Chapter Text
Wally’s POV
“Hey Wally, over here!” Called Megan.
She was standing next to Conner, kaldur and Artemis. Megan had a huge smile on her face lighting up her dark brown eyes, while Conner wore his signature frown his face lacking of all emotions other than his scowl, kaldur just had his usual gentle encouraging smile on his face that showed his never-ending support, and then there was Artemis. With her signature disapproving scowl with her narrowed eyes that bored into the very being of your soul leaving you shivering (though it was still no bat glare). Jogging over to them a bright smile lit up across Wally’s face heedless of Artemis scowl.
“Hey guys, the wall-man’s arrived!” He announced throwing his arms out for dramatic flair. ‘One of his best qualities he would say so himself.’ Although he doesn’t think Artemis would support that and claim it as probably one of his worst features.
“How is it that you’re always the last one here no matter how fast you are?” Artemis snarked “I’m not the last one here Rob is, he’s not here already is he and doing his creepy ninja disappearing thing and waiting to come out and scare me right. right?”
Wally looked around trying to spot his best friend in the countless shadows surrounding them waiting for him to magically appear out of nowhere and scare the life out of him.
‘And he’s not always the last one here. He’s had to be on time when someone else was late at least once or early right?’
“Seriously Wally? Were you not paying attention at all earlier he said he couldn’t come right in front of you because he had to go to something else so no, you’re still the last one here.” Replied Artemis her eye was twitching with annoyance.
“I remember no such thing Artemis I would think that I would remember something as important as that especially if it was right in front of me.” He replied not a single ounce doubt was in his words fully believing in what he said.
Two days ago
“Wally there is nothing wrong with my logic I’m just saying there’s underwhelmed and overwhelmed, so why is there no, just whelmed, they are practically the same words with just two other words in front of it making it that way, so if you get rid of those it should just be whelmed!”
“It makes sense you can’t deny that Wally hence why it is logical.” Rob stated crossing his arms for emphasis a classic bat glare challenging him further to say one more word.
“Okay whatever I was just saying, but you really like to point out why everyone is never whelmed so often along with all your other words.” Wally replied as they walked into the common room the tv buzzing with the familiar static that only filled the room when Conner was using it.
Wally wasn’t sure if he actually knew how to use the tv to access channels or he just liked listening and watching static over the actual purpose of the tv. But if he liked it who was Wally to stop him.
“Hey Robin!” Artemis yelled as she jogged over to where Robin and Wally where now standing in the common room, she was wearing her usual civvies that she wore whenever they were in the cave.
“I needed to ask if you wanted to come to hang out at an event happening at my school in two days at 9 am, If you want to that is” Artemis spoke her words rushed towards the end.
“Sure, I would love to come Artemis” Wally replied drawing out his words his eyes lighting up at all the possible food stalls he could go to just thinking about it made him hungry ignoring the entire fact that she asked Robin and not him.
“I guess you could come to if you want Baywatch” Artemis sighed in ‘resignation’. Wally pointedly still ignoring her also ignored her sigh of reluctance while turning to Robin to see if he was coming.
Even though they did not know his civilian identity he still liked to hang out with the team in civvies wearing his reflected sunglasses to hide his eyes and a portion of his face. Artemis also turning her attention towards Robin to hear his answer.
Sighing Robin replies “sorry guys I can’t come I have something else happening that day so I can’t come, I’ll just have to make it up to you guys latter and hang with the team sometime soon” his mouth turned up in a small apologetic smile.
“That’s all good Robin like you said we can hang out at another time” Artemis replies.
“Anyway, sorry again guys but I have to head out now see you at the next training session?” Robin asks his usual cocky voice sounding strained.
“Yeah, of course Rob see you then” Wally Replies his eyebrows crinkling with worry before shrugging it away and turning back to pester Artemis as the sound of the zeta-beam sounds off in the distance.
Back to Present
‘When did he say that I don’t remember him saying, I’m pretty sure I would remember him saying that that ohh well Wally thought bitterly.
