Red X never thought he'll be back inside the Titans tower. More like he thought he'll never get invited in. Now here he is, standing in the middle of their main operations room. The five Titans are sitting on the couch waiting for him to start talking.
"You claim to know who Slade really is?" Robin asked. Everyone can hear the doubt in his voice.
"Yes, I do." Red X confirms. "I saw him today. He broke into my 'headquarters' this morning and threatened me to stay away from you guys. I think he's planning on killing you guys and kidnap your leader."
"That's it? That's all you need to tell us? I'm afraid you wasted everyone's time." Beastboy rolls his eyes.
"Man, this isn't something new. Slade's been trying to kill us every other week since we moved here. And all those time we kicked his ass." Cyborg stated.
"But this is different! I think he's planning something big and this time he won't fail!" Red X objective.
"Slade may be a psychopath and a madman, but we have bested him before. We can handle him." Robin spoke.
"That's because you only been fighting him as Slade, not as Deathstroke!" Red X shouted.
Both Robin's and Cyborg's eyes widened. The others look at X confusedly. "Please, what is a Deathstroke?" Starfire asks.
"A dangerous man. If he even is one." Robin answers. Cyborg gets up from the couch and goes to the super computer. He begins to type away. The screen shows a bunch of newspaper of Deathstroke latest kills and a blurry photo of a man running away.
"Deathstroke the Terminator, the dangerous mercenary in the world. He has over 2000 confirm kills world wide. No one knows who he is or how he looks like." Cyborg explains.
"Over 2000? Dude, that's insane. How has this guy never been caught?" Beastboy mutters.
"Even Batman had trouble taking him in. Deathstroke had bested him before and disappeared from Gotham.
"Are you sure Slade is Deathstroke? Maybe you're just confused." Raven reasons.
"I'm 100% sure. Kid, Cyborg, what is rumor that Deathstroke is missing?" Red X test them.
"That he has a missing eye!" They both answer at the same time.
"I don't believe it. All this time we've been fighting one of the most wanted man in the world." Cyborg says.
"I don't understand. If this Deathstroke really dangerous as people says he is and Slade and Deathstroke are one and the same, how is it we come out victorious when we battle with him?" Starfire questioned.
"Like I said before, you only fought him as Slade. If you were to fight Deathstroke, your life will be forfeited." Red X stated.
The five teenagers when dead silent. All they did was look at their feet and most likely thinking how lucky they are to be alive. After the brooding was over, they regain their posture. "So, how is it you know Slade?" Raven asked.
"It's a long story, so please strap in your seatbelts." Red X says. The Titans stood up straight and lean forward. "Let's start with Slade attempted to make Robin his apprentice." He says.
Robin visibly flinched, which Starfire caught on. She squeezes her boyfriend's hand in letting him know that he's safe. "Why must you go there? That memory is highly unpleasant for all of us." Starfire asked.
"Because Robin wasn't his first apprentice... I was."
All five Titans gasp.
"You're the reason why Slade kidnapped me to make me be his apprentice?" Robin accused.
"I'm sorry. I didn't think he'll do that. I just thought he'll move on and leave the city."
"Why would he do that and why aren't you his apprentice now?" Cyborg asks.
"Now you need to hear my origin story. It all started almost two years ago when I left my home with Deathstroke. I knew who he is personal and wanted to be him. I trusted him. So the two of travel to Jump City to begin my training. He taught me different forms of martial arts, battle tactics, wield different types of guns, and just about everything you need to learn about being a successful mercenary."
"I thought you hinted you knew how to be a hero! Now I'm hearing you wanted to be a mercenary! You wanted to take lives to make a profit!" Robin accused.
"In the beginning I did. Of course I was conflicted in taking a life, but Slade assured me that we'll only be taking out bad people. You know, like corrupt government officials, high ranking criminals. He convinced me we were being heroes in our own ways. I was okay with that."
"He's telling the truth." Raven confirms.
"Anyway, on the day I was supposed to help him carry out a contract, Slade gets a call. Judging by his panicked voice, it was an emergency. He quickly left me here and hop on a plane back home. At first I was disappointed that we had to reschedule our first contact together, but then I was relieved. I think on that day, I couldn't take a life, no matter how evil the person is."
