Terry hated parties.

The lights in the Wayne Manor ballroom (were ballrooms still a thing?) were a soft, yellow illuminating on pristine white walls and marble tiles. Waiters gracefully weaved through the guests in crisp black suits holding expensive, delectable treats from some far of country with a name they could not pronounce. Sweet smelling flowers and expensive perfume pervaded the area, as soft jazz filled the room.

He wandered through the mass of chattering people, sending the occasional charming smile and 'thank you for coming' in in their direction. The incessant chattering of guests with too much money and no cares in the world was giving him a headache. Women hovered around him like flies- flies wearing Chanel No. 5.

"Hey honey, how 'bout you and me ditch this place and go have a little party of our own"

Terry looked at the woman. Plump red lip, thin arched eyebrows with thick lashes and a low cut gold dress that left little to imagination. Her arms were crossed under her, admittedly, voluptuous chest as she held her head high with a small smug smirk. She was any man's dream. Terry focused on her face, avoiding looking below the neckline. Any single man's dream, he thought. Terry stared at the woman in her half-lidded green eyes, award winning smile ready to let the woman down politely, when someone did it for him.

"I'm sorry, but this one's taken"

Dana Tan. Beautiful, feisty, smart and kind. Terry swallowed his grin, going for apologetic, even though he loved it when his girlfriend- make that soon to be fiancé if this night went smoothly- got possessive. Dana hooked her arm through Terry's pulling him away from the now gaping woman, only looking back to make one last comment.

"Oh and honey, you better close your mouth, don't wanna look too easy." The women shut her mouth before stalking away, probably looking for her next sugar daddy.

Terry had to disguise his amusement with an ill-timed cough at Dana's faux kind tone. God, she was beautiful when she got all sassy. However, she was terrible at hiding her annoyance as she pulled him to the edge of the room glaring at any onlookers who wanted to come close to the Wayne heir.

Reaching an out of the way table Dana let out a small groan of annoyance, her palm meeting her face as she glared at him through her fingers, like he was the problem. Well he was, but that really wasn't the point. "I hate these stupid parties. All these sluts always wanting to get into your-"

"Hey," Terry interrupted with a small, honest smile reserved only for family and Dana, gently taking her hand into his own larger, more calloused ones. "You know you're the only girl for me." Dana opened her mouth to respond when a deep, sarcastic voice broke in ruining the moment.

"Wow, you guys are disgustingly gross. Not even disgustingly cute, just gross."

Terry rolled his eyes in good-natured annoyance while Dana looked over his shoulder towards the tall figure leaning against the walls, smiling. Terry didn't even need to turn to look at man who spoke, just responding with a simple, "Jason, still a downright ass I see," his voice betraying how happy was to see his brother.

Dana kept smiling warmly at Jason giving him a once over as if checking that he was in one piece and unharmed. "Hey Jason, how've you been?"

Terry never understood Dana's fondness towards his younger siblings. Most of them were jerks- *cough* Damian and Jason *cough*- and irritating as hell. She was especially fond of-

Terry mentally shook himself to get rid of the lump in his throat and slight misting in his eyes. He still wasn't over it- hell he would never be over it. Terry knew why Jason had come back. In a few days it will officially be three years since He's been gone. Terry looked at his brother taking in his rigid, tense shoulders and dark circles beneath red-rimmed eyes. Jason was always the closest to Him. He felt a bout of brotherly concern well up.

"So Dana, wanna ditch the loser and go dance with me?"

Any brotherly concern was immediately squashed as glared down at his little brother who wore that devil-may-care smirk like a mask, holding a hand out towards his girlfriend. He knew it was all an act. Jason had always felt the need to act like a jerk after He died.

Obviously Dana noticed the act as well. She grinned deviously at Terry before winking at Jason and taking his hand, "It would be my honour," before walking off with his brother to the dance floor, leaving Terry alone. Jason…the little shit.

The two made an odd picture, Jason in worn jeans and a leather jacket as if woke up in a trailer park and Dana wearing a purple, silk dress and hair pulled into a graceful bun, looking like she belonged there.

"You know she's a keeper. Not just anyone can put up with this sorry excuse for a family."

