Teen Titans; The Fighting Life – Epilogue Story; Chapter 15: My Kryptonite

/

"He's gone to Metropolis."

"Yes. And of course, the notice…as you've requested, Master Bruce?"

The dark-haired figure swiveled around to face an elderly gent; a kindly butler who, British by his speech, was likely the only person who would talk to his brooding "man of the house."

Bruce Wayne.

He'd gotten quite an earful from the news stations being broadcast Monday through Friday.

His newest plan of attack, was due to an unlikely appearance from an old enemy coming out of the shadows; come to test his skill against this "serial hero killer's" own.

Slade; A.K.A Deathstroke the Terminator, was out of his mind. Unethically playing them all, putting Robin –

"Now, Master Bruce; the likelihood that for any reason Deathstroke should go after your allies in the Justice league, is if he were paid to do so. That's his oath, you've once stated to me. And yet you must not play his game as he sees you as being – vulnerable." The man was right, and continued.

"Robin is in custody of the League. They are handling his affairs and overseeing to his condition that was left with the boy, prior to his arrival at the League Watchtower. You needn't worry –

"I'm always on my guard, Alfred. Not just for Dick, for anything that has a pulse…but Slade…" Bruce returned to his computer, the bat computer that only just matched the Watchtower's own tech.

"Wilson went too far this time, and has to be stopped. The Batman may not know all of his tricks, but I'm familiar with that temper of his." He rubbed his chin. There was no longer a bruise, but it still smarted to know that Deathstroke had left a mark. "He's endangered my ward, even if Robin isn't here in Gotham at the moment or under my wing anymore. He's still my –

"Then, perhaps you'd like to know just WHAT was found during the boy's last check - up." The butler flashed the wary Batman a look of balanced skepticism.

Bruce turned to face Alfred. The balding gent cracked no such grin, he had to remain the voice of reason. And so, laughing at this folly would cost him. How many espionage missions had led to the death of hundreds or mare after the war? Did it need to be so complex? No. It simply was a tricky topic to maneuver. Robin, was the glue that held the man's wings in place so he would not go burning up into a great inferno. The sun; and yet, Robin had played the role of young Icarus, instead. What irony!

"Don't play games, Alfred. What is so important with my partner that you can't just say anything? Tell me, or Superman may not get my help at all in time –

"Please, I wouldn't dare to come between you and your work, Master Bruce. Never on my good name; but the fear I have currently to place into your lap may be quite a shock. So, I'll be gentle and "say" what I must to put our minds straight…." The older male cleared his throat and tried to focus on what he'd been told by Green Lantern's readings.

"Robin, was wearing a set of dark glasses; given to him by his kidnapper. Those as I'm reading this to you, "shades" were laced with a toxic substance that can increase ones' heart rate, and affect the central nervous system as long as the person continues to be in exposure to this…intoxicating substance. It sounds like a –

"Drug, go on." Bruce wasn't happy, but he didn't look as ANYTHING by that mug he kept on.

"Here is the real mystery…..it says…He thought the man who'd taken him was in the room with him, when he was in fact not anywhere on the Justice League Watchtower's radar. He wasn't present, which can be due to the drug I imagine. Yet, one heroine Raven, says that the drug was not the reason why the boy has had visions of his "maste –

"Don't call Wilson that, Alfred. But, go on." Bruce had been jumpy at one syllable…Al nodded and went on with his report.

"Of course, sir….Robin was concluded to be left in a manic- depressive state, with his bloodstream infected to the point that…it was…"

"What? Was it the drug…?" Bruce's eyes grew a bit, but he stayed in his seat. Robin had…

"Oh my…"

"Alfred, you have to tell me, or I can't fix –

"It isn't that, sir…. The solution, it isn't…there, or it is not a documented cure whereas we've been given proper access…and that is, because…..he's not…"

"Alfred!"

"Yes, so sorry…I can try to attempt to explain what I can, but you'll have to sit and stay completely calm…Master Bruce." Alfred coaxed the man to quiet his head. He was welling up like a boil about to burst forth its juices, and Al did not want to be the one to clean up his Master Bruce off the floor once all was said and spoken. He'd very well BECOME a serial murderer with that tension rushing through his veins. To some point, Robin was, what kept him sane. Somehow, just like Alfred. Yet, as an aspect of his lost youth, perhaps. While, Al was the aspect of a codger without a way to quiet his yap.

"What's wrong with my ward? Irreversible cell damage? A serious affliction from –

"Immortal, as in Soldier, Sir. After some specific chemical analyses, a serum's sample was picked up while under the league's watch, stating…That Robin or Richard, has become…. A meta – human by the "tampering" of his cell's basic structure and metabolic if not... As if not by choice, however."

