Chapter 6: A Death In The Family
The Flying Graysons were just finishing their act as Dick was showing off his acrobat skills to everyone in the crowd. He was especially trying to impress the ladies in the audience. The entire audience was amazed at the skills the family displayed in their act. It was definitely the best acrobat show they've ever seen. "I've never seen anyone so graceful like these people.", Grace said. "Except maybe you? I mean since that's your name after all.", Harvey said to Grace teasing her. Grace chuckled and said, "You're such a charmer, Harvey.". They shared a gentle and loving kiss with each other which caught the attention of Bruce and Julie. Julie got an idea and said to Bruce, "Why don't we follow their lead?". "Sounds good to me.", Bruce said as he leaned in and kissed her. However, it wasn't as long or passionate as Grace and Harvey because Bruce was more passionate about working to protect Gotham which is what he would be doing right now if he wasn't here. Dick had finished his last series of aerial skill and swung back to join his family. The entire audience was cheering them on and applauding nonstop. The Graysons all bowed and waved back to their audience to thank them for their patronage. The ringmaster was waiting for a special effects or pyrotechnics part from Lynns, but nothing happened. This was unusually odd seeing as how he was always on top of when to show off his work. The ringmaster went out disappointingly without a light or fire show to close out the night. "Ladies and gentleman, those were the incredible feats of the Flying Graysons! We can't thank you all for coming out tonight and allowing us to put on a spectacular show for you all! We hope to see you all again soon! Thank you and good night!", the ringmaster said to the audience as he gave one final bow himself and took off his hat. Just as the show was closing out, Tony Zucco and his men stepped out into the ring and fired their guns into the air to scare the audience. "Sorry, pal! Our show's just getting started!", Zucco said. The ringmaster turned to face the thugs and responded. "Excuse me, what do you think you're doing? What do you want?", he asked with fear in his voice. "Well, I don't want you. So, you're no use to us.", Zucco said sinisterly right before he shot the showman in the chest. He fell on the floor dead and everyone in the audience screamed at the horrific scene. "Oh my God!", Grace said in horror. "Harvey, that's Tony Zucco, the mob enforcer!", Gordon said to the DA. "Why's he here? What does he want?", Harvey said. "I don't care why he's here or what he wants! All I know is him and his gang of animals are gonna pay for what they just did!", Gordon said angrily. "Sounds like a good idea, Jim.", Bruce quietly said to himself. Amidst the excitement, Bruce quietly slipped away to deal with this situation personally. "Bruce, we need to get out of...", Harvey trailed off when he noticed his friend was gone. "Where'd he go?", Grace asked. Julie looked around, but couldn't see him either. "He was just here a second ago. I don't know where he went.", Julie said. "All you losers in the audience better stay right where you are! Especially the rich people, we plan to rob all of you before the thought of leaving this building even crosses your minds!", Zucco threatened while he and his men pointed their guns at the entire crowd. Meanwhile, Alfred was in the driver's seat of the limo on his phone playing Angry Birds and getting frustrated with it because he was losing. "Damn birds! You just don't do what I tell you to do!", Alfred said while playing. He then stopped when Bruce abruptly came back into the limo. "Oh, hello, Master Bruce. How was the show? Where's Ms. Madison?", Alfred asked. "Emergency, Alfred! The mob enforcer I've been tracking is in there and is trying to rob the circus patrons. He's already killed the ringmaster and won't let anyone get in the way.", Bruce explained the situation. "Oh, dear! Well, you're lucky I always have your spare batsuit in the trunk.", Alfred told him. Bruce then grabbed his suit from the trunk and became Batman once more to save the circus. All the audience was handing over anything valuable they could give the criminals so they didn't wind up next. The Flying Graysons were watching the whole thing from above and were thinking of a game plan on how to help. "Guys, we have to do something! We can't just stand up here and let these animals get away with this!", Dick said. "What can we do?", Mary asked. "There some guys positioned on the lower platforms. I figure we can split up and take them out and then help sneak these people out.", Dick said. "That's a good plan. Just be careful, son.", John said. The parents and the son began to make their way down to fight off some thugs on the lower platforms, but had to do it slowly to avoid getting caught. "That's it! Fork everything you have over to us! This'll be a big win for the mob!", Zucco said. Gordon got angry and had enough of this and made a stand in the crowd. "Zucco, this is Captain Gordon of the GCPD! If you were smart, you and your men will surrender quietly! Let these people go now or I can guarantee you will regret it!", Gordon said. "You're not the boss of me, Gordon! I am! You and your men have been making too many hits against me and my associates lately. About