Flash continued to complain to himself as he sped throughout the Watchtower until he reached the meeting room. He expected to have arrived last (as usual) but, to his surprise, he was not.
And surprising him even more were missing Batman and Nightwing who were always on time and early, especially the first.
At a quick glance, he noticed that all the founding members were present (excluding Batman and Aquaman who rarely attended meetings unless they were of extreme emergency to the world or otherwise something seriously important) including Green Arrow and Zatanna.
He was confused about the sorceress's presence but did not give it away while he was not for Oliver since the archer was one of the first members to be recruited into the League.
As he sat in his seat, he posed the question that so plagued him. "Does anyone know why this meeting has been called at this hour?"
"Indeed! I only came because Nightwing called it otherwise I would have told you to go to hell, Superman." declared Green Lantern Hal Jordan bluntly.
After all, he and other League members would have done anything for their grandson.
"Thanks for letting me know." the Kryptonian stated dryly as he shot a dirty look at Wonder Woman who was giggling.
"Wait, Nightwing? I didn't know he programmed it." Green Arrow scowled.
"Neither did I." admitted slightly confused Martian Manhunter, followed by nods of assent from Flash and Zatanna.
"Why is the spaceman the only one who knew it was Nightwing who called the meeting?" Flash dramatically pointed his finger at Green Lantern.
"Do you know that pointing finger is rudeness?" declared Hal impassively.
"Because otherwise he wouldn't have listened to me and, as he said himself, he would have told me to go to hell." Superman replied, frowning slightly.
"I would have done it too if Superman hadn't threatened to send Diana to kick my ass for participating." Oliver muttered and everyone burst out laughing.
"Wait till I tell Wally who's going to tell Roy who's going to tell Dick and Donna!" the fastest man in the world spoke in laughter.
"I'm going to kill you damn speedster."
"That is if you catch me, archer of my boots."
"Speaking of Dick, where is he?" asked Zatanna.
It was bad enough that she had to attend the meeting practically at night and the fact that Nightwing, who summoned it, still had not shown up did not help it at all.
"Here I am, sorry for the delay." came Nightwing's voice as he entered the Meeting Room. He took a quick glance at those present and sighed. "Man, uncle Barry got here before me. My siblings won't end up making fun of me for this." he muttered.
"Ehy!" feignedly indignant Flash protested as they all giggled.
Nightwing took on a very serious expression as he sat down. He crossed his hands as he rested his elbows on the table. "First of all, I thank you for coming on such short notice. Without wasting any further time, I will go straight to telling you the reason for this meeting."
"Excuse me for interrupting, but Batman?" posed the question Martian Manhunter.
"He' s exactly what this is about." the acrobat took a deep breath before beginning to speak. "To make a short story, three days ago Batman was shot by a special kind of gun and has been missing ever since."
He raised a hand and interrupted the surprised murmurs, not thinking at all about how much he was respected by the League by even that simple and seemingly insignificant gesture that calmed them all down in a flash.
Even Superman, and sometimes Wonde Woman, had trouble quieting the chatter among the various members.
"My family was able to find out that it is a teleportation weapon. Unfortunately, we also found out that he is nowhere to be found on Earth since no coordinates had been set for the location as a destination when Batman was hit.
"Red Robin has two theories. The first is that Batman ended up in the past, future or another universe. The second is that instead of teleporting him, the gun destroyed every material particle of him."
By the end of the story all members present were shocked.
Nightwing turned to the sorceress. "I would like to ask you if there is a spell to track Batman in any time travel or other reality."
Zatanna seemed to contemplate before nodding slowly. "I believe there is." she murmured softly and she turned a serious look to her friend. "But it is also one of the most difficult spells to perform. Tomorrow morning I will prepare for the spell. Let's meet tomorrow afternoon here at the meeting room and bring something that can help track down Batman."
Dick nodded and thanked her warmly as she left the room.
"I don't understand one thing." all eyes turned to Green Arrow. "Why did you call the rest of us?"
"Because it seemed only fair to alert the founding members of the League to the delicate situation that has arisen since they are the ones who have known Batman the longest."
"But I am not a founding member."
"Listen uncle Ollie, everyone in the room right now is considered a friend by Bruce, whether he wants to admit it or not."
The millionaire's eyes went wide at the admission.
"Even me?" asked Flash excitedly as he vibrated on the spot.
Dick laughed. "You too, uncle Barry."
"And here I thought he hated everyone outside his family." muttered Hal.
"Nah. You guys are the ones he has the least desire to kill."
"Gee, thanks."
"You're welcome uncle Hal."
"Dick." the boy turned to Diana who was looking at him worriedly. "How are you taking it?"
Everyone turned back to Richard, anxious about the answer and a little worried.
The former Robin took a deep breath. "I'm trying to think about it as little as possible and help everyone else."
Superman gave him a sweet smile. "I think we all would have guessed that but, Dick, you have to worry about yourself too."
"I'll only worry about myself when I'm sure others will be okay."
