Chapter: 10

Darren had to remind himself that this was not the same Headmistress from his previous, albeit blind, encounter with this particular brand of Gotham Academy faculty when Tim had been the one in his shoes, but rather the newly appointed Headmaster Alverstone. The former Headmistress had been another victim of the Court of Owls last winter when they infiltrated the school in search of Livia to either kill or use against Darren, another point of—mild—guilt Darren shouldered throughout his war with the Owls. The new Headmaster could only be described unfortunately as owlish, one of the many reasons why Darren attempted to avoid the man at all costs, his white hair though thinning, and frail appeared to be tufted over his ears and his dark beady eyes were set over a long hooked nose.

Those eyes were deep and dark, almost void of color, and Darren couldn't help but think of another man with a similar gaze. The thought had Darren halting on his way over to the main office of the Academy, and set his heart stuttering uncomfortably forcing Darren to tip back his head taking in a long deep breath, whispering to himself as well as in his mind, over and over again, he's dead, he's dead, he's dead and gone before shaking himself and continuing on his way. It wasn't entirely Headmaster Alverstone's appearance that gave the owl-like impression it was his stance and the sinister presence he carried with him wherever he went. While Darren enjoyed his little row with Derek, he wished it hadn't come to this but as with any incident involving Derek, Lydia wasn't too far behind.

It was a wonder Derek managed to do anything himself with his mother's, and at one point his father's, superior smothering. It wasn't as if Derek was incapable…in fact, Darren knew him to be too capable at times…it was the material power of the Court that had both Lydia and Shepard pining for any sense of empowerment. Whether through themselves or through their children. The Powers' behavior concerning their children affected how Derek and probably Erik were received at the Academy, forcing them into roles and stereotypes they didn't actually fit. Not that Darren felt bad for either of Lydia's sons, it wasn't out of pity that Darren considered this aspect of their lives it was merely out of annoyance and necessity. Darren knew what Lydia was like in these situations, and he was eager to toy around with her bad and entitled behavior especially with his looming threat hanging over her. In fact, Darren was surprised Lydia even pushed for punishment at all given what Darren had revealed, and threatened, to her. Or perhaps Lydia was 'acting out' to spite Darren and everything he'd said. It was unclear but Darren was eager to antagonize yet another person. The feebleness from the panic he endured and the unyielding rage he reined in when confronting Derek for the first time since Shepard's death was a mere distant memory from that morning. Darren had no concern for Lydia's unpredictability. It was the Headmaster that had Darren standing uncertainly in front of the giant twin oak doors.

Though Darren also had the urge to get the meeting with the Headmaster over with so after squaring his shoulders Darren pushed through the wooden doors only to stumble to a stop at the sight of Dick and Barbara sitting on either side of the empty chair clearly left for him. It took all of Darren's willpower not to let his jaw drop in shock, he'd accounted for Lydia's presence but not for his own guardians…who did not know of the threats and words he had with Lydia nor of Darren's daily dalliances throughout the school day. Darren stood dumbly by the double doors, starting at the sound of the door clicking closed behind him…a sound reminiscent of the Nest, of Blackout…of everything Darren had tried to push away for this moment. The room suddenly felt smaller and the air staler—pungent even—the phantom odors from the confinement of Blackout invaded Darren's sensitive senses in fluctuating waves inciting the uncomfortable sensation of nausea deep in his gut. Darren forced himself to swallow—the resonant taste of bile burning the back of his throat—as he took as much of a swift and silent calming breath as he could, curling his hand by his side into a slow, tight, and bloodless fist longing for the feeling of nails biting into skin,

"Ah, Mr. Crowne, here at last. I see you took your time. Didn't get lost on the way, did you?" Headmaster Alverstone monotoned, a bite to the unimpressed tone which Darren tried to ignore despite the scowl that tugged at his lips as he crossed the floor to the empty seat trying in vain not to fall into it. Instead, Darren sat perched on its seat's edge as if ready to leap up and run. Darren couldn't help it, once confident he merely felt numb, sensing the change in who would truly dictate the conversation there was more to this summons, he could sense it in the air and in the body language presented by the Headmaster.

