Renegade watched his target move and saw him enter a bar. He sighed and began distractedly drumming on the roof of the building in which he was standing.

This was not his first solo contract as Slade trusted him and his abilities: in this way Renegade began to gain some reputation not only as Deathstroke's apprentice but also as a solo mercenary.

In fact Slade allowed him to accept any contract except those taking place in Gotham.

Dick was not surprised by this and frankly he was not dying to set foot in the damn city again either.

So there he was, patiently waiting for his target -a pedophile son of a bitch- to come out of the bar.

Suddenly the young mercenary stiffened, knowing he was being watched, and discreetly looked around. He could see a motionless figure on a building far away from him and suddenly Renegade began to run toward it.

The figure immediately turned and began to flee, leaping from one building to another. It was certainly fast and agile but unfortunately for it Renegade was even faster and more agile.

Renegade jumped from a building at a run and dove over the figure, pinning it to the roof. "Stalking is a crime punishable by law, do you know that?" Renegade joked, staring at the person below him.

He immediately recognized her.

Jade Nguyen aka Cheshire, an experienced and skilled assassin in the League of Assassins. Eldest daughter of Lawrence Crock aka Sportsmaster, a mercenary frequently recruited by the League of Assassins and direct rival of Deathstroke. Her mother is Paula Crock, a former assassin known by the alias Huntress and Lawrence's former wife even though she still bore her ex-husband's last name.

"Stalking would definitely be the least serious crime I've ever committed, don't you think?" she said in an amused voice.

Renegade stared at her, arching an eyebrow from under his mask. "You're not even going to try to escape? Man, I admit it's a little disappointing."

Cheshire rolled her eyes. "And risk being killed by you? I might be a little crazy but I'm not suicidal."

"You won't even try to fight me?" asked Deathstroke's apprentice surprised. "I am not blind: you have many knives and daggers with you plus a sword plus your fingernails which I am sure are covered with deadly poisons."

"And I know you also have many knives, guns, two swords attached to your back and who knows what else in that utility belt." Jade retorted. "And I am not going to lose or be killed by someone who has been described as even more brutal and ruthless than his mentor, even if you are a child. I have dignity and a reputation to maintain, you know."

Renegade grimaced. "I only lost control of my actions once! It is impossible for the rest of you to know that it was so bad!" he whimpered.

Still lying on the roof with Renegade above her, Jade shrugged. "Sorry, kid. That's the way things work in the criminal world. But if it helps, the Justice League still doesn't know you exist."

"I don't know whether to feel honored or offended."

"Well, you can think of the answer later. May I kindly stand up?"

Renegade's gaze narrowed suspiciously. "You don't have to run and you have to answer some of my questions."

"Yes, sir. I don't want to test those voices." the acrobat huffed and stepped back, allowing her to stand up. "Thank you." Cheshire shook the dirt off her assassin's uniform and stared at the young mercenary. "What do you want to know?"

"What is Sportsmaster's daughter doing at the exact location of my contract?"

Cheshire narrowed her brown eyes menacingly. "I ask you the kindness of not reminding me of my relationship to that bastard."

"Daddy issues?"

Dick had read in Slade's file that Lawrence Crock was not exactly known for his parenting skills.

Man, it seemed that no world-class assassin and mercenary was good at parenting. At least Dick could say that Slade genuinely cared for his children but he couldn't say the same for people like Lawrence and Ra's.

Jade huffed bitterly. "That's an understatement but in short yes." she said with so much venom and resentment toward her father that it surprised him a little. "To answer your question, I was simply curious."

"Curious?" the Talon repeated suspiciously.

"Yes. Curious to know about this Renegade who has created such a stir in the criminal world to the point that there are many rumors circulating about you, some of them even absurd and crazy."

Dick was curious about that. "For example?"

"For example that you are a vengeful spirit seeking revenge on every criminal." Dick liked the way it sounded. "Or that you are the son of Satan himself come down to Earth to exterminate all humanity." she huffed.

Dick was pretty sure Slade was directly responsible for that voice.

"But they all agree how dangerous, ruthless and efficient you are and that when you're really pissed off you make Deathstroke look like an angel in comparison."

"I'll tell you again: it only happened once!" Renegade growled, restraining himself from stamping his feet on the ground like a petulant child. "And for heaven's sake there were no witnesses left alive!"

"Dead bodies are witnesses too, even if they cannot speak. Or at least what was left of them."

Renegade fell silent and fixed the other assassin with a grim look. "I hope I haven't let you down then." he drawled sarcastically, changing the subject.

"So far you really are something." she admitted, surprising him. "And I admit I'd really like to see you in action."

"What are you? A fangirl?" snorted Renegade amusedly.

"You'd like that but you're too young for me, boy. Maybe when you grow up I can think about it." Jade gave him a wink and giggled when she saw him stammer taken aback.

With a slight blush on his cheeks Renegade crossed his arms and pouted. "You got me."

Cheshire smiled, humor and amusement dancing in her brown eyes. "You know, you're a really funny and nice guy, Renegade."

"Too nice." the mercenary gave a dramatic bow. "And I must say, you're not bad yourself. You know, for being related to that unmentionable asshole."

Jade snorted in amusement. "Simply my good fortune to be his daughter."

"So you really don't want anything to do with him?"

