He had been searching for the joker for 30 minutes now. There was no sign of him. Could it be that the joker wasn't going to do anything? It was illogical. Christmas was always one of the seasons that joker loved to ruin.

"Come on Batman. I didn't come here from Bludhaven just to freeze my ass. He's not there. Let's go back home and have fun" Nightwing said rubbing his hands together then looked at the kid "don't you agree, Robin?"

"Sitting and doing nothing isn't my thing"

"See. Even Robin agrees" Dick said and Red Robin chuckled

"Fine" was all Batman said

Back home, he was seated comfortably in front of the TV with a boring movie that Tim chose. Damian was typing on his cell phone and Dick was snuggling to him. The things he did. The things he made him feel. If only he knew, would he crawl away? Would he go back to Bludhaven?

"It's over" Dick said and Bruce smiled. The movie was over and Dick kissed his cheek "night" he looked at Damian and Tim "kiss daddy good night and go sleep boys" he chuckled when Bruce glared at him

"one kiss was more than enough Dick"

"Get a room you too"Damian said before going to his room

Bruce sighed as he held the picture of a young Dick with him. It was taken only a year after his parents died. "are you ok now?" he wondered "what are you doing?" he placed the picture back "please hang on. We're coming for you… just hang on"

"Batmaaaan" Nightwing clung to Batman's back. they were in the bat cave and he had been very annoyed at some criminal for almost shooting Tim, and at Tim for not being careful. he gripped Nightwing's leg and threw him on the ground

"stop playing"

"but you look so upset, it looks like you could use a hug"

"Dick. stay out of it" yes. he knew Dick wanted to save Tim's ass from him, but that isn't going to work.

"come on Brucy-" he frowned at the neck name "I and Jay had done lots of worse things"

"shut up" he growled. how dare he bring Jason into this? "it's because of that. I am not going to lose another Ro-"

"you won't Bruce" Dick got up and hugged him "I'm sure you won't. I'd rather die than see another Robin d-" he shook his head and looked at him and smiled softly "I'll talk to Tim." Bruce watched him leave. how can he affect him so much?

Bruce sighed and ran a hand through his hair "it's because I love you so much" he stood and went to see Tim in his room. he entered quietly without knocking and was surprised to see him awake "you need sleep. we will go out to search again

"whenever Dick is here in family reunions, he'd always check on me when I'm asleep. I always end up asleep while reading. he'd turn off the lights and covers me. he thinks I don't know he does it"

"Tim"

"I miss his presence." Tim looked at him "I'm scared we're late"

"I'll find him Tim" Bruce said walking to him and covering him "and we'll be together"

Tim smiled at him "good. Damian needs a mother. no one can do it better than Dick"

that earned him a playful punch on the arm "good night Tim" he left.

"I know you've been raised in a different way. but here, you will submit to the rules that I make"

"what makes you think that you can order me around?" Damian said angrily

"I'm your father"

"I don't care.

"you nearly killed the man" he growled "don't you understand the value of the human life?"

"he's a criminal. he has no value"

"Bruce calm down" Dick said interrupting

"stay out of it Dick"

"no!" Dick got between Bruce and Damian "I'm not staying out of it. I'm asking you to calm down" he turned to Damian "Dami. could you go to your room? I and Bruce need to talk"

"no"

Dick sat that he was on Damian's eyes level "please! I promise it won't be long. I'll convince Alfred to allow us to spend the whole night playing X-Box." he smiled softly, eyes begging the younger one to listen.

"I am leaving to my room. but it's only because you look so pathetic like this" and he left

"Bruce" Dick turned to him "please go easy on the boy" he sighed "he's confused. and he misses his mother"

"he has a father here"

"but still. a mother is never replaced. at least don't blame him a lot. I'm sure he just needs talking. a lot of talking. but don't go around blaming him and ordering him. he's a stubborn kid." he smiled "just like his father"

Bruce's eyes softened when he saw Damian asleep in Dick's shirt. The boy missed Dick too. He sighed and closed the door before leaving to his own room

"I miss you too Dick"

Dick looked around as he followed Luthor inside the large mansion. Everything was beautiful there. The garden was fascinating and he was sure it had a lake somewhere. The mansion itself looked like a dream "they already prepared our room" Luthor said and he looked at him. Did he hear that right?

Our room?

"Mr. President?" he asked confused wishing for the other to explain, but Luthor just went on. Inside the mansion was even better, and Dick couldn't help but wonder, if everything was clean and perfect, what was to be prepared in the room?

"we prepared your room, Mr. Luthor" a servant came rushing to them taking Luthor's jacket "we've added another supply of everything. And already arranged a part of the room to-" he looked at Dick "the new…" the servant seemed distasted with him to the point that he wasn't able to say guest or worker or whatever they had in store with him.