Bruce clenched his fists and turned to his monitor to look at a single file. That cinched it.

Slade Wilson was an ex – operative of the United States military. He could have recreated the same serum that changed him. ~It wasn't why Robin was taken; it was to get under my skin. To use my partner as a way to Blackmail the league, but it failed. ~

"There is one remaining factor, Master Bruce, that you should add to your reports regarding this disheartening case…" Alfred swallowed and continued to skim over the contents of the Justice League's report.

"The "healing" effects of Robin's afflicted dosage, have somehow been amplified by a slew of…. Nano – scopic probes that were programmed to remain inside the host's bloodstream….According to his Titan teammate Cyborg, they cannot be removed. As for now, there is still no clue to a simple method of removal, yet there could be an answer. I would not doubt the Titans' ingenuity … He now has gotten super powers; in a way, they'd believed it was mandatory to –

"I'm going to Metropolis now, to end this." Bruce let his legs move; his body was going to have to be up to par with his old tag team ally, Clark Kent. Alfred shuffled the papers in his grip and tried to help the man in any way that he could. "Your suit was given the specific modifications you had asked for, and the Bat – Mobile was washed and given a good new set of turbo –

"Thanks, but I won't be taking to the open road. In the air, is where I plan to travel."

"Very good, Master Bruce." Alfred nodded and made sure to note down any single item that came into his own mind, if ever he could use that spying skill from his hay -days to keep his young friend from losing his life to a nemesis that was not his own. Not to end up as his, in the first place. Robin should have that honor, eventually, from the sound of things.

"I'll be landing a mile south of the city, where I'll need to make a quick stop to find Clark. He was trying to get in touch with the Watchtower. Did all of the communications go through?"

"They did, and he spoke of his counterpart being threatened during a social gathering. A parade was supposed to call for reporters from the Daily Planet to attend to catch every episode during the event."

"He's going to go after Lois. And the mayor might also be in danger, again." Bruce seethed under his cowl. "Notify the Watchtower for me, Alfred. Tell them I'm headed to the city to find the root cause of all of this…madness."

"Right away, and…. should I speak to Master Richard on your behalf?" The question left he brooding hero to pause before answering softly.

"Fine, make sure he knows I'm going to be looking for a cure. Alfred, don't tell him about Slade Wilson being on Superman's turf. He wouldn't listen to them, so I can't let him go after this –

"You will do what you must, Master Wayne." Al said, formally using his dear friend's surname in the example he was about to proceed with. He put his hands onto the Batman's armored shoulders and sternly made him face the elder gent.

"I can't lose anyone else." Bruce told his friend without showing a drop of blood. He could not appear vulnerable. Richard's honor and life had been shaken. He'd not been there to see his ward bawl his eyes out in front of that…mad man…

"I have every faith in you and your team that the mission will be a success. The time is now, you'd better hop to it, or the rest may be all for naught."

"Right. Thank you again, old friend." Bruce never smiled as the bat, not unless it was to someone who really tugged at his metaphorical heartstrings.

He went to fuel up and to set out on a cross city and county run around – his other equal was waiting, and Bruce didn't mean Superman; the man of blinding steel.

/

Lex's coffee was spilled across his office's large desk, yet it couldn't have happened at a better time than today.

"What do you want from me this time, Deathstroke?" The cue - ball villain sat up, and didn't enjoy being harassed by a very hairy, looking mammoth.

Slade's eye didn't seem to waiver. He did however, show enthusiasm in how tightly he clenched his hands behind his back.

"I'm looking to borrow your time for a job. I even generously, took the liberty and got the "ball" rolling" earlier than anticipated."

The dream team was disbanded until he called the shots. Lex Luthor had the tech, the knowledge, but more importantly?

He had the green. And Slade couldn't have been happier with his choices of where he'd decided to end up next. Doing his best to press pause on his last project, until the boy came out of his regressive period as planned.

Definitely not great, but it was a flexible arrangement, Slade had a plan B well before Robin had jumped into the picture.

Here, Metropolis meant Superman. That meant having a Super Villain to push and pull the odds with was optional as well. Thus, Lex was Slade's first vote on who'd be his next partner in this secondary scandal that the man was pushing to completion.

"You need to back off, Deathstroke." Demanded the billionaire to the assassin in his office.

" I told the Legion already twice; that we already ate up the budget for our last showdown. Completely blown out of proportion now, so it's all out of –

"You called in the wrong gang to set fires to this city, Lex."

