I skipped all my classes the next day. There's only so much I can deal with people, and I wanted to save myself up for work. Something told me tonight was going to be critical.

My first special customer of the day took one look at me, swept off his top hat, bowed, and said, "Your hair wants cutting." Since I had just finished rereading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, I smiled at the Mad Hatter and offered him more tea.

I wasn't quite as friendly as I usually am, but I did like this one. He was just cute, and I do admire a fellow tea drinker. I mean real tea, the kind that comes in a teacup and fogs up your glasses when you take a sip.

I love our green tea, and so did he, which made me happy. I may not have been as scared of him as I was of some of the others, but still…the Mad Hatter. Mad plus villain equals…yarrg. I definitely wanted to keep him satisfied.

The Joker came in while I was still making the Mad Hatter's tea. He gave me this incredibly expressive smile that conveyed to me without words that I was in Trouble.

"Hey, Space Monkey. Been talking to any flying rodents lately?"

"He came to me," I said. "He didn't like my hair. I don't think he likes Chinese food, either." The Joker didn't find that as funny as I'd hoped. I tried to stay cool as I gave the Hatter his tea.

"What did he want?" The Joker's voice was perfectly calm. I knew just enough to recognize this as a danger signal.

"He asked me some questions about what you and the others are doing here. He thinks the restaurant is a front for something else."

"And what did you tell him?"

"I told him to try the Mongolian Beef."

He laughed at that, and for the moment, the pressure was off. I still did my best to keep a smile on my face while he was there.

Poison Ivy came in for a cup of tea. I knew she would be hooked after the first one.

Then came the Riddler, who made me guess the answer to every question I asked. It wasn't quite as annoying the second time around.

Then came Parker, with a couple of guys I knew vaguely from class, Dick Grayson and Jeph Something. I almost hugged my pal, Parker, when he let me know he was planning to stick around until the end of the shift and walk me home.

I did hug my delivery driver just before I sent him out with an order for Mr. "Janus" at 22 Duo Drive. Honestly, you'd think they would have changed the name of that street when Two-Face came along.

My next customer was Jonathan Crane.

"Good evening, Space Monkey."

"Scarecrow," I said as politely as I could. We stared at each other for a little while—I think I made him happy by breaking eye contact first.

"I've learned everything I can from your friend. She's recovering nicely in the nearest hospital."

"And now you want me?" I said, trying not to panic. He looked a little sheepish.

"Actually…"

I smiled at him.

"You want more Chicken and Broccoli, don't you?"

I gave him an extra scoop of rice. Old habits die hard.