Ghosts of Old Friends

[Barbara Gordon]

((Jan 17th, in a cafe open to all))

Barbara was in the cafe she enjoyed most. It wasn't even that good but there was something that made her slightly more at ease while she was sitting inside, safe from the chilly air outdoors. Maybe that wasn't entirely true, few places in Gotham were very safe. Or maybe it had more to do with the cranberry muffins she had a considerable weakness for.

She'd be in a load of trouble if Lex Luthor found out about that one.

In any case, she imagined any one of the members of the Bat-Family would find or contact her at any given moment, so just in case she had her computer tucked away in a side pocket on her chair beside a set of sticks, eskrima fighting sticks.

She'd stressed and proved on more than one occasion that she could protect herself, wheelchair or not. She requested a newspaper from one of the passing workers, who promptly brought it to her table. And she froze.

The headline displayed in large block letters of an Arkham Asylum break out. Bane had unleashed a series of different insane villains upon Gotham, but Babs eyes were locked on one.

The Joker.

She held her breath as she clenched her palm, finger nails digging roughly into her palm as she bit back a series of emotions, anger more prominent among them. The man who had taken the ability to use her legs, shot her and took pictures of her naked body was free to roam Gotham again.

The psycho unleashed upon their city. Which begged the question...

Why had she not known about this before it had even happened? She was the Oracle she was supposed to know stuff.

[Stephanie Brown "Batgirl"]

And she thought it was bad blowing a hole in the Bat Cave.

In the turmoil from Bane's storming of Gotham's own Bastille, sleep had been about as much an option as when it was announced to the family that Bane was in fact back. Living off a mixture of energy drink, coffee, five-hour energy, and numerous short bouts of couch sleep mixed with a cheeseburger she couldn't remember if she ate yesterday or today, Stephanie was fit to send the Grudge screaming fleeing in the other direction.

She entered the cafe where she and Babs had first met, hair in disarray, clothes rumbled from falling asleep on the subway and driving around for an extra hour till she got kicked off, and she had a shiner from the latest asylum inmate she'd wrestled all the way back to Gotham PD. The department was overrun, the holding cells crammed with what crazies they could catch. As much as the city hated heroes, even the cops had restrained from firing on her when she swung in with the inmate.

They still tried to arrest her, of course. The black eye was from the convict elbowing her as she told one of the cops to back off before she crammed a batarang so far up his ho-ha that-

"Please tell me that's not the last muffin." Stephanie moaned, dropping into the booth across from Babs and instantly jolting up, grabbing her side as pain exploded from her ribs. She was fairly sure she'd cracked something, following up the latest lead on a Bane thug. He jumped off a building - before she could get close enough to grapple-hook him.

[Barbara Gordon]

Barbara raised a brow, looking over the rim of her glasses at Stephanie as she fell to the seat across from her. The girl looked rough, and it was unsettling. Babs had had those days, in the earlier time of her Batgirl career. But this was something a little more important. Bane had released a lot of goons, and this was likely the result.

"I'm not going to fight you for it." Barbara mumbled, looking back down to the paper. She swallowed hard, tearing her eyes away from 'The Joker' once again with some difficulties, and flipped the page.

"I don't know how I couldn't see this coming..." she growled to herself. "I'm the 'O'... I should have seen this coming..." she mumbled in an under-tone. No need to exclaim her whole identity to this unsuspecting cafe.

[Stephanie Brown "Batgirl"]

"If it makes you feel better," Stephanie remarked, feeling only a slight tingle of guilt stealing a muffin from a cripple, "Pretty sure that was half Bane's point. He would have to make sure you didn't know, so that he could make you question what else you don't know. Don't let it get to you."

Tucking into the muffin, the newest Batgirl reflected on the lameness of her attempt at comforting her predecessor. She hadn't had a good sleep since she'd brought Damian back to the manor, and it was showing. Tonight was going to be an ugly one.

"Also, the suit is awesome, so thanks for that." She tried working a different angle, nodding towards her side. "I think I broke something, but considering the guy was wearing these spiky brass knuckle things, pretty sure he would have punctured a lung in the old suit. Have the other's checked in - Damian and John okay?"

[Barbara Gordon]

Barbara didn't make much of a response to Stephanie's first words. She seemed to be going over different technical errors in her head, and by the way she began looking more and more frustrated, she didn't seem to be getting anywhere. She should have known.... more.

