Baia tossed and turned in bed, despite being extremely exhausted, she found it difficult to drift off to sleep. She called Alfred, and got Bruce's assurance himself — he was fine. But she still felt lingering fear and unease.
"I shouldn't be here." Baia anxiously bit her nails. "I should be with them."
System: "You should trust your dad's arrangements; they're the best."
Baia: "They're the best for me, not for them."
System: "Then don't let their kindness go to waste. In any case, I don't recommend you going back and offering yourself up."
Baia: "I got it."
The night in Metropolis was clear and calm, with a moonlight slightly brighter than Gotham's, but the sky remained empty. There were no oppressive clouds or bat signals visible even from the outskirts. Baia took a deep breath; there was also no faint scent of antique wooden furniture here. She looked out at the buildings with sparse flickering lights and slowly drifted into sleep.
Baia now had a surname, a noble and deep-rooted one. But she preferred being called by her name rather than "Miss Wayne"; it sounded less distant.
After a good night's sleep, Baia woke up feeling refreshed. She cooked herself shredded pork porridge, along with eggs and butter-fried salmon. As she sat alone at the dining table, she began to feel a sense of loneliness and started to miss the great detective.
I wonder how he's getting along with Damian.
At seven in the morning, a Miami blue Tesla stopped at the entrance of Metropolis High School. The technologically advanced doors of the car slowly rose upward, resembling the wings of a flying fish. A girl stepped out, wearing a grapefruit-colored backpack slung over her shoulder. Her short, thick plaid coat and blue shirt made her look casual and understated. Baia had never tried an updo before, but today she did because she belatedly realized she had forgotten to get her hair trimmed.
After a quick scan with her lively and alert green eyes, Baia tossed her empty coffee cup into the trash can and stuffed her hands back into her pockets, standing at the school gate for a moment.
"Be a cool chick," Tony advised, opening the paper bag Baia had brought him. He frowned as he tasted the scone, then his expression softened into an appreciative one. "Otherwise, you'll be bullied to death."
"I'm from Gotham," Baia shrugged. "I guess my folks back home would only worry about me bullying them."
If all went well, she should have a few new acquaintances.
"Hello, Megan~" came a crisp and cheerful voice from behind Baia. She reacted after a moment, realizing the girl was speaking to her, thanks to the brunette girl tapping her shoulder.
"I'm Megan," she smiled, her eyes bending into crescents, seeming very friendly. Her voice was pleasant and rhythmic when she spoke. "And this is Connor."
She gestured to the relatively silent boy beside her. Baia noticed he was wearing a black T-shirt with a red "S" logo, and to avoid drawing too much attention in January, he had thrown on a jacket. He had black hair and a pair of blue eyes that seemed somewhat familiar to Baia; that shade of blue was very rare.
Connor just nodded at her.
Tim had said she wouldn't feel too lonely in Metropolis. Combined with the information he gave her, it was easy to guess the identities of these two. The pretty brunette girl was the niece of Martian Manhunter, Miss Martian, and Connor's background wasn't very clear from what Tim had said, but Baia knew he was Superboy.
"I'm Baia." Being around the lively girl made Baia feel more agile as well. She brightened up, and wanted to shake hands with them, but high schoolers didn't usually do that.
"Let's go. I don't know if we're on the same floor for class." Megan affectionately draped her arm around Baia's neck, leaving Baia feeling a bit awkward.
Compared to people in Gotham, the friends in Metropolis were really enthusiastic.
Connor lagged behind slightly, watching as Megan and Baia gradually became more familiar, the two slender girls chatting and laughing, feeling quite good himself.
Megan knew Baia's identity as well, so there was no need to pretend to be ordinary. She talked about some of the things that happened during their missions, mainly the various confusing behaviors of her big brother, Dick.
Since becoming a part of the family, the perfect filter for the Bradhaven Police Flower really was gone forever.
Because Bruce had arranged a lot of self-study content for her at the mansion, Baia didn't have to worry about falling behind. Metropolis High School was a four-year school, and she only needed to spend two more years in high school before she could start preparing for college. But she should be transferring back to Gotham next semester.
