You couldn't believe your eyes. There was so many sights to feast your eyes on, and because it was your first time at the circus, you were eager to soak it all up. The smell of buttery popcorn mixed with sweet cotton candy, the way the sky was alight with shimmering stars, the flags that darted around in the wind, the festive and pleasant atmosphere as the patrons walked by, the cheering and laughter of children, it was all so beautiful. It seemed impossible for anything to go wrong, even though this was Gotham, the mood felt right, like you were safe here. You knew you didn't have anything to fear because your father, Jim, was around, so surely if anything did come up, he would be right there by your side and able to handle the situation with ease. You looked up to your father, he was a notable man, always putting the safety of the citizens of Gotham first no matter what, and he carried his badge with such pride. Because of him you were no damsel in distress, he taught you everything you needed to know about guns and how to take care of yourself in case he wasn't around, which proved to be effective when opportunity stroke. There was many perks to being the daughter of a detective, you were quick to catch onto that. As long as you two were by one another's side, everything was sure to be okay.

The big show was about to start so you and Jim stopped by to get some cotton candy at one of the booths before you two turned a corner and entered the largest tent you had ever seen. You both walked in, finding two empty seats in one of the bottom rows. The big top gradually began to fill up and echoed everyone's conversations off of its flimsy canvas. You turned to look at Jim with a smile before the show started, which he instantly returned and then wrapped his arm around your shoulder. He turned back when a voice boomed inside of the tent.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Haly's Circus of traveling wonders!"

"It's starting!" you whispered excitedly, taking a bite of your cotton candy that immediately melted on your tongue, your eyes glued onto the stage before you. You didn't blink from fear of missing even one second of this event. The lights dimmed and smoke filled the room. The lights flashed back on abruptly in different shades of blue and spun around the tent.

The trapeze acts started from the Flying Graysons, and it was a sight to see. The performers were oscillating about with the leverage of the trapeze bar to guide their movements, there was such a graceful flexibility to every back and forth swing. Your heart pounded with anticipation of their next move and they never disappointed, you were in complete and utter awe of their beautifully executed techniques. When the act finished, the audience went wild and began clapping loudly for all the performers.

"Give it up for the Flying Graysons, everyone!" the announcer exclaimed, and the applause only grew noisier accompanied by the joyous cheering of the audience.

When the Graysons left the stage, clowns in a clown car drove onto the stage, and once they came out of it, they were quick to start juggling while some rode on unicycles, and others were playing music. The tent was filled with entertainment, a happy crowd, and performers eager to please, but then it took an unexpected turn. One of the clowns picked a fight with a performer, and some of the others joined in on the brawl. Left and right punches were being exchanged amongst the people on the stage, and within a matter of moments everyone was fighting.

Jim made a grimace once he realized that this was not part of the act. He turned to his side to shoot you an annoyed look before he stood up from his seat, walking over to the stage until he was only a few steps away from the platform, holding his badge up and shouting, "GCPD! Everybody freeze!"

You heaved a long sigh. Of course, something had to come up. This was Gotham, so you couldn't have said you were surprised, but you were still disappointed. The brawl ceased when it was revealed that there was a cop around.

"Stay here," Jim ordered sternly, and you merely nodded your head in response. He informed the police as well as Leslie to help patch up the performers before he started interrogating them right on stage, asking them all about what caused the fight but he didn't seem to be getting anywhere judging by the frown stuck on his face. You didn't like waiting because you knew this was going to take a while, and you wished that you could do something other than sit around. You finished your cotton candy and in the meantime you played with your phone with a lack of interest.

Finally when Jim came back to where you were seated, you knew exactly what he was going to say.

"Hey sorry, things headed south," he said with a disappointed sigh, "this is going to take a while, I got something out of one of the performers and they told me to talk to someone named Lila, she's a snake dancer, they said she's probably in her trailer. Apparently she's the reason why everyone started fighting. So I'll get someone to take you home-"

"No, I don't want to go home, I'm staying here, with you," you told him solemnly, tone just as austere as his could be. You folded your arms across your chest like you always did when you weren't going to accept the word 'no' for an answer.

