Catching Up

-(Perspective change to Richard (Dick) Grayson earlier that day.)-

Walking into the big red tent was a lot like I assume people feel like entering a childhood home after a long time away. Memories of the good times flood my head and then the memories of the fateful day that took his parents away from him forever follow like he knew would happen.

Walking in with Logan adds a different aspect to it though. {Is this what it feels like having an older brother?} Dick asks himself.

{I know physically he is younger but mentally he is much older, though I think I'm mentally old for my age as well. Growing up in a war will do that to you.} Seeing Mr. Haly's son Bryan and the lead clown Jimmy talking I move that way with Logan but almost immediately he bumps my arm to point at the elephants and I knew he wanted to check on them. With his abilities it made sense, I saw how all animals were drawn to him like he wore the cologne of their favorite food. Too bad it didn't work on the chicks; he would be great wingman material. 

I continued to Jimmy and Brian, "Hey guys."

Holding up a green wig Jimmy says, "I just aint wearing this Bryan, I don't care if it is the only color they have!"

Bryan, "Dick Grayson! You did come, I bet you wouldn't wait tell Gotham to come see us, thanks for the payday."

Dick, "Remember to give half the wining's to you dad for my tab Bryan."

Bryan, "Na, he stepped down about six months ago. I'm the boss now buddy and half of what I won don't even start for the tab you have with the circus."

Dick, "Thats great Bryan, I hadn't heard about the change. How about you Jimmy? How you doing?"

Jimmy, "I'm less than 60 miles from Gotham dressed as a clown and they are trying to get me to wear a green wig. How do you think I am Grayson, I'm terrible!" After finishing the rant Jimmy storms off throwing the wig on the ground.

Dick, "Still temperamental I see. Not like he is a woman."

Bryan, "Always! You know Dick, we would understand if you stopped coming around. It can't be easy." 

Dick, "Its ok Bryan, your all still family, it just takes some planning to free up the time." 

From behind him Dick hears, "Really, that's what you going with? Not you accidentally stumbled in here looking for a wardrobe change and a haircut?" The voice is familiar but older than he remembers. 

Dick turned and saw exactly who he thought he would. A 5ft 7in well-toned redhead in a tight spandex practice outfit. "Raya!! No way I would come here for a haircut, some Billy Ray Cyrus fangirl would give me a mullet and I couldn't go out in public until it grew back out unless I wore a hat." 

Raya, "Hey! Don't doubt Billy Ray, and the mullet is coming back just watch."

Dick, "You back with Haly's Raya?"

Raya, "Well, it's kind of a long story. Have you met Marc yet? He's our new catcher."

She points to a tanned frowning man who is just over 6ft tall and very beefy in the chest. Casting a critical eye, I see most of his muscle comes from the gym to look impressive. Some basic aerial movements will look awkward with some of the muscles he is building.

I reached out and took the hand he offered shaking it. Big surprise he tries crushing it in a display of power I'm sure had everything to do with Raya talking to me.

Marc, "Yeah, I heard about you man. I just want to say, it really sucks what happened."

Raya, "Really Marc..."

Marc, "Oh, I'm sorry. Still a tender spot after all these years?"

Before I can answer we hear a voice shout out, "Bryan, you best get over here!"

I look over and see a crowd around Logan and the elephants he went to check out. I followed Bryan and let the tension release from my muscles after Marc's comment. {Just a jealous idiot!} I tell myself. {Breaking him will hurt the circus show until he heals.} 

Dick, "What's up Logan?" I ask.

After he explains about the nails in the food Bryan rushed off to get people looking into all the animal's food.

Marc, "We're about to head up to the wires for a workout if you still got the... feel for them. I would love to see the style of the ancient Flying Grayson's in person."

Dick, "Oh, uh, I'm not sure I can do that name any justice now."

Raya, "Oh, Come on Grayson! You already forget where you came from?"

Looking up I see the wires just floating there occasionally moving as if they were waving at me.

Dick, "Sure, set me up with a practice suit and I'll see what I remember. Don't get your hopes up though I haven't been in the air much with school and all."

After getting a suit I started to climb to the starting platform. The whole way up I can hear my dad "Make your actions slow to the eye son, people can't see the magic of our style if it's done fast." My mother, "The moment you appear they are watching you, the faster you get to your place the more effective our slow style is in the air. People are amazed at how quick we go up the pole, so it messes with their perception of time when we are slow on the wire."

I glance down to see a crowd has gathered from the workers. I see a lot of old friends in that crowd and the thrill of being the center of attention is always a high for me. {Damn, I haven't even touched a swing and I'm already feeling the adrenaline pumping.} As soon as I'm in the air, it's like I never left. My training with Matt has just sharpened my form, I wonder if I look like my dad. Without looking I can feel the wonder of the crowd below me but... I can't make it look too good. After all Dick Grayson hasn't done this in years now. 

After a few movements that take about 5 minutes the swing comes to me to deliver me to the platform, I react too quickly and knock it away with the back of my hand. Then it's just a matter of falling into the net. On my way down I think about all the things I have missed about being in an act like this. Seeing Reya above me on the platform; how many people I have missed. I finally realize that my past isn't a weakness, it's my biggest strength. It's what makes me who I am. No matter what this world throws at me, it can't taint my memory of the past.

After I came out from the changing room Logan approached me about having some of the young justice league people come to the circus and I have no issue with it. I was happy he just introduced me as a friend and not Robin when they got here. Connor is cool but I don't know this Diana enough to trust her yet.

I saw Cali giving Logan the Eye, but I knew at the best it would be a short romance as she was following the elephants to the Logan conservation that Garfield Logan's mom started. Wayne industries continued funding it after her passing so I would have to make sure she was taken care of. But hey, a plum in the hand is much sweeter than an apple in the tree you have yet to pluck. I still doubt Logan will take her up on her offer though. He just doesn't seem the sort, I should talk to him about it. It's a waste acting like he does.

As the circus is setting up for the show tonight, I talked some with Raya. She is throwing weird signals, wanting to be close to me but I catch moments where she acts like she is forcing it. I wonder if it has anything to do with Raymond?  I wanted to be there for her when he drowned, but the Riddler had Gotham at his mercy at the time, I barely got away to attend the funeral. I couldn't be any support for her at the time. 

Knowing that I would just be in the way, I went to get the rooms that Logan asked me to get. He was dealing with a lost little girl so it was the least I could do. Walking back to the hotel that was just a couple blocks away I was wondering what the chances were that there were two separate rooms still available when I sensed something falling from above. 

I look up to see a person in a dark skintight outfit from head to toe. Two glowing yellow eyes and more importantly two claws extending at least 8 inches out from each of his closed fists. Everything I just described and its falling towards me and I can just feel its hostile intent. "What the..."

Before he even hits the ground, he says, "I've been looking for you Mr. Grayson!!!"