The Dark Knight Chronicles – My Brother the Renegade; My Father, The Batman

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Chapter 2: Say Yes; Stand and Deliver

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Dick paced, while Slade had his attention from the manor's other guest library. The only one with walls so thick that none could hear a peep if Slade decided to lay back down the law. So whatever, Dick was still his responsibility. He'd used the serum and Richard's identity was as much a threat to his enemies as….as Slade had said.

"You'll have to let me help –

"While I do nothing, you mean." Slade huffed at the thought. "Or, did you expect NOT to have to figure this all out on your own. Not without a guide for them."

Dick swung round; his fist caught by the man quickly. "You. Are not allowed near them, not while I'm the only thing that can keep this party in line."

"What?" Slade scoffed at the boy's eyes. " You? Be serious with the bats' brood? You're no better than them….in fact –

"I told you; you can stay if you stay –

Slade pushed Dick's back into the wall of books he'd avoided hitting while the kid was restless on his feet. His seering gaze was always in shadow, almost a perfect respectable villainous boss that you'd expect – yet, Slade was a bigger threat. Maybe even more, if Bruce didn't know by now to keep his secrets locked away even tighter.

"You. Are not what they want, you are here to be a beacon for a short while. Never the actual thing. What would happen if you struck the wrong blow on a ramble? Hmm? Would you be able to hold back?"

"I could. You sho –

"I NEVER." Slade hissed. " Never, said you could do this, because they know you can try. You can almost TRY , Richard…. but you will never BE the bat." Dick swallowed as Slade's breath made his eyes water by how the man's anger was not at him, but at Bruce for involving them. For Dick for thinking he had any say...but still...

"Still...I have to try. For Dami. For, Gotham."

Slade leaned back and let go of his former protégé's wrists, eying the brat over carefully. "Are you sure that's what you want. Why keep me around; if you fail, I have every right to pull the plug on your little staycation."

"I know it's more for you to do too." Sighed the kid as he massaged his roughed-up wrists, back to the mastermind. "But you have intel, you have weapons training that maybe could up our game –

"You just said, "our." Slade smirked.

"W – well, I –

"If you want to please your old teacher, this teacher might have to tag along…. you have a terrible outlook on life. Nothing like the Bat at all." Slade shook his head, taunting the ex-hero over his tone and temperament far too early. Yet, was he right? Did Dick have to act like the bat on all cases? All the time, wear the mask…BE.

BE. BATMAN .

/

Alfred was outside of the room with Dick's two oldest brothers, Babs and Cass. Dami was with the new recruit who looked miserable from fretting over a mercenary being in the house.

"Is…. did you two –

"No, we came to a fine decision I think you will all enjoy." Slade was mask - less, patch and all as he smirked while Dick turned his head away from what was to come. "Richard will play your "bat" but you all, well. We'll need better soldiers than the original's made of you. So, I've decided to help whip you brats into shape."

/

"I don't believe this drill sergeant, shit face –

" Jace…." Tim's eye bags had eye bags UNDER eye bags now as JASON paced the floor, to put a hole in some unlucky villain's skull.

"He's not going to let him. I wore myself out….Slade –

"I know, Cassandra, that's why none of them can touch us. I say I vouch to take the cowl." Jason shouted to Babs as she gripped her hair nervously to twirl it. "But, Dick…" She started to say. "He can't die. Neither of them really can."

"We can use the poison."

"The one – no!" She shook her head at Cass's idea.

"No one is poisoning anyone!"

Tim scratched his chin, snapping his fingers with a grin at one plan that could not fail. "What…. what about a contest?" He blurted out. "If you win against Dick, Jason, you get the job. We only call again if we can wire a few million to get them out of hiding….if. you. Die!" He growled, while the bickering only woke a stomping monster upstairs instead.

"You sedated me and it isn't doing its job, why are you all –

"Dami?"

Dick was in the next hall, coming back with Slade as his damned shadow. Mocking the two brothers with baited breath to come.

"Wiilson…..you…..unhand the –

"I'm not on a hit, kid –

"Liar!" The boy lashed out, not before Dick stopped the swing and shoved the boy back into the tiles of the great main hall. "He…you don't know what you're doing. Why did you save me??"

"I, they hired us."

"It's true!" Babs clasped her hands together and prayed for a chance to repent to some greater relic. For B to come home, and for Dick to stop acting like a victim. Which, he was…. sort of.

