Nightwing; A Series of Doubts – Give and Take –
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Chapter 20: A Bird in Hand is Worth Two in the Bush
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Taking a serious leap on this before I finish my other fictions. Enjoy!
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She was sure he'd go all for it, yet the thing that fell into Constantine's lap was not to question.
"A….mask?" Zee wondered as John looked to see that it was orange, not orange and black. Good as cloth, retro style ties in back…
This was an origin – lesson, he groaned.
"You've got to be kidding me." John C sighed and handed over the summoned clue to his ally Barbara.
"What does this have to do with finding –
"Read what's etched inside it."
"Property…of…."
Zee gasped and Babs scrunched the thing in a bunch, angrily.
"Is this a joke?? MY friend is living with a serial rapist from another universe! –
"Another "alternate" self." John corrected with a finger upwards. "Slade here in this universe went missing. Who's to say his maniacal replacement doesn't know where his mate is in time?"
"Time? As…."
"Another past." John pulled out his phone and started to make a quick call.
"Y'ello, Lucy? It's Johnny… Yes. Yes, that wizarding….are you luckin' out on us, mate? Tell God his son's client is in mortal – Sorry, terrible, danger! And why do -…..Ah huh…."
Babs poked Zee on the shoulder.
"Who is he talking to?" She whispered to the younger magi.
"Oh, That's Lucifer Morningstar –
" WHAT?"
"Ah, could you ladies please keep it down a tad, lower? Appreciate it. No! Lucy…you owe me for the M – And I should sell you THAT? Are you bleeding serious, Morningstar? Go pester Michael for that one. Hard PASS…. Oh, so if…. Really? Well, how would that go for my mates, then?"
It took a total of ten measly minutes to pin down this "Lucifer" guy and to have his grant a favor to an old ally of the anti – hero elites.
With a click and a cock grin John tapped his foot until he'd pulled out a strange time piece from his coat pocket.
"Lucy is some guy, if not an immortal saint when you haggle him just right…. Ah! Yes, so the universe was topsy – turvy before Zee and I knew, and to our great displeasure, we ended up popping in and out of universes to save Oliver Queen, in their universe. Don't ask, lov. The time piece was from the same lost collection of your Galileo –
"It was magic then!"
"Alchemy, actually." Zee raised her arm to correct. "Alchemy is a combination of the scientific method and of course, magic use or esoteric belief. A lot of people just say to create gold and the philosopher's stone but that really was –
"No time for a magical history lesson." John interrupted. "We only have the next few days to find this world's real Deathstroke and to catch the other the night of New Years. Right now, we are falling into, what? August?"
"Yeah, that is a long way off. Any chance we can push ahead?" Zee was excited to try a new spell, yet thy both knew the consequences of toying with time magic without a license.
"Not a chance. Could ruin this time and take any chance we have with it. As the saying goes; A Bird in Hand is Worth Two in the Bush." John nodded to his team, dangling the trinket on a golden cord like a pendulum.
"We have a chance, and to bite off more than we need early on, we'd only be defeating our chance at a speedy recovery back to this time, the one that still exists. Ready, Zee?"
"I think it's all we've got left." Babs sighed and tried to ignore the misery of having to wait months for this to come to a stop.
"The sooner we find the real Deathstroke." John said to the two. "The sooner we can put this mess away and move to a steadier chain of events than what has already been…You've seen it firsthand, what that crooked fake is willing to admit."
"I did…Tim was….so upset." She recalled why she had done this, how Tim had wept about how they'd never save anyone if that meant letting Dick suffer at the hands of a psychopath.
Jason had gone off somewhere to brood, and she could only hope he hadn't tried to stop Slade all by himself.
Jason was a good guard dog, even if he was a lone wolf most of those other times.
"Are we ready, then?" John watched as Babs nodded, bringing her hand out to join in.
"Let's get my family back. Whatever it takes…"
/
~ They won't find it in time. ~
Slade wasn't sleeping, just resting as Dick took the last exam for his term.
