It wasn’t supposed to happen. One moment, 13-year-old Dick Grayson was training in the Batcave, trying to master a complicated aerial twist. The next, a sudden flash of light—bright, searing, unnatural—exploded in the room. A malfunctioning piece of tech from the Justice League’s storage vault had triggered something… impossible.

When the light faded, Dick was on his knees in the middle of a muddy field, surrounded by colorful tents and the distant hum of carnival music. Confused, he looked up—and his heart nearly stopped.

The red and gold banner above him read: “Haly’s Circus – One Night Only!”

He scrambled to his feet, breath catching in his throat. It looked exactly like it had that night. The lights. The crowd. The smell of popcorn and fresh hay. He stumbled forward through the bustling workers and bright wagons, each step heavier than the last—until he saw them.

John and Mary Grayson stood near the trapeze rig, laughing together as they checked their ropes. John had that same easy grin, arms folded across his chest, while Mary was tying back her hair, radiant and alive.

Dick couldn’t breathe.

“Mom…? Dad?”

They turned at the same time.

Mary’s eyes widened first, then softened with confusion. John blinked, clearly stunned. And then, Mary rushed forward, her hands cupping his face like she was afraid he might vanish.

“Dickie?” she whispered. “Is that… is that really you?”

John followed, his voice caught somewhere between a laugh and disbelief. “Kiddo—what happened to you? You look… older.”