"I really think you should, you'll be safe back at home," he assured.

"Safe back at home? This is Gotham, I'm not safe anywhere," you replied matter-of-factly, "I'm tired of waiting around at home while you deal with all the action, let me on some of it," you added.

He shook his head before he answered, knowing that he would practically have to drag you back home because of how unrelenting you could be, "Persistent as always, huh? Fine, just stay by my side at all times, okay? And don't wander off."

"You got it," you chirped, unfolding your arms as you removed yourself from your seat. One of the performers led the way while you and Jim followed him to the trailer outside of the tent. The man knocked on the door to it before standing back with you two. Jim gave you a reassuring smile while you both waited. The door was opened by a ginger-haired boy, who already had a look of concern on his face.

"Hello?" he asked, his hand on the door as he turned to look at the cop and then back at you. You didn't understand why exactly, but the second you made his gaze you felt your heart swell up followed by your eyes lighting up in interest before you turned away back to your dad to pretend like it was nothing. Thankfully, Jim didn't seem to notice.

"GCPD. I'm here to speak with Lila," Jim greeted, stone-faced and straight to the point.

"She's not here. Why? Did something happen?" he questioned, sounding like he was on edge.

"There was a fight between the Graysons and Lloyds. Do you know where she is?" Jim asked.

"No, I don't know, the last time I saw her was this morning, before I left to the library," Jerome explained.

"Are you a relative of hers?" Jim inquired with a raise of his eyebrows as the ginger slipped his coat on with fumbling hands.

"I'm her son, Jerome," he told your father, quickly adding, "I've been trying to look for her since I got home, but she hasn't been around."

The performer walked over to the ginger before he said, "Jerome, relax. This gentleman is here because Owen and Al had a disagreement on stage. Your mother is alright, probably just went for a spree, you know how she can be."

"I - I don't know, she should be here by now. She left without her hat, her purse, her coat," Jerome said, starting to get choked up before he stopped.

Jim listened on, taking mental notes of everything he was saying and Jerome continued, "Sheeba's distraught, she knows something's wrong," he said as he turned to look at the snake in its cage whose body seemed to be tense, alarmed.

"She does seem to be on edge," Jim conducted. "How fast does an animal like that move?"

"Fast walking pace usually, they rely on surprise mainly," the ginger explained.

Jim nodded his head at that before he replied, "Let her out."

"Pardon?" Jerome asked with his head cocked to the side.

"I said let her out," Jim repeated. Jerome obeyed the detective and unlocked the snake from its confines, figuring it was better to comply. The snake slithered on the grass, undoubtedly searching for something. You all followed the creature's lead as it glided its way upon the haystacks, crawling until she slipped underneath the sheet of the back of a truck. You started to feel a little uneasy, wondering what the snake had found, there was a twinge in your stomach. Jim lifted the sheet from the truck, throwing it aside, and the sight before you was absolutely horrifying. Who you assumed must have been the snake dancer, was covered in fresh blood, her dress was seeping with it, eyes shut as the animal crept up on her lifeless body. You gasped and covered your mouth the second you saw it, eyes wide with terror, heart pounding rapidly in your chest that someone here in this very circus you attended had done this. You felt sick, your stomach in knots, and when you turned to look at her son, he had fallen to his knees, wet streaks sliding down his cheeks, and the look on his face was completely broken and helpless, like his whole world just stopped.

You rushed to the ginger's side, feeling an overwhelming need to comfort him because of his loss. You crouched down and set your arms upon his shoulders, hugging him close to your body while he sobbed hard, hands buried in his face. Jim had a grim look on his face, and he was quick to start accusing the performer.

Jerome had left the scene in a hurry, stricken with grief as he dashed back to the trailer. Jim seemed too distracted talking to the man, so you impulsively decided to follow the ginger, even though you knew you probably shouldn't have. You felt like it was the right thing to do, to try and comfort him. It didn't feel right letting him be alone after what he just witnessed. You walked in with him, and he shut the door behind you while he sat down on the futon positioned in the back. You took a seat next to him while he continued wailing, and because he seemed to be okay with your touch from earlier, you settled a hand on his back, rubbing his covered skin gently.