He'd pass, or Slade would have to force time ahead once more.
The timer shouted as Slade went to check their supper. The boy had been very good all week, and after the little spanking episode, not a word had gone from his lips to hit Slade in his golden one eye. An effect of the warp, it didn't seem to keep him well of mind, but whatever.
The oven had a lovely wafting scent coaxing him to check.
Ah, the fish was looking divine already. And the eggplant, the salad. He'd almost believed they could pull this off, lovers in another reality and all.
If only his hands didn't need to do all of the work.
Slade left the food out to rest and made sure that the oven was off. His safe house was more that than a single's flat, so he'd wanted Dick to feel cozy when he was permitted to either way. This was only temporary.
By that note…why was it so –
Slade put down the dish and took off his mits to head for the boy's room.
A reward for getting the grade, it was too damned quiet for his liking...
There, right on his bed, the kid had finished his work, yet…. was he fast asleep?
Slade saw that the kid was wearing clingy sleep shorts for the summer, a little extra piece Slade had permitted because it turned him on. Made him want the kid even at a different height.
No matter what, to Slade he was perfect. Ass and –
A moan came from the kid's lips as he laid there on his stomach, unaware of a visitor and just…
Just.
Slade saw something at the brat's backside and had to ogle at it.
His member below, was getting slightly harder .
Oh, so it was doing its job. All of his little touches at night…
Slade swept over with his apron still on. His pants being unbuckled in his civilian wear, he smirked at the kid and taking the apron, he put it around his cock to not rouse suspicion of the man grinding and using Dick's ass to get off. He rubbed it there, that hot friction the perfect part of the night as Slade leaned over and balanced with his arms only on the bed, one hand guiding his large cock back in place, but that wasn't needed. You could bounce a quarter onto that acrobat's rounded cheeks. It would stay, until he woke up.
His goal was not to enter, and so Slade swapped to taking the kid's legs up as he slept and fucking through them with his apron still giving a pull – push resistance as Slade let out a low grunt. Poor boy, he'd sold more than his body if he just couldn't tell who was behind him.
As much as Slade loathed thinking about it, this was a good thing that he'd gone to this universe. Fixed his indecisive song bird before he was shattered by Blockbuster, KG Beast was next. Had to put the Owls down, and not to forget a certain spider…. a very scary one.
Slade started to thrust a bit faster now, the bed creaking only a bit. The boy staying, drifting in his dreams of a different time.
That upset Slade, this Slade. He WANTED the boy's cries to echo, he wanted to be noticed…but, he held it back and grunted, the kid's thighs getting damp only a bit as Slade's seed coated the cloth, bleeding a bit through the fabric. Making Slade's balls drop.
Richard had gotten harder and was moving his legs, making it tighter as Slade didn't stop. He grabbed both and thrust and huffed until a drop went through the cloth.
Right to the small of the young man's black shirt, clad back.
Lowering the kid's legs and using the apron to wipe down most of his mess, Slade leaned over to collect some tender, creamy white skin by the boy's throat, leaving that little bit of cum to dry on his toy for later. He'd probably find it and feel dirty, maybe guilty and come at Slade with both fists and in tears, a delicious picture.
He was marked now, and Slade was careful not to put the boy in an even more terrible mood. He licked at the brat's throat as Dick's own release soon trickled out through his short's front.
Oh, that gave Slade a thought.
He pulled away after leaving a kiss, not a hickie to the boy's cheek, then took off to watch and wait for the look of an embarrassed brat who'd wet his bed with a wet dream's release.
He could erase Robin, and Nightwing would be his.
Only his.
/
Slade slipped away, and only moments later, the kid felt…
Sweaty?
Dick looked down and bit back a groan, falling back into his hands on the bed as he just sobbed, trying to figure out what was really wrong with him.
Was…. he starting to like being Slade's…. pet?
Was, he dreaming about HIM?
