Jason watched as the girl left their cell again. She'd been back briefly to collect Tim's food. The brothers had agreed to take turns sleeping so there was always at least 1 or 2 of them awake, as insurance.

At first they tried their best to fake unconsciousness to get someone to say something of value, within ear range, but days had passed without anything and the brothers had stopped trying. Jason would bet that they'd been here at least a week or so, maybe more. He really hoped they hadn't been here longer. It was hard to tell for sure since their meals were random and there were no windows or clocks near them. They hadn't seen anyone, except that short pale girl and Cobb. Tim thought that their cell was either at the far end of the Court's compound or was very far out of the way. He had argued that since they were mostly likely captives as blackmail or insurance against Dick, then there was no reason for regular Court members to avoid them as thoroughly as they had been.

They had tried to escape by day 3 but had been unsuccessful and unlucky. Their usual female, whom Tim had started calling Ella, had become their only visitor and during Jason's meal, he had tried to grapple her into a headlock. She was closer to Damian's body type and size, but still out-maneuvered Jason quicker than he could anticipate. By the time he had started trying to tighten his grip over her throat, she had jabbed out her free hand into Jason's sternum. He'd only realized something was wrong from Tim's gasp. He looked down to see his shirt torn and his side bleeding quickly. Jason was more stunned than anything. She'd been too quick for Jason's eye and her knife had been so sharp that he hadn't actually felt the cut. "You're one of them" he confirmed with a snarl as the pain started to register. She frowned like his statement was so stupid it confused her, "Don't do that again" she warned before leaving his food and exiting the cell.

"That was stupid" Damian scoffed.

That felt like a few days ago and Jason's wound was finally starting to scab. Tim had snapped that Jason had better sit still and rest while he could because bleeding out or touching his wound until he gave himself an infection wouldn't help Dick in the slightest. 'Bitch', Jason thought grumpily.

He knew that Bruce was aware they were missing and searching. It did concern Jason that Bruce hadn't found them yet. He didn't want to say anything out loud with Damian always part of their discussion now, but there hadn't been any commotion or chatter which led Jason to doubt if Bruce was even getting to close to their location. Jason hadn't seen anyone running by or issuing orders, so he could only assume Bruce was still looking or had been incapacitated somehow. No matter how much he desired the older man, Jason was hesitant to believe Bruce had been overpowered. He'd only ever truly been captured a handful of times and more than half were when he was training to be Batman; according to Dick and Alfred.

He wasn't sure what to make of this though. If Bruce had finally met his match or if the Court had watched them for long enough to know how to stay 2 steps ahead of the world's greatest detective, they were in serious trouble. He and Tim hadn't had a chance to talk about it plainly either, but he was starting to worry for Dick. The same organization that tortured him, changed his DNA, and had him for 5 years had him back in their control. They were most likely underground and obviously being used as leverage against Dick. There was literally no silver lining to their situation.

Dick was strong but Jason would be the first to admit that Dick was such a baby when his siblings were involved. He remembered all the games they used to play inside the house or out in the woods, even before Damian was dropped on Wayne Manor's doorstep. Every time one of his brothers threw a fit or cried over something being unfair Dick would find some way to placate them. He'd give them his turn or alter the rules slightly. He hoped Dick hadn't given in just from the verbal threat of his brothers. Then again, there was no way for Jason to know if there was a camera that Dick and others could view them through. He hoped DIck was causing trouble and being resistant at the bare minimum. He knew his older brother could raise hell when he wanted to, he'd seen the first Robin cause enough chaos to last a lifetime just over Bruce's lack of follow through on a promise or a forced Gala attendance. He had no idea what the Court wanted from Dick, or the 3 of them specifically, but he could imagine a wide range of the methods they'd use to force cooperation. Jason suspected they were the same if not more brutal than the League of Shadows….and he had seen their preferred torment and treatment for the captives they couldn't kill right away. Even though his side was starting to heal, and hadn't caught an infection yet, Jaon knew the three of them couldn't sit and wait around forever. Especially if Bruce didn't come for them soon. Chances were that Dick was being held under tight lock and key and Jason couldn't depend on him to break out and find his brothers.

He had enough to worry about in his own cell, no doubt.

Dick spat a mouthful of spit onto the mats beside him and noted that it was more blood than saliva at this point. He had been going at it for what felt like hours now. Lincoln had been observing as he held his own against 2 opponents with weapons; while he was left bare-handed. Dick's focus and clarity were a little shaky but he was pretty sure he'd had 11 different sets of opponents already.

