Red Hood And Company- My Life as an Outlaw-
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Chapter 13: Communicate Me
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Roy takes a crack at getting to be a part of Damian's self-defense training. Bruce confronts Jason about Talia and Slade's friction back overseas and what that means for them all.
Dick tries to tap out to ask Tim and Oracle a favor. Slade contacts one bird via comms on patrol and he tells no one. Damian question's Grayson's attitude when he doesn't stay for supper at the manor.
Lot to unpack!
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He shouldn't have showed his face. The last time with Terra drove a nail in the coffin. Only once. Raven was the last, and we'll, one former boy wonder had scars around his aching bones.
Terra and Bb for life, then it was Kori who truly despised the man. The fact Cassandra was still looking to avoid bumping into any past acquaintances. Or that Tim wanted to not be glad that Ra's…
~ Dick, he's really, gone? They couldn't have left the body. Why would Slade-
"Timbo, let me think." Dick ran a hand over his masked eyes as the wind blew, his lip bitten since going off on patrol in the open air of these Gotham streets. He was aloft, atop a gargoyle and the breeze was not some pleasant spring breeze against his cheek.
It was biting. A reminder of the fact that Damian was delivered. Jason was reprimanded, as it should be. Like a good tattle tale. He grunted and pulled out his phone to seek out an image of Kori and his team.
The stupid thing was on vibrate as he prevented it from slipping. A tap, not thinking in the dark about who was calling, he just clicked it as a disappointed voice waited on his fears so up high.
~ He had some nerve, didn't he? Nightwing.~
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Oracle remembered the obsessive way Dick had collapsed after finding his footing in Blud and nearly having that city up in flames. Chemo was a danger to them all, Slade was completely hell bent on taking back an apprentice. He had, with a daughter to stop Dick from flying free ever since then, the attachment he had to that white haired kitsune stung every time her name arose as, well…Rose.
She was back, older. Meaner. Bad news. Still, Oracle cold only be his guiding noise through the comms from her computer. Her new…
The two at her door had the former bat open the apartment security latch with a faint click. Cassandra and Stephen were there with a puzzle of all things and a few snack foods. "The guys are hitting the gym, we wanted to see how you are holding up." Stephen spoke as the non-verbal Cassandra Cain nodded in unison.
"We got the stuff that you can't get in bulk. Tom's-
"The famous chocolate from down town? Aww, thanks…?" Motioning her arm to open the latch some more, the two women walked in with their hands full. "Your place is a lot nicer than the old one." Stephen cleared her throat and to her dismay, the damage was done. Barbie was smiling either way, no matter how fake.
Just like him, Stephenie blushed.
"Tim is there too? Honestly, I would think he'd mediate of stay out of…" Barbie stopped. "Um, do you guys want drinks? I have soda, tea. Not too much."
"I really don't care if it's tap. Right, Cass?"
The dark-haired half Asian teen nodded almost violently.
"See? We both know so, you don't have to tell us twice. We're family, not guests. But...I will steal a minute to admire, those!!" Stephenie put the snacks in the kitchen and then squealed at Babs' s set up from everything to ret- con, patrols, state outs, it was all in her living room. The studio was up to their ears in case and static from what looked to be almost something extraordinary and too bug to fit inside the room.
"You, do not get a freak - out that you'll have to much radiation??"
"What? No. I know how to keep these things from draining my system. Are you kidding? But, it is very impressive, right?"
Cass gawked as she pulled out the box of chocolate from its gift bag, along with the game Twister, a two-thousand-piece puzzle that she had forced them to bring, and a few blu ray discs of a martial arts saga. Most of this was for her, give or take being the younger if the birds of prey.
"I'm having Selina and Ivy take a peek through the underground to see if any news about Slade's exploits has survived transport."
Stephen frowned. "All good there, but…Damian did survive, but why did Deathstroke let them go and only send maybe two kidnappers after Talia's kid?"
"He has other plans, and Talia may be bait. I dunno." Sighed Babs. "What I'm really worried about is if Jason or Dick decides to be the boy's white knight and erase the problem. It happened before. Joker? Sionas, Slade?"
~ I know that feeling, of wanting your enemies closer.~ Cass signed to the two. ~ Richard is willing to face his past, yet how far will it be before that past leaves another scar on his present as Nightwing? He's healed, and this could ruin that. He had Jason come clean, so what comes next? For all of us…~
" A fight, a war. I'm afraid to answer that." Babs wheeled over to the TV and turned it on, letting her computers go into sleep mode to not overheat the circuit board in her entire studio flat.
"You'll have to, Bruce may." Stephen huffed and went to grab the puzzle, the snacks and her soxa from the fridge. "Fuck it. It's not too late to ruminate. Who's up for Ninja Scrolls of the Lost Kingdom? Director's cut? Cass?"
