Dick starts to reject Slade's methods and combats the man verbally about how he's treating hids own teenaged daughter. Rose learns something about her father that has her wonder if Dick really was trying to protect her all that time.
Jason gets angry at Bruce for keeping away from Dick's life while now, Grayson might be in more danger - all because Bruce's idea of having Kori safe meant not allowing the father from seeing his own nearly born child (Kori's prolonged pregnancy is due to this sort of worry as well,) Jason blaming Bruce and warning him to not put Starfire's baby or her health at risk. Word is spreading about how Chemo might act on his ability to destroy entire cities and Slade gets on board with a contract from Lex on destroying or immobilizing Superman. What is about to happen to Rose? Can Bruce make it in time to unveil the rest of Dick's associate's master plan? Who is the stranger commenting to Dick in the doorway of the cop's apartment? Find out!
Why Heroes Can't Sip Champagne and Apples are a Girl's Best Friend
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Chapter 22: Downhill From Here
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Long wait but here we go…and I'm redoing this arc so that afterwards is the Ric Grayson and Talon arc and later is what you see…you'll see! No spoilers yet!
…………
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There was a lot to think about; Bruce knew it and so too did the Batman.
He stared out into the night and wondered to himself if he'd needed to speak to the estranged couple. Kori was still dealing with a rather length Tamaranean pregnancy, her mate no where to be found. Dick did not catchup or report in months to his former mentor, and to that….Bruce, was afraid he'd done too much damage in putting their baby last. Or the husband and father, his reputation a mystery and the mask he wore –
"Master Bruce!"
Alfred panted at the doorway to the Bat's study. "You must come quickly, sir! There is news about Master Dick and…I fear he's gotten into quite a predicament…"
/
Slade's methods in having Rose follow him and Dick, who'd tagged along as he'd promised in his Renegade get-up, had Rose extra cautious around her own father's motives. He was so invested in playing with the big leagues with the newcomer Chemo, that she'd been very close to telling Dick about the man's plans to ransom off the city and catch the underground of Blud off guard while the cop stood and watched.
"Dick…-
"When we're out here, call me Ren. I'm not too keen on getting a new video posted –
"Stop it, and listen." Rose went down via her grapple gear and Dick followed, Slade slowing as his eyes did not. He was taking on the idea of a potential crush, yet not at all. Rose was probably testing the ex – bat. Maybe even getting his guard way down as he waited. Staying a few steps behind as the two spoke behind a tall chimney.
"Dad's not going to keep his word in helping anyone."
"I know."
Rose blinked up at the older anti – hero in costume. "Why? What can you say that will make me think you care about getting out?"
"Because. I'm here for you, Rose. Slade knows I'm overprotective as heck and….if you wanted to do more with him not breathing down your back…"Slade was a few feet away as Dick shook his head. "Another time, I'll tell you the story then. It's a good way to motivate –
"Motivate, with words?"
Slade leaned over the side of the building he'd been shadowing the two by. "Rose is fine how she is, Grayson. Do your job, and the mob syndicate you want is in your hands."
"Right, and the ones I need to find who may have broken Blackfire out of jail?"
"In due time, we'll get there when we cross that bridge." Slade turned his eye to Rose as she went without needing a second blink.
"See? She's almost as perfect as you were, Renegade."
"I was far from cut from the cloth you wove, sir."
Slade chuckled as Rose looked back over, her eyes longing to know what Dick had been willing to keep until the next time. "She's certain to teach you a thing or two about following orders. Something that you skimped on with the bat –
"I'm done with him, and we're still not done with tonight's patrol."
"It is now." Slade tapped at his arm, his watch there and hidden. "We used up our time with talk, which is partly why I'm upset. Be back here by sundown here, tomorrow. Sharp. Don't be late or we'll visit your dog and leave her the message."
She looked to her farther with pleading, confused blue eyes.
"Dad? Am... Am I not staying with Mr. Grayson –
"It was a trial period, my dear." Slade replied calmly as Dick didn't look so relieved to know that Rose was going back to him to lose apart of her normal livelihood. She looked drained on the day he'd seen her. Her perfect stature was a mask of a soldier, marred to remain as ubiquitous as astatus symbol on a general's uniform.
Training, beatings, lectures and of course, brainwashing.
He'd left something behind though.
Rose was going to be in danger if she stayed, because Slade was willing to use her to prove that he could take over this city…according to intel. He was afraid, Dick was terrified but what could he do?
~If that were M'ari, I would fight to be sure she got toa safer place than right here…~
/
Slade had Rose go not to the estate, but a lab under it. Her body swayed from the injection of a relaxant he'd shoved into her in the car. Her eyes dull and glassy as Slade proceeded to have Rose on an exam table with tools as silver as her faded vision. Like mist, they were in-between, unforeseen and something that her foresight ability could not comprehend by the dose she'd responded to.
"What…. dad….dy? What….is ..."
"Hush, my child. There won't be anything else to say. You'll be good, won't you?"
Rose's eyes were wet as she reacted to Grayson's message. Use her…for what?