"Call me Mr. Luthor." Sniffed the billionaire tycoon. "I already fought my way out of court and I cut your bumbling asses loose using my extra "connections" and that cost me a "million" less to invest for my next battle suit!" Lex put up invisible quotes to make his point across, with sarcasm. "Not only counting that fiasco, but you still owe me –

"What if I told you, that I have that "wager" that you and I talked about and AM ready to pay up, plenty to satisfy your measly pockets. A project that is willing and raring to go at the push of a button. The one from last month that you mocked on one of your board meeting withdrawals?" Slade walked a few steps closer, and that made Lex nervous.

Who's let this panther in the board room? Was it an intern? He'd have them fired for breaking the rules…Shoot…

"Presentations, you mean." Lex's eyes narrowed at the killer. "DO, get it right. Did you think I was born yesterday, Slade? We have butted heads, yes…and I threw you out the last story window –

"Mercy, did. Actually." Slade corrected. "With a laser gun in hand, and I didn't very much appreciate it."

"Stay away from my office. Your work is too risky to take up with the board –

*SLAM!

Slade's arm went through the wall as he got Lex to turn toad and hop out of his seat.

"You'll be paying the decorator for a new shatter - proof ceiling soon, Lex…"

"What do you want? I can't fund it! You'll end up getting me tossed out of this chair for –

"Will it matter? I don't need your money, Luthor. I only need a chance to strike." Slade hissed that word as it resonated down to Luthor's cold core. The man came up to his desk and slapped his palms against the wooden frame, The searing heat from that male's nostrils could knock you off your high horse.

Slade saw Lex stunned, and took his chances. Time was short. He had a plane to catch.

"My suit is in need of a few upgrades, and I wanted to go on a, little hunt for your finest minds to take a whack at it for me… I think you'll enjoy the thrill of leaving your office again. The heat wave this month has been, killer….Wouldn't you rather take a deep dive, instead?"

Slade….He was bluffing! He wouldn't!

"I'm…. not –

"Wait! MERC –

"She's not coming. I made sure to keep your appointment times marked so I could have you ALL to my self…" He gripped the man by his shirt and lifted the bilionaire out towards the nearest window of his large sky scraper's magnificent dwelling. His tiny niche was no longer safe. Lex's kicking was useless, as he even failed to leave a bite wound on the tactician's pinky.

Slade could snap his neck and still leave the man uttering so many vile words. This was ludicrous! This killer wasn't known for going on strike, he was…

"Put me down, you inflated!-

"Are you going to be the damsel in distress, or the lowly stooge I toss to his death before any fireworks can go off..."

"You…you're just plain mad…that the event was supposed to get me back to my –

Slade pressed a button by the window as a large glass panel slid up. Lex's throat went bone dry.

Why did he install that? It was more for a convaluted suicide attempt than for some, "recreational" feng shui! How was this…. even reliable as an aesthetic for its bleeding purpose! Yes, he needed to clear his head - but being sent to your death was NOT cutting it close! Slade was on thin ice!

"I can freeze your assets, you… tech – swindling monstrosity! I can put your entire operation on hold for the rest of your sad career! You'll let me down THIS INSTANT! I swear it!"

"My mind is made up, and you wouldn't want to change it. Take my offer, or you'll fall flat on your face." Slade kept his hand firmly ready to rid the man from them when the time came.

Time was all he needed, right now.

Lex had to think…. He let his body go limp to throw off his attacker. And then…It clicked. A meta against an alien. THAT would keep Lex from kissing the pavement before another campaign rally to boost his cometitve drive... He wanted the mayoral position, but not by brutally murdering his competitors out in the open. Deathstroke had to have more self control, but now….

Slade had forced his hand.

"SUPERMANNN! HELP! I'M IN DANGER! HELP MEE! NO! I'M GOING TO BE KILLED! –

"Right. You JUST had to make this a problem for yourself, not me." Slade rolled his eyes and let the wind hit them both as he walked to the edge, with Lex still screaming like the idiot damsel hed chosen to become.

"I'll just be taking that tech from your lab, later. I hope you know how to swim, genius. Consider this payment for the shot fired at me last week!"

Lex saw his life flash before his eyes as he took the longest dive of his life.

He was chucked and thrown into the air. Heck, it could have been a basic sky - dive.

Despite the financial wealth he'd accrued and the many awards he'd been granted for his contributions to the city's best and worst over recent decades, Lex was actually a great big coward.

He had his brain; enhanced by his own powers, but that was all he really owned up to. He was as human as they came, and Slade had exposed his fragile ego to the entire world. And worst of all, to his enemy.

Superman –

"Got you, Lex… Hold on!" Supes was to his side - and in a bullet train's path of a millisecond, the man felt his heart beat return to normal. Somewhat.