Then she mentioned Damian and John, and she looked up.

"John's fine... and Damian... well. He hasn't been reporting in regularly. But from what I'm aware.. he's fine too. As fine as a ten year old like him can be in all of this..." she mumbled, turning her eyes back down to the paper. She flipped the page.

Something fluttered out of the folds, and spiraled down to the floor. It was a smaller paper, it had landed close enough that if she stretched a little she could grab it with her finger tips.

She straightened up, and froze as she flipped it over.

It was a card, with a sickly happy little clown on it. Everything in Barbara seemed to be either petrified, or completely still with a panicked sort of rage, as she held it up to her widened eye-sight. Her heart pace quickened, which was odd because it felt like it had stopped at the same time.

She breathed in, and exhaled slowly, lowering the card with a shaky hand to sit on the crease of the newspaper she'd set down on the tabletop. Babs had no words, as she stared down at the card, fear and contempt in her steady gaze.

[Stephanie Brown "Batgirl"]

"Yeah, you know I think he's dealing with this better than I am." Stephanie continued mauling the muffin. "I'd ask him how he does that move, you know the one with the jump and spin and the,"

She moved two fists in the air, and only then noticed Barbara holding up the square of paper in her hand. She frowned, "Is that a..."

Babs lay the card out flat on the paper, stopping her question before she finished. She stared at the card, then Oracle, then the card again. At once she slid over to the seat beside the window, looking around before examining inside the diner for anyone watching, anyone behaving a mite off. "I'm calling John, and we're leaving. It's not safe here. We should get you to the manor, it's safest."

She didn't care about the crowd - the com device looked enough like a bluetooth. She put it into her ear, and was about to turn it on when she looked to Babs. "Do you want me to call John?"

[Barbara Gordon]

Barbara was still sitting entirely still, staring down at the card for a long moment, perhaps longer than was sanely necessary. Stephanie wouldn't question it. Well, if she did, she wouldn't say anything. Instead, she offered to call John. Babs shook her head solemnly, without taking her eyes from the card.

"No." she finally said, her voice surprisingly hoarse. "If it's dangerous for me, it's dangerous for every person here." she put emphasis on those words, and then whipped out her laptop, cracking it open. If one looked carefully, they could see words, mangled and mixed up from a reversed image on the surface of her glasses.

"Scanning for explosives and other hostiles." she explained, "John can't always be there when something's going down, and if we all spent our time running to the aid of the cripple when she drops her napkin on the ground... well. There wouldn't be much getting done in Gotham would there?" she grinned grimly, but still, she hadn't made eye-contact with Stephanie.

Truth was, maybe there was a bit of hurt in there. Babs was down-playing the situation. Though there could likely be nothing dangerous in or near the cafe past a gouged up diners butter knife, there could also be bombs laced behind the counter. Who could tell with the Joker?

But Barbara wasn't about to get ushered out of the scene without making sure-

"Nothing." she mumbled, but still, didn't take her eyes from the screen. God her heart was pounding.

[Stephanie Brown "Batgirl"]

She removed her finger from the earpiece the instant Oracle said no. It was odd, perhaps, considering her latest fit thrown at John for trying to order her about, but she and Babs had an understanding. Her ordering Babs to leave, Babs ordering her not to call John - it was all part of a mutual respect. There was no inequality here.

And if Babs didn't want John to know, John wouldn't know - at least he wouldn't find out from Stephanie.

A sigh of relief when nothing was found. Sitting back down, Stephanie shook her head. "Don't let it get you, I say, it'll be fine, I say. It's a really good thing no one expects me to take up your newest job, O. And that," she pointed at the card, "is not a napkin. I'm serious, about taking you back to the manor - if there's nothing going to blow up here, then there's no reason to be here.

[Barbara Gordon]

Barbara allowed another grim smile. It was bitter, and followed by a dry laugh, in response to Stephanie's comforting attempts. Don't let it get you. Those were the words. She'd heard them so often. Don't let the enemy get to you, don't let his plans get to you, don't let this new disabled part of your life get to you.

"It's already got to me." Babs said, shaking her head. He'd taken her legs, her mobility. "Maybe it's time we start looking into that.." she mumbled.