“So, what do you guys want to do first? We could probably check out a couple of the stalls before checking out the games and food stalls.” Airtimes suggest running a hand through her hair.
A nervous habit that he knew Artemis did whenever she was well, nervous wait why did he know that ‘uggghhh’.
“That sounds great Artemis” kaldur replies a kind smile on his face as they start walking to one of the many stalls in the school grounds of Gotham academy.
“Hey, Artemis, what’s this event at your school even for?” Megan asks her voice piqued with interest.
“it’s a charity event that Bruce Wayne organised he has a son that goes here as well probably a spoiled rich brat like everyone else who goes here even if he’s his ward” Artemis mutters towards the end as they continue walking over to the stalls.
About halfway over to the stalls Wally spots a commotion between a group of boys. As they walk closer, he sees that the group of boys are surrounding what seems to be a younger boy with raven black hair and tan skin with dazzling blue eyes that if you didn’t know any better would look like they were glowing with just how blue they were.
That kid looks younger than them by quite a bit either that or he is really short for his age, honestly, he looks like he’s only 10 and even if he was 10 Wally thinks he is he’s still probably pretty short for his age.
Dicks POV
Dick was having what he would call a pretty good day well good day for his standards any way last night’s patrol had no kinks in it just the usual number of muggings a couple drug deals just one of those everyday nights in Gotham. Almost any way since none of the rouges that are currently out of Arkham have revealed themselves or have hinted at any of their plans so far yet, he knows that won’t last for long with the fact that Gotham rogues can’t go long without a murder spree for that long.
He even got what Batman, and he would call a pretty decent amount of sleep which is pretty rare for them rarer than the Batman being seen ‘smiling’ yeah just that rare. (He knew wally would flip if he ever saw Batman smile just thinking about it, he could already see wally panicking and thinking it the end of the world).
Anyway, everything was fine till later in the day that’s when Dicks Day decided that’s enough of that for today and shit just hit the fan and flew everywhere which is not that unusual for him. If he’s being honest but seriously today of all days was just his luck, he’s not all to surprised either which is just kind of sad if you think about it.
It was already bad enough that he couldn’t hang out with his friends during the charity event at his school. Due to the fact Robin is friends with them, and not Dick Grayson, the Ward of Bruce Wayne who isn’t allowed to tell them his identity due to the fact his and B’s identity is the two for one package deal and Batman doesn’t trust them. He feels bad every time the team wants to hang out and invite him only for him to shoot them down because either he actually has something like a boring gala to attend to or something came up. He loves hanging out with the team and he doesn’t really have any other friends outside of the mask.
And he’s getting of track again great. Anyway, all he was trying to do was check out the stalls to see what was on offer to buy in support for the charity and B was too busy having to keep up his ‘Brucie’ Wayne persona and trying to get all the snobby rich families to part with some of their money that they can spare to go towards the charity. So, to save his dignity and being roped into support Bruce’s effort as Brucie as Richie or whatever the nosy press like to call him. All he could hope for was when the auction came around for all the master pieces the school called artworks if you could even call them that, that Bruce wouldn’t start a bidding war. again. Just to raise the prices of artworks parents just want to buy because their kid made it. Even if it’s just some glue covered canvas that someone dumped a bunch macaroni on and called it a day as their masterpiece. It started off at five dollars only to end up at about I don’t know TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS yeah Bruce went a bit overboard with that and you could say the parents weren’t happy. Not to mention he bought all the artworks that no one else bought just because he could. And probably to raise for money for the charity but when it comes to Bruce you never know.
But now he finds himself surrounded by one of the many groups of boys at his school that likes to make his life miserable.
Seriously them today uggh, he just knew something had to go wrong sooner than latter eventually he thought bitterly as he came to a stop not even 10 meters! from the stalls and he was so close as well.
He was standing at the back of the school building on the side where there was no entrance. Unless you went around the corner and through one of the side entrances to get into the school, he was currently facing the opposite direction where the stalls were located.
