Luthor stared at Dick who was just moving the spoon in his cereal. Another thing that they discovered; Richard really liked cereal. He wouldn't just eat it for breakfast, he'd also munch on them while watching TV as if it was some kind of snacks. But right now, Dick was not eating, he was just moving his spoon lost in his thoughts

"thinking of a way to tell me something, I assume" he said and Richard looked at him with a smile

"well… y-yeah I guess" he cleared his throat "I was thinking… what happened to the cercus where my parents died… and if I happen to have had any other relatives. A wife? A brother? Something like that"

Luthor sipped his coffee then shook his head "no wife and no brother. But you had an uncle who didn't come to get you when his brother died. George Grayson was his name. he left the country and I don't know where he is now" he raised an eyebrow at the younger who looked down "no need to feel sad. He left you when you needed him most. You don't need him now" he finished his coffee and stood. Dick immediately stood and grabbed his jacket and helped him wear it "I'll see you when my working hours are done" he said and kissed his cheek then left.

Dick touched his cheek with a small smile before he sighed and went to take Luthor's plate back to the kitchen

"you look happy" said Luke. He was moping the floor of the kitchen and apparently expecting a kind of greeting from Dick who walked inside smiling but not acknowledging him.

"well it's a good morning" he answered "I'll just clean Luthor's room before I start my training"

"Luthor's?"

Dick cleared his throat "I meant… Mr. Luthor"

"you mean Mr. President. But if he allows you to call him Luthor… I guess you two are close"

Dick smiled and ran a hand through his hair praying that he wasn't blushing "kind of closer than when I first came. Trying to ask him to be able to leave the house"

"did he agree?"

"I didn't ask yet" he sighed "I'm kind of scared and excited with the idea. I'm safe here, but I want to explore"

"why don't you contact Bruce Wayne? You were his ward"

"the millionaire?" Dick laughed "Luke what are you babbling?"

Luke cleared his throat "what did Mr. President tell you?"

"he said I was orphaned. Taken by terrorists and raised by them" he blinked when Luke didn't answer "Luke?"

"I don't know. It's the president, he knows"

"what about Bruce Wayne. Why did you say I was his ward?"

Luke shrugged "I don't know. The dude adopt boys with black hair and blue eyes. I just… figured you'd be one of them"

Dick laughed "as if he'd look at someone like me" he walked to Luthor's room leaving Luke mumbling to himself

"If only you knew Richard… if only you knew"

"have you got the number?" Luthor asked, hurrying to his office and opening the file on his desk "good" he said finding the number required "call him"

His secretary looked at him "but sir. It's too early, he's known to sleep till la-"

"I don't like to repeat myself"

The other male nodded and quickly dialed a number on the phone, giving it to Luthor.

"Wayne" Bruce replied sleepily. He looked beside him and found that Clark woke up. Still lying on the bed

"Mr. Wayne. This is Lex Luthor"

Bruce sat and Clark did too, hearing their conversation. It was him. There was no mistake

"you do realize that you're claiming that you're the president. Unless it's just a name thing" he played along

"actually, I am Lex Luthor. And I want to ask you about your ward, Richard Grayson. Have you seen him lately?"

"something happened to him?"

"yes" Luthor answered

"why is the president calling me? Why not the police?" he felt Clark hold his other hand gently

"because we suspect that you are Batman"

"what?" Bruce frowned. He did expect that Luthor suspected him. But he didn't understand what Luthor wanted to achieve with this call.

"Mr. Wayne. We have arrested Richard Grayson for terrorism. I believe we have had him for a while now, yet you never reported that his disappearance"

"He's an adult. He always disappears and comes back. I'm no longer his guardian."

"no… but you trained him"

"meaning?"

"Richard Grayson is Nightwing"

"suppose you are right. What does that have to do with me?" the hold on his hand tightened. Clark did not like what's going on.

"The time Richard Grayson left the manor… Robin left Batman" Luthor frown at the laugh he recieved

"you think I'm Batman?" Bruce said "well. Suppose that you're right, and that I'm indeed Batman. What is it that you want of me?"

"I want to invite you over. We can talk about this. But Mr. Bruce… if you are Batman, I'm going to have a proposal for you"

"Mr. president. I'm sure you have a lot of time to waste i-"

"I'm sure you have a lot of time yourself. Why not waste an hour to honor yourself and attend? I'll let the secretary take care of scheduling a time and a date"

Bruce sighed when he heard the beep. Luthor hanged and looked at Clark "he said he has a proposal"

"I know. I heard"

"He thinks I'm going to listen… after he killed Dick"

"Bruce. Be careful. If you go there. Luthor will find a way to reveal you and kill you. Just like he did to Dick"

"I know" he laid down again and looked at Clark "I have to think of something to protect my identity. To protect Tim and Damian's too"

It took Clark a lot of courage to allow himself to run his thumb over Bruce's lower lip "what do you want me to do?"

