AN: Hello people! Look who's back again. I can't believe it's been 1 ½ years since I finished part 2. It does not feel this long. At the same time, a lot has happened (I finished my master thesis and got a job! YAY). Well, I'm excited to start this journey for part 3 and I hope you all want to come along. So, take this long-ass chapter as a reunion gift from my side.
I am very excited about this because I have a lot planned. Maybe even too much because I can already tell you this will be long and ambitious. But this will be the final part of the trilogy and I have big plans for how Nightwing, Jason and the gang will end up. And you'll see that we're keeping it interesting by also adding some new characters. You could see this as my attempt to write a Crisis (DC comics fans know!). But despite all of this going on – the core of the story will always be with our favorite brothers.
I put a summary of the prior two parts at the end of the chapter to keep everyone up to speed. You can't say I'm not looking out for you. ;)
Summary:
Nightwing and the Titans have fallen into a comfortable rhythm of low-level crime but an encounter with the Rogues tells them that they are not ready for anything big. The world does not wait for them though as the Crime Syndicate guns for their reality. Meanwhile, Jason seeks atonement in prison. (Talon-Dick AU,Birdflash!)
-SEQUEL TO THE TWIRL OF A KNIFE & A CODIFIED DILEMMA-
1. An Easy Target
Donna floated through the air next to Starfire. The two Titans were on their daily patrol. Soaring through the air and making a game out of tagging each other. They crossed over the pier, drawing amazed gazes by the onlookers below them.
A little girl with a lollypop tugged at her mom's skirt and pointed up at Donna. Donna waved at her. She couldn't help the big smile on her face. Donna and Starfire usually took over the air patrol while the other Titans patrolled the streets in teams of two.
It had been quiet in Jump City these past few weeks. Not that Jump City was anything but quiet. The worst villain the sleepy city on the west coast faced was Mad Mod. His attempts to turn the city into a British colony were tiring even to Donna. But he had become a part of the city's unique feel by now.
"We've got an emergency", Cyborg spoke into Donna's comm, "I caught it from the police channel. There's a robbery at Jump City Bank. Beast Boy and I are on our way."
"We're on our way, too", Donna nodded at Starfire.
"I'm with Nightwing. We're the most far out", Artemis said, "Any info?"
"Apparently, the assailants are powered", Cyborg said.
"We've got powers, too", Starfire sounded confident as she did a twirl in front of Donna, "Troia and I are almost there."
Donna couldn't help but admire her confidence. She swallowed down her apprehensions. This was Jump City. Whatever it threw at them, Donna could handle. Small-time crooks had nothing on the Titans. At least, that's what she told herself.
Artemis was already complaining about them thinking too small. Donna was fine with it. She couldn't see herself going up against anyone more serious than Mad Mod. They had defeated Luthor with more luck than any person should have in their life. Today wouldn't be any different – Donna hoped.
They reached the bank. The doors stood wide open.
Donna flew in behind Starfire. People were bound and gagged on the floor. They stared at Donna with wide eyes.
Donna landed and removed the gag of an employee: "What happened?"
The teller shuddered: "These… freaks came in with guns. I think they were 5. Four men and one woman in weird costumes. One of them had a flamethrower. We couldn't do anything."
Donna looked at the man. He seemed unharmed despite the scorch marks on the floor. Some of the metal ground was melted. Donna frowned. The floor did not look like it melted easily. Whatever flames had been produced, they did not look like an everyday fire.
"Is anyone hurt?"
The teller shook his head: "That freak pointed his flamethrow at the ground and melted it. Probably a warning. But no resisted."
Donna nodded. Glad that the mild-mannered inhabitants of the coast town hadn't tried to fight.
"Where are they?"
"They took the manager and went down to the vault."
"To the vault we go", Starfire's hands glowed with pink energy.
"Shouldn't we free these people fir-"
Starfire flew away before Donna could finish her sentence. Donna sighed. Starfire was her best friend but her propensity to rush was exhausting.
Donna ripped the restraint off the man so he could free the others and hurried to follow Kory. As much as she hated potentially leaving innocents in the line of fire, she couldn't leave Kory without back-up.
So, she followed the alien towards the vault, her feeling of apprehension growing. Maybe it was a mistake not to wait for the other Titans.
The hallway that led to the vault was long. At its end was a shiny, silver door. Four criminals in colorful costumes and the shivering bank manager were standing in front of it. Donna frowned. Maybe the teller had miscounted and they were only 4 instead of 5? Where could a fifth person even be?
The manager was currently being pushed against the wall by a burly arm.
The gorilla of a man asked: "What do you mean you can't open the vault?"
A flamethrower was strapped to the gorilla's back. Half his face and his arms were marred with burn marks. Donna didn't know him, but it wasn't hard to recognize his deal. He had to be one of those fire villains. And apparently his flame was hot enough to melt a metal floor.
"They changed the plans just yesterday", the bank manager shivered, "I couldn't open it even if I wanted to."
The guy with the flamethrower growled like a feral animal: "You better hope this is the truth or I'll burn-"
"Heatwave", the woman interjected.
She wore a gold-white dress that went to the middle of her thighs. The gold sparkled as much as her long blonde hair. But most remarkable were the ice skates on her feet. Donna did a double take.
"Cold made a contingency for this", the woman continued, "Do you have the equipment, Trickster?"
"Hell yes", a young guy who looked like a mixture between a punk and a clown said.
His blonde hair was gelled up and his torn-up clothes shone in garish patches of color. He pulled various tools out of his backpack and got to work on the vault.
"This is insane", the manager said, "This lock is state-of-the-art. There is no way you could open-"
The punk – Trickster – laughed: "Sure, man. Whatever. If I've learned one thing about your fancy vaults, it's that they are nothing but a trick. And every trick has a solution behind it."
"Can it, kid, and start working", Heatwave growled, his arm still pushing the manager against the wall, "Don't want to stay here longer than I need to."
There was one last man who leaned against the vault door, looking perfectly relaxed. He wore a long blue coat with a hat. Boomerangs were strapped to his chest.
"Captain Boomerang to Cold", the man drawled with a heavy Australian accent, "We're on contingency 3."
Captain Boomerang? Donna frowned. Nightwing had told her about the villain. He had spent time on the Suicide Squad with him. Boomerang was a good-for-nothing slacker whose life Nightwing had saved during the one mission he had done with the Squad. Apparently, the villain had managed to escape prison and joined up with this gang.
The man looked more outlandish than Nightwing had described him. Was that a boomerang pattern on his blue coat? Donna blinked. Maybe dressing in ridiculous clothes was a requirement for joining this strange gang.
A voice answered on the other site of the comm. Donna's stomach churned even if she couldn't make out the words. These four weren't working alone. Maybe they were five after all. But where was the person on the comms?
"Contingency 3", Boomerang scoffed and turned to the woman, "Talk about paranoid. Your brother needs to take a chill pill. Get it, chill pill?"
The woman rolled her eyes: "Focus on the job, Boomerang."
Boomerang scoffed: "I don't know who has a bigger stick up your ass, you or your big bro. That go in the family?"
"Definitely Cold", Heatwave said, "No contest."
Cold? That had to be the name of the person on the other line of the comms.
