Summary:
Takes place after Dames ran into Tim...
Notes:
And apparently my brain in unable to conceive an idea for this story that does not start off with Tiny!Dick...
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Dick rubbing his eyes for the third time that night, stifling a yawn. "I believe it is time you went to bed, Master Dick." Alfred said with a fond smile on his face as he looked over the top of the book he was reading. The two had retired to the library when Alfred had finished cleaning the kitchen and found that Dick seemed determined to spend the night waiting for the other two occupants of the Manor.
"I'm not tired Alfred." A yawn muffled most of Dick's reply, which seemed to fustrate the boy. "I wanna make sure Jason and Bruce come home..."
"Master Bruce and Master Jason will be okay." Alfred replied standing up and putting his book on the side table. "Though I am sure that both of them would be upset that you stayed up waiting rather than get a good night's rest. Jason did tell you he'd show you around the cave tomorrow, did he not?"
Dick crossed his arms over his chest and pouted. "Yes..."
"And I'm sure you wouldn't want to be half awake all day because you didn't get enough sleep." Dick's pout had deepened and he was standing up as Alfred started moving to the doorway.
The two moved in relative silence as they made their way to Dick's room. Dick, being tired and a bit grouchy that he had lost to Alfred about bedtime, was trying to not talk or yawn. As Alfred was tucking Dick into bed, the boy finally spoke. "You'll wake me up if something happens to them, right?"
"Of course." Alfred said, humoring the boy. "You'll be the first to know."
Dick pushed himself further into his pillows and closed his eyes. He must of been more tired than he thought, as he seemed to instantly fall asleep.
Damian stood in the Cave, watching the camera feed from the Manor showing a small Richard Grayson shuffling his way into Jason's room. Really, if that child did not start sleeping the whole night in his own bed who knows what would happen to the already fragile sleep schedule of the Wayne household. Not to mention the hilarity of Bruce finding a small boy curled up in his bed, seeing how that had never happened before. With the boy heading to Jason's room, it seemed like a logical turn of events.
The small rumble that meant that the arrival of the Batmobile made Damian pivot on his heel in time to see Jason jump out of the car. Jason did not see him, and as life should have it he was in a one-sided argument with Batman. "Seriously, B, I'm sorry. How was I supposed to know that the guy would pass out from that kick."
"You have been trained to know better, Jason." Bruce replied, noticing Damian standing by the Bat Computer as soon as he left the car. "This conversation can wait until tomorrow, go upstairs and go to bed."
"No!" Jason said, only noticing Damian after he started to stomp his way to the computer. "What are you doing here?" He asked the older male with a inquisitive glare.
"I need to speak with my father, Todd." Damian replied, returning Jason's look with a noncommittal glare. "And there's something you should take care of in your room. That is if you don't want a new roommate."
Jason looked Damian questionably but was beaten to the punch by Bruce. "Jason, go upstairs." The order left no room for argument, even though Jason was in no mood to listen. Giving out a groan of frustration, Jason stomped to the uniform cases to change before leaving.
Father and son looked at each other, seemingly conversing through similar glares. Stomping on stairs and a slammed door signaled Jason's departure from the cave. "Father, Drake is back."
Pain was visible on Bruce's face as the words hit him. "Why?" Is all Bruce asks, looking away from Damian to the case with Tim's Robin suit. "Why has he come back?"
"He didn't say." Damian answered, voice commanding as he brought Bruce's attention to himself. "But he had an interesting story, about a little boy Robin took away in the Batwing. Why didn't you tell me that Grayson knows?"
Bruce looked away from Tim's memorial case, "It was of no concern to you. Nothing has changed."
"Do you really believe that father?" Damian's voice did not increase in volume, but became lower and commanding. "When has anyone ever been able to walk away after knowing what it is we do?"
"Damian." Bruce responded with a warning.
"No Father, you are going to listen." Damian stepped forward. "I did not say anything when you brought in Drake, nor with Brown; and look what happened to them." Damian paused, "I should have put my foot down then but I did not. After what happened to Drake... God, forgive me, I should have stopped you from taking in Todd." Damian paused, and continued with his voice rising with each word. "I should have never let anyone else take up that accursed name or costume! But I failed..."
"Damian." Bruce said again, stepping to his son. "What happened to Tim... That had nothing to do with you."
"No, it has to do with you and your crusade." Damian growled, "And like all crusades, it is paid for with the blood of children. Grayson will not be added to that blood debt."
Bruce took off his cowl before he next spoke, his voice taking a commanding tone much darker than that he had used with Jason earlier. "Damian, stop right now." Taking a calming breath, he continued. "Dick is not going to be part of this. He was never going to be, that has not changed, even if he did find out." Stepping toward's his son who stood barely an inch shorter than him he put his hand on the other's shoulder. "What happened to Tim and Stephanie will never happen again, I won't let it. Not to Jason, you, or Dick."
"You can't promise that Father. Nor can you keep Grayson from any of this." Damian looked his father in the eyes. He could see the pain, the self-hatred, that has long been associated with the memory of his failures. But what he didn't see was the conviction that should follow his words. Even Bruce knew that his promise to keep Dick from this life was hollow, fate was too clear that Dick would join them in their crusade. "I just hope that you can protect him better than the rest of us."
Damian stepped back, turn on his heel towards the stairs back that led to the house. "I'm going to stay for a few days, to keep an eye on things. I'm sure Drake being back means something will escalate." With that he was gone to the shadows, leaving his father with the ghosts of the past.
Notes:
So, I've been thinking and while I'm keeping the ages the same, I'm going to maybe change up the length of Robin-hood (see what I did there?).
Damian was Robin from about 11-17
Tim from 13-16, also he was only 'dead' for like 2.5 years rather than 5 like Jason for reasons.
Stephanie was Robin for about 100 days when she was 15, So Tim was 14ish
Jason was about 12-13
Dick becomes Robin by the time he is 11 (he's just over 10 when his parents die)
Also, this story breaks my rule for young sidekicks... But... Well... Batman is to blame
And... Yeah... Stephanie shall be coming soon