"What?" Dick growled. His eyes were wide behind the white lenses of his cowl. He had just returned from his mission. The children were safe, and the murderer had been apprehended, but at a cost. He stared at Red Robin, who could not even look at him anymore. Dick could see the remorse reflecting in Tim's eyes.

"We tracked him down…God, Dick, I'm so sorry," he choked out from his chair. He buried his head in his hands. Tim could not believe he let Klarion get away, but there was nothing he could do. "She's gone…Asami's gone," he said, his voice low. He slowly looked up at Dick. The mask hid the older brother's expression, but Tim could only imagine the sorrow he felt.

Dick turned away from Tim. He brought his gloved hand back, and slammed it into the wall of the bat cave. The rock crunched beneath his fist, and he was sure he felt one of his fingers snap, but he did not care. How could he have let her go out alone? They knew Klarion would always be a threat. That was why Batman and Robin had become Batman, Robin, and Nightwing the moment he had to take up the cowl. The crossdressing had been her idea, but she was right. The two were an inseparable team. Not even Bruce's sudden absence could break them apart.

It was too dangerous for them to be apart.

However, they had gotten careless. She had left to patrol on her own, and he regretted every single one. She was a target, no matter what they did. She would always be a target, especially since they still did not know what the reason behind bringing her to this world even was, and now she was gone. She had been sent back to where she came, because he fucked up.

He exhaled sharply, eyes still narrowed. He could not even look at Tim. All he could think about was having to tell Mary that her mother was gone. She was the one Robin who was not going to have any parental issues, but now she had lost a mother. She was supposed to be the one with a happy, loving family, but now everything was messed up.

His wife was gone, and there was nothing in his power he could do about it.

"Zatanna-" Tim began, but was quickly cut off by Dick.

"She could not even get Asami home, how the hell is she supposed to get her back?" He glared down at his younger brother. He actually saw Tim flinch, and was instantly filled with regret. "I'm sorry. I'm just…" He looked away.

Tim got up from his chair. "We'll figure something out," he sighed.

"We always do," Dick choked out before stumbling away from his brother. He needed to get on his daughter. He needed to see that she was still with him.

The man did not bother to strip out of his suit. He quickly walked up the steps, and entered the manor. He moved as fast as he could, and maneuvered around the halls. He tried to ignore his overwhelming anguish. No matter how prepared they had been, this was something they could not prevent. He was the goddamn Batman, and he could not protect one of the most important people in his life.

He silently pushed his daughter's door open before peeking into the room. He saw her tiny form sleeping easily on the bed. She had kicked the covers off in her sleep. The sight brought a sad smile to his face.

He crept through the shadows, until he was next to her. He reached out to pull the covers over her, but he felt her hand on his. "Daddy," the little girl yawned. She slowly sat up in her bed, and began to rub her eyes. Dick sat down on the bed, and pulled the little girl onto his lap. She tilted her head as he held her close.

Mary felt liquid drip onto the shirt of her batman nightgown. She reached up and pulled her father's cowl off. She watched the tears trickle down his cheeks. "Daddy, what's wrong?" The little girl put her tiny hand against his cheek. Her thumb brushed the tears away. This man was the Batman. He was big, strong, and unbeatable, yet here he was with a broken look in his eye. He looked so far away.

Mary's brows furrowed. "Daddy?" She croaked.

He ran a hand through her thick curls. God, she looked so much like her mother. He had no idea how he was going to tell her. He did not know if he should wait until morning, or tell her then. Was it fair for him to let her wake up, only to find that her mother had not come home from patrol?

"Asami- your mother's gone, baby bat," he whispered. The tears continued to fall. His expression hardened as he stared down at his daughter. He watched her lips turn, her brows furrow, and her eyes widen. Tears filled her blue eyes, but she did not let them fall. She looked so brave, but also like she had been expecting this.

Dick pulled his daughter close to him. He hunched over her tiny, still form. The child was far too innocent to be a Robin, but she was as smart as the ones before her. He knew he did not have to explain the situation to her. She knew the circumstances of her family. She knew that she could have lost her mother any day before then, and Dick hated that he his daughter had to think such a way.

"Klarion," she stated almost emotionlessly. "That's his name, right, daddy?" Her voice was even, even though her body was tense.

"Forget about it, baby bat," Dick whispered. He pulled away from her. He kissed his daughter's forehead. He pushed her hair back.

"Don't make a promise you can't keep, alright, daddy?" Mary stared at her father, her eyes narrowing.

Dick gulped. "Of course not," he choked out. His daughter knew the chances of them getting Asami back were slim.

"At least we have each other," Mary murmured as she pushed off of her father's lap. She crawled back under her covers.

"At least we have each other," Dick confirmed, his voice void of emotion.

Their family was broken.