He wasn't sure when Lincoln would be appeased but he was trying his hardest to keep up and play along. If he did well and acted meek enough, Dick was hoping Lincoln would allow him to see Jason, Tim, and Damian. Once Dick knew where they were being kept, he could start formulating a more concrete plan of escape. His insides hadn't stopped twisting over the vagueness of how and where they were being held. He felt constantly nauseous from his lack of quality meals and his own mind constantly churning out the next best torture story that his brothers could be living at the moment. Cobb was giving the barest details to keep Dick attentive and attached to his hook of bait. He jumped back to avoid a downward knife slash and dropped down before sweeping his leg out, catching one opponent by the ankles. At the same time, another jammed a staff at him and Dick let himself fall backward with it onto the floor. He grasped the end of the staff and jabbed it back towards his attacker into his gut. The air whooshed from his enemy and he used the momentum to swing the staff and opponent up over his body onto the floor behind him. There was a grunt and then stillness so Dick took his chance to clamber to his feet.

He was given a t-shirt and cleaner sweats this morning but at this point, Dick wasn't sure the shirt could be salvaged.

"Stop" Lincoln called out.

Relief washed over Dick and his shoulders dropped in exhaustion.

"Report back" Lincoln ordered the 2 others on the ground. They bowed their heads and left without another word. They didn't even grunt as they pressed on their injuries. Lincoln turned to Dick and looked him over once with immense indifference. Dick wasn't sure where they stood. His memories of their time together his first time here were foggy at best and Lincoln seemed to treat him a little differently each day. Some days he teased him like Jason while others reminded him of the first few weeks he met Damian.

Dick tried his best not to grimace, his whole face felt tender and his arms and knees felt raw from all the rubber mat burns and scrapes at his body. He'd spotted smeared blood quite a few times but at the rate he seemed to be healing, he knew he most likely didn't need to worry about it.

"Soooooooo" Dick drawled. Lincoln met him with a single raised eyebrow, "You guys never really explained…like anything"

Lincoln faced him head-on, "What are you curious about Gray Son? There is quite a bit involved with your capabilities, your diverse childhood, and your destined path"

Dick almost let loose a genuine laugh, "Yea, how about literally any of that? You and Corn on the Cobb never explained why you decided to target me and inject me with electrum. Now you're convinced I'm some integral part of your cult?"

Lincoln smirked, "I see you haven't been told the full story…. Do you really want to know why you are so valued and treasured? Why the rest of the Owls invest their money and efforts into you as well?"

Dick gave him a flat look, "No, I just asked for the fun of it"

Lincoln ignored his sarcasm, "You are the first natural Talon ever born"

Dick's control broke over that bizarre statement, "What?" he wasn't expecting that response.

Lincoln smirked, "Your mother was introduced to the Court and its ways when she married your father, whose lineage is rooted in the Court all the way back to your great great grandfather, Grandmaster Cobb. Your mother permitted our academic ventures and experiments so that the Court could grow and learn. Grandmaster was especially interested as she was of foreign descent and had no influence of Gotham attached to her being. She was a blank canvas in his eyes when she married your father and decided to accept him and all of his….obligations."

Dick's gut was slinking lower and lower the more Lincoln spoke about how accepting his mother was of the Court of Owls.

"Eventually, Grandmaster and she decided to pursue a DNA and RNA-based experiment he'd been culminating for years. She wanted to contribute and he needed someone of fresh and pure genes to test his theories on"

"Are you seriously trying to convince me that my mom let Cobb test electrum on her? That she knew and my dad knew about you guys?"

Lincoln's face spread in an enthusiastic grin, "Not just her, Gray…You"

Dick stilled as all the noise around them seemed to vanish and fade.

Lincoln continued, elation visible across his eyes, "We've had Talons for years and years of course. But Grandmaster wanted a way to make being a Talon a part of the Court's descendants and not just an alteration we permit our chosen members. With this goal in mind, Mary and John Grayson attended labs and sessions every day until you were a viable fetus. The last day of her first term is when Grandmaster began injecting her womb with his purest batch of concentrated electrum. I'm not an expert on the procedure that took place but I do know that it took multiple sessions of distillation for the electrum to be at its highest toxicity rate."

Dick felt the corners of his eyes tingle from not blinking for too long.

Liar..

Liar.

Liarliarliarliarliarliar.

