12. Dick

This felt terribly familiar. Dick still hadn't fully healed from fighting Bruce the last time – and now he was doing it again. Because Bruce was so freaking stubborn. His ribs were burning. But he was holding his own better this time. This time Nightwing fought as dirty as Batman did slashing at him with his Wingdings and disorienting him with complicated feats of acrobatics.

Dick looked to the cell where his teammates were captured. M'Gann, Kaldur and Wally were unconscious. Artemis glared at Bruce. Connor whimpered in pain. The half-Kryptonian pressed himself against the glass to get as far away from the Kryptonite as possible. He pulled his legs to his chest and made himself smaller.

Dick wished he could free them. But he couldn't hack the lock with Bruce breathing down his neck. And they were probably safer that way – except for Connor.

A sharp pain made Dick jump back. He had been distracted by worry for his teammates. Bruce had sent a vicious kick towards his knee.

"Your sentimentality makes you lose focus", Batman slashed at his now weaker leg with a Batarang.

Dick jumped to the side. He was getting cornered. Dick activated his wrist computer and tried to call the League again. Maybe they had solved their own problem. Maybe they could spare a hero or two. Before Dick could reach anyone, Bruce slashed at his wriest with a Batarang destroying his computer.

The villains in the neighboring cells had a field day over this. They were jeering at them, cheering and placing bets – all of them against Nightwing. Dick rolled his eyes. His back was pressed against the glass wall and Bruce seemed to ready himself for the final blow. Fine, if B wanted to play dirty…

Nightwing kicked him in the groin. Bruce fell back and visibly soaked in air. He seemed genuinely surprised by Dick's move.

"Nice one, kid", Selina cheered, "That one always worked for me."

Bruce's face reddened under the cowl. If he had been angry before, he was downright furious now. He slammed into Dick with pure force tackling him to the ground.

"I have a mission", Bruce growled.

"And my mission is to stop you", Dick forced a small smile.

He felt like a broken record by now. But Bruce's thick skull was hard to get through. Nightwing hit Bruce in the rib with his stick and twisted out from under him.

Dick stood over a furious Bruce and held an escrima stick to his chin: "Anger makes you lose focus."

Bruce balled his fist and stood up: "I'm done fooling around."

He hit against Dick's already injured ribs and gripped him by the neck. Dick groaned when Bruce slammed him against the window of Selina's cell.

Catwoman sounded alarmed: "Think this through, Batman. I know you want to avenge Robin. But is it worth risking your son's life?"

It was cute that Selina believed that Bruce saw Dick as a son. Dick was glad that he couldn't see Bruce's eyes behind the cowl. He wouldn't be able to stand the hate in Bruce's eyes. And his guardian must hate him.

"Get out of my way", Bruce pulled out a tranquilizer, "You can't stop me."

Dick pushed back against Bruce's arm. But Bruce was too strong and his grip around Dick's neck was making him lightheaded. The needle neared his skin. Dick twisted trying to get out of Bruce's grip. But no one could stop a determined Batman.

"I don't like to do this", there was actual regret in Bruce's voice, "But I have to if you don't let me avenge Robin. To honor him one last time. It will be over afterwards."

In any other situation, the finality in Bruce's words would have been concerning. But Dick snorted at Bruce's regretful demeanor. It made no difference. Bruce had gone off the deep end and Dick wouldn't be able to stop him. But he could still try even if it was inevitable. Dick kept on struggling.

Batman tightened his grip around Nightwing's neck. Black spots covered Dick's vision. He sank back against the glass and waited for the prick of the needle.

The sound of clapping halted them in their movements. Deathstroke was walking down the corridor his katana drawn: "I didn't think you would be so ruthless, Batman."

Bruce let go off Dick. He sank to the ground gasping for air. The black spots cleared.

Batman balled his fists: "Why did you stop me, Deathstroke?"

"It was a test", Slade's katana glinted in the garish light of the hallway, "And you failed it. Not even your sidekick is safe from your rampage. It's time that he gets a new mentor."

Bruce stayed silent. Dick knew better than to expect Batman to protest. That would show that he cared.

"See, kid? I'm doing you a favor. I may be a murderer but at least I'm a murderer in control."

Dick stood up and automatically fell behind Bruce. Like it always had been.

"He hasn't killed anyone", Nightwing said.

"Yet", smugness dripped from Slade's voice.

Bruce seemed unfazed by their conversation about him. He stayed in his fighting stance.

The end of Deathstroke's katana scraped along the floor as he walked towards them. It made Dick's skin crawl. But everything was better than fighting Bruce again. They would restrain Deathstroke and maybe it would distract Bruce from the Joker. Hopefully.

"You are placing your loyalty in the wrong person, kid", Deathstroke said.

"So I should place it in you?"

"I was always good to my own."

Nightwing knew that Slade had lost his children from Bruce's files.

"I won't replace your kids", Nightwing said.

Deathstroke seemed to ponder about that: "Who said I wanted you to?"

"The fact that you are creepily obsessed with me."

Deathstroke laughed: "We will get along well, apprentice."

Bruce seemed annoyed. Well, he was at everything nowadays that didn't include killing the Joker.

"Today, Deathstroke", Batman growled.

Dick almost smiled. It was like it used to be. Bruce and him against the world. They only needed a common enemy to unite them again and to distract Bruce from his quest for vengeance.

