So here's where I kind of took a little bit of a liberty with the original motive of George Grayson. Originally it was just about money and him bribing that him and Clara making a case for Bruce to get him back, but I thought I'd give it a little more.
Puzzled curiosity plastered on Bruce's face. He wasn't sure how to respond to the statement before him, unsure what lead to this sudden declaration.
"What?" Bruce inquired.
"I'm willing to return him to you." George reiterated. "For a reasonable price, I am more than willing to sell him back to you."
Bruce was offended by the monetary terminology the moment it left George's mouth. He decided to see what exactly was being proposed.
"Excuse me."
"For a measly one million dollars, Clara and I will create a case so strong that the judge will have to give him back to you with ease. A good case of child abuse should suffice. For two million, we'll even leave Gotham."
Bryce wasn't sure which notion was worse. The fact that he could link Dick's bruise to a plot to create a child abuse case was troubling and cruel. At the same time, the notion that George wanted to sell Dick off was enough to send him over the edge. Bruce wasn't about to show the full extent of it, knowing that there was more to the situation and wanted to let it play out. With all of the pieces coming together, he decided to proceed.
"This was never about caring for you nephew, was it?" Bruce deduced. "This was about money. You just saw an opportunity and are using a child, treat him like nothing more than a piece of property."
"Of course." George confirmed. "We never really wanted children to begin with, and we do need the money."
"But you are able to work. This is just manipulative and lazy. Why would you use your own blood like that?"
"Because he's convenient and your rather faulty agreement was the perfect opportunity. My idiot of a brother just had to go get himself and that oh so precious wife of his killed. How stupid could they be? Had he just listened to our father in the first place, I wouldn't be forced to do this."
A ping of anger hit Bruce at George's remark to Dick's parents. The mockery of their murder was infuriating. Not to mention George's tone sounded like he was blaming both John and Mary for getting murdered, something they had no control over. In the end, he was angry for Dick. Those were his parents that George was stomping over.
"I'd hate to have to sue you for child endangerment," George stated, knocking Bruce out of his train of thought, "or worse, for Dick to do something drastic out of his inability to handle the change."
Bruce was stunned by the tone of the statement. The threatening undertone spoke volumes. Not only was George threatening to sue him for falsely abusing his child, but was also implying that Dick could end up dead under the guise that he committed suicide.
"If you want him back, those are my terms." George stated, showing Bruce to the door. "I'll give you until tomorrow to come to a decision."
Bruce slowly made his way to the exit, knowing there wasn't much else he could do at the moment. Bruce knew his warm welcome expired and his restraint was treading closer to its edge.
"Oh, and don't go to the police with this." George added. "You and I both know that they'll believe that you're just trying figure out a way to get him back."
Bruce didn't respond, exiting the house in bitter silence. The door would quickly close on him as he made his way off the property.
"It's not that I wouldn't do anything to get him back Alfred," Bruce admitted, "but this is morally unacceptable."
Bruce finally had the change to blow off his aggressive hate for the situation, filling Alfred with one loud lecture.
"Threatening to beat and kill a child. Expecting money like he was nothing more than a piece of property. It's infuriating."
"I understand." Alfred replied. "I know you've found yourself in a bit of a bind here, but you need to calm down."
"Calm down? Alfred, did you not hear what I said?"
"I did, but shouting isn't going to get you anywhere."
Bruce took a deep breath, taking Alfred's advice.
"Look what we have in front of us." Alfred suggested. "A man who wants to use and abuse a child and a man who loves the son that had been taken from him. That's you. I think that we can both agree that it would be morally wrong if you paid to get him back, and that it would be negligent to leave him alone with those poor excuses of relatives. However, the last time I checked, we aren't the only ones involved in Master Richard's life. Not including his friends that is."
Bruce gave him a curious glare.
"Bruce Wayne may not be able to do it, but I believe he's quite fond of a certain bat. I'm sure he can be able to figure something out."
Bruce enjoyed the suggestion. While Batman was an option he hadn't fully utilized, it was a lingering one.
"You have a point." Bruce admitted. "Batman is rather persuasive. The question is, where to begin and how to approach it."
The sound of knocking caught their attention. Neither one expected it, nor were they expecting any visitors. Bruce would beat Alfred to the door, slowly greeting the visitor on the other side.
"You saw Robin?" Wally greeted.
Here's where Wally will get a little more spotlight. The plan is for him to have a little piece of "evidence" that would give Bruce something to work with and use.