Chapter 10

Robin contacted Aqualad. With Dick missing, Tim needed to be in Gotham. That didn't mean that Robin felt that the mission wasn't important, but his older brother was more important. At Batman's request, he didn't tell the Atlantean why, but he did tell the team leader that something had come up that required Robin to stay in his home city. It came as no surprise when Batgirl made a similar call.

"Do you think Kaldur suspects anything?" asked the redhead. She had just finished speaking with Aqualad.

"Even if he does, he won't pry," answered Robin.

The teenager typed a few key strokes and the file on Deathstroke reappeared on the screen. Robin was checking over the previous file Batman had made concerning Deathstroke. The dark haired teenager was paying especially close attention to the information regarding the exchanges Dick had had with the killer. Batman had insisted both Batgirl and Robin know the case and the locations. It seemed even more important now than before, since they already knew one of those locations had been used by Deathstroke to hold Dick.

"Tim?" asked Batgirl. She waited for the teenager to look up from the computer. Batgirl was looked down at the teenager. Her mask was shoved back and resting against the back of her neck. "Do you think he's still alive?"

"Dick is alive," replied the younger hero. Whereas Batgirl was partly out of her costume, Robin wore his, including the mask.

"How can we be sure?" asked the female hero.

"Slade wouldn't have moved a corpse."

Turning, both heroes looked behind them as Batman walked up to them. Like Robin, Batman wore his complete costume. On the outside, it appeared that Batman wasn't worried. Some would even believe the reputation that Batman had regarding those who were part of the Bat Family. That the others were useful soldiers, but Batman could find others to fill their shoes. But Tim knew that that was a lie. Batman cared. He just didn't know how to always show it.

While everything about Batman spoke of calm and controlled, Batgirl was projecting the opposite. Ever since she had heard about the room that Robin and Batman had examined, anger had been slowly building and Barbara wanted any excuse to let it out. Even if it meant yelling at her mentor.

"He could have killed Dick already and ditched the body," said Barbara. She place her hands on her hips at she glared at Batman.

"Don't say that, Babs," said Robin, shaking his head.

"Why not?" demanded the red head, as she turned to look down at Robin. Her voice vibrated with anger and fear. "It's what you're thinking too!"

"You're here to read about Deathstroke. To understand him and his methods," said Batman, as he decided to ignore her outburst.

"How will that help?" demanded Batgirl.

Batman said nothing. There was a moment of silence in the Batcave. Robin glanced at the file on the screen and a thought crossed his mind.

"Deathstroke is operating outside of his normal m.o.," said Robin, as he looked up at his mentor. "Normally he doesn't...play with those he intends to kill."

"Yes, Robin," replied Batman, as he nodded his head once.

"How does that prove Dick is alive?" demanded Batgirl.

For a moment, Robin looked at Batman before he turned to look at the redhead.

"Deathstroke wouldn't have moved a corpse, even to ditch it," explained the teenager. "Since we didn't find Dick's...body, then that means he's alive."

…...

"Richard?"

Dick opened his eyes and looked at the man standing before him. Deathstroke still wasn't wearing a mask, but he was wearing the rest of his costume. His hands were empty.

The hero realized he was losing his edge. He hadn't heard the door open or shut when the older man entered the room. This was the first time the killer had entered the room before Dick was aware of it.

"I have a proposal," said Deathstroke.

"What?" asked the hero. His eyes kept straying to the camera above the door.

"Beating a bound man isn't as much...fun as I had hoped," said the killer. "I could release you from the chair and give you the freedom of the room."

"Aren't you worried that I will escape?" asked Dick.

"No," replied the older man, a smirk turning up one corner of his mouth. "Because I have Robin in another room."

Again, Dick's eyes were drawn to the camera.

"If you attempt to escape, I will kill Robin," said Deathstroke. All humor was gone from the killer's face.

"I thought you wanted him as your new apprentice?" demanded the hero.

"I want to hurt you more," replied the older man. "Understand me, Richard. Robin will suffer for any foolish mistakes you make."

"Then why do you want to free me?" asked Dick.

"To give you the illusion that you have a chance," replied Deathstroke. The smirk returned. "So that, every time I beat you, you will know that it wasn't because you couldn't defend yourself. It was because you're not as good as everyone thinks. So that, Robin can see that the man he looks up to is a failure."

"No!" Robin's voice came through the communication system.

Dick jerked at hearing Robin's voice. For a moment, he looked away from the killer standing before him and toward the camera above the door. It looked almost like the older hero was going to address the camera before he returned his attention to the man standing before him.

"Alright," replied Dick. "If you free me, I won't attempt to escape."

"It's more than just not escaping, Richard," replied Deathstroke. He reached into his belt and pulled out a long knife.

"Nightwing!" Robin's voice entered the room again, but this time, Dick didn't jerk at the voice.

"When I enter this room, you will fight me," said the older man. "As I said, I'm bored beating a bound man."

Walking over, the killer began cutting away at the tape that trapped Dick to the chair.