What's this? An update? For real? Yes it is. I apologize for the extremely long wait. Senior year is way more demanding than expected. But I'm alive and I wrote a long chapter to make up for it!

This is the 3rd installment of Gotham Academy. Hope you guys like. There's some character development there :D

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Gotham Academy: The State of Virginia

The morning sunlight streamed through the massive windows of Wayne Manor's master bedroom. It was a delightful change from the gray clouds and bleary sky that Gotham was known for. Bruce was up and getting ready for the day. Though it was 7am on a Saturday, the young millionaire had a special agenda for the day. It was Ginnie's grandmother's 75th birthday and Bruce promised to help set up. Ginnie didn't even have to ask, Bruce would do just about anything for Nana Potts. The elderly woman treated him as if he were her own grandson.

The blue eyed teen finished getting dressed and searched his bottom drawer for a clean pair of socks. His hand hit the false bottom and he realized it was tilted. He tried pushing it back down but it wouldn't budge. After removing all the socks from the drawer, Bruce lifted the false bottom and noticed that his mother's scrapbook had been moved. He found it odd, but didn't question it. Alfred would never snoop through his things and Bruce purposely hid his more personal possessions so that people like Stark wouldn't be able to snoop. The teen simply readjusted the floral photo album and put the false bottom back in place. Even if he wanted to look further into the strange occurrence, there was no time to do so. Nana Potts was waiting.

~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~

Tony was feeling apprehensive. It was an unfamiliar feeling for the cocky, flamboyant, young millionaire. Ever since he found out about Ginnie's identity earlier in the week, he wasn't quite sure what to do next. Confronting her was sure to cause nothing but conflict, and Bruce probably wouldn't appreciate it either.

If Tony was honest with himself, he wasn't completely sure of who's side Bruce would be on if there was a conflict. The two millionaires may have been friends all their lives, but Bruce and Ginnie were like two peas in a pod. They have entire conversations with their eyes for crying out loud! Tony didn't want to risk anything. Still, the recently obtained information was eating him from the inside out. He was filled to the brim with questions. Why hadn't Bruce told him? Why had he lied about Tony meeting Ginnie before? How much longer before he did tell him? He wouldn't keep this information to himself forever, would he?

If anything, at least Tony now understood why Ginnie hated him so much. It all seemed justified now. Tony knew he deserved the cold shoulders and harsh words, even if he wasn't really trying to be a bully all those years ago. Yet, he couldn't help but wonder how much longer before Ginnie really exploded.

Finally, Tony kicked off his covers and rolled out of bed. Lying in bed and getting lost in his curiosity was simply not his style. Okay maybe it was, but only when it came to science and math, the things that mattered. Never about girls, especially not Ginnie. Not when she does nothing but seethe in anger at the sight of him.

The pompous teen made his way downstairs, not bothering to get dressed, brush his hair, or even his teeth. He entered the kitchen and found a fully dressed Bruce, sipping on a steaming mug of coffee. Despite Alfred's protests, the butler prepared two cups of coffee for the teen on busy mornings. He only did so because he knew that if he didn't, Bruce would just do it himself. The teen may not have an affinity for cooking, but he sure could whip up a mean cup o' joe.

"What're you doing up so early?" Tony yawned and scratched his abdomen.

"I could ask the same of you Stark. You haven't proven to be much of a morning person." Bruce countered between sips.

The teen's caffeine addiction was far from normal, but he didn't mind it in the least. If he was to run a million dollar corporation someday then he might as well get used to sleepless nights and giant cups of coffee at random intervals. As Bruce enjoyed his piping hot heaven, Alfred entered the room.

"Ah, Master Stark, how nice of you to join us this morning for a change." The butler greeted.

"Morning Alfred." Tony mumbled in response, taking a seat next to Bruce.

"Will you be accompanying Master Bruce today?" Bruce shot a look at the aging butler.

"Accompanying him where?" Tony asked in confusion.

"None of your business." Bruce said quickly. Alfred gave him an authorative glance, causing him to sigh and relent. "I'm helping Ginnie set up for her grandmother's birthday. It's not really your thing."

Bruce was right; normally Tony wouldn't bother with this kind of event. Birthday parties for the elderly don't seem much fun. But the millionaire's curiosity was getting the better of him. He wanted to know what else he could find out about Ginnie. He also wanted to see if he could possibly get Bruce to tell him the truth.

"I wanna go." Tony stated.

