Title: The Daring Dangers

Summary: When the Justice League suspects Haley's Circus of stealing weaponry, they send Red Arrow to catch the culprits. While determined to complete the mission, a group of seemingly ordinary circus kids catch his attention. Could they have something to do with the mission? Or does this run far deeper than anyone imagined?

Disclaimer: I don't own Young Justice or any of its characters.

Sitting on the gravely terrain, clothes covered in blood and tears leaking from his face, Dick knew one thing for sure.

His life as he knew it was over.

Despite the sirens blaring in the distance and the yells of medical officers and policemen alike getting statements, the world seemed warily calm. Like there hadn't been two murders happening right in the middle of the circus.

And it's all your fault.

He'd known about the man, he'd heard the argument. He didn't warn them.

You're a coward. What will happen when the rest of your family finds out? They'll leave you too.

Wiping the tears from his eyes, Dick took a moment to look around. His blood family was dead, and he probably would be put in an orphanage somewhere. The lady said this was no place to raise a child, said she was gonna call someone. To wait right here. That because his parents, bless them, had no will, it would be easier.

So that's it? The voice taunted. You're going to give up? Just like you did on your parents?

Your family should be ashamed.

What was he to do? His family was better off without him. He was weak, he didn't deserve this life anymore.

"Dick?" Came a voice from behind. It was Russian, so it could only be one person. Anglia. Dick looked at her through his tears, noticing the usually stoic woman had a few of her own. "You not going to run, correct?" She didn't mean run, not really. He would never become a runaway.

But runaway from this life? Give up? It was something he had been thinking about.

"You deserve to be here, маленькая птица." She said firmly. "You are important. You have skills. We need you." With one firm grasp of his hands, Dick was pulled into a hug. You're wanted, she said, and nobody blames you. Don't run.

Taking a deep, shuddering breath, Dick pushed out of her hold, stood up, and looked toward his train car. That's where he kept his laptop, it's where he kept everything. He had a job to do. He had to protect what he had left.

Dick turned with a smile, meeting her questioning gaze. "Of course not Miss," he answered. "I'm going to do something better." Her look was one of pure confusion, but he just winked and went on his way. To the computer. To where his expertise lies. My father always said the best way to rule the world was to figure out how it works. Dick mused, slightly amused and depressed at the same time. Just so happens this one is ruled by computers.

A few clicks, letters, and fake emails is all it took. Dick Grayson was officially in the custody of Pop Haley, as of parent's will, and would be staying indefinitely. It would take a few months of inspections and hard times about the name of the circus, but they would rise into something better. Something to be known for.

Footsteps behind him made him flinch, but the heavy hand on his shoulder made him relax. It wasn't her.

"Dick?" Said Haley from inside the door, appearing behind him with a confused look. "Ms. Linger is swearing up a storm. Said they had a secret will, and that I was in it. What did you do?"

Dick turned to look at him, and smiled. "I ruled the world, just like my father told me to." He said softly. "My world is here, and I'll be damned if it's going to be taken from me."

Pop let out a wet sound, something between a laugh and a cry. "Your father taught you well," he admitted. "But if I'm going to be your guardian, then we'll have to do something about your language."

Three Years Later

Wally didn't move. He couldn't breath.

"Is this what you are, Wally? A damn freak?"

No.. please..

"I'll hunt you down, Wally. Get rid of you, throw you in the basement and keep you there to rot!"

Dad I'm sorry. Please I'm—

"You made your mother run, so now you better run faster, boy. I'm coming for you. When I find you, there'll be nothing left for anybody else to find!"

DAD—

Wally woke with a start, sweating through his shirt as he looked around his room. He's still safe, he noted. His dad didn't know. Nobody did.

With a silent breath of thanks, Wally moved his stiff muscles off of bed and went downstairs. His dad didn't know. He was safe.

But for how long?

The thought turned humorous, his stomach churning endlessly. After today? Forever.

His dad has been drinking last night, harder than before. It was the anniversary, Wally remembered. Not of marriage, but of the day she left and never came back. Wally distinctly remembered how it happened. He was the only one home. He remembered how angry his father had been.

