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Stephanie Brown in another life could have been so many things.
A beloved daughter.
A fashion designer.
A renowned doctor.
A Game Show Host
A Roller Coaster Designer.
But in those lives, she likely had a mother that didn't work multiple shifts to afford their shitty apartment in the Narrows.
But in those lives, she didn't have a D-List rogue for a father who was one wrong word away from Black Mask blowing his head off.
But in those lives she probably never would have considered becoming a vigilante to stop her father.
But those other hypothetical Stephanie Browns don't exist and she weren't them.
She was Spoiler.
"Ya wanted to see me Uncle Jay?"
Jack Napier looked up at his favorite nephew - they hell are they feeding the boy to make him so bi he wasn't even 18 yet fer fucks sake! - and motioned for him to pop on a stool next to him.
"Heard ya pass ya grad exam first try. Congrats kiddo." Jack muttered as he made some notes on the blueprints.
As a true blood Gothamite, he ignored Jason's flush.
"Thanks Uncle."
"Ya got anything in mind for your adult name?" Jack finally put aside his plans for later and plopped down on a stool himself.
"I was thinking Red Hex but mostly for Coven stuff but I really want to do something with Crime Alley. I wasn't there long but it was where Mom's from and where Mum went to when he came to Gotham." Jason explained, fingers laced in his lap.
For such a burly dude, he moved quite delicately. Jack was mostly sure that Alfred got his claws in early.
"I got a suggestion."
"Listenin'"
"Red Hood."
Jason blinks at him, more than a little flabbergasted.
"Red Hood? Your old moniker?"
"Good to know ya ain't deaf. Yeah. Ya know I had never been one for all this psycho shit the other rogues cause and I am not a Mafia don. But back in my day, I ran the black market - drugs, whores, arms, you named it, I did it aside from trafficking. Your grandma would have skinned me if I did." Jack pulled a cigar and lit it up. "What got me the loyalty of Crime Alley was offering benefits to my goons like dental n shit, whores got a nightcare fer their kids and I didn't push to kids."
"Wouldn't your goons rebel if they suddenly get a new boss?" Jason asked, turning the idea over in his head.
"Ya make em a better offer than they can get anywhere else. Right now, their best place is either with me or Cobblepot. The rest of the rogues treat em real disposable like. You gotta be that one to offer them a third option. Ya mom, Cath, she's a nurse n shit now, right?"
"Yeah."
"Get her a clinic. Leslie would appreciate the offloading because she is swamped enough as is and Bruce or even Harry can afford to run it for ya." Jack grunted.
"Why offer it to me, though? If anything, I expected you to offer it to Timmy or Tom." Jason pointed out.
"Like em both and I can see them runnin it well enough but they got no grit. Both of them grew up in manors and penthouses n shit." Jack waved Jason off, much to his amusement.
"Uncle Jack, Tom grew up longer in Crime Alley than I did."
"If I shanked your smartass right now, I'm sure the sludge from Gotham Sewers would flow out instead of blood."
"Ewwww"
"Aside from me stupidly wanting to hand things over to my ungrateful smartass great nephew, I know you have an interest in guns. Like sure, you got your fancy magic shit but if you are gonna be fighting normals and want to stop them permanently, you gonna need more than throwing knives and those electric sticks Dickie has."
"No fuckin shot B approves of this." Jason said with a wide grin.
"Good thing he just your stepdad, huh jaybird?"
Spoiler knocked Cluemaster out with a brick to the head then legged it. She wasn't much of a fighter but it took a lot for someone to not be dropped with a brick.
She ducked under the reaching hands of the goons and careened around the corner at top speed. She tucked herself into an alley and watched as the men ran past.
'Just like Scooby Doo' she mentally giggled to herself before hauling herself up to the fire escape and to the roof. She had a Bat to wave down.
"That was pretty neat."
Spoiler turned sharply to come face to mask with Robin, the new one.
"Damn Bats couldn't come out here himself?" she put a pout in her voice but in all reality, she was a little glad. Batman was pretty scary.
"What makes you think he isn't here?" Robin grinned, hopping up on the ledge of the building.
"Hm, I thought he was busy with training Starling." Spoiler kept her voice casual as she was stretching her senses to see if Batman was really nearby.
