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He was twelve years old now, he wasn't use to his life but he adapted. That's what humankind did after all, they grew and adapt. He learnt how to survive and he forced his smiles back. He lost his home, his family and his wings but he wasn't going to allow the world to take away his smile ... he searched for that bright side as promised. 

Even as he sat on the swing within he golden bird cage, he smiled because at least he was able to almost feel like he was flying. The golden cage placed inside the dangerous and mafia related bar. The cage was placed on the stage, placed for his mister to show him off in front of every client and customer that came to the shady bar to drink and do shady business. 

The cage held no gate, he wasn't trapped inside like a bird but it was still his prison in a way. He'd be able to do flips and cartwheels inside the cage, gaining all eyes to land on him as he moved about and showed off his acrobat skills, wearing the tight and glittery spandex outfits his mister had given him to wear. 

Outside the cage he was always meant to be glued to the mister's side. Nowhere else. He was his prized jewel and he had to be shown off without allowing another to ever tough him without any real permission from his mister. 

He wasn't his master, he made the mistake of calling him that before and was brutally punished for it. He wasn't to be called by name or sir or anything but mister. He was taught that pretty quickly. 

And he was to pleased his mister and no one else. 

He wasn't just a mere boy anymore, he held no freedom or any real opinion that should be truly heard. He was a prize, a rare treasure that was to be seen by as many as he could be while also making sure he couldn't be taken away. He knew other's were jealous over the mister for having him, some tried to sweet talk him into moving in with them instead of the mister. But he never did. 

He knew life wouldn't be any better with them and at least with the mister, he knew how to play the game and survive. He had everything going perfectly smoothly in his own special way. He was alive, he was able to smile and he was given the chance to almost fly in his bird cage. 

He wished for more clothing though but he knew that wasn't going to happen. He was purposely only given spandex clothing for preforming, forced to only wear them inside and outside of the bar. It was to show him off, the tight clinging outfit was to show off his body, even if he was still a skinny kid. The spandex clothing was his collar, he was given a pair of black plimsolls to wear outside the bar to protect his feet but no other pair of shoes. They didn't want him to think he'd be able to run far. 

And at night..

He was given a silk bath gown, nothing more to wear around his tiny bedroom. He was never allowed to stay in the mister's bedroom, once he wasn't needed anymore he was sent to his own room next door. It was tiny and simply, a mere bed with thin sheets and covers but he was lucky enough to be given two pillows due to his .. good behaviour. One dresser pushed against the wall that held the door that held spandex clothing and the spare bath grown, the other he always keeps left on his bed to place on quickly. A single bed lamp that sat on his dresser, no other light in the room. 

His room held no signs of a boy, no posters or toys or anything. Just somewhere to sleep and dress, nothing more. 

But he was allowed to sneak out and stare out the window that led out to the fire escape. It was always "locked" to everyone inside the bar. But he knew better. It wasn't locked, just stiff and needed to be pushed open in a certain spot to actually open up with ease. He knew the trick, he could run away at any moment. But he didn't. The window held a different use to him, a use that only Jim Gordon would know over, and as well as a certain "Robin" that left little evidence clues notes to the commissioner.

His life wasn't great, he hated it and sometimes as he watches the mister place a bullet in someone's head, he wishes it was his head instead. But he couldn't die. He still had work to do. Even if his will power wasn't always cooperating with him, he still took day by day and survived day by day. 

He learnt to adapt and that's all he could do for now. 

Just as he learnt to wipe away any sound around him. The drunks laughs, cheers and yells along with all the chattering around the bar. The singer that stood on the stage's steps to sing, the steps at the front of the stage and she stood on the middle step, being out of view of the cage filled with him. Being rid of the smells that came with the bar. The smoke, the drugs, the sweat and the lust that leaked from customers or the mister's guards when the barely dressed waitress's walks around with ordered drinks. 

He blocked it all out. 

Smelling cotton candy and popcorn instead. Hearing laughter and cheers from excited children and joyful adults who came to watch the circus. To hear and smell the animals who were all being prepped for their minutes of fame, all washed and painted to look as pretty as he found them to always be. 

