Disclaimer: DC owns all this, the plot is mine!
The darkness faded.
He saw them.
They were right there in their red circus outfits.
He tried walking towards them but found he couldn't move.
What was wrong?
Then he saw a little boy with jet black hair wearing the same costume as them. A boy he had forgotten run towards them and was swept up into their arms.
What was going on?
Was that him?
Yes it had to be him. Who else would it be?
But it wasn't really him; that was him before Robin came. Dick Grayson was dead now.
"Are we performing tonight?" the young Dick Grayson asked excitedly.
"Yes my little Robin," Mary Grayson said ruffling up his dark black hair.
"We are going to fly!" John Grayson said picking his son up above his head. Dick spread his arms and pretended to fly.
Mary laughed "Come on we have a few hours until Showtime let's go get something to eat." John put his son down.
"Ok Mom but can I go talk to Pop first?"
"Sure honey but make sure your back soon."
"Ok Mom!" He ran out of the tent smiling.
Pop Haley was the ringleader and owner of Haly's Circus. Oh how he missed that sweet old man he considered a grandfather. Oh how he missed all of them.
Even though he couldn't move Robin was being drawn towards little Dick like he was following him.
Dick was about to enter a small trailer when he stopped. He heard raised voices coming from inside. He stood there trying not to listen but having no choice. He heard a man yelling at Pop about insurance and Pop yelling back that he didn't need any.
"Get out!" The door swung open suddenly and a man was flung out of the trailer.
The man landed on his hands and knees on the dirt. He stood up quickly and pointed a finger at Pop.
"You'll be sorry Haly!" he yelled. "One day there might be an accident; one that you can't stop or prevent. And you'll be sorry!!"
The man then ran back to his car.
Mr. Haly then just noticed Dick hiding at the side of the trailer poking his head out to see if the coast was clear.
"It's alright Dicky he's gone," Pop said gently. "And I don't think he'll be coming back."
Dick came out of hiding and walked to the man.
"What did he want?"
"Zucco was trying to sell me a blasted over priced insurance policy. But I am not about to buy insurance from that wretch of a man," Pop's face turned sour. "I've heard some things about that Tony Zucco and I am ashamed that I even let him waste a minute of my time."
Pop saw the look on Dicks face and gave him an award winning smile. "But I don't suppose he'll be coming back now will he?"
Dick smiled back. "No sir. You showed him Mr. Haly!"
"So what did you come by for?"
"I don't remember," he said sheepishly realizing he forgot.
"Now Dick," Pop said kneeling down so he was around the boy's height. "I don't want this Zucco thing to bother you. You have a show tonight! Alright?"
"Alright Mr. Haly!" He grasped the man in a tight hug which he returned. When they finally released each other Mr. Haly started to stand up.
"Now you go get something to eat before the show young man. The crowd is just starting to show up," he smiled at him.
"Ok Mr. Haly I'll see you later tonight!" Dick called as he ran away and waved off to get some food.
"Bye Dick!" Mr. Haly yelled and waved back. "Damn Zucco........." Robin heard him mutter to himself before he was being dragged after Dick once again.
Robin remembered this night. He didn't want to remember it again. Why was he seeing this night again? How could he stop it? He couldn't.........
Suddenly he was back in the tent behind Dick and his parents. They were about to perform. The clowns were up now. Dick was watching them and laughing while John and Mary smiled at each other. Then their act was over and it was time for the Flying Grayson's.
"Here they are folks!" Pop's voice filled the entire tent. "The only family of true acrobats and the youngest man alive who can do the quadruple somersault in midair! The amazing trio, the family of wonders, the one and the only the FLYING GRAYSONS!"
They started walking out into the ring when a man wearing a hat and overalls walked quickly past them knocking into Dick who turned to see who it was.
"Hey wasn't that........."
But his mother stopped him, "Come on honey we're on." They continued walking to where they had to climb their ladders to get to their platforms amid the cheers of the crowd.
Robin was still being dragged after them.
No I don't want to see it again! Not again! I don't want to be here! Make it stop!
But it didn't stop it was just starting.
The first few 'minor' tricks went well and then it was Dick's turn. His Mother gave him a hug and kiss for luck. He grabbed hold of the bar and swung off the ledge and let go.
One ...
He heard the gasps and screams of the crowd.
Two ...
He felt the adrenaline of flight.
Three ...
Almost there he could see the platform on the other side. One more...
Four ...
He grabbed hold of the bar on the other side and swung onto the platform.
He gave the cheering crowd a bow and waved to him parents on the other side.
Now it was his parents turn. He could just sit back now and watch them. They were his reminder that he still had a few tricks to learn before he could compete with them.
They set off in a series of twists and turns in synch with each other the entire time; doing their tricks in perfect rhythm. Mary reached out to John and he caught her wrists and was about to swing back to the platform when the line snapped and they started to fall still holding tightly to each other.
Why couldn't he look away? He didn't want to see this again!! Why couldn't he turn his head? Why couldn't he make it stop?!? Why was this happening again?!?
The screams of the crowd were loud but not loud enough to drown out Dick's scream.
"No!"
All Robin could do was look down at their broken bodies. He saw them die again and there was nothing he could do.
It was dark nest timehe was behind Dick who was still in his circus outfit sitting on a bench with a blanket draped over his shoulders. His head was hung low and the tears had barely stopped and shocked had started to fill him.
