Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Bruce didn’t remember the last time he had been this nervous. His hands were shaking like leaves as he signed the papers. All he needed from Dick was his permission. 

Some of his nerves had been allayed when he woke up to Dick laughing while making pancakes with Alfred. Evidently the butler had left quite the impression on the young delinquent. Bruce hadn’t seen Dick ever look so peaceful and free, nor could he remember the same look on Alfred. The two were like an echo chamber of positivity, and Bruce almost felt bad for interrupting it. 

There was a frivolity and peace in the manor that he could barely remember. The only time he could remember anything like it was when Alfred had babysat the Drake boy one weekend when they had gotten stuck in Argentina on business. 

Bruce felt happy, fulfilled in a way that he hadn’t known he could. When Dick noticed him lurking in the doorway, he smiled, and Bruce’s heart lit up. “I know your entire shtick is stalking people in the night, but if you haven’t noticed, the sun is up. You can say hello, weirdo.” 

Bruce’s face was a mask of indifference, carefully hiding his smile. “I didn’t mean to intrude on anything,” he answered honestly. 

“Hardly,” Alfred replied. “I was simply regaling Master Dick with stories of your childhood.” 

“Oh, Alfred…” 

“Don’t worry,” Dick grinned. “He definitely didn’t show me the scrapbook photos of your fourth grade play.” 

Bruce groaned. “I thought I burned that book…” 

“It would be arrogant of you to assume those were the only copies, Master Bruce,” Alfred said with a coy smile. “Don’t bother trying to find the book. I assure you you won’t find it.” 

“Alfred, I write your paychecks,” Bruce warned. 

“But sir, without me, who else would feed the bats in the cave?” 

Bruce startled. “We feed the bats?” 

Dick scoffed at him. “Why wouldn’t you? I mean, you’re kind of using their home as your headquarters. The least you can do is feed them for their troubles.” 

Bruce paused. “I didn’t realize you loved animals so much, Dick.” 

Dick shrugged. “Eh. I grew up in a circus with elephants and lions. I wouldn’t say I’m an animal lover, I’ve just spent more time with them.” Dick slid a plate of pancakes across the counter towards Bruce. “Eat up! Alfred made a smorgasbord.” 

“Would you join me at the table?” Bruce offered, holding Dick’s adoptino papers in the folder in his right hand, balancing his plate on his left. 

“I was going to help Alfred clean up,” Dick explained. 

“That is quite alright, Master Dick. You have indeed helped enough, and if your method of pouring syrup is any indication, we would run out of dish soap.” 

Dick rolled his eyes. “It’s not my fault I’m a man of flavor! But fine, I guess I can keep Bruce company.” Dick grabbed his own plate, winking at Bruce as he followed him to the dining table. 

Bruce set the folder carefully next to him on the table, cutting his pancakes into bite-sized bits using his knife and fork. He didn’t quite know how to broach the topic with Dick, and he certainly didn’t want to scare him off. Dick seemed happy to dig into his pile of Alfred’s pancakes. 

“So… Do you have any plans for today?” Bruce asked awkwardly. 

“I don’t know,” Dick shrugged. “I want to visit Babs, and I need to figure out a place to stay, but I don't really have anything scheduled.” 

Bruce felt his heart skip a beat. This was the perfect opportunity. “You are welcome to stay here as long as you’d like, Dick. We love having you. I haven’t seen Alfred this lively in years.” 

Dick snorted. “I’m pretty sure Alfred is younger than me . He’s kind of awesome.” 

Bruce smiled. “I think so too. He practically raised me, and I couldn’t imagine who I would be without him. Speaking of whi-”

“Do you ever miss them?” Dick stared down at his pancakes, pushing them around his plate quietly. Bruce was shocked by the sudden shift in temperament. “Your parents? They died when you were young too, right? Does it ever get easier?” 

Bruce took a steadying breath. He still didn’t like thinking of that night. Some days, especially near the anniversary, he still had nightmares. “The grief never leaves. I don’t want to lie to you, Dick. That pain and hurt doesn’t die down.” 

Dick nodded slowly. “Ah. I thought so.” 

“But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t get easier,” Bruce finished. 

Dick quirked an eyebrow. “What do you mean?” 

Bruce laid down his utensils, resting his chin on his knuckles as he chose his words. “Think of your grief like a marble or a small rock. If you carry it around in your pocket, it can dig into your skin. It’s hard, impenetrable, and anywhere you go, it is a nuisance. 

“As you continue to get older, as you meet people like Alfred and Barbara, that grief doesn’t shrink. But you can grow around it, and you can learn to deal with it. Maybe instead of leaving it in your pocket, you put it in a bottle or wrap it up. It will still be with you, but you develop ways to manage it. And eventually you can get to the point where it won’t affect you anymore.”

Dick seemed to mull over Bruce’s analogy, sitting still for several minutes as both men ate in silence. “I was hunting the man who killed them,” he admitted silently. “I wanted to kill him.” 

Bruce nodded slowly. “Then what happened?” 

“I met someone,” Dick sighed. “I guess she gave me something more to look forward to than revenge.” 

Bruce nodded knowingly. “Barbara, I assume?” 

Dick blushed, but shook his head. “No, actually. There was this bartender. She moved away, but… I stopped looking for Zucco as much. I was obsessed with him, but…” 

“But you found something better and more fulfilling.” Bruce knew the feeling, now more than ever. He thought that being Batman was his ultimate goal, bringing crime to an end in Gotham, but ever since he had met Dick, he was feeling and doing things that he’d never imagined. He’d never seen himself as a father figure, but as he looked across the table at the young man before him, he felt so protective. He wanted to nurture and help the boy in any way he could. 

“Yeah,” Dick admitted. “Then I met Barbara, and things kind of went off the rails, and… I guess I forgot about Zucco for a while. But everything’s changing again, and he’s still out there.” 

“Dick,” Bruce asked softly, trying to keep any judgment out of his voice. “Do you still want to kill him?” Bruce was strictly against killing and murder, but he understood the emotion well. He had wanted nothing more than to kill his parents’ murderer for years. 

“Yes? No? I don’t know.” Dick sighed, closing his eyes as he fought back tears. “I just want my parents back. Killing him wouldn’t fix anything. But he shouldn’t get to live his life as if nothing happened. I think I started moving on at some point, but it doesn’t mean I don’t still want to see him punished.” 

Bruce reached over, placing his hand on Dick’s. “Dick, I promise, he will go to jail for what he did. I won’t stop until he faces justice.” Dick tried to force a smile, wiping his cheeks. “He won’t take away anyone else’s family, and he won’t be able to take anything else from you. I promise.” 

Dick laughed, stuffing his mouth with more pancakes. “I can’t believe you eat pancakes with a full set of utensils…” Bruce ignored the hitch in Dick’s voice. He had no reason to be embarrassed from his emotions, and Bruce wanted to say as much, but he also didn’t want to overstep. 

“I was raised by a British butler,” Bruce explained. “If Alfred walked in and saw me eating any other way, he’d kick me out of my own home.” 

“Sure, blame Alfred.” Dick rolled his eyes, polishing off the rest of his plate. “Speaking of which, I’m going to see if he needs any help with the dishes.” 

