Mort de la Jeunesse*

The night was a big success for the Gotham Museum of Art. The Wayne Foundation was responsible for the newest art exhibit, a Death of Society, which depicted art in various forms showing how modern society was killing people. Some of the art depicted literal death, while other art showed a more metaphorical interpretation. Since it was opening night, the reporters were outside the museum and interviewing people who were coming and going from the museum. Gotham's most rich and influential were present tonight, though other cities were represented on the guest list.

So, it didn't escape the notice of the paparazzi when they saw Lex Luthor enter the museum. Since he was one of the richest men in Metropolis, the reporters were interested to find out why the man was in Gotham at a Wayne event. But, less than 30 minutes later, Luthor left and he refused to stop and talk with the press.

But one arrival that got some reporters talking was when they saw Oliver Queen, the richest man in Star City, show up, not with a beautiful woman, but his ward, Roy Harper. Rumor had it that the two men weren't getting along and reporters were interested to find out why. But as much as the reporters attempted to speak with them as they entered the museum, the most the reporters got was when they both smiled for the camera and, in the case of Oliver Queen, waved.

Inside the museum, the show rooms were packed. Some were there to look at the art. They sipped champagne and examined the paintings and sculptures. But most of the guests pretended to look at the art. The real reason they were at the museum was to get close to the host, Bruce Wayne. Some of those were interested in meeting Wayne. They just wanted to say that they had met the man, which would improve their own reputations. While there were others who were hoping to get the billionaire to finance some new project.

But what surprised some of the guests was that Bruce's adopted son, Richard, seemed to want to stay near his father. When the billionaire first adopted the boy, he would stay near Wayne during these events. But, in the last couple of years, the teenager would rarely stay with his father. And, since Wayne was a famous man, there were rumors as to why. Some thought that Richard hated these parties and didn't want to have to socialize any more than needed. While others believed the teenager was more confident and didn't need his father for support any more.

With Richard standing so close to Wayne, the rumors were already flying. Some assumed the teenager was close by so his father could begin grooming him to take over. While others speculated that Wayne had caught the teenager doing something wrong and wanted to keep a closer eye on the boy. Others didn't care the reason, they just wanted the boy to leave so they could have a private moment with Wayne. Especially since the boy seemed less than happy to be with his father. In fact, the guests didn't see the boy smile until the arrival of Roy Harper and Oliver Queen.

Quickly, the dark haired teenager greeted the older teen. "Roy! I'm so glad you came!"

"I would have said, didn't have a choice, but..." replied the red head.

"But you did and you still came," replied the blond guardian, before reaching out a hand to Bruce. "Bruce."

"Oliver," replied Bruce, taking the hand and shaking it. "Glad you could make it."

"Since Roy is here, do I have to stay at your side?" asked Dick quickly, ready to be away from the crowd. He didn't need to be one of the world's best detectives to know that there were guests who wanted a private word with Bruce and they felt they couldn't have that word with Dick standing nearby.

"Stay with Harper," replied Bruce, as he glanced toward his son.

Nodding his head, Dick grabbed Roy's hand and pulled the older teenager into the crowd. The two older men watched as they disappeared into the crowd.

"How is he doing?" asked Oliver, who, as member of the Justice League, was aware of Deathstroke's recent attack.

"He's...nervous," replied the dark haired man, frowning. He could no longer see either teen in the crowd and he didn't like not knowing where his son was.

"Is that why he was by your side, even though you know he hates these events?" asked Oliver. "Shit! I hate these events."

"I'd rather have him where I can see him, since I know Wilson knows his identity," replied Bruce, as he ignored Oliver's other comment.

While across the room, Dick stepped into a less crowded hall with the older boy. "I hate these events!"

"Me too," replied Roy, as he looked over his younger friend.

After Roy found out that he wasn't the real Roy Harper, that he was a clone, he had withdrawn from almost everyone. But, when Wally had told him that Deathstroke had targeted Dick, Roy decided to keep a closer tab on what was going on in Robin's world. Later, when he heard, again from Wally, about Deathstroke approaching Dick in civilian clothes, Roy had decided to put his mission, to find the real Roy Harper, on hold. So, even though he hated the social gatherings of the rich, when he heard that Ollie was going to a museum event where Dick would be present, he decided to tag along. He wanted to see for himself how Dick was doing.

"How are you holding up?"

For a moment, the normally loquacious teenager said nothing. In fact, Roy could detect that the younger hero seemed...scared, which wasn't like Dick. Feeling awkward, the older teenager placed a hand on Dick's shoulder and gave it a quick squeeze, before dropping his hand to his side again.

"Thanks for coming," said Dick, not looking at his friend. Even though Roy was one of his closest friends, he didn't want to admit that he was afraid to the older teenager.

