Just a heads up, this is AU. After Bruce comes back from the 'dead'. Oh and i do write Bruce with emotions...He's human after all.
The moon shown down on a graveyard; the twisted shapes of the leaf bare trees and solid forms of headstones very gave the land an unwelcoming appearance. Batman's eyes scanned the area; his breath making white clouds in the night winter air.
"There is someone in the warehouse directly across from you" Superman's voice came over the com-link.
"Can you tell?" Batman's voice was dark and quiet.
"No, but whoever it is, is still alive"
Batman nodded to himself and took off toward one of the many abandoned buildings in Gotham. He froze at the door "we aren't alone"
Static came over the com-kink "Metallo…" The link went dead.
Batman grit his teeth and crept through the warehouse. A figure caught his eyes and he turned.
"Stop"
Batman froze at the quiet command from his eldest. "Wing?"
Nightwing lay prone in the center of the floor; His breathing sharp and labored "There…there is a pressure plate…in front of you" he coughed, his head resting on his arm.
Batman looked down and carefully sidestepped the trap. He knelt beside Nightwing "Can you stand?"
Nightwing turned his head toward him "No" he coughed "I'm linked…to a bomb"
Batman looked over the younger man; his blood was pooling slowly around him. The bomb was connected to another, smaller, pressure plate; the slightest change in weight would set it off. The device itself was complicated and would take time and patience to disarm "What happened?"
Nightwing gave a short laugh "Metallo used me…as a punching bag" he coughed again "then jammed a…really strong sedative…into me" he forced himself to take a deep breath. "I can't…move" he coughed harshly "I need to…consciously breathe"
Batman's frown deepened "Are you in pain?"
Nightwing shook his head "I don't know" he started coughing harshly
"Nighwing" Batman cupped his son's face with one hand "Breathe, 'Wing', just focus on breathing"
Nightwing nodded, tremors shaking his body as he forced himself to breathe.
"Find him" a voice came from the entrance to the warehouse.
Batman looked toward the voice.
Nightwing swallowed as the voices grew "Bruce, go"
Batman looked at his son "I'm not abandoning you" he snarled
Nightwing coughed "They will kill you….I'm more…use to them alive"
Bruce shook his head as he reached for a batarang "Only so they can use you to get to me, I am not going to put you through that"
Nightwing coughed pain "Then…then I guess you'll need… to get to me quick" he said "Bruce, don't let them…take another parent from me"
Batman grit his teeth and cupped Nightwing's cheek again "Hold on" he said "I'll get you out of there"
Nightwing nodded "go"
Bruce threw this cowl off "Bastard" he snarled. After he watched Nightwing forced into a car, he had just spent the last of the night searching the city.
Clark stepped up behind him "Bruce…" he easily dodged the throwing star that was hurled at the wall.
"I left him" Bruce said as he sank into his chair, "He forced me to leave Dick in his hands"
Clark sighed "You didn't have a choice"
"Father" Damian came down the stairs, attitude in full swing "this was just left at the signal" he threw an opened envelope onto the control panel "Why didn't you say anything?" he demanded
Bruce shot his youngest a glare that shook most. Damian valiantly kept the arrogant look on his face, but took a single step back and crossed his arms. Bruce picked up the envelope and pulled out a disc. With a fraction of hesitation, he slid the disc into the computer.
A hall way appeared on screen, Nightwing fell can into sight and his head struck the wall and he fell to his knees.
Lex appeared on screen; he smirked "Seize him"
"Yes sir" Lex's security officers rushed forward and quickly restrained the fallen vigilante; injecting him with a strong sedative as they did. They pulled him up and dragged him to where Lex was.
Lex grasped Nightwing's hair and looked the young hero in the eye "take him to interrogation. I will be there soon"
The screen switched to Luthor's office "apparently you made it through our little surprise" he said as he took a seat behind his desk. "However, your boy wasn't so lucky"
The screen cut to a security camera. Nightwing was leaned up against the wall of a prison. He was breathing heavily and had blood running down the side of his head.
"I'll make this short" Lex's voice narrated "When you and Superman surrender and I will leave him alone. Until then his life is mine"
The screen cut to static.
Bruce grit his teeth "Dick" he whispered
"Bruce" The dark knight turned to see Tim standing behind him with Conner. The Red Robin's eyes were wide. "How…"
Damian stepped forward "Now what?" he demanded.
Bruce sighed and ran his hand through his hair "I don't know"
Clark stepped forward "First things first"
Conner nodded in agreement "Family first"
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