WARNING: Chapter is rated M for torture, death, and adult themes.

Chapter 115: Reindeer Games

Dick's POV

Jay, Timmy, Dami and I were watching Christmas movies together. Bruce was at the airport waiting for Alfred to get in from his flight. Unfortunately, Alfred's plane was delayed so Bruce was going to be at the airport for a while.

I stuck my hand in the popcorn bowl only to hit the bowl. I immediately paused the movie and was met with screams of protest. I looked over at Jason and said, "Jay, we're out of popcorn."

"So? What do you want me to do about it?"

"Go make some."

"You go do it."

"Alfred banned me from the kitchen."

He huffed, "Fine. Tim, we need popcorn."

Tim said, "No. You get it."

The two of them ended up doing rock paper scissors. Jason ultimately lost. The three of us stared at the paused screen and waited for Jason to get back. Five minutes later, Jason still wasn't back. I nudged Damian and said, "Go check on Jason."

"Grayson, Todd isn't that incompetent. He'll be back soon."

I suddenly felt uneasy as we sat in silence. Something's wrong. Nothing feels right.

The lights flickered as the TV cut off. We were left in darkness for a few minutes before the backup generator kicked in and the lights came back on.

"My phone doesn't have a signal!" Damian yelled.

"Relax. The snow storm probably killed the power," Tim explained as I stood up.

I said, "I'm going to check on Jay. The two of you sit tight."

"That won't be necessary, Richard. Sit back down," an unfamiliar voice ordered.

I turned to see an unfamiliar man with a balaclava over his face approaching with two other men.

"Where's Jason?"

"You don't ask the questions around here, Richard. I do. You are merely a pawn in our game-"

"How did you get in here? Who in the hell are you?" I growled.

"Interrupt me again and I'll have one of my friends hurt one of your little brothers and I'm sure you wouldn't want them to be hurt because of an order you refused to follow. Understand?"

"Yes."

"Yes what?"

"Where's Jason, if you've hurt him-"

"To answer your question from earlier, you may call me… Noel. My associates are Mistletoe, Holly," he replied and nodded at his men before continuing, "Snow, can you and Frost bring Jason in here?"

Seconds later, two men appeared with Jason between them. He'd been gagged with one of Alfred's kitchen towels and his wrists were zip tied in front of him. "Frost" and "Snow" held onto his arms as Jason glared at "Noel."

"It seems that Richard isn't setting a very good example for his little brothers. He isn't cooperating like Timothy and Damian are. Show him what happens when he ends up on Santa's naughty list."

The next second Jason's shoulder was ripped out of its socket. He dropped to his knees and let out a muffled cry. Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes as he blinked them back.

"Stop!" Tim, Damian, and I cried.

"Then do as you're told. Sit. Down."

The three of us immediately sat down.

Damian growled, "Don't hurt him again."

"I make no promises, Damian. Besides, you broke a rule. You spoke out of term but since it is Christmas, I'm willing to overlook your mistake… Now boys, we're all going to play a little game."

"What kind of game?" Tim asked before adding, "And no rules were broken because you've only given one. You never said we couldn't ask questions."

"You're a very bright child, Timothy. We're going to play a survival game. The game ends when dawn breaks."

"What are the terms?" I asked.

"My companions and I will do whatever we please and none of you will fight us. If you win, you live. If you lose, you die. It's very simple. Are we ready to begin?"

"You haven't told us how to play or why you're here or what you want!" I snapped.

"It's more fun for us if you didn't know. Are you ready to play?"

"How do you expect us to play a game that we nothing about! We don't even know what's going on!" Damian snapped.

"They don't expect us to know. They expect us to die," Tim answered as Noel nodded.

I said, "What if we refuse to play your game?"

He immediately crossed the room and invaded my personal space and said, "I'll just kill you all now. Youngest to oldest."

"Fine. We'll play. Just let Jason go first."

He nodded at Frost and Snow, who shoved Jason onto the couch between me and Tim. I pulled the cloth from his mouth before asking him if he was okay.

"What do you freaking think! You just gave them permission to do whatever they freaking want to us!" he snapped.

********Break********

Jason's POV

The four of us sat in silence. At least ten minutes had passed after they'd allowed Dick to pop my shoulder back into place. Tim and Damian sat between Dick and me. Dick held onto Damian's hand and slowly rubbed his thumb back and forth over Damian's knuckles as an attempt at comforting him. Dick kept glancing over at Tim and me. Tim kept his entire attention focused on the men pacing back in forth in front of us. It wasn't long before two of them dragged a small table and two chairs out.

Noel began, "Alrighty, boys. We're going to play some reindeer games. We'll have the youngest two go first. Not a word from the older boys or else."

Tim and Damian were immediately snatched off the couch and shoved into the chairs where they sat facing each other. Mistletoe placed a revolver onto the table between them. The two of them swapped glances after they finished staring at the gun.

"Alright. The first game is reindeer roulette," Noel announced.

Dead silence filled the entire room as they just sat there. One of them eventually stepped forward and moved the gun in front of Tim and ordered him to pick it up. Dick and I sat there helpless as Tim picked it up with a shaking hand. No one dared to breathe as he squeezed the trigger.

