A/N: Hello you all! Wow I cranked this out pretty quickly (actually wrote most of it the day after I posted Chapter 4 BUT I wasn't sure how to end it, but I finally did!) In response to a review I read the breaks are meant to space out the transitions between flashforward and present, they are marked with the year below the break. Break's are also placed to change perception and scene. If a break is labeled without the year it is the same time period maybe just a couple hours later or a different place. Major changes will always be labeled. I hope that is helpful! Please enjoy this new chapter and then please review! Enjoy!
-2021-
When Dick woke up the next day, he went into the living room to see Slade cooking breakfast while Mari did some homework. Dick was a little out of it and he wasn't sure if he what was before him or not.
"I must be dreaming? Mari? You're out of bed before me?" He scoffed playfully with her.
"Not my fault you slept in later than me!" She yelled back and Slade simply chuckled as he turned around skillet in hand loaded with scrambled eggs. He slid them onto 3 plates as Dick sat down next to his daughter and helped her with her math. Slade poured them all orange juice and sat down next to them.
"Since when did they start making kids go to school at such ungodly hours." Slade said shaking his head in confusion. He looked out the window to see the sun just rising into sight from the apartment.
"Somewhere around when standardized testing became the new fad, I suppose." Dick said rolling his eyes hard.
"I wouldn't worry about Mari though, she is smart like her Dad, and like Star too. No one gave that girl enough credit." Mari's ears perked up at the name of her mother.
"Mommy was really smart?" She asked.
"Yeah, she was wise and intelligent. She wasn't from here so she had a hard time understanding English and speaking it, but your mother was one of the smartest people I knew." Dick rubbed the top of Mari's hair with compassion.
"Now get up Starshine, it's time to go to school. You coming with us Slade?" He asked raising an eyebrow.
"Of course!" Slade said sliding his jacket off of the counter.
The walk to the school was short. Dick had chosen that apartment specifically to be close to Gotham Pre a private grade school in association with Gotham Academy. It was one of the best schools in the city nonetheless the country, Dick loved it, if it weren't for one thing. Down the way getting out of a car was Damian Wayne, Bruce Wayne's son. He was young, snarky, rich, and dangerous; he had no morals unlike his father. Of course he had taken a liking to Mari, the only person he would speak to in the entire school. The two walked into the school together, she chattered away happily while he walked silently next to her silent but listening.
"Doesn't that worry you?" Slade asked already knowing the answer.
"Yes." Dick said curtly. "It's not like me to interfere in my daughter's life. She can be friends with whomever she wants to be friends with."
"Sure, because I'm sure that's what Bruce Wayne is doing with Damian." Slade snickered.
"From what I can tell Damian has no idea who Mari is."
"Are you sure?"
"It doesn't matter. I know that if he ever lays a hand on Mari she has the ability to kick his ass. I trained her better."
"So you're beginning to train her."
"Yeah, but only slightly and she doesn't realize it. I signed her up for acrobatics lessons and martial arts, it gives me an excuse to practice with her at home. She loves it, just like I did. Except she pretends she is Robin, which is… An interesting experience." Unwilling to speak further on the subject Dick turned his attention towards to Slade.
"Anyways I have a feeling I won't be going to work today, will I?"
"Unfortunately not, I need your help today."
"What's wrong?"
"Jason Carver, thief and murderer, took 13 children, only one survived. He's been on my list for some time and he just popped into town to find some new victims."
"Why do you need my help? You're perfectly capable of handling this on your own." Dick asked confused.
"It's Wayne; he's been stirring trouble in the underworld. If we aren't careful he will catch on to our plans. I need you to do me a favor, and it's a big one."
Dick motioned to the side and the two men walked down the street and continued to talk; placing distance between them and the Wayne limo that still sat precariously on the street side.
"I need you to reintroduce yourself into Bruce's world. I need eyes kept on him and you're the only one that can do it."
Slade recognized the look Dick was giving him, the same one years ago when they were on a cargo plane together, as if Slade had two heads except this time the look was intensified and filled with anger.