LIAR

The words were on the tip of his tongue and he stumbled in trying to force them out under the weight of his shock and denial.

"Gray, you are our chosen and our future because you are the only one to ever survive the genetic expectations Grandmaster was aiming for"

That caught Dick's attention as well, "Wha-There were others?" he muttered with wide eyes.

"Oh yes, hundreds of attempts, but only 11 made it to term, and out of those 11, only 1 ever produced conclusive evidence of being a success….you. Number 7"

Dick forgot to breathe for a few seconds. He wasn't sure what was worse. That the Court was experimenting on pregnant women and had killed tons and tons of unborn children, or that his parents were aware of all of this. His mother?! Lincoln was telling him that his Mama and Tata had known about this deranged group and had allowed them to experiment on Dick while she was still pregnant with him? Were they prepared to give him over to the Court as just another mindless slave when Cobb told them he was a success? From the moment he could remember, his parents had always showered him with love and devotion. He never had to ask if they loved each other or him, he knew it from the way they treated each other that they were soul mates and he was a natural product of their genuine and intense love for each other. Lincoln was telling him this like it was a news story he wanted to share, he was so genuine that Dick wanted to believe him. Was he brought into this world under false pretenses? Was he never loved the way he remembered? Dick's breathing began to pick up and he distantly felt his body temperature rising. This couldn't be. His mother, Mary Grayson was the sweetest, most cherished person on earth. She would never have allowed anything like this to go on, especially against her own child. Her own Robin…right? Too many emotions were bubbling and brewing inside Dick. Outrage was the easiest to identify. How dare they accuse his mother of such horrible acts! His Mama and Tata would never put him at risk, they were the best parents anyone could ask for! The cruel way the world had ripped him from the most loving and caring home in the world and thrown him to the inexperienced hands of Bruce Wayne is what led him to try and take Tony Zucco's life just 1 month after his parent's death. Had he been living a lie? Like a pig for slaughter? Thanking the farmer from his troff while the farmer's wife sharpened his blades.

"You're lying", he breathed unsteadily.

Lincoln stepped forward to lay a hand on Dick's shoulder but the moment he touched him, Dick's stomach flipped and he couldn't stand to be there any longer.

Not in that room
Not next to that man
Not within that group that was so hellbent on their own curiosity, they'd hurt and manipulate so much young life.

Dick lashed out and caught Lincoln by surprise. He decked him in the middle of his face, catching his eyes and nose with his knuckles.

Lincoln growled and cried out as he reached to cover his face. The quick movement by Lincoln spooked something primal in Dick and he lashed out again, catching Lincoln in the throat before throwing him back across the room.

Dick took off, sprinting down the hallways that never seemed to end and never seemed to change. Every now and then, he flew by an open cell door and caught glimpses of a few people in discussion or a few white lab coats circling a projected medical diagram against the wall. His mind was racing faster than his feet were flying across the pavement. He took every right right, ignoring the cries of the people he passed or leaped over. Something about the movement by his own free will and the danger that accompanied him seemed to settle Dick, almost as if the adrenaline was centering his frantic mind. He knew that he was feeling emotionally and mentally unstable but information from the past could wait; his brothers couldn't. He quickly realized he needed to take this opportunity and make a break for it before he didn't have another chance to do so. Today was one of the first times, he hadn't seen Cobb and his bodyguards. Dick hit a dead end and back peddled, turning around and trying a left instead. Soon enough, people were gathering every couple of sections to try and wrangle him. Dick refused to go back to that cell, especially the white room.

He was far past restraining himself and was lashing out with fists and knees every time he was met with an enemy trying to subdue him. His mind felt like it had taken control of his feet and body without his permission and Dick was just along for the ride. Dick took another left and tried to leap over a body but he crashed right into the one behind him. They tumbled to the ground and Dick kneed him in the face and throat while scrambling to his feet. The person he'd jumped over tackled him from behind and he heard pounding feet grow much closer; faster than he anticipated. Dick snarled and flailed, throwing off the body behind him for a second before 2 more and then 4 more catapulted onto his back and torso.

"Oooomph!" Dick's air left him suddenly as his chest smashed to the floor and his chin thudded beneath him, catching his tongue between the snap of his teeth. He gritted his teeth and clawed at whoever he could reach, even biting a shin to his right, eliciting a cry. Dick's blood was flowing faster and faster and he was loving the adrenaline that was heating his core. No one could stop him! He bucked again and threw off another body, smashing them against the wall as roughly as possible. Amidst all the grappling and struggling, one man ended up beneath Dick and Dick felt something dark and powerful wither in pleasure and glee over the slight fear and unease that was already in his eyes. Dick grasped his head and between his forearms, initially meaning to subdue the man when suddenly- Crack. The man's head and torso collapsed limply.

