Chapter 2.

I pulled my hair into a loose ponytail, and promptly most of the strands fell out of it, still too short to do anything but be ornery. I struggled to make my eyes open. They refused and I growled incoherently. A blast of music from Knight's room made me squint at the bathroom mirror; apparently his alarm had just gone off. The amount of time it took me to be ready in comparison to my cousin was both disturbing and disheartening. Of course, with his hair still very short there wasn't much he had to do. The shorn hair was a constant reminder to me of how close I'd been to losing him forever.

It was so strange trying to join our everyday lives with those we would lead as heroes.

There was a knock at the door two seconds later and I unlocked the bathroom door to allow him entrance. To my surprise, Taylor stood there instead. My dark eyes finally opened halfway. He pushed past me and shut the door that separated the sink and mirror from the shower and toilet. The sound of the showerhead running began a minute afterwards. I didn't even try to figure out why he was at our house instead of his mom's. I knew my dad and Shyla were taking a short trip and had left last night but I didn't know that Taylor had stayed the night here. I wondered with a grin if the loner was finally becoming accustomed to our company.

I went to the kitchen after giving up on applying any makeup and began brewing coffee. I switched on the stovetop to warm the water for Knight's customary cup of tea as well. He swore by the stuff but I couldn't bring myself to drink it, no matter what the health benefits. With a sigh I raised my arms over my head, ignoring the protestations of every muscle. It was still dark outside and the time on the clock did not help my exhausted state. It was sheer madness to expect the seniors to survive a week of this.

I yelped loudly as Knight walked past, poking me in the ribs as he did so, "Good morning!" he exclaimed cheerfully.

"You're insane," I answered simply, eyes fixed on the full mark of the coffee pot, "If you talk like that to Principal Powers this early in the morning she's going to think that waking us up this early is actually ok."

He shrugged and then did a double-take, looking me up and down, "Uh Lydia, you do know that we are supposed to dress formally today right? We're going to Wayne University and they're not exactly relaxed when it comes to clothes."

"Huh?" I said, my brain still sleeping. I looked down at my jeans and long sleeve shirt, "Oh."

"Hurry up," Taylor said hoarsely as he came into the kitchen, blond hair dripping still from the shower, "We have to leave in ten minutes and skirts don't exactly go with hairy legs."

Knight started laughing for a moment and then grew somber under my glaring gaze. I turned and stalked out of the kitchen as Taylor poured himself the first cup of coffee out of the pot. He insulted me and then stole the first warm mug of French vanilla flavored caffeine. I wondered if there was any way to make sure he didn't move in with us when Shyla and my dad finally got married. My eyes narrowed in glee at the thought. The evil plotting side of me always came out when I was tired, but usually only as a joke. After all, I knew it was nice for Knight to have another guy his age around; especially after all that had happened to him before Christmas break.

I changed quickly into a pair of plaid dress pants and changed my red long-sleeve shirt for a plain black one. If that wasn't formal enough, I really could have cared less. I grabbed my hourglass charm choker off the nightstand and hurried down the hall while tying it at the back of my neck.

We boarded the bus just as the sun was rising. Taylor, ears jammed with his ear buds, stalked to the back of the vehicle, taking on the loner persona once more. Quincy was already sitting back there, green eyes following his progress. I slumped into one of the middle seats next to Warren my hands wrapped around a small thermos of coffee. I comforted myself by thinking that it wasn't nearly as big as Magenta's. Warren adjusted his position subtly to put his arm on the back of the seat. Neither of us were morning people, so we rarely talked this early in the day.

Michelle Zap boarded at the next stop, her right eye and chin covered in a dark blue bruise. I laughed into my sleeve and watched her and Magenta eye each other like cats. No one in the administration had found out anything about the fight yesterday, but the tension was still there. Perhaps, I thought, handing my coffee to Warren's requesting hand; today wouldn't be such a bad day after all.

"Warren," Knight poked the pyro's shoulder from the seat behind us, "Are you as excited as I am?"

Warren brushed his hair out of his face and turned back to look at my cousin and his assigned sidekick. They gave each other a knowing smile.

"Excited about what?" I asked confused and still slightly incoherent.

Knight's knuckles grew white as they gripped harder on the seat, "About what? Lydia we're going to Wayne University today!"

"So…"

"Wayne University Lydia…as in Bruce Wayne's university for superheroes," Knight rolled his eyes.

"Bruce Wayne?" I scrunched my nose, "As in the Bruce Wayne?"

Knight seemed to shiver with fanboy excitement. Heck he'd been reading the comics since birth practically, I guess I couldn't blame him, "Yup," he finally answered glancing at Warren again, his fellow comic book fan, "We might even get to meet Batman."

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"Wow," Knight's jaw dropped.

"Yeah," I replied drawing my arms around myself with a slight shiver, "I knew Gotham is supposed to be dark and…spooky but isn't this a bit much?"

"Actually this isn't even Gotham, the University is located outside of the city in a less industrialized suburb of sorts."

"Knight?"

"Yeah?"