"I've agreed to supervise during your training; Dick however was told by Mr. Wayne that he must do what must be done. No shortcuts –

"One." Jason got up and walked to Dami with a determined smug grin on his face. "How can we even trust a crooked douchebag pair to take care of the future of Gotham's finest? The fact he chose you means he trusts that you can give his city a shiner. Like that grubby B lister on your shoulder has your –

"Slade, if he goes, you lose me and any hope of helping this city. Or yourselves."

Slade looked at the kid he'd practically remolded for a good time of years…the bat couldn't touch it. That fire was changing now, and it was a strict code that the kids had to live by. Lose a lead, lose the case. Simple as that.

"Grayson." Dami grumbled. "What do you think we are. I was trained b –

"By the best, same." Jason cut his brother off. "I want that cowl, and I won't let a desperate man's wish be some unadulterated scheme for two killers for hire to run over easy…. Dick – wad. I challenge you in the cave, mats, no weapons. Whoever stays down and can't rise is the Bat. The other, deals with it. Amicably."

"Now he's getting serious…." Tim rasped and tried to hide behind Alfred, or stick to him away from this spat. "I'm afraid access to the cave is…. not possible for such a display of showmanship." Alfred tried his hand, yet the die was cast. The boys would tussle by the next morning. In a few hours, there would be a few changes to the clause of Bruce Wayne's last will and testament. Possibly.

/

Jason was looked up and down as he moved as any athletic minded meat head around the mats of Bruce's pride and double – joy. The batcave was once a fortress; with a few chittering nosy snub – nosed onlookers bobbing about, here and there. Yet, now it wasn't even invaded or with all interest to Slade?

He was tempted to be here for other reasons while gaining the bat family's trust. The boy was in the hall, rubbing his hands together and pacing again, looking mad as a goddamned Hatter out of Arkham. 'Done yet, pretty bird?"

"Sir, I am considering folding at this point." Dick ran a hand through his hair and nearly broke up with his eyes closing. Slade gripped that same hand to hold it back. A terrible habit he had, indeed as the man stared, just stared at what opportunity he was given. "You are better than all of them and they should know. If Wayne made the decision, I'm glad it was you. But, but if you walk away, it would be worse than losing in a fair fight." The man told the protégé he'd molded by unfair means at first. Dick had come to depend on him, to tell him things that he'd never even sneak a whisper to that elder butler. That man, had to keep his mouth buttoned.

"Jason is not just determined to win, he's Bruce's real kid…I'm just a sitter. That's all he wants –

"Regardless." Slade moved the ex – hero's arm lower as his voice was calm, comforting even. "Todd isn't wrong, but neither is he right for not trusting you to lead them. Face your fear of this place. You came here to bring that little prince to his confidants." Slade said. "Damian should be begging for a lecture FROM you. And, he will…in time."

"I want him to trust me, you." Dick swallowed as Slade let him go. "I want you to mean what you said, that you can help us find Bruce. So, I finally can leave his shadow for good."

"And we will, together if we must." Slade looked around his shoulder as the clock in the hall shifted to its side, revealing a stunningly futuristic glass elevator. "The clan has assembled in the bat cave; we are all awaiting your arrival…Master Dick. Master, Wilson?"

Slade looked to Dick with a nod as the ex-hero nearly flushed with discomfort at that blue gleam in his mentor's eye. There were some things that the bats could never know…it was better that they never did. (Hints on a later slash! Will explain!)

"Right behind you, Alfred." Dick replied curtly to his old family member. "I'm not giving up the cape and cowl just yet."

/

Babs would not be home in time to see to her own needs. This deserved a ref, so she vouched. "Timmy? Did you tell Duke to wait in the –

"Way ahead!" Stephanie stepped into the room in her Spoiler outfit as Jason snickered by her go – lucky disposition. "Steph! Was the patrol murder on your ears? We've got a brawl to BE the big bat!"

"I know… But Ragdoll got me in knots, ya' know? There was no big bad on the street tonight. Cass can tell you –

"I don't feel like it."

She popped out of the dark as quickly as a batarang, Tim holding his chest by how her ninja reflexes never failed to shock the already peripherally burdened. "Why don't you give this genius a cardiac arrest while you're at it?? Warn someone when –

"You're looking cocky as ever, Goldie." Jason's good mood soured as Dick and Slade of all the worst souls to enter the cave, descended. Todd's fists were bound with tape. He'd been here, punching a bag no doubt.