Nothing happened.

Tim passed the gun to Damian. Damian showed absolutely no emotion whatsoever as he placed the gun against his head and squeezed the trigger. The only sound was the gun clicking. He slid the gun back over to Tim who repeated his previous actions. The gun clicked again. Damian repeated the process before handing the gun back over to Tim.

Tim took a deep breath before he looked over at Dick and me. He eventually returned his attention to Damian as he picked up the gun. He squeezed the trigger. His eyes immediately widened as nothing happened. Dick gasped as I just sat there. The bullet was in the last round meant for Damian.

Noel ordered, "Timothy, give the gun to Damian."

Tim just shook his head. Damian moved to take it from him. Tim pushed his chair back and squeezed the trigger. Dick screamed and I jumped up only to be manhandled back onto the couch. Damian just sat there in shock that Tim would willingly die for him.

Yet, nothing happened. Tim just stared at the empty gun before looking at Noel, who was laughing.

"Come now, children, use your heads. I'm not about to give any of you a loaded gun. Damian, retake your seat. Unfortunately, Timothy didn't obey the rules and stole Damian's turn. He must be punished."

The words had barely left his mouth before Tim had his face slammed against the table over and over by Mistletoe. Tim's face was bleeding and swollen before Noel had him stop. He was soon shoved back onto the couch.

Tim and Damian just sat there as if they didn't understand what was happening, while Dick and I immediately switched into big brother protective mode.

********Break********

Damian's POV

What in the hell was Drake thinking? Did he want to perish? Did he want to die? I glanced over at him. He was still trembling slightly as the soon-to-be dead man moved back in front of us.

"I believe it's time to play another game. We'll play silver bells. Let's see. Who do I want to play with? Eenie, meanie, minie, moe… Richard. Your turn."

Grayson narrowed his eyes at the man before he stood up. Noel nodded at Holly, who walked over to Grayson. He reached out and caressed his cheek before slamming Grayson against the closest wall. His shirt was literally removed from his body as the man's tongue forcefully invaded Grayson's mouth for about two seconds before being shoved away.

"Stop!" Grayson screamed as Noel stepped in and said, "Richard, sit down. Damian, get up."

Having no other choice, we did as we were told. Before Holly even touched me, I growled, "Touch me and I'll kill you."

Noel stepped back in and said, "Damian, sit down. Timothy, get up."

Drake and Todd exchanged glances. Todd gave him a slight nod as Drake stood up and walked over. He kept his eyes on the floor. I saw a single tear slide down his face as he whispered, "Sorry Jay," before the man could even touch him.

"So the two of you figured it out?" Noel asked as he stepped in.

Drake nodded and kept his attention on the floor as another tear fell.

Noel continued, "Then I hope you can live with your choice. You'd take a bullet for Damian and yet, you'd allow this to happen?"

Drake nodded.

"Very well. Timothy, sit down. Jason, get up."

Todd never said a word the entire time. He'd figured out the game before I had. If one of us were to say something, someone else would have to take our place.

I looked away while Drake and Grayson sat there and cried silently. They shared the same guilt I had. If we had not of said anything Todd wouldn't be molested like this. Yet, one of us was supposed to be hurt.

Drake was right. There is no way to win this game.

********Break********

Tim's POV

Jason wouldn't even look at any of us. He just sat huddled on the end of the couch. He just sat there and tried to focus shielding his naked frame from us. He flinched away from me when I tried to lay my hand on his shoulder. I could see that he was still trying to make himself stop crying.

"Alright boys. Time for a new game. Damian, get up."

Damian complied and gave Noel the nastiest glare I'd ever seen. It could rival Bruce's.

"First, take your shirt off. Then, face the wall and brace yourself. Keep your legs spread apart. There'll be consequences if you move."

He did as he was told. Frost soon approached him carrying a wide leather belt. Damian never even flinched as the man slapped the belt against his palm a few times before he lashed out. He never moved or made any noise the entire time. The game ended when Damian passed out.

********Break********

Dick's POV

I held Damian close as I stared at the lacerations decorating his back. He was bleeding in a few places. I stroked his hair as Tim and I exchanged glances. I gave him a small smile as he frowned at me. I glanced over at Jason and Tim shook his head. Jason still hadn't moved. He was in a bad place. He'd been hurt in the past and this wasn't going to make it any better. He took his first life the last time it'd happened. There's no telling what would happen this time.

Noel popped up again and snapped, "Wake him up! We have only two more games to play and I need him awake."

I spoke up and said, "Please. Just leave them alone. Look, I'll play-"

"I need all of you!"

I lightly tapped Damian's face and said, "Come on, Dami. I need you to wake up. Please."

He eventually came around and muttered, "Hurts."

"I know, Dami. I know. It's okay. It'll be over soon," I promised.

A couple of minutes later, Damian was sitting up and trying not to show any sign of pain. Noel snapped his fingers in front of Jason's face and asked, "What's wrong with him? It's like he's not even here."

