AN: This chapter has some delicious Batman/Slade/Nightwing-interactions. Nightwing is finally dropping some hard truths and the undercover op is moving forward in some big ways.

No warnings this time. Am I becoming a respectable author who doesn't torture their characters every chapter? Nah. Not really. There is more than enough emotional hurt to go around in this one. Don't worry.

Laylay6134: That is a very good question! I'm juggling many storylines at the moment, so I expect this thing to become longer than the first part to be honest. I have plans though and am working towards some exciting stuff.

I may also have a third part planned with a plot I'm excited to write… Yes, this thing is going to be big. I'm happy for everyone who is along for this wild ride!

18. Intel

Batman landed the Batplane on a field in the middle of nowhere. He had opted against zeta-ing to avoid leaving a trace. Otherwise, Superman might ask question about why Batman had teleported to Metropolis.

Nightwing had contacted him through an unknown number, simply sending him an address. Bruce had deleted any traces of the message and had hurried to the plane. Bruce was glad that Nightwing was making occasional contact now. After running away, Nightwing had been silent for weeks and Bruce had worried if Nightwing was even still alive or if he had been captured.

He had combed through the Darkweb for any Talons that might fit Nightwing's description. None of them had. But Batman had still pretended to be a buyer and managed to free a handful of Talons this way. They were in Barbara Gordon's centre now. He had also broken up some trafficking operations, but Batman knew that they were low in priority. Not even close to the main hub in Qurac that all captured Talons seemed to be moved through.

He knew that Nightwing was at least alive now. But Bruce still couldn't sleep. Not when he hadn't heard anything from Jason. Needless to say, Bruce's grey hairs had grown significantly in the last weeks.

Batman approached the lone house stepping onto the wooden porch. The door opened before Bruce could ring the bell. Deathstroke stood in front of him. No sign of Nightwing.

Batman tensed, building himself up to his full height. He glowered at Deathstroke. Their eye levels were on the same height. Worry rose in the back of Bruce's mind. Had Nightwing even been the one to sent the message? What if Deathstroke was manipulating him? Maybe even brainwashing him? Bruce knew that the mercenary was obsessed when it came to Nightwing. The reason still to be determined.

"Where is he?", Batman growled.

Deathstroke smirked: "Worried, Daddy-Bats?"

"Where is Nightwing?"

"Calm down, Bats. He's in the living room - brooding. He's upset. Hasn't told me yet why. He wanted to wait for you."

Deathstroke sounded annoyed at being left out of the loop for so long.

Batman lunged forward, shoving Deathstroke against the wall. He pressed his forearm against Deathstroke's throat pinning him down.

"If you touched my son. If you manipulated him-"

"-you'll throw me into prison?", Deathstroke sounded smug, "Oh no. The horrors of stale prison food."

Batman pulled out a Batarang.

Deathstroke shoved him back. His voice took on a dangerous edge.

"I didn't touch him. I did manipulate him though. He's in good company with your precious League. I dug up the intel for the leak, just so you know."

Batman growled. Fury rose in him. It wasn't unexpected that Deathstroke had been involved in the leak. It had alienated Nightwing from the heroes and Deathstroke had conveniently made him an offer.

"How nicely this worked out for you", Batman said.

"It did", Deathstroke's voice dripped with smugness, "Nightwing knows about it though. The kid and I talked it out. I presented him his options and he made the rational decision to continue with the mission. It's water under the bridge now."

"I'll decide that for myself", Batman turned towards the hallway.

He assumed that the door at the end would lead to the living room.

Deathstroke gripped Batman's cape, pulling him back. Batman growled. He could count the people who dared to touch his cape on one hand. The average Gotham-goon had quickly learned that it was a terrible idea.

The mercenary's voice was low: "You know Nightwing came up with the plan to fake-kill his speedster-boyfriend all by himself. As much as I would like to take credit, it wasn't my idea. The speedster would be dead for real now if it had been mine. Nightwing also made Luthor believe that he is more loyal to Luthor and the Light than me. Your boy is doing well. You should trust him more."

Batman frowned. Confused by what Deathstroke was implying but keeping his face blank not to show it.

"You of all people shouldn't give parenting advice, Wilson", Batman ripped his cape out of Deathstroke's grip and strode along the hallway.

He opened the door at the end. Nightwing was sitting on the couch bend over a stack of papers. He looked up when Bruce entered.

"Nightwing", Batman had to keep the sentimentality out of his voice.

Nightwing was alive for now. He looked unharmed. His mental state was still to be determined but this was more than Bruce had hoped for than after Nightwing had run away.

"Batman", Nightwing bit his lip.

He looked tense.

"You talk to Slade? I expect you want talk things out", Nightwing said.

"I did", Batman said, "I made clear that Wilson understands the consequences if he hurts you."

Nightwing chuckled and signed: 'Not worry. I fine. Slade not hurt me – except for leak my past. He just a drama queen.'

Batman signed back. His signing was a bit stiff after not having used it for weeks.

'You forgave him?'

'Not forgive. Just put aside for mission. Talons and D-o-n-n-a more important.'

