Nightwing: A Series of Doubts – Give and Take –

by Inkblot24

Dick Grayson leaves the Titans at seventeen going on eighteen to the city of Bludhaven to make something of himself. He has only his few allies, no reputation and no new costume to strike fear into the hearts of Haven's very worst mobsters. That is, until he meets a mercenary who turns his whole outlook onto its head. Dick then has to make a choice; save the city or save himself?

10. Snow Falling - All is Found

Nightwing; A Series of Doubts – Give and Take –

/

Chapter 10: Snow Falling – All Is Found

/

Slade puts out to get back. After falling or being pushed off of a bridge in Blud, Babs has some interesting luck on her end and finds her way back to Dick's apartment. One thing is, he's never coming back to it. Jason is in this, Bruce is mentioned and coaxing of an abuser to victim and next to blackmail is infused into this slightly. Here we go!

/

~ Snow is falling down, Tata! Look! ~

~ That, my little Robin is a sign, a blessing that after it melts then comes spring and so many new beginnings. ~

~ Really? Snow can tell you like a fortune teller how a life can be? Will it tell mine? ~

~ Hah…one day, little Robin, you will understand why the snow falls so slowly, my little Robin…. ~

~ Robin…~

~ ROBIN. ~

/

The boy had heard his mother talking about winter once before, in a dream…

"Awake?"

That, wasn't her voice as bolted up in his seat. Getting up, his arms were only partly hooked to a chair.

"Glad you could join us."

Slade stood not in mask or regalia, but with white hair to a certain length over his ears, that same to that showed his impressive strength and a white patch, over that blank hole in his face.

He was smiling, not as wide yet, excitedly about as he walked and tapped wooden floors with his black army boots. "This was a piece of our agenda, I was worried you wouldn't come to see it firsthand."

"What…are we…doing? Why did you kidnap –

"ABDUCT." Slade corrected with his smile fading. "You're not a child anymore, I want you to push from your doubts and I know you still hate me for…what was done. Might have been a bit reckless to start what –

"YOU raped me, Slade." Dick spat up at the man. "Nothing can atone for what you've already done."

"Not even…"

Slade walked over to a large switch on the wall, like in the basement at Titans tower.

The flicker near kept him from looking up, until the final bow when the big reveal had the boy gasping.

"You are a hero, this was what I'd meant to give to you if you made an impact, and you have." He was grinning from ear to ear at the room. "A paid for and in your name studio flat and high rise - with all of the amenities, while this base also has some hidden treasures to show for its classical history…"

He pushed a new hidden panel in the wall and it looked out of nothing Batman wouldn't give an A in his robotics course. "Weapons for the hero, all of his uniforms, hooks, bells and bobbles." Slade nodded to his work in appreciation of it. "All of it, fully signed in your name; if you are ready to leave that dump to Wayne and take it, then I don't have any part. It's all paid in cash, of course. Think of this now as MY belated real, Birthday gift to you and as a thanks for letting this man ride shotgun for a bit longer."

Dick really didn't know what to say, he was afraid yes would have this darn parasite prick him dry. He swallowed and moistened his throat until Slade came over and began to untie his student's wrists from the chair.

"It looks out over all of the city, not a bad view at this height…even through haze or snowfall…well, that and being as tall as any tower Wayne could construct." He chuckled and moved over to gaze out the window. Hands behind his back, the building was heated well in this sturdy unit of his very gifting. Dick had to be conflicted, so there was always one more thing to show the boy. Even a shatter and bullet proof sky light had the room much brighter than at night, snow falling so gentle as it barely covered the top to block out that glaring brightness.

"You also wanted to see it. "Slade examined a device by his hip as his pulled it up to his face, going with "walkie talkie" style.

"Bring it in." A crackle, not a word until the shifting doors of the studio shuddered back, making Dick twist around with another gasp.

"I've brought what you requested." The robot in black handed over the device on one knee as Dick's curious nature bordered on a speculative ire he'd cultivated – as if this robot was the reason, he was stuck battling another sociopathic murderer to the grave.

Slade took the sphere clock piece from his robotic servant with a smirk.

