AN: Things are not looking good for our gang. Everyone is a bit sad this chapter and we have a surprise appearance by a certain someone…
This chapter title is a pretty blatant comic reference. A virtual cookie and my admiration to anyone who can figure it out!
Special shout-out to Primarycolours (over on AO3) who pointed out a plot hole/concern from last chapter. I addressed it in this one. Have I ever mentioned that you commenters are the best?
4. Where is Donna Troy?
Wally ran from the Mountain to Central City. The way was far too short, so he decided to take a few laps around the city. Wally needed to clear his thoughts and running had always given him an outlet. His thoughts raced as fast as his legs as the landscape swept past him.
Today had been a lot. He had been woken after midnight by Barry who had raced to Wally's house. Barry had told him that there was something going on with Nightwing. They had turned on the TV, watching the disaster unfold together. Wally had blown up Nightwing's, Jason's and all his team members' phones without gaining any information. Only a ton of worried messages back.
Then Batman had called him and been his usual moody and rude self. The man brought Wally to the edge of his nerves at times. Wally wondered if Batman had some grudge against him now that Wally was dating his son. Bats seemed like the type to be an overprotective parent. Well, the guy had to suck it up because Nightwing and Wally were very much in love and their relationship wouldn't go anywhere.
Wally had been so relieved when he had heard that Nightwing was with Artemis. Running to Gotham immediately. He had spent most of his day trying to comfort and distract Nightwing from something Wally couldn't even distract himself from. The fallout of this leak was huge. He wanted to believe in the hopes of the League that this would blow over quickly but he suspected it wouldn't.
"Bad day, Kid?", someone ran up next to Wally.
Uncle Barry. He was in full Flash-uniform – effortlessly keeping up with Wally.
"You can say that", Wally said.
"I was looking for you. I knew that you would go for a run."
Wally smiled. Count on his uncle to look out for him.
Wally said: "Nightwing left with Batman. They are probably brooding it out. I don't know what the Bats do most of the time and I'm dating one."
Barry tried to lighten the mood: "My mind keeps changing on who of them is the scariest. I think Nightwing won today with his application."
Wally felt bad for laughing – partly out of amusement, partly from feeling uncomfortable. It was true though. His boyfriend could be terrifying. In a way that was sometimes hot and many times just disturbing. Wally would lie if he said that those videos hadn't made him sick.
"I knew he killed people but seeing it is something different", Wally muttered.
Taipei had been particularly hard. Batman had shown them videos of Nightwing killing before – initially to make the team keep their distance. But those had been one kill and done. Not the massacre that Taipei had been.
Barry's smile vanished: "It was a shock for all of us."
"It's easy to forget most of the times. He's always so genuine and kind. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only thing keeping him together."
Frankly, Wally could understand why the public feared Nightwing. Wally had been frightened by the killer in that Taipei-video. But Wally also knew that this wasn't who Nightwing was.
"How are you, Kid?", Barry asked.
"I'm not the one you need to worry about."
Barry looked skeptical: "You must have been stressed today. Keeping someone together isn't easy."
"I love him. I want to comfort him."
"Nightwing is a good person, but I imagine he isn't the easiest to date."
Wally felt an initial urge to deny everything. But after a moment of reflection, he sighed. Uncle Barry was right. Dating Nightwing was downright exhausting sometimes because of days like these. Wally tried to support him through these crises, and he gladly shouldered some of the mental burdens. It must be only a fraction of what Nightwing was going through. Still, it was hard and a task you could easily get lost in.
Barry must recognize some of Wally's inner turmoil: "You can't live for others, Wally. You have to take care of the people you love but you also have to take care of yourself."
Wally frowned, thinking through Barry's words. His mentor was right – the Flash usually was. Wally had put his life on hold the last few years. He hadn't started anything yet after school to focus on the hero life. Picking something – anything – had seemed hard. Too much of a commitment. So, Wally had gladly put it on hold to focus on saving others.
In the last year, Wally had put a lot of focus on saving Nightwing. Learning ASL for him, talking him through panic attacks, listening when Bruce's and Jason's fights got too much and Nightwing needed someone to rant to. Together with being the Flash's sidekick and team missions, Wally's life had been full. Only recently Wally had made some attempts to get his civilian life going again.
"Is this about the applications?", Wally asked.
He had sent dozens of applications to various colleges mostly for their STEM programs. His chances were low because he had no way to explain the gaps in his CV. Wally had only received rejections – as expected.
Barry frowned. Surprised that Wally had figured out his intentions. His mentor was less sneaky than he believed himself to be.
"All of this seems so far away. I doubt any of them would take me anyway. Wally West looks like a slacker on paper", Wally shrugged it off.
It hurt more than he wanted to admit. Wally wanted to learn. But he felt like he had missed the point in time to do it and now he couldn't catch up.
"You are incredibly smart, Wally", Barry said, "You should be more confident in yourself."
Wally knew that he was smart. But it didn't matter if he didn't look smart on paper.
"If you got an opportunity, would you promise me to take it?", Barry asked.
Wally narrowed his eyes. Barry was being weird.
"Sure", Wally said, "I'd be lucky to get an opportunity."
Barry smiled – positively beamed his patented Flash-smile. Now Wally was really worried about his uncle's health.
Barry stopped in the middle of a cornfield and held a letter out to him: "Lady Luck is on your side."
