Tim and Jason trailed after Damian as he dragged Dick further upstairs with his good arm, past the grandfather clock, and into his penthouse-sized bedroom.
Dick was silent the entire way, stumbling every now and then when he wasn't sure which turn to take in the hallway and had to rely on Damian's insistent hold on his wrist to guide him.
Damian pushed the door open and directed Dick inside, never dropping his wrist. He pulled Dick over to his bed and stopped suddenly, looking lost.
Tim understood; they had Dick back but he wasn't the same…now what?
Dick didn't pull away from Damian when he was directed to sit on the bed. He slowly lowered himself down to the edge of the king bed, his tense figure screaming insecure. Jason and Tim closed the door, leaving it open a crack.
Jason opened his mouth when something by the window caught Dick's attention and his eyes lit up in interest.
"Dami!" he exclaimed, "When did you paint this? It looks intense" Everyone followed Dick's eyesight to Damian's latest painting on his easel. It was a watercolor and chalk compilation of blurred robins, all different colors and sizes. There were reds, blues, veridians, canary golds, and velvet greys. They overlapped one another like ghosts that were more present than the first.
Damian shrugged, not wanting to admit that this was his most recent work and that it was done at least 3 years ago. Dick made his way over to the painting, his smile growing wider. "Is this multiple types of art?" It looks like watercolor, but not so…wet er-watery, and blurred I mean"
Damian blushed, "It's nothing Gr-Richard, just something I did in my free time. I am in advanced art after all"
Dick turned around with a puzzled look, "You are?". Everyone froze.
Tim stepped closer, "Yeah, he just got moved up to a new class they made for the advanced kids, Damian was getting too bored so it was recommended he be moved"
Dick's eyes brightened even more, "That's awesome Dami! At this rate, you'll be a legit professional artist and get the Wayne name recognized for more than just military weapons and stocks"
Dick ran a hand through Damian's locks as he examined the painting further. Tim doubted Dick was actually scrutinizing it, most likely he was staring at it to make Damian feel like his positive remarks were genuine. Dick didn't know jack about art, he just bought every kit and paintbrush Damian gleaned at.
Damian seemed to beam, not even pulling away or struggling under Dick's overt affection.
Jason was leaning against the far wall by the bedroom door watching, planning. They had to get Leslie over, maybe Canary. Dickhead needed some serious therapy and psych evals., that's for sure. He didn't even know where to begin with how weird this all was. Damian seemed to be in denial and ignoring every negative aspect that came with Dick's return and strange behavior, and Tim wasn't addressing anything because he was too busy faking 'normal' for Dick and Damian.
Jason sighed internally, he really hoped he was being realistic and not pulling a 'Bruce' with all this suspicion and negativity.
He could admit that he was over the moon and thrilled to have his big brother and oldest friend back, but those feelings seemed to have dulled suddenly. Yes, Dickie was back, but why? How? What were the consequences the Batclan would reap from his return?
First things first, they needed to talk. He stepped forward and shrugged off his leather jacket, "Well I dunno about you guys but I'm fuckin' beat. If we're having a sleepover, let's fucking sleep yea?"
Everyone but Dick caught the double meaning behind Jason encouraging sleep and nodded. Dick looked overjoyed at everyone wanting to stay together for once. In the past, he had to ruthlessly fight for family movie nights for 2 hours of cuddling, and even then, he had to throw in some serious guilt trips to make them stay through the whole movie.
Tim and Jason ruffled through Damian's closet looking for extra blankets and pillows when a knock directed their attention to Alfred at the door, "Sirs, I've been notified you may be needing additional sleeping materials"
Jason opened the door all the way to help Alfred drag in pillows and an overabundance of blankets.
"Thanks Alfy!" Dick piped up from where he and Damian were flipping through a used sketchbook. Alfred stopped and stared at Dick's unrealizing figure. His throat bobbed as he swallowed down intense emotions, "Of course, Master Dick"
Jason was freaking impressed at Alfred's ability to stay calm and act like nothing was amiss. He threw everything on the floor before Damian's bed before making sure he caught Alfred's gaze, "Thanks Alfred, seriously"
Alfred blinked repeatedly and looked away, "Of course Sirs, let me know if anything else is needed as the kitchen is now closed"
Alfred turned and made his way out without another word and Jason couldn't help but feel his chest clench at what their butler went through to emotionally support a manor full of fuck ups, shitheads, assholes, and dead kids with daddy issues.
