The Batwing Effect

III

(Warnings: ab*se, dr*gs and alc*h*l! All in all perhaps a darker chapter but this isn't the norm for the rest of the story! Probably only for this one chapter)

The end of September marked the beginning of colder times, only weakly the sun's beams reached Gotham from beneath a cover of dreary, grey clouds. And yet, Bruce was covered in sweat as he sat in the principal's office, breathing heavily as his heart beat in rage, pumping blood into his fists. Next to him, Jack with his hair soaked in blood, hanging low within his face, a cocky grin on his lips like he couldn't give a care in the world sitting here. The image of it made the billionaire even angrier, this guy believed he was above the world and its people, didn't care about the rules, didn't care about Bruce when he thought he did.

"I just called your parents, they're going to be here soon", Gordon sighed unnerved as he let himself fall onto his chair, by the look on his face already tired of riots on the first day of school. He crossed his fingers on the desk and spared the boys a sharp glance.
"Anything you wanna say in your defence?"
Not a word was spoken, Bruce was slumped back in chair, his arms crossed over his chest, strictly avoiding to look at neither the guy next to him, nor the man in front of him who pierced his eyes through him expectantly.
"You know, Mister Wayne", he began and the boy let out an annoyed sigh.
"When we first heard you were transferring here back from Switzerland with top grades and a promising record, we were hoping our institution could provide you with the necessary education to push you to your best potential. And now look at you, sitting here in my office like any other brute, making me wonder whether my hopes had been too high."

Bruce felt a slight ache in his chest, he had always thrived to be the best and knew he was better than that. The circumstances just hadn't been in his favour.
"But you know, I'm a forgiving man. I believe in the good in people, so tell me why you do not belong to those every day bullies whom I'm going to send home every week."
With a crack in his pride, Bruce tried finding an acceptable explanation for his behaviour, any reassurance that he wouldn't ever find himself in such a situation again. But he couldn't, he didn't know when the next time would be that he'd be knocked unconscious by that grinning clown's gang and that made him clench his fists that his knuckles turned white. Gordon seemed to have noticed for he suddenly lowered his glasses and studied the boy closely.
"I've heard both sides of the story and so far, we can't make the connection between the boys who attacked you and Mister White but fighting is never an acceptable answer. The boys you mentioned have been questioned and will be held accountable for their actions but if you wanna do yourself a favour, find the strength within your head, not your fists, Mister Wayne, and alert a teacher next time."

Bruce didn't know what to say or whether he even wanted to agree with the man but was unexpectedly saved as Jack commented on the man's advice with a loud snort. Gordon's head immediately shot to him, punishing him with a sharp look of irritation.
"No need to be shy, Mister White. Is there anything you want to say?"
"No, Sir, I'm just surprised rich boy didn't run for someone to protect his privileged ass right away", he giggled mockingly that Bruce wished for the principal to give him permission to knock him unconscious.
"I had great hopes for you", the man began in a bothered tone that Bruce slowly felt a satisfied grin emerge on his bloody lips.
"You promised me this year would be different. How come we have another case of violence with you involved?"
"Perhaps the drugs didn't work", he mumbled with his hands covering his mouth that the man didn't hear him.
"What was that?", he asked perplexed while Bruce's eyes shot open at the words. Did he really-? The billionaire never would've expected the boy, however strange he may have been, to be involved with drugs. All of a sudden, he wasn't that disappointed their friendship hadn't worked out, it was probably better this way. As he had repeated his words, louder this time, Gordon's glasses almost fell off his reddening face.