Jason didn't regret a lot of things. But this. The academy. Yeah, he was starting to regret this move. It wasn't because he had to wait in the parking lot alongside the other recruits who were all wondering whether or not they arrived on the right day and time until the instructors decided to give them entry. It wasn't that the instructors shouted in their faces and forced the recruits— Jason included—to do pushups for violating some academy policy that none of them had ever heard of twelve steps past the gates. Not even because they were reprimanded very loudly for getting their uniforms dirty due to said pushups being performed on the very filthy asphalt. It wasn't even the fact that they were forced into formation and marched through the academy like soldiers to receive locker, dorm, and seating assignments. Or for being yelled out for not marching quickly enough. Or not bringing proper items such as biodegradable shit that anyone who wasn't raised by environmental nuts didn't care a single fuck about. Or being forced to do mountain climbers because someone—not Jason oddly enough—had died their hair. Or told to do handstands until they were red in the face because a few recruits had piercing holes in their faces even though the jewelry was nowhere to be seen. Or having to stand next to their desks because they had to await proper orders to do something as simple as placing their ass on the seat. Or getting yelled at for not saluting the retired chief who just so happened to be sitting in the back of the room wearing jeans and a t-shirt that everyone had thought was the instructor's ghost of Christmas future who was simply there to make certain that if all the marching and shouting and pushups and other random exercises hadn't driven them crazy, he would. Not even because they took their seats as commanded but forgot to say "Sir, yes sir!" and were forced to do it again like naughty dogs who had to do tricks over and over until they were perfect before they were even allowed to get a treat. Except they didn't get treats. They were yelled at and forced to do wall sits for showing off. And amidst all the verbal and physical abuse they were supposed to learn academy rules, drills, and ceremony procedures. But most of them forgot everything they were supposed to have memorized the previous day and were yelled at and forced to do more physically demanding shit that wasn't helping them memorize anything other than how to properly do an exercise. No, his regret wasn't because of any of that nonsense. It was because they were ordered to clean out the microwave in the break room that Jason knew hadn't been cleaned since before he was born.

Jason was not touching that shit. Not with gloved hands. Not with a stick. Not even the steel wool the instructor handed to him specifically because he saw the look of utter revulsion on Jason's face. And Jason was from Gotham. He'd seen junkies homes that didn't look half as gross as the inside of that fucking microwave and he said so as much as he grabbed the box and tossed it out a closed window breaking the glass and making the entire class and anyone who was in close proximity cheer when they heard it bust into pieces as it landed on the ground from two stories up. The instructor shut everyone up and got in Jason's face for a full-blown spit in his face reprimand that Jason endured and then answered, "What microwave, sir?" before he was forced alongside everyone else to do one hundred mountain climbers, walk sits, and pushups. He regretted thinking the academy was all a good idea until the end of the day when the instructor held him back after class and said in a solemn voice, "If today is anything to go by, I'm expecting great things out of you, recruit. And I don't mean here in the Academy but out in the field after you graduate. Out there you need to push the limits of your orders and in some cases defy them because those we swear to protect will definitely be willing to put any of us down at a moment's notice. But you didn't hear that from me. That said, there better be a new microwave in that break room before breakfast."

That night, Jason snuck off the academy grounds for an impromptu middle of the night run to a twenty-four-hour store with no one being the wiser. A new microwave awaited everyone the next day during lunch break. And Jason had not been caught leaving or returning to the academy grounds. The rest of the week was pretty much the same as the first couple of days. It wasn't until the second week that classroom time was divided up with physical training and other things they had to learn to become competent police officers. About twenty percent of the recruits were gone before the end of week two since they couldn't handle how demanding the course was. At the start of the third week, Jason had a new roommate. Derek Roberts. He was charming and in his mid-twenties; tall, bronzed skin, soft blue eyes, and very short, straight, dark brown hair. He'd introduced himself to Jason with a wide smile and firm handshake. And just happened to be one of two recruits that didn't give off a nervous air to him while in close proximity. He hadn't gotten to know anyone else. He wasn't trying to since he was still learning the ropes and had finally decided he was going to see the academy through. He had to admit it was a perfect cover.

The academy gave recruits weekend passes to leave campus, which Jason took full advantage. He'd leave right after they were dismissed on Friday and return right before classes began again Monday morning. Though everyone noticed, no one brought it up. Not since Jason had pitched a microwave through a window. Everybody gave Jason a wide berth except the instructors. They were more prone to single him out and give him hell. But his academy instructors were nowhere near as intimidating as an angry Batman. And so Jason took everything in stride with full-blown grins that got everyone in trouble. Yet, no one except for a recruit by the name of Winters—Lindsay Winters to be exact—complained about it. She was 5' 7" had an athletic build with pale skin, alert brown eyes and long, curly, auburn hair that she kept tied back. She always seemed to glare at Jason whenever he caught her looking at him and though he gave her a blank stare, he knew he would never get along with her. And it had nothing to do with the fact that she wasn't afraid to voice her opinion. He didn't know why really, she just always seemed angry at him and he couldn't help it if his hackles rose in her presence.

Jason tended to keep to odd hours even with the strict academy schedule they were given. Starting at six in the morning until five in the evening. The cafeteria served dinner right after classes were over. Jason ate, usually with Derek, who knew that Jason wasn't up for conversation after a tiring day. Afterwhich, he showered and crashed for a couple of hours sometimes longer. If he happened to wake up before Derek went to bed, they chatted or made their way to the common room together. Some of the recruits tended to take advantage of the grounds. Jason took to the roofs instead of standing around with other recruits while he snuck a cigarette or two. And so on a particular day that he happened to be squatting on the roof of the dorms, he saw Winters walking into the building. A couple of recruits, Nevin and Crespo, didn't just stop at checking out her ass but had to fucking comment on it. Winters ignored them with a roll of her eyes. But Nevin was even bolder and actually went to grab it. Winters caught the movement from the corner of her eye and spun to face him, stopping him in his tracks. Her glare elicited a chuckle from both recruits.