Jason started kicking everything out so the floor was mostly covered in blankets before throwing all the pillows towards one side, deeming that the top.
Dick looked up with a bright grin, happy to see Jason taking charge of their family gathering, "Alright! What movie should I pull out? Disney? Pixar? Some of those live action Disney ones?"
Dick continued listing off options as he dug around in the closet, pulling out a wall projector, "Whatever you want Dick" Tim replied with a smile.
Dick reached down to his back pocket, grasping at air. He frowned and started to check his pockets religiously, "Where the hell is my phone" he muttered.
Jason froze. Shit. Dick still hadn't realized he still had gunshots in his shirt. He quickly strode forward and leaned on Dick's back playfully, "Come on Dickhead we're losing moonlight here. If you lost your phone, we'll just use Tim's, he's got that shit downloaded" Jason took an audible sniff, "Oh god, Golden boy you really went a round with some raccoons, you smell like shit"
Dick frowned, "I do?" He grabbed his shirt to smell himself when Tim jumped in, "Yeah!. You kinda stink, go change before we get on the nice blankets. I think Alfred brought up wool"
Jason started to tug Dick's shirt up and over his head. Dick laughed, "Alright alright, sorry. I'll be right back guys"
He left his shirt in Jason's hands and went to the ensuite in Damian's room. Jason quickly turned around and rummaged through the pile Alfred brought them, finding a Superman hoodie and sweats included.
"Thank fuck" Jason said. Tim and Damian's shoulders relaxed. Tim took the shirt from Jason and threw it in Damian's underwear drawer.
"Hey!" Damian's hissed, but Tim waved him off.
Dick came out with a towel around his waist, "I forgot some clothes" he said sheepishly.
"Alfred dropped some off," Jason said casually, throwing them at Dick. "Oh! Great!"
He disappeared and reappeared looking clean and very much like their old Dick, if his hair was grown out more to hide the shaved head and tattoos, you'd never know; except for the fact that he should by 17 and 5 foot 9.
Dick pulled up his hood and made his way over to the floor with his brothers as Tim loaded Treasure Planet.
"Oldie but goodie" Dick commented with a pleased smile. They piled the pillows around so they were shoulder to shoulder supported by a half circle of feather-down material. Dick pulled Damian back between his legs so he could curl his upper body around his back and torso while Jason and Tim reclined against either shoulder.
Despire Dick's mind not being caught up on reality, his body must've been because 30 minutes into the movie, Dick and Damian were asleep. Tim and Jason watched them take deep breaths as they forgot the world and their obligations for a few needed hours.
Tim put his phone on replay x3 before motioning to the door. Tim went to brush Damian's shoulder and wake him but Jason waved, cutting him off and motioning to the door.
He and Tim crept away and met in the hallway, "Let's leave the brat to sleep off his tantrum from earlier, besides Dickie would notice if his teddy bear was gone"
Tim, Jason, and Alfred made their way down to the cave to find Bruce fuming over his keyboard.
"Wilson's gone" Bruce informed them without looking over.
"What? When? He's coming back right?" Tim asked. "That's an issue for another time" Bruce replied, "As long as we keep Dick contained at the manor we can dictate who he has contact with"
Jason crossed his arms beside Alfred, "Let's acknowledge the elephant in the room while he's asleep and acting like a fucking 17-year-old"
Batman narrowed his eyes at Jason's language but said nothing. He sighed and turned in his chair to face everyone.
"I think I speak for all of us when I say this but I think it's clear that Master Dick has gone through something traumatic without his family, he may have had to compartmentalize to stay safe and sane but it is quite obvious Master Dick is not lost to us" Alfred looked at Bruce specifically when he continued, "Master Dick needs therapy and examinations to determine how best to help him and clear up the last 5 years for everyone. I suggest Miss Canary and Dr. Leslie to start with, maybe even your co-worker Martian Manhunter"
Bruce nodded, "I've sent Leslie a message, she will know to be here by 10 am". Alfred nodded in approval.
