Our Time in Reverse- What it Takes

by INKblOt32

Dick Grayson's parents fell to the ground. Slade Wilson decided to step in and adopt. However,the man's future heir was promised to a Mr. Billionaire, Bruce Wayne. The kid feels isolated, neglected and knows nothing about his foster parent’s double life. Slade ends up finding in a turn of events, a bit of a rebel in Grayson. He gives him an option he can sleep on...Apprentice arc!

42. Chapter 42

Our Time in Reverse- What it Takes-

/

So, quick to note. In Masks, the chase across the rooftops with Robin and Slade's double bot here. You hear a riff on the guitar in the chase music 'da – da – na~ na~ da da na~ na~ na~ and guess what? Look up Scentless Apprentice by Nirvana. Thank you! Title is dedicated to that song.

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Chapter 42: Scentless Apprentice- Red Marked Chest

/

Bruce rose at five am out of habit. His safe house was a temporary set up station to organize a rescue, maybe a takedown of a notorious crime lord in Jump City California. Slade had handed Bruce of all people a bone; he wanted the bat to view his progress, the way the man had been turning Dick against him all that time. But no surprise, Bruce bit his lip while doing a one finger push up in the living room. The glass was tinted out, shatter, shock and bullet proof. No one could see him bare chested as he let the older man's threat get under his skin.

~~~~~~~

~ You never showed up…. I…thought you wanted me here…am I not good enough? Why did you try to be my guardian if you won't even look at me? I…. don't think I even know anything about your life, but you can pick on mine. Did you find him, huh? Is Zucco still at large, Mr. WAYNE??~

~ Dick, the police are helping to pin down his whereabouts – you need to be patient and stop expecting a miracle I made a promise and I want to keep it, and you. Don't be afraid, I'm not going to toss you away. You need someone in your life as much as I need something to fight for. ~

~ Master Bruce. A word. ~

Battling him, Dick looked away with a pursed set of lips. ~ Go, I don't care if you promised me the moon. Show me Zucco or don't. I'm going to bed. ~

~ Dick. ~

/

Bruce came up to see it was near six as his device on the table rang nearby. Alfred and a pouting Todd with a disconcerted Barbara Gordon…all there to watch out for the big bat's home fort. ~ How is that California sunshine, big bad?~ Babs tried to lighten the mood around two to three brooding bats.

~ You saw him, right? He denied knowing me too. Don't let it pick you apart, B. Dick is just a coward. He was taught to run and hide a flipping plot his little boots off. It's the Titans and that city I worry about. Slade is definitely up to something. ~

"I'm aware he's testing them and us; Dick is going along with it, but he's loyal. Not only that, but reluctant to make the first move. He didn't hurt you too badly. He deflected you. Same with Wilson."

~ Mr. Wilson was a soldier first and a trophy hunter, only second. ~ Alfred interjected. ~ Perhaps his method is to wear you down to near nothing, take his chance to whittle away the Titans' defenses for a final hit. As any hunter, he is…necessarily patient. I can see that it bothers you as well. We are also concerned with their well-being. If ever you need back up, sir-

"For now, I won't. I may call in a JLA face that can walk through walls later. There is nothing definite. I might try to get closer to the team as Bruce Wayne." He wondered. "At least I'll get to see how the other side of that team lives. Dick is a ticking time bomb set to go off when the command is given. If he betrays them, he may hold back."

~ He's not killer material. ~ Todd nodded with his arms crossed. ~ B, get him home. That life can screw with you. It's not just fiction here. Dick is only in as deep as Slade keeps him. I, want to meet my real brother without the masks to make us such strangers, ya know. ~

"His expression. He's not as experienced. Wilson must be feeding him as much praise as he thinks is necessary to keep Dick on his ear. I can't stand seeing it either, but we have to hold out."

~ You did that with Zucco, and he didn't flinch then. ~ Bags shot back. ~ Zucco was right there…. we didn't actually in time and Slade took the first shot, like Alfred said, "Richard can't wait, and neither should we hesitate this time to save a life." ~

~ Whatever you choose to decide, Master Bruce, we are behind you one hundred and ten percent. However, he has been given a mock taste of this newfound freedom. Would it be wise to strip that away and force him home with you, even so, he escaped the manor for that exact same reason. The Titans may just be a cover. Though, could their impact be showing in abstract ways even you and I are immune to, but not the boy? ~

/

Slade could not call to attention his protégé this time; his intent was to keep the boy out of his plans until they were finalized, only then would Robin be making the ultimate sacrifice. "Terra." Slade called in another of his spies. "The Titans are currently out in the city. I want you to spy on them, make sure Robin doesn't see you."

"Sure, but…he's a detective, right? I mean…he lived with the bat fir only a few weeks but picked up on what's been hap –

