That night, Clint dreamed he was flying.

Not actually flying, of course, that was just plain old ridiculous. But instead, it was like a mirage of a million lights. He could feel the thrill and adrenaline rushing through him as the boy soared through the air above a murmuring crowd.

Clint could hear their roaring above the whistling wind in his ear, and the ringmaster's yelling and shouting at what a star he was!

He swung up his legs and moved his body up. Arms extending, reaching for the bar in front of him... he'd almost grabbed it until suddenly: Clint was falling.

Falling down and down and down. Audience and performers alike made no move to help, Clint realized. It was like he was in slow motion and a small child tumbling to his death was a normal circus experience.

Carson's Carnival of Traveling Wonders! A show that everyone can enjoy-- as a family! So come join ours!

Adult's sense of humor must've been really whacky then.

Just as he was about to go splat on the dirt ring, Clint woke up in a cold sweat. He gasped for breath and shook his head like a dog. Like Lucky the Pizza Dog, he thought.

Tony grunted. "I want to see his dreams too!" Steve muttered something about privacy that when unnoticed by his teammate.

The wheels rocked back and forth, clicking every once and while on loose rocks and pebbles. Dirt was kicked up and latched onto the axel. Clint sighed, already knowing that he'd be the one to clean it up, fix everything before it was time to move again. It was similar to the train ride that had got them both here, Clint realized with a start. Except this time, there was even less of a carefree atmosphere then there had been before.

The train had been the start of their journey, and now it was continuing further and further to the point of no return. Clint hadn't even been to school in years; it was useless anyway, according to Jacques and other circus veterans. He'd have no use for those skills where he was going. The wrong direction of life, if you'd call it that.

Clint was always destined to be on that road, but recently-- it'd spiraled outta control completely. But he still felt the need to carry on.

The compartment was now full of most people, the others that couldn't fit most likely being in the identical caravan trailing behind them. Nobody was awake though, so Clint estimated the time to be in the wee hours of the morning. Pink and orange and yellow peeked out above the horizon, and lit up the distantly looming skyline.

Clint didn't have a clue what city it was, but they were probably approaching the border of Missouri. The last show had been in some small town, that much he could tell from the lack of money people seemed to have, and just the fact that all the houses he'd seen were...compact.

Funny. Clint thought his circus career had begun all those years ago, after running away and finding a home in rural Iowa. But now, he realized, that wasn't even the beginning. It was only starting: right here, right now, in the same place he'd once originally joined the circus with Barney.

Life was weird like that, yeah?

Unable to fall back into slumber, he stayed in that same position for several more hours. Barney was warm and radiated a feeling close to home, even more than the circus. Clint breathed in the fresh smell of grass through the now open window. His eyes immediately fell on the daisies and lily flowers lying about, spread over the everlasting green.

Of course, some of it was already struggling in keeping alive long enough for next spring's blessing of life and bloom, turning into a mushy orange color.

Clint remembered pulling the assorted shades of green and white and yellow flowers to give to Mother. She would always smile and fill a tall blue vase with them. It was a pretty place for them until Father grabbed it and smashed it in anger one day. Then the flowers were already shriveling up on the floor, yearning for the safety and water they'd previously known.

The morning dew settled on fallen leaves, where they sat on the ground, practically begging for some kid to go and jump on them. The satisfying crunch beneath their trainers and...

Suddenly, Clint didn't feel like doing that anymore. He repeated the same words he knew he'd say to Carson later, "Count me in."

"Shit," muttered the whole team. There was no way they could see this going well.

It was time. Time to see the other side of the circus, and Clint knew he'd fly like he'd done in his dream. Maybe he should've paid more attention to the falling part too.