Chapter Text
Bruce observed the fight between Damian and Stephanie. Damian was attacking her like she was their enemy in order to accurately ascertain the limits of her abilities. Stephanie was not a bad fighter. He’d helped train her after all. Still it was clear she was reacting differently than before. She was meeting Damian’s attacks and countering them more efficiently.
“How do you keep blocking me?!” Damian demanded as he swung the training sword.
“I can do instant calculations now!” Stephanie said before she flipped over him and took him down from behind before his son could react.
Instant calculations? He’d have to ask her what she meant. The two stood up for another round. They’d stop when he told them to or one of them go tired enough that they needed a break before patrol.
“Damian, switch fighting styles.” Bruce ordered over their shoulders. Damian shifted his stance. They started fighting again. Bruce kept an eye out on Stephanie’s reactions. He saw her eyes narrow for an instant before she countered or blocked Damian’s more complicated feigns or attacks.
It was a new tell. Most people wouldn’t be able to see it but trained fighters would. Most their enemies had decent fighting experience. They’d have to train it out of her.
Damian was meeting Stephanie’s moves equally. He’s no longer underestimating her. She tried the flip him but Damian is prepared. Stephanie doesn’t get caught by surprise. It was a calculated move. She tries to push Damian back but his son ducks the move and kicks her in the back of the knees. Stephanie stumbles then yields as Damian places his blade along her neck.
“Ugh, that had a 70% chance of working.”
“Humph, a machine will never be superior to a person, Brown. You know that.”
“That’s enough. Stephanie, can you describe your calculations?”
“Uh I just kind of know how an opponent might react? I still get that but I also see actual probability now. I don’t really know how I get the calculations yet. My creator uh Karen’s creator had programmed me with a complex algorithm to predict these things. I just kind of used that as a base to judge circumstances. I don’t think it’s the same way Cass does it. This is probably better with things like structural or chemical calculations.”
“You can’t become reliant on mechanical probability. We all use them in the field but you seem to be defaulting to those you have as Karen. I suspect your move failed because it’s unpracticed more than anything related to your skill. It would work on an enemy but we know you too well.” Stephanie groaned.
“This sucks so hard in some ways. I have a lot more training now. We also still haven’t found Peter. I need to protect him. Like imagine someone as flexible and acrobatic as Dick, with the intelligence of Tim, but the impulse control of Jason on his good days.” Damian scowled not being included in the comparison.
“You are describing a human disaster, Brown.” Damian got in as a retort. Bruce frowned. Stephanie beamed instead.
“That is probably the best way to describe him. I think Daredevil was one of the few heroes with worse luck than him. Honestly from what I heard—oh my god. Matt Murdock is Daredevil. That’s how he caught the thing—but he’s blind. You know what? Never mind. It doesn’t matter. He probably doesn’t exist here and if he does he isn’t a vigilante.” Bruce made a mental note of the name but put it behind him.
“We’re working on it. We can only work as quickly as he appears on our radar digital or otherwise.”
“Peter can avoid a lot of it if her tries. His tingle is really good for something’s.” She said proudly remembering him avoiding Mysterio’s drones with his senses alone. God what a weird feeling because he hadn’t been there but she also had. Having an actual human version of herself would’ve been easier than her being Karenie. (Hmm, that had the best potential out of all the ones she’d tried if she were honest.)
“It will be interesting to fight this Peter.” Damian said. “We can best a fair number of metas already but I haven’t fought an actual spider meta.”
“I agree with Damian that it would be beneficial to fight him if he is willing to train with us.”
“I think he would. He also needs a place he can mourn his aunt. She was like his mom.” Karen/Stephanie said. (Okay the slash was too bulky. She was probably sticking with her human name. Peter could call her Karen though.)
“We won’t force him.” Bruce said, well aware what parental loss felt like. “Both of you get clean. I’m going to confer with Oracle.”
“Yes, Bruce.” She said. Damian sniffed in disdain.
“Man will always be better than machine.” He said then went off to shower. Stephanie was getting a shower and then more drugs to help her headache or chocolate if it’d been too soon to her last dose. Alfred made the best hot chocolate.
The water felt like heaven again. She’d been able to block most of her headache during the fight. She’d done it enough in a real fight that she could compensate to an extent. Maybe she’d be able to beat Damian twice in a row if her head wasn’t dragging her down.
Honestly at least she didn’t get headaches as an AI or hunger any aches. She had felt worry or concern as she’d been programmed for it and loyalty to Peter. She wasn’t a complete slave to her programming, Tony had made his AI suitably sentient.
Stephanie wondered if she could still hack something with her AI abilities. She probably wouldn’t need to physically interact with the interface. She had managed to send a picture. She might not be able to do as much in her biological body but she clearly had some connection with technology now.
She’d test that later, there was likely a risk now. It would be so handy during some infiltration missions. Karen wasn’t out for the count after all.
That took a backseat to finding Peter right now. It was priority number one unless the Scarecrow or Joker broke out and caused another city wide emergency. Peter couldn’t be exposed to toxic or joker gas. Peter would cause so much damage to the city and maybe himself if his inhibitions went down. Meta strength was usually tempered by conscious or trained restraint.
