Disclaimer: Don't own characters. DC does. I just own the plot. Don't sue.
This story is in Dick's POV and is a tie-in to my other story 'Teen Titans: Year 1.'
ABC=Dick's POV
Chapter Two
July 8, 2004
San Francisco, California
Haley's Circus
Do it better.
When Bruce started training me, that's all he would tell me. That ended up becoming his motto. Whether it was throwing bat-a-rangs, hand to hand combat, or even swinging from a trapeze, that's what he'd tell me.
Because of that, I work harder. I give 150% and, at least in my mind, it's not enough.
I think it's a good thing.
Bruce does to.
It's one of the few things we agree on.
I know I don't show or say it enough, (actually at all) but I'm glad Bruce took me in. Without him I'd probably be on the streets now not sure which direction to take.
Instead he gave me a path and made my reason to fight clear.
Justice.
To bring Tony Zucco and maniacs like him to justice. To make the world a better place. To try and stop what happened to me, from happening to anyone else.
The last one, so far, has been the hardest but I'm hoping, with the Teen Titans around now, it won't be.
I remember, about four years ago, Bruce gave me a choice. He wanted to adopt me, so I could be his protégé. I didn't want to be like him, so after he offered, I ran.
I just kept running, trying to escape what happened. It didn't work out like I planned.
I ran all the way back to my hometown, Rockwell.
Rockwell isn't the best place for someone to grow up.
Police are basically non-existent and crime goes around twenty-four seven. The only way to survive is to fight.
Protect yourself and your family or just yourself.
By the time I turned eight, I was the best fighter in Rockwell. I could beat up people three times my size.
It was a gift.
That's what my abilities were.
A gift.
A gift I had used wrong for eight and a half years.
Rape, murder, gang fights, robberies.
Those were things I have always seen on a normal basis since I was born.
Everyday I would walk down the street to school and see those things.
I knew I could help.
I didn't.
I've regretted not helping ever since my parents died.
I'll always regret it. I'll always feel guilty and I should.
I did a lot of things I wasn't proud of, to survive.
My parents weren't proud of them either. That's why my dad asked Mr. Haley to let us try to join the circus.
I was eight and a half, almost nine.
We became the Flying Grayson's and for a while I was happy with the choice. I got to travel and see different cities but old habits die hard.
At night, when my parents went to sleep I would sneak out and check out the city.
The day they died I had done the same thing.
I never got caught.
When I ran back to Rockwell I realized it wasn't my home.
It was Richard Grayson's.
Haleys Circus isn't my home either.
It was Richard Grayson's, even if it only was home for a short period of time.
Robin's home was Gotham.
I needed Gotham as much as it needed me.
I came back a week later and told Bruce I wanted him to adopt me. I realized, the moment my parents died, I wasn't Dick Grayson anymore. I became Robin, because of not only Tony Zucco, but Batman too.
Now I don't know who I should be.
I was Robin.
Batman's Protégé, and, in time, I was going to be Batman.
I can't just stay on the sidelines and be the Titans 'Trainer.'
I can't be Robin.
For the first time, in about four years, I don't know who I am anymore, and I hate it.
Now I'm back at Haleys.
It's different now.
Mr. Haley was killed shortly after my parents.
Zucco killed him.
I needed a quick in-between job to get by and to my next destination.
Airline tickets aren't cheap. Neither is food.
I take a sip of my water and look up to the platform above me.
When my parents died I never thought I'd be able to be an acrobat again but it feels good to be up there again.
Soaring through the sky.
Up there I can just let everything go and relax.
Up there all my troubles are light years away and all that matters is my next big move.
So.
What is my next big move?
A/N: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Thanks for reading. Please review.