"No! How dare you ask me that?" Hatred was laced in his words but Slade did not flinch at them, he knew the hatred wasn't meant for him.
"I wouldn't ask you if it wasn't necessary. If you want to bring peace to this world then we have to keep tabs on our greatest enemy."
"What would I even say?" Dick said roughly, debating whether or not Slade had become insane.
"I don't know. That is up to you I guess, but you have an in with that boy. I suggest you use it." Slade walked ahead of Dick then turned around walking backwards, "Now come along we have work to do."
-2015-
A couple of days had passed since Dick called that number and tonight was the night that Slade had asked him to meet him. Dick expected some factory basement or an old warehouse. Instead Dick found himself outside of a large apartment building with instructed to head up to the large studio on the top floor. The lights flicked in and out as he walked into the main hall and towards the elevator. It was old and falling apart, and Dick was partly wary about going up it. Yet when the door opened a newly refurbished studio apartment was there. A single black bed sat in the corner, messy in one corner and neat in the other. Except for the mini kitchen across from it, the rest of the apartment was set up as a gym. The floor descended two steps and opened up to a large expanse. There were weights to lift in one corner, and an open space for sparing. There was more equipment littered throughout but what caught his eye was Slade beating the stuffing out of a punching bag. This was going to be a strange day.
"Slade." He said softly unsure whether or not Slade recognized his presence or not. It was dark in there, as dark as it was outside. It was 1 AM but he was wide awake, after years and years of working with the Bat he had grown accustom to the hours of the night. It was something that he had been unable to shake with the Titans and on certain days it weighed heavily on them, especially since Star was such an early riser.
"Hello Richard." The man said taking one last violent swing at the bag then placing both hands gently on it to bring its erratic swinging to a quick halt.
There was silence between the two as Slade unwrapped his knuckles. The man remained silent as if he was waiting for Dick to speak, but he did not know what to say.
"I don't know what you want me to say." Dick said dropping his duffle bag to the floor. He was ready to go, wearing a black tank top and grey sweats that allowed him to move around easily. He had removed his shoes at the door and now stood barefoot on the cold wood floors. A small shiver ran through him and Slade noticed, letting out a small smile that Slade did not intend Dick to see.
"How about, Hello?" Slade said as he wiped the sweat from his neck, face, and forehead.
"Hello Slade." Dick said slightly annoyed the casual manner Slade was putting forth.
"See how nice that was? Now you tell me about your day and I'll tell you about mine." Slade joked as he entered his kitchen.
"We are not friends Slade." Dick said now completely annoyed.
"Of course not! I am your mentor, and you are my mentee." Slade motioned for him to join him. There was a small bar that separated the two men, Dick sat down on one end while Slade stood on the other.
"You are not my mentor." Dick said
"Excuse me but I thought you would prefer that terminology as opposed to master and apprentice but if you-"
"No!" Dick interrupted. "If you have to call this anything, then you are my mentor. Now are we going to train or what?"
Slade turned to the side to chuckled completely laid back but then sent a fist right towards Dicks face. He blocked the punch easily but Slade made no other move.
"You see that? You have the skills you seek boy, they just need to be honed, adjusted, and improved upon. Right now we are going to work on honing your abilities."
Slade leaned down and pulled out a glass bottle of whisky, and pour two drinks. He handed one to Dick and kept one for himself.
"How is this going to hone my abilities?"
"My dear boy the biggest problem most fighters have is getting out of their own heads. This will help you do that. Now quickly!" Slade said.
Warily Dick took it and knocked the entire glass back. He shook his head as the alcohol rushed to his head, and Slade let out a laugh as he did the same.
"Follow me." Slade said motioning to the side again. They walked over to the sparring area and the first thing Dick noticed was the sensation of heat underneath his toes. Strangely the floor was heated to a warm and comfortable temperature that contrasted the stark cold of the living area.
"Take this." Slade said tossing a wooden bow staff at Dick. He caught it with ease and just as he caught it Slade came at him straight for the forehead. Dick thrust the staff up with both hands blocked the move.
"Good job but watch your feet. You have an opening."
