Work Text:
Steph blinked in confusion as the waiter appeared beside her with a pair of boxing gloves and what looked like a ring girl.
All she’d asked for was a box for her leftover chicken and waffles.
“Alright folks! This lovely lady right here will be squaring off against the reigning champion, Bill the Brute! I’m Jeff, your announcer for this fight. Round one!”
Steph slipped off her bar stool, the gloves an appropriate tightness and her hair swept back in a hasty ponytail by the helpful ring girl.
She wasn’t going to let anything get between her and her waffles. If that meant fighting a random Gothamite who thought it would be funny to let her waffles sog, so be it.
Feigning reluctance, she let Jeff guide her hands into a protective guard for her face as she swayed nervously on her feet.
“I’m not gonna punch him!” she protested, sizing up Bill the Brute. He was fairly lean, dressed only in shorts and a black pair of gloves to match her white ones.
“Stick to your jab,” Jeff encouraged her, dropping his hand. “Fight!”
“I’m not gonna punch him!” she repeated, stepping marginally closer.
Steph gingerly landed a left hook, eyeing up his reflexes and how serious this situation (which she assumed to be a prank, considering the laughter and cheers of the other patrons) was.
“Harder!” boomed Jeff. “Knock him out! Hit ‘im in the head!”
“No! That’s mean!” she cried, bouncing a little closer, pretending to ham up the fight for the audience.
“Do it!” they began cheering, along with Jeff.
Bill the Brute ducked the first slow jab, but he missed her surprise right hook, collapsing at Jeff’s feet dramatically.
Steph’s mouth dropped in horror, thinking his decent boxing skills would have protected him from the full force of her blow.
The server behind Jeff banged his fork against his skillet, signalling the entire fight was over.
Jeff seemed to think Bill was hamming it up for the show, raising her hand in victory as the ring girl wrapped the fake championship belt around her torso.
“And after one hard round, we have the winner by TKO, the new champion of the Hood and Dagger Pub!” Jeff and the patrons cheered.
Steph frantically piled her waffles and chicken into the box that the girl behind the bar had provided while she fought Bill the Brute, ducked her head, and fled the pub, ignoring his sales pitch for a boxing gym(?).
Steph mourned the loss of her new favourite pub as she ran down the street, waffle box tucked under her arm to help her aerodynamics.
They’d always had good food when she went, usually at the weirdest hours (which was strange that the pub was open that late–or early, if you preferred–but she didn’t dare go digging into its ownership or management lest she be conscience-bound to shut down her new haven).
Her musings were cut short by the sound of someone pursuing her. She glanced back, seeing Jeff running behind her.
Dang, what did he want? She’d paid before she requested the box. Had he found out she’d knocked out Jeff for reals and it wasn’t for show?
“Miss!”
It was noon, and there were several other people out and about on the fairly well-travelled street, so Steph made the executive decision to confront him here, and not accidentally acquire a stalker and expose her new Batgirl-haven.
“Yeah?” she twirled her ponytail.
Jeff bent over a decent distance away. “You’re almost as fast as Boss,” he gasped. “That was amazing!”
Steph blinked at him. “Excuse me?”
“Your moves, miss,” Jeff panted out an explanation. “Boss saw you and wants to talk to you. You wouldn’t be needing a job, would you?”
“Excuse me?” she repeated, shriller this time.
Steph reluctantly entered the back room of the Hood and Dagger. It was a lot different from most back rooms she’d been in, and that wasn’t even counting the daytime and front door entrance she was unaccustomed to.
Jeff cleared his throat. “Boss, I got the lady!” he said proudly.
“Thanks, Jeff. I do hope you didn’t use your uh…work…tactics?”
The only thing she could see was the black-and-white hair of a man behind a computer setup so large Babs would be jealous, but just his voice sounded nice.
“Of course not, Boss! I can be subtle!”
Aw, poor Jeff sounded genuinely hurt.
Mentally preparing herself for another middle-age, morally dubious at best, sleazebag, Steph was entirely unprepared for the Boss who actually stood up, arm outstretched for her to shake.
He was young, though the jury was still out on his morals, but was inclined to acquit him on account of his face, which was handsome and graced with a gorgeous smile and– he had dimples?!
Steph had clearly been knocked out by Bill the Beast and this was what her concussion-wracked brain had conjured while she was unconscious.
“Uh, hi. Um. Steph.” She shook his hand, which was large, warm but not sweaty, and had neatly trimmed nails. Steph was a sucker for nice hands.
He withdrew his hand after the shake, twisting it in a way that meant his veins were highlighted for her to drool over.
“Jason. Hi, I’m the owner of Hood and Dagger Pub. I apologize if Bill and Jeff’s little promotional stunt scared you off,” he smiled warmly, teal eyes meeting hers familiarly. “They’re a bit passionate about the boxing and all-round gym opening a couple blocks over, and when I gave them the greenlight to promote it, I didn’t quite expect such…creativity in the way they went about it.”
