So I've been reading a lot of Batman fanfics, and I've found some frickin' good ones thanks to the Fanfic Recs on TVTropes. One thing I noticed is that there aren't many good stories as to why or how Batman took in Dick Grayson, the first and in my opinion best Robin. Why would Batman, the most frightening vigilante in the Justice League, a creature of solitude, the Dark Knight, want a little kid tagging along on his adventures?

I was still tired from practicing during intermission. It didn't help that it was almost 10:00 at night. I sat on the dirty ground, back against the wall of the stands, watching the rest of the crew set up the ladders my parents and I would need for our act.

Mom and Dad were already standing on their marks, ready to begin. That was how it usually went; they began by doing some basic moves, then I joined them after about five minutes.

Mom turned and smiled at me. I smiled back, and waved.

Truth was, I couldn't even imagine doing a full routine at the moment. I had pushed too hard practicing, and I was paying for it now. My arms were sore, and I would probably be happy to lay down and fall asleep right there on the sticky floor. But, I had to push on. It wasn't like I hadn't had nights like this before, and I had managed during those times as well.

The Ringmaster grabbed the microphone. Here we go, I thought.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," he said, his deep voice reverberating around the tent. "the Flying Graysons!"

The crowd cheered as my parents waved, the began climbing their ladders. I always got an excited leap in my stomach when our act began. I knew nothing would go wrong, but after all, we did perform without a safety net. There was always a possibility, but I was more excited than nervous.

My mom and dad each grabbed ropes at the same time, then flipped and switched ropes in midair. The crown cheered wildly. I got up, I knew my cue was soon.

Then, something horrible, something I'll never forget happened.

The ropes snapped.

I watched in horror as my parents fell, crumpling to the ground as the crowd gasped. Suddenly the air was filled with screams and people were getting up from their seats, rushing around either to leave or to get a better look at what had just happened.

They had to get up. They had both fallen in such awkward positions, ways that human limbs and necks couldn't possible bend, but they had to get up...

I didn't remember running over to them, but suddenly I was standing over them, so close, but simultaneously trying not to look at their broken forms. Either my head was spinning or the room was spinning, I couldn't tell. Just then, I felt someone take my shoulders me steer him away from my parents, over to the far corner of the tent. I looked up, noticed it was the Ringmaster. He looked right into my eyes and said, "Everything's gonna be okay, Dick."

I knew much later that he was lying. Straight to my face.

I stayed far away from the thick of things until the cops showed up. They were all talking to each other, trying to figure out who was responsible, but I had no idea what was going on, and I didn't fully understand that I was never going to see my parents again.

When I saw one policeman pulling white sheets over my parents, something sunk into place in my mind. I ran towards the scene, mopping at my eyes when my vision got blurry, only to be held back. Someone had grabbed my arm. I tried to wrench myself out of their grip, but I wasn't strong enough.

Finally, I stopped struggling. I looked up at the person who had grabbed me.

I jumped in shock. It was the Batman. He's real!

He turned to the policeman next to him. "Is this him?" His voice was deep and calm. The policeman nodded, looking a bit sad.

The Batman turned back to me and kneeled so we were looking straight into each other's eyes. Or, rather, he was looking into my eyes and I was staring at his mask. As intimidating as he was, I thought I could see empathy in the parts of his face I could see. "I'm sorry."

I let out a sob I hadn't noticed building up. Reaching out, I grabbed his cape and buried my face in the fabric. His arms went around me and, for that moment, the Bat didn't seem that scary.