Bruce cleared his throat, "We, we need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario, with Dick"
"What? Like if the Court comes for him?"
Bruce shook his head, "I'm going to make some contingency plans that hopefully will not be needed"
Tim looked puzzled but Jason's eyes widened and then narrowed coldly, "No." he said, "Nu-uh Bruce, you are not going to pull that, not on Golden boy Dickie, you can't"
Tim looked even more confused, "What?"
Jason turned to Tim, "His backup plan isn't to protect Dick, it's to protect us from Dick" he threw out an arm at Bruce, "He pulled the same shit with me after the pit but Dick forced him not to follow through"
"What?" Tim said, "Like making more cryo capsules, I-I don't get it. Dick isn't meta or crazy. Well, scratch that, I'm not sure right now but he isn't a danger Bruce"
Jason spoke over Bruce, "Batman tried to throw his teenage son into Arkham when he found out I killed Blackmask's people"
Tim's eyes widened, "Bruce, you didn't"
Bruce didn't say anything. "Bruce!" Time snapped. "What the fuck! Jason wasn't even an adult and that was your backup plan?"
"Oh gee thanks, it would've been okay if I was an adult?" Jason sneered on the side.
"Well no" Tim replied, "But a teenager in Gotham's worst prison?! Bruce, that's overkill"
"I dunno what Dickhead did, but Bruce never did it, obviously" Jason's voice had devolved into a growl, "But I'm human, what does he think is an appropriate backup plan for back from the dead-possible-meta Dick?!"
"Master Bruce, think before you act. Richard has not harmed any of his brothers, he reacted strongly earlier in defense of Master Damian"
Bruce rubbed his face, "I know it's not ideal but we have no idea what Dick went through or what he can do now. He's shown us he is meta or has meta healing, he reacts to the same weapons as chemicalized immortals we know nothing about, we can't confirm his erratic behavior" Bruce looked up sternly, "For all we know, Dick could be a sleeper agent and we just let him upstairs"
"Sleep agent or not" Jason snarled, "You're not punishing our brother for coming back from the dead" Jason shoved a finger in Bruce's face, "You make a move against Dickie and we run. I'm serious, I'll take him and run"
Bruce glared at the threat, "Jason-"
"No!" Jason threw up his hands, "I have active contacts here, in Blud, and even off-planet with Kori. Promise, right now Bruce. You will not treat him like that, like-like some threat"
Bruce sighed and didn't respond for almost a full 5 minutes. Jason let him take his time.
"Alright" Bruce conceded. Jason's glare stayed but he nodded back.
"Soooooo" Tim said, "I think our best plan right now is not throwing Dick in jail" he threw a look at Bruce, "And we play it cool for now. Leslie will be by tomorrow, we can have the session in the cave and see how Dick reacts to the news again. I think we should avoid overwhelming him but make sure his environment reminds him of us and his family. No violence, or Court of Owls, or Nightwing business for now."
Tim looked to Alfred for support when Jason and Bruce said nothing, "I think we should find out what Dick knows and remembers and then ease him into reality"
"An excellent idea, Master Timmothy," Alfred said. "I think it's best if you boys get some genuine sleep and I will wake you with plenty of time to prepare for the good doctor's arrival tomorrow morning"
Bruce nodded and turned away. Jason sneered at the dismissal before storming off. Tim gave Alfred a sheepish grin before jogging after Jason. Behind him, he heard Alfred, "The bedtime was not directed at just the young masters, Master Bruce. Off to bed. Now"
The next morning, Jason, Tim, Bruce, and Alfred were all munching on breakfast in silence when Dick and Damian stumbled downstairs. Damian held Dick's hand in his good arm and stumbled forward, leading a groggy Dick to the counter.
Everyone perked up and watched as Dick mumbled a good morning and grabbed a cinnamon raisin bagel. Alfred placed a plate of hashbrowns and overcooked eggs, his preference, in front of Damian on the counter and Dick stood behind Damian's form, leaning forward slightly and munching on his bagel.
