It's just another Monday
Boredom make me ill
Life can just be fun, babe
Yeah, really that's your deal
So, you're standing here then
I won't be home till late
Anecdotic pleasure
Don't do, not say nothing

∞

The rest of the week is spent in a calm. Everyone in the group- in our year, really- adapted Tim and I being back together. People continued to suck up and talk sweet; everything seemed normal.

I chose to believe that what Cole said was untrue. That Tim and McKenzie were not walking to each other's lockers, but that Cole was just jealous and will say anything.

That belief has held up all this time, even until this Friday night. I'm avoiding the steam pouring off of Bambi's hair, as she pulls the straightener down one section of black locks, turning waves to pins.

"I don't understand why you have to straighten it," Aiden comments, leaning against the bathroom wall behind us. 

Bambi grins at her boyfriend, "Change is good."

"Unless it's not," I murmur, turning my head side to side a few times before deciding that my hair and makeup is perfect. Now it's just the dress, shoes and jewellery.

We're currently at Bambi's house; myself, Tim, Aiden, Jake and Brett. Milan and Lucas are together somewhere else, getting ready.

Which means the atmosphere is actually nice.

Bambi believes someone overheard our conversation in World History about Lucas' crush, and has told Milan. I think she's right; but I don't think it was just anyone. I think Cole told her.

In Bambi's room, our dresses are hanging up on the wardrobe door. Mine is black, hers is white. I could have gone either way; you can never go wrong with either and therefore they are flawless shades.

I lock Bambi's door and reach for mine, slipping it on.

It should cover the marks. 

Bambi and I swap. She goes into the room to change and I, after slipping on some black flats (I don't need to be any taller) head downstairs to where Tim, Brett and Lucas are.

"You like nice," Tim says with a soft smile. Ah, he should see himself. I mean, he probably has. But I mean through my eyes....He looks...

"I always look nice."

I sit beside him as he rolls his eyes with a chuckle. Jake gives me a knowing smile when Tim seems to unconsciously put one arm over the back of the sofa behind me. Suddenly, Brett jumps up.

"Are you ready to get your-" He does a spin and points one hand up and the other down "-Groove on?"

The three of us stare at him in silence. The group idiot stays in that position, looking between us with an excited expression, waiting for a response. 

"Idiot," Jake huffs under his breath. Happy with the acknowledgement, Brett move his stance into a fully fledged dab just as Bambi and Aiden hit the landing.

"Why are we dabbing?" I hear Bambi ask as I stand up.

"You never need a reason to dab," Brett says, sentence finishing with an elbow jab from Jake. Tim's wide grin at his friends' antics is honestly the cutest thing I've seen all year.

Outside, the limo arrives to take us to this stupid school dance. I could say I'm going to 'have fun with my friends' but that would be a partial lie.

I'm going to flaunt Tim in front of McKenzie. I'm going to flaunt myself in front of the other girls. I'm going to flaunt my dress in front of the fake 'designers'.

I'm going, just to remind them, who's boss.

Who is perfect.

"Hey," I feel a cold hand on my arm. I flash Tim a content smile that doesn't fool him for a second. I see the familiar concern in his eyes.

Fight the monster down, fight the monster down. 

"Are you okay?" He asks as everyone starts climbing into the sleek black vehicle. It's not unusual at Gotham Academy to attend a dance in one of these, especially since the dance will be at an actual venue.

"Of course," I tell him, batting mascara-coated eyelashes. Before we get into the limo I reach out and touch Tim's face gently. I lean in and kiss his cheek quickly. "I'm perfect."

The ride to the school consists of Bambi, Tim and Aiden trying to suggest girls that Jake and Brett could dance with during the slow songs. 

I have Tim, Bambi has Aiden and for some reason Milan still has Lucas. 

"Most girls are too frightened to go near you guys 'cause you hang out with Adelaide and Tim. They think you're too popular," Bambi ponders, tapping her chin as she stares at the roof.

"When, little do they know, one of you is nice and the other is a loser."

"Don't talk about Jake like that!" Brett jokes back at Aiden, once again getting elbowed by Jake.

"What about Britana Simmons?" Tim suggests to Brett.

He pouts, "She's cute and all, but she's kind of too..." Brett begins awkwardly. Several words run through my mind; loose, flirty, wild, pinball.

"Oh yeah," I chime in, "It's in the book."

"Kimi Jing?" Tim tries again.

"Sexual favours for homework."

