Red Hood And Company; My Life as an Outlaw-

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Chapter 15: Kiss From a Rose

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Rose in this is a Ravager, but she'd be after Dami mostly to hurt him for hurting her eye. I'll go into a backstory on why it didn't heal like Slade's later.

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Dami looked at the cave over through his tainted vision. He'd seen death before, yet of loved ones…this, would be his second time in doing so.

"What can be done, about them."

"They'll help us, then when Slade is gone, you come train with me. You don't have to do anything for her or the League."

"They are…my family, that is nearly impossible to ask-

"Ra's didn't need us. She loves you, sure. Only because of your dad. Did I guess right?"

Dami stood up. "You want me, you? What me to denounce my family, and your own??"

"Ours. I can get us wherever as long as Dick doesn't get too cozy on negotiations' duty. You know what a charmer he can be from all the drama."

Dami had been told joking tales of how Grayson was too kind or very shallow. Both of those qualities gave him the weakness a leader could not bare to keep to. If Batman perished in battle, then the next son would never be Grayson. Yet…

They heard a scratchy sound of feedback over the comms, the signaling on the computer must have been locked. Todd jumped up and started going at the dash. His hands were still a former hacker's, yet not as good as Tim's or Dick's and Babs's.

The signal was not a video file, but an audio. ~ We have a code red at Wayne Tech. Main office…It's, I know it's Tim. He was held at gunpoint.~

Stephanie had to be shaking for her dear ex, and her best friend. Spoiler was on line, so Todd took a deep breath while Damian scoped out some weapon to waste their opponents with.

" Who else got the message besides us. The entire clan, Spoiler?"

~ Spoiler alert, duh!~ Her eyes rolled as she masked her fear behind her a moment more. ~ You are all on the comms, but Dick didn't pick up and Kate…~

They jumped on a cycle and that was the end of it.

~ Me effing careful! Timmy is not powerless, but I swear…this is a nighttime brawl and we had an ex – I – versary- coming up!~ She whined, long enough for Dami to click his tongue.

" Well bring him back, hold tight."

Dami looked up at Jason as Red Hood hit the gas. "You too, Lil D!"

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Slade set up a little scene with a screen from Rose's unit; Tim was tied up and gagged with a blindfold over his eyes. Talia was in a dining hall seat with the large table only for she and he to enjoy another's misery.

"You know why this cannot go on, Slade."

"It's a challenge, I'll admit." Slade let the wine be poured between them as she wasn't allowed too close in her cuffs. The cat could claw, yet the dog had jaws to snap that neck regardless of her egging him.

"My son and bel –

"Bruve is a problem like our Red Hood. You know that they both want control over your son." Slade leaned into his palms as they found a way to wind together. His gaze at her through a single patch dimmed with a list for that much control between them. "I'd keep the boy safe, take over Ra's role and never let Jason come as close as your "beloved" might have. You sent him there, Tidd? To do what, exactly?"

"To. Send help." She said through pursed lips. "I will not be the only one to have lost some grand scheme. In the end, your child was spared."

"Which is why I'm offering. If you let my girl take out your other mutt, Damian can come back and you'll have each other. A mother and her son, isn't that sweet?"

"Not enough. You took our family apart, Slade." She spat. "Damian will reclaim his birthright – on my family's…-

"I won't negotiate too soon. What if you try something, what if he goes after you instead?"

Slade picked up his wine glass and twirled it idly. "What if…he thinks you'd have rather your father had died to make room for his true successor?"

She shook her head before sighing in defeat. For now. "He cannot know what you were truly to my father. I won't allow you to…"

Slade slipped a hand over across as her fingers never curled away.

"Talia…?" He egged. His hand was warm, no gloves or even the thought as her body would not proclaim itself damned. "It, was once –

"He said I was more compatible than Wayne to carry that boy. If it is true," Slade put another hand to her aching wrist as they grasped yet held an awkward scene. The screens showed Rose tormenting Timmy to avenge her family. Damian and Jason were on the way, and Kate Cane was facing off against League affiliated fighters while getting her hair tugged back. Rose pulled out her blade as Slade tugged Talia in close for a forced reminder if who was playing this game of war right now.

"He may as well be all mine too, just as I had your eye back then…" Her heard her gasp before she was let to wallow in the shame. One time, one time she'd thought he was better that Bruce…

"Drink and eat as you please. For now, Rose and Shiva have this covered."

Talia gasped at that name.

"You…she cannot be set loose in that city!"

Slade turned around to eye his scared date as she didn't bat a lash. "I know. Her bastard child is in that city. Playing pretend. Good girl, doesn't talk what she's told not to." He smirked, taking a new sip of his wine. "Sit back, enjoy the outcome of rejecting me, princess."

He left her to her worry as she was more angry than ever for losing. For having to wait out a rescue. She was proud, stronger than this she knew more about his Achilles than he did of hers.

"Beloved…" She wept into her arm as he shut the door quietly to have the guards watch his captive. He'd know though, this base was loaded full of surprises He'd already reactivated to suit the image of his new empire.

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Talia might actually be in distress over her title more than losing her kid and unofficial hubby. Bruce has a thing to say about that. No, really. She is a monster too!