Two days later

Player 1 wins

The T.V screen read.

"Ha!" Damian cheered. "That's how it's done kid!" Dick just looked at Damian with no expression. "Come on Grayson, 'it's just a game.' Sound familiar?" Dick still didn't answer. He just set his controller down and got up.

"I'm done," he mumbled and started walking out of the room.

"Wait! I was just giving you a hard time. But I still have a feeling you're still not telling me the whole truth. Most people don't have a panic attack to the point of passing out and then instantly recover. Please! Just talk to me, and we can figure it out together! Right brother?" Damian said, holding his wrist that had the brotherhood cut in the air in front of Dick. Dick just shrugged his shoulders and walked away, hearing Damian curse and throw something hard that no doubt was cracked.

Dick walked down to the cave, and saw Bruce with his cowl down nearly falling asleep at the computer.

"There's gotta be something that'll work besides therapy!" Bruce mumbled to himself while massaging his temples. Then he looked up and saw Dick.

"Oh, hi Dickie. Are you feeling better?" he asked, minimizing a few pages he had pulled up. Dick nodded his head. "Good. You know kiddo; we've been stuck in the house for the past few weeks. What do you say we go on a little drive around the city for a bit? Maybe grab a bite later?" Bruce asked standing up and snapping out of his tired spell.

"Aren't you working on a case? And I have some training to catch up on…"

"It's okay. I could use a break anyway. You can train later when we get back," Bruce immediately said.

"Alright," Dick mumbled, a little disappointed.

"Well, it's almost ten now. How about the three of us get showers and start getting ready now that traffic should be settling down," Bruce said, looking at his phone nearby that just lit up. "You go jump in first, and I'll go let Damian know the plan." Dick nodded and went back upstairs without another word. Bruce then changed out of his bat-suit and into something more 'Bruce Wayne' semi-casual. Afterward, he went upstairs.

"Sir, are you sure you should be doing this so early? I know for a fact that you've been up all night researching the young master's current condition," Alfred nagged.

"I haven't slept well since he was kidnapped," Bruce said. "And the quicker this gets done, the quicker he'll get better."

"I don't think he'll be back to his old self in such a short frame of time Master Bruce like you think," Alfred warned.

"He'll be fine Alfred, and he's got us to help him," Bruce said and continued to the living room leaving Alfred behind.

"Whatever you say, sir," Alfred muttered.

In the living room, Damian was sitting on the couch with his legs pulled up on his phone. "Get ready, we're going on a drive in an hour," Bruce said.

"Seriously? We've got work to do! There's no time for pointless strolls," Damian said.

"We all need a break. Fresh eyes will help us catch things we might miss, and this is for Dick," Bruce said.

"Then you two go out, and I'll stay behind looking up more leads."

"Alfred is staying here to do that. I need you with me and your brother."

"Apparently, I'm not his brother after all," Damian said, pulling his gaze away from his father.

"You're in the shower after Dick. Be ready to go!" Bruce said, and walked out of the living room

Break*Break*Break*Break*Break*Break*Break

After driving around Gotham for a half-hour, Bruce's phone vibrated again. Bruce took a quick look and then texted something back. "Sorry boys, but there's been a little change in plans. Wayne Tech has something for me that I just have to see and approve today with Lucius still out. We'll have to swing by there really fast," he said. He then got on another intersection and started driving. The entire car was silent with each of the brothers looking out a different window showing no interest in one another.

"Father, you just missed your turn," Damian said.

"I know. I'm taking the more scenic route," Bruce responded. Damian looked at Bruce with a raised eyebrow. Bruce continued to drive until they were almost outside the city limits.

"Okay, where the hell are you going? Wayne Tech is nowhere near here!" Damian demanded.

