Firstly, thank you so much for all the feedback! Special thanks to Zoe02, MistborneanMore, Cremetome, and JessM19 for the reviews! Secondly, I can not promise solid updates on this, I only have a bare bones plot to follow and I'll be on vacation for about two weeks, away from Internet. With all of that amount of the way, I hope you enjoy!

Blüdhaven

November 6, 02:42 EST

Attempting to control crime in Blüdhaven had become increasingly more and more ruthless over the passing of months. Of course it wasn't that the city was suddenly producing exponentially more criminals or that they've gotten particularly more advanced or difficult, Nightwing knew. He also knew why.

He wouldn't admit it to himself, or out loud.

That doubles every other day as an officer were taking their toll.

That some of his ever increasing array of injuries needed more than a handful of stitches and a bandage.

That the lack of a decent meal and spotty, nightmare-riddled sleep sapped away strength he desperately needed.

That he was grieving in the worst possible way, isolating himself and pushing away everyone close to him.

That he was grieving just like Batman.

I don't want to be the Batman.

He physically shook away the thought as he approached his apartment, the cut on his arm shouting for attention. It was an awkward position for stitching but he'd have to make do.

Despite the injury he's able to slide in through his window with relative ease.

"Hello Nightwing." The batarang is dodged with ease, biting into the wall just next to the intruders head. Deathstroke looked decidedly unperturbed. "Would you rather I call you Richard?"

Two more projectiles join the first, spaced on the white wall.

"I see the Bat forget to teach you about proper manners for entertaining guests." The villain drew his sword, blade making a shing sound as it's drawn. Nightwing's hands slid to his escrima sticks.

"Said the murderer who broke into my apartment." Deathstroke chuckled.

"It's contract, nothing personal." The assassin was on him in an instant, sword swung up at a diagonal angle at his midsection. He's able to block the strike but it's a feint, and the mercenary's elbow slammed into his nose.

It's an immediate starburst of pain and the advantage is pressed, the vigilante thrown, crashing, through the doorway into his bedroom. He's able to make a sloppy recovery but Deathstroke wasn't interested in letting him take a breather, specialized shurikens thrown in an arc. One bit into his shoulder, others thudding into the wall.

"What do you want Deathstroke?" Nightwing snapped as he pulled the weapon from his arm, hiding it in his gauntlet. His pulse raced, it was clear to see he was outmatched, tired and weak as he was. His best bet would be to call for help but it was unlikely he'd be given a chance.

"There are some people interested in talking to you is all." He replied, conversationally. Nightwing slid his foot back to a more steady stance as the mercenary closed in again, brutal blows exchanged as he's crowded against the wall.

It was a losing fight, the bird themed hero barely able to keep up in just blocking strikes, let alone getting an attack in edgewise. He's winded as a knee strike found his stomach, hands grabbing his shoulders and throwing him against the bed frame.

His head hit the wood of his headboard and he's forced to drop his escrima sticks to catch himself on the mattress. Deathstroke tuts, shaking his head.

"I was expecting more of a challenge, this is almost a waste of my talents." He mocked, watching as Nightwing worked to right himself, carefully sliding the shuriken from his gauntlet into the mattress, a clue for when someone came looking for him. If they came.

"You caught me on a bad day. Want to try again tomorrow?" He quipped, circling towards the door. A loss was inevitable at this point, but the less time spent in his room the less time Slade would spend removing evidence there. The less likely he'd be to find the tear in the mattress and further shatter a chance to be rescued.

"I'm sure I'll have another time to test your abilities, should everything go properly." He definitely didn't like the sound of that.

"I don't suppose you want to share your meaning?" He was on him again and a harsh punch to face had him seeing stars. Another had him on his back, one eye staring down from behind the mask.

"You'll find out soon enough." A boot came up and slammed back down, darkness overtaking him.

Undisclosed Location

November 6, 21:16

When Nightwing came to his surroundings were dark, dark in the way of a closed room without windows or light. It was difficult to tell how long had passed, the haze that hung over him betraying a likely concussion and the presence of drugs, never a good combination.

He kept his breathing steady as he worked to clear his head, maintaining the outward appearance of still being unconscious as he took in his surroundings. It was suffocatingly dark, as noticed before, and there wasn't anything he visually make out. His hands were chained, wrapped in thick anti meta cuffs and bolted to the wall behind him and likewise he could feel the heavyweight of a collar around his neck. It felt the same as when Artemis, Tigress at the time, had snapped the inhibitor collar on him before the mountain blew.

He mentally shook away the memory, focusing back to his current predicament. His feet and legs were free and the pull on the chain connecting him to the wall felt long enough to allow him to stand if he wished, but little else.

He moved his focus beyond himself, using training long ago ingrained into by his mentor. The air is stiff and stale, suggesting there was little airflow in the room. He spread his fingers behind him, feeling cool, smooth stone. Wherever he was it was likely naturally cool then, eliminating little from the list of places the mercenary may have taken him.

"I see our guest has awakened." The voice came from in front of him, the lights blaring to life blinding him even as his mask worked to compensate. He squinted at the opening door. "Hello Nightwing, we have much to discuss."

"Savage."

Hope you guys enjoyed! If anyone has any ideas, feedback, or just want to talk about Young Justice (season 3 soon guys, I'm going to cry) please leave me a comment or hit me up at my tumblr spirit-of-the-fox! Thanks for reading!

~Fate