Wally stopped. His heart raced. It couldn't be. He ripped the letter out of Barry's hand and read it at normal speed to be sure he was reading right.
"Fawcett University is taking me?", Wally couldn't believe it.
"This is a huge chance, Wally."
Wally shook his head. This was incredible. He had never expected this to happen.
Wally's enthusiasm was dimmed when he realized: "I have to hang up the cape."
"Are you sure?", Barry asked.
He didn't seem surprised.
Wally shook his head: "You are right, Uncle Barry. This is a giant opportunity and I have to give it my full attention. I can't afford to go to college, patrol with you, go on missions with the Team and keep my boyfriend happy. It's… too much."
Something had to go. And it wouldn't be college nor Nightwing. Wally loved this mess of a person.
"It's your decision, Wally", Barry said, "It's very mature of you to recognize that you can't take on everything at once."
Wally sighed: "I know. It's just a terrible time."
"Was there ever a good time?", Barry's question was cautious.
He was trying to give Wally room to decide for himself.
"No", Wally muttered, "It's always a bad time. Now is just a particularly bad time."
"I don't think Nightwing nor the Team would want you to put this opportunity off for them."
"No", Wally sighed, "They want me to be happy – even if they won't be happy about it. It'll hit him hard though, especially now."
"You two will work it out", Barry said, "I'm confident."
"Yeah", Wally said, "I just have to find a way to tell him gently."
Wally wondered if such a way even existed.
The next day, Bruce was stuck with monitor duty. He was glad for the cowl because it allowed him to hide the dark circles under his eyes. His sons were robbing him of sleep. Bruce had laid awake the whole night thinking about how to resolve things with each of them. He hadn't found a solution yet and probably wouldn't soon.
Bruce sighed, as he watched the screens on the Watchtower. They showed a map of the earth and different satellite images. Leaguers could call in to ask for information or assistance. It was unusually quiet today. There had been no calls except for Black Canary requesting backup with magic expertise. Bruce had sent Zatanna to her.
Without any cases to occupy him, Bruce's thoughts wandered to his personal issues. Issues he usually tried to block out while at work. It was impossible though with the tension in Wayne Manor that had continued even today.
Bruce had seen Nightwing this morning in the Cave working on a training dummy. The former assassin had been unusually exhausted. His movements sluggish and his knuckles bruised. He hadn't noticed Bruce entering so Bruce had been able to watch him for a bit. Nightwing's punches had been frustrated. As if Nightwing was struggling with his newly weakened body.
The moment, Nightwing had noticed Bruce, his face had gone blank.
"You trained all night?", Bruce had asked.
Nightwing had simply nodded. Bruce hadn't commented further. Nightwing didn't need a lecture when he was probably the one beating himself up the most. Also, Bruce was not the one to lecture people on bad coping mechanisms. That was Alfred's job.
"Come on", Bruce had said, "I have Watchtower duty. Aqualad is in the Mountain. He's going to supervise you until I can pick you up again to go home."
Nightwing's expression had stayed blank. Lifeless. It didn't leave Bruce. This wasn't like Nightwing. Nightwing only looked like this when he pretended to be a Talon. Bruce wanted his son back.
"Am I interrupting?", Diana asked.
Bruce hadn't noticed the Amazon approaching. Not a good sign for his mental stability today.
"No", Bruce said.
Diana looked tired as well, dark circles under her eyes. Her hair ruffled. There was some dirt clinging to her boots. She pulled out a chair for herself, massaging her temples.
"Sometimes I feel my 2000 years", Diana said.
Bruce simply grunted. He wasn't eager to talk about feelings.
Diana frowned: "I led the press conference yesterday. I did what you asked me to do even if it went against my entire being."
"It was the right decision", Batman said.
"Presenting Nightwing like a criminal without even attempting to explain the circumstances behind his actions?", Diana shook her head, "This is neither justice nor the truth."
"It is the easiest way. We need this to go over quickly. Presenting Nightwing like a contained criminal whom we are using for our missions is the easiest way to do it. The public will forget once Nightwing has done enough heroic deeds. It is hard to hate someone once they have saved the world a few times."
"You think Nightwing will save the world?"
"I'm sure he will."
Diana allowed herself a small smile.
She said: "We could still explain to the public that Nightwing was coerced – abused – by the Court. They are the target that the public should point their vitriol towards. Not Nightwing. He was a child, Bruce. He didn't have any choice and he shouldn't be the scapegoat for the Court's actions."
"The public will demand proof once we bring up these claims."
"We have proof. Those Gotham court videos you collected."
Batman turned to her: "You want us to publish them, Diana? Leak them as well? Nightwing had enough of his past brought to light. He deserves some privacy – some dignity. I'm doing all this to protect him."
"I know", Diana sighed, "I guess there are no easy solutions for this one."
Batman grunted in agreement.
"The Team is free today?", Diana asked, "I have a mission for them. An urgent one."
"You have been busy lately", Batman nodded in the direction of Diana's muddy boots, "Distracted."
"I attempted to resolve this matter with the aid of my sisters. We Amazons like to take care of our own."
"I assume it didn't go well?", Bruce asked.
"My little sister Donna vanished", Diana said, "She was on a humanitarian mission for Themyscira in Qurac."
Bruce frowned. Qurac was dangerous territory now since Queen Bee had invaded it, annexed it and proclaimed the whole region as 'Greater Bialya'.