Bruce’s hand slid back to the folder. “Dick, wait,” he ordered. Dick was halfway out of his chair, plate in hand. 

“What’s up?”

Bruce looked down at the papers, then back to Dick. “I will find Zucco,” he promised. 

Dick smiled sadly. “I know you will, big guy. I trust you.” Dick scampered away, leaving Bruce alone with his thoughts. 

I couldn’t do it yet, he tried to justify. He remembered what Selina had told him about getting Dick to trust him. It would take time. I’ll get Zucco, then I will ask him, Bruce promised himself . It’s too soon now. I’ll catch Zucco, and then he’ll trust me. Then I’ll ask him. 

————————————————

Jason didn’t know what he expected to happen during lunch, but a full prisoner evacuation was definitely not on the list. 

Despite the lackluster condition of the Brooks Juvenile detention center, the warden's officers apparently had working fire and carbon monoxide detectors. The rumor going around was that Lescher was smoking in his office and lit himself ablaze, but Jason chalked that up to teens making rumors. 

The only thing anyone knew was that alarms were going off and the fire department was here. A multitude of fire ordinances were being broken in the main lobby and the warden’s office, so for the last four hours, the fire department had been going through the rest of the facility to evaluate the safety of the building. 

Which meant every single boy in the center was forced to wait in the yard. Jason had never really thought about how many boys were in here, but now he was confronted with the fact that it was certainly too many. There was barely enough room to walk around with everyone outside, and too many of the bodies bumping up against him had been skipping their shower times. 

He didn’t mind the opportunity to throw a shoulder into Marcus’s back though. By the time Marcus recovered to look for who hit him, Jason was just another person in a crowd. He snickered as he walked off, watching Marcus spin around as quickly as he could. The boy was still injured from the hallway run-in with Dick, and every movement looked painful. Jason liked it. 

Jason had spent the first hour or so by the fence trying to sit down, but it was too cramped, which had led to him wandering around, but he was getting pretty tired. Leaning up against the fence where he had started the day, Jason sighed. If there were more room, he could at least practice those exercises Dick had shown him. Jason didn’t want to stay here a second longer than he had to. 

He didn’t mean to, but soon enough, Jason’s eyelids started to close, and leaning against the fence, he felt his mind drifting away. 

Until a foot swept his leg, and he ended up falling into someone else. “Hey, watch it!” Jason snarled, shoving off of the person he landed against, and turning to face his assaulter. There wasn’t much room, but the area by the fence was a bit more open, and they hadn’t run away. 

The boy was shorter than Jason, wearing a black hoodie and hiding their face, but Jason could see enough of them to know he didn’t recognize him. A freckled face stared back at him, green eyes sparkling and a fiendish smile baring its teeth at him. It was tight quarters, but Jason didn’t let people mess with him. If this guy wanted a fight, they’d get it. 

“I’m going to give you one chance to leave before I f*** you up,” Jason snarled under his breath. 

The mysterious boy raised an eyebrow, eyes flicking to the side. Speaking past Jason, they said, “You’re right, he is kind of cute when he tries to get upset.” 

Jason froze in place, fists still clenched to his side. That… that sounded like a girl’s voice. What was a girl doing here, and who the hell were they talking to? Jason turned around slowly, but was stopped by a pair of hands grabbing his shoulders from behind. 

“Easy, there, Little Wing. She’s with me. Don’t draw attention to yourself yet.” Dick’s voice was light and jovial, and to Jason it sounded like gold. He shook off Dick’s grasp, turning around to face his friend. 

“The f*** are you doing back here, Dickwad?!” he hissed, glancing around to make sure no one was looking. He looked Dick over. He was still wearing his hoodie, bruises and cuts on his cheeks. “You look terrible.” 

Dick rolled his eyes. “I’ve been gone all of what, a couple days? Forgive me for not hitting up a plastic surgeon.” 

Jason stifled his laughter, shoving the happiness of seeing his friend again deep down. “Seriously, Grayson, what’s going on?” 

“Well, it just so happens that someone called in an anonymous tip of several fire and healthcode violations the last time she was here,” Dick explained, gesturing subtly to Barbara as he spoke. 

Barbara smiled back at him, adding that, “It’s such a shame that the prisoner files were burned today in a freak electrical fire, too. It will be a lot more difficult to keep track of all of the prisoners while they are moved to temporary lodgings for the night while the code violations are fixed and reevaluated.” 

Jason grinned, seeing where they were going with this. “I take it that you didn’t go through all that trouble just to sneak in. There are visiting hours.” 

Dick was absolutely beaming now. “Where’s the fun in that?” 

Jason took a deep breath, looking around and taking in the sights. He promised himself that this was going to be the last day he spent here. Good riddance. 

“So what’s the plan?” he asked, leaning against the fence to look inconspicuous. 

“First things first,”  Barbara began, “stop doing whatever that is. You look awkward and uncomfortable. People will stare.” Jason stood back up, fighting his face’s natural reaction to flush with embarrassment. “Second, we’re going to climb the fence. Third, we run.” 

Jason stared at the ginger cool incredulously. “That’s your master plan? That’s stupid. These fences are barbed and electrified, if you haven’t noticed.” 

Dick tutted, wagging his finger like a basketball playing blocking a shot. “Au contraire, my delinquent friend. An electrical fire took out electricity to the entire facility. It’s proper procedure to keep your security systems and electric fence on some kind of backup generator, but…”

Jason threw his head back in exasperation. “But this is Brooks, where incompetence and corruption meet. What about the barbs?” 

Barbara nudged Jason with her elbow. “What is it with people with a criminal record?” she asked Dick. “They never look up!” 

Dick chuckled as Jason looked up at the fence. There was no barbed wire at the top. “You guys took out the barbed wire?! How the hell did you do that without anyone noticing?!”

Dick rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, blushing as he answered. “Yeah, to be fair, I never noticed either. Look at the fence on the other side of the yard.” Jason looked behind him, the telltale barbs glinting in the afternoon sun. “It turns out that not all of the fence has barbed wire on it. I lived here for four years and never noticed!” 

Jason had no words. He was getting out, and it was so easy! After so many training sessions with Dick and studying his flashcards on the security system, was it really going to be as easy as hopping a fence? 

“We’re ready whenever you are, Blue Jay,” Dick said with a smirk, hand already gripping the chain link fence. “Race you to the other side?” 

“Eat my dust, Grayson!” Jason hissed, leaping up and grabbing fistful after fistful of the metal until he reached the top, pulling himself over top. He ignored the shouting and the guards yelling as he hit the ground, already running as fast as he could. 

Jason was free. 

————————————————

The park was beautiful at sunset. Dick didn’t know how he’d lived this long without seeing it. Well, obviously there was a good reason, but his breath was taken away by the sight. The orange and purple hues mixed in the sky like a painting too expensive for even Selina to steal. 

Or maybe it just looked prettier because he was in a good mood. After all, he was free to do what he wanted, and right now he was doing exactly that. He was spending time with his friends, like any normal kid would be doing on a nice afternoon. 

“It’s usually too cloudy for a good sunset,” Jason mumbled. “This ones pretty good though.”

