HOPE YOU ENJOY

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Jason knew he wasn't safe, he knew Dick's words help truth and that he needed to as far away as he could. He should have escaped as soon as night came but he didn't. A night in a warm and soft bed while being fed until his stomach was full and a real, hot shower was heavenly. He was going to enjoy the single night of such spoils before making his escape. 

But he wasn't foolish even if he was young, he's done a lot to keep himself alive. 

That's why he purposely kept the door open by a crack, he wanted to hear the coming and going of footsteps and give a show of fake trust. He was carefully, he knew an open door would be overly inviting and a closed door would show him as spooked. But open by a mere crack showed he was borderline trusting but was also playing it careful. 

He also took naps instead of falling asleep for good. That's how he noticed when Dick seemed to have slither out of a room, the mister's room, wearing nothing but a bath gown and holding his earlier spandex suit clutch in his right hand. 

He also took notice when Dick had slipped free from his own room a few hours later and dressed in a black spandex costume before slipping out from the window that he mentioned to Jason to escape before. 

Jason learnt to sleep two hours at a time and he purposely fell asleep after Dick slipped freely away without a sound. When he opened his eyes, he listened around and slipped from his own room. He headed down the hall, slow and careful steps before slipping Dick's door open. He took notice that Dick was already back in his own bed and sleeping to be asleep. 

Wherever he had escaped towards had not last long. Dick was clever, he knew he'd have to be quick and back in bed before anyone could assume he ever tried leaving. Dick held a silent timetable over this place and knew how to safely slip away. 

Jason soon returned to his borrow bed and slept the rest of the night without a hitch. He held many unanswered questions but he knew better than to ask any of them. 

Once morning came Jason was downstairs and given breakfast. He took notice that Dick had at some point took a shower, his hair was still drying out and he was dressed in a new spandex outfit. Bright red and gold, it shined and caught anyone gaze and brought out the older boy's smile even more. 

Jason did glance down to his offered breakfast, wondering if Dick had eaten anything yet and Dick was soon sliding in the chair opposite him with a friendly smile. Promising he's already eaten with the mister earlier that morning. But Instead of leaving Jason alone to eat, he stayed sitting with him so the younger boy wasn't forced to eat by himself. 

And Jason took notice he hasn't seen the mister and assumed he went out for business reasons. Dick didn't say anything and Jason never asked over it. He simply took the time to wonder about a little more while Dick went to do his own thing. 

"Whoa, you're a bird or smoothing?" Jason awed out as he stood on the steps to the stage, watching Dick fly about in the bird cage. 

Dick gave a startled laugh, landing perfectly on his feet and doing a silly bow before smiling towards the other boy. 

"I'm an acrobat" Dick answered with a proud grin as he walked over towards the bird cage doorway. He was done with his little warm up and practice for this morning.  

"You were flying" Jason countered back, still in aww over what he saw. 

"Trust me, that wasn't me flying" Dick admitted with a sad smile, a flash of hurt in his eyes. 

A long pause of silence filled them and Jason became lost in his own sad thoughts from the look on the older boy. 

"Mister will be out all day and that also means the pub won't be opened either. Wanna watch a movie?" Dick quickly offered, a small smile tugged on his lips as he didn't want to keep t he mood so low and depressing. 

"Is that allowed?" Jason asked with a worried look, glancing around and noticing that no one else but them seemed to be around. He felt it more dangerous than when the Mister was about and had his men and bodyguards all over the place. 

"Sure it is, got any favourites?" Dick grinned back as he took hold of Jason arm, pulling him along as he headed for the back door to head up the stairs together. 

"I've never watched a film before" Jason quietly admitted, lowering his gaze and expecting Dick to make fun of him or treat him like a pity case. 

