Chapter Text
Swinging through Gotham made Stephanie feel amazing, the air flowing through her hair, the freedom to go anywhere. She was solo today, usually she was with Cass, but it was Cass’s day off. Steph’s heart fluttered at the thought of her girlfriend. They had been together for three months and it was the best time of Stephanie's life. Living at the manor wasn’t too bad. Everyone was nice, and Batman just ignored her most of the time. Stephanie thought she would be hurt about it at first, but after dying for another Batman’s approval, she could handle this. Suddenly Stephanie's comm beeped, it was Oracle telling her to go to an address, Batman would be waiting there. Stephanie felt horrible when Barbara became paralyzed. After weeks of assurances from Barbara herself, among other people, Stephanie finally stopped feeling guilty.
Stephanie arrived at the rooftop, and there was the big bat himself waiting. As soon as she landed he turned to greet her.
“Spoiler.” He greeted.
“Batman.”
They both stayed silent for a moment before Batman spoke, “I’ve heard you and Orphan have become an item. Is that true?”
Stephanie crossed her arms, “Yeah, what about it?” She asked defensively. Even though she had lived in the manor for months at this point, she still always felt like there was a chance Batman would snap and get rid of her.
Batman sighed and looked down, “Listen Spoiler, there is nothing I could say that would split you too, honestly I don’t even want to, you make each other better and I’m pretty sure she’s the reason you stopped drinking. I just wanted to say, I’m sorry.”
Stephanie was shocked into silence then Batman went on, “I treated you poorly when you first arrived. I could justify it at the time, but in retrospect I should’ve done better, I’m sorry.”
"What spurred this on?" Stephanie asked.
"After working with you directly for three months now, I see that you are loyal, brave, and have a strong compass for justice. I'm. . .ashamed I didn't recognize it sooner, and I'm happy you are the one dating my daughter"
Stephanie smiled, "Thanks old man, means a lot."
She was almost about to swing off back to the manor when Batman spoke one last time, “One more thing, the Happy Harbor Hunter has seemingly disappeared. I just want you to know, if she were to pop up in Gotham, there would be no mercy.”
Stephanie merely nodded, and swung away.
Stephanie and Cass were sitting on a roof, eating a mid patrol snack. Stephanie was nervous, she wanted to tell Cass about what she did for the alcohol in Happy Harbor, but she didn’t want to destroy what she had built. She knew her old Cass hated killing, but she never talked about it with her current one. Stephanie sighed and decided to gun it, the worst she could do is hate her forever.
“Cass, I have something to tell you.” Stephanie said.
Cass looked at her then nodded to go on.
“I never told you why Maria gave me my alcohol, I had a deal with her.” Stephanie paused and tried to gauge a reaction from Cass, she got nothing, “In exchange for ten bottles, I would. . .bring in a known or proven predator and hand them over. I don’t think I have to explain what happened to them after that.”
Stephanie braced herself for yelling, screaming, anything. But Cass was silent. Then she shrugged, “Alright.”
Steph gave her a confused look, “Alright? That’s it? You don’t care?”
Cass set down her sandwich, “It’s not that I don’t care, I just understand. But I get that you felt at the time you needed the alcohol and were willing to do anything for it. You’ve stopped so it's not as much of a big deal, just don’t start again or I will put you in Arkham.”
Steph let out a chuckle at that and leaned her head on Cass’s shoulder. She could finally fully relax, everything was off her chest. She had no regrets, nothing tying her down. She was finally happy, she was finally free.