"Oh how noble of you! I'm sure that was the day you quit being Slade's apprentice!" Starfire exclaims.
"No it wasn't. It was the day I decided to leave when I got a phone call from my mother."
"Did Slade hurt your family?" Beastboy worriedly asked.
"Yes he did. My mother told me that a group of thugs broke into their homes and held her and my little brother hostage. They held knives against their throats in order for them not to struggle. When Slade got there, they demanded to know a client's information that Slade was protecting. Of course Slade didn't give the information up. Not even when my little brother begged him not to let them kill him and my mother."
"That bastard! How low can get this guy get!?" Cyborg yells.
"Very low. Slade got cocky. He honestly thought he could kill those thugs before they could get to my family. Unfortunately, he didn't. Slade only managed to save my mother. When he went to save my brother, the thug slit his throat before Slade killed him."
"How horrible! Oh your poor brother." Starfire sniffs.
"That's why my mother called me. To tell me what Slade had just done. Luckily for my brother, my mother got him to a hospital in time. However, his vocal cords got severed and will never speak again. My mother in her grief and anger tried to kill Slade. She shot him in the back of his skull. She only managed to take out his right eye."
"You got one tough Mama!" Beastboy praised.
"I do, don't I? Anyway, after hearing what Slade has done to my little brother, I decided Slade to be too dangerous to hang out with. There's no telling what would happen if I stay there longer. I had to get out there. So I thought of an only solution... I faked my death."
"You faked your death!?" The Titans exclaimed in shock.
"It was the only way. Slade was never gonna let me go. He felt that he failed my mother and brother. In his mind, he is the only one that can protect me from impending danger. He was not gonna lose me. If I just ran away, he'll spend all his resources to track me down and hid me forever. Worst case scenario, he'll go after my brother. Faking my death is the only way to escape from him.
"How did you manage to fool Slade into thinking you were dead?" Starfire asked.
"It wasn't that hard. I broke into a med school and stole a cadaver that resemble me. I then made sure to add my blood, skin, and hair so that the DNA comes back to me. Then I waited for the perfect time to blow up a building with Slade thinking I was in it. Then after the ambulance retrieved 'my' body I hack into their database and made sure the dental records matched mine. It really wasn't that hard."
"That's kinda disturbing that you find this all like a walk in the park." Raven stated. Red X shrugged at her.
"But what about your family? They probably don't know you're alive in fear of Slade spying on them." Cyborg wonders.
"That's the one thing I regret most. But like you said, Slade occasionally keeps tabs on them, so it's too risky. I really hurt Mom and Joey. I'll do anything to see them again. But as long as Slade's out there, I can't go back."
"That still doesn't explain why you're a thief and why you stole my Red X suit." Robin reminded.
"I'm getting there, but… Oh boy, you guys are so gonna hate me for this."
"Whatever you tell us, we won't hate you." Starfire promised.
"Unless you killed someone, then we'll hate you." Beastboy admits. This makes Raven elbows at him. "Ow! I was just joking." Beastboy glares at her.
"By the way, how is Slade involved with you and your family? And why was your mother okay with you taking an apprenticeship with a mercenary?" Robin questions.
"My mother didn't know that Slade was a contracted killer. She thought Slade was taking me to California to have a college tour that will take all summer. And as for how Slade's involved with my family…" Red X is rubbing his arms and his whole body is shaking. "Slade's my father."
"..."
"YOU'RE FATHER!?"
"Now it makes sense! Your father's a criminal and so are you! Like father, like son!" Robin shouted. He was about to throw his birdarang, when the Titans held their leader down.
"Robin, please hear him out." Raven said. Robin struggle to break free, but soon gave up. Red X took this as a sign to continue. He reaches for his mask and slowly begins to pull it out. The five Titans watch in eager anticipation to finally see how Red X looks like.
The mask comes out to reveal blonde locks that are spiked down, thick blonde eyebrows, and familiar grey eyes. Overall, this teen is very handsome. Raven and Starfire tried very hard to fight back a blush on seeing a good looking boy.
"My name is Grant Wilson. It's nice to meet you, Titans." Red X smirks.