Deathstroke

[youngjustice-ravager]

Payback (AU, Ravager, Deathstroke, Nightwing, Zatanna)

[peekmlacdnakaepssdrawkcab-blog]

Zatanna stepped down from her summoning circle onto the rooftop of the jailhouse, the gold glow slowly fading as she did. She awaited Nightwing’s assessment of the cell while she paced around on the roof. She looked over the edge and into the forest. That was really the only escape route, and that would give the escapee enough cover if she searched from the air.

She listened to Nightwing through her comm and brought her hand up to respond, “Acknowledged. If he’s got friends, we shouldn’t be caught alone. I’ll meet you at the treeline so we can search on foot. The trees are too thick to track aerially.”

Zatanna looked over the edge of the building again before she stepped over. Using levitation, the magician landed softly on the grass just before the trees, past the electric fence that surrounded the prison. She scanned her surroundings and kept up her guard in case of surprises.

[youngjustice-ravager]

“You should have brought a magic dampener,” Slade muttered, as he pulled the slide back on his handgun. He felt like his old self again, now that he was back in his Deathstroke gear, rather than in standard issue prison garb. “The witch will be trouble if we’re not careful.”

“Yeah, well the only magic dampener in the country is owned by Lex Luthor, and it’s the size of a freaking Volvo,” Rose countered, with an annoyed groan. “Excuse me for not having the time to steal it from him and figure out how to transport it here. “We’ll just be careful. I brought pepper bombs.”

Slade caught the pair of red spheres that she there at him and looked them over. Unlike typical smoke grenades, these things emitted a gas laden with a similar to pepper spray. Not only did it burn the eyes, but it also caused swelling in the throat. It would prevent Zatanna from speaking, and thereby casting spells, if she inhaled enough of it. “I suppose this will do. You better take your position, then. I have a feeling they’ll be here soon.”

Rose just shook her head as she climbed up into a nearby tree. “Just don’t fuck up this time. I don’t want to be doing this again.”

[nightwingdickiebird]

Nightwing held his hand to his ear again. “Agreed. I’ll sweep from the compound to the tree line by the fence,” Dick whispered, running his gloved fingers over parts of the door. “It’s Rose, she’s here.” 

Opening the door as quietly as he could, he started out into the open area, mindful of where the door and the fence were in relation to him. It felt strange to be out in the open, even if he held his eskrima sticks in his hands. Normally, he hugged the shadows and the nearby buildings as it was the safest place for him to be. Slade was dangerous; there was no question about that, but with Rose the duo were incredibly lethal. 

His eyes scanned the terrain, looking for any shape that was out of the ordinary or that could move. He had a relative estimation where Zee was, but she was still a long way off. Dick moved faster towards the fence line, looking for footprints or any other indentations that would lead them to the pair. 

[peekmlacdnakaepssdrawkcab-blog]

Hearing a rustling noise, Zatanna surveyed the trees. A flicker of movement caught her eye, and she followed it to a squirrel. That was nothing important, but what it was trying to bring into it’s dwelling was. The little furball was dragging tangerine fabric across the forest floor and attempted to take it up a nearby tree.

The tree in question was within sight so she decided to meet up with the nut-snacker and retrieve the garment. Knowing how territorial they get, she charmed the creature into a sleep and brought the clothing up to inspect. Zatanna whispered into her communicator, “Nightwing, I’ve found his prison orange. Squirrel was carrying it, so he-they-shouldn’t be far.” She kept hold of it and made her way back to the fence to wait for him.

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade found the witch just before she made her way back to the fence, some twenty yards ahead of him through the trees. He watched her, waited until her back was turned, and then he struck, tossing the pair of pepper bombs at her feet. Upon impact with the ground, they detonated and emitted a thick cloud of red gas that engulfed the area.

For the moment he held back, waiting to be sure that the smog had an effect on his target before engaging. His mask filtered out harmful particles in the air, so he would be fine if he entered the mist, but he had to be certain that Zatanna's voice had been rendered silent. Only then would he have his opportunity. Rose was somewhere above him in the trees, waiting for his signal and keeping an eye out for Nightwing.

[peekmlacdnakaepssdrawkcab-blog]

Insouciant Slaughter (Evil!Zee AU)

The task was simple, even for the insignificant pawn, oh sorry, ‘bishop’, that is Deathstroke. They were ordered to retrieve the Magdalene Grimoire, kill the unlucky chuck that held it, as well as anyone that stood in their way. Zatanna, with a threatening smile on her magical lips, promised her current partner a jewel-less future if he screwed this up for her.

Zatanna flew the both of them to their destination on a summoning circle because she knew he would hate it. It was the little things like that that made her smile. The bigger things, like landing a bit too harsh and watching him stumble, is what made her laugh. Her rebellious nature towards her older comrade took a turn when she reached the door. She lessened the teasing and upped the menacing. Her eyes glossed over the etched name on the plaque placed on the upper half of the entrance: Stanley Dover. Professor Stanley Dover, of Starling City University. She looked to the handle and hovered her hand over it, “kcolnu,” she whispered. As the metallic clicks sounded from beneath her fingers, she used her other hand to push the door open. “Alohomora, Teach,” the sarcasm bleeding from her words as the man behind the desk stood in surprise.

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade still wasn’t sure why he had agreed to work with this bloody witch. He didn’t like magic—hated it, actually. If it wasn’t something he could see, touch, or punch into submission, it made him uneasy. Gods, aliens, magic—none of it sat well with him. And yet, there was little he wouldn’t do if the price was right. Such was what led him here, forced to work with the backwards speaking nightmare that was Zatanna. As far as he could tell, she could make anything happen so long as she said it backwards, and that kind of power put him on edge; that kind of power could turn Superman into a toad and squash him.

Granted, there were ways he could take her down if he ever had to, so long as he got in the first strike. If she couldn’t speak, she couldn’t cast spells. If she couldn’t cast spells, she was helpless. And even with her magic, she was just as susceptible to a bullet to the head as anyone else. Of course, he’d much rather not have to undergo that kind of test if he didn’t have to—ending up with his organs on the outside of his body with a mere few words was not something he wanted to try to avoid, and as long as he was working with her, then he didn’t have to worry about that.

That didn’t mean he had to like it, especially given her blatant disdain. She took every chance she had to poke him with a metaphorical stick, as evidenced when she insisted that they teleport with her damn magic, instead of just using a plane like a normal person. Materializing from thin air did not do any wonders for his stomach but he refrained from letting it show just how much he despised her so called ‘summoning circles’. Instead, he merely followed with his gun at the ready. This job should be quick and easy, and the faster they got it done the better.

