Credit where credit is due.

ninjanerd1001 IS THE MAGICAL PERSON WHO THOUGHT OF THE TITLE FOR THIS CHAPTER WHEN I WAS GASSED OUT OF IDEAS. IT WAS A TRUELY MAGICAL EXPERIENCE.

Alright I'm done LETS GO!

Deathstroke had his eye trained on the table, his hand fingering a bullet, twisting it around his gloved fingers as he stared off into space. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and feelings, the most prominent one being anger, but tamed by the daunting task set before him.

Renegade wasn't home yet, probably a good thing as his next course of action would not make sense to the acrobat. Deathstroke only wished he had more time, he had hoped Renegades last mission would be with him, not alone as his apprentice had hoped it wouldn't be. But of course, life isn't fair, he had to make do with the time given to him.

Deathstroke closed his fist around the bullet, he would have to use his anger for other things, right now he needed to make preparations and get his plan underway. His plan was simple, and he hoped Renegade would understand, but for this mission to potentially succeed, Renegade must be in the dark.

Deathstroke shifted up in his seat, he had been slouching with his legs extended under the table, a relaxed position, a thinking position, one that hid his true anger. He stood and put the bullet back in its pouch, it was still night, if all went well Renegade should return soon, Deathstroke would have to work quickly.

He left the kitchen, the only sound the scrape of fabric on fabric and his boots on the concrete ground, leaving the kitchen where so many memories were made. Memories he didn't want to stop making.

He went to his 'office' as Renegade liked to call it, where Deathstroke 'schemed'- yet another term made by the wisecracking teen. It held all his files and information he had on everything he felt was important. He closed the heavy door behind him and flicked the light switch on, the dark room coming to life as the white lights shown brilliantly down. One wall held a bulletin board, pictures of targets and building schematics pined on by tacks, recent missions still hanging. Another wall held a row of tall file cases, metal containers with locks that harbored his information.

He walked silently over to the file cabinet near the end, closest to the other wall that held a giant screen. He pulled off his right glove and placed his thumb on a scanner, after a green light grazed over his finger print a metal 'clink' signaled the cabinets unlocking. He pulled opened the drawer labeled 'Renegade' and flipped through the flies inside before pausing at a picture that caught his eye. He gently pulled the photo free and stared at it, the picture was taken by a security camera, the date printed at the top corner.

Deathstrokes eye narrowed as he continued to look at the photo, taken so long ago but it felt like yesterday. He slammed the drawer shut with his free hand, gripping the photo with increasing intensity until it started to bend. He softened his grip on the picture, he didn't want to ruin it, it was his favorite picture. If anyone needed proof of how weak Deathstroke had become because of this boy, this picture would be case closing evidence.

He finally looked away from the photo and walked over to the large table that doubled as a desk, across the table were numerous papers and files out from recent missions. He swiped away a pile of papers and set the photo down carefully, he looked up to the giant screen across from the table, his eye narrowing to focus his mind on the task at hand.

Deathstroke set his closed fists to either side of the photo and leaned forward, his weight balanced on his fists. He was still in deep thought, how to go about this task, he needed something believable, or maybe, being unbelievable would be more beneficial to this plan.

After debating in his mind a few moments more, Deathstroke rose to his full height and turned the screen on, a green beam scanned his retina before 'logging in'.

He stood at his desk, a holographic keyboard rising to his gloved hands. His fingers flew over the keys, his eye narrowing in anger and resolve, casting a hesitating look to the photo before he hit enter. No victory comes without a price.

A swirling icon in the screen signaled the loading of the video chat, the room darkened automatically except for the light over the mercenary. Deathstroke squared his shoulders and steeled his gaze to the screen, no backing out now.

A familiar cowl appeared on the screen, two other faces on either side, a scowl meeting his own hardened gaze.

"Batman. I have a proposition."

-0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0-

The waterfall gave a thundering roar, the screech of bats echoing around the damp cave. Stalagmites dripped and gave the cave a harsh and raw feeling, only to be tamed by the lights and metal platforms strewn about the large cave.

Another roar added to the ambiance, a sleek black vehicle burst through the wall of water, bouncing as it landed on a metal track. Beads of water rolled off the dark metal plating as the vehicle rolled to a stop in the center of a platform.

The cockpit of the vehicle opened with a hiss, a dark figure rising from its seat. Heavy boots hit the ground as the vigilante jumped down from the vehicle. With a swish of his black cape The Dark Knight made his way over to the multi-screened Batcomputer.