"Yep", Trickster hummed in agreement, while he put his ear to the vault, "When they distributed fun, they skipped our leader."
Donna noted that apparently this Cold was the leader of the group. And he was the brother of the woman. She tried to be strategic about this. Make note of the information her enemies gave her. It felt like something a Bat would do.
The woman opened her mouth as if to defend her brother but closed it. She shrugged.
"What?", Boomerang grinned.
"It's not like you're wrong", she conceded.
Heatwave laughed, his voice booming in the narrow hallway. The manager tensed under Heatwave's heavy grip.
"Three minutes until we're there", Cyborg said over the comm.
Donna flinched from the sudden noise in her ear. She pushed herself closer to the wall, looking at Kory. The Amazon shook her head. They had no idea what they were dealing with here. It was probably better to wait for the rest of the team.
Maybe Artemis and Nightwing would know who these strange people were.
"We can take them", Kory whispered, "They're nothing."
"I don't know", Donna replied, "We don't know which powers they have and-"
Starfire balled her fist again. She looked displeased. Her eyes moved past Donna to the thieves and Donna sighed when she realized Starfire was about to do something stupid. The alien moved without hesitation. She flew around the corner and shot one of her Starbolts at the safe. The teenage punk cursed as it hit the vault door next to him.
Donna flew after Starfire, giving her backup. Before she could engage the thieves in hand-to-hand, a boomerang flew at them. It exploded. Starfire dodged. Donna wasn't so lucky. She was behind Starfire and got hit by the force. It threw her to the ground and made the floor tiles crack under her. Donna's head rattled.
"Donna", Starfire looked at her in shock.
She growled in anger and turned back to the criminals.
"Keep her back", the woman said.
Heatwave let go off the bank teller who huddled in the corner. The fire villain held Starfire back with a wall of flame. It only kept her for a moment. She shot a Starbolt at the pyromaniac hitting him. The flamethrower fell to the floor as Heatwave was thrown against the vault door.
"Keep working, Trickster", the woman moved into action.
Her skates suddenly hovered over the ground. She used their momentum to glide along the wall. Before they could react, she was in front of Kory. Donna yelled when a metallic flash shot out at Kory's throat. The woman had aimed her skate at Kory's neck. Kory yelled when the blade drew blood. She fell back, pressing a hand to her torn skin.
"KORY", Donna yelled, pushing herself to her feet.
She reached for Kory.
"I'm okay", Starfire said, "It's only surface."
Donna's heart raced, thanking the Gods for the resilience of Tamaraneans. That move would have killed an average human.
The woman's face turned dark. Cutting. She looked annoyed that her move had failed.
Kory let out a battle cry and threw a fist at the skater, but the woman dodged it with unnatural grace. Kory's fist embedded itself in the metal wall, denting it.
The skater reached for bracelets around her wrists, apparently turning them on. They had to be another gadget.
"This is ridiculous", Kory growled, her hand feeling for her bleeding throat.
Donna had to agree. They were being shown up by a few criminals with gadgets. She attempted to join Kory. But Heatwave kept Donna back with a wall of flame. A boomerang flew out again, making Donna dodge another explosion. The criminals had separated both Titans. Keeping them occupied while Trickster was working on the vault.
Kory continued to engage the slippery woman, getting closer to her.
"Yield or I will not hold back", Kory's hands burned in pink energy.
"Cute", the woman had a joyful look in her eyes, almost manic.
She raised her hands and Donna remembered the bracelets the woman had activated just seconds ago.
"Starfire, watch out for her gauntlets", Donna yelled.
Golden-white ribbons shot out of the woman's bracelets. They floated in the air with seemingly a mind of their own. The woman circled around Kory, trapping her in the ribbons. Kory ripped at the bonds, tearing them where she could. It didn't help her much. The bonds barely budged.
"Now, Mirror Master", the woman yelled.
A face appeared in the shiny metal wall. Donna flinched. A man with a green helmet reached out of the reflection and grabbed the still-restrained Kory. It looked like he was leaning out of the wall. Donna froze as… Kory was somehow pulled into the reflection. Donna blinked. Unsure how to act. What should she do? This had turned from serious to critical. These criminals had abducted her friend, pulled her… where exactly?
Stupid. They should have paid more mind to the witness. The teller had mentioned 5 people. Well, here was the fifth. What was his name though? Mirror Master? Was he the same person as the one on comms? It couldn't be though. The leader on the comms had been named Cold. He had to be another guy.
Donna cursed under her breath. They were being ambushed by more criminals than they had been ready for.
A painful heat hit Donna. Heatwave and his flamethrower. The punishment for her inaction. Donna yelled in desperation flying through the flame wall to the spot where Kory had just been. She ignored the blistering feeling of heat on her skin. Donna spotted Kory's terrified face. She was stuck in the metal wall. As if the reflective surface had swallowed her whole. Donna remembered the name the woman had yelled: Mirror Master. This man must have a power related to reflections. It was the only explanation. He must be using that gun to channel… what? Mirror power?
"Kory", Donna yelled, banging against the reflective wall.
She couldn't keep her desperation down. The woman's ribbons wrapped around Donna, restraining her. She struggled against the bonds, but they didn't even budge. Kory with her own superstrength hadn't been able to rip them quickly enough.
"This never gets old", the woman slapped an inhibitor collar around Donna's neck.
Donna felt the strength leave her body. It made her heartbeat accelerate.
"Let her go", Kory yelled out of the wall.
Her voice sounded distant – echo-y.
"What did you do to her?", Donna glared at the woman.
"Relax", she said, "Your friend is in the mirror dimension. She'll get out soon enough. Just ask the Flash. He has his ways."
Donna frowned. What did the Flash have to do with this?
"We caught us two Titans, boss", Heatwave spoke into his comm.
Donna had been right. There was another thief. A sixth. They didn't know where he was.
"Don't get cocky", Donna was close enough to hear the voice on the other site, "There are more in route. The green boy and the robot. They should reach you in less than a minute. How is Trickster doing?"
Trickster yelled out in triumph as the vault door opened. He made a little happy dance.
"See?", Trickster looked at the bank manager, "Uncrackable vault. My ass."
"He's cracked the door", the woman said.
"Took him long enough", the voice on the other site of the comm sounded disgruntled, "We're taking it all. Stash it in the mirror dimension. And Boomerang – we are on contingency 4 now because Trickster took too long. You got a problem with that?"
Captain Boomerang rubbed his neck sheepishly: "I would never question your contingencies, mate. Not if they make me rich."
The leader ignored him: "Green boy and robot entered the bank. Contact in 32 seconds."
"You got your toy, Trickster?", the woman asked.
"Of course", the punk kid took out a device that someone had taped together at some point. Donna looked at the ceiling in embarrassment. This was ridiculous. The Titans should be better than this.
"Vic, Gar", Donna yelled into her comm, "You need to be-"
A ribbon covered Donna's mouth before she could finish her sentence.
Light streamed into the bank vault now that it was opened. It made the floor glisten. Mirror Master jumped out of the floor, shoveling batches of cash into the reflective surface. He looked like a normal man with a gun now that he was out of the reflection. As normal as a man in a orange-green get-up could look.
Still, Donna had been stupid to underestimate these guys. She felt utterly powerless. These criminals had been prepared for the Titans and her teammates were about to run into a well-laid trap.