Slade didn’t waste time with words, as Zatanna seemed to want to. Instead, he aimed his handgun straight at the targets eyes, as the man stood from behind the desk. In an instant, he fired, hoping quietly to himself that it really would be that easy. He did not want to have to deal with any kind of magic right now.

[peekmlacdnakaepssdrawkcab-blog]

The professor was suddenly calm, “mutare trajectoriam.” He spoke the words so effortlessly, like he had done it a million times before their unscheduled meeting. The bullet slowed, changing course to come back around to it’s original owner. Zatanna counteracted his spell with her own, “tellub ot drib.” 

In a puff of smoke the bullet that had once been meant to kill turned into a black crow. The bird squawked before soaring over their heads and out the door.

“Did you really think I would be that easy?” Dover quipped. “I’m a master of Occult and protector of what I’m assuming you’re here to steal. Don’t you think I’ve read this book? Learned it’s secrets? You’ve come quite ill-prepared, pupils. I guess I’ll have to give you detention.” He flipped his desk to form a barricade against more firepower and waved his hand, “inducam in equitibus.”

The office was a decent size, but it was suddenly crowded when two dozen armored men with javelins appeared. Looking into their helmets was nothing but darkness. These were husks brought to life by old-world magic. Not even close to Zatanna’s, but she tried anyway, “Etarapes otni seceip.” The fighters followed her commands, falling to pieces on the floor, then they rose again and regained their previous forms. She stepped back next to Slade, keeping her voice low, “If you can keep these guys entertained I can deal with Dover and find the book.”

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade had already ducked below the bullet's path before it turned into a bird, and begun thinking of a new tactic on the way down. By the time his knees bent fully, he knew what he had to do, even if he didn't like it. He put his gun away and then pulled the curved dagger from its sheath at his hip. The blade was etched with glyphs, each one of which gave off a slight glow. His employer had given this weapon when he took the job, as insurance.

From how he understood it, the blade was enchanted, making other magical entities or objects vulnerable to it. Of course, he had hoped he wouldn't have to use it—just holding it gave him goosebumps—but apparently he had no choice if he wanted to be any sort of use in this fight. He wasn't even sure it would work, but at least he had the perfect opportunity to test it, as the small army of magical husks advanced on him.

They might have been magical, bu these armored soldiers fought like amateurs. He weaved through them, dodging and twisting out of the way of their javelins. He sliced one of them through the throat with the dagger, and instantly the husk crumbled into dust. The next one that he stabbed through the chest suffered the same fate, and then so did the third. He continued his onslaught through the group, cutting down one after another, and making it look easy.

[peekmlacdnakaepssdrawkcab-blog]

Insouciant Slaughter (Evil!Zee AU)

The task was simple, even for the insignificant pawn, oh sorry, ‘bishop’, that is Deathstroke. They were ordered to retrieve the Magdalene Grimoire, kill the unlucky chuck that held it, as well as anyone that stood in their way. Zatanna, with a threatening smile on her magical lips, promised her current partner a jewel-less future if he screwed this up for her.

Zatanna flew the both of them to their destination on a summoning circle because she knew he would hate it. It was the little things like that that made her smile. The bigger things, like landing a bit too harsh and watching him stumble, is what made her laugh. Her rebellious nature towards her older comrade took a turn when she reached the door. She lessened the teasing and upped the menacing. Her eyes glossed over the etched name on the plaque placed on the upper half of the entrance: Stanley Dover. Professor Stanley Dover, of Starling City University. She looked to the handle and hovered her hand over it, “kcolnu,” she whispered. As the metallic clicks sounded from beneath her fingers, she used her other hand to push the door open. “Alohomora, Teach,” the sarcasm bleeding from her words as the man behind the desk stood in surprise.

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade still wasn't sure why he had agreed to work with this bloody witch. He didn't like magic—hated it, actually. If it wasn't something he could see, touch, or punch into submission, it made him uneasy. Gods, aliens, magic—none of it sat well with him. And yet, there was little he wouldn't do if the price was right. Such was what led him here, forced to work with the backwards speaking nightmare that was Zatanna. As far as he could tell, she could make anything happen so long as she said it backwards, and that kind of power put him on edge; that kind of power could turn Superman into a toad and squash him.

Granted, there were ways he could take her down if he ever had to, so long as he got in the first strike. If she couldn't speak, she couldn't cast spells. If she couldn't cast spells, she was helpless. And even with her magic, she was just as susceptible to a bullet to the head as anyone else. Of course, he'd much rather not have to undergo that kind of test if he didn't have to—ending up with his organs on the outside of his body with a mere few words was not something he wanted to try to avoid, and as long as he was working with her, then he didn't have to worry about that.

That didn't mean he had to like it, especially given her blatant disdain. She took every chance she had to poke him with a metaphorical stick, as evidenced when she insisted that they teleport with her damn magic, instead of just using a plane like a normal person. Materializing from thin air did not do any wonders for his stomach but he refrained from letting it show just how much he despised her so called 'summoning circles'. Instead, he merely followed with his gun at the ready. This job should be quick and easy, and the faster they got it done the better.

Slade didn't waste time with words, as Zatanna seemed to want to. Instead, he aimed his handgun straight at the targets eyes, as the man stood from behind the desk. In an instant, he fired, hoping quietly to himself that it really would be that easy. He did not want to have to deal with any kind of magic right now.

[chill-dude-chill]

I Wanna Hire You (Slade)

The past couple of months had been hard for Cameron, but hey, getting out of prison had been a nice perk. He was finally able to have some time apart from his father and for awhile that had been nice. With the Light’s alliance with the Reach failing, everyone had been laying on the down low. That was fine by him. A little time off did him well. …Well, he became a pretty good hustler at the local bars when it came to billiards and darts. 

Now with Wally West back in the picture any hopes at becoming a part of Artemis life was hopeless. Their friendship had always been complicated and today was the day that Cameron could try putting everything behind him. He could never be a good guy, not one that anyone could be proud of. He sucked at being a son, even worse at being a decent villain. Today he was hoping to find a new mentor and another chance at making something of himself. He figured that was the difference between him and Artemis and the others…they all had their mentors to guide them along the way. All Cameron had was a jerk of a father.