“Better creative and original than dull and mainstream, right?” laughed Steph. “It was fine. I thought I actually knocked Bill out.”
“His skull’s taken worse, I assure you,” chuckled Jason. “He likes to ham up his performance when pretty ladies are around…even if he’s happily in a relationship with Jeff,” he shook his head at the duo’s antics. Jeff had left to gossip with inform the other employees about the potential interview taking place, so he wasn’t there to defend himself from his boss’s slandering.
“I’m just relieved I can show my face here again,” Steph smiled. “I was so sad at the thought that I’d be banned for knocking out one of your employees, just when it’s become my new favourite restaurant and haven. The hours are a godsend for someone with weird hours like me.”
Jason inclined his head, silently requesting she continue her hot-guy-induced ramblings.
Steph would just like to state for the record that it wasn’t her fault he was almost as hot as she imagined Red Hood was behind the mask. He was her celebrity crush; sue her. She’d seen girls thirsting over Ghostface; this wasn’t any stranger.
“Yeah? What draws you to the Hood and Dagger, if I may ask?”
“The food is amazing; I love the privacy between the booths, so I can study in relative peace even at the height of the rush; it’s seemingly open 24/7, so I can get food when I’m too tired to cook, and I’ve even been able to have a nap after I stumbled in here for breakfast after pulling an all-nighter–in short, have you considered renaming this Steph’s Heaven?” she joked.
Jason grinned at her. “I will now. I’m glad you’re so pleased with my establishment. It’s my goal to have it open as much as I can, so people have a safe space to rest, study, sleep, just like you said. It’s a pub, but it’s not just for food and drink. I want to make this a safe haven for everyone as long as I can.”
“That’s really commendable,” Steph nodded. Her curiosity about Jason was urging her Bat-research (aka stalking) skills on, but now she really didn’t want to ruin this illusion he’d woven around her. He was the perfect guy, she could overlook some tax evasion or him secretly being Kite-Man.
“You look really familiar, though. Have we met somewhere before?”
“I…don’t think so? I’m fairly sure I’d remember a face like yours.”
He raised an eyebrow at her comment.
“I’m usually in the back cooking when I’m working here, so I wouldn’t have seen you here before as a patron,” he mused. “You’re at Gotham Gen?” he waved a hand at the hospital intern badge hanging off her shirt.
She nodded.
He frowned. “I haven’t been there in ages. Probably not. Hm, maybe I just need some sleep.”
“Long night? I can go,” Steph took a half-step towards the door.
“No, please stay. I asked Jeff to bring you here so I could meet you. I was going to ask you if you needed or wanted a job.”
“A job?” She raised her eyebrow. So far Jason had been quite decent, but if he suggested-
“At my new boxing gym. You look like you know how to fight–that’s a compliment, I assure you. I think a female employee would really help draw more female clientele.”
“A boxing gym and a restaurant? Wow, Jason, you’re sure not one-dimensional.”
He shrugged, dropping his head in a pitiful attempt to hide his grin. “I’m a well-rounded guy, or so my mom says when she tries to marry me off.”
Steph snorted. “What type of job were you thinking about at your gym? ‘Cause depending on how well you sell this, I just may quit the scourge of med school.”
“And the pressure is on,” laughed Jason. “Do you have formal training in any martial art or physical activity?”
Steph considered her Cass-mandated and Bat-supervised training. “Yep, although I don’t have any certificate to show for it.”
“Would you say good enough to be a trainer or coach?”
“Yep.”
“Confidence, I like that. Barely took you a second to reply. Thoughts on Red Hood?”
Steph blinked at the non sequitur. “Smash?”
Jason choked. “Sorry?”
“Uh… morally I don’t support him, but as a Gothamite ?” Steph glanced around, leaning in. “And as someone attracted to men? Absolutely.”
Jason blinked again. “I…see. Well, if you want a job at Jill’s Gym, just talk to Jeff or Bill. And yes, they’re the ‘Jill’ in ‘Jill’s Gym’.”
Steph snickered. “That’s a clever name.”
“It’s apparently their ‘ship name’ or whatever,” Jason air quoted.
At that, Steph outright guffawed, tears running down her cheeks while Jason eyed her stiffly. “You’re such a grandpa! ‘What’s a ship name? Kids these days and their newfangled names for each other’.”
Jason opened his mouth, but he didn’t retort Steph’s teasing, much to her surprise. What came out was much worse.
“Batgirl?”
Shit.
“Uh. No? I’m Steph.”
And why hadn’t she used an alias, maybe Minnie Malone, she bemoaned with all the clarity of hindsight.
“Yeah, but you’re also Batgirl, aren’t you? I’d know that mocking laugh anywhere,” Jason said. “It’s okay, I’m Red Hood.”
