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Despite what some might claim Barbara does actually do her best to get enough sleep. She has bots, scanning the internet and security cameras for information and algorithms to sort it. She has contingencies over contingencies, always prepared and ready to be released automatically or by the click of a button. Oracle knows everything, at all times. She has to be everywhere. But Barbara is also only human, with all the limits that brings.
So she has scheduled sleep times, three hours at once at most, spread throughout the day. She has emergency alarms to wake her should something happen. She has trained herself to fall asleep quickly and wake up even faster. She mastered this way of sleeping when she was still Batgirl, perfected it when she became Oracle and her responsibilities grew impossible vast.
The point is, Barbara knows what she’s doing. She has a system, has enough experience to stick to it. Barbara does not allow herself to become too tired, because that means making mistakes and as Oracle, a single mistake could cost someone their life. The Bats depend on her, she will not allow any of her fellow vigilantes to get hurt because Barbara messes up. So normally, Barbara makes sure to stick to her sleep schedule almost religiously.
This is not a normal week. Bruce left for an off-world Justice League mission, so Dick has been jumping in as Batman, occasionally doing his rounds as Nightwing in Bludhaven whenever he finds the time. Jason is off with the Outlaws, Tim with the Young Justice. Steph and Cass have moved to the manor, for the time being, to help out Dick and Damian with patrols and everyday life. It was Cass’ idea, originally, but where one Batgirl goes the other follows, always.
Then there was a cyber attack, something Barbara can beat back, but which took her attention away long enough for her to miss the first signs of an Arkham breakout. She alerted the other vigilantes, finishing up with the hacker before switching over to Gotham security footage. Luckily all Bats have experience with breakouts, so that wrapped up as quickly as is to expected. Like always, the aftermath is the worst part.
Barbara takes another sip of her coffee, eyes flicking over her screen. The city’s security cameras are her eyes, the police radio her ears. She is Oracle, she sees all. Her bots are busy deleting pictures that were taken of the Bats during the breakout, others marking new internet theories for her to go over later.
Dick, Damian, Steph and Cass are taking a break after helping with the immediate clean-up, but Barbara cannot afford that. She has been up for three days straight now, which is nothing compared to how long she knows she can stay up, if needed. She needs to keep an eye on the police, on the emergency services, on the streets. The aftermath of a breakout is always full of petty crime, corrupt cops and hurt people who need Oracle to direct the emergency services in their direction. As Batgirl, she would be out there, helping in person, but as Oracle there is so much more she can do.
A damaged building that is going to collapse soon, recognised and mentioned to the firefighters. Cops that pocket valuables that were left behind or simply taking them from citizens, noted down on a list to keep an eye on. Petty criminals doing the same, checked out and either ignored in favour of more important things or marked down important for the future. Her work is never over. Her bots alert her to a too-clear image of Robin, already deleted, but she tracks the user down nonetheless, manages to get them a virus that will delete any copy of the picture on personal devices as well.
The computer is an extension of herself, almost as if a single thought can control it. Time passes, though Barbara is unsure how much. It doesn’t matter, not when there is so much to do, so many people who need help. Help she can provide.
The other Bats have started doing rotations, always someone ready to help. Currently, Dick and Damian are patrolling together, leaving their route occasionally when Barbara gives them new information. The knock on the window doesn’t startle her, not when her systems have already alerted her to the two Batgirls approaching. She doesn’t turn around to face them, more focused on another corrupt cop, this one taking money from criminals right in front of one of her cameras. Big mistake. She picks out his picture, pulls up his information. One more for the list.
A hand lands on her shoulder and Barbara startles, almost reaches for the hand before the costume registers. Steph, still in costume, frowns at her. She’s worried. Cass, just behind her shoulder, is too. Barbara sighs, turning her wheelchair around to face the two Batgirls. She can leave the bots to watch over the city for a little while. She has to take a moment to blink away black spots from her vision, to stop the world from spinning.
“Have you slept, Babs?”
Steph leans down, checking her pupils. Barbara knows they must be shaking, knows that soon her hands will start shaking. Now that she’s no longer focused on her work, she notices the weight of her limbs, the shadows dancing in her vision. She’s tired.
“I have to help with the clean-up.”
Steph frowns.
“That’s not an answer and you know it.”
She leans back, arms crossed. Cass, seated on the kitchen table, copies her body language. Arms crossed, face disappointed. Barbara raises a hand to massage her temples, eyes closing automatically. Her head hurts. When did she last have water? Is the ache due to dehydration, caffeine or lack of sleep? She doesn’t know. She looks back up at the Batgirls.
“I’ll sleep soon, okay? But I have to keep an eye on-”
“No.”
Cass gets up from the table, landing on the floor with complete silence. She comes closer, stopping barely two steps in front of Barbara.
“Sleep now.”
Barbara looks at Cass, at Steph. They’re both determined, just as determined to make sure she sleeps as they are when they go out at night. Barbara sighs once more, then turns to the computer, activating some more contingencies before pulling back.
“Fine. I’ll sleep. But only if the two of you get something to eat, okay? I know you came here straight after patrol.”
Steph cheers, pumping her fist in the air. Cass smiles, darting back to high-five Steph. Barbara can’t help but grin. Cass turns back to her, nodding once.
“Promise.”