OK, so here's part one of the al Ghul meeting. It was getting pretty long, so I decided to cut it in two and give you guys a new chapter earlier. Hope you enjoy!

Oh, and for this story, Talia and Dick are pretty close. She's not quite Mom level yet, more like Aunt I guess.

DISCLAIMER: Yeah, I don't own anything. Get it?

As soon as the Hive had left, Slade had started his preparations for the next meeting. Apparently, they were going to someone else's base for this one. This led Renegade to come to several conclusions:

1) Slade was sucking up to these people by going to them rather than making them come to him, which meant that

2) They were of a higher rank than him in the villain hierarchy, which meant that

3) These people were powerful and dangerous, which meant that

4) He and/or his father had fought them at some point. Joy. Which meant that

5) He would have to be careful. Very, very careful.

He still didn't know who they were going to meet though. (Unlike all of the readers. Surprise? What surprise?)

So, Slade was running around trying to get everything ready. However, he was hampered by one slightly important detail. He didn't know where they were going. Oh, Slade knew who they were going to meet, of course, but not the actual location of said meeting. Apparently, the people they were meeting would send them the coordinates.

Paranoid much? Renegade thought. Not letting them know where the meeting was decreased the chances of the location being leaked and also had the added bonus of reinforcing Slade's inferiority, which Renegade had to give some brownie points for. Anyone who could antagonize Slade while not really seeming like it was good in his books.

Finally, Slade called him. He had received the coordinates. Renegade took one look at them and groaned.

"No way. We are not going to a meeting with the al Ghuls."

The coordinates were those of one of the al Ghuls' lesser bases. It also happened to be the one that he would most often visit Talia in. Well, at least his fact list had been right. Mentally, he added 'and/or dated one' to number 4.

Slade had looked at him and demanded to know just how you knew who the meeting was with just based on the coordinates. Renegade shrugged and told him it was one of those mysterious past things he was always dangling over Slade's head, and that he would just have to deal with having it forever bother him. Slade had retaliated with a raised eyebrow and pointed out that he would find out about Renegade's past eventually. Renegade had just smirked.

At the same time, he was freaking out. This was pretty much the worst scenario possible. If he made even the tiniest of slip ups, the al Ghuls- or Talia at least- would recognize him instantly. They'd spent too much time together for her not too.

"Are you sure I have to go?" Renegade asked in a last ditch effort to get out of this. Slade sighed. "Yes, Renegade." He said exasperatedly. "I've told you that several times. They've expressed interest in meeting my new apprentice." Which meant bring him or suffer the consequences. Terrific.

And so, not ten minutes later, Renegade was sitting on Slade's private jet (why did everyone have one of those?) on the way to the al Ghuls' base. He tried not to let his agitation show, but inevitably, he started fidgeting. His fidgets tended to start up whenever he was nervous or agitated. Which he was. Slade, of course, noticed. He tried to ignore it, but eventually his apprentice's fidgeting got to him. He put down the files he was reading and glared at him.

"Just what are you so nervous about?" He asked icily. Renegade immediately stopped fidgeting and looked sheepish. "Sorry." He muttered. He didn't answer the question. Instead, he got out of his seat and moved to the opposite side of the jet, away from where Slade was sitting. After a few minutes, Slade glanced back over at him. He dropped the files he was working on.

Renegade was twisted into the weirdest position he had ever seen. It looked like he was a human knot. After a few moments, he somehow disentangled all his limbs and moved to a new position that seemed equally painful. His eyes were closed, but they opened and looked at him when Renegade felt his gaze. He lifted an eyebrow in question. Slade just shook his head. Renegade smirked. "Contortionism." He said lightly. "Yet another of my many talents. It helps calm me down sometimes." Slade didn't even bother commenting. He just added that fact to his mental list and continued with his life.

A few hours later, they reached the al Ghuls' base. They were shown in by some servants. Slade looked around, noting every detail as he walked, including the fact that Renegade was doing nothing of the sort. Something for him to improve on. Of course, Renegade wasn't looking around because he knew every detail of the base.

They were shown into an elaborately decorated room. Two figures stood on the other side of a long, ornate wooden table- a man and a woman. Ra's al Ghul and his daughter, Talia.

"Welcome." Ra's said. He moved forward to shake Slade's hand. "We are glad you could make it. And who is this?" He asked, nodding towards Renegade.

"Renegade, my lord." Slade said silkily. "My apprentice."

"Welcome, Renegade." Talia said softly. "Would you care for any refreshments?" Renegade politely refused, as did Slade.

Once the pleasantries were over, the four took a seat at the table and got down to business. Renegade didn't pay much attention to the beginning; it was standard business, nothing very interesting. However, when the door opened again, he found himself very interested.

