Work Text:
Dick just wanted to get back to school and pretend that nothing happened to him.
He remembered the physical and mental trauma that Deathstroke had put him through - beating, whipping, mental warfare over the course of 2 full days. He was made to believe that his friends would suffer and die if he refused - Dick now knew that was false. His brothers rescued him as soon as they could, but Dick’s body was marked with bruising and lashes that were going to take time to heal. He'd become more vigilant since becoming benched for recovery - he was less trusting of nonfamily members.
Damian and Alfred continued rubbing salve onto Dick’s scars to help him heal. Damian was the first one to tell him, “None of this was your fault, habibi . You were tricked, it's happened to us all at least once - what matters is your health and psyche.”
Tim sat with Dick through much of his recovery, reminding him, “You’re a survivor, don’t let what Slade did to you make you think you were at fault for any of it.”
Jason was ready to commit acts of violence. He made it clear, “We may not shoot to kill, but I’m not holding back next time I see him, Goldie. He deserves every bit of hurt you got and more.”
Dick spent 2 weeks out of school and away from the Teen Titans on medical leave - that made Dick’s recovery even harder. He loved his family but seeing his friends also made him feel good. There were just some things he preferred doing with his school friends. His loneliness translated to Dick being attached to his brothers when home, being carried or piggybacking on them the entire time. He was told not to help with chores - by the end of the two weeks, Dick was happy that he could finally do something for once.
Returning to school lifted his spirits - especially seeing Joey again. There was no animosity between them for Slade's actions - in fact, Joey had aided in Dick’s rescue and likely made his recovery time shorter. They signed to each other all day, even during class, and even decided to go out with their other school friends to the park after school.
Dick was on top of the world as he went out with his friends. Joey and Dick were friends with all the girls in their class and both boys were happy to participate in whatever games or beauty rituals their friends did. Before leaving the school, one of Dick’s friends painted his lips with clear lipgloss and one painted his nails bright blue - he was looking and feeling his best as they left school and walked down the side streets to the local park.
…so why was he feeling so on edge? Dick knew that recovering from Slade’s mental torture would take time - he still felt broken inside but he was stable enough to leave home. That wasn’t how he was feeling though…no, Dick felt like he and his friends were being followed.
Dick already knew it couldn’t be by a typical thug - Dick had dealt with hundreds of those and many of them were clumsy, making obvious noises and sloppily hiding whenever Dick or the others turned around. Whoever was tailing them was seasoned - Dick wasn’t even sure they were being stalked because the movements were so subtle. However, the hairs on the back of his neck began to stand up and Dick had learned never to disobey his intuition - he had saved the Titans more than once based on correct hunches.
Dick looked over to Joey, but the other seemed unbothered, laughing and signing away with the girls. Dick was confused at first - Joey was also a part of the Teen Titans, he should be feeling similar, if not more intense, feelings of unease at being followed…unless Joey didn’t perceive the presence of the other person as a threat.
Dick’s blood ran cold - Slade was Joey’s father, of course Joey wouldn’t pick up on his dad’s movements as hostile because they were familiar to him. But Dick wasn’t attuned to Slade’s stalking - and he was terrified.
When they were less than a block from the park, Dick put out a silent distress signal to Damian. Slade following him and his friends was not a typical threat that he could deal with alone. Luckily he was with his friends, so Slade wouldn’t try anything with him…right?
As his friends entered the park gate, Dick felt something grab his arm. Before he could make a sound, he was pulled backward sharply and a hand clasped over his mouth. Dick squeezed his eyes closed as he kicked and flailed as hard as he could, even biting at the hand on his mouth, until he felt something hard press up against his back. Opening his eyes, he realized that he was pressed against a wall, hard.
The man who was holding him steady had gray hair and an eyepatch, but Dick knew the coldness from that eye - it was Deathstroke. Dick’s body trembled as he remembered the beating, the degradation, the pain that this man inflicted on him less than a month ago. However, he fought the urge to let it consume him - Tim and Damian taught him about compartmentalization, so he did his best to stay calm and forget the awful things that this man put him through.
“Deathstroke.” Dick put on his best brave face, despite wanting to cry.
“Kid. Look at you here, playing civilian. Doesn’t suit a leader with the potential to be my apprentice.” The word ‘apprentice’ made Dick want to curl up into a ball and cry - he had been tricked into saying that he was Slade’s apprentice last time. Not this time.
