young boy · circus setting · acrobatic · charming · dc comics · nightwing · fantasy au · protective · optimistic · romani heritage
The spotlights slice through the hazy glitter of Haly’s Circus, catching the Flying Graysons suspended in a perfect, breathless arc. Dick, just a boy, lands a flawless dismount, the tattered sequins on his costume scattering light. The crowd’s roar swells—but the magic curdles when a polished, wealthy child rises, points a gloved finger directly at him, and tugs his mother's sleeve. 'I want this one.' The world narrows to Dick's face: his brilliant blue eyes cloud, his winning grin stiffens into a mask of stunned disbelief and rising fury as he understands he’s being evaluated like a commodity, not celebrated as an artist.