[Gotham: Several Years Ago, Two Nights Later.]

[i_spoiled_it]

When the Redbird pulls up outside Mom's house, Steph's ready and waiting impatiently, practically bouncing with excess energy. She hardly lets the car door close behind her before pulling her mask off and turning to Tim.

"So ... has Oracle said anything weird to you lately?"

Comments

[someboywonder]

"Um." Right. That could be nothing. It could be unrelated. Oracle will be Oracle, after all. "Hi, nice to see you too, missed you?" I start to drive, enjoying, as usual, the feel of the Redbird on the road. "And what do you mean, weird? Oracle doesn't exactly call be up to say hello and ask about my grades ya know."

[i_spoiled_it]

"She might, I don't know," Steph says, grinning at him. "You know I love you, Boy Wonder. I don't have to say hello every time. So ... weird? Like, I don't know, inviting you over for coffee and a little chat?"

[someboywonder]

"A coffee and a little chat with Oracle?" I give her my very best WTF expression, which isn't hard, because the thought of that kinda hurts my brain. "We ARE talking about the same Oracle, right? There isn't a new one in town?"

Which could happen, I guess.

[i_spoiled_it]

"Well, yeah, that's what I mean. Weird. I don't know, I just wondered if you knew anything about it."

[someboywonder]

"No, nothing that would have Oracle inviting you over just to talk."

I'll just let Oracle do her thing, and trust she'll do it right.

[i_spoiled_it]

Steph leans over to look at him.

"That was a very careful answer, Boy Secretive," she says, frowning. "Is this another Big Bat-Secret?"

[someboywonder]

"No," I tell her, which IS true. It's more of a me-and-Oracle secret, for the moment. "I really have no clue what Oracle's up to, if she's got reasons to act that way, she hasn't told me anything, and neither has Batman or Nightwing. I'm in the dark too."

Slightly less true that, but it's for her own sake.

[i_spoiled_it]

"It's weird." Steph leans back in the Redbird, frowning thoughtfully. "I'll tell you soon's I figure it out, though."

[someboywonder]

"Alright, well, as long as you keep me posted."

I'll let her do this herself. It'll get complicated if I get too involved.

[i_spoiled_it]

"I promise," Steph says obligingly, settling back into her seat with a frown.

[someboywonder]

We drive in silence for a while, but eventually, I decide to ask.

"How have you been? Anything interesting happen lately?"

Probing for clues and such, though I mask it as a casual thing.