"We have a job from Lex Luthor, he wanted to put a certain man of steel down so he could bring his empire to its pinnacle. If the job goes well, we can return home and forget about this mess. So now, you'll lie here and complete your mission." He instructed as Rose's tongue felt heavy in her mouth. No….it was –
An orb of Kryptonite…. but it wasn't the same, it looked too fake as Slade put on a hazmat set of gloves and got to work, tools and a scalpel….She felt her eyes pop as her limbs found her healing. She jutted from side to side yet was strapped down. "I…. I…. won't do this!! Daddy…. please, no... Please –
"You do as I expect of you, Rose." The man barked, his tone falling lower as she cowered before the man she'd once trusted with her future. That was a lie…what kind of father went this far??
"You are normally my eyes and ears but for now, you'll remain my shield." Slade came lower as he used another dose to put her under, the flailing ceased as Rose could only move her eyes but not her head. "Stay still…" Slade commanded as he pulled at her chin in his grip, the scalpel in the other as she shut her eyes –
"NO." He gripped her upper and lower lid and held it open, the left one being his prime target. "Don't fight this, Ravager. That is who you are, mine. I'll make sure that sticks in your head this time, for a very long time once we've finished our contract on the poster boy in Metropolis. Don't you dare look away, EVER. You are my daughter, with my strength. My blood, and you will let it dictate that you cannot leave. You belong to me, Rose. Accept it, as an honest truth." He smoothed back her hair as she bit back a wail.
"Enough, time is being wasted. Let's begin before it gets too dark out…"
He descended towards her as she couldn't even scream, before finally passing out from the drug invading her body. The one thing to take the pain away as he cut free her eye to replace it with a hunk of green, radiating rock.
Grayson was kind, while Slade's only true family and love was his desire to fulfill a contract. He had nothing to give her, yet she had plenty to lay at his feet as he continued to cut away the mirror to his sight. An eye for an eye, his true weapon against a national threat.
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"I saw him in Blud, but he wasn't looking like Wing to me."
~ What do you mean by that, Jason. ~ Bruce leaned over the keys of the Bat computer and mulled over the very worst possible outcome. "I'm sure it was him, but he was with some kid, a girl with blue and orange –
~That, isn't all. Tell me the rest before I come there myself.~
Jason groaned and leaked what Babs had warned him not to.
"He got a job training D. S's new partner. I'd say she's strong but she still wanders after him like a puppy."
~ You'll tell me everything about Slade's job, just stay safe.~
Jason gawked over the screen, his eyes glaring back at the Bat as he put his hands to the keys of his largest monitor. "Um, do you care about him at all?? Blud isn't the only thing; Ra's and Bosnia, remember scooping me out of the rubble.? Well, a damned Meta's been making headway as Chemo and I heard he's a fan of Slade's kid. They were going around chatting and wouldn't you guess??"
Jason slapped his forehead. "That damn Legion had to push my goddamn buttons. So, get off your damn ass before they decide to turn HIS city into a total waste of someone else's time! These people got Dick and Slade's just a shitty distraction." Todd bit his nail and felt the pressure building. His muscled back tensed as Bruce did hear every word. His own, were again less than encouraging to the Outlaw.
~Ever since Kori left your team to return to Jump City, I'm beginning to think that Slade's not only responsible for –
"Can you shut up about your hater – theorizing and get over to his place?? He needs you to say you're eff – Sorry, Al…Sorry, for effing up his match made. He's in mourning, B. You took away the one tether he had all for the sake of some flimsy politics….and I swear, if Kori has anything happen to that little goddam -Sorry Alf, ANGEL …. I will sock you so hard that you'd have WISHED you'd left me in that damn wasteland! Before this one ends up being the next BOSNIA! BITCH!"
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Artemis sat by the side of Todd's arm and left him knowing she was right there, hoping to tell him everything would work itself out.
This however, wasn't that kind of situation; a critical mass of so many things HAD already gone and skyrocketed out of proportion because of Bruce's ego. His own fear without knowing the cause of its assembly in the back of his thick skull.
"How is…. everything so far?" She tossed her arms over his shoulders and gave the undead dummy a peck on the cheek with a small smile. "As stubborn as ever over his birds flying south?"
"How about, losing touch." Roy moved from the wall and shook his head; having heard too much once before between Jay and Dick clawing each other's eyes out over Kori. "We should at least be worried that he won't take his son into account. Ollie would pressure me, but Bruce didn't even try to reach out once."
"He's terrible as a people person –
"No excuse, Jace." Artemis agreed. "B is your parent But Dick stayed outside of being a true Wayne, you told me once." Roy nodded and crossed his arms to also comment, "She's right. Dick got left to the wolves and now he's off playing capture the fricken' flag with the alpha of his new pack."
"Let him; he's gonna get hurt and we all tried to do something, now he's gonna sacrifice all of Blud for getting legally dumped!"
"Jay, not cool. Bruce pushed him out to look for Kori's killer."
"And he failed." Snorted Hood with a huff. "He failed to keep her safe, so we had to pick up the slack."
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Dick returned to his apartment, key in the lock as he scowled at himself terribly.
The fact he'd forgotten to pick up more food fore Haley, oh boy…
"I can defrost the chicken in the fridge. Give her actual me –
"Why, what a pleasant time to meet…."
Dick dropped his back pack on the ground, tazer in his pocket and escrima hidden in his jacket from view.
"I'm glad to finally see you embracing your proper instincts. Great – Grandson."
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And……scene! Well? By this next time, Dick won't be in his own skin so watch and wait. Find out! Chapter 23: Birds of a Feather – Crashing in Uninvited. Read on and stay curious for more!