"I know," Bruce said again. This time though, he said it with a small smile. "We're almost there." That's when Bruce made a left-hand turn and started to cross the bridge out of Gotham. As they got closer to the other side, in the far distance, there were huge red and white tents set up. Dick saw this from the back seat and gasped. They got closer and closer until they turned into the dirt road where a huge sign read:

Haly's Traveling Circus

Various people were walking around carrying boxes, poles, and other various stuff all over the place.

"I wanna be back by six," Damian said, crossing his arms. Bruce looked at his rear-view mirror, and saw Dick looking everywhere he could with an open mouth. Bruce pulled up closer towards the tent and was directed by a dressed-up clown where to park. Then he ran back inside the largest tent.

"Surprise," Bruce said grinning ear to ear, looking back at Dick still taking it all in. Bruce turned the car off, and everyone except Damian got out. "Come on Damian."

"I'll pass," he said, and Bruce just glared at him. Damian rolled his eyes and huffed out of the car. Just then, a fat man with white hair wearing a white shirt and black trousers came walking out of the tent with the clown.

"Dickie!" he shouted with his arms open wide. Dick turned to look at the man, and his eyes became as big as saucers.

"POP!" Dick screamed and ran over to him. The elderly man scooped up the boy and gave him a bear hug. Damian slammed the passenger door shut hard while scowling at the laughing man swinging the young boy around.

"Ha-ha! It's good you see you again lad! We've missed you!" Jack Haly said after setting the boy down. That's when he turned his attention to Bruce and Damian walking over.

"Mr. Wayne. Good to see you again," Jack said, shaking his hand.

"You too Jack. Still never listening to me when I tell you to just call me Bruce I see," he said, making the two men chuckle. "And this is my son, Damian," Bruce introduced.

"Ah yes! Dickie's told me all about you. Jack Haly, but you can just call me Jack or Pop. Everyone around here does, and any blood brother of Dickie's is family around these parts," Jack said, holding out his hand. Damian took it and held it hard, still scowling at the older man. "Quite a grip you've got there," he said. "Well Metropolis accidentally double booked us, so we decided to come to Gotham a little early this year," he explained, grinning mischievously at Bruce. "But no matter. We're here for the next three weeks making more and more people smile. Right, Dickie?" Dick nodded his head still looking around. "Oh, and here are your tickets for the shows. You don't have to come to all of them of course, but you'll have to come to at least one," Jack said, handing Bruce and envelope.

"Thanks, Jack. I don't think I'll be able to make every single one, but we'll definitely attend at least one. But Dick's more than welcome to if he wants. Alfred or I can drop him off after his schoolwork is finished. And don't worry, I'll pay you back for these," Bruce said.

"I don't want your money, Wayne! Taking care of Dickie for us is worth more than anything you can give us," Jack said. "Would you like a quick tour of the grounds? We're still setting up mind you, but I can tell you where everything is going to go for tonight's grand opening."

"Sure! We'd be honored," Bruce answered.

"Perfect! Follow me!" Jack said, turning around towards the big top. "We just managed to get this guy up, and we're starting on the bleachers and lights inside." They all went inside and saw various equipment, forklifts, and people everywhere getting things done.

"Huh. Frankly, I expected this to be a lot bigger," Damian commented.

"That's just because we've got all the equipment and crew everywhere. Tonight it'll look a lot different," Jack commented and continued walking to the center of the tent. He showed them where everything would be in a few hours and what happens before the show would go on.

Dick followed Jack as he was explaining something but then noticed someone upside-down swinging back and forth from outside. While the rest of the group moved forward, Dick silently walked towards the outside area. There, he was some Mobile homes close together, and a practice trapeze set with one black man swinging on one side, one mixed man standing directly above him with his legs spread out, and a white male standing directly above two black and white girls holding a trapeze bar. The Caucasian, orange-haired one took hold of the bar and started to swing on it.

Dick gasped, and his face went pale.

"Don't forget to do your kicks, Dick," Mary Grayson said on the tall platform with her son. Dick nodded, as he took the bar, and jumped off the platform.