"I was the same when I was first brought here. My family moved around a lot and we always had it so our belongings only fitted in one bag. We don't have a tv or anything fancy, just an old radio to listen too" Dick admits instead with a friendly smile, a knowing shine in his eyes as he glances over his shoulder. The circus didn't have time for tv or anything fancy like that, but they did have a radio they'd all gather around to listen to the music play. 

"Do you get to watch a lot of films now?" Jason curiously asked as they slipped past the door, Dick releasing his arm as they started to walk up the stairs in a slow but content pace. 

"Not really. Only when the Mister is out. He leaves me alone to entertain myself and he's never punished me for watching any films while he's away. He just doesn't want me hovering about when he is here. I'll sometimes gain glimpse of a show or film he's watching when I'm in his .. company but I get shooed away once I'm no longer needed by him so I never watch the whole thing with him" Dick mumbled back with a small shrug and being careful over his words as he didn't want Jason learning over how he survived living with the mister. The boy barely had any innocence left in his eyes and he wasn't going to steal any of it away. 

"What do you do in his company? He sent you to bed rather late last night" Jason asked as they reached the top of the stairs, grabbing at the older man's wrist to make him look at him. 

"You were awake?" Dick asked a little startled over the news. 

"I was in the dozing off stage when I heard your bedroom door" Jason lied as he glanced to the side, releasing his arm and feeling a little awkward over wanting such answers. 

"I think it may be best if you leave tonight. He's gain unexpected business today hence he's away and that means he'd hold an extra day of studying you. Leave tonight, escape and never look back to this place. I know you think you can take care of yourself but not with the Mister, you must trust me on that" Dick replied with another warning as he led the younger boy towards the mister bedroom that held the large tv and the small collection of dvd's the mister owned. 

Jason didn't bother to reply, he knew it'd fall on death ears either way. But he also knew to take the oldest boy words to heart and knew that his best chances of surviving would to be listen to him. So, while he sat down on the floor at the end of the bed, his back leaning into the bed, he decided to think over how to escape tonight. He stayed silent as Dick rushed about to turn the tv on and enter a film, taking no notice over him for now and leaving him to thoughts of escape. 

Shaking his thoughts away as Dick finally sat beside him and Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith was starting up on the tv. Jason lifted an eyebrow, clueless over the film itself while Dick seemed a little excited. 

"I've heard some of the mister's men talk about star wars before and it seems rather fascinating. Sadly the mister only has this one film but one day, one day I'm going to watch them all. I've heard over the basic storyline over the whole star wars world but I want to watch the movies and feel apart of the world as I do" Dick rambled out as he snuggled a little closer to Jason side, the younger boy having an higher body temperature than anyone he's ever met before and finding it soothing. 

"Why did you pick this one if you've already seen it before?" Jason asked with a raised eyebrow, not seeing in the point of watching a film that the other guy was most likely sick off by now. He didn't care what they watched, it'd be his first time watching a film anyways. 

"It was the first movie I ever got to watch from start to end. The mister doesn't like star wars but he's somehow got this movie in his small collections of films. I thought that maybe you'd enjoy escaping into a whole knew world with me. Help you reach for the stars" Dick shyly admitted as he scratched at his cheek and wondering if he was going to be laughed at. 

"You're so weird. You're telling me to leave and than you put on a film that holds some strange meaning for you" Jason scoffed back as he rolled his eyes, pulling his knees to his chest as he became more comfortable. 

"I'm sure you'll enjoy it. It's got a lot of fighting in it .. mostly" Dick offered with a bright smile, his gaze already glued to the movie on the screen. 

"Than shut up so I can watch it" Jason huffed back as he rested his head on Dick shoulder, not minding cuddling up for once. 

Of course as they watched the film Dick wasn't sure what he enjoyed more, the film or Jason reactions at certain parts. He couldn't help but admire the smile that the youngest had as he watched and giggling whenever he'd yell at the screen or made startled sounds. Dick definitely knew he enjoyed Jason reaction more than the film itself and he wasn't embarrassed to silently admit such a fact. 