a year ago, you pigs knew your place! Now, you're all up in our business and making us suffer! I think it's about time someone did something about pain in the ass cops like yourself! Zucco said as he pointed his gun right at Gordon. "Jim!", Gordon's wife shouted in horror as Zucco was about to fire, but was stopped when a batarang knocked the gun out of his hand. Zucco looked up and saw a dark winged figure glide towards him and kick him to the ground. Batman made his presence known to the thugs who shivered at the very sight of the hero. "It's the Bat! Get him!", the thugs shouted as they charged at Batman. Batman easily dodged their meager attacks and showed no mercy with beating these animals to a pulp. Dick was observing Batman as he was quietly sneaking up on the thugs on the platform and was in complete awe and admiration at the strength, bravery, and determination of the mysterious hero. Those very criminals were loading their guns and getting ready to fire at Batman. Dick moved faster and made his move on the bad guys by fighting as best as he could against these punks. It took him a little while to get the upper hand, but managed to do it by wearing the thugs down as best he could. His parents were doing the same thing to some other bad guys on the other side. Zucco got back up and grabbed his gun and was ready to shoot at Batman. "Boss, these acrobat punks are...", a guy said before he was knocked out by John Grayson. This caught the attention of Zucco who saw John Grayson knock out his buddy on the platform above him and got angry. Zucco shot right at John Grayson in his arm which made him fall off the platform. "John!", Mary screamed in horror. Zucco then shot her too in the stomach which caused her to fall off too. The shooting and screaming caught the attention of both Batman and Dick who watched in horror as John and Mary fell to their deaths. Both their necks broke as soon as they hit the hard floor. "Mom! Dad!", Dick weakly shouted as he watched the horrific scene of his parents being murdered right before him. Batman's sharp hearing heard Dicks' voice and saw the young man collapse to his knees at what he just saw. This is exactly like what happened to him when he saw his parents killed in that alley. Batman felt heartbroken as he could sense the exact same pain in that young acrobat. He vowed to never let what happened to him when he was eight happen to anyone else again, but just now he failed to keep that promise and it crushed him. "Serves you right, losers! Have fun doing your act in Hell!", Zucco taunted the now dead acrobats. Hearing that quickly turn Batman's sorrow and grief to anger. Very strong and hateful anger. He then charged right at Zucco as fast as he could. Zucco saw Batman coming and was quickly getting his gun ready again but was too late as Batman pounced on him. He pinned Zucco to the ground and began beating him nonstop. Punch after punch after punch and Batman wouldn't stop hurting the Graysons' killer. A pool of blood kept getting bigger around Zucco's head as Batman didn't let up. Batman honestly had the urge to kill this monster for what he just did and was just about to if Gordon didn't intervene. "Batman, stop! Stop!", Gordon yelled at Batman as he held back the hero's arm from going in for another strike. "It's over, he's done!", Gordon assured him Batman looked at Gordon, the very man who comforted him after this exact same situation happened to him years ago. He then looked at Zucco who was a bloodied mess with gashes all around his face and about 6 missing teeth. Batman slowly calmed down and got up. "Cuff him!", Gordon ordered his fellow officers who arrived at the scene just in nick of time. "That Bat freak's a maniac! He nearly killed me! He's the one who should be going to jail, not me!", Zucco said. "Shut up, shithead! Unlike you, he didn't actually kill someone like you just did!", Gordon yelled. "Get him and his friends out of here!", Gordon ordered the officers who arrested the rest and hauled them off. The circus was now safe and the audience made it out okay. Gordon then turned to Batman and said, "What the hell was that all about? You're normally never that brutal! Why were you like that just now?". Batman didn't answer, just calmly looked up to show Jim why he acted like that. Jim looked to what he was looking at and saw the heartbroken young man who just saw his family killed. "Oh, God!", Gordon said as he put his hand over his mouth. "He saw the whole thing happen right in front of him.", Batman said with a heartbroken tone of voice. "Oh, Jesus! Almost nothing can ever stay good in this damn city!", Gordon said. A police officer came up to Gordon and said, "Captain, we might have another casualty.". "What do you mean?", Gordon asked. "We just found a badly burnt guy backstage. He's still alive, but he won't be for long unless we get him to the hospital.", the officer informed the captain. "Oh, Christ! Then get him to Gotham General now and make sure those scumbags are sent straight to Blackgate without bail or a trial!", Gordon demanded and left the scene. Batman solemnly looked up at Dick Grayson who had tears streaming down his red cheeks. Dick looked straight back at Batman with watery eyes. They both stared at each for who knows how long before more police and the news media arrived at the scene.