"That's right. If it weren't for Artemis, I would have killed him long ago."

That name was familiar to him. "Your younger sister, right?"

"That's right." Jade nodded. "She lives with our mother. She is two years older than you. I know deep down she hopes to have a good relationship with him, and that's the only thing keeping me from killing him."

Dick suspected that Jade knew his and Slade's identities and her second sentence practically confirmed it.

"Now enough about me. What's it like living with the notorious Deathstroke?"

"Fantastic." he admitted and his answer surprised Jade. He then elaborated. "He's certainly not the best at expressing his emotions but I know he's trying. And I can also tell that he is getting better. The training is very brutal and intense but nothing I can't handle."

"Better than Lawrence anyway. Do you think Slade can adopt me?" asked Jade sarcastically.

Renegade burst out laughing. It took him a full minute to calm down and he sent an amused smirk at the assassin. "I think he would rather commit suicide than have an extra child."

Cheshire chuckled. "Fair enough."

"You know, it still seems strange to me that the famous and ruthless Cheshire won't even try to fight me."

She stared at him impassively. "You gave the fucking Lady Shiva a run for her money in hand-to-hand combat without weapons. And not even the daughter of the Demon Head wanted to try to challenge you."

The Talon pouted. "So boring. You are all killjoys."

"More like we'd like to keep our reputation and pride intact, thank you very much." the mercenary chuckled and she stared at him. "I'm surprised you haven't accused me of distracting you from your target yet."

"That's because I know he hasn't left the bar yet." he replied easily.

"How the hell do you know that when your back is turned to that bar?" asked Cheshire impressed and surprised.

The acrobat gave her a mysterious smirk. "Call it instinct."

Jade emitted a snort. "I wouldn't want to be in his place. By the way, what has he done to deserve Renegade's wrath?"

"He is a pedophile." replied Renegade coldly.

The absence of emotion in his voice made her shiver a little.

It's really true that when Renegade wanted it, he was damn scary.

"Then one less bastard from the world." Jade nodded in agreement. "So you're an anti-hero mercenary who takes contracts on bastards?" he nodded and she smiled. "Cool."

"I know." the boy replied cheekily. He turned sharply just in time to see his target exit the bar. "Now you have a chance to fangirl and see the wonderful Renegade in action." he joked.

Jade emitted a giggle. "Then make sure you prepare a decent show."

"You bet."

"Well? What do you think?"

Cheshire stared for a few seconds at the rapist's corpse, then at the blood that stained the wall of an abandoned alley and finally returned to stare at Renegade. "Remind me never to get on your wrong side."

"I'm great, I know."

"I would say more brutal and efficient but that's the concept." Cheshire arched both eyebrows impressed. "You certainly amazed me when you literally cut off his cock. And he was still alive."

Renegade smirked as he swung his bloodstained sword with frighteningly excellent skill. "He got a taste of what people like him deserve."

"I can only imagine the pain he felt before you killed him." Cheshire shuddered at the memory of the agonizing scream of agony. "And you kept him alive for like three minutes!"

The young mercenary shrugged his shoulders. "He had to suffer before he died, otherwise there was no taste."

Jade huffed. "Fair enough."

"Now I have to get home before Deathstroke gets overprotective on me." he said, making her giggle. "It's been nice knowing you, Cheshire."

"The feeling is reciprocated, Renegade." Cheshire smirked and ruffled his hair affectionately, which surprised him not a little. "I always wanted to have a little brother."

Renegade got a blank, absent look on his face before a huge smirk appeared on his face. "I have always wanted to have a sibling. I am sure this will be the birth of a fantastic siblinghood." he declared as he extended a hand.

Cheshire's smirk increased in size and she shook his hand firmly. "I agree. Maybe we'll even do some missions together."

"I look forward to cooperating with you."

"Well then. Until next time, Renegade."

"I hope we'll see soon, Cheshire."

Slade pinched the bridge of his nose, gave a pained sigh and stared impassively at his son. "What do you mean that from now on Cheshire is your big sister?"

"What I just said, Slade." Renegade took off his mask and smirked at him.

Slade was genuinely impressed.

First his son befriends Talia Al Ghul and Sandra Woosan in a matter of hours, going so far as to consider both women as aunts -and yes, he had heard Dick address the two murderous women that way in some phone calls- and now he had claimed Jade Nguyen aka his business rival's eldest daughter as his older sister?

What would happen if Dick met the fucking Joker?

Would he start calling him Uncle J?

Slade didn't even want to think about it and just nodded to his son. "All right then." he said simply because, you know, what the fuck was he supposed to say on that occasion? "I suppose if I hurt her you'll make me pay dearly."

"Of course." Dick nodded. "You can only hurt her if it's self-defense."

"I'll keep that in mind."

As time went on, Slade was not surprised when Jade began showing up at the Wilson house at Dick's insistence and the two of them began spending time together like real siblings.

Not to mention in their missions and contracts they completed together as Renegade and Cheshire.

At least he could personally witness how happy Jade made his son and secretly admitted that this fact of their siblinghood was not bad at all.

And it was very tempting the thought of shoving it in Sportsmaster's face to enjoy his reaction.

It was nice to see them acting like real siblings and Slade found himself longing for this relationship of Dick's with the rest of his kids.

But he knew that this was merely an illusion.