"You are aware of the dire situation in Qurac?", Diana said.
Bruce nodded: "Queen Bee finally took what she wanted by force. She apparently was too impatient for subtlety."
Diana nodded: "I have been involved in diplomatic matters ever since. The situation in Qurac is dire. Thousands of people have lost their homes and are living in camps. Themyscira negotiated with Queen Bee. She allowed us to deliver humanitarian aid to the camps. Donna was on a mission to supervise the delivery and to ensure that it ended up where it is needed."
"She didn't come back?"
"She was supposed to return to Themyscira three days ago, but we lost contact with her."
"It's almost sure that Queen Bee is behind this."
"The Queen has been outwardly cooperative with Themyscira. She doesn't want to make an enemy of us. So, she allowed me to search for Donna after I requested her cooperation. I spent the last night flying over the Quraci desert. No success."
Bruce frowned, thinking over the facts: "The Queen has never shown animosity against Themyscira?"
"Not outwardly. She knows that we would go to war if she harmed on of ours. One of the reasons why I even dare to fly into the Queen's territory. She could control me, but it would be a declaration of war against Themyscira."
Bruce nodded. It made sense that Queen Bee would play nice with the Amazons. No one wanted to make enemies of them.
"Why would she change her approach?", Batman frowned.
"Donna hasn't been involved in the hero business. I explicitly made sure she wouldn't for her own protection", Diana shook her head, "I thought she would be safe as a representative of Themyscira. A way for her to do good but not be in the line of fire. Apparently, I was wrong."
"You want the Team to investigate?"
Diana nodded: "I would like another pair of eyes on this. I was unable to find any leads after days of searching. Hippolyta sent another mission of Amazons to Qurac, the most capable sisters she could find. Despite their best attempts, Philippus, Nubia and Artemis also came up empty. League support is our last hope."
"The Team will do their best", Batman tried to reassure her.
Diana nodded: "By Hera, I hope they'll find her. I don't know what to do otherwise. I was supposed to protect her. I'm her big sister and I failed her."
Batman put a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it. Diana looked up, seemingly surprised by the gesture.
"I understand", Batman said.
They both had failed to protect the people they cared about.
Diana rightened herself, looking determined: "Send the team my regards. I will negotiate with Queen Bee and make sure that she allows the Team to enter her territory. They shall be under the protection of Themyscira and Aphrodite herself during this mission. Nobody will vanish under my nose again."
"I'll tell them", Batman stood up, glad that he had a task for now.
Diana smiled: "Thanks, Bruce. I'll finish your monitor duty for you."
Bruce allowed himself a small smile.
"You truly were sent by the Gods, Wonder Woman", he walked towards the exit, using his comm to call the Team.
Diana still looked tense while she was sitting in that chair watching the screens. This crisis was weighing on all of them. Bruce wondered if the leak and Donna's disappearance were connected somehow. Were all these attempts designed to weaken the League? How did Donna Troy fit into this though?
Wally hurried to the Mountain once Batman had called them. The briefing was tense, yesterday still weighing on the team. Wally was occupied with his college dilemma. He would tell Nightwing and the Team after the mission was done. Before, he would only distract them.
Nightwing's face stayed worryingly blank during the briefing. He didn't even attempt to sign anything.
They boarded the Bioship. Everyone kept mostly quiet, following their own thoughts. Wally found himself musing over his own issues.
He was surprised when there was a tug on his sleeve. Wally turned to Nightwing. His blank expression had softened a bit, showing worry.
'Something wrong, Wally?'
His signing was so rapid that the rest of the Team wouldn't understand it. Only Wally did with his super-speed brain and relentless efforts to learn ASL. It was their way to have private conversations.
Nightwing's knuckles were an angry purple. Wally watched with morbid fascination. He had never noticed that Nightwing's bruises were darker than those of a normal human. Why should he? Usually, Nightwing's wounds healed too quickly to bruise.
Nightwing pulled on gloves when he noticed Wally's stare. The former assassin almost never wore gloves. Wally could imagine that it had been annoying to pull them on with the claws.
Nightwing seemed tired, tense. As if he had to hold himself back for his emotions not to spill over the edges. Wally couldn't burden him with the news now.
'I'm fine', Wally signed back.
Nightwing frowned: 'You can tell me if something wrong. I be fine.'
Wally very much doubted that Nightwing was fine. His boyfriend looked like a wreck. But even as exhausted as he was, he could still read Wally's reactions. Nightwing was used to watching people's reactions. Talons were trained to observe. It was how they survived. Of course, Nightwing noticed that something was off with Wally.
'Don't worry about it. I'm OK', Wally signed.
Nightwing's mouth thinned. He seemed unhappy about Wally lying to him. Nightwing raised his hands to sign again and dig deeper when M'Gann said: "We're almost there. I'm preparing to land."
Wally sighed in relief. At least he did not have to go through a Bat-interrogation now. He was less relieved when he saw that Nightwing's face had turned back to his blank state.
M'Gann landed the bioship in the middle of the desert. They were close to a refugee camp.
Wonder Woman had received a video call from Donna Troy a week ago, showing her in that very camp. Donna and the supplies had reached their destination. Something had to have happened afterwards near the camp.
Wally's legs felt restless. He was the first to run out of the ship to get rid of the itch in his body and to evade another possible attempt at interrogation.
