Chapter 6

A/N: I am SOOO SORRY about the super long wait, but I have had a load of controlled assessments and I have had literally no time to type this up, but I would like to thank everyone once again for your support. Sorry for the cliff hanger too. I hope you don't hate me too much for that hehe XD if there are any mistakes let me know.

Location: unknown

Date: 29th July

Time: 10:30am

That moment never came; all was silent as metal sliced through air, Dick braced himself, at first thinking it was the knife, though he quickly realised that it was coming from the opposite direction. The resounding clang of metal meeting metal caused Dick's eyes to hesitantly flutter open. His teenage tormenter was now empty handed; the knife lying uselessly on the floor next to a discarded bin lid.

Huh?

"Was that you I heard screaming back there Craig?" A cocky voice tormented from the shadows.

Yep.

The hands released him and backed away from him relinquishing back to the safety of their pack. Shocked, Dick turned around to see a teenager. Dick strained his eyes to get a better look at his supposed rescuer but a red hood was cloaking the teen's features. Over his red hoodie he wore a black leather jacket with a thick red stripe riding the length of his left arm. Under the jacket Dick saw the edge of a white top. He also wore dark jeans and converses. All in all the guy looked like some street thug turned hero, especially the way his hood covered his face.

"Hood." Craig spat with obvious antipathy.

Hood? Well obviously that isn't his real name. Maybe he is some kind of street hero.

Dick had heard of people like him during his days in the circus, generally they were do good citizens who spent their nights protecting innocents. Then there was The Batman. He had taken that idea to the extreme; going further than any vigilante had gone before, he dressed up as a giant bat for crying out loud. The guy was a living legend and Dick admired him, which was one of the reasons that Dick didn't agree with Slade. Correction, one of the many reasons. He didn't hate the man though. Not anymore. He just didn't like what he did. He admired Slade for his abilities; he just didn't understand why the man chose to use them as he did.

"Come on Craig." One of the guys said.

"I'm not done with this little – "

Hold it. Where is this going?

"It's not worth it."

Wow. Way to make a guy feel appreciated Dick smirked.

"Wow. One of you morons actually has some sense of self preservation. Consider me impressed." Hood ridiculed, and Dick could tell he was smirking as it was the same tone Slade often used when he was mocking him.

Dick struggled, to hold back a snicker, but he really didn't want to push his luck. He still didn't know who the guy was batting for.

Craig grumbled unhappily as he wiped blood from his nose. He was fuming, but he retreated never the less. Leaving Dick with some guy who had scared off a group of thugs just by standing there.

Great.

0000-Slade-0000

Location: Jump city

Date: 29th July

Time: 10:50 am

Five minutes.

Five blasted minutes he had directed his attention from his unbelievably headstrong charge; apparently that was all the damn boy needed to disappear. Had he ran away?

Slade doubted it; the boy had been opening up, almost accepting Slade as somewhat of a father figure. Sure he still refused to learn anything along the line of killing but Slade didn't think he would run. He had nowhere to go after all. He must have gotten lost.

When he got his hands on that boy there was going to be hell to pay, not to mention the tracking device he was going to invest in, to keep tabs on his unruly apprentice. Slade was annoyed to say the least; not only was he going to be late to his meeting with the Al Ghul's, but if anything happened to Dick –

Well, losing his apprentice would be counterproductive, that was all there was to it. If anything happened to the boy it wouldn't be in Slade's best interests.

He wasn't worried; he was merely protecting his assets. Besides, it wasn't as if the kid was his son. No; that boat had long since sailed.

He knew where they were – his children. He had always made sure he knew where they were, but it had become clear when Addie had remarried, if it hadn't already when she had shot his eye out, that she had moved on...they all had. He would only cause them more pain if he re-entered their life. He didn't deserve another chance at happiness.

The incident with Joey had proved that, he had been so arrogant in his abilities, so cocky that it had cost more than his pride. It had cost his son's voice. For once in his life Slade Wilson had had no control over the situation, he had been completely helpless. He wouldn't make the same mistake again.

No. He couldn't dwell in the past.

He had an apprentice to find, he just hoped that Dick hadn't gotten himself into too much trouble.