"Heatwave", the woman yelled, "You and I help Mirror Master with the cash. Trickster and Boomerang take care of our visitors."
Heatwave followed her into the vault. They worked as a well-oiled machine. The woman moved the cash with her ribbons.
"Time to kick some ass", Gar yelled from around the corner.
Gar and Vic appeared. They took in the scene for just a second.
"Wondie, what happened to you?", Victor looked at the robbers in their colorful costumes, "Who are these jokes?"
"Who are you calling a joke?", Boomerang sounded offended.
"Less questions, more ass-kicking", Gar turned into a rhino and ran at the robbers.
Boomerang smirked and threw his projectile at him. Gar was too slow to dodge. The boomerang hit his side. Gar continued running.
"Haha. You think these things can take me down?", Gar yelled.
But Donna could see it: Gar was slowing down. Boomerang hit him with another projectile that Gar didn't even attempt to dodge.
"Tranquilizer-Boomerang", Boomerang grinned.
Gar dropped to the floor out cold.
Vic exchanged a gaze with Donna.
He raised his cannon pointing it at the robbers: "No movement or I'll shoot."
"Don't think so", Trickster cackled as he flipped a switch on his machine.
Vic shot his canon at the same time as a shockwave erupted over them. It hit Vic and made him drop to the floor.
"VIC", Donna yelled into the ribbon covering her mouth.
Her teammate convulsed on the floor. He stopped moving after a few seconds.
"Score", Trickster grinned, "Told you my EMP would work. You guys really should stop doubting my mad skills."
An EMP? The criminals had shut Vic down for now. Donna hoped that he would be okay. But there was something else. The feeling of Donna's strength returning. The EMP may have shut down Cyborg, but it also had shut down any other tech in the hallway – including Donna's inhibitor collar. Donna balled her fists. These criminals had made a huge mistake.
"Bad news, guys", Mirror Master held up his smoking gun, "My gun is toast."
Trickster shrugged: "I mean - my EMP shuts down tech. Your gun is tech. Doesn't need a genius to put two-and-two together."
The woman balled her fist: "Do you mean to tell me that you just shut down all our weapons? And you didn't mention that before?"
Trickster rubbed his neck sheepishly: "Cold wanted me to make something that shuts down Cyborg and I made it. It just had… side effects. But it did its job. Don't worry though. It only lasts for five minutes."
"I'll smash your stupid video games for this", the woman took off her ice skates and dropped them to the floor. They had to be useless now without the ability to generate ice for the woman to glide on. She huffed when she walked across the slippery floor in socks.
"I can't believe I'm running from the cops barefoot now", the woman shook her head.
Donna budged in her restraints. They gave way. Only a bit. It was a question of time until they broke.
"Trickster, you damn idiot", Heatwave held up his useless flamethrower, "Comms are down, too. We lost contact with Cold."
"The inhibitor should be down, too", the woman glared at Donna, "We run."
They didn't need more encouragement. The criminals ran down the hallway. Donna managed to budge her restraints after they were out of sight. She hurried to Vic. His human eye was open. The other one was a black hole.
"Vic, are you okay?"
"Stop worrying and run after them, Wondie", Vic yelled.
Donna froze for a moment but ripped herself out of her stupor. Where were Nightwing and Artemis? She needed them desperately. Hunting down these criminals by herself was a terrible idea but she had no choice.
Donna caught up to the criminals in front of the bank. They stood in the middle of the square, their escape interrupted. Artemis and Nightwing stood in front of them. Artemis pointed her bow at them while Nightwing had his claws ready. Donna sighed in relief at the sight of her more experienced teammates. They would know what to do.
"Don't move", Artemis said, "You are surrounded."
"Well shit", Heatwave said, "What are we doing, Glider?"
The woman – Glider – raised her hands: "We surrender."
"Really?", Trickster sounded disappointed.
"Stop whining. This is all your fault, kid", Boomerang said.
Nightwing tilted his head at the sight of his former Suicide Squad-companion: "Not long see, Boomerang."
"Come on, mate", Boomerang said, "Throw me a bone and let me leave with that money. No one is getting hurt."
Donna scoffed: "Tell that to Starfire. Glider slit her throat. Would have killed anyone else."
"Well, Glider is Glider. She's crazy. If you wanna arrest her", Boomerang gestured at her, "Be my guest."
Glider's gaze burned into Boomerang.
He shuffled his feet nervously but turned to Nightwing again: "What do you think, Zombie?"
"Donna", Artemis ignored his shenanigans, "Restrain them."
Donna approached the criminals. But before she could take out a pair of handcuffs, something hit her. It punched all the breath out of her lungs as it encased her up to her neck. She looked down. Donna's body was covered in ice. She tried to gain control over her muscles, but she couldn't move.
Another figure stood on a building next to the square. A man in a blue winter jacket and narrow goggles. His head was covered in a furred hood. He looked just as ridiculous as his companions. But Donna couldn't be too dismissive as he had his gun pointed at her.
Donna suspected that it shot the ice. It had to be the mysterious leader the other criminals had talked to. Cold indeed. The man created a ice construct with his gun, using it to slide down onto the square.
"Contingency 7", Cold pointed his gun at Nightwing, "How do Talons react to ice again?"
Nightwing tensed, his eyes glued to the cold gun.
"Captain Cold", Artemis growled, "You are far away from Central City."
Donna sighed. Of course, her more experienced team members knew who these criminals were. She wished they had been here earlier.
The Amazon made a note of Central City. That was the Flash's turf.
Cold shrugged: "Your kiddie team seemed like an easy target. Thought we'd shake things up a bit."
His face was blank. The eyes like steel behind the goggles. Donna shuddered. The man's expression seemed completely composed. He looked like he had control over everything around him. It had to be for show. Nightwing and Artemis could deal with a crook with a gun.
"You haven't won yet", Artemis said, "And you won't. Drop the gun and no one gets hurt."
"You're not in a position to make demands, archer", Cold said.
The criminal shot his gun at Nightwing. It emitted a blue laser, spreading ice to any surface it hit.
Donna scoffed. Nightwing was too quick to get hit. And she was right. Nightwing dodged several shots. But the Talon stopped suddenly, as if he had run into an invisible wall. His body grew rigid as ice spread over his costume. Donna saw a blue flitter in the air. Barely visible. Subtle enough for Nightwing to miss it in the heat of battle.
"A cold field", Cold said, "I like to set them up before I'm about to fight one of the Court's crimes against humanity. Or the Flash. It slows him down."
Artemis was the last one left standing. Donna's confidence crumbled suddenly. They were being taken down one by one.
"Mirror Master, make us an escape hatch", Cold said.
"Sorry, boss. My gun is still fried from Trickster's EMP."
"All our weapons are still fried", Glider sounded annoyed.
"Is that why you lost the skates, sis?", Cold asked.
For the first time, there was something akin to amusement in his eyes.
"I thought it would be fun to run from the cops with gravel digging into my soles. Gives me an extra challenge."
"Whatever floats your boat", Cold looked around, his eyes evaluating his environment.
He shot a row of ice in front of a passing car making it stop.
Cold ripped open the door, yelling at the driver: "Get the hell out of here."
