No one said anything and watched Dick's limp form as Tim supported his torso back against the brick wall.
Batman stepped forward and knelt, putting 2 fingers to Dick's throat. He grunted and pulled away, "We need to get him back to the cave"
Batman looked sharply at Deathstroke, "You are to return with us as well"
Deathstroke smirked, flaking some dried blood off his upper lip and beard, "I wouldn't dream otherwise"
Batman narrowed his eyes at Slade's attitude before turning behind him to his youngest son, "Robin, report"
Robin was clutching his inner elbow and grimacing, "I think my shoulder is broken, my collar bone may be cracked as well"
Batman reached out and gripped Robin's upper arm. He squeezed gently, making his way up to Robin's shoulder where his neck began."Aggh!" Robin let out.
Batman scowled at the ground before standing up and holding his finger to his ear, "Oracle, Robin is injured, about a level 6 but he is conscious"
"Noted" Barbara's voice responded. "I'll have agent A prep the med-wing. Should I call Leslie?"
Batman paused for a second, "No, but arrange for her to come by tomorrow….Make sure our 2 current captives are sedated and the furthest containment cell is clean and available. We are bringing back our target"
"Noted" Babara responded, her voice was suddenly very taxed and elevated.
"Father" Damian said sternly, "Deathstroke should not return with us. He has been to the cave too many times at this point and we have achieved our goal, we are no longer in need of him"
Slade crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow, curious as to where this was going.
Batman glanced briefly at Deathstroke, "He will be returning with us for now to ensure that our target remains unresponsive. I want to question him as well"
Everyone knew where this was headed. Batman had picked up on Dick's sudden behavioral change when he called Slade 'master' earlier.
Bruce was starting to doubt if his oldest son was of sound mind at this point. A plausible theory was that his 17 old child had been shot, held captive, and tortured by an underground avian-themed cult for 5 years. If Dick was still alive and functioning then he could easily have memory lapses, mental illness, warped sense of reality, or skewed social perception. The list of what may be wrong went on and on. Unfortunately, Bruce could also identify that Dick recognized Slade on some level and that may be of use to them if they needed to jog his memory at some point. Rehabilitation in the vigilante community was the epitome of indeterminate and wide-ranging.
Bruce was glad that for once, his middle children weren't challenging him but he knew that wouldn't last long. Jason and Tim most likely could see that they had their brother and getting him back within familiar territory was the primary goal at this point.
Batman looked down at Robin again, "Robin you are to ride up front with me. Deathstroke will return on your bike"
Damian flushed at the implication that Batman still required him to ride in the back of the Batmobile at 16. Batman turned on his heel and approached RedRobin who was still kneeling in front of an unconscious Richard. Batman leaned forward as Tim leaned away and Bruce moved to scoop his son into his arms, bridal style. Bruce wound his arm around Dick's neck and his other around his thighs before pushing off the ground and straightening up.
Bruce froze for a moment. Dick was heavy. Much heavier than his 17 year old lanky son should have been, even today. While they hadn't completed a physical or check-up yet, it was clear that Dick had grown to his height or taller and had bulked up tremendously. The change bothered Bruce on so many levels because it gave even more ground to his theory that Dick was being tortured and conditioned for a lifestyle he never would have chosen. He was still just as flexible and could maneuver anything, but his boy was on par with him and Jason now, easily.
"As much as I can appreciate a father-to-son moment myself sometimes, might I recommend we actually leave?" Slade drawled behind them.
Bruce huffed and shifted Dick up further onto one shoulder, throwing him higher up so his torso so his arms dangled behind Batman. He adjusted his grip on Dick's thighs before nodding and setting off. Agent A had commandeered the Batmobile to arrive closer to their new location and they found their transportation just a block over. Batman threw open the back seat and lowered Nightwing down onto the seats carefully. Bruce let himself watch his son's face for a second as he adjusted him on his back with his arms over his stomach before buckling him in at his shoulders, hips, and thighs.
Batman let the door slam closed before turning back and nodding to his sons to set off. Jason and Tim took to the rooftops and set off for their own bikes to return home. Slade took a second longer, lingering and watching the tinted backdoor before following the boys.