Bruce hated the way Nightwing glossed over this. Deathstroke had violated Nightwing's trust already. If Batman had the choice, he would pull Nightwing out of here and bring him back home. They would clear things up with the League and return to their arrangement after the leak. But Nightwing was too stubborn.

Bruce wondered if he had made a mistake in these weeks after the leak. Maybe he should have been more honest with Nightwing instead of trying to shield him from everything.

Deathstroke joined them in the living room. He sat down on the armchair.

"You ready to talk now, kid?", Deathstroke said.

Batman watched them closely. Looking for any sign of manipulation. He couldn't find any - yet. Batman wouldn't stop looking.

"Luthor give me new mission in facility", Nightwing told them about the events of the day.

Even Deathstroke lost his nonchalant attitude and settled on a thoughtful frown while Nightwing explained.

Batman's thoughts raced. Nightwing's intel was uncovering something the League hadn't even caught signs of. Batman scolded them internally. They should have uncovered this earlier. Luthor would have blindsided them if Nightwing hadn't gone undercover.

"This is a game changer", Batman frowned, "We don't know what Luthor could do with the Electrum."

"He say it maybe useful for medicine, energy, much things."

It wasn't a stretch that the Electrum could be used for medicine. The Talons' healing abilities were extraordinary. Even Deathstroke's couldn't hold a candle to it.

Batman frowned: "I wonder how much Electrum Luthor can harvest from one Talon. The supply of Talons is limited."

Deathstroke scoffed from the side: "You are thinking like a hero."

Batman glared at the mercenary.

"Maybe Luthor make more Talons", Nightwing muttered, "Slade find Court instructions for him on how Court make Talons."

Nightwing couldn't contain a shudder.

Deathstroke said: "Luthor is going to need some subjects for large-scale harvesting. People no one will miss or are desperate enough to sign up for something like this."

Batman frowned: "How does Project Titan fit into this?"

Deathstroke said: "I assume that Luthor is planning to branches: One branch for harvesting where some poor schmucks sign up to become guinea pigs and the more secret branch where the Light makes its own army that can go up against the Justice League."

"The Titans", Nightwing said.

"Titans?", Batman asked.

"Subject from Project Titan", Nightwing said, "Luthor say he want take their free will away. Maybe he use Intergang-machine for do."

"Mindcontrol-devices", Deathstroke said, "It makes sense. Luthor isn't one to condition his Talons for years. He'll do it more efficiently."

Batman hummed in acknowledgement: "Talons with superpowers."

The perfect army for the Light and the perfect opponents to the League. Talons were already hard enemies to fight because of their near indestructability. But at least, they were only moderately enhanced humans. Weaker than Amazons, Atlanteans or even a supersoldier like Deathstroke.

Cobb had been an exception – far stronger than most Talons because of his age. The fewest Talons got as old as Cobb though.

The possibility of a Kryptonian being turned into a Talon and controlled with mind-control tech? Or an Amazon? An Atlantean? This was potentially catastrophic if they didn't cut the problem by the root now.

"You uncovered valuable intel, Nightwing. This is a global crisis now", Batman said, "Luthor will need large amounts of Electrum for all his projects. We don't know how much he can harvest out of one Talon, but he is greedy. Many people will suffer from this."

It would be similar to the illegal organ trade. There were enough desperate people in the world to sign up as guinea pigs for the chance of survival. People no one would miss, as Deathstroke had said.

"I'll bring it up at the next League-meeting, keep my source quiet", Batman said, "This is top priority now. We need to cut off Luthor's Talon-supply."

Batman looked at Nightwing. He expected Nightwing to be pleased at the praise, but Nightwing's expression had darkened. Nightwing's fingers dug into his palms. Batman was glad that he wasn't wearing his clawed gloves.

"Anything wrong, Nightwing?", Batman asked.

Nightwing glared at Bruce: "So, it top priority now?"

Batman frowned, dumbstruck by Nightwing's reaction. Nightwing had never lashed out at him like this.

Nightwing jumped up: "Talons vanish for more than year now. They get traff- traffi-"

Nightwing stumbled over his words in anger. He switched to signing, almost too quick for Bruce to understand.

'They get traffick for more than year now. They get treat like property. Like they nothing. I not can be on my own because hunters out there – they lookfor me. They want break me and sell me off', Nightwing made a small pause, to regain his composure, 'And now? Now, when I find out that it dangerous for humans and League, too? Now you care? Now it top priority? It not just become global crisis. It always be global crisis. The League just not see it. The League tell us leave Q-u-r-a-c for avoid politic problem. We only stumble about Talons. We only there for find D-o-n-n-a. League not send us for save Talons.'

Bruce was frozen. He didn't know how to respond because Nightwing was right. The League should have done more to protect the Talons. Bruce had saved a handful of Talons in the last weeks but it wasn't enough. They should have used all of their resources to go after the Talon-trade. But they hadn't because there was always another threat to protect the world from and the Talons had- what? Slipped their minds?