The man did. He exited with raised hands and shaking knees. Staring at the criminals with wide eyes while they hurried to the vehicle.
Trickster was the slowest. Artemis shot an arrow at him that encased the kid in foam. Boomerang retaliated with his own projectile. It made Artemis duck.
"Guys", Trickster yelled as he struggled in the foam, "Some help?"
Cold turned around: "You screwed up enough jobs for us, kid. Some time in the slammer will put your head on straight."
He entered the car.
"Glider?", Trickster begged the woman who sat in the backseat.
"Those were my favorite skates, Trickster", she crossed her arms.
The car raced off. Cold leaned out of the window, shooting ice behind the vehicle to create a barrier towards Artemis. The archer cursed as she was unable to hit the vehicle.
"Was fun doing business with you, kids", Cold yelled.
Then, the car was off, and Donna felt like a complete fool. The Titans had been played hard today.
Artemis sighed as she looked at the square. What a mess. The archer had long feared that her team had become complacent. Today confirmed it. She approached Nightwing who was moving slowly, his movements uncoordinated.
"You okay?", Artemis asked.
Nightwing shivered: "Cold."
"What did I miss?", Victor hurried out of the bank, "I got my systems back online."
He looked up: "Holy shit. Is that ice?"
"Yep, Vic", Artemis pinched the bridge of her nose, "You have anything to thaw Donna out?"
"Sure", Vic turned his arm into a cannon.
A flame shot out, thawing at the ice surrounding Donna. She sighed in relief when she was finally freed.
"We got played by a team that has Captain Boomerang on it", Vic muttered, "Embarrassing."
"The Rogues are crafty and prepared", Artemis stressed, "Everything we aren't."
"The Rogues?", Vic asked.
Artemis couldn't help the flare of annoyance that rose in her: "Do you ever read our files, Vic?"
"Sorry", Vic raised his hands, "Didn't think they were that important."
"I didn't either", Donna muttered sheepishly.
"Amateurs", Artemis crossed her arms.
Nightwing spoke up. He had been strangely quiet until now.
"The Rogues be from Central City. They be thieves with different gadgets who band together for fight Flash. Kid Flash say they be about… the score."
He said the word as if he was unsure about its usage.
"Usually not kill people", Nightwing added.
"They didn't today", Vic said, "No casualties."
"I don't know. Glider tried to slit Kory's throat", Donna muttered, "And she looked pretty disappointed when she only drew blood."
"We are lucky there were no casualties", Artemis said.
Vic bristled: "Lay off, Blondie. We did fine. We caught one of them."
"They came here because they thought they could make an easy score in our city. And they were right. What does that say about us?"
Artemis was met with dejected faces.
"Whatever", Vic said, "I'm going back to that hallway. Gar is still unconscious and Kory… I don't really understand what's going on with her."
"She's trapped in the wall", Donna said, "Mirror Master caught her in the reflection."
"Damnit", Artemis cursed, "We need that mirror gun to get her out."
Donna replied: "Glider said that the Flash has his ways. I'm sure he deals with this stuff frequently."
Artemis turned to Nightwing.
"I call Kid Flash. He get his uncle here", Nightwing said.
He walked towards a bench, his movements still sluggish. Nightwing dropped down on the bench taking out his phone and typing on it slower than usual. He put the phone to his ear. His voice was too quiet for Artemis to understand. The Flash seeing them like this was the cherry on the sundae of failure. This team needed an intervention and Artemis would make sure that they got it.
Nightwing sat on the bench, taking a moment to pull himself together. He had already called the Flash and exchanged two sentences with him. Ever since the undercover mission and Wally's staged death, Flash had been civil but business-like. It wasn't like Nightwing could blame him. Barry Allen loved his nephew. And Nightwing had made him think that Wally was dead for months.
Nightwing felt Artemis' gaze on him. Unhappy with the team's performance. The Titans' inability to act as a unit had been bubbling under the surface for a while. Enough to irk Nightwing's subconscious. But the threats they had faced had never been serious enough to force it. The Rogues had changed the game and they weren't even close to the most serious threats the Titans could encounter. Threats without mercy, without lines and without a second thought about taking lives. They had showed the Titans though what it was like to face a team who knew what they were doing.
Nightwing had been late to this mission, but he had heard enough over the comms to follow the mistakes piling up. Starfire's tendency of punching before thinking. Donna's hesitancy. Gar treating the mission like a game. Vic – it felt like his foot was half out of the door. Not committed to the hero gig.
Then, there was Nightwing himself. Quiet, secluded to the background and feeling almost superfluous. Nightwing had barely done anything on this mission even before Captain Cold had outsmarted him. He should have noticed the glimmer in the air that indicated the cold field.
Stupid. The files had said that Cold used them to create traps and barriers around himself. Wally had told Nightwing how calculating Cold was. That a sharp mind hid behind the silly costume and rough accent.
Nightwing had forgotten all of that. His mind complacent because he wasn't in Gotham anymore. Instead, Nightwing had jumped right into it. And he paid for it now: His body was still weak from the cold. Sluggish. It made unpleasant memories come up within him. Of the Court's glass coffins. Of being frozen within one of them for a year.
Nightwing shuddered. He had always avoided fighting Mister Freeze. Batman had left him on the bench when encountering the ice villain. For good reason. Ice villains chilled Nightwing to the core. And Cold being an intelligent strategist did not help matters. It made Nightwing feel vulnerable. As if that gun and that gaze could hit every one of Nightwing's weaknesses with ruthless precision. No. Nightwing never wanted to face an ice villain again.
This left Artemis with a team of rookies that pulled her down. And Nightwing could feel the frustration radiating off her. He didn't know how to fix it though. Nightwing didn't even know how to fix his own contribution to the Titans. It wasn't like he had acted differently during his time with the Team. He had gone on missions with them and followed Kaldur's orders. While the Titans were public instead of covert, enacting the mission should be the same. Right? Nightwing shook his head.
He forced himself onto his weakened legs and approached the Titans. They still looked as if a raincloud had poured down over their collective mood.
Nightwing forced a reassuring smile: "It not be so bad. No one be hurt."
"Tell that to Starfire who got a cut throat and is caught in the wall", Vic snapped.
Nightwing bit his lip. Vic was right.
"You don't have to yell at him", Donna said, ever trying to keep the peace.
"Cyborg is right", Artemis said, "We need to have a talk once we're back at HQ."
Nightwing fiddled with his fingertips. He focused on the useful things now. The facts. He had read Batman's files on the Rogues and had heard Wally talk about them.
"She not be catch in wall. She be catch in reflection. Mirror Master gun use reflection for open portal to mirror dimension."
"That's some Alice in Wonderland-shit. Jumping through mirrors?", Gar tried to crack a joke.
No one laughed. Gar closed his mouth.
"B- But we can get Kory out of there, right?", Donna frowned in worry.
Nightwing nodded: "The Rogues use mirror dimension for get away. So, there be way out."
They stayed quiet. If there was a way, they didn't know it. They were helpless until the Flash came to get them out of this predicament.
Barry Allen was in crime lab, analyzing a hair sample, when he got a call from his nephew. He
frowned when he heard that the Rogues had fought the Titans.
"-Apparently, Starfire is trapped in a reflection", Wally ended.