"Would you want to fail, Terra? At ever finding out how to free your family? That boy's ex guardian will be watching us from his roost. I can't have anymore mistakes. Positive or otherwise. Go."

She straightened at the man's command. "Sir." She left as stalk still as he had trained her to be. "I will do what needs to be done."

Slade turned his back to her and saw the news. A new rxpo was casting its attention and the audience of tech wizardry to a computer chip that held sensitive data. Data that old enemies of Deathstroke could also use to gain a head on the big JLA support group IF they were wise to come looking firva fight. Slade decided to play his cards and send Terra to extract info from the green hero first act like she had things to do while Wayne's project was announced to the tech sector's highest bidders in broad daylight.

Even Bruce was ready to pull out a shot to fire on the event, stating as Slade watched through a live feed that "it was too dangerous because of the recent attacks on the city. "

"I beg to differ, Wayne. You needed something to stalk after as much as I needed to prep for my takeover." Slade played in on the pizzeria down by the main square. The Titans were ordering for the table abd despite a lack of taste, Robin's choices remained…subtle. Somewhat.

/

Since the incident at the tower, again the blood came back as before. Nothing had been changed. His master wanted that to stay the same until time moved them clockwise towards their real goal. This city would belong to a new official by the end of the year. He had promised not to screw up and find a friend in his enemies.

The Titans, though…

Dick groaned and sighed to the side, seeing what looked to be lost, blonde teen a year or two apart. Her big blue eyes were searching. He was pulled back by Cy's swat to the kid's shoulder blade. "Spike, you doing alright? We gotta order, so. You got any suggestions?"

"OH!" Starfire raised her hand abd wished by the looks of it, to want to cheer up the other hero. Raven was looking at a book and trying bury the message from that vision so she could concentrate. Beastboy was checking out the toppings, until Kori decided to ruin his appetite.

" I suggest a pizza with mustard, pickles and mint frosting." She grinned as likely as a school child after guessing correctly on the blackboard; Dick raised his eye and was sure he'd never ever heard of such a lineup of toppings. Bb was looking greener than green. "Gotta fix…. ulp!"

"Please." Raven deadpanned. "Be our guest." Raven returned to her book as Bb rushed himself to the toilet - all while the blonde from below their balcony seating area went directly through the doors to the establishment. Only Robin saw it, and he had to wait his turn to be excused.

To him, her eyes spelled trouble.

/

"This chip." Mr. Wayne was pressed and ready to dance in his monkey suit, as he looked over the security in place for the chip everyone had been ogling over. A blue microchip. "The investors will be coming to retrieve it by tomorrow morning. Tonight, it stays locked inside this vault for safekeeping. I can tell you that the person who built up our systems was so willing to donate every resource. Like he wanted the chip out of anyone's hands. Odd, but it was approved."

"Who originally developed the chip? You said there were three super – chips in total created by the same genius mind that developed the thermal blaster that was still in the testing stages last week. That was, Spire Enterprises Corporation?" Bruce brought up. "All separate parts to build a life changing device."

"Not the blaster." Frowned the guard. "Just a weapon for some kook to take on a joy ride. They say your company took charge of it in two parts. Thing could knock out an entire society block in one blast. Made it easy enough for a fifteen-year-old to work single handed."

"I would like to know who invented such a dangerous device," Mused the billionaire, "For now, we wait and test the security as well as arm your team for tonight."

"You think someone is going after the chip?" The officer asked the ceo. "Who would be dumb enough to pull that off in a city with the Titans?"

Bruce looked at the wall, expecting a camera to get what he had to sell. Maybe, maybe not."

After the billionaire had walked out, Bruce took out a cell and called up Alfred. Something didn't fit.

Fifteen. Why did he use that number.

/

"Alfred, I'm outside. I need you to search an 'Ignacio Ramirez' and get back as soon as possible. I think that man was putting on an act, and he is head of security of Spire Enterprises."

~ Do tell, I'll have Barbara on it. Right at this moment, can you not tell me what else is on your mind, sir?~

Sighing, Bruce raked through his hair and pulled at his toe to loosen it. "Can't hide from you, Alfred. I thought I was being watched. Slade apparently has the police on his side and the street cameras aren't the only drones he can run effortlessly. He's stolen a project for an android that can look and appear as if it is a living human being. The tech division won't support that logic once its out that a menacing robot is finding its way into highly private locations like here…or anywhere else. If the Tower isn't safe…"

Bruce stopped.