'The Light use C-o-n-d-u-c-t-o-r for control Talon trade', Nightwing had mentioned the weak psychic briefly in his explanations, 'He get into my mind. I not can resist him. I have hook in my mind. All Talons have. He make us do anything. He make us adore him. And we not can do anything. And no one do anything against him.'

Batman stood up. He didn't know what to do. He had failed as a father. He should have kept Nightwing close. Made sure that he stayed safe from the likes of The Conductor. But his son had been so stubborn about striking out on his own.

Bruce just stood there, unsure what to do. Nightwing visibly deflated. He shook his head, hastily wiping away some stray tears. This mission was eating away at Nightwing. It was destroying him from the inside. Bruce couldn't watch this.

So, he pulled Nightwing into a hug. Nightwing leaned into it, hiding his face in Batman's armour.

Nightwing looked up at Bruce, signing: 'I just want them treat me like human being. I so tired, B.'

It broke Bruce's heart. This was his son breaking down in front of him. Stuck in a situation that Bruce couldn't punch or investigate away. This was about changing minds.

Bruce thought about the Talons he had killed. All in the belief that they weren't human anymore. That they were the usual mindless monsters the League fought every week. But he had been so dead wrong. He had killed people without even knowing. Batman would never make this mistake again and he would regret it for the rest of his life. It had taken Nightwing breaking into tears in front of him to make Bruce realize that Talons were very human.

Bruce tried his best to atone for his mistake. He kept combing the Darkweb for offers. He had set up the Gotham Talon-centre. He had worked on identifying the Talons and informing their families. He had watched some of these reunions himself from the shadows. He had seen the blank façade of the Talons crack at the realization that they were people with loved ones who had missed them.

How could Bruce blame the general public though for assuming that Talons were mindless husks when Bruce had made the same mistake himself?

"We'll figure it out", Bruce muttered.

He didn't know how they could solve this, but they would.

"We'll figure it out", Deathstroke mocked, "How reassuring. I expected more from you, Daddy-Bats."

Nightwing swung around. He struck out and slapped Deathstroke in the face. The force threw Deathstroke's head to the side and made him take a step back. Deathstroke's heels hit the armchair behind him. The mercenary looked shocked.

Bruce was surprised as well. Nightwing had always avoided confrontation. He had never lashed out. His son was changing in front of him.

Nightwing seemed less inclined to just accept things now. Bruce assumed that it was a good thing. It at least showed him that Deathstroke hadn't brainwashed Nightwing.

'Stop be so arrogant, Slade', Nightwing tilted his head, 'I bet you deliver some of those Talons to Light. And I bet you capture some or all Titans. I not stupid.'

Deathstroke touched the red spot on his cheek. Batman was sure it would bruise.

"No", Deathstroke said, "You aren't stupid, Bird."

He didn't elaborate. The silence hung heavy between them. Deathstroke sat down in his armchair again, watching Nightwing closely.

"You want to hit me again, kid?", Deathstroke looked up at Nightwing who still glowered at him, "Go ahead. Enjoy it."

'You not care about anything, right?'

"I care about a limited number of things and your Talons aren't one of them."

Nightwing did look like he wanted to lay into Deathstroke again, but he kept himself together and signed: 'What limited number?'

Deathstroke changed the topic back to the mission: "We know where the facility is. The tracker I implanted in you."

"Tracker?", Batman growled.

He didn't like the idea of Deathstroke knowing where Nightwing was.

"We're working together now", Deathstroke said, "It only stands to reason that I should know where my partner is. At least, I'll be able to find his corpse if Luthor kills and discards him."

Batman's stomach turned at just the possibility. A tracker could conceivably end up as the only way to find his son's corpse. No. It wouldn't come to that. Nightwing wouldn't fail.

Nightwing narrowed his eyes, but he sat back down. He tilted his head in interest.

"League hit facility?", Nightwing asked.

"Your cover would be blown if the League hit the facility now – directly after he showed it to you", Batman bit his lip, "Luthor would know."

His heroic instinct told him to rush in with the League, get all the people out but his brain suggested that it might not be the most strategically sound move. They couldn't risk a valuable undercover position for a mission with such a low success rate. The fact that said valuable undercover position was held by his own son was in the back of Bruce's mind. He couldn't be a Dad right now. Strategy didn't care who the undercover operative was to Bruce.

"Bad idea", Deathstroke spoke up while Bruce was still waging his internal war, "It would be nothing but a band aid."

Nightwing spoke verbally again now that his anger had ebbed off and they were onto planning again: "Facility evidence for what Luthor do. If we free people he capture-"

"You mean the Talons?", Deathstroke said, "It would be easy for Luthor's lawyers to argue that they aren't people."

Nightwing crossed his arm: "Batman give Talons in Talon centre identity back. It… precedent. Talons count as people."

Nightwing looked at Batman. Hopeful. Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose. Nightwing's argument wasn't bad. It was just based on a fallacy.

"You are right", Batman said, "I worked with the police to give the Talons their identities back but… we might not have done it completely officially. We wanted to get it done as quickly as possible."

Deathstroke laughed: "The Bat resorting to corruption? That's rich. Why am I a villain when I do it?"