And if Jason kept glancing towards the oldest boy who'd mouth certain lines or hug him closer as if to shield himself from the next bit than Jason would never admit to how much he enjoyed it. 

Once the film was done the pair of them were excitedly talking about it and sharing their views along with wishing that the mister had the rest of the collection to the star war's universe. Both trying to guess what might happen next or the reasoning that caused such an ending. Stayed huddled together and not caring over anything right now but the joyful moment they sat in right now. 

"Are you sure you can trust the spoilers?" Jason asked with an small frown, his eyes curious as he couldn't believe everything Dick had told him from what the other men told him about the other films. 

"Well, when the men were willing to speak me at first they did spoil a lot on the whole star wars storyline. Some of them could even quote a few lines from the other movies so I'm certain they weren't pulling my leg on it" Dick muttered back as he rested his head against the edge of the bed and staring up at the ceiling.

Jason's frown deepened at that as he wondered how long Dick's lived without being able to freely talk to the people he's daily. He's stuck being close to the master or playing babysitter for any children that come around. Not being able to make friends with the mister's men or regulars in the pub seems a bit .. lonely for such a friendly person like Dick.

And that's when the shock smacked Jason hard. He was actually worried for Dick, he was caring for someone who wasn't himself for once. He always made sure he never got attacked to anyone, it kept him alive that way. And yet, barely twenty four hours of meeting the older boy and he actually wanted to keep him apart of his life.  

But the good mood and the youngest mini melt down was both ruined as the bedroom door was opened and the Mister stood in the doorway. His eyes taking in the view over both boys being huddled up and relaxed together. A smirk making it's way to his lips as his eyes glimmered with something that Jason didn't understand. But Dick did and he sat horrified, falling pale and tensing his whole body. 

"Seems my jewel has made you feel most welcome in our home, yes?" The mister asked as he stared straight to Jason who suddenly felt a cold chill run down his spine. 

"He's acted as a good host to me but I'm not sure if this is somewhere I can call my home" Jason answers instead, his smile lost and his face unreadable but he silently held on tighter to Dick's hand.

"Hmm, a shame. Well, we'd just have to prove how much this place can be a home to you. I've got tomorrow off so why don't we have a bit of a play tonight and tomorrow. I'm happy to give you a place with us now I've seen the end results" Mister replies with an overly sweet smile and his eyes suddenly much brighter with something.

"He doesn't like the smell of smoke. I was thinking he could stay in his room while the pub is open to stop him from feeling discomfort. Is that alright with you, Mister" Dick quickly spoke up as he slowly moved to stand, hovering a little in front of Jason to block him from the mister's view. 

"Of course. Wouldn't want to make our honoured guest uncomfortable. Stay with him and keep him relaxed after your show tonight for me" Mister smiled back, an small nod as he spoke to show he was quiet alright with it all. His eyes warning, a silent threat spoken within them as he ordered his jewel to care for their guest. 

"As you wish, Mister" Dick quickly answered with a smile. 

"Now leave, I must change into a more suitable suit" Mister ordered as he stepped into the room and Jason quickly got to his feet again. 

Dick took his hand again and soon hurried them both out of the room without needing another word spoken by the Mister. Dick kept pulling Jason towards the guest room and feeling the mister eyes on them until they both entered the room. Dick kept the room open, showing the mister could hear any trouble from either one before letting a breath of relief out once he heard the mister's bedroom door finally close. 

"Don't leave this room unless you're in need of the bathroom. I preform during the second hour of the bar opening downstairs. Meaning I'd be back up afterwards. Will you be okay for the first two hours?" Dick quietly ordered as he pushed Jason into t he corner closest to the door knowing they won't be heard and the hidden camera won't catch them either. 

"I can handle myself just fine" Jason scoffed back as he crossed his arms over his chest, glaring towards the older boy. 