"thank you" Luthor said walking to his room and opening it. The room was already way too big with too much space. Why did they have to remove it? "where's my studying desk?"

"if you wish for it back, we'll do it immediately"

"some other time. I'm tired" Luthor said entering and looking at Dick who entered after him looking at the room.

There was a large king sized bed, a large wardrobe, a nice beautiful vanity with a hair brush, perfumes and other bottles. Wait, a hair brush?

There was also a black futon mattress spread on the ground in the corner of the room and a hair brush, a hair gel and an antiperspirant placed beside the futon. "I think you already know that this is yours" he heard Luthor said and he nodded "I'll be taking a bath. Don't go nowhere" he nodded and sat watching Luthor press a button on the phone on the bedside table "Luke. Come and assist him."

Not long after, a young blond man knocked and entered "good evening Mr. President" Luthor nodded

"today I want you to teach him everything I told you to do. I'll be taking my bath now, no need to set the water. I'll do it"

"yes sir" the boy said and looked at Dick smiling "you're Richard?"

"so I've heard"

Luke laughed and gently held his hand "come. After the path, Mr. Luthor will want his tea and relax a bit"

They both walked to the kitchen "you won't be making any tea or coffee. But you will be serving them to Mr. Luthor. You will also clean his room on daily basis. Learn to set the water before his bath and help him get dressed"

"he doesn't look like he's required an assistance with these"

"no. he doesn't. but think of it. He's assisting the whole country. Why can't we assist him with small stuff?"

Dick sighed and held the tray of tea that Luke gave him "Mr. Luthor likes only 1 cube of sugar. Sometimes he likes it with cream sometimes he doesn't. so before you add any, ask him first"

"yes"

"he comes back at 6:30 pm. You are expected to be at the door standing welcoming him and taking his jacket, accompanying him to his room and help him get comfortable"

"yes"

Luke looked at Richard "soon you will feel comfortable. If you need anything. You can always ask me"

"thank you" Dick said before entering the room again. He placed the tray on a small table and sighed

"you look nervous"

"I'm not" he said in a low voice "I just…" he looked at Luke "I'm confused. There are a lot of questions I can't find any answers to them. I feel that Mr. Luthor has all the answers but he doesn't trust me… I… I don't want to fail him and end up back in jail" he looked down "you don't know how bad it is there"

Luke placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled softly "you're right. I don't. but I can tell you, you won't be going back. Things are going to be ok"

Dick nodded and Luke left.

That night, Dick learnt that Luthor was a very patient, yet very observant man. As he helped him get dressed, he didn't direct him to where the clothes where or what should he get or what should he help him wear first. He just stood there silently watching him as he went on to search for a comfortable outfit before he helped him get into the silky pajama pants and shirt. As the president moved to the chair at the window side and grabbed a book, he watched Dick pour the tea and put the sugar in it. Dick had looked at him silently asking if he desired crème and he nodded.

But it was the night that made Dick feel terrified.

At first he couldn't sleep. He kept on turning round and round and tossing. Luthor never said anything about that. Even when he finally slept. Nightmares wouldn't leave him alone. And when he wakes up, he would find Luthor, still on his bed, but looking at him. There was no worry or concern, but he noticed that there was no frown or discomfort in his stare. Just staring and analyzing.

"sorry" he mumbled and Luthor just nodded before he lay down again.

Tears streamed down his cheeks as he remembered the torture. The beating. The rape. His body still hurt and ached, yet he tried his best to suppress any moan of pain in fear of irritating the older man. Finally, he gave up the thought of sleep and just curled losing himself in his thoughts.

Aa frown was formed behind the mask. One eye glaring at the corpse "waste of breath" he walked toward the monitoring room and looked around. He hadn't found the Grayson in any of the cells. But he knew, searching for him or watching the survalience cameras were not enough. Perhaps he had been removed somewhere else. After all, this is the local prison. It was not covered in lead. Superman could have found him long ago if that was the case.

Death Stroke searched in the computer files and his single eye narrowed. Taking the information of the officers whom disappeared the day Grayson was arrested, there were information that some of them returned this very day. Could it be that they are keeping Grayson somewhere else?

He saved the files in a flash memory and sighed "looks like some officers are doing some dirty work" he said leaving the prison and the corpses. He knew it won't be taking long before they spread a terrorist attack in Gotham prison news in TVs and newspapers.

Luthor really wanted to stop put a leash on them. But some creatures were just meant to be wild and free.

Grayson was supposed to be one of them. And he will release him.

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