Chapter Four

Of Angels and Tears Falling

"And finally, the circus comes to town! Tickets to the Circus of Talents have sold out and are being re-sold for up to ten times their value. With Ringmaster and magician Zatara, his daughter and master-magician Zatanna as well as the world-famous trapeze family, the Flying Graysons and many other acts besides, it promises to be an evening of fun and wonder for the whole family!"

x

"Uncle Bruce!"

Bruce turned as a small lad cannoned into him, hugging him as Clark grinned. Behind them, Alfred raised an enquiring eyebrow.

"Dick Grayson. Bruce learned acrobatics from his parents." Clark whispered to him as the young boy dragged Bruce off. Alfred's other eyebrow raised briefly, then he nodded.

"I see. I thought... well, I didn't know what to think for a moment."

Clark shrugged. "They got on very well and when Bruce decided it was time to leave, he arranged for the Circus to receive a regular cash infusion. He and Dick got on great, to the point that Dick's parents actually asked him to stand in loco parentis should anything happen to them."

"Just as I thought I had learned all about his adventures." Alfred said, then looked round. "And who are those ruffians over there? They don't look like circus-folk."

"...they aren't." said Clark, frowning and walking over to where the trio of interlopers were crowding an elderly man. "Zatara, I presume? Clark Wayne, it's an honour to meet you at last. My brother told me about you, oh, sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt. Please, pretend I'm not here."

The oldest of the three glowered at him, then stalked off. Zatara sighed in relief.

"I thought they were trouble." Clark said. "Demanding protection money, yes?"

"They will not get it." Zatara said firmly. "I run a clean circus. I must... wait. Did you say you were Bruce's brother? How is he?"

"He's fine. Heck, why am I telling you? He's with the Graysons now. Dick kind of kidnapped him and dragged him off."

"I wonder if Zatanna knows yet." the old man mused. "She had quite a crush on him when he was here. She was very upset when he decided to leave, tried to handcuff him to the caravan. She turned away for a second and when she turned back, he was gone. Still, we were very grateful when we received his gift. Kept us going."

"Bruce likes to help his friends." Clark laughed.

x

Clark twitched as his phone vibrated in his pocket. Glancing at it, he tapped his brother on the shoulder.

"Emergency across town, armed hostage situation in a skyscraper, Alfred just texted me. I'll put on your suit and deal with it."

Bruce nodded to indicate he had heard Clark's whisper and Clark slipped out from the back of the box while Bruce intently watched Zatanna's magic show. Stepping outside, Clark glanced round to ensure no-one was watching, then he soared into the sky and flew towards the cave as fast as he could without causing a sonic boom.

x

Clark stepped out from behind the bushes, tucking his shirt back in and froze, staring at the flashing red and blue lights outside the big top. Running forwards, he managed to shoulder through the crowd and stopped in the entrance, staring at the two sheet-covered shapes in the middle of the central ring.

"Sir? Bruce is waiting for you at the mansion." Alfred said from behind him. "He sent me to bring you as soon as you returned."

"What... what happened?"

"There was a terrible accident." Alfred said. "This way, please."

x

"Bruce?"

Bruce looked up from the sofa where he sat, cradling Dick Grayson in his arms as the younger boy wept. Beside them, Zatanna leaned in, her face filled with concern and compassion for the young lad while her father stood behind them.

"Bruce, I... What happened?"

"The wires came loose." Bruce said, his voice colder than frozen helium. "The police say it was an accident."

"Three men tried to threaten Zatara yesterday." Clark said slowly. "They were demanding money..."

Bruce met his gaze and both their eyes hardened, then Bruce turned his attention to the now-silent Dick.

"He's cried himself out. I have a a room for him, and a couple of guest rooms if you would both care to stay the night. I need to find out what happened, and who."

Zatara nodded as Bruce rose, carrying the young boy as if he weighed nothing.

x

"What are we looking for?" Clark asked, floating near the platform where the wires had come loose from.

"Signs of sabotage." Bruce growled in full Batman-mode. "Anything up there?"