“Right?” Barbara smiled. “And what a view! With all that land without buildings, you can almost convince yourself we’re not surrounded by skyscrapers.” 

Dick couldn’t stop smiling. Barbara to his right, Jason to his left, and no walls holding him back. His life was turning around. 

“It’s beautiful…” Dick’s hand slid closer to Barbara’s, their pinkies hovering, then intertwining. “I can’t believe I’ve been missing out on this for four years.”

“No more!” Jason laughed. “Tomorrow, you and I are making this city ours, Dickie boy! I know this place over on 14th that’s usually abandoned. It’s got a few cots on the floor and some blankets, so we can crash there for a while and I can show you the ropes of living in Gotham. You’ll pick it up in no time.” 

Barbara’s hand tightened around Dick’s. “You aren’t seriously just going to start living on the streets, are you? Is that really much of an upgrade?” 

Jason scoffed. “Okay, Princess. Do you have a better idea?” 

“Well, Batman can help,” she suggested. “Dick stayed there last night, so-”

“No thanks!” Jason waved off. “From what you guys told me about the whole thing, he sounds like a weirdo. Besides, I don’t need some rich guy getting his jollies off of waving me around like a keychain.” 

“Bruce isn’t like that,” Dick defended. “But yeah, I don’t think I’d be comfortable there either,” he admitted. “The place is huge, and expensive, and I’m pretty sure the moment I set foot in it, it dropped in price by like, half a trillion dollars or something.” 

Barbara stared at him in exasperation. “Dick…” 

“What?” Dick shrugged. “I grew up in a single room trailer with two other people, Babs, and the past four years were in a cell that I only realized today wasn’t as large as the law says it needs to be.”

“I told you it was small!” Jason accused. 

Dick rolled his eyes. “My point is that neither of us would ever fit into Bruce’s world. He seems like a decent enough guy, and Alfred’s cool, but living there? Jason’s right. At some point someone would figure out that he was renting out a room to a teenager, and somehow ‘Billionaire Harboring Fugitive’ doesn’t sound like the kind of headline he’d be excited for.” 

Barbara rested her head on Dick’s shoulder, hand still firmly in him. “You can’t just live on the streets for the rest of your lives!” she urged. “Someone is going to catch you, and you’ll both end up right back in juvie. I don’t want to have to go break you out every other week.” 

Dick took a deep breath. He had been doing a bit of searching that morning before picking up Barbara and heading towards the juvie hall. His best friends had started making plans for the future, and he was happier than ever to be involved in them. It felt right to face the future with them. But his future wasn’t in Gotham. 

Dick couldn’t help but think back to what Kailyn had told him right before she left town. 

The rain had soaked through his sweater, but Dick didn’t move from his spot on the fire escape. “Robin, can you please come inside so we can talk?” Kaitlyn called. “I know you’re there, and I need to speak with you.” 

It only took a few seconds to drop next to her, avoiding splashing in the puddle to her left, no matter how fun it would have been. “Jeez!” she cried. “It’s dark! Don’t sneak up on me like that!” 

“What do you mean? I just came down the fire escape?” 

Kaitlyn rubbed her eyes, sighing as she walked back towards the bar. “I… thought you were on the other roof. It’s been a long week.”

Dick followed her into the bar. It was nearly 2am, and it was empty, other than Kaitlyn. “Are you working alone tonight?” he asked politely. 

“Jenny’s counting receipts in the back,” Kaitlyn explained. 

“Ah,” Dick replied awkwardly. He didn’t exactly know the inner workings of the food and alcohol service business. “So what’s wrong?” he asked. “You said it’s been a rough week?” 

Kaitlyn sighed, patting herself dry with a dish towel from behind the bar. “I just haven’t been sleeping well,” she shrugged. 

“Nightmares?” Dick guessed. She had admitted to him that sometimes she had nightmares about what would have happened if he hadn’t shown up that night. He could have guessed anyway. He still had nightmares about his parents. But sometimes they were safe at the top, and he was the one that was falling. 

Kaitlyn nodded her head, and Dick bit his lip. “They’re not as bad as those first few nights,” Kaitlyn said, trying to diminish her trauma. “But my aunt has a therapist friend in Metropolis that she’s got an appointment with. I’ll be seeing them next Monday.” 

Dick frowned. “You’re going all the way to Metropolis for therapy? Isn’t there someone you can see… I don’t know… in the state? That seems like an awful lot of travel.” 

Kaitlyn bit her lip. “That’s the thing: it won’t be. I’m moving back home in two days.” 

“Oh.” Dick hadn’t even known she was thinking about it, much less already planning it out. “When did you decide that?” 

“I guess it’s been a long time coming,” she admitted, resting her elbows on the bar and her chin on her hands. “I came to Gotham without really having a choice, and for a while it was okay. I know I grew up a lot while I was here, and I wouldn’t trade the memories for the world… but I don’t think I can make the most of my life living in the shadows of everything I suffered here. It’s just… too much baggage. I don’t think I could unload it while still piling more on top.” 

Dick nodded. He hated this city. It had taken his parents away, his freedom, his childhood, his future… “Good riddance. Metropolis sounds like a much better place to live.” 

Kaitlyn laughed, covering her mouth with her hands. “Yeah, it’s pretty nice.”

“I’m going to miss you,” Dick admitted, his voice soft and weak. He sounded so much like a child in that moment that it shocked Kaitlyn. She knew he was a kid, but he always carried himself around like so much more. 

“I’m going to miss you too,” she replied, pulling him into a hug. “Thank you. For everything.” 

Dick didn’t want to let go. He wanted to beg her to take him with her. But he did. And he couldn’t. He was stuck in Gotham. 

“I found Haly’s Circus,” Dick said softly, his voice being almost drowned out by the wind. Jason and Barbara stopped their bickering when he spoke. He had been so unaware of his surroundings that he hadn’t even noticed they were arguing until they stopped. 

“What was that, Dick?” Barbara asked. 

Dick took a deep breath and puffed out his chest. “I was looking around on the Batcomputer this morning when I was planning Jason’s jailbreak. And I found Haly’s Circus, the place where I grew up.” 

Jason’s mouth felt dry as he asked the obvious follow-up question. “So where are they?” 

“It looks like they haven’t been traveling around as much. They settled down in Jump City in California, kind of near San Francisco? I guess they found a new magician, some kind of daredevil, and a green monkey at some point, and the city loved them! They planted roots down there, and… I think I’m going.” 

“And you’re not coming back,” Barbara said softly, finishing the thought. The thought broke her heart. She and Dick finally kissed, not a peck on the forehead or her kissing him out of desperation, but they actually kissed , and now he was leaving town forever. 

It was Jason who broke the silence. “What happened to us saving the city?” His voice hitched, his throat tightening up as he refused to cry. He barely knew Dick! In fact, screw that guy. Jason didn’t know why he’d ever decided to trust him. 

“Jason, this city took everything from me,” Dick explained. He put his arm around Jason’s shoulder, and while the younger boy didn’t lean into the touch, he didn’t pull away either. Dick took that as a win. “It’s where my parents died, it’s where I was falsely imprisoned… The worst moments of my life were all here in Gotham. I don’t want to wake up every morning with a new reminder of it all.” Quoting Kaitlyn, he said, “I don’t think I can make the most of my life living in the shadows of everything I suffered here.”

