Story 14: Romeo is the Sun

"Romeo, Romeo, where art thou Romeo?" cried Dick. He swept his gaze dramatically from one side of the room to the other. Loose pieces of the mop on his head swung over his eyes as he did so.

Tim was going to play Romeo in his high school production of Romeo and Juliet. He had enlisted his older brother's help to practice his lines. Unfortunately, Dick wasn't taking it seriously. Dick, true to character, had good naturedly agreed to read the part of Juliet so Tim could practice Romeo. Of course with Dick, one always gets more than one bargains for.

Dick decided to get into character to do the role justice for Tim. Of course, this being Dick and all, the meant semi-mocking the character and turning one of history's most famous tragedies into a comedy. At the moment, Juliet was wearing the top of Alfred's mop on his head as a wig and a Bruce's bedsheet as a dress (it looked more like a slack toga). Whenever anyone walked into the living room, they burst out laughing.

"Dick! Stop," pleaded Tim, "I'm laughing too hard to concentrate.

"Laughter is the best medicine for nerves," said Dick with a smile that could rival the brilliance of a supernova.

"At least get rid of the toga! It's impossible to think straight when every time I look at you, I crack up."

Dick adjusted the bed sheet over his shoulder. "I'll have you know Juliet would never be seen without her dress on. It's absurd. Romeo, thou pervert!" He said the last part in his high-pitched Juliet voice.

"Please!" cried Tim, "my stomach hurts."

"No dice in the covering Romeo. You'll have to marry me first."

Tim groaned. "You're impossible!"

Back in the foyer, Alfred opened the door for Stephanie Brown. She walked in a little awkwardly. It had been some time since she had been to the manor. "Hey Alfred. Is Tim here?" she inquired.

"Tim's in the living room with Juliet," Jason supplied in passing.

Stephanie's eyes widened on two accounts. The first being, that she was stunned to see Jason at the manor and acting civil. The second being, that he had just told her Tim was in the living room with Juliet. Her face turned red with anger. Who was this Juliet? How dare Tim to this to her after they had just gotten back together?

She pressed her back against the wall leading into the living room and listened. She heard Tim's unmistakable voice say "Juliet, how I love thee." Stephanie's face grew hotter. She clenched her fists by her sides and let her purse fall to the ground at her feet. She had to put an end to this. This Juliet had to leave and she had strong words of Tim too.

"Timothy Drake!" she shouted at the top of her voice, "how could you? Juliet?!" She stormed into the living room and stopped short. She had been expecting to see Tim with another beautiful girl, but instead, she just saw him standing awkwardly in the middle of the room holding a script. Dick was standing rather dumbfounded on the coffee table in a make-shift toga and a ridiculous looking mop head for a wig.

"Stephanie?" asked Tim hesitantly. The poor guy looked utterly baffled.

Stephanie's face reddened again, this time with embarrassment. "Jason said you were in the living room with Juliet. I assumed…I…I thought you were with another girl."

Dick's dumbfounded expression faded and he burst out laughing. "You thought I was…?...Haha, oh nice one Jay!"

"It could have happened to anyone!" Stephanie snapped.

"True," Dick conceded. He turned to Tim back in his mockery of Juliet character. "Another woman?" he screamed pitching his voice as high as he could. "Romeo, how could'st thou do this to me! Thou two faced jigalo!" Dick jumped off the coffee table and marched over to Tim. He smacked his brother with the script. "May thou findeth spiders in thy bed and fish in thy slippers, thou faithless donkey!" Dick stormed out of the room.

Stephanie and Tim turned to each other unsure of what to make of Dick/Juliet's dramatic exit. From the other room they heard Alfred say, "Master Dick! What have you done to my mop?" Then they heard Dick and Jason roar with laughter. Tim rolled his eyes. Brothers.

"Sorry about that Tim," said Stephanie nervously rubbing her elbow. "I was just jealous, I guess. I don't want to lose you again."

"You won't," he promised putting a hand on hers. "Would you take over for Dick and read Juliet's part?"

Stephanie nodded. She took Dick's abandon copy of the script and sat down on the couch next to Tim. They worked on the play together for a few hours before Alfred called everyone for dinner. Stephanie decided to stay for the meal and the two of them sat down together side by side. Dick came running in and did a flawless handspring over the table, landing on the other side of Stephanie. From the head of the table, Bruce shook his head and hid a grin behind his napkin.