Finding Deathstroke wasn’t easy. Unfortunately he couldn’t just google how to hire an assassin. So he dug a little deeper and followed some leads only to find him at a bar. That was cool. Cameron was legal now, he didn’t even need a fake ID. Icicle Junior approached the older man at the bar and tried to sit next to him as smoothly as possible. “Soooo” He cleared his throat, unsure how hiring someone actually went, this dude was scary. He had a reputation. Hell. He had the word Death in his name. “I have a proposition for you” Oh man that sounded gay, he was already blowing it. “Uhhh I need to hire you for something” He instantly regretted not ordering something to drink first. 

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade hadn’t been expecting to deal with work related things today, other than waiting for an update from Rose on her progress. No, today was supposed to have been an off day for him. Normally, he’d load up the next job in his queue, study it until he had it memorized, and then head out to get to work, but after eleven gunshot wounds, a grenade to the chest, dodging mortar shells, upending a tank, being chased by a small private army, and going head to head with a near-immortal psychopath who just would not die, he felt he had earned at some downtime.

So, to say that he was annoyed by the sudden arrival of someone propositioning him for a job would be an understatement. This was only exacerbated by the fact that he knew this kid—Icicle, Jr., son of, obviously, Icicle, Sr. Real name: Cameron Mahkent, and pretty far down on the ladder of Light personnel; near the bottom, actually, if not dangling by his pinky off the very bottom rung. That was the last Slade had checked, though. He hadn’t heard much about Icicle, Jr. in recent months, although he didn’t much care either. Whereas Rose was one of the Shadows top young operatives, thereby making her a notable individual amongst the Light, this guy was nothing.

“Kid, you can’t afford me,” was all he said, as he lifted his mug of Irish Coffee to his lips. He didn’t even look at him.

[chill-dude-chill]

“You don’t even know what I’m asking for!” Cameron frowned, he didn’t want be dismissed so easily. “It’s not like I’m asking you to kill someone” He didn’t even know what the going rates for that were. “…Look I’ll be honest with ya’ Mr. Stroke” Oh boy that was a name he’d swear never to use again. “I’m a joke I get it, but that’s why I came to you. You’re the best! I just…wanna get better. I want you to teach me”

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade very nearly spat out his drink, not only because of the horrendous ‘Mr. Stroke’, but because of the kid’s request. Of all the idiotic, stupid… Setting his cup down, he turned a searing glare towards the dunce. “First of all, we’re in public.” He kept his voice low, hushed, so no one around them could hear. “No codenames in public, Cameron. Second of all, no.” This kid was barely cut out to be a dishwasher, let alone a mentee of the the most lethal mercenary in the world.

[chill-dude-chill]

“….My bad?” Cameron swallowed the lump in his throat, boy this was not going the way he wanted in the slightest. “What? I won’t cramp up your style or get in the way! I promise! If it’s about the money I can get more cash-that’s not a problem!”

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade turned a narrow glare towards the kid. "You want my advice? Find another line of work, because you're not cut out for this. Even if I did think you had what it takes, I already have a protege, so I don't have time for another one. You want to bother someone, go talk to Lawrence." And by that, he meant Sportsmaster.

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Rendez-vous (Slade)

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

“Look,” She stood up and walked towards him, hoping he wouldn’t walk out before she could reach him. She placed her hand on his back, since she couldn’t reach his shoulder. “You’ll always be my mentor. You are the reason I got as far as I did. I don’t want our relationship to be what it’s been and I’m sorry that I was so selfish,” Apologies didn’t come easy to Jade, but Slade was more than just a friend to her. “I’ll look out for Rose and do what I can.”

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade eased another sigh, and then his hand finally came off the doorknob. He flinched slightly at the touch of Jade’s hand against his back, but it lasted only a second before he relaxed again and turned around. While his mind told him heshould feel awkward in that moment, he didn’t. He felt…calm.

“Thanks,” he said, with a nod. “I appreciate that. And you know, if you ever need anything, whatever it is, don’t be afraid to ask.”

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Jade let out a small laugh. “Don’t say things like that, I might actually take you up on that offer,” She smirked up at him, returning to her typical cocky demeanor. “But next time we meet in battle, I won’t be so light on you. Although who knows, maybe we’ll be on the same side again someday,” She glanced at her watch and sighed. 

“Be careful leaving,” That really went without saying. “And…it was good to see you.”

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

“Hmph, don’t go getting rusty with  your new lifestyle," he said, with a playful scolding in his voice. "Otherwise it won't matter if you go all out against me or not." He smiled at her, and then reached back to take the doorknob again. Now it really was time for him to leave. "You know me, Jade, I'm always careful. It was good seeing you again, too. Stay sharp."

With a nod, he opened the door and then made his way out into the hall. It only took a few moments to head down the stairs and make it outside, but it felt longer than that. Still, he tried not to think about it. Instead, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed one of the secure numbers in his contact list. He really needed a job.

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Rendez-vous (Slade)

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Jade shut her eyes and rubbed her temples. She wasn’t sure what reaction she had been expecting, perhaps for him to have yelled at her, but not to just walk out on her. But she wasn’t an expert in any means on relationships. Her younger self would have probably lied and seduced him instead.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” She said to his retreating figure. “I was a kid. I never…I never thought you felt anything other than lust for me. That’s really all I wanted.”

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade paused just in front of the door. His hand had already made it up to the knob, but he hadn’t turned it yet. Instead, he let his fingers rest there while he bowed his head and breathed out a silent exhale. “It’s not your fault, really. I’m the one who thought there ever could be something more, and I wasn’t even honest about it. Like you said, you were just a kid. And I was…me.”

His fingers tightened on the doorknob, but he still couldn’t muster up the will to turn it. “You’ve moved on with your life, and I respect that. I will too, in my own way. Take a job, kill a bunch of bastards who probably deserve it, the usual. You know me. I’ll be fine.”

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

“Look,” She stood up and walked towards him, hoping he wouldn’t walk out before she could reach him. She placed her hand on his back, since she couldn’t reach his shoulder. “You’ll always be my mentor. You are the reason I got as far as I did. I don’t want our relationship to be what it’s been and I’m sorry that I was so selfish,” Apologies didn’t come easy to Jade, but Slade was more than just a friend to her. “I’ll look out for Rose and do what I can.”

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade eased another sigh, and then his hand finally came off the doorknob. He flinched slightly at the touch of Jade's hand against his back, but it lasted only a second before he relaxed again and turned around. While his mind told him heshould feel awkward in that moment, he didn't. He felt...calm.

"Thanks," he said, with a nod. "I appreciate that. And you know, if you ever need anything, whatever it is, don't be afraid to ask."

