Prologue
It took her a second to truly grasp what was happening. She watched in confusion for a single millisecond before she realized what was happening. Her parents joy turned to realization, then to horror. Brooke called out for her parents as she watched the trapeze began to give way. She heard the ropes snap, and a expression of pure horror dawned across her face.
It took Dick a second to truly understand what was taking place. Brooke Grayson quickly gripped onto her little brother to keep him from leaping after their parents as they fell.
"MAMI! TATI!" The 7 year old boy shrieked lunging forward, trying to grab his parents.
"Dickie NO!" Brooke cried out grabbing Dick and anchoring him to her. Tears streamed down her face as she watched her parents fall. Brooke pulled Dick close and he buried his face in her chest so he wouldn't have to watch. A sickening crack rang through the entire tent. The little boy shrieked into her chest.
"Mami...Tati..." he whispered as sobs racked his body.
Brooke tried to soothe her brother by stroking his hair like her mother as tears cascaded down her face. "Shhh hush Dickie... It will be okay.." she lied, "everything will be okay.." she rocked back and forth on the landing pad. "we will be okay..."
The pair ignored the gasps of shock and horror from the audience and sat in their own world, separated from everyone else. This wasn't supposed to happen... she thought no no no, this was just another performance. how could it go so wrong? In her tears, Brooke noticed some of the screws that held the trapeze up were loosened. the nuts that kept the wires taught, gone. Murder.
Brooke didn't hear the sirens, but the police arrived soon after. They pulled her to the side, while Dick was wrapped up in a blanket still sobbing. The man looked down at Brooke with obvious distaste.
"I-I'm te-telling you officer-r, th-they were murdered," Brooke sobbed, "the screws w-were taken off... it w-wasn't an accident!"
"Thank you young miss," the officer said boredly. "Officer, take this girl and her brother to the orphanage." the man said.
"Sir, there is no room left in the orphanage." the officer said.
"Then throw 'em juvy, i don't give a shit," The other officer said dismissively.
"Alright, c'mon" the officer grabbed Brooke and Dick and started to drag them towards the police car.
"Wait!" Called out a deep voice. The three turned to look at the source. It was none other that Bruce Wayne, "I will take them, Juvy is not place for children who just lost their parents."
"Mr. Wayne that is entire unnecessary." the officer said, "they are just gypsy scum." he added glaring at the pair of now parentless children. "They are a charity case at best. You do not have to sacrifice any of your resources to these parasites."
Brooke was fuming as she held her brother close to herself. She covered Dick's ears so the innocent boy wouldn't hear the awful things being said about the Romani. Her tear stained face glared at the officer as he bad mouthed her whole culture.
"Officer, I insist, the children are no inconvenience to me. Juvy is no place for newly orphaned children." Mr Wayne narrowed his eyes at the officer.
"If you want them, I don't care," The officer said in a monotone voice. "Officer," he commanded.
The other police officer released Brooke and Dick. Mr Wayne walked up to the children. "Hello, I am Mr Wayne, although you can call me Bruce." he held his hand out.
Brooke shyly shook Mr Wayne's hand as Dick clung to her waist, his eye peeked out from Brooke's short to glance at the stranger. "N-nice to meet you Mr Wayne," she said shakily.
"Bruce," Mr Wayne corrected with a smile. Brooke smiled nervously back as she followed Mr Wayne to his fancy limo.
Her eyes widened as they pulled up to the Manor. Dick was sleeping on her shoulder, Brooke had just calmed him down and he was now sleeping uneasily. We only have each other now... she thought heartbrokenly. She hated to wake him, but It was the only way to get him onto the house. "Dickie," she shook her brother lightly. Dick woke up with a light moan, sleep still evident in his eyes.
"Mami?" he asked confused.
Brooke's heart shattered into pieces. "No, Dickie. Its just me, Brooke." She said forcing her voice not to crack.
"Want Mami..." Dick said tears welling in his eyes as he recalled the traumatic events that occurred mere hours ago.
