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Parents and Children, chapter 4

On the third day of his captivity, Match's left eye was swollen shut. There were bruises all over his body. Luthor came for another visit.

"I hope that you know that I don't actually like seeing you this way," Luthor told him.

"I don't think you dislike it either," was Match's reply.

"True. You're getting my employees quite frustrated; they thought they could break you in a day. Your resolve hasn't cracked."

"Is that a compliment from Daddy? I'm afraid that you have me confused with someone else; I don't have a father complex. I'm the one with the mother complex."

"Your defiance is quite amusing. If you want the truth, I think I've grown quite fond of you."

Match burst out laughing. It hurt to laugh. He managed to control himself after a few moments.

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to laugh, but you have to admit that my current situation doesn't reflect any fondness from you at all."

"I suppose it doesn't. If you'd willingly join me, it would all stop."

"I'm afraid that I'm going to have to decline your offer."

"Don't you think it's odd? You hated Superboy, but now you're his faithful dog. Don't you think that they altered your mind? They've done it to others, why not you?"

"He wouldn't do that. Even if they did change my mind, it would have been for the best. I like myself much more than before."

"If worst comes to worst, I'll simply have your mind wiped. You'll be like you were originally."

A flicker of fear showed in Match's eyes. "You're bluffing."

Luthor gave him a sinister smile. "I don't bluff."

Conner's eyes were red from lack of sleep. He had only gotten an hour or two of sleep here and there over the past three days. Fortunately, his body could draw on its resources of solar energy to keep him going. His mind, however, needed rest.

Robin and Oracle had traced the components of A-36 to their manufacturers. They were in the process of tracing the location to which they were shipped. These would be cross-referenced against flights from the airport that was near the abandoned car.

Nightwing was uneasy. "It seems too easy. I think we're being led to this conclusion."

"For what purpose?" Conner asked. "It's a Byzantine path to follow if it's one that's been laid for us."

"Listen to you. 'Byzantine path.' You sound like you've swallowed a dictionary."

Conner blushed. "I think I've picked up some of Match's vocabulary. He has a very unusual vocabulary and way of speaking for a teenager."

"No, I think it's either a trap for us, or we're supposed to go there and cause some event to happen. The trail of clues seems a little too definitive."

Kon leaned back in his chair. "This is the only lead we have, though. If we're going to find my brother, we have to do this."

"I know. I just want you to be careful. It doesn't hurt to be on guard. I've just got this feeling about it."

Nightwing shook his head to clear away those thoughts and looked at Kon. "Rest up. I'll let you know when Robin and Oracle report. We'll move out once we have a location."

"I can stay awake," Kon argued.

"You're exhausted," Nightwing stated, his voice hardening. "If you're tired, you'll be a liability to us when we go to retrieve Match. If that's the case, I will leave you at the Watchtower."

Kon jerked back, as if he had been slapped. "I...I wasn't expecting that from you. You seemed way too nice to do something like that."

Nightwing softened. "I know that you want to help Max, but you won't be any help if you're about to pass out. You'll just put him in danger."

Kon sighed and nodded. "You're right. I'll get some sleep."

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