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Rendez-vous (Slade)

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade actually laughed at Jade’s response–not a mocking laugh, but one of genuine amusement, something that he rarely did. “Cartoons and kid shows, huh? I remember those. Long, long time ago.” Not since Grant and Joey had been kids had he ever sat down to watch a cartoon, and even then it had nearly driven him insane. He had put up with it, of course, because they were his sons and he loved them.

That seemed a lifetime ago now.

“Boring or not, Jade, there’s no one like you,” he said, again glancing back at her. There was a longing in his eye, but it wasn’t one of lust or desire. It was a longing of what could have been, if they were still together, if he had been honest about how he felt sooner. “But like I said, I know you’re not going to leave your new life, least of all for someone like me. You have a daughter to look out for now… a husband. That’s as good a life as any. For some people, anyway.”

It was a life he knew he could never live. He had tried it once, tried settling down and being normal, but he just couldn’t stay away from his mask.

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

There was something in his voice that made her pause. 

“You don’t think I’ll stick with it,” It was a thought that was always in the back of her mind. Playing house would probably get old for her, and while she and Roy were getting along for the most part, life wasn’t really that easy. And then Slade insinuated he wanted her to leave that life for him. She wasn’t stupid, she knew he hadn’t meant a work partnership.

“Look,” she had to tread carefully here. “It was fun to sleep with you, Slade. But let’s not turn it into anything that it wasn’t. I got to piss off Crusher and brag about fucking Deathstroke the Terminator. You were my mentor, the ultimate taboo and the guy who was supposed to make me behave,” She surrounded the last word with air quotes. “I loved the fact that you weren’t strong enough to resist me. The sex was a surprise, a real surprise…I’ll admit that,” She forced herself to look at him.

“But it was just a game to me, Slade. Sure, I had fun and genuinely enjoyed it but did you really think that there was anything more to it?”

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

And there it was. Just a game. He had always assumed that’s all he was to her, and yet he had hoped that maybe he had been wrong. Maybe there wasn’t just something more only on his end. Evidently, though, it was exactly as he had thought. Hope had seldom done any good for him.

He stared at her a long time, his eye unblinking and his face unflinching. Eventually, though, he just huffed out a breath and turned away. “I guess not.” Then, he started towards the door. There wasn’t anything left for them to talk about at this point. “In any case, I assume that concludes our meeting. See you around.”

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Jade shut her eyes and rubbed her temples. She wasn’t sure what reaction she had been expecting, perhaps for him to have yelled at her, but not to just walk out on her. But she wasn’t an expert in any means on relationships. Her younger self would have probably lied and seduced him instead.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” She said to his retreating figure. “I was a kid. I never…I never thought you felt anything other than lust for me. That’s really all I wanted.”

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade paused just in front of the door. His hand had already made it up to the knob, but he hadn't turned it yet. Instead, he let his fingers rest there while he bowed his head and breathed out a silent exhale. "It's not your fault, really. I'm the one who thought there ever could be something more, and I wasn't even honest about it. Like you said, you were just a kid. And I was...me."

His fingers tightened on the doorknob, but he still couldn't muster up the will to turn it. "You've moved on with your life, and I respect that. I will too, in my own way. Take a job, kill a bunch of bastards who probably deserve it, the usual. You know me. I'll be fine."

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Rendez-vous (Slade)

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade actually laughed at Jade’s response–not a mocking laugh, but one of genuine amusement, something that he rarely did. “Cartoons and kid shows, huh? I remember those. Long, long time ago.” Not since Grant and Joey had been kids had he ever sat down to watch a cartoon, and even then it had nearly driven him insane. He had put up with it, of course, because they were his sons and he loved them.

That seemed a lifetime ago now.

“Boring or not, Jade, there’s no one like you,” he said, again glancing back at her. There was a longing in his eye, but it wasn’t one of lust or desire. It was a longing of what could have been, if they were still together, if he had been honest about how he felt sooner. “But like I said, I know you’re not going to leave your new life, least of all for someone like me. You have a daughter to look out for now… a husband. That’s as good a life as any. For some people, anyway.”

It was a life he knew he could never live. He had tried it once, tried settling down and being normal, but he just couldn’t stay away from his mask.

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

There was something in his voice that made her pause. 

“You don’t think I’ll stick with it,” It was a thought that was always in the back of her mind. Playing house would probably get old for her, and while she and Roy were getting along for the most part, life wasn’t really that easy. And then Slade insinuated he wanted her to leave that life for him. She wasn’t stupid, she knew he hadn’t meant a work partnership.

“Look,” she had to tread carefully here. “It was fun to sleep with you, Slade. But let’s not turn it into anything that it wasn’t. I got to piss off Crusher and brag about fucking Deathstroke the Terminator. You were my mentor, the ultimate taboo and the guy who was supposed to make me behave,” She surrounded the last word with air quotes. “I loved the fact that you weren’t strong enough to resist me. The sex was a surprise, a real surprise…I’ll admit that,” She forced herself to look at him.

“But it was just a game to me, Slade. Sure, I had fun and genuinely enjoyed it but did you really think that there was anything more to it?”

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

And there it was. Just a game. He had always assumed that's all he was to her, and yet he had hoped that maybe he had been wrong. Maybe there wasn't just something more only on his end. Evidently, though, it was exactly as he had thought. Hope had seldom done any good for him.

He stared at her a long time, his eye unblinking and his face unflinching. Eventually, though, he just huffed out a breath and turned away. "I guess not." Then, he started towards the door. There wasn’t anything left for them to talk about at this point. "In any case, I assume that concludes our meeting. See you around."

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Rendez-vous (Slade)

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Years of training made it possible for her to resist her instinctual reaction. She did not flinch, nor did she respond positively to his caress. “You seem to be doing fine with Rose as your new protogé,” she met his gaze, though her’s was incredibly neutral. “Unless you’re saying you miss having to deal with my disobedience.”

She had leveled out extremely near the end of their partnership. While in the beginning she had defied him at every turn, near the end she obeyed him without question. She admired him and recognized that he had the skill and experience in battle. She even obeyed her father’s orders when the need surmised, if they sounded reasonable. Disobeying Slade’s final order was incredibly difficult, but she had done it. 

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade pulled his hand away. “That’s not what I meant. You know that.” She had to know that. She was denying it, though, trying to stand strong in front of him. Or at least, that’s what he believed. Maybe it was just what he wanted to believe. “You weren’t just a protege to me.”

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

“Fine,” She shrugged and leaned back into the couch. “Then you miss fucking me,” They had been dancing around that since the moment he swept his eye longingly over her body. 

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade finally grumbled out in annoyance. There was the Jade he was familiar with–the crass, flippant, shameless woman he had fallen for so damn hard.