He swung upside down, his legs curled around the swing, slowly swinging back and forward as if he was doing his small warms up before his own moment of fame. The faint breeze hitting his cheeks by his swinging movement. 

He was almost free, almost able to fly but his wings were gone now. He was left reaching out for something he could no longer have. But he still tried. 

And than everything came crashing back down into his sensors. The gloomy storm taking over. The wet and mucky smell that came from harsh rain, bringing out Gotham's alleyway smells in the worse way possible. The echoing pitter-patter of the water drops that came down like needles, shooting bullets that hurt with each one that landed on you. 

He hated the rain, it always enchanted both smell and sound. It stopped him from escaping his cage completely and he was soon flipping back down to the bottom of his cage. He knew when to call it quits before he ended up falling for good. 

"Jewel" His mister called out from his preferred seat in his bar, waving his hand in a beckoning way and knowing nothing else was needed to be said or done to gain his attention and for him to follow the silent command. 

He slipped out of his gaze, stuck wearing a grey and white glittery outfit today. It was his mister's favourite one, he had requested it again. Apparently the white and grey reminded him over an angel and the middle ground before true evil. His mister wasn't a religious man but he knew that good and evil stood within the world. He knew he wasn't fully good, he enjoyed a bit of sinning after all but he didn't believe he was as evil as a man could be. He liked the grey area, made it his home turf and thrived in it. 

Seeing his precious jewel wearing white and grey had always seemed to reminded him over stealing from the angels and keeping it for himself. It made him feel more powerful, more dangerous and more in control. Because he had stolen what other's could not have and he made show to rub it in as many faces as he could. 

He didn't speak once he reached his mister. He stood by the end of the booth and glanced towards him before turning to stare at the object that caught his mister's attention. Well, a person not a mere object, a young boy who was no more than ten years old. 

He was in stained and baggy clothing. His hands and face was buddy and he seemed like he hasn't smiled in months. He seemed broken, rough around the edges and a true street kid to heart. 

"He wants a job. Seems he's learnt that we hire kids" Mister explained with an overly sweet smile, humour in his eyes over a joke the poor boy didn't know over. 

But Dick knew, he knew and it left a bad taste in his mouth. He hated knowing such truths and hated having to watch them come true each and every time. But he wasn't able to save any of them. He tried but he failed and learnt to simply live with the guilt as he looked the other way. Some had to be sacrifice to save the many in the future, even if he didn't agree with the costs that came with such a statement. 

"He's got a mouth. I like it. I think he might be a bit of fun to have around for the next couple of days, trial days for him. We'll see what section he falls into. Keep an eye on him for me, the children always try to prove themselves when you're their mentor than when one of my men try to babysit them. Seems so many assume they have to prove to be better than you, to take your place if they wish to stay" Mister speaks, his voice gruff but mocking as always and he gives unpleasant smiles in what he assumes seems friendly but always placed other's on alarm. 

"You do like to make other's jealous, Mister" Dick points out calmly, giving a sweet smile to his mister as it wasn't no secret he enjoyed making other's jealous. It was one of his mister's traits. 

"But I'm a greedy man who won't give up his prized treasure. Even in a room full of diamonds I'd still only chose my rare jewel. But I do know how to chip at you if you do end up disappointing me with this" Mister reminds him with a serious tone, his eyes warning as he grabs hold of his jewels wrist, forcing him to stumble closer and lean over the table to face his mister. 

"I'll keep an eye on him" Dick promises with a kind smile, his eyes understanding. 

"As I knew you would. It's late, take him to his room and than you'll know what I demand from you afterwards" Mister grins back, releasing his wrist and watching his prized toy stand again. Not rubbing his wrist at all even though everyone knew how tight his grips could be, his jewel really was the perfect carved treasure he could reply on now. 

Dick smiled towards the new boy and stepped over to him, he was wedged between two of the mister's men. Their guns tucked in the front of their trousers, shown to all and showing the threat they stood to be. He offered his hand out, offering an hand shake towards the boy to be friendly and hopefully to reassure him over them all. Not all of them were criminals who screamed death and danger. 