"It's depressing", Artemis exited the bioship after him, "Remember that time Queen Bee took Qurac over with her powers and we uncovered her ruse? Only for her to take what she wants by force a few years later."
"It is depressing", Kaldur agreed, "We cannot intervene in the matters of foreign nations without permission though. There is a reason for that."
Artemis sighed, sounding not entirely convinced: "I guess."
"We make three groups", Kaldur said, "I'm taking the camp. I'll ask the inhabitants for information in Quraci. The other teams are covering the surrounding desert."
"You speak Quraci?", Wally asked.
"My King insisted on a thorough education in surface languages", Kaldur said.
Wally couldn't help but be impressed. It was only a question of time until Kaldur joined the League. Everyone on the Team knew it though no one mentioned it. They would continue living in their bubble for a bit.
Kaldur continued: "Nightwing is coming with me for supervision."
Nightwing nodded, his hands folded behind his back. He looked like a Talon.
"I'm going with M'Gann", Connor naturally said.
This left Wally with Artemis.
"Makes me feel nostalgic for the time we stumbled through the Bialyan desert, Arty", Wally said to her.
He desperately tried to get his mind off Nightwing's current state and his own college troubles. They needed some levity on this godforsaken mission.
Artemis chuckled: "We were so stupid then."
She sounded fond. It had been such a long time ago – even before their attempt at dating each other.
"All right", Kaldur brought up a holomap and showed them directions, "The other two teams are covering the desert. Any questions?"
"Understood", Artemis said, "Let's go, Baywatch."
Artemis and Wally indeed had a lot of desert to cover. Sweat formed on Artemis' forehead. She covered her head with a scarf to get some protection from the sun. Wally did the same. They looked for anything Wonder Woman might have missed. Hidden caves, vehicles or maybe even a body.
Artemis sighed at the heat boiling down on her. This farce was far more trouble than it was worth.
"This is pointless", Artemis said, "We all know that Bee is behind this."
Wally silently agreed: "We don't know why though and where Donna is."
"We won't find her out here", Artemis pointed at the dunes around them, "This whole mission sucks. Everyone is brooding and Nightwing acts like an emotionless zombie. All for this stupid farce."
"We still have to try."
Artemis sighed: "Your optimism has always been impressive, Wally."
"You're being weird, Arty."
"Just because I say something nice for once?"
"No. You know what I mean."
Artemis shrugged: "I guess I've just been questioning things."
Wally bit his lip. Artemis was getting far too close for home.
"Spit it out, Crock."
"I don't know if all this still makes sense for me."
"Being a hero?"
"No. I'm still all in on being a hero. I mean the League", Artemis balled her fists, "I thought I was a part of the League as a full member of the Team. But I can't be sure anymore."
"That's ridiculous, Arty. You've been with the team from almost the beginning."
"Imagine that a video of me killing that girl would leak tomorrow. Would the League put all these restrictions on me? Would they call me a tool, as well?"
"There won't be a leak."
"We can't know that", Artemis said, "Someone leaked the dirt on Nightwing. And from the looks of it that stuff was hard to get. It must have come from the archives of the Court itself."
"If you're worried about yourself, Arty-"
"I'm not worried about myself", Artemis said, "If something leaks, then something leaks.
But think about it: Nightwing saved countless lives and our asses multiple times. He didn't spill any League secrets even under duress. And he listened to all of Kaldur's orders. The point is: He was loyal and brave. A good teammate and hero. Nothing of that mattered the moment the League got some bad PR."
"What do you want to tell me?"
"The League always talks about redemption and that we can change. But how much does the League truly value people like us if we become tools the moment the League might catch some flack?"
"I think you are overreacting a bit, Arty."
Artemis shook her head. Wally didn't understand. He had always been a hero – always walked on the good path. He didn't know how hard it was to be pushed off the right path and to have to find it again. It was a terrifying journey through the dark without any security. A constant uphill battle to prove that you had changed. Artemis had thought that she had managed it but now she wasn't sure anymore. The uncertainty was the worst. A tiny thing like a leaked video could destroy her life and it hurt to know that her family might not back her up in this case.
"I don't know if I can work for an organization like that", Artemis accelerated her steps.
Wally rushed after her: "You want to leave the Team?"
Artemis stopped, sighing: "I- I don't know. I'll wait and see. I love you guys and I couldn't just leave you on a whim. It would have to be a well-thought-out decision."
Wally bit his lip. Something burst from his mouth. So quickly that Artemis didn't understand it.
"What?", she asked.
Wally forced himself to speak slowly: "I am leaving the team."
Artemis halted.
"I-", Wally scratched the back of his neck, "I took some gap years for all this hero-ing and I can't go on like this forever. I got accepted by Fawcett University."
Artemis had known about Wally's struggle to find a university. She couldn't help but smile.
"Congrats, Wally. That's huge", Artemis hugged him.
"I know", Wally smiled as well, "I want to do it right. Build my future. And I don't think I could manage that with the team on the side."
"I get it", Artemis said, "This life is amazing but so much pressure. You deserve a break or a retirement. Whatever you want."
"You aren't angry?"
"Why would I?", Artemis said, "If you want to do it, then it's the right decision for you. This life can easily consume you and I'm glad you are not letting it do that to you."
Wally looked astonished at her advice. Artemis smirked to herself.
"Have I ever mentioned that I have a great taste in romantic partners?", Wally grinned, "Like my game is out of this world."
Artemis rolled her eyes. Wally may be more mature, but he hadn't lost his ego.
