I'm back!

Camp was great, but I'm glad to be back. Anyway, sorry it took so long to get this chapter out, but now it is! So enjoy.

Also- IMPORTANT- this is the last chapter that I was planning on writing. So, I'm gonna give you guys a few days, in case you have a chapter you really want to see. Review or PM me if you have a suggestion. If I don't get any good ones in, lets say, three days, I'm going to declare this story finished and just focus on Dimension Hopping.

Enjoy the chapter!

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing.

Slade broke out.

Everyone tried to keep it from Dick, but he'd suspected that would happen and put out his own feelers and alarms. He set up an alert on the Batcomp that would tell him when- not if, when- the breakout happened without letting Bruce know that he knew. He was skilled enough with computers by now to sneak it past Bruce. So, despite everyone's best efforts, he knew.

He wasn't quite sure why everyone thought it would be a good idea to keep it from him. It's not like they would be able to catch Slade before he made contact with him. In his own humble opinion, it would be better for him to know so he was ready. But whatever, it didn't really matter, because everyone sucked at keeping info from him. He knew about the breakout whether they wanted him to or not. Not that they knew he knew.

Of course, it wasn't like he was going to do anything with the knowledge. He wasn't going to track Slade down, but he wasn't going to hide either. He was going to continue with his life. No, if he had any contact with Slade, it would be because the villain tracked him down and made the effort, not the other way around.

So he went about his business, not telling anyone that he knew, and waited for the inevitable meeting. He and Slade still- still- had some unfinished business to take care of. Honestly, they probably always would. He had no doubt that Slade would find him eventually. Most likely in Jump, since he now spent most of his time there, but that would be very risky. The only other place Slade would know to look would be Gotham, and he wasn't so insane as to simply waltz into Bat territory after everything that had happened.

Or maybe he was.

Dick stared, incredulous. He was in the middle of his monthly visit to Gotham, just strolling along, and there, across the street in a little corner cafe, sipping coffee, was Slade. He was dressed in a black, short-sleeved shirt and dark sweatpants and had a glass eye almost identical to his real one in, but it was definitely Slade.

He really must be insane. Dick thought, shaking his head. Sitting right in plain view of the street without any sort of disguise short of the lack of uniform- insane.

Dick walked up to the table, chuckling a little. He dropped into the chair opposite the villain, settling into a relaxed, loose-limbed sprawl.

"You're nuts, you know that? Sitting right here like this?"

Slade looked up and raised an eyebrow, giving Dick a look-over. "And just who might you be?" He drawled.

Dick had to swallow a snicker. He was in full-out rich boy, son-of-Bruce-Wayne regalia today; slicked back hair in a style reminiscent to his childhood, a ridiculously expensive button-down shirt with dark pants and a jacket that was practically from a suit. Not to mention the fact that his eyes were on full display- no sunglasses or mask obscuring them. He'd been visiting Bruce at work and felt obligated to dress the part, much as he hated it. Slade had only seen him in costume or sweats; no wonder he didn't recognize him like this. Not that this knowledge made it any less amusing.

"Oh, I don't know, who do you think?" Dick drawled back. "Though, I'm hurt you don't recognize me, truly. I might never recover."

Slade's eyes narrowed and Dick could practically see him thinking, taking in his attitude, his clothes, and the way he spoke. He repressed another laugh. That was the final touch. He'd adjusted his voice to sound like a high-class, snotty Gotham elite. Which he kinda was, but that was besides the point. The point was that, since Slade didn't know his ID, he would never associate rich kid snob with Nightwing. Ever. He'd never betrayed even a hint of this persona while he stayed with Slade. He was fairly sure that, as a result, Slade would never recognize him like this. So he decided to give him some help.

Reaching up, he ran his hand through his hair- god, he hated this style- and messed it up a bit, getting rid of the neat, slicked-back look. Then he pulled a pair of shades from nowhere and put them on.

"Ring a bell now?" He asked, smirking. Slade's mouth fell open. "Renegade?" He asked quietly.

Dick's smile faded. "Not anymore." He replied, equally as quiet. "You lost, remember? I'm back to Nightwing."

Slade sighed and sat back. "Yes. I hoped you would change your mind."

Dick just shook his head, albeit a bit sadly. "I'm not going to officially join you Slade. There was a chance, yes, but you lost fair and square. I can't betray my family like that."

Slade nodded, already having accepted the outcome. He knew the young man would respond the way he did, but felt obligated to try nonetheless. He eyed the boy again; it was a good disguise. He never would have recognized him, and he'd been sitting at this dinky little corner cafe for the sole purpose of, maybe, encountering him. If Dick hadn't taken it upon himself to sit down with him, Slade wouldn't have accomplished his goal.

"I'll admit, I wouldn't have recognized you if you just kept walking, what with that disguise."

