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?

16. To Your Future Alliances

Nightwing; A Series of Doubts – Give and Take –

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Chapter 16: To Your Future Alliances

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This will be the turning point; Dick believes Deathstroke has his back as per the syndrome and Slade's going get inside this kid's head even more to never be discarded with each inch by inch of conditioning – He's telling the kid, "You did us all proud and living in Blud means killing? Oh, that's normal here! Be a vigilante cause all people are evil yadda, and what will Dick do once he fights back? Finds out the grooming from Slade was really a thing not in his head? Well, you tell me. This Slade isn't familiar with the concept of boundaries, so what if he pushed Dick away? Instantly, things would show their true colors. Into it! I was going to ask writer Aguna if they will allow me to continue Stalker since…I read some fan remakes or trials and cringed, big time. No flow! You need to make it feel painful and like a horror story. A true relic, yet an embodiment of the genre, so?

Why not? So, Aguna? Would love to have your word on having the pleasure, let me know on my page if you don't get a chance (of course, ten years later….)

World building is only hard for fantasy writers and cyber punk. More steampunk myself. Anyway, rambles aside? Sixteen!

/

Chaos, pure and unadulterated madness, as Slade shut the door with a "bang" to the factory, that was their last destination spot.

Before Dick turned; with his suit swapped out of for a black top and long cargos with army boots to bombard his keeper – he swerved around to give his mentor a piece of that grief, that which had truly been long withheld.

"YOU KILLED HIM???" Dick battled the man with his shouting, while Slade only ignored the metal beatings and proceeded in turning more machines, flipping more switches on the many grey walls of the large factory.

A churning of machines came to life while Dick kept yelling.

"Y- you…. you said we'd be stopping him…. Not facing Batgirl and…you set it all up, didn't you??" Dick laughed out in a barking yelp, his hand covered over his sweaty forehead now, he was quite ready to throw in the towel.

"You're making me kill…Tim was…" He stuttered. B-b-babs. This is all a big joke to you?! That a killer would teach me to save a city that I barely know??? That you could ever be anything but a miserly, disgruntled, pig headed…. vicious –

" Watch your mouth." Slade snapped round and flung up yet another switch up by the wall, the belt to some monstrosity rolling like hell fire, groaning as if wishing to rise from its long rest for eons.

"I did give you the means at which to defend yourself."

Another clacking hiss as the factory turned into a symphony, almost exactly like Slade's first haunt in Jump, some things just never died. Dick cussed to himself in his own head. Teeth bared, he should not have to stay quiet.

"We can't continue," He decided, barely holding on to his reality, knowing what he had dons WAS in fact a criminal action..

"Not if it means I-

Another Clack * of steel interrupted the boy wonder. He bit his lip, a fear impure; fresh on his skin like needles above and below the skin's epidermal layer.

Great, PTSD never came with a warning label.

" Stop! –

Another set of bars, chords as lightening, strung to his heart as he swayed with young hands clasped over his ears. Fresh sparkling drops fell as Slade's dizzying spell wore the boy down. No protest worked; the man's hall of mirror effect had the brat teetering all over again as he spun, until…

"This is all for your benefit, child." Slade let another switch up, only on the dash this time; even as a simple click made the boy wonder, whimper.

Was the machine, Slade? What he now the thing the kid feared the most?

Couldn't have that.

Flashbacks would have this all for naught as Slade came forth to place a gauntlet clad hand to the boy's upper arm, one moving to brush away a stray tear and to tug Richard to the man's armored chest.

For a moment, hearing the rattling and humming of artificial life, it was soothing enough to the kid to let Slade bring things to such a state. Dick closed his eyes…then, they popped back open and his arms tugged to get away.

"N- no! We can't do this! I'm serious! No hero ever kills! Sla –

" Shush…look." Slade turned the boy around to see what these creatures of metal and fire had been putting together for the man's toy box.

"What….is…."

" Always about you, and this is the decision I want you to make." Dick was released a moment as Slade recovered the finished product from the belt, another being made as he had this item possibly in its final stage…

The curtain drawing, up.

A blue staff in one hand, a rang with a strange curvature to it…almost all black, blue and silver…

Shaped as a bird with its wings…so gracefully spread along, Dick went to it as Slade handed the kid his newly crafted creation.

"The new you won't wear Christmas colors to save this city, forever." He said, slinking behind the kid.

Devil on his shoulder, and no angel in sight, Dick stood now… mesmerized by the pretty thing in his grip.

Metal and…so cold…so, heavy?

"Is this ok to throw?"