The stately butler walked in with the salad bowl, bread roles, and a rather unimpressed look on his face. "Master Dick, how many times have I told you that such shows of hooliganism are not to be displayed at the dinner table? How are you going to set a good example for Master Damien if you continue these antics?"

"I don't need to take an example from Grayson, Pennyworth. I already know proper table manners. Unlike some, I was not raised in a zoo," Damien stated matter of factly, casting a sideways glance at Dick.

Digging into his steak, Bruce decided to change the subject. "How's the play going Tim? Are you ready to perform tomorrow?"

"Of course I am," said Tim, but he wasn't as enthusiastic as he sounded.

"You know, Dick played Romeo at your age. He did a great job!" said Bruce.

"So I keep hearing at school," muttered Tim looking down at his plate.

"It was a truly magnificent performance," added Alfred, "I didn't know Master Dick could act."

"I was born a performer, Alfie. It's in my blood," said Dick.

"I was in a high school play, too," Jason put it, "I was the front half of the cow in Jack and the Bean Stock."

"How did you get stuck with that role?" asked Stephanie.

"I happen to have a very convincing 'moo'," Jason replied haughtily.

"Oh Todd. Are you sure it wasn't because you smelled like a cow?" asked Damien snarkily. And that started a food fight.

Really early the next morning:

After patrol, Tim and Dick were back in the living room working on, or trying to work on, the play. It was four in the morning and Dick had passed out on the couch with a copy of the script in his hand. Tim was sitting up, studying ever line again and again and again. Even though he could recite the entire play line for line, he still had nerves about performing.

He was fairly confident that he would remember his lines and Qs, but that wasn't the same thing as being prepared to perform. Ever since he had taken on this daunting role, people at school kept telling him about the people who played Romeo before him. His drama teacher, Mr. Louter, remembered Dick quite well. Dick had played Romeo years ago and to this day, Mr. Louter praised the performance. According to Louter, neither of the two Romeos since Dick had come close to matching the brilliance of his performance.

For Tim trying to pull off the same role as his brother, Mr. Louter's comments on the subject put tremendous amounts of pressure on him. Between homework for other classes, patrol as Red Robin, and the play, Tim was stressed almost to his limits. He hadn't had a decent night's sleep in weeks.

Tim looked over as his brother sleeping on the other couch. Of course Dick had to have played Romeo at the same high school. Dick was the "Boy Wonder" after all, and Tim was pretty sure he'd never out-grow that. Dick was the first Robin, the kindest person, the one most likely to take over as Batman (no matter what Damien said), and the first Romeo. He was everything. Heck, Dick even looked like the perfect Romeo.

Nerves on edge about the upcoming performance, Tim shook his older brother awake. "Come one Dick, wake up. I need your help here." And he hated to admit that. But if anyone to help him become a worthy Romeo, he was sure it was Dick.

"Tim, you know every line by heart. You could play the entire cast if you wanted to," said Dick sleepily.

"But I'm not ready."

"Yes, you are. What's this about, Tim? You never get nervous. You fight bad guys and kick butt as a super hero. This play should be, well, child's play."

Tim looked back down at the script. His eyes burned with fatigue. "I'm not a performer, Dick. You are."

A light bulb went on inside Dick's head and he pushed himself to a sitting position. "Is this about taking on the role after me?"

"No…well, maybe a little. I don't know…yes."

"Tim look at me. You took over as Robin, and you did a great job. This is the same thing. You'll do just great as Romeo. I know it. You've never failed at anything," said Dick standing. He put his hands on Tim's shoulders and pulled him up off the couch. "You need to get to bed. Romeo can't have big purple bags under his eyes."

"The make-up crew can fix that," Tim argued.

Dick just laughed but interrupted himself with a yawn.

Too tired to resist, Tim let Dick guide him up-stairs to his room. He flopped on his bed without bothering to change out of his jeans. He heard Dick slip out of the room and close the door behind him. Tim was asleep before Dick made it down the hall to his own room.

Later at school:

Tim was putting on yet another one of Dick's costumes. And just like when he first put on the Robin costume, he thought it looked ridiculous. A snazzy dresser, Romeo was not. He tried not to think about the bats flying around in his stomach as someone called, "twenty minutes to curtain". His fellow actors didn't seem to be suffering the same anxiety as he was.

He knew Alfred and Maggie were sitting in the front row on their second date. Bruce was there with Celina. Dick and Barbra were there. Stephanie was there with her supportive smile. Jason was there with the love of his life; his beer (he had smuggled it into the auditorium). And Damien was there with his scowl. Everyone was there to watch him. He should have felt supported but instead it just made him more nervous that they were watching.

