"Again"

He quickly looked up to see Grandmaster staring at him upside down. No, Gray Son was upside down. Gray Son staggered to his feet, forcing large sharp gulps of air into his lungs while he tried to refocus his doubling vision. He couldn't remember how long they had been doing this. He vaguely remembered some of the Court's extensions and servants barging into his cell with Grandmaster at some point.

He wasn't allowed to dress or given any socks so this left him bare, save for his overly used sweatpants and wrist wraps.

Talon had suggested he use them when it was discovered that his healing factor, speed, and strength were increasing, but that didn't mean that his natural skin cells and hair were becoming any more resistant to damage or exposure. Grandmaster had insisted that bare skin-to-skin contact was good for Gray Son to build tolerance while fighting and sparring, but after a particularly rough sparring session where Gray Son was pitted against 15 combatants, Grandmaster had admitted Gray Son may benefit from some sort of buffer for frequent vital and vulnerable spots like his ankles, wrists, and knuckles.

Gray Son remembered that fight well. He had performed poorly because he had lost but Grandmaster was pleased he had still taken them all down, except for Talon and himself as the final opponent. Gray Son had lost his temper at one point over a particularly skillful younger appointment. She had been able to dodge and maneuver quite well. She had pale skin and dark, dark hair. Her eyes were a bright offsetting veridian green and she had been in high spirits; taunting him incessantly over his inability to tackle her and subdue her. Her jabs and verbal prods and pokes had flustered him, giving him a headache that pounded through the front of his eyes.

Eventually, she had slowed and when Dick grasped her he had punched her…hard. Gray Son remembered the breath leaving him over how little control he had felt over his brash actions. He had got to punch her in the sternum because his strength and larger body should have been more than enough to cripple and subdue her. Unfortunately, his fist had gone right through his sternum, cursing him to pummel the concrete wall behind her.

He had panicked and been unable to pull his fist free of her limp bleeding body. Her head lolled forward and her deep black blood had pooled around his forearm and the floor. After Talon had to step in, they found that his fist was stuck in the concrete and his knuckles had gone into and past some titanium bars that were crucial to the infrastructure of the wall.

Later, Talon had reassured Gray Son that the girl was brought back with an additional electrum injection; Gray Son never saw her again.

Since then, the only things that Gray Son was allowed to keep on himself were his ankle and wrist straps that wrapped over his palms and knuckles as well. When Grandmaster was very angered, he would have Gray Son placed in isolation without any clothing or his straps. Gray Son hated existing when he was in isolation.

"Again!" Grandmaster's bark jolted Gray Son back to the present. He quickly looked up to see Grandmaster observing him with pinched eyebrows and a disapproving glint in his steel blue eyes. His grey thick beard was warped by a hidden frown.

Gray Son quickly bowed his head and attempted to stand straight; Grandmaster never liked it when he talked without being prompted. Gray Son didn't want to anyway, he used to love talking and irritating Talon for fun. Now, talking only gets him lashes and muzzled.

Gray Son used to remember a time when he got in trouble for even staring at Grandmaster for too long. After Grandmaster deemed that he was adjusting to his training appropriately, he tended to allow some leniency in talking back. Grandmaster started to tell Gray Son that he was fond of his young snippy character and sass, but Gray Son usually ended up getting lashed or beaten if he was too sassy.

Sometimes it was hard for Gray Son to find a good medium for his Grandmaster so the easiest solution was to stay quiet.

Gray Son thought that Grandmaster was allowing him to talk more freely within the last few weeks because he had made him proud; accidentally.

Grandmaster had shaven his head and had someone imprint something on his head. He wasn't allowed to see it or know what it was but Grandmaster told him it was proof that he was where he belonged. The week after Gray Son had executed someone the Court deemed traitorous and survived the evolution serum within 72 hours.

Grandmaster had been very pleased with Gray Son, letting him get away with his cheesy quips and sassy remarks against almost everyone else in the nest. He humored him with a gentle endearing smile but today his recent leniency seemed to have wavered.

He seemed to be harsher and to want more out of Gray Son's sparring sessions now. He wanted Talon to hurt Gray Son more, wanted Gray Son to heal faster. Overall, he wanted Gray Son to be able to damage everyone and everything around him more easily. Gray Son found he was never really punished for breaking things…or people. As long as it wasn't someone important to the Court.