Batman watched Robin get into the front seat before he reached across and buckled him in so he didn't have to flex his shoulder any more than necessary. Robin flushed but didn't say anything, telling Batman just how affection-starved his youngest was. Bruce had tried much more to be present and physical for Damian and his needs about 2 years into Dick's passing. Leslie, Alfred, Canarie, and even Tim had made observations that Damian was regressing from his positive transition to normal Western life, the transition Dick set in motion. But Damian had never been quite receptive to Bruce's efforts, most likely because he always had something to compare them to; or someone. Now that same someone was back and unconscious behind him.
No one spoke as Bruce drove home to the Batcave, some observers might even say that Bruce drove only slightly over the speed limit instead of ridiculously above so that he and his youngest could listen to Richard's steady breathing behind them.
On the way back, Bruce had reached out to Commissioner Gorden and let him know there were multiple unconscious and dangerous metas near the Bludhaven diner Salty's and there was one college-aged body. Batman hung up before Gordon could express his displeasure at cross-city cases and their jurisdiction complexities. Bruce arrived at the cave and pressed the car roof button to start the ground opener to the garage tarmac. Within moments, he could hear multiple deep engines approaching in the distance as well. Bruce drove down into the cave and did his best to steeple his rising emotions.
Within seconds of him parking, Barbara had thrown open the backdoor and gasped. Her hand reflexively covered her mouth as a small cry escaped the base of her throat. Her eyes became tight and wet with emotion but she couldn't speak, just taking in Dick's limp and bloodied body. Barbara looked like wanted to reach out to Dick but stopped herself. Just then, Bruce's pseudo-father joined them and Bruce felt guilt clench his chest at how much emotional tribulation he was put through because of Bruce and his boys. Alfred approached Barbara's side and didn't hesitate, he quickly crossed to the other backdoor at Dick's head and opened it before kneeling down and staring at his grandson's face. Alfred's eyes were wet and red; his forehead creased in intense emotion. Alfred laid his hand's both sides of Dick's cheeks and gently circled his thumbs over Dick's cheekbones. "My boy" he whispered fervently, "My boy, you've returned to us, dear god. Holy mother may…."
Bruce felt the back of his eyes tighten and heat with emotion quickly at how quickly Alfred broke down for his family. Alfred hadn't cried at Bruce's parent's funeral but had shed tears for Jason and Dick's. Bruce had only ever seen Alfred start to pray once before, and that was when Bruce returned from training with the League of Shadows; alive. Batman was brought back to himself at the sound of multiple engines coming down to the cave. Jason and Slade held the lead while Tim brought up the rear. Slade looked a tad ridiculous in Damian's smaller sports bike but men like Bruce and Slade, and more recently Jason, had that effect with most things. The three leaned their bikes on the far wall and made their way over right away. Alfred stepped away at Slade's approach. Slade nodded to the old butler but Alfred turned and made his way over to the side, encouraging Barbara to accompany him. Jason reached the door at Dick's feet and attempted to pull Dick out by ankles before huffing, "Jesus Dickhead, did you eat bricks for dinner while you were gone"
Slade rolled his eyes before making his way to Dick's head and pulling Dick out by his shoulders instead. Slade managed it on his own but Jason was hesitant to give him any credit, considering he was a full-blown meta. Slade adjusted his grip on Dick and lugged the rest of his body into his arms so he was carrying him high up in a bridal carry. Dick's head lolled into Slade's collarbone and plated chest while his arms dangled limply on either side of him.
"Over here, if you would" Alfred directed immediately. Slade followed the butler to the left side of the cave where the medical wing was opened up, the curtains were drawn back and everything was prepared and cleaned to a shine. Alfred directed Slade to an extra-long gurney with padded leather handcuffs, chest straps, and ankle restraints.
"Master Robin" Alfred called as Robin made his way over. Damian put his good arm on an additional gurney before hoisting himself up and plopping down. He let out a breath before straightening up, the night was not over and Damian would not allow himself to appear as the weakest link. Alfred pulled on some latex gloves and approached Damian with a syringe and a swab. Alfred swabbed Damian's good shoulder and injected the entire syringe's contents before patting the 16 year old gently on the shoulder. "Let me know when you cannot feel anything and we will begin setting what we can". Damian nodded.