Darren discretely snuck glances at his guardians, seated on either side of Darren which was as comforting as it was discouraging. Dick and Barbara seemed unconcerned, though Barbara's lips were in a fine thin line while Dick kept stealing glances over to where Lydia and Derek sat a thoughtful look crossing his face. Dick's curiosity towards what caused this intervention clearly outweighed the parental concern that would be typical in such a situation. Dick's distracted glances sent Darren's own gaze to the reason he was in this office in the presence of his guardians for a situation he really didn't want to explain to them. Derek was slumped in the chair, a stormy expression on his face and a gaze that shifted from item to item, object to object that decorated the room…seemingly trying to distract himself from what was occurring. Lydia merely sat at attention, her gaze never wandering or drifting, an ice queen through and through,

"I am sure you are all dying to know why I dragged you away from your work and/or daily business to attend to disciplinary matters of your child…or ward," at that Alverstone threw a pointed look at Darren, who merely stared back numbly at the heavy look until Alverstone broke eye contact and continued on with his point, "but it appears these two boys have had a scuffle,"

"A 'scuffle,'" Darren couldn't help but bark, "Really?"

"Mr. Crowne," the Headmaster cautioned firmly, before continuing, "It was brought to my attention—,"

"—By whom, the child or the mother?" Darren bit out, sitting back in the chair his rising anger melting away any of the ice-cold numbness that shadowed him before. Barbara cut him a warning glance which he pointedly looked away from, ignoring it entirely,

"Mr. Crowne, you will be silent," Alverstone's tone was sharp and only fueled Darren's urge for rebellion and spite, as he shifted in his seat resting his hands tensely on the chair's armrests unsure of how to arrange himself—he wanted movement, he needed to be pacing but the small space and the ever-looming stare of Alverstone pinned Darren in place. He settled for rapidly tapping his foot lightly on the carpeted flooring, earning a darting glance from Dick, "…This is clearly not the first time there have been spats between these two boys nor the first of disagreements between these two families. But that is a moot point in the face of the Academy's standards. Fighting is not tolerated here,"

"I completely agree. Haven't my children suffered enough, been put through enough by that boy and his family? Only to be attacked here in the Academy?" Lydia spat; her tone cold but filled with petty rage. There was a startling cracking sound, causing everyone to jump as the armrest on Darren's chair snapped right off in his too-tight grip. No one noticed as the piece was swiftly kicked under the thick chair and into oblivion by Dick. Perplexed, Alverstone addressed Lydia,

"Mrs., uh, Ms., er…Powers…I understand your position and the fact that you are coming back from a deep loss in the family, this matter will be resolved," the Headmaster stated soothingly,

"Perhaps Darren should speak," Barbara spoke up, her tone harsh not quite angry, rather measured and determined, "Remaining silent doesn't do much in arguing his side of things,"

"What is there to explain?" Lydia demanded, "There was a fight and my son ended up thrown into a set of lockers, by that mongrel over there, hurt and bruised,"

"I was defending another kid from your son, who is a bully, picking on another student. Perhaps this academy doesn't tolerate fighting but I think bullying should be on par with that standard," Darren stated shortly, eyeing Alverstone with distaste,

"That's a strong accusation," the Headmaster mused,

"My son would never do such a thing if anything like that did happen, he was driven to it after the abysmal treatment enacted by Mr. Crowne over there as he senselessly attacked my husband and slandered the rest of our family with scandal and lies,"

"They're not lies!" Darren couldn't help but yell, barely resisting the urge to rise…the need to run overwhelming, the panic from the barely referenced trial and of Shepard enough to push Darren closer to wavering over that invisible edge. The strain was there, he could feel it swelling, rising like the beginning of a wave…or a tsunami,

"That was uncalled for!" Dick exclaimed angrily, looking as if he wished he could try to comfort Darren in that moment but knew it would merely make matters worse, "Leave that out of this conversation,"

"This isn't the only instance of Derek bullying other students," Barbara added once the confines of the room had settled,

"Let's not discuss the past," Alverstone retorted, "This is between these two boys—,"

"—One of which was bullying another student, the other who was defending someone who couldn't protect themselves," Barbara insisted,

"I'm not inclined to believe that given the excellent standing of the student in question,"

"That seems extremely biased," Dick attested gruffly, his eyes narrowing,

"Is it? Derek is an exemplary student and athlete, whereas since the enrollment of Mr. Crowne all I've had is a bombardment of reports, encompassing a series of complaints…his behavioral issues in PE and in general, his disappearing acts, his refusal to participate or cooperate in class…need I go on?"

