Teen Titans – Side Stories and After – Snippets; Foxes Upon Foxes and Magical Girls Galore

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Page Turner; Knights of Bludhaven – Part Three: Undead Kings And Broken Contracts

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Dick's episode had spurred something in Bruce. His frightened mentor had left a message for Dr. Leslie and Mr. Fox that he'd need their help with "a matter." Not telling a soul, not even Dick's team, he just continued to let the burden bury him alive.

That was, until someone had taken to their cause unexpectedly in the most unsuspecting way possible.

Dick's unit flashed on while he was removing a few pain - reliever patches from his torso.

The face was of a mask, one in black and orange. Dick immediately snatched up the device before this uninvited caller could have the first word in, "Why are you calling me??" He shut the bathroom door with a click and tightened the towel round himself with his robe to cover up the rest. The man just ignored the hero's tantrum and replied with a roll off the tongue, ~ I picked up a bit of data from one of those scans on the first few nights ago. Don't worry. The chip inside you should have disintegrated by now. Even if the Batman were to trace it, he'd come up empty handed. So? How is your new body farin –

"I'm aching. All. Over." Dick huffed on each breath. "I was fine, then I was back in pain. My shoulder; everything is –

~ Your natural healing abilities are kicking in. That's all. No need to blame anyone here, Dick. ~ The man replied, putting up a palm to save himself from a lunatic's ongoing, ranting. ~ I promise you that you'll keep all of your best features intact. That little test wasn't supposed to change –

"But…It did." Richard grumbled to the mercenary's face, groaning out the last word to his enemy.

"It did, and I still don't know how I'm going to tell the world's "Greatest detective" that he missed the part where his ex – partner's nemesis turned his favorite young ward into –

~ An enhanced product of some very, revolutionary science…or by a somewhat tragic conclusion?"

Dick huffed and pulled the towel tighter round his waist.

~ Though, I would call this a reason to celebrate, actually. ~ That dishonest… man looked like he was just stroking that ego of his…. who did he think was? –

Dick's face went redder by the idiot's attitude. He wasn't ok! That was probably a crime…. right? Tampering? Kidnapping??

~ You are probably thinking; was this meant to happen to me by some "nefarious" scheme of his?" ~ Slade chuckled and shook his head, doubtful that this angst wouldn't breed something new in his little patient. ~ Oh, Richard. You are overcomplicating things for yourself. Embrace the change. Now that you have it, once your body has fully learned to adapt to these new modifications, you'll never want to fight for a cure –

"I'll do everything I can to stop it!" Dick rioted back. His tongue was hot with fire, not bile and Slade saw this. ~ If you let the dragon…take control, at least you now have a better fighting chance because of my "dumb luck." ~ The man shrugged. ~ In a few more weeks, it will be as if you've always been this way. Like I said, you might even learn to like it…~

/

Dick stomped down the hall. He needed help, and if Bruce would just keep himself…. together, maybe they could figure this out.

He was ready to knock on the man's study door, then he paused and stopped. They were going to see Leslie for a check up, and Fox for a better look inside…..maybe even…

This had gone on long enough! Dick pounded at the door and fought the urge to run around down the hall like a frightened child. Standing still, he refused to run this time.

He had his own kids to get home and see to… He had to be brave, for them. For her sake…For, Kori…

The doo opened and Dick was pulled from his regressive state. "Richard? Are you the one trying to get my attention? Why so loud –

"I know what's wrong with me!" He blurted out to his mentor's face. Bruce stood in the doorway, looking his eldest son up and down cautiously.

"What?"

Dick sighed and motioned to point at a sharp blade; a sword and relic that was a priceless heirloom upon the wall's décor inside of Bruce's study. "Let me show you what I mean…"

/

He wasn't making any sense, so Bruce blocked the way into the room. Dick had to calm down. "No. Tell me what's wrong Dick or I won't be able to help either of us." He crossed his arms.

Al's head poked around the corner as if to say "told you so" with those dead – fish eyes of his. Tricky butler. Dick tried to without a snort. He couldn't joke right now. This was too important to toss aside.

"My body, it's changing…. because of HOW Slade saved my life…I need that sword or, something that can cut…"

After the Talon episode with the Court of Owls, Dick's mention of self inflicting himself had Bruce's hairs on end. Right up on his haunches, he rebuked, "You aren't fully recovered. Any shock to your body could –

Dick eyed him down, and Bruce felt weak just peering back into that endless blue. He had that power over many a villain, why not an unlucky bat?

Bruce nodded, and let the younger male step into his study as the billionaire quietly shut the door behind them with a near soundless click.

/

Bruce let out a steadied exhale as he slowly released the door's handle.

"Is this about –

He saw the man and the sword, leaping over to take it from the hero out of commission.

