Setting up a the situation a little more here. Obviously the first few chapters will, but you know, it's worth mentioning.

Damian was sitting on the floor, restraining Dick. After a close call against Bruce, there was no way he was going to let him go. Dick had calmed down some, but only because Damian was latched onto him and it wasn't like he could escape. That didn't stop Dick from growling and cursing under his breath.

Dick woke up in a panicked rage, confused about his surroundings. With Bruce and Damian in the room, it didn't take long for him to realize where he was. He eyed Bruce with malice as he hopped off the couch.

"The Court has sentenced you to death." Dick threatened, bolting towards him.

Damian grabbed Dick by the collar of his shirt, stopping him from reaching Bruce, and lifted him of the ground. Dick kicked and screamed for the entire incident, demanding that he be released. He had spunk. That much was certain. Though it wasn't too refined or friendly.

"This is what I'm talking about." Bruce stated.

"He just woke up." Damian reminded, shifting his arms beneath Dick's armpits. "He's in a new environment and is confused. He's not going to change after one nap."

Dick's foot dug into Damian's stomach, but Damian remained stoic. It stung, proving just how powerful Dick's hit could be, but Damian refused to give him the benefit of a reaction. Though Bruce could guess just how hard the kick was.

"I've got this." Damian promised.

Dick seemed to finally calm down after several minutes of his vocal tantrum. Damian turned him around as he sat Dick on his lap. They both shared an agitated glare, staring off for a few minutes. And neither one seemed intimidated by the other.

"Are we done with our little tirade?" Damian asked.

Dick didn't respond, folding his arms. The tantrum may have been over, but he was still upset about the situation. However, the kid couldn't be quiet forever, and Damian was going to make sure of that. Finding some sort of common ground was probably the best option.

"You and I are a lot alike." Damian stated. "We both share an upbringing in assassination."

"Why didn't you let me kill him?" Dick asked.

"Well firstly, because he's my father." Damian stated. "He may piss me off, but I do admire him. Secondly, I honestly don't think you want to. Not to mention, you're eight. You've got the determination, I'll give you that, but I highly doubt you could take down someone who is five times your size."

Dick grumbled, continuing to glare at Damian. He wasn't too fond of the elder's response. Even if he had a point.

"It's what I've been assigned to do." Dick argued.

"And I was designed to surpass him." Damian shot down. "What's your point?"

Dick couldn't think of anything to combat Damian's statement with, so he pouted. It was actually kind of cute in a stubborn and somewhat disturbing way. It was going to be fun taking care of him.

"I hear you brought home a stray." Jason stated, walking into the room.

He wasn't bothered by the scene in front of him. It was actually quite amusing to see Damian having a little standoff with a child. Jason knelt in front of them to get a closer look.

"He's not a stray." Damian argued. "I found Dick Grayson."

Jason ignored Damian's response, focusing on Dick. A finger hovered over Dick face as though to scan him. Quick timing and annoyance struck as Dick bit the appendage.

"You little…" Jason growled, pulling his finger away.

"Watch it Todd." Damian lectured. "He's a child."

"He bit me."

"I would too if you put a finger in my face. I wouldn't mess with him at this point. He's a Talon and wanted to kill Bruce."

Jason's expression of pained annoyance turned to amused intrigue. Anyone who challenged Bruce in such a way was impressive. It was obvious that he didn't get far, but it was still an entertaining attempt.

"I think I'm gonna like you." Jason stated before turning his attention towards Damian. "So what are you going to do when you go out tonight? I doubt Bruce is going to let you leave Dick alone and I doubt he can be trusted right now."

His question really sunk in. Since finding Dick, that wasn't something that came to mind. It happened so suddenly that it didn't occur to Damian.

"Out of the question." Bruce denied.

After getting Dick to bed, unfortunately having to sedate him so that he'd sleep through the night, Damian explained the situation. He was hoping to get some sort of approval, or at least some advice. Rejection wasn't something he was hoping for.

"What else am I supposed to do?" Damian asked. "I've got to go out and we know he can't be trusted right now."

"You'll have to figure that out on your own," Bruce advised, "he's your responsibility, but I do not want him as Robin. He's too dangerous."

"Was I so different?"

"I've had time to raise you. Teach you. Deprogram your grandfather's teachings. You're asking for this right out of the gate."

Bruce grabbed his uniform, letting Damian know that he was taking care of patrol tonight. Taking care of Gotham for the night wouldn't be a problem for him. With the sudden addition of a child, the household was going to need to reevaluate its system.

"Look, I'm not saying he doesn't have potential," Bruce stated, "but he is a child. An assassin trained child, but a child nonetheless. We can't risk sending him into battle and end up killing or being killed. Not to mention the Court of Owls." Bruce got into the car. "I can handle tonight or however long you need before he's adjusted, but I do wish to steal more of his childhood by exposing him to this. Understood?"

"Understood." Damian sighed.

When Damian reentered the room, he found that Dick hadn't moved an inch. He was in a deep sleep. Alfred promised that the sedative, though not heavy, would keep him out for the night. Damian was thankful for that, since Dick could use a good night sleep, but wished they didn't have to.

Damian lightly placed a hand on Dick's head as he contemplated the child he now found himself caring for. He was troubled by the drastic change that the kid had gone through. While not a long period of time, at least compared to Damian, it was troubling to see what only two years did to the kid.

Damian read through Dick's file several times and found the results troubling. Dick used to be an energetic, kind, and friendly according to the interviews. But he was tainted, corrupted by forces outside of his control. It didn't feel fair.

Damian was sympathetic and felt a connection. It wasn't a connection that he felt was kind, but it was there. Breaking down those walls could prove challenging, but Damian was willing to work through it. Dick deserved that.

I did want to slip in that feeling of a connection. I want to have that be a rather important factor since Damian will be taking care of Dick the most.