Grayson

Chapter 1- The Circus

There once was a married couple named the Grayson's that worked under a circus tent. They called themselves the Dynamic Duo. Their lives were spent on making others around the world smile and rejoice by their awesome feats in the air. Night after night, they traveled across the world, lifting, catching and flying across one another into the air as they dazzled the audience with magnificent tricks. As the years passed the couple grew very fond of the children that they would make smile every day, that they decided to have one of their own.

That was when they gave birth to a boy they named Richard Grayson. I was born. I was told that I was born healthy without any complications. This I was told was uncommon due to the Ace Chemical factories that were everywhere at the time. It was only now that the factories were found to be causing the rare and unusual diseases across the world. Diseases we now know as Metahumans. I am now 12 years old and I have learned every acrobatic trick in the world. I am now at the point where I could create tricks all on my own.

Today is the day I show off my new moves to Dad and hope he can let me try it out in the big show. I fly through the air as my Dad watches me spin and catch the rope. I quickly fling myself back up and twirl 1, 2, 3 times before I can grab the next rope to pull myself to the other side with such ease. I land on the platform and look down. "Aha! look at me dad! I can finally do the triple twirl perfectly!" I jump off the platform and guide myself down the net in such a way that I was able to leap back up and flip off the netting to where Dad was standing. He pats my shoulder and shakes his head. "That a boy my son. My have you grown. I do not know what else more I can show you." He smiles at me. "Aw, your just saying that since I'm much better than you now!" We both laugh and walk together away from the tent. "Oh no, not at all. Lets go home for dinner, you know how your mother gets when were late."

We stroll along to our trailer but stop in front of the circus ringers trailer home. A man in a black suit and a fedora hat like those from mobster movies walked out of the Ringer's trailer. He smiled at me, but quickly switched to an angered look when Dad stared at the man. The man waved his hand once at me. I feel Dad's hand reach for my chest for me to get behind him, so I did just that. The man gave out a chuckle and walked past us. He intentionally buts shoulders with Dad as he passed by and left into the cover of darkness. I look up to see Dad sigh in relief as he let go of my chest. "Father..who was that man?" He leans down and places a hand over my shoulder. "You don't need to know who he is. That man is one of those kinds of people you should stay away from Dick. Do not ever let me catch you talking to him. If he ever bothers you in any way, stay quiet and come get me. I will always be here to protect you." I nod my head to agree and he stands back up so that we can start walking together again."Yes father. I read you loud and clear. Any time I ever see that man, I'll make sure to look the other way and rush back to you and mom as fast as I can." He laughs and pats my back. "That's right my son. Your Mother and I will always be here to protect you."

We make it home as the sun began to sink away into the clouds. We enter and Mom was already setting the food down on the dinner table. Our home is not large enough for a whole family, but its enough to get us by. The Ring Leader said if business keeps booming here in Gotham, we could afford to get a larger trailer. But that was two years ago….two long years since we have been stuck in this city. The Leader signed a contract with the city to have us as its official year round attraction. This was done to distract its people from the harsh reality that this city has been enduring since all these Metahumans have been surfacing. On top of that, there continues to be those scary Batman stories where he beats criminals half to death and leaves them for the police to arrest or shovel into a grave. Not sure if he is real and if he is, if he is even human.

Mom shuffles some cups and places them onto the table. She smiles and gives me a hug as I rush to her. "If it isn't my two favorite boys in the world, home at last. So how was practice today honey?" I scurry to the table and help Mom as Dad took off his coat and made his way to the table. "Everything went great today darling. Dick managed to get the triple back flip perfectly. Sadly our new benefactor made an appearance on our way home." Before sitting down, Dad hugged Mom and whispered something into her ear. Mom gasped but quickly shook her head and looked down at me. "That's great my little robin, now go…go wash up while me and you father talk really quick. Please take your time and clean up nicely."

I rush off to the bathroom and take my time cleaning myself up. At this point, I already know what take your time means. Mom and Dad are going to talk about something serious and they do not want me around as usual. Sometimes I wish they would treat me like an adult and let me hear what they have to say. I am twelve years old now. I am not a little kid anymore. I let out a sigh and finish cleaning up as I hear glass breaking in the other room. I head to the kitchen area, where I see the glass on the ground and Dad is rushing out the door with a jacket. He leaves and slams the door behind him. "..what happened Mom? I've never seen you and Dad fight before. Did I do something wrong?" Mom begins to cry and walks over to me. She wraps her arms around me and pats my back. She tries to smile as she repels herself off to take look at me. "Your Father and I just don't see eye to eye at the moment. It shouldn't be anything for you worry about my little red robin. And don't ever think you did anything wrong between us. Your our little Robin and there is nothing you can do to ever make us fight." She sniffled and stood up as she made her way back to her seat. She smiles at me and gestures for me to sit down with her. "Alright Mom. I just hope you guys can be ok again soon." She only smiles at me and serves dinner quietly.