Wonder Woman frowned. Why did her son have to be so selfless and always put the welfare of others ahead of his own if not ignoring it altogether?
But then, that is one of Dick Grayson's main characteristics.
Nightwing turned to Martian Manhunter. "Uncle J'onn, I need your help for tomorrow morning."
"Go ahead."
"I just remembered that tomorrow the mayor of Gotham is going to give a very important speech about how citizens should work together to improve the city, although I don't see the point since they never will." he mumbled the last part before continuing.
"I need you to transform yourself from Bruce Wayne since he will also have to read a speech that I will prepare for you. Bruce hasn't been to work for three days already and at least this way his disappearance won't coincide with Batman's." he finished.
The martian nodded. "I will be glad to help you, Dick."
Nightwing smiled before clapping his hands. "Well, the meeting is over. I'm sorry to wake you from your beauty naps but it was of the utmost importance. I reiterate once again that you are Bruce's only and true friends and, as such, it seemed only fair to warn you.
"You can safely return home. I thank you once again for your participation on such short notice. Ah, one last thing, I would like neither Wally and Garth and Roy and Donna to know about this. I don't want to alarm them, at least not now." he turned to Diana, Oliver and Barry who nodded.
"Dick, before I go I'd like to think that tomorrow afternoon we could all be there when Zatanna tries to locate Batman." Hal looked at him.
Dick smiled. "Of course, you didn't even have to ask me. Now, we can all go before Diana kills me for waking her."
"I'll forgive you this time but next time you won't get away with it."
"Thank you for warning me, mom."
Nightwing was slightly nervous as he watched Zatanna flip through several spell books while all the other members present the day before stood beside him.
Fortunately, the morning went well. J'onn did an excellent impersonation of Bruce Wayne (although everyone in the family had some problems when he transformed as flawlessly as he did).
So the problem of the secret identity was solved, at least for the moment.
Now he was just waiting patiently for the spell to be cast.
Apparently the spell was more difficult than the sorceress initially thought.
Ten minutes later Zatanna turned to Nightwing. "I'm ready. Did you bring an item associated with Batman?"
He nodded and handed her the only thing that was left of the Caped Crusader: his cape.
He ignored how he felt colder without his father's cape as he watched her do... whatever she was doing.
He observed, slightly amazed, how with a few words of enchantment he had created a huge magical sphere of a bluish color.
Dick took a step forward only to be stopped by Zatanna who raised a hand from where she stood. "It would be best if you stayed there, otherwise you might accidentally disrupt the spell."
Nightwing was about to protest when a hand on his shoulder was laid gently. He turned to look his mother in the eyes, who shook her head slightly.
He remained conflicted to himself before giving up and standing there.
Another fifteen minutes passed in pure silence.
All the while Wonder Woman's hand on his shoulder did not move and he mentally thanked her for the emotional support.
Afterwards the magic orb disappeared and Zatanna returned to the others, exhausted and with a somber expression.
Nightwing had a very bad feeling.
"I'm sorry Dick but Bruce was not catapulted into the past or the future." Zatanna began with an apologetic expression. "And my magic has a big limitation about alternate universes. In the very few I have been able to examine, Batman was not present." she continued as she handed the cape back to him.
As he took it, Nightwing was shaking. Whether from anger or fear, he did not know.
He tried to push back the tears that were forming in his eyes but could not.
How could he do that when his father, his rock he could rely on every single time, was neither on Earth nor in time travel and there were endless alternate realities he could be catapulted into?
He ignored the looks of understanding and pity the sorceress was giving him.
He did not want her pity!
He just wanted Bruce to return home and everything to be as it was before!
Was that too much to ask, dammit?!
He found himself crushed in an embrace and a hand ran through his hair as a soft voice tried to comfort him.
He clung to his mother like a lifeline, as if he feared that Diana too might disappear at any moment if he let her go.
He did not notice that everyone present left them alone to give mother-son some privacy.
He did not notice that Wonder Woman gently removed his mask.
He did not notice that she gently wiped away his tears.
The last time he had cried like that was when he learned of Jason's death.
The only thing he knew was that he wanted his father back.
When he realized that the chances of finding him again, already low, dropped dramatically he clung tighter to his mother figure, sobs pouring from his throat.
He did not know how long he had been in Diana's embrace but at some point he knew he had to break away, so he did, albeit reluctantly.
The princess silently handed the mask back to him and he quickly put it on.
He took a deep breath and bottled up all negative emotions.
They would not help when he told his family the bad news, and he had to be ready to help them, even if it would prove bad for his health and well-being.
"Thank you, mom. I really needed that."
"You're welcome, my little Robin." he managed to smile slightly at the sweet nickname she had never abandoned for him. "Just remember, if you need me, I will always be there for you."
He nodded seriously and turned away. When he reached the zeta tube and entered the code, without turning around, he spoke. "I always knew from the day you became my mother figure."
And with that he disappeared, leaving Wonder Woman with a watery smile.
Bruce, wherever you are, you absolutely must come back. Your whole family will need you, especially Dick since he will carry all the weight on his shoulders.
Alone.