Hey guys, I'm back.
It was long since I updated and it was not without a reason.
I can understand that you don't give a sh*t so just scroll down the bold and enjoy the story.
For you who like to know what happened, here it is in short:

My oldest sister was pregnant of a boy and the summer was coming. We as family waited for it full of hopes and looking forward to the little boy. Everything went well, he seemed perfectly healthy yet when the birth had to take place something went wrong. It's still unclear why and how, but somehow his heart stopped after a few contractions. He has been without air for 11 minutes and without a heartbeat for more than 20 minutes. After receiving his heartbeat he got epileptic insults what would damage the brain even more. Luca (the son) was brought to a special hospital and his body was cooled down so his brain got a change to restore itself. After two days he was slowly warmed again in a time span of a day. But after a few test they came with the conclusion that his brain was too much damaged. He would have never been able to grow, breath by himself or eat by himself. So they stopped the treatment after we said goodbye to our little Luca. He passed away in his loving parents arms without pain.

A big part of my summer has been filled with both hope that Luca would make it and grief of the loss we all encountered. His full name was Luciano Alexander Baker and he lived for 7 days. For some reason I feel the need to tell his name to you guys. It feels right to do.

Anyway, I'm sorry I uploaded so less, and I'm afraid it won't be a chapter a week for a long while. I just have nights of depressions and the nights are usually the moments I feel like writing and drawing and stuff. So I'm really sorry. I'm not dropping the story. I'm dropping nothing… I just need some time.

Thanks for reading and sorry for keeping you off this story for so long so please go ahead a read it and enjoy it!

A groan was the first thing he could mutter as he felt sun rays shine on his face. A hiss quickly followed as he felt something sting on his left temple. He opened his eyes to see Mikes face bowed over him, the blue winter sky behind him. Alex realized he laid in Mike's lap with his head and the man was more concentrating at the place what stung then his eyes.

"Mike?"

The tired looking eyes of the older male made contact at his spoken name. "You're awake?"

The boy nodded but quickly stopped as he felt the skin on his head pull at the movement. He touched his temple with the tips of his fingers to feel something warm. Blood!?

"I'm so sorry Alex," the older male muttered as he took the bottle of disinfectant and put it on the handkerchief he had in his other hand and continued to deb on his forehead. "I didn't meant to hurt you but you were acting so off. I'm not sure if you were drunk out of your mind or just on drugs."

"I," the boy started unsure. "I was drugged."

"What!?" Alex rose, brown eyes closing in pain as his head felt heavy. "Who drugged you!?"

"Carlos," the boy spat, holding his head. "He drugged me and then tried to rape me," the boy slowed down in speaking. "Wait," the boy blinked a few times without saying a word. "How did I end up here? And where is Carlos, the dick!? I'll kill him for even thinking he can mess with me!"

"Okay, chill Alex," The man placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. "You're still hurt and going toe to toe with Carlos isn't the smartest thing to do."

"What? Why?" The fake blonde scoffed.

"Because he's a big guy, one you should have stayed away from."

"Oh, because I can't handle the big guys? I can handle you, can't I?" the boy answered cocky, grinning at the frown on the others face.

"How do you think you have a bleeding temple?" the man commented, no trace of a joke in his voice.

"What?" the boy touched his temple, feeling the sticky and mostly dried blood. "You did that?" his voice sounded sharp.

"You were on drugs and acting all weird. So I hit you," Mike explained, voice drained from anything but boredom.

"What!? That's no real reason to hit somebody like this!" Alex shouted, angry that Mike could be so thoughtless. "With what did you hit me!?"

"You're wine," the man commented, eyeing the teen prostitute's bag. As his eyes got back to the boy to find fuming anger in his eyes, so he quickly continued. "I'll buy you a new one!"

"I don't fucking care about a bottle of wine!" he spat, balling his fist, ready to strike. "Why the fuck did you hit me with a freaking glass bottle!? You could have killed me!"

