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It's.. It's been a long day. He misses his friends. His family. Hell, he would take Batman right now. At least Batman cares if he's down, comforts him when he cries. When he even just complains, Slade threatens to kill his friends. God, he hates it here.
Slade has been horrible, but his most recent mission has Dick in a state of shock.
“I assume you have heard of the league of assassins?” Slade asked him one day. Dick scowled at the mention of the group. Dick hates Talia Al Ghul with a burning passion. Of course they've broken up now, but seriously, someone needs to talk about Bruce's taste in women. And the fact that the league has murdered people. That too of course.
“I have, yes.”
“Good. Because I have a task for you.” Slade began, he's given him missions before. Crimes like theft. Involving Dick with the league seems… off. “Ra's Al Ghul and I have had some discourse over the years. I would like to send a message of sorts.”
Dick let his words sink in. “So you want me to mess with the fucking demon head? Do you want me to die?” He snarled.
“Watch your tone.” Slade said, and Dick's anger simmered down. “Your mission will be to kill Ra's Al Ghul's grandson.”
Dick inhaled sharply. “I won't kill for you, you know I could never do that.”
“Oh? I assumed your distaste for Talia would make this an easy task for you.”
Dick narrowed his eyes. “Sure I hate her guts, but I couldn't kill her kid. I couldn't even kill her.”
Slade walked closer until their faces were only an inch apart. “No, but you will. The life of one assassin, or the life of all four of your friends. Your choice, Richard, but either way the blood is on your hands.”
Dick's stance faltered. Was there any point in fighting anymore? “How old is he?” Slade finally moved away.
“Old enough to be considered a threat.”
That's how Dick ended up in Nanda Parbat on a mission to break his most sacred code.
The journey over was a mission itself. To remain unseen, Slade and Dick took a public plane to the Himalayas. This in itself was fine, albeit a little irritating when someone recognized him as Dick Grayson.
They're currently in the airport seating area next to a teenager around his age. “Hey, aren't you Richard Grayson?” Dick looked around almost dumbfounded that he was recognized all the way in California. Slade shot him a look that said ‘don't cause a scene’
“Yep, that's me.” He laughed a little awkwardly.
The girl's eyes lit up. “I’m a huge fan. Do you mind if I take a photo with you?” She was progressively getting more giddy. It's odd to him that the Wayne's are considered celebrities in Gotham, he supposed Bruce makes sense with his interviews and playboy persona, along with his tech company. But he's still never seen anyone who's not an actor or model be known so widely. It's kind of impressive.
“Of course.” He smiled, Bruce always hates photos, but he loves people (To an extent) after all he does dress as a bat to protect them, so he does it anyway. Dick on the other hand never really minds the attention, he's a born performer after all, but right then he understood why Bruce hates photos. The anxiety of everything is killing him too badly to want to fake a smile.
The camera clicks and Dick hopes it's over. But the girl stayed. “So, where are you off to? I thought you were supposed to be in a boarding school in Switzerland.” Nice cover, Bruce. But then again, he didn't really give him much warning before he left. He looked over to Slade again and he gave him another similar look that said ‘fuck this up and I'm killing your friends.’
“Oh, er we’re on holiday. Swiss timetables and all. And of course I would love to visit Bruce, but my parents' friend from the circus came to town and offered to come with him on vacation to the Himalayas. Of course, I accepted. After all, I haven't seen him since the funeral, and we were oh so very close. We're only away for a week and I'll get to see Bruce for the rest of my time off.”
The girl's smile dropped. He felt bad for doing it, but usually when he pulls the dead parents card people usually stop asking questions. And that she did. “Oh! My friends are back, I hope you both enjoy your trip!”
“You too.”
Slade spoke up as she left. “That was manipulative.”
“What, bringing up my parents? It was just to get her to stop asking questions.”
Slade almost smiled. “Hm, regardless, it seems you're becoming more like me every day.”
Dick boarded the plane silently.
He hates to admit it, but he and Slade make a good team. Their coordination lets them slip past the guards easily.
They're in the vent next to the target's room. Everywhere was heavily guarded of course, Dick was shocked they even made it past them at all. According to Slade, he used to work under Ra's, that's probably how he's capable of deceiving him. Slade handed him a gas mask and some weird grande thingy. A smoke bomb to knock him unconscious while the mask is specifically designed to ensure that Dick will not be affected.