"Seriously?" Bruce asked with a questioning look.

"It sounds like fun, and Ginnie needs help right?"

"Right." Bruce answered after a slight pause.

"Then it's settled, I'm going." Tony got up.

"You better not pull something today Stark." Bruce narrowed his eyes at his roommate.

"Moi? Pull something? Brucie, I'm hurt." Tony mocked as he exited the kitchen.

~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~

The Potts residence is best known for its quaint, homey feel. It's a simple two-story home not too far from Bruce's neighborhood. The house is actually quite pricey despite the Potts family's financial situation. The only reason they live in it is because Thomas Wayne bought it and sold it to them at a steal of a price. They don't even pay mortgage, the Wayne family wouldn't allow it.

Bruce and Tony walked up the concrete walkway. The duo had opted to endure the 15 minute walk rather than bother Alfred for a 5 minute drive. Tony noticed the lawn was in need of raking and the small hedges could use a trim. He also noticed that it was nearly silent outside save a couple of joggers and an elderly couple across the street. Then again, it was barely eight in the morning.

Bruce rang the bell and within seconds the door opened and Bruce was enveloped in a tight hug by a woman Tony didn't recognize.

"Bruce it's so good to see you!" The woman said. She promptly released him and took a step back to get a better look at him. "My how you've grown!"

The woman was shorter than Bruce by a good foot and a half. She had gray hair that was styled in a pixie cut. She was wearing a green cardigan that matched her eyes perfectly. Tony could tell she was aged, he just couldn't pinpoint how old exactly.

"I may have grown an inch or two since I last saw you." Bruce laughed.

"Oh Bruce you must visit more often! You and Virginia spend far too much time in that fancy mansion of yours. Don't forget about us simpler folk." The woman said in a joking manner, getting Bruce to laugh again.

"Trust me, the Potts family is unforgettable. And I wouldn't call you simple folk either." Bruce responded.

"Oh dear, it's chilly isn't it? And I have you standing out here like an animal, excuse my manners. C'mon on in honey." It was then that the woman noticed Tony's presence. "Bruce honey, who's your friend?"

"Nana this is Tony Stark. Tony this is Nana Potts, Ginnie's grandmother." Bruce introduced the two.

"So you're the Tony Stark I've heard so much about." Nana Potts stated.

"I guess." Tony raised a brow and eyed his roommate who looked away sheepishly in response. What had he and Ginnie said about him when he wasn't around? Nana Potts could've been hearing years of complaints about Tony, and he would be none the wiser.

"It's good to finally meet you."

"Nice to meet you too Mrs. Potts." Tony smiled, despite the bits of worry going through his head. What if this woman hated him simply based off of whatever Ginnie said? Maybe he shouldn't have come.

"Oh please, call me Nana." She said as she waved the millionaires in.

As Tony walked in, he noticed how the outside of the house gave a different impression than what was inside. There were dozens of photos and corny sayings like "There's no place like home" lining the walls. Nana Potts led them to the living room. There was cushy leather couch set, a coffee table, and a woven rug in the middle of the room. There was a television in the corner that was at least two generations behind the one Tony had back home and a fireplace at the front of the room. Like the hallway, there were photos all over the walls.

"Ginnie should be down in a minute. I have no idea what's taking her so long." Nana Potts said as she walked out of the room and turned towards the stairs. "Ginnie! Your friends are here!"

"Coming!" Ginnie's muffled voice responded. A door opened and shut, followed by the sound of footsteps down the stairs. "What do you mean friends? Bruce is the only one coming."

Ginnie took one glance at Tony and stopped dead in her tracks. A sudden anger flared through her.

"What're you doing here?" She stiffly asked.

"I'm here to help." Tony said, hoping to avoid confrontation in front of Ginnie's grandmother.

"I don't need your help." The red-headed teen snarled.

"Virginia Potts!" Nana Potts gasped, "I did not teach you to be so rude to guests."

"But Nana he-"

"No buts missy. This young man has taken time out of his day to offer some assistance. Do not treat him like he is a thug in the street!" Tony was taken aback by the small woman's powerful stature.

"Sorry Nana." Ginnie sighed and turned to Tony. The look she gave him made it seem as if it pained her to look at him. "I appreciate your offer to help out."

"It's no problem at all." Tony responded to her faux gratitude. Anyone could feel the irritation radiating off her.

