson - hunt whoever you like, so long as they are not of Gotham."

His eyebrow went up at that. "Oh?"

"You clearly arrived in the wake of the Archers, hoping to find others of their kind." Talia whispered, leaning in close. "But my father and I have taken an interest in Gotham as of late, and we do not wish to attempt to enter a stirred up hornet's nest, if you will." Having already come to suspicion that the smaller of the two boys he was tailing was likely a partner of the Dark Knight, Slade was easily able to put together the hints he was being handed on a silver platter.

"Your warning is greatly appreciated, my Lady." He murmured back. "And I'll bend to your request, on this occasion."

She drew back slightly, her smile briefly morphing into something more predatory. "Don't feel so put out, Mr. Wilson - there is every possibility that, when we get what we want, a certain bird will need relocating. And should that indeed occur, I can promise you will be the first we contact for handling it."

The two assassins exchanged knowing looks, and then parted ways, each blending seamlessly back into the crowd of oblivious civilians.