Bruce cleared his throat, "Dick, Dr, Leslie is coming by soon to give everyone some physicals and regular check-ups"
"M'kay" Dick replied, still rubbing his eyes. Damian seemed more alert now but didn't move from beneath Dick's overbearing frame, content to soak in his presence and normalize Dick's affections again.
"So, how was last night Dick? Stayed out late, eh?"
Tim shoved Jason in the gut, giving him a glare. Dick's jaw opened wide, mimicking a basking lion, "It was alright, so tired though. I'm glad it's Saturday"
Bruce scrutinized Dick; it was Wednesday.
They fell into an easy silence while his brothers pushed around their breakfast. Alfred was too busy sneaking glances at DIck, he didn't notice enough to admonish the boys for not eating.
Bruce let himself push his worries to the back of his mind and focus on the fact that his entire family was together for the first time in 5 years. Possibly even more as Dick was growing into an adult and Jason was pulling away the last year they lost Dick.
Almost an hour went by when a ring in the hallway alerted the family to someone at the front ground's gate. Alfred made his way over to the wall and brought up a video screen of a little blue Volkswagon. Leslie Thompkins had been the Wayne's family physician since Martha and Thomas paid for her BA all the way through to her doctorate. Bruce had gifted Leslie with multiple cars and even a property in northwest Gotham but Leslie maintained that she liked her little college paid-for-bug-car to this day.
Alfred looked to Bruce for a second and kept his gaze, "Dr. Leslie is here" he announced to everyone.
Dick's brothers shared a look, "I'll go first" Tim offered, "I-"
"No" Bruce interjected, "Damian should get checked out to make sure his shoulder was only a fracture the other day. I want to speak with Leslie as well. Tim nodded, seeing Bruce's plan.
Dick had been slowly waking up more and craned his neck down to fully realize Damian's wound. "When did you-"
"Why don't you guys wait in the family room while we see Leslie in?"
Everyone nodded and shuffled out of the room in their sleep clothes. Jason nudged Dick with his shoulder until he left Damian's side and followed everyone else. Jason watched Dick focus on the ground, probably trying to remember how and when Damian was injured so badly.
Bruce made sure to change into a cleaner, less rumpled shirt before greeting Leslie at the door.
She blinked at Bruce's informal attire, "Alright who died" she joked with a flat grin.
Bruce stiffened and Leslie's playful attitude was smothered by concern, "Bruce? I thought I was here for an injury and an exam?"
Bruce nodded stiffly, "You are…in a sense. Follow me" He turned swiftly and led her into the formal dining room further away from everyone, taking Damian with him so Dick didn't suspect anything.
Bruce slid into a finely upholstered wooden chair and held his hands together in front of him. He didn't know where to start.
"Bruce?" Leslie tried again.
"Dick is alive..and he's back. He's in the living room right now" Leslie didn't respond.
She was silent for so long that Bruce looked up to see her standing at his shoulder. Leslie's eyes were wide and her hands were trembling slightly. "You can't be serious," she said. She looked to Damian who was standing in the corner and looking out into the hallway, probably wishing he was with his brothers.
Bruce opened his mouth, "No!" she yelled, and then dropped her voice remembering the boys were only 3 rooms away. "If you tell me one more son has come back from the dead and I'm here to reassure you that you don't have to admit him like some 40-year-old sociopathic serial killer, I don't know what I'm going to do Bruce, truly!"
Bruce dropped his head into his hands and sighed, "Please Leslie, we know almost as little as you. He-he returned about 2 weeks ago but we thought he was a thief. We only brought him home last night and he's changed, he-god Leslie he's taller and his voice is deeper and he's got a tattoo!" Bruce exclaimed in a hissed voice.
"He's acting like he's still 17 but when we fought…briefly…he was feral and didn't recognize me. I don't want to treat him like the enemy but we need you to confirm he isn't"
Leslie blanched at that statement.
Bruce continued, "I have reason to believe he was Deathstroke's captive for a short period and then tortured by the Court of Owls, a criminal organization that sees themselves as Gotham's warped protectors"
Damian scowled and looked like he wanted to say something but crossed his arms and glared at the floor.
Leslie took a deep breath and shook her head, sitting down across from Bruce. "You….you-ugh fine" she relented.
