:O New content! It's been a hot minute since I've written anything new, college just be like that, but I'm so excited to be back to this old fic of mine. I will make no promises on an upload schedule or any of that (I'm pretty sure my old schedule of updating everything weekly is what really burned me out) but I hope y'all stick around anyway. For those who got the notifs, hi!~ I'm kinda back and I rewrote pretty much this whole fic so I recommend checking that out for some of the major changes ^^"

Onwards ~~to the angst~~!

Chapter 12- The Quiet

Artemis's POV

It was difficult to remain calm as the test ran, Wally's incessant pacing only making it more difficult to contain my own fidgets. We had decided to keep Barbara's suspicions between the three of us for now, using the Batcave computer to run the diagnosis while Bruce was checking on Tim.

"Wally!" It was difficult not to snap and he had the sense to look sheepish at my voice, slowing and wringing out his hands as he sat next to me.

"Sorry babe, you know how much I hate waiting." His energy transferred to tapping his fingers against my leg, foot matching the pace on the floor. I sighed.

"I know." I took his tapping hand in mine, leaning against his shoulder. "Is it bad I hope it's not him?" He looked at me, raising an eyebrow and I tucked closer so I was whispering against his neck. "It feels wrong that he'd attack Barbara like that, and to think it could be our fault he ended up like that? It doesn't sit right." I shuddered and he sighed slightly, wrapping an arm around me.

"At least we'd know where he is, we'd just have to find out why. There has to be a reason, right? Maybe it's another one of his stupid plans." He laid his head on mine. "I just wish he wasn't alone."

"Hey, the test is almost ready." Barbara called from the computer, the massive screen illuminating her in a ghostly glow. We hastily joined her as the bar completed, Analysis Complete flashing on the screen. She took a moment to confirm, clicking so the result displayed. Match found- Richard Grayson.

We'd found him. Crowding around the chair, looking up at the smiling face of Dick felt like a death sentence. We'd found him- but what had we let happen to him?

Deathstroke's POV

It was difficult to curb the anger that had risen up at Renegade's failure, mixing with the frustration of the debacle that Cinderblock and Ivo's robots had caused. The professor had assured me that the technology would be very difficult to hack, easily protected enough to provide an adequate distraction should Renegade's infiltration had gone wrong.

I held up the flashdrive that my apprentice had managed to procure, the Wayne Insignia unmistakable. All in all it had been a success however, Renegade's hacking prowess more than making up for his other shortcomings. The secrets on here could fetch me a heafy price on the market, but they'd be worth more to me if I took advantage first- I could never guess when a new hit could be placed on Gotham's bourgeoisie and any information that could give me a leg up in such a encounter could drive up that price point as well.

I hummed to myself, gathering up everything I would need to take to the new safe house, a precaution. Perhaps Wayne would be a good first hit for Renegade, toppling the White Knight of the city he used to love. Not that it'd matter without a contract, a fanciful thought to the future. For now I would focus on deciphering the drive, and then the boy's first was much to do but for now, everything was turning up my way.

Renegade's POV

The swell of music in my ears was jovial and bright, wrapping around me like a warm cloud. I felt as light as air, like I belonged here, in the air, and nowhere else. The tent around me was a kaleidoscope of colors, cheering crowd distant echoes as I launched myself into the air. It's free-fall for a moment, a dizzy exhilaration, before strong arms catch me.

I look up with a breathless laugh, the smiling face of my mother looking back at me.

"Excellently done my little Robin." We swung back and she launched me, letting me flip, two, three, four times, into the waiting hands of my father, his hands at my ankles the only grounding I needed. I'm there for only a moment longer, flipping back to the far platform as the audience roared. I grinned and waved to them, basking in the attention as my parents finished our routine. I felt at home, perfect, like nothing could go wrong.

It didn't last.

The snap was like thunder, the screams a crescendo. I'm frozen, unable to move as their bodies hit the ground, blood fanning out like halos. Lightning struck out, lighting the tent ablaze and I fell to my knees as everything I loved burned to ashes around me.

I lurched up in my bed as the thunder echoed outside, nightmare and reality blending together. I shuddered a sob as I pulled into myself, hiding my face between my knees. I could tell that was real, the most concrete of my memories, and aching loss threatened to pull me under. I stayed like that for a long while, shaking as I cried until the storm stopped and my tears ran dry.

Sorry for the weirdly short, three POV nonsense I had up there. I had lots of little scenes I wanted to play out as things kind of come together and kind of play the who knows what game and some future chapter should be a bit more cohesive (hopefully) and we should start a slow build to… a climax. Got some fun stuff planned so stay tuned!

~ Fate