Sorry about the longer waits, I've been crazy busy. Not much to say up here today, so enjoy the chapter!

Oh, italics=Romani. Just so you know.

DISCLAIMER: '

Nightwing had brought Jason, with Slade following, to the acrobatics room, which was fast becoming Nightwing's home away from home away from home. Nightwing had then immediately flung himself into the air and perched among the rafters. Jason had rolled his eyes and teleported up, prompting Nightwing to pout at him and berate him for 'cheating'. Jason had just shrugged and said that he wasn't an acrobat. The two young men glanced at each other and the simultaneously turned to stare at Slade, who was standing below them, observing. He stared back, one eyebrow raised.

"Out." Commanded Nightwing, pointing at the door. Slade raised his other eyebrow, as if to say do you really expect me to leave?

The two looked at each other again before Jason shrugged. Nightwing gave him a look. Jason cocked an eyebrow. Nightwing rolled his eyes. Jason then made a gesture with his hands, palms up, like what now? Nightwing seemed to be thinking for a few moments before smirking deviously. He said something in a language that Slade didn't recognize. Jason's eyes widened before he smirked and replied in what Slade assumed to be the same language. Nightwing cackled. They both grinned down at Slade.

"Doesn't matter if you're in here if you can't understand what we're saying." Jason said smugly. Slade narrowed his eye at the two smug men. Then he sighed, recognizing a lost battle when he saw one. "Fine." He muttered. He turned on his heel and left the room. Jason and Nightwing eyed each other before bursting out laughing.

"This is almost as fun as antagonizing Bruce." Jason smirked, still talking in Romani. Neither boy was stupid enough not to realize that Slade had cameras in the room. They would keep to Romani for sensitive information. Nightwing nodded agreement. "What are you doing here Jay?" He said softly. "Really."

Jason shrugged. "I wanted to make sure you were alright." He said, switching back to English. "I mean, I know that you don't really object to being here, but so soon after you made up with Dad…" Switching to Romani halfway through the sentence (AN/ They will be doing this for the whole conversation. Italics is Romani, in case you didn't realize. Or didn't read the note up top.) Nightwing sighed. "Yeah, that sucks." He agreed. "But it's alright. How is everyone, by the way?"

"As well as they could be." Jason rolled his eyes. "Timbo and Gordon have mostly been in Gotham looking on the Batcomputer, but Tim came to Jump with the Team a little before I left. They're pissed, by the way. Bruce has been running himself ragged looking for you. The Titans are worried, of course, and wondering how the hell their Tower was taken over without them noticing." Nightwing rolled his eyes and nodded, a sad little half-smile on his face. "I'm sorry about that. Especially about making Dad so worried. I've been feeling guilty about that." "It wasn't your fault." Jason reminded him. "It was Slade's, really." Nightwing rolled his eyes and shrugged. "Doesn't matter. Dad's worst nightmare is losing us- and with this so soon after the three-year disappearance…" "Serves him right." Jason grumbled. "He's a horrible father."

"He did his best." Nightwing smiled softly. "Bet you a case of Xenothium that Slade's running the tapes from that camera in the corner through every language translation he can try." Jason snorted. "Sucker's bet. Too bad he's not going to find anything." "The advantages of knowing an obscure language." Nightwing smirked. He stood up. "Well, that's enough serious conversation for now." He proclaimed. "Rafters-tag?"

Jason stared at him. "We haven't played that since we were kids." He whispered. "And you want to NOW?!"

"No time like the present. Unless you want to try the rings…"

"No thanks." Jason shuddered. "'M not acrobatic like you. You're a fricking monkey." Nightwing grinned and leaned over to tap him nose. "Tag." He disappeared. Jason growled, standing up and looking around. "Oh, just wait till I find you, Goldie…" A cackle was his only answer.

When Slade came back in, about half an hour later, they were still playing. He watched, astonished, as his apprentice flipped and leaped around the rafters, nimbly evading Red-X's attempts to tag him. "What on earth?" Nightwing stopped and waved down at him. "Hey! How's the translating going?" He said cheerily. Slade blinked at him. "It's not." He grumbled. "What language was that?" Nightwing didn't get the chance to answer, however, as Jason tackled him. Slade started forward as the two fell off the rafters, but stopped as he saw Nightwing twist impossibly in mid-air and land on his feet. Red-X wasn't as lucky. "Damn ninja." He grumbled as he picked himself off the floor. "How the hell do you land on your feet every time?"

"Trade secret." Nightwing smirked victoriously. He walked over towards Slade. "We were playing tag." He explained. "He hasn't managed to tag me once. The rafters are my domain." Jason rolled his eyes and muttered something about caves and birds. Nightwing shot him a warning glance before turning back to Slade, again. "So, did you need something?"

Slade eyed him and his innocent smile for a moment. "Wintergreen wanted me to tell you that lunch was ready." He said. "Red-X, you are welcome to join us if you wish." It looked like it pained him to extend the invitation, but he did.

"Who's Wintergreen?" X asked, looking at Nightwing. Nightwing replied in Romani again. "He's like A. Have you noticed that all powerful, slightly evil-ish people have butlers?"

"B's not really evil, he just acts like it."

The two boys walked out of the room, chatting in Romani. Slade followed with a slightly frustrated look on his face. Obviously, he didn't appreciate being left out.

Dinner went fairly well, with both boys deflecting questions from Slade and joking around with each other. There were several pointed references and comments that Slade and Wintergreen weren't able to understand, but the time wasn't completely wasted. Slade observed and took note of several interesting facts. X was from Gotham, and Nightwing had obviously known him for a very, very long time, so Nightwing used to live in Gotham. He knew this already, but added on the facts that he lived in the better part of Gotham ("Please, if we hadn't rescued you off the streets, you'd be dead by now." "Doubtful. I could fend for myself better on the streets that you would have ever been able to." "I'm sure that if I had to, I would have done fine.") and that he had worked closely with X in the past, before he was Nightwing and X was X. He also realized that X did indeed know Nightwing's ID and history ("Stop calling me Jaybird, Goldie, or I'm going to publish your life story. All of it."). For his part, Nightwing was obviously quite comfortable with Red-X and it didn't seem like he exactly disapproved of his criminal actions, which gave Slade hope that Nightwing really would become his protege.

Finally, it was time for Slade to kick Red-X out with no little pleasure. Before he left, however, X pulled Nightwing aside again and a flurry of hushed whispers in Romani flew back and forth between the two. X had to make sure that Nightwing was truly ok staying with Slade. After he had reassured his brother that he would be fine, really, Nightwing gave him a hug. X grudgingly returned it and then trudged towards the door. He was stopped by Nightwing's call.

"Jay!"

Red-X turned and glared at Nightwing. "Now what?"

Nightwing smiled innocently. "Bring some cookies next time?"

Red-X just stared at him like he was insane. "Sure, Goldie. God forbid we stop fueling your cookie addiction."

That last bit was inspired by a PM conversation I had a while ago. I couldn't resist :)

Next chapter will be about... Nightwing getting his official villain uniform, I think. Might introduce the first of the villains who will be making an appearance. Slade's scheduled a whole bunch of meetings that 'Wing gets to sit in on, which should be fun. I'm thinking the al Ghuls and the Hive Five at the moment, simply for Damien and hacking- anyone else you want to see?

Sorry, no Bats this chapter :( Maybe next time

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