A/N: Hey guys. Thanks for the great response to the first chapter! For this one, I made some people up to help the story along because I wasn't sure if any people were actually listed as doing certain things in the circus in the comics. I hope it doesn't matter. Enjoy! ~velvie
Disclaimer: I don't own Young Justice
"How do you have such perfect balance?" M'gann exclaimed in admiration. The tightrope walker, named Becca, smiled at the compliment.
"I practise every day. It takes a lot of work and training but you seem eager so maybe I can give you a few pointers and see how you do." She replied cheerily. She led M'gann to a practise behind the main tent. "Okay, so grab the balance pole and let's begin.
"I hope I'm not too bad at this." M'gann fretted quietly as she grabbed the pole. Becca helped M'gann position the pole to help her balance then showed her the correct stance. "This isn't so bad."
"You'll be just fine, then. Okay, try taking a few steps along the rope." Becca encouraged. M'gann gingerly placed one foot a little way along the rope. She wobbled and was afraid she would fall, but was relieved when she regained balance. "Great job!" Becca called out. M'gann smiled and took another step, growing more confident. After a few more confident steps, her foot slipped. The rope was not very high off the ground, but the thought of falling didn't appeal to M'gann. She tried to regain her balance, but when she realised she couldn't, she braced herself for the fall and closed her eyes. When she didn't hit the ground, she opened her eyes to find Becca holding her up.
"Thanks." M'gann said gratefully as she stepped off the rope with her other foot.
"Don't you have superpowers? Why on Earth would you let yourself fall when you have the power to stop yourself?" Becca asked inquisitively. M'gann thought for a moment.
"I'm trying new things. Maybe one day my powers won't be able to help me, so I need to be able to help myself." She replied, smiling. Becca nodded in understanding.
"I get it. Still don't be afraid to save yourself if you fall again. It's great that you're trying to learn this the hard way, but if you have a better way then I say go for it!" Becca said. "That is, if you want to." She added.
"Let's see what you've got, kid" The strongman, Ivan, said. He nodded over to a set of weights and Conner instantly went over to the biggest one. "Sure you can handle it?" Ivan teased, knowing that he could. Conner lifted the weight with one arm and shrugged with the other shoulder.
"Easy." He said bluntly, setting the weight back down.
"Well of course it's easy for Superboy" Ivan joked. Conner raised an eyebrow at the strongman. "Okay kid, here's the deal; we're gonna get you lifting all kinds of crazy stuff. You up for it?"
"Sure, whatever." Conner replied. Ivan rubbed his hands together enthusiastically.
"Great, let's go find some stuff to lift." He said, heading out of the tent. Conner followed a few paces back.
"What kind of crazy stuff do you have in mind?" Conner asked.
"What kind of crazy stuff can you lift?" Ivan countered. Conner looked around until he spotted something heavy.
"That truck" he suggested, pointing with his thumb at the old truck parked by a tree. The truck had yet to be unloaded, so it was still half filled with props of various shapes and sizes.
"Go for it, kid." Ivan encouraged him. Conner reached under the truck and steadied himself before putting all of his strength into the lifting the truck. It came off the ground easily and Conner just stared at Ivan, waiting for a response. "Wow. Okay, let's find something bigger!"
"Sure, whatever." Conner replied, following Ivan around in their search for more things to lift.
"Hey, I'm Chris" The animal tamer pushed off the cage he was leaning on and extended a hand to Kaldur. He took the hand and shook it gently.
"I am Kaldur. I am interested to see what you do here." He replied smoothly.
"Okay, well, I tame the animals. The lions are fun if you like a challenge, but you look like the kinda guy that would get on great with the elephant, Zitka. Sound cool?" Chris asked, using his thumb to gesture towards the elephant in the cage he had been leaning on.
"I am willing to try anything you wish to show me." Kaldur said, smiling slightly. Chris fumbled with some keys until he found the one he was looking for.
"Let's go, then!" he exclaimed, smiling. Kaldur followed Chris silently into the cage. "Okay, so you're a superhero, right? What's your power?" Chris asked.