Nightwing scowled: "Fine. If Talons not count, then Titans count. Donna Troy is Amazon. Victor Stone and Garfield Logan human. Can nail Luthor for abduct three people."

"Three people?", Deathstroke scoffed, "Think about it: The League storms the building. All those guards have blue guns. You'd risk your precious Talons – who make nice hostages by the way. And three people are easy to make vanish in the commotion. If we go after Luthor, we need hard evidence. We need data. We need witnesses. We need to make the most waterproof case we can possibly make. And if we blow your cover, we better do it in a way that guarantees success."

Nightwing looked like he wanted to punch Deathstroke again. Batman's thoughts were racing. He hated how much sense Deathstroke's arguments made. It was like Batman would have argued.

Storming the building would be too dangerous. Too many unknown variables.

"We need more time to plan this operation", Batman said.

"So, Luthor just get away with it?", Nightwing said.

"No", Batman reassured him, "Nailing Luthor is not easy. We tried to gain evidence on him before, but Luthor knows how to hide his trail and how to wash his hands off any guilt. Every time we've uncovered something within Lexcorp, Luthor argued that he didn't know about it and had other people take the fall for him."

Nightwing turned to Deathstroke: "Not you have dirt on Luthor?"

Deathstroke said: "Luthor doesn't trust me. Not after Cobb."

"And if you be witness for all the assassinations Luthor make you do?"

Deathstroke snickered: "Nice try, kid, but I'm not hanging with Luthor. Forget it."

Bruce tried to give him some reassurance: "I'll call together a League-meeting. I'll tell them what Luthor is planning, and I'll convince them to launch a mission against the hub in Qurac. We'll cut off Luthor's supply at least from there before he can move all the Talons into the facility."

"What about international in-ci-dent?", Nightwing tilted his head.

"It's preferable to the alternative", Bruce said.

The alternative being that Luthor moved hundreds of Talons into his facility and started to harvest Electrum on a large scale.

"And Nightwing's cover?", Deathstroke said.

"We knew about the hub in Qurac before Nightwing went undercover", Bruce said with guilt, "We just didn't act until now because of the possible international ramifications. We'll frame it as Themyscira becoming impatient and looking for Donna Troy on their own terms."

Nightwing nodded. He looked placated – at least for now. Freeing the Talons captured in Qurac would at least be a compromise.

Deathstroke said: "This will significantly worsen relations between Themyscira and Greater Bialya. At worst, you'll have a war on your hands."

Batman's voice darkened: "Better than the alternative of the Light building itself an army and harvesting Electrum on a global scale."

Deathstroke stayed quiet. Apparently, he didn't have a better answer either. They were caught between a rock and a hard place. Doing nothing and letting the Light's Talon-trade continue would have incalculable dangers. Batman had to trust in Wonder Woman and the capabilities of the Amazons. They would do their best to handle this situation delicately.

"And I keep look in facility", Nightwing said, "Try find things."

Bruce hated the idea of Nightwing continuing with this undercover mission. It was a miracle that everything had gone as well as it had until now. Still, Bruce could see the toll that it was taking on Nightwing. He was biting his lip bloody again.

Batman knew though that they had never had a better chance of pinning Luthor down. The undercover operative being Batman's partner was irrelevant. Batman needed to do what was best for the mission – which was allowing his partner to stay in the lion's den.

Nightwing had given them an entry point to this world of villains. And he had proven to be the perfect operative because Luthor saw him as a complete non-threat. After all, a Talon wouldn't dare to deceive the great Lex Luthor, right? Batman understood. Bruce hated it.

"Be careful", Bruce softened his voice, dropping Batman for a moment.

"I be", Nightwing said.

Bruce didn't comment on the black blood that clung to his bottom lip as it mended itself.

"You hear from Jason?", Nightwing asked.

Bruce's throat was tight: "No."

Nightwing lowered his head: "He alive. He have be. He not leave me."

Bruce hoped that Nightwing was right. He had tried to contact Talia, but Nanda Parbat was so isolated from the rest of the world. Bruce and Talia had set up an intricate net of informants to communicate through after their break-up and Bruce's return to Gotham.

But Talia had proven elusive in the last few years and Bruce's contacts hadn't been able to find hers. Bruce wondered if Talia was hiding something from him. He had no way to know though unless he went to Nanda Parbat himself – which would mean war with Ra's al Ghul and his Shadows.

"I'm sure he is", Bruce said.

He wasn't but without information, Bruce would rather assume that Jason was fine instead of… No. Bruce wouldn't entertain this possibility. Both his sons were alive. They could take care of themselves – despite of Bruce's obsessive need to protect them.

Bruce went to the exit. Nightwing hugged Bruce again on the front porch.

He said: "I be fine. Not worry."

Bruce savoured this moment. He wanted to take Nightwing with him, but Nightwing would never allow that. Bruce needed to trust him. It was so hard though. The possibility of losing someone he loved again was crushing.

"I know what I do", Nightwing said.