"Not anymore you can't. I was wrong. I thought he'd just... I thought he'd turn you into his soldier on the streets or sell you off to the higher bidder. That's the two options he's always given to the boys but he choses for them by how they react with me during the trail period" Dick weakly replied as he lowered his gaze, his grip on Jason shoulders tightening as he feared over Jason fate. 

"He sells children" Jason whispered yelled back, panic and anger filling his eyes. 

"Yes. As servants to their new masters. He puts them in cages and let's his men try to train them so they won't try anything during the auction. Depending how you behave around me during the trail period depends on your fate. If you try to steal my place than you're sold but if you simply listen to my every word and behave, than you'll be turned into his loyal soldier" Dick calmly explained as he knew Jason was new to this all and was still learning over the Mister and what his fate could have been if he played by the unspoken rules. 

"But you said you were wrong this time. What will he make me?" Jason slowly asked, his body trembling and he felt Dick's hands slip free from his shoulders. 

"I'd rather not say but he seemed to really like the idea of us being a team. I fear that he'd try to turn you into another of me" Dick choked out, wrapping his arms around himself tightly and trying to keep the bone shivering thought away. 

"He said that he wouldn't replace you" Jason blurted out quickly, no longer sure if he was reassuring himself or Dick with it. 

"He won't be. He'll keep both you and I. And trust me, you don't want such a fate" Dick answered with a cold look in his eyes. 

"I need to leave" Jason stated without a second thought. 

"He'll be listening out for you until the bar opens downstairs. He's dealt with smart and scared children before. He knew while he's .. dressing is the perfect chance for you to get away. Stay in your room, I can help you later but not now" Dick warned as he quickly grabbed at Jason arm when he went to leave and pulled him back into the blind spot again. 

"Okay" Jason replied shakily. 

"I mean it, don't make a run for it until I'm back" Dick huffed back as he tightly pulled Jason into a hug, needing him to stay safe and not try running for it as soon as he turns his back. 

"I won't. My best chances at surviving is listening to you right now" Jason muffled voice replies as his face is buried into Dick's shoulder. 

"Are you really only ten years old?" Dick asked in surprise, disbelief in his eyes as he feels like he's speaking to someone even older than himself. 

"The streets force us all to grow up quickly, wouldn't you say?" Jason lightly joked back as he shuffled from one foot to the other, forgetting how young he was sometimes. It's seemed like a life time on the streets and sometimes he forgets how young he's actually meant to be. 

Dick froze and broke the hug making Jason start to panic that he said something dumb without meaning too. His worried eyes staring up at the older man. 

"The streets weren't to blame for me" Dick sadly admitted as he lowered his gaze to his hands, acting if they were always drenched in something that tainted him. 

Jason frowned before lowering his head and taking hold of Dick's hand, lacing their fingers together before bringing it up and pressing a kiss to his knuckles. He didn't see or taste anything that might be staining the boy's hands and he was happy to prove such a fact. Giving him a cheeky grin before happily pulling on his arm and leading them back to the bed. 

Both just cuddling up and slowly drifting to sleep as they waited for the bar to open up. One of the mister men were the one to wake them both. Knocking loudly on the open door and scaring them both awake. Passing on a message to Dick over the Mister requesting his presence in the bar now it's opening. Dick gave a comforting smile to Jason before slipping free out of the bed and hurrying downstairs with the man. 

Jason waited just as he told to do and he kept silent while trying to listen out for anything odd or worrying that might come from downstairs. He couldn't hear much from the live music and gave up trying to listen out for anything after the first ten minutes. Leaving himself to explore his room again and gather some of the clothes that were his size in the dresser. He wasn't sure when he's get his next set of clean and useable clothes again, might at well steal an extra pair to keep with him. 

He turned as footsteps echoed in the hallway before Dick appeared in the doorway with a shy smile. Holding up a small backpack that was clearly meant for a toddler with how small it was and the animal patterns over the back. 