What was up with all his siblings popping out of nowhere? Terry turned, watching as the large figure of his oldest, younger sibling step out of the shadows. Damian always had a way with theatrics.

Damian wore his typical blank mask- what Jason, Stephanie and Him used to call his resting bitch-face. He walked over to stand next to Terry, both of them watching Jason and Dana 'dance' immediately taking the spotlight. Dana had her head thrown back in mirth, laughing as Jason swung them around, childishly, with a full-blown grin. Terry couldn't remember the last time he had seen Jason that carefree- actually he couldn't remember that last time he had seen anyone in his family that happy. Their family hadn't really been happy since-

Terry pushed away the dark thoughts, choosing instead to focus on his brooding brother who was looking at the duo dancing. At first glance Damian looked emotionless and hard as he looked at the two, like a brick- actually a brick probably showed more emotion than Damian. A correct comparison would be a bat. Terry snorted to himself, more like the Bat. Damian heard the snort and turned looking away from cheerful scene.

"Has Cass contacted you yet?" Damian said breaking the relaxed silence that had formed between them; eyes still watch the two dancing. Damian, always protective over those he cared about.

Terry looked at Damian curiously "No, why? Did something happen?" Terry's mind immediately skipped to the worst possible scenario. He felt his throat close as his heart beat faster. He couldn't lose another sibling. He just couldn't.

"No, she just said her flight is delayed and she might be a bit late." Damian looked apologetic- well as sorry as he could get- internally berating himself for his choice of words. He placed a hand softly on Terry's shoulder in a comforting manner. Damian's subtle, expensive cologne filled Terry's nose, as Damian stepped closer to him.

"Cass is not in any trouble." Damian tried for a smile that was way too much teeth and looked like he had an aneurism.

Terry let out a short laugh, which was more like a short burst of air at Damian's sorry attempt at comforting him. How can someone be so awkward? Terry couldn't help but make fun of his little brother. I mean come on; it had to be in the big brother rulebook. Plus he needed a way to defuse the tension that had befallen them.

"Wow, the one and only Damian 'Bitch-Face' Wayne being nice to little ol' me! When did hell freeze over?" Well maybe Terry was a little shit too. Must run in the family.

Damian pulled his hand back as if he were electrocuted, grumbling under his breath something that sounded reminiscent of stupid brother, and a few other choice words. His glower deepened when he noticed Terry's smug face, and resisted the urge to punch it.

Breathing deeply through the nose, his eyes became serious and calculating as remembered the other reason he came, eyes surveying the room. It wasn't Damian anymore. It was Renegade. Terry immediately sobered up noticing his brother's change in demeanour.

"I don't know if father had told you but, there have been a string of murders in Star, Central even Metropolis, all different weapons, no connection between victims, over 30 people dead." Damian looked at Terry to see his reaction. Satisfied by confused look on his brother's face he continued.

"The league has been looking it to it, but they've come up blank. Well that's not really that new, considering how useless they all are," Damian mumbling at the end going of tandem, after all he didn't really attempt to hide his hate towards superheroes who didn't operate in Gotham.

"Damian, focus."

Damian glared at his brother for his Bat like order before continuing, "criminals, civilians have all been killed," Damian's voice was hushed; his frown could be heard through his voice. Damian hated when he couldn't solve something. "The murderer seems to be killing at random."

Terry's brow furrowed, "If there's no connection then why are you so worried." Yes, murderers need to be stopped, but he didn't see why Damian seemed so…rattled? Terry observed his brother closely. Damian was worried about something.

Damian looked at him straight in the eye. Terry could clearly see the hardness in his eyes and the steel in his voice, "because on each of the victim the killer has carved an X."

Terry still frowned deeper, bewildered. Surely he was missing something, because yes, killers in Metropolis were rare, especially with Big Blue watching over the city, but it didn't seem super odd. Nothing the whole league should be worried about.

"And…"

Damian voice was grim. "Terry, the killer…they've been leaving slaughtered bats on their victims chests."

Well, it looks like proposing to Dana was going to have to wait.

AUTHORS NOTE:

I swear its going to get better (at least I hope it will?). Hope you enjoyed :)