After a few seconds of silence, Jason responded. “I get it.” He didn’t say anything more. He didn’t have anything else to say. He understood. He didn’t like it, but he understood. Jason wouldn’t be able to look at himself if he forced Dick to stay here and torture himself. It felt like a hot knife was twisting in his stomach, but he had to let his friend go. 

Dick’s hand ran up Jason’s head, teasing his hair. “Jay, I was wondering… do you need to stay in Gotham?” 

Jason wiped his cheek, pretending it was still dry. “What do you mean?”

Dick pulled away from his hug so he could face Jason. “I mean that I want you to come with me. You said you don’t have any family here, right? So come with me. We can live together, we can get jobs with Haly’s and I’ll teach you everything I know! I bet with a bit more training, you could even get on the trapeze with me!” 

Dick’s face shone with such excitement, but Jason didn’t know what to say. He had lived his entire life here. His dad had gotten thrown in prison here, his mom died here, and still he called it home. He hated this city with a burning passion, but it was his city. He was a Gothamite through and through, and nothing in the world would change that. The city was part of who he was. It was a part of him. 

But he was still a kid. He had a future ahead of him, and the more he thought about it, he didn’t see a successful future in Gotham. 

Barbie was right. He’d just end up back in prison at some point. Without Dick, he’d be lonely again. He was a Gothamite, but as a Gothamite he knew how unforgiving the city was. “Does your circus have corndogs?” he asked. 

Dick practically tackled him off the roof, throwing himself at Jason. “Yes, we do! This is going to be great! You’re going to love it!” He shook Jason ferociously, even as Jason tried to pry him off. 

Barbara laughed as she watched the two of them wrestle, fighting back her tears. “Get off me, or I’ll change my mind!” Jason threatened. 

It took Jason running across the roof and Barbara holding Dick back to separate the boys. “I’m going for a walk!” Jason announced, shouting behind him. “I need to go tell this city to f*** itself, then I’m getting a sandwich from the bodega two blocks from here, and I’m not coming back until those tentacles of yours are put away!” 

Dick was still beaming, and Barbara still laughing, when his attention shifted back to her. She felt her face warm up under his gaze. “So… Jump City,” she said. 

“Yeah…” Dick’s hand hovered over her knee as he looked into the sunset. “You know, I said that this city took away everything from me, but it gave me some good things too, you know.” 

“Yeah?”

“It gave me the brother I never had in Jason,” Dick explained. “And if it wasn’t for Gotham, I never would have met my best friend.” His hand snuck its way into hers, and when she laid her head on his shoulder, he rested his head on hers. “You have been everything I ever needed in a friend, Babs, and so much more. If I thought I could convince you to come with us, I would.” 

“I wish I could follow,” she admitted. “But my life is in Gotham. My dad is here. I can’t leave.” 

Dick nodded. “Thank you for being my friend, Barbara.” 

Barbara sat up, leaning forward to kiss him. It was soft, and rather chaste, but she tried to put everything that she couldn’t say into it. All of the feelings and emotions that she couldn’t put into words in a single action. “Will you write?” she asked. “We can call on the phone! We can facetime. Everyone has a smartphone these days, I mean look at the era we’re in. This doesn’t mean goodbye, right?”

“I hope not,” Dick smiled. “I never want to say goodbye to you, Barbara. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had. And a pretty good kisser. And there’s no one I trust more. You’re a part of my life that I never want to let go of.” He cupped her cheek, leaning in to kiss her again. “I love you, Babs.”

“I love you too, Dick. Can we just sit here for a while and enjoy this? This is the first time we’ve had time to just… exist together. I want to remember this.”

“I’d like that,” Dick answered, holding her a little tighter. 

The sunset really was beautiful. But to Dick, Barbara was a work of art. He’d never look at the sky again if it meant a few more minutes with her. 

————————————————

Jason had gone back to the hideout by the park, but upon seeing Dick and Barbara getting handsy, he decided to take a longer walk. It was dark now, the sun having finished setting long ago, but Jason knew how to handle himself and which alleys to avoid. 

Now that he had agreed to leave Gotham, he had a lot of questions on his mind. The first and most obvious one was how they would get to Jump City. Jason didn’t have money saved up, and Dick sure as hell wouldn’t. It wasn’t like they could just hop on a bus and hold onto the roof until they got to California. 

They needed cash, and Jason knew where to get it. 

There was a bar nearby that had a weekly casino night, and it just so happened to be tonight. It was a risky score. Jason was pretty sure most of those guys were in the mob or the cartel. At the very least, they were well connected. No one in their right mind would try to rob them. 

But that kind of confidence usually made people act irresponsibly. The casino itself might be an impossible score, but if Jason could snag a tire or two from the cars parked out back, that might be enough for him and Dick to buy a pair of cheap bus tickets. It would probably be a couple hundred bucks each, so if Jason snagged a couple of expensive tires with nice rims, he might make enough on just one of those rich scumbags’ cars.

Jason whistled a happy tune as he broke into a local garage for a tire jack and iron. He’d return them when he was done, but his usual tools had been confiscated when he was arrested, and he hadn’t gotten them back when breaking out. Funny how that worked. 

The bar was louder than normal when Jason showed up. It was downright rowdy! But that just meant it was less likely someone would hear him as he worked. Jason walked slowly down the row of parked cars. Mercedes. Volkswagen. A Porsche. There were some good options tonight. 

Then he noticed the car at the end. A sleek black car was parked at the end, and even in the dim nighttime light, Jason could tell that it cost more than the other cars put together. He couldn’t see a brand name on it, but that only made it seem more expensive. Who knew what kind of secret places rich pricks bought cars from? “Oh yeah, that’s the one,” Jason grinned, practically licking his lips as he got down on his knees and placed his jack. 

These babies would be more than enough to buy him and Dickie their bus tickets. 

————————————————

Barbara grabbed Dick’s wrist, pulling him back in the window. “Not so fast, Boy Wonder,” she laughed, tugging him into her bedroom. “You weren’t seriously going to drop me off then run away, were you?” 

Dick blushed, scratching the back of his head. “You said your dad’s shift was ending, right? I figured that you wouldn’t want me here when he gets back.”

Barbara rolled her eyes. “I said his shift was ending, but he never leaves when his shift ends.” She pulled Dick across, sitting on her bed. “Come here. If you and Jason are leaving in the morning, I’m not ready to say goodbye. Can’t you stay a little longer?” 

Dick smiled, leaping onto her bed. “Ooo!” he cooed. “Soft!” He picked up one of her pillows, rubbing it on his face. “This is nice…” 

Barbara rolled her eyes. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re a dork?” 

Dick grinned. “Not in the last fifteen minutes!” He rolled over, leaning across and planting another kiss to Barbara’s cheek. He didn’t know if he could leave her behind. He was going out of his mind thinking about her, and she was still right here. 

“I’m really glad I met you, Babs,” he said quietly. “I don’t know where I’d be without you.” 

Barbara swallowed the lump in her throat, sitting up at the edge of her bed. “I’m really going to miss you, Dick. I know we said we’d call, but it’s just not the same.” 