"You came at me with no warning; I had no time to prepare." Dick said angrily, struggling to keep up against Slade's strength.
"Criminals and heroes alike will come at you with no warning. You must be ready to fight at all times, the world is your enemy and you are constantly at war." Slade dropped down and swept Dick's feet out from under him. Dick fell to the floor and found the staff at his throat. Slade held it there for a moment to make his point then removed it and held his hand out for Dick to take.
Dick took Slade's hand and pulled himself up. Using the force of his weight against Slade he charged into him and flipped him onto the floor then placed his bow staff in Slade's gut.
"That was underhanded and dirty. Good job." Slade said with a smile on his face.
Dick felt a pang in his gut at Slade's words but the alcohol prevented him from thinking about it too much. The pain came and went as quickly as he had downed the whiskey. Slade got off the floor and the two men waited patiently for the other to attack. Dick decided to make the first move this time, he came at Slade from the side but the man easily blocked the attack and retaliated. The men continued this process back and forth, attacking and blocking.
"Come on Robin, I am leaving defenses wide open for you yet you refused to take them." Slade said disappointed, he had expected more of a fight like in their past.
"What are you talking about?" Dick asked feeling sweat drip down his face.
"This." Slade attacked and when Dick moved to block Slade got in close and kneed Dick in the gut. As he curled into himself Slade hit him on his right knocked him to the side and onto the ground where Slade held his staff out.
"I left the same opening the entire time. You need to learn when to take your shot and to recognize when you have opening of your own." Slade said, picking up Dick's staff, walking away, and racking up the staffs. Dick breathed in and out furiously; he was angry and agitated that Slade was treating him like a child.
"Come boy. That didn't hurt that much." Slade said as Dick got to his feet clutching his stomach.
At a fast pace Dick wildly went to punch Slade but the man easily dodged his arm, caught it and sent Dick stumbling back.
"Good but you lacked control and conviction. You have to learn to control your anger, harness it, and turn it into something you can use against your enemies. Wayne probably taught you your entire life to not let your anger get the best of you. That's a lie because anger always comes out in fights and you need to be prepared to use it or it will get you killed."
Slade walked back into the kitchen signaling the end of their training. Dick was angry but he suppressed and dropped to the floor. He laid down and stared up at the blinding light before him.
"I'm not a criminal Slade. Criminals take their anger out on people. I am a hero and I am better than that. We have morals, a code, and that is why we win." He said almost absentmindedly.
"If that's what you want to believe. I just don't understand it; how you heroes are so obsessed with your goddamn morals." Slade said tossing the water bottle at Dick from across the room.
Dick shot his hand up and caught it with ease.
"What do you mean?" Dick said rolling onto his stomach and looking at Slade as he twisted the cap open.
"Heroes as they call themselves are a bunch of self serving hypocrites." Slade said as if the answer was obvious.
"How is saving the lives of people self serving?" Dick shot back narrowing his eyes skeptically at Slade.
"I mean you fight to put away these bad guys into a facility that has no actual chance of containing them whether or not they have abilities. Then they get out and now they have a chance to wreak havoc all over again, thus enforcing the constant need for your protection. It's a trap you see, the people who are supposed to be saving the people are the ones putting civilians in danger."
A permanent scowl was etched upon Dicks face, strangely enough that had never occurred to him.
"I don't want to get into this with you right now Slade." Dick said setting his head down in his arms.
Slade let out a small chuckle knowing he had stumped the boy there.
"Of course not my dear boy."
"Have you found anything out about my parents yet?" He asked eager to change the subject.
"I have my people searching, I suspect we will find something but it may take some time." Slade said walked over to the boy and sitting upon the steps.
"Of course it will." Slade let out a laugh at the parallels between what Dick had just said and what he had said moments earlier.
Dick suddenly realized how much Slade was laughing and it was a fact that disturbed him and annoyed him greatly. Why was Slade laughing, what was so damn funny, that his arch nemesis felt comfortable enough to laugh at his enemy?
"What is with all the laughing?" Dick said aggravated with the man.
"I find this all to be quite funny."