He didn't sit but leaned over to reach the mouse and begin his research.

He encountered two mysteries that night; Red Hood and the rising issue of Renegade. Both cases concerning as both didn't have any issue with shedding blood and seemed to have an interest in money and drug deals.

Renegade most of all gave the Bat worry. The young mercenary was just a kid, and by the way the Joker spoke of him, and his own encounters with the boy, the kid was in the wrong place doing the wrong things. Red Hood was most likely an adult, capable of being put in prison and served justice. Renegade might not be the same, Renegade could be a victim of his situation, any jail Renegade would be sent to would not help the kid, probably only make him worse.

As Batman flipped through pages on both criminals he heard footsteps from behind him. Red Robin came up, bringing two cups of coffee with him.

"Meet Renegade again? And who's this 'Red Hood' guy?" Tim asked, narrowing his masked eyes at the screen Batman was furiously looking through.

Red Robin set one of the coffees down, sliding it across to his mentor as he took a sip of his own.

"Red Hood is targeting drug deals specifically related to Black Mask, I believe Renegade was hired by Black Mask to deal with the intrusions his deals keep getting." Batman said, not looking away from the screen. "Deathstroke was absent, meaning he trusts his apprentice, which means the kid is either being controlled some way or he really does enjoy the criminal life."

"How old is Renegade again?" Red Robin asked, tilting his head in confusion as he watched a batmobile survalence camera catch the young mercenary run into a skatepark, Red Hood being farther away.

"We don't know, I would guess no more than 12."

Red Robin blinked. "Yeesh, they start that young?"

"I started younger." A new voice said.

Red Robin turned to behold a black figure, Damian in his Nightwing suit, armor here and there but rather slick and almost completely black. A blue bird stretched across his chest onto his shoulders and down his arms. Damian's masked eyes narrowed as they surveyed the screen Batman was looking at.

"Hey Dami, Bats saw Renegade again." Red Robin supplied, pointing with his cup to the screen as their attention was pulled once more.

"Did he kill anyone?" Damian asked, half ignoring his adopted little brother while he folded his arms and glared up at the screen.

"Only one, other deaths may or may not be caused by him, he certainly didn't try to save any of them." Batman replied.

"Tt" Damian scoffed, "mercenaries don't usually care what happens to their co-workers."

"I was busy fighting Red Hood when Renegade made his exit, the money was gone and the drugs were a pile of ash by the time I got there. It reminds me of you, Damian." Batman said.

"Similar, but I never went out on my own, or ever for that matter." Damian said, his scowl deepening.

"That is why I don't like this, Renegade acts more like he chooses to do this, but the tip from Joker makes me think it's not his fault."

"It's always complicated when kids are involved." Red Robin summed up tiredly, looking half-lidded at the screen before taking another sip of his coffee. "And what of the credibility of the Jokers words? How would he know what Renegade is being treated like?"

"Despite the origin of the tip, we must consider its possibilities."

Tim frowned. "Don't you think you're relying a little too heav-"

All three vigilantes' attention snapped to the screen, cutting off Red Robin's statement by turning black and a swirling icon appearing to be floating in the middle.

Batman sat in his chair, Damian tightened his grip on his folded arms and Red Robin set down his cup, each scowling at the screen.

The screen turned on again, revealing a black and orange mercenary scowling back at them. The man had his hands behind his back diplomatically, the rest of the room unable to be seen by the darkness of the room.

"Batman. I have a proposition." Deathstroke said, his single eye looking down at them with contempt.

"I met your apprentice again tonight, I noticed you weren't there," Batman replied stiffly.

"Renegade can take care of himself," Deathstroke said, almost gently.

"What do you want Deathstroke?" Batman asked, ignoring his observation for now.

"I have something you want."

Batman's eyes narrowed. What could Deathstroke possibly have that Batman would want? Was it a weapon? What would the mercenary want in return? "What do you want for it?"

"Not 'it'. 'Him'." Deathstroke corrected.

Batman's eyes widened a millimeter before narrowing again. "Why would you give me Renegade?" For as much as Deathstroke hides him, he was sure eager to give him away.

"I'll give you Renegade, if you give me your word to stop coming after me and interfering with my plans."

Tim looked to Batman, Damian keeping his scowl even with the mercenary, unfazed by the demand. Batman stayed silent, thinking.

Deathstroke was willing to give up his apprentice he's kept close for such a silly thing as being left alone. Even when Batman did follow after the mercenary he was hard to keep track of, like water he always slipped through his grasp.

