What's happening? Usually Batman was able to answer this question by taking a look around, observing and judging his environment, but not today…if it even was day. He was floating in nothingness, he couldn't feel anything, and hell his own weightlessness was almost surreal- like he wasn't even in his body anymore. What's going on? On that note, Batman tried to catalogue his thoughts, trying to piece back what he'd been doing, looking for any possible clue as to where even am I?

He remembered getting ready for patrol, pulling on the suit, listening to Tim and Damian bicker as usual, not worried because, well, this was the usual; it was how they communicated and Bruce was glad there didn't seem to be any heat to either of their words. Plus, Dick had just come strolling down the stairs, yawning and making some 'lets just all get along' comment while languidly messing up his brothers' hair; Tim ignored it, turning back to his original task of prepping his utility belt, while Damian fussed at Dick for the 'childishness directed at his person'.
Then there was Stephanie piping up through the comms as she signed on for the night, joining Cassandra on the gargoyles- Cassandra had been out for an hour already. Barbara was up and running too, had already assisted Cassandra with a mugging and was scolding Jason for 'causing thousands of dollars of damage when he could've just shot out their kneecaps, jerk-face'. Which made Jason respond, unashamed with 'the scaffolding was coming down anyway, besides I make my own ammunition, thank you very fucking much'. The quip let Batman know that his second son was okay, in a good mood because he always went big destruction-wise when he was in a good mood; which, though pissed off the Oracle, made Bruce a little happy. Alfred, of course, caught the twinkle in his eye and gave a pointed look that was both amused and plainly said 'he is your son'.

Things start to get fuzzy after that. He remembers going out for patrol, Damian at his side. It had been a good week so far, this night continuing that simplicity- a bank robbery, two drug dealers, and one gang war in a neighborhood, things that were easy. That should've been my first clue that something was going to go wrong. Batman thought grumpily, there's always a calm before a storm. But. What was the storm that had led to this? He wracked his mind, getting only flickers. An opponent, male? Maybe. No, yes, absolutely male. Small, but an adult. Dangerous. Very Dangerous.
"I could rend their souls from their bodies, your precious children, it would be amusing right? Especially for the ones who've died, oh wait, that's nearly all of them, isn't it?" A laugh that chilled Batman to his bones, his gut telling him this guy was even worse than the Joker. He'd fucking do it, he'd hurt the kids without batting an eye. Batman was on the villain without even thinking, aiming to do as much damage in as short of time as possible, fuck the consequences, fuck if he died from it- he had threatened Batman's kids and Batman was tired of losing his children.
There was a thunderclap at the realization, Did I beat him? Are the kids okay? Oh god! What if something happened to the children!? I have to get home. I have to get home now! Now, god damn it! He felt like screaming, but whatever was wrong with him right now. He didn't have a voice. No! I have to go home! He still screamed, with his heart, his soul, whatever it was, it was crying out with everything that Bruce had.
"Hey." A voice interrupted, it was soft and rich, "What's wrong?" Something enveloped Batman, it was the first tangible thing he'd felt since arriving at…wherever this was. "Why, you're just a fragment of a soul! I don't know how you've lasted this long." What?! I need to go home! "Home? Where's home?"
…where is home? Well home is…Batman's mind flickered to the manor, but that was just a house. The batcave? But that was just part of the house too. Alfred, Dick, Barbara, Jason, Cassandra, Tim, Stephanie, and Damian. Home. They were home.
"We'll find it. I'll help you."