Disclaimer: the Batman Universe is owned by DC Comics
Rated T for violence and language
I hope you all enjoy my new story, it was surely a lot of fun writing the first segment. This is a bit of a different take on the Robin origin story, he's no longer a sidekick but his own hero. I feel like Robin takes a back seat to Batman a lot, so I thought it would be a good idea to show the strength that he's capable of. Rest assured, Batman will have his own heroic moments in this series, but my primary focus is the character development of both Richard Grayson and Robin. Have fun reading!
The innocence of children has gradually eroded away, causing them to become victims of abuse, violence and tragedy. One shard of darkness poisons the heart, altering perceptions and views of the outside world. A caped crusader known as the Batman, made his home in the nest of this darkness known as Gotham. For the past five years he's been constantly battling those who wish to spread mayhem in his city. With his true identity a secret, media and police alike have flocked to discover who this dark knight truly is, and have yet to uncover the hood from the vigilante.
"Mama, cum de nu ne-am preformate în Gotham înainte?" "Mama, how come we've never preformed in Gotham before?" Richard Grayson peered out of their circus caravan, watching as the country landscape turn into an industrial graveyard.
His mother smiled back at him, momentarily stopping her attempt to sew the tear from her sons red performance vest and replied, "Pentru că dragostea mea, acesta a fost mult prea periculos pentru circ noastră de a călători aici. Acum, că străzile sunt mai sigure eu sunt sigur că vom vizita mai des." "Because my love, it's been far too dangerous for our circus to travel here. Now that the streets are safer I'm sure we'll visit more often."
Richard gave her a little smirk and replied, "Crezi că vom vedea Batman?" "Do you think we'll see the Batman?" Letting out a giggle she shook her head. "Să sperăm că nu!" "Lets hope not!" "Probleme pare să urmeze acel om, vreau să te țin în siguranță micul meu pasăre." "Trouble seems to follow that man, I want to keep you safe my little bird." She held out her hand and gently stroked her boys arm, noticing his mock anger.
"Mama, te rog! Am aproape 12 de ani, pot să am grijă de mine!" "Mama, please! I'm almost 12 years old, I can take care of myself!" With a huff he withdrew his arm from his mothers touch and reflected a half-hearted glare.
"Asta e chiar omul meu tânăr, cred că am uitat băiețelul meu este în creștere în sus." "Thats right my young man, I suppose I forget my little boy is growing up." With a wink she stood up and placed her ongoing project neatly on the table before walking to the door. "Ce zici să găsim tatăl și practica pentru performanțe maine?" "How about we go find your father and practice for tomorrows performance?" Giving a quick nod Richard followed his mother outside their trailer and took his first steps into Gotham.
The following day was full of excitement and mild havoc. Each performer wanted to make a good first impression to the residents of Gotham, diligently perfecting each trick and act accordingly.
"Raya, Raymond! Come out come out wherever you are…" With a flying leap Richard pounced on a giant rock by the stream where their circus was tented. He steadied his gaze on a bundle of laundry ready to be washed and noticed that every so often it would fidget and twitch. Grinning, he jumped down and sprinted to the pile of clothes, absorbed by their game so much so that he didn't even notice Mr. Haly coming his way.
"Oof!" Mr. Haly exclaimed while grounding his feet in an attempt to stay vertical. "Dick, you okay my boy?" Rubbing his head that hit his friends' bulging belly Dick gave an apologetic look.
"Ne pare rău Pop Haly, nu am fost într-adevăr uitam unde am fost de gând..." "Sorry Pop Haly, I wasn't really watching where I was going…" Mr. Haly gave a chuckle and rustled the boys hair.
"One of these days I'll learn Romanian, mark my words. I assume you weren't calling me a fat old geezer who needs to watch where he's going?" Dick gave out a giggle and quickly shook his head.
"Pop you're not fat! You're lovably large. Least, that's what my mom calls you."
"Well, what kind words your mother gives. Remind me to thank her later." Dick was about to reply but stopped when two strangers motioned to Mr. Haly. The expression that Haly made was something Dick only seen once before when one of their elephants got out of their fences and ran mad, fear.
"I have to go Dick, but I'll be sure to see you and your family before the curtain is parted, bye bye." Dick watched as he joined the two men and quickly vanished inside his personal trailer. The expression Pop gave him startled Dick so much that when he absentmindedly approached the laundry pile he screamed when Raymond popped out. Raymond busted out laughing at the expense of his friends terror and wrapped his arms around his belly in attempt to stop himself from falling over.
"You should see your face!" He exclaimed. "Man, I got you good! Didn't even know I was there, and pow! Made you scream like a girl. 'Bout time too, didn't know how long I could stand it in there. Smells like an elephants pen." A smile formed on one side of Dicks face while he shook his head in defeat.
"Alright lucky shot, next time you wont be able to startle me I swear!" Raymond gave him a playful punch as the duo started to walk along the stream bank, glancing to see where Raya might be hiding.
After checking up numerous tree's, animal cages, costume tents, and trailers the boys sat down in defeat. "Where'd she go?" Raymond screeched with a sigh. "We've checked everywhere we could think of…except-" Dick look at him questionably, "She wouldn't seriously hide in her trailer right? It would be too obvious."
"But dude, we've checked everywhere else. Plus it's getting late, I gotta get my costume on."
Richard gave out a sigh and nodded. "I'll check her trailer to see if she's with Zara, if not I'll report her missing. I'm sure she'll turn up." Once he said goodbye to his friend and parted ways he walked briskly to Zara's home hoping Raya would be inside.
