Ok there is something I got to say first. To the guest that reviewed with the biggest essay analysing what seemed like the entirety of DC comics, thanks for the review.

Hope you all enjoy this next part of the story and chuck us a review and tell your mates to give this a read.

Catch yas

Dick awoke in his room after an exhaustive night by the computer. He was beginning to finally understand what horses went through when they raced. All of that effort just to run around in circles and end up right where you started, with nothing.

He groggily got out of bed and made his way to the bathroom. He felt as if his mind was still asleep as he made the effort to walk, and found that his reflection in the bathroom mirror only confirmed how he felt. His hair was sticking up at all angles and the dark circles around his eyes were especially prominent this morning.

Beginning to work at his appearance, Dick took extra care to make sure he looked his best. He knew that Haley and the rest of the circus would never care for his looks but that didn't mean he didn't want to try and impress them. He didn't know how long it would be until he saw them again.

Finally completing his look he became increasingly aware of the smell of pancakes originating from the kitchen. An opportunity too good to miss.

"Morning Alfred." Dick greeted as he walked in to see the butler busy at work.

"And good morning to you, Master Dick."

"Boy, those smell really good, Al." Dick sneakily went to grab one of the pancakes off of the plate. Alfred made such a fuss about eating in the dining room. He was old fashioned that way.

"Put. The pancake. Down." Alfred hadn't even turned around before protecting the breakfast.

Dick laughed. "Aww man. How do you do that? There has to be eyes in the back of your head or something."

Alfred tutted. "There is nothing that transpires in this household without my knowing. I would have thought this was a lesson learned already."

"Still doesn't explain how." Dick muttered under his breath.

"And you never will."

Dick was caught by surprise by his reply. The fact there was a reply at all.

After breakfast Dick tidied up after himself and went to collect his things. He had bought a bus ticket to Bludhaven to see the circus rather than getting Alfred, or even Bruce if he was around, to drive him. He felt that anything circus related was something for him to do personally. To carry out with complete independence.

"Off so soon?"

Dick was at the front door when he twisted his head and saw the billionaire playboy coming down the stairs.

"Morning Bruce. Yeah I'm just heading out for the day. I'll be back before long, since I made plans later tonight."

Bruce looked at him carefully before the edge of his lips began to curl upwards. "You know, I'd be happy to drive you there myself."

What!? How did he know? To this day Dick still wondered whether it was Bruce that taught Alfred or the other way around.

"Umm, no thanks. I'm good for today."

"Bludhaven is quite a dangerous place for anyone so please be careful."

"That place doesn't scare me. See you later Bruce."

Dick gave a wave and headed out of the door. The bus trip wouldn't be long but it would definitely be a boring one.

He should have known the minute he felt his phone vibrating in his pocket that things would have ended like this.

"I swear dude that I am the worst best friend ever. Every time you go to that circus I should be there with you and every time I'm not."

Dick wondered why he had admitted telling him in the first place that he had decided to go because he knew he would get this reaction. It was nice to know that someone cared but at the same time he wanted time to himself, even more so when it came to personal matters.

"Look, I'm a big kid now and I'm only dropping in to say hi. These people are my family, Wally."

"You know I trust you man but I can still worry."

Dick sighed. "I'm sure you can find someone back at the mountain to keep you entertained for the rest of the day."

"No one does anything around here and those that do only cause fights."

"Wally…" Dick stopped to think. "I think you and Artemis need to make some boundaries with each other. You two have totally not been feeling the aster lately."

"I don't get her problem. I mean she has always been this way, feisty and aggressive, but I'm taking the full force of it all. She never lets me talk and always shuts me down the moment I get near her. That's if she even lets me with the way she's been avoiding me."

Wow. That answers the question about whether his super speed can be used by his mouth. That was like a million words a second.

"I think you two just need some time to catch your breaths. Take it easy for a bit and just work on the friendship and not try force anything. I think she'll appreciate that." By 'think' he meant 'knows'.

"Alright I'll do that. Thanks for helping me out even though it was me calling to see how you were."

