Chapter 6

What made no

thing easier was the addition of the ninjas. Bruce felt like someone had hit rewind as the other heroes burst out to take down the threats. He let Jason and Batman rush by him. He blinked as Jason faced Bane and Batman faced Slade. Renegade and Bruce faced off.

"So," the young man walked closer so he wouldn't have to shout over the din of fighting. "You know me…" He tilted his head to the left. His voice was soft and unhurried, "But I don't know you." His head tilted to the right now. Bruce and Renegade were a foot apart. Renegade reached out in front of him. His fingers slipped under the cowl and started to lift. Bruce snatched Renegade's hand.

"Truly, who I am is of no importance to you." Bruce said. Renegade frowned.

"Wrong. The world has thought me dead for 21 years. I've not had to worry about anyone knowing my name. I've never had to hide. You just gave away some serious information." Renegade's hands rested on his hips.

"Batman already had it figured out."

"Did he? I'm sure your timely appearance had nothing to do with it." Renegade rolled his eyes. Bruce frowned deeper.

"Why did you run?" Bruce asked. He felt it wouldn't take much to drag Renegade to the 'good' side. He just had to find where the boy's life went to hell… and…shit. Bruce had no idea how, but he knew he had to get this Richard Grayson and this universe's Bruce Wayne to be on good terms.

"Dear, dear… whoever you are. I can't just tell you my life story!" Renegade laughed. It was so familiar, but twisted. It sounded almost as if Renegade was in pain. "You have to earn it!"

He never attacks first… Unless Slade tells him to.

Bruce remembered this piece of information. As Renegade drew a short katanna from the sheath on his back; Bruce considered that that rule only applied to people Renegade recognized. Bruce barely had his armored gauntlets up in time to keep the katanna from slicing him in two.

"In the mean time, who might you be?" Richard swung his sword parallel to the floor, trying to get under Bruce's arm. Bruce jumped back and growled. This wasn't Richard. Richard never aimed to so seriously hurt, just cripple temporarily.

Damn! We need a second blood-bag!

Fuck…

Stay awake Dick. It's ok…

Bruce took a glancing blow to his shoulder during his searing headache. He couldn't figure out what the voice were. Why was he hallucinating his son injured? Now of all time?

Another sword strike bounced off his uniform. Bruce grunted at the strength behind the swing. The blade had scratched some of the armor on Bruce's shoulder with a nasty his. The blade had been turned towards him. Renegade, for Richard would never aim the blade at anyone, was trying to kill. He was fully focused on his mission and nothing else. For a second, Bruce wondered if his own Richard had ever gotten like this.

The momentary distraction allowed Renegade to add another cut on Bruce's arm. Bruce was panting heavily, mostly dodging. Bruce felt his insides grow cold when he realized he could barely do more than dodge. He needed to get in close. Bruce was better than Richard at close hand to hand combat.

But that was a Richard that had been raised to not kill and had been always raised by Batman. Still, Bruce found himself reading Renegade's movements easily. The kid wasn't as unique when fighting. He was extremely predictable once Bruce had found the kid's rhythm. His Richard hardly ever fought with rhythm. A more correct statement would be that his Richard could change his rhythm, could change the pace of the fight practically at will. Bruce wondered vaguely if it was because he had encouraged the more acrobatic fighting style Nightwing used. Or maybe it was because, when very young, Richard had gotten to see a variety of fighting styles.

"Don't ignore me!" Renegade called out with a smile; bring the sword down over Bruce's head as he flipped over his head. Bruce raised his hand in anticipation and deflected the blade once a gain. Even if he could read the kid, it was still hard to fight him.

Bane and Jason were dancing around each other carefully. Bane had already given Jason a large bruise on the jaw, which Jason had repaid with giving Bane a black eye. Both men preferred force to skill when fighting. Jason was finding that Bane easily out-force him. Bane was just too strong. Jason growled realizing he would have to out-wit the giant he was facing. He wished that would be easy. Bane was smart, until he started dosing up. Jason had to get Bane to dose up. As soon as that happened, Jason could easily leap around the bastard and knock him out quickly.

"Pathetic birdy…" Bane growled, "Stop playing around!"

"Oh buddy, you asked for it!" Jason cried, leaping into action.

Batman and Slade started just facing each other off. None of the other leaguers came near Slade. Batman growled, drawing a bat-a-rang and a letting the knuckles of his glove grow little spikes. Slade just smirked in amusement.

"Are you going to actually try to hurt me for once? One might think you're angry tonight, Bruce." Slade dropped his voice to hiss out Batman's name. Batman feinted to the right, and took a swing with his sharp knuckles. Slade dodge, but had to twist immediately as the bat-a-rang skimmed over his shoulder. Slade hissed in pain.

