Beneath the bleachers of the big-top tent, the small, gray face of the two-day-dead acrobat boy peered at Bruce.
"Are you here to burn me?" asked the ghost.
"No," snapped Bruce. He didn't burn ghosts, didn't destroy them, only helped them move on.
The ghost boy curled into himself and keened.
Bruce inched forward. "You're alright. I'm not going to hurt you."
The boy's desperate crying faded. "Please don't burn me! Please—I'll go."
"No, son. I'm not going to burn you. I just want to talk."
The child flinched, curled tighter, shivering.
"You cold, kiddo?" Bruce asked.
"I don't get cold anymore. But people get cold around me."
"I won't get cold. I've got tough skin. Say, can I ask you a couple questions?"
The boy shuffled around before nodding hesitantly. He flinched again when Bruce knelt and held his lantern higher.
Bruce cleared his throat and said, "You're here all alone, aren't you?"
The boy hid his face again and trembled.
"Did your parents leave you?"
A sob broke past the boy's lips. "They're gone," he cried. "I can't find them. I miss my ma and pa!"
Bruce moved closer. The boy screamed. Bruce dropped to his knees beside the bleachers. "Shh. It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you, chum. I'm sorry," Bruce yelled over the noise.
"No!" shrieked the boy. "Don't burn me! I'll be good. I won't hurt anyone."
Bruce's fingers ached to pull the boy into a hug, but he sat cross-legged, set his lantern beside him, and started singing a lullaby.
The boy kept crying, but Bruce kept singing.
After a while, the shrieking started to fade. The ghost lifted his head.
"Hey," whispered Bruce. There you are. It's okay. I won't hurt you. What's your name?"
"Um...Dick."
"Nice to meet you, Dick. I'm Bruce. Y'know, I miss my ma and pa too."
"You do? What—what happened?"
"They died when I was just about your age. But you know what? I knew I would be okay. I had people who would take care of me." Bruce paused. "Look, kid. You can't be here all by yourself. It isn't safe."
Dick wailed. "But I won't hurt anyone! I'll be good."
Bruce shook his head and reached through the bleachers to pet Dick's hair. "I don't think you will. But you're lonely, aren't you? I know a place. It's very warm and has lots of people. You'll like it there."
Dick looked up. Tears of hope glistened in his eyes. "Really? Are Ma and Pa going to be there?"
"I don't know, chum."
"I don't wanna go!" wailed Dick as fresh tears ran down his cheeks. "I want Ma and Pa!"
"I know. But even if your ma and pa aren't there, I'm sure there'll be other people you know."
"Will Zitka be there?"
"Who's Zitka?"
A shaky smile crossed Dick's face and he uncurled a bit. "She's awesome. She was one of our elephants. She used to do all kinds of tricks and I'd give her treats." His expression fell. "Uncle Hal had to send her away though. Said she was getting too old for the circus. I haven't seen her in a long time."
"Yeah? Well, she'll probably be there then."
"I wanna see Zitka again." Dick wiped the green goo dripping from his nose with the back of his hand.
Bruce's stomach flipped but he kept a smile on his face. "Come on, then. Let's go see Zitka." He held out a hand.
Dick eyed the offer for a long second before he took it, thankfully with the hand that wasn't covered in snot.
Bruce helped him slip through the bleachers into open air. "Good job, Rich." He stepped back, still holding Dick's hand, then knelt. "I need you to do something real important for me. Can you do that?"
Dick nodded.
"Great. Do you see that light over there?" Bruce gestured toward the big top's entrance.
Dick's eyes locked onto the lantern and pointed at it. "That one?"
"No," Bruce chuckled. "Not that one. Further out."
Dick lifted his eyes. "You mean the big door?"
Bruce smiled. "Yeah. The big door. I need you to walk through it."
"Why?"
"That's where Zitka is. And where your parents might be."
"Are you coming, too?"
"Afraid not, kiddo. That light is special, just for you."
"But what if no one's there? Can I get back?"
"I promise, someone'll be there."
"I don't wanna go by myself! You gotta come with me."
"I can't, bud."
"No! I don't wanna go!"
"Alright. Okay. Hold on. How about this? I can walk with you over there, but then you have to go through by yourself."
Dick shifted his weight. "...Okay."
They walked together to the doorway of light. Dick stared at the ground the entire trip, gripping Bruce's hand tighter and tighter.
As they stood before the door, Bruce looked down. "You ready?"
Dick shook his head.
Bruce knelt. "Why don't you take a look. See anyone out there?"
Dick slowly lifted his head. A moment later, he had on the biggest smile Bruce had ever seen. "Zitka!" He dropped Bruce's hand and disappeared through the door.
Bruce smiled and started to turn away. Something caught his eye. He froze, his heart threatening to beat out of his chest. Slowly, he turned back around. He stared at the light, at the person standing in the light. "Mom?" he whispered.
His mother smiled and held open her arms. "You finally made it, Brucie. We've been waiting for you. Come on. Come home."
Inspired by (Deal with an Exorcist, by iselsis, on ArchiveOfOurOwn)