"We ready to see you fall, Jay – bird?"

"Like a mountain." Jason cracked his neck, the veins bulging as Dick had feared. "I don't bow. You earn my respect when I'm wearing that uniform. You can play the creep I send to Gordo for keeps."

"Nice, but…we have a schedule to keep." Tim groaned. "Would you do the honors, Barbara? I'm sitting this one out."

"He's got a board meeting in the morning." Babs sighed. "Alright. Rules are; no weapons, no foul play and no threats to blow up each other while I'm still the ref. You get all that, Rich?"

"Like day one, Barbie." Dick warmed up with a stretch, his arms still limber

She flushed and turned to Jason, who was already sensing a rival in his old teammate. "Crystal, mama."

She nodded. "Why don't I head you off with some words of wisdom. Being older than Dick, I have that job."

"Sure." Dick didn't smile. He was win or lose; Todd went down or he was never going to face the bats as the same person. Slade was expecting him to control his hidden strength. The serum was just a crutch. If he told himself that like a mantra, it did damage. If he forgot and got angry…

Well, he didn't want anyone to see what he was capable of committing. "Are you going to hit the first punch, bro?" Jason looked Dick in the eye, the pose of a crouch while Dick did a kata to get into position as he'd been taught by the master detective. "I'm working on my form before I embarrass you in front of your posse. Let's get this over with."

"May then the best bat – hem, and former bat…. fight!"

/

Dick was strategic in his way of dodging, while rough as he was with his striking, Todd was a heavyweight from day one from the Lazarus pit….

Dick got the scrape of fingers and jumped back, a cut blooming then sealing on his cheek in moments.

"He heals. Shit, Willie. Did you say a fair fight or can I use a collar ta' dull the dose?" Snarled Jason to Slade as Cass moved quickly to go to a set of cases where she input a code. Her arm was there to block the numbers and cape as Black Bat. Slade could not be trusted as the man simply acted uninteresting in anyone…

She blinked as Slade eyed her, impatient for her timing to stall. A few clicks more, and the inhibitor collar was easy to obtain as Dick took it like a black belt in hand. Securely, he let the band own him as it powered on. "There, happy?"

"Yes." Jason grunted and crouched back to come slamming into his new enemy turned traitor.

Dick struck back as he let his leg push out with one kick, Todd dragging out the growl as he went for another shot at the ex – hero's ankle to smash into it with his knee, his elbow gutting at Dick's chin as blood was spilt. Babs had a hand to her mouth as Dick went to his one knee, wiping his jaw as Slade moved in a circular spell. He always did that. It unnerved Dick that Jason had crossed a line with the hot blooded mercenary. Dick was sort of a favorite around the man's many allies at the hip. If his pretty face got too beaten in, who would end up calling off the killing blow?

Jason was a bull in the ring, Dick had to stop dodging and quit dancing around. Slade crossed his arms, waiting. Waiting for Dick to punch back where it hurt.

"Done already, Golden boy?" Jason was frowning and moving back and forth, eyeing his enemy with the intent to keep him pinned by the next turn he got. "No." Dick shook his skull and smirked up to his brother. "I'm just calling that shit luck. Next round, you won't do it again."

"Promises are beneath you, blunder brat." Jason huffed. "You left your post a long time ago to go masked freak hunting and wow – you think I couldn't see it??" He hit again, Dick getting the man's feet as he leaped to avoid falling instead. Dick was up, spitting blood from a loose tooth to the mat. "Alf expects a better show. Should we?"

"Let's."

They clashed again, knuckles burning as Dick was able to throw the younger until his neck bulged. "Shit! Shit! Hold back! Back!" Seethed Jason as Dick tried to steady his hands. Slade saw that, right? He couldn't fight! He'd k –

"You want to play rough, pretty boy???" Shoving himself into a bridge to standing, Jason shot at the man such daggers that he flinched easily. "You can say that again, c'mere!" Sneering eagerly, Jason was a wrestlemania champ at best, but he could box from his days in the crime ridden city. Something Dick was sheltered from, somehow he'd forgotten how to put Todd down when it came to this being HIS city. Dick had never lived in Gotham at all, he was just a kid who was born on the road, the midwest having one home of his. Cobb was another reason that he'd come here. Trained to kill….be immortal? Please.

