Freddy replied, "Hey, Dickie, tell your folks that I wish them a good performance, you hear?", and Dick smiled, "You got it, Freddy!", before turning to look at the kids as they walked to the seating area, "Try me. After all, a circus family may be mismatched and not all related, but we stick out for each other.".
The quartet looked at each other, realizing that it's almost similar as their family truly protects each other and watch out for each other's backs, and Sean then looked at Dick, keeping his voice quiet, not that the carnival and other people are loud already, anyway, "We all treat each other like cousins/siblings, but the truth is that Jane here is an aunt to me, Daphne, and Damien, while Damien is my and Daphne's godbrother when he's not a cousin at times, while we are nieces and nephews to Jane.".
"Sounds like a lot to remember there... does anyone get confused?", Dick asked. "At first, when you're growing up and starting to learn but after a while, it gets easy to figure out.", Jane explained.
Dick whistled softly, "Dang...", before looking around, "Where's your folks?", and Damien replied, "Over there! Mama, Papa! Look, Gramma, we got soda for you all.", almost sprinting to the family around one picnic table.
Dick blinked in surprise yet curiosity as he heard Jane call to the mentioned Gramma as Ma, and the man next to her as Pops, and seemed to realize with awe that they didn't really look like too old for grandparents, with seeing that the twins went to two people they called Mom and Dad, with two not too old other grandparents called Grandpa and Grandma nearby, and Damien to two people as Mama and Papa, realizing why they said other people were turned out like wide-eyed monkeys because one set of the grandparents must have had and married sort of young, for them to have Jane, when one of the others are a daughter or son of the same grandparents earlier hence the brood being nieces and nephews to Jane and so on, weirding other people out, but funnily enough, not him.
And for some reason, he feels strangely comfortable, not nervous for once, as he heard one of the women, Poppy complimenting warmly, "Thank you, darlings, for the soda.", and Daphne replied, "You're welcome, but we didn't exactly pay for it, we got help in a new friend who paid for it, and guess what, he's a circus kid! Dick, come say hello!", and Dick came closer, smiling as he waved casually, non-shy, "Hello.", holding into his cheese curds container.
"Who exactly is this?", Bruce asked as Jane smiled, "This here is Dick Grayson. He's the kid of the trapezes artists that perform here.".
Poppy raised an eyebrow, "Dick?", as it's not exactly the politest name as it could be teased in high school, and Dick smiled sheepishly, "I wanted a nickname as Richard isn't exactly normal for a circus kid to have as it's more of the wealthy type, but I guess Mom and Dad wanted an old-fashioned name.".
The family jolted at the sound of his official name for a split second, and Poppy's heart leaped in happiness as she can see her acrobat accents in Dick's frame, and he has Waylon's nose. Yet all the same, he got raven black hair, vivid sky-blue eyes. The black hair and the rest of him would mistake him as Damien's big brother, while Damien got his bi-colored eyes.
But they knew that the shade of blue eyes isn't the usual Wayne blue, so it must be either from John or Mary, along with his skin tone, and perhaps future height and adult frame as well.
Obviously, everyone was trying to keep their composure, not do anything that would be considered weird and get the police called or anything like that. But it certainly was difficult as Poppy herself almost wanted to wrap her arms around him tightly and cry.
"Do you perform?", Bruce asked, managing to at least keep a conversation going. Dick replied, "No, not yet, but I think I'm going to perform soon in one of the weekends later because I practiced so much over the last year and all. I think I'm good, but it's hard to say because my parents keep saying that I'm a great one at it, you know?".
Selina said, "That's because they love you...Don't you have friends to tell you that you're doing great?", and Dick sighed softly, "I wish. I hardly know kids my age, and even online at school, with moving around. Sure, I have friends in the circus family, but I don't have an outsider's perspective to tell me that I'm doing good when they watch me, giving me pointers while I practice.".
"Don't get me wrong, I love this life, and I get to see so many different places, and hear accents, and all. It's just that I'm majorly nervous about performing as something big...", Dick added, surprised deep down that he feels like he can talk to this family.
"No one would really blame you.", Poppy said. "After all, it is dangerous.". Dick said, "Yeah, but my parents have been doing it for years; kinda gets to a point where it's all second nature.".
Waylon asked, "Aren't there nets for safety?", and Dick nodded, "Yeah, every opening and closing performance for the big nets, and soon as they get used to the new environment in each city, the rest of the weekend nights got the small nets, still prominent for safety, but more faith for my parents to trust each other, like they always do.".
"Do they ever make it exciting?", Jane asked. "You know, do all the stunts without the net. Don't crowds usually go for that sort of thing?".
Dick replied, "They do make it exciting, even with the nets, big or small, trust me. They used to go without the nets long before I was born, and afterwards, they didn't want to go without the nets, considering that they were thinking of me, which is fair. It's not up to the people to want action without nets when it's up to the performers themselves in the first place, you know?".