"Who is responsible for –

"D- Deathstroke!" The bald tycoon snapped. "HE tossed me from my own window! I wouldn't listen to his request! He's going to kill you, Superman! You have to –

"Get it together. Where is he going? Can't you have told tell your security-

"He's blocked my communications, somehow. It was useless to contact anyone…" Admitted the billionaire, with trickles of stray sweat pouring off and onto his brows. "The ground…. where was the tower? Why was with this heat wave…? He's…not kidding…Slade…you bastard.."

~Damn, Global Warming…. I'll have to run by that plan with my head staff to cool down the ice caps once I'm back in my own skin…damn it...~ Lex felt weak by his already compromised health. The heat was no great help, as the man of steel could endure any global climate a hundred degrees hotter than this planet's minor heat wave…

He put a hand to his face and groaned. A cold shower, or a bed of ice….

"We'll go back up, but you have to contact Mercy and get the entire tech sector secured at once. Deathstroke is on a rampage and you have all of his favorite gadgets housed in one convenient location. A facility for designing weapons is a playground and an open invitation for him, so don't delay."

"I know that, Alien…. But. You have to put me down, or I can't –

"Call her once we land. I'll see if I can get my X -Ray vision to locate the perpetrator."

"He's the deadliest assassin in the world, right now…. Ang..….You need to be quicker, than that…hero… –

A blast went off, as an explosion notified the two men as to where the killer was headed.

"Block B! Not the suit! Damn him! –

"Stay calm. What suit?" Clark had known the man to fund projects for other villains. He'd hired Deathstroke to take out one of the world's finest as well…On request of another buyer.

Slade was not for hire today, however. He was instead, serious about putting his value in –

"I…had kept the latest technology inside an armored safe. With that suit; the Ikon branded one, he can take out any lifeform with –

"WHY was it BUILT is my question - Lex? You made a promise to not interfere with –

"It was scrapped for demolition…! We shut the project down when we'd considered it…to be highly unstable…but Slade…. He may be compatible with the suit. He knows too much about its functions, already. He'll likely take it out, on a test run and then –

"Come after me." Superman's scowl wasn't his own. Guessing that Lex couldn't stop the inevitable with his mind, the hero landed where Lex's window had been shut from the inside.

"Stand back."

"I can't stand at all!" Lex's plan originally was to limply hang around. Superman's heat vision did a number and quickly, the bullet-proofed glass shield was cut clean through.

"My office décor!" Exclaimed the miserly business man. "That will take weeks to replace! Do you have any –

"Ang!" He was chucked onto his desk to make the call with a separate station. Lex huffed and dusted off his suit. His window and desk were in pieces….His body…he was sorely defeated in a way….completely irritating for his one day off a year!

"You win this time, Superman…." Lex clambered into his desk's destroyed drawer for one of his hand-held units. He turned it on and spoke. "Mercy; make sure you get everyone off of their asses for this one job. It looks like, Deathstroke –

~You really don't know when to keep your distance. ~

"Slade! You imbecile! You – meta - human– asshole! I swear to your mother that I will gladly have Interpol brand you for humiliating me personally!... You are going to –

~Make sure my suite in Arkham is ready for my admittance. And, by then I'll have a Bat to snatch. So long, Superman. You're looming over there too, I take it? ~

"His hearing's good."

"Don't give him any ounce of praise…!" Lex snapped and hissed for the nosy alien to back down.

"Slade. What time is the event? You are planning to ruin me by messing with the parade, aren't you? In this city…well, we don't tolerate your –

~Silly, Luthor. You still don't know what to do with your reputation…. ~

Slade shook his head. He chuckled into the intercom from poor Mercy's location.

~ I have my own, individual resources to get the job done. And for the record, I made myself an equal without your help. ~ That sharp *click meant that either Wilson had a gang of commando warriors with –

BOOM!

"AHG!" Lex threw his hands over his head to shield himself from an oncoming attack. That racket! GA! That crook….is, seriously! –

He was red as a rounded cherry. Slade knew how to play his enemies like instruments of chaos…

"What did he mean by "a bat to snatch?" Clark looked over the man's shoulder. If Luthor had kept his hair, it would have flown off his head like a foppish tupee. Lex's dark suit was sopping. In his panic, he simply passed out. From the heat, and the shock of being harassed by two anti – beings, capable of enacting mass destruction whenever they laid their gunfire.

Metaphorically stating, of course. Guns weren't a fun toy for the man of steel to imagine himself getting into. He was like the Bat. It was a coward's weapon and nothing more. An easy fixation to be lost in.

Using his icy breath, Clark made a mound for Lex to rest onto where his desk was no more. Clark's next mission would be to get some first aid for the fragile cue - balled human and super - villain.

