EDIT: TW BLOOD AND IMPLIED ABUSE

https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw38-DBhDpARIsADJ3kjlBzmRPruldcmr7g7hx5Yh_WgHlRt97xFcT7bstHSzGDkbEPQ7NP8IaAkxSEALw_wcB

https://www.thehotline.org/

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

Alfred was cooking in the kitchen when he heard the back door slam close. "Master Bruce?" He asked in confusion. He looked outside and saw no one. He was confused to say the least as he knew there was no way the door could've done that by itself. Before he could think about it anymore, the boys came rushing into the kitchen.

"Have you seen Dick?" Tim asked worriedly. "I'm afraid not Master Tim, is there something the matter?"
"Todd said that we couldn't have him around anymore because Grayson worked out that we're the Batfamily, so to speak." Damian explained.

"Wait, how did Dick work out we're vigilantes?" Bruce asked angrily.
"He just figured it out!" Jason answered. "I messed up and he thinks he's going back to kid prison! He ran off crying!"
"I'll work out what to do with you later, now we need to find him," Bruce stated. "Tim, Damian search outside. Alfred look on the ground floor, Jason upstairs and I'll check the Batcave." They nodded and ran in different directions.

Two hours passed and Jason, Alfred and Bruce decided to aid the search outside. They found Damian and Tim halfway down the garden. "You just had to have a massive garden, didn't you?" Damian commented sarcastically. "Let's just find him."

Jason found Dick hiding in the bushes. He was shaking violently and staring into space, as though he was working out what to do next. "Dickie-bird?" Jason asked, touching his shoulder. Dick jumped and back-flipped away. "I won't go back there! I can't do it again!" He cried. His eyes had dulled significantly. Bruce heard him shouting and ran over to him. "We're not going to make you go back. You're still going to stay with us, you just surprised us by working out who we are," he assured him. Dick's tears fell heavier and they realised how scared he was. "Promise?" He asked, letting Bruce move closer. "Promise." Bruce replied, picking him up. Dick buried his head into his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry," Jason apologized. Dick moitioned for Jason to hold him and was passed over to the teen, hugging him tightly. "If you tell me about Slade and help me put Zucco in jail then I'll forgive you," Dick bargained with a small smile. "Slade? How does he know about Slade?" Bruce asked.
"He fostered me for a bit. He wasn't very nice. I thought you guys knew about him," he answered tiredly. "Or at least you acted like it."
"Maybe get some sleep before we do anything," Damian suggested. The boy nodded and fell asleep in Jason's arms.

"He's known for abusing his apprentices, you don't think he hurt him?" Tim asked.
"Slade isn't afraid to do anything like that. Dick would be a good target. He recently lost his family, has skills in acrobatics and gymnastics not to mention that he most likely knows many languages," Bruce said.
"Physical or mental?" Damian asked.
"Both. When he wakes up, we're going to have to question him. We don't know the extent of his training." They sighed and eyed the boy in Jason's arms. What had he gone through?

OooOooO, cliffhanger? Maybe it'll be resolved soon?? Yeah it will I'm just being a bitch 😂😁 it's legit being continued after this.

Half an hour after setting Dick down to sleep there was a scream from his room. "Was that Dick?" Jason asked the others, who were as bewildered as he was. When he put Dick in his bed, the family migrated to meeting room. It had actually been a pretty calm discussion until they heard the scream.

There was another scream. "That's definitely Dick," Tim muttered getting up. "Does he have night terrors?" Damian asked. Bruce smacked himself in the forehead for forgetting. "Yeah he has them all the time. The wardens say he gets them as soon as he falls asleep. Let's go calm him down," Bruce answered.

They rushed upstairs to Dick's room where they found him violently thrashing in his bed. "Jesus Christ on a bicycle," Jason muttered. Tim ran over and tried to calm Dick down.

As soon as he touched Dick's arm, the boy's eyes shot open and he rolled back off the bed, soon shooting up to his feet with his back pressed against the wall. His skin was sweaty and his eyes were wide with tears at the corners of them. His teeth were gritted as a little blood spilled over his lips.

"Dick, are you alright?" Tim asked. It took a moment for Dick to realize everything was alright. He loosened up and nodded. "I think I bit my tongue," he replied, wiping blood from his lip.