"Who could have done this to her? Who?" he cried, pulling his hands away from his face to utter those words before he covered it again. "My mother was such a good woman, she didn't deserve this. Why? Why her? Of all people?"

"I'm so sorry," you told him in a choked up whisper. You felt for him. It was nearly impossible not to. He was so frail and in pieces before you. You could empathize with his pain not only because you were compassionate but because you too lost your parents, in an accident when you were a little girl which was why you were under Jim's care in the first place. There was no right words to say at a time like this, and you wanted to be there for him in this time of misery so that he knew he wasn't alone.

"I just - I can't believe this happened," he barely managed to get the words out, and they were caught between many harsh breaths and sobs.

You continued to sit next to him in silence, save the sound of his mewling, stroking his back and shoulders, not knowing what to say because you knew he was still processing everything. You just wanted him to know that someone was listening.

"We're going to find out who did this to your mother, justice will be served, I promise you that," you leaned close to whisper near his ear, swallowing a thick gulp.

"Justice won't bring her back. Nothing will bring her back, she's gone forever and I will never get to see her again," he whimpered straight from his throat, each word coming out in stutters.

"They won't get away with this," you assured him, the corner of your eyes filling with tears that you had to fight to blink back. He pulled his hands away from his face and looked back at you, eyes red as he cracked a small smile while he sniffed, making your heart skip a beat all of a sudden.

"Thank you. You're really kind," he choked out, appreciating your concern for him. He sniffed, wiping his eyes away with the backs of his hands. "I look like such a mess right now, I know."

"No you don't, it's okay," you said, smiling softly back at him as your hands attempted to ease his tense body.

"I'm just - I'm going to miss her so much," he croaked before uttering a sigh.

You nodded your head upon his words, continuing to listen to anything that he had to say, knowing that was all you could truly do.

"I don't know how I'll be able to do this without her. She was such a beautiful, kind person, who could always handle me at my worst, you know?" he said between sniffs.

It was so easy for him to confide in you about his mother, and you noticed that he scooted closer next to your side while he described several things he was going to miss about her. Tears were still streaming down his face but he was finding it less difficult to speak now, and you couldn't help getting goosebumps as he recalled all these pleasant memories with you. Again, your eyes were welling up getting to know this circus boy on a more intimate level.

"Please don't cry, you're going to make me this harder on me," he uttered a huff of a laugh as he attempted to dry his face once more with his hands.

"I'm sorry," you replied as a smile stretched across your tear-stained face.

"You say sorry a lot," he noted, "don't apologize for anything, or anyone," he explained, his snivels having died down now as he spoke.

"Right," you answered with a slight nod of your head. You felt so sorry for the ginger that it ended up slipping out more than it should have. Before he could say anything more, there was a knock on the door. Jerome stood up to open it, and Jim shot him a somber look.

"We're gonna need to bring you in for further questioning, Jerome. Can you come down to the station with me?" he asked, his tone suggesting that there was no room for discussion.

"Yes, of course, sir," he said meekly, and he turned to look at you when you stood up, "thank you so much," he paused, waiting for you to fill in the blanks.

"Y/N," you informed quickly, "that's my name," you added, and he smiled at that before he stepped out of the trailer. Jim shot you a look that said: 'I know your heart is in the right place but you're being careless', so you knew that meant you would probably be feeling the wrath of one of his lectures later when you two got home.

"This is police business. I know you're trying to help, but I really think I should just take you home," he told you when you left the trailer, and the ginger wasn't around to hear what he was saying. "I don't want you getting involved, I told you not to wander off and of course, you did just that. We can't trust them, anyone of them could have done it."

"Dad, how do you expect me to be a detective one day when all you do is treat me like a little girl?" you countered. "You just want to send me home all the time, I'm tired of waiting around and doing nothing. I want to make this city a better place too, so let me," you protested, showing no sign of letting up. The main reason why you wanted to go to the station was because you knew Jerome would be there, and you didn't want to say goodbye to him just yet, especially when your time with him was interrupted because of your dad.