"She left? Packed up her things?" The man slurred, setting his bag on the ground with a huff.

"Yes, dad. But I'm sure she'll come back!" He had added quickly. He had been so naive.

"You didn't stop her. You saw her leave and you didn't stop her." He mumbled, still looking surprised. Wally didn't know how, she's been threatening for months. The fact that he had stolen her money for beer last night had been the end.

He wished she would have taken him with her.

But who would want him?

He had beaten him to a bloody pulp that night. Nothing broken, but the bruises had been painful enough. He swore he'd twisted his ankle, but there had been nothing he could do about it. Until today. He already had his bag, already had his extra food and extra money he'd stolen from his dad. He was running.

His dad's abuse had worsened over the five years, but that's not what scared him. He was a freak now, a meta-human as the result of a chemical accident at school. His father hated mutants. The man his mother ran off with was a mutant. Lame powers, barely on the spectrum, but it was enough to send his dad over the wall. He swore the next time he saw a mutant, Flash included, he'd kill him.

Wally wasn't going to risk it. As shitty as his life was, he didn't want to die.

Slipping out of the house in the middle of the night was easy. He was already heading for the trains, away from Central City where there was nothing left for him. He'd go just about anywhere if it meant to get away.

It was still dark, early dusk anyway, so Central City was deserted. The rail yard had pieces of paper blowing about, deserted except for one train about to take off.

In hindsight, he probably should have seen the circus logo and decided to wait. He should have waited for a lot of things. Not made his mother leave, please his father, talked to his aunt and uncle when he had the chance.

Now they were gone from his life, pushed away by his father many years ago.

It didn't matter in the end. He wouldn't see his father either.

Without another thought, he snuck onto the rail car, using his newfound speed to project himself into a car covered in hay. It made for easy sleeping, at least.

And he was really tired.

Few hours wouldn't kill him, right?

He awoke to a voice.

Prepubescent, he noticed, and something was shaking him. Rude. He was trying to sleep.

Wait. Something was shaking him. Something was in the car.

With a gasp, Wally shot up and collided with a raven haired boy.

"Ouch! Dude so not cool!" The boy cried, clutching his head. "Ugh, that's what I get for trying to wake up a stowaway, I guess." The boy muttered something else, something about it being just his luck. Wally only watched the boy silently, who was in turn peering at him with bright blue eyes. Suddenly, the boy gasped. "Hey, you're bleeding! I think I have some padding somewhere.."

As if by magic, the boy pulled two padding things out of his pockets, only shrugging when Wally oddly stared at him. "You never know when you need them. Plus, I'm a bit of a survivalist. They make great band aids when there are none." The boy waited for a laugh for a moment, but Wally just blinked at him. "Jeez dude, lighten up." The kids said, and went to work on his head. The kid, to put it lightly, was very quirky. He had a bright smile on his face and seemed cool with talking to a guy who just happened to sneak onto his train. Speaking of which, oh shit he was just caught sneaking onto a train.

He panicked a bit, to which the boy responded by holding his hands up as a sign of peace. "Hey, kid, calm down. You're fine. We get a few now and then, and I'm glad you ran. Seems like whatever was at home wasn't such a good thing, yeah?" He smiles a knowing smile, and it instantly made Wally feel more at ease. "I'm Richard, but call me Dick. What's your name?"

"Wally," he said carefully. "Where are we?"

"Between Central City and Salt Lake City, I'm not sure exactly where." He explained. "We need to get gas and feed the animals. Which is kind of why I'm in here, I'm supposed to feed the elephants."

Wally looked confused. "Elephants? What kind of train moves elephants?"

"A circus. Didn't you know you were on a circus?" Dick looked at him incredulously. "How did you not know? There's like a million signs everywhere."

Wally shrugged, once again taking in his surroundings. He was indeed sleeping on hay, but there were also buckets for water and feeding supplies. How hadn't he noticed? "Well, whatever. Welcome to Haley's Circus, Wally. Or at least the behind the scenes part."

Wally groaned, sliding his head onto the soft hay. Of course he of all people would end up on the only supply train with people on it. "I'm such an idiot. A day in and I'm already failing the "run away from people" part of running away."

