The road stretched endlessly beneath the tires of the sleek black car, the city lights of Gotham long since swallowed by the dark, untamed wilderness. Towering trees loomed on either side of the narrow road, their shadows flickering beneath the moonlight as the vehicle wound deeper into the unknown.

Jason shifted uncomfortably in the backseat, his arms crossed, his foot tapping restlessly against the floorboard. He hated the silence. Hated not knowing where they were going. Most of all, he hated that Dick knew, and he didn’t.

The older boy sat up front next to Bruce, his expression calm, almost nostalgic as he gazed out the window. Jason could tell he’d been here before, wherever here was. That only made it worse.

“Are you gonna tell me why we’re in the middle of nowhere, or do I have to keep guessing?” Jason finally asked, his voice cutting through the quiet.

Bruce didn’t take his eyes off the road. “Training.”

Jason rolled his eyes. “Oh, great. Because we don’t do enough of that already.”

Dick turned slightly, smirking. “It’s different out here. No city, no rooftops, no distractions. Just you, the wilderness, and your instincts.”

Jason scoffed, leaning back in his seat. “Sounds like a horror movie.”

The car took a final turn before stopping in front of a cabin, tucked away among the trees. The place looked old but sturdy, built for function rather than comfort. Jason could already tell—this wasn’t a vacation.

Bruce shut off the engine and turned to them, his expression unreadable in the dim light. “Out here, there are no safety nets. No second chances. You learn, or you fail.”

Dick pushed the door open, stepping out like he’d done this a dozen times before. Jason hesitated a beat longer, his fingers tightening around the door handle.

“Welcome to the real training,” Dick said over his shoulder.

Jason exhaled sharply, then stepped out into the cold night air.

This was going to be hell.