There came a knock at his door, as Dick covered himself up, looking foolish in doing so.
"Change your sheets, then come to dinner."
"N-
"You will." Slade paused at the boy, his student's head bobbing with that lump in his throat.
"Yes, sir…" Richard hoarsely replied.
Slade nodded back, pleased as Dick's big blue eyes hated that praise, yet needed it.
"Good boy, come find me in the dining room. I made enough for two."
Dick nodded numbly before Slade had left, the kid carrying himself to strip off the sheets and his clothing, before hauling it all off to his laundry basket in the corner of his tidy little dwelling.
"I would rather starve than eat what you have to offer…. imposter." Dick snarled to himself. His bed now remade, his pants now just jeans to avoid more pedo – Slade from fawning over him, he'd hoped that once in his damned little life tonight…he could finally go to bed early and forget about that dream.
Of Slade talking to him about a world outside of this one, and to never be eaten by the big bad wolf ever again... No matter what new story was told.
(Key to this, Slade tried to contact him and fake Slade ruined the chance to finish. So? Could he be more powerful? Find out!)
"Can I just…." He shook his head, slippers soon on as Richard gingerly opened the door and walked to meet his new master for supper and to force himself to tolerate anymore "emasculating behavior" from his captor.
His, captor, and no one else's.
(Stockholm! Oh, ok…. what are we to do?)
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Tim walked up to his mentor with a strong request at the back of his mind. Bruce eyed him from the cave's computer seat. He stood this time, he didn't sit.
It was too serious though, so Tim cleared his throat to talk.
"I want to re…. evaluate with you the newest findings on the Galileo case."
Bruce dropped his eyes to the keys, then pushed off to seek Tim's green orbs out.
"Alfred gave your partner Barbara, John Constantine's number as of yesterday, last night."
Tim frowned. "Did she meet with him? Was the other –
"Richard's message had her to believe…and it was a right assumption in this case, that "magic and alchemy" had something to do with Galileo's theory. And if the key to Slade arriving in our time is currently in his position –
"Then Babs had to know, Dick found it." Tim gasped, pacing and shaking his head, near exasperation.
"We can get them back, stop him before -
"She's not here, Tim." Bruce stopped the teen's running tangent to explain.
"She, Zatanna Zatara and Constantine, have entered through the gates to another universe, to look for the Slade Wilson of our dimension."
Tim's eyes scrunched, but….
"How can that be right?? We don't want ANY "Slade doppelgangers" in this universe or any universe…to hurt him! Why not –
"You know how dimensional order is." Bruce chided his son. "Without the original, you have chaos. It can't end. Not until the real Deathstroke shows himself."
"B…you really, don't like him….do you?" Tim looked up with apologetic eyes. "I have to go…school starts and we have a big quiz…I'll talk after classes end. Alf is still coming?"
"I'll be there."
"You, the city needs you more than I do, I mean." Tim bit his lip. "I think Alfred can handle keeping an eye on your whiz kid of a boy."
"Study hard."
Bruce turned his head back to the screens.
"You too, dad." Tim walked away, feeling a little more empowered, and definitely somewhat confused by how they were going to accomplish their goal of saving the very first Robin.
/
It was dark, but the path was clear. No branches, just a road without trees. A grey line that he kept on walking down, down…
The stars above had started to glow as they burst –
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Richard woke from yet, another bizarrely real dream. The dream of a mystery man who walked through a dark tunnel and never found his way out.
Dick licked his lips and somehow, wanted to see if Slade…the fake, was still up.
Dick peeked his head through the doorway, his head clear after what could have been a nap. Had he recalled falling asleep. Slade had probably drugged the meal as punishment again…
Dick tried to stay quiet. No slippers to clap at the floor tiles, and no way he couldn't see in the dark. He was a night worker, a vigilante now. Even if Slade had taught this little blue bird to peck at a person mercilessly, he wouldn't do it out of anything but self-defense.
Dick tip toed into the living room to find it impossibly, vacated.