"Sure, Casanova. Everyone knows though that Nightwing has you wrapped around his little finger."
"I have him wrapped around my little finger. You see how he looks at me?"
Artemis snickered: "It's disgustingly cute. Makes me want to vomit sometimes."
"See?", Wally grinned, "I'm that great."
Artemis shook her head in amusement. Somehow, the dire mood had been lifted a bit. Walking with Wally through a desert could do that to you.
"You better tell him quickly what you just told me, oh Wally the Great. Let's see how charming you can make those news", Artemis teased.
"I will", Wally seemed tense, "Soonish when there's a good moment."
"Sure."
Artemis knew well enough how good Wally was at avoidance.
Nightwing and Kaldur arrived at the camp. It was enclosed by a metal fence with barbed wire at the top. Inside the enclosure were tents so close that they almost touched each other. Armed guards stood at the entrance.
Nightwing tensed. This didn't look like a place to house people. The whole camp was drenched in misery.
Kaldur approached the guards. Nightwing opted to stay behind him. His knuckles itched and his whole body hurt after a night of training. Nightwing was so weak now. There was a buzzing in his head and Nightwing had to force his eyes to stay open in quiet moments. He didn't understand what this was. It was something new and terrifying. Nightwing would have asked Wally about it if the speedster wasn't occupied with something. He didn't know what it was and the idea that Wally might be hiding something from him was terrifying.
Despite his discomfort, Nightwing tried to seem professional. Face blank. It was the same expression he had worn when he had served the Court. It had pleased the Court and Cobb. Showed them that Nightwing was to be trusted with tasks. He hoped it would please the League, too.
Nightwing had to be good on this mission. He couldn't screw up again.
"Gentlemen", Kaldur nodded at the guards.
"What is your business here?", the guard immediately asked, his gaze darkening when he noticed Nightwing.
For the first time in his life, Nightwing wished for glamour charm around his neck. Instead, he had the collar that did nothing but weaken him.
Kaldur didn't seem phased by the hostile treatment: "We are affiliated with the League. Wonder Woman has sent us in the name of Themyscira to search for a missing Amazon. Donna Troy?"
The guard didn't seem impressed. He pressed a button on his commlink – waiting for orders.
A voice answered on the other side. The guard hummed.
"You are allowed to enter", he said, "One hour."
The gate buzzed and rattled to the side.
Before they could enter, the guard said: "And you better watch your Talon."
"He is under my supervision", Kaldur said.
Nightwing swallowed down the sense of humiliation he felt at being scrutinized. He had to keep it together, Nightwing kept reminding himself. So, he would hold his emotions close to his vest and stay completely professional. There couldn't be any complaints about him. Nothing that could reflect badly on him, Kaldur or the League.
They entered the enclosure.
"We need to try to get in contact with some of the people", Kaldur said.
He looked around. After a while, they reached a square where a few children were playing football in the dirt while a middle-aged woman watched. She was sewing, mending a hole in a pair of trousers.
Kaldur approached her and addressed her in Quraci. His voice was soft, compassionate. The woman looked up at him and answered. Kaldur asked her something. The woman was about to answer when her gaze stopped on Nightwing.
She jerked up, the trousers she was mending dropping into the dirt. Kaldur raised his hands in a calming manner. But the woman indicated the children to follow her and hurried away.
Nightwing felt frozen. Too aware of the collar around his neck and how frightening he must look to the people around them.
"It's okay, my friend", Kaldur's voice was calming again, "How about you wait here and I try to gather some information?"
Nightwing's fingers dug into his palms at the idea of waiting here and being useless. He wasn't useless. He could be good on this mission. But being good meant listening to orders so Nightwing nodded.
"I won't be far", Kaldur left the square and vanished in between the tents.
Nightwing sighed. He stood on the square, folding his arms behind his back. Maybe he should wear a full facemask again. Would he look less scary this way? Maybe. Or it would make it even worse. Still, it wouldn't make a difference because the whole world knew now what he had done. He had lost his anonymity as a Talon and there was no hiding behind a mask anymore.
The square stayed empty and Nightwing could see people avoiding it. Taking a longer way around it. Did the people here know what Nightwing had done? Or was it just about Nightwing looking evil?
Nightwing felt very uncomfortable suddenly. He wanted to leave. Go back to the ship. But he had to stay here. Kaldur – his leader – had ordered him to. Nightwing couldn't disregard orders. If he couldn't be useful, he could at least be obedient until the League believed again that he could be useful.
A light breeze behind him was the only warning Nightwing got. Nightwing rolled to the side
before a knife could embed itself in his back. There was no time to recover. The attacker
lunged at him and sent a kick towards his face. Nightwing threw himself back, dodging it. He came back up with a handspring, pulling out his escrimas. Just in time to block a katana.
The force of the blow against his escrima stick made Nightwing almost lose the weapon. He had to put his whole body under the stick to make sure the blade wouldn't come down on him. His attacker was larger than him. Hovering over Nightwing. Stronger as well. Nightwing's arms quivered from the force of blocking the katana. He felt so weak. It made him angry. But Nightwing couldn't be angry. He had to keep it together and be good.
Nightwing looked up. Deathstroke's masked face stared down at him. Nightwing frowned. Caught by surprise. What was Deathstroke doing he-?