It was becoming easier and easier to fall into the back of his mind and blend his movements to whatever directives and orders were barked at him. He got to lash out and flip about opponents and Grandmaster was pleased with him; it seemed like the perfect solution to Gray Son. Sometimes there was a niggling little whisper in the back of throat that protested any form of submission and appeasement to the Court. Some days it seemed impossible to ignore; those days usually ended in lashings and waterboarding.

"Again, Talon" Lincoln barked out from across the room. Grandmaster had begun calling Gray Son Talon recently. He explained that his future title shouldn't be anything but familiar; it still felt strange to his soul. Gray Son bowed his head shallowly before throwing his shoulders back, taking a step forward, and falling into position.

He had been taught to always start his sparring and combat sessions with his right foot slightly behind him and his right arm brought up to subtly protect his throat and chest. Gray Son suspected that decapitation was one of the only ways to defeat a Talon, but he didn't dare ask.

Grandmaster watched as Talon stepped forward before Gray Son and stepped into position as well.

"Attack"

Gray Son lept forward, driving his fist towards Talon's throat. He hit Talon's forearm, forcing a grunting choke out of his chest. Talon brought his free arm up between them and punched Gray Son in his side to elicit a hiss as an organ was definitely bruised from the impact.

Gray Son leaped away to distance himself but had to start back flipping away as Talon lunged forward with a curved dagger. The blade barely nicked his chin as he flipped over his head one last time. He found his feet as he felt a tickling sensation start down his chin and throat.

"Stop performing, efficiency is more important in close combat" Grandmaster called sternly.

Gray Son glowered at Talon and was met with an amused glint. Gray Son ran around Talon, keeping eye contact as Lincoln rotated to keep him in view. Suddenly he met a corner of the wall and instead of running around it, he threw his whole body at it before shoving off and in Talon's direction. He caught the older man by surprise as he tackled him and threw his whole upper body into contorting around Taloin's throat and arms.

They both went down as Talon bucked and tried to force Gray Son off. Gray Son snarled with the effort it took to stay wrapped around the other man and felt his nails start to sink into Talon's skin. Talon growled before pulling out another knife and stabbing up into Gray Son's stomach. Fire seared through his lower stomach from the cut and strange angle. He kneed Talon as roughly as he could which caused the brunette to double over as much as he could in his strangled position. Gray Son took his opening and drove his fist into the face below him ruthlessly and wildly. He vaguely felt his knuckles pounding against cheekbone, nose, and lips but the feelings blurred together as the thick feeling of blood filled his fists and nail beds. He couldn't tell the difference between the blood dripping out of his stomach and the blood dripping from the body below him.

At some point, Talon went limp beneath his towering form and that triggered something animalistic inside of him. Gray Son drew his fist back with a deep roar but before he could bury his fist in his opponent, a searing fire sprung up in the center of his back without warning.

Gray Son snarled as he tried to turn and spot where the other enemy was from but couldn't seem to move his upper body well. His spine contorted backward and he crumpled back onto the floor with a thud; the back of his head smashing into the concrete with a dull crack.

Gray Son spotted Grandmaster with a pistol capped with a silencer lowered at his side. Gray Son looked to Grandmaster in confusion before suddenly his attention was diverted as Talon staggered to his feet before hawking a bloody glob of phlegm at his feet. Talon straightened as he stared down Gray Son's immobile body. His face was drenched in blood and his nose was struggling to correct itself as Talon pulled himself together, causing blood to drip down his lips and chin in a steadier stream.

Gray Son watched the blood pool in a messy puddle between them when Talon cleared his throat and spoke, "Any intervention is one you should be prepared for. You might have overpowered me momentarily but you did so in a rage so we can safely assume it wasn't a purposeful, tactical move on your part"

Gray Son gritted his teeth as he felt searing bouts of pins and needles wheedle their way through his spine. He cried out over a particularly sharp stab that shot up his spine and caressed the back of his skull like a spiked mallet. Talon advanced on his prone body quickly, bending down and grabbing his throat with a large gruff gloved hand and hauling him to his feet. Gray Son felt his back and spine move and stretch with the rough jostling and gritted his teeth to keep any pained sounds contained. Talon dragged him forward and slammed him up against the wall closest to them. Gray Son's vision went black and static-like for a second before his eyes found the older man in front of him and his Grandmaster watching from across the room.