He didn't take the hand, just looked towards the mister over Dick's shoulder instead and seeming unimpressed. Dick's smile faltered, the young boy really would become the mister's favourite soon enough and that fate was never pretty. 

"I'll show you to the spare room" Dick smiled, nodding for the boy to follow him as he walked past one the man on his left, heading towards the door that led to the back of the bar and that held the stairs leading upstairs. 

Dick didn't question his mister living above his bar. The bar was private and for certain members only after all. He lived above his business because he didn't need a second, fancier home. He was always needed for work and to play around a little. He did owe a safe house further in the city, a place he'd lay low in sometimes. 

The boy followed without another word. Glancing over his shoulder every couple of steps and were clearly more tensed then he was a few minutes ago. His instincts seemed top notch, they were screaming at him to run but he was foolishly still following him.

Once they slipped passed the door that lead to the back, the kitchen space, the staff room and staff toilets and of course the mister's small office. He held a better office on the second floor, the one downstairs for the smaller customers he didn't want messing up his office by their type.  

Dick finally stopped at the bottom of the stairs, turning back to the boy as the back exit stood right at the end of the hall. It was a mere fire exit but the boy could just run out now and never look back. It was one of his last chances to run for it while he could. 

"What's your name?" The boy asked, curious and hesitate as if asking the mere question would get him shot or thrown out and his chance of work here taken from him for good. 

"Didn't you hear the mist-" Dick started to ask with a small frown as he knew his name given to him by the mister like he was some pet was often spoken for all to hear. 

"I asked for your name, not what he's titled you as" The boy snapped back, not caring over interrupting the older boy before him. He didn't like how the other man had called the boy over, the name was something you'd give to a dog or cat not some kid you'd taken in. 

"You seem smart enough to not play with fire. Why are you here?" Dick asked with a small frown, his eyes curious but also held corner for the younger boy. Dick's always been good at reading people and getting a feel on them, he's always known who to trust and who he shouldn't with a mere look, but he also believes in second chances too. This boy, he may be young, too young to be searching for a dirty job, but he's street smart, smart enough to know not to be in such a place. 

"Need the money. Got told that he pays kids well enough here. As long as you're chosen by him at least" The boy begrudgingly answered as he shoved his tiny hands into his back pockets of his muddy and ripped blue jeans.   

"Trust me, don't became his favourite" Dick warned, pure fear in his eyes as he's seen what happens to the favourites. 

"What happens if I do? You seem well off" The boy huffed back, a little annoyed but also foolishly curious over the ends results. It can't be completely terrible if the boy before him was still alive, well fed and even dressed with no bruises in sight on his pretty face. 

"I'm his prize, not his favourite. You've got two paths laid out before you if you chose to stay" Dick answered with a low and pained voice, his eyes dull but knowing. He's accepted his fate, he's accepted it long ago.  

"Who says I follow anyone else's rules" The boy scoffed back, smirking a little as he crossed his arms over his chest, trying to seem tougher than he was. 

"Because you'll end up dead if you don't play by his" Dick shot back with a raised eyebrow, pressing his right hand to his hip and no longer thinking the boy was as smart as he assumed him to be. 

"And how do you know that?" The boy asked with a scowl, glaring up towards the older boy and not liking how he seemed so sure he'd die here. 

"What's your name?" Dick asked softly instead, a small but comforting smile sat on his lips. The boy might have a mouth but Dick could see the scared little kid hidden behind his tough act. He had a right to be scared but Dick didn't like seeing the kid being silently scared around him. He wanted to be a somewhat safe spot for him. 

"I asked you first" The boy snorted back, turning his head away as his arms fell down to his sides. 

"Either path he has laid out for you won't end with a smile on your face. You'll be trapped in hell either way. It's best to run while you can. He's testing you with me. Seeing if you'd be better off on the streets as one of his followers, he likes to teach a few kids while they're young and innocent. It's easier to brainwash them into taking a bullet for him or to be the one putting a bullet in someone for him" Dick calmly explained as he turned round and slowly made his way up the stairs, glancing over his shoulder and seeing the boy following along after him. 

