Alpha, Beta, But Never an Omega
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Chapter 16: Here Comes the Boom Crew
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Corny title, but Grayson is pretending to clown around while fighting a "new" rehearsed bad guy. Take it or…read on?
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"Hey! Look up there!!" Pointing fingers and rabid camera crews by the tens had that rising star on their number for the evening news.
Even whomever it was the new vigilante in blue and black was chasing. His worn costume looked almost cosplay worthy, though Batman core at best.
"He's from Gotham, look! He's using –
Birds. They were hawk shaped instead of Robin's signature appeal. Like Nightwing, the disks set off after the leaping meta, MN not letting up as he sent an explosive act with his grape while Dick stages along. Swinging and grinning, the crowds were waving and hooting for the new guy to get his perp.
Bruce and Jason –
Bruce turned on his heel to see that Jason was already donning Red Hood's moniker and jumping into the fray. "Jason!" Storming after his son, Jim Gordon watched from a spot not too far from Slade; the man monitoring as a civilian while Dick took to using bolos to tie up MN and swing him back over in a stunning trap. Dick clung to the netting work like a lizard with its tail curling, he gave a cocky grin before having them loop back around. MN twisted himself as the faker didn't need to play so far into the role.
While the REAL MN from earlier had swapped with the lookalike android, a camera crew interrupted Red Hood from pushing his luck. He ducked back abd swept off the side, unseen.
Dick had stopped whatever was throwing grenades around like it was a blick party in the desert. The crowds were agitated as the copter abd the crews all pulled the dumb big brother to follow. He …he didn't run.
Slade smirked and kept moving to find his little scapegoat. MN was back in his civilian identity while Night would be on the Bludhaven Tonight Show in a few short hours for a spectacular interview.
Bruce was intent on seeing how that went from the crowd of a live audience, as he purchased tickets in advance to have a front row seat.
Guest Appearance.
Grayson, r –
"Hah, just so you all know. I didn't just save you today. I'm making it official. Your new vigilante if you'll have me; I'm a bit of a performer and heck. I won't lie. An Omega. So, don't think you can't do anything cause of a brand. See you tonight at eleven, Katie!" He blew a kiss to a news caster back in Gotham that Bruce had actually taken into his bed.
Right below, Slade withheld a chuckle, his eyes on the boy in black and blue who's suit was still at the dry cleaners.
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Dick swept through the door to his shared living space with a cheery grin, enamored by the process as he hummed his way up the steps without the costume. Being brunette with green eyes, Slade started to wonder.
What else could he change about THAT approach…
"I….feel so great right now; Katie wants me kn her talk show, and Bill Newton wanted an interview tonight so what….you want me to –
"You'll go, but not as the man in the mask. This is something you're not yo fight me on."
Dick did a head tilt as he shut the door behind him. "I'm your manager," Slade explained, "I have a disguise that no one will take seriously. You on the other hand, will remain the mysterious boy wonder that appeared from out of nowhere; there are no records of your face, name or birth and to that end." Slade went to the closet to pull out a pair of slacks and an over jacket. All black for now, the top was white and closer to a fall mock turtleneck.
"Do I have to get a "Jobs" makeover?" Snorted the kid as he flipped over to the couch and made himself at home, displaying his entire interest with a body that called to ant Alpha right now. Slade, was patient. More than Wayne might care to admit, or his children.
Who knew how loving they'd be if the laws were reversed.
"So? You're going to wear a disguise…what about your eye? Fake, are you really too tall to not be spotted by anyone in the watchtower. Come on. How is –
"I did tell you, have every faith in your al –
Dick's eye jolted up.
Slade did the same as by the fire escape, had the escaped MN come to see all the fuss. "Nice to see you all sunshine and rainbows." He chuckled with the air of a presentable rogue at Slade's ear. That salty bastard in him couldn't have…
Slade tried to move to the suit pieces, to express no desire to push their guest back out of that window. His glands rubbed it the wrong was as that playfully pressed wonder child didn't realize why MN was here.
What he was shamelessly doing.
"We'll need you to leave, It's nearly time to go to our next appointment."
"Huh." MN knew the kid was underage but that was why the Bat needed an insider. Had his suit looked any less imposing though, there would be no reason to question what had just happened out in that big shopping district. "Sure, you…need space. But quick one, Slade? The kid doesn't need a, bodyguard number two? He's gonna have eyes all over with what –
"I'LL keep that number on speed dial." Slade huffed. Dick looked up at the males, quizzically. "Why are you two…ok, fine." Dick threw up his hands and went with the suit to shut the door to the bathroom. The click was rather bold as Slade stared down the little puppy dog of a killer.
"What is this about? Exposing him as a normie AND an omega on a live broadcast?? Are you –
"I have a plan and a promise. Wayne can't touch us while in this city, and if a scene breaks out." Slade didn't bat an eye as he said it, while Dick may have rolled his in the background.
"I can go too, ya know." MN pushed for a big fat yes, seeing his chance as being a big fat, maybe. " You get that I have ta be sure I'm not getting less'a your end of his gain; I'm looped in as it is. The robot – me, will rot in a cell until they figure it out? That the plan?"
"It may." Slade wouldn't reveal that it would disintegrate – only before leaving a message and gathering one more player.
"What about, the other guy. The one you… have to watch for? Sionas and –
"I'll have to ask later if you'd stay to push back the fires. There will be a lot of those." Slade cleared his throat, then walked over to the dresser and checked his drawer with a box housing a special glass eye. Made by his associates back in Starling, Slade simply held it shut within his palm. MN tonight over as he tapped his boot and thought of simply going, not trying to pry at what Slade was dropping.
"At least let me watch the kid's back tonight."
"I can see you've become invested, but do tell me…why?" Slade turned to the other fighter.
MN bit down into his lip. "Money. Time." He scratched his face, not really trying to give much away; albeit what he was really expecting Slade to go out on a limb to suspect.
"I gotta see this deal through." It was a lie, and his heart steadied. A lie that would save a couple of lives was worth the sacrifice. His Apollo's safety, too.
"Who would you say is your soulmate, Midnighter? Or, could I call you by your name."
MN stiffened. A, purr?
"We are so very similar in wanting to protect this new vigilante from his father and the press." Slade made his way over as silent as a silken thread one spider might weave to pace itself, hopping here nor there. MN walked backwards and stilled his chest a minute more.
Slade's pupil seemed to mock his own cowled onees, making it seem less the advantage of an Alpha, more by a widow spider's slinking suspicious nature.
A killer, tasked with sinking its teeth into his cowled throat.
"My name…your boy might know it." MN chuckled. "Or. The bat –
"Stalling on me? Well, then I guess I should start." Slade paced back with his legs drawn apart. "I do expect the bat to be in that crowd." Slade said with an upturned lip, most a sneer and a grin in one lifetime. "I'll work him to the top. Grayson won't stop until he's untouchable as the first Omega hero to Bludhaven. That is my promise for the boy pretending to keep his big mouth shut."
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Foreshadowing enough for you?? Find out.