The Orphan
His family was amazing. Standing by the sidelines, watching them as he had before when they practiced in the empty ring. He had always wanted to go up there, be with them like before.
However, his mother had told him that he would have to wait until the next city-Gotham- to join them up on the trapeze.
For little Dick Grayson, only eight years old, it was equally frustrating and exciting. He had always wanted to go up there with them and now he'll get a chance!
After the show, with the next day off, the Graysons had intended to spend the day together and to see what was here in Central that was interesting. It was a famous city that boosted on having a hero named Flash.
Dick wonders in such a seemingly friendly town, who this person was and if he would show up. He's over heard the customers chat idly about the man and something about a rumored Flash museum?
He doesn't know why there would be one, but nevertheless, the boy happily chatted away about it to his brother and sister as the family winds down for the evening.
He even smiles brightly when his brother teases him and his sister gave him an affectionate kiss on top of his head before they all gathered around his father who told stories about monsters and heroes. He leans against his mother's side as she mends one of the costumes to fit him in the next town.
His eyes close slowly as the story weaves itself into his dreams. The hero flies to the rescue of the princess...
It was an utter nightmare to one Barry Allen who had to appear on the scene. Just because he was the Flash and the Flash did heroic things by stopping villains, did not mean he could save everyone and everything from harm.
For this once, he wished he could.
Instead, the grim forensic scientist shifts through the rumble and dirt finding clues on who would kill this family from the circus. Four bodies had been taken and he knew he would have their clothing soon enough to examine. Some said it was gangs that have moved in, others hinted at the mafia or something that the ringleader owed.
It didn't matter. What did matter, however, was the fact that the youngest member was missing and Barry didn't want to think about it.
Later, almost a month after the family was buried and the circus had left, Barry was currently living with his wife, Iris, in their two story home located in a quite suburb of town.
Things were normal so far, Iris was upstairs working away on her laptop for her latest report and Barry was finishing up his on the dining room table with a bowl of chips and a few other things that he ate while working.
That was when he heard it, a trashcan lid fell loudly on the ground outside. At first he thought it was just a raccoon but the rattling continued on for a few more moments.
Annoyed for the moment, he leaves his place and went to investigate before he spots it.
Or rather him. A scrawny little boy with rags for clothes eating out of the trash can.
"Hey, don't eat that!" Barry said loudly startling the boy who had equally startling blue eyes. There was a tense moment before the boy turned to run away, fearful of what would happen to him.
Barry couldn't allow this, even as he heard Iris call to him, he snaps in action to catch the kid. It didn't take him long to do so, even as the boy struggles against him and they entered the house.
"Barry, what in the world?" Iris looks at him as he sat the child down.
"He was eating from the garbage." her husband said, "I can't just.."
"I know." There was no fight here. After all, she had lost her only nephew not too long before so she felt more for the kid than usual. "Come on, lets see what's left that you haven't eaten."
Only a nod there, but Barry turned to the kid frowning a bit. He's seen him before hadn't he?
Still, after feeding him and letting him use the bathroom, giving him Wally's old pj that were kept there, Barry realizes where he had seen him before.
He was the kid from that Grayson case. With that realization along with a few others, Barry didn't want to send the kid away. He's worked enough cases to know how the system works. A kid like Dick, would probably have little chance to place in a home because he's so old with that background of his. Not many people would want to put in the work. Not to mention he could have valuable information that could lead to the arrest of the culprits that killed his family.
When the child was put to bed in the spare room, Barry spoke with his wife about it. It's no wonder why they worked so well because she was about to propose the same thing.
They would foster him and in time that the couple came to know him, they eventually adopted him on his ninth birthday- which apparently was also the time they found out that he knew that Barry was the Flash.
When asked, Dick had only grinned at them and said the clues were obvious- "Especially your voice. Might wanna change that."
It wasn't too long after that that Dick began helping Barry with the rogues that cropped up in Central City.
To which now, a few years later, Barry can honestly say he couldn't imagine not having Richard Grayson-Allen as a member of their family.
Even if they're still missing one.
AN: Rating may go up, depending on my muse.