Dick cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Hello, everyone." Dick said. He tried to sound enthusiastic, but he just felt like crying.

No response.

"So, u-um... what do you call an alligator that's a detective?" That's how the joke went, right?

Silence except for those in conversations.

"An investi...gator!" He yelled. "Haha, get it?"

He was trying way too hard.

No one laughed.

"O-okay, erm-" no puns, no puns, he repeated mentally to himself.

"One time my friend said to me: 'What rhymes with orange' then I said 'No it doesn't, silly!'" Dick said with a goofy smile.

That one actually earned a few chuckles.

Who would have guessed that Tati's jokes would have actually come in handy? Dick reminisced.

Unfortunately, with his stress levels so high right now, he couldn't think of anymore jokes. He just stood there internally screaming. Then he got an idea. He used to be in a circus, after all. So why not perform like it?

He jumped from the stage and onto the platform where the crowd was. Some people looked taken back, others looked intrigued.

"I can juggle any five items that you are willing to let me use. The more fragile the better." Dick announced with confidence. He was great at juggling.

He saw people hesitate. He couldn't blame them, to be fair. For all they knew, he could just some kid that was bluffing.

But today the universe chose to give him a chance, because a young man raised his glass cup. "Use this, then."

Dick let out a breathe of relief. "Thank you, sir." He took the glass.

It was a chain reaction.

"Juggle this plate!"

"My keys!"

"Here, my IPhone!"

"Use my wedding ring! Uh, just don't break it, please."

Dick smiled widely. He couldn't believe this was actually working!

After he collected all the items, he started with two items. Then three. Four. And five.

He heard a few people gasp. Soon the whole club was watching. I guess they aren't used to seeing children do tricks. Dick guessed.

He did a few more cool tricks with the valuables and finally ended it by balancing the glass cup on his chin.

Everyone clapped, impressed. He couldn't help but blush. He bowed down and returned all the items to their owners.

When he went backstage again he realized how much he was shaking. Did that just happen? He thought in shock.

The lady from earlier pat his back. "Nice job. NEXT!" She shouted and moved on the someone else.

Dick just scratched the back of his head.

"I'm impressed. That was the first time this night's crowd actually was entertained." A male voice said.

Dick hastily turned around to see who had spoken. It was a man with very strange black hair. He had a large nose and was short. Like a lot of the people here, excluding Dick, he was wearing a formal outfit.

"What's your name?" He asked.

"Richard Grayson, sir." Dick responded politely.

"Where'd you learn to do that stuff anyway?" He inquired.

"My mom and dad taught me. W-w...were in the circus." Dick said slightly fearfully. He was worried that this man would react the same way that all his bullied have.

"Interesting," Is all he said, "I couldn't help but notice your... outfit."

"Umm..." Dick uttered. What could he say?

"Please do explain." The man requested while inspecting his fingers nails.

"Uhh... Well, um, I- ugh! It is not my fault I ended up there!" Dick frustratedly cried. "He killed my parents! I had no one left so these people came and took me away! Then they brought me there. Please, you can't bring me back there. It's awful!"

The strange looking man gave him a look of pity. "I see. How how did you get out?"

Dick sniffed and folded his arms up to his upper chest. "I escaped. I made a plan and everything. I went through the vents and hitchhiked a truck."

The man raised an eyebrow and gave a smirk. "You went through the vent? That's quite the plan. It works perfectly for you considering you size. Y- Hmm..." he thought for a moment. "My name is Oswald Cobblepot. I am also known as The Penguin. I own this club."

"Okay." Dick simply muttered.

"You mentioned something about someone killing your parents. Do you know who this man was?" Oswald asked.

Dick scrunched his eyebrows. "Yeah, his name was Tony Zucco. Why are you asking?"

Penguin leaned down slightly to better reach the boy's level. "Let's make a deal, shall we? If you help me with something, I'll help you get revenge on this man."

Dick stared at him, stunned. "Revenge?"

Penguin nodded.

"W-what do you mean?" Dick interrogated. He had to know what he was getting into before he accepted this deal.

Penguin shrugged. "Whatever you what. What him in jail? Fine. Want him severely injured? Sure. Want him dead? Can do."

Dead? Dick thought seriously. Should I even be considering this? But... he said it could be anything he wanted to do to Tony.

"Well, what do you want me to do?" He further questioned.

"Nothing too difficult, since you clearly showed you're capable." He smiled. "Rob a bank."

Dick choked on his own spit. "What?!"

"What?" Penguin asked, like robbing a bank was the most normal thing in the world.

"Thats illegal." Dick stated.

Penguin snorted. "Yeah, so? You broke out of juvie. That's illegal, isn't it?"

"I-I guess." Dick said. Shoot, he had a point. "But why do you want me to do it?" After all, I'm just a kid.

It took a few second for him to answer. "Several reasons. One, you're small. You can fit through the air vents, unlike any adults I know. Two, I feel bad for you. You have all lot of potential, yet here you are on the streets."

Dick suspected that there was more to it, but decided not to push this man's patience.

"Also, this bank deserves it. They steal from all the citizens. I'm just taking what is rightfully ours." Penguin preached. "I might even let you keep some of the money."

Well, when he says it that way...

"Alright, Oswald. I accept." Dick affirmed.

"Great." Penguin said, pleased, as he stood up straight again.

"So, like, you're not gonna expect me to just plan everything on my own, right?" Dick asked.

"Of course not." Oswald said, exasperated. "Now, let's get you some clothes."

Dick raised his eyebrows.

"What? You thought I was just going to leave you in those rags?" Penguin articulated. He started walking towards a door off in the corner of the room. He gestured for Dick to follow.

"After we get some decent clothes, we'll discuss the plan thoroughly." Oswald declared as they got out of the club and into a fancy looking car.

"Okay." Dick said. He noticed that Penguin had a limp.

As they got into the car, Dick thought about penguin's deal.

Robbing a bank? Wow, at this rate I might actually become a ninja, he thought imaginatively.

Ninja.

He looked out the window and scanned the area, but he didn't see the black cat. He frowned. I hope she's alright, he worried.

He sighed and continued looking out the window as the car started moving.

Then he saw a flash of black. Huh?

For a second, Dick could've sworn he saw something- or someone down a dark alley. He blinked and stopped looking out the window. I must be imagining things, he thought.

But was he?