"Conversational as always." Slade kept his calm. The two engaged. Both Slade and Batman preferred to go in and fight fist to fist. Renegade seemed to prefer to use two handed weapons to give him some extra reach. The double, short weapons also allowed him to leap around and hook onto various hangings and swing constantly. Jason was like Batman and loved to just throw himself into a fight. Tim, starting much later than was probably good, learned to fight with the bo staff. It gave him a center of balance. He made the weapon deadly. Then Stephanie, as a Robin she had like the bo staff, but now she fought hand to hand. Her style was full of gymnastics. Damian used a sword. An extremely dull sword that was basically a metal stick, but he used a sword. The single, full length katanna danced through the air. Damian made the deadly weapon look like a ribbon in the moonlight. And Carrie. Carrie was all about gadgets. Her whole life was about finding a way to advance herself to be at the other's level. Batman squeezed his eyes shut for a second thinking about this.

Knowing how people fought also meant he knew who was best suited to win a fight against the other. So far, only Stephanie had had any chance against Renegade. Her limber body keeping up with his and her lack of fear when leaping around challenging his won. Against Slade though, Cassandra was probably the best. Bruce wished both girls were present. When he faced Slade, it was like throwing two bricks against each other. If one luckily hit the other with a corner, the hit one would break.

Batman took a quick glance around him. He released a fast stream of air as he ducked under Slade's sword. He growled. A couple flips back from each of them gave the two dueling men a breather. Batman returned to glancing around. Jason was using his superior speed to bug the heck out of Bane. Multiple small jabs had formed dark bruises on the dark man's skin. Jason had a crazy grin that worried Batman, but he was satisfied with the condition of the fight. The other Leaguers were having few issues with the ninjas. Mostly their issues stemmed with not killing the people trying to kill them. He eyes trailed to the guest Bruce and Renengade. Batman wanted to smack himself in the face as he watched the fight.

That Bruce Wayne/Batman couldn't successfully fight Renegade. That Bruce had grown up with Richard, had trained him, had known him. That Bruce was obviously having issues fight Renegade because the two Richards were too similar. Batman was yanked out of his musings by barely blocking a blow from Slade's sword off his gauntlets.

"Almost got you there." Slade teased. He pulled back his sword and rested it on his armored shoulder. "One nick is all it would take." Batman frowned.

"You know I never play fair." Slade laughed darkly.

"Poisoned blade?" Batman asked gruffly. Slade smiled in satisfaction. IT was no secret the mercenary got off on facing opponents that he thought were promising. He got off on having to fight for his life. It was why Batman had such issues with the mercenary. The man fought to kill so that his opponents would have to do the same to stay alive. Too many of his wards had almost fallen into Slade's trap.

"It's a lovely little concoction I cooked up. It prevents coagulation and spreads through the blood system like a cancer. It's worse than the final stages of any leukemia. Guaranteed death." Slade resembled a five year old child talking about a favorite toy.

"And if you didn't want to kill your opponent?" Batman asked. He wondered if there was an antidote. He had a feeling it would be needed tonight.

"When have I never not wanted to kill someone?" Slade sneered. Batman's blood ran cold, but he hid his fear. In Slade's own way, he had just said there was no antidote. Batman couldn't get cut. Slade's eye gleamed in victory. He knew he had an advantage.

"What about Renegade? Does he use the poison?" Batman asked. He had seen the cuts on the other Bruce's arms. He didn't know if the poison was fast acting or slow acting, but he was worried for his counterpart.

"Unfortunately, after seeing my creation's effects once, he refused to use it." Batman snarled. That could either mean the poison had a very messy effect, or that it caused a lot of screaming. In the past three years, Batman had observed that Renegade was sadistic. The kid did things efficiently and as cleanly as possible.

"You are an asshole." Batman couldn't keep from growling out. Slade smiled his classic sadistic smile.

"Let us go beyond the petty insults and," Slade raised his sword to charge. Batman took his chance. He dropped into a crouch and jumped up and forward. His fist with the spikes collided with Slade's jaw. Before blood could splatter the cement floor, Batman spun to add extra force to his elbow into Slade's stomach. The sword dropped behind Slade as the mercenary double forward. Batman took half a step back and slammed his steel-tied boot into Slade's shoulder, sending the mercenary fly backwards. Slade crashed into part of the assembly line the laser machine as on. Slade didn't move. Batman panted with satisfied, and than ran off to help Bruce against Renegade.

Batman noted he had not intervened in this second fight a second too late. Renegade was somehow able to jump around people endlessly, leaving them exhausted and dizzy. It appeared this Bruce was somewhat used to fighting someone like Renegade, but it still was exhausting. Batman slipped behind his counterpart and blocked the falling sword by crossing his gauntlets.

"Ah. The original grouchy one showed up." Nightwing whined, making a pouty face. Batman wrenched his gauntlets apart, sending the sword up in the air, but Renegade kept his grip. He drew back slightly. He seemed to understand that the fight had just turned against him.

