Notes: Okay, admittance time. There's one song I've been constantly listening to as I write this. I first started listening to it when writing the first chapter and I just continued listening to it as I typed everything so far. Just the one song.

Still not sick of it.

Undertale - Battle Against A True Hero (English Cover) by Melt (on youtube)

Part 3 - Deathstroke

It turned out that Dick knew of a ring of car thieves in Bludhaven that worked predicibly around the city. It was the regular stuff except this ring had a speciality. They were after performance chips. Chips with the ability to seriously overclock an engine when hacked and all because of a factory flaw.

They were beautiful things in Jason's opinion and taking out a few car thieves was icing on the cake.

He didn't even need his gun.

"Found anything yet?" he questioned, leaning against the car they just saved from the thieves. The four thieves lying unconscious on the ground.

Dick looked up from where he was rifling through pockets. His expression was hidden behind his deep red mask as he held up a blank docket probably belonging to their auto-shop by day and chop-shop by night.

Jason and Dick burst into the chop-shop and started beating up on the men inside. It was all going fine until Jason brought out his gun and shot one of the criminals in the shoulder. The man went down, dropping the pipe he had been about to slam into Jason.

"Red Hood!" Dick cried out in anger. "What do you think you're doing?"

"This might be your lead but I'm in charge," Jason shouted back. He was not angry but elated with the rush of a fight. "Or do you think you would be pulling stuff like this with Deathstroke?"

"They're just car thieves!"

One of them bolted for the door and Jason raised his gun. Dick grabbed his arm and pulled the man out of the line of fire. Jason fired and because of the limpet on his arm, he missed.

"You dare-!"

"He'll lead us back!" Dick bellowed at him. Then Dick took a few furious breaths, attempting to calm down. "You trained with him so you surely know that if you let them think they've gotten away-"

"They'll lead us back to the nest," Jason finished with realisation. "Well, I guess that beats torturing that information out of them." He kicked the head of the man he had shot, knocking him unconscious. He didn't need anyone informing the ones behind it all.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could swear he saw Dick flinch. However, when he turned back, Dick looked as impassive as he normally was.

It was freaking Jason out to realise he was getting used to this quiet and mostly emotionless version of Dick. Except for those momentary flashes of anger, Jason wasn't getting much out of Dick without initiating conversation.

They got the man behind it all in an epic car and motorcycle chase that ended with Dick jumping from motorbike to the car and pitching it over a bridge while saving the man. Jason was annoyed that they had to hand him over to the police but the police had almost surrounded the bridge and handing the guy over was the best way to distract them in order to make their escape.

The last thing Jason expected to encounter the next night was Deathstroke and his daughter.

Dick noticed them first, jumping out of the way as Deathstroke came bearing down on them. Jason immediately swore as he spotted a flash of orange in his peripheral vision. He kicked out, the silver-haired apprentice jumping out of the way. Jason fired a few shots at her.

"I heard you were looking for me, Grayson?" Deathstroke said. Jason turned to see Dick pressed up against the building, Deathstroke's arm pressed against his throat. "It was rude of you to up and vanish like that."

"You were late," Jason growled, firing at the old man. He didn't expect to hit as he knew Deathstroke's reputation. "He works for me now."

They had left the bike a block away, too far to help them out in this battle. Deathstroke rushed him and Jason fired a few more shots as he circled around the mercenary and his shots forced Deathstroke to circle him in turn.

"You're delusional if you believe that, Hood," Deathstroke informed him.

Jason knew that. They exchanged a number of punches and blocks.

"Leave him alone!" Dick shouted at Deathstroke.

"Focus on me!" Ravager said, leaping and attempting to kick Dick.

There were a few silent moments between the four as they all fought each other.

Dick was almost effortlessly avoiding all of Ravager's attacks, frustrating her to no end.

Jason was having a tougher time. Deathstroke was a good fighter.

Jason believed he was better though. He used his grappling hook and fired it up at the streetlight. He used that to get some height and distance before shooting at Deathstroke again.

Dick twisted Ravager's arm behind her back and shoved her at Deathstroke.

Deathstroke was an almost immovable object and Ravager didn't even unbalance him for a moment. However, it did cause a pause in the battle.

"Deathstroke," Dick said in a strong voice. "I'm working for the Red Hood. He made a better deal."

Deathstroke's body language spoke interest as he moved to face Dick. Jason could have shot him in the back although not while Ravager was watching him. There was no doubt that she would interfere.

"Sounds like you're working for money."

"It's not like I have any," Dick responded with a shrug. "Going from bodyguard for Tommy Tevis to bodyguard for Red Hood is actually a step-up career wise. I doubt you have the need for a bodyguard. Besides, you already have help." He nodded at Ravager.

"That is true," Deathstroke mused. "Call me, Grayson, when you want to carve your own path rather than standing around and looking pretty for the mob bosses of Bludhaven."

"You lead an interesting life," Jason commented as they entered the safe house.

"I guess," Dick responded as he pulled his mask off and made his way to the bedroom.

"No way, Dickwing-"

"Don't call me that," Dick interrupted but Jason ignored it.

"You take the shower first."

Dick's eyes widened for a moment before he commented, "it's your safe house."

"Yeah, and I have things I want to do. Like get a meal started. You go first."

Dick looked like he was about to argue and Jason watched him closely. He still expected Batman or someone allied with Nightwing to come bursting in to arrest him. He was always watching Dick, waiting for the moment Dick would rat him out.

Nothing happened. Nothing except the shower only running for a few minutes. Jason watched the door from the moment the sound of the spray ended so he was looking when Dick emerged only moments later.

The first thing that hit Jason was how pale he was.

Dick ran a hand through his wet hair and commented, "uh, do you think I should use a gun?"

What. The.

"Because I'm working with you and you use guns," Dick continued to ramble apparently ignorant of how Jason's brain had just stalled.

"I'm not giving you a weapon you're not used to using. That's just stupid."

"I can use a gun."

Jason recalled a moment too late that Bruce made sure that they all knew how to handle and care for a gun, even though he didn't want them to use one. Knowledge was power.

"So?" he snorted, brain scrambling to come up with a cover-up. "We don't have to use the same weapon. Stick with your fists, Dickie."

Dick was silent for another few moments before nodding and agreeing. After that Dick stayed in his room. He didn't contact anyone.

Jason checked.