(A testing of morals for Robin. I really hope I keep him IC.
Read my one shot Freakshow before you read this… that is a necessity to understand what is going on.)
"A circus?!"
Robin stared at the poster with utter amazement. Sure enough, the Shadow Forest Circus was coming in town that night. Slowly, his expression turned to one of glee. He had so many good memories of the circus (other than the last one)… of course it wasn't his home one but still, it seemed like a good time to take a night off.
A boy with a black and white striped hoodie brushed next to him and paused when he saw the circus. "… Am I reading that right? Shadow Forest Circus?" He asked. Robin would've recognized the voice if he was honestly paying attention, but he didn't honestly care at the moment. "Yeah, isn't it great?" He said.
The boy pulled his hood lower so you couldn't see his eyes. "… No. No it isn't." He quickly took off. Robin looked at him in confusion… strange… it was almost like he didn't have proper eyes…
That night, Robin and Starfire went on a double date with Sarah and Cyborg. Raven didn't want to go and according to Beast Boy, animals in cages made him queasy.
It was stunningly beautiful, the lights, the elegant costumes, the animals… but Robin remembered the reaction of the boy in the hoodie. He looked closer at the people, the animals… they seemed well cared for, the animals seemed very happy.
The ringmaster came into the center ring. "Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for your attendance tonight! And now, the moment you've all been waiting for- the Freakshow!"
Robin glanced off to the side and saw the familiar hoodie. This time, Hoodie-Boy wasn't alone. Several other people, with hoods over their features, were waiting. By their reaction, clenched fists, a girl holding onto the arm of the boy next to her in fear, Robin knew this was the part to keep his eyes open for.
Several people began coming out, most in were children or in their teens, but one or two could've been adults… but several were hideously deformed. Their limbs were too long, their skin was colors that no human had, one had two heads, and some had body parts of animals. A couple looked human, but they were missing limbs. Only one was totally intact, and that was a red haired girl, with her arms bound with chains.
The largest of the group gasped in surprise. One of the others, which was close in size, place a hand on his arm and slowly shook their head.
Robin knew that, although it was obviously supposed to appear otherwise, these people were very, very real. "Robin… I do not believe I like the freakshow. At all." Starfire whimpered. "You aren't the only one… wait… that skin… it's blue, but I think it's real!" Sarah said, squinting.
Cyborg used his scanner. "Sarah's right, Rob." He whispered. "I had a gut feeling after I talked to someone today that this was the case… After the show we have to get to them. Moving in now could cause problems." Robin decided. "And risk their lives." Cyborg agreed. "Oh…"
The oh was from Sarah. One of the younger teens, who was missing a leg below the knee, had their crutch taken away and was pushed down. The audience laughed, thinking it was a joke. The boy also laughed, but it was pained, fake laughter. "If I get my hands on that ringmaster's neck, he won't have a neck." The normally very calm blonde growled.
Robin glanced down at the hoodie group. "You might have to get in line." He noted.
The red haired girl walked up on a platform where a large, plain rock was. The chains were removed. "And now, for the grand finale, watch this seemingly plain girl change a rock… into gold!" The ringmaster announced. The girl had her hands a couple inches from the rock. The appearance slowly wavered, then it shone as pure as gold.
The crowd went wild. The girl bowed and her arms were instantly bound again. "Whoa, Robin, he wasn't joking! The actual metal compound of the rock, it's now gold!" Cyborg had his scanner out the whole time. "Whoa, anyone with that power could be rich!" Sarah was already seeing dollar signs. Robin glanced at the picture. "Hmm… it appears that already the effects are wearing off…" He mumbled. "Then… the transformation does not last forever?" Starfire guessed.
Robin nodded. "Probably why she isn't constantly being forced to use that power." He decided.
The lights went down and the crowds began leaving. Robin noticed a small crowd, all adults and mostly men were heading into a small closed off area of the tent. "Let's follow them. Cyborg, send a message to Raven and Beast Boy. Sarah, get outside." "Awww…" The blonde groaned but she followed the crowds out.
The hidden area of the tent was even larger than they thought. The titans managed to hide behind the stands. The freaks were all chained up and were obviously not looking forward to the next act. Some of the people had money out, and Robin got a twisting feeling in his stomach.
The Ringmaster walked in front of the crowd. "Oh, what lost, pathetic souls I have collected. Deformities beyond imagination… deformity!" He said, letting his hand rest on the red haired girl's shoulder. She jerked away.
His wicked smile only grew. Waving an arm out, he said, "And now, let the show-"
Before he could finish his sentence, a pink hex shot from a dark corner and hit his hand, obviously shattering a couple bones. The Ringmaster screamed in pain and clutched his hand.
