Faye Feng → Dick Grayson ✔

Bad Memories

The smell of popcorn and cotton candy hit Dick like a wave. He breathed in, savoring the scent of his childhood. Although the grounds of Haly's Circus held a tinge more of cinnamon, it was close enough. Colorful lights from the rides and stalls lit up the Amusement Pier, rays illuminating the dark sky above.

Faye surveyed the crowds, people of all ages laughing and chatting in the carefree way one would expect on a Friday evening. "Nobody's looking at us."

"It's the carnival," Dick grinned. Faye had never seen him so giddy. "Nobody cares where you're from or who you are, even if you're wearing an outfit that costs a doctor's salary. We're all just here to have a good time."

"Oh, come on, I chose the most subtle ones from the trunk."

Dick glanced down at the diamonds on the sides of Faye's sneakers. They glinted at him the same way the chain on her handbag did. "That's a pretty low bar seeing as you had an evening gown in the back of the car."

"It's for emergencies. Now," Faye squinted at the numerous rides. "What should we do first?"

"Food, obviously," Dick answered without hesitation. He grabbed Faye's hand and beelined straight for a popcorn stall a few feet away, manned by an elderly gentleman who had wisps of grey hair on either side of his head. Wrinkles appeared in the corners of his eyes when he saw the familiar boy, towing along a girl of similar age who looked very out of place.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't my best customer!" He greeted, voice booming.

Dick grinned back. "I would have come back sooner or later, Mr. Brown."

"I know, I know," Mr. Brown chuckled. He watched as the girl beside Dick's head swiveled left and right, as if waiting for an attack. "Hey, Miss, your first time at a carnival?"

The girl looked back at him, stunned. Before he could say anything, she gave him a sharp smile. "Was it really that obvious?"

Mr. Brown winked. "I can always tell who's new – I've been around long enough to know. Are you liking it so far?"

She nodded, brown locks bouncing. "It's...different to what I'm used to, but I think it's great."

"It's about to get even better," he grabbed a paper bag and began shoveling golden-brown popcorn into it with a practiced hand. "I know Dick over here likes the original, but what do you say to some caramel-infused kernels of flavory goodness?"

"Does it taste as good as it smells?"

"Even better," Mr. Brown promised. He handed one bag that was almost overflowing with popcorn to Dick, and another to the girl. "Oh no," he shook his head vigorously as she pulled out a purse. "Didn't Dick tell you?"

Dick chuckled. "Mr. Brown doesn't accept money from me when it comes to popcorn."

The girl frowned. "You're Dick Grayson. If anyone should pay someone back, it's you."

"And he does when we have dinner together," Mr. Brown clarified. "And you're not taking me to that expensive place in the middle of town anymore."

"Why not? You liked the spaghetti."

"Which I can get at Giovanni's for one-eighth of the price." Mr. Brown sighed. "You billionaires, I swear. Anyway, I won't keep you any longer. The circus starts in about ten minutes."

"The circus?" The girl raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, with acrobats and elephants and all. It's in the Big Top," Mr. Brown pointed at something behind her, and she turned to see a huge tent with yellow and red stripes, fabric that was laced with lights and color billowing in the wind.