"What's the second option? What happens if I don't play his little solider boy" The boy innocently asked, wanting to know over all his options as he thought over his future here. He knew how to run away and escape when it was needed. But he wasn't going to risk giving up a decent chance at real money, a roof over his head or clothes on his back unless he knew it was no good. 

"You sound much older than you look" Dick pointed out as they reached the top of the stairs, Dick glancing around as the top of the stairs popped up as a T junction in the hallway. The door opposite was the main office to the mister. The mister bedroom was down the right hallway with Dick own room beside it and a bathroom opposite. The left hallway held a few spare bedrooms, nicer ones to Dick's own one and a store room filled with illegal guns, drugs and other things that Dick didn't stare at for long. 

"I've grown up in Gotham for all of my childhood" The boy admitted with a small shrug as they turn right, Dick still leading the way. 

"Than you should know better than to trust the rumours of good pay here. You should know that something fishy is going on and your life is in danger, along with other things" Dick pointed out without holding anything back, crossing his arms sternly over his chest and resting his hip against the spare bedroom door that'd be the younger boy's room for now. 

"I'm Todd, it's my last name" The boy, or Todd, answered in a small voice. Glancing over his shoulder as if someone else was listening in and trying to ponce on him at any moment. 

"They never ask for my name. Mister hasn't even learnt my own name. I'm just Jewel now. His. Nothing more. I can't protect you nor can I save you. You can rat me out to Mister by telling him that I tried warning you. Use me telling you to leave to anger him and gain me to be punished again. But he won't make you his new prize. He'll just know that you won't be trusted in his line of business as his soldier boy. If you rat on me, thinking you can take my place by getting rid of his trust in me, he'd get rid of you" Dick sadly explained how it all worked with the mister and what type of footing the boy was in right now. Warning him over the dangers and the route he could take if he thinks being the "golden boy" was easy to be. 

"I still want to know your name. Your real name. Jewel doesn't seem a pretty name or one that suits you. It makes you .. sad" Todd quietly replied, ducking his head and looking rather bashful over it all. 

"What did you just say?" Dick choked out, disbelief filling his eyes. 

"I've got good instincts. Had to have good one's to survive on those streets. I see it in your eyes, you're sad. I don't know why and I might be some silly brat but I'm not a fool. You've have to babysit brats like me before and it hurts  you in the end" Todd sighed in defeat as he finally lifted his head and stared towards him, looking a little embarrassed and awkward over his confession. 

"You've got until the morning to escape. He won't let you get away afterwards" Dick finally warned, turning back to the door and finally pushing it open. 

He stepped inside with Todd, showing the decently sized bedroom. It was decorated in grey's and whites, everything looking posh and expensive. A double bed sitting in the middle of the room, mostly taking up the space with dark wooden bedtables on either side and expensive lamps sitting on top. A matching dark wood dresser sat against one of the walls and silk curtains sat closed along the window. 

Todd walked around, his finger tips dragging along the bedding and walls as he took the room in and searched for anything and everything. Clearly scoping the room out and seeing if any hidden dangers or camera's might be around. 

The dresser was filled with differently sized clothing for both boys and girls. Some spare blankets as well and a few old, childish books sat tucked under the bedside table. Dick stepped back, taking hold of the door handle once again. 

The door held a broken lock to it, it'd turn and make a clicking sound to seem like it locks but it never did. It was a false sense of safety for any of the nervous and spooked children. It was also part of the test. To see if the children would foolishly leave the door unlocked, full on trusting the mister or if they were smart enough to sense something wrong with the air of the place and lock the door. 

"Richard" Dick whispered over his shoulder as he started to leave the room now Todd was settled inside. 

"Suit's you much better" Todd confesses as he turns towards him, shuffling on the woolly carpet.  

"But friends called me Dick" Dick offers out with a shy smile as sends one last look towards the boy. 

"I think I can live with calling you Dick when your master isn't about" Todd grins back cheekily, watching as the door fully shuts behind the older boy and leaves him alone in his given room.