Darren nearly grimaced but schooled his expression into an emotionless mask as Dick and Barbara shared equal looks of surprise clearly thrown at the fact they'd been so out of loop on Darren's schooling, though they remained silent. Initially, Darren hadn't seen the point of Lydia's intervention but now it was clear as daylight. While Darren could threaten Lydia in the nighttime, Lydia could still prey on him in the daytime with mundane methods…through the headmaster and through Darren's guardians. Making his life miserable just as Darren pushed for control over Lydia's leadership of the Court of Owls,

"I cannot in good conscience—," the Headmaster was cut off by the double doors slamming open and Sal stumbled into the room eyes wide at the startled expressions that swiveled his way, "Mr. Fischer, what is the meaning of this!" Alverstone barked, distracted from his initial statement,

"This wasn't Darren's fault!" Sal exclaimed, almost breathlessly, as if he ran all the way into the room, "He was protecting me from Derek and his friends. They were picking on me," Darren shifted uncomfortably in his seat as the stares turned to him, pinning him in place once more,

"Seems like they were doing more than picking on you," Barbara stated icily, nodding at the bruises that dotted Sal's eye and cheek. Alverstone was quiet where he sat, fingers steepled under his chin musing over the new facts of the situation. Dick seemed as if he would burst from anticipation or perhaps from irritation. Derek seemed defeated—glum and resigned—though it didn't seem he cared as much as his mother did who bristled gripping the arms of the chair as she turned her vicious gaze on Darren,

"He threatened my children's lives," she hissed. Darren could feel the smile curl on his lips, but he clamped down on the urge. Clearly, Lydia expected a better outcome, one more in her favor and one that made him look bad in some way to his guardians. She wanted Dick and Barbara to put a leash on him, prevent him from operating outside the control Lydia believed they had over him. What Lydia didn't know or didn't understand was the fact that Dick and Barbara had no control over him, at least in terms of controlling the blackmail he put in place. They helped, of course, assisted when they were able or when Darren asked but they were in the dark for the most part. Although Lydia did succeed in outing his less than stellar operations in school, a fact that had Darren grimacing internally,

"That wasn't me, I think you have me confused with someone else," Darren stated, calmly but with a touch of ice in his tone. Derek though jerked to attention gazing inquisitively at his mother before turning his stare to Darren, glowering at him as if trying to weigh the truth of his mother's words. Derek knew about Darren's blackmail against the Court, he knew everything about the Court and their connection to Darren. He'd been a part of it all and was always a constant reminder of all Darren had lost in those ten years as well as what he'd endured…survived…and lived with to that day.

The Headmaster acted as if he hadn't heard Darren and Lydia's exchange, still deep in thought while Dick and Barbara shared another glance. Darren tried to ignore their glances, but he knew they would want answers regarding Lydia's claims. Perhaps Lydia would succeed on one front that day a fact that only deepened the pit in Darren's stomach,

"Well, perhaps that excuses Darren's actions, for the most part. Fighting to any degree even to defend another student is not tolerated. But it does not excuse property damage,"

"Property damage?" Dick and Barbara echoed as one,

"The lockers were somehow damaged during the altercation,"

"That's ridiculous," Barbara barked, "You're just fishing for something to pin on Darren. You have no proof those lockers weren't already dented before the fight happened!" Darren faced straight ahead, his gaze rolled upward to stare at the ceiling so he couldn't see the stares from his cousin, Derek, and Lydia bearing down on him. They all knew…everyone in this room but the Headmaster knew…that Darren could easily tear those lockers out of the wall on a whim.