"Gray Son!"

Dick would never know why he faltered, never know why he responded, but in that instant, he popped up to peer up at Lincoln standing before him. He was breathing raggedly and one of his eyes had popped blood vessels leaking into the white portion of his eye. Dick didn't have a minute to plan his next move as Lincoln raised his arm and fired a shot. Dick jerked as the bullet hit his chest, forcing him back. 3 bodies beside him jumped onto his torso and did their best to get heavier and force him down. Dick bucked and flailed to get loose, doing his best to ignore the white-hot pain of the bullet wound. Suddenly the sharp pain of the bullet grew and spread like infected veins. Dick froze, realizing what Lincoln had shot him with. Freezing pain and fright engulfed Dick as his nerves became lit with searing pain and numbness.

Dick felt panic setting in as he was engulfed and subdued quicker. His punches seemed to hold less strength and his movement felt sluggish; like he swinging at enemies in a nightmare. It wasn't long before his attackers had him back onto his stomach with his hands behind his back; his nerves short-circuited from the pain of having his chest shoved into the hard floor. Dick let out a savage cry as he felt his escape slipping through his fingers. He was slow close! He shouldn't have stayed to fight, he should've kept running. He felt so useless and powerless as he was manhandled back into cuffs. As the adrenaline started to cool and leave his hazy fight-focused mind, Dick felt the slowness and numbness more presently in his joints. His head was almost too heavy for him to pick up and look around. Lincoln stopped beside him and grabbed his neck like a scruffed puppy, shaking him once roughly.

"You always pick up skills and academics so quickly, Grandmaster called you a sponge once. If only you could learn the rules that quickly, hmmm?"

Dick scowled and tried to jerk his head away to no avail. Lincoln sneered down at him before nodding to the men holding him down. They hoisted him to his feet and started to drag him back the way he came; although Dick wasn't quite sure where he came from as his memory of his sprint was foggy with adrenaline. Why couldn't he remember? All he could recall was the heat pouring out of his pores and the sound of his heartbeat in his ears. Dick tried to stand but found that his knees kept giving out, and he couldn't offer any form of resistance.

Dick glared as venomously as he could at Lincoln as they dragged him backward back to his cell. Dick realized he must have run quite a ways as it took them quite a while to backtrack. On the trudge back, Dick noticed a few open doors he had sprinted past that held lab equipment and some doctors as well. Dick tried to tilt his head and peer into the room as he was dragged past it but he could barely see anything besides their white coats and some large medical diagram they were standing over. Lincoln shoved Dick's head forward when he tried to catch a better glimpse and their commotion caused the doctors to peer at Dick. He gave them an overly cheerful smile which earned him a smack.

At a particular left, they came across a stretch of wide-open barred cells that caught Dick's attention. Most didn't have occupants except for the one at the far end. He didn't think much of it but turned to see who else was down here. Were there others that the Court had kidnap-

"Jason!"

The cry left Dick's mouth before he could control it. Jason's head popped up and his eyes flew wide open. Damian and Tim were on his left and right; each of them was chained back against the wall behind them and sitting on the ground. Dick jerked forward and tried to wrench his arms out of his captor's grip. All 3 of his brothers struggled to their knees and strained against their bindings.

"Dick! Richard!" They all cried as he was manhandled past their cell.

He couldn't contain his relieved grin as he saw his brothers for the first time in who knew how long. They all looked fine as well, if not for their dirty clothes and bound arms, Dick would assume nothing was wrong. Dick barely had a chance to make eye contact with the 3 of them before he was dragged around the corner and out of sight. He tried wiggling as best he could but his frustration was overflowing when he found he was almost totally numb from his chest down. The pain was still present but he felt as if he'd been shot with a mild sedative instead of that awful serum. Was that what Lincoln meant when he said that he had a diluted version earlier?

"Let them go," he said without taking his eyes off where his brothers were a moment ago. He could still hear Damian's strangled voice calling out for him and each cry tore a piece of Dick's heart off. He hoped those pieces would crawl to Damian and offer him a semblance of care.

"Well now that you've seen them safe and sound, you can quit asking after them" Lincoln offered casually.

