Chapter 6: Cracked Skulls and Fractured Throats
As Dick's training progressed, and he accrued more time out in the field, he became more confident in himself as a fighter and as a detective. He came to know the city like the back of his hand, much like Bruce himself. Their technology advanced, thanks to both Bruce and Lucius working tirelessly on their ideas. Robin's suit was now painted red, yellow and green, and had a large 'R' on the left side of the chest. The city of Gotham soon came to know of Batman's new sidekick, Robin.
Bruce and Dick also became close friends, often working on equipment and tech together in their spare time, of which they had little. Bruce had urged Dick to take up a job at Wayne Enterprises, which he initially refused but eventually agreed to. Working alongside Lucius Fox in the Wayne Tech department. This kept Dick sharp on his engineering skills and provided Lucius with someone to keep him company during the day.
Because Bruce and Dick had little free time, they never got to do anything with it except sleep and work. So when an opportunity to have some fun arose, Dick would drag the begrudging Bruce along. This was what happened on a dull Saturday afternoon. Dick spied an advertisement in the newspaper for a show at Haly's Circus that evening, and begged Bruce to have a little fun, and allow himself a nice night. Bruce reluctantly agreed and the pair went to the circus.
The show was a classic Haly's night out. Haly's was renowned for having the best acts in the world, jugglers, clowns, acrobats, animal trainers and more. The acts were also known for being incredibly safe, with each act practicing their craft for years before even being allowed to perform on an off-night. In it's entire history, Haly's Circus had never had a single case of an act or an audience member being harmed during a show. They were modern-day maestros.
As the show came to a close, the big, climactic act were ready to take centre stage. The Flying Graysons, the crown jewel of the acrobat world. Despite their best aerialist being snatched up by Bruce Wayne, they were still head and shoulders above any other acrobat family. Dick was getting excited to see what new tricks his family had in store. He hadn't trained with them for a good 8 months. He was on the edge of his seat.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please give a big hand, for the incredible, the unbelievable, the amazing Flying Graysons!" the barker's voice boomed throughout the big top, amping up the crowd more than anyone else could. The spotlights shifted upwards, and centred themselves on the two raised platforms and multiple trapezes, with a small crowd gathered on either platform, dressed in leotards. As the music began to build, the first two fliers took to the air. Flips and twists galore sent the crowd mad, cheering and clapping with each grab of a trapeze. Dick was impressed. Bruce was, too. As their set came to a close, the family lined themselves up and took a bow, with the crowd giving a stand-up ovation.
The platforms lowered themselves down to the ground, allowing the acts to join up and give a final bow to the attentive audience, happy with their night's entertainment.
A large, metallic sphere lowered itself down from the ceiling, surprising the audience, and seemingly the acts, too. As it settled to the ground, the large screen on the side of the top showed a countdown. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. A large fireball filled the top, engulfing the acts and first few rows of audience members. The bang deafened everyone in attendance. Dick covered himself in his leather jacket to protect himself from the heat, not yet realising what had just happened. Screams from children and adults alike filled the air. Bruce tried to pull the frozen Dick from his seat to escape the enflamed circus tent, and the last Grayson let out a scream from the depths of his soul.
"84 killed in circus explosion," said the newspapers the following day, as an inconsolable Dick Grayson lay in his bed the whole morning. Bruce felt bad for the kid. He just saw his entire family die right in front of him. Bruce knew what that felt like. But he also knew what got him out of the self-destructive rut he went into after his parents' death. Training. Hopefully it would help Dick too.
"Hey, you wanna let some anger out in the ring?", Bruce gestured towards the makeshift boxing ring he and Dick had constructed in the middle of a foundation. Dick gave no answer and turned over in his bed. Bruce sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, "Listen, I know what you're going through. The same thing happened to me. You'll feel better if you get a bit of exercise in. I promise you." Dick let out a small breath and turned back around, letting his feet hang off the edge of the bed. Bruce smiled and handed him the pair of gloves he was holding.
