Teen Titans Presents: Robin- Torn Legacy of a Prodigal Son
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Chapter 31: Mask for a Renegade
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This one is a time hop; Slade is off in Shanghai with his new and improved pupil. The Titans have not given up and in truth, neither did Jason once he'd escaped the cave undetected, so find out!!
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Here in a city so festival and dull all at once, there was nothing special about his face.
Not to the locals, unless you searched back far enough.
" Zhǎodào xiǎotōu! Bié ràng tā pǎole!"
In simplified Chinese, that meant roughly translated to…
"Find the thief! Don't let him get away!"
"Rude." The supposed "thief" snorted and hit a dead end, great …
The hitmen behind him were from some shady business ring he'd spied on, and they item taken had been a perk for his fine detective work.
Minus the bruises he'd relieve later for passing off as being quiet for the Shanghai press.
Slade would run him into a wall if he didn't fess up.
" Měiguó de, duì ba? Nǐ néng míngbái? Chūsè dì?"
That being, "American, right? You can understand? Well?"
Renegade turned around, looking so ready to face the courts with this one, but Slade had drilled him until his eyes were sealed shut sleep for days, hours. He didn't rest.
Dick took in some air; he loved this part. These guys would shoot, he'd go to the haunt, get his knuckles red and sleep that off. His work here was done.
He grinned at the hit men and chuckled as he just pretended along as their prey.
" Bàoqiàn, dàn wǒ jiāng cǐ shì wéi fùkuǎn. Nǐmen pàixì xià zhōu yào zhǎo wǒ zhǔrén yǒushì. Zhè shì hétóng lǐ xiě de. Hái jìdé ma? Wǒ quèshí lǐjiě. Wǒ zhǐshì bù huì huídá bèndàn hé bèndàn."
And he had of course passed off the triad group with?
"Sorry, but I am taking this as payment. Your faction has business with my master next week. It was in the contract. Recall it? And I DO understand. I just won't answer to goons and halfwits."
They shot at him and his boots gripped the wall to catapult the boy wonder into the air, long enough to pull out his kid pistols. If it got him back faster, he could worry less about the vomit. NO.
Hold it back, just.
The men groaned onto their backs and bellies as Dick rounded the corner, his face green as he found another alley to Upchurch his noodle cart dish, best…and now.
Wiping his lip, the sirens were going off already. He looked in his pocket for a unit, finding the item he'd taken from the criminal organization put his mind at ease more than a swift getaway. He took to the sewers, the only route quick enough as he tossed on an apparatus to avoid the toxic fumes of this big city.
Truth be it; Gotham wasn't any better as he found a man hole cover and pushed.
Stray dogs were barking that night as his steps stayed silent, hands in his pockets as he walked back to the safe house his master had bought out for their cover.
An assassin, what a mess he'd made already. The guys were alive, barely. If Slade found out that he'd delayed the mission….
A knock on a weathered apartment door was the first key, the second was not up to him as he saw the locks move and click. The person behind it, being no less to thank for the state of everything else in Grayson's miserable life.
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"Were you followed."
That was all Slade asked, knowing that his protégé's job wasn't that kind of risky, maybe.
"No, master. They stayed down, not dead. Just –
"Get inside, quickly." Slade dragged the ex -hero by the arm as he just allowed that. Slade's strength and mask free appearance far safer than if they'd done their costumes and started a riot on the streets of lower Shanghai. The much older complexes were deserted, so Slade had a discount and more levels of poverty-stricken neighbors to avoid for now.
"We didn't get a suburban complex, why?"
"Too many ways to stand out." Slade checked the windows before shutting the blinds, the security tight but anything could prove him wrong in this extremely adaptable city environment. Dick frowned at the meal laid out and couldn't complain of he wanted to. Slade refused to adapt in some environments, so he made stir fry on occasion, and even that lovely fish for days when nothing happened. Like today.
"You cooked, sir." Dick noted the cooling Tupperware and what was still a few minutes from chilled for the freezer.
"I did, but you never checked in. Had to store any left overs."
Dick wanted until Slade made a grunt, motioning to the food with a wave. "Go ahead, but explain the rest over your meal." The man gave a sideways smirk, as restless his protégé's mind was at time to time.
"I'd love to hear all the details, while we're young, boy."
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Dick seated himself with a pair of chopsticks and a spoon, just in case he was still rusty with lo mein.
"So, how did the meeting go." Slade jumped right into interrogations once the spoon was to his protégé's lips. Dick dropped the spoon and shut his eyes, thinking of a picture to paint that wouldn't end up as a punishment by tomorrow.
"How did you outrun the Sheng's men?"
Len or "Lenny Sheng" was a notorious working man for the triads and their finds in the area. Slade had struck a deal if he could have the targets there to earn a quick buck, yet some of the hitmen found Slade to be…intimidating. He cleaned up, yet his cost for hire had gone way up, and not just due to the rise of inflation on the market today.
"They took it, pretty well. Or, considering I'm working for you sir, and a teenager, nothing fazes me anymore."
