Tim woke up in a cold sweat. It was dark in his cramped little cubicle room. Someone was knocking on the glass door.

"Tim?"

It was Jose, one of the detention center's guards.

Tim wiped his damp forehead and sat up.

"Yes?" Tim's voice croaked.

"It's dinner time, boy." Jose said with a curt nod as he unlocked and opened the door.

Tim straightened his shirt and tie as he walked into the lit hallway. The lights blinded him and he became all too aware of a pounding headache behind his temples. His stomach groaned and his backside ached. Ah yes, the discipline he received from Dick. Tim felt terrible and was sure he looked it as well. Of course, he couldn't let the other boys know he had already been beat down. It was only the first day.

He forced his face into a smug look and took up a more confident stride as he came into the cafeteria. He refused to look weak in front of these boys.

SMACK!

The smug look was quickly replaced with one of confusion and terror. Up on the wide stage at the front of the dining room sat four boys in a row. Except they weren't sitting so much as bent over a long bench, each one of their backsides exposed for the whole cafeteria to see. And there was Ms. Stark, front and center, wielding a nastily familiar-looking paddle.

Tim' s hand went up to cover his mouth in shock.

"Keep moving," Jose hissed in his ear, "The dinner line won't stay open all night."

Tim was all too happy to have a reason to look away from the embarrassing scene before him. A spaghetti dinner was handed to him on a beige tray along with a carton of milk and his was pointed to his seat. Most of the other boys had finished eating already, though a few were still staring at their trays, forcing small bites to their mouths. Some boys winced with each smack that rang out from the stage, while others tried to hide giggles and smirks.

Tim couldn't quite make out who was getting it. He quietly wondered if Frankie was up there.

"Gregory was caught with two packs of cigarettes underneath his bed. Five strokes."

Ms. Stark's clear voice rang out across the room. She then proceeded with the five smacks, pausing between each one as if for dramatic effect. There were stage lights on, and Ms. Stark's blonde hair shined like honey in the sun as she moved with confidence and precision. She turned for a moment and Tim caught a glimpse of her face - on it was plastered a bright and cheerful smile, belied by fierce and angry eyes. Tim shuddered.

Tim's backside still hurt, but at this moment he was so happy to be amongst the crowd of boys, and not one of the few alienated upon the stage. After Ms. Stark finished with Gregory, she told the boys they were allowed to get up. They all struggled to their feet, righted their clothing, and turned to face the woman and the rest of the cafeteria.

"Thank you for our correction." All four voices rang out at once.

"You are very, very welcome." Ms. Stark beamed. The boys walked toward her one at a time, and - Tim couldn't believe his eyes - hugged her. She held on to each boy for a moment, whispered something in his ear, and then the boys came shakily down to take their seats.

"What the?" Tim hadn't realized he was speaking aloud.

"Pretty nuts, isn't it?" A voice whispered beside him.

Tim turned to his right and saw a red-haired boy, about his age and height, shaking his head.

"Just...in front of everyone?" Tim questioned.

"Every. Single. Night." The red-haired boy nodded, "You're new here, right?"

"Yeah, the name's Tim. Tim Drake."

"Howdy. My name's Theo, but everyone calls me Tex, on account of the fact that I'm from Texas." Tex winked and smirked. He had an earnest yet mischievous look on his freckled face.

"Hey Tex, nice to meet you." Tim genuinely meant what he said, he felt that Tex was a pretty good kid, and he had only just glimpsed him. Tim was pretty good with first impressions.

"Psst, Drake, we'd better talk later. Do you have recreation time free?" Tex eyed a nearby guard warily.

"Uh...I don't know." Tim shrugged.

"Well, if they don't lead you to do chores, you might have recreation time. I'll be putting a puzzle together in the corner of the recreation room, that's where you'll find me." Tex winked again before quickly shoving a wheat roll into his mouth just as a guard crossed behind them.

"Timothy Drake?"

Tim heard his name called out in that clear, conniving voice, and his blood went cold. All eyes turned to look at him.

Tim glanced up towards the stage where Ms. Stark stood, waiting expectantly.

"Tim, please come up here."

Tex elbowed him and Tim lurched off his seat. Ms. Stark no longer had the paddle in her hand and was smiling broadly.

"Timothy is our newest pupil. He'll be staying with us for several months, at least." Tim reached Ms. Stark and she put her hands on his shoulders and squeezed.

"Please welcome Timothy into our home with open arms. I'm sure a delightful pal is in it for you, as he is filled with such promise." Ms. Stark's voice cracked with emotion as she squeezed even harder.

Wow, Tim thought. She really does believe she's doing some kind of good, or at least she's a fantastic pretender.

"Now, if you'll put away your trays it's time for recreation and chores before bed, children."

Immediately the cafeteria was alive with chatter as boys rushed to put away their trays, talk with each other, and clap the backs of the punished few. Tim saw Frankie talking animatedly to a gathered crowd in the back. He wondered how long it would be til he could get into that crowd, find out more information about the young gang and its leaders.

Ms. Stark leaned in close to Tim, distracting him, and he could smell her sweet perfume (lilac?), "How was your first day, Timothy?"

Tim shrugged his shoulders, "It was alright."

"Too bad Officer Grayson had to punish you." She tsked, "But better you learn quickly, so you can excel quickly too."

Tim gave a half-hearted nod, it was so hard to play nonchalant with her. Every fiber of his being begged him to obey and please. Up close her lips looked full and red, her eyes a bright blue. She reminded him of someone.

"I'm sure you'll have a better tomorrow." Ms. Stark's perfectly straight white teeth bit down on her bottom lip, "I'd hate to see you end up here tomorrow night."

This time Tim's nod was honest. He didn't want to see that either.

"Good boy, on to recreation with you."

Tim stumbled away from the sweet smelling angel, no, *devil*, towards the hallway doors. Her perfume lingered in his nostrils and he felt dizzy. Maybe she wasn't as old as he thought. His limbs tingled and he shook his head to get rid of that terrible feeling. That terrible feeling that he wanted Ms. Stark to like him.