“I’m not your apprentice, you lied to me…you tried to tell me my friends would die at your hands.”
Slade chuckled, “And they still could, any time. The thing keeping them away from a painful death at my hands is you, Robin.”
Dick took a deep breath, he had to stall for time and stay calm - Damian knew his location, Damian was on his way. “Even if Joey is on my team?”
Slade frowned, “So you know he’s my kid. Guess you are the kid of the Greatest Detectives. Point is, you’re not going to be rid of me, kid. As long as you lead the brats and wear that mask, I will never stop hunting you.” Dick’s heart raced, he was starting to lose his composed facade - Slade knew that his mask was coming off as being metahuman allowed him to detect Dick’s pulse even without feeling for it.
Dick reminded him, “I know better now, I'm Robin and not a Deathstroke. I know that my siblings will protect me…a-and they'll make sure you don't hurt me again.” Tears started running from Dick’s eyes even as he tried to stop them - he was terrified of this man and he wanted to get out of there.
Slade grinned, “You're forgetting one thing, little Robin - I can fight off your brothers. Once I get them out of the way, especially the Demon Spawn, no one will be able to protect you from me. ” Dick sniffled - he felt so weak. His body was shaking in Slade’s grip and it was obvious that the older man’s words were getting to him-
The loud sheen of a katana and two clicks of a gun broke Dick out of his spiral. He looked to the side and saw his three brothers, all armed and in their civilian clothing, and Joey.
Joey signed first, “<Father, please stop. Do not hurt my best friend.>”
Damian spoke with cold anger, “This is your last chance, Wilson. Let Grayson go and leave him be - we do not need more reasons to hunt you down.” Tim and Jason looked like they were holding back by a thread - if they didn’t respect Bruce and Damian’s authority, they both would have shot to kill already. Joey was the one standing between them and his father - this was a peace offering that could quickly go south.
Slade grinned before laughing at them, “Never thought I’d see the day that my son was working with the Demon Spawn. I wonder who would win…the Bat’s Brats, or me.” One hand went towards his gun belt and Dick's breath hitched - he didn’t want an all-out fight in a populated urban area. Slade moved his hand away from his belt and sighed, “Well, the last thing I want is to make an enemy of my kid - looks like you have a stronger hold on him than I thought, Blue Bird.”
Joey signed back, “<Father, I chose to follow Dick’s leadership.>”
Slade told him, “I know, Joey. And that’s why the brat gets to go free - for now. Fighting all of you right now isn’t what I came here to do.” With a crushing grip, Slade grabbed Dick’s arm and pushed him forward towards his brothers. As Dick fumbled forward, Slade quickly pulled out a revolver from his belt, to which Damian responded by lunging forward and clashing the side of the gun with his katana. Dick fell forward onto Joey, who quickly hugged his best friend.
Slade then jumped backward and scaled the building beside them, reminding them as he retreated, “Next time, I’ll shoot to kill.” He shot several warning shots down at them, which Damian deflected using his sword.
Damian ordered as Slade went out of view, “Red, Nightwing, tail him for a few blocks to make sure he doesn’t come back for a surprise attack.” With that, Tim and Jason put on their domino masks and rushed into the staircases of the nearby building.
Dick trembled, shaking as he tried to process what just happened. Joey tapped his forehead a few times, a shorthand for him telling Dick to <relax and focus>.
“ Habibi . Breathe, habibi .” Dick struggled to follow Damian’s instructions, but feeling Damian’s hand on his shoulder and Joey’s arm around his shoulder were grounding.
Dick struggled to speak as he shook like a leaf, “He was…going to hurt…all of us.”
Damian told him firmly, “As long as we’re all together, he can’t beat us all. Do not let what he said change your mind from leading the Teen Titans - you’re the leader that only comes once in a generation.”
Joey signed to him, “<I won’t let Dad take you away - you’re our leader, we need you.>”
Dick sniffled, “I-I’m still scared. Deathstroke is much stronger than me…”
Damian told him, “And that’s okay. We’ll help you build up your confidence again - you are brave already Dick, and if you can stay brave in the face of danger, no one will be able to take that away. And if he ever tries to corner you again, we will come to your rescue just like we did today.”
Joey added through signing, “<Trust in yourself, Dick. Everyone trusts you, you’re stronger than you believe.>” Dick wiped his tears on the back of his hand and nodded - he still had a long journey of healing before he would be ready to face Slade again.