"This wasn't supposed to ruin my day, but it has." Superman flew off to find the next Block that Slade would gladly pilfer on his grand tour of LexCorp's main headquarters. He'd steal everything and store it all for later. The man was 90% aware that this was a possibility. (90% of his brain joke.)

/

Beastboy's guess would have been correct; Lois was in a hostage situation, but not the way one might have left it all.

Back at the screen of the JL Watchtower….

Robin was coming too, though he'd been silent since his diagnostic tests had left the heroes even more distraught than previously before.

As for Superman's urgent call to the tower, it was not "all about saving Lois Lane." It was about stopping a murderer who was on the run with very dangerous weapons – and who WAS technically, right beside Lois as she interviewed a few figures in the crowd.

The Parade; for the mayor's pretty office assignment to get even uglier.

Slade used his cloaking tech to keep a low profile. He'd even given Kent the slip up. What a pefect day this was turning out to be.

If he used the dose of probes in her, then his life was through. Love; it made Kryptonians blood thirsty guard dogs for some reason. This one must have hit his head at birth. Slade scoffed and readied phase two, a he had left only one sleeping victim to read his message. Here, he was hoping his timing was worth the wait.

/

~Secure. Contact. Liberate. Drop guard - control, NOW. EXECUTE. ~

Robin's unmasked eyes shot up.

~I'm…. ~

He didn't know why, but his body acted in a manner like with the hit on Flash….

Robin gasped and tried to find a way back in. That was HIS body! HIS mind! Slade was abusing him, enough already!

~Not again! ~

Robin saw that the heroes were speaking to Clark. For God sakes….Slade was not playing fair. Robin groaned softly enough, yet someone had heard his protests inside the metal cage the heroes had slammed the boy into.

Richard shook his head. No.

~I can 't… ~

~Too much pressure? You're being summoned. COME to me, NOW. Apprentice. ~

Richard's legs buckled as he stood, well… wobbly up.

His hands' ability had shorted out the locked "mechanism" that Cy had put on him while he'd been out.

Only seconds. In only seconds the device had been deactivated by the cunning criminal mind.

Slade was a terrifying specialist with a massive brain to boot…Shut the front door, indeed, material….

Robin slunk in the background and out of his friend's Clark's radar. He'd used a hologram projector chip that Slade had stored in one of his apprentice's boots to get out of a jam like this, making it look a if Robin was still in his stupor in the cell behind them.

"This is-

~Don't give them a reason to lock you up, or I'll leave a scar on HIS armor as punishment. ~

~Superman…he can't be stopped! You can use all the illegal tech you want; he's not going to lose –

~On the contrary, apprentice. ~

Robin had made it to the lights. He was going to start a black out. Typical.

~I'm confident, because you are going to do the honors of creating that scar. It's lights out now for your friends, dear boy. ~

A shocking turn, and Starfire's shout had the team all up in a frenzy.

Robin's eyes could see, thanks to his new abilities.

He quickly scaled the ship to find the teleport station. Slade had Robin trapped within the walls as it silently took him away from his family.

~I'm a goner if Lantern…Damn..….Slade….we have to –

~ Going down. ~

The link was cut off between them, and a send off was imminent.

Kid Flash found the lights as they flickered back to life. The only life form missing, however, was their runaway hooligan with a gaping hole in his heart.

"He's gone!" Speedy shouted to the empty room.

"No, he was hijacked."

Lantern turned to Cyborg.

"Sorry. I kind of figured Rob could lead us to Slade, so a set up a tracker on em'. Looks like he's gotta be on the run for a real important reason."

"What was? Was he being controlled by –

"Yup, and he didn't get to choose. It's like y'all just said. Robin was jacked, and he's on his way to Metropolis."

"I'll have Speedy and your team sent with." GL decided. "HawkWoman, you might have to sit this one out an' watch the other victims. Sound like a plan?"

"I'll do what I can for the others. No issues here." HawkWoman saluted the team and had her orders.

"I'll go in her place." Dianna came back from her last rushed mission. "I'm still curious to see what the fuss is about with Deathstroke's newest weapon of mass destruction.

/

"This could be a problem…" Slade bided his time as his awaited surprise took too long - to find a second port to potentially teleport to, the boy could have been hopping from city to city for a good half hour.

A variety of assorted Beeps alerted Slade that his patience would be rewarded. Robin's body heaved as he barely stood upright. Slade noticed the boy's fatigue; the serum's work erased every line on the kid's forehead. The hidden compartment was knocked on twice, making the ex - hero inside, gasp out.

"Time's up." The booth spat the boy out as Slade had predicted. Robin coughed and forced his body up, under the bot's influence still.

