TWO

After grabbing some refreshments the two girls re-joined their friends just outside the tent where the main show that was to open the circus for good was taking place. Of the six of them, only Kyle and Olive looked like they'd had a good time. The not-couple were sharing a box of popcorn.

"Why do you all look so down?" asked Olive as she munched on popcorn.

She was answered with various grunts and negations.

"Okay, if you don't want to talk about it let's just go inside." Olive grabbed Maps by the hand and led her and the others into the tent.

At the entrance to the tent they brandished their tickets and showed them at the miserable looking clown who waved them past without even checking. "Enjoy the show," he said in a tone of boredom.

The group settled down in their seats which were in the centre, three rows from the front. They slid along to the middle of the bench. Maps found herself in between Olive and Pom; on the other side of Pom sat Kyle then Colton then Warren.

A few minutes later Maps was dismayed to see who was sitting in the row in front of them. It was none other than Damian Wayne who was joined by Tim Drake who she'd met earlier, Bruce Wayne who she recognised from TV, and some old guy. Maps felt as if her chest had just gained ten tonnes.

"Oh no," Pom hissed in Maps' ear.

Maps gave Pom a disgruntled shrug and then glanced at Olive whose mood had gone from peaceful to wrathful in the few seconds it had taken Bruce Wayne to appear.

"I am dismayed that you chose to sit in these peasant seats father." Maps overheard the youngest complaining.

"Dick wanted us to sit here," Bruce Wayne said to his son. He put a hand round the boy's shoulders and tried to push him onto the bench. Bruce gave up and sat down himself.

"Quit complaining Damian," said Tim taking a seat beside Bruce.

"-tt-, unlike you I have class, Drake."

"Unlike you I have manners."

"Boys, must you pick a fight now," the old man spoke for the first time. Maps was surprised to hear he had a snooty British accent that Maps couldn't help grinning at. The old man had himself settled on the other side of Damian who was still standing. "Please sit down Master Damian. The show's about to start."

Damian sat down with reluctance.

"I'm sorry Alfred but Damian started it."

"You were the one who tried to command me to stop venting my frustrations, Drake."

Maps noticed that not one of the four looked at the others while they spoke except from the old man who watched the others with eager attention; it was very odd.

"Not now Tim," Bruce said.

"You see how unfair this is, right?" Tim paused but when no one answered he continued. "Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot. Damian can't do anything wrong."

Bruce sighed through his nose but it was louder and longer than any normal sigh. "I'm not having this discussion right now Tim. Please be quiet."

Tim looked up at the ceiling and slouched in the bench. "Favouritism," he mumbled.

"That's right; I'm the favourite because I'm the best." Damian folded his arms smugly. "You, Drake, are the worst."

Maps found herself amazed at how arrogant Damian was being. She'd remembered as him as kind and heroic when she thought back to how they met but now she wasn't so sure if she'd only imagined him being that way; today was proving her thoughts true.

"Damian, Tim, please. You know I don't have a favourite son."

"That's because you only have one to choose from, father."

"I have four, Damian."

"If any of the rest of us had done the things he'd done you'd throw us out." Tim turned to look Bruce in the eye for the first time.

"That's not true." Bruce returned his stare.

"Case and point: Jason."

"-tt-, you're acting like a petulant child, Drake. What's gotten into you? Oh, I forgot, you're always like this." Damian scoffed.

"We'll talk about whatever it is that's on your mind later and in private," Bruce said ignoring the youngest Wayne.

Tim grumbled something but went back to staring at the empty performance space which was concealed by a fire curtain that encircled it.

Once they'd been quiet Maps hissed "weirdoes" into Pom's ear.

"I couldn't agree more." Pom snorted like a pig.

Olive looked towards the other two, trying to figure out what they were talking about, but gave up when she realised they probably weren't going to explain.

Maps leaned into Pom's ear again and whispered. "We should investigate them. Maybe they have some dark family secret like they're in the court of owls or something."

"That's a great idea, Maps." Pom rolled her eyes. She didn't even try to be quiet.

At the sound of Maps' name Damian glanced around to the row behind. Maps and Pom both caught him looking.

"Hi, Damian," Maps flounced with a malicious wave.

"Uh, hi."

When Damian spoke the other three turned to look around. Bruce spotted Olive and smiled at her. "Hello there, Olive. I didn't see you before."

The other three turned away but not before Tim gave Pom wink.

"Hi, Mr Wayne," Olive said with the loathing seeping through her voice. She managed a smile but it looked sinister to Maps; Maps imagined Olive making that look as she was eyeing up Bruce to murder him.

"How are you?"

"I'm good thanks, Sir. You?"

"Wonderful. Well, enjoy the show." Bruce Wayne turned to face the front as the sound of a tinny trumpet fanfare blasted through the speakers. There were a few groans from the audience at the poor sound quality but most people started clapping which died down after several seconds.

The lights dimmed in the audience and the bright yellow stage lights went up on the curtains. Then the curtains withdrew to reveal the stage. On it were various circus apparatus waiting to show off the performers talents but there was no one on stage to use it.

A few moments later a handsome young man cartwheeled onto the stage wearing a full-length blue bodysuit. He landed centre stage with elegant grace to a chorus of clapping and hooting. Once in the centre he bowed low to the ground. He stood upright and beamed at the audience. "It's a pleasure to welcome you all, the good folks of Gotham city, to the re-opening celebration of Haly's circus. It's taken us a while but finally Haly's circus is delighted to be able to open its doors and welcome you to enjoy the hopefully many years of stunning shows from our talented performers. So without further ado, please put your hands together for the opening of Haly's circus. For our first act please welcome daring Dan, the fire eater." There was a round of applause from the audience and the young man bowed again before moving off stage.

A man dressed in red carrying two burning torches came onto the stage. His movements were both graceful and powerful and the way he controlled the flames had the audience both in complete awe and absolute uncertainty.

After daring Dan there was a group of gymnasts who performed a dazzling routine with ribbons and clubs. Then there was a magic show by Zatanna which had Pom on the edge of her seat trying to memorise every incantation. After that a breath-taking trapeze act from the guy who'd introduced the show, who revealed himself to be the last of the Flying Grayson's and Haly's circus' new manager. Anyone who'd been looking would have noticed Bruce Wayne paralysed throughout his entire performance but all eyes had been captivated by Dick so his fear was overlooked. He was followed by a group of dogs doing impressive tricks. Then there was a clown performing various tricks and jokes. Then a contortionist and various acrobats. And to finish the show all the performers came back on stage to give their bows to a massive round of applause and a standing ovation.

The crowds filed out with high spirits. It was the first time in months that an event so large and public in Gotham city had gone untouched by criminals but maybe the threat that the Justice League might be guarding such an event had kept any do-badders away.

"That was sooooo cool!" Maps shouted at her brother over the excitement of the rest of the audience."

"Yeah, it was," Kyle said. He guided his little sister towards the exit with a hand on her back as they followed the rest of the group. "Especially the was that guy was flying on the trapeze.

"Nah, the best bit was the doggies."

"You're both wrong," Pom said, turning around to face the pair. "The best bit was Zatanna."

Olive agreed with Pom and Colton with Kyle. When he didn't offer an opinion Maps asked Warren which he enjoyed most.

"Oh, uh," Warren said. "I like the dogs. They were cute."

"Yes, yes they were," Maps said. "We need a seventh opinion to find out which was truly the best."

The rest of the gang agreed with her but never managed to find that seventh opinion.