Barry rushed to put away his forensic instruments: "I'll get her out."
"And just be civil with Nightwing. Going undercover was my choice", Wally added.
"As you like to remind me", Barry had this conversation with his nephew every time Nightwing came up.
It did little to lessen Barry's uneasiness around Batman's protegee. Wally had faked his death for Nightwing's mission. His nephew could say that it was his choice all he wanted. But it should have been on Nightwing to keep him out of it. It would have saved Barry a world of pain.
Still, Starfire had nothing to do with Barry's hurt feelings. She was trapped in a precarious situation only Barry could get her out of. So, he pressed on his ring, making his costume emerge.
Barry changed into it faster than the speed of light and zipped towards Jump City. He reached the square and recognized devastation the Rogues had wrought on their little field trip. Apparently, Cold had tried to turn the square into an ice rink. The ice was already melting in the oppressive Jump City heat.
"You need a hand?", Flash turned to Artemis.
She looked a bit flustered. The archer always hated asking for help.
"Thank for come", Nightwing bit his lip, "We need help get Starfire out."
Barry simply nodded without any further comment. He could feel the tension that always simmered between them.
They entered the bank and walked towards the vault. Police were interviewing the hostages in the lobby.
"It's unusual that the Rogues leave Central", Barry said, "Did they say why they were here?"
The Titans stayed quiet. Barry had his suspicions why Captain Cold might have selected Jump City as their target. The Rogues thrived on the challenge that Central City offered them. They loved going up against the Flash in a contest of wits and silly gimmicks. It drove Barry up the wall. But the Rogues also liked quick, easy money. And nothing was easier than getting one over a bunch of inexperienced newbies who were barely a team.
They reached the hallway. The vault at the end was still open. It was almost empty except for a few stacks of cash. The Rogues had been successful tonight. Barry stopped in front of the wall.
Starfire looked back at him in the reflection. She looked angry, banging against the reflection with her fists. Her throat was coated in blood, but she didn't seem bothered by it. Barry sighed in relief. He had been at the other end of Glider's ice skates often enough. She was easily the most bloodthirsty Rogue. The deranged glint in her eyes made Barry's skin crawl.
Barry took out an old mirror gun. He had taken it from Mirror Master years ago. The tech wasn't the most up-to-date and the mirrors attached to the gun were scratched but it was enough to free civilians from their reflective prisons. Barry shot the gun at the reflection. A shiny portal opened that reminded Barry of a silvery puddle. Starfire tumbled out of the mirror into the hallway. She cursed in Tamaranean.
"The Rogues stashed the money in the mirror dimension. Maybe it's still there", Artemis said.
"I can't get it out with this gun", Barry said, "It's an old one. I only use it to pull civilians out of the mirrors. Going in is too risky."
"Mirror Master went in without problem", Artemis said.
"He's the master of this tech. I've barely comprehended it. You could easily get lost in the Mirror Dimension. I have often enough. It's always dangerous. Starfire was smart to stay where she got caught."
"What was it like?", Vic asked.
"Vast", Starfire shuddered, "Empty. A black void except for mirrors that hung in the air. It reminded me of space but without any of the warmth and life."
"Sounds terrifying", Vic muttered, "When did I sign up for this shit?"
Barry approached Beast Boy. He was still in the form of a rhino. A groan came from the rhino's mouth, and he turned back into his human form.
"Gar", Vic hurried to his side, "I was worried about you, buddy."
"Takes more to bring me down", Gar held his head, "Did we get them?"
"We only caught Trickster", Artemis said.
"Trickster?"
"The little punk with the garish clothes", Vic said.
Barry ignored their chatter and approached the pair of ice skates that he saw on the floor.
"Golden Glider loves her skates. She'd never leave them behind."
"She had to", Donna said, "Trickster's EMP turned off the Rogues' weapons including her skates."
"What is Glider's deal?", Beast Boy asked, "She was weird. Who uses ice skates to rob banks?"
Barry sighed: "Someone who was on her way to be an Olympic ice skater. Glider never made it though. Not for lack of skill. But the pull of crime became too much to ignore so she joined up with her brother. It was only a question of time. Cold is somewhat reasonable, but Glider is a wildcard. Don't underestimate her."
"So, the psychotic ice skater and the cold guy are siblings?", Vic asked.
"They are trouble", Barry said, "And thick as thieves which is not surprising considering..."
Barry trailed off. He wasn't eager to air out the dirty laundry of his enemies. They may be afflicting his life like a plague but even Barry had lines he wouldn't cross. It was their story to tell.
"And those ribbons?", Donna said, "They were like magic. Same as the skates."
"They are tech. The gauntlets were stolen from Star Labs. Very advanced. Whoever wears those controls the ribbons with their thoughts."
"It sounds like magic", Gar said.
"That's Star Labs to you", Vic said, "My father works there."
"He helped develop them", Barry added, "The Rogues sent the development team a gift basket after they stole them."
Barry earned several confused gazes from the young heroes.
He shrugged: "They have their weird code of honor. Mostly Cold. He's key to keeping them all in line. I would lie if I told you that I understand it."
Barry and the Titans walked back outside again towards the square.
"You should be free from the Rogues for now", Barry said, "They like to let things cool down after a big score."
"Captain Cold does?", Artemis asked.
"He's committed to his bit", Cyborg muttered.
Barry approached the Trickster. Multiple police officers were in the middle of cutting Trickster out of his foam.
"You're here to bring me to Iron Heights, Flash?", Trickster asked.
"This isn't my turf", Barry said, "I am disappointed with you, Axel. You are over 18 now. They won't be as lenient with you anymore. You'll go to a proper prison instead of Juvie."
"What's with the lecture?", Trickster scoffed, "And it's not like I'll stay there long."
"What was that, boy?", one of the policemen asked, "I suspect they'll send you to Blackgate."
"Blackgate?", Trickster scrunched up his face, "Whatever. Can't be worse than Iron Heights."
Barry exchanged a gaze with the policeman. The boy in front of them had no idea.
The cop slapped handcuffs on Trickster and made him take off his considerable number of gadgets. Trickster laughed when one of the policemen got itching powder sprayed in his face. The man's face turned a blotchy red.
"You'll see, Flash", Trickster yelled as he was pulled into the cruiser, "I'll be out before I have to eat a meal in Blackgate. Rogues stick together."
Barry sighed. He had believed Trickster to be young and misguided but the boy showed no signs of changing. And he wouldn't if he continued to keep the same company.
Barry turned back to the Titans. Half of the team looked like it could barely keep itself up.
"Anything else?", Barry asked.
"That's it", Artemis crossed her arms.
Barry nodded. He remembered Wally's warning to be civil with Nightwing. The Talon was visibly trying to be. Maybe Barry should make an effort.
"I guess I'll see you next week", Barry reached out, slapping Nightwing's shoulder.
It felt awkward. As if he was trying to be with the kids. No wonder Iris called him lame.
"Next week?", Nightwing sounded confused.
His confusion transferred to Barry.
"Family dinner?", Barry said, "I assumed Kid Flash would bring you along. His parents are there and the Garricks."
Nightwing bit his lip. Barry ignored the drop of black blood that coated it.
"He not mention."
"That is… odd. We meet up every year."