Jason approached Dick's bed on wheels and removed his helmet, he kept his mask and got to work restraining Dick. Slade looked over at Jason and Jason tensed before snapping, "What". Slade shrugged, "Merely curious to see what level of protection you are going to deem Richard and yourselves in need of…for and from him"
Jason sighed, "I'm not stupid, he was running away and he might try again. This is temporary" After a minute he added, "Fuck off"
Batman nodded in approval at Jason's actions while Alfred tended to Damian. He turned to Tim and Slade, "Before anything happens, you are going to explain yo-"
Batman was cut off by a cry from across the room. "Gray Son? Gray Son!"
Slade perked an eyebrow up at Bruce before striding towards the sound. He turned down the slight bend to the right before finding 2 furious talons in sweats in clear plastic boxes about 9 ft tall by 10 ft wide.
"You!" the blonde one said. In the first cell, there was a man with short brown hair who was staring at Slade.
"How dare you assist these vermin in betraying the court!" the blonde one snarled at Slade.
"Oh? I'm sorry do I have a contract with you at this moment?" Slade intoned lightly. The blonde man snarled in anger and slammed his fist on the wall.
Everyone but Alfred and Robin approached, "I thought I told you to keep them sedated" Batman barked at Batgirl.
"I was in the process of doing like 10 different orders from you when you captured Wing" Batgirl clipped back, her eyes narrowed and arms crossed.
"Lane" Tim tried as he stepped forward, "Please don't make things worse, you admitted to some level the Court is cruel, we are only trying to keep Wing away from them"
Lane glared at Tim, "My brethren will not be long, they will come for the Gray Son and you will all perish"
Tim looked to the first cell, "Who is this? Do you guys work together? Like, go on missions for the court?"
Lane crossed his arms. Slade looked to Batman, "I like your attempt at avian-themed assassin therapy" Slade commented sarcastically.
"That is Theo" Lane replied. "He joined with me, we are proud to serve the court"
"When did you join the Court?"
"Yeayeayea" Jason said quickly. "Listen, either cough up some answers or you're gonna be swimming in Blue, got it?"
Lane's eyes widened and he took multiple steps back. "No! Lane, he wasn't serious" Tim said with a glare thrown at Jason.
"Why did it take you longer to wake up?" Tim asked Theo.
Theo said nothing and continued his icy stare. "He cannot speak," Lane said stonily, "He was punished when we were younger and had his tongue removed". Tim suppressed the need to shudder at such barbaric punishments.
"Fine" Jason ground out, "Why did he take so long to wake up?" he asked Lane directly.
Lane crossed his arms and took a step forward, "I was killed, we are trained to rise within a day after death. You injected that hellish substance into him, probably too much as well and it is cold in here. He most likely fell into hibernation due to it all"
Everyone fell silent at that and it seemed to bring out courage in Lane, "Let us go with Gray Son and we will say we escaped and cannot remember your location. The court is aware of who you are but not that you are directly underground"
Jason's attention was jerked around by a sudden cry to find Alfred holding Damian's torso firmly, Damian's hand was clenched around one of Alfred's and he was panting. They were resetting the shoulder before Alfred bound his whole upper right torso.
Jason looked back to the discussion at hand, "Listen freak, we aren't giving him back. He ran away. How much more dense do you wanna be?"
Lane glared at Jason, "I've told your Batman this already, the Gray Son does not know what he really wants. He is young and has hundreds of years ahead of him. Once his initiation is completed and he ascends to be our one true talon he-"
"How many years?" Tim asked flabbergasted.
Lane frowned at Tim's confusion, "Hundreds, possibly more. Grandmaster has informed us that Gray Son is like none other and can live for hundreds whereas most can only extend their service by about 1 or 200 hundred years with electrum and proper care"
"Mgggghhhhhhhhp" came behind them.
"Father!" Robin cried.
Everyone whipped around to see Dick's eyes scrunched closed and his lips parted in a slurred moan.
Without being asked, Batgirl closed the two-way viewer on the cells.
Batman quickly made his way over to Dick's body where he was tensing slightly every so often under his restraints.
Damian pushed Alfred's hands away from his bare chest and wrapped shoulder and approached quickly. They all approached and watched as Dick struggled to wake.
