Thirteen

Chapter 24 - Harmony

Harmony: agreement; accord; harmonious relations

-X-

He was breathing heavily.

Dick's chest rose and fell at a frantic speed and his eyes darted all around him. There were robots surrounding him. Mechanical beings of Slade's own creation to test his skills and fighting abilities. He felt naked without his utility belt and his fingers twitched for something to grasp on to and whip towards the robots but there was nothing there. Dick put his weight on his back foot and his hands were up at his chest.

Ever since they had been back in Gotham, Slade began training regularly on a strict schedule. Training different techniques, different skills at different points in the day. It was a harder schedule than Bruce ever had him on but Dick almost preferred it this way. Should he become too stagnant, he would become trapped in the loss of his team and the hardest loss of Bruce Wayne. He had to keep moving so the darkness was never able to catch up with him.

Dick ducked under the swinging arm of one of the robots. When the arm was above his head, Dick twisted his body and thrust his foot out before him, kicking the robot in its midsection. The robot soared through the air, crashing into other bots on its way to the wall. The humanoid technology landed in a crumpled heap of scrap with a loud thud.

One of the robots drove a fist into Dick's back. The boy fell forward, reaching out with a hand to stop himself from falling. He performed a handspring and landed on his feet, a safe distance away from the bots. His knees were bent so his body was crouching and his hair was falling over his eyes. Dick let out a huff of air. His hair was getting far too long.

Before Dick could make a move, two robots charged at him. Dick carefully stepped backwards, narrowly dodging the metallic fists. His body was still stiff from the beating Slade had given him a few days prior but that didn't stop Dick. Dick put his hands up to stop the punches and dropped to a knee, sweeping his feet underneath the robots. They fell to the ground. Dick grinned, the small victories fueled him. Dick readied his fists again.

Dick shot forward, rushing at the remaining robots. He jumped into the air with a growl before slamming his fist into the chest of one of the robots. He used his strength to flip backwards of the chest of the robot and landing beside another. The robot sent a fist flying forward. Dick narrowly dodged the blow, but quickly reached forward and grasped the robot's wrist. He drove his elbow into the robot before using all his strength and momentum to fling it over his shoulder. It was a move Slade had taught him.

"Well done." He heard Slade call out towards him. The praise met his ears and rushed into his bloodstream like a drug. Dick dodged the oncoming of one of the bots by diving to the side. He got back to his feet behind the robot which had just attacked him and slammed his fist into the back of its neck. The metal became crooked and a spark flew out from the dislocated metal. The robot fell to its knees before completely sinking into the ground as though it was quicksand. Dick shook his hand. The metal and metal contact shocked his entire arm.

Another bot approached him from behind, clamping its arms around Dick. The robot was significantly taller than Dick, causing his feet to hover above the ground. Dick struggled in the iron hold as the final few robots surrounded Dick. One of the robots twitched. It must have a malfunction in its circuitry.

Before Dick was completely surrounded, he swung his leg up, just passed his head and slammed his foot into the forehead of the robot. The robot released Dick and he landed on the ground with a grunt. Without wasting a minute, Dick charged at the other robots. He made quick work of the remaining few, using a mixture of kicks, jabs, and flips. When the last robot fell at his feet, Dick put his arms to his side, panting.