Gotham High

Chapter One

Catwoman looked up to Gotham High with a slight frown on her face. It was the first day back to school for the area kids, and for the first time, she would be going here. She already knew some of the kids, of course. She'd been going to school with Joker for ages, and Batman was always in the papers for his athletic work at his middle school. She felt like she already knew everyone, but at the same time, she was completely alone as she stepped through the doors and into a wall of sound.

Gotham High was a typical high school of sorts. Everyone here fit into two groups: superheroes and non-superheroes. Of course, they tried not to see each other any differently, but Catwoman sometimes wondered if that was why she didn't have many friends, her cat-like abilities setting her apart from the others in school. She knew her shyness didn't help anything, but at the same time, her classmates had never helped either.

Suddenly, as she walked up the main hallway, a wad of paper and gum flew in Catwoman's direction. Joker squealed with laughter as she jumped on top of the lockers in one swift move, the wad falling to the floor. Catwoman looked up to him with a scowl before jumping back to the hallway below.

"You know, that sort of thing never gets old around here," Joker smirked, brushing some dust from Catwoman's shoulder. "I just like watching you squirm, dear. It's rather…satisfying," he said, cackling as he joined Bane and some others down a short hallway.

"Keep it moving, ladies and gentleman," Principal Gordon called, walking past Catwoman with a breeze of authority. She gathered herself and eyed her schedule. Her classroom wasn't far, so she moved there slowly, narrowly missing another spit wad from a Joker-want-to-be. That was the problem with people like Joker, Catwoman thought: Everyone wanted to imitate him even though the teachers and staff wanted him gone.

Catwoman sighed as she took a seat in the back corner of the room. The draft from a broken vent gave her chills as she settled in and took a look at the room. Batman was in the corner with Robin and a few people Catwoman didn't recognize. She only went to sporting events for extra credit at her middle school, so she didn't know many people from Batman's school. She'd learn their names eventually, she thought, but at the same time, she felt there wasn't much of a rush. It's not like they would accept her anyway.

As the bell rang, a cackling Joker entered the room with his buddies. They waved at the scowling teacher, a devout Catholic wearing a nun's dress. She stared at them with the most judgmental stare Catwoman had ever seen, her eyes following them as they moved up the row and took the three remaining seats at the back of the room.

"After announcements, I'll call roll," she said softly, sitting down as the intercom beeped. Principal Gordon, a man they'd all met numerous times throughout their schooling because of his love for the area's children, began with a welcome back message. After a few housekeeping things (aka stop throwing gum wads at people), he ended announcements, and the teacher stood to begin calling roll…or at least she tried to.

"Hey, Teach, what's your super power?" Joker called amidst snickers from his friends. The teacher scowled, "I'm a teacher, young sir. My powers are God-given and stronger than anything you've ever seen," she said darkly.

"Ooh," the class whispered, and Joker was silenced as the task finally began. Catwoman listened closely, her ears not recognizing most of the names. She decided instantly that it didn't matter. She pulled out her new notebook and started to sketch as she waited for homeroom to end. Unfortunately, this left her oblivious to the world around her, and suddenly a wet wad of…something was lodged in the middle of the page. Catwoman looked up to hear Joker and his friends cackling, as well as a few rhythmic clacks from someone's shoes.

"Out!" the teacher hissed. Joker shrugged, gathering his things and gesturing for his friends to follow. Bane moved to stand, but the nun, seemingly ten times smaller than him, forced him back into his seat, "No, Joker, just you, and don't bother coming back!" she hissed, slapping a ruler on the desk of a laughing Bane.

"Hey, where'd you get that from?" Bane asked dumbly. The teacher smiled darkly, "Like I told your friend, I have God-given powers, things only us teachers will ever know about. Now wipe that pathetic grin off your face and sit right in your desk," she demanded, slapping the desk with her ruler. "I know this class is called 'homeroom' on your schedule, but they're trying something new this year. Welcome to freshman English, children," she grinned, walking to the front of the room. "When I call your name, approach my desk for you anthology collection. Then, start the assignment on the board," she explained, tapping the board twice with her ruler. The assignment revealed itself like magic, stunning the students. The teacher smiled; she had them just where she wanted them.