Superman apparently felt like the world was made of cardboard. Peter likely felt that to an extent. Karen needed him safe and sound. Stephanie needed him to have a moment to grieve the last member of his family. Stephanie had lost friends, she had mourned her still living father but she had her mother. She hadn’t lost every single person she called family. Even the Waynes were something like family. They’d have her back for anything. Peter didn’t have that luxury.
Not after he’d been erased from everyone’s memory.
Stephanie dried her hair. Thank Bruce for having the best tech. It took no time at all to do it.
She walked back to the cave. Bruce was frowning at the Batcomputer. He didn’t turn to look at her as she approached.
“Oracle caught sight of Peter on the cameras. He’s downtown. We’re trying to see where he might settle in the next half an hour. Dick and Jason are ready to approach him.”
“What are you going to say?”
“That Karen is worried for him and wants to see him.”
“He won’t believe that by itself.”
“Is there anything else you can provide?” Bruce was straight to the point as always.
“Yeah, let him know that I might not be with him right now like when he was dealing with the Vulture but he isn’t alone. As long as I’m here he’ll never be alone.” Bruce didn’t ask any questions and just sent the message to the others.
“Get some rest, Stephanie. Your room upstairs is ready if you want to sleep or hang out with Cass. She’s worried about you.”
“I’ll be okay. I’m just worried about Peter.”
“You can take care of yourself and worry about Peter, Stephanie.” Bruce said gently. “He’s not in any imminent danger. Resting will make sure you’re better prepared to meet up with him.” She nodded, wincing a bit at the movement. Bruce gave her a sympathetic look. “Go ask Alfred if you can have something else for your headache.”
“Thanks Bruce, keep me up to date, okay?”
“We will.” She went up to the manor in the elevator. She went to Alfred who gave her hot chocolate for her and another set of pills. She didn’t care to know what they were yet. Cass had given her the pills earlier, Alfred absolutely knew what to give her as a secondary dose.
She took the pills then went to Cass’s room. Her friend was scrolling on her tablet, Steph didn’t bother to see what it was. Cass smiled and lifted her own cup of hot chocolate. She turned off her tablet. They sat in the relative dim room and simply drank.
When she finished her cup Cass lead her to her bed. “Rest.” Cass said. “I’ll be here. I’ll wake you if we find Peter.” Steph let herself drift into a tired dose. She trusted Cass best of all of the Waynes. She wouldn’t betray her with this.
—
Peter had arrived at the library after forty minutes. He didn’t know if his money was good here and he didn’t want to risk using his powers. It was possible enhanced people didn’t exist here or were so common no one blinked at them or they were shunned. He wasn’t going to do anything until he knew for certain.
The librarian at the desk gave him a guest login. Being a ‘new in town’ story was easy enough for him to get one as a kid. Peter had until end of day to use it. Which wasn’t that much since the library closed in two hours.
Peter logged in and looked up superheroes.
Whoa.
This universe had a lot of heroes. Like a lot a lot. He needed to use his cram skills here to get through this quickly. There was a league of superheroes called the Justice League that was apparently a big deal and had a lot of political power. There were intergalactic superheroes and one of the founders of the Justice League was an alien.
Okay, superpowers were not uncommon but not so common people wouldn’t react to them. Enhanced people were called meta humans. He had protected rights. Why hadn’t he had that at home?! Like if he hadn’t donned on a hero costume he couldn’t legally do anything if someone discriminated against him in housing or jobs or schools. Here he could do it in theory. He knew those things were easier said than done but still.
It was a relief he had legal rights was abated by the fact the article on meta humans discussed trafficking rings but human trafficking was always a problem. It made sense it didn’t go away with super powered people.
Peter focused on the city he was in. Gotham, NJ. Crime capital of the country. Fun.
Heroes, wow that was a lot of heroes. They were a family or at least most of them were.
Bad guys. Oh wow. That was…scary. Really scary. Peter needed to see if his money worked here because he needed a gas mask asap. He couldn’t…he didn’t know if it would affect him but if he lost himself to fear Peter would do a lot of damage.
He looked up money. He took out his money. Oh thank fuck. It was close enough no one would notice. Honestly as long as he didn’t use a fifty dollar bill he’d be good, but he didn’t even have those. Which man he didn’t have a lot of money. He had fifty six dollars and coins that…didn’t actually match this universe’s money. Honestly better than the opposite. He couldn’t do much with sixty-three cents.
He looked at the clock. He had less than an hour. He needed to print out maps and find a shelter or something. He had been concentrating on the wrong thing. No, wait it was necessary to know what he was dealing with on the most basic level. He could concentrate on cultural knowledge later but if it was illegal or completely unknown to be enhanced he could’ve shot himself in the foot or something.
Peter was googling shelters. He’d be lucky if he found a space but if he got food—
Peter’s tingle had him look up at two approaching men. The short of the two smiled at him. The taller of the two, who looked a bit like his Uncle Ben when he was in his punk phase, gave him a friendly nod.
“Hey there.” The shorter one said.
“Uh hi. I still have a few minutes.” He had at least half an hour.