"Now let's get a move on people. The party's in a few hours." Nana Potts said as if nothing had happened. She smiled and turned to Ginnie. "Smile dear; frowns don't do your pretty face any justice. Plus it's my birthday."

"Okay Nana." Ginnie gave a smile that seemed genuine enough. Nana Potts seemed satisfied with this and left the teens alone.

~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~

Tony felt awkward. Decorating the house seemed like a simple task, but it was difficult when someone was glaring at your back the whole time. Tony didn't have much decorating experience prior to that day, so he tended to slip up or need help. That combined with Ginnie's strong dislike of him caused the fiery haired girl to send Tony looks of disdain all morning.

Bruce was kind enough to help Tony out. Sure he could be annoying, but Bruce acknowledged that there was no way he and Ginnie could get the whole place ready in time for the party. They could use the extra help and even though Tony had no idea what he was doing, it was nice of Tony to help out.

Tony greatly appreciated his friend's help, but still felt out of place. He noticed that Bruce and Ginnie had their own rhythm. They did things systematically and in sync. They were a team. When Bruce blew up balloons, Ginnie tied them. When Ginnie vacuumed, Bruce moved all the heavy furniture out of the way. When Bruce climbed a ladder to hang up decorations, Ginnie passed them to him. All this was done with barely a word spoken. You'd think they'd been doing this for years, and they probably had. It was as if Tony had just realized how much time they must spend together. Tony may have known Bruce his whole life, but he wasn't always around. Ginnie on the other hand, pretty much had unlimited access to Bruce. She probably knows everything there is to know about him and vice versa. Bruce did make it clear that Ginnie was his best friend when he had introduced her. Tony watched as the pair now sat at the wooden kitchen table preparing appetizers. Ginnie stuck toothpicks in cubes of cheese and passed them to Bruce who added pieces of salami. Tony sat on the other side of the table, pouring chips into bowls. He noticed the small smiles Bruce and Ginnie shared. He figured they were having one of those silent conversations. So far, Tony had noted that the two had countless inside jokes and little quirks. They also joke around a lot. There was playful pushing and chasing while the teens had been decorating. Even now, they were having a sword fight with toothpicks. It was a side of Bruce that Tony hadn't seen in years. He began to wonder if they really needed his help. He hadn't even been much help to start with. Ginnie probably thought that he was as incompetent as he is a jerk. To top it off, Bruce doesn't seem to mind her hatred. It was as if Tony didn't even exist. An unfamiliar feeling of hurt and fear surged through the lonely millionaire. If Ginnie was Bruce's best friend, where did that leave Tony?

~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~

Soon enough the house was fully decorated, stocked with food, and the party was in full swing. Tony had never seen so many 65 and up year olds partying as if they were in their 20s. It was amazing as it was disturbing; forget his earlier comment about parties for the elderly being no fun. He had mingled with a few party guests who recognized him. Most of them spoke about his grandfather's work, which made sense since they were in the same generation as the eldest Stark. Tony had even made attempt to play games with the older crowd, but decided to stop after an 80 year old man hurt his pelvis while playing musical chairs. Now the teen was by the snack table, watching everything and nothing. He hadn't seen Bruce or Ginnie in a while. They had disappeared sometime after Twister. Part of Tony was glad that they did. Their lack of consideration for his presence was downright rude and he was irritated by their affectionate relationship. And yet another part of him wished they hadn't left him. Why was it so hard for him to fit in with them? He knew he should probably apologize for what he did for Ginnie, but how could he? Neither Bruce nor Ginnie had told Tony about Raggedy Ann. That wasn't his fault. Suddenly Tony felt a burst of anger flare through him. Why the heck didn't they just say something? He would apologize if they did. If Tony hadn't figured out the truth himself, he would still be in the dark about the whole situation. As far as Bruce and Ginnie knew, Tony was clueless about it. Technically speaking, Ginnie's harsh demeanor toward him was uncalled for unless she gave a legitimate reason. Tony was sure she didn't have one other than the truth.

"Scowling ruins up a handsome face." A gentle voice stirred Tony out of his thoughts. He found Nana Potts looking at him with a concerned expression.

"Huh?" was all that the teen millionaire managed to utter.

"What's wrong dearie?" the gray haired woman asked.

"Nothing." Tony said quickly.

"Are you sure? Anything you wanna talk about?"

"I uh-I." Tony found it difficult to come up with a good excuse while piercing green eyes stared him down. "I need to uh…use the bathroom," He said lamely.