Dick's stare was particularly harsh to Darren. He could feel Dick's dark blue eyes burning holes into the side of his head, but Darren didn't turn to look at his cousin. Dick had been so quiet and so still this entire meeting, it was so uncanny…so not like his cousin…that the thrum of anxiety beating against Darren's chest fluttered more rapidly and viciously,

"Very well, it is true that it's very unlikely the dents were caused by the fight…contrary to what was reported…and it seems that Mr. Crowne was indeed just trying to help his friend," Alverstone murmured quietly, almost demurred by Barbara's outrage. Darren shifted in his seat, frowning deeply at the term 'friend' risking a sly glance at Lydia in the process of his discomfort. She sat rigidly; her eyes glued to the Headmaster's desk seeming as if she hadn't heard anything. But Darren wouldn't count on that relief, not yet.

A 'friend' was something dangerous…a 'friend' meant a pawn, it meant a threat…something Darren couldn't afford even with the tedious truce between himself and the Court of Owls. Darren took liberties with Tim, Steph, Livia, and Mike—even with Allison. Tim and Stephanie were trained, Livia had her magic, and Mikey was safely held in the embrace of the Bats' protection…they could not be touched in the same way as someone outside their close inner circle could be used. Allison was kept at arm's length, if they never appeared as friends the Court wouldn't try to use her either…everything was calculated, strategized but Darren could not account for Sal he didn't fit in either of those categories. He wasn't at arm's length—especially since barging into the room—he wasn't trained, and he wasn't privy to the Bats or their secret dual identities. Sal was an outlier, a risk…trouble…marked for death,

"We'll end with something more equitable for both parties," Alverstone was speaking, Darren blinked realizing he'd missed part of the conversation zoning out as he attempted to mentally reconcile the Sal problem, "One week's detention for both boys, during school hours both boys will be on probation whereby one toe out of line, out of any line mind you, will result in suspension for the subsequent three days. Bullying is not tolerated, nor is fighting even in the context of defending a friend. Is that agreeable?" There was that word again, 'friend,' it knocked hollowly against Darren's chest like a blow, an agitating sense of discomfort roiling internally at the implication the word, 'friend,' incited,

"Fine by us," Barbara stated, crossing her arms. Dick nodded his agreement his silence again grating on Darren's already weathered nerves,

"I suppose it will do," Lydia monotoned, tight-lipped,

"Mom!" Derek groaned, flopping his head into his hands. There was no satisfaction in seeing Derek punished or upset with the results of the disciplinary meeting. Not in that Darren himself was also punished, he didn't care about that…it meant nothing to him, there was no impact. Darren's unease originated in the silence of his cousin, in the facts made known about his day-to-day ventures—or lack thereof—during school hours, and in the fact that Sal was now known in association to Darren. There was nothing he could do now that the information was out in the open.

Dick and Barbara rose from their chairs and Darren scrambled to join them, grabbing his bag in the process. As he straightened, Alverstone slammed one last nail into the proverbial coffin,

"Mr. Crowne, while it is commendable to assist a friend in need, perhaps in the future put your need to engage on hold and attend your class instead. As I understand you're behind on quite a few assignments." Darren didn't look to see Dick or Barbara's expressions, nor did he respond to Alverstone's brazen remark. Instead, Darren ducked his head pushing past his guardians, past Sal who still stood in the room unsure of his presence, as well as unaware of the danger he'd just thrown himself into, and through the mahogany double doors.

The room suddenly felt stifling, smothering, as if the pressure, the heat, the little pinpricks of betrayal jolted through from each revelation wrought by the Headmaster, by Lydia too, had stolen the air right from Darren's lungs. It took every ounce of determination, every bit of effort not to run out, not to disappear, though Darren wanted it. Darren wanted to vanish. He was desperate for it…and he realized then as he stumbled to a stop at the outskirts of the main office that perhaps, in a small way, Lydia had won that day.