He sounded like he wanted to reassure himself and Bruce. There was a defensive edge to his voice. As if he believed that Bruce didn't trust him. Bruce remembered their conversation in the Batmobile before the Joker had made his move and everything had broken apart. It had been Nightwing's first attempt to assert himself against Bruce.

"You love me. You not respect me", Nightwing had told him.

The memory made something uncomfortable stir in Bruce. Of course, he trusted Nightwing. Just because he was worried and wanted to protect his son, didn't mean that he doubted Nightwing's abilities. Deathstroke just implied something similar. Bruce didn't like to ponder on this.

So, he focused on an easier topic. Deathstroke was still inside. He would hear.

Bruce signed: 'Don't trust, Deathstroke.'

'I understand.'

Bruce wasn't sure Nightwing did. It was strange. Nightwing's experiences should have made him deeply mistrustful of people. Instead, he seemed determined to find the good in everyone he came across. It made it possible for him to befriend people such as Croc or Quinn but it also made him vulnerable.

Bruce reiterated: 'Don't trust him. He's not your partner, he's not your mentor and he's not your friend.'

'You funny. Slade tell me something similar. You more similar than you like admit.'

'Nightwing', it was a warning.

'I understand. I know what Slade do and I not forgive for what do to Titans and Talons.'

Nightwing didn't mention what Deathstroke had done to him. His son was unable to hold a grudge against people for hurting him. It was always about others. Bruce wished Nightwing had a stronger self-preservation instinct.

'Don't underestimate Wilson's temper – and his pride. Wilson didn't hesitate when it broke his family apart. He won't hesitate when it comes to you.'

'He not as bad as everyone say.'

'He's manipulating you.'

'I know he stab me in back if get chance. I not forget.'

'I need to be completely certain that you know the dangers of this mission.'

The 'otherwise I can't let you continue doing this' went unsaid.

Nightwing's face darkened: 'I know dangers of this mission. I know more than anyone.'

'Good.'

Bruce hoped Nightwing was right.

Nightwing bit his lip, about to rip it open again. He looked hurt and so painfully young.

Nightwing would continue looking this young for decades. In a way, it reflected that he had never gotten to grow up properly. He had never lived a normal life by himself – had never developed the skills to do it. Nightwing shouldn't be out on his own with only Deathstroke as his backup. It made Bruce want to pull him back home and keep him there until he at least looked like 25 and had healed properly (which would be decades).

'You know - it nice have partner who believe I can do things for change', Nightwing tilted his head.

He signed each word carefully as if he wanted Bruce to listen. And there it was again. Bruce didn't like to think about what Nightwing was implying. (You love me. You not respect me.)

So, he did what he tended to do when he didn't know how to handle an emotional problem. He turned away and decided to confront it later after a whole deal of contemplation - brooding as Alfred called it.

"We'll stay in contact", Bruce said.

"We do."

Batman entered the jet. He felt hollow when he prepared it for flight.

The mission was successful for now. Batman would bring invaluable intel to the next League meeting and they would crack open the hub in Qurac, but he shuddered at the personal cost. It was too damn high.

Nightwing still contemplated Bruce's words when he sat in the car on the way to the facility the next day. The intern who was tasked with driving him threw nervous glances at him.

Nightwing ignored him, keeping his gaze empty.

The guards let them through. Nightwing noted though that they kept their hands on the blue guns. Nightwing didn't have their complete trust yet. He needed to continue coming here. Be the obedient, non-threatening presence they wanted him to be – until they let their guards down around him. Then, Nightwing would strike.

Nightwing reached the section that held the Titans. Hagen – the lead-scientist – barked orders at Nightwing to take care of their guests and turned back to tinkering with one of the Intergang devices. Nightwing wondered if he would be able to nick one at some point. Have Batman examine it. Maybe they could engineer fake ones that Nightwing could smuggle back in.

It was a good idea but they couldn't do it now. Hagen didn't trust Nightwing yet either. He still looked at Nightwing a little bit too closely, distrustful of the Talon among them. Nightwing would be blamed if one of the devices vanished now.

So, he got to work and brought the Titans water again. He noted Donna Troy's eyes on him. The Amazon had plans. Nightwing could see it in her gaze.

He was given a cart with four plates. Chicken soup. Nightwing went to the Titans one after another, feeding them each spoonful. He forced his face to stay blank, his movements methodical.

The alien spit the last batch of soup into Nightwing's face. Nightwing suppressed a sigh as he cleaned his face. He hated this. He hated this so much. Nightwing was complicit in keeping these people captive.

He was used to being the one restrained. The one whose freedom had been taken away. Being on the other side of it was horrifying. Nightwing wondered how the Court scientists had done it. Why hadn't they cared? Was Nightwing not worth caring about?

He refused to believe that. He had people who cared about him now – even if he had deceived a large number of them. Artemis. She must hate him now. Nightwing couldn't blame her.

Nightwing wanted to get the Titans out as quickly as possible. But he didn't know how to free them yet. The facility was a fortress designed to keep the Titans in. And Nightwing was dead if just one of those guns hit him.