He turned his head from the mirror as someone said, "excuse me sir, but this area is restricted. Actors and stage hands only."

"It's alright, Cloe," said Mr. Louter, "this is Dick Grayson."

Dick walked into the dressing area back stage. Tim felt so small and over looked as everyone in the cast ran up to talk to Dick about the time he played Romeo (most of them girls). A few of them even asked for his autograph. Mr. Louter put a hand on Dick's shoulder and said, "welcome back son. I hear you're a cop in Bludhaven now."

"That's right," answered Dick.

Mr. Louter shook his head. "Well, if you do to Bludhaven what you did to this high school, that city is finished."

"Oh, ha ha," laughed Dick sarcastically. "Can I have a few minutes with my brother before the show?"

As if remembering Tim for the first time, Mr. Louter nodded. "Just be quick and get to your seat."

Dick walked over to Tim who was doing an Oscar worthy job hiding his nerves from anyone who didn't know him very well. To Dick though, he looked like a wreck. "Hey Tim, I just wanted to give you something and to say good luck. Not that you need it, of course." He put something very small into Tim's hand.

"Thanks Dick. A bracelet," said Tim, "just what I needed."

"Look at it carefully," said Dick laughing.

It was a worn, hand woven bracelet with a home-made plaster robin bead and a Bat. Between the two beads was a newer Nightwing charm made out of silver. "Barbra made this for me when I played Romeo and I'd like you to have it," Dick explained, "she told me the robin was to remind me of who I am and the bat was to remind me that I have family. I added the Nightwing charm this morning for you. I know Nightwing means more to me than he does to you; but I like to think he's a symbol that we can all become whoever we chose to be. It doesn't matter who's shadow we're in."

Tim looked up at him. "Maybe."

Dick put a hand on his shoulder. "Tim, all you have to do is step under that spotlight, and you'll cast your own shadow." Time was up and Dick had to go back to the auditorium. He waved to Tim. "I'd say 'break a leg', but who really wants to do that?"

Tim looked back down at the little faded bracelet in his hand. It was nothing. Just a little token that could give him neither courage nor luck. Tim wasn't sentimental or superstitious. He thought about putting it on the desk as he headed into the wings. But something stopped him. He slipped it around his wrist and tucked it under his sleeve.

The play was starting. The pre-show voice was welcoming the audience and the music started to play. The bats in his stomach here going wild now. Tim nervously rubbed his wrists to wipe the sweat off his palms. That's when he felt the bracelet. Without knowing what he was doing, Tim fingered the Nightwing bead. Dick's words rang through his head, all you have to do is step into the spotlight, and you'll cast your own shadow. Suddenly he understood the little Nightwing on his wrist.

Tim squared his shoulders and walked onto the stage. He stepped under the spotlight and saw his shadow. He smiled. The play began. And then it ended. The entire audience was on their feet giving them as standing ovation. When Tim took his bow, they screamed and cheered. Tim spotted Dick behind Alfred and Maggie. There was a proud smile on his face.

When Tim got back stage after the show, Stephanie rushed over to him and clamped him in a tight hug. "You were amazing!" she cried.

"Well done," said Bruce walking up with Celina who nodded in agreement.

"A magnificent performance, Master Timothy!" Alfred beamed.

"Not bad, replacement," said Jason giving him a rare approving two thumbs up.

"It was an acceptable performance. Congratulations, Drake," said Damien.

Tim smiled at all of them. But his eyes shone when he saw Dick come up behind them pushing Barbra's wheel chair. Her smile was radiant as she congratulated him. Tim accepted her praise gracefully but rushed past everyone and tackled Dick in a bear hug. Out of character? Well, maybe. But he was just that happy.

"I did it, Dick! I did it!" he said.

Dick's arms tightened around him. "I knew you would."

"And you were right about everything. Thank you."

Just then, Mr. Louter walked up to the two boys and put a hand on each of their shoulders. "An extraordinary performance Tim! That was the best I've see the role done in long time. I'm very proud of you, Timothy. In fact, the critics have asked us to add another performance. Are you up for it?"

"Yes sir!" said Tim with genuine enthusiasm.

In the car on the way home, everyone talked about how wonderful the show was. Dick was characteristically the loudest of the bunch. But Tim remained silent with one hand in Stephanie's and the other fingering the bracelet. Maybe he didn't believe in luck, but he believed in Nightwing. And he believed in himself.

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed the story.

Coming Up Next: Family Portrait