0000-Dick-0000

Location: unknown

Date: 29th July

Time: 11:00 am

"You're welcome." The figure said with a somewhat cocky tone to his voice that sounded like it had recently broken.

He was leaning against the wall, his right leg bent and his foot pressed flat against the wall making it easy to spring into action at any given moment. He seemed to be considering something as he tilted his head slightly in thought.

"Are you at least gonna tell me your name; I did just save you from those scary boys." The figure mocked.

"Are you gonna tell me yours?" Dick countered instantly with a challenging look.

The teen chuckled under his breath before pulling his hood down, allowing Dick to see his face.

"Nice catch kid. The name's Jason." He said walking forward extending his hand to Dick.

"Richard; but most people call me Dick." He said accepting the hand while taking in the teen's appearance. He had fairly short black hair which was gelled up at the front. His face held youth to it but his eyes suggested that he had seen things that no teen – scratch that no one should ever have to experience.

"So what are you doing out here alone? This isn't the most child friendly part of Jump City."

Dick smirked triumphantly. Now he knew where he was, he couldn't wait to see Slade's face when he found out. Now Dick had an advantage, he knew something Slade didn't think he did.

"I… um got lost…" Dick trailed off, not really wanting to expose details to some guy he had just met so he tried to change the subject "Anyway, who were those guys?"

"Undesirables; they work for a much bigger organisation. The H.I.V.E, they recruit kids to fight and perform crimes for them, usually Meta humans but they take on humans too. It's a school of sorts, but it's not a nice place to be."

"How do you know all this?" Dick asked, his curiosity getting away from him.

"I was recruited eight years ago. I was eight at the time. The training was tough, but it made me stronger. They wanted me to be a criminal – hurt innocent people. I tend to get a kick out of making people like them pay. They deserve it." Jason said, his voice laced with regret and determination

There it is again. The idea of Bad guys deserving whatever they get. Maybe Slade is right. Dick thought.

"I parted with them on bad terms. Craig and I – we were friends, but we didn't share the same ideas. I tried to reason with him but he wouldn't hear it."

"I'm sorry." Dick said. He meant it too, Jason seemed so sincere and Dick couldn't help finding himself warming up to the guy.

"Don't be: ever since I've been making it my goal to ruin their organisation." Jason said with a sly smirk.

Dick smiled.

0000 – Slade – 0000

Location: unknown

Date: 29th July

Time: 11:20 am

He had been searching for half an hour when he heard what sounded like Dick's animated voice.

"… And then I kicked him in the face!" the boy exclaimed.

Of course; half an hour and already the boy has gone and done something stupid.

"Craig is an idiot, bet that knocked his pride down a bit."

Who was the boy with and what on earth was he talking about? Slade wondered as he hurried towards the voices. He was surprised to find Dick looking slightly dishevelled and standing in the alley they had passed on their way out of the haunt. One of the only places he hadn't looked.

Of course.

There was a teenage boy standing next to him and Slade frowned slightly, not liking the look of the boy.

"Dick!"

Dick turned around to face him, he waved frantically at him. Slade's anger grew as he saw a large purple bruise on the boy's face. His eyes shot to the teen next to him. The teen caught onto this, shifting slightly. Slade walked over to Dick, resisting the urge to knock the teen's head off; instead focusing on his charge. He gently brushed a finger against the offending cheek though the action still caused the boy to wince. Slade moved his hand to the side of Dick's head and places his other on the boy's shoulder.

"What happened Dick? Are you ok?"

Dick's smile fell as he hesitated.

"Ok, you can tell me later, now let's get you out of here." He said hoisting the boy up. Dick rested his head against Slade's shoulder. Slade subconsciously tightened his grip slightly as he turned to leave.

"Hey mister," Slade turned around" you should keep a closer eye on your kid"

"Don't tell me how to take care of my kid." Slade snapped, sending the boy a sharp glare.

A/N: Another chapter done. Please review; they keep me going, and yes Slade did refer to Dickie as his kid.

Next chapter we meet the Al Ghuls, maybe a certain little assassin will make an entrance. Who knows? XD