His eyes fluttered, his long lashes brushing his high cheeks again and again before finally he was successful and his hazy bright blue gaze found the ceiling.
"Dickhead" Jason snapped his fingers in front of Dick's face. Dick jerked violently but had nowhere to go. His brow furrowed and he struggled to focus on everything at once.
"Jason!" Tim snapped and punched Jason in the arm.
Dick's eyes were darting to almost everything on the roof, to all the sounds, and blinking lights, and pairs of eyes that stared down at him. Dick's fingers started twisting as he rotated his wrists in the cuffs, he started swallowing repeatedly and Tim spotted the signs of panic right away.
Tim shushed everyone as they all kept their gaze on Dick. "Dick? Do you know where you are?" Tim asked hesitantly.
Dick looked at Tim and nodded after a minute. Tim blinked in surprise, back in Bludhaven, Dick was acting like he didn't know RedRobin's true name. Tim took his mask off and looked directly at Dick, "You do? Say my name, my real name"
Dick swallowed, his eyes still darting sporadically every so often, "Timmy" he managed.
That one word almost made Tim's knees buckle. Without meaning to, he released all the air in his lungs in one big sigh of relief.
Jason stepped forward, "Hey Dickhead, what about me" Damian wiggled forward next to Dick's right hand, "Don't shove me, Todd!"
Jason ignored him, "What's my name Dickie?"
Dick stared at Jason for a second before his gaze darted to Jason's hair, "Jay" he said lowly.
Batman put his hand on his sons' shoulders and ushered them back slightly. "Dick, do you know what happened? What year is it?"
"Batman?" Dick mumbled. Bruce nodded but remained quiet, waiting for his answer.
"Uhhh-like what do you mean? Are we debriefing?"
"No Dick, just tell me the last thing you remember, and then tell me what year you think it is"
Dick was starting to panic. "I-uhhh I was helping Alfy with cooking something, cookies or err- brownies for Damian's bake sale at Gotham Jr High? It's 2015 and I'm a senio-" Dick stopped at the look on everyone's faces"
"What" he asked, dread filling his voice. "Wh-" Dick realized he was strapped down to one of their panic chairs for when they were hit with something toxic or inhibiting in the field. "Why am I in the panic chair B?!"
Dick started to pull and jerk his shoulders, "If someone doesn't tell me what I got hit with right now..."
Dick jerked his right shoulder up and the chest strap snapped, the buckle flying across the room with a clink. Everyone froze in shock at Dick's strength. Dick was frantic to sit up and, in the heat of the moment, was convinced that he had broken a loose strap on accident. Dick started pulling on his right cuffed hand before Bruce stepped in, "Chum, hey, hey. I'll take them off but only if you agree to sit and listen and answer our questions before anything else ok?"
Dick nodded multiple times.
Alfred stepped forward and undid the cuffs. "Thanks, Alfy" Dick said with a smile.
"Oh, my dear boy," Alfred said. He cupped Dick's cheek with one hand and brushed his thumb over his cheek.
Dick smiled lightly before looking back to Bruce expectantly. He sat up fully and swung his legs over the side of the bed.
Damian couldn't help but notice how much taller Richard sat on the bed than when he was in high school.
Dick opened his mouth when someone behind Bruce caught Dick's attention and his eyes widened.
"B…." Dick said as he kept staring forward.
Slade smiled back at Dick, and it was his first genuine smile since Jason had known from the Terminator.
"Hello Robin" Slade purred.
"Dick" Bruce said, "Dick" Bruce tried again, Dick turned his head to Bruce before finally pulling his eyes to meet the man as well.
"I will explain Deathstroke's presence soon, but for now, I need you to be honest with me. How old do you think you are?"
Dick blinked at Bruce, "What?" he said dumbly.
"I know" Bruce said, "How old do you think you are?"
Dick furrowed his brow and looked around at his brothers. "I'm 17" he said plainly.
Bruce nodded, "Have you ever heard of the Court of Owls?"
Dick shook his head.
"Grayson-" Damian stepped forward but the moment he spoke, Dick jerked violently and his eyes widened. His breathing sped up and he gripped the edge of the bed tightly.
