*Slinks nervously into room* Um. Hi. Uh. It's been a while. Sorry. My life's been crazy lately, and then I went and watched Endgame and deleted half of what I had written so I could re-write it to include Wally, because I refuse to acknowledge what happened to him and needed him to be in this chapter. So, I sat down and wrote this in like an hour. I was totally not listening to the song Renegade by Daughtry while I was writing. Nope, not at all.
So, yeah. But it's done now!
Yeah... I have nothing else to say. Happy reading!
DISCLAIMER: If you haven't gotten the picture by now, what is wrong with your brain?
Wintergreen was cooking dinner when he heard the boy come in. Slade was sitting at the table near him, papers spread all around. The two men were trying to figure out when and where to have yet another meeting with yet another random villain. Wintergreen knew that Slade really didn't have to g to all these meetings, but he also knew that Slade viewed it as a good way to begin introducing Renegade to the villain world. The conversation stopped, however, when Renegade sat down with them.
"We need to talk." He said quietly. Slade and Wintergreen exchanged looks. "What about?" Wintergreen asked hesitantly. He honestly had no idea what could have brought this on. Nothing really exciting had happened for the past few days, other than Red-X's visit.
Renegade leaned his chair back on two legs and sighed. "I just…. what's going to happen, after this is all done?" He asked vaguely.
"What do you mean?" Slade was beginning to get a little concerned.
Renegade huffed, frustrated. "When this game is done. When you beat the heroes or when the heroes beat you. This isn't going to go on forever, Slade, and I don't know what I want right now."
Slade blinked. "What brought this on?" He was seriously worried now. This was the sort of conversation that could lead to Renegade drifting away from him. Everything had been going so well up to then. This conversation was just one more test, one more way to solidify his position with Renegade- or one more way to mess it all up.
"Answer the question Slade." Renegade said shortly. This was serious, and he didn't want Slade stalling.
Slade sighed. "I'm not sure." He admitted. "Ideally, we become… similar to partners. I know better than to expect you to always work under me, like an apprentice. I was thinking that we would work together most of the time, but I wouldn't stop you if you wanted to go solo a little."
Renegade blinked, looking slightly surprise. "Would you expect me to become an assassin?"
Slade hesitated. "… I would like that, yes." He admitted. "But our deal still stands. I will not force you to use a gun in the field."
Renegade nodded slowly. He stood up. "I need to go think." He said quietly. Slade and Wintergreen watched as he left the room.
Wintergreen took a deep breath. Somehow, he knew that this would all be over soon, and he suspected that Renegade knew that too. Up until then, Renegade had held off from making a real decision about his situation, or even really thinking about it. But now, he was getting ready to make his final decision. No matter what he chose, everyone would be affected. Wintergreen only hoped that he chose well.
Dick had retreated to the acrobatics room after his discussion with Slade. He needed to think, and there was no better place to than in the air. It had been his method for years.
He knew he had to make a decision, but for the life of him he just couldn't figure this out. He loved his hero family, and the last thing that he wanted to do was disappoint or hurt Bruce. But on the other hand, he was genuinely growing to like his life with Slade and Wintergreen.
The heroes were getting close. He needed to make a decision… but he didn't think that he could.
God, he needed a trapeze. It always helped him think.
He steadfastly ignored the little voice in the back of his mind saying that he would have to tell Slade who he was eventually if he was going to work with him, and that if he was going to stay, he would need a trapeze.
He knew that Slade was planning another meeting with another villain. Maybe it would help him make a decision. Hopefully.
Wally West was excited. Finally, finally, they were going to do something to save Dick. They knew that he was in Metropolis, so the League was finally sending in someone to search. Discretely, of course, since they didn't want to tip Slade off that they were getting close. Which meant that they were only going to send in a few people that wouldn't be noticed easily, i.e., not someone like Bruce Wayne or Oliver Queen. Someone like Wally West and Barbara Gordon, two old friends hanging out while their dads were at various meetings and conventions. And man, was he psyched.
Finally, he would really be a part of the search for his bro.
At the moment, he and Barbara were meeting up in the park. They were going to walk around the city, acting like two kids on holiday -which they kinda were- and see if they could try to find any hint of Dick.
Deep down, he knew that no one really expected them to find anything. After all, how stupid would Slade have to be to bring Dick right into the center of a city like Metropolis?
"We're meeting some guy in the middle of Metropolis?" Renegade said incredulously. "The middle. Of Metropolis. When Superman may or may not be there. The two of us. When everyone under the sun is looking for us. Seriously?"
"Yes, Renegade." Slade sighed. "The man I'm meeting refused to meet anywhere else. He doesn't really trust me-"
"Wonder why." Renegade muttered.
"- so he insisted on meeting somewhere public. I've been keeping an eye out, don't worry. Superman hasn't been sighted for ages, and no other heroes have approached Metropolis. We'll be fine."
Renegade shook his head. Just because Superman wasn't in the city didn't mean that Clark Kent or some other hero wasn't. This was risky, incredibly risky.
The little voice in the back of his head spoke up again, saying that wanted criminals had to go through that whenever they went anywhere. This was just practice for the future.
Renegade was getting a bit sick of that voice, especially since it seemed to be getting stronger by the hour.
Wally West and Barbara Gordon walked around the city, looking for their best friend/brother. Unfortunately, they wouldn't have much luck. Finally, after hours, they returned to the park, discouraged and disappointed but not surprised. After all, Slade was smart; he wouldn't be out in the city where anyone could find him. They weren't due to be back for about an hour, but they were done looking.
"Look, why don't we just hang out in the park for a while." Wally suggested. "It's not like we're going to find anything. Plus, we can get a hotdog or something."
"Fine." Barbara sighed. "God forbid we withhold food from you for an hour."
Wally grinned unashamedly. He couldn't help his stomach.
At the same time, Slade and Renegade entered the city proper.
"So, where in the city are we meeting this guy?" Renegade asked.
"The park." Slade replied. "Public, lots of people around, yet there's places private enough that no one will look twice at a group of people having a chat."
Renegade shook his head. "On the other hand, anyone could be there. Someone might recognize you. Or me."
"No one knows me in Metopolis." Slade replied. "And why would anyone recognize you?"
Renegade didn't answer. Inside, he was laughing hysterically. Who wouldn't recognize him? Everyone knew him as Clark Kent's 'nephew'. He was bound to be recognized by someone.
Or, you know, Wally and Barbara, who were at that moment enjoying some hotdogs at a picnic table close to where the meeting was to occur.
Fate's funny like that. As soon as you stop looking, likely as not you find exactly what you're looking for.
Aaaand fin. Short, I know. But I wanted to get something posted for you all. So, I sat down and wrote this in like an hour. I was totally not listening to the song Renegade by Daughtry while I was writing and snickering to myself. Nope, not at all.
I'm going to give a tentative estimate of 2-3 more chapters, with an epilogue or two. IDK. I'm not really sure what's going to happen now, but I'll figure it out.
REVIEW!