Dick arched an eyebrow at him. "Who says it's a disguise?" He teased, spreading his arms wide. "Maybe this is the real me."

Slade eyed him skeptically. A spoiled rich boy? "Really." He said flatly. "Forgive me if I don't believe you."

"I don't know why you wouldn't." Dick grinned a bit. He was too good at lying. "Truth is, I was visiting my old man at work- have to dress the part."

"Where does your father work?" No harm fishing for clues, Slade thought. He still didn't know his apprentice's identity, but he was working on it. Dick gave him a look, obviously seeing the motivations behind the question, but answered nonetheless.

"Wayne Towers."

Slade blinked, some pieces falling into place. "Is that how you knew about my attack on Wayne?" He asked, momentarily distracted from the ID thing. Dick shrugged, not really giving an answer. "Who hired you for that, anyway?"

Luckily, whoever it was hadn't tried again, but Dick wanted to know anyway. Better be safe than sorry. If he knew who it was, he could keep a better lookout for threats.

"My contracts are always confidential." Slade said, smiling slightly. Dick rolled his eyes but didn't pry. Slade took the confidentiality thing seriously; he wasn't going to tell him.

The two sat in silence for a few moments, neither knowing where to take the conversation.

"How long will you be in Gotham for?" Dick finally asked, breaking the silence.

"About a week." Slade replied. Well, that had been the plan anyway, but since he already found Dick he might as well shorten it. No reason to stay in this city any longer, especially with Batman still out for him blood. He wasn't scared of the Bat, but he wasn't an idiot either. Surest way to avoid another meeting was to leave Gotham.

Dick nodded. "Then what."

Slade looked at him. "Go back to running operations I suppose. Believe it or not, my entire life does not revolve around you."

Dick cracked a smile. "I know." He hesitated. "I'll put in a good word with Ra's, if you want, and I'll try to keep the League off your tail."

"Thank you."

"No prob." Dick hesitated again, obviously unsure about something. Then he called a waiter over and asked for a pen and paper. He quickly scribbled something down and then pushed the paper across the table to Slade and stood up.

"You know." He said quietly. "Just because I'm not going to officially become Renegade doesn't mean that I don't want to train with you. I… you taught me a lot. I wouldn't mind learning some more, even if I'm not officially your student."

With that, he turned and walked away, jamming his hands in his pocket. Slade looked down at the paper to see what looked like a cell phone number.

Slade smiled slowly. Looks like he hadn't completely lost after all.

Dick walked a few feet away from the restaurant before he stopped.

I trust him. He thought. God knows how that happened, but I do. And I owe him. And I just gave him my cell phone number- my civilian number- so we can arrange more meetings. Even though he lost. What the hell. Might as well go all in.

Resolved, he turned and walked back to the restaurant. He owed Slade this much.

Slade looked up when the shadow fell across the table. He blinked.

"Is something wrong?" He asked the young man before him. "Weren't you leaving?"

Dick fidgeted a little, letting out a short nervous breath. "I probably shouldn't do this." He informed Slade. "But I figure you deserve this much."

Slade remained quiet, curious. Dick hesitated- again- for a few moments before reaching up and yanking the sunglasses off his face. He extended a hand towards Slade.

"Richard Grayson, but everyone calls me Dick, except the al Ghul's. Nice to meet you."

Slade stared for a minute, utterly shocked. It was safe to say that he hadn't been expecting that. He shook himself out of his daze and clasped Dick;s hand.

"Nice to finally meet you Dick."

Dick grinned. "Just don't make me regret telling you, ok?"

Slade inclined his head slightly but didn't promise anything. Dick wasn't worried though; Slade knew how big of a gesture this was and wouldn't do anything to jeopardize it.

"So." He smiled, relieved. "Now you know who I am. Happy?"

"Very." And he was- not only that he knew Nightwing's ID, but that Dick had trusted him enough to tell him himself. Then he blinked, realizing something.

"That's why you were so willing to give yourself up for Wayne. It seemed odd to me." He frowned. "Does that mean Wayne's-"

"Yes." Dick cut him off. "Don't you dare use that against him though."

Slade didn't respond.

Finally, Dick nodded towards the paper on the table. "I'll see you around."

Slade nodded, then watched as his apprentice walked away, without alerting the heroes about his location.

It seemed that he still had a chance after all.

And fin!

Slade hasn't totally lost Renegade. Dick's not just gonna abandon him. He really does enjoy being Renegade, it's just not a realistic possibility for him at this point.

So, again, IF YOU HAVE A SUGGESTION FOR A CHAPTER, PLEASE TELL ME. IF NOT, THIS STORY WILL BE LABELED AS COMPLETED BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY MORE IDEAS. Thanks!

REVIEW! Please.