The two dark knights faced the red and black clad figure. Renegade's open hand slowly raised above his head. He was reaching for the second sword. Both Batmen widened their eyes in realization. IF Renegade grabbed the second blade, it meant he was getting serious.

"Richard. Stop." Batman ordered. He knew his voice was commanding. He also knew Renegade had been programmed to respond to commands. He beat down his smile as Renegade's hand stopped moving, but it didn't lower.

"Am I going to get another, 'you're not evil, don't steal/kill' speech? Has that ever worked? On anyone? Hell, I've never been interested, neither has Selina." The Batmen growled. "Just saying." Renegade smiled. He knew how to press people's buttons.

"I still believe we can help you." Batman said. Bruce glanced to his counterpart. Did he really sound that gravelly when he was trying to be intimidating? Renegade rolled his bright blue eyes.

"Yeah, sure you do." Renegade relaxed his arm slightly. The two Batmen sighed lightly. Batman was thinking hard. If he could get Renegade to help them, and maybe stick around after… maybe he could save the boy he failed all those years ago.

"What has Slade done for you?" Batman asked. Renegade paused. This method was new.

"Besides saving me from the self-annihilation of the Court of Owls after you took out the Talons?" Renegade asked. Batman cursed under his breath. Renegade must feel he still owes Slade.

"Yes." Bruce answered. Renegade gave him a bored glare.

"Well…what do I call you?" Renegade asked.

"Owlman will do. Or-"

"Owlman? Eh, I've heard worse names. Well, what has Slade done for me? Taken care of me since the Owls died,"

"One could say he's capture you." Batman countered.

"He's trained me,"

"He's made you comfortable with killing." Bruce countered. Renegade snarled.

"Assholes! If you just wanted to hear your own words, why did you ask me a question?" He snarled. He glanced around; apparently realizing Slade was nowhere is sight. "Where is Slade?" Renegade questioned. He had tensed up again.

"He left you." Batman lied. Renegade jerked. Bruce frowned. It seemed no matter where, or why, Richard hated being left alone.

"He said he wouldn't." For once Renegade's voice was small. The mercenary's apprentice stopped focusing on the figures in front of him and began scanning the room. He couldn't find Slade.

"I promise you, Richard, we can help you. You won't be alone, you don't have to kill. You'll be safe." Batman insisted. Renegade laughed harshly.

"You couldn't protect me enough to save me from Slade's rage for running from a fight." Renegade's eyes had a fire behind them.

"We can and will." Batman fired back. The fire in Renegade's eyes darkened.

"Fool!" He hissed. As he spoke, his left hand rose to his shoulders, reaching for the second sword. "Slade doesn't stop. He will kill everyone in Gotham just to lure you out and kill you. Then, he will find me. After he has found me, he won't let me die. I'll be chained to a table and beaten, cut, raped, and maybe even burned if he's feeling creative." Renegade's voice had dropped an octave. Had what he been saying wasn't so dark, Bruce might have thought Renegade was trying to seduce him and his counterpart. Next to him, Batman tensed and barely held back a growl. The way Renegade spoke suggested he had experienced this.

"Any hell you can think of, he can make it worse." The voice had dropped lower. It was no longer seductive, it was gravelly with anger. Both Batmen drew their bat-a-rangs, half a second too late. Renegade drew his second sword and jumped, leaping over his opponents, dragging his swords behind him to hopefully leave some nasty gashes.

Batman and his counterpart ducked, and barely avoided injury.

"Let me introduce you to my hell. My daily life. What I've thrived in!" Renegade's eyes lit up again. His smiled was twisted. He dove in-between the two, dark men, splitting them up almost immediately. He rolled over his shoulders towards Batman, swiping at the man's feet before rolling backwards. He didn't wait and dove towards Bruce's feet. Both men had to jump back and regain their balance.

'What do you know of my life!" Renegade screamed. "When have you ever cared!"

Renegade didn't stop. It was as if he hadn't just been bouncing over and fighting Bruce for ten minutes before this. Renegade kept his attacks low, mostly trying to keep his opponents off balance. As Batman tried to anticipate another low attack, Renegade popped up and punched him the face.

Turning back over his right shoulder, Renegade faced Bruce. Renegade jumped forwards onto his hands and propelled himself into Bruce's chest. Batman had stumbled back and was pinching his bleeding nose as he looked up at the predicament his counterpart was in. Renegade was on Bruce's chest, both blades pointed at his neck. Renegade raised the blades for a killing strike. A gargled cry echoed through the warehouse. Renegade looked over and saw Jason stumble back. Bane, fully dosed was falling forwards, jerking with electricity. Jason was rubbing his chest where Bane had punched him before the taser had been turned on. Jason stumbled backward, panting heavily. A shadow was approaching Jason's back.

Renegade was distracted. Bruce threw the smaller man off his chest. The swords clattered against the cement. The Batmen were ready to attack again, but Renegade had taken off towards Jason.

"Jason!" Batman hollered.

But it was too late.