"Upstairs, third door to the left." Nana Potts directed.

"Thanks." Tony was about to walk away when the elder woman gently but firmly grabbed his arm.

"Would you please get that look off your face? Smile; you're young and have your whole life ahead of you. Plus it's my birthday." Tony gave a small smile, which seemed to satisfy Nana Potts enough to let him go.

That woman sure had an aura about her. Hadn't she used a similar line on Ginnie earlier? Tony shook his head and made his way up the stairs.

He walked by the first door and was about to pass the second, but something had stopped him. The second door had a sign on it that read, "Ginnie's Room," in large cursive letters. Under that was a series of posters and stickers. Tony noticed that the door was slightly ajar. His hand hovered over the knob. He shouldn't, it was an invasion of privacy. If Ginnie found out, she'd be beyond pissed. The anger from earlier stabbed him again. So what if she gets angry? She gets mad when Tony breathes. The blue eyed teen pushed the door open and slid inside.

The lights were off and the curtains were drawn so the room was dimmed. It was your typical teenage girl bedroom. Dark, hardwood bedroom set complete with bed frame, armoire, and vanity. There was a huge white fuzzy rug in the center and a blue lamp on the bedside table that matched the comforter and pillows. Tony also noticed the collection of stuffed animals on the bed and the clutter of clothes, magazines, and candy wrappers. For some reason, Tony had thought that Ginnie would be more tidy and organized, like Bruce, but he realized that she was a bit messy and unkempt, just like he was. He felt good about that, though he had no idea why.

Just as he was about to leave, a small bulletin board on the wall caught his eye. It had a calendar and some fliers and reminders of upcoming events on it. There was what looked like a folded photograph tucked in the corner. It was odd since the light blue walls were covered in unframed photos, most of which included Bruce, and mementos. He plucked the folded picture out of its place and opened it up. His eyes slightly widened when he found himself staring at a 9 year old version of himself. It was a photo from Bruce's 10th birthday. Bruce was smack in the middle, Tony was at his left, and to his right was Ginnie. There was no doubt about it, Ginnie was Raggedy Ann. Same green eyes, same freckles, same red hair, although it's nowhere near as messy as it used to be. It's a wonder that Tony didn't recognize her before. Then again it had been years since he'd seen Ginnie, and while her facial features remained the same, her overall appearance had greatly changed. Tony refolded the photo and put it back in its place. He wondered why it was there in the first place. Why not just tear it up or throw it away? Why even bother to keep it all these years? He was sure that Ginnie had other photos of just her and Bruce from that day. Why keep the one photo with all three of them in it and then ignore its existence? If it made her feel good about herself then that was just petty. Tony began to exit the room and suddenly found himself face to face with Ginnie, Bruce was right behind her.

"What're you doing in here?" Ginnie questioned with a look of anger on her face.

"I was looking for the bathroom." Tony answered quickly and coolly.

"Next door over." The red head said through clenched teeth.

"My bad." Tony put his hands up in faux-surrender.

"Just get out." Ginnie snapped.

Something seemed to snap inside of Tony too. It wasn't fair for her to treat him this way. Not if she wouldn't tell him why, even if he had already found out on his own.

"Why do you hate me so much?" Tony asked.

"What?" Ginnie responded, surprised at the question.

"Why do you hate me?" Tony repeated.

"You…you. You're a-I don't have to answer to you!" Ginnie exclaimed angrily.

"I knew it. You don't even have a reason. You can't hate someone for no reason." Though Tony knew otherwise, he was determined to get her to say it. He was tired of this game.

"Of course I have a reason. You're a pompous, arrogant jerk. You think you're all that and you're not!" Ginnie yelled.

"You do realize that you just described the majority of the student population at Gotham Academy right? Face it; you don't have a real reason to hate me. This is completely unjustified." Tony said almost smugly. He was getting to her. She'd spill soon enough.

"That's not true!"

"Then tell me Virginia. What did I ever do to you?" Tony took a step closer, making Ginnie back up.

Bruce looked at the mess unfolding in front of him. He always figured there'd be a big argument between Tony and Ginnie, he just thought that Ginnie would be the one asking questions. This was surprising. Why would Tony suddenly bring all this up? Unless he knew. Bruce shook his head at that thought. There's no way Tony knew. Bruce promised Ginnie he wouldn't tell, and she obviously hadn't told him either. Maybe Alfred? No the butler wouldn't have. Bruce then remembered when he found the false bottom of his drawer out of place. The scrapbook under it certainly held evidence of the whole Raggedy Ann thing. Bruce's eyes widened in realization: Tony knew the truth. But if he did then why was interrogating Ginnie so harshly? Why not just tell her that he knows? What was Tony trying to accomplish?