"That didn't answer my question, Dick." Slade leaned over the ex – hero's chair is he dove into his dish with a set of chopsticks, the flavor mildly….
Dick had sweat on Lecso, Cuban and Mexican cuisine but this??
Spicy as a ghost pepper. He coughed, Slade having not handed him water or a glass…
This, was an interrogation.
Dick stopped chewing and spat out his noodles, Slade leaning down to tut by the boy's red ears.
"How that. And, you'll finish that." He handed the spoon to Duck as the teen shook his head.
Hell…. No-
The man grappled the boy's jaw with a vice grip and swift fingers, the spoon swapped for a set of chopsticks.
"You made his men angry, Dick. Don't think I won't stay in contact while you can do as wish or please on your own. Now, eat." Slade commanded.
Dick tried to tug the man's hands as he felt like he was running out of air.
"It's just pepper. You like spice, right? The thrill of taking things that DON'T belong to you…"
Dick was already sweating before the first bite of food was shoved into his waiting jaw, Slade even moved his grip to force Dick to chew and finally, swallow as he gagged up the rest, before Slade continued to force-feed his apprentice the newest poison once more.
"The thrill just couldn't happen, so you made it. Your cover was blown, my reputation, and you WILL RETURN WHAT YOU TOOK."
Tears welled up in the teen's eyes as Slade saw the kid whimper his answer, a vague yes, as Slade let go, dropping the chopsticks and pointing to the dish Dick had learned could hurt if you over used…peppers….
"I'm glad we could have this talk; you'll be stationed here tomorrow while I go out to fix your mess." Slade placed a cup of tea in front of the boy, not milk or water as Dick panted, coughing the spice up as he tried to breathe. "Hottest one in my collection, you can always save that meal for tomorrow's breakfast, but no water." Stated the merc, unapologetically. "You don't deserve my pity for reducing your status to that of a common thief, when there is a time and place for wearing different masks."
" Cough…sor…sorry… cough- cough…. Master…" Dick pounded his chest and despite the ugly decision he might have made before doing it, he lifted up the tea and drank it."
"There is, I forgot to tell you…a sleeping aide is set aside for you. You told me that Shanghai is too noisy…"
Richard dropped the cup. It was…. he held his head and moaned.
Dizzy…. the tea was…jasmine, green….no…
It was too late…Dick had already swallowed half of the cup, the rest –
Slade moved the food out of the way as Dick's head hit the table instead of ruining his regurgitated meal, in it. Slade sighed over the body and moved the kid's form to a lounge by the next room over, being careful not to adjust the kid's arm in an odd angle as he pulled out some duct tape and left his apprentice there until he got back. Wrists would be fine; he undid the kid's pants to make it easier for the button to not need two hands free. He left and decided that he could use as much action as he'd missed.
"Patience still isn't his strong suit." The merc packed his guns and anything else while getting ready to go and find the dive where Dick's example had almost cost him a contract worth marking off his calendar.
Well, this would keep some shots from being fired, kid sure did look too young for a strait jacket.
Slade slipped out and locked up, keeping the security lines buzzing as Slade made sure no one could see.
All but the one who had found the boy wonder running from the law, as the nimble climber made it to a locked window in a pinch. Slade turned, yet the figure had already found its way in, not a sound but barking strays and teens smoking cigarettes or drinking until they were punished by their parents.
Or whomever still cared for what they ever were, just like Red.
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What Babs had first thought was that right now, Shanghai was the last place she'd have expected the clan of Bats to amble towards. None of the team was really able to gage how far Todd was willing to go, so far, he had Grant to keep his revenge scheme cooking. That and Rose, was in rehab for a bit longer than she would have liked. Her father had given up on her, yet Grant had taken pity on both Red and Ex – Ravager number two. As the oldest, he made it his responsibility to help in putting Slade in the ground, not the dog house where only psychos belonged. Sociopathic perps were too good for the traditional chain gang routine. (dated use and horribly racially provocative as a term, understanding this is key. They are outcasts and Slade is the one still looking down on them.) Slade needed a taste of his own medicine m and Dick was starting to wear in somebody's nerves.
Primarily, Slade's as he saw the kid tugging on tape in his sleep, splayed on a sofa twice his size and still in his casual street wear for digging up some dirt for his "master." Jay looked around as the cup still was there but not the spicy noodle dish Dick would never order – if ever, in his life if he were ever dying. Slade made food, food that could kill you if you crossed him the wrong way. The cup was off though, so Jason imagined a dragging of a body to bed, like his parent did and then…
Then, he'due beaten for doing the wrong thing to save his mother. Jason moved to the sofa and leaned over with his new helmet catching the face in its reflection of an utter train wreck of a boy.
"Gotta get you out of here, bro." Red's helmet added as a problem as Dick's head suddenly jersey up to hit the metal surface with a clack. Dick gritted his teeth, eyes hazy from the mess as he blinked, his arms…
Wh….did he have any…."
