Death Stroke stood at the roof staring annoyed. He knew that the message that he got was not from Batman himself, but he at least expected an adult. At least red robin.

A child? A child sent the message?

"I'm not a baby sitter child. Speak or leave" he said

"You don't give me orders here, I do" Damian snapped and Slade just had to smirk behind the mask. The smirk turned to frown when the kid continued "what happened to him? What is the information that you gave Batman?"

"Why don't you ask Batman himself"

"He won't speak. Neither will Red Robin. I don't need them to false comfort me. I need the truth" he drew a sword out "speak. Or you'll end up dead"

"look at you. An assassin wearing a hero mask. You will never escape your past. You will always be a disappointment to Batman no matter what you try. Because this is your true colors"

"I asked you a question. Answer it"

"they raped him." He said casually. When the boy's eyes narrowed he continued "and tortured him" he said and Damian shook his head

"you're lying"

"ask your father"

"where is he now?"

"still working to find him" Death Stroke said and Damian sighed

"I want to know what happened"

"I told you enough. I don't play with children. If your father needs something, he should contact me himself. And if you want something, ask your father. Unless, he doesn't trust you that much. In that case kid, who's the one you should raise your sword against?"

Damian stared at him as he left. Was what the assassin said real?

….

Commissioner Gordon looked at Batman with sadness and sympathy. The dark knight, even through his mask, worry and exhaustion were clear on his face

"I believe you were trying to find him"

"and I believe that you know the results of my search"

Gordon nodded and sighed. He sat rubbing his forehead "you see… the files of Nightwing were never exposed. But the day he was arrested, Richard Grayson was never seen" he looked at him "you know who Richard Grayson is, don't you?"

"number one bachelor in Gotham"

"indeed" Gordon said then looked at Batman "and the ward of Bruce Wayne"

"go on"

"Bruce Wayne never reported the disappearance of his ward."

"I believe my case here is Nightwing"

Gordon looked down "I'm sorry. But once he was transferred to Metropolis, his file wasn't taken nor copied there too. It's highly suspected that he was secretly excuted" he looked at him "if he was Dick Grayson… if you are Bruce Wayne… then my consolation is far from enough." He sighed and closed his eyes tightly, stress getting to him "you've both already did so much for Gotham. As Bruce and Richard, and as Batman and Robin or Nightwing" he rubbed his eyes before opening them then blinked. Batman was nowhere in sight. He has already left through the window. He sighed "I'm sorry"

To Batman, to Bruce… this was not real. This had to be a mistake. A nightmare. A sick twisted arranged by the joker or a fear toxin from the scarecrow. But then again, there was no transferring files dated and he was sure he searched very well.

He entered the bat cave and found Tim and Clark talking reading some files and he looked around "where's Damian"

"he's been outside for 3 hours. Patrolling perhaps"

He frowned and looked at their paper before approaching them "this won't do" he said then looked at Superman "he's transferred to Metropolis"

Clark blinked then looked at the papers "but there's nothing about the transferring in the pape-"

"it was done secretly" he answered and Superman frowned, he continued "I'm not sure about the exact reason. But perhaps they don't want any information slipped out. It's suspected that he's already dead"

"Grayson can't die" they looked at the entrance where a blood covered Damian walked in

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" Tim shouted and Damian scoffed

"went to patrol, helped the world get rid of some assholes"

"you killed?" Bruce growled and Damian looked at his father

"so what? at least no one will suffer the way Grayson did." He said glaring at his father "is it true? Is it true that Grayson was raped and tortured?"

Bruce stared at Damian with a grim face. Damian needed Dick to keep sane. To stay in line. To never cross that line. But now, looking at him, without Dick, Damian has immediately returned to being an assassin "a murder" he said and Damian growled

"no father. It's justice"

"Justice? Playing god and taking people's lives is justice?"

Clark went between them "Bruce. That's enough" he said then looked at Damian "Damian please go to your room"

"I don't take orders from you" the boy growled then looked at Bruce "is it true father? Is it true?" when Bruce looked down Damian clinched his fist "but Grayson is not dead. Grayson is better than to just die because of forced sex and a little whippin-"

"Damian" it was Tim. Damian wanted to say something to him too. To tell him to shut up. To tell him how unimportant his opinion was. But when he saw the tears that Tim was shedding, he closed his mouth allowing Tim to continue "you didn't see… I know we're trained, but… this… too much."

"forced sex is not just as simple as you may believe" Clark said looking at Damian "when you grow up, you will understand"

"this is not my problem. I just want Grayson back" he said leaving the cave and Tim slammed his fist on the table. Clark sighed and looked at Bruce "you want me to search in Metropolis again?"

"no" Bruce said walking to his batmobil "I'll come with you. We'll get in their prison and look into the files ourselves."

"Bruce" he looked at Tim "please! If he was alive… bring him back"

"I will"

….