There was a note on the car he'd had at his disposal in this city. Flapping in the breeze, he ran to catch it as he plucked the scrap up to read in dim ink. "This…"

~ Master Bruce? What the devil –

"Alfred. We've been compromised already."

~ You don't exactly act as a real spy should, sir. Should I send for support to come –

"No. Tonight, just before it gets dark. I'm going on a little run through this city. Something truly has me bothered about this."

~ As for the data coming to you sir, Mr. Ignacio Ramirez. Thirty-two-year-old male. California born and raised, one wife and two children. One was…reported missing…oh my…. ~

"Yes?" Bruce steeled his nerves as the other kept talking.

~ Master Bruce, the child was not taken very long ago. Only over a week. This is, disturbing indeed. The man was apparently threatened and lost his position at the precinct to work security as you saw him now. There have been little to nowhere about s since of Mr. Ramirez's eldest child. Christina, she is…~

"He said that the thermal blaster could be worked by anyone, even a "fifteen" year old." Bruce seethed out. "He's not being honest, Alfred. He's sent his message. Slade."

~ SIR? ~

"Somehow, Ramirez has acted before. Quickly, look up his past occupation ls or any hobbies –

~ Found, and…in college, he was a part of an acting troupe. Top of his class in Jump State University. My, my…could there very well be reason of a random, sir? I would think it likely, but then what of the child? Slade wouldn't attack if the job doesn't depend on one being harmed. That is never in Deathstroke's assassins' code as you've stated before. ~

"He's grown out of it, selectively. Doesn't mean that he can't get what he wants while making others do what he expects. We have our risk to take tonight, Alfred." Bruce looked again at the note as the skies were far too sunny for his taste.

"I'll contact you before I head out tonight at the day's end. I'm going to do some searching for the creator of that chip in the meanwhile."

~ Again, call if ever you need a thing, Master Bruce. ~ Alfred was all but chipper as Bruce let the old man go. He'd do some reading in the meantime. See what was so special about these three super chips that someone had obviously crafted as a nifty little decoy…for a much larger trap.

/

Robin tapped his digits against the table as the pizza was a multi- scented nightmare, except for his cheese slice with chicken and spinach in fact, he would have gravitated toward the white pizza with broccoli to not let his appetite suffer, yet recalled blending in to be about sacrifice. Self-sacrifice, which he might only do for one perfect person in his life. Robin bit into his slice. Only person, he wondered. Slade had family out there and still, still it was like he didn't really exist at all beside the man like he'd wanted. He was to show off, maybe. Slade had said once his training was complete. Could that mean something else-

"Friend Robin?" Starfire moved her hand to his cheeks as a napkin dabbed by his lip. He blushed, her soft touch and her catlike eyes in their kittenish wonder had him freeze on the spot. "S- TAR??"

"Oh, you had the sauce on your chin. It was about to fall onto your uniform…."

Raven looked up from her book as Cy nearly forgot all about his first bite. Or second.

"Ah…I am especially the sorry !"

Even as Star pulled away, her drink of mustard still hit his lap as her arm knocked into it. Dick stood up and widely excused himself to wash up in the bathroom. He walked down the steps to the lower floor. The parlor was a two-floor teenaged paradise that overlooked the square in the coolest light. That way, the city goers knew the Titans had things covered as well.

Closer to trouble, yet he found a second to go wash up. Outside the door though, he saw Beastboy walking away with a girl who needed directions. As Robin overheard their conversation, she seemed to flirting. He cocked his eyes to her and waited. Who…was she from before? And, why she talking to Beastboy like she was not sure where to go…

/

"So, you're not a drifter or anything like that?"

"No, but I've been to a lot of cool places with my folks." She was a simple gal from out of town. Ok.

Dick pulled back. Wait..was..was he spying on a girl who w-

He shook his head. No. She stood out to him and, he'd been trained to look out for anything suspicious. That wasn't a crime. Spying on his target's new….new, could she just be a passerby?

Beastboy had hearts for eyes and a red face, she just laughed and he silently was moved, until Dick fell through the door into another patron. "Hey, watch wher –

Dick hushed the man and with the strength of ten, the larger adult was shoved back as he used his shirt to make a set of ties and cuff the dude – throwing him out if the picture into the next room. Thankful, it was empty for the staff and no one was in. The janitor would see to it later. Dick quickly stayed hugging the wall as Bb chuckled his way out to the street. "We were all gonna sit down to enjoy an awesome half vegan, half normal pizza?" The green teen tried to entice the girl as she checked her wrist watch and pretended to thing.

Poser. Dock knew she was leading the brat on. Time to –

"Robin! Dude?"

Dick looked at his shirt that was still stained. "Sorry, was looking all over for you, Bb. I…Starfire got my tunic a bit messy."

