It has been just over a month since Richard has been in Slade Wilson's care.
Unfortunately, to say that there has been any change would be an outright lie. Rationally Slade knew that surely one month would not erase the Hell the kiddo went through in three years but he was still disappointed.
"Remember Slade: it's a very long, slow and demanding process." were Wintergreen's words that often rumbled through his brain.
Still, the mercenary has to admit that there have been very small steps forward such as Richard eating basically anything they put in front of him even though before eating the kiddo always casts a glance in Slade's direction as if to wait for permission to be allowed to eat.
One step at a time.
In addition Slade discovered some important things about the kiddo, namely how he is bothered by noises that are too loud and light that is too bright.
The former military man also learned why.
He and Wintergreen had done other tests on the substance found in Richard's blood and found that it was electrum. They soon realized that it was an almost unknown substance that not even the criminal world knew about.
Or at least most of it.
Since Ra's Al Ghul owed him a favor Slade decided to redeem it by asking him if he knew of this substance. The Demon's Head knew it and explained to him how the electrum worked.
Slade discovered that it gave the typical appearance of a Talon (golden eyes, pale and cold face full of dark veins, no heartbeat), superhuman strength, speed, agility, reflexes and resistance along with an exceptional healing factor that even allowed the regrowth of missing limbs within minutes and, according to the leader of the League of Assassins, it even granted true immortality.
Slade did not want to put the last two hypotheses to the test because he could not be at all sure of Ra's word.
As soon as Ra's asked him why he was interested in the electrum and how he had come to know about it Slade abruptly hung up the call, feeling meanly satisfied.
However it was positive that it was almost impossible to have the electrum at one's disposal: in fact it seemed that only the Court of Owls had it.
Slade did not want to think at all what other super-villains like the Joker might be up to with the electrum.
The electrum would then also seem to increase the individual's vision and hearing, which made the ears and eyes more sensitive and Slade was sure of this since it explained Richard's almost imperceptible grimaces when the TV volume was too high or there were too many lights on in the house.
Also by chance Slade also discovered that Richard was weak in cold temperatures. This happened when the super soldier was giving Richard a shower.
Slade ignored as memories of him washing a much younger Grant ran through his head.
Slade was washing the kiddo, because apparently the fucking Court of Owls would not even allow him to wash himself, when suddenly cold water instead of hot water came out of the shower for a few seconds.
It was a true miracle that Slade did not lose his hearing because of Richard's scream of pure agony.
Until now that was the first and only time Slade heard Richard screaming in pain, and it tugged at the strings of his icy heart.
It had been quite unnerving even for the world's most dangerous mercenary.
During Richard's first shower Slade made another very unpleasant discovery.
After he had undressed Richard (and Slade still did not know whether it was good or bad that the kiddo had not even winced when he was undressing him. He did not want to think at all about what it might mean) the mercenary had seen many scars covering the kiddo's skin.
Like, a lot of scars.
Slade did not know if they had been inflicted on Richard before his transformation into Talon or if his healing factor leaves scars for wounds that would normally be serious and deadly.
In any case, Slade was absolutely pissed off at the Court of Owls and once again promised himself to kill all the bastards.
How the fuck could anyone torture a poor, innocent defenseless child?
This was one of the few things Slade abhorred with his whole being and where he drew a line.
Children shouldn't even be fucking touched.
Moving on Richard followed Slade throughout the day like a lost but silent puppy. On any other occasion the mercenary would have been annoyed to no end.
But this was not one of the normal cases and this deeply saddened the former military who, however, never showed it exteriorly.
Be it ever that Wintergreen should think that Deathstroke The Terminator was softening because of a kiddo.
Slade had accepted few contracts during this month: far fewer than he would usually accept. When Deathstroke was committed to a contract, before he left it seemed as if Richard wanted to follow him.
Of course, Slade still had common sense instilled in him and each time he ordered Richard to guard the house and protect Wintergreen in case anyone attacked.
This last thing made William snort but he did not object.
One of the things that most worried Slade was the fact that Richard spoke very little and almost not at all. He would merely nod or tilt his head in confusion when the two men asked him questions. Those few times when the kiddo had spoken, short sentences came from his lips and his voice came out hoarse due to the disuse of his vocal cords.
Slade was certainly not the best dad in the world but even he knew that a child should chat about nonsensical things and the most random topics possible.
Unfortunately, Richard was not a normal child at all.
And for this Slade intended to completely annihilate the Court of Owls.