"Leave him alone!" Tim yelled before he was backhanded, causing Jason to snap out of it immediately.

"Don't touch him!" he snarled as the man raised an eyebrow.

"Now that I have everyone's undivided attention. We're going to play another game. We'll play rockin' around the Christmas tree. Pretend that the four of you are sitting around a Christmas tree. Unfortunately, there is only room for three. One of you will have to leave. Permanently."

"Me," I said instantly. "I'll leave. I'll die."

I was met by three cries of protest.

Soon, the four of us were arguing over who should die. We were all willing to sacrifice our lives for each other.

"Children, one of you has to leave the tree. Who is it going to be?"

Before any of us could answer, the sound of a car pulling up was heard.

"Well, well. Daddy's home in time to join our final game."

********Break*********
Bruce's POV

I yawned and stretched as Alfred, Leslie, and I got out of the car after pulling into the garage.

"We're lucky we got back on Christmas Eve," Leslie stated. "I would've been so upset if I didn't get a chance to give Dick, Jason, Tim, and Damian their Christmas presents."

"We're very lucky to," Alfred added before breaking off.

"Alfred? Are you alright?" I asked.

"Fine. You go ahead, Master Bruce. I'll be along shortly," he replied before heading outside.

Leslie and I shrugged before she said, "You go on ahead, dear. I'll go and see what's got him riled up."

"Alright," I replied before heading into the house.

"Boys!" I yelled as I was greeted by silence and a dark house.

Call it a father's intuition, but I knew something was wrong the second I stepped inside.

"Dick! Jason! Tim! Damian!" I screamed.

"Hello, Mr. Wayne."

I turned to find an unknown, masked man standing directly behind me.

"Where are they?"

He simply turned around and walked away. I followed him and he led the way to our Christmas tree. Four giant presents with a gun wielding masked man were stationed behind each present. The first gift was wrapped in blue. The second was wrapped in red. The third was wrapped in yellow. The fourth was wrapped in green.

"What is this! Where are my sons!"

He smiled before replying, "Patience, Mr. Wayne. We're going to play a game called all I want for Christmas."

"Where are my-"

"Your precious babies are waiting for you to unwrap them. If you can guess which child is in which present, I'll let them go. If you guess incorrectly, they die."

"Let them go. They're only children."

"You have to play the game first."

I stared at the giant wrapped boxes before looking at the man.

"Who hired you? Why are you doing this?"

"You'll never know. Make your decision."

"I… I don't know."

He sighed, "I'm waiting. They'll suffocate before you make your decision."

"Dick's in blue. Jason's in red. Tim's in yellow. Damian's in green."

"Wrong. It's Christmas Eve, Mr. Wayne. They wouldn't be in these presents. Santa hasn't come yet. They'd still be in his sleigh."

"Who hired you? Why are you doing this?"

"I'd tell you but I'd have to kill you… On second thought. I'm supposed to kill you anyway," he replied as men aimed their sights on me. "Goodbye, Mr. Wayne. Don't worry. Your babies will join you in about… twenty minutes. Kill him."

Instead of me getting shot, four separate gunshots penetrated the skulls of the men holding the guns. Alfred and Leslie were soon revealed with rifles in their hands.

"Sorry, Master Bruce but I believed the occasion called for it," Alfred replied.

I ignored him and focused my attention on the unknown man. I grabbed him and slammed him into the wall.

"My. Children. Now. If. You. Want. To. Live."

"The sleigh you had in your office building for that Christmas party."

********Break********

The car came to a screeching halt in front of Wayne Enterprises. The night security guard lay dead in his booth. There was nothing I could have done for him. I practically ripped the front door off its hinges as I ran inside.

"Dick! Jason! Tim! Damian!" I screamed as I ran to the room where we'd held the annual Christmas party for my employees.

Throwing open the door, I found the four of them bound and gagged with bows on their heads inside the sleigh that had been used to hold presents for the less fortunate children of Gotham. A bomb was in between them with the timer slowly counting down.

********Break********

"Just try to get some sleep, boys. Everything will be alright. I'm here if you need me," I whispered as I finished tucking the four of them into my bed.

There was nock on the door. I left them in bed and stepped out into the hall to meet with Alfred, Leslie, and the commissioner.

"How are they?"

"They'll be alright eventually. Did you find out anything from 'Noel?' Do you know who hired him?" I asked as Jim shook his head and replied, "Not a word. He's refusing to talk… at least he was. He escaped. I took the liberty of posting my men around-"

I stopped listening. The sadist escaped. How? Who hired him? Why torture my children? What does he want? When-

My thoughts were interrupted by four separate screams from the bedroom. All of rushed into the room to see the boys pointing at the window. Taped to the window was our family's current Christmas card with "See you next year" written on it.

Okay... so that was a little depressing for a Christmas chapter. Oh well, my dark side decided to take over. I blame my sudden addiction to Sherlock. Sorry that it's late but I've been busy.

And thanks to everyone who reviewed my story for my creative writing class. You have no idea how much I appreciate it. It will be taken down soon so read it while you can. Love yall! :)