Dick got up, kneeling on the floor in front of her. “Barbara Jeanette Gordon…”

“That is in no universe my middle name,” she chuckled, “but go on?” 

“When I met you, I didn’t have a future. I had given up on my life and was trying to live a fantasy. You ground me when I try to float away, but you also make me feel like I can fly. You are special, and I can promise you that for as long as I live, I will never let anything come between us. Not even living across the country. You’re my best friend. I love you.” 

Barbara cupped his cheek. He was the sweetest boy she had ever met, and something about the way he looked at her reassured her of the fact that he was being completely honest. “I love you too, Dick,” she echoed. He pushed forward, kissing her again, and she let him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him back onto the bed. 

————————————————

Ten minutes later, Jim Gordon got home. He had more work to do, but after the whole kidnapping thing, he figured it was long past time that he spent some time with his daughter. A little Thai food from the place down the street in hand, he expected a warm welcome. 

Barbara would usually be at the door, ready to shout at him for scaring her. He knew how nervous Barbara got about him each night, so the fact that he had been kidnapped in their own home would only make the issue worse. The fact that she wasn’t in sight was a problem. 

Then he heard the sounds of struggle from her room. He didn’t think twice before kicking down the door and drawing his weapon. “GCPD! Hands in the air!” he shouted, mustache twitching as he took in the scene. 

A body leapt to the floor behind Barbara’s bed, and Jim was quick to grab his daughter and pull her out of harm’s way. Barbara’s hair was disheveled, her face red, breathing heavily. She was flushed, eyes wide with panic, clearly stressed out. “I’ve got you!” Jim shouted. “You’re safe, Barbara! I won’t let them hurt you. Come out with your hands up!”

Jim kept his gun at the ready, slowly making his way around the bed. “Daddy…” Barbara groaned, flopping back onto her bed nonchalantly. “Put your gun away.” 

Jim froze, caught off guard by her nonchalant attitude. “Barbara, stand back! You’re still in danger!” He’d raised her to be more aware in high-intensity situations than this! 

Barbara moaned, holding her face. Jim stepped forward, trying to pull her in closer to get a good look. “Did they hurt you? Are you injured?” He kept his gun trained on the opposite side of her bed, ready to shoot the intruder if they made a wrong move. 

“Dad,” she bemoaned, “What are you doing home?” Jim was confused. She seemed… calm. Her cheeks were flushed, she felt warm to the touch, and even though someone was in the room, she was completely calm. 

“I- I came home to have dinner with you! Barbara, what’s going on?I heard-” He blanched. “Oh…” Sighing, he reholstered his weapon. “I didn’t realize I was… interrupting…”

Barbara bit her lip. “I swear, the first time I bring a boy home and he nearly leaves with a bullet wound…” 

Jim rubbed his chin awkwardly. “Barbara’s boyfriend, you can come out now. I won’t shoot you, son.” 

“Thank you,” Barbara moaned, covering her face with her hands. 

Dick stood up with a sheepish smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Commissioner!” He was frankly terrified. He’d spoken to the commissioner when he was undercover. The completely different context should help, but it was still extremely risky and awkward. He might get recognized. Barbara had been too embarrassed to realize it. 

But as Dick stood up and extended a hand, she shot up from her bed, realizing her mistake. 

“So you’re that Robby boy from school?” Jim asked, tugging on Dick’s hand. “Where was it you two went? The skate park?” 

Barbara cleared her throat, both to pull attention away from Dick, but also because she didn’t want to see how Dick responded to her going on a date with someone else. “No, dad, this is Dick . And he was just leaving .” 

Dick got the message, quickly shaking Jim’s hand, pecking her on the cheek, and sprinting for the door. 

Jim tried to speak to him, but Dick was gone so quickly that he never got to properly apologize for pulling his weapon on him. He seemed flighty. He didn’t like him. 

Barbara sat back in her bed, staring wistfully at the door. “I’m sorry, Barbara,” Jim said quietly, sitting at her feet. “With everything that has happened the last few days, I guess I was on edge, and-”

“I get it dad,” Barbara said, cutting him off. “I’m not mad. Just…” 

“It’s alright to be upset,” Jim comforted her. “We’ll be going over new rules about boys, but I’m sorry for barging in and scaring him off. Next time he comes to visit, I’ll apologize.” 

Barbara shook her head sadly. “He’s moving to California in the morning,” she explained. “He should have been gone before you got home, but neither of us were all that great about saying goodbye. And now I didn’t even get one.” 

Jim bit his lip. Clearly things with this Dick boy were a lot more serious than he had thought. Barbara was uncharacteristically melancholy. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I brought home some Thai food, and it’s in the kitchen when you’re ready, but if you want to spend some time alone, I understand.” He stood up, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I’m really sorry, honey.” 

“I’ll be out in a few minutes,” she promised, wrapping her arms around his waist. “I love you, dad.” 

“And I love you, sweetheart.” Jim closed her door behind him as best he could. The door had splintered where he kicked it, but he couldn’t fix it now. He’d run to the hardware store when he could tomorrow. 

In her bedroom, Barbara counted to twenty before running to the window. As her father was leaving, she had seen a flash of color on the fire escape. “Dick?” she called. “Are you still there?” 

Dick leaned in, kissing her quickly on the lips. “I don’t have a phone yet, but will you give me your number?” he asked. “I’ll text you as soon as I pick one up.” 

Barbara nodded, quickly tearing a piece of paper out of her notebook and writing her number down. “Travel safe?” she asked him. 

“Where’s the fun in that?” he laughed, kissing her once more before climbing to the roof. She watched as he ran and leapt across the rooftops, a performer at heart flying through the air. 

“Come back soon, Robin…” 

————————————————

Alfred poured another cup of tea. “My dearest apologies, Master Jason,” he repeated. “It does seem that things got out of hand tonight. We would be honored if you would stay the night so we could help remedy the situation.” 

Jason had gotten two of the tires off the black car before the owner got back. He hadn’t expected Batman of all people to be there. In his shock, he tried hitting the man with his tire iron, and when that failed, running. Right into the tires he had taken off the Batmobile. 

After tripping over the tires, he slammed his head into the ground, and when he woke up, he was tied to a chair in the Batcave, Dick fawning over his injuries like the little goodie-two-shoes that he pretended not to be. 

“You okay, Little Wing?” 

“I said I’m fine! Back off, Dickwad.” Jason ignored his friend, staring around at the cave. It was so much bigger than Dick had described, and a lot higher-tech. It suddenly made a lot more sense that Bruce Wayne of all people was Batman. It was the only way he could afford a setup like this. 

Jason nodded politely at Alfred, then pulled Dick closer so they could talk without being overheard. “We are not staying the night,” Jason hissed. 

“Jay, it’s almost midnight,” Dick whispered. “Bruce had to go back on patrol, but Alfred’s a good guy. We’ll be fine here for tonight, then we can head out in the morning.” 

Jason shook his head. “No offense, but the dude has a display case of crime memorabilia. I never realized how creepy Batman was, but I do not intend to stick around any longer. Besides, if I learned anything from late night television murder mysteries, it’s that you don’t trust the butler!” 

Dick rolled his eyes. “Alfred’s the best, Jay. And where else are we supposed to go?” 

