"Your turn!" Dick smiled.

"Are you sure we shouldn't be doing something more…productive?" Roy asked as he searched his cards.

"Yes. You heard Alfred. You've been working too hard the past month."

"Not hard enough if I'm not ready yet."

"You can't rush it." Dick took a sip of his drink. "You've been doing really good, I promise."

"Sure." Dick was about to put his drink back down when he stopped. He smiled mischievously and threw the rest of his drink on Roy. "Dude!"

Dick cackled. "What? It's just water."

"Yeah, but now I'm soaked!" Roy got up and peeled off his now soaking shirt. Dick laughed again, only for the laugh to get caught in his throat. Roy was standing with his back to Dick, giving him, for the first time, a good look at his back. Dick's face slowly formed a frown. He hopped off the bed and reached out.

"How did you get those?" he whispered, putting a finger on one of the scars. Roy suddenly spun around and quickly pulled his new shirt on.

"Nowhere."

"Did-did Oliver give those to you?"

"I told you nowhere."

"Roy, you can tell me."

"Just leave it alone Dick."

Dick tried to think of anything Roy could've told him that would explain the scars, but he was having a hard time. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more he realized Roy hadn't told him anything really. He'd never heard a story about Oliver hurting Roy. "Ok…"

"Are we going back to the game?"

"Um…I just remembered I have to…do something with my belt."

"You do?"

"Yeah. Better get it done before patrol. We'll finish the game later."

"Ok…"

Dick left Roy's room and ran to the Bat Cave. 'How can I not know what happened to Roy?!' He made a beeline for the Bat-computer, making quick work of hacking the passwords. 'Bruce is going to need to update those.' It was pretty easy to find Roy's file. Inside was a bunch of pictures, a report. and videos. 'The cameras!' Dick clicked on the first video. His eyes never left the screen as he watched. At first, it wasn't so bad. Then Oliver started hitting Roy with his belt and Dick's stomach went cold. "No…No stop….stop hurting him!" Unfortunately, the video was unreceptive to his pleas and Oliver continued to hurt Roy. Finally, it stopped and Dick swallowed. He carefully clicked on the next video. This turned out to be a bad idea, as this video was even worse than the first. Dick forced himself to watch the whole thing though, even when Oliver was beating Roy with a metal stick. In a flash, Dick bolted out of the seat and back upstairs. He ran straight to Roy's bedroom, catching the teen just as he was leaving it.

"Whoa! Dick, what's wrong?" Roy asked as his young friend buried his face in the teen's chest.

"He was hurting you!" Dick sobbed. "He was hurting you and he didn't stop!"

"What- Dick what're you talking about?"

"I-I saw the videos… Oliver was hurting you and-"

"Videos?" Roy put his hands on Dick's shoulders and slowly pushed the boy away from himself. "What'd you mean videos?"

Dick blinked. "Huh?" Clearly, he was too upset to answer. Luckily, Bruce was walking down the hall towards them. Suspicion clawing at Roy's mind, he left Dick and strode down the hall.

"What videos is Dick talking about?" he asked.

Bruce froze. "What?"

"Dick said he 'saw the videos'. What videos?"

Bruce blinked. 'Oh shit…' He tried to think of a plausible answer. "Well…"

"He said he saw Oliver hurting me…" Roy's voice was starting to shake a little bit. "Bruce, what is he talking about?"

Bruce swallowed. "Roy, you have to understand, I was just trying to get an idea of what was going on-"

"What is he talking about?"

"Do you remember when Dick and I came to Star?"

"Yes."

"The real reason for our visit was we…bugged Oliver's house. I managed to install a hidden camera in his office."

Roy blinked in confusion. "You….You put a camera in his office?"

"Yes."

"Then….you….saw what happened?" Something hot started burning in Roy's stomach.

"Some of it."

Roy's hands balled into fists. "And you just…sat there? You just sat there and watched while he beat me?!"

"No, no, Roy it wasn't like that. We just…we needed to know what was going on for sure and we wanted proof…"

A thought suddenly popped into Roy's mind. Something that had never really occurred to him, but really should've. "How long?" he asked quietly.

