Dick found himself on the road in the middle of nowhere staring at the hillside. He shook his head quickly to rid the thoughts and memories flooding his brain before pressing the button hidden on the underside of his right handlebar and whizzing into the Batcave.
"Robin," Bruce greeted before he'd completely removed his helmet. Dick nodded back in recognition, more than a little unsure of how to interact with Bruce at this point.
"Have you found anything yet?" The former partners quickly walked into the main room of the Cave and Bruce situated himself at the large consul.
"I've taken Batigirl's last known position and plotted out routes he could have taken without our detection," Bruce stated as he pulled up a map full of lines and arrows on the screen.
"I'll go check them out."
"I'll send them ranked by likeliness to your communicator." Dick frowned.
"How'd you rank them?" Bruce looked a little surprised momentarily.
"Ease, secrecy, likely destination," he reported. Dick accepted this with another nod and started back out of the cave.
"I'll check in once I reach the first route."
"Wait." Dick turned in time to catch the small object tossed to him. He frowned at the ear piece.
"I don't need this," he countered curtly. "I can handle myself."
"Barbara was checking in upon arrival." Dick blinked- since when did Bruce actually state his reasons?- but then nodded and set off.
Barbara had spent the span of time since Slade left attempting to gain her bearings. She was confident the warehouse was split into two rooms because Slade wouldn't risk hiding her a long way from where he spent his time. The door on the ground level was locked as were all the windows (from what she could tell since they were all second story). She was now sitting against the wall opposite the door (which she took to be an outside wall) and studying the catwalk system. The door opened and she quickly redirected her eyes to glare at Slade.
"Have you had enough time?" Barbara scoffed.
"What do you think?" Slade cam further into the room and Barbara prepared herself to react as much as she could without actually moving from her sitting position and revealing her lack of confidence.
"It can get horribly boring in here but we could start training now to give you something to do." Barbara kept her face as blank as possible as she didn't react. "Is something the matter?"
"Obviously." Slade paused.
"Will you tell me what's wrong?"
"Figure it out."
"Hungry? Tired? Did you hit your head? Are you still angry that I haven't apologized?"
"I might let you know in another few hours." Slade frowned.
"If we're going to work together you're going to need to communicate-"
"We're not working together. You've kidnapped me and I am thus angry with you." Slade sighed impatiently.
"I'm attempting to offer you a chance to better yourself."
"You've come into my city to screw with-"
"Now, we're established this is Batman's city."
"It's rude to interrupt." Slade held up his hands in silent apology and motioned for Barbara to continue. "I am never going to work with you so give me back my utility belt and let me out before I make you." Slade laughed.
"I think you misunderstand your position." Barbara smiled up at him.
"Bring it Halloween-man." Slade started to roll his eye but she sprung up slamming into his chest and causing him to stumble backward. Slade quickly bounced back from his initial surprise and after a short struggle Slade tossed Barbara into the wall which she hit with a thud then slid to the bottom of.
"It seems you need more time to think," he snapped, one hand grasping his side. Then he strode from the room. Barbara stood up slowly until she was sure Slade was gone, then grinned as she examined the scrap of metal she had gotten off of the suit. She returned to the wall and started back on the loose brick.
Dick chucked his birdarang into the wall effectively pinning the arm of the man he took to be the leader to the wall of the warehouse. His five companions started as they all stared into the shadows of the ceiling. Dick swooped down into the middle of the five.
"Boo." He couldn't help but smile slightly as three dropped their guns and sprinted away. He took out the other two with his bo-staff before either got a shot off then grabbed the leader by the collar as he freed himself from the birdarang.
"We didn't do nothing!" the man protested. "We're just small time!" Dick rolled his eyes internally.
"What are you doing here?" Drug-dealer-leader-guy shot him a confused/ terrified look.
"What does it look like we're doing?"
"You're milling around as though guarding something but we both know that you aren't. So why are a bunch of drug dealers guarding nothing instead of dealing drugs?"
"Maybe this is our hobby."
"Maybe Batman and I should bust your actual storehouse."
"Okay, some guy paid us to guard the back room!"
"He tell you why?" The man shook his head emphatically.
"All he said was to guard his store room. and not ask any questions." Dick glared some more, continueing to push him into the wall. "WAIT! He said we'd get paid with jewels from the First Gotham Bank!"
"When?"
"Tonight. Said we should meet him in the park by the playground."
"Good answer." With that, Dick slammed his head into the wall to knock him unconscious before heading for the park.
You're on your way to confront Slade, aren't you? Dick nearly jumped at the voice- he'd forgotten about Bruce's earpiece in his focus on getting information. I'm taking your silence as confirmation. Don't do it Robin.
"Why not? Are you trying to claim you wouldn't be on your way to demand he release Batgirl?"
Follow him-
"Won't work, you haven't dealt with him as much as I have."
He won't tell you either.
"If we have him he can't hurt her anymore, we'll find her-"
Robin I know you don't want to work with me but we need to work together to get Batgirl back. Dick sighed.
"Fine."
