Dick ducked under the oncoming blow, twisting his body to grab onto the arm and using it to launch himself forward. His feet locked around Slade's neck, the forward momentum bringing them both to the ground.

As they hit the ground, Dick released his hold, flipping onto his hands and springing away, a wide grin spreading across his face. This was the first time he had actually managed to bring the other male down.

"Are you getting weak on me, old man?" He teased, feeling extremely smug over the victory, however small.

Deathstroke chuckled, slowly standing and returning to a fighting stance. "Are you sure you want to be gloating right now, boy? We still have training to do..."

"Come on, Slade. I took you down. Let me feel the aster for a sec."

"You know how I feel about your weird sayings, Grayson. You can feel the aster when we aren't in the middle of training."

"Sounds like you really want me to take you down again."

"Sounds like you're ready to be put back in your place, boy."

Dick moved back into his fighting stance, shifting the grip on the staff that he was using ever so slightly. The grin was still all too present. "Sure, sure, old man."

Slade rolled his eyes, beginning to circle the boy. While the continuous banter back and forth was not something that he had anticipated when agreeing to this assignment, he found that he enjoyed his time with the boy. It felt good to finally have someone to pour his knowledge and skill into, and Dick was the perfect learner, his speed and agility from being a circus performer sometimes even managing to surprise the mercenary.

Dick soaked up all he taught him like a sponge placed in water for the very first time, different fighting styles coming easily to the boy, and Slade was impressed to see how easily he learned to hack into security systems and steal information.

The boy was a prodigy, and that Slade was almost saddened by the knowledge that this perfect apprentice was not one that he could keep.

Almost.

Dick Grayson was learning fast, faster than the Light had anticipated, and as the boy managed to successfully bring Slade down for a second time, the man smiled grimly.

The boy would soon be ready.

~•~

"Who is this?" Slade pressed a button and the image on the screen changed to that of a blonde woman wearing a black choker.

Dick leaned back in his chair, fighting the urge to spin in circles. Why did Slade have to give him a spinney chair and then tell him to sit still? It was torture on a whole other level.

"Black Canary. She's good with most forms of martial arts and uses her meta ability, the Canary Cry along with some kind of staff or stick typically. Founding Justice League member and mainly associated with Green Arrow. Personally, I think their dating, but they could also just be really good buds. Maybe they're siblings? But probably not because in some of the pictures of the two of them they're totally doing the whole gross adult bedroom eyes thing. I'm not sure if I ship it or not."

Slade rolled his eyes, raising an eyebrow as Dick shifted to drape himself mostly off the chair. "Could you at least try to look interested? This is important. You need to know all you can about these heroes. If you do not know your enemy, then you can hardly expect to be successful in defeating them."

"But it's booooring. We've gone over them like five times now. I know all of the important ones." Dick whined, flipping upside-down on the chair, his hair just barely brushing the floor below.

"These aren't even Gotham City heroes. Why do I need to know about them when all I'm trying to do is take out Batman?"

"You need to know in the chance that you run into one while on that mission. Everything that I'm trying to teach you is important for you success and safety. Now if you would please just sit up properly, we might be able to finish this and continue on with more interesting training."

"Ugh... fine. You win. Whatever."

Dick righted himself on the chair, although he did give it a little spin before he fully settled in, crossing his arms over his chest and narrowing his eyes at his mentor.

Deathstroke pinched between his brows, letting out a loud and clearly irritated sigh.

Why did he have to get stuck with the child?

~•~

Dick poked the offending vegetables with his fork, nose scrunching up in clear distaste.

"You're supposed to eat it, not stare at it."

"But it's disgusting. Why would you make me eat this?" He sounded clearly distressed, turning his large, watery, blue eyes to Slade.

Slade frowned at him, doing his best not to meet the boy's pleading gaze. "It isn't disgusting. Mushrooms are good for you. They help improve brain function."

"But they're gross. And slimy. And I hate them." Dick still looked distressed, his voice taking on a seriously hurt tone. "Are you trying to poison me?"

"I am not trying to poison you. It's just a mushroom. You've eaten them before."

"Maybe, but that was when they were in stuff. Mushrooms are fungus, Slade. Fungus."

Slade groaned, fighting the strong urge to slam his head against the table. This was exactly why he never had any more children. They were such pains. "If you eat the mushrooms, you can have ice cream for dessert."

So, this is what life had come to; the legendary fighter had fallen to bribing apprentices with sweets in order to get them to eat their vegetables.

Dick grinned, all distress vanishing from his expression as he quickly shoved the mushroom into his mouth, chewing and swallowing in a matter of moments. "What kind of ice cream?"

A loud thump echoed through the room as Slade banged his head down onto the table, groaning as Dick's cackling laughter filled the room. 

AN:

A bit of a shorter filler chapter, sorry about that. But next chapter plans start unfolding, so yay. Two chapters away from Batman and Alfred being around.