"Well you know, when I said that, I was thinking a little more than a drive-by dragging"

"You've seen them, they're safe. Cooperate"

"You don't have very much fun, do you? I mean I can understand it and all, who would have any fun when your crib is in the sewers"

"... Shut up"

After another handful of minutes, their group slowed and Dick did his best to peer past his handlers to see where they were headed. Before them stood Cobb, he had his hands behind his back and a cool air of aloofness as his gaze roamed over Dick's limp figure.

Dick sagged dramatically, "This is the worst hotel experience I've ever had, you know?"

Cobb frowned before smiling ruefully. He shook his head with a sad small smile, "I knew this would take time" he said simply.

He held out an arm and gestured to the door behind him as if he were a waiter presenting a grand meal for VIP guests. Dick strained his neck to see to the front of the group as the door was opened. As soon as Dick caught a glimpse of white, his stomach fell through the floor. He found a second wind as he struggled and jerked the best he could. His muscles were still useless and felt like lead had replaced his bones. He tried throwing his weight forward but it did little as Lincoln just shoved his chest back into his handlers' grasp. Before Dick realized it, they had dragged him the extra 20 feet and threw him forward. Dick's back hit the floor with a thud and he blinked up at the familiar padded white ceiling. Dick gasped as he tried to wiggle to his side. Sweat appeared out of nowhere and seemed to soak his nape and plaster his hair to his forehead. His mind couldn't decide if it wanted to prioritize his desperation or his anxiety over being back in this all-white cell. He refused to truly give in but the isolation that accompanied this cell was mind-numbing and frightful.

"Wait!" Dick yelled out.

Cobb halted in the doorway, "Yes?" he inquired. His face portrayed so much smugness that Dick felt fury wash over his being again. This old man had taken him and his brothers from their home and was treating Dick like some sick pet that refused to obey a few simple house rules.

Before Dick could truly weigh the consequences of his actions, he spat out at Cobb as angrily and spiteful as he could muster from the floor. His spat fell drastically short but Cobb's face became stonier as he took a step back.

"Like I said, Gray Son….I've learned my lesson from the last time. Your upbringing won't be quite as relaxed this time around"

Dick yelled out as his face contorted in fury but his cry was cut off as the door was slammed shut.

"Richard! Richard!"

"Damian stop," Jason said after the 5th cry. "He's not coming back"

Damian's wild gaze wouldn't stop darting in every direction as if Dick would suddenly pop back into view.

The brothers had seen Dick sprint past them before they heard a commotion further down to the left of their cell. They heard Dick cry out and curse before he was dragged past them, back to his original location. On the way back, Jason was able to make out the rips, cuts, and blood all over his oldest brother but Dick had made eye contact for a second before he was dragged away completely.

"Todd" Damian complained, "We have to help him, did you not see Richard's sorry state?"

Jason gave Damian his flattest look, "Oh yeah, my bad. Let me just go help Dickhead real quick"

He didn't move an inch.

Damian glowerd.

Dick sat back for a while and stared at the door before he gave up and started meandering around his cushioned cell. After a while, he started singing and practicing some upside-down handstands. Dick felt his bladder start to bug him and groaned over the need to decide which corner would be a piss corner. He was hoping this time would be different but that didn't appear to be so.

After a while he tried to calm himself enough to nap. He knew it wasn't productive but he needed methods to make the time go by faster

Dick growled and paced his cell. He wasn't sure how long he'd been in here. He was hungry and antsy. No one had answered his calls to the other side. He felt like he was cycling through the 5 stages of grief. He had taken a ridiculous number of naps and had finally relented and called out to Cobb.

"Fine! I'll cooperate. No running!"

No one answered.

"I'll even pinky promise!"

No response

"Cobb! I'm serious. I won't run. Let me out!"

"Cobb!"

….

"Lincoln!

"Hello?"

….

"Hello!"

Dick had felt his self-control waver slightly over being ignored. Then the panic had set in. He wasn't sure how long he had been in here. He wasn't even sure how long the last time had been.

Dick didn't understand his own biology at this point, how much hunger could his immune systems and organs take before they started to shut down?

How long was Cobb planning to leave him here?

Would they leave him in here long enough for a good scare or long enough for serious harm to start to set in?

Dick moaned from the floor as he tried to contain the shivers wracking his body. Was it cold in here or was he catching a cold?