"What?"

"How long did you know about what Oliver was doing to me?"

Bruce swallowed. This wasn't good. "Roy-"

"How long?"

"Since 2 months after you debuted as Speedy."

"So….almost 2 years?"

"Yes…"

Roy frowned. "You knew? You knew for almost the entire time he was hurting me and you did nothing?"

"I can explain-" Bruce reached out, but Roy stepped back.

"You left me there…"

"Roy-"

Roy backed up another step when Bruce reached for him again. "You knew he was hurting me and you just left me there…"

"Roy-"

"I thought I could trust you."

Bruce froze. No. No, this couldn't be happening. He couldn't be losing Roy's trust when he was just starting to gain it. He swallowed. "You can trust me- Roy, let me explain-"

"You left me there! You left me there, how could you?!"

"Roy-"

Roy ran to his bedroom, brushing past a still upset Dick. "Roy!" Dick snagged the teen's arm.

"You knew too, didn't you?" Roy asked.

"Know what?"

Roy jerked his arm free. "You knew about the videos." Dick had known this whole time that Bruce had just sat back and watched Oliver hurt him. Roy shut his bedroom door and, for the first time since coming to live in Gotham 6 months ago, locked it. He stepped back, staring at the door like it was dangerous. After a minute he realized that he was shaking. His mind was going in 10 different directions at once. He couldn't keep his mind focused on one thought. His breathing was erratic and he could practically feel his heartbeat. Not knowing what else to do, Roy crawled under his bed. At some point Dick had put a blanket under there for him because of how many times he hid under there, so he wrapped it around himself. He closed his eyes and tried to focus on his breathing. "In…. Out… In…. Out…."

— —

"Is Master Roy joining us for dinner?" Alfred asked Bruce.

Bruce swallowed. "You should get him, Alfred, he's….upset with me at the moment."

"Me too," Dick said glumly.

"What happened?" Alfred asked.

"Roy found out about the videos," Bruce answered quietly.

"Ah."

"He also found out how long I knew what was Oliver was doing to him; and how I did nothing to help him."

"I see. I shall go get Master Roy then."

"Bruce, is Roy going to hate us forever?" Dick asked Bruce, a hint of fear in his voice.

"He won't hate you, Dick," Bruce told him. At least, Bruce hoped so. Alfred returned with Roy, who walked several steps behind him. The teen didn't look at or even acknowledge Bruce or Dick as he sat down. Dinner was strangely quiet and tense. Bruce didn't attempt to make conversation with Roy, figuring the teen wouldn't respond always. What really surprised him was that Dick didn't try either. He just ate his dinner quietly. When Roy finished he gave his plate to Alfred and silently went back to his room. Once he was gone Bruce sighed and pushed his plate away.

"You've hardly touched your food sir," Alfred observed.

"I'm not hungry Alfred." He stood up. "Dick we'll leave for patrol soon."

"Ok," Dick mumbled.

Bruce went down to the Bat cave, completely aware of the fact that Alfred was following him. "Can you keep an eye on Roy tonight?"

"Of course sir," Alfred answered. "Don't you think you should go talk to Master Roy?"

"He doesn't want to talk to me."

"Have you tried?"

"….No. He doesn't want to talk to me."

"Sir-"

"He hates me Alfred and he has every right to."

"Sir-"

"I left him there. I knew he was in danger from Oliver and I left him there for two years. He hates me and I don't blame him."

"He will forgive you, sir."

"No, he won't, and I don't deserve for him too."

Alfred left him go down to the Bat cave alone, deciding it was better to go check on Roy. He made his way upstairs to knock on the teen's door. "Master Roy, may I come in sir?" There was a brief moment of silence before a quiet shuffling could be heard on the other side. The door unlocked and it creaked open a crack. "I am alone sir, Master Bruce is downstairs and Master Dick is still finishing his dinner." Roy still didn't say anything but did open the door wider for Alfred to come inside. "Thank you, sir."

Roy sat down on the edge of his bed. "Did you know too?"