"You didn't bring any unnecessary distractions along, did you?" Slade stood before the teen with his suit beneath the coat he'd used in Star city. Or one like it. He had hiding places in every major city for props he could slip into. Store houses, warehouses. No one touched his things and got out alive because of their, curiosity getting the better of them.

Robin caught his breath and tried to speak up. "They…Were fine…I left…. That's –

Nothing but incomprehensible garble of a mad person, poor kid..

"You'd think…." Slade brought a band of fingers to trace across the boy's jaw, before yanking his hair and letting a chip fall - to be thrashed about by the sole of his massive boot. And with a satisfying CRUNCH, the Titans would have to be quicker while Slade covered his own made sure to fracture it, actually. The data could be imprinted on an exact copy. But he had to make it look as if Robin had no other choice but to follow his orders. The bots would pick it up once Robin was out of the ally to see his master's double cross.

"I taught you better than to let your guard down, apprentice." The boy's hair was released. Robin rubbed his scalp with a low growl. "Now we'll have to use the robots as a cover –

"The S- The bots are here? In Met –

Slade stopped the child with a look, and then turned towards the street. Robin, (not having any place to turn and with his body being man handled by probes,) followed the elder killer blindly towards a crowded, next block.

/

Lois was just trying to get that nagging feeling off her back.

Well, if Clark wasn't eying her from the open air, then yes. She could definitely feel as if someone had been spying (other than Superman) over her shoulder and during the newly made reporter and, journalist's field run.

"I'm not dreaming this; too bad Clark doesn't have anything other than "Lois Lane Sense." She sighed her words out, so nothing could hear her worries under the cover of such a tedious afternoon session.

"The mayor almost lost his life last month. Having his butt dragged around half the city could mean he wants to be noticed, or an open target –

"I can't say I'd disagree about that."

The face of a man; a very important figure, had Lois recall the man's real face behind his suave façade of a black haired and finely dressed bachelor from a few cities over.

"Bruce, Wayne? What are you doing in Metropolis?"

He showed that "play boy's" cocky grin, and she seemed to relax in his presence.

"Has Clark not told you; I'm visiting to see about the endorsing factors involved with the mayor's new restoration project." He gladly gave heer some of his supposed dirt. "Clark was running a piece on it. I was fascinated with the idea that I might even see Superman here today while the whole city is out, celebrating their leader –

"We just showed up to make sure he's not shot in the open, Mr. Wayne –

"Please." The male reached out with a firm arm and gave another coy smile. "Call me Bruce. Kent and I go aways back. He;s saved my life, which is why I never forgot his face. He told me you'd be here too, so I wanted to show my respect. Your work as top journalists at the Daily Planet. is what keeps te people aware. His article on the LexCorp's contamination controversy was arguable, if not enlightening to the people of Gotham as well, so we can't thank your company enough for unmasking the biggest corporation's ta-

"Bruce? Come with me." She tugged him away and decided not to put on another show. Who knew that her BF's friend like to talk so much...

She knew enough, and Superman would be glad to see her out of harm's way.s long as no one else caught them in the act.

She made sure to keep them separated on the side street. Then called out –

"CLARK!CLARK! OVER HERE!"

"Wait! Did I do –

"You'll see." She crossed her arms as the other man came from around the corner. Hiss tie was loose and his shirt was not the only thing that had become a bit wrinkled. His glasses were falling off the brim of his firm nose.

"Oh! Lois? I was just at the –

"We can drop the act; you know I'm serious when I mean that. Don't you?"

"What –

"It's ok." Clark took off his glasses and Bruce saw the Kryptonians' gaze staring back.

"You, both know –

"And yours, Batman."

"Well, that changes a lot, then." Sighed the billionaire. "I was going to keep you out of the target's next range to avoid being –

"I don't think you understand the severity, so I'll be swift in explaining what I feel you should know." Clark interrupted.

"We can't have this event go on; the mayor and the city are right in the middle of an attack that's going to happen very soon. I don't know where or what time, but the culprit is an A - Class Assassin who's trying to "make some noise" out in the crowd, saying he has a weapon that can destroy anything it touches.

"Even the league knows about this?" Bruce wasn't going to be coy, but if he had come off as useless, well. That wasn't going to be a problem.

"There is a chance they may not make it in time. We had, some severe cases up at the Watchtower which are in deep quarantine."

"What about the team? I know they sent the memo, so I had no choice but to find if that man had him…"

"Robin, was last reported to have been snatched up by his kidnapper and left the station without anyone else knowing, until only a few minutes ago when I'd found this out."

'You mean, your ward? Robin was last seen with the Titans. Is this between Batman's enemies or theirs?" Lois tried to ask in order to have what dirt she needed to keep the city informed for when the time came.

