It was the Bat boys’ first official day enrolled at Gotham Academy. While they were used to patrolling rooftops and dodging bullets by night, daytime meant new codes to crack—social ones.

Dick, Jason, Tim, and Damian entered the cafeteria together. The wide space buzzed with the chatter of cliques and clatter of trays.

Jason had his hands in his hoodie pockets, eyes scanning like it was a mission. “Still smells like cafeteria lasagna and regret,” he muttered.

Tim smirked, tray in hand, already calculating exit points and trouble zones. “I give it thirty minutes before Damian gets detention.”

“I do not get detention. I assign it,” Damian replied sharply, eyeing every student like he was already memorizing weaknesses.

Dick, ever the optimist, tried to lighten the mood. “Come on, guys. New school, clean slates. We’re here to lay low, remember?”

But the low profile didn’t last long.

Across the cafeteria, near the back, a tense voice rose.

“Leave her alone,” a girl said, loud enough to cut through the din.

The Bat boys turned just in time to see a scene unfold.

A tall boy—probably a senior, all ego and varsity jacket—was towering over a girl with thick curls, dark eyes, and fire in her voice. Her tray had been flipped over. Her mashed potatoes were now art on the floor. Still, she stood her ground.

“I said leave her alone,” the girl repeated, stepping in front of a younger kid the bully had shoved earlier.

The bully scoffed, clearly used to people backing down. “What’re you gonna do, huh? Cry about it?”

Then, with a sneer, he slapped her across the face. Her head jerked to the side. Her knees buckled, and she fell back into the bench, stunned.

There was a half-second of silence. Just a heartbeat.

Then—

CRASH.

Jason’s tray hit the floor as he crossed the room in three long strides, fury in his eyes. “You just made a very bad decision,” he growled.

Damian was at his side in an instant, fists already clenched. “Strike someone again, coward. I dare you.”

Dick and Tim came up from behind, blocking the exits as the crowd went quiet. The bully shifted nervously, suddenly realizing the four boys surrounding him weren’t just average transfer students.

Jason stepped forward, grabbing the collar of the guy’s jacket and yanking him down to eye level. “You like hitting people smaller than you? Try me,” he spat.

The bully tried to lunge—but didn’t even get close. Damian tripped him with surgical precision, sending him sprawling across the floor.