Grandmaster had undone his top coat and placed his free hand in his trouser pockets while he leaned on the wall, watching with vague amusement and interest. Talon stared up at him from where he held his body up against the wall, a couple of inches above each of their natural height. Gray Son felt pressure building against his spine but he couldn't go anywhere as his spine had most likely been broken by the bullet and was taking its time mending. He bit his lip, feeling his teeth break through the skin and leak blood across his chin as pressure built and spread all across the center of his back and the back of his head and neck.

Suddenly, a small metallic pinging sound resonated behind him. Talon smirked at him before wiping some more blood off his healing nose and looked back to Grandmaster, "That was a whole 20 seconds faster" he said with a small smirk.

Grandmaster nodded in accordance, "Granted, it was his throat and this is a spine. But yes, this is an improvement"

Talon turned back to Gray Son and suddenly flexed his fist, squeezing around the younger man's windpipe until his ears began ringing and his eyes felt like they were bulging. Gray Son chocked out a breathy whimper as he couldn't even move his hand up to grasp the offending one around his throat.

Just as the edges around his vision started to dim without his permission, Talon pulled him off the wall and tossed him across the room. Gray Son yelped as he rolled across the unforgiving ground, smearing blood and spit as he went. He stopped rolling on his side with his legs splayed out.

"Up" Grandmaster called from across the room. Gray Son struggled as he did his best to order his arms and chest to move, to do anything. "Up" Grandmaster called again but there was an undertone of warning that set off Gray Son's instincts in the worst ways.

He struggled as best he could as Talon approached his limp form. Without a word, Talon drew back his leg and kicked Talon in the stomach in one powerful move. All the air wooshed out of Gray Son's body to the point where he was left gasping for anything to re-enter his body. He started coughing after a few gasps but that didn't last long as Talon proceeded to deliver kick after kick. Some hit his thighs, some hit his shoulder and chest. One kick landed right on top of his recently healed stab wound which caused Gray Son to cry out before he cut himself off by biting his lip. Tasting his own blood was always better than Grandmater's disapproval.

Gray Son was frantic to get control of his limbs again as Talon descended kick upon kick on his body, some were strong enough to roll his body further across the room.

"Your mind is an extension of your body, Grandson" Grandmaster called nonchalantly from across the room. "I. Said. Up"

Gray Son felt hot tears prick at his eyes as he clenched them shut in an effort to force his body up. "Arrghhhhh!" he cried out as he forced his arm under himself. His back burned tremendously as he clenched his muscles and forced himself up onto all fours. His arms and chest were trembling almost to the point where he collapsed again.

Talon crouched next to his head and grasped a handful of his dark locks in a firm hold before tugging his head up just to where it was obviously uncomfortable for the younger man, "Your Grandmaster ordered you to get up. Why are you taking your time?" he drolled.

He let Gray Son's head drop as the younger man groaned and growled, struggling unsteadily to his feet. Gray Son beamed internally as he was finally able to stand and face Grandmaster and Talon, 'He did it. His spine was shattered not even 20 minutes ago and he was already standing'

Grandmaster's eyes roamed up and down his shaking form. His cold eyes were cushioned by white skin and crow lines while he remarked on Gray Son's bleeding pathetic stance. He nodded once and turned away to Talon to say something. In that moment of dismissal, Gray Son felt cold shame and hot anger drench his being all at once.

Why wasn't Grandmaster proud of him? He had succeeded and had almost bested Talon!

He had listened. He had done everything that was asked and ordered of him.

Embarrassment heated his face in one fell move, 'how could he be so foolish' he thought to himself. Vaguely, Gray Son noted that this feeling and train of thought felt suspiciously familiar; as if he had gone through this already or with someone else.

Gray Son felt his lips pull back in frustration, a quiet snarl slipping through his teeth. Talona and Grandmaster froze where they were conversing a few feet away. Talon's eyebrow jumped up as he smiled knowingly at Gray Son. Like an older brother who knew his younger brother had crossed the line with a parent.

Grandmaster slowly turned to Gray Son, his expression stony and unreadable. "Is something wrong…Boy?"

Reality slapped Gray Son in the face like a wet blanket and he blinked before ducking his head and frantically shaking his head.

"No, no. What's wrong my boy? You seem upset?" Danger was screaming in his face the more Grandmaster spoke.

Gray Son bowed his neck deeper, hoping to convey his apologies; Grandmaster had already made it clear he was not to speak out of turn.