“Hey circus freak how does it feel to not to be the centre of attention at this charity event you know, by being a charity case yourself by being Bruce Wayne’s ward. Considering he only took you in for the publicity it would get him and maybe because he felt a small bit of pity for you considering you are gypsy trash.” Bryce jeered venom lacing every word. His usual lackeys surrounding Dick on all sides with Bryce’s face showing he was enjoying every second of Dicks torment.
Dick felt a stab pain hit him. It was nothing knew but they weren’t exactly wrong either. He’s had worse said to him as Robin and hadn’t even given it a second thought about it or any time of his day or night if you will but, it felt more personal as Dick Grayson than Robin it always did. He knows Bruce didn’t take him in for the publicity but because he cared for him and knew what he was going through because he went through the same thing and liked having Dick around. Well, he hoped he liked having him around and not just for the fact that he’s Robin.
And hearing about his heritage being criticised because it’s different to there’s and don’t understand the rich culture the Romani people have it hurt.
It hurt being treated differently just because he was raised in a different culture in a poorer family and that people had such prejudice to that they go out of their way every day just to remind you and that you won’t ever belong, and that you’re the person who failed to save them from falling.
A small scowl of disinterest spread across Dicks face as he schooled his features to stop any hurt show across his face. Now all he has to do his throw some taunts there way to speed the process up and for them to realise that they were currently in a crowd infested area. Sure, the next beat down hell get will probably be worse next time but at least it will end this pretty quickly.
“Do we really have to do this right now today, especially in front of a large crowd, I thought you were smarter than this, oh wait, no I didn’t, considering the two teeny tiny brain cells, you do have are currently still fighting for third place.” His face his eyes twinkling with amusement.
“And I don’t even want to mention how many Brain cells these guys have left considering the rate they are probably losing them at by just being in your presence.” Dick stated his scowl turning into a large smirk.
“You'll pay for that” Bryce growled out as Dicks smirk grew bigger with glee.
“But you were right about one thing though why give you a beat down here in front of all these people when we can just go inside and do it there instead” Bryce snarked a sly grin broke across his face his eyes shone with a glint of smug satisfaction. “Bring him inside boys”.
Dicks eyes widened in surprise, that was not what he expected to happen, he shouldn’t have opened his big mouth. Now Dick would like to blame what happened next on the fact that he his Dick Grayson the mathlete right now, and not the first sidekick partner, boy wonder, Robin. Especially since Robin would not have been in this predicament like Dick ward of Bruce Wayne in the first place.
Before Dick could do anything, a hand smothered his mouth as two of the bigger boys out of the four grabbed under Dicks arms with a grip that would leave bruise’s that had him wincing in pain as they lifted him up. Carrying him they turned out of view of heading towards the building of the school. They entered threw one of the side entrances of the school as Bryce’s goons kept walking down the hall passing the locker filled hall before turning right at the intersection in the hall and straight through the nearest door that belonged to one of the many classrooms in the school.
Looking around the room with his limited field of vision he took in the room he was in ‘huh it was actually his eyes English classroom great not only is he about to get beaten up but he has to get beaten up in his least favourite classroom.
Now as much as Dick would love not to be restrained by jocks right now.
He couldn’t exactly just get them off of him like he would as Robin even though he easily could as both Robin and Dick.
But if Dick was suddenly able to break out of there hold which is something that Dick Grayson should not be able to do. People will start making connections between him and Robin, and that is something both him and Bruce don’t want to happen.
If there’s one thing Dick knows, is just because he can’t not, not get beaten up, that doesn’t mean he has to make it easier for them and if there’s one thing he does like to do is be a huge pain in the ass during situations like this he will be a huge pain in the ass.
“Now boys who’s ready to teach this gypsy trash a lesson?”
The boy smothering his mouth removed his hand from his face knowing no one would hear him from here if he cried for help. Dick started thrashing in the older boy’s hold kicking his legs out managing to at least kick one the boys in the shin.
Just before a punch came into the view of his face as it hurled towards him connecting the punch to his nose.
