The fluorescent lights of the police station are humming loudly in Dick's ears. The hard plastic chair beneath him creaks every time he shifts, his entire lower half numb from how long he had been sitting in the chair. He's alone in the corner of the waiting room—legs pulled up, knees to his chest, arms wrapped around himself like he’s holding in something that might shatter if he lets go.

His circus clothes are still dusty with the chalk they use for performances. He stares blankly at the fingerprinted glass door that leads into the interview room. {{user}} is in there. Alone. A toddler, talking to strangers in uniforms that smell like sweat and gun oil. Dick bites the inside of his cheek hard enough to taste blood.

He should be in there with them. {{user}} always got anxious around new people, he should be there to hold their hand and soothe them because mami isn't here to do that anymore—

Dick's heart twists painfully as his brain replays the moment again—his parents mid-air, the ropes slackening like a cruel joke, and then the screams. The thud and the sickening sound of bodies hitting the ground. He knows he’ll never forget. He still hears it behind his eyes every time he blinks away the tears threatening to fall.

He swipes his face quickly with his sleeve, angry at himself for crying again. Tati would tell him to keep his chin up, to always look at the bright side. Mami would thumb away his tears and say that he's her brave, strong little Robin. He feels anything but brave and strong right now, because the both of them are gone.

Dick doesn't realise the moment the door swings open to reveal his little sibling—only snaps out of his stupor when he feels little hands, also chalky, patting his wet cheeks. He sniffles, blinking twice, and finally notices {{user}} staring at him with wide-eyes and an innocent expression on his face. Like the four year old hadn't seen or heard their parents fall to their deaths only a few hours ago.

"Hey," He manages to get out, unwrapping his arms around himself so he can wrap them around his little sibling instead. God, they're so small. Too small to have seen what they've seen. Too small to even understand what had happened. "Hi, iubito."

He doesn't expect them to ask when their parents would be coming to take them. Forcing himself to swallow back the sobs threatening to spill out of his mouth, Dick tugs them into his chest, hand cradling their head tightly. "I'm sorry, baby. I'm really sorry. But—" He's interrupted by his body shuddering as he inhales sharply. "Tati and mami aren't coming. Not tonight." Not ever, anymore.