But before he could do this he had to do his best to help the kiddo overcome all that he had overcome. Only then would he begin to plan the complete destruction of the Court of Owls.
Slade had just showered after training when Wintergreen appeared before him, a worried look in his eyes. Immediately the mercenary's senses went on high alert as his friend spoke.
"Slade, Richard isn't moving anymore!"
This was not what the younger man had expected. "...What?"
"Follow me!"
Slade followed him and the two reached the main living room where the super soldier could see Richard completely still and rigid, his golden eyes pointed at the wall. It was painfully obvious, however, that it was as if Richard was not really there but trapped in his own head or something else had happened that Slade did not yet know.
"I even tried calling him as Talon but he still won't answer." William informed him, staring worriedly at the kiddo. "He's been so for like two minutes."
Not knowing what to say Slade remained silent. A few minutes later both men saw Richard let out a small gasp of pain (quickly setting off alarm bells in Slade) before backing away a few steps and putting his head in his hands.
Immediately realization blossomed in both men.
"He's having flashbacks." whispered Wintergreen softly as if afraid of harming the kiddo if he spoke louder.
Slade grunted. "Probably from his life before being taken by those bastards."
Wintergreen uttered a murmur of recognition and both could do nothing but stare silently at Richard waiting for something particular to happen.
Circus tent.
A multitude of colored lights.
A very large crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the Haly Circus!"
"And here is the last performance of the evening! I present to you the best acrobats in the world: the Flying Graysons who will perform without a net!"
A large, calloused hand gently strokes his hair. "Are you ready, Dickie?"
A soft, feminine laugh rings through the air filled with excitement. "Of course he is. After all, he's my Robin."
Noise of broken ropes.
Two figures, one male and one female, are falling.
Two identical looks of terror.
Sickening pop of broken bones.
Frightened screams.
Blood. So much blood.
Two motionless bodies twisted in an unnatural position.
Wait a minute...
Those two bodies...
Those two bodies are familiar...
H-Hey!
Those two bodies...
Those two bodies are his-
An unbearable, sharp pain exploded in Talon's head and it gasped and backed away a few steps, putting its head in its hands in an attempt to dull the pain.
It did not work at all and Talon felt its head practically explode in pain. The world around Talon began to become blurry and confused and it began to panic.
This was the first time ever that Talon was frightened and the reason was not related to the punishments its previous Masters would inflict on it.
Despite all the confusion and its vision spinning dangerously Talon heard some voices but it seemed as if they were coming from far away. Suddenly a hand rested on its shoulder and Talon stiffened.
Acting on instinct, Talon's hand snapped, grabbed its attacker's arm and broke it with a fluid move. Next Talon turned sharply and despite the fact that its vision was completely blurred threw a kick in the direction of its attacker. Talon knew it hit in the chest, probably breaking the stranger a few ribs as well.
Talon tried to take a step forward but the pain in its head grew even stronger, forcing it to fall to its knees. Darkness began to appear in it's view and within seconds Talon fell to the ground unconscious.
"You're an idiot, you know that?" growled Slade, helping Wintergreen up.
"I couldn't leave him like that and just watch him! I had to do something!" the older man defended himself returning the mercenary's gaze fiercely.
The other former military man annoyedly pinched the bridge of his nose. "Have you perhaps forgotten that we are dealing with a kiddo with the worst trauma in the world trained to be a professional assassin with reflexes that can rival mine?"
"...Still, I had to do something anyway."
Slade sighed and decided to drop the subject. Secretly, he too felt useless and helpless seeing Richard in such a weakened state and hated that feeling. Instead, he carefully examined his friend's broken arm. "It may be a few weeks before your arm can function perfectly."
"Just great." William bit sarcastically as he flinched, wincing when he felt his ribs protest at the movement.
Slade chuckled. "The kiddo certainly knew what he was doing."
Wintergreen stared at him badly. "Need I remind you that the 'kiddo' almost took out your one good eye and kicked you in the balls?" he asked impassively.
The mercenary returned the glare but already knew that this would be a losing battle. He merely grunted and stared in the direction of Richard who was unconscious. "I'll take him to his room." he only said and without waiting for an answer from his friend he easily lifted Richard, and damn the kiddo was lighter than a fucking feather, and carried him to his room.
Wintergreen watched with a melancholy look as Slade carried Richard into his small room and for a brief moment Richard's figure was replaced by that of the much younger Grant Wilson.
Eventually the former soldier shook his head, clearing his thoughts.
