Bruce's eyes were red from lack of sleep. He hadn't rested since Alfred drugged his coffee three days ago. He'd also gone nearly a week and a half before that before the butler decided to resort to such measures. As per the agreement with the court, he'd gone out every night to lower the crime rate in Gotham. He spent all the time he wasn't on the streets searching with every resource available to him to find his son… or his colleague, but he was definitely biased towards the younger of the two.

It was no use. It had been a couple days short of two months since anyone had seen hide nor hair of Dick or Barry.

An alert on his computer caught his attention. One of the very few working cameras in Bludhaven had caught a glimpse of Barry. According to his facial recognition tech, at least.

He suited up and went out before Alfred could stop him with more drugged coffee.

A fervent search of the area brought him to an alleyway with so much filth he was surprised he was able to even find Barry where he was hiding behind a dumpster.

The speedster's legs were seriously messed up. They'd need to be rebroken in multiple places in order to fix them. His body was bony to the point of malnutrition, a clear indicator he hadn't been fed enough to allow his healing abilities to kick in. Hell, he might not have even been fed enough for a normal man of his size even. Barry looked up feverishly when he saw Batman.

"No more. I won't try to find the kid. I won't get in the way. I swear. Let me go. Please."

Batman realized with a start that Barry didn't recognize him.

He scooped up his colleague's body, intent on bringing him to the Watchtower, when he realized that would jeopardize Barry's secret identity. Wouldn't a normal hospital jeopardize that too, though?

He debated a moment, before calling the Batmobile and taking Barry to the Zeta Tubes. Giving the man who took in his son the best help he could would not be unbelievable.

Barry mumbled delirious pleas nearly the entire way to the Zeta Tube. Batman radioed the Watchtower to tell whoever was on monitor duty to prepare the med bay. He could feel the heat coming off Barry's body. A dangerously high fever, most likely. He dared not sedate the man before given the go ahead by a doctor.

Two blocks from the Zeta, Barry suddenly shut up.

At the speed they were going, Batman thought it logical to quickly finish the drive to the Zeta tube before checking on him.

He regretted it despite the fact it only took twenty seconds.

Barry had flatlined.

Wally halfheartedly stirred the chicken noodle soup Artemis had made him in an attempt to get him to eat. He was sitting at Mount Justice, despite the fact they had no leads and even less indication on what to do next.

Artemis entered the kitchen and sighed, her shoulders drooping. "It's probably cold by now."

Wally just shrugged. He hadn't planned on eating it anyways.

"Wally, this isn't healthy. Your metabolism… you need to eat."

He just shrugged again.

Superboy hurried into the room, looking around before his eyes fell on Wally. "I overheard, Black Canary was called to the Watchtower. Something about Flash."

Wally perked up. "What about Flash?"

"I'm not sure, but it sounded urgent. I think they've found him."

Wally sped out of the room, running around until he located Red Tornado.

Red Tornado blinked at his sudden appearance.

"Did they find them?! Please tell me they found them! Ineedthemtobeokay!"

Red Tornado held up a hand. "Batman located your uncle in Bludhaven. He's in critical condition and everyone in the Justice League with medical expertise was called in. I was about to head up as well. I will ask Batman to permit you to Zeta there. Wait by the Zeta tubes."

Wally sped off again, and then shifted from foot to foot impatiently next to the Zeta Tube as he waited for Red Tornado.

It took about five minutes to get the permissions updated to let Wally into the Watchtower.

Wally's mind was in overdrive the entire time. The moment he materialized in the Watchtower, Batman grabbed his arm, probably to stop him from immediately running off.

"Barry is in emergency surgery. He flatlined shortly before I got him to Zeta. I managed to revive him, but it's not pretty. You need to leave his fate to the experts."

Wally opened his mouth to protest, despite knowing perfectly well it wouldn't change anything.

"I am going back to Bludhaven to locate Robin. You are welcome to assist."

Wally took a moment to process the words. Batman was telling him there was nothing he could do to help Barry at the moment. But the Bat was also offering him the option to go with him to Bludhaven, to a place where he could be useful.

Wait.

"Dick wasn't with him?!"

"By the sound of it, he hasn't been for a while, but tracking down the villains who hurt your uncle could still provide a lead."

Wally glanced towards the Watchtower's Med Bay, then back at Batman. "There's nothing I can do here? Besides wait, that is."

"Correct."

"I'll need to grab my uniform from Mount Justice. The team will… they'll want to help."

Batman was silent a moment, apparently considering it. "Whoever is currently there can help. Don't waste time calling those who aren't present. Meet me at the Gotham Zeta Tube. Bludhaven doesn't have one."

Wally nodded.

Dick recognized the sound of shurikens flying at him. He attempted a dodge, but one found its mark in his shoulder anyways.

"Expect the unexpected. Always be on guard."

He scowled at Deathstroke's instruction. He'd demanded a water break. Deathstroke could've just told him it was over, instead of taking advantage of his moment of rest to test him. Again.

He took another swig of water from the bottle he'd filled himself. Like hell if he trusted Deathstroke hadn't put something in it while he wasn't looking, but the boy had recognized a while ago that he couldn't avoid all food and beverage given to him by Deathstroke just because it might be poisoned.

Deathstroke smacked the bottle out of Dick's hands. "Your break is over. Get up."

Dick ignored him until the man knocked him harshly off the bench with a bo staff.

"Get up."

Dick huffed and pushed himself up slowly.

Deathstroke whacked him with the bo staff again. "Faster."

"I'd rather just stay on the floor." Dick grumbled.

"Pathetic. Batman clearly was an inadequate teacher if you fail to fight back in the face of danger."

"You're not going to kill me. You wouldn't even severely injure me. It would be unbecoming for your apprentice to be in a full body cast."

Deathstroke tased him. "Watch your mouth, Apprentice. Be appreciative that at least someone out there wants you, blind brat that you are."

Dick writhed. He could take this. He would take this. He had to for as long as it took for Bruce and the Justice League to find him.

He knew they were looking for him, no matter how much trouble it might cause if the court decision had gone south. He also knew the Allens wouldn't give up their parenting rights unless Bruce was able to take him back. He assumed Deathstroke was trying to withhold part of the truth in an attempt to get Dick to bend to his will, but by admitting the Allens had given up their parenting rights, he had just confirmed Bruce got back his previous parenting rights, if not upgraded by the Supreme Court decision.

He lay panting for a minute after the taser shut off.

"Get up." Deathstroke demanded again. "Now."

Dick pushed himself to his feet and prepared to dodge ever more attacks from his supposed master.

Bruce would come. He was sure of it.

(A/N) This story is also on AO3 if any of y'all wanna pop on over. :) (A/N)