"A prototype." Slade said whilst smiling, before he did the boy a favor and pulled away his face plate of his armored mask as Deathstroke, where Slade had lain all this time. To one knee, a proposal was had, the boy wonder that blushing bride he'd expect to see in the near future. His one eye searched the kid's as if he'd gladly peel it back for a .over's kiss.

He didn't need to. Slade had a great sight in front of him already. He could wait, savor the flavor of his boy's defeat first.

"There was a name that came easily. Found it on a run in with Superman…. a character of his people's lore called, Nightwing…. You could bring that myth to life, little bird." Slade took the boy's gloved hand and brought it close, the kid too shaken to know what to do.

What? Had he ever gotten a proposal from any lover before, or had he never really –

Slade would be his first….

That made his day as Dick was yanked down a step from his black and blue pedestal.

" Become Nightwing, tell the bat who you really are now. A hero that isn't afraid to make bitter sacrifices for this city, and for the people who need a hero…no matter what blood stains their soul. BE that hero, Dick."

The boy shook his head, while Slade nodded his, bringing the kid closer towards his grey, hypnotic eye.

" Do it, and that kill will be more than an act of defiance against the bat. It will mean…only a few more low lives in Blud you'll have left to keep behind bars for the next time…And your policing, degree?" Slade cocked his head to the side and questioned.

Dick's breathing came out in small gasps, so Slade remedied that with a touch to the kid's face.

"You're almost to your goal, so don't look back." Slade's eye narrowed as he grinned, his evil side still at large while Robin couldn't see it as before. He'd become too easy to pity. Too human…

"We….c- ca –

"CAN, should be your words, boy wonder…. Nightwing."

Dick swallowed; tongue dry as the ears made him queasy. The guilt and stress had caught on as Slade let go, Dick's hand feeling lighter, emptier. He had no idea yet, but his inner most fears craved the attention given from others, even if he had pushed them all out of his life.

Slade knew him better than Dick knew himself.

"We'll let you sleep on the idea…. oh, unless you have another name you'd like to pull from the hat."

Slade stood and placed his mask back onto his face. "Now that you know about this factory, and my hope that you'll leave the red bird's tights and cape for the next boy wonder to wear, maybe by the next few months, weeks…. you may come to crave a change of pace as well…" Slade tapped a hand onto his hip. "How did the new cycle, ride? Pretty smooth, right?"

"It, was like all the rest…" Dick rubbed his arms and went to lean against the control panel of the conveyor system. "All black and blue…I, don't know if that's rea –

"Never say never." Slade stopped him quickly. "Recall, I saw who you are in that future, and I know you are afraid of Nightwing becoming an absolute failure –

"No, that's…" Dick bit his lip. "No –

"You are!" Slade found his ammo and loaded that metaphorical gun. "You have to be wary of the future, I suppose…but, Dick? Do you remember who you didn't have as a guide in that same vision?"

Dick shook his head, eyes lowered. Slade didn't pry. The seed was already planted as deep as it needed to root.

To sprout into HIM.

Me, boy. You didn't have your beloved mentor to take you into the light and out of the dark, to give you that running start you so desperately craved…"

"Beloved? Really?" Scoffed the kid. "You're not a princess and I'm not your prince charming."

"What could stop us from working together in perfect harmony?" Slade tilted his head and said in a rather mocking way. "You, a hero with a vision, while I have the tools for you to LIVE those dreams."

"I'd be better off getting a job and paying you back…"

"You can." Slade slunk by and knew the kid would flinch right now from his touch while they were in uniform. "But, you won't be able to. I did cut your funds off by having the bot startle Wayne into bringing up his generous walls. You are no longer his son, Dick."

The boy was sure he'd cry about this news. "That, was why my card at the metro…it stopped working…"

"Because." Slade came up and to the kid's chest to lift his chin, and Dick never stopped him while close to tears. Too focused on his emotions to bat an arm out, what progress…

"You'll have a new benefactor, someone who truly cares about you…and I've taken you from him, to protect what he never should have kept caged. You'll get your own account going. Enough to continue your day classes AND to bump you up a few credits for just being exceptionally you."

"Flattery won't work, remember?" Dick snarked back, using Slade's own words against him.

"Could it be the only thing that keeps you happy, and by my side? Then, I think I'll take my chances if it isn't…."

The man looked into those eyes and remembered the day, the hour and the year that this boy would be lying fully beneath his master. Laid bare and blushing as the blue bird finally submitted his everything to the rather, hungry, red lion.

/

The heroes didn't all ride out of Gotham right away.