“You always were blunt. And crude,” he muttered, with a glare. “And I loved that about you.”

He gave a half laugh and then took a step back towards the window. Either he wasn’t getting his point across, or Jade was casually dismissing it because it didn’t mean anything to her. “Jade, it’s not just the sex I miss, as great as that was; I can get sex anywhere. I miss you. Just…you.”

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

There it was, Jade thought. She did her best not to appear uncomfortable. “Yeah, well, I’m quite boring now. Only allowed to be in three cities unaccompanied and my source of entertainment is cartoons and kid shows,” She tactfully omitted her relationship with her husband. She didn’t know how much he knew. After all, the last time she and Slade spoke she and Roy were separated. 

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade actually laughed at Jade's response--not a mocking laugh, but one of genuine amusement, something that he rarely did. "Cartoons and kid shows, huh? I remember those. Long, long time ago." Not since Grant and Joey had been kids had he ever sat down to watch a cartoon, and even then it had nearly driven him insane. He had put up with it, of course, because they were his sons and he loved them.

That seemed a lifetime ago now.

"Boring or not, Jade, there's no one like you," he said, again glancing back at her. There was a longing in his eye, but it wasn't one of lust or desire. It was a longing of what could have been, if they were still together, if he had been honest about how he felt sooner. "But like I said, I know you're not going to leave your new life, least of all for someone like me. You have a daughter to look out for now... a husband. That's as good a life as any. For some people, anyway."

It was a life he knew he could never live. He had tried it once, tried settling down and being normal, but he just couldn't stay away from his mask.

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Rendez-vous (Slade)

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Years of training made it possible for her to resist her instinctual reaction. She did not flinch, nor did she respond positively to his caress. “You seem to be doing fine with Rose as your new protogé,” she met his gaze, though her’s was incredibly neutral. “Unless you’re saying you miss having to deal with my disobedience.”

She had leveled out extremely near the end of their partnership. While in the beginning she had defied him at every turn, near the end she obeyed him without question. She admired him and recognized that he had the skill and experience in battle. She even obeyed her father’s orders when the need surmised, if they sounded reasonable. Disobeying Slade’s final order was incredibly difficult, but she had done it. 

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade pulled his hand away. “That’s not what I meant. You know that.” She had to know that. She was denying it, though, trying to stand strong in front of him. Or at least, that’s what he believed. Maybe it was just what he wanted to believe. “You weren’t just a protege to me.”

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

“Fine,” She shrugged and leaned back into the couch. “Then you miss fucking me,” They had been dancing around that since the moment he swept his eye longingly over her body. 

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade finally grumbled out in annoyance. There was the Jade he was familiar with–the crass, flippant, shameless woman he had fallen for so damn hard.

“You always were blunt. And crude,” he muttered, with a glare. “And I loved that about you.”

He gave a half laugh and then took a step back towards the window. Either he wasn’t getting his point across, or Jade was casually dismissing it because it didn’t mean anything to her. “Jade, it’s not just the sex I miss, as great as that was; I can get sex anywhere. I miss you. Just…you.”

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Rendez-vous (Slade)

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

“I can’t make promises like that, Slade,” Jade replied, without hesitation. “If I see her, sure. But the chance of me seeing her is so slim…probably even slimmer now that Aqua-Leviathan has his suspicions about her.”

Of course, there was one caveat to that. If Rose and Arsenal became friends, there was a small chance she would see her. More than a small chance if they weren’t just friends. The thought made her almost laugh, and she coughed lightly to cover it up. Slade would definitely not respond well to that option.

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade raised an eyebrow at Jade’s awkward laugh, but soon disregarded it. Instead, he gave a nod and said, “I figured as much. Still had to ask.” With a deep exhale, he gave one last look out the window and then turned to Jade again. This time, is expression had hardened somewhat–not coldly, but with a clear sternness. If he didn’t say this now, he might never get another chance…and he really needed to say it.

“Jade, I know a lot has happened between us.” That was probably an understatement, but it was the best he could put it. He never did have much of a way with words. “I don’t know exactly why you decided to leave, or why you betrayed the Shadows, and me. I’ll admit, I was angry about it for a while. Furious, actually. But then, you were always free to make your own decisions. I may have been your…mentor, but I never controlled you, at least not in that sense. It’s not as though you owe me an explanation, anyway.”

He eased a long sigh between his lips, then took a step towards her. He stopped just in front of her, staring into her eyes. “I’m also not foolish enough to think you’d ever leave behind your new life, especially with the safety of your daughter always a concern, but I just want you to know…” He almost didn’t raise his hand, almost didn’t bring it up to gently touch her cheek, but his scolding mind wasn’t enough to stop him. “I miss you.”

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Years of training made it possible for her to resist her instinctual reaction. She did not flinch, nor did she respond positively to his caress. “You seem to be doing fine with Rose as your new protogé,” she met his gaze, though her’s was incredibly neutral. “Unless you’re saying you miss having to deal with my disobedience.”

She had leveled out extremely near the end of their partnership. While in the beginning she had defied him at every turn, near the end she obeyed him without question. She admired him and recognized that he had the skill and experience in battle. She even obeyed her father’s orders when the need surmised, if they sounded reasonable. Disobeying Slade’s final order was incredibly difficult, but she had done it. 

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade pulled his hand away. "That's not what I meant. You know that." She had to know that. She was denying it, though, trying to stand strong in front of him. Or at least, that's what he believed. Maybe it was just what he wanted to believe. "You weren't just a protege to me."

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Rendez-vous (Slade)

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

“Don’t get me wrong,” Jade interjected. “You’re still an idiot for not talking to her about this,” She kept her tone light, but her facial expression proved her seriousness. 

She held his gaze for a moment before breaking it to look at the window. He was still staring. While she had laughed off Roy’s concerns about meeting her former lover, she was beginning to wonder if his concerns about Slade and her weren’t that ridiculous.

Her concentration broke when he spoke again, this time stumbling for words. Who was this man, she wondered as her gaze traveled back to his eye. He had been surprised she hadn’t chastised him, yet here he was not chastising her. She had betrayed him, the Shadows…and yet he seemed to have made peace. 

She had expected a fight or at least a lecture. She had been reckless as a teenager, Slade was the third mentor assigned to her, and the only one who beat  her into submission without laying a finger on her. Well, perhaps that wasn’t the correct turn of phrases.

A bit of that recklessness still came out, from time to time.

“Oh please, I’m not one of the ‘good guys’,” She rolled her eyes at that. “It’s not like I get invited to the company picnic.