"Alex!" the blonde teen silenced at the shout. "You think I hit you for fun? You were actually attacking me."

"I don't believe you." The boy answered shortly.

Mike simply snatched Alex's hand, causing the boy to gasp. But as he pulled the boy toward him he noticed soon enough that it wasn't an abusive grasp. The older male held Alex's hand on the back of his head, causing the younger male 's eyes to grow.

Mike let go of the blonde's hand who pulled back only to meet red finger tips. "I" Alex's voice sounded shaky. "I did that to you?" But no answer came as Alex was only pulled into the arms of the older prostitute. "I'm so sorry."

-\/-

Normally he hated snow. It was annoying, it soaked his bed and most of all; it's really cold! But right now, it was kind of nice. He laid on his bed, on Mike's lap who was keeping him warm with his body and brushing soothing circles on the back of his head. The snow flutter down slowly and landed on his forehead. His head was the only thing exposed from underneath his blanket and the cold of the snow was a welcome one on his forehead. It numbed his headache.

He heard steps echo in the alley and he decided to ignore it. He didn't care who it was at the moment. Right now he just wanted to stay the way he was now. He liked the feeling of nothing, the feeling of relaxing.

"You," the voice of Mike sounded with venom and Alex couldn't miss the movement of tension by the body underneath him. He still wanted to ignore it, act like nothing was going on. As if he never had left his moment of peace. But he decided against it and pried an eye open. But once he saw who the visitor was he opened his other eye too.

"Carlos?"

"You've got nerves showing up here!" Mike's loud voice caused Alex's soft whisper to be forgotten quickly. "What you want, jerk!?"

"To apologize," Mike's brows sprung.

"An apology of the great and almighty Carlos?" the man sneered. "Ha! Don't make me laugh!" the spat quickly turned lower and suspicious. "You just want my price, don't you?"

"In a matter of fact, yes I do," the man answered as if he was discussing business. "But I share my prices," the man eyed the boy lustfully.

"I'm no body's price," the blonde growled through his clenched teeth.

"Listen, Alex," the man sat down on the matrass, after brushing the snow away. He pulled his suite, making sure it was straight, even when sitting. "I know that I scared you, maybe even a lot. But it was all just a test. To see how strong you are. To see if you're not afraid to call for help."

"Another test?" Alex hissed, brown eyes furrowed in distrust.

"This was the last one, I promise," he said to his defense. "And I can tell you that you passed. You're strong and smart. No man will get the better of you, not even me."

"So?"

"So, come work for me," the man presented his hand. "You'll earn more that you ever will alone on the streets. Plus, you can perform and I could see how much you enjoyed that. You are a performer in everything you do, you belong on stage, not on the streets."

Alex was silence for a moment, eyes casted down at his lap. He did enjoy the dancing, he felt so at home doing so.

"And you don't have to worry about your living anymore," Carlos continued. "You can sleep and stay in the club and use it as your home. We have plenty of beds."

"Alex, you don't have to do this," Mike came in between. "You can stay with me."

"You deserve better, Alex," the older male added.

"Shut your trap!" Mike barked, no longer able to stand him.

"Why don't' you see that Alex is no longer yours. You might have found him but I'm the one who will make him shine."

"I don't care!" the younger male spat in Carlos face. "Maybe you're forcing a life on him he doesn't want to live!"

"How about the both of you shut up!" Alex stepped in. "I'm not a kid, I can make my own decisions."

"Very well, what do you chose?" The rich man smirked.

"I'll go with you."

"But Alex," Mike was hushed by a hand.

"I do indeed love performing but Mike will come within a week to check of I really like this. And if I don't you have to let me go."

"Sure, your my employee, not my prisoner," the brown haired man laughed and Alex finally accepted the hand and was helped up. A small moan left his mouth at the movement. "You're okay?"

"Nothing," the boy turned to the other prostitute. "Thanks for everything Mike."