"See? You're boring him, old man", Nightwing added just for old time's sake.

His throat still felt hoarse. Maybe he should stop with the taunts. But it was always far too much fun…

Deathstroke ran at him with his katana and Dick flipped out of the way. Batman must have used the opportunity to get a punch in. He waited for a grunt of pain from Slade. But was disappointed.

Dick halted. Batman was nowhere to be seen. He looked around. Bruce was hacking the Joker's cell - unrelenting in his personal vendetta. Dick ran towards Bruce. But Deathstroke's blade hit his shoulder making Nightwing hiss in pain.

"You should watch out", Slade examined the bloody katana, "You would be a dead bird if I had poisoned it."

"Are you serious, B?", Dick screamed at his mentor ignoring Deathstroke's gloating.

His ribs were killing him. Bruce hadn't put a lot into the punch - but he was still Batman.

And his throat felt as if Bruce had squeezed it out like a lemon.

"You can handle Slade on your own", the Joker's cell opened and Bruce closed the door behind himself.

Dick couldn't follow with his broken wrist computer. He cursed.

Deathstroke seemed amused. He held his katana to Dick's throat: "Follow Batman and I'll finish what your mentor has already started."

"Look, Slade. I don't have time for this right now. Maybe another occasion? We can meet up on some roof and let me kick your ass later."

"Nice try, kid. I want you to make a decision."

Slade sounded so reasonable. Certainly, calmer than Bruce. It was scary.

Dick had to take care of Slade quickly and then think about what to do with Bruce. He shouldn't be surprised by Bruce's actions. But it was shocking that not even a common enemy could hold their crumbling partnership together anymore.

Dick was stressed. And when he reached the end of his rope, he fell back to his natural state: Being a performer.

So he swayed and grabbed his throat. Dick sank to the floor feigning to lose consciousness. Deathstroke cursed and mumbled something about not losing his apprentice to the Bat before he'd even gotten him. Slade reached to feel Dick's pulse. It was twisted that Deathstroke cared more about Dick's well-being right now than his own guardian.

Dick beat Deathstroke under the chin with the end of his escrima stick. It was a powerful hit against a vulnerable spot. Slade stumbled back. Everyone else would have already been knocked out right now.

But Slade cleared his head and blocked Dick's attack: "You are getting ruthless. I like it."

"Let's end this game, Slade."

Quickly. Before his mentor was lost forever.

The odds were increasingly stacked against Nightwing. Dick forced himself to be confident. He could beat Deathstroke. It would cost him a lot, but he was Nightwing. He managed to keep order in the (loveable) hellhole that was Blüdhaven. If odds mattered, Dick would have been dead by now.

The last time he had faced Deathstroke he had still been Robin and had painfully lost. But he had changed in the last few months. Nightwing couldn't depend on anyone. He would grit his way out of this mess by pure determination.

"Oh, it hasn't even started", the mercenary must be grinning under the mask, "But I'm tired of this game. Let's try something more exciting."

Slade pulled out a remote and pushed a button. Dick waited - his body tense. He waited for the shock that would finally knock him down. A fall so deep that not even determination could save him.

And it came. All the cell doors opened except for the Joker's and the one where the Team was still being held in. Gotham's villains left their cages on the hunt for blood.

"He's all yours", Deathstroke backed away grinning at the villains, "Rip this bird apart."

Nightwing's eyes widened. He looked to Bruce who was screaming at a bloodied Joker.

Dick swallowed his pride: "I could use some help here, B."

Batman didn't let himself be distracted from the Joker. He had repeatedly tried to reach out towards Bruce but no matter what he did it was never enough. And in return, Bruce always expected that Dick jumped at every order. It was tiring. It tore at his foundation. And Dick had enough of it.

"BATMAN", Dick screamed repeatedly.

He swallowed his dignity along with his pride: "BATMAN. HELP. I need help."

Bruce ignored him – caught up in his world of revenge. Dick's vocal cords were too strained to keep on screaming. A cough worked its way up his throat. It stayed there leaving an icky feeling.

Now, Dick was really pissed. He had broken his promise of never asking Bruce for help again. All for nothing. Bruce didn't care. Dick had known that before going to the asylum. But now Dick knew how deep Bruce's indifference was.

"You are on your own, little Robin", Deathstroke grinned, "Tell me if you need help. But know one thing: I always want something in exchange."

"I won't become your apprentice, Slade."

"Then die."

Dick's throat was dry. He looked to Selina: "Catwoman-"

She flipped away to the end of the corridor: "Forget it, kid. I'm not touching that with a ten-foot pole. Not even for you."

His team was fully up again. They knocked at the glass. Artemis insulted Slade in Vietnamese. M'Gann tried to invade the villain's minds or to phase through the glass. But she was still weakened from the fire and the tranquilizer. Connor hit against the glass with all his might but this cell was built to withstand the likes of Clayface or Killer Crock. A weakened half-Kryptonian stood no chance.

Dick was on his own. Truly alone.

His team would watch him get ripped apart.

AN: And another cliffhanger… I'm really torturing you (and Dick) with them. It's really fun writing the dynamic between Dick and Slade. It was one of the best things about the Teen Titans cartoon. He'll always be SLAAADE for me now. :)

Next week it's Nightwing against Gotham's villains. Let's see how he holds up…