When Worlds Collide

119) Daddy Issues

A/N: Tis short, but I am packing so... yeah

-Bruce POV-

Bruce felt like his nerves were on fire.

His son was missing and it felt like the entire world should have stopped the moment left. And yet, time was still passing and people still needed him to do things.

"I apologize, but I won't be able to come in today," Bruce said into the phone, purposely making his voice horse. "My son got the flu from his boyfriend and it's spread like wildfire throughout the family."

His assistant from WE muttered on about meetings and deadlines, but Bruce wasn't listening. His eyes were locked on the tablet in his hand, reviewing the information his children had gathered on Luthor's businesses.

"— not to mention that you have cancelled on Lex Luthor the last 5 times."

That caught Bruce's attention. "I have a meeting with Luthor?"

"Yes Sir," the woman replied, sounding just a tad bit annoyed with him. "Secretary Luthor has been trying to meet with you for the last 8 months about the possibility of appointing you as a SESG for Greater Bialya."

"Can you give me one second?" He asked before muting himself and looking to Dick who was right next to him. "I apparently have a meeting with Luthor today."

Dick looked at him and gained a shit eating grin.

"Why is this good news?" Thalia asked.

Tim, who was supposed to be also considered he was going on day 4 of no sleep, rolled over in his swivel chair. "Because now we can plant a tracker on him. Even if he doesn't go directly to Nico, he might stop by the facility or give us some sort of hint to where they are keeping Nico."

Bruce felt hope welling in his chest... and then Annabeth spoke.

"One problem with this plan, doesn't Luthor know who you are?" She said with a raised eyebrow. "You have been dodging his meetings forever, but suddenly you accept them after you get confirmation that he knows where Nico is? He'll know it's a trick and use it to send you on a while goose chase."

Kon nodded. "Lex is too clever not to see this coming. He may be an ass, but he isn't an idiot. This is exactly the opportunity he would use to take advantage of your hope while also striking a blow against you."

Leo looked at Tim's boyfriend skeptically. "How do you know so much about Baldy-mort."

Kon snorted at the name before shrugging. "He's my father."

"I thought Superman was your dad," one of the Stolls (they kept lying about which one was which, so Bruce really wasn't sure who) said.

"He is," Kon said simply.

While for most people that would have caused a million more questions, they didn't look surprised at all. Having two biological dads was apparently pretty normal at CHB.

"Lucky," the other Stoll said. "You got a super powered dad and  a rich dad."

Tim snorted at that comment. "I've had two dads, but they were both just rich."

"Bruce is the only rich dad I've had," Dick added. "My parents were circus performers, and there's not a ton of money in that."

Jason crossed his arms, smirking slightly. "Better a poor circus performer than deadbeat jailbird."

Steph scoffed. "If were having a 'who has the worst dad' competition, then I am totally gonna win. Not only was my dad a villain, but he was a shitty one. He couldn't even make a name for himself."

Wally laughed. "My dad was abusive and  he was a follower of those weird manhunter robots. I think that gives me the win."

"My Father turned me into a tree," Thalia said.

"My dad allowed me to be left in the woods as a 3 year old so that I could basically be a present for the wife he cheated on," Jason (the blonde) added.

As the room dissolved into bickering about whether or not gods should count for the competition, Bruce just smiled slightly. He knew they should have been focusing on the task at hand, but it felt good to hear his kids laugh. They had all been so somber since Nico's kidnapping, and to see them joking around and bickering gave him hope that they would make it through. They would survive.

Cass stopped the argument by clapping her hands once and pointing to herself with a raised eyebrow.

Jason (the ex-robin) groaned. "Fuck. I forgot about Cass' dad."

Wally sunk in his seat. "Damn it."

"Cass wins," Steph said begrudgingly. 

A/N: Fun Fact! Cass' dad never taught her to speak, instead teaching her to read body language. She is by far the most deadly Bat (at least in my opinion) and is described to be able to read every weakness a person had with one look. She is an icon. 

Vote. Comment. Tell me what I forgot to pack (I have been packing to move all day and I can feel it in my soul that I forgot something).