ROSE

There were things about them that were similar, but the comparisons were mostly superficial. As people they couldn’t be more different. That was something Rose learned about Cass early on, even before they started hanging around each other in Star City. She didn’t know if Cass wanted to be around her because she actually enjoyed her company or if she were suspicious that Rose was up to no good. She wouldn’t ask, either. Cass wasn’t exactly the easiest person to read. 

“Help me out with something,” was her opening line when she showed up to their meeting place: a rooftop of a beachside resort. Bruce Wayne was dead and Rose was sorry about it, but she wasn’t good at navigating emotional shit. This was what she did to help. “Please?” She added, realizing that her request sounded more like a command. Maybe that was hereditary.

“Nope, though she was cocky enough to draw that conclusion, too.” He shook his head. “But it’s not pragmatic to get all buddy buddy with someone you might have to throw into a wall hard enough to break her spine.” He shrugged. Maybe that was callous, but Cassandra was Dick’s family, not his. Slade’s family was right in front of him. While Slade wouldn’t go out of his way to make a problem with the Waynes for the sake of his relationship, Dick had told him that he would love him no matter what. And Slade couldn’t help but think that eventually that was going to get tested. Again. It was just how shit went, wasn’t it? It had been going that way Slade’s whole life.

“What an astute observation,” he offered back, no venom in his voice as he sipped his beer. “It’s hot,” he added as he slid the bowl of stew across to her before taking his own. “And probably. I don’t exactly need their approval, though.” 

Taking a bite of the stew, he chewed thoughtfully before raising a brow. “But you didn’t answer my question. What do you talk about?”

“Sure it’s just cockiness?” Rose muttered under her breath. “Her training’s better than mine. Keep your enemies closer, right? Not like I’m looking to get on their bad side.” The relationship she had with them was always up in the air. It depended on whatever was going on at the moment. Plenty of situations could put them at odds with each other, but she would rather work with them if possible. They were powerful allies. Getting on their bad side just wasn’t smart.

She tugged the bowl closer and picked up a spoon. It looked good, but that came as no surprise. “I’d be shocked if you ever asked for approval for anything.” Slade did what he wanted when he wanted. It didn’t seem to matter what got damaged in the process.  It was a question she assumed was hypothetical. She didn’t think Slade was interested enough in her life to actually care about what she talked about with Cassandra Cain. It threw her off guard long enough to give an honest answer. “We just talk. Normal things, I don’t know. Missions. She doesn’t say much. We have a lot in common.”

JOEY: I’m already home and don’t plan to go anywhere else.

JOEY: Is someone after you again? Do you need me to do anything?

ROSE: Nah I lost them

“Guess not. She wanted to train with me. So she could watch me with her beady little eyes most likely. Not a chance in hell.” He wasn’t letting the family savant take a crack at him on his own turf after watching how he trained. He was confident that he could outsmart her in the field, but he wasn’t interested in giving her any ammunition. 

“A lot in common, huh? And why’s that? Because she’s got an assassin for a parent, too? Or because you both were to soft to cut it in my line of work so you went hero?” It was blunt, and unfair. Slade knew that he had passed her to Dick and that he hadn’t made it easy for her even when she was with him. He shook his head, softening up a little bit as he looked at her. She was the most like him. By a landslide. His favorite, maybe, if he were to be pressed. Parents shouldn’t play favorites. He knew that. But he was a shitty parent, anyway. She knew that. He let out a breath, trying to come back from the comment. “What do you talk about? Girl talks like she’s slow, but I’m guessing looks are deceiving?” Rose wouldn’t hang out with a retard, would she?

“I’m only in with Dick. The rest of them hate me and I imagine it’ll stay that way.” It was something he had earned for himself. “Maybe not Talia’s kid. Damian.” Or maybe he hated him extra for the bombing of the headquarters last summer. He didn’t know and he didn’t really think about it.

Rose smirked. “What? You were afraid she could beat you?” Maybe she could. The Bats always seemed to give Slade a run for his money, even if he came out on top in the end. She knew he could hold his own in a fight, including with Batman himself when he was alive, but she couldn’t resist the poke. She never could. Things could be good between them and one of them found a way to ruin it, either with sarcasm or a snide comment. Typically she was the one responsible.

