Here's the first of several poll winners. This story will be a it of a modernization of Batman issue 20 Bruce Wayne Loses Guardianship of Dick Grayson. For those of you who may not now about this particular issue, the general premise/overview is that Dick's aunt and uncle (on his father's side) come to take take him. When they do Bruce is distraught by the lose, but still tries to fight crime (to which Robin joins). Later George (Dick's uncle) contacts Bruce and says that he's willing to give Dick back to him in exchange for one million dollars. Bruce doesn't want to get Dick back by that method, and later plans to enter the home as Batman in order to get a confession. He gets trapped by Fatso (a guy that George hired) and George again for his demands and the fact that Batman was being dealt with. Alfred and Dick go to help Batman and Fatso is later apprehended and Batman as well as the police lead Fatso to George reveal the truth and in the end Bruce gets Dick back (I can give you the wiki page if you want to review the synopsis, but that's pretty much how it describe it too).
Now, because I'm giving it a bit of a modernization, I will be changing a few thing. For example, I'm going to give a better reason for what originally happened (where the judge just basically gave Dick to his aunt and uncle). I also will add a few elements to the story (of which I'm not going into too much detail yet) that will give it more personality/a slightly different take. Also, I would put this into Batman (comics), but I did decide to put it under (cartoon) Young Justice because I wanted to include at least Wally (and maybe Roy and Kaldur) into this and have Wally, as Dick's best friend, voice his concerns to a depressed/grieving Batman. However, I will be keeping quite a bit of the key points. Like Dick going to his aunt and uncle, him sneaking out to work with Batman, George trying to bribe/black mail Bruce into paying for Dick's return, and custody of Dick going back to Bruce. I'm debating whether or not I'll include Fatso. Mostly because I feel like nobody would go by Fatso in a more modern setting and I feel like writing it would feel a little weird. I may, but if I don't Batman will either a) get the confession or b) get trapped by another goon. I haven't quite decided yet, but feel free to share your thoughts too.
With all of that said, I hope you enjoy the first chapter (and the following story).
Morning in Wayne Manor was full of life. Having just awaken, Dick got the brilliant idea to attempt to sneak into Bruce's room in an attempt to surprise him. It would end in failure, as the moment Dick had reached the bedside, a pillow would end up whacking him in the face, knocking him off his feet. After recovering from the blow, Dick would return the favor, smacking Bruce with the same pillow. A scheming glare shot at the ten year old. In that moment he knew that he had messed up.
"Uh-oh." Dick panicked.
Alfred would invade the room, needing to retrieve Bruce. The scene he soon found himself entering was messy and energetic. The sheets were almost completely on the floor and pillows were beginning to look deflated.
Dick and Bruce were out of bed, flinging the only full pillows left. Playful banter was shared as they attempted to defeat each other.
"Pardon the intrusion," Alfred apologized, "but there's a man and woman down stairs asking to see the two of you."
Dick glanced over in Alfred's direction, a pillow would smack him in the face.
"We'll be there in a minute." Bruce confirmed, throwing the pillow on the bed, ending the game.
Reaching the main hallway, spontaneous chaos came onto the scene. Before any formal introduction could be made, Dick would be pulled into an embrace.
"You poor thing." The woman whined. "It must be awful living with the grief of your parents' death. You must have been such a lonely little orphan."
"Well not anymore." The man declared.
Seeing Dick's confusion, Bruce knew he had to step in.
"Excuse me, I don't mean to be rude, but who are you?" Bruce asked.
"I'm George." The man introduced. "I'm John Grayson's brother. This is my wife Clara."
Stern normalcy turned to puzzled curiosity.
"Brother?"
"Yes."
His statement was still suspicious. Given the timeframe in which he had taken Dick in and the arrival of these newly discovered relatives, Bruce had questions.
"If that's true, then where were you when his parents died?"
"Touring Europe. Unfortunately, we were unable to return, but we're here now and that's all that matters."
"And now we're taking the poor child off of your hands." Clara declared, not letting go of Dick.
"What do you mean?" Bruce inquired, not liking the implication.
"It's only logical that he lives with his blood relatives. He is my nephew after all."
"No!" Dick denied, squirming out of Clara's embrace.
He would bolt over to Bruce, wanting his familiarity. An arm would wrap around his shoulders for added comfort.
"I don't want to go with you." Dick anxiously declared.
Dick change in attitude was enough to anger Bruce.
"How dare you." Bruce growled. "You barge into my home unannounced and just expect me to hand over the child. The same child that I've cared for in the last two years and care deeply for. I refuse your request."
The once pleasant expressions from George and Clara soon switched to ones of disappointment and anger. Offense took over Clara as she scoffed at his refusal.
"I'm sorry to hear that." George sternly admitted. "However, I had a feeling that you'd refuse, which is why I had the judge craft up this little document."
Pulling out a folded piece of paper, he handed it over to Bruce's free hand. Unfolding it, Bruce would read the contents of it over.
"We'd like to challenge the original living agreement you and the court set up."
Bruce didn't respond, keeping his attention set on the paper. George and Clara made their way towards the door. Opening the door, George let his wife exit first.
"We will bring him home." George declared, turning his attention towards Bruce one last time. "You'll see."
The door would slam behind them. Everyone's attention was now set on the door. Just thinking about what could happen caused Bruce's grip on Dick's shoulder tightened.
The case had begun on schedule. None of the Wayne manor residents wanted to be there, but they knew that wasn't a choice they had. Dragging Dick out was the worst. Not only had he openly refused to leave whenever he got the chance, but he had hidden beneath his bed for a good ten minutes.
Alfred was the first call up in Bruce's defense. He had nothing bad to say about Bruce, praising him for how he raised Dick at every opportunity.
