Work Text:
Darkness fell quickly on the city. Stephanie looked out on the view of the city ahead of her, at the lights spread about. She felt the difference in the air when the Shadow climbed onto the roof behind her.
“I don’t want to talk,” she said, without looking back at the man.
“I won’t force you to talk,” Bruce answered instantly. “But if you’d like to say anything to me, I’ll be right here.”
They stayed in the silence for a while. Stephanie didn’t count the minutes, but she absolutely felt every second of Bruce staring at her back.
Stephanie took a big breath to steady herself, and opened her mouth.
“I put on the mask of the Spoiler to put a stop to my Dad’s crimes, to spoil them, but – but I haven’t made a difference. I’d be as good off if I’d just stayed at home, and maybe if I hadn’t interfere with things here my Dad would be in prison already.”
“But you did go out. You picked up the mask,” Bruce said. “It’s not an easy thing, especially for someone your age – and don’t forget that you made the choice to be a hero. Even if you don’t think you’ve achieved much, I’m sure that there are a lot of people out there that are grateful for you.”
“But you don’t know that,” Stephanie protested. “And you didn’t say anything about my Dad. You know yourself, if it wasn’t for me you’d have already got him.”
“But you don’t know that,” Bruce said, imitating what Stephanie had said just seconds earlier. “There’s nothing certain in this line of work. One day, it’s quiet, and the next day Joker, Killer Croc and Poison Ivy are out on the streets. Maybe, if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t even know about Clue Master.”
Bruce sat next to the young girl. “But all of that doesn’t matter, because the most important thing is that you’re here, present, and there’s no injury to stop you.” He quieted. “… You don’t have any injuries at the moment, have you?”
Stephanie couldn’t help it. She laughed loudly. “No, not yet.”
“I don’t like your use of ‘yet’,” Bruce said, and they fell back into silence.
“Thank you,” Stephanie whispered after a while. “For being here for me.”
“Any time,” Bruce answered.