"You can tone down the geekiness just a bit. I mean I like to hear about all of this, but you have been talking non-stop for about two hours."

My cousin's cheeks took on a bit of pink, "Sure…I'll try to control myself."

I smiled back and shook my head with a laugh. Warren and several of the other students were just standing, staring at the imposing building in front of us. It looked a bit like some kind of European cathedral to me. The sky above was a darkening shade of gray and it just added to the affect. I wondered if they ever had sunny days near Gotham. Principal Powers disembarked the bus looking a bit shaky. I wondered how long it had been since she had been on one of those.

Smoothing her off-white skirt she came to the front and turned to face us all, "This is Wayne University."

"Darn it all, I thought we were going to the pet shop," Magenta muttered.

"Thank you all for coming appropriately dressed," I smirked, all the boys were wearing collared shirts and looking very uncomfortable, "I know you will all act maturely and treat this as a great opportunity. Remember to be respectful and to stay with the group," she sighed, probably wondering if she had forgotten anything, "Well, follow me!"

I reached for Warren's hand and was surprised when he shrugged of the motion. Something was obviously wrong, but right now wouldn't be the place or time to talk about it. Dating someone who was extremely introverted was at times frustrating and at others befuddling. I was getting better about reading the signs though, something was bothering him and he didn't want to talk about it. That was fine with me, getting into any kind of argument today wasn't exactly on my to-do list.

We walked up the broad set of stone stairs. I tried not to look intimidated by the gargoyles that were staring us down. Knight was imparting details about the founding of the college to Magenta. I was surprised to see she actually looked interested. I couldn't say the same for Zach who was dawdling behind transfixed by the guardian statues. He was easily distracted but I worried that Magenta's growing relationship with Knight might start to turn into something else if they weren't careful. I pushed the thoughts away, knowing that I didn't have to be the one to solve all the problems. My dad always told me that was my biggest fault.

Everyone entered the entrance hall with hushed voices. The broad marble floors ran on ahead of us for some ways though the continuity was broken up slightly by small groups of chairs set up in study nooks. The walls stretched upwards nearly four stories and upheld a beautiful curved ceiling made of dark wood with large triangular skylights. They provided more lighting than I would have thought possible with the gloomy weather outside. The sides of the walls were not continuous; on each story a cat walk surrounded the entrance hall. Some students were walking to and from classes. Very few stopped to look at the group of us below them.

There was a distinct tap of shoes on the ground as an older-looking man walked towards us a composed smile growing on his features. Knight craned his neck to see past taller seniors and finally pushed his way towards the front to see who it was. I remained where I was and saw only the top of his head when he finally stopped before us. Even though I was not experienced with trivia on the Dark Knight I knew instantly who this man was when he began to speak. The English accent was a dead giveaway.

"Welcome Ms. Powers, it has been a long time," the boys in front chuckled as he kissed our principal's proffered hand, "And you all must be the senior class from Sky High. I am Alfred Pennyworth, dean of Wayne University. Mr. Wayne could not be here himself…rarely can, but I will be happy to show you around the school. Ms. Powers has told us that there are several of you who are considering continuing your education at our establishment."

Most of the girls might have wished that Mr. Wayne was available for all ogling purposes, but most were quickly charmed by Mr. Pennyworth's clipped accent and gentlemanly manners. In three hours we saw most of the campus and were prevailed upon to take applications with us.

"No thank you, I already have one at home," I said trying to decline gracefully.

"Indeed?" Dean Pennyworth didn't seem to believe me.

"Yes, my stepmo…I mean my dad's fiancé gave me an application. Shyla Mercury."

"Well that is extraordinary," he smiled broadly as others took the papers from him, "I am actually…or rather was, a great friend of Ms. Mercury's father. I suppose she's grown up a great deal since then…and engaged? Well that is extraordinary. I cannot believe how quickly everyone seems to be growing up these days," he turned, but not before pushing another application into my hands.

I smiled back, unsure of how to respond to the comment. I knew that Shyla had graduated from Wayne University some time back. Though Bruce Wayne had not become Batman until after her graduation, the university had been established long before by another superhero who then handed the reins over to the Wayne family once his career had taken its toll on his health. I forgot who the original founder was, but Knight surely knew.

Michelle Zap growled as she passed us in order to get an application.

"My…my dear," I heard Alfred begin, "That is quite the battle wound."

I tried not to laugh but it was even more difficult when Michelle turned from him fuming. Here eyes searched the crowd for Magenta and I hoped that they had the good sense at least not to brawl right here. I couldn't imagine Principal Powers trying to explain away that little faux pas.

"Warren," I started approaching his casual position next to a pillar, "Do you want this application? I have one at home but Mr. Pennyworth gave me another anyway."

"No, not really," his voice was terse.

"Alright," I leaned against the pillar wondering if I would have to play detective to figure out what was bothering him. He probably wasn't just going to come out and say it.

AN: This chapter's last sentence has been edited to make it less confusing. I had forgotten about uploading the edit for a while but it's finally up. Thanks to everyone for the reviews.

Also, obviously I don't own anything Batman related, but the idea of Wayne University is in essence my idea.