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Rain fell in thick curtains over Blüdhaven, turning the streets into rivers of dirty water and distorted reflections of neon lights.
In a dark alley, amid piles of garbage and graffiti-covered walls, Dick Grayson sat on the ground, his head leaning against the wet wall, his knees bent against his chest.
Water soaked his dark hair, sticking to his forehead, and his threadbare jacket barely offered any resistance to the cold that dug into his bones. But he didn't care anymore.
He was alone again. After all the promises, after all the words about family and loyalty, he had ended up here. No home, no money, no allies. Just an abandoned boy in a city that fed on despair.
A strange thought crossed his mind. A memory of Bruce teaching him about a religion he himself didn't believe in. The story of Eve and the snake.
It was a strange and fleeting memory. As fleeting as the lightning that flashed across the sky illuminating every corner. As strange as the sound that followed the roar of the sky.
Heavy boots crunched the wet rubble near him. Dick didn't look up. He didn't need to in order to know who was there.
"You know, I was expecting the big Nightwing to try to stop me," said a deep voice, with that mocking, dangerous tone Dick knew all too well after fighting this beast since he was 11 years old.
Slade Wilson was standing in front of him, completely covered in his black and orange armor, the one visible eye glowing with something between amusement and curiosity.
Dick fleetingly wondered if Slade was going to kill him. And if he was, did it really matter at this point?
(For a moment the image of Jason saying goodbye to him and promising that they would go train with the Titans after Dick's return from space crossed Dick's mind. If Slade killed him now, Dick could see Jason again and fulfill his promise to train together. But Jason would be sad, so Dick quickly dismissed that idea. Or well, he tried to.)
He had nothing left. He had hit rock bottom. Once again, that fleeting memory crossed his mind. Eva had it all. Like Dick before Jason's death.
He didn't respond to Slade's obvious provocation. He had no strength to argue, no desire to fight. He just closed his eyes and exhaled slowly.
Slade bowed his head and spoke in a condescending tone.
"So this is all that's left of the Boy Wonder? Pathetic."
His hand darted to cover his mouth as a small, resigned, tired laugh escaped him. Jason would have mocked him for being so pathetic.
"Fuck you." His voice came out muffled by his hand. Which he dropped is his neck, where it finally came to rest. "If you came here to kill me you're taking too long." He whispered so low that if it weren't for his super hearing Slade couldn't have heard him.
Mentally Dick apologized to Jason. Physically he just kept looking up at the sky as the water soaked his face, taking the remnants of tears with it.
Slade didn't flinch. Instead, he crouched down and sat beside him, as if they were old friends sharing a quiet night in the rain and not enemies since Dick was literally a child.
"I heard about your brother," he said slowly, testing the words as if they were bait thrown to a fish. "You must have been looking for a way to avenge him. You'll get nothing here, rotting in an alley in this shitty town playing at being a normal depressed kid."
Dick felt a lump tighten in his throat. His fingers clenched into a fist, the pale, cold skin over the knuckles reddening.
"He's in jail. There's nothing to avenge." He said in a firm tone. As if repeating the same thing a hundred times could make him really think that. Dick swallowed saliva tried to erase the taste of bile that rose to his throat at the mere memory of that name.
"You and I both know that's not revenge. It's not even justice, Richard." The use of his own name sent shivers down his spine.
Once again he thought of the story of Eve. For some reason, he thought of the snake. But his own words snapped him out of his trance. For some reason, he was angry.
"Sure. I'll go find the Joker in the prison where he is and fulfill my wish to kill him." The words felt heavy on his tongue, as if admitting it out loud made it more real.
The anger disappeared from his body. Leaving tiredness behind. A weariness that pierced his bones and dug into his heart.
A weariness that made him slur his words as he spoke again.
"Bruce threw me out. Alfred didn't do anything. My department." She paused to wipe away her tears. "He was paying for it, so they took it away from me. I stayed with Clark and Lois, but they were arguing about me. Lois wanted to confront Bruce, but Clark never did. So I left." Dick didn't even bother to use code names. He simply couldn't now. "And Jason." He whispered with a knot in his stomach. It was just his name, just his name made Dick squirm in place and the tears flow again.
Slade watched him silently, not interrupting. As strange as it was to tell this to him, Dick felt it was the first time anyone had really listened to him. Not with pity. Not with disappointment. Not interrupting. Not advising. Just listening. Perhaps that was what prompted him to keep talking.
