Chapter 1: The Circus Boy
In the past, Dick grayson has gotten beat up for a lot of things. Mostly for his mouth. But some times, it was because he was a kid from Haley’s circus.
One day as a kid, a group of kids cornered Dick in an abandoned quarry near Haley’s circus.
“Don’t you guys have something better to do?” Dick said. “I mean i hear they’re selling dresses in your size down at the mall-“
One of the kids punches Dick across the face. “You just don’t know when to quit, huh circus freak?”
In anger, Dick tries to get up, “ Dont you-“ But before he can, they push him back down.
“Thats what you are though, a circus freak!” The boys all laughed as Dick’s nose runs with blood.
“You don’t know anything about me.” Dick murmured.
“Whats to know. Youre a freak who lives with freaks, and thats all you’ll ever be. A FREAK.” The boys continue to beat and kick on Dick. Suddenly a rock flies through the air cracking one of the boys in their head.
“Leave him alone!” A little girl’s voice comes from behind them.
Suddenly there is a little girl and another little boy standing in front of the boys.
“Yeah or we’ll break your face in.” The other boy says.
The boy with his head hurting starts to walk away.“ Cmon guys lets get away from these circus clowns!”
The two friends walk up to Dick. “Why do you keep saving me, Raya?”
The other boy says “Hey im here too!”
“Sorry Ray,” Dick said, rubbing the back if his head slightly. Raya walks up to Dick and wipes off the blood from his nose.
“Because we’re freaks too. And freaks should stick together.”
They all smile as they walk back to the fairgrounds. Dick’s parents, John and Mary Grayson, see Raya and Ray basically carrying Dick into a circus tent. They quickly follow behind him.
“ What happened this time?” Mary asked.
“ it was Tommy Cutler and his friends again. They were throwing rocks at these…” Dick becomes hysterical, barely holding back his tears.
His parents have seen this side of him before, but today was different. “Mary why dont you take these kids back to their parents and I’ll talk to our boy.” John asked. Mary reluctantly agreed, but only because these other kids needed to go home too.
As they leave the tent, John hands his son a wet cold rag to hold onto his nose. “Here son, hold it right there. Now tell me what happened.”
“Tommy and his friends think they can pick on anyone, on anything. Even if somethings smaller or weaker than they are. It isnt right.” Dick complained. But still, he hadn’t really explained what actually happened.
“Who were they picking on today?” John asked.
“It was a bird, a little blue jay. It was just a little bird and they threw stones at it. I couldn’t stand by and just watch it happen. The blue jay was innocent.” Dick explained. “So what if they beat me up? I can take it. Ow!”
John placed an alcohol swab on his sons’ bruises. “Son, sometimes in life you’re gonna face people who just want to hurt. There is no reason for it, they just…are who they are. But the fact that you wanna help people, no matter big or small shows what kind of person you’re gonna become.”
Without either one of them noticing, Mary stands in the gap of the circus tent smiling at her two boys.
“Your father’s right you know. You have a big heart richard, and the world will tell thats a bad thing. But its not. Its why youre our little Robin.” Mary expressed.
“But what if I’m really a freak like Cutler says I am? What if I don’t belong?” Dick looked to his side.
“ You’ll always belong. Whether its here at the circus or” John spoke.
“Or here with us. We’ll always be right here with you.” Mary interjected.
In a moment of pure understanding and reassurance, they all hug unaware of the weeks to come.
It was four weeks to be exact, where John and Mary grayson were murdered in front of Dick Grayson.
The Flying graysons were no more, and Dick became adopted by billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne.
Or so everyone thought. But you already know that story.