Dick chucked the grenade into the room and hopped out of the vent into the room of a little boy. He's still in his bed, sound asleep, almost as though Dick never gassed him. Of course, the grandson of Ra's Al Ghul would be awake and ready to engage the instant something felt off, but he was already asleep and Dick never gave him the chance to wake up.
He forced himself to look away. He knew, logically, that he was about to kill someone. He knew he was about to kill… a kid. A little kid. A little kid of someone he knew and… The kid is Bruce's son. He suspected he was Bruce's the minute he heard Talia's name considering her endless love for Bruce, but he rationalized that thought out of his mind.
But now, looking at this kid sleeping in front of him, there's no doubt he's Bruce's. He looks roughly five, five years ago when Talia and Bruce were lovey dovey. He looks like the spitting image of his mother, yet he has Bruce's expression, even when he's asleep.
He's Bruce's child. He's… his brother.
He's about to kill someone.
He's about to kill a child.
He's about to kill his father’s child.
He's about to kill his brother.
Dick's internal monologue was cut off when he suddenly felt a presence. He whipped around, pulling out the katana Slade had so graciously gifted him, coming face to face with none other than Talia Al Ghul herself. Dick expected her to strike, or at least do something, but she just stood.
“Richard.” She said casually.
“Talia.” Dick replied, feeling a bit shell shocked. What do you say when the mother of the kid you were about to kill greets you so casually. “How- how did you get in?”
Talia looked utterly bored. “You believe Deathstroke can outsmart me?” Dick's stance faltered. He couldn't fight her. “It was a surprise seeing you in those colours, however.” She said, looking him up and down with way too much judgement considering her career choice.
Dick dropped his weapon, it clattered to the floor at the same time he did. “I can't do this anymore.”
Talia, to her credit, did look slightly sympathetic. Of course she knew this wasn't a willing apprenticeship, why wouldn't an Al Ghul know everything about him. “Blackmail?” Dick nodded. “I cannot let you kill my son, though I doubt you would regardless.”
There was a silence between them. Not particularly strained, or uncomfortable. Just heavy.
Eventually Talia spoke. “You do not want my love to know of this, I will keep your secret.” Dick practically shot his head up in surprise. “A detective such as yourself would already be aware of his connection to yourself, yes?” She said, gesturing to the boy.
“Uh- yeah… I guess.”
“Would you like to hold him?” Dick couldn't even stutter out a reply before Talia lifted the small boy into her arms. He was still sleeping soundly, his head lulling gently on her shoulder. Dick hated Talia, but he supposed setting their beef aside would be alright for a moment.
She placed the boy on Dick's lap, Dick wrapping his arms around him to keep him still. He was holding his brother. Everything was still, he wasn't Slade's apprentice, he wasn't Batman's ex-protoge, he wasn't even Robin. He was just a boy holding his brother.
After a couple of silent minutes, a thought came to Dick. “Does Bruce know?”
Talia's uncharacteristicly soft expression shifted into a melancholy one. “No. I do not want my son around my father. I will send him to Bruce one day, I am just not ready to let go.”
“I uh.. Won't tell Bruce.”
“Oh?” She raised an eyebrow at him.
“If you're not telling him about-,” he gestured to himself. “-this. I'll let you say goodbye when you're ready.”
She pulled him into a hug. “I may dislike you, Richard, but I still wish you safety and happiness.”
“Yeah. You too.” He said, looking down at his brother.
“Wilson? I have found your apprentice sneaking around my son's room. Is there something we must discuss? Or can you simply not control your subordinates.” Talia said, for her faults she does have some moments where she can be kind. They had made a plan where Talia would “catch” Dick in the act. Slade wouldn't be angry if Dick didn't kill Damian so long as at least tried.
Slade had told her some kind of excuse and apology before tugging Dick back to the airport. “You did well.” Dick paused.
“What?”
“I did not expect you to fool the league of assassins so soon. This was a test of sorts. You did well.”
Dick ignored the strange sense of pride he felt and instead thought of the kid. Maybe one day he would meet him once again, face to face, as brothers.