Poppy's heart swelled in relief and happiness that John and Mary sound like responsible, loving parents, realizing that her lost one in Richard aka Dick has chosen well when going to be born somewhere in the circus years ago on its travels.
Soon, the conversation turned to other topics and such as he ate with the family and went to show a few of the best rides he knew to the kids he was surprised in making really quick friends with.
It was a half hour later, about 15 minutes before the performance of the humans are to start, with clowns, jugglers, fire performance, and then the Flying Graysons will be the final act.
Dick replied, looking at his watch, "I better get backstage to wish my parents luck and all, but first, I can help you get seats before everybody else fills in into the rest of the seats like a flood.".
Martha replied, "Oh, you don't have to do that, Dick.", and Dick replied, "I want to. The tent bouncers know me.", and Damien pleaded, "Oh, please, can we? We can't be late, and we can save a seat for Dick, so he can tell us who are behind the acts before his parents do the final act!".
"Alright, alright.", Poppy said. "As long as it's no real trouble; wouldn't want folks to think like we're taking advantage of you or anything.". Dick chuckled, "Yeah, I suppose so, but hey, least I could do for my friends and their family.", as he smiled.
Bruce chuckled, "Then lead the way, kiddo.", and Dick nodded, leading the way, and a few minutes later, Dick called to the tent bouncers, "Jorge, Tony!".
"Ah, if it isn't Dickie! Hey, Richie! About time you got here. John and Mary are starting to wonder if you're late to wish them luck and all. Are those your new friends?", Jorge and Tony greeted before Jorge asked.
"Yep! I was hoping that they and their family would get VIP seats as one in a chance opportunity, since they are essentially the first family that did stuck around for a tagalong like me.", Dick replied, as the last few times he tried to make friends, their families stereotyped him as a gypsy or something, thinking higher of themselves, and such, and their kids thought he was a braggart or discovered as uncool when he was just confident and proud of his family when he recounted of their profession, and said that he wasn't a performer yet.
"If that's alright with you.", Bruce said. "We can easily pay whatever the costs might be... money's no issue with us.", he explained. Bruce was recognizable at least to both men so they for sure knew that he was meaning what he said about covering costs.
Jorge and Tony looked at each other for a moment before Tony replied, "I'll get them in, you keep guarding. The crowds aren't allowed in for another five minutes.", and Jorge nodded, "Alright, Tony.".
"Come on, folks. Let's check you all in, for VIP, and settle you in. There's a bathroom nearby of the check-in station, if anyone needs to go fast.", Tony said.
Everybody else nodded and followed Tony to the check in station and bathroom, and it was quick before the family settled in the VIP section, with one seat saved for Dick. Dick replied, "Be right back in a few minutes.", with a salute.
Dick then headed backstage, greeting the preparing people; clowns, jugglers, fire performers as they greeted him back, ruffling his hair and patting his shoulder or doing fist pumps, and he then smiled as he saw his parents all suited up for their performance as the final act after the others, "Mom, Dad!".
Mary Grayson looked over, "Richard! You're nearly late for wishing us luck.", a bit concerned yet stern as she's a very lovely beauty, having golden brown-ish blonde hair in a tight bun, dark green eyes, warm tan skin, and a fit figure for high-flying.
"Where have you been, son? Did you get sick from the rides or something?", John Grayson asked, as he knew that Dick is a circus kid, free to have fun and all. He's a tall, broad-shouldered, and fit man, with neat raven black hair, with a hint of silver at his temples, and sky-blue eyes just like Dick, and dark tan skin.
"No, just met some kids my age and hung out with them and their family.", Dick explained. "Quite a few of them too; they've got a pretty big family.".
Mary kneeled down to hug Dick, "Oh, that's wonderful, Dick. They didn't judge you for being mistaken as a gypsy or something?", and Dick shook his head, "No, and the funny thing is that I felt comfortable with them, and they were actually pretty nice...I invited them as VIP...Is that okay?".
"Sure, don't see much harm in that.", John said as Dick rubbed his arm. "Something wrong?", John raised an eyebrow.
"Well, sort of, you're probably not going to believe me or just think it's a fun coincidence, but I swear, one of the kids, Damien, he kinda looks like he would easily be mistaken for my brother. I'm serious, we share a lot of looks.", Dick explained.
Mary replied, "Sometimes there are identical strangers who look so similar...I mean, take Emily Osmont and Carrie Underwood. People mistake them for being sisters, even though they are 9 years apart.".
Dick blinked in surprise, "You think so? Damien would be identical strangers with me?", and John replied, "It's possible. All the same, you're sitting with them?".