'Kick forward'

'Backwards'

'Forward'

'Let go'

'Tuck in'

'And open for the catch'

The woman did all the kicks and then did a triple somersault into the waiting arms of the catcher. Dick's heart leaped into his throat as soon as they caught each other. Then the two swung back and then forward again, but this time, the catcher threw the woman up in the air into the waiting arms of the mixed man. The mixed man swung her again, and once again threw her in the air, but now the red-head did a simple corkscrew, and then caught the trapeze bar before headed back to the starting platform. The two girls caught the bar, and everyone raised one hand in a 'ta-da' motion. The red-head made eye contact with Dick who now saw another woman in her place. She had beautiful blond hair tied up, was wearing a dark blue leotard fully sequenced, and some see-through fabric throughout her chest like the others were.

'Mami,' Dick thought.

Then the woman turned and looked at him. She gave a soft smile to the boy before bringing the arm not holding on the bar to her chest and bowed at him.

"There you are. Had a feeling you'd run into these guys," Haly said from behind him. Dick turned around and saw Jack, Bruce, and Damian walking up to him. His attention then turned to the woman who now had red hair again. Dick's face dropped as Jack put two fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly, getting the acrobats' attention. "Come on down here guys! I've got someone to introduce to you!" he shouted. The black man who was swinging then jumped off the swing and started to fall.

"NO!" Dick screamed, covering his eyes.

The six-year-old watched in horror as his parents fell to the ground reaching out for him.

"DICK!"

"WE LOVE YOU!"

"Dickie! It's okay! It's okay! We've got a net put up for them! See?" Jack said, putting his hand on Dick's shoulder. Dick pushed Haly's hand off his shoulders and then moved his fingers so he could see if Haly was telling the truth. At the very bottom of the trapeze, set was a net still bouncing up and down with the swinging man sitting up there unmoving. That's when Dick completely removed his hands from his eyes.

"Are you okay Dick?" Bruce asked. Dick nodded his head.

"You don't have to watch them come down if you don't want to Dick," Jack said.

"No. I-it's okay," Dick said.

"Are you sure?" Haly asked again, and Dick nodded.

"Only if you're sure. Alright, Zane, you're good," he said, signaling the catcher. The catcher named Zane nodded and made his way off the net. Shortly before he was off the net, the red-head swung on the bar again before letting go and falling onto the net as well. Everyone soon followed except for the black woman.

"Any time now Zelina!" Zane shouted up. Zelina then raised her arms and then did a front flip off the platform and landed on the net.

"Showoff," Zane mumbled. The troupe then walked over.

"Dick, Bruce, Damian, this is one of our main attractions; The Shooting Stars. Guys, this is Bruce and Damian Wayne, and of course, Richard Grayson," Haly introduced.

"No way! Grayson, as in 'The Flying Graysons'?!" Zane asked.

"The very same. This is their son," Haly said with a big smile.

"Whoa! What an honor! I remember going to see them when I was a kid; absolutely spectacular! I can't tell you how many times they blew me away. They were one of my inspirations to joining the circus; especially this one," Zane said, holding out his hand to Dick. Dick just flinched and took a few steps away from the acrobat. Zane's face dropped at this.

"Our inspiration big brother!" the black woman said.

"Wrong! You went and did gymnastics, and I was the one who went with Dad to carry on the family name. Anyway, it's a pleasure to meet you all. I'm Zane, and you've already met my sister Zelina; or as we like to call her, Zelina the Diva!"

"Damn right!" Zelina said, and Damian briefly rolled his eyes. Zane glared at his sister before turning back to the group.

"And this is my wife Rita," Zane said, putting his arms around the red-head before giving her a peck on the cheek. Rita giggled, and then pushed her husband off.

"Nice to meet you," Rita said.

"I'm Matias. I'm really from the clown act, and Bruno here is really from the ball of death, but we do acrobatics as a hobby to help out these three. Rita here is always in the mood for more crazy tricks that need more people," he explained.