The world outside of Alverstone's office seemed to narrow, tunnel visioning, everything a hazy white. An obscure blur as Darren merely stood, almost wavering as if unbalanced outside the main office. He had to blink rapidly a few times to force the disorienting sensation away and watched blandly as Dick and Barbara passed him by, heading instead to where Tim and Stephanie stood near the archway leading to the main office of the school. Darren had no idea his friends had even slipped away or came to the office and at once, eyed them…the group that had formed without him…uncertainly. They stood a few feet away, with Tim speaking softly with Dick while Barbara listened mutedly. Stephanie was there as well, listening somberly to whatever was being said. Dick had seemingly gone straight to Tim, urging some kind of explanation…or alternatively merely went to say hello to his brother. It was hard to tell, and it was hard to trust what was right in front of Darren when there were so many possibilities as to the intentions of the exclusive conversation. Perhaps Darren could join them, be there in the conversation and know exactly what was said…it would ease his nerves and calm the turbulent storm of paranoia that raged in his gut that forced the hairs on the back of his neck to rise on end.

But Darren remained rooted in his spot…near the heavy double doors of Headmaster Alverstone's office. Darren couldn't force his feet to move, and he wasn't sure if it was fear or distrust that kept him there in that one spot, the truth of the matter staring him straight in the face…Darren was in trouble, knowingly in trouble, accountably in trouble. A kind of trouble that Darren didn't care about. It was usually Renegade who was faced with getting in trouble, with punishment…never really Darren, and that made this so different. And this was a trouble that Barbara and Dick knew about, which was perhaps the scariest aspect of this day so far. Because while Darren didn't care…Dick and Barbara certainly did and Darren didn't know what that meant for him, for Renegade, for home, or for anything. The aftermath was unforeseeable, and that was petrifying, echoing harshly of another darker time in Darren's life.

Movement registered out of the corner of Darren's eye and it was then that Darren's frozen form broke as he jerked to attention, stumbling out of the way as Lydia flounced out of the office. Derek following hot on her heels with his hands tucked into his pockets slumped in on himself as of disheartened by the notion of getting in trouble yet again. Darren glared after the woman, watching as she hurried away agitation in her form, the clickity-clack of her heels on the linoleum floor irritating though Darren faced them unflinchingly. Darren had other matters to deal with, he couldn't run off or hide, he couldn't join the others not when someone else's life was potentially at stake. Turning to glance back, Darren saw Sal standing by the doors, most likely having left once Lydia was finished yelling at the Headmaster, uncertain and fluttering with nerves. Facing Sal, Darren pushed away his disparaging nerves and focused on the 'friend' that came to his aide when all seemed lost, gratitude the furthest thing on his mind,

"Hey," Darren started, drawing Sal's attention. The guy looked relieved as if being called to—drawn in with the crowd—eased his nerves. It granted him an in, an assurance that his intervention had been received well. But what it did, in reality, was paint a target on his back…at least Darren assumed that was the case. It wouldn't matter whether or not the word 'friend' stuck, the issue wouldn't be relevant and instead rendered pointless. In short, Darren wouldn't let another fall victim to the Court not if he could help it,

"Thanks for helping out," it was true. Without Sal, Darren probably wouldn't have been able to explain the situation…not in a way that painted him in a good light and certainly not with Lydia's dramatics and the Headmaster's bias,

"Least I could do after you helped me out. We're even now," Sal shrugged offhandedly as if he hadn't thrown himself onto the metaphorical chopping block for a complete stranger,

"Look…you need to forget about me," Darren said firmly. Sal blinked as if stunned,

"I…what?"

"You need to forget about me," Darren repeated fervently, "You can't be near me. I'll just get you in trouble…or, or worse…killed. We…we can't be friends,"

"Killed?…What do you—I mean…did I say…or…do something—?" Sal seemed confused or concerned, or both. Like he didn't understand what Darren was saying,

"No, no that's not it…this is for your own good. Nothing good has ever happened to anyone who has known me. So, don't know me…if we're not friends no one will hurt you," Sal swallowed, shifting from foot to foot, looking anywhere but Darren before shaking his head somewhat helplessly…almost speechlessly,

"Fine. Whatever. If that's what you want, then." Sal looked back to Darren then, his deep blue eyes hopeful but Darren merely stared back unwavering in his declaration. So what if Sal hated him, so what if he was hurt or confused by what Darren said and forced him to do. It didn't matter as long as no other innocent was hurt because of him. Maybe the threat of retribution by the Court was real…maybe Sal would be targeted because of a connection to Darren.