"He adores the boy." Alfred explained. "He treats Dick like he is his own. The boy's happy, healthy, and well cared for."
Not needing the butler any longer, the judge would dismiss him. The judge would call Bruce to the stand next to make his case.
"As you know, I took Dick in after the death of his parents." Bruce began. "I'll admit, even though I understood his trauma, the first few months required a lot of adjusting for us both. But in the two years since taking him in, I've come to love him dearly."
"Indeed." The judge confirmed. "But even with those initial adjustments, the case worker praised you for how well you handled your new family member. From what they've told me since, I agree, your connection seems to have only improved with time. You're dismissed. I'd like to hear from the boy now."
Bruce removed himself from the bench and returned to his seat. With Dick being the last witness in defense of Bruce, he was anxious. Not wanting to go up, Bruce had to firmly talk him into it. With enough pressure, and a good amount of support, Bruce was able to coax Dick into going to the stand.
The judge wanted to know how this agreement came to life for the sake of the case. Discomforted nostalgia came to the surface at the thought. It took a few moments before Dick shared his story.
"It was terrible." Dick began. "When my parents died, I was devastated. They feel to their deaths, and I had to watch. No to mention, I tried to warn them. I was also scared. I had survived and I was afraid that Zucco was going to kill me."
His gaze went to Bruce. The uneasy recollection floated between them.
"But before I knew it, Bruce took me in. I had a home. A family. I felt safe." Dick shot a pleading glare in the judge's direction. "Please, don't take me away from him."
The judge could see the distress in the boy, wasting no time to address it.
"Thank you for your testimony." The judge stated. "You may step down."
Dick didn't need to be told twice as he quickly vacated the stand. It wouldn't be long before he was back at Bruce's side. Bruce would try to ease the tension, making sure Dick knew that he did good and that it would be okay.
With Bruce's platform on the table, George and Clara's counterargument was called forward. Their lawyer took the floor, papers in hand. The smirk on his face was one of unpleasant planning.
"How tragic." The lawyer mocked. "What happened to you is a tragedy, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. However, I find this situation a little troubling. I feel like there's a more sinister story going on behind the scenes and he has all of you wrapped around his figure."
"What grounds are you basing these accusations on?" The judge questioned.
"I'm glad you asked." The lawyer ruffled through the papers in his hands. "What I have in front of me are several instances proving that Bruce Wayne is an insufficient caretaker. The first, his playboy persona."
He handed the corresponding paperwork over to the judge. On them, were several pictures of Bruce at different events with different women. To emphasize this point, the lawyer brought Clara to the stand.
"Don't get me wrong, I applaud Bruce for all of the charity events he's held." Clara admitted. "However, how often have we seen him with a woman of the week, if you will, at these events? Such behavior is not a good example of a positive influence. The boy needs proper structure and a normal home. He could also use a good mother figure, since there is none, which I am more than capable of fulfilling."
"Thank you. No further question."
Clara excused herself from the witness stand. With her testimony out of the way, the lawyer pulled out his other paperback evidence.
"This part will tear down Wayne's declaration of love and familiarity. If Bruce Wayne really sees Richard Grayson as a son, why hasn't he signed any adoption papers?"
Bruce was floored by the unusual statement.
"What I have in front of me is a copy of the custody papers for Richard. In it, it states how Mr. Wayne's guardianship was only meant to keep him safe until Zucco was apprehended and in the event the boy had family that he could go to. If no one claimed the boy before or after Zucco was taken care of and he wanted to adopt Richard, he could. However, he would have to finalize those demands in court."
The lawyer would pass the paperwork to the judge. As he studied it, the lawyer continued.
"Which leaves us to this case your honor. Here we are, two years after the death of John and Mary Grayson, and Mr. Wayne still hasn't taken action in young Richard's custody. And now that the boy's family has come to get him, Mr. Wayne is rejecting the very legality of the original case."
Bruce didn't know how to respond. There was a particular reason why he had yet to finalize custody over Dick, and now that plan was crumbling before him.
"I call George Grayson to the stand."
Following his lawyer's command, George approached the witness stand.
"It's true." George confirmed. "My brother had approached me years ago in regards to the boy. He told me, 'George, if anything happens to us, please take care of my son'. As strange as that notion sounded at the time, I made a promise to watch over my nephew that day."
"Of course you did, just like any sibling would. No further questions."
George vacated the seat as the judge processed the information before him. Since it was a case over the guardianship of Dick, there wasn't much more for wither side to end. With it being as relatively private as possible, it was down to the judge to decide how to proceed.
Several moments of silence would pass, and neither the judge nor Bruce were too thrilled with what had been given. The judge pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Unfortunately, I have to agree with you." The judge admitted. "I'm awarding the custody of Dick Grayson to George and Clara Grayson."
"But your honor," Bruce interrupted.
"I'm sorry Bruce, but I have no choice. I know you care for the child, but you haven't taken the appropriate action. His family is here, and since your custody case is still temporary, I have to award custody over to George and Clara Grayson. Tomorrow you are to hand the boy over to his aunt and uncle, any contact with you want to make with him will have to be made through them. I'm sorry. Case dismissed."
I figured that the only way that they could get custody of Dick was if there was some sort of loophole or something in the fine print of the original paperwork. Since Dick was technically a ward for a while (at least prior to New 52 and more than likely prior to Crisis on Infinite Earths) and later officially adopted by Bruce, I thought that would be the place to go. Also, the reason this only has a judge and no jury is because I was thinking of this being a small civil/family court case that didn't need one. And the only reason George and Clara have a lawyer and Bruce didn't is because it was kind of like that in the comic.