Time off

" What took ya so long?" Michael asked as David came running into his building.

David dropped his satchel and turned to Michael, frustrated and out of wind. " Batman and one of his lackeys, showed up in my apartment. He knows." David told the man.

" Damn. Well, what did he say?"

" He doesn't have any evidence. But he knows. Or else he wouldn't have shown up and threatened me like he did."

" Well, guess the cat's out of the bag. No use crying about it now. Come on. Let's get you suited up." Michael told David. He rolled over to his desk and lifted David's suit up and handed it to the man, along with all the gadgets he had placed on it. " Here dumbass."

" Thanks, Mike."

" No problem. Now, let's talk game plan. What are you gonna do?" Michael asked David as he grabbed a cigar from his pocket.

" Same thing, I always did. First things first, information. I need to find out who sent Slade after me. And I need to know if there is anyone else coming. I can't go into this blind. Penguin has information sources all over Gotham, and his reach doesn't just stop there. If anything, he'll have some idea. After that, It would be easier to just take out whoever it is that's put a contract out on me, if there is one. That would be the path with the least amount of blood."

" Since when do you care about keeping fatalities to a minimum?"

" Since, I came home, and decided I want to get out of this life." David told the man.

" David... I'm gonna stop you right there. Now, we both know that's bullshit, alright? Cuz if you wanted out, you would have gone to the police, or Batman. So, come on, stop the bullshit. You're either in to win, or ya not there's no grey area."

" Damnit, Mike. It's not that simple. There are... Complications now. I want to get out, but it's not that easy. I feel it calling to me. And then I see what's going on in Gotham, and I know it's the right thing to do." David explained.

" Kid, you can't let this life control ya. If you do, you'll never be able to get over it."

" I'm trying not to." David told the man.

" Well, we'll see. Honestly, I think you just need to find a beautiful young lady to settle down with."

" Mike, are ya gonna give me good advice or keep pulling my chain?"

" Alright, kid. Sorry. Just trying to give you some advice. Now, let's think this out. Deathstroke's not gonna give up on you, that we know. Old Slade never was the kind of man to just quit, not without reason. So, let's assume he's gonna come after you, he's not gonna do it with Batman on your case."

" So?"

" So, he's gonna need to get Batman out of the way. How do you do that? By creating a distraction big enough to draw his attention."

" Okay, but how would Deathstroke do that? A bomb? Kidnaping? Slade's never been a man that's easy to get a grasp on. He'd always come up with a way to surprise you."

" That's true. Nothing much we can really go on. This is a ball buster." Michael muttered. " Well, we know what to expect, but not how."

" Maybe not yet. But there's still something I have that could work out for me. Penguin. He's my only chance at figuring this mess out."

" Alright, but we need to wait a few days. Let the heat die down and not give the Bat any reason to come looking for you. Plus, you still need to rest. Your body isn't exactly kicking like it's used to."

" I know, I'm still rusty. I haven't properly taken the time to keep up with my training."

" Well, while you wait, start practicing again. Go further down the hall, my old training room is there for ya. It's not much. But it's enough for you to get a good workout in. Use any time you like, just make sure you clean up and don't break anything."

" Yeah, I might just do that. Thanks Mike."

" No problem, kid."

...........

" Any news master Bruce?" Alfred asked.

" Nothing, Alfred. Barbara, any updates on the prisoners that escaped from Arkham?" Bruce turned and asked the woman.

" I heard news of Bane appearing on a Pena Duro security monitor. Guess, he decided to go home. I also have a lead on Freeze and Ivy. But nothing concrete on either of them. You know, you could try asking Selina."

" As much as I want to, Selina would never give up Ivy. Not without a reason." Bruce told the woman. " What about Zasz?"

" I have an alert from Gotham Pd, there was a body found last night. Matches Zasz's M.O. I already have Orphan and Spoiler looking into it." Barbara told the man.

" Negative. I'll handle it. Tell Orphan and Spoiler I want them looking into Ivy's whereabouts. Give me all the files you have on Zasz."

" But Bruce, Stephanie and Cassandra already have it covered."

" I know, Barbara. But I want to take care of this personally. Give myself something to do, until Deathstroke and North reappear." Batman told the woman.

Barbara let out a visible sigh of disbelief. " Okay, Bruce. I'll let Cassandra and Stephanie know when they get home. Is there anything else you want to go over, before I leave?" Barbara asked the man.

" No, that's it, Barbara. You have a good day." Bruce said to Barbara before retreating back to his computer.

..............

Later that night.

When the sun finally set, David and Michael launched their plan.