Megan, they're a bit older than Baia, so naturally, they're not in the same class. When Baia walked into her own classroom, she found herself amidst a lively group of classmates, and for a moment, no one even noticed her. It's not that Baia isn't pretty enough, it's just that she's quite adept at flying under the radar.
She casually took a seat wherever there was space.
It wasn't until the teacher introduced Baia to the rest of the class that they realized they had a new student, Baia Wayne, causing a small stir.
"Hey, who are you?" she winked at the girl at the next desk.
"Vanessa," the blonde girl at the neighboring desk responded coldly.
Baia's warmth wouldn't make Bruce or Selina uncomfortable, which just goes to show she's not all that warm. Plus, she didn't really put much effort into handling relationships with classmates; after all, her social circle isn't here, and they're all just classmates for a semester.
Since you can't force things, Baia just kept to herself and didn't bother trying to strike up conversation.
And that's why they'd talk about Baia Wayne behind her back, calling her a snooty, aloof rich girl.
Poor girl, she was just reading a book during lunch break.
"Foucault." Baia's new classmate and desk mate Vanessa leaned against the windowsill, whispering to others about her, "Either she's too pretentious or she's really just a literary weirdo."
Of course, Baia heard it all; she's not deaf. She just crossed her legs and turned another page in her book.
This book she's holding has a backstory.
After the chaotic events of Christmas, the departure of that kid, now known as "Red Hood," isn't a secret to Baia anymore. But everyone at home is tight-lipped about this past, Damian neither understands nor cares, Tim seems somewhat uncomfortable, Dick's often absent, and as for Alfred and Bruce? She doesn't want to reopen their wounds.
But wherever someone's lived, there's always some evidence left behind. Jason's room is off-limits for now, but the library is where she most "encounters" him. Here, she often catches fragments of the second Robin's past, delicate traces left like scars in this mansion.
Bruce rarely goes to the library, maybe that's part of the reason.
And Baia is getting to know him. Ace likes Jason, the big detective doesn't dislike Jason, and Alfred and Bruce need Jason, whether the latter admits it or not, and these signs mean a lot. Baia is just getting prepared.
Tim likes Gardner, loves Ellery Queen and Dickens, Jason's interests are more classical, liking Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, but this set of books in Baia's hands captures her attention more than the former. She noticed Jason expressing his opinions on some philosophical points, most of which are still immature, but he clearly has his own thoughts.
She's trying to follow in his footsteps. Grayson is the one in this household trying to mend relationships, although no one asks him to. Dick does everything because he loves Bruce, and Baia is trying to do something too, but first she needs to understand them.
But ultimately, the key is: that literary weirdo isn't her.
Of course, there are people trying to make new friends.
"Hello, Miss Wayne," the bespectacled girl stuttered, "Do you also like sociology?"
"Kinda, just call me Baia," Baia smiled warmly.
"Ugh," Vanessa scoffed, "weirdo with the bookworm."
"So today I met this Asian girl from the drama club, her name's Jasmine Yang, we went to the library together," Baia sat in the back seat of the Tesla, counting on her fingers the events of the day, "At lunch, I hung out with Megan and Connor, but the food was awful, so I think I'll start bringing my own from now on."
Friday banter: "Sounds like a good day, Baia."
Baia, all smiles: "Mr. Stark, Fridays are truly getting smarter!"
...How exactly is saying "sounds like a good day" getting smarter?
Tony had no interest in entertaining kids or chauffeuring them around, but at least on Fridays, he seemed pretty pleased to play the babysitter.
When he saw Mark 43 on TV, he immediately realized it had been modified beyond recognition. Because it lost its AI control, its firewall wasn't as reliable, but it seemed the thieves could only replace some hardware after putting up a stubborn fight. Silly gun barrels, silly goggles, silly external receiver.
It should've been shut down after Superman's sanction.
This made it difficult for Tony to track it down.