Deathstroke buried a knife in Nightwing's thigh. Nightwing gritted his teeth. He couldn't allow himself distraction. He had to get his head into this fight and be useful. The League would get rid of him if he screwed up missions. They were too nice to say it, but Nightwing could feel the threat hanging over his head.
Nightwing ripped out the knife and went for Deathstroke's chest. It was instinctive. Quick. Only half-way did he remember that stabbing someone wouldn't count as good behavior. Nightwing stopped himself mid-stab.
Deathstroke chuckled and kicked Nightwing in the stomach. The force threw him back and made him crash into a tent. There was a loud clutter as Nightwing ripped the whole construction down landing in a mess of fabric, furniture, and kitchen utensils. He felt dazed. Uncoordinated. The buzzing in his head grew.
"Geez kid, I don't remember you this pathetic", Deathstroke said.
Nightwing still had the knife in his hand. He considered throwing it at Deathstroke, but he couldn't. Talons threw knives. Heroes didn't. So, he dropped it.
He was losing badly. This was bad. Deathstroke could easily kill him. Another knife flew at him. Nightwing rolled to the side. Had Deathstroke always been this quick? No, it was just Nightwing who was slow, weak and struggling with holding himself back.
He couldn't do this. He had never defeated Deathstroke not even with Talon-powers. The closest he had come was holding back an already-injured Deathstroke with a knife and getting away.
Nightwing wasn't good enough. Neither in morals nor in capabilities.
So, he reached for his comm. He had to inform the team. Kaldur would come. Kaldur would help-
Another knife flew towards him. Nightwing blocked it with a pan. The knife clanged against the metal and dropped.
Nightwing opened his mouth trying to get something out. Warn the team. Be at least a tiny bit useful today. But nothing came out. His throat was closed.
Deathstroke seemed to get tired of the throwing contest. He lunged at Nightwing and Nightwing dodged with a flip to the side. There was no way to get a hit in. Slade was too quick.
Nightwing had to get it together. He could get Slade. He could do it. He had to use the abilities he still had. Nightwing was more than Talon-powers. Batman had taught him that. He had to use one of the few advantages he had left. Nightwing flipped over Slade's head and landed behind him.
The mercenary seemed disoriented – for just a moment. A moment was enough though. Nightwing struck forward and put his hand to Slade's throat. He wouldn't kill. Just threaten-
"Is this supposed to scare me?", Slade laughed.
Nightwing pushed his hand closer to Slade's throat. Trying to break a sliver of skin and show Slade that his threat was serious. He frowned when his fingertips met warm flesh. What-?
Slade gripped Nightwing's wriest and pulled Nightwing towards him. The grip around his wriest was like iron. Nightwing could feel his bone ache under the pressure and he knew that Slade could break it like a twig.
The mercenary lingered over him, his voice dripping with smugness: "Cobb ripped your claws out, remember Bird?"
Slade's words made Nightwing remember things he wanted to forget. He remembered Cobb lingering over him and tearing at his claws until there weren't any left. The jagged stumps that had been his fingers. The searing pain. Nightwing would never forget it. He shuddered every time he thought of it. Tried to push it into the deepest corners of his mind. A whimper escaped his mouth.
Nightwing could have kicked himself for being so stupid. How could he have forgotten the emptiness at his fingertips? Forget that he was a worthless Talon now?
Nightwing reached for his escrima stick again, aiming for Slade's thigh. The mercenary seemed almost bored as he hit the stick out of Nightwing's hand and gripped his other wriest. Slade had him in a vice-grip and his grip didn't even budge against Nightwing's struggling.
Nightwing tried to open his mouth again. Tried to ask Slade what he was doing here. Why he just didn't get it over with and kill Nightwing. But nothing came out and Nightwing felt desperation rise within him. Even when he had been evil, he had at least been competent. Now, Nightwing was still a bad person and useless on top of it.
Slade stomped on the ankle of Nightwing's injured leg. There was a crack as the joint caved in under the pressure. Nightwing snarled at Slade. The mercenary didn't seem bothered.
Slade reached for Nightwing's ear and took out the comm. Crushing it. Then, he pulled Nightwing away from the square by his collar. Nightwing struggled and thrashed. He even tried to bite Slade in the leg at one point only to discover that Slade had solid armor down there.
"You finished?", Slade seemed annoyed, as if Nightwing was just a minor inconvenience, "I'm here to talk."
Nightwing frowned. Slade pulled Nightwing towards the edge of the camp into a warehouse. The building was abandoned from the sights of it. Slade dropped Nightwing unceremoniously in the middle of the warehouse.
Nightwing tried to lunge up and attack Slade again, but a katana dug itself into Nightwing's throat over the collar. Nightwing glared up at Slade.
"They really chained you up like a dog, didn't they?", Slade shook his head, "And you foolish, little thing let them."
'They protect me', Nightwing signed.
He wouldn't let Slade insult the League. They both weren't worthy of it. The League was too good for them.
"Then, how about I take off that collar?", Slade's katana wandered to Nightwing's collar.
Nightwing tried to shove it away. He couldn't lose this collar. Even less people would trust him afterwards. Losing the collar could be the misstep that could show the League that Nightwing was too much trouble to keep around.
"I would laugh if this wasn't so sad", Slade said.
'Not your problem. Leave me alone.'
"Last time I saw you, you defeated Cobb in his own mind game and brought us his mangled body for your brother to kill. Now you are… whatever this is."
