conflict and compromise / barbara gordon

catching up

"So you're dating Batgirl, Orphan loves you, and Spoiler would recognise your face," Oracle's voice came out of the speaker on the table, a sarcastic noise that Wenlock didn't appreciate,

"Would you rather I have fought Cain? And it was your idea to try and gain Barbara's favour, remember?" Wenlock muttered back, not looking up from the papers she was annotating. "What are you even getting from them anyway? You already broke into the Oracle system."

"They all have separate systems," Oracle said disapprovingly, "it's very annoying of them."

"How typically paranoid," replied Wenlock, pausing to shake her hand and frowning at the red mark forming on her fourth finger. And it was pure luck, then? That I had already met Barbara?"

"Partially, I would have preferred Tim Drake's favour seeing as he doesn't have eidetic memory, but it worked out."

"Can you check her files? I was thinking that Barbara might protect us from Batman's more..." Wenlock scrunched her nose is disgust, "intrusive, surveillance."

"Already making excuses for Barbara's behaviour so you can date her?" Oracle teased.

For this, Wenlock had no response. She couldn't deny her attraction to the redhead but couldn't shake off the dark pit of anger lying in her stomach every time she thought of these vigilantes and their activities. She opted instead to murmur something unintelligible and resume working, putting both her and Oracle into a companionable, if not comfortable, silence.

"How did you do on the test?" the robot inquired after a while, breaking the silence, "My apologies, I didn't ask earlier. I was more invested in the project's development, you understand."

Wenlock hummed, "Pretty good, y'know, considering the stress I was under both before and after." 

"Recovery from the last test then?" 

"Definitely," Wenlock stood up, yawned, and looked out the window at the moon high in the sky, shining down at her through the dark Gotham clouds, "Well,  I'm going to bed. Guard the door from intruders for me, yeah?"

"As if I'm a dog," Oracle groaned, quieter now that Wenlock had moved into the bedroom, "Just get to sleep."

♡♡♡

It was times like this, Barbara thought, surrounded by her companions, embraced by the warmth of the clocktower fireplace, that she was confident that she had made the right decision. Yes, she thought, looking around, at Cass playfully chasing Steph chasing each other around the uniform display cases, at Dinah Lance and Helena Bertinelli sharing conversation about recent missions, warm drinks in hand.

Warm drinks that were almost spilled on her when they all heard the telltale squeak of an opening window in the storage room next door, a window that Barbara purposely kept unoiled in order to warn of intruders. 

Immediately the entire room took up defensive positions, staring at the door, that is, other than Dinah. Bless her for not being as paranoid as the Gothamites, thought Barbara as she stared at the storage room door. With a creak, the door opened and an amused Selina Kyle raised clawed hands in surrender, mockingly looking down the crossbow aimed at her by Helena.

"What an unwelcome greeting," Selina said, arching her brow at Helena, "Now now, we both know you aren't shooting me, even if you do try, so how about you stop lower it?" 

Glowering at the thief, Helena lowered her crossbow, resting it on her thigh, "What are you here for Kyle?" 

"Well, a little bird told me," her gaze slid to Steph, who had the decency to look somewhat sheepish, "Something about a blackmailer?"

"Of course, yes," Ignoring the awkwardness of the situation, Barbara walked over to the wall of pinned images and notes next to the main computer, "This is a suspect sketch of what the blackmailer looks like, as well as general notes on what to do and-"

"Hold on," Dinah interrupted, stepping close with Helena behind her, "Whats this?"

Barbara looked to what Dinah was pointing at, it was a photo of the message scrawled on her bandages after the fight. She quickly looked away, pretending something on the computer had caught her attention, before they could catch the light blush growing on her cheeks. She saw the collective grins grow on Dinah, Helena and Selina and groaned internally.

"Now, who is this?" Selina whistled, holding up the sketch of the figure.

"Doesn't have a name," replied Barbara weakly.

"This the girl that gave you those right?" A grinning Dinah, gestured at the area under her shirt in which bandages still covered, "Then fixed you up as well?"

"Oh my god you have your own Catwoman," Helena laughed, then peered closer at the sketch, "Oh my god she has claws and ears its perfect." 

"Anybody thought of a name yet?" Helena interjected with a smirk, "Because I've got a few."

"Catgirl," Selina fired immediately, a sly smile sliding onto her face as she read more of the notes, "Skills like those would be handy for a few heists." 

"You'd have to claim her before Bruce does," Dinah laughed, "How about Felina?"

Cass gave an approving hum from the couch.

"I can't help but notice how carefree you all are despite her having a worrying amount of information on us." Barbara cut back in.

Helena and Selina's eyes hardened at this, they had both been hit hard by the Leslie situation. The lack of confidential medical help had meant that wounds taken were longer lasting and less well treated, evidenced by the bandages on Helena's fist and tell-tale winces when Selina put her weight on the wrong leg. This felt suffocating to the vigilantes of Gotham and the overall tone of the room seemed to become more sombre.

It was at this point that Stephanie decided to try and raise the mood, calling from the sofa cheerfully, "What about Barbara's real date?"

"Who's the lucky man?" Asked Helena, sitting back on the couch now.

"Woman," said Barbara, simply pulling out her phone and showing her images of Wenlock, too embarrassed to protest anymore. 

"You're so cute together" Dinah awed, "About time you found someone, it was so sad seeing you cooped up here, talking and doing nothing except hero work." 

"Glad you're happy for me," Barbara said dryly, internalizing relief at the approval of all those around her at her choice of partner. 

"Though," Selina interjected, smirking, "We might have to pay her a visit, just to ensure your safety of course." 

"No."