Back To The Past

Seven years later

Bruce had finally found a lead on Dick Grayson, finally. The past seven years had been rough on the family. Barbara had completely dropped out. She didn't want to live in the past anymore, and Dick was her past. She was done with the Bat Family, done with the Birds of Prey. But she hadn't disappeared completely. She would come over from time to time, especially on birthdays and holidays. Without Barbara as Oracle, things have been slipping past both teams she left behind. Multiple times Bruce and Dinah have came to her, asking for her help, but it was useless. Damian was the only one that ever voiced what she was doing. "At least Grayson had the decency to leave when he wanted nothing to do with us anymore!" He had yelled at her one night.

Damian was taking it the hardest. Grayson had been so much to him, and he just left without a word. Left right after his birthday. Damian just wanted to punch him in the face, but as the years went on, he just wanted his childhood crush back. It took him a while to realize that, took him even longer to admit it to himself that's what Dick was to him.

The once boy, now a man, was at least to say ecstatic when Bruce had found a lead on Dick. Seven years had been too long. Damian wanted to feel Dick's arms around him again, telling him everything was going to be okay. He just wanted Grayson back.

"So, where is he?" Tim Drake asked as he walked into the cave with Conner Kent, it was no secret that Tim had turned to the clone during his time in need. It had soon turned into something much more than just friendship, so much more.

Jason Todd was leading against the desk as Bruce brought up the lead. His teal eyes widen when he saw what it was. "No way! He's back there? You would think he was done with his past when he left."

Bruce just sighed, but before he could say anything, Damian spoke. "He wasn't done with his past, Todd, just us." It was clear to everyone what Damian felt. Over the years, his ice had melted and he learned to show emotion more. Though he was still a bastard at times, especially when it comes to the one that had wounded him so deeply.

The lead was simple, Haly's Circus. "I shouldn't be surprise. Dick would show signs of how he missed his life before his parents had died. He was going under an alias for years; Dan Danger. He just fit in with the replacement family Mr. Haly had." Bruce said as he just looked at the computer screen. How could he have missed that? Of course Dick would go back to the circus! He never truly left. Most of his fighting style was based on his acrobatic upbringing. He used to always walk around the cave on his hands for Pete's sake!

Bruce wasn't going to admit it, but he was slipping before Barbara left. He started with Dick left him again. It was different than the first time. There wasn't a fight, and he couldn't, obviously, find him anywhere. But, why now? Why has Dick decided he wanted to be found? What has happened.

It was simple what had happened. Just as Damian had realized his crush on Dick, Dick had realized he felt more than just brotherly love for Damian. He found out during one night at the circus when the Danger's eldest son had made a move on him. Mike had just planted his lips on Dick's out of no where, and his mind flashed to Damian. The boy he had loved. He missed out on seven years of his life, just because Dick couldn't handle his darker side.

It stabbed him like a cold knife in his heart when he realized that Damian was no longer a boy, he was an adult now. Eighteen years old, officially legal. Finally. But Dick didn't want to go rushing back to them, he didn't even have the slightest urge to do that. If they wanted him back, he'll allow himself to be found. Though honestly, he was surprised that hadn't found him before then. It's not like he hid away in the Arctic or anything like that. He went back to Haly's Circus. He thought that they would have checked there when they couldn't find him in either Gotham or Blüdhaven. But they hadn't. Sometimes it caused him to wonder, did they even want him back?

Dick sighed as he walked through the Circus tents. He was going to do his last few shows as Richard Grayson. A solo act. The Dangers were good, but they always used a net. He didn't know why, but after a while, that he started to annoy him. If they were that afraid of falling, then they shouldn't be acrobats. It took him a while to realize that it was his upbringing that made him think that way. He rarely ever used a net while a child, then he was out fighting crime, jumping across buildings where there wasn't going to be nets to catch him if he fell. He needed to feel that rush.

Now, Dick never truly gave up being Nightwing. He still had his costume with him, it's just no one ever actually thought it was the real Nightwing. His hair was longer, and messier, and he also always had some form of facial hair. It was never a fully a beard or mustache, it was mostly stubble, sometimes a bit more. He had a goatee for a while. He never realized how much he liked some form of facial hair until he stopped shaving. And it looked damn good on him. His jet black hair on his head was also on his face. It highlighted his facial features more. His face was thin, his jawline sharp and it made his skin look slightly paler, but that's to all of the time working out in the sun, Dick had a slight tan.

It all just worked for him, but the most important thing that the stubble helped with was bringing out his steel blue eyes. It made them brighter, but added to the eeriness of him. His hair was so dark and yet his eyes were so bright, but it seemed like his eyes would steal sometime from you. They didn't have the inner happiness that they used too. His pain showed through. The pain of watching his parents fall to their deaths, of accidentally killing then being taken advantaged of. The pain that no was there when he needed them. He just couldn't mask it anymore, nor did he want to. The only mask he would wear was his Nightwing one.

So when Dick did smile, it was true. Nothing was fake from him anymore. But it's not like everything had changed about him. He was still there for the people of Haly's Circus, but unlike the Bat Family and the Titans, they were there for him too. Though Dick just couldn't tell them everything, like about his double life as a hero. But there was one person he could tell; Mr. Haly.