I hope you are resting in peace, Grant. Thought William sadly as he gave a small sigh. He then stared at his own broken arm reduced to an unnatural position and he emitted a humorless chuckle.
"Damned if Richard can fight."
"Be careful, if you keep staring at the floor with that look you will create a hole."
Slade merely grunted and looked away only to stare at a wall instead. He heard his friend sigh.
"Look, I too am worried about Richard still not waking up but you can't keep acting like this."
Slade huffed and scoffed at him. "I'm not worried about Richard because I don't care about the kiddo at all." he immediately denied, missing Wintergreen's flat stare.
Before the older man could retort with anything sarcastic Slade's enhanced hearing caught something and his head snapped in the direction of the sound. He found himself staring at Richard who confusedly returned the gaze before kneeling respectfully. "What happened to Talon, Master?"
Slade barely restrained his annoyed snort. "I've already told you a thousand times you don't have to kneel or call me Master, kiddo."
Richard said nothing and merely stood up and stared at Slade with the same confused look as before.
"You locked yourself away for a while and when William tried unsuccessfully to help you showed him clearly that you didn't need help." Slade lifted his lips slightly in a small smile, nodding to Wintergreen who had a cast on his left arm.
Apparently Slade should have used a little more tact and thought more about the words. He immediately regretted his poor choice of words when he saw a flash of pure fear cross Richard's face as he knelt in record time.
"Talon apologizes to its Masters. Talon will accept whatever just punishment its Masters give it." Richard spoke in a cold, emotionless voice.
Slade silently cursed and decided he had deserved Wintergreen's dirty look. "Have you already forgotten about those incidents?"
The super-soldier knew which incidents his friend was referring to: such as the one time Richard had started eating without waiting for Slade's order and just when the ex-soldier was exulting internally the kiddo had frozen with his fork in midair and decided to self-punish himself by sticking the fork in his stomach, penetrating his left lung without even a gasp.
Slade had stared in shock at the scene and the black blood that quickly began to flow from the wound. Just as he began to panic, which happened very few times to Deathstroke, he noticed how the wound was already stitching up and within minutes Richard no longer had a neither a hole in his stomach nor a punctured lung, in fact the lung was fully functional as if nothing had happened.
Slade was pretty sure that he had grown more white hair.
There were other incidents... but Slade preferred not to remember them at all.
Apparently Slade had become too immersed in his thoughts because it was Wintergreen who spoke first. "You don't have to worry, Ric-Talon. You will never be punished in here either physically or emotionally or mentally. Besides, accidents happen. Right, Slade?" he concluded, throwing the other man the fiercest look Slade had ever seen on his face.
He cleared his throat slightly before nodding. "William is right, kiddo. You don't have to be afraid of us here. We just want to help you." he said, unsure if he had said the right words.
Judging by his friend's appreciative nod, he did.
Feelings fucking sucked.
Richard, however, still remained kneeling with his head lowered in submission. "Talon deserves a very severe punishment for hurting its Master. Talon deserves to suffer greatly."
Slade's cold heart broke a little at the kiddo's words.
It was so wrong on all counts that Slade didn't even know where to begin. And it didn't help that Richard insisted on calling Slade and William its masters and keep referring to himself as an "it" as if he were merely an object that someone must own instead of a traumatized child for life.
And all this only increased Deathstroke The Terminator's hatred and anger toward the Court of Owls.
Slade had to swallow his own anger that threatened to explode. "Listen to me Talon because I will not repeat this a second time. First, look up." he waited to stare into indifferent golden eyes before continuing. "No one here will punish you for doing something wrong. To err is human, kiddo."
Richard's emotionless gaze turned to one of genuine confusion. "But Talon is a weapon, Master. Talon is not human. Talon is the property of its Masters and must serve them until the Masters get fed up with Talon."
Jesus fucking Christ.
Slade clenched his teeth so hard that they almost snapped.
I swear I'll kill all those fucking sick piece of shit bastards in the worst way possible.
"You're as human as I am, Talon." Slade asserted abruptly. "And no one fucking owns you." he received another confused look from the ten-year-old acrobat. "Besides that, as William has already said, you will never be punished. So just relax. Understand?"
Slade and Richard stared at each other for a few minutes until the kiddo nodded as he stood up. The mercenary nodded in satisfaction.
"Good. Help Wintergreen prepare dinner."
Wintergreen gave him a confused look but did not dispute his assertion and after the two were out of his line of sight Slade headed furiously back to his gymnasium.
Deathstroke The Terminator would release his rage on innocent punching bags, imagining hitting the bastards of the Court of Owls.