"It's neither, he's gone rogue so all and every hero is his target." Clarified the incognito alien. "The man has a suit he wears that can deflect my attacks, and makes him stronger, strong enough to face –

"A Kryptonian." Lois brought a hand to her face and gasped.

"We can't let that happen. I'll try to get closer to the mayor to pull him away from the scene." Lois offered.

"Batman, you should help "Clark" to locate the one trying to take out the city official. We'll stay –

"No. We'll take it from here. Have the mayor's team aware if you want, but I doubt that they'll be ready to listen. This event is only to fix his ruined reputation. That hit on the man a month ago was why he put this parade together. I don't know if losing their jobs or saving their own skins is enough motivation."

"We can try. Even if they push us away, I won't let innocent people suffer because of that incompetent individual." Clark was firm about this and Bruce's first response would have been to relent a bit. Who could ignore those prideful quotes – right out of the book? No one. An oh – so Fantastic show of egotism masking by a pure heart.

"Fine, just don't go too wild with this story, Lois."

"You mean revealing your identity to the people, Bruce? I'd lose my credibility for being a sell – out. There is no mystery in easy reads. I want to keep everyone on their toes." Bruce raised a brow. Lois defended her words. Such a dense individual…

"Nope, your secrets have been safe with me so far. This vault is locked up tight, only key is you two." She grinned and didn't bother to hide her anticipation. "I've got you covered, cover to cover is not my only motto."

"A little goes a long way, and this will secure the mayor's reputation, and League's trust in the people."

Bruce nodded, yet Kent was fooling himself. Well, they both had work to do.

Before the streets went red with angry sparks of lightening.

/

A few miles or rather, a few feet away from the main event, another cowled crusader had just found the most deserted parking space he could.

He felt a bit strangely about this parade. It felt like a cover; a way to gain a foothold and ruin any chances the teams had.

Batman's suit was equipped with what he needed. A temporary shock wave device that would cool the nano – bots, should he end up the spreader's target in this fall – out.

Slade also had a weapon to have the League members become infected via its content.

And Contact. An Ability that Aqualad had called a surreal experience from first "kiss."

Slade's stun gun held doses of that probe's unspecified antibody solution. To think that S.T.A.R labs had not been a safe place to store such a deadly and revolutionary tool. So much for curing the big C.

And if Robin was ever going to be taken in for further testing, stabilizing the probes would act as a safe stasis period. Robin had been taken close to a month and a half ago. The longer the serum was in effect, the less likely the tests conducted would remain viable.

Slade would need to bring a sample of his blood to the table. He would have to go after Robin and make sure he could attempt it. This, risky order of operations was wrenching at his chest.

The path to the nearest changing area or rest room, wasn't difficult to locate. If Superman could change on a dime, so then could Bruce Wayne FROM Batman.

"Last I knew, I was excepting a call from the League, but there's no time left to debate this." He swiftly took after a park stall and had a bag handy to carry his things to change into at a moments notice. Only, he wasn't going to be Bruce.

He was going to be Slade, without the two-sided mask to hide his appearance.

He'd heard from Speedy and the GL about Slade's tech; he'd impersonated Queen and now, the real Arrow was up in the tower with his gut riling from the inside.

Great, but now Slade would not know it – and Robin, if his tracker info from Cyborg and the Titans was correct, then Robin was…

"He's here?"

"Sir?" Robin was there, in his civilian attire…. when had…"

"You're not at the mayor's event? We were supposed…. you –

"Hey, Richard."

Richard. Why did that tone not drip with sarcasm or immodesty that he'd only dreamed…

Of being rescued.

"Bruce…. W…." Richard's eyes were tearing a bit as he bit them back and tried to be inconspicuous.

"We can't stay. Follow me." Richard grasped the man's sleeve as he and his old ally took to meeting on a park bridge. The water below it was clear, like the open air today.

Robin finally let go and turned to his old mentor with a speculative glance, upwards.

"You are disguised….as him? Why? I'm –

"I heard that you'd been forced to leave the Watchtower. Has Slade told you about his plans? Why are you not –

"I'm long gone, you saw…What he made me do to them…" The teen clenched his fists and put on a performance, but Bruce wasn't buying into the hype. He knew that Richard was not this calm only hours ago. Something must have been on his mind.

"I can fix things. We can get those probes out of you and your team. Analyze every last cell. I don't care how long it is going to take, but we NEED your cooperation."

"It's too late for me, Bruce." Robin shook his head and stepped back. "If I move out of line, they die. It'll be all my fault."

"We can stop him, together. If you'll just, trust me…"

"Are you sure you can trust ME though?"

A strong bit of static emanated from the boy's lips. Bruce's senses went on high alert.

