Richard Grayson Wayne (also called Dick) pow

Dick was overjoyed today, he was going to see his dad, certainly returning from patrol and getting his bros and sis for dinner . He just finished his job at the police crime investigation of Bludhaven and is merrily riding his bike to also get his brothers. He bought a lot of present in his home way for his sisters and brothers. He also bought something for his asshole/best brother/annoying little brother Jasy but he will tease him and then give it. He was already picturing the annoyed face of his cute Jazy, ahhh the happiness of creating frustration. The vibrant and happy smiles of his sisters, the annoyed but tsundere reaction of his minx of a brother Damian. The overjoyed expression of his little Tim. Finally the quiet yet the happiest smile of his Dad and Alfred looking over us . God, he wanted to already be there. Haaaa, if somebody told me this would be my life at the death of his parents, he would have certainly killed them. He zoomed past the traffic with skill only a world class driver and acrobat could ever hope to achieve.

Richard Wayne, man of 21 with blue eyes and jet black hair. His face and jawline would make most of the woman fall for him. He looks like the typical rich/pretty boy having the best life in the world . That statement is the furthest from the truth. Richard lost his parents at the tender age of 8, he still was big enough to remember each day that event. This shattered all his hopes and dreams, he thought it was the end. He had no one except his mom and dad. He always just wanted to be a good acrobat, please them and live happily taking care of them in their old age. It was a simple wish, but it was always enough for him. Their family were first of all runaways, his mother and father fell in love and had him very young. The rest of their lives, they spent it for his happiness and helping him study at their circus and taught him their art. He was glad, he was mature enough to understand the sacrifices his parents made for him. So he devoted himself to be happy, cheerful and the light for them.

Flashback Gotham graveyard

When he was at their graveyard, in front of their tombs, he didn't cry. He was broken, he lost his purpose, his life but he didn't cry. He never cried, father and mother taught him that when you cry, it doesn't bring happiness. He should search for it, even in the darkest hours, that's what is happiness, father told that. They would be sad if they saw him cry. That day in front of their tombs, he just stared, nobody with him, he was all alone in this world. He would certainly get into an orphanage, be adopted for the money and when they got sick of him, he will be thrown outside. What did he expect, the world isn't kind, there isn't free kindness in this world. He should have known that from the years he spent with his parents. The people who engaged them always had ulterior motives. They wanted to see their acts, but never paid upfront, always sneaky. They tried to get what they want without considering others needs or situation. Selfishness is the biggest sin in Richard's opinion, at the tender age of 8.

That was when he noticed a man next to him in this thunderous and rainy season. The man was holding a black umbrella over him, protecting him from rain. What is this dude doing ?

He turned his eyes slowly and he saw him.

He was tall, really tall, easily 2 m. He was big and looked strong, really strong, it felt like like he was stone, unmovable, unchangeable incorruptible . For an unknown reason, when he was near him, he felt… safe. Yes, safe, he felt like nobody could touch him. He felt it, this man would always protect him like a silent guardian. He would ask nothing in return, no thanks, no compensation, no kindness, nothing. He would protect him… as… if it were…. his duty. He would look after him like a mother would after their children with love and care or a father with the same strong protectiveness. He jumped away from his thoughts, what is he thinking, did he really dream of being this man's child. He scoffed, idiot, don't be naïve, he was becoming pathetic . He still asked questions because as always, Richard was talkative and a curious child.

" Who are you, old man ? I would like to mourn in peace, the mourning for the outsiders finished long ago. So you are not obliged to stay here with me " he stated icily

The man didn't answer, he just looked silently at the tomb as if he was searching for an answer. Dick was annoyed, was this man deaf, his presence isn't welcome here, can't he get a clue and go away. He looked at the man's eyes, he had blue ones, like the bright sky on a sunny day , they were full… of emotion. He didn't know which one, but he knew he felt something. Was he a close acquaintance of his parents, but they would have told him. He also wears extremely nice clothes, a black tux covering his whole body to his neck. He spotted a few scars and burn marks going out of it, wasn't he a rich boy. How did he get scars ? They look a bit nasty too? Isn't he always protected? . He also wore hand gloves but he put his hands in his pocket. Why is he wearing gloves, who knows. Who cares anyway.