The hunger had started to settle into his bones and take hold of his mental state. He felt weak and depressed and he utterly despised it.

He'd lost count of the number of times he'd slept. The lights were just as bright as they were the first time as well. Dick tried to close his eyes but the blearing light found a way to filter through his lashes.

He tried clenching his eyes but that only served to give him a lasting headache.

"I'm hungry!" he called out lamely. He didn't have the energy to add any sass to his intonation anymore.

He wanted to sleep but the overhead lights and his waning energy made that impossible; ironically.

Dick took a deep breath and wiped the wetness building in the corners of his eyes. He couldn't remember the last time he felt so utterly depleted. His energy and hope and motivation had been draining out of him and seemed to have hit the bottom of his well. Nonetheless, his well was still draining.

He was hungrier every day and the gnawing stomach pains and aches had faded now. He almost fell full actually, like a lead ball had taken root at the base of his stomach.

He was thirsty though, he was always thirsty.

His brothers…where were his brothers? He hoped they were doing well. Dick was an awful older brother for letting them fall into the Court's clutches. Bruce knew he was a bad older brother, and Jason was starting to realize it. That was probably why he'd sided with Bruce for the first time in history back in the forest.

Slade had dumped Dick the moment he started to become work for the older mercenary, now it was only a matter of time before Tim and Dami realized how pitiful it would be to associate with Dick anymore.

"It was only a matter of time"

Dick lifted his head and blinked away the tears that threatened to fall. The world was so white and bright. Everything hurt.

Before him stood Bruce.

….

Bruce?!

Dick blinked rapidly as he looked around, to find both of them still in his padded white cell.

"It was only a matter of time before you slipped up and landed back under their control," Bruce told him darkly.

Dick opened his mouth but didn't know what to say. Was this real? Did it matter, he was right.

"You've never been good on your own. Always been so desperate to be a yes man to those around you. A people pleaser can never be a true leader, especially in the world of heroes" Bruce said condescendingly.

He shook his head desperately. That wasn't true. He was a great leader! He was co-captain with Kaldur! He was the first sidekick!

"Must be why Wilson was so interested in you…. He didn't see your potential, he saw his own potential furthered by a living weapon"

Dick felt an invisible knife lodge itself in his throat. No….It couldn't be true…..

"You know this is pretty pathetic kid" Dick turned his head from where he was splayed on his back.

Deathstroke was leaning against the far wall in full armor. His single blue eye was narrowed in on Dick's limp form, and he hated the feeling that look gave him.

"I thought you would be great when you grew up, but you got yourself shot and kidnapped and now look at you. You don't know what you are and can't even rescue yourself"

Slade shrugged and pushed off the wall, "I'm not one to throw around compliments like the boy in blue, but heroes aren't you heroes supposed to be good at saving people?"

Dick didn't asnwer.

"How can you save your brothers if you can't even save yourself, Richard?"

Dick couldn't swallow behind the dryness clogging his throat. Slade's eye didn't twinkle with familiar mirth or fondness. He looked disgusted with Dick.

He never looked at Dick like that, even when Dick actually pissed him off. Slade was the one person Dick had never sought out, but still attracted. Deathstroke had spotted Dick in action on a few contracts before he deemed Dick worthy of his attention and mentorship. Dick had turned him down but that only seemed to ignote the obsessive fire in Slade over the years. He was always the one to pursue Dick, but he challenged him like no other; always encouraging him to grow and learn. Bruce adopted him as a charity case that seemed to work out in the form of Batman and Robin, Bruce acted on a basis of moral obligation and responsibility. Dick had to admit how lucky they both were that they grew on each othet overtime. But Slade, Slade sought him out due to an authentic desire for him and his skills. He didn't know what he would do if he actually disappointed Slade, probably melt into a cockroach and wait to be stepped on. Sometimes it truly bothered him how he could only identify true desire for his presence in the mercenary's actions. He'd tried to convince himself that he just had low self-esteem and that Slade just brought out a subversive toxic desire his maturing brain had to rebel. Apparently, he was still maturing.

Slade's gaze roamed over Dick before he made his way over to the wall he remembered the door being at. Slade gave him one last look before scoffing and leaving.

He left him.

Dick could hear a faint memory of Slade's voice calling him Little Bird.

'Come back', Dick thought weakly. Immediately after, he wished he could take back the thought. He was pathetic, he realized.

Dick turned his head to the side and stared at the floor, pressing his cheek to the cold white floor. He felt so numb.