"No signs of wear and tear here. Minor scratches, but no sharp surfaces."

"The wires weren't cut." Batman said. "I can't find the bolts... Are they up there?"

"Nope." Nightwing replied, scanning the floor. "There's one, there's the other. Looks like the whip-effect of the cable flung them. Nightwing swooped down to collect the two bolts and handed them to Bruce. "Odd thing, no sign of the nuts."

"What?"

Batman and Nightwing spun round and met the shocked gaze of Zatanna.

"What are you doing here?"

"This... this is my father's circus, his personal dream come true. Nightmare, now. He wanted to entertain, to perform, to... to..."

Zatanna blinked and then produced a tissue from thin air. Wiping her eyes, she moved forwards and held out her hand. Nightwing placed the bolts in it and she looked closely at them.

"No sign of the nuts at all?"

"None. As if they were never here."

"They weren't." Batman said. "Someone took them. Only the tension of the wires held the bolts in place. When the act started..."

"The bolts came loose and Dick's parents died." Zatanna said, vengeance clanging in her voice. "I want whatever bastard did this."

"Meet us here tomorrow night." Batman said. "We may have something by then."

Zatanna nodded and left. After her bike growled into life and faded away, Nightwing gave his brother a quizzical look.

"I... don't follow."

Batman held up a matchbook. "Look at 's from an old circus we watched as children. That means it's either from the old circus showground, or where they trained during winter. Tomorrow, you take Zatanna to the showground. Go on her bike. I'll take the Batmobile and check the winter encampment."

Nightwing smirked and Batman glared at him.

"What?"

"You said you were never going to call it that."

x

"I'm here."

"We know."

Zatanna jolted as the voice spoke out from the shadows, then Batman and Nightwing emerged. "We have two leads. You and Nightwing check one. I'll check out the other."

Batman turned and strode to where the Batmobile waited. Ignoring Zatanna's amazed look, he leapt into it, hitting the button that closed the cockpit. Starting the engine, he put the vehicle in gear and accelerated off. After several minutes, he sighed.

"I know you're back there. Get up here and strap in."

For a moment, only silence answered him.

"Richard Grayson, if you don't get up here now, I'm taking you back to Wayne Manor and personally tying you to your bed. Get. Here. Now!"

"Okay." a voice sighed and Dick gracefully squirmed between the seats, dropping into the passenger seat. Batman sighed and triggered his communicator.

"Nightwing, I have a passenger. Yes, him. I'll take him with me, it'll take too long to detour via Wayne Manor. Besides, you two are more likely to find something... yeah. Do that. Batman out."

Dick managed to secure himself in the seat and looked round, eyes wide.

"Wow!"

"Don't touch anything!"

x

The Batmobile stopped in a shower of gravel and Batman jumped out, followed by Dick. Batman sighed and looked down at the red-and-green-clad boy. "Stay close. And why did you choose to wear that?"

"My parents died on stage." Dick said tightly. "It seems right that I should wear it now as I find the one who killed them."

Batman glared down at him, then his head turned. Motioning for silence, he crept across to a barely-standing warehouse from which voices issued.

"...should have seem them drop." laughed one voice. "Splat!"

"Yeah, and all because I took these." a second voice said.

"What'll you do with them?"

"Keep them as trophies. Maybe turn them into cufflinks." came the gloating reply. "I heard that the old man is closing down the circus. Serves him right for not paying."

Batman clenched his fist, then a sudden impact scrambled the world.

x

"Hey, boss, the freak's coming round."

Batman opened his eyes and, fighting against the ache in his head, focused on the trio standing in front of him. Looking round, he found himself tied to a large board. A knife suddenly thunked into the wood and he looked back.

"I used to be a circus brat." the leader said mediatively. "Worked for my Dad. Zucco's Circus. I was a knife thrower. Tony the Blade, they called me. We used real knives, not the fakes others use. I was the best. Tom here, he was the strongman. He could rip phone books in half. Still can. And people, when he has to."