"I'm going to the station to try to get more information, please, don't argue with me, let me take you home," he urged.

"I'm going to the station with you," you sassed, "whether you want me to or not. I want to find out who did this. You involved me by taking me out here, so now I'm not going anywhere."

He sighed with what sounded like it was in defeat, knowing that there was no way you were going to change your mind once you made a decision like this.

"You can't interrogate anyone, you're not a cop," he explained, but you were not having any of it.

"Doesn't matter. You always said I had a good eye, maybe I can examine anyone that looks suspicious, give you pointers to anything you might have missed, and then you'll be thanking me later," you offered, and he shook his head, clearly disagreeing with everything you had to say but he knew despite his best efforts to try and convince you to listen to him, you were not going to comply, that was something he just had to accept. He was proud of you though, because you always reminded him of himself.

You followed him to the station while several police officers drove the circus performers there until it was bustling with them, and it was difficult to look for the ginger amongst the crowd but you were determined, and that was exactly why you were able to find him seated in one of the waiting chairs after what seemed like a hopeless search.

"Hey, are you going to be the one to interrogate me?" he joked with a tender smile that made your heart beat hard in your chest, butterflies fluttering in the pit of your stomach, and you tried to play it off like it didn't affect you at all.

"No, I'm not a cop, just the detective's daughter. I wanted to see how you were doing," you confessed, your mouth speaking before your brain could keep up with you. You mentally kicked yourself for admitting that.

"That's what I figured. I really appreciate that. Thank you, you've been so kind and good to me. I don't know if I deserve it," he sighed before he looked down at the ground, averting your gaze now.

"Hey, don't say that," you bent down to look at him as you spoke.

He swallowed a lump in his throat before he continued, "I really don't. I should have never went to the library, I should have stayed with her. Then at least, maybe this never would have happened to her."

"That's not true, you can't blame yourself for this," you disagreed, placing a hand on his shoulder as his tears hit the ground, choking back a harsh sob.

"I feel like it is. It's all my fault, I'm to blame, she's gone because of me," he quavered, turning to look at you, cheeks wet again with his tears.

"No, you're not at fault here, none of this is your fault," you tried to reassure him of that, but he only continued to weep, repeating again and again that he was truly the guilty one for letting this happen. You remained by his side, attempting to soothe him with more of your gentle touch. He tried to speak more but all that came out was a jumbled mess of words followed by hiccups so he buried his head in your shoulder, sobbing in it and you held him close while he did, allowing his tears to soak in the material of your blouse. A frown was quick to mar your features, and you couldn't understand how people could be so cruel, how good people like his mother could be murdered mercilessly.

He lifted his head up after a long moment to try and speak again but it was interrupted when Jim walked out of the interrogation room, looking down at you two with his usual poker-face. "Jerome, I just need to ask you a couple of questions regarding your mother."

"Okay," he replied in a heavy sob, slipping his head away from your shoulder and sitting up from his seat, wiping his face before he left and stepped into the empty room. Jim shook his head at you, and gave you a look full of warning before he joined Jerome in the room.

When Jerome left, suddenly all the whining and complaining in the room from the circus entertainers rang clear in your ears, and now you wanted to go home because you expected he would be there for a while. But still you waited. From what you gathered from the suspects that this all stemmed from their feud with the Graysons and Lloyds, and that there seemed to be several men that were enticed with Lila. You acted as if you were distracted by your phone but really you were listening to the other detectives interrogating them in the station at their desks.

After what felt like an eternity, Jim came out along with Jerome, and he made an announcement on how everyone could go home but not to leave town because the investigation was still ongoing, excluding the two who began the fight: Owen and Al who were locked up behind in a cell during the meantime. Jerome turned to look at you during Jim's dramatic policemen speech, his gaze lingering like he didn't want to leave. You stood up from your seat to embrace him in a hug, and Jim was quick to notice this, a grimace forming halfway through before he continued on speaking.

"Don't worry, we'll see each other again, once I find out who did this to my mother," he promised in a murmur.

"Bye Jerome, take care," you whispered softly before he reluctantly pulled away from the warmth of your embrace, and there was a small smile on his face when he waved back to you, disappearing in the crowd somewhere as everyone gathered their things and left the building.