"I'm here now," Dick finished, with a crooked, mirthless smile. Tears quickly escaped his eyes. "I guess I wasn't as special as everyone said. They all walked away as soon as they got the chance." He finished by whispering.
Slade clicked his tongue as he drated an arm over Dick's shoulders. The sudden closeness startled him. But he didn't bother to push it away. "That's where you're wrong, kid. You were always special. Ever since you were a brat dressed as a walking stoplight, I knew it. The bat knew it. But he was terrified of your potential, so he never showed you everything." Dick doesn't know at what point Slade removed his mask. But suddenly he feels Slade's lips against the shell of his ear. "But I'm not afraid of your potential, Richard. I can help you."
Dick frowned and looked at Slade, their noses were too close. Slade didn't seem to mind. But Dick did. So he stepped back a little, as much as Slade's arm around his shoulders would allow.
"And you're not afraid?" He asked, trying to sound mocking. But he failed in the process. Dick can hear Jason's mocking laughter in his head. He almost wanted to smile at the all too familiar image of Jason taunting Dick.
Slade smiled. His voice dropped an octave and Dick suddenly felt like prey.
"I'm offering you two choices, kid. You can stay here and keep sinking, until this city is done devouring you and wasting your potential out of fear. Or you can come with me. I will train you as you should have been trained. I will make you stronger, faster, more lethal. Exploit what your father feared so much. But that I was always drawn to." Slade slowly wiped the water from Dick's face with his free hand.
Dick didn't remember when Slade put away his mask.
Dick felt a shiver run down his spine. He knew this was not a selfless act of charity. Slade Wilson never did anything without getting something in return. It was literally the description of being a mercenary.
"But there's 'But', isn't there?" He asked humorlessly. But trying to smile.
Dick suddenly thought of the snake around the tree and poor innocent Eve watching her talk.
"But," Slade confirmed mischievously. "You will be my ward, Richard. You will work with me. And you will follow a new moral code. One that will allow you more flexibility. One that will allow you your revenge."
Dick thought of the snake talking to Eve. So sweet. So charitable. So helpful. So seductive. For some reason, a shiver ran down his spine.
Dick froze. He could feel the heart pounding in his ears.
"Revenge?" He asked, his voice trembling in overdrive. The idea of putting all his plans, all his thoughts, all his secrets and basest desires into action, was really tempting.
For a moment she thinks of Jason talking down on the salesman her mother used to go to.
"Revenge." Slade replied leaving no room for interpretation, no room for doubt, no room for questions. Just clear, concise facts.
To Jason. Neither said it. But they both thought it.
But it wasn't just for Jason.
For all the times he had to bite his tongue, had to give in, had to play by the rules of a code that was never his.
Bruce would never understand, but he felt it deep inside: justice without vengeance was incomplete. But he never managed to say it.
Slade stood up and extended his free hand toward him. He said no more. It was not necessary.
Dick looked at her. He knew what it meant. He knew there was no turning back if he took it.
Suddenly Dick thinks of the snake that pointed out the apple to Eve.
The rain continued to fall. His heart pounded harder than before. The sky lit up, illuminating Slade's figure.
And then, Dick took Slade's hand. As Slade's hand closed over his, Dick felt the weight of his decision. His eyes clouded over, but there was no turning back. Dick wondered if he could ever forgive himself for going this far.
If Jason could ever forgive him for going this far. In his mind, he hoped Jason would forgive him, no, that he would appreciate how much Dick would make that bastard suffer.
Dick thought of Eve taking the apple.
Slade led him to a dark vehicle parked a few feet away. The rain was still pounding the pavement, like a whispering harbinger of what was to come.
Eve ate the apple.
Dick knew at that moment that he had sealed his fate. And, for the first time in a long time, he didn't care. Who was to care at this point?
God found out about Eve's actions and she was punished.
As Dick settled in looking out onto the rainy street of the dirty city he once swore to protect.
Slade started the car.
"Are you ready to avenge her brother, Little Bird?" Slade asked, resting a firm hand on Dick's thigh.
Dick gave him a sidelong glance. Slade had an indecipherable expression and a fixed look in Dick's eyes.
"I am." He assured with a steady gaze and a determined voice.
Slade smiled and turned his gaze back to the road once more.
Dick thought about Eva's story. The situation was tragic, she was tempted, deceived and manipulated. She was finally punished. But she was able to be happy with Adam in the end.
Dick looked sideways at Slade. Maybe the punishment wouldn't be so bad if the revenge for Jason's death was his Adam.
Slade began to move forward. For some reason, Dick could feel the punishment breathing down the back of his neck.