"Why're you even here?!" Ginnie asked loudly, pulling Bruce out of his thoughts.

"In case you didn't notice. I helped out today. I didn't have to do that." Tony answered.

"Nobody asked for your help!" Ginnie yelled, "Just leave!"

Tony opened his mouth to retort, but stopped short. This was going nowhere. It was clear that Ginnie was determined not to say anything, though he had no idea why. Things would just get worse if he kept arguing. Bruce was bound to join in eventually, and at this point Tony was sure of whose side he'd be on.

"Fine." He said simply. There was not a hint of anger in his voice as he walked away.

"Tony." Bruce said and grabbed his arm.

"I'll see you later Bruce." Tony pulled his arm away and left the pair alone.

Just as he was exiting the house, Nana Potts reached for him.

"Leaving so soon honey? We haven't even cut the cake." The 75 year old pouted.

"Yeah, it was getting a little…crowded." Tony responded, "I'm sorry."

"It's quite alright. I certainly understand. Sometimes we all need a break from people."

"Yeah." Tony said simply, "Goodnight Mrs. Potts."

Nana Potts grabbed the teen and pulled him into a tight hug before he could even react.

"I told you, call me Nana." She stated.

"Right. Goodnight Nana Potts." Tony corrected.

"Goodnight Tony. Thank you for all your help, I really appreciate it."

"I don't think I was much help today. I barely knew what I was doing half the time." Tony snorted.

"That may be true, but I'm sure you learned a thing or two. And it's the effort that counts." Nana Potts said cheerily.

"I guess that's true. Thank you, Nana Potts." Tony gave a small smile to the wise old woman.

"Anytime dearie, and thank you. I hope to see you soon!" She waved.

Tony took that as his cue to walk away. If anything, at least he was able to do something nice for a person who deserved it. He liked Nana Potts. She wasn't like any other 75 year old he had met, and that included his late grandfather. It's too bad that he probably wouldn't be seeing her soon. Ginnie made it clear that he's not welcome there. The funny thing was that it didn't make him feel so angry. It just hurt.

~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~

Bruce was sitting on Ginnie's bed, silent and still as a statue. Ginnie had been ranting about how rude and horrible Tony was. Some of the things she said were completely exaggerated, but Bruce knew she was just angry. He learned long ago to never interrupt her rants. Though if he was being honest, he wasn't really paying attention. He knew what she was saying anyway, it was always the same thing. Even though Tony could be annoying and rude, Bruce had hoped that Ginnie could get to know him better and realize that the more arrogant of the two millionaires wasn't all that bad. But now he realized, that would be much harder than he thought. He wondered why Tony hadn't said anything about knowing the truth. Normally Bruce would be upset over the fact that Tony had snooped through his things, but he wasn't this time. It was bound to happen anyway. It's only natural for Tony to wonder why Ginnie regarded him with such disdain. Now that he knew, it seemed as if he was trying to get Ginnie to say so out loud. But why? That was the question Bruce had to find the answer to. More importantly though, he had to find out how Tony was feeling. Bruce knows Tony almost as well as he knows Ginnie. Tony never gives up on an argument. He won't stop until he wins. But that wasn't what happened. Tony not only gave up but he did so in a way that seemed like he was…hurt, something Tony didn't often exhibit.

"Okay, I'm done now." Ginnie sighed and sat down.

"Are you sure?" Bruce asked cautiously.

"Yeah. But seriously Bruce, how do you live with him?"

"It's cake time!" Nana Potts' voice rang loudly.

The two teens quickly went downstairs. Bruce was glad he didn't have to answer Ginnie's question. He wasn't sure she'd like the answer. Ginnie was his best friend and nothing would change that, but he and Tony had a history. Tony was there for Bruce when he needed him most. And though he wouldn't admit it out loud, Bruce knew that, deep down, he considered Tony to be a brother.

Hope you guys liked it, I got so many feels just writing it! Again sorry for the wait. Like always please bear with us please. Reviews are very much appreciated! Thanks for reading! And once more, Merry Christmas everyone!

~Miss Walls