“They already are suspecting her,” She softened her demeanor slightly and leaned her chin against her palm as her arm rested against the arm rest. “They’re going to assign someone to get close to her. Someone around her age.”

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade thought a moment about Jade’s words. He had known the sidekicks would likely be paranoid and on edge, especially over someone who looked just like him, but they had planned for that. They knew how to work around it, and he trusted Rose’s ability to remain discreet. “Rose knows what she’s doing. She won’t give herself away, no matter who they have watching her.”

He paused another second, then added, “Having somone her age getting close to her might not be a bad thing, either. That was the whole reason I sent her there, after all. Still…” When he turned to her again, his expression was soft, caring–a farcry from the cold and steely demeanor he normally carried. “If you could keep an eye on her, even just from afar… I don’t know if you’d even be able to with the leash they keep you on, but… I’d appreciate that. If not for me, then for her.” Another pause. “She really did look up to you, you know.”

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

“I can’t make promises like that, Slade,” Jade replied, without hesitation. “If I see her, sure. But the chance of me seeing her is so slim…probably even slimmer now that Aqua-Leviathan has his suspicions about her.”

Of course, there was one caveat to that. If Rose and Arsenal became friends, there was a small chance she would see her. More than a small chance if they weren’t just friends. The thought made her almost laugh, and she coughed lightly to cover it up. Slade would definitely not respond well to that option.

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade raised an eyebrow at Jade's awkward laugh, but soon disregarded it. Instead, he gave a nod and said, "I figured as much. Still had to ask." With a deep exhale, he gave one last look out the window and then turned to Jade again. This time, is expression had hardened somewhat--not coldly, but with a clear sternness. If he didn't say this now, he might never get another chance...and he really needed to say it.

"Jade, I know a lot has happened between us." That was probably an understatement, but it was the best he could put it. He never did have much of a way with words. "I don't know exactly why you decided to leave, or why you betrayed the Shadows, and me. I'll admit, I was angry about it for a while. Furious, actually. But then, you were always free to make your own decisions. I may have been your...mentor, but I never controlled you, at least not in that sense. It's not as though you owe me an explanation, anyway."

He eased a long sigh between his lips, then took a step towards her. He stopped just in front of her, staring into her eyes. "I'm also not foolish enough to think you'd ever leave behind your new life, especially with the safety of your daughter always a concern, but I just want you to know..." He almost didn't raise his hand, almost didn't bring it up to gently touch her cheek, but his scolding mind wasn't enough to stop him. "I miss you."

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Rendez-vous (Slade)

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Jade did relax a bit as he explained. It made sense, and it was something she had felt strongly about ever since she held Lian for the first time. The life that she and Artemis had been raised in was not the life she wanted for Lian. 

“That makes a lot of sense,” Jade finally said after taking everything he said in. This was by far the strangest conversation she had ever had with her mentor. She couldn’t remember having a serious conversation with him like this, let alone one that dealt with emotions in such detail. 

“We don’t really make friends in this line of work. My sister barely counts for me, and Rose doesn’t have siblings she can talk to. That certainly makes things difficult…” She knew she sounded surprised. It still seemed unreal that he was talking to her about this, especially after so much time had passed between them.

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade straightened himself in his seat and lifted an eyebrow at Jade. Of all her possible reactions, he hadn’t thought she’d be understanding about it. He had been prepared to defend his decision and explain his rationale behind it if need be, and yet she was seemed to already know exactly where he was coming from. Perhaps she just still knew him that well

Heh,“ he muttered, with a half chuckle. “And here I expected you to call me an idiot for not just talking to her about this.” He settled back against the the chair and folded his arms again, tilting his head down with a sigh. “I thought about it but I’ve never been very good at talking about these kinds of things, you know that. Besides, you know how she is. If she knew I wanted her to consider other options, she’d just double down and work harder to prove herself.”

A wistful breath eased out out his throat as he looked back at Jade again. This time, his gaze lingered on her, but he didn’t force his attention away. He held his gaze and just…took her in. There were so many other things he wanted to say to her, but the pit in is gut told him he shouldn’t. He had enough experience to know to trust that feeling; it was usually right.

Usually.

“And uh, I can’t exactly look out for Rose while she’s away from me and all, but…” He cleared his throat and finally averted his eye, hesitant to make the impending request. “Well, you’re on the ‘good’ side now, and right now she doesn’t have anyone she can trust over there. Maybe you could look out for her, if you ever get the chance. You don’t have to, of course, but… I think she’d like to hear from you again. Even if she wouldn’t admit it.”

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

“Don’t get me wrong,” Jade interjected. “You’re still an idiot for not talking to her about this,” She kept her tone light, but her facial expression proved her seriousness. 

She held his gaze for a moment before breaking it to look at the window. He was still staring. While she had laughed off Roy’s concerns about meeting her former lover, she was beginning to wonder if his concerns about Slade and her weren’t that ridiculous.

Her concentration broke when he spoke again, this time stumbling for words. Who was this man, she wondered as her gaze traveled back to his eye. He had been surprised she hadn’t chastised him, yet here he was not chastising her. She had betrayed him, the Shadows…and yet he seemed to have made peace. 

She had expected a fight or at least a lecture. She had been reckless as a teenager, Slade was the third mentor assigned to her, and the only one who beat  her into submission without laying a finger on her. Well, perhaps that wasn’t the correct turn of phrases.

A bit of that recklessness still came out, from time to time.

“Oh please, I’m not one of the ‘good guys’,” She rolled her eyes at that. “It’s not like I get invited to the company picnic.

“They already are suspecting her,” She softened her demeanor slightly and leaned her chin against her palm as her arm rested against the arm rest. “They’re going to assign someone to get close to her. Someone around her age.”

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade thought a moment about Jade's words. He had known the sidekicks would likely be paranoid and on edge, especially over someone who looked just like him, but they had planned for that. They knew how to work around it, and he trusted Rose's ability to remain discreet. "Rose knows what she's doing. She won't give herself away, no matter who they have watching her."

He paused another second, then added, "Having somone her age getting close to her might not be a bad thing, either. That was the whole reason I sent her there, after all. Still..." When he turned to her again, his expression was soft, caring--a farcry from the cold and steely demeanor he normally carried. "If you could keep an eye on her, even just from afar... I don't know if you'd even be able to with the leash they keep you on, but... I'd appreciate that. If not for me, then for her." Another pause. "She really did look up to you, you know."

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Rendez-vous (Slade)

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

This…was something she was not expecting. At first she thought Slade was refusing to look at her for fear of checking her out yet again. It made sense, and frankly Jade understood it for the first moment or two. But after the first moment, she began to feel uncomfortable.