"What, Dick what is it?" Bruce demanded.
Dick's gaze darted to Bruce and he seemed to realize he was panicking over his last name. His brow furrowed and he tried to take deep breaths. "I-I sorry um, what did you say little D?"
Damian's eyes were wide and wet, startling Dick. "What happened?" he exclaimed.
Damian didn't say anything but something in his gaze told Dick what he needed. "Aww Dami, come here, tell me what happened. Is it about the questions? I'm sorry if I scared you, Ivy has a good aim you know, haha" He reached down and in that minute it was like 5 years had never passed. Damian spread up his arms and let Dick pull him up into his lap.
Damian hissed as his shoulder was pulled and Dick stilled, he looked at the bandage, noticing it for the first time before he did a double take at Damian on his lap. "Did-did you grow a little?" Dick asked, almost to himself.
Damian didn't say anything and merely pressed his forehead into Dick's chest.
"The brat is just tired, we all got a little banged up tonight" Jsaon supplied.
Dick smiled at Jason's response, glad that he was in the mood to be neutral towards the youngest brat.
Dick stared at Jason beside Tim before realizing that they too seemed taller, wait, was Tim in a different suit?
"Tim, did Alfred make you a new Robin suit?" Dick asked while he ran his fingers up and down Damian's back.
Tim froze, "Uhhh, yea, you know with Damian taking on Robin and all-"
"He what?" Dick asked sternly.
"Damian is Robin now, and there can't be 2 Robins so I uh–"
"No" Dick said sharply, "The deal was that Damian could use a Robin costume when he came out with us but he wasn't official and wasn't Robin until he turned 14"
Bruce laid a hand over Damian's head, "That's what he meant chum, just in preparation for the new Robin later"
Dick relaxed slightly as he looked at Bruce on Jason's left. He suddenly noticed something that was boggling, how had he not seen this before?
"B? Is, is Jay taller than you?"
Jason looked sharply at Batman and then at his head. Even with the pointed ears on his cowl, RedHood and his combat boots were a good inch or 2 taller than Bruce.
No one said anything and after a minute Dick started to fear the worst. "Oh god, this isn't real. I-I've been kidnapped by Simon or something, he's trying to dig for information" Dick muttered to himself.
He looked up, "That's why you want to ask me questions, isn't it? You're Simon, or a mental projection of his I think"
"No Chum" Bruce held up his hands. Dick leaned away and tightened his grip over Damian's head and back.
"Oh, Jesus, B is gonna be pissed. Gotta get out of here" Dick started scanning behind everyone for possible exits. If whoever had him, got Bruce's height wrong then maybe they left an exit in here.
"Richard, stop" Deathstroke's voice came from behind them. That drew Dick's attention immediately, and Dick's shoulder relaxed, his frame seemed to slump a little as he exhaled in relief.
"Master, jesus where've you been?"
"Wh-!" Batman cut off Jason's exclamation as he watched the interaction. Slade approached Dick from where he had been behind the group, "You are not stuck or kidnapped. You are in reality with me and the Bats in the Batcave. Tell me you understand and believe me, only if you do"
Dick's brow furrowed as he looked back to his brothers and adopted dad. "The Bats….?"
"Yes," Slade said as Dick thought it all through.
"But, but you said-Fuck!" Dick cried as he let go of Damian and hunched forward, crashing his palms into his eyes.
Damian scrambled off Dick's lap as they watched Dick cry out and hunch over on the bed.
"What's wrong pretty bird?" Slade asked calmly.
"Gah! My-my head! Ugh….Master! Fuck. B-Bruce. It hurts! Please!"
Tim had no idea what to do, and neither did Batman because his best idea was to grab a syringe from the table beside them and jab it into Dick's upper arm.
Dick didn't react and continued clutching his eyes and forehead in his hands. The sedative began working its magic and Dick slowly released his forehead to take deeper breaths. Dick's eyes were red-rimmed and crinkled with residual pain but he was able to sit up, "Whaaa-" he slurred out as he leaned left and right, trying to find his balance with the mild sedative Bruce had just given him.
"Dick, can you understand me?" Bruce asked.
Dick looked at him and nodded. "Ok," Bruce said, "I want you to lie down and we are going to talk for a bit, ok?"