Time passes and its now showtime. The aroma of popcorn fills the air. Loud and multiple voices echo throughout the tent as flashes of light blind those who are watching the entrance of the tent. A man with jet black hair and a suit as close to perfection enters the tent. The man held his chin up high and smiled for a crowd of paparazzi. Flash after flash followed him as he made his way to his seat. A woman sits beside him. She had curves that would make any woman jealous. Her hair was straight and curved at the right angles that would make any Man want to pet. She blinks with eyes that are a hue of of jade that would glow in the darkest of night. Her skin was just the right kind of healthy white that most men would find attractive. Her chest was bare enough to the point where it teases others to simply fantasize about pulling down just enough to see what they want to see. Her dress which is covered in sparkles of blue reached down to her waist and barely covers her mid thighs as she sat down. It was at the point where she needed to place her coat over her lap to avert wandering eyes. She applies some blood colored lipstick and smacks her lips together before speaking to the man. "Now then mister Wayne, it seems like I finally get to have that interview now that we are alone together again." The woman smiled as Wayne shakes his head. "Sorry miss Vale, but I don't do any interviews when I am watching a show." Wayne waved his hand to the woman for her to leave his side as the show began to start. "Oh, come on Bruce, you've been brushing me off ever since we slept together." Bruce looks at Vale and nodded his head, side to side. "Then you should not have recorded that night of us Vicky. You may not care to look like a whore at night, but I do not appreciate my privacy to be seen live for a quick buck. So either leave or spread your legs to let the cameras have another good look at you. "Vicky leaps up and pulls down her dress to avoid a slip. She scoffs and turns away to leave. "You're an Ass! you know that Bruce..I told you that was an accident! You know that I was recording an interview just before you barged in drunk off your ass and needed to stick your Dick into the only woman who was willing to let it in." She leaves and Bruce completely ignores her comment as the noise in the tent only gets louder.

I am getting pumped. Jumping and stretching my arms as Mom finishes her make up. "I hope Dad makes it back in time to perform with us tonight. After all I heard from Armstrong that a big rich guy was going to be here tonight. "Mom nods and places her arm over my shoulders. I see that she is ready to go so we start to head into the tent from behind. "I hope he does too..tonight is big for us if you say that a rich man is here, so look your best little robin." She lets go of me and pushes me to head in as she stops to talk to some of the other women performers. I stare up and look at the masses of people who are here to see the show. Although I know they are only here to see the rich guy. Supposedly he is some sort of guy who went missing for a few years and only returned about a year ago and no ones been able to find out where he was. "Wow, there's a large crowd tonight, I wonder which one he is." A man in a hat walks over to me. He takes off his hat and smiles with broken teeth showing. "Say kiddo, do you happen to know where the props room is? I need to get some sharp things for the big act." I nod and point to the right. "Yeah, the props room is to the end that way. Just make a left at the third passage back there." The Man smiles again and puts his hat back on. "Thanks kiddo. You're a real life saver. Make sure to give the crowd a big splash when your folks get up there." He laughs and walks away. I scratch my head and watch him as he leaves. I hear a bottle crash to the ground and I snap out of it. I remember that Dad should be on his way soon hopefully. "Come on dad.." Mom appears behind me and slaps my back gently. "Come on Robin, I heard that your Fathers already at the board waiting for us." I let out a sigh of relief and we both head towards the sides of the stage. "Come on Mom, I cant wait to show you my best moves. I even have a new trick to show you that I've been working on. Dad said the Leader would let me debut it today." We climb up the ladder and make it to the top where Dad was. He stood shifting from side to side in what looked like a daze. He did not look anywhere even close to being ready. "Dad? What's the matter? You don't look alright. Are you ok?" He looks down at me and smiled with sweat covering his face. "Don't worry son, it's nothing to worry about. Just a little anxious." He stiffs back up and clears his throat. Mom just reached the top with us and was about to say something to Dad when the lights quickly came upon us and the Ring Leader spoke loudly and pointed at us.

"Now presenting to you, the extraordinary high FLYING GRAYSONS!"

The crowd cheered with joy and excitement. I turned to Mom and Dad with a big smile. "I guess it's time we gave these people their moneys worth, right?" They both nod their heads up and down as Mom and looked over at Dad with a scared look on her face. As I began to show fear, I see Mom quickly smile and pet my head as she turned to look back at Dad. "John your...are you...your not.."

The crowd cheered at us as I was given the signal below to start the show. I quickly leaped off the board with the baton swing in my grasp. I feel a smile as genuine happiness clouded my emotions. I now had nothing in my mind as I soared the skies like the bird I was destined to be. If there was one place that was paradise for me, it would be this tent and flying across the stage with my Mom and Dad. Trick after trick would be performed. I know the crowd loves us. We would shed our talent with layer after layer. Our very souls are shown as each trick was performed. Our blood and sweat was spilled below for the people to bare witness our awesome feats. Only those worthy and talented enough can join our ranks as the

one

and the only

Flying Grayson's.