The warehouse where Slade was buried stood before me, unimposing as ever. It was odd to think that almost four months ago I was half crazed, burying the man I once called father in concrete.

I'd meant to check on it sooner, but between settling in Metropolis and Ra's' impending threat, I couldn't find the time. For the last week, Jason had been acting as sentry outside my apartment, granted it was on my fire escape, but he still stuck around.

Though it was nice to have company, even if said company wasn't speaking half the time and the other half was him ranting about one of the books he'd brought along to keep himself occupied. Apparently he wasn't usually a fan of most book to movie adaptations.

It made sneaking away to do this, that much more difficult.

I pulled out a flashlight, sucking in a deep breath before I entered the warehouse. It smelled of death, bodies still littered the floor and if there wasn't a body, it was parts of them.

Lovely.

Blowing up my cleaning crew hadn't been my smartest idea. Though I'm more surprised it was so untouched. Surely someone owned this factory.

By the time I reached the portion of flooring that we'd used, my stomach was churning. I held the light over the pit, fear churning in my gut.

It was just that.

A pit.

Slade Wilson was gone.

Fuck.

"Eren." I nearly jumped out of my skin as I whipped around, Tim was standing not five feet from me, his own flashlight in his hand. "What are you doing here?"

"What am I- what are you doing here?"

"A shady person entering a warehouse in the dead of night, right in the middle of my patrol route. Hm, I wonder why." He drawled.

"Shit, I thought no one was on route tonight." I'd even left my bracelet at the apartment so I couldn't be tracked.

"We change them up every so often to ensure no one can keep a pattern."

"Do you think maybe we could finish this conversation outside, I'm gonna puke."

He stepped to the side, as if to say 'after you'. I hurriedly made my way toward the exit, throwing open the door and happily breathing in fresh air.

Well, as fresh as it could get in Gotham's warehouse district.

"No, we're going up to the roof. Never know what kind of goons could be skulking." Tim shot a grapple up, holding a hand out.

"How chivalrous." I deadpanned, taking the offered hand and allowing him to wrap his arm around my waist, pulling the both of us up to the roof.

I was doing my best not to panic.

Holy shit.

Not only was Slade potentially alive but he was probably royally pissed. He was going to kill me, I was going to die. Guess Ra's won't be getting his hands on me after all.

"Eren!" Tim set his hand on my shoulder, I hadn't even realized that I was doubled over, my own hands on my knees, hyperventilating.

Lovely.

"I'm good, just-"

"If you say anything else besides panicking, I swear I'm gonna lose it." Tim warned as he helped me stand up straight. "I mean it."

"Okay fine, I was freaking out. You happy now?"

He crossed his arms. "What were you doing in the warehouse? Why is it full of dead people? I mean obviously it's been a while, I'll have to look closer to determine how long exactly they've been like that..." he muttered.

"That's where I buried Slade. He got out somehow."

"Wait wait. Got out? So you're saying you buried him alive?!" The whites of his mask widened. "Did you kill everyone down there?" He pointed at his feet.

I rubbed the back of my neck. "In my defense, he was a really shitty dad."

"You did!"

"It was the only way to ensure I could start over, the less people who knew about Maddie the better." Plus it didn't hurt that it felt like I was literally murdering my past.

"And did they? Know about Maddie."

"They knew about Charlie Gray, which is arguably worse."

Tim threw his hands up. "How is that worse?"

"Maddie was an unknown, Slade poured time and energy into ensuring I didn't exist. Charlie was a rumor, no one could really even get a description, but if even one of those men or women down there revealed who they were working for.. my freedom would be gone. I'd be hunted by the criminals who wanted the top spot. Now they won't go for it because I killed Slade so I get the title."

"So you killed them." Tim deadpanned.

"Technically speaking, yes. I gave the order for the bombs to go off. Max pulled the trigger."

"First. That's still murder. And who's Max?"

"Maxwell. He was my second hand man. He helped me ensure Slade's death and now he died for nothing." Guilt began to settle where the panic was, then it quickly turned to anger. I kicked at the gravel. "Ugh. Every time I think I'm free, something always happens."

First Ra's, now this.

"Okay." Tim muttered. "This means that Ra's can't collect on the life debt right?"

"How do you- Jason." Was everyone in my general vicinity a gossip? "Anyway, fine. But I still have a larger issue. Slade Wilson's body is gone, which means he's either alive or someone stole it. I have two weeks until Ra's Al Ghul comes after.." I had a better idea.

One that could save me.

"Gotta go Red." I ignored his calls, running across rooftops to metropolis.