She pulled a notepad out of her purse, clicked her pen, and looked Bruce in the eye, "Start from the beginning"
_
Leslie followed Bruce into the family room, walking slowly and keeping to the carpeted areas to lessen their footfalls. Leslie had to physically withhold a gasp at seeing the oldest Wayne sitting on the floor beside his brothers. They were all looking over Tim's shoulder as he played a word game on his phone.
Jason reached over to enter a word but Tim slapped his hand away, "That's only 2 syllables, idiot, we'll lose"
"There's nothing left to play besides 'pony'" Jason snapped back, eyes glued to the phone.
Leslie looked to Bruce on her left, he felt her stare as he watched his sons and merely nodded that she was actually seeing this. Dick had changed, in obvious and subtle ways. He seemed to have a semi-modern-urban mohawk that had started to grow in, covering what looked like a black and blue tattoo on his scalp above his ear. He sat next to his brothers and seemed to tower over them with Jason, his form much bulkier than she remembered. The lithe boy who used to laugh and grin until his cheeks ached stared at Tim's phone with a strange sort of attentiveness, jumping from the electronic to whoever was talking, with rapt focus.
Strangely enough, Leslie noticed he had no scarring.
Damian shouldered past Bruce and jogged over to join the boys on the ground, making sure to lean in close enough to touch his shoulder to Dick's.
Dick smiled, "How's the shoulder Little D?"
"Tsk" Damian said, "I am fine Richard, do not underestimate me. I am always fine". Dick grinned by didn't reply.
"Good morning everyone" Leslie greeted, her eyes on Dick. They looked up and no one said anything at first, "Hey Leslie! Here to make sure growing boys stay growing?" Dick joked back first.
Leslie grinned, a small part of her acknowledged how easy it was to forget Dick died and had a funeral. Hell, she helped with the funeral arrangements and empty casket preparations. But Dick wasn't 17 anymore, he was almost 23 at this point, a young man whose only focus should be college and his latest crush.
"I have a bit of a packed schedule so I'm going to ask you back next Dick, just as a check-over. We will go over a few psych survey questions as well, just the yearly procedure with your nighttime activities"
"Sound good" Dick replied as he stood up and made his way over to her. She and Dick made their way into Bruce's study, closing the door.
Jason and Tim had followed and were dumbfounded when Leslie and Dick closed the door behind them, "Bruce!" Tim exclaimed, "Why are you leaving them alone? We don't really know if that's safe….yet"
Bruce refrained from reminding Tim of his hypocritical statement after he and Jason admonished him for assuming the same of Dick so recently, "Leslie requested the privacy to conduct some basic verbal tests and memory surveys. She has a panic button and the doors aren't locked. They'll be fine" he assured them.
No one said anything but didn't stray far from the office doors. About an hour went by when finally they heard some chairs scraping and some genial muffled laughs before blurred outlines approached from the other side of the door.
"Your turn Jay" Dick said as he walked to the kitchen.
"Actually," Leslie said with an apologetic grin, "I have a few meetings to get to across town very soon. She turned to Bruce, "I'll call you later to schedule a checkup for Tim and Jason"
Bruce nodded, "I'll walk you out". After saying their goodbyes, Bruce threw on some slippers and walked with Leslie down their stretching driveway to her electric blue 2-seater car.
Bruce didn't say anything as they stopped by the driver's side. Leslie turned to Bruce, "He's struggling, that's for sure; and I'm certain he doesn't even realize it"
Bruce nodded, waiting for more. "I think he is in denial," Leslie said strictly, "He does have memory retention issues, not unlike early onset dementia and how some people can remember one thing and then forget it the next day, and remember it again that same night"
"Are you diagnosing him?" Bruce asked
"No, no" Leslie assured, "It was an example, a professional opinion, but he will need to talk more, to bring it to the surface. The more he talks about it, the more he remembers what he doesn't want to, the more he feels uncomfortable emotions the more I can diagnose it based off his reactions to smother those unwanted feelings and memories". She gave Bruce a small grin, "His youth in on his side, he's young and the neurons in his brain don't break down as fast as they do for older people"
She took a deep breath, "If anyone else were examining Dick, they would diagnose him with bipolar or schizophrenia from what appears to be a split personality disorder…I disagree. My professional, and somewhat biased, opinion is that Dick allowed and behavioral changes to cement themselves into his being to survive whatever he deemed a threat in the last 5 years"
She focused on something beyond Bruce's shoulder as she continued, "To be blunt, I think it's the most severe form of trauma and PTSD I've ever seen in a minor. I know everyone, especially Dick has become accustomed to this lifestyle and the emotional tribulation that is expected from it but if you ignore the fact that your 17-year-old son was shot dead, kidnapped, kept away from his family, and possibly tortured, you are doing him a disservice"
"Whatever he dee-" Bruce startled, "You didn't interrogate him? Leslie, I gave you unfiltered private access to him!"