With two firm knocks on the door Dick stood back and waited. To his relief he heard someone inside rustling and was greeted by the friendly face of Raya.
"Took you long enough Dickie" Raya said playfully.
"Hah, didn't think you'd actually decide to hide in your own trailer. Thought you'd be a bit more creative then that," Dick countered.
"Well originally I was hiding in the Magician's Box but Zara told me I had to have extra time to get fitted in my costume, you like?" Raya opened the door further to completely show off her new dress. Elegant beads draped down her waist and swung with movement with each turn of the hip. A matching beaded headband encircled her hair and sparkled in the setting sun. This was the first time Dick was smitten by Raya's appearance, he just couldn't look away.
"Wow you look…just wow." He babbled. This gave Raya another giggle before playfully batting her eyelashes.
"My my, what a way with words!" She smirked.
"Hey all your sparkles blinded me for a second, that's all." He blushed while glancing away slightly. "You do look really nice Raya…" Dick mumbled. "Best of luck with your act with Zara, wish her luck too. I gotta go get changed and stretch, bye!" Before Raya had a chance to reply Dick ran as fast as he could to his parents trailer, fully embarrassed but happy.
When Dick opened the door he was greeted by his fathers disappointing frown, oops.
"Richard John Grayson." He sternly worded. "I was just about to look for you, don't you remember your mother telling you to come home by sunset? We still have to get you changed and put in some practice time before the show at 8. Where were you? We don't have much time young man, so hurry and suit up." With a gulp Dick grabbed his newly fixed vest and tights and faced his frown-lined father.
"Sorry Tata. I was just playing with Raymond and Raya and well, sorta lost track of time. Haha?" He gave his father an innocent, apologetic smile and quickly saw his fathers face soften.
"Well, alright I understand. Next time though I just might put a timer on you so you remember though." He gave Dick a playful smile and helped readjust his vest, gently putting his fingers on the newly sewn "R".
"I couldn't find the right material," his mother said while coming through the divider dressed in her own trapeze outfit. "I decided to get creative. I thought my young bird would want a little personalizing on his outfit so I put together that patchwork. It's cute on you Dickie." She said with a smile. "Maybe I'll put it on all our outfit's. It suits the Flying Graysons.". Dick returned the smile and hugged her tightly.
"Thanks Mama for fixing it, I like it a lot." He went deeper into her embrace, feeling warm with love and comfort. Ever since he was small Dick was a very affectionate child, always wanting to touch others and be touched. Now that he was getting older, these moments weren't necessarily rare but more spaced in between.
His father knelt down and rubbed his son's back. "You ready to amaze these Gothamites, pal?" Dick looked back towards his father and nodded, "Lets do this."
They were only able to get in a half hour of practice before the show had to start, much to Dick's mother dismay of not having the full 45 minutes of prep time. Finally though the show started accordingly, with Haly as the ring master and giving each group over the top introductions.
"And now ladies and gentlemen, bear witness to the world renowned knife throwing acrobat Halo Maderi! With a slip of the finger he…" and it went on with each performer and act, exciting the crowd so they were at the edge of their seats.
Finally, it was the Grayson's turn to take the spotlight. Their opportunity to amaze, dazzle, and fly.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope most of you know about my next most famous act. They've traveled and performed across the world, every continent except Antarctica. This family of expert trapeze acrobats will amaze and frighten, for they will complete their stunts without a net! You've heard right, our entertainers are so confident in their skills that they do not need the safety precautions. And did a mention the youngest performer is at the youth of 11? Fear not ladies and gentlemen, for he takes after his parents at being the best there is. One of the few who can perform his signature quadruple flip! Please put your hands together for the Flying Grayson's!" The Grayson's single file flipped onto the stage, causing more cheers to rain inside the tent.
With their brightly colored costumes shining towards their audience, they made their way up to the platform, ready to entertain. First John Grayson took the leap and did a double flip before effortlessly catching the second trapeze and making his way to safety on the platform on the other side. Soon, Dick's mother and then himself followed shortly after, one catching the other before planting their feet on the platform.
Finally the more complicated tricks started to form while the crowd watched in dead silence, mesmerized by the family of Grayson's. The elegant and effortless air about them entranced and touched the crowd, making them want to grasp every single move each member made.
The father finally flipped to the opposite trapeze and readjusted himself using his legs for balance while holding his hands out to catch the mother who was about to take a leap. She looked back at her boy and smiled, who returned her gaze with his own. After a beat, she flew in the air and landed in her lovers arms making the crowd suck in a breath of relief.
Unfortunately, that relief soon turned out to be short-lived.
Dick stared happily at his parents, and was about to cast off himself when he noticed something strange happening to the wires. His mouth opened to warn his parents of the upcoming doom but was too late. The ropes quickly snapped while the elder Grayson's were in midair causing them to fall to their fate. Dick froze while the world slowed, nearly stopping and he faced the horror that was in his parents expressions. Their arms quickly shot upwards, as if hoping by some miracle to spontaneously gain the ability to fly to safety. Both parents screamed their son's name desperately, in an attempt try to give their boy reassurance that everything will be okay.
A loud snap was heard, and then silence.
A few moments passed before the first scream pierced the heart of the young boy, who was too shocked to let go of his own trapeze line.
Gasp! What an ending. Thank you so much for reading, the second chapter is completed and just needs some further editing so it should be out soon. For those of you who might not know, Raya and Raymond aren't OC's but cannon childhood friends of Dick (they might make another appearance if I ever decide to have a Nightwing spin off). I hope you had a good time on my adventure; I would love to have some feedback!