Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or related item/symbols/concepts/etc. in this story. Detective Comics, Milestone Comics, and The WB do. Princeton also owns itself to my knowledge. I'd like to think the plot is my own original creation, though.

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"Listen, I checked with backpack, and there isn't even a normal, let-the-firefighters-handle-it fire. So what's with the red alert?" Gear stood in the Gas Station of Solitude, arms crossed, helmet off.

"I got an acceptance letter from Princeton today." The pause that followed Static's statement was far more than awkward. Finally looking away from Gear, Static took off his shades and mask. "I'm not saying that I-"

Gear almost tackled his partner as he ran to hug him. "Dude, that's so awesome! I got one too!" Socked, Static just stood there. He knew that Richie hadn't applied to Princeton either. This can't… Gear. Gear is hugging me. His face is just two inches from mine. Not good. Really not good.

"Hold up! Neither of us applied, right? This… This has to be a trap or somethin'," Static tried to distract himself with the conversation. Fortunately for him, Gear let go of Static as he said, "Hey man, calm down. How could Princeton accepting us possibly be an evil plot of some kind? I mean they sent the acceptance letters to Virgil and Richie, not Static and Gear." Gear was folding his arms again, a scowl growing on his face.

Static sighed and took off his gloves, "Look, all I'm sayin' is that it doesn't make sense. Why would we get acceptance letters from a college we didn't apply to?"

"I don't know. And for once in my life, I'd like to live in ignorance. Apparently it can be bliss." Gear wasn't backing down on this, "Can't we just let this be the harmless little mystery that it is? I never get to have anythin' like that in my life anymore."

"Gear, I get that. But seriously, just listen to me." Static approached his friend slowly as he said this, trying to keep the situation from going any worse than it already had.

"No. I don't have to take orders from you."

Gear's abrupt and very final sounding answer stopped Static in his tracts. Suddenly he was jamming his helmet back on and pushing through the Gas Station's door. Static grabbed his arm before he had a chance to fully leave the building. "Just wait! Please?"

"No. My family is going out to celebrate my acceptance to Princeton. You are not invited." Gear broke free of Static's grip and was gone, blasting off into the night.

* * *

An hour later and Static was still sitting in the Gas Station of Solitude alone. He wasn't much closer on figuring out the Princeton thing. Static knew it couldn't be a Bang Baby, as none of them were smart enough to forge the letters or had the connections and money. Alva, scary rich man that he was, had begun to devote his whole life to his son and had basically dropped off of the face of the evil villain planet. This didn't really leave too many other candidates for Static to consider.

"Unless… it's as he said and it's not an evil plot. The only way that it could be is if they were sent to Static and Gear, which didn't happen because the letters were sent to Virgil and Richie." Somewhere, deep inside Static, he knew he sounded like a really big dork, but restating all the facts helped him clarify his thoughts. "So the only way it could be an evil plot is if they knew who we are. And the list of people that know about us as Static and Gear is short…" Static paused a moment to count on his fingers, "Pops, Daisy, Frieda, and the Justice League." Smirking, Static threw his gloves and head gear back on. "And a rather wealthy and well-connected Bat happens to be a part of said league." Grabbing his saucer, he was in the air before he was out of the station, "I wonder where dear ol' Bruce went to college."

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Post-Chapter Ramble: 10 Points for members of the class that have recently watched Batman Begins. *wink*