*I recently discovered that Batgirl has her own HQ or something now, but for this story assume that she still lives in Oracle’s building.
- Matthew Walls
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Cassandra Cain, who moonlights as a costumed vigilante called Batgirl, sat in stunned silence and awe at what she was seeing. Barbara Gordon, the woman who was kind enough to allow Cassandra to live with her and support her as the successor to the Batgirl mantle, which Barbara herself had once possessed, did not want Cassandra watching the TV unsupervised. Though Cassandra did not know, Barbara had been concerned about how TV could influence one as impressionable as Cassandra. Barbara knew that violent TV programs would not affect her young friend, who had already been exposed to too much of that, but there were other things that she was not sure about letting Cassandra watch. She would unplug the TV and also disconnect the cable wire and hide it when she knew that she would be out for a time. Cassandra, though, was very observant, and not only found out where the cable wire had been hidden, but also devised how to hook the TV up. She was a fast learner.
She was fairly sure that Barbara would be gone for at least a half an hour, and decided to use the opportunity to taste the “forbidden fruit” of TV. Barbara did let her watch it sometimes, but usually only boring news programs and shows that were aimed at people younger than Cassandra, kids shows. She knew from looking at people through their windows at night watching their own television sets that television had more interesting and exciting things to offer.
Having lived on the streets for some time, she had seen many things. She had seen situations where people would do what the people on the TV in front of her now were doing, but had never fully understood. Also, the people on the TV looked much more serious and intense about the whole thing. They were pressing their lips together quite forcefully and making all sorts of grunting noises, and Cassandra had to wonder how long these people could go without air. She had once seen the young man that sometimes visited Barbara press his lips to her cheek briefly, and had wondered at the action then. As the couple on the screen parted, she watched their expressions intently. There was something in their eyes as they looked at one another. Cassandra was beginning to understand love on deeper levels, and how people expressed it, than what she had ever seen or understood previously.
She continued to watch the screen, trying to keep her senses focused on her friend’s inevitable return. She would have to move very quickly to unplug the power cord and cable, and put the cable wire back in its hiding spot, if Barbara came back before she was expecting her. Now one of the people on the screen had their arms draped around the others neck. She had seen people hug before, but the way these two embraced was both of longer duration and seemed to give them pleasure on a level that most hugs normally did not.
Finally she stood up and unhooked the TV. She then re-hid the cable, taking care that it did not appear to have been disturbed. She had only been watching the TV for twenty-five minutes or so, but in that time period she had seen a good deal of what Barbara would have called “cheesy romantic stuff” on one of those “trashy daytime soaps”. Just as she finished the process, she heard Barbara arriving. She quickly rushed to her bed and feigned still being asleep, as she had been doing when Barbara had left earlier.
Barbara poked her head into Cassandra’s room, saw that she was still “sleeping” and smiled briefly before going back into the main room to start working on some of her Oracle cases. On the bed, a widening smile appeared on Cassandra’s face. As Barbara had thought, the television had indeed influenced this impressionable young woman, and ideas were already beginning to form in her head.
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Later that day, or more specifically two and a half hours after dusk, Cassandra, now in her Batgirl guise, was standing on a particular rooftop in Gotham City. She was using the available shadows to conceal herself, waiting for someone to arrive. Seconds later the person she was waiting for landed on the rooftop out in the open. Cassandra was surprised that she could not detect his approach until his feet were almost on the surface of the roof, almost as if he had come out of nowhere. The figure paused briefly, then turned to face directly towards her hiding spot.
“Come on,” said the Batman, “time for patrol.” Batgirl was a bit miffed that he had spotted her so quickly, but emerged calmly and moved over towards her “mentor”. She looked up at him. “You know the rules, let’s go,” said Batman, realizing that his young partner may not even be able to understand what he was saying. He turned towards the edge of the roof.
Before he could move very far, he felt Batgirl tugging on his cape. He turned, impatiently, and said, “what?” She pointed first at him, then herself. “Okay,” he said, still impatient. Then she began throwing punches and kicks at the air, and pretending to block imaginary strikes. “We don’t have time to spar, we have to patrol. If you don’t want to come along, then don’t.” With that he proceeded to the roof edge and drew out his grapnel line.
Batgirl’s shoulders slumped in dismay, and then she quickly moved to catch up with him.
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Five hours later, they arrived back at the same rooftop. It was after 3 a.m. “You did well,” said Batman, “but at times it seemed like you were a bit distracted. Remember to keep your focus at all times.” He still did not know for sure if she fully understood him, but he had an idea that she was beginning to get the general idea of most of what people were saying to her. He turned to leave, when he again felt her tugging on his cape. When he turned back towards her, she started making the same gestures that she had earlier, indicating that she wanted to spar.
“It’s late, maybe you should get some rest,” he said. When she only looked blankly at him, he said, “okay, we can do some training if you really want to.” She seemed to understand, as she began nodding. “I don’t think here is a good place, though,” he said, looking around at the rooftop. She then started gesturing as if she was driving a car, moving the steering wheel. “You want to drive somewhere?” She nodded again, seeming to realize that he understood her. “Cave,” she said simply. “The cave?” Again, she nodded. He put his hand over his mouth briefly, as if thinking. “Okay, but we won’t have much time,” he said. If she cared, she gave no indication, and smiled broadly beneath her mask.