He'd been –

"I don't like to play the villain, here. You're making a mess of my passion project. And yet…I now have you all to myself…."

The joker, the monster, was speaking through his ward.

Of all the low – down….

"Slade. Let him go." Bruce tried to reason with, this "vessel of a son" he'd bumped into –

"Wrong." Tutted the boy, or man in his skin. "You did not catch the hint I dropped in front of you."

"Wait…then, you are –

Bruce swung out of the way.

"The hologram projector! You are –

"Leaving. Have fun with my other toys, while I make good use out of yours." Slade let his Slade Bots pounce from every direction as he took to the path opposite the parkway.

While Bruce was still in the craziest get – up. In his civilian garb, with the wrong face on…. he'd end up the one behind bars…Shit!

He ran behind a tree and proceeded to tug off the mask and wig piece. He didn't want anything to DO with the man that had brainwashed his partner.

The bots shot out, and Bruce had his face…. but not his ultimate security blanket. The Bat Suit. He'd been left vulnerable by his newest and oldest enemy. Slade had turned him into a lesser being, completely blinded by his devotion to his protégé.

They were both only fighting over a toy that neither could fully understand.

/

So, if that concluded where the man had been, then what about our protagonist, you ask?

Robin's face was also hidden. He'd been told by Slade that Batman would be on the case, knowing how much Cyborg loved to share in his recent discoveries.

At first, Richard had done nothing but follow, until the two were at one of Slade's hideouts and his grand scheme was plastered all into the boy's conscious mind via their link.

HE was going to take on Supes, to keep the man busy before he swapped personas to his hero side. Slade knew how to get around, so his first response was to put Batman out for a bit while the parade took off.

In a way, anarchy was that exact to him. It was a simple way to get some heads turning, or rolling.

This was supposed to be Robin's mission that Slade had proposed back on the ship a month ago. A month. He'd pushed it ahead. Deathstroke had taken on Lex. Had incapacitated The Flash. He'd ruined Dinah, Ollie, and now…

Superman was in his sights.

Robin was just a decoy. When they finally pulled back the thin veil from this fake Bruce's face, they'd see the real traitor he'd become.

It was to save them. He'd been conditioned so many times to remember that line, that he couldn't leave the man's side.

Slade had done as he'd said. He'd broken him, even as he still could think and feel, like a dog with a shock collar.

Standing up and looking for his signal to react, Bruce's vibes had not set off Lois or Clark. Yet.

He looked to the mayor's seat and clicked his tongue. ~ Am I supposed to just stand here? Master Slade? ~

~You'll not move an inch until I'm ready to send you the signal. Don't worry, Dick. Oh, and your ex -teacher says "hello," by the way. ~

"B-

~FOCUS. Do you see that box at the foot of the mayor's seat? On the ground? ~

~Y…Yes…. What is that…Is that my objective? ~ Robin reiterated.

~It will be. In a split second, we are going to fake Wayne's death. ~

~MASTER? ~

~Oh, calm down! You aren't going to sustain the injuries. The mayor is going to have his, but I'm able to see you. You'll not be dead by the explosion, long. In your pocket is a dose off something to make this farce VERY believable. Right before the blast goes off, I want you to swallow it. Do you understand? ~

~I'm not…What if they bring me in to be autopsied? ~

~You won't be in; I'll have you out and the real Wayne will be in the worst position of his life. He'll finally, let us be. You won't need a rescue. Now, get ready. I'm on the roof and closing in with the trigger. ~

Richard realized how gung-ho this episode was becoming. An exploding politician. A dead billionaire going possum to fool the entire world….

And him, he'd be impersonating Bruce. Then…Slade could have his bots or lackeys save Robin from law enforcement, while he took out Superman. With one shot.

Robin gulped and checked his time. Slade was saying to sacrifice himself, but this was…

Truly, going off the deep end. Wallowing in guilt and saying his pride was worth it…

But... dying to save them?

Who were they to him –

STOP! That's the brainwashing, boy "woe is me" – wonder, talking. We're staying on target. Starfire won't be killed. Suck it up! ~ His mind fought back and the time came too soon. ~NOW. ~ Robin inhaled, and taking the spearmint flavored drug, the fireworks commenced upon his first and last gulp.

The only head that flew into the crowd, was the mayor's as he'd continued to wave for less than two full seconds.

A dozen screams, a second shot and the fight was, on. The medics came to pick up Wayne as Lois pushed her way through the shouting masses, back-to-back. Ears bleeding from the sound of gun shots and pulsations created by a very irritated Super hero. She looked up and gasped at the man's surrounding ambience. Being able to breathe hot and cold, Deathstroke would be fortunate to end up as burnt toast.