Dick nodded, but the glaze over his bright eyes told Bruce he still needed some help. Bruce slowly started pushing Dick backward until he got the idea and let his whole upper body drop down onto the bed with an ooooomfp.
Dick suddenly tried to push himself back up, looking around lazily, "Dami…."
"I'm here…Richard" Damian assured him from the other side of Batman.
Dick allowed himself to be pushed down and relaxed onto the bed.
"Gtta admit Brce, you're really freakin' me out here," Dick said up into Bruce's forlorn face.
"I'm sorry Dick but…events have happened and I don't think you remember everything very well"
Dick looked outraged at that and pointed a finger up at Bruce, "You're the old man, don't tell me I have memry issues" he slurred.
Slade huffed humorously behind all of them.
"Dick I am going to tell you some facts and I want your opinion on them. I want you to trust me when I say this did indeed happen, ok?"
Dick nodded his head.
Bruce took a deep breath, "When you were 17 you were shot at Gotham Harbor and fell into the bay. We couldn't find you and you were pronounced dead for 5 years. You are now 22 years old and we have no idea where you have been this whole time. My best theory is that an organization called the Court of Owls kidnapped you and you escaped at some point"
Dick stared at Bruce with his jaw hanging open, he blinked a few times before refocusing and glaring, "No!" Dick replied
"No?" Bruce repeated. "No!" Dick said back assuredly.
"No to what, Dick? No, that's not what happened? Or no, you don't believe me?"
"No!" Dick repeated, his eyes were wide and frantic again. "I-I'm 17 and I'm gonna graduate Gotham prep in 4 months and- and I'm going to college and you said you'd buy me a street legal bike when I graduated and-and" Dick's speech became more coherent but his sentences were more stuttered as he became frantic to try and remind Bruce of that year.
"Dick" Bruce repeated, "It's 2020 right now, I promise. We only just discovered you might be alive when you broke into Star Labs, do you remember that?"
Dick shook his head repeatedly but it was unclear if he was answering no or denying everything still.
Dick looked down at his hands before the monitors behind everyone caught his attention. They all looked at what his stare had been snagged on to see that Batgirl had pulled up Google on the monitors and had typed in 'what is today.'
The screen read:
May 5, 2020
Dick's eyes were wide and he was disturbingly still. Tim was worried, he might be going into shock or having an out-of-body experience.
"Dick-" Bruce tried to reach for Dick but dick flinched and reacted. "No!" he shoved Bruce away roughly and jumped off the bed. Bruce was partially confused, the sedative should not have worn off this quickly. Did Dick's unknown biology burn through it? His hands went to his hair and tried to grip but he felt something that made his eyes water.
"What, what happened to my head?" he gasped as tears started to fall down his cheeks. He was obsessively running his hands through his hair, feeling the full locks down the middle, framed by both buzzed sides.
"This has gotta be a dream, or I'm in a coma or…" Dick kept muttering to himself about how this was all impossible.
"CALM GRAY SON!" A voice shouted above everyone, echoing tremendously off of the cave walls and disturbing the bats.
Dick's hands immediately fell to his sides and he stared at the ground, taking in large gulps of air through his mouth, his eyes were wide but he seemed unable to move; waiting for something.
Batman whirled around to the containment cells, the walls were still greyed out but Lane's silhouette was clear as he leaned against the front wall.
Batman marched over to Lane's second cell and opened the two-way viewing, "What was that" Batman snarled out in a demand.
Lane was already glaring at Batman but crossed his arms now that he could make eye contact.
Batman growled, "Do not make me repeat myself"
Lane shifted on either foot before answering, "The Gray Son did not have an easy transition and was known to trouble himself, overexertion was not ideal so Grandmaster and Talon worked to instill a calming order in the Gray Son"
Lane glared deeper at Batman, "You are the cause of his distress. Give him back so he can fulfill his duty and potential. He is not meant for your world"
Batman snarled and closed the cell before gassing Lane once more, not caring to check what negative side effects may result from so much sedation.
Jason was glaring at the cell as Batman rejoined the group, "They brainwashed Golden Boy, huh?"
"More like conditioned, but….yea" Tim replied.
Damian stood in front of Dick, "Richard? Richard, are you alright?"
