The team went on a mission.

Since I'm the civilian, I was told to stay here. Logically I knew that Dick could handle himself, that he'd had years of training under Batman as well his brief apprenticeship for my father.

But that was just it. Father was actively hunting us, constantly moving things into place so that his plans might work. Dick and I managed to evade him for the most part and that was because I was always far from Dick's hero world and now I was in a designated base with a guarantee that Dick would return when his mission was complete.

Ripe for the picking.

The Justice League was overly confident in the belief that no villain would suspect usage of the old mountain base. My father was smart, it was only a matter of time before he figured it out, if he hasn't already.

Sighing, I pushed myself to my feet, sending a longing glance at the comfortable couch as I walked to the zeta tubes.

With the limited knowledge I had on hacking, courtesy of Dick himself, I managed to pull up the records of the tubes. I scrolled through them, ignoring the various designations until I found what I was looking for.

Nightwing B0-2 and Guest F0-2 - central city.

It took me a moment to figure out how to work the machine, but eventually the zeta technology opened in a bright white glow.

"Recognized Guest F0-2" the computer called as I was scanned. Taking a deep breath, I walked through the portal, an odd feeling washing over me.

One second I was standing in the zeta beam entrance and the next I was in an abandoned phone booth.

Dick was right, going back to my apartment was dangerous. Slade probably either bugged it or was there himself, waiting for me to come home.

Quickly scaling the fire escape, I managed to retrace the path Dick used when we ran a week ago.

My apartment felt quieter than it should be, there was no running television or fan, everything was still.

Grinning at my good fortune when I found no one in the apartment, I grabbed my go go bag, stuffing it with memories that'd previously been on display. A picture of Dick and I together when we first got out, Dick was still Robin and he had his mask on, but you could see the obvious relief on his face. I smiled as I remembered how he had set up a camera, claiming that we needed the memory.

Then there was a small gift from my mother, who'd died years previous, dumping me in my father's care. I'd managed to hide the thing, a token of her. The small stuffed bunny was all I had left.

"Hello Madolyn"

I startled, my heart stopping as I turned to see the one man I both hated and feared the most in this world. I took an immediate step back, desperately wanting to put as much space between him and myself.

Slade Wilson stood, dressed in a business suit. You couldn't see any weapons, but I would bet on my life that he had a few hidden away.

"Slade." I slipped my bunny into the backpack before shouldering it.

His tongue clicked in obvious distaste. "Careful." He warned, making my gut twist uncomfortably, the threat was clear as day.

I dropped my gaze, losing my nerve by the second. Selfishly, I wished Dick was here. He was the one who told me to call Father by his real name, to take the power out of his hands. I thought I'd been successful until now.

He still had me afraid and I hated it.

Slade hummed disapprovingly at my silence. "I've been looking for you girl"

"I know," I shrugged, shoving my hands in my pockets, chancing a look at him.

"You betrayed me," he said with a growl, crossing his arms.

"You were cruel" I shot back mindlessly, trying to subtly look for an escape route. Slade had unfortunately chosen a spot that would offer easy access to any exit in the room. I was trying to harness my inner Nightwing, maybe then I wouldn't be as afraid to disrespect the man in front of me.

"It seems that Robin has put those silly ideas in your head again"

I flinched at the words, so close to a warning he'd given years ago.

The tension in the room was palpable, both of us were ready to move at a moment's notice. Boldly, I looked into my father's eye. "He showed me the truth" that much I knew to be true.

Seemingly ignoring what I said, he casually leaned against my wall. "You have what I want"

"Sucks for you then" Half of me was screaming at me to show respect, to try to lessen my sentence in any way I could. The other half took pleasure in the way his jaw ticked. If I could make it to my room, there was a window there which led to another fire escape. "I'm never giving you anything" I knew I couldn't take him, he was trained better than I was, plus he had years of experience on me. If it came to combat, I would lose, horribly.

He wasn't pleased, but other than the facial expression, he seemed completely at ease. "Oh I'm sure a few days in The Room will change your mind" He watched me closely and I tried not to squirm.

Why was he so subdued?

"Empty threats" I scoffed, even if I knew he would most certainly follow through.

Flashbacks of the cursed room tried to push to the front of my mind but I shoved it down. I didn't want to experience that ever again.

"Are you sure about that Madolyn?" He quirked an eyebrow.

He was so angry. He's said my full name twice now. It's usually only reserved for when I've really ticked him off.

"Why aren't you attacking?" I demanded. I'd disrespected him multiple times during this conversation alone, that and the fact that I betrayed him.

I honestly would've expected at least a backhanded slap.

"I'm sure you can figure it out"

What game was he playing?

Then it hit me.

He's trying to lure Dick here as well.

I needed to get out of here. The team was due to return soon and I'd hoped to be back before anyone could notice I was missing.

"You're not going to do anything to me" I smirked, doing my best to face him despite the itching need to run. "Not when you know how he'll react"

Slade took a moment before speaking, his voice full of controlled anger. "He only cares about you because you're protecting his little friends. People you've never met."

I couldn't help the doubt that was worming its way through my mind. There really wasn't a reason why Dick was so kind to me. He'd saved me more than I had him. Even then, he was a hero, that was his job.

I was nothing to him.

"I can see it on your face" Slade approached me slowly. "Come back home and I'll forgive everything you've done."

No.

No.

This was part of the game, this is why my father always won. He preyed on people's fears and insecurities. It was something I'd seen many of his enemies fall for all my life. Shaking my head, I took several steps back, hoping to put some distance between myself and the mercenary. "You're never going to win. Not if you make him desperate. Taking me would be an attack on his friends and we both know how that ends. Here's what's gonna happen, I'm going to walk out that door and there isn't a thing you can do to stop me."

I gathered up what remained of my courage and did exactly that, walking away with my head held high.

The moment I turned the corner, I practically fell against the wall, my energy completely drained. I'd never stood up to him like that before. Not even when I was getting ready to run.