But this opportunity was almost too good to pass up, Renegade could be saved If, of course,  it was a life he wanted to or could be saved from.

The question now was, was Batman willing to risk not interfering in Deathstroke's business if it meant potentially saving Renegade? Or was it all part of a scheme to make sure Batman stayed off his back? It seemed an awful big bribe to get him to do this simple thing.

But yes, Batman did want Renegade.

"I accept."

Damian unfolded his arms and looked to his father in disbelief, turning so Deathstroke wouldn't be able to read his lips as he whispered to his mentor. "What, just like that?"

Tim was equally surprised but showed it more with his widened eyes and glare to the Dark Knight, not bothering to whisper. "Shouldn't we discuss this before making a decision?"

"I do believe the adults are talking," Deathstroke said smoothly.

Tim's face hardened and he turned to his mentor, mumbling something like 'I am an adult' under his breath. Batman made no sign that he heard him, or either of his sons for that matter.

"Any other terms and or conditions?" Batman asked, ignoring his two partners for the time being. Damian turned back around but didn't bother hiding his anger on his face, if looks could kill, Deathstroke would be six feet under. Tim leveled his own glare, but Deathstroke seemed impervious to the combined bat-glare, that, or he just didn't care.

"Wayne Towers, I'll be dropping him off there. And unless you want him to run off I suggest you refrain from using restraining force with him." Deathstroke warned, but it was almost like he was doing them a favor by giving them this information.

"And what keeps him from turning on us if he is free to do what he wants?" Batman asked, he of course had to acknowledge the possibility of a trap or trick.

"He follows orders, if I say to attack you, he will, if I say he won't, he won't." Deathstroke said, almost smugly.

Batman's eyes narrowed, he didn't want to believe it, the boy must have some will right? This only made the vigilante want to free the boy more.

"My only condition is that he is not sent to prison. He himself would not be safe, nor to anyone else there."

Batman figured as much, but he didn't know if finding out his theory was correct ether made his blood boil or made him relieved. Either way, this boy would soon be free from the death grip of the mercenary.

"When?" Batman asked.

"Sundown, tomorrow." Deathstroke said, before Batman could response the mercenary cut off the communication, turning the screen dark before flickering back to life to the page Batman had been looking at before.

"You can't be serious father!" Damian spoke first, turning his burning gaze to his parent. "Deathstroke is not someone we should make deals with, he's a snake. He's willing to give up a human being for a simple request as to be left alone. He's planning something, he wants Renegade here, he wants to be alone, he's dangerous."

"Exactly," Batman said, turning to his son. "Clearly something is going on in the criminal underworld, Red Hood scrambling for power, Deathstroke willing to sacrifice his apprentice for immunity. Renegade can tell us what's going on, he's our inside man as much as he is Deathstroke's."

"Oooh." Tim exclaimed, the information dawning on his face, before it turned into a scowl again. "But what if it's all a trick? Why would Deathstroke want Renegade here? Damian raises a valid point, Deathstroke wants Renegade here and wants him free, that can't be safe."

"That's the first thing we're going to address, getting him straight from Deathstroke we probably won't hear a peep from him, we need to soften his defenses first. We will send him to the team, have him be around kids his own age, see what he does, then we question him. Of course, we would have to play by ear as we have no idea if he's brainwashed, actively choosing, or a bit of both." Batman said, putting his elbows on the armrests and lacing his fingers together across his lap in a familiar thinking position. "Either way, there's a chance he can be saved, whether we change his mind or put him in prison."

"The team huh? You going to make it a mission?" Tim asked. He wasn't really on the team, neither was Damian, they never went on missions with the team, but every now and then they would be backup.

"No, I want this to be as genuine as possible, but I will alert them before he arrives."

"Are you sure they can handle Renegade?" Damian asked, leaning back against the desk and folding his arms again, scowling in distaste.

"Remember, there is a Leaguer posted at the mountain since Red Tornados disappearance, as long as a Leaguer is there I trust their safety."

"Are you sure you can handle Renegade?" Damian asked, stressing his question in a different form. "I don't like this father, I don't like this one bit."

"Yes it's risky, but if it's a chance to save the boy, then I'm taking it." Batman said seriously, meeting his son's gaze with his own stern glare.

-0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0-

Renegade rolled into the garage, humming to himself after a good night's work and kicking up the kickstand before getting off. He continued to hum as he unhooked the briefcases from the back of his motorcycle, who knew having a bungee cord in his belt would be so useful?