Bruce stared at him for a bit "yesterday. I was vulnerable. But you were just there. Comforting me" he took Clark's hand

"and I will continue to do so until you are ready for more" he kissed Bruce's hand and pat it before he got up "whatever plan Luthor has in store, it's nothing good" he said "please be careful. I wouldn't accept his invitation and go if I were you"

"you're not me Clark. And this is the difference. You will never be able to think the way I do"

"but I will continue to support you"

Damian frowned, walking back and forth in the room "but they didn't take us with them. They must have found something about Grayson"

"Damian" Tim said then looked down "for them to just go without a notice. Without a word to comfort us… I think… he may be dead"

"he's not dead. I know it. Grayson can't die. he's too stupid to die" he growled then looked at Tim "keep that up Drake and I'll make sure that your friends won't recognize your face when they see you"

"you know… if he didn't come back… I think that Clark will try to approach Bruce"

"Kent? With father?" Damian stopped walking "I thought that father liked Grayson"

Tim shrugged and Damian walked to him, hands resting on his waist in a demanding way "what happened to Grayson? Other than the sexual abuse. What happened?"

Tim frowned. Damian kept on shrugging the rape as if it was nothing, but he didn't discuss it "he… he was tortured… skinned, burnt, whipped" he covered his eyes with his hand and a sigh escaped his lips "just remembering him crying and begging… it makes me hate myself… I couldn't help him… couldn't save him" he heard footsteps and looked up to find Damian walking out "where to?"

"the cave. Patrolling"

Tim wiped his tears and followed him. They were going to protect Gotham until Batman returns. Working with Damian was bad. Working with angry Damian was worse. It was really hard trying to prevent the boy from killing last time. He only stopped when Tim shouted at him asking him to remember Dick's training.

Damian without Dick was instable. And he hated it, but he had to take the rule of the mother instead of Dick. Especially if it's to guard a demon assassin like him. But he promised to honor Dick with doing that.

Besides, he's been civil with Damian since Dick disappeared…. Almost.

Luthor entered the gym room and smiled at Dick "you're not there to greet me these days"

Dick smiled and looked at him "you will forgive me"

"how's your training?" Luthor asked and Dick smiled at him twirling the escrima sticks between his hands

"I challenged seven of the guards. Defeated them easily. The sticks are really a great choice. I'm glad you proposed it to me" he said returning the weapon back and walking to Luthor helping him take his jacket off.

"you used them as Nightwing" Luthor said. Once his jacket was off, he grabbed Dick's neck and kissed his lips "I'll need you" he mumbled then kissed him again "your first mission as a guard"

Dick did not touch Luthor nor did he do anything to prevent the touches. But his lips moved kissing Luthor before he pulled back "what mission?"

Luthor smiled and walked back to his room "I want you to do something for me… meet someone you used to know. He may come and may not. Just… I want you to be there if he came." He entered the bathroom and Dick immediately started filling the tube with water before he start take Luthor's clothes off "touch me, Richard" he breathed and Dick hands stopped moving.

It was the first time Luthor ask such thing of him. Did he want to move on further with their relationship? Was it even a relationship? He wondered if Luthor just wanted to move on or if he wanted to test him. Or perhaps he thinks it's time to stop moping over the past and get over what happened to him? "h-how do you want me to touch you sir?" because when he asked him to touch him, it was definitely a command. He didn't ask him if he can or if he wants. He just told him to do it.

Luthor's hand gently held Dick's and guide it to his own chest. He could feel the hand shiver against his skin and he slowly helped the hand move down. The boy's eyes were closed shut, and his breaths were getting harder and louder "don't" he commanded "don't close your eyes. Don't remember them." He said and Dick whimpered when his hand touched his intimate part "open your eyes Richard. Look at me. I'm here" he watched as tears streamed down his servant's eyes before he opened them and looked directly at his eyes.

Richard's face was flushed, eyes wet and lips open as air quickly got in and out "good boy… good. Keep on looking at me" he said as he kept on moving Dick's hand and fingers teasing him. He ignored the sob that escaped the boy as he kept on until their hands were slick with his cum. He finally let go watching the boy turn his hands to fists and cry silently, eyes again closed shut. He went inside the tube and turned the water off then looked at him "did they do that to you?"

He nodded

"Did they kiss you before?"

"Not that I remember. No"

Luthor nodded "wash your hands and continue with your chores" he watched Dick nod and walk to the sink to wash his hand before he grabbed the shampoo and soap. Once he was at Luthor's side, Luthor took a handful of water and washed Dick's face "you're ok. You're safe" he whispered, but Dick just nodded as he kept on cleaning Luthor's body. Once he finished, he got the towel and wrapped it around Luthor then went back to their room.

"what?" Dick mumbled looking at his corner

"something the matter?"

"my… mattress… and things" he mumbled. His mattress and belongings were removed leaving back a desk that perhaps was the one that Luthor ordered back when he first came in.

"you don't need them" Luthor said dressing himself smiling at Dick's confused look "my bed is big enough. And I'm sure the drawers can handle your belongings"

Dick wasn't sure what it meant. This was all too soon. He went inside and had to give Lex a hand job, to find out that the servants removed his mattress while they were in the bathroom. He has to sleep with Luthor now. Does that mean that he has to-

"stop thinking" he felt Luthor press his lips upon his in a simple kiss "I won't do anything to you" he nodded and Luthor smiled "now… dinner?"

Dick smiled and nodded… he was scared, but he was going to give it a try, trying to think that he actually had a choice in the matter.

Then again, he actually WANTED to live. And who better than Luthor was around to give him life?