Barry's chest felt surprisingly tight. This was the kind of awkward conversation he itched to get away from.
"Maybe he forgot it. It wouldn't be out-of-character", Barry tried to cover for his nephew.
It was his duty as his uncle. Still, Barry thoughts raced about why Wally wouldn't tell Nightwing about the yearly West-Allen-Garrick-dinner. Barry might be wary of Nightwing, but Wally had been dating him for almost three years now. These two were serious. So, why didn't Wally introduce Nightwing to the family?
"Yes, forget", Nightwing frowned.
His voice was quiet. Thoughtful. The kind of tone that Barry feared from Iris when he had screwed up.
Great. Barry's attempt to be civil had just created a lover's quarrel for his nephew.
"I have to go", Barry reached for his silent comm, "Emergency."
Then, he raced off. Iris would have laughed at him if she could see him.
Donna was tired when they reached their hideout again. She just allowed herself to drop onto the couch. Nightwing sat down next to her, looking just as spent. But there was a pensiveness about him. He had been even quieter than usual ever since that awkward conversation with the Flash.
Vic and Gar went to the kitchenette. They immediately rummaged through the fridge trying to find something edible.
Starfire sat down next to Donna. She grabbed Donna's hand, squeezing it. Donna's hand tingled at the contact. Starfire always knew when Donna was down. The alien's strength made some energy return to Donna, too.
Artemis didn't need anyone to lend her energy. She paced around the room.
"We need an intervention", Artemis said.
"Knock it off", Vic said, "Everything went fine."
"It didn't", Artemis said, "They saw us as easy targets and we proved them right. We were lucky with the Rogues. What do we do if we face other villains? The bloodthirsty ones?"
"The League will deal with them", Gar said.
"And if the League is gone?"
"Then we're all screwed anyway", Vic came out behind the kitchenette.
He built himself up in front of Artemis.
"So, that's what we are? A bunch of low-level quitters?", Artemis raised her chin.
"We are realists", Vic replied.
"Exactly", Gar yelled.
Donna sighed: "Artemis is right. We need to be better. I felt like a screw-up today. They completely blindsided us. We aren't prepared for any larger threats, and we don't work well as a team. I don't work well in this team."
"Donna", Nightwing tried to comfort her.
"No", she said, "I'm too hesitant. I feel like I'm always too slow. Like things are slipping away from me. Today it was a stack of cash but what if it's a person next time? By Hera – a child even. How could I live with myself knowing that I could have been better but didn't do everything I could?"
The other Titans lowered their gazes.
"You are too slow", Artemis agreed, "We need to work on your indecision in the field. But the structure of our team also doesn't make it easy for you."
"Structure?", Donna asked.
"We don't have a leader. We are just a group of people. That doesn't make a team."
"We don't need anyone ordering us around", Vic protested.
"A leader is not just about orders", Kory said, "They are about structure – coordination. Can you imagine a fleet where every ship acts upon its own accord? It would never fulfill its mission."
"I couldn't have explained it better, Kory", Artemis said.
"Let's say – hypothetically – that we needed a leader", Vic said, "Who should it be?"
"Why are you even asking?", Gar asked, "Artemis is clearly proposing herself."
The archer glared at the duo: "I'm not actually – because you don't trust me."
Vic and Gar looked sheepish.
"I'm here because Nightwing vouches for me", Artemis said.
"That's not true", Donna looked around her teammates, "Right, guys?"
The silence was answer enough.
"You aren't the easiest person to get along with", Vic shrugged, "Sorry."
Artemis' mouth thinned. Donna felt bad for her. But the archer kept it professional – as she always did.
"Nightwing, what do you think?", Artemis looked at him, "You're one of our most experienced members."
Artemis didn't need to say the 'only other'. Nightwing and Artemis were the only team members who actually knew what they were doing. Beast Boy had experience with the Doom Patrol, but he was far too immature still.
Nightwing tensed. He looked like he didn't want to be part of this conversation.
"You know best, Artie", he said.
Artemis balled her fists: "What kind of answer is that?"
Nightwing bit his lip.
"What do you think about the team's performance today?"
"Team do okay."
"Don't bullshit me", Artemis said, "I know you. You already have an assessment in your head about every mistake we made today."
"I not know what you want from me, Artie. We fight. We do our best but the Rogues too good."
"Do you know why they were better than us? Because they were organized. They know each other and they have a leader who coordinates the others and adapts if things go haywire. We need the same level of coordination if we want to make it."
"Yes, you right", Nightwing stood up.
His movements were still sluggish. Tired.
"So, why didn't you say it?"
"IT NO MY PLACE TO SAY", Nightwing yelled.
Donna flinched. Nightwing froze, as if he was surprised by his outburst. His teeth dug into his lip and his nails into his palm.
Artemis' face fell: "That's bullshit."
"It not", Nightwing stood up.
He walked towards the door, his steps slow.
Artemis continued: "Whatever your shitty conditioning tells you: You are clearly the best person to lead this team. You have the most experience together with me and most importantly – everyone trusts you."
Nightwing's hands shook as his nails dug even deeper into his palms. He turned around facing the team.
"You think I best lead?", Nightwing's voice sounded quiet, as if he had to force out every word.
The other Titans shared a gaze. Donna saw affirmation in their eyes.
"We're with you, Wing", Donna said.
"Same", Beast Boy agreed, "I'm sure I'd make an awesome leader. But who wants that responsibility? Certainly not me."
"You be wrong", Nightwing forced out.
He turned around, dragging his feet towards the door.
"Not can be leader", his words were almost too quiet to understand.
The door slammed shut behind him.
"What is wrong with him?", Starfire asked.
"His conditioning is a bitch", Artemis said.
"You pushed him too hard", Donna said, "He needs someone to talk to."
"Sometimes, a little bit of pressure is needed."
"Holy shit", Vic said, "And you wonder why we have difficulty trusting you? You are cold, girl."
"Do you think I enjoy being like this?"
"Then, just don't?", Beast Boy suggested.
"You don't get it", Artemis picked up her equipment and exited the same way Nightwing had.
She undoubtedly must be on her way to the training room. Artemis spent most of her free time in the gym training on her own.
The team was silent for a while. Only the clang of cutlery reverberated through the room as Vic and Gar prepared their sandwiches.
"Do all superheroes get like this? Does this brooding come with experience?", Vic asked, "Then let me get out of this shitshow while I still can."
"Our friends have suffered through much pain", Starfire's gaze was distant.
"Don't get melancholic on me, too, Goldie", Vic said.
Starfire put a smile on her face: "Do not fret, my friends. The mission is over. Now we shall relax. I require a shower."
Kory stood up. She left towards her own room.
Vic looked after her, his face fallen: "Did you see that? That was scary the way she just switched up."
Donna stayed quiet but she felt the same unsettling feeling in her stomach. Starfire was more adept at hiding her feelings than any of them gave her credit. Donna wondered how often she did it.
Starfire had mentioned the pain Artemis and Nightwing had experienced. The alien herself wasn't a blank slate. She had been enslaved. A princess of Tamaran traded away for a peace treaty. A child away from home forced into situations Donna couldn't imagine without getting sick. Kory carried pain, too. Donna would give her some space now, but she'd check in during a quieter hour. Kory always protected her friends, but she deserved comfort, too.
