Here there's some insight and some ground rules.
"I don't normally do house calls." Leslie stated as Damian invited her into the house.
"I know," Damian recalled, "but I can't exactly take who I want you to see out of the house. He's too unpredictable right now. Plus we have enough of the proper equipment for you to do the job."
He led her down to the Batcave. There, Dick was sitting down with his hands bound behind him. A precaution that Damian took in order to have some security. Leslie, on the other hand, found it startling and rather cruel.
"He was raised by Talon's for two years." Damian explained. "Can't risk him hurting anyone."
"But he's a child." Leslie argued.
"Given he was a Talon for two years, you'll have to forgive me for the precaution."
That may have explained it, but it didn't make it any less troubling. She was aware that the Court of Owls was a threat, but restraining a child like this felt like overkill. Even if he was a killing machine in the making.
"Is there anything else I need to know before I start his checkup?" Leslie inquired, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"This is Dick Grayson." Damian introduced. "The boy who went missing two years ago."
That was something she wasn't expecting to hear. Like a number of people, she had believed that the youngest Grayson perished after his disappearance. As morbid as it was, she couldn't bring herself to believe that such a young child would live on the streets of Gotham for long. It wasn't a good city to put it bluntly.
"Of course he is." Leslie accepted. "I shouldn't be surprised. Of course you guys would find a missing child when no one else could."
"Trust me I was almost as surprised as you are." Damian admitted. "But since we did, I think he's two years overdue for a checkup."
Dick didn't fight back as Leslie did her work, which was a miracle. He let her do her routine work, but there was threatening glare that followed her during the whole thing. It was combated with an unfazed and professional work from Leslie and an observant gaze from Damian.
"Well he's a little shorter than most kids his age and lighter, but he'll manage." Leslie deduced, wrapping her stethoscope around her neck. "His heart and lungs appear healthy and his bones don't seem to be broken."
Her assessment seemed somewhat expected. Damian didn't expect everything to be sunshine and rainbows, but hearing that he was at least healthy internally was a good thing.
"That's good I suppose." Damian admitted. "The healthy parts anyways."
"I recommend getting him feed." Leslie stated. "Do that and make sure he sleeps well and he'll be right on track physically."
"Any suggestions for him mentally?"
There was a golden question. Fixing him physically was easy. It could be managed with the proper diet and care. Fixing the two years of mental and emotional turmoil was something different. There was no telling what lied behind Dick's stoic exterior. However, there was one thing that could work.
"Let him be a kid." Leslie suggested.
"And how do you suggest I do that?" Damian asked.
"Get him to trust you for one. If he can trust you than maybe he'll loosen up." Leslie looked at Dick, thinking about his age. "Play with him. Kids love to play." She looked back at the boy, noting Dick bonds. "Give him some freedom."
Damian scoffed at the notion. Letting Dick go free seemed impossible at this point. With how Dick was probably treated, letting him roam free was a risk. Leslie wasn't about to let Damian brush it aside.
"Look, I know he's uncontrollable and unreliable," Leslie admitted, "but you need to trust in him and let him do things without the restraints."
Leslie looked at her watch. House visit or not, she was still on the clock. There were other people who needed her help.
"I've got to go." Leslie declared. "You've got a mostly healthy kid here who needs love and affection. Try not to kill him."
Damian was taking baby steps with Leslie's advice. He let Dick roam the room without any restraints. He didn't have anyone in the room with them, but it was a start. Nothing seemed to interest Dick as he trotted around the room. He was restless, wanting to do something, but there was nothing the room provided entertainment.
"I can't take this." Dick moaned. "I can't just stand around here. I need to do something."
"Like what?" Damian inquired. "You know I can't let you kill my father. Take a seat."
Dick begrudgingly followed Damian's request. They sat across from each other. Keeping to his instincts and Leslie's advice, Damian thought up a few rules to give them some sort of structure.
"If we're going to coexist, there has to be some ground rules." Damian bluntly stated. "If you want freedom, you'll have to follow them."
Dick pouted, folding his arms in annoyance. He didn't like the idea of rules. He had his share of them with the Court of Owls.
"First off, no killing." Damian demanded. "I get it, you're violent, aggressive, and want to crush anything you can get your hands on. But that's not how this house rolls. Second, you are not to harm the help. Pennyworth is a wonderful man beneath all those manners and sarcasm. You'll learn to love him. Third, you aren't to attack the family. Drake may be annoying and Todd obnoxious, but you'll find that they make adequate brothers. Lastly, you're going to have to trust us. I know you feel scared and this is all new to you, but we're not your enemies, unlike what the Court of Owls wants you to believe. Do we have a deal?"
Dick stood up, pacing around the room. He was digesting the information that was presented to him. Dick walked over to the window, wishing to look outside.
"I am not scared of you." Dick admitted. "I see you all as obstacles. However, if I am to be your prisoner, I guess I have no choice. I accept your terms."
"Thank you." Damian appreciated. "I hope in time you'll see that you are not a prisoner here, rather, a valued member of this unusual family."
The next chapter will probably see Tim and a little promise.