"Starling has gone off to boarding school." Came Batman, materializing out of fuckin nowhere.
"FUCKING SHIT!"
If asked later, Stephanie would say it was all planned, that she meant to do that.
But knowing her now, her new colleagues would disagree.
Startled by the Big Bat's sudden appearance, she had thrown the brick she had in hand at Batman, Batman had opened his cape to intercept it before it hit Robin and it went into the void that was the cape and Robin laughed and laughed while Spoiler stammered out apologies.
Jason watched from the balcony as the goons came in. Some chatted with each other while others glared around, paranoid and wary. He noted that Bill was even here.
"Heard that Red Hood was back."
"Thought he was the Joker now."
"Yeah that was the first one but there is a new Red Hood with his name."
"Damn, he got the Joker name taken, now Red Hood. No one original these days. Did you hear about Riddler throwin hands at the Baffler?"
"Well I heard from Vinny who heard from Luis who heard from one of tha girls, Gina that this one was given his name from the original Red Hood."
"That's a good useful chain," Jason cut in and the room went silent.
He let them take a good look at him. Red bike helmet with black vents and lines placed that weren't unlike a skull and light tracing over the seemingly glass front around glowing white lenses. Black compression shirt and cargo pants with a dark brown duster leather jacket. Weapons upon weapons from guns to knives to more guns to even more knives discreetly strapped to him on his body.
And a duffle bag in hand.
"The previous Red Hood, now known as Joker, came to an understandin with me. He gave me his name and I do a little thing for him." Jason places the duffle bag on the table.
"The rules of the Red Hood gang was no trafficking and no pushing drugs to kids. Simple right? Do that and you get paid well, insurance and a place to stash your kiddos safe like. But ya know, some people can't just obey. They gotta push it."
He opens the duffle and the room recoils.
8 human heads. Not dripping blood but clearly real. All with grotesque death masks. Someone throws up in the back.
"With that kind of legacy, I find myself lined up with it. But this is the consequences if you break the rules. I don't think I'm asking a lot, yeah? You can drug deal, racketeer, turn tricks, sell weapons, hell, you can even goon for rogues and mafia if you feel. But no pushin to kids, no trafficking."
the room stares at Jason in stunned silence.
"Any questions."
Stephanie went over to the address that Robin sent her - The Clocktower a few blocks down from Wayne Tower - with a bit of trepidation.
So far, Batman nor anyone else in the colony had given her any shit for going on her own and fighting Cluemaster. They did lightly move her away from going after any rogues like Riddler - though his puzzles were so easy! - but that was about it.
Then Robin texted her the address and a time for her to be there.
Which, by the by, was fuckin creepy that he had her number.
So she ducked out of school and took the metro to the nearest station and hoofed it from there.
She had never come to this part of Gotham and it was interesting that the Clocktower was not abandoned as she thought but actually fixed up to be a residential. Everyone else seemed to ignore it though, going around it as if it was condemned or something.
'No one but a Bat would be interested in this as a home' She thought as she pressed the intercom. "Hello?"
"Hello! Please state your name!"
"Stephanie Brown?"
"Oh! Come on up! We've been waiting for you!" the voice said then a buzz told her the door was open.
She went in the empty lobby and took an old but well maintained elevator up. There weren't any buttons on the elevator, it just went up and up and up.
Finally it stopped on the top floor where the clock was. She took a calming breath when the elevator opened.
Before her was an apartment not much bigger than the one she shared with her mother. Normal kitchen stuff and a few doors that could lead to a bedroom and bathroom.
But dominating the living room was a massive computer set up and a blonde woman seated in one of those expensive white gaming chairs. She grins at Stephanie.
"Welcome, Spoiler, to the Clocktower."
"Jason."
"Yeah, Dad?"
"I find myself in a place where I both want to know and don't want to know. Why is there a rumor Red Hood has murdered 8 people and put their head in a duffle bag?"
"Hm, that's weird. Maybe you should ask Uncle Jack."
" Jason. "
"They aren't dead. Those are just constructs I transfigured out of random crap. The actual people have been moved out of Gotham and into prison in other Jersey cities. They are on Death Row tho."
"Jaylad."
"What? I didn't kill them! I just established myself and let the law handle them. Didn't you say vigilantes aren't Due Process?"
