The UnTamed

CH 17

"Where do you get their clothes? Why?" Asta asked as he zipped up her dress.

"I bought them. You need clothes even if you don't wear them." Damian said as he put on her blazer last.

"Do I need shoes too?"

"No, I don't think those will be necessary. Nor will he care." Damian stepped back, taking her in. White midi dress with a white blazer. " you're the one who wants to be business-like as you say."

And she did; she wanted to look like a businessy, a grown-up, and an adult. She knew she was a child who founded an organization with children to help other children. To those on the outside, it probably looked like a super baby situation, and she knew it would be hard to be taken seriously. Despite it all being in the hands of children, it was consequential. It needed attention, and she was doing all she could to get it, including dressing up in fancy business clothes that felt like an uncomfortable, unnecessary layer that she did not like. Asta just wanted to be taken seriously. She wanted her people to be taken care of.

"You know he's not going to care what you're wearing. How you're helping and who you're helping is what is essential. Your appearance doesn't matter what you're doing, and what you plan to do in the future does. Tell him your plans to help Gotham. He'll help you. I know he will." Damian kissed her knuckles before handing her the binder.

-

They met in the library. The table was set up with tea and cookies. Jason was already sitting reading a book.

"Apologizes for being late" uses big words to sound more intelligent. " Thank you for speaking with me and giving me another chance." Sit up straight. Be confident.

"Given the circumstance, it's not really a second chance. Just the first all over again," Jason said, putting his book to the side and pouring her a cup of tea. " So, show me what you got."

Opening her binder, she turns it around and slides it to him. " This- This ..." Damn she forgot what she was going to say. " Um ... the other night, I told you all that I grew up and lived on the streets. I wouldn't have survived if it weren't for rare kindness and connections. I returned that Kindness and made more connections. I wanted to help people. Those connections I made came together to make this." She motioned to the binder. " An underground organization made to help people. Everyone has a place, a purpose, a connection, a job. This shows how we work, what we do, and how we do it." She watched Jason slowly flip through the binder, taking his time with each page.

It was very organized. With lists of properties, medical aid, routes, businesses, and even people (although he suspected those names to be aliases.). It was very obvious that Damian had a hand in this with the language and illustrations used. Now the question was, did he simply have a hand in this binder or this organization as a whole?

" So what do you want from me and mine."

"Strength, protection, and numbers"

"Oh?"

"Most, if not all, of my organization is made up of the youth," she said. " And as much as we try, we can't do everything as we are. we can't do anything legally, we aren't very intimating alone, and we need to protect ourselves, but I don't want to put weapons in children's hands. I just won't."

Jason was in agreement that he hated the idea of weapons in children's hands. " So, you want to be added to our routes and routines."

"Well, I would actually like more collaboration. If you keep turning the pages, you'll see that some of the things you do and offer are similar to things we do. For example, you don't sell drugs to kids; offer clean drugs and clean needles. We offer clean needles, safe places to use, and people to watch over them in case of overdoes. We also offer clean houses where, if people want, they can come to get clean. I'd like to combine our efforts and make some things more effective and safer... These are just ideas. S-some stuff to think on, probably."

Asta started stumbling and stuttering towards the end, realizing she was talking too much and too fast. Her nerves were starting to show.

"Why didn't you ask Damian?"

"What?"

"Why didn't you ask Damian? He could have given me this much sooner-"

"I'm doing this. This is me. I'm doing this. Not Damian or Robin. This is my organization. I was chosen by my people, not a Robin or a Wayne. I'm doing this."

"I recognized my bother's handwriting." And she stood up. " No, no sit. I'm just .... please sit."

He wasn't trying to be mean. He just wanted to know more and make sure Damian wasn't being used in any way. As much as he supported the relationship, he wanted to make sure it was an actual relationship and not him being manipulated into a relationship for business. As much as he didn't believe Damian could be manipulated, she was a pretty girl, and puberty was hitting the boy hard. He was just worried and trying to be sure.

"I'm sorry, please," he motioned to the seat across from him. She sat.

"Damian did help me put this binder together. I wanted it to look as professional as possible. And I have asked for his opinion on things and maybe an extra hand. But I have refused any Robin or Wayne influence. I don't think anyone would trust me if I did."

"But I'm trustworthy?"

"You're already doing it. Plus, you're one of us. You may have left us for a time. But we still remember you. We didn't leave you."

-

Damian watched as Asta stumbled into the room, stripping her clothes. As she went to pick up her clothes, she placed them on the back of the desk chair, joining him in the bed once done.

"How was your meeting?"

"It went"

That's all she said before she turned into a Boa constrictor, which effectively ended the discussion. She simply curled up into a tight ball on the pillow.

"It'll all work out. I promise," kissing her scaled head.