The next part. Yep... Emmm... COOKIES! nomnomnomnom
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It had been three years.
Three years ago to this date that she took up the mantle of Nightwing. Grace wasn't sure if her father would be proud or not. Her mother most certainly was, albeit she was also incredibly worried for her. It took awhile for her mother to accept the idea, to accept exactly what her own flesh and blood wanted to do. Not like she could talk. Although she hung up the suit and cape a few years back... She knew however, that if Richard were still here... he'd still be out there in the Nightwing get up, saving the innocent, fighting the bad guys. He would never give up on the people. In his eyes there was always someone to fight for. Grace was the same. All she wanted to do was help.
Eventually, in one form or another, her mother found peace with it. However, her grandfather was still pretty upset with her choice. He told her she was throwing her life away, that she should go to school, which she was really. Student by day, Nightwing by night.
In the end he was still upset with her. But it was her choice and he knew it. In time he too began to accept it, but he was still very vocal about it.
Grace didn't hold it against him though. Being Nightwing was dangerous. She could get killed, just like her father. And everyone knew that Richard was by far the favored son. No matter how many fights ands squabbles those two got into. It never changed the fact they were family first. Bruce just didn't want to go through a loss like that again. He didn't want to loose any more family.
Grace sighed and stood on top of a building, looking down onto the busy streets below. She was in for it tonight she knew. She had already stopped one shooting, and two bank robberies. It seemed everyone was thriving tonight in Gotham city. And she hadn't run into her grandfather yet.
Which was dissapointing to say the least.
Regardless of whatever was going on, her grandfather always seemed to make time to check in on her. Sometimes they would chat and exchange some friendly banter or information. Other times they even worked on a case together. But his absense tonight was, although not unusual, it was missed.
It also gave her the feeling that something was wrong. She grew worried, but then reminded herself she was worried about Batman. He was fine, she was sure.
The busy streets below her buzzed with exceitment. It was probably only around eleven in the evening. Not late for Gotham. All in all, things below seemed fine.
"Maybe I should check another area-"
"Why not stay awhile?"
Nightwing spun around on her heels and was shocked to see a man before her. "Who are you?" The hero automatically went into defensive mode.
The man chuckled. She took in everything about her newest opponent. He had multiple weapons. Swords, guns, combat knives. He stood high, with his hands clasped behind his back. "Defiently military background." she thought to herself. Her eyes laid upon his metal mask, the right side was black while the other was orange with a sharp black outline for his singular eye. "Also creepy as fuck." she thought.
"I see you took my advice, atleast you're not as stuborn as your father was."
"Who are you?"
"The same question?"
"You never answered it."
"I'm not here to kill you if that's what you think."
"Then what are you here for?"
"Curiosity."
'What?"
The man slowly began to circle her, and she was still in a defensive stance, she knew then and there, that this did not bode well for her. "I wanted to see for myself, how much like your father you truly are." Graces eyes widened a bit before she saw his fist coming her way, which she quickly dodged.
"Good reflexes."
"You knew my father?"
"Yes, as I told you before however, we were never on the same side of the fence. Although I did have great respect for him."
Another punch, then a kick. She was being pushed back. This wasn't good. Who the hell was this guy to have such amazing reflexes and strength? It boggled her mind.
Nightwing tried to throw a few punches herself but all her attacks were blocked, and in return when he threw something her way she blocked his, somtimes just barely though. She was getting angry at herself, and kind of messy. Her father would be so displeased.
"You're good, but you get sloppy to fast. And let your temper get the better of you. Much like you're father, no wonder he's dead. Maybe you'll soon follow."
That was it, whoever this guy was, he was going to go down. Nightwing psuhed back and then began a serious barrage of punches and kicks, all of them with a good amount of impact behind them. All of them would of thrown a normal human onto their ass by now.
It was when she found a entry point that she took it in an instant and landed a good solid punch on the man. Her knuckles now ached after they had clashed with his metal mask. He staggered back and gave a laugh. It started small, then it grew into something more boisterous.
"And there is is!"
She stood there, taking deep breaths, lost in a void full of questions. She knew this man from somewhere.
"WHO ARE YOU!?"
"We met once."
It started to come together now.
"You were there that day. At my fathers grave." The man chuckled at her. "You knew my father because you were one of his enemies."
The man across from her took a deep breath. "I did know your father, and yes we were enemies. A lot of the time. There was times we were allies."
Grace really didn't know what to make of this.
"There was a point in time I wanted your father to switch sides, I offered him so much. Power, wealth, knowledge, all for him. But he refused in the end." The man chuckled. "I always saw so much potential in him, he could of been so much more. That is what I thought at the time."
'What do you mean?"
"In the end however, he choose his side. But as he grew, I watched him, and he became as powerful as I ever could of wanted him to. Perhaps more so. And you... you are so much like him. So consider yourself lucky. From now on I'll be watching you."
"What? I don't need no stalkers!"
"You'll thank me for it one day."
"I really don't like people stalking me that I don't know."
"You may call me Slade."
"Slade?" she narrowed her eyes at the man before her, and he chuckled. "There it is again." was the last thing he said to her as he jumped off the rooftop. She didn't bother to give chase. Not after all she went through. Who exactly was this guy? She'd have to ask the Titans, or her grandfather. Although she had a hunch the Titans would probably know a bit more on her fathers relations with this Slade character. She sighed and picked her self up from the area and returned home.
She jus really wanted to sleep. This evening was one ride she won't forget for awhile, but before doing so she sent a email off to Titan tower regarding her encounter of the century. Hopefully they would have something about this Slade guy.
Grace yawned and decided to hit the hay early that night. She slept soundly, not knowing that the email she sent off would give the Titans the chills.
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-Fangy
