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The dreadful storm slowed down, after nearly a week of such an intense cold wave.
Yes, Victor Fries has a (small) part of responsibility in the extreme snowy weather this end of December... nevertheless he is not at the origin of this attempt at introducing a new Ice Age. He simply reinforced the impact of the storm with his ice-based technology, he didn't trigger it.
Gotham is plagued with a... truly frigid winter this year.
Frigid, cold, deadly.
But so beautiful.
Stephanie Brown re-adjusted the scarf that covered her neck and the lower side of her face up to her nose. She incorporated the purple cloth into a winter version of her Batgirl suit, adapted to these subzero temperatures.
No question, Gotham is wonderful at present: wrapped in a white dress that covers her tiled roofs, her ancient gargoyles, both her large and narrow streets, the diversified plants in her gardens. Like many born Gothamites, Stephie considers the town a... nearly alive, sentient entity, more than just a big city. A sentient entity who chose to dress beautifully tonight. She resembles a fiancée in her sublime wedding gown.
A thick layer of powerdy snow transforms the gothic city into a huge, frozen cake covered of sparkling sugar. Now that the wind stopped blowing ever since Mister Freeze returned, less than twenty-four hours ago, into his isolated cell at Arkham Asylum, the agglomeration doesn't suffer from a stormy weather anymore.
The town simply inherited of... a mesmerizing white landscape.
"Not too cold?"
From under her scarf, Steph addressed a sweet smile to the silhouette who appeared out of the blue on her right. Red Hood had removed his mask, he was wearing a green scarf wrapped over his chin and up to just below his nose. A green scarf with a piece of chess, the bishop, printed in black onto the mellow fabric. Wasn't that Eddie's scarf? Hum... yeah, totally Eddie's. Again, looks like Jay and the former Riddler's experimental cohabitation works out kinda well.
"Cold enough," she responded softly, forcing herself not to shudder into her warm vigilante outfit.
Warm but not warm enough to stay long outside at night in these negative temperatures.
Jason took her hand wordlessly.
Their gloved fingers interlaced.
"We spent... a good year, didn't we?"
"We did," Stephie responded patiently in a comprehensive tone of voice, knowing it remains a... sensitive ground for him.
Despite them growing closer, becoming best of friends then... romantic partners, over the months, Jason struggles with the concept of acceptance.
He doesn't fully acknowledge yet that people who care for him are genuinely fond of him and sincerely love him.
It's okay, though. Steph is a dedicated person. A caring person, and she loves Jason with all her heart. She is devoted (and obstinate) enough to teach him how to love himself anew, how to... finally accept himself. How to forgive himself in order to progress. To move forward.
"Eddie stays the night at Wayne Manor to prolong his... weird courtship ritual with Bruce," Jason informed her after a short hesitation. "So... if you don't want to go back to your mother's place, we can enjoy a cozy evening in my apartment. I guarantee it's riddle-free."
Stephanie chuckled at his peculiar manner to formulate this invitation.
"I don't mind Eddie," she shook her head, profundly amused. "He's fun to be around. Plus hanging out with your roommate and you kinda feels like I'm spending time with Eddie Brock and Venom. Not sure which one of you is whom! Aside from the fact you are not an old married couple and none of you is an alien unless proven otherwise, you guys have similar 'endearing losers' energy."
The young woman giggled some more when Jay muttered barely audible protests.
"I don't know if I'll experience the life of an old married couple one day," Jason mentioned thereafter, a hint... nostalgic, while the ambiance was a friendly, light one until then. "I can't think of anyone wanting to share that kind of... life engagement with me."
Being an optimist who always sees the glass half-full, never half-empty, Steph relies on a positive nature since forever, a characteristic that probably saved her more than once over her chaotic life path. Be that as it may... she felt vexed right now.
Angry. Sad. Almost hurt.
"Jason, we are dating," she reminded him dryly, her intonation coming out harsher than necessary. "I am aware you have issues, so do I, so does... our entire extended family, being wrecks is basically a recruitment criterion in our line of business. Still... why do you say things like that?! Do you... honestly believe I would stay with you, and keep proving you, every day, just how much I love you, if I didn't... if it wasn't... if..."
"... I love you too."
That soothed her beginning of apprehension.
They shared an authentic, heartfelt smile, each feeling the other's under the thick scarves covering the lower part of their face.
The two of them were so broken, so damaged.
The bad Robins, the ones who died, the ones who experienced torture, abuse and neglect far beyond the other bats' understanding. The one without blood parents in the picture, the once mother who doesn't raise her biological daughter. The one Bruce trusted the most and lost, the one Bruce lost before he learned to trust her.
Albeit Edward Nygma is not really a Batfamily member, he only possesses a... sort of 'honorary Robin' card and crushes on Bruce since he is a child, his personal evolution resembles theirs by many aspects. Pain, violence, abuse, being a youngster with a head full of dreams and having Gotham destroy each one by one. Broken but still standing, and walking a righteous road at last. Just like them. Must be why Jay and Steph get along with that lovely disaster of a reformed Private Investigator so well.
"They cancelled the fireworks tonight," Stephanie whispered, a strange lump forming in her throat.