Dick laughed, "yeah, you're not very good at this. But don't worry, you're not the first one who's ended up on our train." He smiled, then frowned. "Why did you run?"

Wally looked away, slowly sighing. Might as well, CPS probably was already notified. "My dad, mostly. Abusive, and doesn't like meta humans."

Dick raised a questioning eyebrow, to which Wally responded by vibrating his hand. "That's so cool!" Dick said. "You should totally join the circus!"

Wally laughed, a bit bitterly. "Probably. Only place where a freak like me belongs— hey! Ow, why'd you hit me?" Wally demanded, rubbing his shoulder and looking at the very pissed boy in front of him.

"I'm being serious, Wally. But if you insult my family I can easily take it away."

Wally sighed, "how would joining a circus help my case, exactly? I'm thirteen and running. The CPS would be shutting this circus down, and I'd be either back with my dad or in a home."

Dick waved his hand, as if the biggest issue was nothing other than a speck. "That's nothing. When I was young my family was The Flying Graysons. Heard of 'em?"

Wally's eyes widened. "You mean.. the family that performed without a safety net? The one that was—"

"Murdered. Yeah, that's the one." Dick said darkly. "Truth is, they didn't have a will. At all. Everything they owned was the circus's, and they thought that went to their kid too." Dick sighed, "I love them, but they never thought things like that through. They always said good people got good things. It isn't how life works."

Wally distantly remembered him being innocent, thinking something similar. He didn't anymore, not since his dad struck him for the first time. "I'm sorry."

Dick blinked out of his stupor, waving his hand through the air. "It's nothing. Point is I'm sort of a computer genius, and I was able to fake a will in the matter of about twenty minutes." He smiled, "I'd actually be in the Gotham Juvenile Delinquent Center if it wasn't for that. Not enough room in the orphanage for non-Gotham's, I guess."

Wally shuddered. He'd heard stories of the Gotham orphanages, but he couldn't even imagine how they ran the Delinquent centers. Dick caught a lucky break. Still, a question plagued his mind. "Where'd you learn to hack like that?"

"I'll tell you sometime, but first you gotta accept my offer." Dick reached out a hand, "You agree, and I'll erase your identity. You'll be here with me, and we can rule the world together."

Wally thought for a moment. Give up everything he knew, who he was… he wouldn't ever be able to go back.

But what's back there? Abuse? Heartache? Loneliness?

Here, you'll have a future.

Without another though, Wally shook his hand.

Two Years Later

Artemis shook the hood off her face, blazing eyes narrowing as she looked onto Star City's streets.

Keep moving Artemis. First he took your sister, now he's out to get you.

She's managed to get all the way to Star City. Her father had found her not too long ago, showed up at her house in Gotham and demanded he take her to train to become a villain. Her mother could do nothing from her wheelchair except tell her to run. So she ran as fast as she could.

The night was dark, which meant blending in was not an option. She needed to get away from the wind and rain, which was slowly drizzling into her hoodie. She was soaked and cold. She needed to be warm. Thankfully, even with being on the outskirts of Star City, it was as if destiny was outlining a way to stay dry. Haley's Circus would start in under thirty minutes. There would be other teens there, other people there. She could blend in and stay dry at the same time.

Sneaking past the gate, past what she could only describe as bouncers (which was rather ridiculous for a circus if you asked her), she found her seat next to a dark skinned boy.

On edge her senses told her, which was confusing. She saw no threat, even as she looked through her sunglasses to the crowd below. Be on edge

Maybe.. they were messing with her. There was nothing around, nothing to hurt her. She was fine.

The boy next to her, however, didn't feel the same way

I'm going to die here

Kaldur, through nerves and all, watched fire explode in the center of the ring. It took all of his energy to keep his gills closed, but he remained seated. Did surface-dwellers find it odd to leave in the middle? I can't risk it, even if this makes me uncomfortable.

The girl next to him was full of nervous energy too, but she covered it so well he was almost convinced he was mistaken.

You're not. She's on edge. Perhaps she dislikes the clowns?