"Did I know your situation two years ago? No."

"Really?"

"I assure you, sir, Master Bruce didn't tell either myself or Master Dick about you. We didn't find out until several months ago when the League decided to act."

"Dick knew about the videos though."

"Yes, he did."

The videos didn't bother Roy as much. Yes, he was mad that Bruce had seen how bad the abuse was and still done nothing for weeks, he was angrier that Bruce had known he was being abused for two years and didn't do anything to help. "I'm still mad at him too."

"Master Roy, given what you've been through, you have every right to be mad. However, I simply want to remind you that Master Bruce and Master Dick only want you to be happy and safe."

"If Bruce wanted me to be safe he should've saved me from Oliver two years ago." Alfred didn't really have a response to that. "Dick might not have known about the abuse, but he knew those videos existed and still kept it from me."

"For which, I am sure, he is very sorry. As is Master Bruce."

Roy looked away. "Sorry won't give me back the last two years of my life."

Alfred gave him a sympathetic look. He knew Roy's anger went much deeper than just being mad at Bruce. "I know." He put a hand on the teen's shoulder. "Nothing can Master Roy and you must accept that. What happened has happened. You cannot change it. You can only accept it and move on."

"How can I accept it when the person who's supposed to help me betrayed me?"

"I don't know Master Roy, but I'm confident that you'll find a way." There was a tentative knock on the door.

"Roy," Dick said. "We're leaving for patrol now. Make sure you sleep, ok?" Roy didn't reply. "Ok?"

Roy sighed. He hated the disappointed sound in Dick's voice. 'No, I'm mad at him.' The thought made his stomach twist. "Is it ok to be mad?"

"Of course it is sir."

"Is it ok to be mad at Dick?"

Alfred considered it. "I won't tell you what to feel."

"I don't….I don't want to be like Oliver."

"You are nothing like him."

"He was always mad."

"Being mad isn't necessarily a bad thing sir. It's when you become consumed by anger and take it out on people weaker than yourself that it becomes bad."

"I would never do that!"

"I know."

Roy was quiet for a few minutes. "I'm still mad at Dick."

"That's ok."

Meanwhile, the patrol was miserable. Dick was quiet and sullen the entire time, and a little bit more aggressive than he usually was. Not that Bruce blamed him. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't throwing criminals into walls a little harder than normal. Luckily taking down criminals gave Batman something to focus on besides his own failures. By the time he and Robin returned home though, neither of their moods had improved. Robin didn't even flip out of the Bat mobile. He just climbed out and slunk off to change out of his suit.

"Master Dick is taking this hard," Alfred observed.

"How's Roy?" Bruce asked, pulling off the cowl.

"He's in his room."

"Sleeping?"

"Your guess is as good as mine."

"He probably isn't. He's terrified to sleep." The thought tightened his chest a little bit. 'Not that I've been much help.' He took his time getting change out of his suit, Dick going upstairs at some point. He let his feet drag and tripled checked the bat mobile and the bat computer. Eventually, though, he ran out of things to do downstairs and he was forced to go upstairs. When he reached the third floor he found Dick sitting outside Roy's bedroom.

"The door is still locked," Dick mumbled miserably. Someone, probably Alfred, had placed a blanket over his shoulders. Bruce didn't really know how to tell his younger ward the door would probably stay locked for a while.

"You should get some sleep."

"No." Dick crossed his arms stubbornly. "I'm not leaving."

"He's not going to open the door, Dick."

"I'm still not leaving. Roy is my friend. I can't abandon him."

'At least one of won't turn our backs on him.' Bruce didn't even consider checking on Roy. He didn't know if the teen was asleep, but he knew he wouldn't get an answer if he tried to talk to him. "Make sure you get some rest."

"I will."

"You're just going to sleep in the hall?"

"I told you, I'm not leaving. When Roy needs me, I'll be here."

Bruce nodded. "Ok."