He breathed a bit, well let's trying to be a bit civil and spoke again " Look old man, I don't know who you are, and frankly I don't give one shit. I thank you for holding an umbrella for me in this rain. I would certainly get a cold. Tomorrow when the orphanage bastards would take me, things would have gone bad. They would trash me up for giving them medical expenses to pay immediately at the first day there . You have my gratitude for getting me out of that problem. I don't know how you know my parents but .. "

The man cut me off and I heard a deep baritone voice.

" Richard, I know your parents, I knew them very well, they were one of the few people I considered as my friends… best friends. I met them before you were born, it was a long time ago."

His voice was strong as much as his body apparently, it radiates self confidence, control, patience, wisdom and intelligence. This man was visibly a smart-ass. But boy you are for a surprise because so am I.

" Oh, I see…. Well that's… great. I'm sorry I didn't know you, I mean it is the first time I met you. They never talked about you " I said awkwardly, well good job Grayson, you just sputtered and made yourself a big fool, some smart-ass you are .

The man shook his head and smiled a little. But for an unknown reason, it seemed painful for him.

" I know Richard. I know. I know that you don't know of me. But I know you well, really well. It is also normal that you parents never talked about me. I asked them to promise me to never talk about me to you. Don't worry, you aren't rude or anything, it's perfectly normal. " he finished patiently.

I became quite quizzled at this, well isn't this a mystery. A man who know my parents before my birth, he also said that they were his best friends. He knows about me well, a bit too well. He also knows that the fact that I don't know about him is due to him. Hmmm why do I feel like talking to a generic mysterious villain who will kidnap me and torture me to reveal my secret superpowers ?

The man spoke again while chuckling, it felt real, a genuinely happy laugh, for a strange reason, I liked it a lot. I wanted to hear it more. Strange

" No Richard. I am not here to kidnap you and torture you to reveal you non existent latent superpowers. I am certainly not a villain, mysterious and secretive yes, but villain no. Also here is a piece of wisdom Richard, villains don't exist.. " He paused and coughed a bit and continued

" I thought that you knew that well, I hope you are not like the other naive boys thinking that the world is only shades of black and white. "

I scoffed at that, of course I know that. What did he take me for, a newborn toddler. I stated firmly and little like a child arguing with a parent

" I am not that stupid, stupid. I know that the world is shades of grays. There isn't completely bad guys nor completely good guys. There is only middle ground, people strive for their own goals and selfishness. It will always go in contradiction with others who view the opposite end of the spectrum or the same. It will result in is normal. You can't change that. I know that already, thank you. I am not dumb, I am wise and intelligent " I finished with a childish hmpfh and elevation of the head.

The man smiled and chuckled next to me. He ruffled my hair which I was pretty annoyed. I was doing a poor job of showing it apparently with my " stop that old man " and " cut it out ".

" I never said you were a naive, nonwise or unintelligent Richard. I am sure that you are quite experienced, wise and intelligent boy… "

I yelled a " I am not a boy but an adult " which fell in deaf years.

He smiled and turned to the tombstone " Can I ask you a question Richard. If you are inconfortable, you don't have to answer "

I blinked, he asking for the permission to ask me a question. Hmfph, at least he respect me a bit. Well I can get behind that. I don't have to answer if I don't want to anyway.

I scratched my ears and told " Ask away it's gonna be dumb anyways for the adult me. "

He grinned then his face shifted and became serious.

" I was there when you parents fell Richard. I was in the backstage . "

I stiffened, is he joking, Doesn't he have any tact. I am in the graveyard of my parents and he makes me remember the loss of my parents here. He is such a jerk, to think that I lik…

He cut my thought of

" If I were to tell you that I would have been able to save your parent but in exchange I would have had to condemned the life of thousands of people who were there in return . Would you have accepted it ? "

I paused, what is he saying. He said he could have saved my parents but if he did that, he would have had to leave all the people there to die. Is he asking me if I would have accepted it ?

What should I say? Of course I want my parents to live, I would give anything for it in return. But is the lives of all the people there worth it. There were hundreds of families like mine, toddlers, children's and parents. Could I sacrifice all of them to have my parents back ? What should I say, what should I do ?

The man stared at me waiting for me to speak , I looked up, and there was hope, kindness, understanding, regret, sorrow. What should I say to this man? What answer do my heart really says ?

