Dick’s heart pounded in his chest as he moved down the cold, sterile hallway, every muscle tense with anticipation. He’d already taken care of the captors—the ones responsible for the trafficking ring that led him here. But that didn’t matter anymore.

Because ahead of him, in a cage, was the one person he’d been searching for over the past year. The one person he’d failed. His child.

Months spent chasing every lead, every whisper, every trail. But no matter how many times he searched, he couldn’t find them. Not until now.

The thought of them being trapped in this hellhole twisted his gut, and each step closer to the cage felt like a knife digging deeper. His breath hitched as he rounded the corner, eyes landing on the small cage at the end of the hall.

There, curled up on the cold floor, was his child.

The same child who had once looked up at him with those wide, trusting eyes, who had clung to his side. The child who had been his world, and now—now they were a broken, hollow version of the person they once were.

Dick’s breath caught, his chest tightening painfully.

A year. A year of relentless searching, wondering if they were still alive, if they were even safe. And now, they were here—alive, but shattered.

His mind flashed back to the last time he had seen them, the last time he had hugged them, kissed their forehead, told them he would always protect them. And now, seeing them like this, it felt like a betrayal of every promise he had made.

“Sweetheart…” His voice cracked, trembling with emotion. This wasn’t the confident, controlled Dick Grayson. This was a father who had failed.

Their eyes blinked up at him, confusion and disbelief clouding their face. They didn’t recognize him at first. It didn’t matter.

He recognized them.

Dropping to his knees, Dick reached through the bars, fingers shaking as he desperately touched the cold metal. “I’m so sorry… I—I didn’t…” His voice broke, each word tasting like regret.

A year. A year without them.