"That's what makes the audience more entertained!" Rita said cheerfully.

"Right. Which is why Zane here fell head-over-heels for her," Matias said, only to get slapped in the head by Zane.

"I was just showing them around the grounds. Dickie will be around while we're here in Gotham, so you can get to know him a little more. In the meantime, get some water and then get back to practice. We've already sold out and I know how you know how important opening night is," Jack said.

"Don't have to tell us twice. See ya around!" Zelina said. After the troupe waved goodbye, Jack continued the tour and introducing people every time they ran into someone.

"I'm sorry not much is going on right now, but as I said, that'll change in a few hours," Jack repeated.

"Is there anything we can help you with?" Bruce asked.

"Well, we are a little behind schedule right now. We could use every hand we can get to start getting the bleachers and rest of the tent set up. But I can't ask you to…"

"Nonsense! Helping set-up is just as important as the actual show. Right, Dickie?" Bruce asked. Dick just bit his lip and nodded.

"Well if you really want to, you can help us unload some stuff from the trucks," Jack said.

"Sounds good," Bruce said.

"I'm going to the bathroom," Damian said, and then started to speed-walk away from the group.

"Does he even know where it is?" Jack asked.

"He'll figure it out," Bruce said.

Break*Break*Break*Break*Break*Break*Break*Break

Damian walked away from the group while kicking some rocks he found on the ground.

'Why did I have to come here again? I've got more important things to do then to help some circus unload their junk; even if it is Grayson's old family.' Damian sneered at the word 'family' and kicked a rock harder.

"KID! WHAT ARE YOU…" someone beside him screamed, and two knives whizzed past him, nearly missing his head. Damian looked up and saw a bald man in his mid to late forties wearing a black and grey suit without a blazer. His face had a scruffy mustache and beard full of wrinkles, and had his sleeves rolled up to his mid-arm. Strapped around his waist were various throwing knives; one of which he picked up and prepared to throw.

"Are you crazy?! Don't you see me walking?!" Damian yelled.

"You're the one who walked in front of me," the man said. He spoke very good English, but he had a bit of a Dutch accent to him. The man's target was a blond woman strapped to a large wheel. Damian then moved out of the way and watched the man throw a knife at the woman that landed just an inch away from her arm.

"So…..I'm guessing you're a knife thrower?" Damian asked. The man looked at him funny, and then in a fast motion, tossed three more knives at the woman one-by-one.

"Ja," he said.

"Right. Sorry," Damian said, running his hand through his hair.

"Why are you distracted?" he asked.

"Who says I'm distracted?!" Damian snapped.

"Because most people around here know better than to walk in front of a knife thrower's target while he's practicing," the man explained.

"He's gotcha their kid," the blonde said.

"How about its none of your business!" Damian yelled.

"True, but I'm not going to come to your funeral when your distraction makes you lose focus and ends up killing you," the man said, and Damian's face went red.

"Come on Otto. Leave the kid alone," the blonde said. Otto then went over to the table and picked up some more knives.

"In a job like mine, one must get over distractions quickly; otherwise the show won't go on." Then he tossed a knife at the woman that landed between her legs close to her body. "Even something as simple as worrying if I'll miss my target can lead to deathly consequences." Another knife was thrown.

"Which is why one can never have any distractions to complete your job. Give your advice to someone who actually needs it!" Damian snapped and then started to walk away.

"No one is ever free of distractions 'krijger; no matter how hard one tries,'" Otto said, and then continued his practice.

Not a bad start right? Yes, Haly's will be involved in this story. Also 'krijger' is Dutch for warrior, and in my opinion sounds exactly like it's spelled. If you need help, just copy and paste it into Google translate. I will see you all next time with more Circus fun and Luke retuning.

Until then,

Stay safe out there.

Review

LaurenHardy13