"I have a few powers, but my main power is hydrokinesis." Kaldur explained. Chris nodded slowly.
"Okay, so here's an idea. Why don't we get Zitka to shoot water from her trunk and maybe you could use your hydrokinesis to bend it. Sound fun?" he suggested.
"I am willing to give it a go." Kaldur said, readying his water bearers. Chris coaxed Zitka to take in some water, then nodded to Kaldur as a signal to get ready. Chris commanded Zitka to shoot out the water, and Kaldur used his water bearers to bend it upward and make it dance like a fountain. When he was done, he directed the water back into the tub it came from.
"Sweet! That was awesome man!" Chris yelled happily, patting Kaldur on the back.
"Thank you. I enjoyed that." Kaldur replied, a full smile appearing on his face.
"Teach me to be funny like you!" Wally yelled excitedly as he approached the clown. Chuck, the clown, stood up from his seat and greeted Wally.
"Sure thing! Kid Flash, right? Let's use your speed to do something really funny." Chuck suggested, smiling at the boy's enthusiasm.
"Like what?" Wally asked, trying to think of how super speed could be funny.
"Well I do a lot of stunts and stuff. Got any ideas kiddo?" Chuck stroked his painted chin in thought.
"I got it! We'll get Artemis, the girl doing the juggling, to juggle some stuff then fire it at us with her bow. We'll run around trying to dodge it and it'll be so funny." Wally yelled, laughing to himself at the image.
"Sounds good, let's do it!"
"Arty, we need you!" Wally yelled across the tent.
"What do you want, Baywatch?" Artemis sighed as she made her way over to them.
"We need you to be part of our act. You do some juggling then Chuck and I will come along and you can fire whatever you're juggling at us with your bow. You in?" Wally told her, eyes wide in an attempt to sway her into joining them.
"Fine, I'm in. Juggling itself is kinda lame, and I like the idea of firing things at you." Artemis said, smirking.
"So it's settled. Sweet!" Wally cheered. "Can I wear face paint too?" he begged.
"Sure, kiddo. Whatever you want." Chuck smiled at the enthusiastic speedster. He led them to another tent to get ready.
"Hey kid, can I sit here?" Haly said quietly, but Robin still jumped at his voice.
"Sure, go ahead." He sighed. Haly sat down and looked at the trapezes.
"So why aren't you joining in with the others? They're all having a great time." Haly asked.
"Not my thing, I guess." Robin replied. Haly shook his head.
"I know that's not true, Dick." Robin jumped at the sound of his name.
"How do you know?" he asked the man he used to think of as his grandfather.
"A little bird told me, or rather, a bat." Haly laughed at his own joke. "Look kid, I know it must be hard for you to come back here. But I've never seen you this glum, and I don't like you. It doesn't suit you. What's up?"
"All I can think about is what happened. All the good memories are hidden behind this one terrible one. Batman told me to try and make the most of today, but I just can't." Robin sighed, shuffling his feet along the floor of the stands.
"Well, how can I help you make the most of today? I know what I'd like to see tonight. I'd like to see a Grayson fly on the trapeze one more time. Nothing would make me happier, and I have a feeling same goes for you." Haly said softly, smiling warmly at the boy.
"I don't think I could do it. Besides, I'm not dressed for it, and I don't have a costume." Robin tried to talk his way out of it, even though he was secretly dying to have one last go on the familiar trapeze.
"Funny you should say that, because I made some calls, and it turns out Bruce Wayne was more than happy to bring your old costume over here for the event. Nice guy, Bruce." Haly produced the old Flying Grayson's uniform from behind his back. Robin stared at it for a moment before a huge smile lit his face and he hugged Haly.
"Thank you so much" he whispered.
"Anytime, kid." Robin let go and took the costume. He gently folded it and stuffed it into the pocket of his hoodie.
"Oh, and Haly? Don't tell the others. I want it to be a surprise." Robin smirked as he ran down the steps of the stands and out of the tent.
"I won't, kid. Make me proud." Haly said quietly to himself.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. The next one will be up soon. Review! ~velvie