Babs smiled and went to set up the device as their boys all had to get worried and warmer in a cave just a few degrees extra stifling. "When is tomorrow? Wait! That's the new year, right? We literally just got over this year!" Stephen groaned and threw her entire body over a second sofa that Babs had in the perfect drop location. Cass rolled her eyes and pulled out pieces to dump onto the coffee table for her puzzle.
"Will that be done by tonight?"
~ As long as Mr. Wayne does not want us to join the bat family on patrol.~ Cass shrugged. ~ I imagine drunkenness will ensue, nothing more. Maybe –
Babs turned her head away from the last comment as it was dropped quickly. ~ I'm sorry. You are…~
" it's alright, I….we can watch this. Ready, ladies?"
"START THE FLICK." Stephen groaned with her face in the cushions. "Stop killing the suspense, already!"
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Tim typed up his report in a swift flick of two digits.
Well.
Lucius could chew on that.
How many Wayne Enterprises CEO executive heads of industry did it take to screw in one light bulb?
He grinned and with hands behind his head smugly turned to scene that had his eyes dropping within the cave. Right, it had been five seconds since he'd decided to mediate between Jason and Bruce. Roy was doing the treadmill while Dick was on patrol with Batwing and the Signal had schoolwork upstairs.
Artemis and Bizzi were busy; right before, Jason must have told them to report to him if any new sightings of Slade's helpers came to call. The bad news was that he would send someone at least able to hold off the Batman. The question; whom?
He tapped his foot as Damuan and Bruce wwee getting a lesson in respect, yet Dami had other plans.
"Master Damian!"
The boy had a blade in hand from the wall; they had taken his heirloom, and by day, he felt as if he had no say in the matter.
"I require the chance to sharpen my skills, Pemnyworth." The boy huffed and dud as he wished, until a strong gripped shadowy arm tok the sword from the nine year old future menace.
"We won't be training with that today." Bruve arrived in a suit that looked very different, maybe a prototyoe, but a cat suit?"
"Is that Anti - Ikon device neccessary, B?" Tim frowned from the side, earning a scowl from Dami.
"If I have to face off against Wilson, then yes." Bruve answered his partner. "Damuan, self defense isn't always about using a weapon. I know you understand."
"Grayson was wrong about one thing,"Dami huffed and handed over the sword to his new teacher, "Jason understoid, while you continue to leave us defensely due ti some code?"
"Ra's was my mentor, for a time -
"Then his ways taught you very little."The boy cussed in his mother tongue under his breath, arms crossed and dually concerned at where this woukd be headed. "I need to kill him, or wound him into stopping the take over. I know about it. There is no question, and I am no damsel in need of saving, Wayne."
"Respect is also reserved for the careless, young man." Alfred sniffed before taking the blade to lock it up. "I shall prepare the afternoon meal, readily."
"That will be fine, Alfred. Take the time you need."
Tim understood and git up from his seat to stretch, walking in the same direction.
"Traitors! I knew Todd was right not t -
"Not ta' what, lil man?"
Through the back entrance, Jason pulled off his helmet. Getting his mob boss bretheren to release the 'dirt' took a fortnight, yet Dami was already protesting something. "B, I can handle-
"What was your strategy, Jason. Were swords okay for a nine year old assassin?"
"And me! I think leaving you two alone is wrong, but I had better play my part. Dami? give us a sec. Go practice on the mats."
"Tood, I will n -
Jason glared down as the boy scrunched his neck and walked in reverse slowly, before skidding to thw mats on that order.
The two walked only a few feet back as Dami let out a shallow breath from his mouth, then nose in a pattern, trying to get his -
No sooner, a loud hit of sonwthing solid hit a wall, the sound rattling as the boy's order was broken. Tim ran in with his headphones still on and cursed out before shouting.
"Jason! You stupid - B? Damn it, this is w -
Bruve had been punched as Jason snorted and didn't bother glaring at his prefect youbger brother. "You're gonna let us go, only me? Bruce. Dami won't stand you cause I already never could."
Bruce stood, wiping his nose as blood triclked down to his lip. "I know you want what's best."
"I don't want you lording over hom like you did fer me! He's gonna be a Robon, and that...I won't let it happen agaon bwcause you're death itself." The trauma shook the room through Jace's throat. "Dami is MY family. If you can't let him train to save his own life, then you never wanted anymore kids inside this stupid house."
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Jason hates Bruce because he blueprints behind your back. Dick is doing the same, yet Dami wasn't in this for a father. He wanted to know how to rid the world of Dwatgstroke, get his life befoee back from the man. Slade has others looking for Dami in secret, yet that is all to later decide. Tim is on Bruce's side because Dami isn't safe anywhere else "logically."
Thing is, why does Slade want the kid, anyway?
To have him surrender as Slade's figurehead or, as a student because he once cared for Talia? Find out!
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