Chapter 34: Fighting for the Spotlight

Darren and Kitty showed Danny around the circus grounds while on their way to the concessions tent. Once there Danny immediately went to the small buffet and loaded a plate full of food. Kitty chuckled and grabbed a suspiciously glowing fruit. Darren got a little bit of food and grabbed a water bottle seemingly out of thin air.

"Slow down runt or you'll eat a fork again."

Darren almost choked on the mystery meat he was eating. It was either beef or goat but it smelled like fish, at least it tasted decent. "I'm sorry, again?"

A tall skinny teen with blonde hair and red eyes ruffled both boys hair. "Yup. The little runt has a habit of eating silverware whole."

"Awe Johnny leave them alone!" Kitty looped her arm around his. She got close enough to his ear to whisper. "Danny's injured and has a healing dissection scar. Go easy on him."

Said teen looked over at the ghostly couple right as he bit off part of his spoon. Feeling the end break off in his mouth he immediately spit it out. Johnny smirked at the younger boy. "So forks aren't enough now are they?"

Danny frowned as he tried to spit out the little pieces of metal still in his mouth. "It wasn't on purpose! It felt like my teeth suddenly got sharper!"

"Maybe we should finally get you that check up." Darren finished off his own food. "Or you can keep putting it off and join us for the show. Mr. Tall won't mind."

The choice was an easy one to make since Danny still didn't like anyone seeing his injuries. He and Darren parted ways with Johnny and Kitty so they could get ready for their own act.

"DARREN!" Both boys turned to see a teen a little older than them with green scales covering his body. When he finally reached them he was out of breath. "I've been *huff* looking every *huff* where for you."

"Evra are you okay?"

"No! I've been looking for him!" The scaly teen pointed at Danny.

"Who, Danny? Why were you looking for him?"

"Because he was right near where that building exploded and then suffered an extreme panic attack!"

Darren looked at the shorter boy. "Is that why your leg keeps bleeding?"

"I'm fine..." Why did everything keep circling back to him!? What's with all these new people lately concerned about his wellbeing!? Danny took a deep breath before slowly exhaling. "If your the one who brought me here then thanks. I got to catch up with old friends." He started walking towards the biggest tent. "I think the show's about to start. We should hurry."

Time seemed to fly for Danny as he watched all the other circus goers do their acts. He'd been to many circuses in his life but this one was the most interesting. Danny looked down at his outfit it looked a lot like Robin's uniform if it were a unitard but instead of yellow, green and red it was black, silver and white. One of the acrobats was sick so he'd be filling in.

"Hey Danny we're up next. Are you sure you want to go out there? You look kinda pale." A brunette girl with a monkey tale walked up to him wearing a red, black and silver leotard.

What was her name again? Danny was sure it started with an R. "I'm fine, this is how I always look."

"If your certain..."

Rebbecca! That was her name! He cracked a smile at the girl. "Believe it or not this isn't the first time I've been an acrobat in a circus."

Rebecca smirked. "Then let's see how skilled you are. Come on its our turn now!"

The two made their way to the center of the tent beside Mr. Tall. "Please welcome a very special performance by some of our newcomers, Rebecca and Danny!" He set both of his hands down for them to step onto. Once they were firmly on his hands Mr. Tall quickly launched them into the air and the awaiting trapeze.

Since Danny and Rebecca didn't have much time to come up with an actual routine they were making everything up as they went. While he focused on his natural flexibility and and flips, Rebecca used her tail to hang on to her trapeze before flipping to a different one.

The end of their act was drawing near and the audience drew a breath as the two managed to twist and flip higher until the ground was far below them. Danny plummeted first, shortly followed by Rebecca. The ground was rapidly approaching but before they reached the bottom two motorcyclists appeared and snatched them out of the air.

This was the only part of the routine they'd planned. Johnny and Kitty would catch them as they fell and then the older teens would start their grand finale. During their second jump Danny and Rebecca jumped off onto their respective platforms and took bows.

"You definitely have skills. I'll give you that."

"Thanks..." The ominous feeling in his core suddenly came back in full force. Danny clutched his chest in pain.

"Whoa runt are you okay?"

"That's it! Your going to get a checkup even if we have to use Shadow to tie you up!"

"I'm fine rea-"

Kitty grabbed his arm. "Nope none of that! You aren't fine and you WILL get a checkup!" The green haired teen half glared at the younger boy. "And if you even THINK about trying to use your powers to get out of it I will make you disappear until the very. Last. Moment. Do you understand?" The look of fear and sadness broke Kitty's core. "Danny I know you hate anything having to do with doctors but you can't just push away the things you don't like or scared about."

Screams erupted from outside the tent. It wasn't the occasional shriek from one of the animals or a frightened yelp from a citizen. It was pure, unfiltered screams of terror. Danny was the first to run outside to see what was going on.

A skinny man wearing a burlap sack on his head stood atop one of the cages. He had what appeared to be a fumigator on his back. "I heard this place is supposed to give you nightmares but all I saw was cheap entertainment and family friendly acts! Why don't you allow me to show you the true meaning of fear!" He grabbed something from a hidden pocket and aimed towards a man who looked mildly entertained by the chaos.

Without giving it a second thought Danny rushed to block the man from getting hit with whatever the man was attacking with. A small vial hit him and shattered on impact. Putrid green smoke emerged from the vial making him gag. "Gross, are you trying to make people afraid of bad smells because I think its working."

"Hmm you have a tolerance to my fear gas, lets see how high it goes!" The man who yelled his name was scarecrow after Danny called him manure man turned his fumigator on said boy, covering him in a thick layer of green smoke.

The more he tried not to inhale the more the need arose until the raven haired boy was forced to take in several deep gulps of the smelly smoke. He was starting to feel light headed and felt like the ground was moving closer. For the second time that night someone had caught him before he'd hit the ground. "Why do we keep finding you at a circus?"

"Robert?..." Danny tried to look at the blurry figure holding him.

"Um no, its Robin but close enough. KF get Danny to safety while I deal with Scarecrow." He ran back inside the tent where Kid Flash was waiting along with Kitty and Darren.

For some reason Danny felt like a whiny child. "Noooo..." If he was holding onto the hero tighter he couldn't tell.

"You two go. Darren and I can watch Danny." The look on the older girl's face left no room for arguments so the two heroes left to do their jobs. "Darren can you find me some ice?"

Danny groaned. "Am I dying again?" At some point Kitty had sat on the ground and cradled his head in her lap.

She gently ran her fingers through his hair. "No you aren't dying again. And I hope you're never in a situation that causes that to happen."

It was getting harder and harder to stay awake and his core was all but screaming at him to stay awake but he couldn't. "If I were to die again do you think I'd see Jazz and my parents again?" He wasn't sure what Kitty had just said until she got closer. "Huh?"

"Jazz is alive. She's currently living in here in Gotham with Plasmius and your friends."

The air dropped several degrees as Danny tried and failed to sit back up. "What!?"