"Mami isn't here right now..." she said as tears fell down her eyes again. "Mami isn't here..." Be strong Brooke, Be strong for Dick. She swallowed her sobs and walked into the mansion. Home sweet home she thought, placing what little things she had on the floor.
It had been 3 weeks at Wayne Manor. The house felt so empty. She was used to crowded sleeping spaces, jam packed with people. Instead it was an enormous house, (house not home) occupied by four people. Two of which were rarely seen.
Brooke felt like she was going absolutely crazy. No parents, the murderer still at large, no one doing anything. Bruce was never around and Dick was no longer his energetic, happy self. Nothing was right in the world. Every dinner so far, she's had to have practically shoved food down Dick's mouth. Why does Dick have me to lean on... yet I have no one? she thought, where is my shoulder to cry on? her thoughts were interrupted by Alfred's voice.
"Dinner Misstress Brooke and Master Dick!" the butler called out.
Mistress, the word was so strange. So unnatural. In the circus everyone was equal. Brooke reluctantly slid out of bed and clomped down the stairs and made the long journey to the dining room. There were so many stairs in the Manor Brooke could swear she lost weight.
"Where is Mr. Wayne?" she asked, although she already knew the answer.
"I'm afraid Master Bruce's work does not allow him to come home for family dinners," Alfred explained to her for what seemed like the millionth time.
Soon, Brooke heard heavy footsteps making their way to the dining room. Dick. The boy who was usually so light on his feet appeared to weigh a thousand pounds. Seeing her depressed brother broke something inside of her. This was a life she could not handle. A life with no social interaction. I will make sure Dick is on his way to recovery, then.. I'm out of here. she decided. She graciously ate the rest of her food before silently dismissing herself and thanking Alfred.
After putting Dick to bed, Brooke sat in her room with a notebook. How can I help Dick? she thought to herself. She sat there for hours coming up with a plan. Brooke looked at the clock, 3:30 am. Suddenly she heard a car engine, it sounded as if it were below her. It was so quiet, she was sure she wouldn't have heard it if Gotham wasn't asleep. Using her acrobat skills she silently ran to the window and peered outside. Nothing. Using her silent ninja skills, Brooke crept into Dicks room and woke him. Before he could groan in protest, Brooke silenced him. She gestured for him to follow her and they used the ninja skills to sneak downstairs without alerting anyone.
As the two siblings snuck around the house silently, Brooke noticed Alfred walking into Bruce's study. What is Alfred doing up? she wondered. She pointed at him and Dick nodded excitedly. This was most likely the first time the two had truly felt like themselves. They followed Alfred into Bruce's study, careful not to make any noise. The two saw Alfred step through a door behind the grandfather clock. Dick and Brooke exchanged glances and nodded. They quickly slipped through the door at the last second and crept down the stairs after the butler.
Sitting in front of a computer was none other than Batman himself. The two children tried not to gasp in utter shock. Batman lived in their basement?! The two began to eavesdrop on the Butler and the Dark Knight.
"Ill tell ya, Alfred. I can't find Zucco.. I know he's responsible for the Murders of the Graysons, I just KNOW it... but I can't prove it, and I can't find him," Batman sighed.
So Zucco killed my parents.. thought Brooke angrily. She knew that man was nothing but trouble. Her attention caught, Brooke kept listening.
"Master Bruce," Alfred sighed, "You are going to work yourself to death trying to find that man. Plus, your constant absence is causing the children to ask questions. The two are quite intelligent.. I wouldn't be surprised if they discovered your secret."
BRUCE WAYNE! Brooke thought excitedly, Bruce Wayne is Batman! In her excitement, Brooke forgot that she was in stealth mode and accidentally hit her hand on the wall. Dick turned a frightened glare towards his sister.
Batman and Alfred's heads shot up, "Who's there?" Batman said in his deep monotone voice. Dick gave her the brother stare that is universally known as 'nice going'. Brooke smiled sheepishly.
"Show yourself!" Batman commanded, pulling a bat-a-rang from his utility belt.