Jason pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. “I picked up a bus schedule. There’s one leaving at 3am. That will give me enough time to pawn off anything we grab on the way out.” 

Dick groaned. “Jason, we’re not stealing anything.” 

“We need money for the tickets, Dick!” Dick rolled his eyes again, wrapping his arm around Jason and walking him in the other direction. “No! Why are we going towards the butler? What did I just say?!” 

“Hey Alfie!” Dick called. “Can we borrow some money?” 

Alfred raised an eyebrow. “Of course, Master Dick. But might I ask you what you are using it for?” 

Jason gripped Dick’s arm a little tighter. “Don’t answer honestly,” he hissed. “He’ll probably put trackers in that tea or something, and Batman is gonna throw me in jail for stealing his tires!” 

“We’re trying to get to California. I found my old circus, and if we get out there, I’m pretty sure I can convince Pop Haly to give us jobs. But we’re low on funds, hence Jason trying to steal tires. Which we never agreed on anyway .” He stared pointedly at Jason on the last line, the younger boy simply shrugging. 

“At least I was doing something to help us out while you and your girlfriend were snogging!” Dick blushed, barely pushing back when Jason shoved him. 

“Does that mean you won’t be staying a while longer?” Alfred asked. 

“We should probably leave after we eat,” Dick admitted. “There’s a bus in a few hours.” 

Alfred nodded sadly. “In that case, I will pack you some extra food for your trip. Will you at least let me drive you to the station? I’d like to see you off myself, if that’s alright.” 

Dick nodded while Jason shook his head vigorously. “Thanks, Alfie. I’m going to miss you.” 

“And I you, Master Dick,” Alfred smiled. “Should either of you end up returning at any time, you will be welcomed back here with open arms.” Alfred turned to go up stairs to finish prepping the food. And also to try to contact Master Bruce. 

————————————————

Bruce grunted. Sitting alone on top of the Wayne Enterprises building like a human Gargoyle, he had a vantage point of the entire city. It was a common place for him to come during patrol. “So he’s going back to his family.” 

“It seems so, sir,” Alfred confirmed. “And might I say, young Master Jason seems most insistent on leaving immediately. I have packed them a bag, which they are loading into the car as we speak. If you are to ask them to stay, it needs to be now.” 

Bruce swallowed the lump in his throat. He was still tracking down the rest of Bane’s men, and he wasn’t sure he’d make it to them in time. It wasn’t like he could leave criminals out on the street for another day. People could get hurt. 

“I can’t keep him from his family, Alfred,” Bruce reasoned. I never would have made a good father anyway. “He should go back if he can. When I get back, I’ll get started on clearing both of their criminal histories. No one will go after them.” 

Alfred bit his tongue. He’d noticed changes in Bruce the past few weeks, some good and some bad. But there was no doubt that he had been lighter since Dick Grayson had entered his life. Alfred knew how much Bruce had bonded with the boy in such a short time. “If that is what you think is best.” 

“Tell him that I won’t forget my promise,” Bruce told Alfred, his voice catching. “I’ll bring Zucco to justice. His pursuit won’t have been in vain.” 

“Perhaps that sentiment would mean more in person,” Alfred suggested. “You can still meet us at the bus depot.” 

Bruce knew he could. But he didn’t want to. It would make it so much worse if he had to watch the boy walk out of his life. As Batman, at least he could pretend it hadn’t happened, if only for a few more hours before he had to confront reality. “I’ll try.” 

Alfred sighed. “I’m sure you will.” 

————————————————

Jason had to admit, the food was pretty great. And maybe Alfred wasn’t actually a serial killer. But he was still glad to be on the road. As the Gotham skyline disappeared in the distance, he didn’t know what to expect. He’d never gone so far as Blüdhaven, much less California.

He had no idea what was coming next. He didn’t know what to want from his life, or even what expectations he had for it going forward. Gotham was a shadow, a rain cloud that had hung over him his entire life. He felt like a fraud for leaving it behind. 

But at the same time, he felt free. There was a chance that his life developed into something more than a fly on the windshield of the city. There was hope for his future. And he had a constant companion, one he could trust. Dick was perpetually grinning as they both crowded the window. 

Jason almost missed the ornery ball of hate that Dick had been pretending to be. Or rather, that the boy had turned into. The rage and anger wasn’t faked, and it was still present, but the further they got from the city and the detention center, the more bright and bubbly Dick got. It was like the old Dick Grayson was blooming again, and Jason could already tell that he was going to be a handful. 

And he wouldn’t have it any other way. “You really think they’ll give me a job?” 

“Of course!” Dick grinned. “We’re family!” 

“ You’re family. I’m just some Gotham street trash.” 

Dick shrugged. “And I’m circus trash. But you’re still family. In the circus, we all are.” 

Jason kind of liked the sound of that. 

————————————————

4 MONTHS LATER

Ever since his kidnapping with Bane, and subsequent return to find his daughter kissing a boy he’d never met, Jim Gordon had been trying harder to be involved in her life. He never did find out what happened to that Robby boy she had gone out with, but it was clear that his little girl was growing up and looking to escape the boredom of Gotham. 

Some day, she was going to leave him, and while she would always be his daughter, they only had so much time before life split them up. He didn’t want to miss any more of it. His baby was growing up, and he didn’t want her to outgrow him. 

A surprise vacation to California had caught her off guard, but he was a detective. He’d found her, more than once, looking at colleges in California, even though she was still a few years away from applying. If she was thinking of leaving, he wanted to explore the area with her. Partially so she’d know what she was getting into, but also because he wouldn’t feel comfortable living so far away from her without knowing she was safe. 

He had plenty of vacation days saved up, so he bought two tickets to Jump City. He’d never seen Barbara as nervous, yet excited, as she was on the ride. They spent a day at the beach, one exploring the shops in the city, several doing tours of local schools and colleges, and some just sitting in their hotel room watching bad tv and playing games. 

All in all, it had been the best week Jim Gordon had had in a while. But he couldn’t wait for tonight. He could already tell that it was going to top them all. 

Along with all the times he’d found pamphlets for schools, he’d also noticed her recent affection for the circus. When he’d get home, she would be watching clips on YouTube of recent shows, and he’d gotten tickets for the two of them to see the show in person tonight. He found circuses a bit strange, and he especially disliked the clowns, but Barbara always had a smile when she watched. Maybe it was the gymnast in her admiring the athleticism, or maybe there was something in the familial joy that spoke to a girl who had spent so much time on her own. 

Either way, Jim Gordon had vowed to do better by his daughter, and hopefully tonight would wow her. Reviews online said that the show was magical in person, particularly the new aerialists. He hadn’t told Barbara yet, but he knew she was going to love it. 

He double checked his watch. “Come on,” he urged his daughter, pulling her up from the bed. “Grab your jacket. It’s almost time to go.” 

Barbara rolled her eyes. “You still haven’t told me where we’re going!” 

“That would defeat the purpose of a surprise, now wouldn’t it?” he said with a grin. “Grab your jacket! I want you to get the whole experience, and it opens in an hour.”

“What about dinner?” 

“We can get food there,” he promised. “And I’m sure it will be the most overpriced, disgusting, greasy food you’ve ever had in your life.” 