Down the hallway was a freshman math class filled with similar students to Catwoman's class. Students chattered as a tiny, rodent-like teacher adjusted his glasses on his face. Algebra books sat on every desk already, and the students had already written their name in the books to show who they belonged to. But now that it was time to begin his first class, the students remained unruly, ignoring his mouse-like cries of attention.

On the front row sat Gardenia, a blonde freshman with spider-like abilities. She could shoot web from her finger tips, climb walls, and, most importantly, she could see much better than the average student. She sat on the second row with some of her friends from middle school, girls she'd done numerous plays with. They laughed as they shared juicy summer gossip, but Gardenia felt her spider senses tingle. She looked up to see the frustrated teacher take a spot at his desk.

"Hey, guys, maybe we should give this guy a chance," Gardenia whispered. Her friend Angie scoffed, "I don't see why. The only teachers who do any good around here are the ones like you, with powers. This guy has nothing."

Gardenia smiled slightly, leaning forward, "Anyone could become something more with a little pressure from society. Unless you want another villain, help me get these people under control."

Angie felt her skin crawl when Gardenia said 'villain,' so after readjusting herself in her seat, she tapped her desk with her manicured nails. Gradually, the room began to grow quieter and quieter until it was silent.

"Mr. Bell, you can begin your lesson now," Gardenia said happily. "We apologize for our behavior. Won't happen again," she added, watching as he nervously stood at the board. He seemed happier now even if he wasn't any more at ease, and Gardenia felt pleased at what she'd done.

When the bell rang at the end of class, the students gathered their things to leave. Gardenia and Angie left together, their second row seats giving them a clear speed advantage as they darted from the room.

"I don't understand why you have to help everyone belong. Principal Gordon keeps a stern eye on his teachers so they don't turn evil or something, at least I think he does," Angie said, approaching her locker and eying her combination card to make sure she got it right.

"I know it seems like a pathetic choice or something, but I feel like there are people here who might do us harm one day. We're simply teenagers right now, but one day, we won't be. Gotham will be our city, and I think I'd rather it be a safe city than one filled with a bunch of evil masterminds. Most of these people are harmless, I know, but you never know when a bad apple will turn. Mr. Bell could be one of those bad apples just waiting for the right catalyst—"

"He-llo, Ladies!" Joker sneered, wrapping his arms around Angie's shoulders. She shuddered, ducking out of his grasp, "And who do you think you are?"

"He's Joker, Princess," the huge Bane said with his deep voice. Angie scoffed, giving them both the stink eye, "Well, I'm happily taken. Get away from me or he'll smash you to bits."

For some reason, Joker and Bane listened, disappearing into the crowd. Angie shuddered as she put her math book in her locker, but Gardenia smiled, "You see what I mean? Bad apples are everywhere in Gotham High. That guy's been nothing but trouble for years. That's pretty sad that I know that seeing he didn't go to school with us."

"Yeah, well, I lied for a reason. Did you see those cheeks? Ugh," she grimaced. Gardenia nodded, following her friend towards their next class, "Well, it's okay to protect yourself. Who are you supposedly taken by?" Gardenia asked with a playful grin. Angie shrugged, "But it felt good to say that. Maybe I can find a nice guy around here somewhere."

Gardenia nodded in agreement. Maybe they could find a nice boyfriend in Gotham High, or at least Angie might. Gardenia still hadn't decided what she wanted in her high school life. So far, she wanted what she gave Mr. Bell: A chance for everyone to be treated equally.


A/N: Just wanted to say what inspired me to write this, since yes, I'm aware these superheroes would have their actual names and wouldn't have their abilities, etc., etc. I just wanted to have fun with this. I woke up one day and thought, "Hmm, I wonder what Catwoman would be like as a high school student." I normally don't write this kind of high school AU where you age the characters down and put them in weird circumstances, but I'm trying to have fun here. So, if you want to flame me, go right ahead, but don't ruin a writer's fun. Never ruin a writer's fun.