Good, then it was true…that even devils and murderous rapists needed their beauty rest.
Dick went in further to see about his escape routes.
Windows, bolted.
Doors, high security lock. Without his tech…. pointless.
He couldn't get out the first door without their possibly being a second.
Or up until the monster, awoke.
/
Dick had always tried to keep quiet as a Robin. But there was something eerie about the safe house, not how everything wasn't great….
He held his breath.
A pattering.
Rain.
Dick moved to look out of those barred windows, his back to the one shadow in the corner…that had always been watching.
"It's late, Rick."
Dick turned; the face illuminated by a flash of bright, lightning.
A thunder storm, rain falling.
As he'd said.
Eerie.
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"You're awake, but you shouldn't be up yet." Slade was calmly talking out to the boy, though Richard still shuddered at the mere sight of his abductor.
"Y- you…. can't change me…you can't keep me from –
"Your family doesn't know how to handle you." Purred the unmasked mad man.
"You…you're wrong. Fight me. Right here. I'll show you that I can be taken seriously!" Dick saw a lamp and dragged out the fixture, just as Slade lunged.
Richard turned it on, blinding the maniac as Slade's one eye squinted shut.
Dick ducked down and found the next wall. A…. had to be a gun or –
"You would think…" Slade cracked his neck. Dick flinched and put his arms out to search out…. aha!
He ran to the table in the dining area; hopping up, thinking his head was on just right.
"You want me, Slade – bot?" Dick quipped to the imposter. Slade's glowing eye had dimmed darkly, making the boy keep up his guard.
"Well? What are you waiting for? I'm right here…"
" That ."
Slade stormed over on feet of icy flame; his will unperturbed by another bumbling brat.
Dick got ready to leap, right atop the man's shoulders if he had to wing it.
" You…" Slade tugged out the worst possible weapon. Not a gun, not a whip or a taser…not a knife nor a katana.
" Are…" The dragon snorted, being truly no ordinary brute. Never Slade in any universe, as Dick felt his heartbeat quicken.
But, something of a false alchemy out of his mentor's coat pocket adjusted; the same vile orb that had ruined Dick's future appeared from there, swirling and and dangerous.
Clockwork.
"Would you like to see what I'm going to do to you when this is all over?"
Dick's mouth went dry. He squinted at the elder psycho, his eyes focusing as another flash of lightening from the sky had him straighten his spine. Goosebumps formed instantly, making him itch.
Slade chuckled, carrying the time relic ever so delicately in his larger hands.
"Your future was already secured; and by the time I took over the role as your…. official mentor….it made your Bat scratch his head, Richard… He's still looking. I know it, child. Your role right now, though"
Slade slinked forth with a softer step, step, step. Boots groaning as he stopped.
Dick tensioned, as another clap of thunder rolled. Slade was moving and…he had to get ready to be a flying Grayson again…. he pleaded with his fears.
BE an acrobat! He'd break his legs to have one shot.
Imagining his training as a small boy, chalk on his hands.
Heart racing, bounding into his father's -
"You're going to hop like a little rabbit and fall, flat." Slade stepped again, Dick's feet getting a wobble to them.
Feet, no!
Slade was goading him, trying to break his concentration.
"I'm not listening, and this "deal" isn't ending – not until you undo our agreement." Dick snarled back.
"I won't be "Nightwing; the serial killer OR anti – heroic vigilante." Dick sniffed and gathered what he could of his courage, leading his limber knees into a crouch, even if Slade just laughed at him.
Thinking now that, this all was very much a foolish attempt.
Only then, did his brow start to sweat.
And Slade knew it too with a cock of his head, hair curtaining that one lost eye.
It was about time to bring out the big guns.
"Richard? Tell me, did something else rouse your slumber this evening?"
Dick frowned, blinking while his legs stayed taught. He was going to leap to the other side, send that window to shatter by a few –
"As in…a, wetter response? Maybe some panic you felt as you rose before, a late meal?"
