Luthor's Assassin

Superman

When Superman broke down the titanium doors to Luthor's office, fully prepared to take a leaf out of Batman's book and beat the answers he needed out of him, he was surprised to see the young boy at the desk instead of the evil genis.

The boy looked perfectly relaxed and he had his feet kicked up on Luthor's desk. Bright blue eyes peered up at the man of steel, and he smirked slightly at Superman's surprised expression.

"Expecting someone else?" the child asked softly with a slight accent that Superman couldn't quite place, and at once he recognized that this was no ordinary boy.

He carefully landed on the ground (because he had been hovering) and took a step forward, noting how the boy's eyes narrowed at the movement.

"Who are you?" he asked, not taking his eyes off the younger, and the boy cocked an eyebrow.

"Richard," he stated, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Superman frowned; obviously this child was determined to be difficult.

"Alright, Richard, but why are you here? At Lexcorp?"

"I live here, most of the time."

Superman couldn't hide his confusion, and the boy let out a cackle, startling the last Kryptonian.

"I'm Luthor's..." here he paused, as if searching for the right word, "...ward."

Superman was suddenly struck with recognition. He remembered now- Luthor had, without explanation, taken an orphaned child in from the circus where his parents had been killed. The man of steel had been suspicious of this action before, but Lex had kept the boy out of the public's eye for such a long time that Superman had honestly forgotten he was there.

"Well, Richard-"he began, but was cut off.

"Dick," Richard interrupted, and Superman froze for a split second before scowling.

"That wasn't very-"

Again, Richard interrupted.

"It's a nickname for Richard. I prefer being called it."

"Oh."

For a second, Superman was speechless. Then he regained his composure and gave Dick a hesitant smile.

"My apologies, Dick. I didn't mean to-"

"It's fine," Dick said, and Superman sighed in annoyance. What was with this kid and interrupting? "I get it a lot."

Cue the awkward silence once more.

Finally, Superman tore his eyes away from Dick and let his eyes wander over the desk, trying in vain to see the contents; Luthor had made sure his desk was lead-lined when he bought it.

"Dick," he said, and said child tensed at his name, "I need something from your..." he struggled for the correct term, "...adopted father. Is he around?"

"You mean Lex?" Dick asked, stretching in the chair in a way that made Superman shudder, the boy was incredibly flexible. "He's out of the country. He's not supposed to return until Tuesday."

Now Superman was angry.

"He left you all alone here?" he growled, and Dick straightened at the angered tone, sitting up straight and narrowing his eyes warily.

"No," the young acrobat replied, "D- Slade and Wintergreen are here too."

"Who are they?" Superman questioned, "And where are they? They shouldn't be leaving someone as young as you-"

"I'm not as young as you think," Dick hissed, suddenly defensive. "I'll be ten next week, and I'm quite capable of taking care of myself."

"I don't doubt it," Superman reassured, attempting to sooth the boy's anger, "but-"