"You awake Dickie? Good. Then i-
"Are…. you in a biker gang?" The grinning giggling lump laughed in a hoarse croak. "Hee hee…. I think I should go too, right? En…..after….a nap –
"No way!" Jay hoisted the brat up with a few heave hoes before Dick wriggled like a little kid in his grip.
"NAAA…. LET ME…. EAT? I'M HUNGRY!"
"The bastard, oh my God, Dick…he drugged you?? Oh, God…I need a drink…"
Dick had sat up and was currently tapping the man's red helmet. His face so curious like a brat's…what was in that shit he'd given Dick? How was he going to stay quiet now??
"I can't…. shit , knock you out….."
Dick frowned and leaned on his arms, waiting for this red head to talk to him some more, before he burst out crying, instead.
Jason fell back, his eyes popping behind the helmet as he dragged the stupid thing off, shaking Dick then holding him tight.
"No more tears, please…you just…. won't stop…. I need to save us…B is waiting, no more…." Jason bit his lip, tears pouring down his face as he felt Dick's shoulders and squeezed even tighter.
"Idiot! I went on a search for you for a year and B never told me to stop…I told him I'd find you…. –
The lock started to sound as the window was opened slowly, the space between them no more as Jay slipped away far before, as if to leave his goodbyes at the door.
Through one open window, Dick collapsed back into his sedated state and couldn't find the time to recall his last dream. The draft a comfort to this stuffy apartment in the middle of this noisy city…
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Jason would have kicked himself into the wall for leaving half of himself at that door; when Bruce was just before, the comm still hottest in his pocket. Taking a deep breath, Red Hood phished it out and set a signal shooting off to his city.
The city of the Bat and co, like he'd promised.
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"B! WE GOT EM!"
Tim came scampering up from the cave as Bruce lifted his head, just as the boy had made it to the dining room; the man had his head up instantly as Tim Drake panted up go the frame, his eyes tugging the Bat in Bruce home to investigate whatever the whiz kid had discovered in his mis – adventures with the bat computer. Ten at night and still no sign since the other week, a month and it was about time.
"Jay found him!"
Bruce's gaze softened, he stood as if hexes to go to his seat at the helm of the Bat's mighty foundation, the man on the other end not swearing to have a warm and fuzzy expression either.
~ Hey. ~
"You found Dick; aren't you out of the country with-
~ No time to go south on the mission. But, B…it's not good. I read up on the underground here in Shanghai and Slade is literally, covering his ass back to front with help, from Len Sheng. ~
Bruce could have stuttered at that name as Tim was at a loss, this case far before his time.
"Sheng's father Lau was running the organization out of the country for decades. His son is working behind the scenes; are you sure."
~ Pretty, and how is Terra doing getting Rose adjusted? Did Slade send his goons after em yet? ~
"We have been fortunate to have not had any reports. Terra is finishing up at Gotham Prep, while Rose is there with heavy resentment towards any outside aide. She must know that she won't be staying after graduation."
~ She can pre – register for the 'Kill Wilson' fan club I'm putting together. ~ Joked the unmasked, former boy wonder. ~ I'm glad you never gave up on me. My skin grafting was the best money could buy, huh? ~
"What about Dick, is he also with Slade at this very moment; the mission isn't over." Bruce pulled the teen back in, his shoulders slumping by the change of heart from his own father…. sharing one really did bite at times.
~ Dick, his lips were all irritated, like he bit onto something and it caused a sore, saw a spilled cup and he woke up cause my helmet accidentally bonked him…. he was out of it, drugged and left in duct tape on z sofa in Slade's safe house which…may not be there tomorrow. ~
Bruce's brow creased at the confession, confused and aware partly that Dick was being hurt to keep him in line. The lip healing could be stress or the reaction to a drug, it was hard to guarantee Deathstroke's methods from a safe distance. "He can't go far, did you stick a big in his laptop, something to stay out of Slade's view of being spotted?"
~ One better. ~ Jay opened up his belt and Bruce saw the small dot tech that had Lex's name all over it.
"Jason." He raised his tone. "Grant didn't-
~ He is in league with the guy we're willing to bag up for you, if he doesn't put up a fight. ~ Jason shrugged and rolled the mole shaped tracker in his palm. ~ Waterproof, shock proof to an extent and undetectable as a piece of tech. It'll be like Dick had it all his life. ~
"Just don't do anything until we catch them at the terminal. Where is he headed. Any clue from your outside intel?"
~ Mozambique... ~
"A contract of government origin...or, is he going..." Bruce assumed, the real reason, enough to make him throw up a fit.
~ Not that I can say of the region, but... Grant told me. He's going hunting, and Dick was told to tag along to learn how it's done right.
~
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I found out our major ass Slade had a place in Kitale Kenya before trophy hunting was banned for goid ( yay progress!!) yet other parts of africa still allow this sport so.
.had to change abf besides. The place Slade lived in in the 90s comic was blown up anyway. New rules and Batman is pissed!!