"Bruce" she glared at him, "That is a young man with a teenager's mental capacity. I. Will. Not. Interrogate him. I did ask him questions to confirm where his latest memories put him and how he was feeling emotionally"
"And?" Bruce grounded out.
Leslie's frown deepened at Bruce's attitude over her methods. "He does believe he is 17, he believes that he is in a fight with you over going to college right away or taking a year or two off to travel, as you did at that age. He also believes that Damian has an art show next week and has been reminding everyone to leave that night free"
She opened her car door and set her purse and jacket down before turning back to Bruce, "So I suggest you either confront this topic again and attempt to break down his most obstinate denial mechanisms or you take everyone to a god damn art show"
Bruce frowned and sighed, "I will handle it"
Leslie lifted her eyebrows in mock joy, "Have a wonderful day Bruce Wayne". Leslie slammed her car door on Bruce and started to backup before stopping and rolling down her window, "Tell Tim, Damian, and Jason I will be back for their legitimate checkups. Make sure Damian ices that shoulder in the mornings and heats it before bed. I'll be expecting a call from Mr. Pennyworth as to when I am expected back next week for Dick's therapy"
Bruce watched her drive away, Leslie had been helpful but not as much as Bruce was hoping for. He would add her notes to Dick's file and seal everything that was newly founded. He knew that Tim and Jason were against him thinking of the future and the possible consequences they would face in return for Dick's new changes but the reality was that he was an unknown variant until he acknowledged the present reality.
Bruce knew he had to balance his timeline appropriately moving forward. He didn't want to rush Dick and whatever healing he may be struggling with internally, but they couldn't afford to waste any additional time either. Despite this, Bruce found himself letting the boys forget their reality and be brothers for the next few days.
A bittersweet pang had filled Bruce's chest and hadn't left. Everywhere Damian went, Dick was there. Everywhere Dick was, Jason and Tim were. Alfred was thrilled to cater to the boys' bedtime activities, movie nights, and game sessions and Dick seemed all too ready to ignore the fact that no one had gone to school or on patrol for 2 straight days. He knew they were vigilantes, but for some reason, he was hesitant to acknowledge the obvious. They all were. Bruce would always wait till the boys chose a bedroom for the night before he headed out on short patrols each night.
Superman had agreed to help and keep an ear out for Gotham while Bruce was distracted. He was not happy that he was not given a reason to accompany the Dark Knight's request but those requests came rarely enough that Superman was remiss to turn it down. Bruce knew word would spread and soon the Justice League would be demanding answers.
The Young Justice team was already pestering Tim. He had texted Connor that he would be MIA for a while but the team had started to pester their mentors after only a few days. Gossip and concern was spreading like wildfire and Bruce was anxious to appease their concerns so they would not feel entitled to show up at the cave one door, thinking they were helping.
Bruce left the kitchen and headed down the hallway listening for noise. Despite the calm environment the last few days, Bruce was not comfortable leaving the boys alone for too long; not after he'd seen Dick react positively to Deathstroke and negatively to him.
He had casual voices as he neared his study and pushed the door open to find the boys on individual game consoles sprawled out over the floor. Jason and Tim were on the floor while Damian sat cross-legged on Bruce's high-back chair and Dick sat on his upper back, his butt and thighs leaning upwards against the front of Bruce's desk.
Bruce stood there watching them, wishing they'd had more time. If only he'd adopted them all younger, if only he hadn't failed Jason so early on, or lost Dick, if only, if only.