The rest of the night was relatively peaceful. Roy didn't have a nightmare, but that was mostly due to the fact that he didn't sleep. When he opened his door the next morning though, he was only mildly surprised. Dick was curled up on the floor directly outside his room. Roy sighed and gently scooped the boy up. Dick stirred a little but didn't wake up. Roy brought his young friend into his own room, grateful Dick was still so small, and he set him down on the bed. He made sure Dick was covered before slipping out silently. He glanced back at the boy.

'I can't really stay mad at him.' Not only because Dick was his only friend, but when considering what Alfred had said, and he'd spent a lot of time thinking about it that night, he'd decided that Dick wasn't to blame. He never knew what had been happening like Bruce did and judging by how he'd reacted he'd never watched the videos. 'He's just a kid,' Roy thought as he went downstairs. 'I shouldn't be mad at him.' Bruce though…Roy clenched his fists. 'He left me there,' Roy reminded himself, sadness and anger burning in his chest. 'He left me there.'

— —

A few days later Bruce was working in his study when the door opened. "Roy," he said in surprise when he saw the redhead hovering in the doorway. He wasn't expecting Roy to come into his study considering that the teen had spent the last few days completely ignoring and avoiding him. He swallowed. "Can I help you with something?" Roy was clearly uncomfortable but came forward all the same.

"I wanted to know why," Roy said quietly.

"Why?"

"Why did you leave me there?"

Bruce swallowed. "Roy-"

"Why did you leave me in Star?" This time he asked with more confidence and anger.

"I had…many reasons…" The look on Roy's face was like a stab in the heart.

"What were the reasons?"

Bruce sighed. "I…I didn't know how bad it was."

"So…if Oliver just….slapped or punched me once in a while instead of beating me then it would've been ok?"

"No! Definitely not!" Roy just stared at him expectantly. "I just…As I got busy with Robin and Gotham I guess I didn't…think about what was happening in Star. Or to you," he added quieter.

"So you didn't really care about my safety. You just…helped me when it was convenient for you."

"No, I care about your safety, Roy. I really do."

"Then why did you leave me there?!"

Bruce swallowed. Part of him was trying to find in the fact that Roy was comfortable enough to yell and talk back to him, or just angry enough. "I know you want an explanation and you deserve one. Unfortunately, I don't have one for you. There is no good explanation for what I did."

"No! There has to be! You wouldn't have left me with Oliver, knowing he was abusing me, without a good explanation! You have to have one!"

"I don't! I'm sorry I don't have one!" Roy shook his head. "Roy, I'm sorry I left you there. I shouldn't have turned a blind eye when I knew Oliver was hurting you."

Roy wrapped his arms around himself, but he still looked angry. "You left me there."

"I know." Bruce also knew there was nothing he could do to make this better. He couldn't see how Roy could ever forgive him. For some reason though, this seemed to make Roy even angrier.

"No! You don't know! You have no idea what those two years were like for me! Why should you know though?! You don't even care!"

"I do care-"

"If you really cared you wouldn't have left me there! You and the Justice League, you guys don't care about me! You only helped me because you felt guilty!"

"Roy-" Bruce didn't know what else to say. Nothing really seemed appropriate. "I'm sorry."

Roy shook his head. "I wish I could believe you." He left the room while Bruce sighed.

"Me too kid. Me too." He ran his fingers through his hair. This was all messed up. 'Barry told me he needed to be able to trust me.' Bruce was glad Roy at least seemed to have forgiven Dick and hadn't lost his trust in the young boy. 'He needs to be able to trust someone.' The last thing he wanted was for Roy to feel like he couldn't trust anyone. 'I'm a terrible person.'

— —

It was a true testament to how well Superman knew Batman that he could tell something was bothering the Dark Knight. "Shouldn't you be going back to Gotham?" he asked after the meeting.

"I am," Batman said.

"You're normally gone by now," Wonder Woman pointed out. The meeting had been over for 5 minutes and he was still there.

"Yeah," Flash agreed. "You leave as soon as the meeting is over."

"I don't answer to you," Batman growled.

"Is something wrong?" Superman asked, getting slightly concerned. "You were kind of quiet tonight. Even for you."