'I not want Hood kill him.'
Nightwing hadn't. He couldn't help but think of Cobb sometimes. Even miss him. Things with Cobb had been easy. Cobb had given orders. Nightwing had followed. If Nightwing was bad, he was punished. If Nightwing was good, Cobb didn't punish him. And if Nightwing was really good, Cobb showed him a sliver of affection sometimes. It hadn't been easy, but it had been clear. Now, Nightwing didn't know what to do anymore. He was such a giant failure that he was a liability to the whole League.
"You are so screwed up, kid, it's almost impressive", Slade shook his head, "I thought this was supposed to be your big triumph. Emancipation and all that shit. Instead, you climbed right back under another thumb. Apparently, you like being down there."
Nightwing felt anger boil up inside him. Slade knew how to get under his skin.
'You not know what you talk about', Nightwing signed, 'The League show me how be good.'
Slade laughed: "A Talon who believes he can be a hero. That's rich."
'I not a villain', Nightwing glared up at Slade.
At least, he didn't try to be. He so desperately didn't want to be.
"No. You aren't."
Nightwing frowned. He didn't understand any of this. Why was Slade doing this? Did he just want to mess with Nightwing? Why was he here?
"Villains have agency, kid. They do shit because they want to do it. You are a tool. I'll slit a man's throat, if I feel like it. You did it because your Owls told you and then felt bad about it", Slade said, "Same goes for the League. The only difference is that they tell you to save a man instead of killing him. It doesn't make a difference who gives the order or what the order is. You are still a tool without any dignity."
Nightwing felt his face crumble. Slade made it sound like he was trapped. But maybe Nightwing deserved to be trapped until he could prove that he was good enough to be trusted. Tears filled his eyes and Nightwing refused to let them fall. To show Slade how desperate he truly felt.
Nightwing tried to stand up. Get away before the mercenary could get even deeper into his head. But Slade kicked against Nightwing's injured ankle and made him crumble to the floor.
Nightwing wouldn't get out of this. He had to play whatever game Slade wanted to play. It reminded him uncomfortably of Cobb.
'What do here? What want with me?'
"Like I said: Talk. And as for why I am here, how about you use some of that detective training? Or does the League not want its lapdog to think?"
Nightwing bit his lip. He could imagine why Slade was here.
'You work for Light. Enforcer again with Cobb dead.'
Slade was still towering over him. His non-reaction showed Nightwing that he was right.
It made Nightwing feel anxious. But he wasn't about to let Slade shove him around. Nightwing had some dignity left despite what Slade said. It was so little that other people wouldn't see it. But Nightwing could. There had been a time in his life when he hadn't had any dignity at all. Taipei had been the marker of this sad existence.
'You crawl back to them even after they fire you? Pathetic', Nightwing signed.
Slade slapped Nightwing in the face. His head flew to the side.
"I would break your fingers for that, boy. But even I have enough decency left to not take someone's signing away."
Nightwing frowned. That was a surprisingly compassionate statement coming from Slade. It must come from being Joey's father.
Trying to ignore Slade didn't work. Mouthing off against him didn't work. So, Nightwing had to try a less combative approach. He had to understand where Slade was coming from to know how to react.
'It not like you to go back to Light after they fire you.'
Slade stayed quiet.
Nightwing tilted his head, watching Slade closely: 'You have plan and for some reason you come to me.'
"Less stupid than you look", Slade crouched in front of Nightwing, "We are both being fucked over. You by your precious League and I by the Light. I'm not the type of man who lets himself be screwed over. I won't end up like that loser Sportsmaster."
Sportsmaster – the previous enforcer of the Light - was a joke in the villain community ever since Slade had defeated him and taken his spot. Ending up like this must be the ultimate humiliation to Slade. While Nightwing had too little dignity, the mercenary had too much. He wouldn't let this slide.
'Why come me?'
"You are fucking pathetic today. Still, I could use a hand and usually you aren't completely incapable."
It was high praise coming from Slade. Unwittingly, Nightwing felt his chin rise. He had always been weak to praise. Nightwing bit down deeper into his lip. The taste of blood spread on his tongue. It grounded him. Made him feel more in control. Nightwing had to play the game but he couldn't let himself be manipulated.
'Take down Light?'
"You help me take down the Light and I make you vanish. New country. New identity. A pretty, little glamour charm. No one would find you. Neither the League nor the government. You'd be free, little Bird."
'Freedom not come without cost.'
"The cost would be your assistance. You'd be my sidekick for a bit – an apprentice so to say."
Nightwing tensed at the possibility. He remembered the last mission he and Slade had been on. Lexcorp. How easy it had been for Nightwing to work in sync with Slade. The mercenary must have felt it, too.
Slade put his hand on the back of Nightwing's neck. It was a familiar gesture. Cobb had used it to control him and Bruce to comfort him. With Slade, Nightwing couldn't say. It had to be something in between.
"I'd make it worthwhile for you. Train you. Make you as good as you can be."
'I train with Batman.'
There was no better. Batman was the best.
"The Bat is ruining you. Taking all your edges away."
'I need lose them to be hero.'
Slade scoffed: "That's what they tell you. I don't see why someone with claws can't be a hero."
'They kill.'
"They keep you safe. If being a hero means throwing yourself into a meatgrinder, I'm glad I've never tried it."