"I packed some food and stole one of the bottles of water. It's not much but it'd held while you find somewhere safe to sleep" Dick smiled as he hurried over to the bed and placed the tiny backpack down, showing the sandwiches, apple and a packet of crisps along with a large bottle of water inside. 

"Where did the bag come from?" Jason asked with clear judgment in his tone as he glanced to the bag. He knew the mister was in some shady business but stealing a bag from a toddler didn't' fit him as much. 

"Some children come with packed belongings when they arrive. Not all of them, most don't. But a rare few do. This one belonged to a little girl, she was just four and came with her older sister. Both were hoping for a better life and ended up sold to different owners in the end. Normally we get rid of any clothing they arrive in and belongings they bring but this ended up forgotten. It's just been left buried under other storage boxes in the storage room. I know it might be a little lame for you to carry but I couldn't get a hold of anything else" Dick sadly explained it all as he rubbed at his arm and feeling a giant weight on his shoulders as he thought over all the children that he's helped send to hell. 

"Think it'd fit this set of clothing as well?" Jason asked as he noticed Dick start to get distracted with his demons and quickly picked up the spare of clothing he had grabbed. 

"Should do" Dick smiled back, holding the bag up for him to shove the clothes inside. 

"Thanks" Jason muttered back, zipping the bag up once he was done and knowing he owed Dick a lot. 

"Now come on. The mister will send his men to check on us throughout the night. I've got the first fifteen minutes to lower your defences and keep you happy. Meaning we've got a small time gap to help you escape" Dick mumbled back as he shoved a bag strap on Jason arm before grabbing his hand and pulling him along. 

"Won't you come with me?" Jason asked, hoping that Dick would as he didn't like the thought of leaving him alone with the mister, more so as he's helping him to escape. Jason knew he'd be punished for it and Jason wanted to help protect him like Dick was doing for him. 

"No. I need to do something first. But I need to know you're far away and safe from this place, from the mister. Okay? I need to run and never look back" Dick replied as he pulled them to a stop by the window, releasing Jason hand and working to open the window. Purposely keeping his back to Jason so his expression was hidden. 

"Okay" Jason sighed as Dick finally stepped to the side, his back facing the wall and giving an encouraged nod towards the window. 

"Be careful out there, Todd. I'm sure you'll be able to change this world one day and protect those that need it" Dick smiled as he watched Jason climb out to the fire escape and seeing his squat outside the window. 

"I think you're the one who'll change the world, Dick. I just hope I'll live long enough to see it" Jason shyly admitted as he lifted his head, staring straight at Dick as he stepped forward, ready to close the window again. 

"Goodbye" Dick bid his farewell with a kind smile, knowing he was going to miss the younger boy. 

"Jason" Jason whispered, shuffling a little and feeling rather embarrassed all of a sudden. 

"Huh?" Dick breathed out in confusion. 

"My first name. It's Jason. And this isn't farewell Dick, we'll have to meet again I'm sure of it" Jason awkwardly explained as he didn't want this to be their final meeting and wanted to see Dick again. 

"That'd be nice" Dick admitted with a sad smile, a look in his eyes that made Jason uncomfortable for the first time around the boy. 

And soon the window was closed and Dick hurried back to the guest room. Jason made his escape and tried not to look back. But the look in Dick's eye, an look that he's seen plenty of times in the past and never liked. It was a look of a killer, someone planning to take a person's life as they reach a desperate breaking point. 

That look didn't suit Dick. 

Dick was overly kind and caring and had the most gorgeous smile that Jason has ever seen. 

Dick wasn't an cold blooded killer, he was someone who was hurt and a little bit broken. 

Jason went against Dick's wishes and turned back. 

He raced back towards the building and stumbled a little once he noticed smoke filling the air right above where the pub should be. He forced his little legs to go even faster, throwing the bag down behind a dumpster to pick up later just to quicken his pace. 