She couldn’t remember ever seeing him like….whatever this was. It frightened her more than anything. 

She was used to Slade being her mentor. He was tough, firm, and she always had to work hard. He mandated a day off between training because of how hard he worked her. He scolded her when she mouthed off, when she rebelled. She was grateful for it, now. It made her an excellent fighter.

She was even used to him being her lover. Even with that he was strong and oozed confidence. 

But this….this was new. And Jade did not know how to handle this Slade. “You want her to make friends with the sidekicks?” She couldn’t quite believe what she thought she was hearing. 

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Again, Slade didn’t say anything at first. He tapped his fingers against the windowsill and looked back up outside. Down below on the sidewalk, a young boy and his parents had stopped to get a sandwich from a street vendor. It seemed so foreign to him, such a normal act between parent and child. It had been an eternity since he had been that kind of father, and that had been with sons that he no longer knew. He had never been anything like that with Rose.

For a long while, he continued his silence, still unsure if he should answer Jade’s question and explain. He had almost come to the conclusion that he should just shut up and forget it, but then he made the mistake of looking at her again. Her demeanor wasn’t at all like what he expected–confused, uncomfortable, on edge. He supposed he was being strange right now, at least compared to how she had known him.

“Rose thinks she’s on a mission to gain inside information about the sidekicks,” Slade said. “She thinks the higher ups in the Shadows ordered it and that if she succeeds, she’ll earn recognition.” He paused again and shifted a glance to the floor, almost out of shame. “There is no mission. I fabricated it, to get her to go, not necessarily to make ‘friends’, just… at least to know what it’s like to be around kids her own age.”

He gave a half chuckle and sank back into the chair in front of the couch. “It’s almost funny. I’ve killed so many people without a second thought, I’ve even trained other people to kill without a second thought–you in particular. But when I see my daughter killing without a second thought, it’s different. Since she was eight years old, this is the only life she’s known. She hasn’t had a choice–I haven’t given her one. Maybe this will make her realize that it’s not the only life out there. I’m not expecting some cosmic shift in her personal philosophies, but I think some time away from me, from hunting down and assassinating the worst people on the planet, might help her make better decisions for her future.”

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Jade did relax a bit as he explained. It made sense, and it was something she had felt strongly about ever since she held Lian for the first time. The life that she and Artemis had been raised in was not the life she wanted for Lian. 

“That makes a lot of sense,” Jade finally said after taking everything he said in. This was by far the strangest conversation she had ever had with her mentor. She couldn’t remember having a serious conversation with him like this, let alone one that dealt with emotions in such detail. 

“We don’t really make friends in this line of work. My sister barely counts for me, and Rose doesn’t have siblings she can talk to. That certainly makes things difficult…” She knew she sounded surprised. It still seemed unreal that he was talking to her about this, especially after so much time had passed between them.

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade straightened himself in his seat and lifted an eyebrow at Jade. Of all her possible reactions, he hadn't thought she'd be understanding about it. He had been prepared to defend his decision and explain his rationale behind it if need be, and yet she was seemed to already know exactly where he was coming from. Perhaps she just still knew him that well

Heh," he muttered, with a half chuckle. "And here I expected you to call me an idiot for not just talking to her about this." He settled back against the the chair and folded his arms again, tilting his head down with a sigh. "I thought about it but I've never been very good at talking about these kinds of things, you know that. Besides, you know how she is. If she knew I wanted her to consider other options, she'd just double down and work harder to prove herself."

A wistful breath eased out out his throat as he looked back at Jade again. This time, his gaze lingered on her, but he didn't force his attention away. He held his gaze and just...took her in. There were so many other things he wanted to say to her, but the pit in is gut told him he shouldn't. He had enough experience to know to trust that feeling; it was usually right.

Usually.

"And uh, I can't exactly look out for Rose while she's away from me and all, but..." He cleared his throat and finally averted his eye, hesitant to make the impending request. "Well, you're on the 'good' side now, and right now she doesn't have anyone she can trust over there. Maybe you could look out for her, if you ever get the chance. You don't have to, of course, but... I think she'd like to hear from you again. Even if she wouldn't admit it."

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Rendez-vous (Slade)

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade hummed a long as he continued staring out the window. He wanted to look back at her, and yet he couldn’t bring himself to do so. It wasn’t just the her critical glare that he was worried about, though. He still wasn’t even sure if he wanted to tell her. If he should tell her. If he didn’t look at her, maybe he could make a logical decision. If he did look, he knew he’d cave.

“Rose suggested dying her hair. Even getting a fake eye,” he said. “Not just a glass one, but a fully functional one–from Luther, too, almost indistinguishable from the real thing. She was thinking ten steps ahead, just like I taught her. I was the one who told her to…be herself.”

He sighed again, then bowed his head, leaning against the windowsill. Another long pause, before he spoke again. “You know that ever since Rose came into my care, she’s never had a friend? Never even been around kids her own age. Aside from you, anyway, but you were always more of a mother to her, or a sister.”

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

This…was something she was not expecting. At first she thought Slade was refusing to look at her for fear of checking her out yet again. It made sense, and frankly Jade understood it for the first moment or two. But after the first moment, she began to feel uncomfortable.

She couldn’t remember ever seeing him like….whatever this was. It frightened her more than anything. 

She was used to Slade being her mentor. He was tough, firm, and she always had to work hard. He mandated a day off between training because of how hard he worked her. He scolded her when she mouthed off, when she rebelled. She was grateful for it, now. It made her an excellent fighter.

She was even used to him being her lover. Even with that he was strong and oozed confidence. 

But this….this was new. And Jade did not know how to handle this Slade. “You want her to make friends with the sidekicks?” She couldn’t quite believe what she thought she was hearing. 

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Again, Slade didn't say anything at first. He tapped his fingers against the windowsill and looked back up outside. Down below on the sidewalk, a young boy and his parents had stopped to get a sandwich from a street vendor. It seemed so foreign to him, such a normal act between parent and child. It had been an eternity since he had been that kind of father, and that had been with sons that he no longer knew. He had never been anything like that with Rose.

For a long while, he continued his silence, still unsure if he should answer Jade's question and explain. He had almost come to the conclusion that he should just shut up and forget it, but then he made the mistake of looking at her again. Her demeanor wasn't at all like what he expected--confused, uncomfortable, on edge. He supposed he was being strange right now, at least compared to how she had known him.