"Yep. I'd be on the right of the VIP section!", Dick nodded, and Mary nodded, "Good. How do we look, darling?".
Dick smiled, "You look great, Mom!", hugging her, and Mary kissed him on the head, "Thank you, my little robin.", and Dick blushed, "Mom! I ain't little anymore!".
"To me, you will always be my little robin, Dick. Now, hug your father, and wish us good luck.", Mary smiled warmly, letting go of him as she got up, and Dick nodded, moving next to hug John, "You look fantastic, Dad!".
John laughed warmly, "Thanks, son.", ruffling his son's hair, "We'll look for ya in the VIP section once we're up on the platform, and wave to you when we're ready in the spotlight, alright?".
"Okay, Dad.", Dick smiled as he let go of John, "Good luck, guys! Knock them dead!", and they smiled, "We will. Now, get back to your seat!", and Dick nodded, leaving them, and exited backstage around the stages, to the VIP section.
And so, the performance of talents began, with Dick pointing out and telling the names behind the clowns, jugglers, and fire performers to the excited and enraptured family, while the Graysons made their way in the dark shadows around the stages, climbing up to the platform.
It was during the act of the fire performers as they rested a bit on the platform, stretching their muscles, waiting for their act to begin with the circus ringmaster's announcement as Mary replied, "Do you see him, John?", as John is looking over the audience around the VIP section.
"Yeah, he's over there.", John said as he warmed himself up. "Hard to truly tell who he's with though from here...", with a hum. "You don't see that Damien child?", Mary asked as he shook his head.
"No; not well. I'd have to get up close to see if he is right about the kid looking a lot like him.", John replied. "Hurry it up, John, we're almost on.", Mary said as he nodded.
Damien twitched his feet excitedly as he looked at Dick next to him, "How long until we get to see your folks?", and Dick glanced at his watch, "One more minute. You having fun?".
"Sure am! Those clowns were really funny, not really creepy, those jugglers were awesome, and those fire performers, wow!", Damien nodded, happy to understand all the fun, for if he was perhaps 2 or 3 years old, he would be confused yet surprised and excited, but being 7, almost 8, it's really amazing.
Daphne replied, "This is going to be great!", as Sean nodded excitedly, having loved the previous acts, and Jane passed on the word, "Dick's parents are coming on.", to the adults.
"I can't imagine trying to pull off some of those stunts.", Poppy said while mentally chuckling. Honestly, she didn't really to imagine much, she did that sort of thing all the time with no safety nets, but she was fairly confident she could fall of some pretty tall buildings as her emerald alter ego and easily stick a landing or at least survive. Not that she and Martha were willing to test those sorts of theories.
Waylon whispered to her, "Difference is that they're humans. Good thing the nets tonight are the big type.", and Poppy nodded, taking his point.
The audience cheered and clapped as the fire performers finished with a big flourish as the circus ringmaster announced, "And that was the Fire-breathing Merricks! Give them a cheer!", as the next several seconds passed of cheering before he cleared his throat, "And now, tonight, for the final act, we give you a hair-raising, nail-biting, and edge of your seat thrilling sight of two amazing trapeze acrobats, the Flying Graysons!", as the spotlights landed upon John and Mary, waving with huge smiles to the audience, especially Dick.
And so, to the enraptured and awed family's eyes, the act began, with the couple professionally and perhaps even impossibly at times, showed off their incredible talent, making the audience of hundreds react at times with different emotions and such, lasting for 15 minutes with twists, turns, and much more.
Poppy especially was amazed as the couple seemed to read each other's minds, like they are syncing to each other flawlessly like a perfect harmony as they landed on the opposite platform with John holding up Mary on his shoulders, their arms out as they turned around in the spotlight to end the act, and the audience went wild.
"Reminds you of gymnastics, huh?", Waylon whispered as Poppy nodded before glancing over to Dick who wasn't looking their way. She swallowed uneasily before taking a deep breath. How much she just wanted to wrap her arms around the young boy and cry, being reunited with her lost son.
Waylon rubbed her back, whispering, "I know that look, Poppy...Someday soon, he won't see you as a stranger, but a mother in need of healing.". Poppy nodded with a small, appreciative smile at her husband, and the circus ringmaster announced, "Was that amazing? I'm afraid that's the last of the performances tonight, but please come back again, and enjoy your night with more delicious food and fun times!".
Dick immediately replied, "Don't move until everybody else leaves, and then we can get backstage. After all, you all are VIP.", and they nod, waiting for everybody to head out before Dick got up, gesturing with a hand, "Come on!", with a grin as he ran to his parents who are just finishing their climb down the pole stairs, "Dad, Mom, that was awesome as ever, and I think you really aced it up there because my friends and their folks were speechless!", with some circus people coming out to clean up the benches and the stages here and there, while the family followed Dick.