Another knife hit the board. "Jack was an acrobat. High wire, trapeze, he was making a name for himself. Then dad got himself busted and we had to find a new job."

"Who do you work for?"

A third knife hit the board, this one so close Batman could feel it through his thigh armour. "No-one. We're freelancers, making our way up the ranks of crime. We've got a whole neighbourhood under our thumbs, but we decided to expand."

"Which of you three killed the Graysons."

Jack smirked and looked at Tony.

"When word gets round that we killed the bat, no-one will dare to stand against us. But first, let's find out who you are. Tom?"

Tom stepped forwards, hands outstretched, then a heavy shape dropped from the rafters and hit Tom on his head. The shape ruptured, spraying sand everywhere and Tom slowly keeled over, out cold.

"What the... It's Nightwing!"

Jack sprinted for the ladder and rapidly scaled it as Batman clenched his fists and moves slightly, rubbing the rope that bound him against the blade of the knife by his hand. Tony stared up, several more knives ready to throw.

"Jack?"

A scream answered him and Jack fell from the rafters, the rope around his leg causing him to swing helplessly. Tony cursed, then his eyes dropped to the empty target board.

"Shit! Where are... there you are!"

Batman ducked as a knife sliced through the space he had just vacated, then he heard feet on the ladder. Looking round, he ducked again as a second knife sliced past. A moment later, the sound of fighting echoed and Batman pulled out his grappling hook. Firing it, he waited for a second, then hit the retract button. The cable pulled him swiftly to the rafters, where he found himself face-to-face with Tony. Reflex took over and he kicked, sending Tony's last knife arcing towards the floor.

"No! Keep away! Keep away!"

Jerking back, Tony realised too late that there was nothing but empty air behind him. Batman lunged forwards, but his grab missed by bare millimeters and Tony tumbled down, almost drifting towards the unforgiving concrete floor below... until a flying red blur grabbed him and threw him into a huge pile of sandbags. Batman breathed a sigh of relief as Dick released the rope he had used and somersaulted down to stand in front of the dazed gangster. Looking round, Batman saw another dangling rope and used it to get down safely.

"You could have let him fall."

"I know." Dick said quietly. "But it was too quick. I want him to pay, Batman. I want him to pay, but I can't let him just die. That would... I'd be like him if I did that."

"You did good." Batman said. "I recorded his confession."

"Batman!" Nightwing shouted as he charged in, Zatanna hot on his heels. "Are you alright? What happened?"

Batman moved slightly to hide Dick from Zatanna's view. "I found them. Zatanna, call the cops. We'll secure them."

x

"I feel bad about sneaking out on Zatanna." Nightwing said.

"She'll be fine. Girl can throw a mean right hook." Batman replied and Nightwing glanced back at Dick.

"You proved yourself today, Kid." He said. "Hey, Bat, do you think..?"

Batman nodded slowly. "You did good, Dick. But now it's time to choose. You can join us, become the third member of our group, or simply return to living as a child, knowing that justice has been done. The choice is yours."

For a few moments, Dick remained silent, then he spoke. "I'd like to join you, but I know that Uncle Bruce and Uncle Clark would worry. I can't leave them. I'm... sorry."

"You don't have to." said Nightwing, pulling off his mask. Dick's jaw dropped and his eyes snapped to Batman, who nodded.

"Clark? Bruce? You're... wow."

Clark's grin broadened. "Best of both worlds. I'll help you with your new outfit, but you'll need a name for in the field."

Dick frowned for a moment. "I'd like Robin. Mum sometimes teased me, saying I was her little robin red-breast, so..."

"Robin it is." Clark said with a grin. "Now we just need to sneak you back into your room. Tomorrow, we'll see about the rest."

"Welcome to the team, Robin." Bruce said. "Good to have you aboard."

Only silence answered him and Clark glanced back and chuckled.

"He asleep?"

"Out like a light." Clark confirmed, reaching for the roof hatch. "I'll fly us back to keep the ride smooth."