"Hello Father" Damian greeted without looking up. The boys were connected to the same game and were playing different characters. Bruce watched Dick, he looked up at Bruce's upside-down image briefly, giving an uneasy smile before refocusing on the game. His eyes held a strange hyperfocused attention to them that went beyond the obsession of ADHD.
"I have to step out for work soon, Alfred is shopping but will be back by 3". The boys grunted in response.
Bruce didn't smile but his chest and heart did. To have the privilege of this angsty-loving teenage environment again. Something most parents took for granted, it was an energy that presented warped sturdy love and Bruce was determined to maintain his household and family; no matter what.
Bruce was pleased when the peace continued but wasn't surprised when it didn't last. Everyone had been sitting down and having dinner, appeasing Dick's demands once more and eating in the family room watching a cartoon movie.
Dick finished his stir fry and pushed to his feet, "I'm gonna get ice cream"
"That's so much food Dick" Tim commented with a smile. "Come on Timmy, you know every dinner has to be followed with something sweet, it's like the law"
Dick walked away and Jason scoffed, "That guy's sweet tooth, jesus. You'd think growing up poor would make him like water as a snack or something"
"Master Jason" Alfred admonished
A few minutes passed before Jason called, "Dick! You're missing like literally everything"
"I'm coming!" Came a voice muffled by a spoon.
Another 10 minutes went by and Jason frowned sitting up, "Dick!" No one answered.
Bruce sat up with a concerned glance behind them, "Dick?" No one answered. Tim paused the tv and they all looked back at the kitchen. "Dick!" Tim tried.
Jason and Tim led the way as they went to the kitchen. There was an opened mint chip bucket on the counter and the silverware drawer was left open.
Damian jogged upstairs calling for Dick. Bruce made his way into the hallway when Damian leaned over the upstairs banister, "He isn't upstairs"
Bruce blanched before he ran down the hallway and turned left to see the grandfather clock entrance to the cave had been left open. Bruce and the boys rushed downstairs and stopped suddenly at Dick's still form.
Dick was standing in his hoodie and sweats, his bare feet pointing towards the containment cells on the far side of the cave.
Bruce stepped forward, "Dick" He whirled around, a bowl and spoon clattering to the ground as Dick made eye contact with everyone. His eyes were wide and unseeing his breathing shallow and erratic. "What have you done to them?" he demanded in a breathy voice.
"Nothing Dick" Tim said, they're possible suspects and we are keeping them safe and sedated while we investigate some…stuff"
Dick's eyes narrowed, Tim's breath caught in his chest. It was happening again, the back-and-forth behavior and inconsistent mentality he showcased the night they caught him.
"Dick?" Tim tried again. Dick's head cocked to the side. "Talon?" Bruce tried. Dick looked at Bruce, responding to the name.
"Grayson," Damian said as he stepped forward. Dick looked at Damian and nodded affirmatively at him.
"Di-Grayson come here," Jason said. They were all in sleepwear and jackets, half of them didn't even have socks on.
Dick shook his head and backed up slightly. "You will hurt Talon, like you hurt them" he motioned to the sleeping bodies.
Tim shook his head vehemently, "No! We aren't hurting them. They're sleeping, we're uh-protecting them from the Court"
Dick's eyes narrowed in distrust, "They are caged"
"Well yea, but only because they did try to hurt us too, they tried to take you back to the Court too"
Dick's eyes widened and he seemed to sidestep away from the cells, sensing their potential danger. "I do not want to return" he insisted.
"Talon knows the Court was family but Grandmaster and Taon hurt Talon, they confuse me. I-I do not want to be punished but I know I deserve it. I ran" Dick said solemnly like he was truly ashamed of running away.
"That's a good thing Dickhead, you gotta listen to your gut like that. No one likes being beat up and shit"
"But we are family!"
"No you aren't" Jason insisted.
"Grandmaster is Grandfather; therefore, he is family" Dick recited like a child memorizing words instead of reading them.
Bruce didn't like being in confrontational situations without his suit and cowl. Batman dealt with these scenarios, not Bruce Wayne. "Grandmaster is your grandfather? He told you"
Dick nodded, his eyes bright with hope that the strangers in front of him were understanding.
