Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Everlong: Foo Fighters, Black Hole Sun: SoundGarden, On Top: The Killers

You’ve got it all, in Gotham's terms. Billionaire Bruce Wayne has oh so graciously gifted you a Gotham Academy scholarship and you actually have a house. It’s as close to the school as a place from Crime Alley can be; which, thinking about it, is not close at all, but you will take what you can get.

Watching those “new girl” disney movies scare you a bit- but you deserve to go. You’ve studied hard, went to all those book clubs, (do you care for books, anyway?) and started all those damn fundraisers. When you put your uniform on, you don’t feel like a girl from Crime Alley anymore, having to wait days until your water comes back on or dying from heatstroke during the summer because having ac “costs too much.” 

You felt clean, respectable, and like you could boss people around. Maybe if your parents had more money, you could understand why rich people were such assholes. 

Walking to the school was, frankly, cinematic. The more streets you passed, the cleaner it got. Were you even in Gotham anymore? Long lines of run-down houses morphed into large well kept mansions- and in the middle, the giant Gotham Academy loomed over your twenty dollar backpack and shoes. Okay, maybe you were a little scared. And overwhelmed. And regretful that you didn’t dress up.

Girls walked past, their jewelry more expensive than your whole life combined. The sight of people who could buy your whole family made your heart race- and it wasn’t in a good way.

Sucking in a large breath, you walked towards the large doors of the Academy. 

                            ~   

Homeroom was the first of the many icebreakers throughout the day; and you haven’t decided if that was a good or bad thing. It was clear you were new and certainly not in the same income bracket- and to these multi-millionaires and billionaires you were like a special exhibit in the zoo.

Even the classroom outclassed you. How is that possible? The walls had gold trim and- were those jewels? Damn did you feel out of place. 

Feeling embarrassed in your self-made earrings adorning your ears you instead decide to look around- today is the day to make some friends and learn the ways of the school. A confident voice interrupts your inner monologue, and you focus towards the woman at the front. (What a short lived badass moment!)

“Class, settle down,” the homeroom teacher , Mrs. Heimann barked, “since we have new students, we will have an ice breaker. Make groups of five- and not with people you already know well. Looking at you, Madeline.” A girl, presumably Madeline, rolls her eyes and turns in her seat. With that, you make a mental note to avoid her and promptly look at the people at your table. A perfect 5 including yourself, and they look nice enough. 

A kid with ginger hair and a large smile sitting across from you introduces himself.“Hello, my name is Wally, and, uh, I kinda forgot what we were supposed to answer.” A pause, “oh, yeah, nice to meet you guys. Well I know most of you but-” His eyes meet yours with a sheepish grin. You hope your face isn’t red- cute guys are kind of your weakness. No, wait, stop thinking about that, you tell yourself hastily. 

The girl next to you with long, black, wavy hair and the most beautiful silver earrings snorts and barks out a laugh. “Walls, you gotta pay attention,” she smiles, looking at you directly- and the eye contact makes you more flustered. Jeez, why are all the rich kids so  damn attractive? “My name's Donna, nice to meet you-” and smirking at Wally says “my favorite food is pizza.” 

Wally scowls playfully, mumbling something you can’t hear. Donna does though, and conveniently shoots a rubber band at his forehead. He yelps, and you and Donna laugh at the same time. You both look at each other and immediately understand that yes, this is the start of a blossoming friendship- and keep laughing at the expense of the poor boy.

After that, the two others who introduce themselves aren’t as memorable, but you think that one of them did say their favorite food was pickles, and you had to remember your dad telling you “don’t yuck someones yum” to avoid snorting then and there.

 Maybe, you tell yourself , school won’t be so bad.

                               ~                                 

You walked into first period with a newfound confidence. After meeting Wally and Donna, the previous feeling of uneasiness had passed, a smile on your face as you entered the doorway.

Inside the classroom, most of the seats were filled, except for the ones in the front. To be honest, you had never liked sitting at the front when the chairs were placed in rows, always feeling like you were being watched. And in this case, you were. 

You placed down your backpack first, smoothing your skirt and sitting on the chair. Instinctively, you cracked your knuckles- just to look like you were doing something productive. While you focused intently on your hands, a loud bang made you look up. Someone had dropped their bag next to you. Your eyes meet theirs, and the eyes that meet yours make your heart flutter. 

It’s Bruce Wayne’s first ward- Richard Grayson. He smiles kindly, and you understand why the girls at your previous school had pictures of him in their locker. He was drop dead gorgeous- and handsome, and cute. How was that even possible? You remember your manners and look away quickly. 

Before you can mutter your thanks to his- dad? Parental guardian? He speaks before you with a large grin. “I’m Richard Grayson, but you can call me Dick.” You pause for a second, studying him until grinning and introducing yourself. After those are over, you smile again and are finally able to say what you wanted to in the beginning. “If you could thank Mr. Wayne for me I would be really happy, it was my dream to be able to go here.” 

