a/n: idk if i made dick cry in this book yet... oh well, he cries because i say so.

and merry christmas because none of you are gonna be happy with me next chapter

song for this chapter: 21 gun salute - catch your breath

~Dick's POV~

"And here's my pretty girl!"

"Pretty fucking annoying is what you are."

"Aww, smile for the camera, babe!" I said and Maeve flipped off the camera and continued wrap presents with Jason. "Oh, come on!"

"When I first heard your voice, you used to irritate me." Jason smirked.

"And now?"

"I'd punch those pearly white teeth, but Maeve would punch mine." He shrugged.

"I've got more presents and wrapping paper! The stores are chaos!" Bruce called out, walking inside the living room with Alfred trailing behind. "Dick, put your phone down and help wrap these presents if we want to take them to the orphanage on Christmas."

"Alfred almost fought someone for the last toy kitchen set and a Barbie." Selina chuckled, setting down some toys.

"Babe, help Alfred wrap the toy cars and the dolls. Bruce and Selina, wrap the teen gifts and Jay and I will finish the ones for the babies and tikes... Has anyone heard from the catering to see if they can make it tomorrow for the homeless shelter?"

"Dick... you gotta stop, man." Wally sighed, pausing the video. "We'll find them."

"Y'know that's a tradition Mae started when she moved in... she always said that everyone deserved a present on Christmas. Then, at night, she would dress up as Domino and go play with the kids at the orphanage." I said, not wanting to tear my gaze from the paused video. "Turns out that Mae actually gave a few toys to Jace before they even met."

"Guess they were always destined to meet."

"Guess so..."

"Quick question." Raquel called out and we turned to see her holding an IV bag. "When did Mae last had her Venom?"

"A month and a half ago..." I realized and frantically stood up. "She was supposed to have it a few days ago, but with all the chaos of the Team, we just didn't find the time!"

"Dick, calm-"

"She's gonna die without it!" I yelled.

"Dick!" Artemis yelled back as I threw the IV to a wall, inevitably breaking it. "No one go near it or you'll go insane!"

"I think Dick is halfway there without his silver haired psychopath." Connor shrugged as Zatanna cleaned the Venom off the floor and wall. "Troia and Kaldur are supposed to be back in-"

Recognized: Aqualad, B-02
Recognized: Troia, B-12

"I found something!" Troia called out and we immediately ran up to her and Kaldur. "You might not like it, Dick."

"My girl and my brother are with her deranged father God knows where... I think I can handle whatever it is." I rolled my eyes and was tossed a hard drive. "What's in it?"

"We ran into one of Joker's goons in Gotham. They said to give it to you or Batman." Kaldur said and I raised my eyebrows eying the note tied to it.

You're losing her.
Here's your one way ticket to her downfall.
Five bad days.
How much more can she take?

~J.

"Play it." I tossed it to Tula who immediately hooked it up to the computer.

"You killed that guy, Ace."

"It was an accident! And that's not my name anymore!" Maeve yelled, struggling against the restraints as a helmet full of wires was placed on her head. "No... not this again! Anything but this!"

"Batsy won't ever trust you again when he finds out." Joker taunted and gestured for one of the goons to wheel Jason inside.

"Oh my God." Artemis whispered, eyes welling up with tears.

"ROBIN!" Maeve cried out, struggling to get free again once she saw Jason unconscious and tied to a wheelchair with barbed wire. "You're fucking sick, Joker! Let him go!"

"I think it's time to remind you that your daddy loves you very much." He grinned, turning on the electroshock machine and Maeve widened her eyes.

"You're not my dad anymore! Batman's my dad and he does love me!" She wailed and screamed when the first shock was delivered.

"Wrong answer, cupcake."

"Is this live?" Wally asked, covering Artemis' eyes and Tula nodded. "Can we trace the satellite?"

"I've been trying since it started... I'm getting nothing." Megan sighed, wiping her tears and Lagoon Boy immediately ran up to comfort her.

"I've been trying the locator spell again and getting nothing." Zatanna called out.

"NIGHTWING! NIGHTWING, PLEASE!" Maeve sobbed and Jason woke up.

"M-Domino!?" He gasped and tried to break free but screamed in pain due to the barbed wire. "Let her go, Joker!"

"You gonna make me... Jason?" Joker grinned and he tensed.

"H-h-how did you-"

"Little orphan boy from Crime Alley, rescued by the Bats and Domino. You really think this old soul wouldn't put two and two together? When, all of a sudden, the Boy Blunder grew into Nightwing and a new Robin was shown? All that's left is to find out who's behind the Bat's mask." His grinned widened and turned to Maeve who was panting and closed her eyes tight. "And I think I found the one who's gonna tell me."

"Over my cold and dead body, Joker." She spat and he grabbed the crowbar, inching towards Jason.

"I think we can come to an agreement." Joker shrugged and swung the crowbar at Jason's ribcage making all of us wince when he screamed.

"He's not gonna kill her... he's gonna break her by hurting Jason." Roy realized and we all widened our eyes. "Think about it, aside from Dick, who's the one person Maeve cares about the most? Who's the one she saved?"

"Jason..." I replied, turning to face the Team. "One bad day."

"Not following." La'gann said and I rolled my eyes.

"Joker's full philosophy is based on that all it takes is a bad day to send someone over the edge. The reason Mae hasn't been sent over the edge is-"

"Because of us." Kaldur realized and I nodded. "And Jason when she took him under her wing and became her Robin."