"Wait, I have to do this right or –

"Dick. That man didn't save your life. I saw your blood. It was unique." He tugged at the object as it was barely pulled from its scabbard. He went on, "It was not a part of –

"That's why, Bruce…" Dick's weapon of choice was taken, so he swapped his eyes over to search for...

Ah, that could work. Sticking to a letter opener, he decided to work small scale. Bruce dropped the sword with a toss to the rug. "Stop. You don't know what you're doing right now, Dick. Don't –

"No, Bruce. This…. That, is what that life saving crap did to your ward, Batman. Don't say a thing, just watch…"

A clean slice down, and it was all left across to bleed out into the rug's surface. A few drops fell as Bruce froze in place, wanting to wrench that piece of metal from the hero if he wasn't just suicidal…

Bruce saw nothing as they waited. After a few more seconds, that all changed when a dim sound of healing flesh had him try to catch his own breath. He nearly jumped back. Dick's shaking hand was sealing; wounded less and less, as this magic of Slade's tactics had erased all traces of the blood and swelling as well. The cut, didn't exist. All that remained was the flesh that Dick had been born with.

This ability however…

Dick held up his hand to the lamp light to show his mentor what he'd refused to show anyone else up until today. "See? That's why I'm not talking. And worst part is, there IS no cure."

/

"He changed you."

"I already told –

"Master Bruce. Perhaps we should consider –

"He's not going to listen to either of us, Al." Richard huffed and looked up at the ceiling of the infamous Batcave. "He's too far gone, because of Slade –

"That Wilson fellow did something more to hurt you, Master Dick?"

Richard sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Not, exactly how I'd –

"It's a crime that we won't tolerate here."

Bruce finally came out of himself a moment to speak up. "Dick. Did you learn ANYTHING while under his care? Was he secretive about his work, where he was going after he left Bludhaven. Maybe he left a hint?" Bruce was madly pressing on the keys of the bat computer without thinking that they might shatter under his touch.

"Alteration of a person's physical well – being against their prior knowledge. He even kidnapped you, which is enough to –

"He said he didn't think that the serum would work…that it wasn't supposed to…But it did, and he was calling it "Dumb luck."

"Luck isn't akin to science, Dick. They are two separate parts; not even magic and science are of the same whole…. What did he have on the files about the serum the army used on him? You know about that; I imagine since you've stopped him back in Jump before, I'm only aware with the Team 7 he used to front."

Dick nodded. "I did, but his serum's interaction… was used to work against truth serums - but his meta – gene was made to become active due to the project. That's why the serum's effects and his kids' powers were also documented due to that research... It was a dormant gene. But I don't know why it worked on me –

"It changed your DNA structure. It somehow made you become compatible, which would have been impossible if the effects as you said were not –

"I had a fever; that he'd said was from an infection that was treated during my stay in his apartment. Is maybe that…"

"Possibly. Most "fevers" or attacks are from the body fighting off invaders, but this was more as if –

"It was testing it." Dick gasped. 'That wasn't because of an infection then!"

"Oh, dear…Would either of you like your meals to be brought to the Batcave instead? It is just after the hour for supper." Al cleared his throat. No one answered as he dealt with talking to muted shadows. A normal occurrence within the Wayne household.

"I'll simply, make up a few light snacks for now. Excuse me then, gentlemen."

Bruce allowed Al the pleasure of fleeing the scene before his nosy nature grew to be too much to handle. "Slade wasn't trying to change me, but for some reason the serum he used was legit. Maybe, he was unaware –

"I think he'd planned this in advance. If you'd been saved from a bullet wound to the spine, yet he treated a near concussion, and broken ribs with a cracked –

"Got it. I was an obvious mess. But what would Slade want with…. Wait…. The project…." Richard rubbed his chin and whispered.

"Talk to me, Dick. This could save your life if we can get to the bottom of this case quickly."

"The warehouse where I had a brick knocked into my skull…the project that they were looking into to there….Slade posed as a scientist. He was talking about something to change how –

Dick felt the flashback pull him in. For god's sake! Roku's magic was being activated at the worst possible time….

~ You want to have the answer? Then, make a deal with

~ No. ~

~Suit yourself. ~

The jinn's shadow let him go as he waited for the picture of a mad man to reveal itself.

It did, but not as the young father of three had hoped.

The entire project was centered around….

Life. As in, extended. Soldiers, which meant….

~ Project…. S.U.P.E.R ~

It was a false lead and he'd fallen for it with Spiral…So, then…Had Slade , paid off the team to send Dick to Bludhaven on that exact night? Was he the one who –

"It wasn't a mistake…" Bruce was there as he'd watched how Dick's six senses were rattled; out of place, as if he'd been in outer space and had just landed back on planet Earth after a long voyage into that "great beyond."

"Dick? Are you ok, can you hear me? Dick?"

/

He finally understood. Slade was just doing this for the sake of what HE was after. In the contents of the "Prophecy," he'd be turned at one point and the dragon would have his day. Well, as long as he came to control his powers, he'd be fine. Right?