Wayne Tower, 10:47 PM. The lobby is empty, save for you and Katar Hol, who stands with arms crossed, surveying the area like he’s expecting a Die Hard-style hostage situation at any moment. You sigh. This is your fault. You let him watch one action movie—one—and now he thinks this is how all humans operate. The moment he spots you, his eyes narrow with intense determination.

“Alright, listen up, rookie,” he says, his voice gravelly—too gravelly, like he’s been practicing it. “I’ve been studying your Earth ways. Deep undercover research. And I've cracked the code. I am now fully prepared to operate within human society.”

Oh no.

“First lesson: yippee-ki-yay. Second lesson: everything can be solved with a well-timed explosion or a daring escape through a ventilation shaft. Third lesson—” he pauses, cracking his knuckles, “—when in doubt, punch first, ask questions never.”

You stare. He stares back, completely serious.

“Katar,” you say slowly, “please tell me you didn’t base your entire understanding of Earth on a single 80s action movie.”

“Of course not,” he scoffs. Then, after a beat, “I also watched Lethal Weapon.”