Gotham Academy. The school where the city's most privileged children can have access to a level of education of the highest quality. Some kids were there because they had the money, others because they were really gifted enough to deserve their place there. Either way, the academy was the place where Gotham's security and future were created, where young people of all ages could build their lives amidst the unruly chaos of a burning city. People like Dick were there just for being exceptional and earning their place, others, like Barbara, were there not only for this, but for other reasons, such as the fact that in particular that she was the daughter of a famous delegate and ended up receiving a partial scholarship, but only if she kept up the good grades, of course.

Barbara waited for Dick in front of the busy Academy entrance every day, she always got there first, even though he lived much closer than she did. That day, Dick arrived by car with his father, John, ironically someone Babs didn't see very often. They exchanged quick words and she said goodbye happily to the former Flying Grayson. Whenever she met with one of her friend's parents, the feeling was always very satisfying, since they really liked her and the company she kept for their only child. Entering together, as they always did, they walked through the sweeping corridors of what was once Gotham's largest mansion, with its Gothic decorations and low lighting. They discussed with each other the subjects and the routine that each would have, since the small age difference between the two caused many mismatches in the time they spent together.

- Advanced Chemistry almost all day and Algebra. And you? — Barbara started

- Oh, all sorts of subjects, Calculus, International History and I still have volleyball team coaching later.

- Are we full all day, then?

- Yes…

- Well, let's enjoy the rest of the time we have today, then.

- For later plans, I assume. — Dick flashed a smile along with his closet door, revealing the stylized interior with a strong circus theme. — Let's get down to business.

- I keep forgetting how messy your closet is. — Barbara looked her up and down as her friend rummaged through the piles of books, notebooks, comics and school uniforms for a specific item — Could you decorate this corner with something that better matches what we're going to do, maybe some cave pictures, some bats…

- And make it identical to your closet?

- I can't blame myself for having good taste — She smiled, and backed away to give space to for Dick to rise from his pile of stuff.

- Here… — He was holding a notebook, one that Barbara herself decorated, with a sketch of Batman and various bat symbols pasted around it, its edges colored by blue and yellow. — Let me just find the project… Catacombs, here. I took a lot from the Silent Guardian forum, you know how there are theories that Batman moves around there, so some other users there in your neighborhood tracked down a possible location in that area through old documents from the municipal library.

- Oh… And you want to take a girl to a dark place and away from everyone to do what, huh?

- Get out! — Dick replied, with a tone of irony, but with a nervous look — Me and you? I would end up going crazy!

- I know… — She looked into the boy's eyes, who looked away, trying to hide his red face, only to find a nasty face.

- Boo! – Harley said to Dick, tongue hanging out – What's up, Dick?

- Ah… Hi Harley — Barbara replied, clearly annoyed

- I didn't talk to you, Babs! — She retorted, still with her tongue hanging out — What are the two lovebirds up to?

- Wow, your fuss about making us a couple is certainly evidence of a need to be part of one! — Dick pointed out cruelly. Harley looked back at him, really angry.

- That's not what your red face was saying, little bird! — Dick's face turned red again — That's what I thought! You know, I like your closet, the day you get fed up with her, come talk to me, I guarantee I enjoy the circus world much more than she does.

Harley was, like Dick, one of the people who deserved the spot at the academy, and that always left the dynamic duo in doubt, because they never understood how someone like her has the neurons to be part of one of the most reputable schools in the country, especially given her family's criminal history. She made to leave, but was grabbed by the arm by Barbara.

- Don't you have anything better to do than think only about yourself? — Gordon replied, irate.

- Well, but everyone loves me, you never noticed that? See my number of followers! — Quinzel took the cell, but Barbara hit her hand, making her drop the cell on the floor.

- Nobody here likes you, Harley. Just all those followers of yours who are fake enough to pretend to look up to you.

- But how dare you ... — Harley raised her hand to hit Barbara, but was stopped by another hand

- Enough of the banthering, you two. — Helena Bertinelli's voice was calm, but hard

- Stay out of it, Hel! — Harley replied mockingly, irate.

- No... No, she's right. — Barbara walked away — Thank you.

- I just don't want a headache, and you two have already caused me a lot — She let go of Harley, her apathetic gaze freezing their spines. — Behave yourselves, and see if you leave me alone.

- Okay… Ouch. — Harley rubbed her wrist, which was throbbing with the force Helena had used to stop it. She went on her way, quietly.

- Thank you, Helena. — Dick finally spoke up, in the middle of the whole situation

- You're welcome, Richard. Excuse me… — She continued walking, as if nothing had happened.

- Saved by the bell, huh Babs.

- Or by a Bertinelli fed up with me, for that matter.

Helena Bertinelli was one of those who was at Gotham Academy because her family had the money for it. Her father had a reputation far beyond being a successful “businessman” in the city, but the police were never able to arrest him for anything definitively incriminating, so there the Bertinellis continued with their pockets full of money. Despite everything, Barbara still respected Helena's space, she knew what life could be like for someone with an unstable and busy family, even more so after what happened in the last few days with her parents, so she tried to look at her colleague with eyes more human than she has for Harley. After spending some more time with Dick, they went about their school routines and arranged to meet at the entrance later.

