...with a gymnast


The team was splitting up; about to search in all directions for this gem they were after. Dick watched as teams and solo parties started to spread out in the direction of where they thought the gem was. He probably should have partnered up, but something inside of him had said 'go alone.' It wasn't the best of ideas considering he was in the woods, which he had never been too fond of, but the feeling was too strong to fight so he went with it.

He had his backpack filled with water, a compass around his neck and a walkie-talkie attached to the strap. A copy of a map with his area of search marked off clearly. He was walk out a couple miles then right, then right again, comb through that area and go back, radio in if he needed help or found anything suspect. He gave the team the thumbs up as he started to walk. And walk. And walk. And walk some more. Fuck this was boring, he groaned and brushed his hand through his hair to pull out some of the sweat from the heat being kept in through the trees. This was why he liked being in cities, Gotham, Bludhaven, damn even Boston. At least there was a lot of room on a rooftop to get air. Buildings to swing from. Here there were trees but he'd have to dodge other branches and animals. There were some perks though; jumping from tree to tree to was kind fun too. He had to keep the Brightside bright and shiny after all.

A sharp cracking noise grabbed his attention as he landed on a branch. It didn't come from the trees but a clearing. He flipped his way to land and moved out into the clearing. He grabbed his map and gave a look at where he could be, he wasn't sure. Shit he didn't track how far he had gone. Another sharp crack guided him once more. Clipping the button on his walkie-talkie he took a couple steps towards the sound that was coming from the other side of the clearing. It was a little dark, a lot darker compared to any of the other areas he had been. He was about to radio what he heard when something inside of him told him don't worry about it, it's nothing. He followed that instinct and let go of the button. As he crossed the clearing he felt his headache grow stronger in intensity. It was just the heat, he told himself and he continued on into the untamed brush. He stepped into the dark brush and then it all went black.

The trapeze swung back and forth, smiles on the faces of the onlookers as they watched the highflying act. No net, this wasn't practice, this was the big show and they were the stars of the circus. The daredevils, the incredible, the wonderful, the Amazing Flying Graysons. They flew through the air with the greatest of ease with flips and twists and long leaps from one swinging bar to the other. This was their biggest show and little Dick Grayson was finally able to complete the biggest stunt they ever attempted. They had been working on it for so long with so many failures, but for the past week they had been able to accomplish the trick consistently and he had finally convinced his parents that he was ready. His mother stroked his hair behind the curtain, attempting to calm down the crazy cowlicks that stuck out in all directions, no matter how hard he tried.

"Mom, it's fine."

"I just want you to look your best, always." She licked her palm and flattened it against his head. He pushed at her hands making a face of disgust with a groan.

"Come on, Mom. We're not cats." Dick Grayson's arms crossed his chest as he huffed his complaint to his mother. She didn't care, she was in full mother mode and that meant she didn't worry about embarrassing her son at all. The last act was just walking off the main ring of the circus.

"Amazing Graysons, you're up." Gruffed the ringleader before he stepped out to announce them. He'd work up the crowd and then they'd come in and close the show with some of the most amazing trapeze work anyone had ever seen. His mother placed a kiss on his forehead and his father clapped a hand on his shoulder. Encouragement.

The show was going so well, everything was perfect and then it was Dick's cue. He climbed the ladder to the highest point. His mother was hanging upside down, swinging back and forth, arms stretched out. "Come on, my little Robin. Jump to me." She called to him. Dick's arms reached out as he prepared to jump, and then just as quickly as the darkness hit it was lifted. A loud screeching sound came over the walkie-talkie. Feedback of some kind that jolted his attention from wherever he was to the here and now that consisted a ledge with his toes dangling off the side. Rocks slid from under his feet as he quickly pushed backwards to a safe distance from the edge. His heart pounding inside of his chest as he thought about how quickly he had just been to jumping to his own death. He didn't have his Nightwing suit or his belt that would have helped him in some way. No, he just nearly died. Again.

Dick pressed his body against the nearest tree and tried to calm himself down. The vision had been so real, so convincing. He believed every moment of it. "Fuck!" He shouted out into the open air and slammed his fist down. Looking at his watch he knew he had to get back to the group as quickly as possible.