"Now, then." Slade waited until the robot was gone as he fiddled with some switches along the golden sphere's edges and base as well. Eye still on the boy wonder, as if he'd memorized every pulley and gear without prior instruction needed, that, made Dick very nervous.

"You wanted to see into your future, so think of this as a crystal ball…and take a deep…long, look…" He smiled as the kid came close, hands on either side of the on with his mouth ajar by its light.

Pure alchemy, as the art put into this relic was anything but cursed as it should have been.

Similar to a working gyrosphere, he did and certainly…. now, nothing could be denied as the light of time's grace took him far, far away…

/

~ You got into the academy bro, but what about the kingpin? ~

~ Wally, they truly trust Officer Grayson to fail and get hit up, but I'm not just some useless or corrupt cop –

~ Tarantula. ~

~ Mi amore…you're looking for Blockbuster? I'm looking for someone else who can keep up with me... ~

~ You won't get far! I know who are, Grayson! I'll snap that spiny neck until you stop chirping in MY city! ~

~ Catalina…you? You did this... I….no….no, I…~

~ Starfire, please…. I'm sorry but I can't be in that kind of relationship. It's either Tamaran, or I'm not a part of it. ~

~ The city is burning…God…. what have I done! Bruce…. Star…I can't, I can't go on like this…~

~ You were meant to be a Talon, Richard! The very best if only you'd consider dropping your old life and gaining one anew. Come with me, leave this city to the politicians that do nothing. I can be your guide, little flightless one. I can be your teacher again…~

~ I don't need saving, Bruce! Tim is taking over the role I gave up to finally have nothing to do with the Wayne family fortune. That's not who I am anymore! ~

~ HEY! Yah heard on the news, kid? Have a drink with us. Where yah headed, got any digs of yer own? Looking down on your luck, there...it seems. ~

~ I had to get out. Traveling is all I do these days…~

~ A MASSIVE RADIATION CLOUD NOW HANGS OVER THE CITY OF BLUDHAVEN, AND WE HAVE ONE HERO IN PARTICULAR TO THANK FOR THIS CATASTROPHE…~

~ SICKO. ~

~ CREEP. ~

~ BATMAN'S REPLACEMENT, JUS' A KOOK LIKE ALL THE REST. ~

~You're broke, Dick? Boo – fricken hoo! What happened to your job as a gym instructor? What happened to what I gave to you? What happened to being there for each other!?~

~ I'm sorry, Babs…~

~ Leslie, yeah. I'm calling about my ward, Dick…yeah, can you squeeze him in on Tuesday? Thanks, see you then. ~

~ He's not in his apartment, Bruce…. he never even said goodbye…~

~ Dear friends; we are gathered here to mourn in the passing of a beloved member of the faithful and righteous, the good-hearted son of the also deceased Mary and John Grayson….

~ Goodbye, Mi amore…I am, forever grateful that you were alive…~

~ Goodbye, Dick! I can't stand it either, but you didn't stop, you always suffered for the sake of some big dream you had…. I wish they would have come true. I wish…~

/

Dick pulled away from the Golden sphere as it finally had released him from seeing something Slade well before. Had that all been his future? To die and end up a pilgrim of his own depressive delusions?

"That…that can't be how it ends…" Dick shuddered and fell to his knees, arms hugging his chest so tight.

"I DIED in that world, my time where everyone who loved me…remembered me more dead than alive!"

He sniffed with his lower lip quaking. "Am I that worthless on my own without Bruce? Kori was…that…she wanted multiple lovers because Tamaran –

"Dick…"

"Because, pant*…she…. Hunh*….is…."

"Dick!"

Slade's voice broke the noise in the boy's mind away as two hands clasped the sides of his arms and had him to stand up from the wooden floorboards. One eye looking so very determined to do as it had sought to, to never have to say or explain why. Dick looked away and bit his lip, broken blue eyes on the glass panes of his…. his…

Tears freely fell, before he was pulled in close to someone, someone who smelled of cedar and gun fire from long ago as he was petted atop his head…like his mother used to do when she was still alive.

"You can cry about it, but the present; the only truth you need to know, is that you won't fall like that again. Not while I'm around, Dick. So go ahead, use me and cry. I want you to forget about everything for a moment…. just breath, and I'll keep you safe. I promise."

