Too Many Voices: Prologue
Dick didn't tell anyone the truth. Not even those closest to him. Alfred probably knew, but that couldn't be helped. He's Alfred. In truth, there was only one mask. The one used for protection. The others weren't masks, and there were more than three. They were different personalities. Dick Grayson had multiple personality disorder, or MPD for short. He let everyone think that some were masks, and he kept the rest hidden away most of the time. Why, you ask? Be patient, and I'll tell you.
Richard was created after one too many parties. He was a spoiled brat who looked down on everyone else because of his rich daddy. He was shallow enough to compete with the best of them, or should I say, the worst, and always flaunted his money around for no reason other than he could. Whenever the public expected this kind of behavior, Dick stepped back and allowed Richard to take the reins from the moment he left the limo, to the moment he stepped back into it. Richard was displeased whenever this happened, but quickly accepted it, knowing he was better off than some of the others.
Robin was created when Dick decided to become Bruce's partner. Robin was cocky, overconfident, and had a hero complex that scared the Dark Knight himself to the very core. He would always help someone else in need, and always fought against Richard when someone else was getting bullied at school. Robin was a troll, and could prank better than anyone else. But when It came down to it, he was serious, loyal, and could be depended on as easily as breathing. When the night was over or when they returned from the mountain, Robin relinquished control withoDick Grayson wore many masks. Three, to be exact. One was Richard, the spoiled rich kid, who was like all of the other pompous rich bastards in Gotham. This mask was worn for charity banquets and parties, and when he went to school.
One was Robin, the Boy Wonder, the Dark Squire, younger half of the Dynamic Duo. This mask was worn at night, when he chased the scum of Gotham to his hearts desire.
The third was Dick himself. Because he rarely let the real him show. He was always careful, even around Bruce. The third mask was always worn. It was defence. At least, thats what Dick wanted you to think.
ut a fight, knowing that if their identity was compromised, he wouldn't be able to help people anymore.
Dick was created the day Bruce Wayne adopted him. No, he was not the first. In fact, he was the third. Dick was shy and polite, with an underlying layer of rebellion. He did flips like he was born to, olympic moves as easy as breathing. Dick was quiet, but calculating, depressed, but somehow happy. He was the underdog, the circus freak, the charity case, the poor boy out of his depth. Dick normally came out at home when he was most comfortable, at home, sometimes even at Mt. Justice. He only relinquished control in certain situations, and was quick to take it back once whoever had it at the moment needed to give it up, or they were all screwed.
Prihor (It means Robin in Romani) was the original, renamed after the accident. Prihor was the Circus kid who wanted to laugh and play and adored anyone who would touch him (not like that, you pervs). He came out whenever Dick was overy distressed. Prihor loved to play and be held, and he craved physical contact above anything else. He was childish, since he was only seven years old mentally. He would often slip into Romani, and Bruce would have to remind him to speak English. He would light up like it was Christmas at even the smallest good surprise, and it was hard to depress him.
But there was one that they all hated and despised, one that they tried everything to keep at bay. His name was Renagade. He was created slowly, from right after the accident, to his time in juvie, to the moment he saw Tony Zucco and had the power over life or death concerning his parents murderer. He was evil, homicidal, and hated everything and everyone. He was the Demon that they all tried to keep at bay. Renegade had never fully been free. He had come close, but when that happened whoever was in charge at the moment would tell Bruce or Wally or whoever was supervising them at the moment that they had a splitting headache and needed to go home, or to his room if he was already there. Bruce never questioned him, and they left. At which point Richard, Robin, Dick, and Prihor all worked together to keep Renegade at bay. It was a strange system, but it worked. At least, until now...