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A minute later, they were at the Batmobile, the spot where Batman had parked it well chosen as usual to prevent anyone from noticing it. He opened her door for her, then went around, and got into the driver’s seat once she was in. The drive to the cave passed in near silence. Batgirl looked at all the buttons and control devices in the Batmobile’s interior, which prompted Batman to say, “remember, don’t touch anything,” placing emphasis on the last three words. She quickly shifted to looking out the window.
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Less than 30 minutes after the Batmobile had pulled out onto the Gotham streets, it pulled into the BatCave. They both got out, and headed over to the workout area. They both removed their utility belts and other equipment they were carrying, and stretched a bit. They sparred then for fifteen minutes, then rested, then sparred again for ten more minutes. Thanks in part to their previous patrol; Batgirl was exhausted by the end of the second session. Still, Batman was finding it gradually more difficult to keep pace with her, at least until she became fatigued.
There was now only about an hour before the sunrise. “Why don’t you rest for a while, I have to update the computer for our night’s activities,” he said. She seemed to understand, but also looked a little disappointed. He walked off towards the bank of computers; the new ones that had been installed after the earthquake had damaged the cave.
Batgirl went over one of the trophy cases that had been recovered, and sat down with her back leaning against it, watching as her mentor went to work on the computer. Five minutes later he called to her, “five more minutes and I’ll take you back to Oracle’s place.” He held up all the fingers on one hand to further illustrate his point. Two minutes after that, Batgirl stood up and paced over towards Batman’s chair. She pulled her mask off as she walked over.
Batman heard her approach. “I’m almost done,” he said, hoping she wasn’t suddenly interested in the workings of the computer system. Cassandra stopped behind his chair, and he glanced briefly in her direction. She seemed a bit nervous about something, standing with her hands folded in front of her. He figured that she was not used to seeing such a complicated system, although Oracle’s systems were quite impressive. “I hope you don’t want me to explain this computer system to you,” he paused briefly as she placed her hands on the back of the chair and leaned forward slightly, “there’s not nearly enough time I’m afraid.”
Tentatively, she brought her hands up again, and then put them on his shoulders, and leaning forward a little more. Batman decided to ignore her sudden contact, deciding that what she was probably concentrating on was the computer screen. He did feel slightly awkward, however.
Batgirl was not actually paying any attention to the screen in front of them. She was blushing significantly, though she did not completely understand why. Her blush deepened further as she slid her arms down and brought her hands closer together, so that her arms were almost around his neck and shoulders. She was now leaning forward so much that her head was almost right next to his.
Batman stopped working abruptly. “Cassandra…” he said, but before he could say anything else, she kissed him sloppily on the side of his mouth. His eyes widened, but before he could pull away, she did herself. She backed away, blushing heavily, with her head down as he turned towards her. He turned back towards the computer, saved his work, and shut it down for now.
He rose out of the chair and turned back towards her. She still had her head down, arms at her sides and was nervously biting her lower lip. Batman approached her. “Cassandra,” he said, and she looked up at him nervously. To her surprise, he had just the faintest bit of a smile on his face. “Warn me before you do that,” was all he said before continuing towards the car.
Cassandra looked confused. It was all he could think of to say, however. He did not want to attempt a serious conversation with her. He was thinking about asking Oracle to talk to her. From now on, he would just have to be a little wary around her. He opened her door for her and waited. “Well…” he said, and she quickly trotted over to the car and got in, pulling her mask on halfway there.
Batman went around to the driver’s side and got in.
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The ride back went in complete silence. She had glanced nervously towards him a few times, but his eyes never left the road. He pulled into an alley a couple of blocks from Oracle's place. Batgirl quickly got out, gave him a quick wave, and headed for the rooftop. Batman grunted, and pulled out and back onto the street. He would get back home just as the sun began to peek out over the horizon.
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Batgirl entered her “home” quietly, but Barbara had already awoken. She greeted Cassandra. “Wow, you’re just getting back now, it’s practically dawn. Run into trouble?” Batgirl pulled her mask off, and nodded. “You okay?” asked Barbara, “Batman’s not pushing you too hard, is he?” Cassandra shook her head. “Alright,” said Barbara, “I guess you’re too tired for breakfast.”
Cassandra started towards her room, then stopped, and walked back towards Barbara, who had wheeled herself to the small table. “Maybe you’re hungry after all, eh?” said Barbara. She turned her head in Cassandra’s direction, only to turn right into a sloppy kiss on the mouth. Barbara’s eyes went wide with surprise. Cassandra pulled back, blushed deeply again, and went quickly to her room.
At the table, Barbara still had a look of surprise on her face.
The she shook her head, laughed, and turned back to the breakfast she had
been preparing. So, somebody’s been doing a little unsupervised
TV-watching, thought Barbara, somewhat amused. She thought she
might have to contact Bruce about this. On second thought, maybe
Tim, or Alfred would be better, she thought, and laughed again.
Author’s Notes: Well, after finding out about this new
Batgirl I have to admit that the character intrigues me a bit, and the
concept for this story just sort of popped into my head one day.
I know the title is dumb, could never come up with good names for
titles, oh well. If you want to comment on this or review this, send
it on down to [email protected].
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