Dick gives you a thumbs up before pointing at the very angry teacher in front of you. Covering your mouth quickly you focus on the task at hand- making a namecard. Wow, how original and cool. 

After class you and Dick exchange phone numbers. “It’s always nice to have a friend when you're new to the school,” he suggested, and you may have folded.. two seconds after he asked when he looked at you with hopeful blue eyes. As the other students walked out the classroom, he gave you a quick wave before running to his next class and as you promptly made way towards yours. 

And it was a long way. Who decided to make the school so large- with a three minute passing period? You couldn’t be late on your first day, you cursed yourself. Sprinting through the halls with your hand-drawn map was certainly a sight to behold, but you did it and you weren’t late. That bell rang and you were there. In fact, you were there early. 

As you sat alone watching the professor’s slideshow and jotting down notes, you got very bored. You ask to go to the bathroom and with a quick correction that- its actually “may I” you make your way out. 

In the stall you sit, trying to count how many minutes you can stay until it's suspicious. The moment you feel like leaving, you hear the restroom door open and you decide not to go out. It’s always pretty awkward and you decide you can wait a little longer. 

“Did you see the new group of students?” A voice interrupts from outside the stall door. Another voice, “oh them? Mr. Wayne is fucking crazy if he thinks a bunch of third world country kids should come to this school. It's ruining the prestige!" You hear a sigh and the zip of a makeup bag. “There was one girl who was practically drooling over Richard. Like in any world that would happen!” 

You’ve officially reached a “if I go outside the stall that will be hella embarrassing” situation. Hopefully your teacher can wait a few more minutes. Some more “They need to get out of here for reals” are heard and you can finally make your way back to class. 

To be honest, you don’t know how to react to two girls shit talking you on your first day. In the end, you decide to forgive and forget- you shouldn’t waste time caring about other people’s feelings. 

The rest of the school day goes by relatively slowly, with some similarities to your previous school. One, the school lunch is trash, and two, there are at least three people that you see smoking in the restrooms. Of course, there are some looks- you do stick out like a sore thumb. Still, when the bell rings and all the kids get to “escape” (as you put it,) there are booths lining the path out. 

It’s club recruitment day- and you can’t help yourself from looking through all the options. Not like there's anything waiting for you at home. As much as you hated having to go to book club, the familiarity of the concept calls out your name. Its colorful booth draws you in and the two people at the front are nose deep in their own respective books. The parallels in books make you want to burst out into laughter. Anna Korenina in one of their hands and Shatter Me in the other. To each their own, you guess.

Seeing you come over, a girl with straight black hair and glasses puts hers down. “Hello, are you interested in joining the book club?” She smiles sweetly at you. “Yeah! That would be great,” you reply, returning her smile.

“My name is Emelia, but you can call me Em. Or Emi.” Emelia passes you the sign up sheet and you write your name quickly, feeling someone staring at you. Looking up, you see the other guy who was reading and he meets your gaze. He’s sitting comfortably on the chair next to Emi, black hair with a plethora of scars littering his hands. His eyes are a mix of blue and green and he has that look you see from people who live in Crime Alley. It comforts you, in a way, and you wave to the pair as you head towards your house. 

Chapter Text

Forever: Chvrches

Your parents weren’t at home when you got back. (Well, were they ever?) 

Walking in, you threw off your shoes with a sigh. When  you always came home, even when you always told everyone you despised school, you would do anything to go back. Home was boring and quiet- your parents were always busy.

Your mom worked as a teacher while your dad worked as a trash man . All these things combined gave your family little money, but it was better than being a kid on the street. Crime Alley was brutal. People would get killed over ten dollars- you don’t know how you would be alive if you didn’t have your parents.

You tossed your backpack next to the shoeholder, looking around your bare house. Now, all you needed to do was find something to hold over your thoughts for the next few hours. There was no homework, and reading at the library was out of the picture, your parents not allowing you to go anywhere if they weren’t notified. (You don’t have a phone.) Drawing might work, but the various art supplies stashed in your house were bled dry. 

So, you did the one thing you could afford: going to sleep.

                             ~

Your eyes flutter open when a loud bang vibrates your door. When mom didn’t have enough patience to yell, she banged. And- that was the exact thing that woke you up every morning. Tired and lazy, you decide to stay for five minutes. Five measly minutes.

You were late.

It was 9:20 when you ran up the steps. 9:24 when you reached the front of your homeroom door, and 9:26 when you slumped into your chair sweating heavily. 

Donna and Wally looked at you up and down weirdly. Before you could speak, one of them pointed to the looming figure above you. Mrs. Heimann cleared her throat loudly and you slowly looked over smiling awkwardly. “Class started at 9:00. Exactly,” she spat. “Care to explain why you are twenty-six MINUTES late?”

You couldn’t be late on your second day. “I’m sorry, I- er, you know, uhm.” A pause. “Just, you know where I live..” You whispered. Think of random words, uh, uh, flood? That wouldn’t work!! It has to be severe! “There was a shooting.” 

