Work Text:
“Do you know about Deathstroke’s apprentice, Renegade?”
Dick blinked innocently.
“Who’s that?”
“This guy.”
Tim pulled a video, paused on a specific frame, onto the screen of the bat computer.
Deathstroke the Terminator, in his full glory. And next to him, in a matching black and orange suit with a full face mask, Dick.
Or, well, Deahthstroke’s apprentice.
Dick hummed.
“Oh him! Ran into him a couple times back in Jump. Nice guy. Outside of the working for Deathstroke thing.”
“Why are you asking? Thought he disappeared like five years ago.”
“We have reason to suspect he was coerced by Deathstroke. This video came out recently.”
Dick blinked.
“Hmm?”
Tim took that for a question, rewound the video to the beginning, and pressed play.
The scene showed a warehouse, empty except for three figures. Standing tall, intimidating, black and orange armor, was Deathstroke. His sword was raised, pointed at the other two.
The smallest figure, blond hair, glowing hands, unmasked, was Terra.
Next to him, full face mask, standing at guard, Renegade.
The angle was from the ceiling. Hidden camera.
The fight broke out, Terra made the first move. Chunks of earth ripped themselves from the ground, rushing towards Slade. He dodged easily, charging forward.
Renegade met him head on, unsheathing twin swords from his back.
Steel met steel.
Another piece of earth launched itself at Slade’s head, forcing him to dodge back.
For a moment, it looked like Terra and Renegade were winning. Slade was loosing ground, between Renegade’s close range strikes and Terra’s long ranged support.
Then Slade redirected a piece of rock, hitting it with his sword like a baseball. It bounced, and hit Terra behind the head. She dropped, unconscious. Blood pooled around her.
Renegade doubled his effort. But without Terra’s support, he was quickly overwhelmed. One sword flew from his hand. Then another. Slade gave a fierce punch, and Renegade fell back to the floor.
“Oh, don’t you get it kid?”
Slade’s hand gripped Renegade’s neck, pulling him up into the air. Renegade’s legs kicked the empty space, trying to get any purchase.
“No one is coming for you.”
Renegade seemed to struggle one last time, the his limbs went limp.
The video cut.
“…”
Oh Slade, you bastard.
“Excuse me, I need to go make a call.”
“Dick?”
Dick smiled. “All good, just reminded me of something.
Tim accepted his response. He waved a hand, attention already turned back to the computer screen.
Dick quickly left the Batcave. As he reached somewhere outside of any camera or microphone range, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. It connected.
“Hey Terra, did you see the video?”
“Yeah I did, that piece of shit.”
“Cool, can you call Joey? I’ll contact Rose.”
They broke into Slade’s safe house and made the necessary preparations. They kept the lights off. Dick was hiding behind the couch, an item clutched firmly in his hand. Rose was next to him, determined expression on her face.
Across the room, Dick knew Terra and Joey are hidden the same way.
The door opened.
Dick sprung into action. He jumped up, raised his hand and-
Blew the air horn.
“Surprise!”
Slade had a knife raised. The other hand covered his ear. Dick smirked. He knew the airhorn would be great for Slade’s enhanced hearing.
He also knew Slade’s enhance hearing would pick up their heartbeats, which is why he hid white noise generators across the entire building. Dick clicked the noise generators off.
Slade breathed the lightest sigh of relief.
“Happy birthday, old man.”
“That was a desperate plea for attention and you know it,” Terra said, one hand on her hip, the other pointing at Slade’s chest.
Happy birthday, dad. Joey signed.
“You better celebrate with us!” Rose said cheerfully. She was holding one of those triangle party hats menacingly as she walked towards Slade.
Slade bent down obediently, letting Rose snap the hat to his head.
“I regret having kids.” Slade said as he straightened.
“Hey, you’re the one that kidnapped us,” Dick said, gesturing at himself and Terra. Terra smirked.
“So accept your fate. No one is coming for you.”
Slade rolled his eye. Dick laughed.
Back at the cave.
Dick walked in on Tim still focused on the video. He has dragged Steph and Cass into it now. The three of them sat hunched over the screen.
Cass turned when he entered, and looked at him with a knowing glance. Dick smiled. Of course Cass would know.
“We still have no idea who this is. Or why this video was released.” Tim said out loud.
Dick sighed. He’ll take pity on Tim.
“Tim?”
“Yeah?”
“That’s me.”
“…”
Dick braced for outraged. He did not expect a snort.
“Yeah, right. Good one big bird.”
Dick suddenly felt offended.
“No, I’m serious. That was me.”
“Yeah, since when could you use swords”
“Since ever! Escrima is a sword based art!”
“Mmhmm, keep telling yourself that.”
Steph glanced at Cass, who was not laughing.
“Wait. Is he serious?”
Cass nodded.
“No.”
Cass nodded again.
“Dick,” Tim turned.
Dick ignored it, walking away.
“Wait, Dick-“
Dick smiled to himself, and started running. By the time Tim turned the corner Dick was out a window.
He has Terra, Rose, and Joey, in the same city after all. They should hang out without the old bastard while they have the chance.