Chapter Text
Barry sat slouched at the Justice League conference table, tapping his fingers at light speed. Hal shot him a sour look from his left and he sighed, folding his arms over his chest. Diana was across from them, sitting on the table with her legs dangling, sharpening her sword with a slow, rhythmic ‘sssk’ every couple of moments that echoed through the otherwise quiet Watchtower.
“Maybe he’s just not coming.” Hal said finally. Clark frowned.
“He would’ve told us if he was going to miss the meeting.”
“No he wouldn’t’ve,” Hal scoffed, “No one’s even heard from the guy in weeks. He’s the only one without powers right? Hate to say it, but maybe Spooky bit the dust.”
“There’s nothing on Gotham news about Batman dying.” Victor chimed, pausing for a moment to mentally search the web. “He was spotted last night.”
“Should we begin the meeting without him?” J’onn asked patiently and Clark shook his head.
“No, we should wait.”
“He’s not showing up! We can’t exactly call the guy; none of us knows who he is!” Hal groaned, his lantern ring glowing for a moment to construct a sign above his head that read ‘he doesn’t trust us’.
“Clark,” Barry whined, rubbing his eyes, “We’ve been waiting for over an hour. There’s nothing big to report, let’s just call it-”
Clark held up his hand, turning toward the door. Three seconds later, it opened with a whoosh and the flap of a black cape. Batman entered without a word, shoulders tight and jaw set. Clark stood.
“Batman, would you care to tell us why you’re so late?”
Batman didn’t respond, white lenses flicking to each member of the league individually. He closed them after a moment, pinching the bridge of his nose and sighing , louder than any member had heard (even Hal).
Clark blinked, eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
“Your heart rate... What’s wrong?” The rest of the league looked from Clark to Batman in confusion, all attention now focused on their exchange.
Batman didn’t speak for several moments, allowing everyone to notice the tired lines in his face, the taught, almost stiff posture, and the small tremors in his hands. Diana stood next, and the rest followed suit cautiously. Batman seemed to compose himself, hand returning to his side with another breath.
“My son is missing.”
Silence.
“I’m sorry,” Hal held up his hands, “Your what ?”
Batman blinked at him. “My son is missing. He was kidnapped. I need help to find him.”
Everyone exchanged shocked looks, unsure what to say.
“I would not be asking for your help if I could find him,” He continued. “He’s been missing for a day now.”
“How… I mean, where did you last see him?” Barry asked. He was the one who actually worked in a police station, and knew the questions to ask.
“Are we just going to ignore the huge reveal that Spooky is responsible for a child? ” Hal exclaimed, gaping at Barry, who shot him a look.
“ Hal. ” He hissed, but Batman didn’t seem fazed.
“I was with him yesterday afternoon at the Gotham Knights football game. I lost track of him in the crowd. No one saw anything.”
Barry swallowed at the tiny tremor in Batman’s voice. He actually sounded scared (as scared as Batman could sound anyway).
“Will you help me?”
Clark gaped at the question, “Of course we’ll help.”
“No question.” Barry chimed.
Batman seemed to relax slightly, before turning back toward the Watchtower teleporter, the rest of them following. “The surveillance footage of the stadium is at the Batcave. I will beam us there.” He walked silently to the controls as the rest of the League filed onto the platform. “Try not to slip. The cave floor is wet.” He grunted quietly, hitting the go button.
The team felt the familiar warmth of teleporting, the bright lights suddenly replaced by a cold damp place. Barry blinked, eyes adjusting and Hal’s suit lit up automatically, illuminating the otherwise dark area.
The cave was huge, at least three stories high, the walls lined with walking platforms. There were countless glass cases displaying odd objects, the most notable being several question mark trophies, a red and black mallet, and a six foot tall Joker card hanging on the wall. A good part of the cave was taken up by a 30 foot Tyrannosaurus Rex statue, a tricked out car, a small plane and a computer the size of a movie theater screen on the opposite side of the cave.
Hal whistled, floating up to examine the teeth of the T-Rex while the rest of the team followed Batman to his computer. Sixteen different displays were on the screen, an overlay analyzing every one, searching every passing face to match the smiling dark-haired boy to the right of the displays. Victor gaped, walking over to examine the seven foot computer tower. Batman sat down and Barry jumped, just having noticed another figure standing by the screen.
“I see you brought guests, sir.” The man, elderly and dressed in a pressed, three piece suit, bowed to them. “Alfred Pennyworth, at your service. Would anyone care for some tea?”