"That's just what I do. I'll see you later back at the mountain. Bye."

Dick hang up his phone. He was 15 minutes away from his destination and the excitement was nearly uncontrollable at this point.

"You know, it used to be the sight of a Grayson on the trapeze that was my favourite thing. Now, the sight of one walking through my door is growing on my quite a bit."

Mr Haley embraced the young man that had come to visit him. He was getting older now but he still held that fatherly aura about him. To Dick, Haley was the circus version of Alfred. His second grandfather.

"It's good to see you too. I've missed you. I've missed everyone."

"I'm glad to see you too kid. You do know that we were stopping in at Gotham next. You didn't have to go through all of the trouble getting away from the skyscrapers and mansions to come out here to see us."

"No. No, I wanted too. I suppose I couldn't wait any longer."

Dick grinned at the man and received a look of pure happiness in return. He often thought about joining back with the circus, just for a small time, and performing again. If he didn't have so much responsibility at the moment there would be no doubt that that's what he would be doing right now.

"In that case why don't I give you a tour around and show you some of our newest toys. Wouldn't want to keep you waiting any longer than we already have. Then after that you can join us all for a feed."

"I'd like that. Thank you."

The day had gone better than he could have ever imagined. He had been able to catch up with all of his old friends and even meet some of the new members, who seemed awe struck about meeting Bruce Wayne's son. He was going to correct them and inform them that he was just his ward but decided that he didn't want to ruin the mood.

Everyone had since started to prepare for their show tonight, since it was a Sunday night and people loved getting out on the weekend. Hopefully the night wouldn't be ruined by the small group of people in dark suits that had just walked through the door.

A thick and husky British accent quickly filled the room. "I'm 'ere to see the manager, if you people would be so kind."

Dick quickly recognised the man. The penguin. He stood in the centre of all of his thugs with his characteristic monocle and his umbrella, which he knew was actually a gun, that he loved to use just for the sport of it.

"That would be me." Mr Haley stepped in front of his family. "What can I do for you gentleman?"

Penguin made a hand signal to indicate to his men that they start spreading out around the area. "I'm 'ere for a little business I fink. You see, this town ain't the safest and people could get 'urt if no one looks after them."

Haley crossed his arms and scrunched up his face. "And I'm guessing that you would be able to protect us?"

"Why yes." The penguin almost spat in his face. "Imagine if things get broken and no one is around to help."

Penguin gave another command to his men and they began smashing things around them. Dick stepped in and demanded that they stop. He has a bad habit of putting himself in danger when people trespass at the circus.

"What's this then?" Cobblepot looked Dick up and down. "Looks like Bruce Wayne's kid."

Dick was suddenly being pointed at by the super villain and was hit by one of the men to his side across the face. Before he could even stumble to the floor he was picked up by another two before getting another beating from a third guy in front of him. This would never usually happen to him but he was Dick Grayson at the moment. He was defenceless.

In between his small attempt of a struggle Mr Haley had managed to get him away to safety.

"Alright I'll pay. Just leave us alone. I'll give you want you want."

Dick was hurting but it was nothing serious. The worse might be the pain in his left cheek that would most likely swell up nice and big. Perfect for him.

"I'm sorry, mate. That's just 'ow fings work around these parts. Nothing personal." Penguin then took a moment to survey the room. "This place is nice and spacious isn't it? Being so portable it must take some time to set up."

Haley didn't respond. This man had already overstayed his welcome.

Before leaving, Dick found the penguin's umbrella being swung towards his face and colliding with a force he didn't expect from an old man like him. It had knocked him down to the ground and he could already feel the blood starting to fall from his eyebrow.

Cobblepot finally left so that the circus, and Dick, could be cleaned up. Dick felt a familiar jolt from his pocket as his phone went off yet again while the circus nurse, who he presumed had minimal training, bandaged him up. This time it was an alarm he had set the night before. The night he was with Zatanna. The night they made plans to go out tonight.

He was going to have to explain his new injuries to her but that was going to be a lot harder than it should be. Why would Robin go to Haley's circus? This is why he hated lies.