Notes: I don't know about this chapter. There are parts of it I'm iffy on but I've though long and hard about whether they should be included or not. Also, I have a collaborative wiki assignment I'm supposed to be working on during the next two weeks so, updates will probably slow.

Part 5 – Ravager

In cliché criminal style, Jason returned to the scene of the crime. The place was swarming with bulky henchmen, clearing the place out before the police appeared.

Arsenal was nowhere to be seen.

"Well, that's a bust," he mused to himself. He was hoping to find Roy still knocked out.

"Glad to disappoint." Jason moved out of the way as an arrow came flying at where he was standing. Arsenal stepped out of the shadows of the rooftop with his bow drawn and an arrow pointing at him. "That was my warning shot."

"You look good for a guy beaten up by his friend almost an hour ago," Jason mused.

"Extra padding," Roy informed him. "Oracle gave me a heads up about what you two were planning."

'You two'. "Me and Renegade?" Jason questioned in an amused tone. The sound of that made him feel light. Jason liked working alone but he also liked having someone to watch his back. Plus, a savage part of him wanted to find out just how Bruce would react.

"I didn't want to believe it," Roy growled. "Just tell me, what did you do to Nightwing to make him change sides?"

"Nothing," Jason admitted with a shrug. "He was already there when I got there. Whatever happened, happened before me."

"Whatever happened, happened before you, huh?" Roy repeated. Jason rolled his eyes under his hood. It was obvious that Roy was repeating that for someone who was listening in. "Have you even tried to look into it?"

"Some criminal went after his civilian identity, etcetera, etcetera." Jason waved his hand, waving the question off. He had tried to look into it. As best he could tell, it was a mess. "Next I hear, he's put himself out there. At least I'm not Deathstroke. And he's-" Jason hesitated for a moment as the question of what Dick was rushed through his mind, along with the realisation that he didn't consider Dick his enemy. "Working with me. He chose this." Jason's chest constricted and he needed to change the subject. "How about you tell me why Renegade doesn't want to see anyone?"

"What are you talking about?" Roy growled at him. It would be intimidating to the average person or criminal however, it didn't compare to Batman or even Dick. Jason was unaffected.

"He doesn't want to see you. Or anyone else, I assume. So, what happened?"

"I don't know!"

"You never tried to look into it?" Jason countered, intentionally echoing Roy's words from moment ago.

Roy went silent. He relaxed his bow. "We all heard about it, of course but- but he," Roy had no idea what to say. It was all excuses. Instead, he snapped, "I'm here now, aren't I?"

"You are, aren't you?" Jason mused.

Jason cursed as he tossed the man against the wall. Behind him, Renegade was helping the young woman to her feet and telling her to go.

"Look at what she's wearing; she's just looking for a nice guy to show her a good time," the man rambled, panicked as Jason pulled out his gun.

"What you had in mind wasn't a 'good time'," he sneered, kicking the man in the knee and breaking it.

Jason ignored the man's pained cries. He wouldn't be making that noise for long anyway.

Dick didn't say a word. Jason glanced back as he pointed the gun at the man, making it clear that he was going to shoot him.

Renegade stared, body tense.

"Renegade?" Jason questioned. A thought whispered in his head that he could kill this guy before Dick came to his senses. Killing right in front of Bruce's golden boy. That thought filled him with energy.

Renegade's mouth opened and then closed, eyebrows knitting as if he was thinking through something. In that moment, Jason pulled the trigger. Renegade flinched back against the wall behind him. Jason only looked back at the body to make sure the man was dead. Then he grabbed his partner and pulled him away.

Renegade was like a deadweight.

At the safe house, Dick dropped onto the ground and leaned against the wall, knees to chest and head in his hands. Jason had little patience for the 'woe is me' act.

"Dick, get up," he ordered. "Shower and go to bed."

"No," Dick mumbled, "…m'head hurts. Can't move."

Jason rolled his eyes. He figured he could at least get some painkillers since Dick wasn't talking about earlier and preaching at him for killing.

It looked like an ordinary, sleek and modern home. However, the windows were not the kind that could be opened and Jason noticed the cameras monitoring the property.

"You think they know we're here?" he joked, glancing back at Dick.

"I think they've known for a while," he commented. There had been a figure in blue and orange watching them as they moved around.

Ravager hadn't been able to locate the safe house but she had tracked them down a couple of times when they spent too long on the streets.

"Can't believe you two came here," Ravager commented, dropping down from the roof.

Jason grinned at her from behind his hood. "We need to get your dad off our back."

Ravager frowned and her eye narrowed. "And you do that by making more work for him?"

"I guess so."

"Rose, could you let him know we're here to see him?" Dick said.

She shrugged uncaringly. "I guess. What am I calling you? Deathwing?"

Dick winced and Jason laughed at his reaction.

"Renegade," Dick corrected in a distasteful tone.

Ravager opened the door and guided them upstairs. She stopped in front of a closed door and knocked. "Daddy? Renegade and Red Hood are here to see you."

They walked in to find Deathstroke out of uniform, wearing only a dark navy shirt and pants. He stood behind the desk, fists placed on it and frustration and annoyance radiating from him.

"You boys have been busy," he commented as they entered. Dick didn't move as the man levelled a one-eyed glare at him. "You're walking a thin line, Grayson."

"Okay, great to know," Jason commented lightly as he stepped forward. He didn't like being ignored. "But that's not the business I'm here for."

"You are wasting your time, Red Hood."

"You work security for the society, we just robbed the society, I think you can take a few moments to chat with us."

"I am well aware of what you boys did."

"Then you know that we brought the serum here for you," Jason said in a smug tone. "And you can do what you want with it."

Deathstroke's eyebrow raised and he looked suspicious but he was listening.

"Really? And what have I done to warrant this?"

"I want you to leave Renegade alone, stop sending your daughter to watch us, seriously, that's creepy, and I get some run in Bludhaven."

Deathstroke hummed and moved out from behind the desk. "I have no interest in territorial disputes. I go where I wish and as long as our paths don't cross as enemies then what you do does not concern me." He looked over at his daughter. "Rose, you need to work on your stealth."

Ravager nodded but rolled her eye. "Come on, Dad. Renegade's really good at stealth, even you say so."

Deathstroke turned to her. "Rose. You need to be better than your opponent or you will be killed."

"Hold on," Jason said, stepping forward. He saw the disappointment flash across Ravager's face. Her understanding of their work was still childish and probably idealistic however, Deathstroke's phrasing of 'be better' set off alarm bells in Jason's head. "She's just a teenager and you shouldn't limit your teaching to just 'be better'. Or do you want her to die before she's an adult who knows better?"

"Red Hood, this is my home. Watch your tone."

"I say what I want, how I want. You can't stop me."

"It's true," Dick said, stepping forward to back him up. "Look, you have your serum and if you return it, the society will hail you. Or you might keep it to keep your job relevant." He had figured out that the society was trying to create venom in order to make their own army of 'Banes'. That would mean they wouldn't need Deathstroke's services. The society wasn't the kind of organisation to send people off with a severance package. Unless it was severance of your head from your shoulders.

There was a moment of silence as Deathstroke thought.

"You know, Luthor was saying something about a job opening the other night," he mused. "If you're really interested in this society, then maybe you should inquire about it."

"Thanks for the tip," Jason said, tipping an imaginary hat. He was beyond ready to leave. "Seriously," he said to Dick as they walked out of the house. "How do you deal with that guy?"

Dick shrugged. "Just do."

They were heading back to the bike when someone dressed in dark red dropped down from a tree and planted themselves atop Dick, pinning him to the ground.

"Alright. Now we're going to talk," Arsenal said.