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Stephanie Brown didn’t know exactly when her life changed, for when the threads of fate shifted towards her, but she knew it was for the better either way.
She knew things had changed, when languid nights alone in silence became filled with the tender sounds of Cass’ heartbeat against her ear at night, for when Steph’s meals became more than just a tiresome chore, then began a chance to communicate her love for her fellow Batgirl in a new way.
Stephanie had always felt something for Cassandra, for the wonderfully mysterious girl who became her best friend and so much more as the years went on. She had buried the little tummy aches she felt when Cass entered the room, hid the way their shared glances and light touches snatched the air from her lungs.
There wasn’t a date which ended with a surprise confession, or a drunken hookup which sparked a new conversation. No, their… evolution from best friends to lovers was less of a moment and more like a cascade, a wave of feelings which rode over the once dry sand.
Eventually, their nights alone, tangled in each other and silent apart from their shared breaths, crossed a line towards a new kind of intimacy. Their greetings were accompanied by soft, life-altering kisses compressed into a handful of precious seconds each morning and night.
Where once innocent hugs were joined by the warm, wafting scent of Cass’ light coconut body mist as Steph’s nose sunk into the crook of Batgirl’s neck. Often these moments were filled with tears, or unspoken sobs, but the closeness they earned was all that mattered.
Steph’s new favorite days were the ones where the lifetime of pain she’d endured floated away, the sounds of it all, the smells. It was coated over with Cass’ love as they began to learn and know each other’s bodies more intimately than their own.
As the months passed, a new figure became interwoven in the tapestry Steph and Cass had so devotedly sewn hand in hand. Maps (or Mia, if they were being formal) grew close to the Batgirls almost immediately after becoming Robin.
It wasn’t hard, considering the new girl’s boisterous personality and near infectious energy. The new Robin became a guest so regularly at Batgirls’ apartment, to the point where Steph and Cass’ movie nights seemed to now traditionally end with both Maps and Cass curling up against Spoiler, head strewn either across her shoulder or lap like sleepy cats.
Of course, Steph loved these displays, as they warmed her heart to the point where she felt a veritable furnace burn in her gut each time. But on the flip side, she was always left trapped for hours until she either carried one of them back to bed and carefully led the other to theirs, or on rare occasions, simply was followed by Maps until she curled up beside Steph like they’d never even left the couch.
It was strange, suddenly being in charge of this new life, this small beating heart besides Cass’. It was something she’d dreamed of when she was a little girl, playing with her dolls and crafting a life that was anything but her own. Now, she was living it. Sort of.
On nights where she tossed and turned beside Cass, her mind drifted back to those tear filled months in which she carried her own baby. She’d idly daydreamed about raising the life growing inside her, about all of those small domestic moments which would hopefully coat over all of the memories which haunted her.
Steph had hated herself so much, and on her worse days where her SSRI’s didn’t kick in as well, she continued to feel as if she had deserved that pain, the ripping stretch of her body which still left wide scars and token stretch marks, their fading lines a holy manuscript she’d only ever shared with two.
But now, at the ripe age of twenty two, Stephanie Brown was somehow, divinely given another chance. It had started simple enough, when Maps’ summer “internship” at Wayne Enterprises had conveniently brought her to live at their Hills district loft for the three months allotted.
Steph had enthusiastically decorated and redid Barbara’s old room (and now guest room) into something befitting their new guest. A bookshelf stocked with Serpents and Spells manuals from top to bottom, a new comforter and bedspread, along with various cozy knicknacks littered the space. Steph had even taken a day off from her duties to handpaint the room Maps’ favorite color, sage green.
Steph didn’t even think about why she was so invested in this, in why her fridge was suddenly stocked with more kid friendly options and mounds of fresh produce, or why she’d painstakingly dangerproofed the entire apartment as if Maps wasn’t a whole sixteen year old.
When the budding teen first arrived at Steph and Cass’ abode with a wide suitcase in tow, she’d immediately been greeted by a tender hug from Spoiler and a gentle “hello!” from Cass in turn. Of course, Steph immediately had to dodge the barrage of questions flung her way about Kyle and their previous (singular) date.
Steph had answered by reaching out to her side under the warm sunlight, grasping Cass’ hand within her own and admitting she’d been dating Cassandra for a couple months.
This prompted an entirely unavoidable stack of books spilling from Maps’ suitcase as she hastily showed her hosts the collection of yuri manga (somehow fit into her tiny frog themed suitcase) that she’d acquired over the years.
From then on, Steph took her host duties incredibly seriously, to the point where Cass would always flash a teasing smile as she watched Steph diligently pack each and every one of Maps’ lunches. Cass never outwardly asked Steph why she was doing this, or why she continued to put Maps ahead of herself at every turn.