He needed time to think. To free the Titans and the Talons in the harvesting section. It was so much pressure and Nightwing probably wasn't the best person to do this. Someone like Kaldur – a real hero and leader – or the rest of the Team would have already come up with a plan. But Nightwing was the best the League had for this mission even if they didn't know he was doing this for them.

Interacting with Donna Troy was the worst part of it all. All the other Titans glared at Nightwing with outright hatred. Nightwing could hear them refer to him as it when they whispered about him to each other.

Not Donna Troy. Never Donna Troy.

She thanked him when Nightwing started feeding her the soup and she attempted to make conversation with him between each mouthful.

"-you know I come from a whole island of Amazons. I don't know if you've heard of Themyscira?"

Nightwing had. It sounded like paradise on had the nickname Paradise Island for a reason.

"I'm not originally from there. I was human once. Wonder Woman saved me from a house fire as a baby and took me in. I had no one else-"

Nightwing held the spoon in front of her mouth. Donna ate another spoonful without complaint.

"The Amazons have this machine: A magical purple ray. It gave me my powers", Donna said.

Nightwing lowered his head, focusing on dipping the spoon into the soup. He liked hearing Donna talk.

"I'm grateful for what the Amazons did for me. I try to give back every day. It's why I did all these diplomatic missions for Themyscira – to spread at least a tiny bit of good in the world. It never felt enough, you know?"

Nightwing did. He knew what it was like to try everything, give up everything of yourself – without ever feeling good enough. This feeling could tear you apart if you allowed it to.

Nightwing took the spoon out of the soup and held it in front of Donna's face again. She swallowed it.

"I wanted to be a hero – Wonder Girl. I made myself a costume and all. I snuck away and did some missions – real baby stuff. The classics like cats in trees and stopping some low-level muggings", Donna chucked, "Diana always told me it was too dangerous. I didn't want to listen and snuck after her when she had one of her fights with Ares. It was a bad idea. Ares almost killed me, and Diana was furious. I never tried that costume on again and settled for staying a diplomat."

Donna shook her head.

"I was an idiot. I'm not cut out to be a hero. I should have remembered that", Donna sounded melancholic, "But now I'm here."

Donna looked at Nightwing while he filled the spoon again. She didn't eat this time when he held the spoon in front of her face.

"What about your parents? Do you remember them? I wish I could remember mine."

Nightwing fought against the urge to shake his head. He wanted to talk to Donna. She seemed like she understood in more ways than one. It ached within him to reach out to her and make a friend. But he couldn't. He had to continue this lone mission.

Nightwing didn't deserve new friends anyway. Not after what he had done to his old ones. He wondered if the Team would ever forgive him.

Donna seemed to interpret his silence anyway, saying: "I'm sorry."

Nightwing fought against the urge to bite his lips bloody. He didn't want to think of Dick Grayson's parents. He felt nothing for them and just the fact that he didn't feel anything for them made him feel guilty. What kind of son forgot his parents?

Nightwing wondered if Donna could see cracks within him. His cover depended on Nightwing being a blank slate, but it also profited from no one paying him too much mind. Donna was the first one to look. She would read all the micro-expressions Nightwing couldn't keep in. All the nervous ticks he had developed with the years.

Nightwing held the spoon closer to her mouth, keeping his voice bland: "Eat."

Donna took another spoonful.

She lowered her voice: "The alien is a Tamaranean. Do you know what that means?"

Nightwing didn't.

"She can soak in language through touch. If you touched her, she could learn English from you."

Nightwing doubted that anyone wanted to learn English from him. His English consisted of hacky sentences, non-existent grammar, and his inability to pronounce difficult words. Still, he filed the information away in the back of his mind. Donna had given him a useful tip.

"The others believe that she can't soak anything in from you. I think she can."

Nightwing held the last spoonful in front of Donna's face. She took it.

He considered Donna's words. The alien understanding them would be a beginning. Maybe a way to hatch a plan.

"Can you help me? Us? Please? They are going to erase our minds. I think you know how painful that is."

Nightwing did. He wanted to reassure Donna that he would get them out before Luthor could do this to them. But he couldn't. He didn't know if he could come up with a plan in time. If he was good enough to do it.

Nightwing put the spoon down in the bowl. There was a desperate edge to Donna's voice. She had put all her hopes on Nightwing helping them and Nightwing tried. But it wasn't enough. He was never enough.

"Bathroom", Nightwing said.

He pushed a button that turned off the magnetism on Donna's cuffs. They loosened from the pod allowing Donna to step out. But the cuffs were still around Donna's wrists and ankles.

Nightwing had a remote. With the press of a button, Donna's cuffs would become magnetized again and connect to each other. Her powers were still turned off through the inhibitor collar.

Nightwing had been restrained like this a few times, most notably by Waller when she had come to get him from his Watchtower cell. It was humiliating. It felt claustrophobic and Nightwing had lost himself in animalistic panic when Waller had restrained him like this and threatened Superman. He had almost cracked the neck of one of Waller's guards with his legs.

No wonder, the scientists wanted Nightwing to take care of the Titans. Letting them out of the pods was always a risk factor. A capable fighter could cause much damage even restrained like this.

