This might be jumbled up and not good but I was lighting-strike inspired by the ask about Slade playing the song Renegade so angst edition :
Somewhere along the years the batfamily learned about Dick’s time with Deathstroke, except they vastly underestimated the severity of the situation. In their minds, Dick was just off fucking around and being delinquent after fighting with Bruce. They never considered that Dick was kidnapped and forced into it, after all Deathstroke is still out and about, and Dick doesn’t seem to mind any more than he already does about the other rogues and villains.
Everyone learns that Dick went by “Renegade” at the time and they think it’s *hysterical*. Like the most angsty, edgy, defiant teen name ever, Like Dick chose it for himself.
And Dick laughs it off when they bring it up, agrees that it was a dumb name. He’s just relieved none of his little siblings know about the real details of his captivity. To them he was just a thief, gathering items and intel for Deathstroke. They don’t know about the killing and the contracts.
This all comes to a head one night when the bats are doing a collective takedown throughout a series of warehouses. Nightwing is ruthless, he’s had a bad couple of weeks and the goons being brought to the floor are an outlet for that build up. He’s wrangling another just as Red Robin checks in over the coms asking how everyone’s doing with the large number of goons.
Red Hood, the only one sharing a warehouse with Nightwing, replies with, “I think Renegade here could’ve handled it all himself”. He sounds half amused and half impressed by the ruthless way Nightwing takes down the last goon.
But Dick hears a different voice from his worst nightmares, “Handle it, Renegade”, and suddenly there’s a crack echoing across the space, and the goon he was holding is limp, head lolling to the side in an unnatural way.
Nightwing’s breath escapes him a rush and he’s on his feet before Red Hood can comprehend what just happened. The coms are going crazy and Nightwing is just gone.
Sorry for the unfinished word vomit, I had to get this out lmao. Love putting that boy in Situations
I also love putting our boy in Situations but damn is this a doozy. I can’t think of anything to add to it but it’s so good!!!