Barbara laughed. She had noticed the change in her father in recent months. She loved him dearly, and she’d never held his schedule against him, but it was still nice to spend more time with him. It definitely helped fill the hole in her life since Dick and Jason had left. 

She hadn’t gone back out as Batgirl either. She had gotten an “internship” at Wayne Enterprises, helping Bruce with his computer monitoring systems and satellite (he had a satellite!), so she felt less guilty about hanging up her cape. She was finding different ways to help that didn’t involve as much punching. 

But with her nights less busy, she found herself missing Dick more often. He texted when he could, but he and Jason were so busy at the circus. It just wasn’t the same as having him nearby or hanging out with him on patrol every night. 

“Come on,” her father urged. “You’re going to love it.” 

————————————————

Bruce had made a lot of public speeches in his time as CEO, but he’d never been as nervous as he was now. He’d never had one at his home before. “Hello, everyone,” he said with a charismatic smile. Gathered in front of Wayne Manor were hundreds of reporters, news vans, and photographers. Everyone had noticed the construction on the grounds over the past few months, with plenty of tabloids guessing what he was doing behind closed doors. But no one would have really guessed what was happening. 

“I’m glad you could make it,” Bruce announced. “Even you, Miss Vale,” he said, pointing at a reporter in the front row. “It’s not often that I call for a press conference on my own private land, so try not to kick up too much grass,” he joked, the crowd chuckling politely. 

“I called you all here today to announce the new Wayne Youth Center and Orphanage.” A roar went through the crowd. Bruce Wayne had always been a philanthropist, but usually it was for things like the police or CPS, city infrastructure, and the like. They were large donations, but hardly worth a press conference. This was big. Wayne threw his money around, but getting personally involved in a brand new startup was new for him. 

“In the past few months, I have realized just how broken our city’s system is when it comes to fostering children, juvenile delinquents, and the city’s youth in general. Moving forward, we will be building new youth centers throughout the city, completely subsidized by Wayne Enterprises and government grants. At no cost to anyone, children will have places to go for entertainment, recreation, study, and food.

“We have let our city’s youth down in recent years, and hopefully this can be a first step towards rebuilding their future and lifting up our city from the ground up. To go along with the new initiative, I am making donations to renovate the juvenile halls and all foster homes and orphanages in the city, provided they pass an inspection from my own personal investigators to make sure the money is going to the right place.” 

Bruce raised a hand, pointing at the building and workers still constructing it on the front lawn. “As you can see behind me, I intend to put more than my money into this new venture. I have been working with Commissioner Jim Gordon and Gloria Stillman of Child Protective Services to build and design a brand new half-way house here near Wayne Manor. I truly believe that when given alternatives to crime, and with their basic needs met, our city’s youths will turn towards the better, and our city with it!” 

Bruce took a step back from the microphone as the crowd applauded. Journalists, employees, and a few hired members to make the applause a little louder. Alfred smiled at him from the front row. The older man had been working tirelessly to train more members of what were to become house staff in the new home, as well as making sure that any entrances to the Batcave were firmly hidden and secured. Bruce wanted to welcome these children to his home, but not expose all his secrets. It was going to be a delicate balance. 

Bruce stepped to the side to let Gloria Stillman give her address on the new agreement. She was a stickler for rules, and with the recommendation from Jim Gordon, Bruce trusted her. That and a personal background check showed upstanding moral fortitude, if a bit of a tyrannical ego. But she didn’t have to interact with the kids directly, so Bruce saw no issues. 

After Gloria was done speaking, dozens of hands shot in the air as the journalists prepared their questions. Bruce retook the podium, trying to prepare himself. He had spent weeks analyzing the costs of the venture, running risk analyses, taking child care seminars and reading books on the reduction of recidivism. He felt ready for almost anything they could ask him. 

“I would have asked Commissioner Gordon to speak, but I believe this is the first time he’s taken a vacation since he was appointed to his position, so I couldn’t possibly ask him to give up time with his family. In lieu of his words, I will now take any questions.” Bruce tried not to roll his eyes when Miss Vale was the first to speak. “Mr. Wayne,” she greeted politely. 

“Vicki,” he said, voice dripping with honey. “Your question?” 

“Do you really think that you’re the best role model for such… influenceable children?” 

Bruce scoffed. “Of course not! That’s why I have Alfred!” A chuckle filtered through the crowd. Bruce liked using humor to diffuse accusations. It was part of the charm he used to keep these kinds of press relations more light–hearted than they had a tendency to drift towards. 

“In all honesty, I think there are plenty of people that the youth of our city can look to, and plenty of them aren’t adults. We are doing our best to surround them with good influences and to help provide them with what they need, but most importantly we are trying to eliminate the need to fall upon bad habits or criminal activity. I’ve met with many of the boys in our juvenile halls, and I have come to the conclusion that many of them were victims of circumstance. Our youths aren’t morally corrupt, they are simply given no other options. Now… they will be.” 

Vicki frowned. “This all sounds very nice, but there is a certain level of involvement here that will be required of you, and your previous charity endeavors don’t exactly have a history of success. I think we all remember the Childhood Cancer Dinner?” 

Bruce sighed, clenching a fist from behind the podium. Two years ago he had funded a large Childhood Cancer fundraiser and auction. He had promised a lot to the Children's Hospital, including several Wayne Estate items and a personal appearance with the kids. 

He had missed the event, and lost the donated items, when Ra’s al Ghul and the League of Assassins attacked him in his home the night prior to the event. He spent two weeks in the Cave recovering, while his persona was ‘vacationing in Fiji’. His philanthropic image had never been high, but it had taken quite a hit that night. 

“Why should we believe that this time will be any different?” Vicki asked. “What suddenly made Bruce Wayne’s heart grow two sizes?” 

Bruce frowned, taking a deep breath to settle his anger. “The truth is, I met a runaway child,” Bruce answered honestly. “While on one of my… nighttime escapades…” he said with flustered embarrassment. He was talking about Batman, but he was fine with letting everyone else believe it was another drunken episode of partying. “I encountered a young boy in a back alley. He was badly hurt, and even I felt the responsibility to get him medical attention.

“While waiting at Dr. Leslie Thompkins’s free clinic, my world was shaken. We hear stories of what it is like to live in the depths of the city and we see the news, but the statistics thrown around don’t paint the situation any justice. To hold a broken child in your arms, and not know if he is going to wake up the next day…” 

Bruce thought back to the night he first met Dick and deduced the identity of Batgirl. After Dick’s fall from the rooftop, he had been so fragile, and cold. He was nothing like the lively boy that Bruce now thought of when he heard the name ‘Robin’. 

“When I reached out to Miss Stillman and Commissioner Gordon to report the boy, I was surprised to learn that he was not only an escapee from a juvenile detention facility, but also being held there under no charges.” 

Bruce had gone through a lot of trouble, along with Leslie, to fabricate an incident in which he could have plausibly met Dick. The original meeting was before Dick escaped, so they couldn’t rightly tell the story without outing him as a vigilante. Bruce wasn’t about to air out Dick’s dirty laundry, but it was important to him that his name was cleared from any criminal wrongdoing. Why should a prison escape be on his record when he was never supposed to be in prison in the first place? If Dick ever came back to Gotham, it would cause issues. Bruce desperately wanted him to come back though, so he needed to pave the way. 