The man spoke suddenly, his tone was gentle, it was almost like music.

" Richard, I know. I may seem like an idiotic old man. I know I seem like a jerk and an ass. I also know that I am suspicious and you don't have any obligation to trust my words or answer me. I know I am asking you an extremely difficult and hard question at such an impossible timing . I also know the obvious answer you would be tempted to give to me. I understand all this because despite what you think of me, I am quite similar to you in more ways than you can imagine. I only ask this Richard. Listen to you heart, it will give the most tempting and the obvious answer but listen to your mind and soul. It will give you the real answer, that is the true answer. "

He spoke patiently and slow as if he were talking with an equal, not a child, or an orphan but an equal to him. It was like I was seeing an 8 year old boy talking to me. I closed my eyes and listened to him. I saw my parents, they were beautiful, they were flying like birds, happily as if nothing could ever stop this happiness that only they have. I asked them.

" Mother, Father. Is it really what you would have wanted, would you have wanted or liked me to sacrifice thousands of live and happy families like ours to my selfish happiness. Should I answer what my heart says. I… don't… know. Something inside me says it's wrong and that you would have not liked it, and it isn't the son you would have been proud of . Something says inside me that you accepted your deaths. It says you went away happily knowing everything would be alright. Is it true? Are you okay with everything that happened? Don't you regret anything? I regret not spending more time with you. I regret not being able to do anything at all to help you. I… just… regret.. all...this. Why ? Why did have to happen to us ? We always were good people, we never hurt anybody so why would this happen to us ? Is this a form of punishment ? Did I do anything wrong ? No I don't think so. You would have told me if I did wrong things. I tried to be like you wanted. I tried to do good things, never cry and be happy. I did everything that was asked of me…. I… do… n't… underst.. and…. " I want to be with you, I want to see you…

The man was still staring silently at the tombs. He didn't utter a word, he silently stayed besides me. He didn't mock my delirious moment. Unfortunately nobody gave me an answer, it seems like my soul and mind aren't here or they are also broken to pieces. Who am I kidding, there isn't anymore parents for me. I confused self-reflection with my non existing soul. There isn't any answer to my questions anyway.

The man spoke in a cold tone and slowly. He was still staring at the tomb with a smile.

" Richard… it is maddening, isn't it? You hope that they will guide you, answer or just give a sign. You wait and wait but you réalise at the end that the loneliness which they left is the only thing with you…."

I wiped my head toward him glaring furiously. How dare he do that. I tried to answer his question and he just answer me with the painful truth as if it was a gift. You bitch, can't he be considerate…

" YOU BASTARD.. I… TRIED TO DO… IT. I TRIED TO ANSWER AND YOU JUST SAY THAT AND YOU SMILE . JERK, IDIOT, I'LL KILL YOU ! "

While I was furious, I saw his face and that smile was bitter, painful, his eyes full of sorrow. Why is he like that ? Wasn't he insulting me ? Then what did he try to do?

" I… apo..logize… Richard. I am sorry if my tone was not appropriate. It was not voluntary, I get like this when I can't handle the situation. I went the same path that what you are going through now Richard. I asked them similar things to you… "

I stared at him, is he an orphan also ? I was becoming angry. I don't want pity or sympathy, he can't understand my pain, this rich guy has money. I bet he didn't even think about his parents when he got all they had. Still… why does a small part of me says it was the opposite…

"... But you know, they never answered me. I believed that my parents… would help me understand what...happened... but… nothing happened. Nothing changed . There were dead, they couldn't talk. The tombs didn't speak. The only thing there living was me. I… had an idea… Wha.. What.. if.. i join them. What if I die and be with them forever. What if all this is just an accident, an unfortunate sick accident. What if it all doesn't matter and if I die everything is gonna be okay. What if I will have an happy ending by doing that. "

I stared at the man. He… understands. He understands the pain. He isn't just a rich boy, he went through what I did. I listened to him.