"Planet Daily hasn't closed yet," Tony said, "How about we take care of this quickly?"
The Daily Planet's globe had fallen a few times, leaving several large craters on the land where Baia now stood, sometimes narrowly saved by Superman lifting it high.
"Baia?"
A magnetic and quite gentle male voice reached Baia's ears, it was Clark Kent, the reporter she had crossed paths with before. He pushed up his black-framed glasses, seeming somewhat surprised to see Baia here.
"What are you doing here?"
"Just visiting some landmarks," Baia tapped her nose, "and, um, seeing if I'm lucky enough to meet a Pulitzer Prize winner."
Clark tilted his head slightly, listening attentively, "Oh... Lois is probably on fieldwork today."
"So, I guess I won't have the chance then," Baia's enthusiasm dimmed momentarily, then perked up again, "But meeting a future Pulitzer Prize winner isn't bad either!"
As a kid from the Bat family, she sure knows how to butter people up. Clark facepalmed inwardly.
But birds of a feather have their own secrets. There's always more than meets the eye. Clark guessed Baia's visit here wasn't entirely aimless.
Baia knew he had some connection to Superman, but she wasn't quite sure what that was. Tim wasn't too keen on telling her, because whether to tell Baia depended on Clark's own will.
"Do you have something else to do?" Clark chuckled.
"Just curious. Metropolis is quite different from Gotham," Baia said, "There are quite a few oddballs here. Like aliens or weird stuff." ...Gotham is clearly the land of talents, though?
"What aliens?" Clark looked puzzled. Baia sounded serious when she spoke, not like she was probing, and referring to Superman as 'alien' sounded slightly unfriendly, so she probably wasn't talking about him.
"Picked this up on the way." Baia said.
Stark's watch, a slight tap and it can wrap around your palm, turning into a palm cannon.
Now, with a humble Friday inside.
As the watch started to transform, Clark's Kryptonian blue eyes subtly lit up, a characteristic when he used X-ray vision. It's this kind of tech that caught his attention with its X-ray results.
Not that it's far beyond the world's tech level, it's just... completely different.
Like something plucked from another branch of technology.
"Mind handing it over to me?" Clark said, "I can give it to Superman, then check where it's from."
Baia leaned in, blinking, "So you're quite close with Superman, huh?"
...Compared to her dad and brother who silently investigate people thoroughly, leaving backdoor programs in the Batcave, this indirect approach is too cute.
The Kryptonian, being wooed in such a fancy way by Stark, felt a tad touched.
"Sort of," Clark said, knowing his secret identity was impossible to keep, but wanting to tease her a bit, "Want Superman's autograph?"
"Nah," Baia stuck out her tongue, "He lifts me in the air the moment we meet, so scary."
...Clark decided to keep his secret identity a little longer.
"So does Superman study these things?" Baia asked curiously, "At the Watchtower?"
"Sometimes it's better to send them to the STAR Labs," Clark explained, "If the threat isn't too big."
Baia nodded, getting the info she wanted, then suddenly turned dull, waving at Clark, "Got it. Well, it's getting late, so I'll head off. I'll come back another day if I have time!"
Clark realized she wanted to get some information from him, and she succeeded. Truly, Wayne kids are never easy to handle; she couldn't even bother to pretend.
"So this is STARLAB, huh? Let's go check it out. Once it's online, Friday will give us the specific coordinates," Tony tinkered with the tablet.
Baia worried, "Speaking of Friday, is she really okay?"
"No worries, at worst, she'll get formatted or deleted or something. She's an AI, what can they do to her?"
"Sounds good, BOSS," whether Baia misheard or Friday was being sarcastic, "But please, Miss Wayne, don't worry. That's just a copy of me."
"Hey, you should relearn how to talk to your dad, Friday!"
"Speaking of which, is that name from 'Robinson Crusoe'? Okay, you're Robinson, she's Friday, then what am I?" Baia pointed to herself.
"You're the parrot."
"Huh?"
"Robinson had a parrot, you're the parrot."