What was happening to her?
Her eyes burnt as if she was about to burst to tears while there was... no reason to feel 'down'. She blamed this unwanted reaction on the cold weather instead of the... confusing, messed up knot of feelings that twisted her guts in a disagreeable fashion.
"Mayor's orders due to the aftermath of the storm," Batgirl pursued, trying her best to sound laconic. "I think it's a dumb decision. As if our city never experienced much worse than an excessive amount of snow. It's... such a shame, I wanted to celebrate the New Year correctly."
"By watching the fireworks alone?"
"I am not alone. I was certain you'd come. You know my favorite spots in town to enjoy a quiet time, it wouldn't have taken you long to find me."
"Oh, really? And what if... I already had plans?" Red Hood teased playfully.
That instantly restored Steph's mischievous grin. She has always been an expert in the realm of... rapidly swinging from an emotion to another. It's sort of a... survival instinct.
"I know you," she opposed cheerfully. "If you had anything planned, that would have been a cozy video games night with Ed at your place... and he would have invited me too. Instead of which, your roommate ditched you to warm up with the Big Guy."
"Fair point. Look at you, Blondie. So perspicacious."
"I know, I know. I'm simply the best."
They shared another tender, complicit smile... then reported their attention to their beloved, dear city illuminated by the street lights and the many lighted apartments of the buildings in this modest though sympathetic quarter in town. The snow covering the dense urban landscape under them appeared surreal, almost... magical.
An immaculate, untouched beauty.
How ironic that Gotham City of all places seemed so pure tonight.
Their blue gazes got lost into the distance. Caribbean blue for Steph and mismatched eyes of two very different shades of blue, a deep ocean on the left and a light turquoise on the right for Jay watched over this huge, smooth white coat covering their town.
This huge, smooth white dress Gotham is wearing this New Year's Eve.
"A bottle of champagne waits in our fridge. Plus a box of your favorite chocolates. I wouldn't have opened them if I stayed on my own, but..."
"That'll be with pleasure," Steph assured with fondness. "Before we move... Jason?"
"Yes?"
"Don't you think Gotham is wearing a wedding dress?"
"... I think you, I, Bruce... and the other blood Gothamites who feel so deeply connected to her are all engaged in a form of 'old married couple situation' with the most dangerous city in United States," he realized the existence of this oddity while voicing his fresh theory out loud. "So I guess, in a way... she reminds us every now and then of her sublime appearance. Thus she morphed into... a snowy bride tonight. Or maybe that's just her way to get ready and pretty for the New Year."
"Could be..."
They quit their spot before turning into ice statues, reached the edge of the medium-sized building's flat rooftop, fired of their grapple hooks and performed a flawlessly handled double move to fly from the roof and into the dark night together.
Cold, frigid. The weather is so unwelcoming... yet by being so gorgeous this New Year's Eve, Gotham proves, once again, that she relies on unique but authentic charms.
Only later into the evening, barely a couple of minutes prior the beginning of the New Year, did Jason rectify something essential in his humble opinion. He served two flutes of champagne, Steph and him sat on the leather couch in Eddie and him's modern flat.
"You will look beautiful in white," he let out, his cheeks flushed red (from the cold? Definitely from the cold) before either took a first sip, their glasses in hand and their gazes plunged into each other's. "I mean... Gotham is pretty for sure, but... The day you get married, Stephanie," he claimed with conviction, no longer awkward, rather... plainly confident when he visualized this, for now imaginary, grand event. "The day you will advance towards the luckiest person in the Galaxy to tell them 'yes', in a wonderful wedding dress... I know you'll be the most stunning bride Gotham ever saw."
"Without a doubt, I will be! After all, I'm beyond impressive in everything I undertake... it's merely a logical continuation I'd be flawless the day I get married. And if I get married," she smirked knowingly, projecting too neatly the festive scene, "what about you, Jaybird? Where will you be, in this picture of a perfect wedding?"
"I would be exactly where you'll allow me to be. Where you want me to be, where you need me to be. By your side. Always."
They shook their glasses as they reached midnight, together in the nice living room that kept its Christmas decorations, while Gotham in her white attire watched them with tenderness. Her little baby birds, so... relaxed, and complementary one with the other. They are each other's best remedy to heal and enjoy life anew. Each other's best remedy to taste the true happiness they deserve.
"Happy New Year, Stephanie!"
"Happy New Year, Jason!"
They kissed, they drank, they laughed, they ate chocolates, they joked, they sang, they drew little hearts and an array of childish doodles on one of Eddie's favorite extravagant glittery suits making him resemble a Disney prince when he wears it to supposedly attract Bruce's attention... Overall, it had been a very pleasant New Year's Eve and a rejoicing beginning of this New Year.
After tonight nonetheless... Jason didn't forget the mental picture, for now belonging to an imaginary scene, of Stephanie in a wedding dress.
He has a year ahead of him to think it through. To... consider the whole deal, to engage every fiber of his being into this relationship, into this blessed objective to make Steph as happy as she makes him feel.
Who knows what the future will be made of?
His sole certitude at this instant is that... Stephanie would look beautiful in white.