" But then I remembered, it wasn't all just a sick accident. I was not strong enough to protect my parents, I didn't do anything. That is the reality. If I tried anything at all, I could have changed it. But unfortunately, I didn't do anything . I then questioned myself , what will happen at my death . I will die and a few people will come and in a few years there will only be the trace of a rich man living . It is … quite pathetic isn't it . I would at least like my end to be a bit more satisfying for myself . The way I choose my death wouldn't have made my parents proud or myself even. No it would be an end and pouf… finish no old man. Right Richard? " he asked

grinning

I was dumbfounded, it's true, dying here wouldn't mean anything. My parents died but if I also die, they wouldn't be happy or proud of me. He is right, but what should I do? I don't know the answer the the man's question because those people aren't here to give it to me. I am pretty sure, they would have refused. My parents are my héros, they wouldn't sacrifice someone for their own gains. I know that at least, they are good people, they would also want my happiness . How can I make my life meaningful now to honor them? I don't even know where to start to make them happy ? For some reason, it seemed like the man understood the confusion and the questions in my eyes. He eye smiled and spoke

" Richard, I can see the new questions in your eyes. The answers to those questions can only be answered by yourself, as I said, nobody can help you for that. But I think your parents left you some hints, the way they wanted you to be. You have to try to find that path. I have my utmost confidence in your ability to do that. I know my parents were good people, I thought the same things as you Richard. I tried to find my way of honoring my parents, my path wasn't easy, in fact it is quite a hard one. But when I remember what I do this for, it really is worth it. I believe wholeheartedly that your parents are good people. They would have liked you to be happy, show to the world how good of son they created, and I know you know it too. "

I was staring wide eyed. He knows, he knows how I feel. He has gone through that. I… am.. not… alone.

I stared at the man in the eyes. Those eyes didn't have deceit, that smile wasn't false. He doesn't expect anything from me. Why does he help me then?

The man smiles, I was a bit startled.

" I don't have any reason for helping you, Richard. Do you think there needs to be a reason to help or offer a hand for someone in need? "

No, no. He is right, there isn't anything wrong with helping someone for no reason. It is true.

I stared at him. What should I do now ? Who is there for me ? I am lost. I… want.. help.

The man smiled gently " Richard, I know that I am not someone that you trust… "I trust you though, more than all the other people that I have met in my life, for some strange reason old man. I trust you as much as my parents " I also know that you don't like me a lot… " I like you, I like you a lot. You helped me, you didn't ask me for anything but you help me sort through myself. I like you for that, and much more than I should, for some strange reason. " I also know that I am not the ideal person to help you… " No old man, if it was anyone else than you, I am sure they would not be able to understand me. You are really what… I...need.. now.

The man got on his knees.

" Richard, what I am about to ask of you will require you to put a bit of faith in this old man. I need you to understand this so please listen me.I saw you there, staring at your parents on the floor … " I flinched at that. The blood, the closed eyes and the small smile. "When I saw… that. Some part of me bounded me to you, l couldn't turn away from you . I promised myself to help you and love you for the rest of my life unknown to myself…"The man paused and his eyes began shimmering " I would like to guide you in your mistakes and protect you if you need me. I want to be there to show you the way when you are lost. I want to be there, near you when you are crying. " Tiny small drops began flowing from my eyes. They started slowly " I will never force you to accept me as you parent, caretaker, friend, guardian, an acquaintance or anything remotely close to a social relationship. I know that isn't what you need right now " More liquid flood from my eyes, they won't stop, why " I don't expect anything, I… want.. nothing." He put his hand on my cheek and wiped something. The old man looked me in with his eyes, his eyes were full of tears. The blue eyes showed nothing but kindness. " I just want to be there for you, somewhere small, insignifiant in your life. I… just.. I am.. Sorr"

Suddenly, something in my head snapped. I hugged him tightly, I clung to him for my dear life. Why, why do I want to trust this old man ? Why do I want this man's help. Why isn't he selfish. Why does he want me. Why does he accept . What does he get from showing kindness to an orphan like me. I don't understand. I don't understand anything. The only thing I know is that this man is kind. He knows my pain. He doesn't ask anything from me. He just wants to be near me.

Do I want that?

Is this what I want ? An old man, who looks rich, spoiled from appearance but is kind, loving and understanding of an orphan like me .

I want to trust him.. I want to have faith in this old man…

I pulled back.

For some strange reason.

I smiled.

My parents may not have left only loneliness

Maybe

Maybe they left…

Someone

Flashback end.