Mike smirked and rose. "Don't think you're rid of me yet, princess."

"Didn't count on it," Alex smiled back.

-\/-

"Fancy club you have here," Mike commented after whistling at it.

"I know," Carlos laughed. "But don't think we're friends now."

Mike narrowed his eyes but quickly took back on his silly smile. "Haha, and I hoped I could get a free ride on your merry go round."

"Guys."

"What?" the two snapped, turning to the young hooker.

"I don't feel so well," the pale boy said, hand holding his head. "I think I should lay down."

Mike quickly grabbed Alex before he could fall down. "Alex," the man watched how the blonde closed his eyes and became lax in his arms. "He fainted," he informed the other man.

"What happened to make him faint like that?"

"First, where is a bed here?" Carlos quickly opened one of the bedrooms.

"Here,"

"Thanks," Mike laid he young boy down. "Well, I hit him over the head with a bottle," the younger man said as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

"What?"

"He attacked me after you drugged him! It was in self-defense," Mike mumbled, still offended that Alex had actually been winning if he hadn't hit him like that.

Carlos just hummed as he watched the other prostitute stroke the light colored bangs from the boy's face. "You were overpowered by him?"

"Weren't you too?" Mike murmured, sore spot clear.

Carlos coughed on that. "Yes, well…"

"The kid is strong," Mike shared a look but quickly turned back to the boy. "We both know that very well."

There was a silence between the two man. "But promise me that you will take good care of him."

Carlos looked up on that. "So you do actually care about the boy," a frowned look answered that question. "But of course I'll take good care of him. He's my employee now and I don't want anything to happen to him."

"Good," Mike growled. "Because it's your head I'll take off when something does happen to him."

-\/-

Cheap hotels. They were the only ones still open in this mess. Gotham was burning and most people with money left the city days ago. And yet, the richest of all is now struggling to get an decent room to stay in.

He'd rather stayed up, searching for his lost son on the streets, but he knew better. He was still a human bonded by God's rules. He couldn't stay awake forever. His body would soon give in. And he won't be of any use for his son as a street sleeping hobo.

"Here's your key," the not good smelling man gave the half rusting key he just took from the wooden holder. The hotel was horrible. The walls seemed to be pied on, a few times even. The furniture looked like it was taken from a dumpster and the people working there were just down right filthy. They smelled, had dirty looking hair and their attitude made him think of a half sleeping baby. Unfocused and most of all, not caring.

The man gave a quick thanks and quickly left for his room, a few floors higher. He didn't even care to look around his room. He simply turned the lock of the door and plumed his bag in the corner of the room. He took off his shoes and jacked, threw them both in the other corner and let himself fall into the bed.

All he needed was a good night sleep and a good mug of coffee once its morning and he would be ready to go again.

He turned in the bed, eyes now at the sealing and wide open. How could he sleep like this? His body was begging him for some rest but his mind was swirling and far from any rest. If he just could hear his son's voice to calm him, to know he wasn't killed yet. But he knew that wouldn't happen until he had found his son. His light in the world.

He sighed and turned, watching the small and only window the room possessed. Tears started to stung in his eyes as he desperately tried to blink them away. Dick was everything to him and he was so very unable to help him. He may have saved Dick from the orphanage but Dick saved him from the darkness.

The man abruptly turned around and let out a deep sigh. Okay, he was not going there. He just needed to sleep. He used some breathing techniques he learned from one of his many teachers and quickly he felt the tiredness of his body pulling him under, into a deep and very dark sleep.

-\/-

"There," Carlos pulled back, taking a look on the work he had done. "All better, right?"

Alex gave a glare at the childish tone his new boss used on him. "Thanks," he muttered as he rose from the bed. "But I should get some food," the boy added as he walked toward the door of the strip club.

"There is no need for that," the blonde turned around. "I already made you some."