Bruce had some of the most advanced technology open to him, Oracle was a genius, many members on their team were genius. Barbara had an idea that could possibly work for what she had in mind. But she'd dropped off the subject before she'd allow Stephanie to comfortably bring it up.

"It's you guys I'm worried about. Looks like they got to you." Babs noted, jerking her attention to the black eye. "You need sleep, you don't need to be like John too."

[Peyton Riley]

The blonde stamped out the cigarette she'd been smoking outside on the concrete. She breathed out the last breath of smoke before tilting her head to her pale chest. Her fur coat was enough to cover her from the cold. But she'd need some ice to lay on her freshly bruised cheek.

She pushed open the door as the woosh of warm air blew in her face, knocking her blonde hair back out of her face and revealing the bruise. She was dressed to kill; a white mink coat, dazzling diamond earrings and necklace, a long black and gray knit sweater dress and a pair of simple yet expensive black pumps. Again, however, her cheek throbbed and swelled.

It wasn't like this for Johnny to beat her this early. Usually she waited until she didn't have to go out for the day and run some errands.

"Coffee, black with five sugars." She gave the guy behind the counter a glare which basically said 'say something about my cheek and I'll slaughter you.' He handed her the coffee, she smiled and then moved to a seat. She popped her laptop out of her bag to conduct some business. She raised an eyebrow, briefly listening in on the conversation between the girl in the wheelchair and the other woman. She assumed they were friends. She wished she had friends.

[Tim "Red Robin" Drake]

Just after the blonde walked in, another person was trailing behind her. He opened up the door with one hand, allowing the other hand to rub his eyes. Tired didn't come close to describing the feeling Tim felt. He made himself look somewhat decent at least. His hair wasn't a mess, he wore casual clothing, a bag carrying his laptop was hanging on his shoulder. He managed to get himself into the café, casually stepping up to the counter to order his beverage. He needed some coffee to keep his brain running. He politely asked for a cup of coffee, but his attention was elsewhere. Blue orbs lazily treaded the area, halting when familiar sights were found.

Stephanie and Babs.

He stared for a moment. If he knew what to say, he'd say it. What could he actually say? 'Hey guys, miss me?' No. He couldn't do something like that. They were simply trying to enjoy themselves with muffins and... A laptop. Tim swallowed a lump in his throat. His attention returned to the man behind the counter as he handed Tim his coffee. He mustered a smile as his thanks, slowly making his way to a seat.

He sat down, pulling out his laptop. Funny. It seemed as if so many people had brought their laptops. The blonde with the bruised cheek and Babs both had their laptops. Tim sat quietly at his table, typing slowly in order to keep attention off of him.

He wasn't sure if it was a good idea to talk to the members of the Bat Family that were present. He just needed to do some research, drink some coffee, and find Raven. He didn't need to get distracted with people of his past, no matter how helpful they might be.

[Stephanie Brown "Batgirl"]

Raising a hand to her eye, Steph gave it a gentle prod. No mirrors handy, she hadn't even been aware of the shiner. She knew it was sore, but...

"Nah, I'm good, had a nap on the subway." She shrugged trying for an energetic smile that really just gave her crazy eyes. She looked down at her hoodie, grimacing. She'd thrown on black yoga pants and a blue shirt, grabbing the red hoodie as an after thought as she'd popped into the manor. She'd taken up a room over at the manor the last couple days. She didn't want to risk inmates seeing her swinging into her mom's apartment. She wouldn't be sleeping at all if Alfred didn't practically drag her to bed by the ear.

"I think a hobo tried to eat my sweater." She eyed a stain at the hem suspiciously.

Focus, Stephanie.

"I'm going to grab caffeine, for the road." She rose sluggishly, shrugging out of the hoodie.

Regardless of her answer Stephanie would fish her wallet out of her pocket and head up to the counter, leaning on it. "Hey, can I grab a medium americano and a..." she cringed as she tried to think of what Babs had been drinking the first time. "And a cappuccino."

She handed over money, groaning as she leaned her chin on her arms, shutting her eyes. She didn't take notice of anyone else at the bar first, standing on the end so her shiner was in perfect view. What did it matter if strangers thought she got hit by a family member or a person she was in a relationship with? Not as if she was in a relationship - abusive or otherwise. At least they wouldn't think she spent her night literally flying solo.