"Actually Milan wrote that and I'm about 99% sure that it's a lie she made up because Lucas and Kimi used to walk to school together," I say.

"We should go through the GA Burn Book and take out everything those other two air-heads put in," Bambi suggests. 

"Speaking of airheads, what about Kelly or Kelsey?"

I give Brett a sharp look, "If you touch either of them you can't come back to us without a doctor's certificate."

"And IQ results," Jake adds in, making me laugh.

"So," Tim, a calm in the small space begins, "Brett needs someone a little more intellectual to balance things out and Jake needs a girl that's classy."

Everyone sits in a few seconds of silence, contemplating then agreeing with his words. I mirror Bambi and Aiden by slipping my hand into Tim, proud of his conclusion.

"Someone classy..." Aiden trails off.

"Dani Koen?" Brett suggests for Jake.

"Gay," Bambi and I chime.

"Do you to know everything about everyone or what!?"

{I'm too hot to handle, Blame it on the moonlight, Just blame it on my youth}

Arriving at the venue, a dinner room with a dance floor in, you guessed it, a Wayne hotel, it was already dark. Students are still in the lobby taking selfies or dragging senior class photographers over.

The six of us get out, Tim not letting go of my hand. Brett offers his hand to Jake but the taller indignantly slaps his hand away.

All eyes on us when we walk in is a pleasant feeling. I make sure to hit all the points with savage eyes; McKenzie, Riley, Perrie, Cole, Kelly, Kelsey. All of them.

As we walk through the lobby there are different girls running up to tell me excitedly how they 'love my dress' or 'how pretty I look' or 'what shade of Jeffree Star is that?'. By the way, it's Dreamhouse.

There are guys doing that lame bro-high-five thing and honestly Tim couldn't look any less interested.

"You're giving them the cold response. Am I rubbing off on you?" I murmur in his ear, before stopping to take a selfie with Bambi.

When I'm back at his side he responds, "Actually I'm getting used to dealing with fake people."

"Ah, the musings of the future Wayne Enterprises CEO," I say. Mr Roland announces that the main room is opening. Everyone starts to move towards the opening doors.

I notice Tim looks a little bit thoughtful now, and it only takes a few seconds to realise why.

"Not that you'd need to be nervous. You're you, after all. You're the best."

The compliment draws Tim out of his reverie. When he looks at me with wide, blinking eyes, I see a faint blush dust those pale cheeks.

It makes me smile in return. "You're perfect," I tell him, because it's true. In every possible way he is flawless.

"Outta the way Tim, this is our song!" I hear Bambi exclaim as she knocks Tim aside, grabs my wrist and starts pulling me towards the dance floor, a song already playing and people already awkwardly jiving.

I glance back at Tim to grin at him, but see him with an odd expression on his face instead.

He knows.

Of course he does.

Dammit. 

◊

◊

Bruce is getting tired of this. Too many kids, too many hard childhoods and as a result, far too many young villains.

The duo of Illusion and Spice had been his latest source of anxiety.

Illusion; Female. Teenager. Aged 15-18. 5"6. Fit build. Black hair. Medium skin-tone. Slight north-American accent. 

Spice; Female. Teenager. Aged 13-16. 5"5. Slim build. Brunette. Medium skin-tone. American accent. 

Sisters. The detective knew straight away. He has a list of suspects and finds himself somewhat glad that Tim is once again getting close to the name at the top of the Spice list.

Adelaide Jackson. Seeing her in Tim's room the previous day had practically confirmed that she was the one behind the white mask. Therefore, her sister Ellery is likely to be Illusion.

He has been one to make assumptions before and the results aren't always pleasing. Bruce needs to take his time with this.

And maybe, just maybe, he could save these ones.

Right as that thought crosses the vigilante's mind, the Batcomputer illuminating his features beeps loudly. Immediately a video conversation with Nightwing opens, black hair and mask concealing most of his expression from Bruce's view, but the man can still see the grin.

"Nightwing?"

"You're never going to guess what I've got for you."

Before Bruce can ask, his eldest is manoeuvring his arm so the the camera of his wrist computer includes the person he is with.

And there, standing stoically is Illusion herself. Batman watches her in a frozen, statue-like state, before she gains the confidence to speak.

"I-I can tell you where to find Black Mask."

∞

I can wait, but not forever, shut up
But not for long
Goodbye, but not forever
Can't close my eyes
I love it until I leave it
I breathe until I burn, I burn
My mind show in your face
I want your love, I want your love