"Exactly! No us and Jason being tortured like that means-"

"A bad day!" Wally exclaimed. "So that's why-"

"No... DAD! DAD, HELP US!" Jason yelled when Maeve was shocked again. "Let her go, Joker!"

"I'm going to the Watchtower to show this to Batman. I'll be back in a few hours." I sighed, forcing myself to look away from the computer and made my way to the Zeta Tube. "Send it to my Gauntlet to see if I can locate it."

"Dick, maybe someone should-"

"Keep trying to trace it."

｡ﾟ•┈୨🃏୧┈• ｡ﾟ

"And that's-"

"Live, yes. We still can't trace it without the risk of a virus. I have KF working on it."

"I went to Belle Reve and asked around. Nobody has any clue where they could be." Bruce said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Right now, I have Selina, Ivy and Harley searching everywhere and tipped off the GCPD thanks to Barbara. Went as Bruce Wayne just in case they're unmasked and told them to not make it public yet. I don't want anyone else on this."

"W-who's there!?" Jason yelled, struggling against the barbed wired until Maeve removed the sack off his head. "Mom..."

"It's okay, Jay. I'm here... I swear that I'm here." She assured, still shaking and struggling to breathe from the electroshock. "Dad and Nightwing will be here soon to-"

"Where's Batman?"

"Batman's not coming to save you, Jason." Joker said, holding Maeve and Jason's shoulders tight, making them both wince. "It's been five days now. I think it's time you both start facing facts!"

"That's enough." Maeve hissed, reaching out to wipe the dried blood from Jason's cheek. Joker grinned and cut the barbed wire, making Jason fall into her arms with a small yelp, her hands and suit immediately being covered in his blood. "You have me, Joker. Let him leave!"

"Mmm... nah! I'm just gonna keep beating both of you with this crowbar!" His smile widened as he picked up the crowbar.

"Okay, that's enough." I said, turning off the video before it got worse. "Bruce, I don't know what to do... please tell me what to do."

"Nightwing." Diana called out. "The League is more than willing to help you find them."

"But SB couldn't find them and Zee can't locate them!"

"That does not mean we can't. Just tell us what you need and we'll help."

"I just need to find them." I whispered, fighting back the tears that were forming. "I need them home."

"Give us five minutes. Get the League the Team, and the Sirens and meet us in the briefing room." Bruce said and Diana left with a nod and a sad expression. "Dick..."

"I want them home."

"So do I." He sighed, removing his cowl and I slowly removed my mask. "You're doing everything you can... we both are."

"But it's not enough!" I yelled, angrily wiping my eyes. "Why isn't it enough!?"

"Because we're clearly missing something, but we don't know what it is."

"If I could just have a clue as to where they could be, I could work from there. But I'm working blind!"

"You're not fully thinking this through. You're acting on impulse." Bruce pointed out and I slumped my shoulders in defeat.

"Bruce, I... I don't know what to do." I admitted and finally let the tears flow. "All I want is Mae and Jay home, and Joker dead. All I've been thinking are ways to make him pay for what he's doing to them."

"Reminds me of a little boy I once knew that wanted revenge on their parent's murderer."

"But this is different."

"How so?"

"Because I can do something about it this time, and I don't know where to start!"

"Because you're focusing on them and not their surroundings." Bruce said and I raised my eyebrows. "Put the video and focus on the room, not them."

"Domino? Domino, you gotta wake up!"

"Jason... I need you to tie me up and find a way to leave." Maeve groaned, stirring awake. "I don't have enough Venom to keep me at bay."

"I'm not leaving you!" Jason yelled and she smiled softly.

"Dad's not coming, Jay... It's up to you to get the hell outta here."

"Focus, Dick." Bruce snapped his fingers in front of my face and I wiped my tears.

"Seems to be like an abandoned hospital."

"There are a few abandoned hospitals around Gotham and neighboring towns. We can start there."

"Mae... I'm scared. I-I don't want to leave you here with him."

"I told you that there'll come a time where you have to make sacrifices, right?"

"But this isn't that time!" Jason decided and slung one of her arms over his shoulders and forced her to stand. "You know these hallways and vents like the back of your hand, right?"

"Right."

"So, we're fighting through the pain and getting out. Screw waiting for Dad."

"If she knows those halls like the back of her hand, that means they're at-"

"ARKHAM! THEY'RE AT ARKHAM!" Zatanna yelled, running inside and we both immediately masked up. "I broke the wall Joker set up and I found it!"

"Arkham's a big place, Zee. It'll take us days to-"

"The inmates are running the Asylum, Nightwing." Selina called out. "Last night, we heard a scream that was all too familiar to Harley."

"She's in there with Robin." Harley said, not daring to look up at us and Ivy held her hand. "It... it was J's plan all along. He had her entire life planned from the moment you found her, Nightwing. Said that-"

"She isn't mine or Batman's. That she belongs to him." I finished and my jaw clenched. "Everyone's here?"

"We're all waiting for you and Batman." Wally sped inside, dressed in his suit and Artemis followed.

"You two retired months ago. You shouldn't-"

"They're our family and they need us. Retirement can wait." Artemis assured. "We've got your back, Nightwing. Tell us what you need us to do."

"We need to come up with a Joker proof plan. This can't have any mistakes if we want them both alive." I said and turned to Harley. "You know him better than any of us here... I'm giving you a chance to prove yourself as a decent mother, Harley. Don't disappoint."

"I just want my baby safe, Nightwing."

"Then you better help me come up with something good."