"Why?" Dick asked angrily.
"Because if things had gone just a little bit differently you would've grown up here and we wouldn't be having these stupid argument over morals. " Dick frowned at Slade's remark, "I must ask you what it was like growing up with Wayne as a father figure."
He just could not stomach the idea of growing up with that man as his father. Though Dick did wonder what it would be like. Strangely enough in that moment Slade seemed to have a fatherly air about him, something Bruce never had. Some kind of pride oozed out from him when he looked at Dick. In that moments Dick felt a bit of a weakening in his barrier, he knew it was due to the alcohol but nonetheless he let his question through.
"It was okay." Dick said softly, "He wasn't meant to be a father, at least not when this all began. He tried really hard in the beginning, to be around and all. Between Batman, work, and me, I always came last. He had a hard time looking at me in the beginning. I assume it was because whenever he looked at me he saw himself. Broken and beaten by the world that took away the people most precious to him. Then I became Robin and things were good for a while, Batgirl joined in and we became a sort of family." Dick cringed slightly at that statement. The only time he ever felt part of a family was when he was in uniform. Oftentimes he wondered Bruce only valued him as a protege not a son.
"Slowly things got worse, and Bruce and I started to drift apart. He wasn't around and he stopped caring. I only ever saw him when we patrolled. I think he just forgot that he couldn't just be a father to Robin but to Dick also. When I got shot by Two Face and Joker shot Batgirl. Then he never looked at me the same way. That's why I left, and went to Jump, I was sick of just being a part of his past that he regrets. Sometimes I wish he didn't take me in…" Dick looked up realizing he had rambled on, sharing more than he thought.
"Not that I want you to have done so…" He added quickly, replacing the barrier Slade had just broken down.
"Of course not, I could only have provided you with the love and support of a parent who understood your background and pain." Slade said with sarcasm dripping on his words.
"Empty words fall upon deaf ears, Slade." Dick jabbed at Slade.
"That is until you realize that they aren't empty." Slade got up from the steps and looked towards the boy.
"It's late and you're tired. The apartment downstairs is only accessibly by that staircase and I suggest you stay the night down there."
Dick looked at the man warily.
"No way, I'm going home." He said getting up but almost stumbled.
"I would not suggest that, you are still feeling the effects of alcohol on you and your exhausted. If you try to go home now on that bike of yours, you're going to get someone hurt or worse yourself. Now march downstairs and get some sleep. I'll wake you up at 8 in the morning." Slade said turning the boy around and pointing him towards the staircase. Dick knew better than to test the man, and slowly nodded.
"There was more in that drink than you let on huh?" Dick asked.
"It was more concentrated than normal. Alcohol does not affect me the same way as it does normal people so I have this stuff specially made." He following slowly behind to make sure Dick didn't fall down the stairs.
"Goodnight Slade." Dick said now slipping into a delirious state of fatigue.
"Goodnight Dick." Slade chuckled again as the boy descended the staircase.
Dick didn't bother to turn on any lights as he entered the bottom apartment. Light from the moon shown in brightly and he saw the frame of the bed in the corner. He walked quickly over and dropped onto it without hesitation. His mind calmed and he went down without a world, passing into a state of bliss.
When Dick woke up he wasn't sure where exactly he was. A large apartment surrounded him, furnished in whites and calming blues. Light filtered in from everywhere so Dick knew it certainly wasn't Wayne Manor or his room at Titans Tower. In some ways this almost felt more comfortable, like this time at the circus where the light shinning into his room would wake him up. His memory quickly came back to him and he searched for a clock and saw one above the kitchen. It was 12 PM and he knew Kori would be looking for him and Bruce would soon be sending out a SWAT team to find his ass. He jumped out and ran up the stairs to find a plate of eggs and bacon. Underneath the plate was a message from Slade,
"Make sure you eat the ENTIRE meal. You need the energy. Come back tonight at 1 you will need the energy."
