The Joke's On You

Chapter Eight

(P.O.V. of Bruce Wayne)

I stormed out of the cave, and into Gotham City Zeta Tube.

I opened the door of the broken down telephone booth and sighed in dismay. I glanced at the sky. It was getting dark. I secretly hoped that when I went back to the Manor, Dick would be there, playing with his siblings.

But I knew he wouldn't escape that easily.

I walked down the deserted streets and soon arrived at the Manor. I creaked open the double doors and was greeted by a big hug. 

"Damian," a small, sad smile flickered across my face.

"Dad," Damian looked up at me, "where's Dick? He owes me money."

A thorn pierced my heart. How could I tell them? They were so young...

I glanced at Alfred and I looked back at Damian, "Why don't you go tell your brothers to come to the dining room?"

Damian started to protest but I said, "It's important, and it's about Dick."

That shut him up and sent him scampering upstairs to find his brothers. 

I sighed and slumped onto the dining room chair. Suddenly, there was a loud crash upstairs, and I saw three of my boys come running down the stairs.

"What's so urgent?" Tim snapped, "I was practicing my so-" he cut himself off.

Jason gasped a bit too dramatically, "What were you doing, Tim?? Don't tell me you were singing!"

"I was not!" the eight-year-old yelled, the tips of his ears reddening.

Damian giggled, watching the argument as if it was a tennis match.

"Guys!" I yelled over the argument. The boys were silent.

"I have some bad news for you guys," I started slowly, "Dick decided to... Live in Mount. Justice for a little while, so you might not be able to see him for a few days."

All three boys narrowed their eyes. They turned their backs and started to confer. 

I could only pick up bits of the conversation.

".....Lying," I could hear Tim.

"......so worried......." said Damian.

".....bad news?.....Dick gone.......yessss......." I rolled my eyes at Jason's comment.

My ears perked as I heard Tim say, "....kidnapping?........."

Jason nodded gravely, "..........Joker......."

I smiled sadly. My boys have grown into small detectives! 

They turned around and faced me.

"Liar!" Jason yelled at me before the other two could say anything, "Dick's not at Mount. Justice!"

"He got kidnapped," Tim's face darkened.

"By the Joker," Damian said.

"and Harley Quinn," I confirmed.

There was an uncomfortable silence, but Damian broke it by saying, "But what about my money?"

Jason pounded his fist on the table, "You can worry about your money later. We have to save him!"

"Man, I've never seen Jason so desperate to get Dick back," Tim muttered. Jason lept on top of him, and the two boys started wrestling on the floor.

I sighed, smiling a small, sad smile.

The boys were so enthusiastic to get their brother back, but a question still remained:

Where the hell was Dick?