Or maybe Darren didn't know how to react to a new potential friendship, maybe he leapt at the paranoia of possible death and decay to distance himself from something new. Pushing away at the prospect of a new friend, someone outside his carefully constructed bubble of control. Afraid of a new attachment, connection, to someone else. Maybe Asher flickered to mind, and Darren told himself he needed to protect Sal from himself. It was a possibility…it was necessary, or at least that's what Darren told himself as Sal finally shrugged a tainted gleam in his eye as he turned away and walked off back into the heart of the academy.

Darren let loose a breath, uncertainty gnawing at his breastbone. It was exhausting to feel everything and nothing, on and off, an exchange of one extreme to the other in constant rotating turbulent shifts. Pushing anything relating to Sal and Asher and the Court away, Darren turned back to his guardians and friends. They were still out in the office hallway, talking softly to one another, Dick and Tim leaning close as if exchanging notes. All at once, the feeling of being an outsider looking in bristled at the back of Darren's neck. Paranoid and vicious accusations knocked violently around Darren's head, louder and louder spiraling maliciously...unstoppable. Rattling harshly against the glass wall mentally there in Darren's mind, there to create a muted haze of the intense emotions writhing just behind…cracking it…shattering it. And just like that, a wave of rage, resentment, and distrust collapsed upon Darren. He couldn't think…Darren could only move.

Darren strode over to where the four stood, unable to stop himself, unable to think clearly or sensibly…only able to react. Only letting what he was feeling, the lack of control in what he was feeling, out…in one fell swoop. Perhaps it was wrong, but Darren didn't care he couldn't care…he could only just let everything out then and there. There was only the frustration at himself, frustration at his situation, the anger and irritation of being caught and exposed, the fear of what it meant…Darren needed it out, he needed it gone…it was unbearable. Unable to stop himself, unable to think rationally and understand not only his perspective but the others' perspectives Darren reached their small group and lunged for Tim, grabbing his friend by the front of his school uniform and shoving him none-to-gently into the nearby wall. The frame shook from a body being forced into it and Stephanie let out a shocked gasp from Darren's right,

"Why…why the hell are you always sticking your nose in my business!" Darren seethed, his teeth clenched…he could hear them creak from the force of his anger,

"Darren what the hell!" Tim snarled, scrabbling at Darren's hands. He didn't sound fearful, merely confused and somewhat irritated at being thrown around. Darren couldn't figure out what had Tim so concerned for him or because of him that he would constantly be there…an observant shadow waiting to swoop in the moment even the slightest thing seemed wrong. Darren could feel his irritation reaching its tipping point, anger swirling along with the boiling emotion…fierce and constant,

"This wouldn't have happened…if you hadn't confronted me, if you hadn't forced me into this promise…I wouldn't have met with Al…nothing would have happened," Darren hissed, his grip unwavering. He could feel hands on his shoulder trying to tug him back away from Tim. Darren didn't know who it was, but it didn't matter…he didn't care, he paid them no mind a different kind of tunnel vision before him. One that wasn't hazy or cloudy…one that was forged through clarifying anger. Darren could hear words buzzing near his ear whether angered or calming he couldn't tell but they fed the high of his anger even as it dwindled, dulling even as it filled him fully from head to toe.

"I was doing fine. I was fine…fine until you intervened!" Dick and Barbara wouldn't have found out about the issues, the disappearing acts, the refusal to participate, or the missing assignments if Tim hadn't forced Darren into that situation with Al. Darren didn't understand Tim's distrust if that's even what it was,

"Fine?" Tim scoffed, "Oh yeah sure Darren, you're absolutely doing perfectly fucking fine. Tell that to my backbone…or perhaps that other guy you threw into a wall and into a coma,"

"Tim. Not helpful," Came Dick's quick, fervent reprimand, "Dare—," Darren elected to ignore his cousin…focusing only on Tim and only on his rage,

"—Shut up! You don't understand, and yet you act as if you do. And you judge and-and just behave better like I can't be better…as if I'm a failure…pathetic…unable to be normal," The anger was fading, rapidly…leaving Darren…empty. Alone and empty, and numb. Tim's eyes widened as if surprised by what Darren said, perhaps even hurt by it,