Fuck fuck fuck, how could you lie about a shooting?! To not be late to school? Damn it.

Her angry demeanor shifted suddenly. Eyebrows crinkling, her strict facade morphing into the most pitying face you’ve ever seen. “Oh. It’s okay, I should’ve known.” “I- what?” You look at her confused. “It’s alright, just, try not to be late next time.” She pats you on the shoulder sadly and walks towards her desk. 

She “should’ve known?” That was probably an accident. 

Looking over at the two other familiar faces at your table, they were putting on the same sad look she gave you. “Hi, Wally. Hi Donna.” You give them a small, hesitant smile. Wally is quiet for a minute and replies “Hello.” It's very awkward and you decide to start looking at the desk very intimately. Because you do that all the time. Totally.

“Don’t you think it was weird how she said she should’ve known there was a shooting?” The voice startles you, and you look up at Donna. Her elbow is on the table, her hand holding up her head. “Where are you from, anyway?” Wally asks. Donna nudges him hard. “Oops, forget I said that.”

“Ah, no, it’s alright,” you wave your hands in front of you. “I live in Crime Alley. And well, there are shootings. So- I guess- it was alright for her to think that?” Donna raises an eyebrow. “Just because it’s happened doesn’t mean they should think it’ll happen again. That's a stereotype. Don’t let her think that.”

“Oh, okay,” you stammer, feeling infinitely worse about you lying, "thanks Donna.” “Also,” she adds, “can I have your phone number?” “I second that!” Wally, from elite focus towards his chromebook, raises a hand quickly. He was playing a racing game.

As you input your number onto their phones, you can’t help but smile uncontrollably. And, for the first time in what you thought in a while, you loved school.

p

Chapter Text

The path to the school library is a hot mess. Zigzags here, avoiding the group of four people crowding the damn hallways there.. and the (literal) heat. Hundreds of kids walking through to get out of school always brought the temperature up, and as much as you liked the school uniform, your thighs rubbed together uncomfortably. 

Finally, you saw the light- a bright sign "library" awaiting your very eyes. You pray that there is a bit of AC. Maybe some free food as well, if you dare to dream. As you walk through the doors, the cold air runs over your hot skin and you release a sigh of pleasure. 

It’s your third day of school, and it’s going great. A large math book is now neatly packed inside your backpack, and though it was light at first, it paired with the hefty new load of homework is heavier than you’d like to admit. 

During lunch, the food was as follows; a beautiful, well prepared, lump of beans. There was also an unrecognisable goop that looked green, with a texture you would much rather forget. So, that was your very eventful third day of school.

After the bell had rang, you were down the steps of the front of the building before you hastily remembered what you did on the first day of school- ah, that's right, you had a book club.

Thus, it is Thursday where you are panting quite loudly and are very sweaty in the middle of a library. 

~

Your eyes track over the many tables, searching for the people you met yesterday. Finally, you see the familiar face of Emelia waving at you. You wave back and make your way over, stepping over many backpacks and books to get there. 

There is an empty seat next to her, and she pats it excitedly as you approach the table. As you sit, you look over the other kids sitting. Two are playing a game against each other, a few reading quietly, and that boy.

It’s the boy from Crime Alley, you note. His eyes are locked onto you, and a sense of unease washes over. Though it is comforting having someone come from the same place, he radiates a feeling you cannot quite understand. It is anger, but it is something more- raw, and very, very, hurt.

You look away.

“I’m so glad you came,” Emelia gushed, her bright smile calming you a bit. “Yeah, I almost forgot, but I’m here now,” you respond sheepishly. Emilia goes on. “We are going to read this book called Jane Eyre.” She puts it in front of you quickly, like she had forgotten before. 

“It’s kinda not my style but let me know what you think! I heard it was good, have you read it?” She leans over to your ear. “To be honest, I just searched up good books to read for a book club. Don’t tell anyone that though..”

You try to smile, really. But that kid just makes you feel so… weird. Ruins your mood.

In case he might hear you, you take out your phone onto your notes app, type quickly, and pass your phone over to the ever bright Emelia.

Does he glare at everyone? The kid across from me. 

She pauses and sneaks a look in his direction, looking back at you thoughtfully.

Yeah… it kinda scares me a bit :\ his names Jason btw

He’s not mean tho. Really nice! Don’t be scareddd

You glance quickly at what she wrote, and put your phone back into your backpack.

It was time to read the first chapter of Jane Eyre. Not overanalyze some dude sitting across from you.

~

Jason knew how it felt to be new. In a school for people who reveled in adrenaline, doing anything to get that rush, you were exotic. He didn’t care for you, not specifically. There were hundreds of kids who were equally as different, who came from the batch of lucky students picked out to come to this school.

Frankly, he wondered when you were going to fall and break.

You reminded him of himself. And he knew he was always destined to have broken eventually.