Nightwing entered his room and pressed the door shut behind himself. His room was quiet. Peaceful. It was a safe haven from the expectations of the team. They weighed down on his shoulders, making him dig into his lip and scratch into his palms. The Cold Gun still had its effects on Nightwing. The wounds just didn't want to heal.
Just thinking about the leader question made Nightwing's head overrun. How could the team ever think that Nightwing was the right person? He felt the desire to just drop down on his bed. But he couldn't sleep, and this would just leave him overthinking – catastrophizing as Canary would call it.
So, he sat down at his desk and opened his notebook. He had been taking online classes lately. Bruce had given Nightwing's secret identity a high school diploma under one condition: He needed to take actual classes and at least learn some of the basics. So, Nightwing had spent the last months repeating what he had missed. His classes were all over the place. He was pretty good at math and learned it on high school level currently. Classes like history or geography were okay. Nightwing could compensate for those by watching documentaries or listening to podcasts.
His true enemy was English. A subject that Nightwing was taking on the primary school-level and it still felt impossible to grasp for him.
Complaining didn't help though. Nightwing had to push through. Otherwise, he'd never be able to speak like a normal person. And he'd never be able to read all the case files Bruce wanted him to read. If Nightwing wanted to be his own person, he needed to speak English better than a third grader. So, he looked at his notebook and at the words he had carefully copied from his textbook.
'I run.
You run.
He/she/it runs.
We run.
You run.
They run.'
Maybe he could distract himself by going through these things – these conjugations as he had been told – for another time. He tried forming these words with his lips, but he found that his throat was blocked. An annoyed sound came out of his throat as he couldn't bring himself to speak like a normal person.
'I ran.
You ran.
He/she/it ran.
We-'
The words swam in front of his eyes. Nightwing slammed the book shut and threw it against the next wall. Hating himself for the fact that he was taking primary school English classes as an adult and struggling with them. It was embarrassing and shameful.
And this damn leadership-question. He had tried to forget it but he couldn't.
Nightwing leaned forward, putting his elbows onto the desk. He rubbed his temples, squeezing his eyes shut.
Why was Artemis even making a big deal about it? She was obviously the best person to lead. The most experienced. The best hero of them all. Actual good relations with the League. Maybe she didn't have the full trust of the team yet, but it would work out with time. Also, Batman had chosen her. He had implicitly asked Artemis to join the Titans. There could only be one reason for that: Batman had foreseen the leadership dilemma they would have and sent Artemis to fix it.
The idea stung a bit – for some reason that Nightwing didn't understand. It was not like Nightwing wanted to lead himself. He had been serious when he had told them that he couldn't lead. Leaders needed to communicate. To get a team together. Nightwing's hacky English wouldn't cut it. And then there were the times when he couldn't speak at all. What use was a team leader who became silent under pressure? Not to mention that most of the League still despised Nightwing. A leader should get along with the hero community.
Not even Flash – the hero known for getting along with pretty much everyone – liked him. Barry was trying. Nightwing admired him for it. But the stiffness in his gestures was obvious. Nightwing could never bring up the charisma or authority required from a leader. He thought about how Kaldur had kept the team together. Stayed calm under pressure. Even Captain Cold had coordinated his team and adapted with a row of contingencies.
Nightwing couldn't see himself in that position. He could come up with plans. His undercover mission had shown that. But being covert was something different from being a public leader. The personality that was required of a leader? To coordinate a group of people through cheer charisma and authority? Nightwing could never have that, and he didn't know if this was a Talon-problem or a him-problem.
Nightwing opened his eyes again. His forehead was throbbing. Still, he read over the notes again. The letters swam into blurs in front of his eyes, but he forced himself to continue. He had to become better after all. Show Bruce that he could do it. That he wasn't as stupid as everyone secretly had to think he was.
Even Wally hadn't been honest with him. Had kept quiet about the family dinner. Maybe he was ashamed of Nightwing or wasn't serious about him after all. The thought stung.
Nightwing forced his hands to open. He shouldn't catastrophize. Nightwing wasn't in therapy anymore. He couldn't get himself to open up again – not after Canary had betrayed him. But he still recognized that he was expecting the worst again. Maybe Wally had just forgotten. It wouldn't be out-of-character like Barry had said. Nightwing would talk to Wally like the functioning adult he tried to be once his voice was back.
Victor stood up in the middle of the night. He was restless after the botched mission and verbal lashing Artemis had given them. The EMP had wreaked havoc on his internal systems, making his limbs ache. Victor still had the bitter taste of the pain medication on his tongue while he was on the way to the common room. Some TV would pull his mind off things.
The common room was dark when Vic entered except for the bright light of the mission computer. Nightwing sat in front of it. He was perching on the chair in a position that made Vic's limbs ache even more just from seeing it.
He was reading something, muttering the words to himself.
"Py-r- Py-ro-", Nightwing seemed to be stuck.
Vic approached him from behind.
"Not can sleep?", Nightwing asked.
Of course, the former assassin had noticed Victor approaching. He never missed anything.
Victor wasn't eager to talk about the chronic pain that plagued him far more frequently than he liked to admit. So, he focused on the computer screen. The window Nightwing had pulled up was a file on Heatwave.
"You're reading up on the Rogues?", Cyborg asked.
Nightwing simply nodded. He opened up another tab typing in a word.
"Py- r – o – m", he muttered to himself.
"Pyromaniac", Vic said.
Nightwing looked up at him.
"It means that Heatwave is addicted to setting fires. He can't help but watch them."
Nightwing frowned.
Vic continued reading Heatwave's profile: "That's fucked up. Apparently, his compulsion led him to set a fire to his house while he was a child. His entire family died in the fire while he did nothing but watch. He was utterly transfixed by the flames."
"He kill them?", Nightwing tilted his head.
"Not intentionally. The guy is not right in the head."
Nightwing's fingers twitched to his palms. He looked back at the file. Vic stood there, unsure what to do.
"You be in pain, Vic", Nightwing said.
"It's nothing. Just some soreness."
"It be more serious. Your body be very tense."
Irritation flared up in Victor.
"How about you mind your own business?", he snapped.
Nightwing bit his lip: "You be right."
He turned back to the computer. Victor was left feeling shitty. He didn't mean to snap at everyone. Being a hero was just taxing in a way Victor hadn't expected. The idea of fully committing to this gig was terrifying.
Vic sat down on the couch, putting his aching feet on the coffee table. He turned on the TV, barely paying attention to the program. The light of the computer went out. Vic expected Nightwing to join him on the couch. But he silently moved towards the exit.
"Hey", Vic said to his own surprise, "You can watch with me. You were here first after all."
Nightwing approached Vic and perched on the armchair.
"Not be bother?", Nightwing asked.
"We're cool, dude", Victor said.
Nightwing's body relaxed. He fully sat down on the chair.
They spent the rest of the night in companiable silence.
Jason sat in the courtyard of Blackgate, playing a round of solitaire with the pack of playing cards the prison had allowed him. The inmates were making a wide bow around him. They sat in their packs at the other tables. Jason had no desire to join them. He was content being by himself. Jason was here to atone, not to get pulled into any other shit.
