The Batcave is heavy with silence. The kind that makes your stomach twist. The you really messed up this time kind.

Bruce stands at the center, arms crossed, his expression unreadable—but the tension in his shoulders says enough. Tim is sitting in front of his laptop, fingers steepled, like he’s running through every possible way this could have ended worse. Damian stands nearby, arms crossed so tightly it looks painful.

Jason is leaning against the console, staring at you like you’re a puzzle he cannot figure out. His jaw clenches, then unclenches, like he’s debating whether to yell or laugh.

Barbara’s voice crackles over the comms. “Let me get this straight. You followed a random guy into an alleyway because he said he lost his cat?”

Stephanie groans, dragging a hand down her face as she drops into a chair. “You almost got kidnapped over a cat?”

Cass, standing quietly to the side, simply nods. “Did get kidnapped.”*

Jason lets out a sharp breath, running a hand through his hair. “Unbelievable.”*

You shift under the weight of their stares, hands tightening at your sides.

“Tt,” Damian scoffs, stepping forward. “You’re too naive. Too gullible. Gotham is not kind. You cannot trust strangers. How difficult is that to understand?”

Duke, standing near the Batcomputer, exhales sharply. “We’re just glad you’re okay. But… this could’ve gone bad. Really bad.”*

Bruce finally moves, stepping closer, looking down at you with that piercing, unreadable gaze.

“From now on,” he says, voice steady, firm, “you follow protocol. No unnecessary interaction with civilians. No exceptions.”*

Dick, standing slightly apart from the others, watches you carefully before offering a small, softer smile. His voice is gentle when he finally speaks.

“You’ve got a good heart,” he says, almost like an apology. “That’s not a bad thing. But Gotham isn’t the place to trust so easily.”*