A/N An idea that has come into being ever since i saw PERFORMANCE in YJ. This story has references from Animal Act, Robin's Reconing, and other sources that i dont own from the DCA. Don't sue, review XD
The smells and sounds of the Circus.
He knew them well.
"Hey Bruno!"
He knew the people too, the performers and the animals, all by name.
"Hey, Dickie!"
They knew him too, and missed him as much as he missed them.
"Ha! Dickie? You really did have the life here didn't you?" Tim teased, ribbing the Former Robin with his elbow. Dick fixed him with a glare.
"Where's Cass?"
Cassandra Cain, aka Batgirl, was admiring the caramel apple stand. It was abandoned, so she thought it was an autogive machine.
*Want apple please.* her language said. The device thudded under her fists, but did not produce the desired fruit covered in carmel.
*Give Apple now!*
"Um Cass?"
*Give Snack!*
"HHey cass? Ummm..." Tim put his hand on her shoulder
"The machine isn't ours. Don't beat it up."
"Wanted Apple, Tim!"
Dick laughed softly, then whistled three times, and turned around, did a handstand, then tapped the machine lightly. It released the locks, and Cass was given a warm, tasty caramel apple.
"It's ok Cass, you just weren't speaking the right language."
Looking at Dick with wide eyes, the girl cocked her head and asked
"Dick speak vending machine?"
They all laughed at this, and Dick grinned. Then his smile turned sour, as one of the other performers was seen exiting a trailer, and going into the practice tent. Tim noticed, and poked him in the ribs.
"An old rival?"
Dick snarled
"A Daring Dutchman. They were a family of thieves and trixters, in it for money and glory. The troop came from a Bludhaven-based family circus, and whenever that particular circus was in town the same week as ours, Pop would be in a cranky mood. What possessed him to hire them I wonder?"
Tim sighed "Does it really matter? Come on, Dick! We're here to introduce Cass to the ,magic you grew up with, not solve crime, if there even is any! Please Dick...for Cass?"
The gypsy sighed and shrugged, and would have been fine to go along and see his old friend Sitka the elephant, if a sneering female voice hadn't piped up with the one thing that could set him off while he was here.
"So, there really IS one Falling Grayson left. The rumors weren't bogus!"
His neck hair stood on end, his fists clenched, body stiffened, eyes blazed. Cassandra read his body and stepped back, taking Tim too, whispering "Him pissed off real bad."
"Darli Dutchman." The name was a growl, "What an unpleasant suprize."
"Awe Dickie, darling, do lighten up! I was making a little inside humor, that's all. Of course I am sorry about what happened to your folks." She said, flipping her auburn hair, her hazel eyes sparkling in snide humor. Cass descided Dick had a good reason to dislike her.
"Not sincere." She whispered to Tim, "Glad Dick alone now. Wishes he was dead too. Not sincere."
Dick seemed to know this fact as well, as he sneered at her and turned away.
"Don't lie. You would prefer if I had gone down too. The Grayson name had taken your crowd by storm, don't deny that you celebrated after that day."
The young woman sneered right back, and Tim caught her eyes as she turned to leave, her red lips promising in a deadly hiss.
"There still may be time to finish celebrating, Dickie. There just might."
His back was to her, but his ears had heard everything. Keeping his promise to Tim though, he chose to act like he ignored it, and led his two tagalongs to the animal cages, and his best friend from a lifetime ago, Miranda Kane.
Tim had met Miranda before, and quickly caught up with her. Cass however needed introduction, and Dick was happy to ablige. Miranda smiled, her green viper wrapping around her entire body as she shook hands.
"Welcome to the circus, Cassandra! I'm one of Dick's close friends. He was the acrobat who could pull off a quad like he was getting out of bed. I was the one stuck in the lion cage and hoping Jumba wasn't hungry that day."
Dick smiled and glanced at the elephant cages longingly. "So, Miranda, are the insurance premiums still too high?"
The black haired gypsy snickered teasingly "You wanna see your baby don't you, Dickie? Alright fine, but only for a short time. We're on in a few."
Dick dashed to the cages like a bat out of the cave, his feet light and his heart joyous. Tim smiled to see playfulness return to the blue eyes of his surrogate brother, and Cass giggled at his body language. "Is like little kid!" she giggled, trying to keep pace with the fleeing Grayson.
Dick was plucked off the ground by a grey trunk, and laughed as the trumpeting pachyderm hugged him tightly. He wrapped his arms around the massive trunk and breathed in the good elephant smell, happy and content
"I missed you too, Sitka!"
Miranda grinned, "Looks like you've been gone too long, Dickie-boy."
The former Flying Grayson laughed heartily.
"Maybe I have!"
"You certainly have, son!" Pop Haley said, coming up. "Do an old man a favor?"
Dick was released from the elephant to do a handstand on the ground. Looking upside down at his old friend, he said cheerily "Anything for you, Pop!"
"I want to see you fly again for a show. Do you feel up to it?"
Dick hesitated. Cass knew he was weighing what that would do to the new act, for his eyes traveled ever so slightly to the Dutchman trailor. She saw a slight smile creep on his face at the offer to once again show the crowd what true acrobatics were all about.
"Me? Say no to an offer like that? Insanity! The highwire is in my blood. Of course I'll do a show for you, Pop!"
"Thanks, Dickie. I knew you wouldn't let me down!"
Unknown to any of them, steelblue eyes watched the exchange, and a finger twirled auburn locks as a viper's smile graced ruby lips, a plan forming in a corrupt and jealous mind as a savage and cunning hiss remarked to herself,
"The highwire may be in your blood, little Dickie, but so is the mat."