Indeed, clowns were riding on one wheeled mechanics and squeaking their bright red noses. Some people in the front rows did not seem to like it, but Kaldur just found it obnoxious. However, even as the acts went on, she was on edge. She also seemed very… familiar in a way he couldn't describe. He found himself glancing at her a lot, but she didn't seem to notice.

The acts went by quickly, and Kaldur founding himself dreading it more and more. He didn't mind the rain, but he'd found out of places to hide. Even in this big city. Where would he stay? He had no money, no food... Nothing.

The last act came up, something called the Daring Dangers. Dan and Dane Danger was apparently the main act, as even their name appeared to bring out loud whoops and hollers. Curiosity peaked him, driving his thoughts away from the blonde to his right.

Almost immediately after the music began, a light show appeared. Dane had joined Dan at the top of the trapeze, but what surprised him was Dane seemed to have no intention of joining Dan on the trapeze. Instead, Dane appeared to magically make poofs of air lift Dan higher to do more flips, then proceeded to jump off the platform and make a whirlpool around himself to catch Dan on his shoulders. The act wasn't very long, about five minutes, but it was incredibly captivating and left everyone guessing how they did it.

It was easy to see how their act made the cover poster.

As the people cleared out, his attention once again turned to the blonde on his left. She seemed content on waiting until everyone filed out, and Kaldur couldn't help but feel it was a good idea. His father's men may be waiting outside, this gave him time to find another way out. Just in case. His father had long since put out a kill order on him; Kaldur has refused to kill in his name, refused to kill period, and had instead fled to the surface so he could live free from crime.

The seconds went so fast. One minute he was contemplating an alternative exit, the next he found himself staring into the dark brown eyes of the blonde that had been sitting next to him. She was effectively chocking him, holding what must have been a dagger to his neck.

Now his father was recruiting surface dwellers. Crap.

In one fluid motion, Kaldur kicked her off and got into a combat position, leading the girl to do the same. They glared at each other, before snarling and launching into hand to hand combat. "Who do you work for?" The blonde demanded, dodging his punch with practiced ease. She's trained.

"I work for nobody, surface girl!" He shot back, "I am merely trying to live peace!" She seemed to falter for a minute, giving Kaldur the upper hand. He swept her legs in a fluent motion, using the water in his containers to point a sword-like point to her chest. "You'e lucky I'm not my father, I do not wish to kill you. Leave and tell him to leave me alone."

She stopped struggling. Her sunglasses had knocked off when she tackled him the first time, so he could see her face clearly. She seemed to be trying to grasp something, which confused him. "Kaldur?" Her tone surprised him, leaving her free to ease out of his hold. "I don't want to hurt you, Kaldur. I didn't even know you were here."

Kaldur looked at her face, eyebrows shooting up in surprise when he finally recognized her. "Artemis? Is that you?" She smiled at him, leaving him to retract the water and get a good look at her. Older, stronger, but defiantly her. "I haven't seen you in years, last I heard you had rejected your father's proposal. You're what inspired me to stick up to my father."

She smiled sadly. "You mean for the last time, and he didn't appreciate it. Remember how my mom won official custody a few years ago?" Kaldur nodded, not sure where she was going with this. "Yeah, well, dad got her back for that. Last I heard she's critically injured and he's looking for a daughter to be his sidekick." She sighed. "Apparently her being in a wheelchair wasn't enough for him, and neither was winning Jade."

Kaldur snorted. "Nothing ever is for super villain parents," he said sourly. "My father has kill order out for me. Placed a bounty and everything."

Artemis sighed. "Sorry, Kal. That's hard. I wish I could help you out—"

"Okay, not that this isn't a touching ex-super villain reunion and everything, but can you kindly move it to somewhere that isn't scaring out custodians?"

Their hands reached for their weapons, only making the figure laugh. "Don't bother, guys. We're not here to hurt you." A figure stepped out of the shadows, followed by another. The two were in their circus costumes, so performers of some kind. The redhead looked mildly amused, crossing his arms. "Seems like you two are in a bit of trouble."

Artemis scowled. "Who wants to know?"

"I'm Dick Grayson, this is Wally West." Dick said casually. "We're performers here."

