A Twist of Fate

(1K) Bonus

Like I've said, every 1,000 views I'll put up a bonus Chapter/Small Story. Hope you all like.

__________________________

Dick hated small spaces but what he hated more was people. New and old, it didn't matter. People had hurt him in the past, why would now be any different. Sure he said that he wouldn't hurt him. So did they. They had said it was training. They said it was punishment. They said he was weak.

Dick didn't care anymore what they said or what he will say. Everyone was the same. Even the man in the iron mask that came time to time. The girl seemed fine but she didn't do anything. Didn't speak out. She just stood there, eyes down low and permeant frown on her face.

A knock jolted Dick from his thinking. Dick pulled his legs further into his chest wrapping his hands around them, and slowing his breathing. The door opened after a moment. With a click light flooded the room, casting Dick in deep shadows under the desk, wedged in a small gap in the back.

Their was heavy foot steps as they made themselves around the room searching. He heard the closet open and close. Then the sheets on the bed get tossed back. Dick heard the soft scrape of callused hands on the top of the desk and the stretch of jeans as someone leaned down to peer under the desk.

Dick held is breath hoping they couldn't see him. Only letting it own when the person sighed, leaving the room. Dick didn't let himself relax on the other hand. He knew someone would be back got give him, his punishment. Maybe Sir Death would stop granting him entrance and grant him access out of this existence.

Without fault the door opened once again but this time Dick couldn't hear the person.  Sure the air shifted around this person but he himself didn't make a sound. Against his better judgment Dick peeked out of this little hiding spot to meet a cool gray eye peering in at him.

Dick yelped, hitting his head and knee on the desk. He didn't even flinch at the sudden flashes of pain, shoving himself back as far as he could go. It was small and cramped but Dick didn't even notice as his brain fired from one thought to another.

'Would punishment be better here or worse? Will the man just toss him out? What if he gives me back to them? I can't go back. Not ever.'

Dick's brain froze when he saw the hand nearing him. But the hand held something. It was white in a disk shape. Taking in a breath in through his nose, Dick smelled how divine the thing was.

'Food!' His brain supplied.

The man set the food down at Dick's feet before retreating. The plate was left at his feet only inches from his hands. Dick didn't dare touch any of it. They would always demand something when he ate, calling it payment for the food.

The man sighed before sitting himself down just in the corner of Dick's view. The desk was a hindrance of his area view but protected him on three out of four sides. The man sat there not doing a single thing but watching him.

"Wintergreen said you are under weight and need to eat." The man told him.

Dick didn't reach for the meal. The words had the opposite affect then the man wanted. Dick leaned away from the food, all but pushing the plate away. He'd done that once and never again did he touch the plate in the slightest.

The man sighed, "Lesion Kiddo. I'm not going to purposefully hurt you, physically or mentally. I do have rules here but even if you brake them, I'm not going to raise a hand. Talk to you; yes. Ground you; maybe. But I'll never hit you. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Dick nodded. He did understand but his didn't believe a word of it.

The man sighed, "Ok. You understand but won't believe me. I understand that. You've been hurt in the past. Maybe not even the distance past but how about you give it a try? What could that do? If you were to get hurt if you eat and hurt if you don't. What's the loss?"

Dick frowned thinking over what the man said. It was true. If he ate and got punished but if he didn't he'd also get punished. He looked at all the food again. It really wasn't much compared to a proper meal. It was small peace of chicken, a small scoop of corn, and a mid pile of mashed potatoes with little gravy. Their was also a spoon and fork.

Slowly Dick reached out to grab the chicken, watching the man with weary eyes. He didn't move when Dick grabbed the chicken. Quickly Dick pushed himself back into the corner with his prize, devouring it with vigor.

It took an hour for Dick to eat all of the food on the plate. After he felt dizzy and his stomach a little queazy but it all stayed down. The man had given him just the right amount of food.

"I've said before that there are rules." The man said slowly and Dick froze, "No you haven't broken any. All I have for rules is that you are up in time for breakfast and that your bed is made in the morning. When you get more conferrable we can add chores where you can make an allowance every week. That means money you can spend on what ever you want." The man thought a second, "Well you can spend it on what ever you want with in reason."

Dick thought about that. It sounded too good to be true.

"My name is Slade Wilson. I'm more commonly known as Deathstroke the Terminator."

Dick knew that name. Deathstroke was said to be a merciless assassin that worked for no organizations. Dick also heard that one of his sons had been hurt by the same people that hurt him. Maybe just maybe, Deathstroke would help him.

"Dick." Dick croaked out and more then enough bartering of the English language, "My name is Dick Grayson."

Slade smiled softly, "Nice to meet you Dick. I hope you say for as long as you want."

___________________________

Sorry not the Birdflash you wanted but I though that knowing how Slade and Dick first interacted would be good. I'll also go back and forth from Dick's past and present/future of the story. This one is the past. On the next one (2K views) it will be Dick and Wally. See you then!

~Jewels F. Wolf