Slade watched as Dick's serpent strike hit, Todd going numb as if he were about to topple, before Dick landed a blow to his side.

He was down, but….

Dick moved in, shaking the man's shoulders. "No….no…no… Slade! Som –

"Move away from him, Master –

"Alfred…." Slade moved, but Dick was faster. He fled to the exit with eyes wide and afraid. He'd nearly shattered something and no one had prevented this...no, he wasn't ready to be Gotham's next big protector.

He was just here to watch, as the time he had between them all came to a close…

/

Damian hated waiting around so in an effort to evade his rebuttle with Todd and Barbara to "not step foot in to the Batcave," he worked around that and stood by the door to see the obvious loser's face.

He did, but it was not at all without a gash or tears as Dick bolted by him, ignoring the white haze that fell over his vision with the tunnel vison that overtook all else. The clock started to get motorized so Dami ran to catch the fleeing panic attack that was, technically his savior. So for his father's honor, he would try to find the cause to Grayson's whining.

Slade also motioned for the door, taking to the flight before anyone could say no. Cass and Steph were next, while Tim and Babs had to tend to Jason who'd thankfully not coughed up a lung and three quarters of his kidney upon standing.

"Grayson." Dami moved swiftly as his hand tore outwards to grip the man child's wrist, only to find that Dick also had a bit of training similar to the child of the Demon's head. He was practically "sleeping" as Slade's eye widened long enough to dash in before his apprentice could break all of their vows in one afternoon.

"Drop this. Now, Renegade."

"That's not his name –

"What should you care, Al – Ghul." Slade pushed over to where Dick's face was twisted to meet his as he growled, pounding the man and trying to –

Was he feral??

"Dick! Snap out of it!"

"It's ok. It's done, you're done." Slade moved his hand to a point by the back of the boy's neck as the collar came off with a click. "He was contained too long. It's a side effect of the –

"What…" Dami was stunned as a panting, crying adult…no way.

"What did you do to my brother all of those years, Deathstroke?" Snarled the teen with teeth as sharp as any child monsters in all the land of Lazarus. "Nothing he never asked for, little prince." Slade sniffed and let Dick cry into his arm before finding himself in mere seconds flat. Alfred arrived with a frown, not at Dick but at this situation. "This cannot continue, Master Wilson."

"He's fine. It's just…." Dami swallowed down his pride. "The collar was too long on him; he had some sort of reaction to it."

/

"Could be a lie. Did Deathstroke threaten you, Dam?" Steph tilted her head to get a better view at the three's guilty faces.

"He didn't." Dami said, trying to listen to his own heart less and less. It was there, mocking him as they all started to question his competent nature. Morally, yet he was not at all this way as a hero. He was never so…. dismissive.

"Who won the duel."

"Dick." Cass raised her arm, lowering it as the room got cooler somewhat. "Master Dick. Master Jason will be alright. He did expect a few teeth rattled. You simply did as was expected…and, he's as spry as they come. You mustn't bother yourself –

"IF. Alfred." Dick's voice trembled as Slade clutched his arm to stay in control this time. "IF. If I put on that cowl, those boots and that attitude doesn't stay him. If I…I could have killed him…. I can't do -

"I can show you a technique I know." Slade assured as he let the boy stand for himself. "I'm staying to help, win or lose at this rate with you coming after unarmed vigilantes. It's my reason now."

Dick let his mouth gape a little, nodding a thank you voicelessly in whisper as he turned back to the others. "It will take time, but I don't think Bruce wanted anyone else to fall into the fires this city has to offer. Will you, consider me?"

"If you can go around with a cool head like the big man." Steph shrugged. " And if you can teach me that "serpent's strike, you have yourself a girl willing to die in that fire." She winked back.

"As well, as I." Cass raised her hand, this time wanting to speak up and not caring if she received scathing reviews for her speech. "Bruce taught me not to kill needlessly, I can help you to train as I can. Without fearing yourself and your own inner pains. They cannot hurt you here."

"You will be in charge, but he." Dami pointed to Slade. "What is his job?"

Slade smiled and toothily, he explained while Dick again stood gawking up at his partner.

"Well, Grayson can't manage you brats all day long, so I thought I'd take the day shift to train you to fight. Better, naturally."

/

Slade is poking the bear. Let's see if it gets teste. And away to chapter three; Chew and Swallow – Don't tell the Children. Dick's biggest secret is almost revealed. Find out!