Chalant Kisses

Shoulder Kiss

"Some people are beautiful. Not in looks, not in what they say, just in what they are."

~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief

Today is the anniversary of the Flying Grayson's death. The day Robin's parents died.

Last year Robin had disappeared for the whole day. No one knew where he was except for Batman and Wally. Asking Batman was an automatic no, so she asked Wally.

It took some coercing but Wally eventually spilt the beans.

She found him at the mountain sitting on a cliff's edge outside of a Zeta-tube.

His shades were sitting on the ground beside him. His voice was cracked and broken like he was crying as he spoke in a language she recognized as Romanian from her time performing with her father in the circus. From her small understanding of the language, she could pick out the words 'mama', 'papa', and 'miss you.'

She had touched him on his shoulder. He didn't jump. He already knew she was there. She moved his shades before she sat down beside him with her legs crossed and held his hand while he wept. He had thanked her that day, but she wished that she could've done more for him.

This year she had to go on a mission that she couldn't miss to spend the day with him. But this year she knew exactly what she could do.

~

His family died at the circus five years ago. He could cope with their deaths better now since Batman helped him bring their murder to justice. Today is the day it just strikes home.

A crooked man took away his family's lives today, and at nine years old he watched his family fall to their deaths. The comfort of the day is that Bruce understood. He experienced the same thing at a younger age.

He let him skip school today and gave him the day off from missions. He stayed in bed most of the day before he zetaed to the Cave.

The Cave was emptier than usual. Batman did tell him that the Team was on a mission.

Last year Zatanna had been with him. Kid had ran his mouth again and told him about his past. Whether she knew his identity or not he didn't know. She had sat with him the whole night until they both had gotten too cold. It was nice.

She wouldn't be here with him today because of the mission though. That's okay. He's gone three years without her.

He flicked on the switch and there was light. Everything in his room was as he left it except for something glittering on his bed.

It was a black locket. It was smooth in his hand. On its face was a red engraving of a red bellied robin. When he opened it, the smell of buttery popcorn and cotton candy engulfed him. He could hear the ring leader announcing the acts and the elephants trumpeting. He could hear the swooshing of the acrobats swinging and the singing of the fat bearded lady.

"Please welcome: The Flying Graysons!" If he opened his eyes he could imagine Harley standing on the stage and his family coming out on the swings as if they were flying.

"Good job son." His father's voice was a little distant and faded. So was his mother's voice when she said: "That's my little birdy." But it was okay. It was more than okay.

The show ended when the light faded out and the locket shut itself. He didn't know he was crying until a tear dropped onto his bedsheets. There was a note on his bed too.

A small gift so that they will always be with you. I couldn't get the illusion right so there's only sound, but I hope you'll be able to see it if you close your eyes.

~Zee

Recognize: Zatanna Zatara B-0-8

He dried his eyes as fast as he could and tucked the locket into his hoodie's pocket. He waited for the red to clear from his eyes before he left to her room.

~

The mission had it's few mishaps but otherwise it went pretty smoothly.

She was packing her bag for school tomorrow when the door opened behind her. The person wrapped her arms around her before she could turn around. She looked down to see the bulky black gloves.

His lips then pressed against the back of her left shoulder. She could feel heat flood to her face.

"Thank you," he whispered. SHe grabbed one of his hands and entwined hers with her. "I just didn't want you to feel lonely anymore. I wanted to do for you what you did for me when my dad became Doctor Fate."

"I think this far out does what I did for you."

She shrugged, "Potato, potato."

"They would've loved you, you know." Some know that implication made her blush even worse. " I don't know how to answer that."

He laughed, "You don't have to. Just, thank you."

"I'll only say you're welcome after you treat me to ice cream."

"Deal."