Robin wished he could comfort the boy who looked so small and helpless but he couldn't because that was him.
Commissioner Gordon was standing a ways off with the famous billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne. It turned out that he was in the stands and he saw it happen.
"So they're dead then?"
"Yes. Acid was placed on the ropes before the performance. It burned partially through them and all that weight just snapped the ropes."
"Who did it?"
"Mr. Haly said he was having trouble from Zucco and his boys."
"This was Zucco's doing?"
"Yea, he was selling insurance but Haly didn't want none of it; kicked him off the grounds. Guess he came back."
"What'll happen to the boy?"
"I don't know. Social Services probably won't let him sat with the circus, and he doesn't have any family so he'll most likely be sent into an orphanage or foster home."
"Does he know?"
"No not yet. It's still too soon."
"Jim do you think if I asked.........well do you think they'd let me take him?"
He looked up at the billionaire surprised.
"You'd do that Bruce? Why?"
"In a way he reminds me of myself when I was his age."
The commissioner understood. He lost both his parents at around that age.
"I think they'd allow it. I'll put in a good word for you if you want."
"Thanks Jim."
"So he'll stay the night here?"
"He'll probably stay until they bury his parents."
"Poor kid."
"Yea I know..."
The next thing Robin knew was that he was outside the circus tent once again behind Dick it seemed like a few days had passed. He was glad that he didn't have to go through the whole experience of having to watch the funeral again.
Dick was wearing a small backpack and holding Pop's hand. The entire circus was there. A black limo was also there and Robin remembered this day. This was the day Bruce took him away.
Bruce got out of the car and started walking toward Dick. Dick grabbed a hold of Pop.
"I don't want to go," he said softly.
"I know," Pop said gently ruffling his hair. "but you have to do this Dicky. We'll see each other again. Don't you worry."
"I know but I'll miss you so much."
"I know. It won't be the same without you. But you have to go now Dick."
"I know."
A small woman with black hair tapped Dick on the shoulder. She was the social worker. Dick thought her name was Samantha.
"It's time for you to go with Mr. Wayne Richard."
He nodded to the woman and waved to his circus family. He got into the back of the limo with Mr. Wayne and looked out of the window until they were out of sight.
"Does anyone know where we are?"
"Cyborg has it all covered Raven!" Beast Boy said cheerfully. "Don't you Cy?"
"Actually BB I've been lost since we walked through the door," Cyborg said deflating the green boy's spirits. "But don't worry I'll get us there."
The four Titans, Mary and Tom had been wandering around the STAR Labs complex for almost and hour and they had no idea where they were going. Every level looked the same as the one before it; dull titanium walls and flooring with the same metal doors that they had at the tower.
"Why do we not ask for directions?" Starfire asked.
"I told you I'd get us there!" Cyborg said.
"What is it with you guys and asking for directions?" Raven asked.
"I told you..."
"Excuse me." Cyborg heard a small voice say a little ahead of them. "Can you help us? We seem to be a bit lost."
Mary was talking to a man in a red and yellow suit with a matching mask. He had a lightning bolt symbol on his chest, on the sides of his head, and his gloves and boots. He was smiling at her kindly.
"Sure," he said. "Where do you need to go?"
"Uh........."
"To the med-labs," Raven spoke up. "Our friend was injured and we came to see him."
"Alright follow me."
He walked down the hall to an elevator and motioned for them to get inside. All seven of them squeezed in. The man pushed the correct button and the elevator started to descend.
"I'm the Flash," the man said apparently he didn't like awkward silences. "Who are you guys?"
"I'm Tom and this I my wife Mary."
"I'm Cyborg."
"Raven."
"Starfire is my earth name."
"And I'm Beast Boy the greenest man alive!"
"Who are you here to see?" the Flash said, flashing everyone a smile.
"Our good friend and leader was injured and we have come to see if he shall be alright. His name is Robin."
Flash's jaw dropped. These were the Titans? They were here to see Batman's kid?
"Oh........."
"Do you know of him?"
"Yes I saw him when he came in," Flash said quietly.
"You did?!? How was he? Is he gonna' be alright?" Cyborg asked.
"I'm not sure. Batman came and that's when I left."
"The Batman came?" Tom asked. "Robin said for him not to come."
"Well he came."
The elevator doors opened. "Follow me."
He led them down the hall to a metal sliding door with the number 39 on it.
Superman was waiting outside.
"Can we see him?" Cyborg asked running up to the man of steel.
"Yes just be quiet and careful. He still hasn't woken up yet and there is a visitor already in there so please be mindful of him."
"We told you not to call him," Raven said quietly. "He didn't want it."
"Raven he is like Robin's father. I couldn't just keep it from him!"
He stopped and looked at the teens in front of him. They were just trying to do what their leader said.
He sighed, "Before you go in I must tell you it won't be pretty. He has a tube down his throat because the bullet pierced part of his lung. There are also a lot of other machines hooked up to him. "
He opened the door and stuck his head in.
"Batman," he said quietly. "His team is here to see him."
Superman let them threw the door and they were shocked at what they saw.
Time to thank my Reviewers:
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Well thank you all again for the reviews! I LOVE THEM! The next chapter I am starting so please hang in there. THANKS! REVIEW!!