Dick froze.
"No…" His head moved on its own, side to side.
Not mine….
No, nonono! No way he was the one who….
"You…. broke it…" Dick's shoulders slouched. His eyes growing…wearier, somehow.
Slade held up a palm, expecting as much from his boy wonder. "I never did it, never entered like you wanted, and yet, you still came." Slade seemed too calm about this, confession.
He'd touched him, while Dick was… asleep!
With his….
Dick had held on for so long, but it was in vain. He fell backwards with a yell; Slade dragging his arm out to grip that slim waist and tug it from losing to the hard floor.
"Trying to escape with another painful injury to yourself?" Slade quizzed the panting hero, giving his side a squeeze.
Face, far too close.
"I thought I told you, not to try that again." Chided the monster.
"Let…me…go…" Dick breathed in short gasps. "You…have to…."
"I actually don't, Dick." Slade just reeled in this wiggly little minnow until it flailed, his ugly scowl a sinister grin to the eighteen-year-old college student.
For, it was.
"Because, I know that when you dream, when you sleep where not even an explosion in YOUR city can ever hope to wake those baby blues…you dream, of me . Coming to you, never letting go."
/
"That…wasn't –
Dick was let go of, his arms shaking as he hugged himself.
The rain droplets had said farewell to their cousin thunder. Though, lightening could be heard heading off across the sky, its song getting softer and softer.
"It's very late, and you have to pack –
"I can't become a cop." Dick swallowed, fixing his words with even more words to have Slade drag him to his room, lock him up till noon.
"You must, it's what the future holds." Slade, he didn't shout. He simply watched and waited.
"Your future was already determined thanks to Galileo, boy…Now." Slade lifted a hand up, Dick hunching his shoulders as if he were going to lose more sleep tonight.
"To bed. Not a peep."
Dick moved, knowing he was dead if he didn't think of a way to fight back. He…wasn't himself, who would a cop Dick Grayson be then? Why was this so…
Slade saw the boy pause and as he dropped his lanky arms to his sides. He had to find out what future this Slade was after.
"You called, them…lovers." Dick swallowed, feeling hoarse.
"I did." Slade nodded.
"You…won't touch m….me, new deal to this, Slade. You w-want me? Then no more playing with m- m- me, hurt me but n- not with s- s- sex." Richard warned with a stare up at his captor.
Slade didn't need to hear that as he wrenched the boy to look in his one eye, the fear so very….
Not.
Slade just lost it; one backhand and the boy was had.
Dick knelt on the floor, a hand to his cheek as Slade dusted off his quaking wrist.
"Nightwing…. does not deny me. EVER ! Not in your reality, or his…" Slade clenched his own jaw and turned.
"You have to go to bed. DO IT." His golden eye gleamed and Dick sped away, trying to find the pieces to this match yet, it all fell through.
This Slade had a sickly attachment, and it had nothing to do with him being a hero in his time.
But his obsession with " Nightwing."
Slipping inside his room, he fell to the carpet, face covered and forcing himself not to cry. Getting up, he tried to gather his strength. Each vein full of his essence to want himself gone.
A mirror observation; while Robin had been obsessed with discovering who "Slade" really was…
Dual worlds, and in that world, he was always the apple of someone's rotten eye….
Dick struggled to wrap the covers around himself, feeling sick as he rose to find his waste basket.
He hurled into it, fish and eggplant made him do it again. No toilet…Slade would find it…
Dick tried to breathe. He would have his time to fix things. He would not let Slade from another…universe, win!
He shivered and felt his forehead.
Clammy.
That was when Dick decided. He'd stall going to that academy. He'd make sure that someone was able to find this place in Blud. His city, not…
Dick fell into the pillows and shook. He needed to calm down, to imagine a place, that wasn't here.
Yet, anywhere else wouldn't have been any better….
When no place in this city was, not in HIS city…
Never, his…
Never safe, from the master…
/