Disclaimer: This fanfiction is based in the era of the Roman Empire to give you all some context. Some practices from this empire
may be present in this story. I created a new Empire for this story. The Gotham Empire, totally original right? Wrong! I can't claim DC Universe, or the Known World like many have done before *cough* Alexander the Great *cough* Napoleon *cough* Your face :B
Rated T
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The Changing of a Heart
By: Fanficer21
Chapter 2
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*Five years later*
A 13 year old Robin, dressed in a faded red tunic down to his knees with a belt and open toe shoes, walked through the market place carrying a cloth pouch with 2 loaves of bread. His mother had asked him to buy some more while they did their street performance. Making his way back home he stopped to watch his parents' act. In the circle of a crowd his mother danced in circles in a coined blue dress as she bellydanced to the music his father and other members of their group* as they played their lute, pan flute, flute, Tympanum (hard drum), finger symbols played by his mother as she stamped her feet to the beat, and a variety of other instruments. The crowd cheered and threw coins into a small box in front of Mary as she twirled a long ribbon cloth around her and did flips. Her long blond hair followed her every movement. At the end of her performance, she held her hands in the air with the symbols together when the music stopped. She smiled brilliantly when she saw her son in the crowd cheering her on.
Looking to her husband, who also noticed Robin, she gave him a knowing look. Both nodded with a smirk before Mary walked over to her son and grabbed his hand. She pulled him into the circle as the music began playing again. Robin was nervous, he only ever practiced at night with his mom and dad, never in public before. Taking the pouch from Robin, Mary placed it on the ground and struck a pose. She waited patiently for her son to settle his nerves and take the same pose. As the music reached its climax they both began to thrust their hips and move their stomachs to the music. Robin cackled as he danced with his mother. He soon did a few flips that awed the crowd, resulting in more coins entering the box. Without realizing that one instrument stopped playing, both mother and son were happily surprised to see John dancing right beside them. His movements were way off making them and the crowd laugh.
Suddenly, Robin found himself dancing alone as his mother and father stood in the crowd to watch their son dance beautifully. Tears reached their eyes at how fast he picked things up and followed the movements Mary showed him each night, after she finished weaving or sewing, perfectly. John was proud at how well he stuck to the beat of the music without a single falter. When the music stopped Robin struck a pose like his mother did previously and laughed before breaking the position and running into his parents' open arms. Awws filled the crowd followed by some more coins in the box as the crowd dispursed.
"If this keeps up, we'll be rich and could move to Gotham!" John joked as he ruffled Robin's hair. Mary continued to hug her son and rub his back with one hand, while stroking his hair with the other. "We're so proud of you son! You did so well! And on your first day too!" She kissed his cheek before standing up to pick up the loaves of bread while Robin hugged and playfought with the members of the band. John went to collect the box of their earnings, when he heard the sound of jingling metal. 'Crap' he thought before running to his family. Grabbing Mary's and Robin's shoulders he pushed them harshly into the shadows behind a small shop while yelling for the other musicians to take cover.
"What's wrong dad?" Robin asked quizzically. "Soldiers" John whispered as he crouched down behind some barrels with his wife and son as the shadows of ten soldiers jogged past the shop. They had to be careful not to get caught, because if they were, they could be killed or worse, slaves. And that was one thing that John did not want to happen to his family. He heard the shop keeper whispering to the soldiers and tightened his arms around his family. Mary held Robin in her arms pressing his face against her chest as she stroked his hair. Robin listened to the rapid heartbeat of his mother and the labored breathing of his father as they tried to keep quiet. After what seemed like ages, the soldiers moved on, but the Grayson's jumped when they heard the shopkeeper speak to them as he walked to the back of his stand.
"You can come out now!" He said from where he stood at the corner. John stood up first, a little apprehensive." You can trust me. They've
left." John still stood protectively in front of Mary and Robin. "What did they want!?" He demanded, his ebony hair covered his dark eyes, making him appear more frightening.
The shopkeeper sighed before responding. "Word is that an army of soldiers is coming this way, and I don't think they're here for a
friendly chat. It might be best if you leave as soon as possible. Head north, before they get here." The old man said, remembering the last time the city was invaded 20 years ago. It had happened when John and Mary were still children. During the last invasion, Gotham soldiers took as many people as they could, men, women, and children, and brought them to back to the city as slaves.
John nodded and ushered his family to stand up. Making their way to the man, they kept close to each other. Robin never released his hold around his mother's waist, Mary rested her arms around his shoulders. Her dress jingled as they walked. When they rounded the corner the old man walked behind them as they headed towards the exit. The sudden tinkling of armor was heard in the front of the shop making John stop dead in his tracks, and turn on his heel.
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TO BE CONTINUED...
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What do you think?
Just how I love it, getting to the plot right away!