"You will NEVER lead a show again."
The hoodies were now all gone. Robin now recognized the HIVE Five, plus Angel, Private HIVE, and Jinx. "All of you get out! Get out now!" See-More yelled, clearly now he was the boy in the black and white hoodie.
The audience screamed and fought to get out. Robin, Cyborg, and Starfire managed to climb onto the grand stands. "Jinx, I thought you were on our side!" Cyborg yelled. "I am. I'm just delivering justice." She said, eyes blazing.
The Ringmaster slowly came to an understanding. "You… you're all the missing children… except for the red suited one, the little one, and the one with the shield." He said, limping backwards, towards the line of children. "Yeah, well, we don't take kindly to people who hurt our friends." Billy sneered.
Jinx looked at Robin. "This doesn't concern you, Robin. Get out." She ordered. "You aren't the leader of the titans-" Robin began. "Do you WANT to know what this sick fuck did to us!?" Angel snapped.
The obviously infuriated teens spread around the tent. "Mammoth, Private HIVE, start cutting those guys loose." See-More ordered. "You dare do that and I'll…" The ringmaster trailed off as Kyd Wykkyd lifted up a hand and claws split through the end of the gloves. The 'freaks' began weeping and laughing with joy as both large teens began removing the chains.
The red haired girl instantly wrapped her arms around Mammoth's neck. "Baron…" She cried. "I'm sorry Selinda. I really am…" Mammoth said, hugging the girl back. Raven and Beast Boy came into the side of the tent. "Great, even more do gooders." See-More growled.
Robin glanced at See-More. "Look, I can tell you are doing the right thing, but if you do what I think you are going to do to the ringmaster… you'll end up in prison for life." See-More chuckled mirthlessly. "I already should be in there for like twenty years for stealing so much. And it was Jinx's idea." Robin glared at the pink haired girl. Jinx didn't look sorry. "He deserves the death penalty, but the court won't guarantee it. Hell, he might get away with a slap on the wrist. Just let me hex his heart, it'll stop."
The ringmaster began pleading. "Please, don't kill me… I'll do anything, just don't kill me." Private HIVE smacked him over the head. "Shut the hell up." He growled.
It was Beast Boy who surprised Robin. "… Maybe we should let her… I mean… he is a dirtbag…" He muttered. "B, what the heck? It's murder!" Cyborg snapped. "What he did to these children is worse than murder." Raven said.
Jinx smirked. "Robin, you're the leader of the titans. Either you can look away, like would be the right way to do this… or you'll fight us and the ringmaster will end up taking more innocent kids."
Robin was caught. He glanced at the ringmaster, and back at Jinx. "I…" He didn't know what to say. His morals said put him in jail, but he remembered the Joker, every time Batman let him go, he just got free again and killed more people, as a never ending cycle.
It was Selinda who solved the problem.
Selinda released her brother from the hug and cross the floor. She set a hand, almost comfortingly, on the Ringmaster's shoulder… and her hand glowed.
The ringmaster realized what was happening. "Wait, no!" He screamed, but it was too late. He turned into glass, his face frozen in fear.
Selinda sighed. "You idiots were arguing too much and he looked like he was gonna make a run for it. Klarion?" The blue skinned boy, who just had a collar with several runes removed from his neck by the two headed girl, grinned. "Rettash." He said, snapping his fingers.
The statue which used to be the ringmaster shattered into several thousand pieces. "Nice spell. And now, no one shall see him ever again. No problems." Selinda said. Robin was still shocked because of the murder. Starfire buried her face in her hands.
Holding onto her brother's arm, Selinda said, "Let's go. I wanna leave this place and not come back… those who want to come with us, go ahead." The HIVE walked out, along with Jinx. Had she decided to leave forever? Robin wasn't sure.
Klarion thought it over. "So long!" He said, dashing out, yelling, "Wait for me!" The two heads of the girl quietly discussed it before following as well.
All the others looked at the titans. "… Can you help us instead?" The timid boy missing a leg asked. "Selinda scares us." Another boy with yellow skin blurted out.
Robin looked at Cyborg. "… Call the police. Tell them… we lost track of the ringmaster. We'll find a place for these guys." The group began cheering.
For the rest of his life, Robin would wonder if he had made the right choice.
However, there were bigger problems… such as a group of anti-hero meta-humans calling themselves 'The Liberators' fixing the problems of the world their way.
(I may or not call this verse the Freak Show verse…
If you want more from this, tell me in the reviews.
Bye byes, remember to review!)
