Chalant Candlelight

Chapter 5

(Dick's pov)

"She's cute, shes got this long silky dark hair with these amazing blue eyes and milky white skin that looks so silky, and on top of all that she's smart too, she could go one for hours about literature and history, I mean she's amazing." I sighed after rambling on and on about the girl I met by chance last night at dinner, Zatanna was her name,

"What's the downside here?" My circus friend, one of the divers named Yuliya Romanov questioned,

"Her father was the man I ran into last friday night." I deadpanned,

"The one who scoffed at you?"

"Yes. And the whole night he kept watching me and glaring with his little judgmental eyes."

"So I assume that'll be the last time you see her?"

"I pray not." I bit my lip before taking me equipment up with me to set up for my performance, then it hit me, "She doesnt know anything about me, I mean the real me."

"So?"

"So? Romanov? So, she's a high class rich girl and I'm a circus freak who's done some things there not proud of. She's not going to like me if she knows who I am, it would only be a matter of time before the truth reveals itself, what with the whispers and the what not-"

"Slow down!" She got me to stop pacing and just stare at her, "if she's worth anything, she won't care about your background or your circus life." Yuliya assured me with a smile. I nodded turning around to exit,

"Grayson."she stopped me in my tracks, I slowly turned to face her, "You make sure you see her again, do whatever it takes, okay? Promise me you will." She was dead serious,

"Why do you care about this so much, Romanav?"

"Because, it's been a long time since I've seen you smile like you've never hated life for a second." Her words cut deep, so deep I couldn't speak for a good little bit before I muttered out some words with a senseless smirk,

"You speak as though I'm not happy."

"Grayson, I'm just saying, after all you've been through, maybe this girl is finally some good news."

I snickered, and continued on my way,  she was right, I ought to at least try- you know when you get that happy feeling but then something immediately reminds you who you truly are?

I'm leaving and get stopped by another person, it wasn't someone from the circus but I recognized them,

"Hey baby, how's life treating you over here in the land of the living?" She asked pulling her cigar from her mouth to blow smoke in my face, adjusting her fether boa simultaneously,

"Fine." I gulped, keeping it short and simple,

"You don't miss working for me? I've got some work for you if you ever come back aboard."

"Look, I worked off what I owed you, it's over, end of discussion." I made it clear,

"...Okay..." She said slowly as if she didn't believe me, "well if you ever need a few extra grands in your pocket, come back to me and I'll get you back on the field, 'kay baby?" She laughed,

"'Kay." I mimicked with a sigh walking off to where I needed to be to get everything set up. I had done some things in my past I wasn't proud of, some very illegal things, but that's how I had to get by. I know, Bruce Wayne's a billionaire, but there was things he didn't know about and I couldn't ask him for money without telling him where it was going. I doubt he'd give it to me if he new why I needed it. I tried to keep that side of me in the past, I wasn't the same person I was six months ago. I no longer have a debt to pay to anyone, and that's it. So no more working for the mob, no more stealing, heists, ransacking, arson, get away driving, cleaning up crime scenes before the police can get there, none of it. That was the past, the past that gave me an edge, I wont lie, I was good at it and I never had to kill anyone, I could easily make a life of it. But alas, it was wrong and I trying to be a hero, while simultaneously trying to fit the perfect billionaire ward mold that was set before me. Whilst having this second life being a circus performer and secret mob worker. It was all too much at times but at least I could rule the mob thing out, for good hopefully.