WARNING: DEPICTIONS OF CHILD ABUSE WILL BE DESCRIBED IN THIS CHAPTER FROM THE BEGINNING AND THROUGHOUT. IF YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THIS I SUGGEST SKIPPING THIS CHAPTER

https://refuge.org.uk/

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https://www.gov.mb.ca/stoptheviolence/index.html

Joey woke up soon after Dick got him home, sporting a cut on his cheek and eyebrow as well as a swelling bruise on his jaw, which only spelt trouble for the trio. He ordered them all to stand in a line as he yelled at them for being so weak in front of the leather-clad hero and demanded they do better next time. 

Jason and Dick did their best to not flinch when his spit flicked onto their faces, knowing that was what their ringleader wanted, whilst Tim broke down in sobs. Sometimes sobbing brought harsher punishments but it seemed to soothe Joey's ego this time so he dismissed the youngest and locked him in the bedroom. 

They watched Joey go to the fridge and pull out a bottle of cheap beer. He must've had a couple before he went out too since there were empty bottles around his armchair that weren't there that morning. They gulped. Alcohol never helped. He popped the cap off then turned to the pair, gulping down the liquid and emptying the bottle in minutes. He stalked towards them yet they refused to show any fear. They weren't going to give in to the bully that he was. He reeled back and hit Jason in the head with the bottle, causing it to smash. The glass scattered across the room as the boy fell to the floor with a pained cry and held his hand protectively over the wound. Dick jumped at the sound, hating it with every bone in his body. He was supposed to protect them. Some job he was doing.

As Joey reeled back to hit him with his brass-knuckled fist, Dick ran in the way to make him stop. Joey paused and glared at the teen for daring to break out of his place in line. 

"They listened to me over you back there, making me their leader and not you. If you want to prove that you're the boss and they should be scared of you then you shouldn't hurt them," Dick argued. Jason whispered a soft no. He couldn't stand seeing Dick in the state Joey left him. It wasn't fair. Unfortunately for him, the drunkard took the bait. 

"I should hurt you. Jason, fetch Tim," he proclaimed as though it had been his idea in the first place. The ginger plucked himself off the ground and stumbled to their room. As he did, Dick readied himself for the beating he'd surely get. He hoped nothing broke. He didn't have the ability to pay the medical bill if something did break and Joey wouldn't give him a penny nor the permission to sit in an emergency room waiting to be seen. "You're stupid for trying to upstage me, kid. Ratting me out in front of that bat bastard doesn't help your case either," Joey mentioned. His voice was low, making Dick's anxiety levels high. He didn't respond to the comment either. That would only get him in more trouble than it was worth.

Time went by slowly as the boys returned from the bedroom. Dick gulped and tried to control his trembling hands. He didn't look at them, fearing to see their expressions would be the thing to break his resolve. He heard Tim hiccuping through tears which accelerated his heart rate to the nth degree. It was always the same. Every second of this was being burned into his mind and he knew he'd never have a moment of peace to attempt to erase it. Something told him this experience would haunt him for a while longer than the others did. The fear overpowered any other emotion. Any hint of embarrassment from being made an example of was overshadowed. 

"You listen to me. I'm the boss here. You're going to see what happens when you disrespect me and it just so happens I have a volunteer," Joey slurred, addressing the two children. Dick's breath hitched at his tone. He couldn't stand the anticipation of what was coming. He would rather it be over and done with rather than waiting for the first blow to land. Joey walked to his armchair and picked up one of the many brown bottles. He then turned to Dick whose eyes were firmly closed.

When Joey's strong hand gripped his tattered shirt and lifted him so only his toes touched the ground, Dick's eyes flew open in panic. He held onto Joey's arm, hoping his small hands would do something to stop him. They didn't. Joey was just keeping him still. He reeled back and smashed the bottle against his head as he had with Jason. Their captive audience gasped harshly as he yelped in pain. Part of Dick hoped that would be the end of it but the rest knew it wouldn't be. This was only the start. 

