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"And there are never really endings, happy or otherwise. Things keep going on, they overlap and blur..."

Erin Morgenstern , The Night Circus

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Dick and Faith remained on the top of the trapeze platform as the paramedics came in and quickly covered up Dick's parents with a black tarp. It took the combined coaxing of the paramedics, Jack Haly, and Faith to finally convince Dick to come down from the platform. Everyone had kept a watchful eye on Dick as he slowly climbed down the pole, afraid that he too, was going to fall to a death similar to his parents. As soon as Dick's foot touched the floor, the paramedics rushed over to him asking questions about his wellbeing.

Faith swiftly climbed down the platform to save Dick from being harassed by the paramedics. The paramedics agreed to back away after they had wrapped an orange shock blanket around the boy who was now sitting on the front row bleachers. Faith took a seat next to Dick who immediately reached out and latched his hands with hers. Faith rubbed her thumb against the back of Dick's hand in soothing circles as she watched Jack Haly get questioned by two police officers.

Dick squeezed his hand against Faith's catching her attention when the two police officers that were talking to Haly had begun to walk over to where they sat. One of the police was a middle-aged woman with short brown hair while the other was a thin, young male. The woman had knelt down in front of Dick to seem less menacing as she spoke in a soft tone while the male continued to remain standing behind her with his arms across his chest.

"Hello, Dick," began the officer. "I'm Officer Jackie and behind me is my partner, Officer Evans. We just have a few questions that we would like to ask you."

Dick remained unresponsive as he stared at the tarp that was covering up his parents. Officer Evans took a step to his right forcing Dick to tear his gaze away from the bodies.

"Dick," cooed the officer. "If there was anyone who wanted to harm your parents, we need to know."

Dick scooted close to Faith who instantly wrapped her arms around him.

"It's okay, Dick," whisper Faith into his ear. "You're fine. You're strong."

Dick took a shuddering breath before he spoke. "Tony Zuko."

Officer Jackie quickly glanced back at Officer Evans who pulled out a notepad and wrote down the name the boy spoke of.

"Zuko," snarled Dick, and Faith shuddered at the tone Dick had spoken with. "I overheard him threatening Jack Haly the other day, but I left too soon to hear what."

Officer Jackie place a comforting hand on Dick's knee. "It's okay, Dick. We got a name and that's good enough. We'll speak with Haly again."

The two officer left, leaving Dick and Faith alone on the bleachers. The two sat there in silent.

It wasn't long until the officers finished questioning Jack Haly and another man had walked up to talk to him. Jack and the man took their time as they made their way over to the bleachers where the two kids sat at.

"Dick, Mr. Wayne here would like to speak with you," said Jack before he turned and faced Faith. "Alone."

Faith had to basically pry off Dick's hand to be able to get up and leave the man to talk to Dick. Jack Haly placed his hands on top of Faith's shoulder to help guide her away from her best friend. As she was being led away, Faith constantly turned back to watch Dick whose eyes had never left her retreating form. Faith could see the man's mouth moving, but she couldn't make out the words that he spoke of even if she strained her ears. She could tell that what the man spoke of wasn't good due to the frown that appeared on Dick's face.

Jack Haly had led Faith out of the tent and into another where the majority of the performers gathered around. Faith removed herself from Haly's grip and walked over to the edge of the tent.

"The show will be canceled until further notice," announced Jack, his voice easily filling up the entire tent. No one protested against Jack's decision. How could they go on after witnessing the death of Mary and John Grayson?

"We have another orphan in our ranks."

Faith's head snapped towards the direction of the remark, her face turning red with anger as she glared at the sword swallower. "Don't you dare."

"Clearly, this circus isn't safe! We had the Fosters die a couple years ago and now this! I'm leaving for the sake of my life! All of you should, too!" With that said, Haly's Circus had lost its sword swallower, and no one moved to follow him.

Faith shrugged off what the swordsman had said. Nobody had stopped the swordsman from leaving since there wasn't anybody in the room that actually liked the guy. After standing inside the tent for about five minutes, Faith had finally decided that Dick needed an intervention from the stranger that was speaking to him. Walking out of the claustrophobic tent, Faith headed towards the big tent.

When Faith pushed the two flaps apart and walked back inside, she saw Dick sitting at the same spot from earlier with the man sitting next to him. The stranger looked up when he heard Faith walk in and took it that that was his cue to leave.

"I'll come back tomorrow, Dick," said the man as he stood up and gave Faith a small nodded as he walked past her.

"What did he want?" asked Faith while she moved to take a seat beside her best friend.

"Faith," began Dick as he shifted his eyes from the floor to his best friend that was sitting beside him on the bleachers. "I'm leaving Haly's Circus."

"What!"

Dick's eyes closed shut, and he took a deep breath before he turned and faced his best friend. "Bruce, the guy, said he was going to adopt me."

"Dick-"

"He's paying for the funeral also."

"Dick, I can't lose you, too."

This time, it was Dick who comforted Faith. He pulled her into a hug which Faith quickly wrapped her arms around his torso and buried her face into his shoulder.

"I asked him about you, you know," continued Dick. "He said that he couldn't take both of us in, but he'll help pay for whatever you need. We'll keep in contact, I promise."

Faith slowly removed herself from Dick looking at his clear blue eyes and held out her pinky. Dick took wrapped his pinky around hers, and Dick swore to himself that it was a promise that he will never break.

"I promise."

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word count: 1144