Pain erupted from the assaulted part of his face as a heavy rush of blood streamed form his nose. Two more punches came sailing towards him both hitting him in the face, one connecting with his eye leaving it throbbing while the other hit his mouth causing his lips to split open.
The taste of blood filled his mouth likely from his split lip or maybe he bit his tongue? No probably not, one of his teeth probably dug into his gum causing it to bleed. It was either that or the blood that had been pouring from his nose that had just turned into a slow lazy drizzle. At least they hadn’t broken his nose that would have just been annoying to reset.
“Now circus freak you know you will never fit in here just because you’re on the mathletes, and gymnastics team doesn't mean you’re one of us you belong back in that circus’s you came from” Bryce sneered.”
“Seriously Bryce that’s all you can one up with get some knew material you price of shi-
A gasp of pain Escaped his lips as a kick connect with his abdomen cutting of his line of speaking doubling over in pain throbbing in tandem with his heart as one the two jocks restraining him held him up.
‘Ugh great he probably bruised my ribs, and they finally just healed for once like I never don’t have bruised or broken ribs anymore.’
“How does it feel to have your life handed over to you on a silver platter being taken in by Wayne and being his heir. It was probably one of the best things to happen to you for those gypsy trash you called parents to fall.”
Dick felt his heart skip a beat his breath hitching as he felt all the air leave his lungs. An overwhelming feeling of grief, guilt, and pain resurfaced from the pit in his heart where he usual kept the overwhelming feelings of his loss tucked away from the world to see.
“All resulting in you being the heir to Bruce Wayne’s fortune you filthy gypsy slut!” Bryce sneered seeming to have finished his small rant for now as he cracked his knuckles seemingly get ready to pummel Dick once more.
All the fight left him he just couldn’t seem to find it in himself to just keep making it look like he was trying to get away and couldn’t.
It was His Fault his parents died he didn’t warn them in time, didn’t catch them as they fell, didn’t stop them from dying on impact with the ground from 40 feet above as he stood on the platform hearing the thud of not only his parent’s bodies but his whole family.
His aunt and uncle Karla and Rick, his older cousin Johnny, and his Tati and mum John and Mary Grayson. He remembers screaming in disbelief as he flung himself down the ladder of the Trapeze racing over to the already rapidly cooling dead bodies of his parents.
Kneeling in a pool of their rapidly forming blood as he tried shaking and staunching the rapid blood flow with his hands despite the small part of his brain in the back of his head knowing it was already too late that they were already dead.
At some point he must have realised that nothing he would do would bring them back as he just curled up in the pile of his family’s blood curling up against the now cold mangled bodies of his parents as a feeling of numb nothingness settled over him till he was pried from his parents bodies as they were whisked away under stark white bags.
Not a single one of his family members survived what people called the tragic ‘accident’ of the flying Grayson’s no one but him, the sole last living member of the Flying Grayson’s. Later when being whisked away to a juvenile detention centre instead of an orphanage would he realise that his family had been murdered.
As the man he would come to know latter as Tony Zucco, the man he saw arguing with Uncle Haley the ring master. The one that threatened of the Grayson’s fall if he didn't pay for protection money had been the same guy he saw doing something to their equipment.
But he didn’t warn them in time he didn’t understand that he should have told them even when they said to tell them after their act.
But he never got the chance to do that leaving five people falling, five bodies hitting the floor with a thud as sickening cracks Resonated from their body’s leaving behind an 8-year-old Dick Grayson with the horrible truth to his entire family’s murder.
A sharp alarmed voice pulled him back into the current situation at hand also bring back his throbbing face and stomach.
“Bryce!” One of head jocks followers hissed at him “someone’s coming they said something about checking in the classrooms we have to go now!”
“You got lucky this time circus freak, and this isn’t over.” Bryce stated his voice laced with venom and that being the only warning he got before he was unceremoniously shoved to the floor as they made their hasty get away leaving a beaten Dick Grayson lying on the floor.