“We’re not kicking you out. We don’t work for the library.” The taller one said.
“Can I help you, gentlemen?” He asked. He really hoped he hadn’t caused some weirdos to identify him as vulnerable.
“Yeah, it would be really good if you could come with us.” The taller man said. The smaller one smiled again.
“We know who you are Peter.” He felt alarm. The man raised his hands in a calming gesture. “Karen let us know about you.”
“Karen? How do you know about her?” The taller one pulled out the chair next to him and sat. It felt better to not have him looming.
“We’re familiar with the multiverse, kid. Your AI isn’t an AI here. She’s a friend of ours. She’s a human here.”
“I know it sounds far fetched with everything you’ve gone through.” The smaller man said and he sat on the other side of him. “I know it’s scary feeling like you’re alone and that we’re approaching you with a big ask but Karen wants you safe.”
“How…how do I know you’re not like reading my mind?” Because people with powers existed here. These could be enhanced human traffickers here.
The two laughed.
“We don’t got powers kid.”
“Karen told us that she misses you. Even if she’s not with you like when you fought the vulture, that she’ll always be here for you while she’s around.”
Peter felt his breath hitch and his sinus burn at the tears that wanted to come out. The smaller man gave him a sad smile.
“Her name is Stephanie here. She’s a family friend. She’s also a hero.” He said the last sentence softer than the others. Peter hadn’t realized they had all but whispered the other conversation.
“First thing she did was have us look for you.” The taller one said.
“Karen’s here.” And Peter broke. He started to sob.
“Can I hug you?” The smaller man asked. He shook his head. He didn’t know this man. It was…he wanted Karen. He wanted his Aunt May. God May was dead. May was dead. “Okay, I get it. My name’s Dick Grayson. This is my baby brother, Jason Todd.”
“Will you come with us? Steph, Karen is at our family home.” Jason said. “She’d be here herself but having a bunch of data crammed in your head gives you a headache.”
Peter nodded.
His tingle didn’t react to any malice from these men.
He didn’t have anything to lose.
He’d already lost it all.
—
Karen came online abruptly. What was going on? Why were her sensors—oh wait she was Stephanie. Both. She had a human body. She focused on Cass. Cass smiled.
“Jason and Dick found Peter. He’s coming home. He started crying at the library. He’s sad.”
“He lost everything.” K_Stephanie said. She sat up. Her head was feeling better. It was still a dull ache that would likely be felt if she moved her head too fast but it was tolerable. “How far off are they?”
“Twenty minutes. He was downtown.” Steph made an affirmative sound. She needed to change. She had time at least.
Twenty minutes were nothing normally but Stephanie felt every second pass by now with an infinite awareness of the moment. Her technological enhancement made time something she was constantly aware of now. It didn’t matter if she wasn’t sure of the exact time when she woke up, Stephanie could calculate seconds, minutes, hours, days, years, centuries and feel them pass by.
Hopefully it would be something she could train herself to ignore and be aware of as needed. Seconds were life or death in the field. Here they were torture.
Finally, finally Peter arrived. He was tense between Jason and Dick but he was looking around. He went into the foyer with a skeptical air. The trip there had had him grow suspicious. Karen knew that. Peter was smart and what naivety he’d had before was greatly diminished from Mysterio and the reaction the world had to his unmasking.
He stopped when he looked at her.
“Karen?” He asked softly.
“Hey, Peter.” Karen said. Peter went to her and pulled her into a hug. It was strong despite his shaking limbs.
“You look just like I imagined you’d look like if you were human. I guess you are human here, right?”
“Yeah, flesh and blood and everything.”
“You have nanites in your blood now.” Tim added from behind them. “That’s how you’re able to send a picture with your mind.” Peter looked at Tim.
“Peter, this is Tim. He’s my ex-boyfriend.”
“Hey, Peter. I’m also Red Robin.” Peter frowned.
“You’re part of—wait. Wikitopic said most of the heroes in Gotham were family. Are all of you heroes?”
“Yes.” Was the chorus of the people in the foyer, which was Jason, Tim, her, Cass, and Dick. Damian, Duke, Bruce and Alfred were in the other parts of the mansion.
“Who are you?” He asked Stephanie.
“I’m Spoiler or Batgirl. It really depends on what the situation calls for.” She said. “Purple is my signature color like blue and red is yours.” Peter looked interested before it faded into a bone aching grief.
“I’m tired, Karen. And I’m sad.” Peter said. Stephanie held him.
“We might not know you yet.” Dick added. “But we’re a family here. If you’re Steph’s then your ours even if we don’t know you.”
“Yeah, a lot of us have lost people important to us.” Tim added.
“It’ll take a while for you to trust us, we know that, but we can support you and Steph.”
“Rest.” Cass said. Peter let the tears fall as he let himself cry again in Stephanie’s arms.
“We can figure out what to do later. You can cry now Peter, I got you.” Stephanie said in a tone more Karen than human. “We all got you.”
Karen-Stephanie felt herself finally merge fully. The headache dulled further, but it was no longer a drumming pressure at the back of her head. She had what she needed, Peter and her human friends.