Nightwing chewed on his lip. Slade wasn't making the most unreasonable arguments. The mercenary was getting into his head. It was dangerous. Nightwing frowned. Why was he still listening? He already felt treacherous just by listening.
The problem was that Nightwing could easily imagine a world where Slade had found and mentored him instead of Batman. Slade would have been a good master. Not soft but also not needlessly cruel. Slade was capable. He could train Nightwing to be useful and Nightwing would have obeyed. But Nightwing wasn't that mindless Talon anymore. He couldn't kill. Not after Jason, Batman and the Team had taught him to be better.
'You are mass murderer', Nighwing signed.
"And you aren't, Bird? I saw your work. All those bodies. You are damn good at killing for someone who doesn't want to kill", Slade said, "Don't deny it. You don't fit into the League."
Nightwing clenched his fists. Slade wasn't throwing anything new into his face. He knew that he didn't fit. That's why he tried so desperately to make himself fit. Even if it would hurt him. Nightwing had to be a hero. He had to be good. Otherwise, he would always be tainted.
'I make me fit', Nightwing signed, 'Not like you.'
"Is that a no?", Slade asked.
Nightwing's teeth dug deeper into his lip. Slade's proposition was enticing. The idea of getting away from it all. The pressure. The scrutiny. But Nightwing loved his family, his friends, the League. He couldn't hurt them like this. He would prove to them that he could be good. He would take the hard way even if it tore him apart.
Nightwing nodded: 'I stay with them.'
Slade shrugged: "I expected this. I guess then you'll never know where the girl is."
Nightwing jerked up: 'Donna Troy?'
"That one", Slade's voice sounded disinterested.
'Where?'
Slade stood up: "I don't give tips to wannabe-heroes."
Nightwing snarled. Slade was just like Cobb. Playing mind games. Nightwing wouldn't allow Donna Troy though to be caught up in them. She was an Amazon going on humanitarian missions. A good person. She didn't deserve this. So, Nightwing would do what he needed to get the information out of Slade.
"What?", Slade sounded amused on his way to the exit, "You want to glare it out of me? I don't think so."
Nightwing ignored the pain in his leg. He launched forward, kicking Slade into the back. The mercenary apparently hadn't expected Nightwing's attack. They crashed to the floor.
"Now, you are really getting onto my nerves", Slade growled.
He swung them around, pinning Nightwing to the floor. Nightwing gripped one of Slade's knives from his belt. He didn't hesitate this time. Slade could take it. The mercenary had known what he was doing when he had wound Nightwing up. Nightwing plunged the knife into Slade's stomach. The mercenary grunted more in annoyance than pain. Nightwing used the distraction to wind his legs around Slade's neck and throw them around again.
'Where?', he signed looking down at Slade.
The mercenary sounded smug: "Not very hero-like. What would your precious League think?"
Nightwing struck out at Slade's collarbone, breaking it. Slade screamed for real this time.
'Where is Donna Troy?', Nightwing raised his hand over Slade's collarbone threatening to push down.
"I should fucking kill you for this", Slade gritted out.
'Where?'
"Fine, kid. Here is your reward for not being a complete pushover", Slade pointed at something next to them on the floor.
A black spot the size of a hand. Nightwing frowned. The black spot seemed dry. It had been here for a while. Nightwing took a sample as Batman had taught him.
"You don't need to take a sample to know what it is", Slade said.
Nightwing pressed a finger into the stab-wound on his thigh, ignoring the pain. The tip of his index finger was blackened when he pulled it back out. Some of the liquid dropped onto the floor. It seemed identical to the dried liquid.
Nightwing tensed. This was undoubtedly a Talon's blood. And it was old.
"Donna Troy saw something she wasn't supposed to", Slade said, "She's still alive in case you're wondering. I don't know how long though. So, you better hurry with your thinking time. The Light isn't waiting for your pathetic feelings to sort themselves out."
So, the Light had Donna. The Team had already suspected that Bee was behind this.
'Where now?'
"Nah, kid. I gave you enough", Slade sounded smug, "And you might wanna get off me before your little boyfriend gets jealous."
Nightwing jerked up as if something had burned him. Slade stood up as well.
'You a creep', Nightwing signed.
"I've been called worse", Slade shrugged.
Deathstroke's hand struck out and gripped Nightwing's biceps in a painful contraption.
"And don't ever attack me from behind again", Slade tightened his grip.
Nightwing gritted his teeth glaring up at Deathstroke through the pain. The mercenary's knife slashed out, cutting Nightwing's throat. Nightwing felt himself weaken with the blood running out. It dripped onto his uniform.
Nightwing swayed. Slade let go off him, letting him drop to the floor. Nightwing's head hit the concrete and the buzzing was unbearable now.
"Your team better find you", Slade said, "You are worth a shit-ton of money. Less without the claws but still a sizeable sum. Would be a shame if they took you and sold you off."
Nightwing could see Slade walking away.
"B- Bas- Bastard", Nightwing rasped out, his voice hoarse.
"I'll see you, Bird, once you come to take my offer", Slade chuckled smugly and closed the door behind himself.
Nightwing's eyes drifted shut. The last thing he saw was his puddle of blood running into the dried one.
AN: Writing Slade is so much fun. That guy just loves messing with our boy and kicking him when he's down. But Nightwing didn't just take it so I'm proud of him. Not for his sake but for Donna's – whom he doesn't know (yet?). So, that tells you all you need to know about Nightwing's current sense of self-worth…