But she knew Stephanie needed this, so she didn’t prod. Instead, she simply offered her help at every turn, even though she knew Steph would politely turn her down, shouldering the responsibility every chance she got.
Stephanie cherished the quiet nights with the company of the soft hum of the T.V, Maps’ head spread across her lap. Steph enjoyed threading her fingers through the short black hair, humming soft tunes and singing occasional lullabies under her breath. The most unforgettable moment of all in this pattern, however, was when Maps had accidentally mumbled ‘Mom…’ to Steph in her sleepy haze.
And after a few weeks, that became her and Cass’ new life, at least for the summer. The three’s evenings were now spent test running new S&S modules, working on experimental dishes in the kitchen, with the warmth of shared laughter the only thing that stuck.
One night, Steph and Cass had returned from an agonizingly brutal patrol, sore muscles yelling across their bodies as they plopped down on the couch. Their cowls and capes were long discarded as Steph lay atop her girlfriend, like a makeshift weighted blanket with her arms snaking to encircle Batgirl’s waist.
Under the soft glow of the living room’s lamp, Cass’s hands reverently cupped Steph’s rosy cheeks, rubbing in soft circles as her legs spread in a silent invitation. Steph raised a teasing eyebrow, glancing around the deserted apartment before surmising that Maps must be in her room.
She wound her eager gaze back to Cass’ hazel eyes, taking in the rings of umber and bronze. She leaned in, a sigh of relief spilling between her lips as she took Cass’ between her own. Gentle, pleasurable whimpers and little intimate hums were shared, a simple whisper of ‘I love you, I love you. God, I love you.’
Steph succumbed to the empty space inside her lungs, as she pulled back with a quivering smile, twin eyes laced with love. “This is… nice.” She sighed, contentedly, “This is nice.” Cass’ gloved fingers traced over the saturn-like ring of freckles which drew a line atop Steph’s cute, crooked nose.
“It is. So nice.” She whispered, before her hands dipped to the backside of Steph’s neck and pulled Spoiler back to her. This new round of kisses were intense, obscenely wet and noisy as a tender rhythm began with Cass’ hips as they ground against Steph’s. “You… fuck-” Spoiler whispered, between sloppy smooches.
The entire world, all its ills and prejudices disappeared as they embraced. If Steph was to describe this moment, it’d be with one word. Snogging. In the middle of their blissed out trance, a shocked gasp rang out behind them.
Steph’s eyes opened in panic as she unconsciously tumbled over, her head bumping against the coffee table with a heavy thud. “Ow! Fuckity fu-” Once her eyes flickered up to the origin of the sound, she saw Maps standing in the doorway to the guest bedroom, mouth agape and unreadable.
Steph rubbed her aching head, stammering in tow as her mind felt like a glorified cotton ball. “Um… So, I-” Cass’ gaze meanwhile, flitted between her injured girlfriend and Maps with torn concern. “Hi, Maps. We were, uh-”
Maps’ expression turned from shock to pure, geeky enthusiasm. Her hands rose to hold her shaking, seemingly uncontrollable head as she kicked her feet against the floor with soft taps. “Kissing! Ehehehehe! This is just like Yagate Kimi ni Naru!”
Cool, collected ocean eyes met the hazel ones beside her as they exchanged a knowing look. Cass flashed a teasing smile as they caught their breath. “Sure, that’s exactly what… we were doing.”
‘...Or were going to do.’ They both thought, seemingly from the anticipatory stares, a subtle way of saying ‘we’re not done yet.’
Maps took a few heavy breaths as she calmed herself down, albeit adorably caught up in familiar antics, ones that both Steph and Cass adored. “Okay, okay! Sorry, this is so-” She panted, nearly on the verge of hyperventilating.
“SO cool! I’ve never been kissed, but I’ve read about it! I mean, I’d love to be kissed, maybe. If I had to kiss anyone, it’d be my best friend, Olive. But like, as friends of course! I love her! I mean, she’s really pretty and has really nice silver hair and-”
Steph couldn’t hold it in, the weight became too much after that last sentence from Maps. She fell back onto the floor with a heavy tide of laughter, tears of joy leaking across her puffy, water stained cheeks.
Somehow, Maps had described exactly the kind of delusional thought process Steph had buried her head into before her and Cass had become partners.
In the midst of it all, Cass beamed in turn as jumped from the couch, rolling her eyes from the booming sound of Steph’s adorable laughter. Cass began to pour herself a glass of water as Steph recovered, wiping her soaked eyes. “Okay, come over to the couch, sweetie. we gotta dig into that.”