(Untitled)

[twiceahero]

Barbara rolls into the bar, and automatically looks around.

She spots a young blond woman behind the bar's massive length

Comments

[i_spoiled_it]

Being alive. It means you need to take bathroom breaks.

Especially if you saw Babs rush in there, anyway.

Steph puts her head around the door, cautiously. "Barbara?"

[i_spoiled_it]

Steph stuffs her hands into the pockets of her shorts, wishing it wasn't so hot in Africa and wishing she'd been wearing long sleeves and pants.

"Babs, I - you know I started it. Everything. The war."

[twiceahero]

"What I know," Barbara says, "is that that's not true."

[i_spoiled_it]

Steph sits down on the Convenient Washroom Bench to be at a better height, folding her arms around herself.

"Sure."

[twiceahero]

"You don't believe me."

That's not a question.

[i_spoiled_it]

Steph gives her a small smile. "You're smart."

Everyone knows that.

[twiceahero]

"And I know things," Babs adds helpfully.

[i_spoiled_it]

"Not all the things, apparently." Steph smiles at her, awkwardly. "Leslie said Batman cut off your network. Maybe you missed how it started."

[twiceahero]

"I know how it started," Babs answers softly. "There isn't much that people can keep hidden from me. Not if it's in a computer."

[i_spoiled_it]

Steph looks at the floor. Fascinating tiles.

"I wouldn't have rescued me. I didn't even save Orpheus. I didn't save anyone."

[twiceahero]

Barbara reaches out and lays a hand silently on Steph's shoulder.

[i_spoiled_it]

Steph will not break down.

She hasn't talked to anyone about this. Not even the therapists. They didn't know who she was, what she'd done. alked about the torture, sure. Not about why it happened. Not about what Steph did.

Still, bathrooms are the place for emotional discussions. Everyone knows that.

She swallows fiercely. "What happened in Gotham? After I - after?"

[twiceahero]

"It survived," Barbara says softly. "It... began to recover."

Like it always does.

[i_spoiled_it]

"What about --"

Steph agreed to go to Kenya. She agreed to let everyone think she was dead. It seemed easiest. But ...

"What about Tim?

[twiceahero]

Barbara sighs softly. "He blames himself." For Steph's death.

"But he'll make it." Babs will make sure of it.

[i_spoiled_it]

Steph nods, looking a little confused.

How could he possibly have had anything to do with it?

But there are more important things.

"... Cass?"