Still, her body really freaking hurt. She let out another noise, lifting her heavy lids to watch the espresso trickle into the hot water. She hated espresso. It tasted like ashtray. But if she let her eyes close again she was going to fall asleep at the counter, and she needed to get Babs out of here, away from that card. That was her job - not like anyone else was helping her with it.

[Barbara Gordon]

She sighed, rubbing her eyes beneath her glasses slowly, applying pressure that soothed her brain some. Not nearly enough though. There was too much going on to be comforted by anything. Apparently Stephanie deemed it safe enough to go buy a few drinks for the road though. She didn't object, only gave an incoherent grunt of consent.

Barbara's attention was then free to observe the people around them. A flashy looking woman with a bruise to rival Steph's. She was sure there was a story behind it, but they couldn't risk being heroes in their civies clothing. So she turned her gaze away.

A young man. Dark hair and eyes, nose planted in his lap top.

Tim.

Did he think he could pass off as a stranger in this crowd? That Babs wouldn't recognize him? That Stephanie wouldn't? Not quite happening. Instead of rolling over to greet him, she began typing furiously. Within minutes she was in his computer.

A green face appeared on the screen of Tim's computer, hacking through whatever he'd previously been doing. The face, was bland and perhaps a little alien. The face she'd chosen as something of its' own superhero mask. The face of the Oracle, in the cyber world.

Beneath it, in glowing block letters was a small message.

Hello Tim.

Babs let her fingers rest, interlaced with one another as she stared at Tim over the rim of her glasses, a shadow of a smirk on her face. No one could really be surprised, if they knew Babs. She could hack through anything, it's why she was the Oracle, after all.

[Tim "Red Robin" Drake]

Hello Tim.

Timothy certainly failed at being undercover. Just when he began to get set up with his portable computer, he was interrupted by a green face. The Oracle. Tim knew it in an instant. His gaze lifted above his screen, looking at the culprit that hacked into his laptop. Tim should not have been surprised. He flipped the laptop shut once more, stuffing it into his bag. Looked like he was going to talk to Babs, and Stephanie at that, no matter what. He might as well take the time now to do so.

He removed himself from his seat, grabbing his coffee as he made his way to Babs. He took the seat across from her, tiredness evident in his eyes. No turning back now."Hello Babs," he greeted, resting his arms on the table. Could he get himself into a situation any more awkward now? Probably. "Long time no see. I see you're still hacking computers."

Could he just act like they were friends catching up? He hoped so. He would have preferred to not explain his situation and his reasons to be back in Gotham, but he figured it was inevitable. Besides, if he could explain his situation, he might get some help from her. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Then again, what if she didn't want to deal with him? What if she wanted him to be reaffiliated with the Bat Family? Questions swirled around in Tim's head. He took a drink of his coffee, awaiting some form of a response. His free hand was slightly shaking as he tried to keep it resting on the table.

A part of him wanted to ask Babs about the bruise on Stephanie's face, but he opted to not ask about it. Tim wasn't entirely sure if he'd want to hear the answer.

[Barbara Gordon]

Barbara allowed her smirk to fully break into something of a kinder smile as Tim finally approached and sat down. She inclined her head in response to him greeting her, and then laughed lightly at his comment.

"Wheelchair joke?" she teased, "What else am I going to do?" she waved a hand dismissively, to indicate she knew that wasn't what he had meant. "It has been a while, hasn't it?" she asked, leaning her elbows on the table, and pressing the knuckles of her thumbs against her lips with a narrow eyed grin.

Perhaps on a more casual day Babs would have had time to ask why he'd been gone, who he thought he was and all that jazz. But with everything that was going on; well, it was hard not to express how genuinely happy she was to see him.

"Fighting." she explained, then gestured with a pointed glance to Stephanie. She was talking about the bruise. "Sure you've heard about Gotham's finest psychos running free? She was dealing with that all last night." She nodded, answering his un-asked questions.

"Personally, my priorities are elsewhere, and you're here now." Barbara shrugged, "But she's going to want to know." she added in a lower tone. Stephanie would have lots of questions no doubt, and Barbara? Well, her real priority was still sitting at the front of her mind.

Despite her cool and calm behavior, she felt like there was a ticking time-bomb implanted in her ribage. The Joker card was sitting on the paper, picture up with the little clown smiling at her. It had unsettled her a lot more than she cared to admit, so she casually reached, and flipped it over so the red patterned backside was all she could see.