"Mike told you to do so?" the teen asked, pulling up one eyebrow before he let himself fall into one of the chairs. "I'm perfectly able to take care of myself."

"No, it was my idea," the man answered as he stared the microwave. "But we need to go over a few things before you start. And if we do that now you can start tonight, if you like."

"Oh, what should I know then?" the boy leaned forward watching the man work in the illuminated bar. The lights were warm purple and cold blue, as the bar itself was more reddish, and shone from a few angles. There came a lot of light from the bar yet, it seemed darker when the light of the stage were on. The bar was almost engulfed by the stage and seemed not that important. But when you looked away from the stage the bar had its own allure and welcomed people to sit and have a drink.

Next to the bar were the rooms. He remembered how the hard wooden floor changed into a thick and soft carped once in the rooms. They weren't that big and only held a double bed, about ten feet between the bed and wall to undress and a nightstand which contained a few "toys" for the customers. After one of the three bedrooms started the corridor were two others rooms were located across the two other bedrooms. The first one was the toilet and the last was the changing rooms which contained the many cloths, make-up and other things needed to ready a person for performance.

"You think I'm not able to perform good enough in your club?" the boy threw a smirk at Carlos who placed a plate with smashed potatoes mixed with cocked carrots and baked onions with a sausage on the side.

Alex frowned at the food. "No, not at all. There are just a few things more to working here than just dancing and having sex."

"What is this?" the boy pointed at the orange looking dinner. "It looks offal."

Carlos laughed. "It's something I picked up on one of my trips around the world," the man placed a fork into the orange pile. "Just eat it. It's much better than it looks."

The blonde rolled his eyes and took a bit while Carlos continued explaining.

"So what you should need to know first is that I don't have other staff beside my strippers. So that means you also work as server. When someone perform the others will see the customers for the drinks and of course a good view. Customers can also ask for one of the workers to have personal contact. This can vary from just touching to kissing. For that they have to pay obviously, so as long someone doesn't ask for the serves their not allowed to touch you."

The boy nodded in understanding while eating. He was clearly enjoying the orange goodness.

"You also have to remember who takes what kind of drink to write it down later, when you walk around with a tray," the man added.

"That's no problem. I've got a photographic memory."

"Good, I've asked the girls to be early today to show you the robes a bit and tell you more about the touching rules," the man rose and walked to the other side of the table while continuing. "So, be here around six. You could also just stay until six, do whatever you like," Carlos placed a set of keys on the table, eying the boy looking of his shoulder to make eye contact with his new boss. "We got a "no opening locked doors" rule. Since you're not the only one sleeping here so now and then if you know what I mean," the man winked. "So, if you don't want to be disturbed for whatever reason, just use the keys to lock up."

"Thanks," the boy shove the keys off the table and put them into his pocked before finishing the last bit of the hotchpotch. "You're leaving?"

Carlos zipped up his jacked and walked over to the door. "Yes, I got a live beside this club too. Just place the plate in the sink and I'll see you round six."

"Okay, see you then."

"Oh, and feel free to use whatever you need here," the man finished before closing the door behind him.

Alex looked from the door behind him toward the big stage in the middle of the club. That would be his stage tonight. His place of performing.

Something bubbled up inside him. A need what somehow felt so familiar, yet he never felt it before. At least he couldn't remember feeling it before.

He rose and walked over to the stage, lifting himself up to the higher floor and stopped by the pole. There was something with this pole, but what?

He placed a leg around it, feeling the unfamiliar cold of the metal yet the welcome bliss of feeling at home. The blonde started to move around the pole, feeling his body move in sync to the unknown memories of flashing lights flooding his mind. He tightened his grip just a little as he started to imagine all the eyes who have ever looked at him with praise, with awe.

All those eyes watching him perform felt amazing!

Next time even MORE Bruce! Yay
Please leave reviews, and if you find any mistakes like grammar or spelling, please do tell me! I want to learn from you guys and improve for you!