Donna stepped out of the pod with shaky legs after staying immobile for so long.

Nightwing held up the remote: "Not make trouble and I not push."

"I get it", Donna said, "I'm not making trouble."

Nightwing hummed in approval and led her towards the bathroom. He waited in front of the stall. The door had to stay open – Hagen's orders. Nightwing averted his eyes to give Donna some privacy.

Donna finished up. She washed her hands while Nightwing stood behind her. He held up the remote as a reminder to stay obedient. Donna looked at him through the bathroom mirror.

Nightwing avoided looking at his reflection. No wonder people were scared of him and didn't believe him to be human. He looked terrifying. His skin was as paper-thin as ever with the black veins flashing through. The orange of his uniform looked aggressive and the goggles Nightwing wore obscured most of his eyes. Nightwing was glad for them now because they allowed him to keep up his blank façade easier.

He wondered how Wally could touch him like this – and even enjoy it. Nightwing was so lucky - it was insane. To have such a beautiful person like Wally, in and out, love him. How did Nightwing repay him? By being the most exhausting boyfriend in existence of course.

Donna ripped Nightwing out of his spiral of self-hate: "I know you understand me. I know you do."

Nightwing wished she didn't. It would make this so much easier if all the Titans hated him. Donna was killing him with kindness.

"I can't imagine the position you must be in", Donna said, "I don't blame you. You are as much of a captive as we are."

Nightwing internally begged Donna to stop talking. The guilt was immensurable. It made Nightwing want to crack and tell Donna that he was on their side. But he couldn't. He needed to stay under the radar, gain trust – at least for now. His conduct had to be impeccable.

Donna turned around. She looked at him, examining him closely. Her frown deepened.

"You have blood on your lip", she said.

Nightwing wiped it away, noting the stinging pain in his lip. He had bitten without realizing it. Seeking release.

Stupid. So stupid. Nightwing's stupid, little issues would blow his cover if he didn't reign them in. No wonder Bruce doubted Nightwing's capabilities.

"You okay?", Donna asked, "You seem stressed."

Nightwing forced himself not to react this time. Why could Donna read him so well? She was looking through his façade despite barely knowing him. Was Nightwing so bad at this? He had everyone fooled except Donna though.

No. Donna was special. She was like Jason. She cared to look.

"I won't tell on you", Donna said, "Your secret is safe with me."

Donna could easily alert Hagen to Nightwing's reactions. It would earn him scrutiny and maybe even punishment. She could use this to blackmail him. Get him to do things for her. Nightwing wouldn't blame her.

Donna was a captive after all and Nightwing was her kind of captor. She didn't owe him anything. But she wouldn't. Nightwing was sure she wouldn't.

"Back to pod", Nightwing said.

Donna nodded and walked towards the bathroom door.

She halted and turned to him: "Please, think about the thing with the Tamaranean. I know it's a risk for you and I don't want you to get hurt, but it would mean a lot."

Nightwing forced himself to not nod. He would allow the Tamaranean to soak in language from him – as soon as things had settled into a comfortable pace. Until then, Nightwing would play the bad guy. Or at least an empty vessel that followed the bad guys' every whim.

Nightwing felt relief when he restrained Donna in the pod again and could turn his attention to the other Titans. Their hatred was nothing new. Donna's kindness was what would cut off his head if he didn't watch out.

For now, he would keep his head down and do his job. Only once the guards stopped reaching for their blue guns when he crossed would he even dare to try anything.

Black Canary sat on her chair in the Watchtower – waiting for the meeting Batman had called in to begin. She felt empty nowadays. Hero-ing had lost its spark after one of her charges had been brutally murdered – by his boyfriend who was also a charge of Dinah's. Maybe the charge Dinah had felt most responsible for.

In the last year, Dinah had talked to Nightwing at least two times a week – sometimes even more when it was a particularly bad week. She had been along for the good and bad days. She had been along for the anxious nightly phone calls and had pulled Nightwing out of the training room far too many times to count for some much-needed socialization.

Somewhere, she had gone wrong. Nightwing had always seemed genuine to her. Frequently, he hadn't known how to articulate his feelings, or he had become frustrated. But he had never lied – at least no lies that Dinah had detected.

Dinah should have noticed the hold Deathstroke had on Nightwing. Many Leaguers painted Nightwing as a psychopath now – an emotionless murder weapon. Dinah refused to believe that. Someone who didn't have emotions couldn't simulate emotions and trauma so perfectly. Not over a year of therapy sessions.

Dinah had visited the Talon-centre. She had spoken to Barbara Gordon. The other Talons showed emotions now that they were safe. They weren't faking it. There was no reason to believe that Nightwing was emotionless.

He had slipped through the cracks of the League somehow. They hadn't been attentive enough and now they had a villain on their hands.

Dinah still had difficulties thinking of the boy she had counselled as a villain. But it was too late. Nightwing had crossed the line when he had killed Wally. Not even Dinah could bring up sympathy for Nightwing's position after that. It was too much.