"I can get a staff."

"No, it's good. I'll just soak it a bit longer. What's your name?"

"Oh, sorry. He already knows cause I told him." The blonde rubbed her neck before tossing out her hand to shake. "Name's Tara. I was just passing through here with my folks. We travel. Kind of our situation."

"So, are you here long enough to eat? Did you invite her up, Bb?"

"What? Course! Star would call me a klorbag again if I said no, duh. And Tara has been almost everywhere! Twice! Her dad works as a wildlife photographer and her mom is a 'relief worker. It's why she dresses so rugged. Always adventurous and stuff-

"Not like in the ads, sorry. I can tell you all about it." She grinned. "Right after we clean up Captain Obviously over here."

Grinning, Bb prompted Robin to follow on his word as Tara skipped along behind them. Then, she paused as she ascended to the top floor.

Heroes, sat at one table as Robin and Bb joined back in. "Hey, stain is stuck till we go back to the tower, but Bb and I, met a friend."

"Wait….you're ….oh my gosh! You guys are so cool right now! Everyone talked about how you stopped that crazy Mumbo and even this creeper, Slade. I mean –

"Beastboy found a soul mate. Wow, way to advertise it…" Raven shut her book and tried to not see into this person's soul upon first glance. She seemed happy, even ecstatic go be here…

It felt like she wasn' being true to her story though as Raven ignored the boys and Kori being fond over the wave making new pal in this city. "When do you go back to Colorado? It's where you came from, right?"

Tara smiled and looked down at her toes. "Actually, I'm not really sure. Mom said in a relief effort I was just a baby when they adopted me. The country is hard to locate on a map. But I want to find it, that's my one goal….besides making some new pen pals." She told the teens.

"Adopted, huh? Bb's been there. Raven was kinda taken in by all of us." Cy grinned and handed the blonde a new slice with extra toppings. "You know who we are, and it's cool you and Bb hit it off. He's like a wild animal around us, always hogging the attention-

"I do recall when he first pushed Robin to not be friends wkth all if us." Starfire giggled. "We fell into a sewer and bonded. Funny story."

"Do tell! I've got some time to spare." Tara leaned into her hands, observing. Learning their very interests as she let Slade hear the rest.

"I guess it's gonna be a while before we cross paths, but Bb?"

Tara smiled as she gave him a big hug. "Thanks. I gotta go." She got up swiftly and retreated through those doors, just as their comm units went off.

"Let me wash this off."

"I can try something." Raven took her hand to Robin's shirt as the colors of mustard and the scent bled out. Fazing between and onto the plate she had out. "Now, can we go?"

/

Tara panted out of sight of her foes in this city and started to whisper as soon as she was right by the docks. "I'm done for now, right? That pizza made my tongue itch. If we rule this city one day, I want vegan soy crystal banned from all if existence. Grossness…"

She groaned on, as Slade groomed the would be weapon to keep a lid on her powers for now. "You did splendidly. Now that the seed has been sewn, our Robin will get his chance to turn things around. Very close…to tonight."

/

The heroes headed for Spire Enterprises as Dick stayed quieter than usual. Starfire didn't bother him when she saw his caution come to rise. The face of Wayne was a part of this sector while the Titans just remembered their roles. First come. Raven was lead into the site with her team. In the next few minutes, a theft would occur. The T comm had left another message. This one was coordinates and a threat.

~ One of three. In the dark, always watching as you struggle for the switch.~

In other words, they had to do the same. A sneak attack as Starfire held her breath. The lights were turned off. Cameras rolling, as the heroes lay in wait.

And waited.

The chip was suspended and glowing. Blue, ready to grab at any sense of the word. In came a claw from the sight as the heroes twitched on a light only in one spot of the room.

"We caught ourselves a real talented robot. Gonna buy yourself a new set of eyes with that much you'll be banking?"

"I say it goes back to the scrap heap. Drop the chip." Robin was not sure why, but the Slade bot didn't. It sprinted forwards as Bb lashed out woth an anteater tongue to retrieve the chip in one flick. The bot flipped away and to their knowing, it wasn't just a solo act.

"We, got outnumbered??" BB gawked. "No fair!"

"Way, this is Slade whose in control right now." Cy told the younger hero.

"Not for long…Titans?" Robin cocked a grin as the heroes saw his eye teeth. He was down to party, about time!

"GO!"

(REDOING THIS BECAUSE TODAY IS A BAD DAY TO WORK IT OUT. SO, THAT'S OK WITH YOU RIGHT?)

/

Also, Scentless Apprentice was a story that Nirvana based the novel of a mam who had an incredible sense iof smell and was able to create the perfect scent …forgot the whole thing. Tara basically is the Apprentice as this tells and Robin is the red marked chest because yellow and orange make? Yellow is the mustard. That was it! Next up is part two of Masks in my own telling. Anything else, feel free to comment!