Bruce mentally noted to verify this in Slade's data, seeing as how Slade knew of Dick's family's relation to the court off the top of his head.
"Grayson, do you remember us?" Damian asked uncertainly.
Dick nodded, "You are Robin, vigilante name for the 16-year-old heir to Bruce Wayne of Wayne Enterprises. Your worth is estimated to be 2.2 million pre-inheritance"
Damian frowned, that was not the answer he wanted. He tried again, "Who is my older brother then?"
Dick frowned, "You have no siblings"
"I do," Damian said, "They were adopted"
Dick nodded, "Jason Todd. Orphaned as a child and adopted as the first official heir to Wayne Enterprises. I am unsure of his networth due to lack of social presence and standing"
Damian shook his head, "No! Nightwing! Dick Grayson! My-our older brother"
Dick frowned, "Richard Grayson was never adopted and is; therefore, not a blood or legal relative of yours" Damian froze and looked at Bruce, "You never adopted Richard?"
Bruce gritted his teeth at the turn of topics, "He is my legal heir for everything in my will, I was young and unsure of how to handle my first partner back then" he defended himself sternly.
"We know Bruce is a shit parent" Jason snapped before returning to Dick. "Do you know you are Dick Grayson?" Jason asked directly.
Dick frowned, "I am Talon and that is all that matters. Grandmaster has informed me I have no past or future outside of the Court"
"But you have to if you want to escape them and live free" Tim argued. Dick didn't reply.
"I'm going to state some things and I promise they are all true," Tim said slowly. Dick tilted his head but didn't argue.
"You are Dick Grayson. You are our brother. You are also Nightwing. You were shot at 17 years old and disappeared for 5 years. We found you recently 2 weeks ago. You have memory issues. You want to escape the Court. We want to hide you from the Court"
Dick had slowly straightened from his crouched defensive position and was slowly nodding along to Tim's listing.
"So you will help Talon hide?" Dick asked, "I have a…home…in Bludhaven. I wish to go there"
"No can do amigo," Jason said with his arms crossed. Dick glared at Jason.
"Talon" Bruce began somewhat uncertain of the title. "If you stay with us, we can ensure your safety, we cannot protect you if you leave here"
Dick looked affronted, "Talon does not need protection. Grandfather has made me strong! He said I have been strong since birth"
Bruce nodded, "Yes, that's true but it would be the entire Court against you. You would lose. Be rational, Talon"
Dick didn't reply. "I promise we will return to your home in Bludhaven soon but only if you promise to stay here and be complacent"
Dick considered the proposition, examining Bruce and his group thoroughly. "I should not stay," he said back. It sounded like a question to everyone's ears.
"Please," Tim said suddenly. "We really want to explain things to you, just to talk is all. You might get good answers from us too, you know?"
Talon nodded slightly.
"Plus," Tim said, "The bottom line is that you want to stay away from the Court and we want you to succeed in that"
"Why" Dick hissed. "We told you" Tim repeated, "You're our brother and we want to talk with you"
"No" Dick denied, "Why?"
He didn't believe them, Tim thought frustratingly.
"That's something you'll have to risk and find out," Jason said behind Tim. Dick stared at Jason and his gaze seemed to drift up to stare at Jason's hair.
Jason seemed to know what was happening and chuckled, "You really like the skunk look on me dontcha Dickie?"
Dick remained silent, his gaze bouncing from each person he was facing.
After a minute Damian asked, "Will you stay then? For your ...protection" Talon took a step back until his back was against the cave wall. He had both captives and captees in sight when he slid to the floor, he nodded once.
No one moved but their spirits breathed a sigh of relief over the agreement. No one wanted to force Dick into anything but losing him was not an option.
Dick's brow furrowed and he gazed at the space between his feet in puzzlement and irritation. "It is cold" Dick stated.
"Yeah, it can get chilly down here" Tim replied. Dick's look started to morph into frustration, his eyes jerked up to Tim but he kept his head bowed.
"What do you need Dick? Is something wrong?" Tim probed. Dick looked up at them and gave a look that told everyone Dick thought the question was stupid, "Socks" he stated.