Hot blood streamed from the open wound in Jason's side. It mingled with the cobbles of the dark, wet, and unforgiving alleyway where he stood, breathing heavily. He growled at the shadows, watching as a young boy of no older than 10 ran out, swinging his swords down. Jason caught the blades and head-butted the boy, breaking his boy stood, stunned, so Jason took the opportunity to shoot the boy between the eyes, effectively killing him. He watched the boy drop to the ground, motionless. He flinched as his eldest brother, Damian, leaped from his perch and screeched, "Hood! That is a child! I know he blooming well stabbed you so don't try to say this was self-defense! He doesn't look a day over 10!" Jason was looking ashamed of himself.
Damian knelt down and bundled the boy up, tieing him up, and begun the journey back to the Batcave. Jason called back Red Robin, their brother, Tim. The trio then met on top of Gotham PD. Red Robin activated the Batsignal and placed a large red circle of translucent plastic over it. This signal meant that the enemy they were facing had died during the fight, whether by them, well Jason, or through another means. Moments after the signal had been activated Batman slunk out the shadows, meaning Tim turned the signal back off and turned to glare through the domino style mask he wore at Jason, who had the decency to look abashed. Batwing, Damian, lay the boy's still body at Batman's feet. The older man's expression didn't change as he leaned down, removing the boy's mask.
The boys gasped, they all knew the boy on the ground in front of them! It was Richard John Grayson, son of the famous trapeze artists Mary and John Grayson and one of the members of the Flying Graysons, who had met their deaths, all but the son, in a brutal murder, the wires had acid poured on them which was traced to one Tony Zucco who had died via Talon less than a month ago in jail. The boy then was 6, he had been taken by his great-grandfather back to their native country, having then been pronounced missing for 4 years. Now he was lying in front of them dead. They all turned to Red Hood, Jason, and gave him a withering mix of the BatGlare, DamianGlare, and TimGlare. Jason shrunk back and whined, "I'm sorry! He was gonna kill me! He said something about the Court of Owls! They want me deader than a dodo!"
This surprised the others as they looked at the small child. Batman knelt down and shook the boy's shoulder "You can stop the charade now Richard" the others looked skeptical until they saw the small boy open his gorgeous sapphire blue eyes and blink at the group in front of him. Jason shrieked and stared at the former point of entry, which by this time had closed up. They all watched in awe as the boy's eyes flashed gold before he spat the bullet straight by Jason's feet. Jason leaped back and shook, hiding behind Batman. Dick then let out a low whimper and began to quiver. Damian knelt down and brought the little boy closer to him, rubbing his back and whispering things that their ears couldn't pick up. Whatever he said though soon calmed the boy down.
Batman knelt down and picked the boy up out of Damian's arms, holding him on his hip, the boy's head on his shoulder, The young boy nuzzled close which made their hearts melt. Batman then asked in a soft and curious voice, "Why didn't you kill Red Hood?" They all had to strain to hear the boys voice, it obviously hadn't been used much, as he spoke, "Because even though they taught us to kill, I have a scrap of humanity for the vigilantes of Gotham. I merely injured him to make it seem he was dead, it fools the Court for a while you see." They had to agree that the boy was a genius and obviously could adapt to any situation at any point. Batman made a small noise of recognition as he wrapped the boy in his cape, cradling him close to his body.
"I wanna go home. I wanna sleep. I wanna see my mommy and daddy again." Richard whispered, heartbrokenly. They watched him fall asleep as they wondered how a little boy like him could have survived in the harsh conditions that the Talons did. They all separated and head to their respective vehicles and drove home. As they arrived Alfred checked over the smallest being and patched up Jason's side. There was a lot they wanted to ask Dick but it would have to wait. Richard was a threat even if he was semi-sane.