Dick and Brooke looked at each other before timidly emerging from behind a support beam. Batman aka Bruce sighed in relief. "What are you two doing down here?" He asked, his voice returning to normal. The two children found extreme interest in their feet. "How did you guys even get down here?" he said in disbelief.
"We followed Alfred.." Dick said timidly.
Batman sighed again, he took his cowl off and became Bruce again. "Now... You two are NOT allowed to tell anyone about this!" he said sternly. The two nodded furiously. "Good."
Brooke was about to usher Dick back upstairs with her when Dick piped up, "Can we work with you?" he asked innocently. The entire room seemed to freeze. "We already have acrobatic training!"
Bruce kneeled down before Dick, "You two are still quite young," he explained, "Gotham city is no place for a twelve year old," he said gesturing towards Brooke, "let alone a seven year old."
"We're not regular kids though! We are trained acrobats!" Dick insisted. "I wanna kick Zuccos butt!" he exclaimed angrily. "I want to bring my parents murderer to justice, and I know Brooke does too!" he said fiercely.
Bruce looked down at the little boy and couldn't help but see himself in the child. A young boy, whose parents were ripped away from him right before his eyes. Bruce sighed, "I suppose I could teach you, some martial arts..." he gave in a little.
"Yes!" Dick leapt in the air with glee. Brooke couldn't help but smile a little at how excited Dick. Maybe his recovery wouldn't be so terrible.
Twelve weeks later Brooke had learned countless fighting moves from Bruce. What angered her, was that Bruce refused to let her fgo on patrol and help him hunt down Zucco.
"COME ON!" she fumed, "I HAVE ENOUGH TRAINING! LET ME FIGHT!"
"Absolutely not." Said Bruce, "You are only twelve! No and that is final!"
"I CAN FIGHT" She insisted. "WHAT'S THE POINT OF TRAINING ME IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LET ME FIGHT?"
"Your training is for self defense only," Bruce said infuriatingly calm.
"SELF DEFENSE?" she shrieked. "YOU TAUGHT ME HOW TO KICK ASS IN SELF DEFENSE? NO I AM GOING TO FIGHT ALONGSIDE THE GODDAMN BATMAN!"
"You will not. Batman works alone."
Brooke stormed up to her room emitting a loud shriek of anger and frustration. She slammed the door shut and heard something fall off her desk. She walked over to see what had fallen and found her notebook filled with plans of grandeur. She flipped through the book, and on the last page was her plan to leave Wayne Manor. My plan to leave... she thought. But what about Dick?... He's happy... he has revenge... she argued with herself. Brooke looked between the her notebook and the picture of Dick on her desk. Oh Dick... Sometimes, I think your better off without me. she sighed.
Brooke snatched up a pen that lay nearby. He's better off without me... he's better without me... he's better off without me Brooke chanted to herself as she reluctantly scribbled down the a note she always secretly knew she was going to have to write.
Dear Dick,
I'm sorry, but I won't be returning. I don't belong here. We both know it. You will understand one day when you are older. I love you very much. Don't ever forget that. You are a Flying Grayson. Wear that title proudly. Bruce is a good man. Never stop fighting the battle of good vs. evil.
Love, Brooke
She folded the sheet of paper and left it on her desk. Next she scribbled out a note to Alfred and Bruce.
Dear Bruce and Alfred,
You have been so very kind to me these past weeks. I can't thank you more for giving me and my brother a place to stay. It is very nice here, but I'm afraid I have to leave. I don't belong here. I hope you continue to care for Dick, as I cannot take him with me. make sure he knows that he is loved and cherished. Especially by me.
Sincerely, Brooke Grayson
Brooke raided her drawers and desk. Granted, there wasn't much to take. She dropped her bag out the window and looked at the ground. It was a long way down. She closed her eyes tightly and jumped out the window. She felt her knees buckle as she rolled out of the jump. Training from Batman comes in handy. She quietly climbed the fence and took off into the streets of Gotham. She didn't look back at the Manor once.