You only hoped that you would be seeing him again, soon.

Jim returned to you with a lower stuck on his face. "It's time to go home now, come on, it's been a long day," he told you, grabbing your hand in his, and he breathed a sigh of relief when you didn't argue with him. It had been a long day, he was right about that. The car ride home was nearly completely silent, and you knew Jim wanted to say something but he seemed to be holding back. He knew whenever he scolded you about something, it only drove you to pursue it further, so he was conflicted, and it showed with the way his brows were furrowed and how his jaw was clenched. You read the look on his face perfectly though, he wanted to tell you to stay away from that circus boy and from this case, but he refrained from saying so. He merely bit his tongue.

When you two made it back home, you quickly tried to flee to your room but Jim immediately grabbed your arm before you were able to make it upstairs. You whipped your head back when he said, "Where do you think you're going?"

"To my bedroom. I'm tired, long day," you told him with a forced smile.

"You need to listen when I say stay out of this. I know you care, and want to help me but it's too dangerous. I don't trust a single one of them, not until I find out all the facts," he stated dourly.

"You want me to keep away from Jerome, correct? Not everyone in Gotham is pure evil, Dad, there's still some good people left. And he didn't kill his mother, I saw the look in his eyes, there's not a doubt in my mind that he had anything to do with it," you reasoned, your tone just as uncompromising as his was.

"I trust your judgment, and I'm not accusing him of anything, I'm just saying stay aware, you can't let your guard down for a second in this city," he replied, his voice remaining solemn.

"Yes, I remember," you replied in a whisper before you asserted, "I just still want to believe the good in people too."

"Yeah, I know. It's what makes you such a good person. I just think you should let me handle this alone. I promise I'll find out who killed Lila," he assured before letting go of your arm.

"Of course you will," you answered with a nod of your head before walking upstairs. You stopped in your tracks to add, "Look, I'm not going to stay out of this. It's not right what happened to him. He's broken because someone decided to kill his mother, so we have to bring this person to justice."

"Right," he agreed. "Just rest up, take things easy, that's the least you can do for now."

He heard the door slam shortly after he said that, and you collapsed on your bed, allowing yourself to lounge as your mind wandered off to the ginger you met today. There was only one thing you were absolutely certain of regarding this case: He didn't do it. He was innocent.

Little did you know that wasn't true.

As soon as night fell, you were fast asleep, unbeknownst to you that Jim wasn't home. He was down at the precinct with a certain boy you met earlier that day. All it took was a little persuasion on Leslie's part to interrupt their dinner and get him out of the house to head to Arkham Bridge Park because she solved the blind man's message about Lila she heard back at the precinct. He couldn't have been more grateful to her that she convinced him to go as he watched Jerome unravel his facade piece by piece, each word dripping with venom while he spoke of his mother. There wasn't a shred of remorse in him as he explained how she kept pushing until he met his limit. All of a sudden the circus boy who claimed to love his mother was nowhere to be found. It was all part of an elaborate ploy. Leslie stood next to Jim as the ginger confessed with his father in the chair beside him, banging his fist down on the table, the noise resounding in the small room as he burst out in a fit of maniacal laughter.

When his cackling finally ceased, he brought up someone he knew would get a rise out of Jim.

"So how do you think that pretty little daughter of yours will take the news, Jimbo? Think she'll be disappointed or does she have a thing for bad boys?" he taunted, a hand on his cheek as he grinned cruelly. Jim's jaw clenched as he gave the ginger a black look, staying silent even though everything was screaming in him not to. Leslie tensed up as she looked at Jim, then back at Jerome, the room becoming more than unsettling.

"Boy, whatever would I do if I got my hands on her?" he asked himself, "Oops, I meant when I get my hands on her," he corrected himself before he directed the question to Jim, "Would you like me to share? Trust me, you're gonna want to hear this one."

Jim didn't answer, only glowering at him, which instantly amused Jerome, making him chuckle darkly in response.

