(no subject)

[teambatgirl]

Batgirl is standing on the edge of a rooftop and watching the ghostly populace of London hurrying through the cold winter evening. She's on her own tonight. Usually there's a game of tag with the other Batgirl between patrols or pestering Robin, but not tonight. Sometimes a vigilante has to do the lone wolf thing, even though she is normally all about the teamwork.

The rooftop's her favorite that's she's found so far with a perfect view of a busy intersection and a little bit out of the wind, even if there is a distinct lack of gargoyles to perch upon dramatically. Her costume" is not exactly built for frosty weather, but then neither were Dick or Jason's and they managed. At least she's got thick, long socks on and sensible combat boots, no pixie shoes here.

It's not like there's a lot of crime to be stopped, or much of any to be precise. Maybe there are phantom pickpockets, ghostly muggers and shadowy criminals and murders preying on the city, with an equally spooky Scotland Yard tracking them down, but none that the corporeal Batgirl can interact with or put a stop to. It's occurred to her to wonder just what she and the rest of the island people look like to the rest of the city. Maybe they're the ghostly ones, and she's Casper than friendly neighborhood hero up here to them.

She feels, more than hears or sees, when a person joins her on the roof. A prickle of alarm goosebumps on top of her 'it's December in London and really damn cold' goosebumps. Stephanie doesn't turn to the new arrival. There's only one person who sends that dread-excitement-awe mix twisting in her stomach.

Comments

[crusaded]

"And you're going to stand here and tell me that this changes nothing?" I ask, incredulity pushing through in the tone of my voice, arms crossing over my chest. I find it impossible to believe that this doesn't complicate matters. Being able to reconcile one's emotions with one's actions may seem easier in the moment, in a place like this one.

But we're not looking to live as civilians, are we?

"Or that you would compare this to how I engage with the others. With how our relationship has worked, no less."

[teambatgirl]

She tilts her chin up, voice even. "I am standing here telling you that it will not impact my or her ability to be Batgirl, to get home, or to help people, yes."

It's easy to be confident in this, in them, even in front of him. Easy to trust her gut when it feels this right. But Spoiler was never as good on her own as Batgirl was with people at her back.

"How is it different from how you are with other people?" She avoids mentioning Catwoman, but just barely. "I'm serious, is romantic love so profoundly different than all the people you care about?"

"I didn't say anything about our relationship." Her mouth twists, still a smile but with that optimistic idealism replaced with something more cynical. But she doesn't look away from him. She's learned harder lessons than this. "You're not emotionally compromised by me. The past and present Robins, sure. Batgirl. Oracle. I can appreciate I'm a different case."

[crusaded]

"That isn't what I meant."

I doubt that outlining my reasoning down to every last detail would help. If anyone tries to suggest that there is nothing different about romantic love, even to the most frigid or determined of people, then the simple fact is that they haven't experienced enough to know. Still retain a certain idealism that won't work in Gotham. Some places rely on that view of perfection in the distance, of being able to separate work from play and dive full into both. But Gotham only survives by its last thread because people brace themselves for the worst.

Every time I've tried to hope for something easier, where I can let myself relax, it never comes.

Staring at her for a second longer, I press on. "I've made my stance clear. You may think that your priorities aren't compromised, or that if they are, that it's in the same fashion as they would be for any partner or member of the family. But there is a reason why we don't classify them in the same manner, and there are expectations that will color everything you do with this person. Of course, at the end, the choice lies with either of you."

[teambatgirl]

"Then why did you-" Stephanie bites herself off before she can finish and open that massive can of worms that is her and Bruce's relationship. She doesn't want to know- no, no, she does want to know. But she wants a lot of things from him and just needs to learn and appreciate she's not going to get them. Accept those flaws and failings and refusals as part of him, part of her, but not let them turn her bitter or hard.

Clearly, there isn't going to be any changing of hearts and minds tonight. She shakes her head.

"I've heard your thoughts on the matter, and I appreciate them," Steph tells him, her voice even. "You might have better luck talking to her, you should talk about it with her, in any case, even if you're going to rain on her parade. You're her dad. What you think really matters to her."

[crusaded]

"I intend on speaking with her."

With an exhale, I meet her gaze. The whys, the reasons, they're important, but I'm not sure that I can make Stephanie understand, nor am I sure that the relentless pursuit of it would be good for her. Or for me, I suppose. And when she drops the topic, I know that she understands that fact as well as I do, and it reminds me of the reasons why I have sought her out, before Cassandra. She's able to carry the heavier emotional burdens, but more than that, she knows why they're there. Which ones to fight.

Stephanie may still be impetuous, but she is learned and an adult in her own right, more wholly than I would say that Cassandra is.

"But I thought you stood a better chance of understanding what I meant," I add, walking closer to the ledge, Grapnel gun in my hand. "I'll talk to you later."

[teambatgirl]

"Excellent." Steph manages a smile at him at that, ready to encourage every scrap of fatherly attention sent Damian and Cass's way, and she can convince herself this will be a nice fatherly talk and not a Batman one. No dad likes their kid's first girlfriend, especially when she's already had a kid out of wedlock. Sure, yeah, that's manageable.

"I understand, I just disagree." For a moment, both at the ledge, they're standing side by side. Stephanie smiles at him and pulls the goggles down over her eyes. "Adios, B."

Then she shoots her line off and is gone.