There was no fooling that man, he knew a Flying Grayson when he saw one. All of those years of Dick being Robin, then Nightwing, even the short time that he was Batman, he knew. There was no fooling the old man, and Dick stopped trying to. Mr. Haly became like a grandfather to Dick, which his son didn't like at all. Bryan Haly was jealous of Dick's relationship with his father, often scared that his father was going to give the deed to the circus instead of himself. And if it wasn't for Dick's size and muscles, he would have fought to male by now.

"Dick," Mr. Haly called the male out of his thoughts. "Are you sure you want to go through with it?" Referring to resuming the Flying Graysons, well Flying Grayson now.

"I'm sure, and please Mr. Haly, I told you to just call me Richard now." He said softly. He stopped going by Dick a long time ago.

The older man chuckled softly and shook his slightly bald head. "Now, we both know that isn't going to happen. Just accept it, you are Dick Grayson. Just going by Richard isn't going to change the past." He said then repeat, "You are Dick Grayson."

There seriously was no arguing with that man. Dick halfheartedly laughed. "Fine fine, I see your point." He said then scratched his stubble on his chin.

"Are you ever going to actually grow a beard?" Lynda Danger asked as she came into the room. She was the second oldest child of the Dangers, Mike being the oldest. "If not, at least bring back the goatee, that was sexy." She smiled and winked at him.

Lynda seemed like the type that Dick would have taken to bed right away. She had long red hair, and blight green eyes. Freckles danced across her cheeks softly. And she was clearly interested in him, just like her brother was. That was another reason Dick wanted to go solo, the Danger's oldest children were getting to attracted to him for his liking.

"I'm not going to grow an actual beard, and with that sexy comment, I'm not bringing back the goatee either." Dick said. He didn't want to attract her to him more. Over the past seven years, Dick has lost his interest in both sexes. Some joked that he was asexual now, but he preferred to think of it that he didn't want to be a man whore anymore. Sleeping around just wasn't as fun as it used to be to him. Sex just wasn't what he wanted. It was emotionless, pointless. And he didn't need it.

"Alright you two, enough slacking off. We have to set up for tonight. Baltimore is a city that doesn't disappoint, so we aren't going to disappoint them, understand?" Mr. Haly said, then left when they both nodded. He had other things to do.

Once they were alone, Lynda moved closer to Dick. "Why are you so cold to me? I thought I was just your type." She said softly, obviously have been asking the older members what kind of girls Dick was interested in.

An annoyed groan escaped from Dick's lips. "It's called I'm not interested in you or your brother. Why can't you just leave me alone?" He asked, his eyes turning to ice. He just wanted to set up for the show then begin practicing. Flying along the trapezes seemed to be one of the only things that could make him happy anymore. So much for being the happy golden boy.

The female took a step back from his icy glare. "Can you blame a girl for trying? Especially when you used to sleep with everyone that came up to you..." She sighed softly. "I, I don't mean it like that. It's good that you've changed your ways when it comes to sex. I'll stop pushing you." She just looked up at him sadly.

"Thank you," was all he said. Glad to have at least one of the Dangers off of his case.

"Good luck tonight," she said then left Dick alone. They needed to set up for tonight.

All of the Bat boys, including Alfred, just barely arrived in Maryland in time to see Haly's Circus for the night. They weren't going to wait any longer for bring Dick back. Also, as Conner had suggested to them all, they needed a vacation as well. Might as well enjoy the Circus before claiming Dick as their own again.

This was a first for Jason and Damian, neither of them had seen Haly's Circus before. Tim had told them all about it during their flight down, remembering it all from when he was a child. Bruce would even chine in from time to time about when he had saw it. Needless to say, they all were excited for it again.

Haly's Circus definitely wasn't a disappointment either. The grounds were full of games, rides, magic and side shows. They hit as many as they could before the final show started. Tim just relived his childhood while Jason pigged out on cotton candy. Damian was just taking it all in. No wonder Dick had came back. The Circus just seemed wonderful. He honestly wouldn't mind having a life like that. It was more dangerous that people seem to realize. They had performers locked in cages with tigers and loins! Performers just walked around, swallowing swords and fire as if everyone could do it, not worrying if someone bumped into them that it was the end of their life.

And the fortune tellers were very good, though they all had their doubts, making notes in their heads to ask Zatanna about fortune tellers and the "magic" they had seen. But they didn't let that dull the experience for them.

They all got their snacks and drinks then headed to the main tent for the final performance of the night. Mr. Haly was out there, taking people's tickets. The old man was shocked when he saw Bruce, also slightly worried. Dick had clearly wanted to get away from him and the rest of the family. What should he do? Deny them from going in or let them come in? He knew what he wanted to do, let them come in. Not just because he wanted them to enjoy the show, but because he knew it was time for Dick to go back to them.

"Mr. Wayne, long time no see," he said to the billionaire with a smile.

Bruce returned the smile. "Yes, it has been a long time. I must say, you're circus is still amazing as it had been all those years ago. Probably better." He said honestly.

"Thank you, but don't think you can fool me. You're here for Dick, not the circus."

Damian was about to say something rude but Alfred had placed his hand over his mouth and replied for him. "You are correct, sir, though that doesn't change our opinion." He said in his polite British accent.

The ringmaster nodded. "I won't stop you, I think it's high time Dick went back to his actual life. He's just not a circus boy anymore." He said, obviously sadden by the thought.

The conversation just died there, no one knew what else to say. So, Haly just took their tickets and they went inside the big tent then found a place for them all to sit together. It was packed in there, some people had came back to watch the show over again.

It had been five minutes since they had gotten in there when the show began. The spot light was on Mr. Haly. And they were in for a treat.