A young boy walked into the room. He held himself proudly, but was looking down so Renegade wasn't able to see his face. He walked over next to Talia, who put a hand on his head. "This is my son, Damian."

Renegade chocked. Her son?!

The boy looked up and met Renegade's eyes. He had olive toned skin, lighter then Talia's, and black hair. But his eyes...Renegade gasped. "Holy Bruce's eyes." He whispered, reverting back to Romani in his shock. Talia's head snapped towards him. He cursed quietly- obviously, she had heard. She stood up and walked over to him, eyes narrowed. He held his breath as she looked him over, then sighed as her eyes widened. She recognized him.

"Richard?" She asked, disbelieving. Renegade looked up, flapping his hands at her. "Shh!" He hissed. "He doesn't know!"

Slade was looking at him with a calculating look. "Richard?"

Renegade groaned. "I do have a real name, you know. I wasn't born Nightwing."

"Nor was Nightwing even your second name." Ra's said calmly. "I was under the impression that you were kidnapped."

"I am." Renegade rolled his eyes. "He-" jerking his head towards Slade "-kidnapped me in order to force me into being his apprentice."

"Ah" Ra's nodded. "Well then. How are you, Richard?"

"Fine, thanks. Umm… do me a favor and don't tell Dad about this, please? I mean. he knows I'm kidnapped and everything, but don't tell him I was here, or that I'm Renegade, please."

"Of course." Talia nodded. "Don't worry. Would you do me a favor as well?"

"Sure. What's up?" He grinned at her.

Talia had to hide a smile. Even now, he was still the lovable nine year old with bright blue eyes. And with no concept of how to respect those above him. Judging by Slade's horrified look, he obviously didn't approve of his apprentice's attitude. She understood why. For most people, that kind of behavior would likely end in pain. For Richard, it was different. After all, he was practically her son- and her real son's brother.

"Would you take Damian while we finish the meeting?" She asked. "Show him some of your acrobatics, or tell him about his father." At this, the young boy's gaze snapped to him and his eyes widened. Obviously, he wanted to hear about his father. Renegade grinned at him. "Sure, Talia." He said casually. "We'll be in the acrobatics room if you need us. C'mon, Dami."

The boy blinked at him. "Dami?"

Ra's chuckled. "Richard is in the habit of giving everyone nicknames." He said dryly. "I shudder to think what he might do with your name." Renegade just grinned impishly at him. "I haven't given you a nickname." He pointed out.

"Only because there are none." Talia drawled. "Go on, you two." Renegade shrugged and grabbed the boy by the hand and led him out of the room. Slade just stared after them, completely flabbergasted. "You… you already knew him?" He asked, confused. Talia and Ra's exchanged amused glances.

"Of course." Talia answered. "Being who he is, how could we not?"

This only made Slade more confused. "I… I was not aware that being the leader of the Titans would result in him knowing so many people."

Ra's narrowed his eyes appraisingly. "You don't know, do you? You know him only as Nightwing, and now, Renegade. You do not know who he was before."

"No." He admitted. "There's a lot that I don't know about him." An odd looking smile passed over Ra's' face. "I pity you then." He said quietly, with an undercurrent of amusement. "You don't know what kind of retribution this will earn you."

"Renegade… Richard has mentioned something along those lines, but no, I am not aware of the specifics." Obviosly, he hoped that the al Ghuls would help him with that. Unfortunately, he was disappointed. Ra's changed the subject.

"I commend you on convincing him to join our side." He complimented. "Many people have been trying for many years. Even my daughter and I could not convince him."

Slade was overwhelmed by the influx of information. Renegade was close to the al Ghuls? They knew who he was? They had been trying to convince him to join them for years before he became Nightwing- implying that Nightwing's hero career was much longer than he had supposed? His view of his apprentice was changing. He hadn't realized just how big his influence was on the world, and just how many people he was connected to.

"Well." Ra's said, bringing Slade back to the present. "Perhaps we should return to our business. No doubt your apprentice and our grandson will be occupied for quite some time. Perhaps we could add something about borrowing your apprentice to our negotiations?"

So, obviously, Dick and Dami next time.

There were two ways this chapter could have gone. The first, obviously, is the one all nicely written out and detailed above. The other would have been something like this:

Talia: Welcome, Slade. Welcome, Richard.

Slade: Who?

Ren: How did you-?

Talia: Your brother told me, of course. I like the new costume. Are you eating well? Slade, I hope you realize that if you hurt him you're going to get murdered by a bunch of ninja assassins led by me. Richard, there's some cookies for you in the fridge. By the way, this is my son, Damian. Say hi Damian.

Ren: HOLY BRUCE'S EYES! Oh, and thanks for the cookies.

Yeah, I love that line XD For obvious reasons though I chose the version I wrote up over this one. It's just a tad too unrealistic.

Anyway, hope you liked the chapter!

Review!