It had been 24 days since four of the Bats had been taken. Dick had been trying his best to keep up with the work that came with Wayne Enterprises, while spending his nights keeping Gotham semi-safe. After only 13 days going out as Nightwing, he began to patrol as Batman to keep the crime at bay. It was Gordan who figured it out first. The changes in fighting style, and the subtle switches in costume.
"Problems with the family, Batman?" he murmured one evening, handing 'Batman' a file full of the newest murder spree case information.
The man in the batsuit looked at the Commissioner. "Something like that Gordon; Robin, Red Robin, Red Hood and Batman were taken by Ra's al Ghul just over three weeks ago, and I managed to break my right wrist in two places, after only one week of it being healed. So, all in all, I'm just peachy. How's Miss Gordon?"
Jim blinked at the Bat. "She's still in China, waiting for the surgery. She should be getting the measurements and tests done now. I asked if she wanted me there, but she said I was desperately needed here. Have you any way of getting the rest of the Bats back?"
Batman grunted. "Have a lead. Thanks Gordon. " he hesitated slightly, before focussing on the Commissioner. "I'm going to be out of town for hopefully no more than a few days, can… could you and the force hold down the fort for that time?"
Gordon blinked "No problem, don't get yourself killed." The Bat nodded and jumped down.
As Gordon watched the Bat, he heard the door go behind him.
"I don't get why we need the Bat in Gotham, Commissioner. He needs to be arrested before he goes too far. The police force here needs sorting out if they really need the Bat to do the dirty work for them."
Gordon turned around to see one of the newer men on the force, Officer Trevor, along with a few others. He had been transferred from Ohio when he married and had always expressed his dislike for the Bats. He had managed to turn the opinions of some of the other newer recruits that hadn't lived in Gotham for very long.
Gordon narrowed his eyes angrily but took in a calming breath. "Batman and his partners have done more work in Gotham than any person, or group of people could achieve. I hope you have investigated the police reports I have personally done on the Bat? If not, I suggest you do. Over the years of me knowing the bat, I have gained something that many people take for granted today."
"And what is that Sir?" one of the lower ranking officers in the group asked, moving so the Commissioner could see him. The other men and women looked expectantly at Gordon, and Gordon regarded them with a blank look.
"Trust"
When he saw the officers were stumped, even shocked with that reply, he carried on.
"I was one of the first people to except him as a force of good. I met each of the Robins when they first joined the Bat's crusade. I have actually watched as they grew up along-side the Bat, then I saw, when he went missing, the eldest take up the mantle of Bat for a time. I have seen them fight together, as a family. They can read each other incredibly well, so well that they don't have to call out to each other in a fight, because they know they will all have each other's back. And without the Bat? Gotham would be a burning pit of Hell; a pit with some psycho like the Joker as king. Would any of you want that?"
Seeing the pale officers trying not to look him in the eye, he knew his point had gotten across.
"Couldn't have said anything better myself, Commissioner." A dark voice rumbled from behind him.
The group of officers on the roof near the bat symbol shrieked, and ran inside, barging past each other to get away from the Big Bad Bat.
The Commissioner laughed out loud, hard. The Batman stood on the edge of the roof, grinning, which did look slightly odd in costume.
"Oh Lord knows I needed that!" Gordon laughed out, a large smile on his face as he turned to the Bat. Batman gave a two-finger salute and took off across the rooftops, a smirk on his lips.
On an island in the middle of the Mediterranean (because I am not creative)
Ra's al Ghul walked down the corridor of his underground base, into the Great Hall, where his four prisoners stood in their glass-box confines.
"Having fun?" he asked, knowing full well what the answers would be.
The four of them were unmasked, but still in costume, giving off an air of professionality in the room. The room itself was incredibly grand, but Ra's was the only other person in there, due to the unmasked vigilantes on show.
Jason cursed colourfully under his breath, right alongside Damian, whereas both Tim and Bruce stayed silent. Finally, Bruce spoke up.
"Why have you come here Ra's? You haven't been in since you first put us in here. What is it that you want?"
Jason and Damian went silent as Ra's gave a sigh.
"I bought you here with news on the Missing Bird, so stay quite please. Or rather, I have some videos of the Bat."
The captives went rigid and still as the words sunk in. Ra's smirked at the shocked looks on their faces and began the video on the large screen in the room.
The video was a mixture of Dick as Nightwing fighting a group of thugs, as well as Batman fighting Two-Face and several low-ranking criminals. Another video was of Nightwing and Deathstroke. The final video was of Batman and the Joker, the Joker taunting Batman and he sent out waves of grenades.
Batman finally got close enough to land a kick in the Joker's chest, before the Joker swung round with a metal pipe. It was obvious Dick hadn't seen it, and the heavy pipe made violent contact with his right wrist. Dick roared in pain and the Joker burst out in hysterical laughter, before Dick struck the Joker in the cheek. The clown landed on the floor with a thud and the Bat staggered back, hissing through his teeth as he cradled his wrist. The wail of police sirens cut through the air, and Batman took off onto the rafters; his wrist pressed against his chest.
The video cut off, and Ra's looked at the captive Bats' expressions.
They were all showing little emotion, but there was an air of worry permeating the air as the video cut off.
"That was 4 days ago, and the Joker is back in Arkham Asylum as of now. I got information that Richard's wrist was broken in 2 places, but he has had to go back on the streets anyway due to a new string of murders in Gotham."
"Why show us Ra's?" Bruce growled, his eyes sharp and angry.
The Demon's Head went silent, before turning away from his captives.
"Because I wanted you to know his condition before he gets here tomorrow."
There was, as expected, a number of outraged cries from the Bats behind him, so he waited until they were quiet before he continued. "Richard was given a message from Deathstroke when you first went missing to meet with me, to organise your releases. He does not know this yet, but he has something I want. And if he does not give it to me, I will have to resort to… more violent methods with you; to convince him of course."
No one spoke up, he just received harsh glares from all of them.
"Richard shall get here tomorrow. I believe he will give me what I want."
And with those ominous last words, Ra's exited the Great Hall, head held high, leaving four figures alone with their thoughts once again.