My name is Dick Grayson and I am 12 years old.

But, once, I was 11. Before that, 10, and excited to finally be in the double digits. And, even before that, I was 9.

But before all of that, I was 8 years old. Just 8 years old, a little boy. And my parents and I flew through the air until, one day, they didn't.

They fell.

And life started over.

Before I was 8, I was 7, 6, 5, 4, 3.

When I was three, my parents let me on the trapeze for the first time.

Most children don't remember being three. Asking them to remember that far back is kind of too much. There might be a moment, maybe two, but they don't really know how old they were and they don't really know what is going on in the memory, either.

I am not—was not—most children. I remember three. Not as clearly as I would like, but I remember. The anticipation, my mother right behind me as we climbed the ladder, my father waving to the two of us from the other side.

I remember my mother crouching down behind me, adjusting my grip on the bar.

"Don't worry, my little robin. You will do fine. And, if you don't, you have a net to catch you." She said, kissing my cheek quickly.

Then, I swung out. I'm proud to say I didn't fall that time. But, even if I had, there would've been a net. It would've been embarrassing and I probably would've cried, but I would've been fine.

I've learned, since then, there is no shame in a net, in preparing for failure.

I remember my first flight so clearly.

Before I was 3, I was 2, 1, 0. Brand new.

I don't remember this, how could I?

But that was the beginning of my first life; undoubtedly, it started happier than the second.

I was 8 years old and there was no net beneath me.

I say that metaphorically.

My safety net was my mother and my father. They would always catch me. It was a constant. The earth turned. The sun set. The North Star. And my parents.

But I was 8 years old. I was not big enough to catch them and never thought I would need to. Mother and Father knew best, after all. If they said not to worry—it's time for the show, remember to smile!—then of course they were right.

Of course they were right.

Until they weren't and there was nothing and nobody left. Just me.

I was 8 years old. I was just 8 years old.

Then, I was 9 and so many things had changed.

That is a story for another day though. Things were different, though, so different.

Bruce was, well, it's hard to explain. I could say he was kind and it'd be true, but, looking back, I see some many things that Bruce failed at when I was nine years old.

Luckily there was Alfred and that I was a good kid. Everyone tells me so that, so I figure they're right.

Bruce has never been my father and he never will be. He is my dad in a lot of way, though. And, if there's anything I've learned, it's that, when you grow up, you realize that they're never perfect, but you forgive them for it because you love them. That goes for my real parents and Bruce.

I was 9 years old and flying around as Robin, the Boy Wonder. There was no net and it was very different from the trapeze, but I managed.

I always do.

10.

And blur of carousel lights and bright, infectious laughter. There was a fair in town and Bruce took me and Babs for my birthday.

The sights and smells reminded me of my childhood.

That thought got pushed to the side for most of the day, though. Instead of thinking about it too hard, I rode the rides and ate all the different junk foods Bruce never allowed in the manor. Me and Babs ran all over the fairgrounds and laughed until we were sick.

In my mind, the whole day is a mess of bright lights, the smell of popcorn and people, and sound of wind and laughter ringing in my ears. I even got Bruce to ride one of the rides; his face when he got off was great.

I still have the giant stuffed animal I won at the Midway that day. For a couple of nights it still even smelled like the fair. That night, I tucked it in next my Batman-bear before turning over to look at the photo of my parents on the nightstand.

I remember having a thought before I went to sleep that night, a brief flash of a childhood wish. I held up all ten fingers.

"Mom, Dad, look. Ten." I said, half asleep already, the faint smell of popcorn lulling me to sleep.

I dreamt of my mother that night, holding a birthday cake and smiling. "That's very nice, Dickie. Such a big boy."

Then I was 11.

There's not really much to say about eleven. I was Robin and I was Dick Grayson.

Well, maybe one thing. That year I graduated from Gotham Primary.

From there, I should've gone into 6th grade like the rest of my snobby, stupid classmates.

But instead, the teacher pulled me aside and asked me what I thought about skipping a grade, starting school next year as a 7th grader.

Babs was going to be 7th grader next year too.

I can't remember ever being so excited for summer to end.

And so, I'm 12. Things are going well.

Batman says I'm doing a great job as Robin and Dick Grayson. He says he's proud that I'm bringing home good grades and behaving in school even when other kids pick on me. Hey says that he's knows it's hard to let them push me around when I know I could beat them up if I wanted to.

He's right, it is really hard. But they don't dare actually try and hurt me anymore, so it isn't so bad. They wouldn't dare beat up Bruce Wayne's ward, after all.

But that's not really the reason they don't actually try and hurt me. That's the reason I tell Bruce. The real reason is that, one time, some bullies were going punch me when, out of nowhere, Barbara flew in and scared the crap out of them.

She started going off about picking on people smaller than you and how she was going to rip them to pieces if she caught them at it again. And then, then, she said my favorite line ever.

"You think Batman's scary? You wait and see what I can do to you. My dad's the Police Commissioner, they won't even look for you, much less find what's left."

"You wouldn't!" one of the stupid bullies said and Barbara's eyes got really narrow and then she smiled.

"You wanna try me, punk?"

They never bothered me again after that. That's why Babs will always be my favorite person ever.

But, back to what I was saying. Batman told me that, if I get all As this semester that he's got a surprise for me.

I wonder what it is?

Oh, man! I'm gonna meet the Justice League!

There are still parts of this I'm unhappy with, but I'm happy enough to post it, at least. I hope you all enjoyed. Dick just suddenly he had more he wanted to say, I guess. Big thanks to my dear friend Nico for betaing! You guys better appreciate !0, I rewrote it about 5 times. /laughs/

Please review! It's so easy now, you really have no excuse anymore!