OK, once more before I let you go on to the chapter, I have things to say!
1) This is the first time the Titans are facing Slade since the second apprenticeship thing, so
2) The Titans haven't seen Slade and NW interact based on whatever happened during it
I think that's about all you need to know.
Oh, and just and FYI for those of you who read my other stories, the sequel to Circus Again should be going up later today.
Enjoy the chapter!
After almost 3 years, Nightwing's past came crashing down on him.
Literally.
A robot threw Kid Flash their way and the speedster landed on him. Just like old times. NIghtwing smirked to himself. Of course, KF didn't know that…
He quickly pushed the unconscious speedster off of him and looked around. What he saw chilled him to the core.
Most of YJ was unconscious, with Artemis being the only one fighting. She was standing on a pile of crate raining arrows down on the robots surrounding her. Her quiver was almost empty, and the robots just kept coming. It was painfully obvious that she wouldn't last long.
She spotted the Titans and sagged with relief. "Thank god." She muttered. "Help me!"
Nightwing nodded. The Titans tensed, ready to fight, but stopped when they noticed what Nightwing was doing.
He turned and walked towards the middle of the warehouse. He crossed his arms across his chest. "We all know you don't care about them Slade." He called, seemingly to no one. "Call off the robots and come out here yourself. No doubt you want to talk or gloat or whatever."
The Titans exchanged glances; this wasn't how Nightwing normally acted around Slade. For one thing, there was no angry destruction of everything around him. Nightwing seemed almost…calm.
To everyone's shock (except Nightwing), the robots froze almost as soon as Nightwing stopped talking. All except one that is. That one walked towards Nightwing and removed it's mask. A computer screen flickered to life.
"As much as I would like to do that, I'm afraid I'm not actually at the warehouse." Slade smirked down at him from the screen. "And you're quite correct, I don't care about them. This is about you." Nightwig stood silent, obviously waiting for Slade to continue. His team gathered around him, completely confused. No angry exclamation, no snarky comeback? What was going on?
"I've been thinking." Slade continued. "You've obviously been a part of the so-called superhero community for a long time, longer than any of the others on your team." "Why do you think that?" Nightwing challenged. To the Titan's surprise, Slade gave a legitimate answer. "You're skilled, very skilled. You've had a lot of training. The last time you were my…guest… I noticed that you had an almost encyclopedic knowledge of almost every hero, villain, and everything in between. So I thought that you might know some of the younger superheros not associated with the Titans."
"So you went for the biggest gathering of younger heroes." Nightwing inferred. "They had gathered for a reunion or something so you lured them here. Then, you made sure our cameras saw the Sladebots so we would come, so you could measure my reaction and work from there." "Exactly." Slade sounded mildly impressed that Nightwing figured it out so quickly.
Nightwing raised an eyebrow. "And?" Slade's eye narrowed. "I think I'll keep my observations to myself." He said evenly. They both knew that meant he had nothing. Nightwing was glad he hid his shock. "Another time then." Slade's face disappeared from the screen and the remaining robots lined up and marched out of the warehouse. NIghtwing fiddled with something in his belt before sighing and turning towards Artemis. "Security cameras are off, we can talk freely. Are you alright?" She eyed him suspiciously. "Fine. Can you go away and let me take care of my team now?"
"We can help."
"No thanks. For all I know you're working with one eyed halloween pirate dude."
"Love that description. And I would never willingly work with him. Plus, we just saved your butt."
"How am I supposed to know that for sure?"
Nightwing looked at her for a long moment, then sighed. "Get traught or get dead Artemis. You trusted me in the ventilation that day, why stop now?"
The Titans looked at him like he was insane- what the heck did 'traught' mean?- but Artemis' eyes widened. "R-" He darted forward and pressed a hand over her mouth, silencing her. "Yes. And it's Nightwing now. Please call me that, no one else knows about the other name." She nodded, and when he released her, she threatened, "we're talking later." Then she punched him.
"Ow!"
"That was for disappearing like that. Do you know how worried we've all been?" She demanded. NIghtwing smiled sheepishly. "I have an idea." Artemis glared at him before looking around.
"Lets take care of the team."
Told you they would get longer.
Review! Or else you don't get to see Wally spazzing later! :D I love when Dick trolls Wally.