"You shot up as soon as Drake touched you, how come?" Damian asked. There was no way in hell that was purely instinctual. "Mr Slade taught me to by- well that doesn't matter. I'm sorry I bothered you," he explained, leaving more questions. "Don't worry about it kid," Jason assured him with a smile. "Do you think you could tell us what it was like living with Slade?" Bruce asked. "I guess so," he answered, moving away from the wall. "We should talk about this in the cave, just in case," Damian suggested. They nodded and Dick grinned with excitement. "Remember Dick no touching," Bruce told the child. He nodded, "Sure thing!"

Timeskip to Batcave

Alfred took the small child's hand to make sure he didn't run off, the cave was big after all. Dick stared at all the gadgets in awe, making the family smile. "Ok Dickie, we just want to make sure this Slade is the same one we know," Bruce announced, pulling up a picture.

As soon as Dick saw the picture of the assassin, his grip tightened on Alfred's hand and his smile dropped. "T-that's him," he replied.
"Interesting. Did he try to teach you anything?" Damian asked.
"Yes, he taught me to fight and defend myself." He answered.

They could only grimace at what the maniac did to him. "But taught is the wrong word. Taught implies he was like a teacher, someone who cares for children and helped you, but he didn't. He h-hurt me," Dick added, tears welling up. "Hurt?" Tim asked. He nodded and pointed to the scar on Slade's face. "He left those, cicatrici. I don't know the English for them," he replied. "Scars?" Jason asked, trying hard not to show his anger. Dick nodded.

Tim had now paled, Damian and Bruce were both pissed and Alfred  picked Dick up. He wrapped his arms around the butler's neck, seeking comfort and protection. "Where?" Damian growled. "My back," Dick answered, slightly scared by Damian's tone. "It's alright Master Dick. I'm putting him back to bed, he's been through enough today," Alfred stated sorrowfully.

"I'm going to beat that basterd so hard he'll be in a coma for a year," Jason commented when Alfred was out of earshot. "How he can he do that to such a small child? Dick's so loving, he must've had no idea what he was getting into." Tim responded, putting his head in hands. "He probably enjoyed hurting him as well, the sadistic fuck!"

"Stop it both of you. We can't change the past but we can manipulate the future and make the present bareable. We weren't there to save him then but we can rescue what's left of him now. You two aren't helping by wallowing in the past. Look at Grayson, his life was terrible but he has hope. If you two can't get over this then you aren't suitable to be heroes," Damian announced in a stern voice.

"Damian, just because you feel no sympathy or empathy-"
"You think it doesn't kill me to know he was in the clutches of the enemy? That we could've helped him if we'd only gotten him here sooner? That the son of a bitch put his hands on that child?" Damian shouted. Jason shut up immediately. "I care. I'm just smart enough to put my feelings aside when it's crucial to."

"What do we do now?" Tim asked. Bruce stood up and looked into the glass case where his suit hung up. "We do our job. Slade is out there still. We track him down and bring him to justice."

"Easier said than done father," Damian replied. "Plus we can't invest our whole selves into this. Alfred can't look after Dick on his own. An 67 year old Vs a 7 year old doesn't bode well," Tim added. "I hate to say it but perhaps the league can help to look after him. Ollie has a sidekick our age and Barry one his age. Maybe they can take care of him during the week or the weekends."
"If they try to play rough, Grayson will freak out. You saw how jumpy he is. His instincts might kick in and he could hurt them. Or vice versa," Damian replied. "We never found out how much he was taught fighting wise or how strong he is."
"Then we'll take that chance. You will complete your school days as usual and complete your homework once you get home. Social time will be cut short and cigarette breaks. Don't think Alfred and I haven't noticed Jason." Jason coughed a little in nervousness. "But what about Zucco?" He asked, taking the eyes off him.

There was silence then Bruce smiled a little. "Oh god I know that look. You don't seriously think," Jason commented. "He'll die out there!"
"Not if we train him. He already has some experience. This could work," Tim suggested. Bruce was half way to grinning now. "He said he was a fast learner. I could teach him to hack, Damian teaches him how to strategize and Jason you can teach him how to fight with weapons. Dad you can teach him hand to hand combat!" Tim continued. "He'll get comfort from putting Zucco behind bars and we could do with another helping hand," Bruce said. Damian nodded in agreement. "This could actually work."
"No fucking way! We can't put that kid out there! Gotham is much worse from when we first started. You two only started a year ago! Hell, I started when I was thirteen! We can't send a seven year old out there! The League will kill us!"
"Screw the league. Grayson can do it," Damian responded confidently. "Agreed," Bruce said.
"Come on Jason," Tim told him.
"What do you think Alfred will say?" Jason yelled as though his family had gone insane. "I say it's a good idea."