He had to carry the cases with both arms as there were four of them, and he stacked them all up to make it easier to transport. He walked through the cold hallway, wondering if Slade had made it back yet from his meeting. He walked past an empty kitchen, peeking his head in just to make sure, and reminding himself to get a snack before bed. There was one other place Slade would be, the scheming room, the name alone lit his face with a mischievous grin.

He made it to a heavy metal door (as all the doors were) and shifted the cases to balance on one arm as he rose the other to deliver the secret knock.

Tap, tap tap tap, tap, pause. Tap, pause. Tap tap tap, tap.

Renegade chuckled to himself as he got three taps in return, the door opened and Deathstroke stood in front of him. Renegade always enjoyed their secret knock, even if Slade said it was barely coded enough.

"Mission accomplished sir!" Renegade beamed as Slade sidestepped to let his bouncy apprentice in.

"Good, set it on the table. Any complications? There's soot on your face." Deathstroke noted. Renegade quickly set the four cases onto the table, having to push aside a few other papers. Deathstroke came up behind him and swiped a paper away, too quick for the young mercenary to get a good look at it.

"Well yeah, first Red Hood started shooting people up, I had to fight him for a few seconds before Batman came in, then I had to fight them both sorta, but I slipped away. I made sure the money couldn't go anywhere while I tried to get the drugs out, a car ended up slamming into us, I was on top of the van so I got out of there pretty easily. Then I went back for the money." Dick relayed, taking off his mask to see if there was any soot on it, which was kinda hard to spot considering the mask itself was half black.

"What happened to Batman?" Deathstroke asked, walking to a different side of the table as he tucked a paper into his belt.

Dick inspected his mask as he answered. "Oh he and Red Hood were duking it out for a bit, they followed me when I went to the truck but I lost em." He rubbed a thumb over the black part and couldn't really tell if any soot was on it because both the mask and his glove was black.

"Good," Deathstroke said in a finalizing tone. "Get some rest, you have another mission tomorrow, sunset."

Dick's mouth twitched up into a smirk, consecutive missions? Usually they were a few days in between, but it was a welcome change. He looked up for a moment, "Sweet! Anything special?" He returned to his task in finding the soot, but soon abandoned the endeavor because everything was black and he couldn't tell texture-wise because of his gloves. That's when he noticed Deathstroke had yet to answer.

Deathstroke seemed to hesitate.

In fact, ever since Dick returned Deathstroke has been acting weird, and he couldn't pinpoint what it was. It was like the air around him was different than normal. Deathstroke said stuff in a very specific way, but it also mattered what he doesn't say, most of the time it's how he doesn't say it that lets Dick know his mood. This mood he couldn't identify. But it wasn't anything serious, at least Dick didn't think so, it happened every now and then and he didn't lose sleep over it. Slade went into this 'thinking mode' after complicated meetings where he wasn't very responsive and wasn't as fun, but it always passes. So Dick wasn't worried by his mentor's slight behavioral change.

"Nothing you can't handle, I'll give you more details tomorrow."

"Right," Dick said, resorting to rubbing the mask on his pants. That was always Slade's response, curtly and short, but even if he said it every time he was glad to know he wasn't going in over his head. "On that note, I'm gonna bring some goldfish into my room and eat it in my bed and get crumbs everywhere that I'll have to clean up later." Dick grinned, putting his mask back on as he raced out of the room.

Deathstroke narrowed his eye in a reprimanding manner but his apprentice he was already gone.

-0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0-

"So, what are we doing?"

Renegade's voice gave a little echo in the surrounding buildings, the acrobat crouching in preparation for another jump and adjusting the strap of the backpack slung over his shoulder.

There was an interesting amount of mystery around this mission, first Slade almost avoids him all day(no surprise there actually), then when he finally tells him to do something its pack. Pack. For what? His first thought was camping trip, but the lack of luggage Slade was displaying was questionable. Maybe wherever they were going Slade already had his stuff there, Renegade knew he had multiple secondary 'outposts' that had his things in it, but they were still bouncing across rooftops.

Also, he was sure Slade put an extra pair of clothes in his bag while he was in the bathroom. If he needed more clothes why not tell him? He would be lying if he said it didn't make him curious, but the fun part was that anyone listening wouldn't know he was lying.

Deathstroke just continued to run, Renegade not far behind, lost in thought and memory. He loved leaping across the buildings, it wasn't on par with the motorcycles, but still extremely enjoyable compared to... ugh... walking. The lack of motorcycles was another oddity that perked his curiosity, if they were going camping why wouldn't they use their motorcycles to get to their destination? Renegade surmised that it was a solo camping trip, due to the lack of packing on Deathstroke's part, word choice from last night, lack of easy transportation, and information.