“You’re such an asshole sometimes.” It was a pointless comment. A waste of air. After so long, she knew that there wasn’t anything that was going to change her dad. At this point it was a matter of whether or not she contended with it. Part of her still wanted a good relationship with her father. That feeling alone made her keep showing up, time and again, with the idea that it would be different this time around. Better. If that had anything to do with Dick then she’d rather not think about it.

Damian’s name made her snort. “Maybe ‘cause you’ve tried to kill them a couple times.” Slade would probably say he’d chosen to fail or something. That was typical.

Slade had made stew. Hearty, healthy, and filling. There would be leftovers for Dick and Grant when they came home, but he hadn’t anticipated that Rose would want to eat with him. And yet, she had. Several times now. And it was weird but he… didn’t hate it. Not at all. It wasn’t like he had suddenly turned into father of the year, but they could talk now without leaping for each other’s throats–usually Rose had done the leaping, but now she did it less. Slade wondered how much of this he owed to Dick, either directly or through how it was changing him. He couldn’t deny that it was, and there was no use fighting it. So he was simply allowing the chips to fall.

“She was, yeah. Waited for a while, but you never showed up.” He handed her a beer without much thought, picking up the spoon and stirring through the stew as he spoke. “David Cain’s kid, huh? You two best pals now? I know you and Dick are. And you and Drake, too. You trying to get in good with the Bat’s family?” At his feet, Roscoe waited, wondering if Slade would offer him anything. Slade didn’t feed him from the table, but sometime meat and gristle found its way into his bowl.

It was good food. That was something Rose kept telling herself. This was all an excuse to sit herself at her father’s table like nothing were wrong. Taking a passive approach to it was more than the typical disdain she reserved for moments like these. Rose didn’t think too hard on why she’d changed her mind enough to be here, and give him a second chance. Or maybe this was the fifth, she couldn’t be sure. Part of her held onto that hope that things could be different. If anything he seemed willing to try. That was more than Rose ever expected from him anyways.

“Guess I didn’t get the message.” Cass messaged her sometimes. Rose didn’t mind. She had an easy banter with her, one that came with a lot of shared traits, she imagined, and she couldn’t contain a smirk. “Guess we got a lot in common, right?” She stated pointedly, eyes narrow. “And you’re one to talk, dad.”

Rose didn’t know when she started showing up for dinner, or why, but she didn’t make it into a thing. She could see Grant whenever she wanted, and the jury was out on whether or not she was completely over the whole thing with Dick, but she was making solid effort at acting like he wasn’t sleeping with her dad. Hopefully that counted for something.

“I heard Cass was looking for me.” This was the first time both Dick and Grant were out, and Rose was doing her best not to make it weird. She could handle her dad in small doses and if she wasn’t looking for a display of fatherly affection. That wasn’t something she could count on him for, even though she knew he was capable of it, and it made her even hungrier for the small moments she could get. 

Slade: I called you an idiot because I had hoped if I made you aware of the situation, you might stop wasting my time with filler like ‘you’re bossy’. 

Slade: He’s not. Hence the confusion. And Dick’ll live. He always does. One of the few fuckers besides me who got shot in the head and walked it off.

Rose: Pot, kettle.

Rose: Wow, so you really are just an asshole to everyone, huh? 

Slade: You’re an idiot. I’m giving you my plan. You can choose to show up or not.

Slade: Who? Wintergreen or Dick? Because Dick’s off with daddy trying to square up to NOVA.

Rose: Did you just call me an idiot with a plan? That was almost funny.

ravagingyou​:

Slade: I’ll be home in fifteen. Pack up the dogs and then go to the weapons cache in the master room. It’ll be in the walk-in behind my extra uniforms. Clean it out. 

Slade: Wintergreen will arrange transportation that leaves at 11. The docks. We’ll squat until the city’s clear. I’m not betting my ass on the Justice League even if Dick’s on it.

Rose: You’re fucking bossy, jesus.