"The Daring Dangers." Kaldur noted, "I liked your performance. How did you create a windstorm? It seemed to deny physics."

Wally smirked. "That, my friend, is a secret—"

"He's got super speed." Dick said brightly. "But me? Just pure talent!"

Wally groaned. "Dude! You're not supposed to tell them that! The ladies love mystery!"

Artemis raised an eyebrow. "No they don't."

Wally glared at her. "Yeah right, like you know anything about women."

"I am a woman!" Artemis cried. "And anyway, we're getting off topic. Why are you here?"

"Well, one, we found you on the property like thirty minutes after everyone left trying to stab each other." Dick pointed out. "And two, you two seem like you could use a bail out."

Kaldur tilted his head. "A bail out?"

Dick looked at Wally, who sighed. "Look, in all technicality, the name Wallace Rudolph West is dead. Donezo. Kaboom." He said monotone, as if this was the third time he said it. "This guy? Actually a secret master hacker who gave me my new name, Wally Allen."

"In other words," Dick said, "I can create new identities for you. You can live here and be a circus act, just like us. We'll be your new family."

Artemis and Kaldur looked at each other. Their life had been on the run. Their only family gone, their only childhood ruined. They had nothing left.

And yet these two had offered the world, a new world, and they'd be damned if they didn't take it.

"You guys ready to help us rule the world?"

Both of them reached out to shake. They'd rule their own world, their way.

There was a suspicious feeling that they were being watched.

Connor stood on edge, glancing over his shoulder as he awaited the news. Megan would be here any second, he promised himself. She would. She always would be. He listened for her heartbeat, his own slowing down as he heard it approaching. She was fine. Everything was normal. They were safe.

For how long, though?

Megan walked into view. She looked like a normal teenager, as did he, but the truth is they were anything but. "Find anything?" He mumbled as she came into earshot. She shook her head with a small smile.

"Right now? All clear. Let's keep moving."

It was as smart of a plan as any, and what they had been doing endlessly for the past two years. "Do you hear anything?" Megan asked, looking up at him. He shook his head. They were constantly on edge, constantly waiting for a battle. They were tired, but they had to keep going. They always had to keep going.

"Keep going or risk going back," Megan said softly. He had felt her presence within his mind, but he hadn't stopped his thoughts. He felt bad instantly.

"I'm sorry, Megan. I should have stopped." He said, but she just laughed sadly.

"You know you can't help what you think. It's nature, human nature." She said sincerely. "Project Kr and Project Martian are just as human as everyone else, right?"

Conner modded. "Of course we are."

They continued in silence, heading for the best place to find a way to blend in. Project Kr and Project Martian escaped CADMUS a little over two years ago. Conner has been nothing but a slave to them, working towards the goal of ending Superman. Megan had been captured, poked, and prodded to be turned into a weapon against the Justice League. She knew she was from Mars, but had no memory of her life before CADMUS.

They'd run as the place went up and flames and hadn't looked back since, but being on the run left little time for their desire to be normal. It was that thought that made Conner stop and read the poster. Haley's Circus, Come one come all to see the Daring Dangers!

It looked… normal. There were people in the picture laughing, watching as four teenagers did a stunning act. Megan would love this.

"Megan, would you like to see a circus?" He asked quietly.

She smiled.

The circus was better than she imagined it would be.

Megan laughed in awe as various acts pushed the limits of what humans could really do. It seemed impossible that a human could contort his body like that, but a mental scan made certain there were no tricks. Just amazing talent. If they could do this and be praised, could she be praised for being herself too? It left a window of hope, something that had been taken away by the scientists calling her a freak. It was the first human work she truly understood, and it will always hurt.

As the acts went by, some with clowns that left her laughing and some with monkeys which left Conner terrified (he hated monkeys, who knew?) she enjoyed every last act. The final one, however, blew her away.

"Ladies and gentlemen! I present to you, the Daring Dangers!"

There were applause and screams as a group of what had to be teenagers did death-defying acts that left the audience speechless. Quadruple flips and tornadoes, perfect bulls eyes and dodging knives, the act seemed to be separate entities but worked together as one.

It took everything in her power to not fly up there and join them.