With the remains of the glass bottle, Joey slashed his cheek with it. Beer was still left in the bottle making the cut sting. He was dropped to the floor as he staved off the tears. Joey kicked him in the stomach, knocking the air out of him. He clawed at the ground and finally let the tears flow down his face. Joey kicked him again for fun then rolled him over onto his back. Dick choked on his tears as he tried to gulp down oxygen before a boot pressed against his chest. He gripped the leather tightly, trying with all his might to push him off but it was no use. 

"Learn from this boys. I'm the boss around here. Got that?" They nodded fearfully, worrying any delay in the agreement would cause Dick more pain. He grunted and got another beer from the fridge then sat down in his armchair. He picked up the remote and turned on the TV. That was their cue he was settling in for the night and they should make themselves scarce.

Carefully, Dick got to his knees and quickly limped towards the bedroom with the younger boys in tow.  The bedroom wasn't quite the right word for the room they slept in. It was a small room with one mattress in the middle. They didn't have pillows and only had a thin blanket to keep them warm during the night. There was a window on the far side of the room which was normally locked as it led to a fire escape instead of a sheer drop. When Dick first arrived, he tried to gain someone's attention by banging on it and shouting for help but no one noticed the sounds over the ever-bustling traffic below.

The trio didn't have a lot of stuff. They had a few changes of clothes, bandages and close possessions they hid from Joey. It wasn't a lot but many more had much less. That's what they told themselves at least. 

Dick limped to the mattress and sat down with a pained groan. Everything ached. 

"I could take it," Jason stated, sitting down beside him. 

"No, you couldn't."

"And you can?" Tim questioned, joining the pair on the twin-sized mattress. Dick didn't answer.

"You're silent so you know he's right," Jason stated. "We should probably sort that cut out. This is the only blanket we have and I don't want blood on it," he added. The older scoffed. He found some adhesive bandages and began to close up the wound as best he could. "Let's hope it doesn't get infected."

"With these conditions, we'd need a little more than hope," Tim commented. Dick tussled his hair with a ghost of a smile. 

"Playing doctor huh?" He saw the younger crack a smile, warming his heart. "How's your head, Jay?"

"I'll live, yours?" He shrugged, preferring to keep his injuries under wraps. "Cat came back for your tongue then."

After patching Dick up, they settled down to sleep. Though Dick decided to stay up a little later as usual. They didn't ask him why. It wasn't like they'd get much of an answer anyway.

"Dick," Tim began as the eldest turned the light off. He hummed in recognition. "What was Batman like?" he mumbled quietly. Jason's ears perked up in interest but he kept his eyes closed. 

"He was...nice." He didn't know how to describe the man any further than that. He clearly cared for the less fortunate and was self-aware enough to know he couldn't just beat the crime out of people. It was kind of him to offer a route out but who was to say that it was genuine and not some sort of trap? "He definitely taught Joey a lesson," he added. Tim giggled sleepily. 

He stared at the younger pair for a moment then pulled the paper out of his pocket. He inspected the address again, thinking of a plan. Whoever was at this address was trusted enough by Batman to take in three runaways without question. Even if it was a trap, surely the potential that it wasn't should be enough to at least try. There wasn't much worse than this. 

"If I was able to get you out of this place, would you want me to? Even if it was a risk?" The pair sat straight up. They didn't enjoy his serious tone nor did they like his use of hypotheticals.

"What's gotten into you?" Jason inquired. He reluctantly passed over the note to them which they read under the light of the moon. 

"Batman gave it to me. Said the person that lived there would look after us," he explained. 

"This is Wayne Manor," Tim revealed. Their eyes widened in surprise. What would a millionaire want with three kids like them? "And Batman gave you this?" He nodded.

"So, do you want to take the risk?" They remained in silence as their brains thought through the possible ramifications of taking the chance. 

"I'm in," Jason stated, putting his hand in the middle of the trio. Tim put his on top. 

"So am I." They looked to Dick who soon put his hand on theirs.

"I'll figure out a plan tonight whilst you two sleep. We'll need all our strength for tomorrow." They nodded and bunkered down for the night whilst he packed their stuff into one backpack. They'd leave in the morning in the hopes of finding a better life with this Mr Wayne. If Batman trusted the man then logically they should too.