Ok, so here's chapter two. A few comments before you start reading:
I was really surprised that so many people already are following/favorited this. However, I only got one review, I think. Please review people! I'm always open to tweaking my plot a little to include other ideas, or even if someone wants to say great job or that was horrible or something.
Also, just to clear this up, in case it wasn't clear. If Slade gets NW again, it will be the third time he's forced into an apprenticeship. The second time is not a story, it just kind of happened. You have to piece it together yourselves.
The alarm went off just as Dick- because his mask was off, and he was doing something as effortless as breathing, and he was happy, so he couldn't be Nightwing- was doing a complicated maneuver between the parallel bars. He completed the move flawlessly and then swore.
Whoever had the nerve to interrupt his private time was in for a beating.
These days, working out here, in his private gym, was the only time he could feel normal. Like Dick Grayson, the kid behind the mask. The kid who had lost his parents and life as he knew it when he was nine and then lost himself again 7 years later, when he had once again left all he knew and loved and became Nigthwing.
These days, he didn't even feel like Robin, the Boy Wonder, who laughed and cracked jokes and came up with bad puns, surrounded by family and friends. Now he was Nightwing, grim and bitter, never without a hollow feeling that was the only testimony to how much he missed what he had left behind.
So why didn't he reach out to them? Mend old bonds, finish old arguments *cough Bruce cough cough*, rekindle old friendships?
Suddenly, his thought turned to a certain black hairs magician.
Zatanna.
The reason why he had refrained from becoming too attached to Star. He felt like it would be betraying Zee if he got too close to her. Zatanna had been the only one who knew about his plan to disappear, although she didn't know where he had gone or who he had become. He had done one thing though, one thing to make sure he wouldn't completely lose his old life.
He gave her a communicator, specially made by him. It's twin never left his side. It had a permanent spot in his belt. No one knew about them other than the two lovers who owned one.
They did talk through them, often. About what was happening back home, what he was doing, old issues, reminiscing- everything. She was helping him work through his issues with Bruce, as he had long since told her his ID. He knew she was hoping that if he could get through them, he would return home to her. Sometimes, he hoped so too.
He was shaken out of his reverie when he entered the main room and saw what was going on in the city. He swore again, this time in Romani, as he did when he was particularly upset or annoyed. He quickly shut his mouth, hoping the others hadn't heard. As far as they knew, he only could speak english. Luckily, they hadn't noticed, too absorbed in what was going on.
"Titans, go!" He ordered.
They rushed out of the room to the warehouse that was currently swarming with Sladebots.
Slade was back, but that was no surprise to Nightwing. He had already known that.
He also knew what Slade was after.
Him.
Slade was once more after his perfect apprentice.
And FIN! Yeah, it's kind of short. Oh well.
Look for the next chapter tomorrow!
Review!