Wally. Oh God. Dinah couldn't think about it. Wally's loss hung over the League every time they met now. They had failed him. One of their sidekicks was dead. A sidekick should never die before their mentor. It was against the unspoken rules of the hero community.

A mentor was to protect their sidekick with all they had. A mentor with a dead sidekick was a failed mentor, which explained Barry's empty chair. The Flash had taken a leave of absence - length still to be determined.

"Another meeting, Batman?", Ollie's voice was flat.

He voiced the numbness they all still felt. What was the purpose in being a hero if they couldn't protect their own children?

"You found something about your traitor of a sidekick?", Hal asked.

He seemed to be out for a fight. Batman and Hal had never gotten along well and Hal visibly blamed Bruce for the tragedy they had on their hands.

"This is not about Nightwing", Batman's face stayed unmoving, "This is about the Talon-crisis and our need to finally address it. We didn't pursue it hard enough."

"We should have rooted out the Talon in our midst", Hawkwoman muttered.

"What about the Talon-crisis, Batman?", Clark asked, ever the mediator.

"We need to destroy the central trading hub in Qurac and free those Talons", Batman said.

"We cannot do that without creating an international incident", Wonder Woman said, "It could be disastrous."

"I know", Batman said, "But the alternative is even more disastrous. I have new intel."

Batman told them about what Luthor was planning. The Leaguers grew more attentive at his explanations. Dinah's mind raced at all the implications. Batman was right. This would be a catastrophe if left unchecked. A way for the Light to develop a stronghold on the world and create an army that the League couldn't defeat.

"You believe that Luthor would abduct Atlanteans for his purposes?", Kaldur sounded alarmed.

"I am sure of it. Amazons and metahumans as well. He could also clone himself some more Kryptonians. Donna Troy was just the beginning. This starts with the Talons, but it will grow into something that will affect us all."

"We should have done something earlier", Dinah said, "It shouldn't have taken this to go beyond Talons for us to take action."

"I'm not so sure about that, Dinah", Hawkman balled his fists, "If we take the Talon we know as an example, they are potentially all psychopaths."

"I hate Nightwing as much as you do. I was responsible for Wally. I was responsible for all of them. But maybe Nightwing wouldn't have stabbed us in the back if we had acted earlier", Dinah said, "Maybe he wouldn't have run off to Deathstroke. Maybe Wally would still be alive and Artemis-"

Dinah choked up. She couldn't talk about Artemis either. The archer was gone. Off to a dark mission where Dinah couldn't reach her.

"There is no use in blaming each other", Wonder Woman's voice was sharp.

She turned to Batman: "Where did you gain this intel? It sounds top-secret."

"I have an informant in the Light", Batman said.

Hal froze: "And you are only mentioning this now, Spooky?"

"Who is it?", Kaldur asked, "Are they trustworthy?"

"Very trustworthy", Batman said.

"Because your judgement is so great about that, Bats", Hal muttered.

"It's Red Hood, right?", Ollie asked, "He's with Ra's al Ghul. Talia is probably backing him as a favour to Bats."

"I'm neither confirming nor denying", Batman said.

"It's totally Red Hood", Ollie turned to Dinah, whispering into her ear.

Batman turned to Wonder Woman: "I have a request to make, Diana. It isn't an easy one."

"You want Themyscira's backing in the mission", Wonder Woman said, "We will present it as an Amazon mission to retrieve Donna Troy."

"Exactly", Batman said, "The League will enter not with UN support but in the name of Themyscira."

"This takes the heat off the League but onto Themyscira", Diana said.

"I am afraid so", Batman said, "In the worst-case scenario, it will lead to war."

"I doubt that Bee would go to war against Themyscira now. She will wait for her turn and take the opportunity when we are weakened", Wonder Woman said.

"It's a big thing to ask."

"Does Red Hood know where Donna is?", Wonder Woman asked.

"He's working on it. He knows though that she isn't in Qurac anymore. You won't find her there."

Wonder Woman frowned: "We have turned our backs on those Talons too long. They are victims of injustice. Themyscira won't ignore injustice especially if it has the potential to grow and fester. I will need to talk about this matter with my mother and our generals Philippus and Nubia. I may need to inform the other tribes about this as well if the Light seeks to victimize Amazons. I expect my mother to give her agreement. We aren't ones to shy away from confrontation if it is needed to stop injustice."

"Thank you, Wonder Woman."

Wonder Woman looked at the table in front of her, her expression saddened: "Donna would have wanted us to step in. She is a true hero. I should have told her that more often."

Dinah lowered her head towards the table as well. There were so many things she wished she would have told Wally, Artemis – and even Nightwing. Now, it was too late.

AN: So, proud of our boy for calling Deathstroke and the League out. It hurts though that not even Dinah doesn't believe in Nightwing anymore. :,(

I love it though that Bruce is just letting the League come to their own conclusions and letting them believe that Jason is his informant. So Batman of him. :D

Themyscira and the League deciding to free the Talons is *huge*. Nightwing can be proud of himself - even if he doesn't see it. And we got some key Nightwing&Donna-development. She sees through our boy - much to his chagrin.