The location itself was odd, they seemed to be heading to the center of the crime-ridden city. Deathstroke didn't have any outposts near the center, unless there was one he didn't tell him about. Renegade was actually quite excited, he gave all the outposts his own personal touch. If anyone went into his room in the outpost by the docks without giving the right code would be doused with gross fish water. A different outpost had a yellow paint can, he wanted orange but yellow was all they had in stock.

A sunbeam hitting Renegade in the eyes returned him to real world, flinching for a moment before flinging himself over another building. The time frame for the mission wasn't surprising. If the mission started at sunset - and the sun was getting mightily close to the horizon currently- and they were still leaping across buildings, they must be getting close to their destination.

Renegade leaped after his mentor as another building flew under him, climbing up to taller buildings with much farther drops. At times like this he felt like his parents, looking down at the world like he could simply jump into the sky and own it all. But one slip, one misjudged distance, and he would fall into an ally and never get up again. It was thrilling, a combination of all his fears and all his dreams, not that he wanted world domination, but he liked the idea of being in charge.

Sunlight shone through the building spires, sending the world into an orange hue, sunset always brought out Renegades favorite color. Windows reflected the light out into the world, no shadows could form as everything seemed to glow and it gave the city a hazy look.

Renegade's windblown hair was accented with this orange, a smirk unable to be tamed and a joy in his heart undefeatable. Who cares where they're going or what he'd be doing next, Slade was taking him outside, he shouldn't worry, Slade always knows what he's doing.

Deathstroke slowed to a stop in front of him, standing on the lip of the roof of a tan building, as they had climbed up Renegade recognized the logo and the black letters. Wayne Towers.

Renegade sidestepped and stoped in time next to his armored mentor, the grin still on his face died as a black shadow crawled across the graveled roof. A shadow with two pointed ears.

Batman stood across from them, the sun behind him casting his lone shadow across the building. His cape was ruffled by the slight wind, sending the shadow into oblong and disproportionate shapes. It was eerily quiet, like a reverenced tone, or a calm before the storm, except for the quiet shuffles of Batman's cape.

It was hard to see his face because of the sun right behind him, making the two mercenaries have to glare at the light to make out the vigilantes facial features. And of course with the cowl it wasn't like they could see much anyway.

"Deathstroke. Renegade." Batman called out in greeting, nodding to each like an old friend.

Renegade's nose scrunched in confusion as he looked to his mentor, Batman knew they were coming here, was Batman part of the mission? Again, Renegade was unable to decipher his mentors silence, it was confusing, like trying to read the emotions of a dead fish. 

"A deal is a deal." Deathstroke said.

Renegade would have snorted at the cliche choice of words, but given the situation he put a lid on his laughing box. Running into Batman was not a laughable situation. Instead, Renegade's eyebrows crumpled with even more confusion. Deal? What deal? Why was he not aware of it? Was this a test? Renegade should just follow along, his trust in Slade would work out. Slade wouldn't put him in a position he couldn't handle. Obedience was a great fallback when improvisation grew dangerous.

"He will not be imprisoned?" Deathstroke asked.

This time Renegade schooled his features as the words rang out, but he was even more confused by the statement. Who was he talking about? Did Deathstroke have a victim tied up like a cow somewhere to trade with Batman? But then why would not being in prison be so special? He kept his questions to himself and let the scene play out, the second Deathstroke gave the order to do whatever he would do it without hesitation.

"You have my word," Batman replied, dipping his head like that would make him more credible. Batman was so weird.

It suddenly got quiet on the roof, and Renegade didn't like the odd feeling that was growing in his gut since the silence fell, it kept twisting and flipping, was he getting sick? No, he was familiar with this feeling; dread.

Deathstroke turned to Renegade, the acrobat was almost too eggar to get his orders, he wanted to know what to do, what was going on, what the goal was.

"You are to take orders from Batman now."

Renegade blinked.

And blinked again.

...What...?

MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHQHAHAHAHA CLIFFFFFF HANNGGERRRRRRRR!!!

Seatbelts everyone! You're in for it now!!

I'd like to note that this chapter was originally 7000+ words long, and cuz I didn't wanna overwhelm you, I decided to simply whelm you with a smaller chapter. That being said, the next chapter is half done cuz it has the rest of this chapter in it.

So be prepared for another update soon. (A few days is soon, it's a miracle this chapter came out as soon as it did)

4749 words mah peeps! See ya soon!