"You said that already," replied Roy, as he glanced around the party. The archer wanted to make sure Dick was as safe as possible. Mostly, the red head saw a bunch of people who were well dressed and looking at art. When he had entered the museum, and until he had found Dick by Bruce's side, Roy had glanced at some of the art. Some looked interesting, while others he thought a 3-year-old would do a better job.

"I mean, I know you're really busy trying to find the...other Roy," replied Dick.

"You mean, the real Roy," replied the red head bitterly as he looked at the younger teen. "You know, as compared to me? The clone."

"Roy," said Dick, looking up at the older teen. He waited till he had Roy's full attention before continuing. "I know you want to find the other Roy, but you're the one I became friends with and fought beside."

"Uh huh, and don't think, for a second, that I don't know that you're trying to change the subject," said Roy, as he scanned the room again.

As he checked the room for threats, his attention stopped on an older man, dressed in a tuxedo. He had noticed the man the first time he glanced around the room. The man had been facing away from the art, but Roy assumed that the man was done looking at the painting behind him and scanning the room to find a new piece to look at. But when Roy scanned the room again, the man was still facing away from the art.

In fact, the man appeared to be looking at them. Turned, so Roy could only see the man's profile, Roy would describe the man as older, since his hair and beard were white. Roy wasn't close enough to see eye color, but he could tell that the color was neither dark nor light. If he had to guess, Roy would say blue or green.

"Dick?" said the red headed archer. "The guy over there, near the weird red and black painting, is staring. You know him?"

Trying to be subtle, the younger teenager looked over. For a moment, Dick didn't react and Roy thought the guy wasn't a problem. But the idea that the man wasn't a threat idea left Roy as he watched the normally tan youth get pale and then glare at the older man.

"Who is he?" demanded the older teenager, as he looked away from Dick and toward the older man.

The man had turned and was facing them now. And, with him facing them, Roy would see the man's black eye patch. With a smile, the man tipped his champagne glass toward them before taking a sip. Roy had an uncomfortable feeling that he knew who the man was, which Dick confirmed with his answer.

"Deathstroke."

Roy looked at Dick as soon as the boy mentioned the killer's name, but when he turned his attention back to where Deathstroke had been standing, but the man was gone. "I think we should get you back to Bruce."

Nodding his head, Dick moved into the crowd with Roy close by his side. It only took a minute or two before Dick found Bruce talking with another man. Dick and Roy saw that, while Oliver wasn't standing next to Bruce, he wasn't far away either.

"Bruce!"

"Young man, we are having a conversation," stated the older gentleman, with a quick glance toward Dick. The man was dressed in a tuxedo, like all the other men present, but he was a heavy set man, shorter than Bruce, but taller than Dick. "It's rude to interrupt!"

"Bruce, it's important," said Dick, not giving up on getting his father's attention.

"I'm sorry, Ronald, but I should see to my son. But don't worry. We will finish our conversation," replied the billionaire, patting the older man on the shoulder before taking Dick's upper arm and steering him away.

While Dick was getting Bruce's attention, Roy made sure to get Oliver's, so it wasn't a surprise when the blond joined them.

"Something wrong?" asked Oliver, glancing between the two teens and Bruce.

"He's here," said Dick.

"Who?" asked Oliver, with a frown.

"Deathstroke," said Roy, trying to keep his voice down.

"What?" said Oliver and the same time that Bruce said "Where?"

"We saw him over at that red and black painting," replied the red head, as he waved a hand in the general direction.

"Harper, stay with Dick," commanded Bruce, as he walked in the direction Roy had waved in.

The blond archer glanced at Dick. He could tell that the younger boy was shaken up, but was also trying to hide it. Oliver looked at Roy, nodded to him, before he followed Bruce. Oliver knew that Roy would protect the the boy, though he doubted that Deathstroke would make a move in such a crowded space.

It didn't take long for the two men to find the painting Roy had meant. It was a painting that Roy would have classified under "a 3-year-old could do better", since it was mostly just splattered with black and red paint with a faint outline of a figure in white. Quickly, the two men looked around, trying to spot the killer. But, when Oliver couldn't see him, he turned his attention to the painting that Deathstroke had been standing near.

"Bruce?" said Oliver, as he waved a hand toward the painting's title card.

Realizing that the killer must be gone, Bruce looked down. "Mort de la Jeunesse*," said Bruce.

"Do you think it's a threat or a coincidence that he was standing here?" asked the blond.

Bruce clenched his hand. "I don't know," said Bruce, as he looked toward his son. "But I don't like it."

...

*"Death of the Youth" - I don't speak French, so hopefully it's correct.

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