"Rose thinks she's on a mission to gain inside information about the sidekicks," Slade said. "She thinks the higher ups in the Shadows ordered it and that if she succeeds, she'll earn recognition." He paused again and shifted a glance to the floor, almost out of shame. "There is no mission. I fabricated it, to get her to go, not necessarily to make 'friends', just... at least to know what it's like to be around kids her own age."

He gave a half chuckle and sank back into the chair in front of the couch. "It's almost funny. I've killed so many people without a second thought, I've even trained other people to kill without a second thought--you in particular. But when I see my daughter killing without a second thought, it's different. Since she was eight years old, this is the only life she's known. She hasn't had a choice--I haven't given her one. Maybe this will make her realize that it's not the only life out there. I'm not expecting some cosmic shift in her personal philosophies, but I think some time away from me, from hunting down and assassinating the worst people on the planet, might help her make better decisions for her future."

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Rendez-vous (Slade)

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Jade rolled her eyes and made a scoffing sound. “Good genetics, he says. That’s the one thing I wouldn’t mind getting from him,” He averted his eyes quickly, but not quickly enough. If they were on better terms she would have made a breastfeeding joke, but Jade knew a joke like that could get her in trouble when dealing with Slade.

His next statement surprised her, and she looked him in the eyes for the first time since arriving. She could feel a pit grow in her stomach as he spoke. “Yeah, well…” She was lost for words. 

She needed to get to the point. The tension could be cut with a knife. “I know about Rose.”

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade blinked when Jade mentioned Rose. He had been so preoccupied with how he felt about her that he hadn’t even considered exactly why she had called him here. He knew it hadn’t been just to see each other again, no matter how much he would have hoped. A part of him, though, deep down, had known that this was the reason. There had been several risks when sending Rose on her assignment, not the least of which was getting around that Martian’s telepathy.

One of those risks, though, was Jade. If she recognized Rose and exposed her to those heroes, that was it. He knew…he thought that Jade wouldn’t do so, but he had still put several contingencies in, just in case. No matter their history together, Slade was always prepared, ten steps ahead of everybody. He had trained Rose to do the same. The fact that Jade was here talking to him about it, though… That meant he had been right. There would be no point in having this meeting if she were going to expose Rose–she’d have done it already. No, she wanted information.

“I assume you want to know why,” he said, shifting his eye towards the window.

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Jade rose an eyebrow, surprised. “I didn’t expect you to give me a reason. I just…I wanted to warn you,” She had expected Slade to hate her, or at least distrust her. But for him to actually explain his actions, well that surprised her. She didn’t think she was still someone he felt he could trust.

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade breathed a sigh as he stood up from the chair. He didn’t say anything at first, instead marching over to the window. He stood there with his arms folded, just staring outside. “The Shadows wanted information on that young Team. Rose and I came up with a way to get that information. Simple, really. She knew the risks when she agreed to the mission. We both did.”

Even as he said it, he didn’t sound convinced. With as well as Jade knew him, she’d likely discern that there was something. He never was any good at keeping secrets from her. Still, he couldn’t just go admitting the real reason he pushed Rose to go undercover, not least because it made himself look pathetic. There was always the possibility Jade might understand, but she’d more likely think him an idiot.

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Jade frowned. This seemed too reckless on Rose’s part, and especially Slade’s. Something just didn’t seem to add up. “You could have at least dyed her hair and given her a different costume. This is so sloppy even sixteen year old reckless me wouldn’t have come up with it.” And Slade would certainly remember her at that age.

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade hummed a long as he continued staring out the window. He wanted to look back at her, and yet he couldn't bring himself to do so. It wasn't just the her critical glare that he was worried about, though. He still wasn't even sure if he wanted to tell her. If he should tell her. If he didn't look at her, maybe he could make a logical decision. If he did look, he knew he'd cave.

"Rose suggested dying her hair. Even getting a fake eye," he said. "Not just a glass one, but a fully functional one--from Luther, too, almost indistinguishable from the real thing. She was thinking ten steps ahead, just like I taught her. I was the one who told her to...be herself."

He sighed again, then bowed his head, leaning against the windowsill. Another long pause, before he spoke again. "You know that ever since Rose came into my care, she's never had a friend? Never even been around kids her own age. Aside from you, anyway, but you were always more of a mother to her, or a sister."

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Rendez-vous (Slade)

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Jade rolled her eyes and made a scoffing sound. “Good genetics, he says. That’s the one thing I wouldn’t mind getting from him,” He averted his eyes quickly, but not quickly enough. If they were on better terms she would have made a breastfeeding joke, but Jade knew a joke like that could get her in trouble when dealing with Slade.

His next statement surprised her, and she looked him in the eyes for the first time since arriving. She could feel a pit grow in her stomach as he spoke. “Yeah, well…” She was lost for words. 

She needed to get to the point. The tension could be cut with a knife. “I know about Rose.”

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade blinked when Jade mentioned Rose. He had been so preoccupied with how he felt about her that he hadn’t even considered exactly why she had called him here. He knew it hadn’t been just to see each other again, no matter how much he would have hoped. A part of him, though, deep down, had known that this was the reason. There had been several risks when sending Rose on her assignment, not the least of which was getting around that Martian’s telepathy.

One of those risks, though, was Jade. If she recognized Rose and exposed her to those heroes, that was it. He knew…he thought that Jade wouldn’t do so, but he had still put several contingencies in, just in case. No matter their history together, Slade was always prepared, ten steps ahead of everybody. He had trained Rose to do the same. The fact that Jade was here talking to him about it, though… That meant he had been right. There would be no point in having this meeting if she were going to expose Rose–she’d have done it already. No, she wanted information.

“I assume you want to know why,” he said, shifting his eye towards the window.

[kiss-and-sai-deactivated2020091]

Jade rose an eyebrow, surprised. “I didn’t expect you to give me a reason. I just…I wanted to warn you,” She had expected Slade to hate her, or at least distrust her. But for him to actually explain his actions, well that surprised her. She didn’t think she was still someone he felt he could trust.

[youngjustice-deathstroke]

Slade breathed a sigh as he stood up from the chair. He didn't say anything at first, instead marching over to the window. He stood there with his arms folded, just staring outside. "The Shadows wanted information on that young Team. Rose and I came up with a way to get that information. Simple, really. She knew the risks when she agreed to the mission. We both did."

Even as he said it, he didn't sound convinced. With as well as Jade knew him, she'd likely discern that there was something. He never was any good at keeping secrets from her. Still, he couldn't just go admitting the real reason he pushed Rose to go undercover, not least because it made himself look pathetic. There was always the possibility Jade might understand, but she'd more likely think him an idiot.