Dick sure as hell let some of his anger out. Bruce let the mourning teen wail on him with haymakers and body shots. They hurt, too. Bruce called the round, but instead of going back to his corner, Dick just fell to his knees and let his hands fall to his sides. Bruce leaped over to him and kneeled down beside him. He just broke down. Bruce comforted him as best he could. He stayed with him as long as he needed, which was just until nightfall. Bruce left him alone and started to suit up for the night ahead.
"Can I come with you?", Dick asked from across the cave. Bruce raised an eyebrow, "You sure?" Dick nodded in approval, stood up from his bed and walked towards Bruce, "Maybe I can get some more anger out, like earlier." Bruce agreed, and handed Dick his suit. As the pair got ready, there an awkward silence, neither of them wanting to break it. Bruce took a deep breath, and clicked his utility belt into place, just as Dick did the same. They looked at each other, and nodded. They were ready for the night ahead.
As one followed the other to the tip of the Trigate Bridge, not a word was spoken. It was instead Alfred who broke the silence, addressing Batman, "Sir, there's an ongoing bank robbery in Old Gotham, The First National Bank. The suspects have set up roadblocks with garbage trucks, no police cruisers have been able to get through." Batman sharply replied, "Thanks, Alfred. We're on it."
The pair glided and swung between the buildings of Otisburg and Chinatown, finally reaching Gotham Square, a block away from the First National Bank of Gotham, and they quickly realised what Alfred had meant. The gang had wedged large trucks between buildings, not even allowing foot patrols to get past them without a bulldozer to knock them out of the way. They landed on the roof opposite the bank, and surveyed the robbery through the large pane windows covering the entire front of the building.
"If we enter through the ventilation shafts, we can surprise them in the vault and catch them unawares," Batman ordered, whilst taking out his grapnel gun. Robin chimed in, "What if we get Gordon to create a distraction out the front, and we can slip behind them and take them out from the back?" Batman nodded, "Good idea, I'll radio Gordon and tell him to get in here via chopper, you go ahead." Robin obeyed, and grappled to the roof of the bank, broke open a ventilation cover, and slid down. Alfred came over Batman's comms, "Aren't you going to follow him, sir?" Batman replied, "No. He needs to do this himself. He needs to."
Robin got through to the end of the ventilation system, and heard Gordon barking orders from the street outside. It reminded him of the night before, and the carnival barker's voice filling the tent. But he had a job to do. He silently cracked the vent cover off, and let it hang from its two remaining screws. He dropped down onto the squeaky linoleum, being careful not to make a sound. He snuck up behind the thug drilling the vault, and choked him out, hiding his unconscious body behind a teller's desk. He then moved up to the next group, conveniently out of earshot of the group at the front of the bank, holding off the police. He threw a business card at the wall, distracting the three gang members and getting two to peel off. He swiftly took out the one left behind, and snuck up behind the other two, whistling to get their attention, then opened up his bo staff and struck them both in the head, knocking them out cold.
As he crouched into the front area of the bank, he waved to Gordon to show his position, as he wondered where his mentor was. He slowly walked up to the thug closest to the back wall and took him down and away from the other two's line of sight, if they were to turn around. Fortunately, they seemed pre-occupied with Gordon's ramblings about pleas and surrendering. He readied his staff, and snuck up behind the last two, who were standing side-by-side. He brought his staff up, in front of the men's throats, jerked back, allowed the two to fall beside his feet, and jumped on the staff, brutalising the men's larynxes. This was not the sort of violence Batman condoned, but he understood why Robin was so ruthless.
Robin walked out of the bank, waving officers and paramedics into the, now, safe bank, "Two front guys there probably have laryngeal fractures, two in the back will have a nasty headache in the morning, rest are just choked out." As he stepped out into the street he walked towards Gordon, who greeted him, "Thanks for that, Robin. Great work, as always. Give the big man my thanks, too." Robin sighed, and looked up at the roof of the building opposite, "Yeah, no worries."