Batman knew he could just leave, but that would probably just cause one of the Leaguers to follow him back. "Roy hates us." They all stared at him in confusion. "Specifically me."

"Why?"

"He found out I knew Oliver was abusing him two years ago and didn't do anything about it." There was a tense silence.

"I'm sure he doesn't hate you-"

"Why not?" Flash asked. "If I were Roy I'd hate Batman. I'd hate the whole Justice League!"

"Roy will….probably forgive you- Superman began, but Batman interrupted him.

"Why should he?" No one said anything. "I knew Star City wasn't a safe place for him. I knew he was being abused, but I left him there."

"You're the reason he's safe now-"

"After Oliver spent two years beating him, starving him, locking him in small spaces, and destroying his self-esteem!" Everyone was silent. "Roy believes he's a killer! He's 14 and he holds himself responsible for all the people Oliver killed! He's safe now, but he wasn't safe for 2 years! Roy has every right to hate me!"

"None of us made any moves to help him either," Aquaman pointed out.

"You all didn't know."

"You made a bad call," Green Lantern said. "It's that simple."

"It doesn't matter," Batman said standing. "Roy hates me now and he has every right to." He left the meeting before anyone else could say something. Two seconds later he sighed. "Go away, Clark."

"How'd you know it was me?" Clark asked.

"I always know. Now go away."

"Roy's going to forgive you." Superman flew beside his friend.

"No, he won't."

"Yes, he will."

"Why should he?"

"You told me yourself that you had a suspicion. That's it. You didn't know-"

"I should've."

"Roy needs to know the difference, Bruce. It's not the same thing!"

"It might as well be! I know Oliver Queen is a terrible person. That charitable billionaire persona doesn't hide the fact that he kills people at night as Green Arrow! When the news was talking about him taking in Roy, I should've known! I should've guessed!"

"Bruce, you aren't psychic! You didn't have the evidence to support the fact that Roy was being abused back then. We didn't even have solid evidence other than your deductions until 6 months ago!"

"If I'm the World's Greatest Detective, then I should've known! If I'm half as good as I should be, I should've been able to figure it out! I should've been obvious to me!"

"So you're still a little optimistic about humanity, that's not a crime!"

"Go away, Clark. I have a patrol to get to." Superman put his hand on Batman's shoulder. "Move your hand or it will be removed."

"Don't be too hard on yourself."

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't."

"…..You did your best…"

"No. I didn't." He shrugged the Man of Steel's hand off and stepped through the zeta tube; seeking to get away from the Kryptonian's annoying optimism. When he stepped out into Gotham he couldn't shake the feeling of failure. 'It doesn't matter what I could and couldn't prove back then,' he decided as he walked to the Bat mobile. It didn't matter that all he'd had two years ago was a few bruises and a suspicion. He'd been the one keeping an eye on Green Arrow. Batman swallowed as he drove towards the Bat Cave. In two years he'd only thought of Roy when he'd initially gone to live with Oliver and just a couple of months before they started this. In two years, he'd only thought about Roy's safety twice. The self-loathing made this skin crawl. It was impossible to remember why any of his justifications had mattered. When he tried to remember he could only think about how at that moment Roy was probably sitting up trying to avoid sleeping because of his nightmares.

'I'll do the best I can.' If only he'd thought of that before.

He picked up Robin in the Bat cave and had a very productive patrol. Several muggers and a couple of bank robbers had a few broken bones, but no one that didn't deserve them. By the time he got home Robin was in a surprisingly good mood, probably because he was off the hook with Roy, but Batman was still upset. Like he had been the past few days, he took his time going upstairs. He made sure the Bat mobile was fueled, updated and finished case files on the Bat-computer, and finally, after 2 hours, changed out of his Bat suit. Deep down he knew it was pointless, but he just wanted a little bit of time to avoid being near Roy. When he got upstairs he stopped briefly by Roy's bedroom. A quick twist of the doorknob told him that it was unlocked, but he didn't go in. He knew Roy was probably awake on the other side, but his presence wasn't going to make it any better. So he went to bed before he could mess the situation up again.