Conner had lightly touched her knee with his, a smile on his face at the look of her pure wonder. "Humans can't be so bad is they can do things like this." She said simply, then turned back to look at them leaving. "Surely this sort of gift is a sign?"

Conner sighed. He loved her optimism, but he also hated it. It always left her disappointed. "Come on, Megan. We have to get going."

They filed out of the tent with the others, making her sad to see it go. As others piled in their cars, Megan and Conner took down the empty road.

It was a few minutes of aimless talking before Megan straightened, looking wildly around and alerting Conner. "Something's here." She whispered. "We have to—"

Suddenly, two people ran out of the woods grabbing them and shoving them deeper into the thicket. Conner was stunned into compliance. The hands did not seem to want to hurt them, but that never meant anything. CADMUS had also sworn they didn't want to hurt them. "You two are in danger. You're being tailed," said a female voice. "Come with us. We can get you out of sigh— whoa I feel violated."

Megan looked at Conner. "They're good and telling the truth, let's go!"

"We are so talking about whatever the hell that was in five minutes!" Said the woman as she ran after the boy in dark clothing. Within five minutes they were standing in front of train cars, out of breath at the zigzag route they had taken.

Conner and Megan found themselves standing in front of the Daring Dangers themselves, looking relieved and wary. "Glad you guys followed them. You had three men on your tail."

The only who spoke was short and had dark, almost black, hair. "I'll introduce us. I'm Dick, this is Wally, the girl behind you is Artemis, and that's Kaldur."

Megan and Conner exchanged looks. The teens appeared to be sincere, and Conner knew their heartbeats were too steady to be lying. "I'm Conner. This is Megan."

The tallest boy, Wally, smacked a piece of gum. "Geese, what did you two do to get some serious serial killer on your tails? Those guys were wanted criminals. Big time."

Megan raised an eyebrow, "how did you—"

"Same way we know you're running from Cadmus." Artemis said easily. "Dick? He's a hacker. Got a hold of the Justice League archives a few times."

Dick rolled his eyes, "they changed their passwords again. I swear one of you touched it and pressed something you weren't supposed to."

"Hey! Don't look at me!" Wally said quickly when the eyes turned on him, "Kaldur's the one who wanted to know where his dad was. Last I saw him and Artemis were at your computer."

Artemis glared at him. "Kaldur wanted help finding the game Papa's Pizzeria you idiot. We didn't touch anything."

"Getting off track," Kaldur reminded them, looking at the totally freaked out Megan and Conner. "You should be careful next time you mind sweep the place for evidence of our acts being false."

Megan blushes as Conner raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm sorry, it was just very… amazing."

The redhead winked at her. "Don't sweat it, Sweet Cheeks," Wally said. "I'll let you make it up to me by going on a—"

Conner growled. Literally growled and stepped protectively in front of Megan. Wally yelped as Artemis thoroughly laughed her ass off. "Alright, got it. She's your girl." He said with his hands in their air. "Effectively backing off now."

Conner appeared satisfied, going back into his grumpy look. "Thank you for helping us," Megan said with a smile. "But there will be more coming. If they found us here, there will be more within the week."

Artemis looked up from her nails, "but what if you don't have to? What if you don't have to run?"

Megan tilted her head. "I'm sorry?"

"Join us instead. You heard about Dick hacking into the Justice League? He could use that skill to make you identities so you could be with us. You could live normal lives here." Kaldur said with a smile. "Artemis and I were on the run too. Our parents are super villains who had bounties on our heads. We chose to come here, and we have never had a problem."

"What do you say, runaways?" Dick said with a smile. "How do you feel about helping us rule the world?"

Megan and Conner looked at each other, communicating silently.

We could have everything we ever wanted.

But at what price? We don't know them.

We don't know ourselves. What do we have to lose?

After a moment of hesitation, they shook their hands.

The long awaited rewrite. It's been like two years, I know. I really have no excuses besides I'm a lazy person. I'm just hoping this was what it was meant to be :(

Please review! I'd love to hear what you have to say, if it's negative. Negativity is how a person grows!

That's about it. I'll be answering your reviews in later chapters! :)