"Y- y – you don't care…. a- a -about me, S-Slade…." Dick hiccupped into the man's dark shirt. "I…I…. can't…. see it…."

"The future?" Slade asked softly as he continued to rub circles along the teen's back in soothing motions. "Then we'll figure it out, together. Like I said, I'm not leaving, not yet. You still need my help. So, for now? Take it, for as long as you can… and don't let go."

Dick whimpered one more time before his cries turned to bawling as Slade's shirt became littered in crust and the tears of a minor. A boy who was one day going to call him over in thanks. Even if he didn't know it yet.

From a glass pane a few feet across, a mirror for that vain pretty boy he'd also installed to keep an eye on his investment, he smiled a Cheshire smile. Richard was falling deeper and deeper into this spider's web. The only way to escape it now, would be to either perish or kill the one responsible for entrancing him.

They both knew it even into the future, that Dick's only kill had been an accident. A loss of his innocence through pain, a bomb going sky high in the center of his city, and the emblem of that lonely blue bird…

He'd be sure to clip its wings before it ever tried again.

Before he ever tried once more, to become Deathstroke's perfect nemesis….

/

This was it. Babs felt the ice fill her lungs; legs dangled as she coughed and attempted to expel the rest.

"Whoa, took quite a long trip…. you ok, Sweetheart?"

Eyes fluttering open before she took a deep long gasp back to life, Barbara Gordon rose and clung to the assassin's shirt collar.

"Who – what just happened?? Did I die, or –

The mask he wore was more a helmet and cowl in black, his uniform was of heavy buckles and wing dings….

She blinked.

"You bounced back pretty quick for a suicide –

"I…" She huffed and let him go, finding a blanket over her shoulders by this stranger's odd form of kindness. "I didn't jump. I was pushed, and I have to go back-

"Wait a second, hold up. Don't get your pa –

"No sexist remarks, pal!" Babs snapped and pointed a straight finger at this creeper. " Who are you and how the heck did you save me from falling off of that bridge?? I was not dead – I am not, I mean. You…what is your deal?"

/

A bit of fire crackled as Babs's eyes spotted a small hearth. A home.

"I saved you, but most people would be throwing punches at my face –

"DON'T come in here in your costume!"

The two froze as a blonde, light eyed male in his own dress down suit and an apron put a hand to his hips from the hall. Dim light working to accentuate his more effeminate silhouette.

"Andy…. papa's tryin' to work he-

"She needs our attention, but not with you dressed like Owl - man!"

Barbie gawked, as a sharp gasp no soon after the fact, followed.

"How does he know-

"SASS – MOUTH?" Grunted the devil to the angel. "Could you be anymore dim, bud?" The dark clad hunter pulled off his hood to reveal the yin to the blonde male's impressive yang...

Sun and moon, how interesting…

"She's on the run an' something could be havin' it out for this cherry blossom over here before I came along." The dark-haired brute rose to confront his friend.

Like a married…

Oh.

Babs nodded.

They were actually, she was super aware.

The Andy character sighed and tried not to stir up so much trouble while their supper was still in the oven. "Look, sweetie. This maniac and I work at a place where we can always help you with a case along the line of murder… if it is a supernatural or intergalactic -

"Don't tell her that, dummy! C'mon, Andy, that's top-secret info. We can't spill it."

"What? And let this poor "her" character get taken by a shadow in the night –

"Sorry!" Babs tried to interrupt the lover's quarrel a moment. "Did you say, a shadow? I was pushed by one, but it fought really well." She told the two squawking lovers.

"Couldn't land one hit…is that a case you can probably take for me, maybe?" She squeaked out the question, knowing it was going to be a very, long night until she found her way home…

"What can you offer up?" Midnighter crossed his arms as Babs gave her best impression of the boy wonder's smile.

"Everything you want to catch the bad guy, and then some." She boasted. "I'm no damsel, boys. I'm, actually a bit of a whiz kid with one powerful hard drive."

/

Midnighter and Apollo are only in this briefly because both are kind of like Slade in some issues and don't really die. Ah, so the shadow may be unmasked and then what? Will Dick be swayed by Slade's human side? And Slade never want a nemesis?? Find out!