He could hear the first responders sirens in the distance, all heading towards the bar and Jason noticed that anyone who would have been inside  was making a run for it. Burned, covered in smoke or simply fine, they were all making a break for it before the cops showed up. 

Jason forced his way inside, tripping over a knocked over stool and falling with a small yelp. Using his hands to push himself up before freezing as his eyes locked towards the cause of the fire. Dick sat over the mister chest, his cheek red and bruising red while his right eye slowly forming into a black eye. The murderous look staying in his eyes and he forced the Mister to stay down in the burning room. A gun left thrown to the side of them and blood poured from a bullet wound in the mister's side. 

"D-Dick" Jason stuttered out, his eyes wide in disbelief over what he was seeing. 

"J-Jason? What are you doing here?! I told you to never look back" Dick yelled back in horror, tears pouring down his face as he stared towards him. 

"Why are you doing this?" Jason asked, lowering his gaze towards the mister who seemed to be enjoying this more than a dying man should. 

"Every single bit of evidence against him is in that box outside the bar door but he's got money. He'll try to wiggle free and he'll keep hurting kids. At least if he dies than no one else will have to suffer" Dick grumbled back, glaring back down at the mister and making sure that he won't ever be able to hurt someone again. 

"What about you? You'll burn with him" Jason cried back as he quickly stumbled to his feet, stepping back as support beam came stumbling down behind the bar and making a crashing sound fill the room. 

"I'm just as bad as he is. I sat back and did nothing as he sent those children to hell. I'm just as bad" Dick sobbed back, his grip tightening on the mister arms to keep him pinned.

"You're not evil, Dick. You saved me. You feel awful for helping this man. You're not a criminal. You're as much as a victim as those children were. You don't need to die" Jason urgently promised back as he desperately looked back to him, trying to ignore the heat in the room and the sweat pouring of his skin. 

"Yes, I do. I need to burn as much as he does" Dick snarled, his self hatred fuelling him through all this. 

"Than so will I" Jason huffed back as he shuffled about and sat crossed legged. 

"Wha" Dick chocked out, lifting his gaze towards him once again. 

"I've sinned. I've stolen and attacked other's. I'm not innocent. I deserve to be punished as well" Jason grumbled back stubbornly as he tried to get as comfortable as he could in a burning building and trying not to choke on the smoke. 

"I don't want you to die" Dick cried back, pleading for Jason to make a run for it while the exit wasn't blocked. 

"And you think I want to watch you die! Either we walk out of here alive together or we'll both burn to death" Jason snapped back, tears filling his eyes and making his eyes sting more as the heat tried snatching them up. 

Jason wasn't sure what happened afterwards. He knew he started to choke on the smoke and soon felt someone yanking him to his feet and towards the exit. He was shoved through the door before they ran back inside and cursing out over something. 

As Jason gasped for breath, weakly turning back towards the door and crawling towards it. Forcing it open and laying on his side, using his body to keep the door open as he tried looking for Dick's outline. 

The firefights rushing to the exit, cops blocking civilians away and Jason dipp3ed his head in relief as the firefighters stumbled into Dick trying to pull out the mister laughing body. A couple of the firefighters dragging all three of them away and to the awaiting ambulance to be checked over before rushing back to put the fire out. 

Dick huddled over to him, gripping at his hand and needing to feel him alive beside him while the paramedic's looked them over. Both seeming fine and the paramedics did want to take them up so their parents could collect them. 

Both boys tensed at that and hopped down, pretending to live close by and hoping to just walk home. But two officers stepped forward, ready to walk them home if that was the case. Both boys grimace as they weren't sure how to get out of this lie.

But luck was on their side as commissioner Gordon came walking towards one of the police cars with the box of evidence that was passed over by one of the firefighters who ended up kicking it. 

Gordon started looking through the box before calling the two officers over. The two boys taking it as their chance to escape and they did. Hearing commissioner Gordon read out the mister's rights as he arrests the man, sending an officer with him towards the hospital.