"Don't you worry, Jimbo, I wouldn't make her do anything that she's not already willing to do, or else that would take the fun out of it," Jerome mocked. "She'd love what I have in store for her, that I can promise. I'd make her my toy, someone that I play with whenever I'm feeling bored," he added with another laugh.

"You can't do anything, I'm sending you to Arkham, where you belong, because you're insane," Jim piped, eyes narrowed as he kept them focused on the ginger before him.

He simply ignored what Jim said before he continued on, "Hm, let's see," he mused, "the first thing I would tell her to do for me is to get on her knees. I know she'd look even prettier like that, and then for her to choke on my-"

Before Jerome could speak another word, Jim stood from his chair and swung his fist in the ginger's face, and he was about to pull another punch but Leslie rushed to pull him back. "Jim, he's just trying to get a rise out of you, don't give him what he wants!" she exclaimed, bringing Jim back to his senses with her hold on him. Jerome's head rolled back with the force of the blow, holding onto his nose as he went, cracking up as the blood trickled down his nostrils.

"I swear to God, Jerome, if you ever lay a finger on her, I'll kill you," Jim hissed, the words coming straight from his throat. "I'm going to make damn sure you stay in Arkham until your hair turns to grey."

"Somehow I doubt that, but maybe that's just me," Jerome replied with a loud chuckle, "go ahead and take me away officer. I've been caught red-handed," he said before removing his bloodied hands from his face and holding them up in front of his chest, guffawing all the more at his own joke. Jim cuffed him and then ordered one of the other officers to drive him down to Arkham because he was not about to hear more of his mockery.

Shortly after Jerome was sent off to Arkham, you went down to the station after waking up and realizing that Jim and Leslie weren't home. Neither of them would answer their phone so this was your next option. You asked around for Jim was, and they informed you that he was in the interrogation room with someone, that didn't sit well with you. You knew something must have came up, and you hoped that whatever happened, Jerome would be okay and that justice would be served, that whoever killed his mother was going to be locked away for life.

Jim came out along with Leslie by his side, his brows knit and a frown on his face when his eyes met yours across the room. He made his way over to you before he asked, "What are you doing here? I thought you were asleep. What did I tell you about leaving the house at night?"

"What came up?" you asked point blank, ignoring everything else he said while crossing your arms over your chest.

Jim sighed before he answered, knowing that you weren't going to want to hear this, but still he wasn't going to keep the truth from you. "Jerome killed his mother, Y/N. He admitted it in there. Leslie dragged me out to Arkham Bridge Park-"

"Are you serious? He did it? That's what he said?" you cut him off, emitting a small gasp in response to the news, completely stunned, clasping your hand over your mouth before you added, "He admitted that he killed her?"

Sometimes you would catch Jim in a lie, but it was only when he was trying to protect you, and when it came to matters like these, he told you nothing but the truth, so as much as you didn't want to believe it, as much as you tried to deny it, you knew he was dead serious.

"Yes, and he didn't have any remorse for what he did. He was laughing about it, like it was all some kind of big joke. His whole act was a facade, he thought he could get away with it. He's going to be sent to Arkham, where he belongs. Thank God, he didn't do anything to you, I would have-"

You embraced Jim, setting your arms around his back as you held him close to you, your eyes watering up at the very corners as you sought your father's comfort. You were shocked to say the least, knowing that the killer was in plain sight the entire time, how he manipulated you with his crocodile tears, and it made you start to wonder if you could really trust anyone in this city.

When you let go of Jim, straightaway you hugged Leslie, and she wrapped her arms around you as she leaned to peck your cheek. "We're just so glad you're okay, that's all we care about."

You turned to look at Jim with glistening eyes, and it was on the tip of your tongue to admit that Jim was right about seeing them all as suspects, that he was right but you couldn't bring yourself to say it when you were choked up so all you managed was, "What else did he say? Did he say why he did it?"

"Doesn't matter, what matters is that he's going to be locked up behind bars, where he won't be able to hurt you. I swear to God, I will never let him anywhere near you," he promised in an earnest tone.

You nodded your head at that, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill through, and you were rendered speechless because this wasn't the kind of news you ever expected to hear. He really did have you fooled, and that was a bitter pill to swallow.