“Thank you Alfred, but there’s no time.” Batman said shortly, turning in his chair to stand before the league again. “I didn’t plan on revealing my identity so early after forming the league, but considering the current situation, none of that matters.”
Batman pulled off his cowl, black hair falling into blue eyes. The rest of them could now see the dark circles under his eyes, the worried lines of his face, and a healing bruise on his cheekbone. Barry’s mouth dropped.
“ Bruce Wayne? Wait, Batman is Bruce Wayne?!” Hal flew to hover beside him.
“Who the hell is Bruce Wayne?” He whispered and Barry elbowed him in the ribs.
“My son Dick Grayson is missing. I need to find him. He’s only been under my care for about six months, but I’m afraid whomever kidnapped him did so because of who I am.”
“Have they called in a ransom?” Clark asked and Bruce shook his head.
“Have you told the police?” Barry tried, and Bruce shook his head again. “They’re trained to find kids in these situations.” He continued and Bruce’s posture seemed to stiffen further.
“The reason I dawned the cape was because the police in this city are corrupt. They can and will be bought by anyone willing to pay. If they got wind that a billionaire's son was missing, it’s likely some of them can be coerced into helping the kidnappers in exchange for some percentage of whatever they try and get from me.” He said hotly.
“That’s sick…” Barry whispered and Diana nodded, crossing her arms over her chest.
“One who kidnaps a child is the least honorable of thieves. They shall receive no mercy.”
“Nope. Where do we start?” Hal nodded at the screens, “That show anything?”
Bruce turned back to the display. “Unfortunately, no. They knew all the blind spots of the cameras.” He clicked the replay button, pointing to one of the playbacks that showed a small boy looking around, only to be pulled back off screen by two hands. The video stopped. Bruce looked grave turning back to them, but his voice was level. “That was the last sighting of him.”
Barry stroked his chin, “Kidnappers who grab in highly crowded places rarely do so without a plan, or a getaway. It’s likely it was a team of people, at least one to grab the kid, and the other to drive the getaway car.”
“The streets didn’t show any cars pulling away at that time,” Victor said, having connected himself to the Batcomputer tower. “They had to go out somewhere else.”
“Maybe a sewer?” Hal suggested.
“If they did that, It’d take them anywhere in the city… That's a 300 square mile radius.” Clark sighed. Barry was quiet for a moment before his skin crackled with kinetic energy and he disappeared for one second, reappearing with a large blueprint. He laid it out on a nearby table soundlessly, and the rest of the team gathered around.
“There are three sewer entrances in the entirety of the stadium, but considering where they abducted Dick, its likely they used this one.” He pointed to a middle one by the food stands.
“They had to have been using disguises,” Hal said, “No way security doesn’t notice some guy taking a kid down a manhole.”
“The workers didn’t report anything suspicious.” Bruce grunted.
“They could’ve lied,” Hal shrugged.
“One might find it hard to lie after his fingers have been broken, sir.” Alfred said without missing a beat and Hal swallowed.
“Do you… normally break civilian’s fingers when interrogating them…?” The Lantern asked slowly and Bruce glanced at him.
“When it’s regarding my son .”
“The middle sewer entrance has three exits. If they used any of the first ones, that could dump them on Kings Street, Main, or Prescott Ave.” Barry continued. “Vic, can you check the footage at those entrances?”
Cyborg closed his eyes, pulling up security footage from the previous day in place of the stadium footage. Barry squinted.
“There,” He pointed to the Prescott Ave. playback, “That exit is under construction.”
“Its fake,” Bruce grunted. “I checked. That area was not due for construction. Unfortunately, no one comes out.”
“It is possible something spooked them and caused them to abandon their original escape.” J’onn stated and Diana nodded. “Unfortunately, that conclusion does not get us any closer to where they are now.”
“I can go through all the security footage in the city within the hour he was taken, but that may take an hour or two…” Victor sat down in the chair as Clark turned to the rest of the team.
“Then we do it on foot. Start at the three sewer entrances and spread out. Bruce and I will take the Prescott route, Flash, scan the entire sewer system then meet back with Lantern at Main. J’onn and Diana, take Kings Street.”
“Wouldn’t it be faster if you used your super hearing to listen for signs of distress?” Hal suggested and Bruce sighed.
“Not in Gotham. Especially not at night.” He grunted.
“... Why do you live here again?”
Bruce ignored him, “It’s late enough that some of my rogues will be causing havoc as well. Take caution if you do encounter one.”
“Uh… What exactly should we look out for?”
Bruce blinked at them. “Toxic gas, puzzle games, and clowns .”