Graceful, beautiful, lithe. There were many words Luthor thought of as he watched Dick train with the knives and guns. The boy depended on his body movement. He found out about the flips that he could do and the special tricks that his body was capable of, and now he was trying his best to discover his limits. Every day, he'd come from work to see the boy train "if I don't take a good care of you, you'd be collapsing of exhaustion" he said and the boy looked at him

"Mr. Luthor" he walked to him smiling "welcome back" he said reaching to take Luthor's jacket off. Luthor pressed his lips against the boy's in a simple small kiss

"Is my bath ready?"

"Will be in no time, sir"

"Don't neglect your chores Richard"

Dick smiled and accompanied Luthor to his room.

Since Luthor asked him to be his and all that they shared were small sweet kisses. Luthor let him learn new things, or more like remember the things he forgot and he found out Luthor isn't actually as bad as he thought he was.

He prepared his bath and went to take off Luthor's clothes before he accompanied him to the bathroom. He grabbed a sponge and started cleaning his body and Luthor sighed "do you enjoy your training?"

"I do" he said smiling the teased "would take more time training. But someone here can't handle their own life themselves"

Luthor chuckled and reached his hand behind Dick's neck pulling him for a kiss "what can I say? I guess I like to spoil myself with being served by a hot man"

"you're lucky this hot man enjoys serving you too" he kissed him again and continued cleaning Luthor's body. Once they were done, he helped him get dry and get into his clothes "Mr. Luthor?" he asked when Luthor went to his suit and searched in the jacket pocket

"I got you something" Luthor said taking out a folded paper and giving it to him "here"

Dick took the paper and unfolded it. It was a picture of a male, female and a child wearing something that belonged in a circus. The title read 'FLYING GRAYSONS' and there was at the head a small writing 'Haly presents' he looked at Luthor "flying Graysons?"

"your family" Luthor said walking to him pointing to the picture "your father John Grayson" he pointed to the female "May Grayson" then pointed at the child then looked at Dick "and you" he frowned when he saw Richard's eyes wet and tears streaming down his cheek "what's wrong?"

Dick wrapped his arms around Luthor in a tight hug "thank you. This…. It means a lot to me."

"don't be sappy. You don't even remember them" Luthor said pushing Dick away gently and Dick shook his head

"at least now I know them" he wiped his tears and smiled "you're a great man" he kissed Luthor "thank you. I can never thank you enough for everything that you're doing to me"

Luthor just smiled and patted his arm "it's not a big deal. Now go prepare something for me to eat"

Dick nodded and left Luthor who sighed. Things were going according to plan. Dick was trusting him and training to be a soldier. Hell he was starting to actually love him. Such advantages was supposed to make him feel victorious. But then why? Why did he feel guilty? Why did he feel that he just wanted to keep Dick and make him be his forever where he could see him smile all the time?

"this… was not planned" he mumbled to himself "I thought I was… stronger than this" he frowned then shook his head. Either way, he should still continue with his plan. Very soon, he'll expect Superman and Batman here. And he will set the perfect trap then.

…..

Superman never thought that he'd sneak into Metropolis prisons.

He eyed the soldiers laying on the ground warily before looking at his black claded companion "are they alive?" he asked and the batman set a device to open a door

"they're asleep" he said before the door open and he entered "I spread sleeping gas before we get in" he didn't waste any time, immediately walking to the computer and starting his search "search in the manual files"

Superman looked at the files and sighed. They were covered in lead. He went there and started opening it one by one and scans it with his super vision "nothing in letter R or N or G" he said as he started to search in the J, perhaps it was under the name Justice League or something. he stopped in the middle of his researches when he heard Batman mumble 'no' "what's wrong?" he looked at him and his eyes widened "oh god" he gasped. Yes. On the screen was Richard Grayson's file. There was no further information than that he was Nightwing, date of arrest and some history as Nightwing, Robin and Richard Grayson. But it was his picture. There was a red line crossing his picture "what does that mean"

"he's no longer-" Batman's hands turned into fists and he looked down "dammit. I was late"

"Batman" he laid a hand on the other man's shoulder "I'm sorry"

"Luthor will pay" Batman said angrily "Luthor will meet justice for what he's done" for killing his partner. His lover. "let's go" he said leaving followed by Clark.

Their night was in a 5 stars hotel that was owned by Bruce himself. Clark had just finished showering before he wore his pajama pants and knocked on Bruce's room "Bruce?"

"Leave me alone"

Clark still went in. he looked at Bruce who was sitting on the bed only in his underwear. He sat beside him and wrapped an arm around him "you ok?"

"fine"

The way he said it made Clark feel that he'd punch him at any moment "I'm sorry"

"what for?" he looked at him "you did your best to help. But then, it's Luthor I'm going to be hunting"

"I'll be there with you" he watched a sad smile form on the human's face "we'll avenge Dick"

"I want to know where his body is" Bruce laid on the bed "I want to hold him… at least tell him once how much I-" he sighed "whatever"

Clark laid beside him hugging him as he slowly drifted to sleep.

Bruce didn't sleep that night though.