AU Barbara Gordon

[volent]

As thrilling as this place is, I really want to know where things are going. I'm not the sort of person who just waits around for things.

So what can I expect? What's your game plan here?

...What do you mean, you don't have a game plan?

Comments

[acro_bat_ic]

Do they ever?

Mine barely knows what they're doing.

[volent]

You'd think people with us in their heads would have better planning skills.

[acro_bat_ic]

...Right.


'Cause I totally plan everything. [She's not impulsive as hell. She doesn't jump on motorcycles or try to drive massive planes despite no experience whatsoever. What are you talking about?]

From a DC/Marvel crossover-verse where he was a founding member of the Teen Titans

[arach_nerd]

They never do Babs.

[volent]

[SIGH.] So I'm learning.

I guess we've met?

[arach_nerd]

Well, I was the best man at you and Grayson's wedding in my universe, so that's a big yes.

[volent]

[You have just earned her best "the fuck?" face.]

Dick is like my brother.

[arach_nerd]

Yeah, see, that would be the whole point of alternate universes. Things happen differently.

[theboywonder]

... Babs?

[volent]

...Dick?

[That slow, soft little smile.]

You're here too?

[theboywonder]

When she feels like dragging me out. This version of me, anyway.

What happened to your hair?

[volent]

[Her brow furrows as she raises her hand, dragging it through the rough cut.] It's always been like this. Since we've met, anyway.

[theboywonder]

Pretty sure it was longer than that, last time I saw you.

[volent]

[Her hand falls, and she gets that sharp, analytical light in her eyes.] When was the last time you saw me?

[theboywonder]

A couple days ago?

[volent]

The last time I saw you was a few hours ago. We were studying in the library.

...Well, I was studying. You were standing on your head.

[theboywonder]

And no one was surprised.

[volent]

One day I'm telling Bruce on you.

...You know, assuming he doesn't have the library bugged.

[theboywonder]

It's Bruce, of course he does. But you really don't have to be a tattle tale.

[volent]

Your grades will tell the story for me if you don't shape up.

[theboywonder]

My grades are fine, thank you very much.

[volent]

For now.

[theboywonder]

Since when have you cared so much about how well I do in school? Which, for the record, I only had one B last semester, and that was because Bruce couldn't talk my biology teacher into letting me make up the final after we got stuck in Hong Kong for an extra three days longer than we expected.

[volent]

Since always! And - wait, we didn't get stuck in Hong Kong.

[theboywonder]

You weren't with us.

[volent]

Of course I was. He wasn't going to just leave me home to babysit the manor.

[theboywonder]

[...]

What?

[volent]

What?

[theboywonder]

Since when would you babysit the Manor while we were gone?

[volent]

Well, I don't, that's Alfred's job.

Unless it's best to have a two-person team, at least, then Bruce just picks whoever's best suited to the job. That's how it's always gone. Well, you know, since you got here.

[theboywonder]

What are you talking about?

[volent]

[She frowns, peering at him.]

You really -

Dick, how did we meet?

[theboywonder]

You're Commissioner Gordon's daughter. We met on top of the GCPD building, but, you know, before you got involved in the whole cape and cowl thing. We met in person at some stupid function, I'm pretty sure we were like, the youngest people there.

Why? How do you think we met?

[volent]

[Her face crumples, and her voice goes very quiet.]

Oh.

[It takes her a moment to say anything.]

Commissioner Gordon died three years ago.

[theboywonder]

[... Oh. That's horrible, and not at all what he'd been expecting, really, although it seems kind of obvious in retrospect. Why else would she be living at the Manor with them?]

Babs, I'm so sorry.

[volent]

[Her smile is faint, but warm.]

You said that before, too. Even after -

You're my family, now.

Yay for AUs

[byebye_mistah_j]

They rarely go in with a plan.

[She pauses and looked at Barbara's face.]

Wait you're...Barbara?

[unyusual_girl]

Ooo an alternate boss lady! What's the story morning glory?