“That young boy had fallen through the cracks of a broken system, and Commissioner Gordon and Miss Stillman are both dedicated to fixing that system. After that night and seeing how much trouble our city is truly in, after holding that boy in my own arms, how would you suppose I turn my back on him, Miss Vale? Could anyone here turn their backs?”

There was some murmuring in the crowd, but Bruce had made his point. “I realized that I need to do more. I am capable of doing more. I’ve been spending my family’s fortune freely and extravagantly, but it’s time for Bruce Wayne to mature, and it is long past time that my wealth be used for better purposes than buying dance clubs and islands in the pacific.” 

Vicki smiled sadly. She had spent enough time with Bruce to sense his sincerity. “So no more Brucie Wayne?” she said, a hint of longing in her voice. 

Bruce smirked. “Well, let’s not get too hasty,” he laughed. “But certainly less of him. As you pointed out, these children need role models, and in time, I hope to be worthy of being one of them.” 

“One last question!” Vicki requested. “What ever happened to the boy? Was he okay?” 

Bruce smiled widely. “Last I heard, he’s having the time of his life. He was reunited with long-lost family, and his name has been cleared of any charges from his wrongful stay in juvie. I’m still trying to reach out to speak to him myself, but from what I hear, he’s happy.” 

————————————————

“ LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! ” Pop Haly shouted over the roar of the crowd. “It is time for a dazzling display of aerial artistry! Performing death-defying stunts without the aid of a net , THE FLYING GRAYSON! ”

Barbara held her breath as the spotlight lit up the trapeze hung at the top of the tent. The familiar boy in red and green waved at the crowd before leaping off his platform, flipping and twisting in the air as he reached out for the first trapeze. Dick swung with the grace of a bird, and even Barbara was astounded. She’d watched the videos posted online religiously, and she had spent months running across rooftops with him, but seeing him here in all of his glory was another experience entirely. 

Jim wrapped an arm around his daughter’s shoulders, leaning in as he took in the display. He hadn’t made the connection before the show. He knew that the name sounded familiar, but until the boy was in the sky, he hadn’t made the connection between the Dick Grayson trapeze artist and the Dick Grayson whose parents had died in Gotham so many years ago. He could slap himself for not recognizing the circus name when he had bought the tickets. 

He was glad to see that the boy had turned out alright in spite of everything. 

The Gordons watched as Dick flipped and spun through the air, making each and every movement look effortless and natural. They held their breath as he went for longer swings and added more flips to his routine, even getting up to three full turns before grabbing the bar on his last swing out. 

After a few minutes, Dick safely landed back on his platform, waving to the crowd once more as Barbara cheered as loudly as she could. 

“Oh, you haven’t seen anything, folks!” Haly roared. “For their finale, we need to introduce you to the newest member of the Haly family! Ladies and gentlemen, you are witnessing the rebirth of the greatest family of trapeze artists the world has ever seen! Put your hands together one more time for THE FLYING GRAYSONS!”  

Barbara was smiling wider than ever. Jim’s heart was finally settling down after the adrenaline of watching that boy complete the same act that had killed his parents years ago when he noticed the second boy walk out. 

Dick leapt out to the first bar, then the second, hanging upside down from it as he swung. Jason took a deep breath, trying to ignore the crowd and his nerves. Dick had practiced this with him a hundred times before. He had done way riskier things in Gotham. Jason smiled. What Haly had said was true, in a way. He felt reborn. And what Dick had promised in Gotham stood true too. 

Jason had found a new family. 

“Come on, Little Wing,” Dick heckled from his trapeze. “You’ve got this! Don’t leave them waiting!” 

“Shut up, Dickwad!” Jason shot back. 

“Come make me!” Jason grinned, taking a step back to getting a headstart. Then as the crowd roared again, he leapt…

————————————————

Dick had gotten used to the mugginess of the Brooks Memorial Juvenile Detention Secure Confinement facility. He was used to the fog that hung over the yard and the cold that seeped into your bones. The slop they called food and the beatings and the neglect. Living there barely felt like living at all. 

Sometimes it still surprised him just how warm it felt to be home. Even at night, after the show was over, he felt full of life. The playful toots of Zitka the Elephant as he rubbed her in that spot behind her ears, the smell of popcorn in the air, the constant pats on the back, head rubs, hugs, and compliments everyone paid each other. And of course the feeling of being with his family. 

He had nearly cried when he saw the first poster of his parents hung on the trailers. That first night he got back on the trapeze, Pop Haly had given him the tightest hug he’d ever gotten, and he could practically feel his parents standing there beside him as he went out to perform each and every night.  

Each and eerie time he woke up to the sounds of Jason snoring, or to the call to rise and shine from Pop, or Zitka wanting to be fed, he was reminded that he was home. He had refound his family. 

Or maybe he had never lost them in the first place. Even in Brooks, Dick had always been a performer and a circus kid at heart. He had lost sight of what it meant to have his family, but now more than ever, he knew that his family lasted forever. The warmth and kindness that they had given to the other performers, to him, would never fade away. 

Dick hadn’t met the new fire-eater, but he had welcomed Dick with open arms, saying that he knew John Grayson from before he was married. He would regale Dick with stories of his father from time to time, and Dick didn’t mind one bit. 

It had taken him four years to get over the pain of his parents being killed. He had wanted to kill Tony Zucco for taking them away from him, but now he realized that the stuff that mattered, their kindness, their warmth, and their love, would never be taken from him. 

Dick didn’t want revenge anymore. He didn’t want to avenge anyone. He wanted to extend his family’s legacy. He wanted to bring hope and joy to the world, not fear and anger. 

Dick was home again. It had changed since he left, but it was still home. His family had evolved. His parents weren’t taking care of him anymore, but he had a brother now. He even had a sort-of long-distance girlfriend, although he was still waiting for her to tell him she was seeing someone who lived on the same side of the country as her. 

Dick had enough to be happy, and he wanted to share that happiness with the world. That was what his parents had always taught him, and that was how he wanted to spend his life. 

————————————————

Jason frowned. “You alright, Dickie?” Silent tears ran down Dick’s cheek as he wiped the chalk off of his hands. 

“Never better, Little Wing,” Dick smiled, pulling his brother into a tight embrace. “I’m happy you’re here,” he whispered. 

Jason squeezed him back. He still wasn’t the best at physical affection, but living with Dick Grayson for a while was basically a crash course in it. “I am too,” he admitted, pulling away. “So the show’s over…” he said awkwardly. “What do we do now?” 

Jason had been training and doing chores even since he and Dick made their way back to the circus, but this was his first performance. Everything felt fresh and new, and he felt different. 

Dick laughed, wiping his face. “We finish cleaning up, then we can go get changed and mingle with the crowd a bit, if they’re still here. Maybe go out for a celebration dinner for your first show? I think we can live it up a little in honor of your grand debut!” 

Jason smiled. “Pizza at the place on 7th? You’re buying.” 

“Think bigger!” Dick urged him. “We have our whole lives ahead of us. Dream a bit, Jay!”