Hey Guys! The one or two of you read my last bad story, hello and thank you! I have good news! This story is good in my opinion, which means you guys will probably on some level like it too. I haven't been updating my other story for a while, due to the fact that it sucked. I'm not good at beginnings, so even if you don't like this chapter, give it another chance. I've always noticed the "Dick not being adopted by Bruce Wayne' plot being overused. Dick was always adopted by Deathstroke or some other villain, but never been on his own. In this, Dick pulls together the original team (eventually) and they join on the path of vengeance. Quickly Dick turns to more violent option to find his parents' murderer. Dick x Babs and possible Spitfire.
Dick Grayson was different to say the least. He was part of a circus troupe for as long as he could remember. His parents and him worked together in the act called The Flying Grayson's. He was eight years old when he learned how to do the quadruple flip. There were only three people who could do that. His parents and himself. When he was nine years old, his world fell apart. His parents fell to their deaths during a performance. Afterwards, it was clear that the trapeze was tampered with. Instantly a bystander by the name of Bruce Wayne attempted to take Dick Grayson in as his ward. This action would put Dick Grayson down the path of success. He would become a great hero. He would be a legend.
Instead... he slipped through the cracks. Dick Grayson would go down a darker path. The world would go down a darker path. Someone had tampered with the timeline. Unfortunately, Dick Grayson didn't know that. He was the foundation, and he was removed.
8 years later
It took some coaxing, but Dick finally got Barbara to come see his project. She fought anything he tried to show her, since she didn't like that he slept on the streets. She tried to get him to become the ward of her father, Commissioner Gordon. Every time she brought it up, he replied with "I care about you too much", whatever that meant. He was 17, and she was 21. They met while Barbara's father was trying to find Dick's parents' murderer.
Dick had led her into the inner Gotham Park. Gotham's park was so big that most people got lost in it. Dick had quickly learned the laws of the park and made his makeshift shelter in a tree. All he had was a hammock, some food, and a small place for his belongings. His parents left him with plenty of money. They were some of the most successful trapeze artists after all.
Soon they came up on a bush, and Dick grabbed onto a particularly big branch and pulled the bush away. There was a big hole under it.
"Uh... Dick?" Barbara stuttered, "What in the world is that?"
"Guess you'll have to find out," He gestured to the hole. "Ladies first."
Barbara sighed and peered down the hole. There was metal ladder on the edge, so she climbed down using the ladder. Dick dropped down behind her. It was a small room, but there was a big drop to the right. The room was made of a dark rock, and the walls were damp. There was a lantern on the floor. Dick lit the lantern and set it back down.
"I found this place when I was gathering sticks for a small fire," He said, walking over to the drop. He started walking down a side staircase Barbara didn't see. She reluctantly followed him. Soon the light faded, and Dick had to take her hand to lead her. It was clear he had gone down the staircase several times. He led her perfectly down, and she hardly even stumbled. When they reached the bottom, he let go of her hand and flipped a big switch. Dim lights turned on.
The cave was huge. The cavern stretched above them in a rough dome. The lights were bolted into the walls. There was a faint rush of water coming from a passage way that no doubt went deeper. Oddly, the air seemed fresher.
"The cave is huge, there are tunnels that go so deep that the oxygen is nearly nonexistent." Dick told Barbara. Barbara took a deep breath. Why was the air so fresh?
"There's a few tunnels that go straight up. One of them has an elevator in it," Dick said, as if reading her mind.
"Whose place is this?" Barbara asked.
"Mine, now." Dick did his best evil laugh impression.
"Better than a tree, I guess," Barbara noted.
"I have an idea." Dick said, his voice turning serious. Barbara turned to him, and he looked at her seriously.
"I've had an idea." He said, walking down a side passage way. He gestured for her to follow. Barbara followed him. She had a feeling she wouldn't like this.
"Gotham has the worst crime rate in world. Batman can hardly scratch it," Dick said, turning on the way down the passage. There was a smaller room at the end.
"Yeah. Even Batman can't be everywhere," Barbara objected, defending the Caped Crusader.
"But, if we got a team..." Dick started.
"No." Barbara shot him down.
"But-" Dick tried feebly to start again.
"No." Barbara was determined.
"I already told Artemis-" Dick started again.
"WHAT?" Barbara was shocked.
"-And she said yes-" Dick finished, a smirk on his face.
"WHAT?" Barbara half wanted to sob. There was no stopping him now. Once he had a least one helper, he would never stop. They reached the room.
"-And here's my progress so far," He announced, gesturing into the room.
The room was full of weaponry, abominations of cloth, and other things. Dick had evidently been trying to sew. The main attraction was the suit that was hung up on the dark wall. It was completely jet black except for a blue bird design sewn roughly into the chest. The gloves had metal weights in them, and the boots were steel toed, with compartments on the side. Two escrima sticks, foot long metal rods, were set on a table. There were also a few throwing items and metal arm braces. No doubt the other cabinets were full of other weapons.
"I've been busy." Dick said, avoiding Barbara's eyes.
"Really?" Barbara remarked sarcastically.
Sorry that it's short. Please review, follow, and if you want favorite! Please tell me what you think and your predictions! You guys always make me want to write more!