Jason hadn't waited for the entire scene to play out, he'd jumped down from the roof onto a tree and then waited for Winters to cuss the pair out before she stormed into the building. The two wolf-whistled and laughed at her even after she was gone until Jason dropped down from the tree in front of the pair. They both flinched and took a step back.

One was shorter than the other, and it seemed like Nevin was the one with the deranged brain cells that egged Crespo into conspiring with him in whatever the two got into. And this wasn't the first time either of them fucked with the female recruits. There were only three in their class but ten females total on campus. But they didn't stop at them, they fucked with anyone who was a little different. Gay, religious, poor, or of a different race. The fact that they were both white males with egos the size of Texas didn't help their cases. Jason imagined Nevin was raised by bigots. Perhaps they were a product of their environments but it was Jason's calling to give them a Red Hood experience without the fanfare of the name or helmet.

"That was very amusing, dipshits," Jason said and took the last puff of his cigarette before putting it out.

"Is this guy for real?" Crespo said taking a step forward suddenly feeling a little braver. He wasn't going to let the crazy microwave throwing asshole intimidate him.

"Maybe he's her boyfriend," Nevin teased with a snicker.

"Or I'm a guardian angel," Jason said with a smirk making both recruits snort derisively. "Or I could be the devil incarnate. Which do you prefer?"

That got the attention of a few others within hearing range. Though they kept their distance as they watched the scene play out.

Jason cracked his neck and began to pop his knuckles.

"What are you going to do?" Nevin said stalking forward. "Are you going to take us both on just to claim that pu—?"

Jason punched Nevin in the throat before he finished talking. Nevin clutched at his throat coughing and backing away. Jason stood his ground and relaxed his posture. If anyone was watching from the windows of the building they were standing in front of or the offices of nearby buildings, it would just look like Nevin had a coughing fit. Maybe it was their imagination that Jason had punched the guy in the throat just to shut him up. Because come on, who does that?

"What the fuck, man?" Crespo said lifting his hands up defensively. Then lowering them when he noticed the audience they had.

"I don't want to catch either of you treating anyone the way you treated Winters," Jason said lowering his voice taking a step forward making both of them take a step back.

"Come on, man, we were just fucking around," Crespo said in irritation and forced a fake chuckle. "It didn't mean anything."

"It means you're a piece of trash that has no respect for others," Jason said in a menacing tone pitched so only the two in front of him could hear while he glared at the other man. "She didn't like it. I didn't like it. I don't want to see that again. You understand?"

"Yeah, sure, man," Crespo said in a shaky voice that let Jason know he'd made the other man understand how dangerous he could be. And hopefully meant they wouldn't act like assholes any time soon.

Crespo grabbed Nevin's arm to pull him away. He went around Jason's reach and back into the building.

"What a fucking prick," Nevin said as the door closed behind him.

"Shut the hell up, idiot," Crespo told him as he kept dragging his friend along who was still clutching at his throat.

Jason just watched them go down the hall for a beat before he made his way inside the building as well. And the silence that had settled around him came to an abrupt end. He heard people resume conversations and started shuffling so that they were no longer facing in his direction. He hadn't wanted to call attention to himself—more than he normally did. But he hoped that what he did would inspire others to speak up for one another. He rubbed a hand through his hair and realized he'd rather be on patrol. He'd been going out on weekends but he didn't think it would be a good idea for the Red Hood to make an appearance in New York. So far he'd just worn a balaclava mask but he scared most of the people he was trying to save. At first, it was funny until he got kicked in the nuts. He just hadn't expected such a violent reaction from a chick who'd he'd just saved from a mugging. And he hadn't been out trying to stop petty crimes only wanting to get to know the area he was going to call home soon. But ever since before he put on the Robin suit, he had never been able to stand back and watch when he knew he could step in and help. And it wasn't the first time his nuts were in danger, it was just the first time he'd forgotten that fear got the best of people and would make them lash out. And the chick had run off before Jason could tell her he wasn't a threat. Not that he could've when he was groaning and in pain. But once he found his voice, he had to laugh and call himself an idiot. He needed a suit, but he wouldn't wear his own. He had something completely different in mind.

Jason pulled out his phone and dialed Tim's phone number just as Derek walked into their room. He sighed inwardly. He thought he would be able to speak to Tim privately. If he would've known, he would have just texted instead.

"Hey, Jay," Tim said half-asleep and yawned.

"Hey, darling," Jason said with a sly smile looking over at Derek and winking. Derek just chuckled under his breath and made his way to his bed. "I know it's kind of late but I had to hear your voice."

"Yeah, yeah. Thanks for the wake-up call. What do you want?"

"Oh, that's what I love to hear, Tam-bear. So much love," Jason said with a cocky chuckle.

"Is someone listening?"

"You know I love you, babe," Jason said and looked over at Derek who'd placed some earbuds in and even from where Jason was sitting, he could hear the music.

"I take it that's a yes. What was the point of calling then?" Tim said and yawned again.

Jason let out an aggravated breath.

"Alright, he's giving me some privacy for a sec. I'm going to text you what I need. Think you can come down this way this weekend?"

"Yeah, sure." Tim yawned very loudly. Jason heard Tim's neck pop. He grimaced. "No prob."

"Great! See you then!"