But of course all that studying time passed like a blink of an eye for her, that day, more than any other, was one that took the young woman's attention away from other things. Her thoughts were always hazy with her father, whom she would only see over the weekend as usual, and with whatever Dick was up to for her. The possibilities always left her mind fuming, but one thing that eventually caught her eye was the possibility of seeing Batman. An idea, a plan emerged, woven by the hyperactive machinations of her young mind, but she didn't know if she could put it into practice unless the right moment came, and that was up to time to tell. When the study period was over, the recreation period was in place, the two hurried to catch a taxi, wanting to reach the docks and investigate the supposed entrance to the catacombs before curfew, which was one of the disadvantages of studying in a boarding school.

It was at the edge of the coast that the two of them found themselves, trying to slip through any wall steep enough to be a possible passage to the underground. They both had a lot of fun moving, and Dick was able to flaunt his expertise as a gymnast to his friend, and she was always churning with his need to flaunt his skills as an acrobat whenever possible.

- You don't have to show all the flexible joints you have… Or lack of them…

- What is it? — Dick gave a short playful laugh and put his left hand around his ear, enjoying the moment

- Nothing, honey — Barbara stuck her tongue out at Dick, his smile from ear to ear with her friend's praise, which he always took advantage of.

- That's what I thought.

- It's sunset… — She stared at the horizon of the harbor, the sunset in Gotham was red, the sky was very polluted and the color was, at the same time, beautiful and terrifying.

- Red has always been one of my favorite colors — Dick pointed out , stopping to move around the quarry to also admire the event.

- You know… I know exactly why the sky is red at this time of day, I should be… Revolted, I think.

- But don't you get revolted?

- Not completely… I mean, it brings me a strange comfort. I was born and raised here, no wonder.

- Speaking of things to admire… Come here.

The two approached a strange deformation on that stone parapet in the harbor. They looked at each other for a few seconds and began to grope the surface, looking for any clues that could lead them to the so-called passage. The one who discovered the secret was Barbara herself. Sliding one of her hands into an opening, she called her partner closer, and together they tried to move one of the rocks on the wall. It took a lot of force until a slip occurred, and a large stone shifted out of its socket in the wall. They took a moment to breathe and assess what they had just done. The two positioned themselves, Barbara pushing the stone on one side while Dick pulled on the other, and it didn't take long for their efforts to pay off.

The rock slid, almost rolling over Dick, who had to throw himself into the water to avoid being hit. It fell a little more than a meter from where Barbara was, but the girl only reacted to the friend who had crashed, screaming to see if he was okay. After she got the answer from seeing him swim to shore, she turned to where the quarry, opened. A very shadowy opening, almost as if everything she could see ceased to exist a few inches in front of her, the passage really was real! As she watched the darkness, she pondered whether the best thing to do was wait for her friend, or muster up the courage to enter the unknown for herself. She was really curious to know if she could find any structure inside, an actual catacomb or just a cave.

- Babs?! – Dick yelled, still trying to dry his clothes.

– Yeah?! — Her voice echoed into the passage, a long and deep echo.

- Is everything okay?!

- I…! — She ended up at a loss for words, the darkness seemed too busy for her.

Sounds of flapping wings echoed inside the night passage, and she could have no reaction but to wait, her eyes transfixed by discovery and the unknown. Dick ended up noticing her gaze, something that never really resulted in a good thing, and so he tried to run to catch up with her. As he finally approached Barbara, something came out of the passageway. Not just one thing, but several. A whole colony of enraged bats, awakened by Barbara's voice, flew out of the opening like a shapeless mass of darkness, a gestalt of night creatures that had swallowed young Gordon, who still lay static in their midst. Grayson didn't know what to do, and it took him a few seconds to really think about what action to take, running back to their bags, and quickly pulling a flare inside the items they'd brought.

His clothes were still damp, and all this running made the situation worse, his body very cold, he was shaking a lot as he tried not to trip in the middle of the way. When he was close to the rodent cloud, he lit the flare, and threw himself inside, starting to disperse the ruckus. It didn't take long for them to start flying back into the cave, revealing Barbara's figure again, in a situation that Dick had not imagined. She was standing, static in the same place, the hood of the blouse she was wearing pulled up, her fingers outstretched, making gentle movements in the wind. He put his hand on her shoulder, waiting for a reaction, but she remained silent as the last bats flew through her arms.

- Barbara? – He whispered

– … Yes? — She finally turned her head to him, still facing away from her friend. Dick had never seen her so calm and even still.

- You…?

- I didn't get hurt. Just standing still makes the trick.

- It's all right. You want help? — Dick approached, but she took his hand off her shoulder and walked away

- No. Let's continue?

- Actually, it's getting late, we should go back. In fact, we should stop by my parents' house first and get a change of dry clothes so no one at the Academy will notice.

- Oh yeah. — She remembered what she had planned, removing her hood and returning to her usual posture — Come with me.