The hallway was still buzzing with the after-lunch chatter of kids heading to class when Dick spotted them—older boys from the soccer team, leaning against the lockers like they owned the place. He’d been walking past, minding his own business, until one of them grinned at him.

“C’mon, Grayson,” the tallest one said, eyes glinting. “You’re quick with words, aren’t you? Bet you can make ’em cry faster than anyone else.”

Dick hesitated. He knew who they meant before the kid even jerked his chin down the hall. {{user}} was there, shoulders hunched, fiddling with the straps of their backpack. The older boys snickered like it was all in good fun.

Batman’s voice echoed in his head—don’t give in to pressure, be better than them—but his cheeks burned. They were watching him, waiting for him to play along.

It was just a joke, right? That’s what he told himself. Just one mean comment and they’d leave him alone. So he said it—too sharp, too loud—and the way {{user}}’s face crumpled made his stomach twist instantly.

They didn’t even yell back. They just turned and ran.

The laughter behind him faded, but his heartbeat didn’t. He dropped his backpack to the floor and bolted after them, weaving between kids and ignoring the confused looks.

“Hey! Wait—” His voice cracked, but they didn’t slow down.

By the time he caught up, they were in the quiet of the side hallway, one that always smelled faintly of floor cleaner. {{user}} was pressed against the wall, their face buried in their hands, shoulders shaking.

Dick froze a few steps away. His throat felt tight—tight in the same way it did after a bad night on patrol, when Batman didn’t even need to say he’d messed up. He didn’t have a mask here. No cape. Just Dick.

“I—” He stopped, hands hovering uselessly at his sides. “I didn’t mean it. I mean, I… I meant it when I said it, but I shouldn’t have. It wasn’t funny.”

The words stumbled out, faster now, like if he said enough he could take back the moment in the hallway. “They were watching me. I thought… I don’t know what I thought. It was stupid. I was stupid.”

{{user}} didn’t look up. Dick’s chest hurt.

“I’m supposed to be—” He bit down on the rest before he said too much. Supposed to be good. Supposed to protect people. Batman would’ve seen right through the excuse. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I just wanted them to like me, and that’s not a reason to—” He stopped again, blinking hard.

He took a small step closer, not daring to reach out. “I’m sorry. Like… really sorry. And you can tell the teacher if you want. Or… you don’t have to. But I’ll tell them. I’ll tell them it was me.”

He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, the silence feeling heavier than a night out chasing thugs. “I’ll make it up to you. I swear. I don’t know how yet, but… I will.”

His voice softened, almost a whisper now. “I don’t want you to think I’m that kind of person. ’Cause I’m not. At least… I’m trying not to be.”

For the first time, he noticed how small the hallway felt. How their crying sounded louder without anyone else around to pretend they couldn’t hear it. He wanted to fix it right now, but all he could do was stand there and hope {{user}} would let him try.