Damian was furious.
How Father could do such a thing? Granted, he himself didn't approve of Todd caring for miniaturized Grayson. Red Hood used to kill people and had been mentally unstable for a while and Damian still wasn't convinced he recovered enough to not to be a danger for Nightwing in a such vulnerable condition. But even he could admit that Jason had a positive effect on the kid. Dick was more relaxed and a lot happier when Red Hood was around, something he lacked for the last few months. Grayson even allowed Jason to treat him like a child, whereas anybody else would get their head bit off for that. Not that Jason treated him as one. He somehow managed to keep the balance between coddling Dick and giving him his freedom so far. And Grayson actually listened to Jason, most of the time, when it really counted. So how the goddamned Batman could be oblivious to those facts?
And Todd! How could he be so irresponsible to take Grayson on patrol without him to watch over the kid while Red Hood was busy beating the thugs unconscious? Damian was the youngest and he got babied like that a lot, so the missed opportunity of returning the favor to Dick the same way was a sore spot for him. That and he missed all the fun.
Although Damian shared most of his Father's opinions on the matter, he thought Bruce totally overreacted. Yelling at Todd for taking the child Grayson on patrol? Okay, fair enough. But forbidding Red Hood from interacting with Grayson without supervision and deciding to practically lock Dick away in the manor? Totally over the top. Despite Dick being small, he still was an adult, as Jason was fond of reminding them, and he could make his own choices. Damian didn't want to be around when Dick would find out about that.
Still, Todd could put up more of a fight about the matter, the idiot. Though after witnessing the alteration Damian was ready to cut him some slack. It was a miracle already, that Jason managed to last with the Bat so much time without a fight until now, and he wasn't the one who started it too.
So Damian let him go, gave them both time to calm down and think. Meanwhile he would watch over Grayson in Todd's stead. Because Jason actually leaving Dick in the manor with them was a huge sign of trust on his part.
Damian finished his breakfast and excused himself from the table. He quickly went to his room and gathered his things for school. A minute later he found himself before door to Dick's room. He knocked hesitantly.
"Grayson? Are you in there?" he asked.
A quiet sniffle was his answer. Oh God. Grayson was crying. Damian cringed. He was so out of his depth here. He didn't know what to do.
"Don't worry," he tried. "Todd will come back eventually."
"Thanks, Damian," Dick said after a few seconds of silence. "Have a nice day at school."
"Yeah," Robin agreed lamely. "You too."
The little al Ghul thought about the incident all the way to school and during classes. He needed to make Grayson feel better somehow. To show Red Hood, that he wasn't a total failure in taking care of his eldest brother like he thought the whole family was. He was heading down the corridor for his last class, when a pair of students he was walking by gave him an idea.
"Pennyworth," Damian said imperiously as he seated himself in the back of the car after school ended for the day. "I wish to go to the store before we get home."
"Very well, Master Damian," the old butler replied.
Five shops, many insults at the lack of stocking in merchandise in those stores and a trip to Blüdhaven later, Damian got what he wanted.
When they got home, Dick was out of his self imposed exile watching some cartoons on television in the living room. Alone.
"Where is Mater Timothy?" Alfred asked.
Dick shrugged.
"He had to go to the emergency meeting at the Wayne Enterprises. He waited as long as he could for you to get back, but you were late," Dick turned to look at them. "Where were- What is that?" he questioned curiously at something Damian held behind his back.
"Um, well," Damian shifted nervously and held out the object in front of him. "It's for you. To make you feel better until Todd finally decide to show up."
Dick's jaw dropped slightly, staring at the plushie in Damian's hands like hypnotized. Red Hood plushie. Half his size Red Hood plushie. Damian got him a half his size Red Hood plushie. He scrambled on his feet hastily and rushed at his little brother, wrapping him in a quick hug.
"Thank you, Dami," he took the toy looking at in awe. "It's perfect."
"You're welcome," Robin mumbled back.
"Hey, do you want to watch cartoons with me?" Dick looked up at him hopefully.
"Just one episode," Damian allowed. "I have homework to do."
"Okay!" Dick beamed and dragged the boy to the couch.
Damian went along, pleased he managed to make Grayson happy. He didn't even protest as Dick curled into his side with the plushie.
The plushie thing made me think of a cute Jay/Dick story by Another Icarus - Ransom :)