Jason pulled Batman to the side as Tim found his way "conveniently" a link to the discussion on the comms that the adults were having.

~All this time. ~ Batman grumbled out and put a hand to his face as the ship drove itself to Gotham.

~At the time, I'd believed the boy to be as straight as any valedictorian with a bright future ahead of him. ~ Selina chuckled, rather sorry for the bat's child being what he was…to someone who was using that share of the kid's charm to charm his way into office. ~

~Don't put it past Deathstroke to get elected as mayor with Richard's help. ~ Ivy wove a curly wavy tendril in-between her fingers. Babs sadly, understood.

~ Deathstroke has been blowing up his evidence; he's not just a threat, he's a full – blown terrorist! –

~ Hold up, B. ~ Jason was the first to suggest a group huddle. ~ Dick is an absolute victim – he isn't a crime boss. He's like me, almost an adult, stupid as dirt and a bit too soft. We all know that Slade weaseled his way into Dick's life, but how is the question. Why would Dickie bird fricken trust a wanted man with his affairs like Secretary and Mercenary both hold water? They. Don't. ~

He sat back and basked in the fact that no one thought he was wrong. Even Batman had things to say, glaring and words to douse onto his remaining kids to warn them about getting too big for their breeches.

~ For once, I agree with the meat – headed kid. ~

Ivy heard Jay's indignant scowl and ignored those baby teeth snapping back from the next seat over.

~ You all have a soft spot for the kid, I forever loved those shorts – he rocked those shorts better than his replacement and I can't believe Batman gave it an ok...bad daddy bats, eh? ~

She giggled, earning a concerned look from Babs.

Selina put up a clawed finger, trying to see pat the imaginings going on inside the doctor's head, then crignig at it. ~ That, he did….but my question is why the little runt at all? He was with the kids out in Cali for a few years, was he not? ~

~ It was with the Titans that Slade blackmailed them, made Robin's team go to hard lengths to stop Slade at the time from taking over the city. ~ Bruce explained, though saw a parallel, as if two faces were to the same ego. Somewhat.0

~ Deathstroke was kind of….different. ~ Ivy seethed and waited for the bat and cat's flames to dance her way.

~ As in, Slade takes over cities and blackmails underage heroes to do his bidding, while the Deathstroke WE all know is a fan of flying solo. As in, even his kids are only told to run crying home to mama or get a spanking. ~

~ You are just a joy to be around, you know that? ~ Teased Selina as Pam crossed her legs and just half listened to the comment outside of her own theorizing.

~ Then…~ Babs brought her head up, a gasp on he lips. ~ Then, they can't be the same person; this Slade is another Slade! It all makes sense! –

~ Future – robots, groping little boys and helping heroes like a chivalric prick. ~ Todd put a fist to his hand like Robin used to do. ~THAT was why he just kept making me –

~ Everybody hates Jason. ~

~ Hey! I'm serious, Barbie! What if that Slade some how took over while the real one THAT the Titans fought –

~ Time alternates, Jason? Have you decided to call the Joker, Papa too? ~ Ivy joked back.

~ What about brutal kidnapping and the RAPE! ~

~ I think this is all we need to push into their territory and blow up his house for a change. ~ Jason waited for the others to comply. ~ Anyone? Who's with me? Come on! Arson is only a crime if –

~ Access denied. ~ Bruce logged out as Selina shook her head. ~ Sorry kid, a dead bird won't be the last thing I'll need to know in my nine lives. ~ Logging off, Jay turned to Babs. ~ Come on! Covert – we could …~

~ Just, let us save him by not being them, Jason…Sorry.. ~ Her link was dubbed unavailable as Ivy just scoffed and didn't want to have any idiots to tempt into submission today. She was out on good behavior for a few days. Then, she'd see her muffin who was currently at Black Gate.

~ I wouldn't mind getting inside the mind of a murdering psychopath. ~

Jason lifted his ears up to the sound of a younger tone. ~ You were eavesdropping Timmy? ~

~ And you were going to go in, guns blazing without a real plan in case you failed. ~

Todd flustered and rubbed his neck. ~ Ah, well…yeah, I'm not much of a tactician to B …

~ Then, let me help you break Dick outta prison. ~ Tim sent a little bit of info to his bro directly and to no one else.

~ So he doesn't end up at Black Gate with Harley and the Joker, one day…~

/

This chapter got too long with the whole bat – chat and such so….next chapter will be Dick and Slade setting up shop while Slade's tricks are out in the open to Batman and his crew. Todd wants to prove that Dick can be saved, but is it a bad idea to know why he shouldn't? Find out! Chapter 17 coming up.