Heck!!!
She’d just thirsted over the guy to his face! About his alter ego! Steph debated just making another mad dash from the Hood and Dagger– wow , what a subtle name. Well, he literally wore bright red over his head and heart ; she supposed that was on her for expecting subtlety from the man, who’d clearly never heard the word.
“Please tell me you’re lying, not the least of which because I just told you I’d smash your alter ego to your face,” she gritted past her hands covering her face in shameful horror.
Jason snickered. “No can do, BG. If it’s any consolation, I’d say the newest Batgirl is pretty smash-worthy.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
His teal eyes were right in front of hers. Was it hot in here? It was hot in here.
“Can I maybe get your number?”
Steph looked up at him, worrying her lip between her teeth. “Sure, as long as you don’t give me one of your burner numbers.”
“Deal.” Jason fished his phone out of his back pocket.
Steph typed in her contact information and texted herself, then handed it back to him.
“Best Gotham Blonde Girl <3?” Jason read off her self-appointed contact name and laughed. “Cute.”
“I am,” she batted her lashes at him. “So, I hear you know the owner of this really great restaurant?”
“I’m not taking you to my own restaurant for our first date, Steph. Give Alfred’s teachings a little more credit, please.”
“First date?” Steph asked. “Sounds good. In that case, I enjoy the Italian restaurant opposite Wayne Enterprises, the churro truck by Amusement Mile, and the diner in Robinson Park.”
“I’m aware,” Jason said dryly. “I've seen you demolishing a stack of waffles after patrol several times.”
Steph flushed. “Yeah, well, you stay up way too late reading on the gargoyle overlooking the Harbour!”
Jason’s hand gently settled on her cheek. “Been stalking me, have you?”
“I see you on my way to my much-too-early classes at Gotham U,” she retorted, leaning into his touch. “Kiss me.”
“Whatever the lady says.”
Steph’s arms wrapped around his neck as he kissed her sweetly, drawing him in and deepening the kiss.
His free hand ran up and down her side before settling on her hip and pulling her flush with him.
They broke apart at the knock on his door, where Jeff stood.
“Uh, I’ll come back later. Congrats, Boss!”
Bonus:
“Boss?”
Jason looked up, waving Jeff and Bill into his office.”’Sup?”
“Uh, we’re really happy you’ve found this girl, but…we thought you liked the new Batgirl?” Bill was brave enough to say what the whole Goonion had been wondering since Jeff breathlessly updated them on Boss’s love life an hour ago.
Jason considered them. “I do. She kind of looks like Batgirl, though, don’t you think?”
Bill and Jeff exchanged looks.
“They’re both…blonde…”
“As long as you’re happy, Boss,” they assured him. “Does she know about Red Hood?”
“Yep, she’s cool with it.”
“Okay, thanks for telling us, Boss.”
Jeff and Bill left to update the Goonion. “She knows he’s Hood and she’s cool with it, and he still likes BG but he’s dating her because she reminds him of the girl he can’t get.”
Bill blinked the moistness in his eyes away. “I hope she doesn’t break Boss’s heart.”
Bonus Bonus:
“Move over, I can’t see,” hissed Jeff, nudging Gary with his bony elbow until he could peer through the window at Boss’s date with Steph.
They seemed to be having a good time, laughing and chatting, but the Goonion still secretly rooted for their OTP, RedGirl (unfortunately, the two vigilantes’ names weren’t the most conducive to ship names). Steph wasn’t bad as a second-place contender for Boss’s heart, though, and they’d rather see him happy than with a vigilante who didn’t see their Boss for the good man that he was (duffle bags with dubious contents notwithstanding).
Boss and Ms Boss stood to leave the restaurant, and the Goonion started their car to be ready to follow the couple to their next destination.
Interestingly, Boss took Ms Boss to his warehouse headquarters. They were sure moving fast, but if Boss trusted her, so did they.
“It’s usually a lot busier at this time,” Boss was telling Ms Boss when the Goonion entered the building through the back entrance, pretending they’d been out on a mission.
“Oh, there you are. I’d like to introduce you to Steph.”
The Goonion shook her hand and introduced themselves, taking her measure personally and agreeing that she seemed to fit Boss well.
They nodded at him approvingly before they tactfully peeled themselves away to their respective tasks, where they could more surreptitiously keep an eye on the couple, who were chuckling about something as they continued the tour.
They disappeared into Boss’s office and the Goonion winked at each other, preparing to give Boss some privacy, when the door swung open and out walked Boss in his work uniform…hand in hand with Batgirl.
Well, that explained some things.
Jeff pulled out his phone to gather evidence for the other lieutenants. Too bad they were out on patrols and couldn’t see this for themselves. Dennis and Alicia weren’t going to believe this without his proof!
Now seemed like a good time to revive the Boss Dating bets they’d had running…