Since Gray Son wasn't looking up, he didn't realize how close Grandmaster was until his polished English coifer shoes appeared right underneath his vision. His head was wrenched up by his hair. Grandmaster brought his face up to his, "What bothers you, my boy?" Grandmaster sneered maliciously. "Speak"

Gray Son glared back, "I did well," he said. Grandmaster paused, examining his face before nodding.

"You did…"

"He is upset that he did not receive praise for his accomplishment and my almost-defeat," Talon said from where he still stood to the side.

Grandmaster looked to Talon before looking back to Gray Son' slowly a dark smile circled his beard.

"Is that what troubles you, dear boy? I didn't praise your work enough just now?"

Gray Son said nothing but continued to glare, now feeling overly mocked by both men. Talon always could see right through him and his intentions.

Grandmaster scoffed lightly before removing his hand from Gray Son's hair and grasping his chin and jaw instead, "That playboy and mercenary really did make you too dependant on the reactions and reciprocations or others didn't they?"

Gray son's brow furrowed in confusion. Grandmaster waved away his unspoken question, "Never mind me, boy. Is that truly what troubles you? You wanted more acknowledgment from me because you almost defeated Talon in a bout of rage, you healed 20 seconds faster, and you listened to an order of mine to stand? Is that what made you so proud?"

Gray Son diverted his gaze quickly, understanding Grandmaster's point, His accomplishments weren't accomplishments after all. He had listened to orders and almost lost control because he got too angry at his opponent. Grandmaster tsked lightly before turning his head to the side to examine his shaved head and bandaged scalp. Grandmaster nor Talon would tell him what was done to his scalp; maybe a tracking device had been implanted?

"Do not worry yourself over whether or not you are valued, Gray Son. You are one of the Court's more prized weapons and assets. As long as you continue to do well and serve the Court of Owls, you will be of value to us. The moment our weapons break is the moment we no longer protect and cherish them. Do you understand?"

Gray Son nodded solemnly. Without warning, Grandmaster smashed a fist into Gray Son's throat, throwing him to the floor with a choked gasp. Gray Son seized in pain as his back hit the hard cold floor. Before he could re-center himself, Grandmaster had reached down and pulled him back up to his feet and slammed him against the wall beside the training room's main door.

Grandmaster leaned in until their noses were touching and Gray Son could smell his minty breath and stale coffee aroma. "You do not demand anything from me! Do you understand boy!" Grandmaster shouted into his face.

Gray Son recoiled in fear and surprise. The older man's behavior and threatening aura had fluctuated and changed in an instant.

"You do not expect anything from me. I am your master and you are everything beneath me. You are only strong because of the Court. You are only alive because of me. You are powerless alone and you are uncontrollable without guidance. You not only need me, you desperately need us"

Without warning, Grandmater's hand came out of nowhere to slap Gray Son across the face, throwing his cheek to the side. Gray Son gasped and made to move to grab his cheek when he froze at the glint in the older man's eyes. It reeked of threats and peril. Gray Son felt his voice die somewhere along with his growing attitude and earlier emotions. He would never admit that he could take hours worth of punches to his body but a simple slap had his eyes watering. He wanted nothing more than to fall backward and become one with the cement wall.

Grandmaster brought his other hand up to his hair and pulled back until his head was flushed against the wall. A small heedy whimper escaped Gray Son amidst his panic and fear, making Grandmaster's eyes twinkle with lordly authority.

"You are nothing without us, without me" Grandmaster emphasized. "Never mistake my leniency for mercy or compassion. You are mine; mine boy. If I don't want to give you a pat on the back because I know you are my weapon and nothing more, then that is what. You. Are" He snarled in the younger man's face.

Gray Son's breathing was erratic and he struggled to nod as many times as possible, his throat bobbing with dread.

"Do you understand me, Gray Son?" Grandmaster hissed in his face.

Gray Son nodded desperately.

"Do you understand me, Talon?" Grandmaster repeated again, more firmly.

Dick opened his eyes in a flash and it only took a second to realize he was staring at his bedroom ceiling, old posters of Batman, Superman, and Wonderwoman staring back at him from the early 2000s. The second after is when all the dreaded feelings of his nightmare came careening back to him as well.

Dick struggled to sit up as he wildly checked himself over; groping his stomach and then throat for the damage he was just experiencing. His breath started to pick up as his gaze bounced around the room looking for threats. Talo-Dick. Dick! He screamed at himself internally.

Without a second to think it over, Dick clenched his eyes shut tight and yelled out in the way he'd desperately been craving to in his memory.