Dick blinked a few times before looking down at Damian, "Yes?" He brought a hand to his head as a new headache started to pound at the back of his skull, "I'm so tired" he mumbled out loud.
Without asking Bruce or Alfred, Damian took Dick's hand. "Come, Richard, we need sleep, it is late and you are still hurt"
At the mention of wounds, Bruce looked down at Dick's chest to see that even the cryo bullet wound has healed and was now a slightly raised irritated patch of skin through his shirt.
Dick merely nodded and let Damian pull him towards the stairs leading up into the manor.
"Robin," Batman said. He went to grab Robin's arm when suddenly Dick snarled and spun around at the movement, Dick shoved Bruce back and gripped Damian's collar in his other hand, pushing Damian further behind him.
Bruce stumbled at the sudden movement and saw Jason pull his gun from his chest holster. Despite towering over Damian, Dick was slightly crouched in front of him and snarling softly. His eyes were a bright yellow that seemed to consume even the whites of his eyes.
"Dickhead" Jason said slowly, "What was that?"
Dick looked at Jason with narrowed eyes before he froze and slowly stood, his hand released Damian's collar and he stood straight, blinking down at his hand in confusion.
Jason watched Dick clench and unclench his hand as he fell into his head, and seemed to space out. Jason slowly approached, his gun at his side, "Hey, Dickie" Jason said softly. "Why don't we all have a sleepover in demon brat's room to chill out and recover for the night"
Jason re-holstered his gun as he won Dick's eye contact, "It's Friday anyway" he lied.
Dick's eyes were slowly receding in color, he dazedly nodded and let Damian grab his hand and pull him toward the stairs again. "Where's Timmy?" Dick asked Damian as they walked away.
"I'm coming!" Tim called as he trotted over to them. He gave Bruce a confused look but acknowledged that their new facade was a bit time-sensitive to make Dick complacent.
Jason watched them go before taking his jacket off and walking over to the side cabinet beside the monitor console. He reached inside the drawer and withdrew 2 blue syringes before walking after his brothers. He passed Bruce and stopped, "I'm not sure what that brat is trying to pull but it's got him calm for now. Let's roll with it and we can talk more once he's asleep"
Bruce nodded before watching his sons disappear upstairs. Bruce turned back to the containment cell to confirm there was no longer a shadow of a body standing on the other side. He turned to Deathstroke only to stop and curse at the lack of a mercenary. Damian's bike was still propped up against the far wall but the tarmac entrance was open from their earlier entrance. He couldn't say it was a fact but his gut was telling him he was right not to trust Deathstroke. Dick has called him Master, maybe in a lapse of memory or judgment but it had been genuine. They all heard it and Slade had reveled in it.
Batman was certain that Slade wouldn't be able to instill that kind of conditioning and response into Dick from his 3-month apprentice stint in Jump City but as far as Bruce was aware, that was the extent of Slade's allure and sway over Dick.
The possibility of there being more to their relationship bothered Bruce deeply. He was only aware of 1 kidnapping instance but the Court of Owls seemed to refer to Slade too casually to be complete strangers. This could be due to past contacts and assassination partnerships but it was all too convenient, given that Dick was in the middle of it all.
Dick had always been the Robin with the brightest smile and strongest will. It made the struggles he went through lesser and him greater for making them so.
At the end of the day, no one could authentically deny Dick's greatness but Dick was a child….well, he was a child. Everything Dick had gone through that Batman had helped recover from, he had gone through it as a minor, an orphan, a child vigilante. No one could demand the world from a child, especially one that was broken.
Slade, being Robin, the Court, something had broken Dick and he had hidden himself away; let himself be split in order to survive. That alone is what made Dick so special and what drew Batman to him. Dick was so willing to complete the mission, stay loyal to his team and cause, he would give up parts of himself until there was nothing left, all so that he could fulfill his goal. His determination was boundless and Bruce would never agree with Wilson, but he could see why he was so obsessed over the first Robin as a child. To see that kind of potential and not be the one directing it and molding it, must've been frustrating.
At the end of the day, their Dick was still in there and fighting to get back to his brothers. Bruce was determined to shield him from those who might see this as an opportunity to drive him further into the darkness.