A clang came from the weight bench. Deathstroke put an obscene amount of weights back down and stood up. Despite the inhibitor collar around his neck, he looked barely affected.
Deathstroke approached the table with his companions. The big dogs of Blackgate. No one – not even the other gangs – dared mess with them.
Jason threw a glance at them but kept his head down.
"That all you can do, Deathstroke?", Gorilla Grodd laughed.
Deathstroke didn't dignify Grodd's comment. He sat down between Black Manta and Cheetah. Bane made up the rest of the group together with…
"Your competitions of strength are getting tiring", Luthor sounded bored.
"Only because you can't keep up", Grodd laughed.
Jason focused back on his cards. Not his problem whatever these guys came up with. Deathstroke seemed to view it differently.
He approached Jason, sitting down across from him.
"Fuck off, Slade", Jason said.
"How eloquent, Hood."
Jason ignored him looking down at his cards. Deathstroke remained in silence.
"My answer is still no."
"I haven't said anything yet."
"You don't need to."
"You should be glad that our Legion is even making this offer to you", Deathstroke said.
"The Light breaks and Luthor is desperate enough to make a new little club? Why are you even joining, Slade? Don't you hate Luthor's guts? You pulled off this entire undercover mission to stab him in the back?"
"Prison has a way of giving you a new perspective. For now, Luthor and I have a truce to avoid a prison war."
Jason's skepticism must be showing,
"That solo act you're pulling off, Hood? It'll get you killed no matter how good you are.
Blackgate doesn't reward lone wolves. You may have some street cred from killing the Joker and Black Mask but it won't get you far."
"And joining up with you will? My brother is the reason that half of you are even here."
"Like I said: Prison gives you a new perspective. If you joined us, maybe your brother would gain a new perspective as well. But don't take too long people like us tend to get impatient."
"Villains?"
"Such a boring way to see the world", Slade stood up and went back to his table.
Luthor looked at him with narrowed eyes. Jason scoffed. These two did not trust each other one bit and liked each other even less. Someone should have told him that prison was the worst parts of high school all over again.
AN: I hope you enjoyed catching up with the Titans and our favorite brothers. See you next week on Tuesday. 3
Here are the summaries for those who need them:
Part 1: The Twirl of a Knife
Dick is abducted by the Court after his parents' death and turned into a Talon. He is trained by his Great-Grandfather William Cobb – who is terrifying – and Talon kills hundreds of people during his time as an assassin.
Batman eventually takes down the Gotham Court and Talon manages to get free. He meets Jason on the street and saves his life. They become best brothers and Talon trains Jason who takes over the Gotham underground as Red Hood.
Batman notices them and is suspicious of them. However, the boys and Batman keep stumbling into each other and build a bond. Talon also bonds with the Team - especially Wally and Artemis - who has her own villainous past. Eventually, Cobb abducts Talon and brainwashes him again. The Team, Jason and Batman save Talon though. Jason also kills Black Mask (very satisfying).
Talon feels guilty and is forcibly recruited for the Suicide Squad. Jason and Batman save him from that by blackmailing the President but Talon gets some bonding time with the rest of the squad (Cheshire, Harley, Croc and Boomerang), almost dies and takes on the name Nightwing as his Rebirth.
Nightwing and Wally get together (YAY!) and Nightwing is Batman's partner now. However, Cobb terrorizes Nightwing. Deathstroke also gets pulled into this because Cobb takes over his role as enforcer of the Light. Deathstroke and Nightwing steal a gun from Lexcorp that can kill Talons as a weapon against Cobb.
Jason and Deathstroke team up and try to take on Cobb on their own in the Gotham sewers – they fail. Batman, Nightwing and the Team follow them and there is a confrontation. Cobb pulls out Nightwing's claws but Nightwing manages to outsmart him emotionally and restrains him. Jason beheads Cobb – especially to Batman's displeasure.
Ending: Nightwing joins the Team and lives with Bruce. Artemis confesses the extent of her dark past to the Team – who still accept her (of course!). Meanwhile, Jason decides that his and Bruce's ideologies don't mesh and moves out of the Manor.
Part 2: A Codified Dilemma
Months after the defeat of Cobb and the Court, Nightwing, Red Hood and Batman thwart a hostage situation. The situation is a plot by the Light though to leak Nightwing's past which gets harsh conditions put on him by the League in an attempt to pacify the public. Nightwing copes badly with this especially when Wally retires from the Team for college. Things come to a head in Qurac where the Team is on the lookout for a missing Donna Troy who stumbled upon the Light's Talon-trade. A key figure in said trade is the Conductor – a weak telepath who can only control Talons who are already conditioned. Deathstroke baits Nightwing as he seeks to backstab the Light for humiliating him.
Eventually, Nightwing decides to go undercover with Deathstroke to stop the Talon-trade while Jason – after a heavy fight with Bruce – decides to go to the League of Shadows to become a more lethal vigilante. Nightwing goes to extreme lengths to deceive the Light (Luthor especially) which includes fake-killing Wally in front of the League. Wally goes into hiding in college. This demoralizes the League and makes Artemis swear to kill Nightwing. Meanwhile, Jason befriends a strange girl named Themis in the Shadows and gets to know Talia and Damian. Themis has the power to make people feel all the pain they ever inflicted on anyone – ultimate justice as she says.
Nightwing gets introduced to Project Titan – the Light's attempt at building an army through genetic experiments and Talon-harvesting. He takes on a subservient role where he cares for the abducted Donna Troy, Cyborg, Beast Boy and Starfire. Talia increasingly entrusts Jason with Damian's protection. He eventually flees the Shadows together with Damian and Themis to avoid a war between Talia and Ra's.
Things escalate again during a Light summit where Nightwing defeats Deathstroke for the role of Enforcer and fake-kills him. He actually shoots Superman with a bullet. Artemis tries to kill him on the way out, but Nightwing talks her down and fake-kills her as well. She helps Nightwing fake more kills during his undercover mission.
Eventually, Nightwing uses his position as Enforcer to infiltrate Project Titan and to free Donna, Starfire, Cyborg, Beast Boy and the Talons. He reveals himself as an undercover operative to the League, but the Leaguers mistrust him. Wally also breaks up with Nightwing because he can't deal with Nightwing's mental anguish (ouch). Nightwing spirals (more ouch).
Themis (who secretly works for Luthor) encourages Jason's blood lust for killing Arkham villains. She gets him to drug Bruce and to meet her in Arkham where they kill several villains including Bruce's old friend Harvey Dent. Eventually, Themis reveals that she has Jason's brothers and she uses her powers on Nightwing pushing him into a mental shutdown. Jason manages to free his brothers. Damian, Bruce, Wally and M'Gann. launch a mission into Nightwing's mind to save him. Damian and Nightwing bond over Nightwing's old memories and the possibility of redemption. Damian takes on the identity of Robin.
The Titans hold an interview about their abductions and Nightwing finally opens up about his past, taking control of his own story. Their evidence gets Luthor arrested and breaks the Light open. Nightwing and Wally rekindle (yay). Meanwhile, Jason's and Bruce's relationship falls apart and Jason turns himself in as Red Hood to atone for his sins. In the end, the Titans form with Artemis as part of the Team as she has lost belief in the Justice League.
This was long. But it's shorter than reading 420k+ so…