Dick put the message down then looked at the clock then at the food. He sighed realizing that leaving 5 minutes later wouldn't make that much of a difference at this point. He downed the food and headed for home. Only Alfred was there to greet him with a secondary breakfast that Dick hardly touched. Alfred seemed quite displeased by the gesture, but Dick just wanted to know where his girlfriend and his estranged foster father were.
"I ate your breakfast Alfie-"
"Hardly" He muttered clearly disappointed with him, but Dick just wasn't hungry.
"Still… Where are Bruce and Kori? I don't understand why they aren't here."
"Master Bruce took young Miss Anders out for breakfast and took her on a tour of Wayne Enterprises. Master Bruce texted me and informed me that he and Kori will be returning soon."
Dick's face conveyed a look of absolute shock at that statement.
"I am shocked too, but it seems he has taking a shinning to Miss Anders. Bruce does seem to be able to find the best qualities in people, just like he saw the best in you."
"Then he drowned it in his self righteous darkness…" Dick muttered under his breath, too quiet for even Alfred's keen ears to hear him. Despite this Alfred noticed the bitter look on his face.
"Dick… Bruce truly did try his best, he was just not meant to be a parent." Alfred said attempting to lay a hand upon Dick's shoulder but he forcefully shrugged it off.
"Then why did he take me in Alfred? If he was not meant to be a parent, then why would he ever think to take in a kid like me?"
"Perhaps he saw himself and you and wanted to make a difference in your life."
"Or he saw himself in me and he wanted to see if he could recreate himself in my image. He handed me my uniform and trained me. He only ever cared about me when I wore that Robin outfit and then he tried to take it away from me!"
"He didn't take it away! He was just-"
"Worried!?" Dick shouted now out of his seat, "If he was worried about my safety he would've never let me join his mission in the first place! This- That was just an act of selfishness, he didn't care about me just about himself. He didn't want a kid messing things up for him. I was a LIABILITY!"
Dick felt a pain against his cheek and his head forcefully sent to the side. It stung violently and his eyes moved to see Alfred's gloved hand swaying awkwardly in the air. Alfred stared at his own hand, as shocked as Dick was. Slowly Alfred lowered his hand and turned his back to Dick. Without seeing the man, Dick could sense the tears welling up in his eyes.
"Look Dick, I don't know why he did it. One day, he came home with a scared little boy who had just seen the most tragic thing in the world. A young boy who mirrored the one I comforted after he found his parent's dead in an alley way. Bruce is not the best parents, and certainly not a father figure. He makes questionable decisions, and yes I do believe that one day he wants you to take his place. Any father would want to pass down his legacy to his son. Whatever rift between Bruce and you, it needs to be fixed if anything is going to get better. With Zucco's death and the anniversary of your parent's coming up, you need your family Dick. He loves you." Alfred placed a clenched hand over his heart attempting to steady himself.
Dick stood there silently then turned and walked away, slowly rubbing his cheek.
"I'm sorry Alfie" He began softly, "I've been gone for four years, I have changed, and he has changed, but one thing will never change. I know I can never trust him to tell me the truth, so now I'm going to find it myself."
Alfred simply turned around, his heart heavy as he watched Dick walk toward his room. He heard the door slam close and also heard another one. Bruce and Kori walked in as he explained to her one of the latest projects that the Wayne Tech Logistics Division was working on, but as their eyes met Alfred's their conversation stopped. Alfred frantically wiped his eyes clear and turned his back once again to the two.
"Welcome home Master Bruce. Miss Anders I hope you enjoyed your day out!" Alfred said turning to face them again with an empty smile.
"What happened Alfred, is Dick alright?" Bruce asked him.
Something in that statement seemed to flip in Alfred, seething sarcastic words began to flow out of him,
"Young Master Dick is quite alright, but I'm afraid the emotional damage you have done to him is simply irreparable!" He looked quickly right at Kori, "I don't know what went on these past four years Miss Anders but I would be quite gracious to learn what has stolen my little boy away." Alfred turned and marched away from the two leaving them confused, and concerned about the state of the Wayne household.
A/N: I hope you guys liked this chapter, I cranked it out pretty quickly in comparison to the past. So be happy and review, thank yall!