"I understand…I do…more than you might think," Tim whispered, softly…mournfully perhaps…but Darren refused to hear it and Dick apparently had enough of the sudden confrontation. Dick's grip was suddenly tight and constrictive as he forcefully steered Darren away, breaking the grip he had on Tim's jacket,

"Enough!" Dick hissed, "Enough…knock it off now," Darren stumbled as he was guided away from Tim, bumbling to a stop as Dick's intense blue-eyed stare met his. Darren stiffened in Dick's hold, pulling harshly away and stepping back, keeping space between them. The room felt stifling, the stares petrifying. Dick eyed Darren as if waiting for him to go off once more while Barbara's wide-eyed stare portrayed only concern…concern and pity. Tim was focused on his jacket, a hand to his chest as if checking to make sure everything was in order and Stephanie merely stood stock still with a hand to her mouth though she dropped it once Darren's gaze met hers,

"Get back to class," Barbara said finally, jerking her head toward the hallway her neutral gaze on Tim and Stephanie. The two slowly made their way down the hall, glancing back to where Darren stood, still and wary…the wave of sudden anger gone, evaporated in an instant. Leaving Darren with nothing but muted shame and paranoia and dread. All that and yet Darren wasn't sorry, he needed an out…he used what he could no matter what it would cost him. Darren had nowhere to go, he couldn't run off…he couldn't let it out, he couldn't cope. Not at this school, not surrounded by a sea of strangers, not with the eyes everywhere watching…there was no escape, no way to let it all out. Darren was trapped, how could they not see it, not understand it?

"C'mon," Dick murmured after a beat of silence. The three of them left eyeing the other cautiously, the past half-hour weighing heavily on each of their shoulders, "Let's get you home."

What once would have filled Darren with peace now merely drenched him with dread. Nonetheless Darren silently…obediently…followed Dick and Barbara out of the school.


A/N: Guess who goofed and forgot to post yesterday...?...This idiot! Well, here's the next chapter nonetheless! I hope you guys liked it! Chapters 9 - 11 (or 12 I think) were a little difficult to space out. A lot of these chapters were a continuation of this event and the events leading up to and after this moment, so finding where to break or stop the chapters were difficult. Especially since I was used to very long chapters for this series, though to be honest those build up over time to that length and are typically not that long in the beginnings of the story. Even so, that's what also put me a bit behind on writing, figuring out where the breaks worked.

I also just want to make it clear that the spiraling I mentioned in the author's note of the last chapter regarding Darren isn't only what this story is about, it is an important aspect but not the only thing this story focuses on. It's becoming more noticeable now, so that's why there's been such emphasis on it for these chapters. In short, there is obviously something more going on, and there have been hints at that throughout these ten chapters. It's been more obvious with Livia, but with Darren and his arc in this story, it's been subtle to an extent.

Now for this chapter, Darren's kind of shunning of Sal was just kind of to be expected. And I honestly really liked how that part of this chapter went because it was such a blunt reaction and interaction with Sal on Darren's end...yet that 'decision' was also borne from something deeper. I'm also just like...how do you react to that from Sal's perspective? XD

Finally, Darren's outburst at the end...well, just needed to happen. A lot happened that day, and to Darren, it was all Tim's fault. Darren had a method, he had a way of surviving at school and when Tim interfered, that familiarity shattered. So to Darren, how else is he supposed to feel and react?

Definitely let me know what you guys thought of this chapter, the revelations given to Dick and Babs about their ward, Darren's interaction with Sal, and of course the end interaction between Tim and Darren! I love to hear your thoughts and opinions. They're so fun to read and I love to see whether what I intended got across or not!

Finally, as I mentioned before, chapter 10 is kind of the cut-off for when I'll probably stop posting just as I get the current finished chapter count up. I am currently on chapter 17, but I am almost done. I will probably start posting again once I am finished with chapter 21 or 22, so it won't be too long. I hope you guys understand! I have so much I want to put into this story, and it will get done, I just don't want to overwhelm myself with trying to post when I don't have chapters written, I want these chapters written well!

As always, if you have any questions comments, or concerns please please please REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!