I'm so, so sorry for the wait, but I lost my notebook-of-writing, so I couldn't type up the next chapter. I have a set plot already, I didn't want to improvise, and this is an important-ish chapter. Enjoy!

Oh, as to the poll, the gala is currently winning. It's still open though. I probably won't be typing up that chapter until after the next one, so you've got some time.

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. Then again, this is so far from cannon...

Bruce- well, Batman- was in the Batcave doing- what else?- research. He stared at the screen in front of him and the blinking message it showed.

No Information Found

Which was impossible. He was the goddamn Batman working on the Batcomputer, with access to pretty much anything, and the ability to hack through whatever he didn't have access to. Virtually every source of data in existence, and there was no information about this villain. Although, it did make some degree of sense. He had kept his distance from anything related to the Titans before this, and so did not have anything available about their villains. But still, just because he didn't have anything on his normal databases didn't mean that there wasn't anything for the computer to pick up on.

Since this type of search hadn't yielded any results, he would have to resort to more old-fashioned means. Combing through newspapers, asking around, researching unusual activity in Jump- the works. It would have to wait, however, as he heard Dick's footsteps approaching. Batman turned to look at his son as he came down the steps.

They looked at each other in silence for a few moments.

"Sorry about earlier." Dick said finally. "Slade's a sensitive subject, and I'm currently under a lot of Slade-related stress. I just… don't want to discuss it at the moment, alright?"

Batman looked at him steadily for a moment. "Alright." He turned back to the computer. "I was about to go on patrol."

Dick nodded. "I think I might just go through some old files, do some organizing. You never were very good at keeping everything organized." Batman smirked and reached out to ruffle his hair. "Don't get into any trouble." Dick rolled his eyes. "I'm not nine, Bruce. Don't worry."

Batman nodded and soon the Batmobile was screeching out of the cave.

Once he was gone, Dick sat down at the computer. He hadn't exactly lied to Bruce- he was going to look through some old files. He just hadn't mentioned that he was looking for some files in particular. Ones on Deathstroke the Terminator. Late in the second apprenticeship, Dick had mentioned something about Gotham, and Slade had told him that he had operated out of Gotham for a while, under the name of Deathstroke. This had led to swapping stories about Gotham, but Dick had carefully avoided mention of Batman; Slade didn't know about his past as Robin, and Dick wasn't planning on letting him know.

Later, Dick had done some research, but hadn't found much in the ordinary databanks. Now, he decided to take advantage of the resources at his disposal- aka the Batcomputer. After all, if Deathstroke was a Gotham villain, he'd find something in the computer. A description at the very least. He wasn't expecting much when he typed the name in. A profile, a list of crimes, a single file.

Instead, he hit the mother load.

Pages upon pages of info, a detailed history, lists of crimes, haunts, notes- and a small paragraph explaining how, after the fiasco that had led to Grant's death and Joey's becoming mute, Deathstroke had vanished- dropped off the face of the earth, never to be heard of again.

Dick cocked an eyebrow at all of it; he hadn't expected Deathstroke to be a major villain.

He returned to the file with Deathie's history, and read through it slowly. Much of it he had already known- Slade had told him about his past as a gesture of… well, trust, although Dick hadn't returned the favor.

What really caught his attention was the description of Grant. He was very, very similar to Dick. In fact, if his eyes were covered, they would be nearly identical. Dick sat back, thinking. He had asked, once during that second time, why Slade had chosen him- the real reason. Slade had responded in the usual way (talent, determination, drive, etc.) but Dick had sensed that there was something more.

Was this it?

His musings were interrupted by Alfred. "Hey, Alfie." He said absentmindedly, still looking at the information on the screen. Alfred looked at what was up and raised an eyebrow. Dick shrugged. "I was looking through old files, and the sheer volume of this file caught my eye. I didn't recognize the name at first."

Alfred nodded slowly. "Yes, you were just starting out when he was active. If I recall correctly, you only met once, and very briefly, but he took and immediate interest in you. Because of that, Master Bruce kept you out of the way for the rest of the investigation. I believe he intrigued you as well- he was unlike the other villains you had met until that point."

Dick stared at him in shock. Slade had seen the potential in him even then, before Dick had started to question the black-and-white views he had been exposed to, before he started to have looser ideals and a wider mindset. What did that say about the future? About the inevitability of him giving in?

Once again, Alfred broke him out of his thoughts. "Anything else, Master Dick?" Dick gathered his thoughts and nodded. "When's Timmy getting home?" Tim had been on a class trip for the duration of Dick's stay so far, and he was eager to see his little brother again.

"Tomorrow, at about one o'clock. I was intending to pick him up, but perhaps he would appreciate it if you went instead." Dick nodded enthusiastically. "Consider me there. I can't wait to see his face!" Alfred hid a smile. "Make sure you are near a camera, please. I'm sure Master Bruce would enjoy seeing your reunion."

Dick grinned. "Sure. I'll be sure to show you the video too, since you obviously want to see it." Alfred graced him with a smile. "Indeed, Master Dick." Dick smirked back and returned to his research.

As Alfred walked away, he made a mental note to tell Bruce about the file that Dick was looking at. Bruce had told him about how a man named 'Slade' had been bothering Nightwing, and Deathstroke the Terminator's real name was Slade. In addition, Alfred hadn't liked how Dick had reacted to what he had told the young man. Alfred was too old and wise, had been through too much, to believe in coincidences, and in his expert opinion, this meant trouble.

Alfred's catching on!

Timmy next chapter!