"I did but-"
"If you have a problem with New Jersey having the Death Penalty, you have money, lobby them."
"My god are you your mother's child."
"That is the highest compliment you have ever given me."
"Lemme get this straight. So there are multiple teams in Gotham that work with Batman and Magus. The Colony is the most obvious which is Batman, Batwoman, Nightwing and Robin while Magus has the Colony which is Magus, Wraith, Wixan, Starling and now Red Hex. Then Batwoman - who was Batgirl - has Birds of Prey which is Batwoman, Batgirl, Catwoman, Black Canary for some reason and Miss Gotham." Steph spoke with her hands when she wasn't digging into the chinese takeout Bette had gotten her.
"Roughly, yeah. Gotham is a huge city and Batman and Magus just aren't enough to deal with it all without burning out." Bette said as she munched on an egg roll. "Also Canary was from here originally so she's fine."
"And you want me of all people to join the Birds of Prey? I don't even have a bird name!" Steph protested. Bette just gave her a flat look.
"Having you run about with backup and good gear is better than worrying that you can get killed without good intel and cheap gear. It's mostly on B's dime anyway." Bette shrugged.
"And another thing! You're just telling me everyone's identities! Does this mean you are gonna kill me if I refuse?" Steph half joked.
"Nah, the wards would just wipe your memories. Oh the utility of having magic NDAs laced into this place." Bette said, sitting back in her chair. "Magus and Wraith warded this to hell and back. Did you notice how when you came, everyone was ignoring the clocktower?"
"Yeah. It was so weird. Like they knew it existed and it functions but they were acting like it was condemned or somethin."
"Well, there is a charm called Notice-Me-Not and ..."
Hood perched on the edge of the alley, watching the transaction go on. He didn't react at the lighter and heavier weight he heard touch down behind him. He did stick out an arm so Robin could tuck himself in at his side.
"Are you both about to turn in for the night?" He half breathed, the vocoder in his helmet turning it into a mechanical growl.
"Yup. Just wanted to check in with you." Robin chirped, hugging Hood and looking over the transaction as well with curious eyes. Nosy bugger.
"I just have this and a quick sweep by the girls and I will just apparate home." Hood said, ruffling Robin's hair. "By home meaning the cave since you want to introduce me to ya girlfriend."
"Spoiler is not my girlfriend. She tried to chuck a brick at me!" Robin huffed, making Hood laugh.
"I would argue Lady J did much of the same to me. Magus did the same thing verbally to Bats."
"More like he ran into me with a baby strapped to his chest but I would say it's the same." Batman finally spoke up. The broody vigilante was a bit busy basking in his sons being there and being relatively peaceful for once.
"Careful, Baby Bird, you'll wind up snatched up." Hood teased as below the transaction finished and the two parties parted. It was an arms deal but thankfully not anything too tense. Hood had just agreed to watch over it to keep the peace.
"Swing with us and you can get a ride home in the Batmobile." Robin begged. He may be closer to Wraith but he likes spending time with his other brothers as well.
"Said like that, how can I say no? Wanna parkour race?"
"Yes!"
Batman didn't protest as both pulled out their grapple guns and went off into the night, just followed at a leisurely pace.
"Holy shit is this huge."
"There is a joke there I am sure Dick would take if he was here."
Steph ignored Tim as she marveled over the Bat Cave. Capital letters BAT CAVE.
From the massive multi monitor computer set up to the med bay to the lines of current and previous costumes. The giant penny and playing card to the big t-rex which, if Rob- no, Tim - were to be believed, actually moved. It was crazy.
"This is fuckin' nuts." Steph gasped.
"Language, Miss Brown." came from Alfred.
"Sorry Mr. Pennyworth." Steph blushed but the butler only smiled at her kindly.
"No problem, Miss Brown. You aren't the only one who resides here with a potty mouth and with Master Bruce and Master Harry as they are, you won't be the last."
"Well that's coo - wait, what do you mean reside?" Steph turned accusing eyes on Tim who didn't flinch.
"What Alfred means is that now that you are a part of the team, you will always have a room here just in case. Just like you will have backup gear and a copy of your suit here, you will also have a room in the manor you can decorate as you like. Mum, once he gets in, will probably have a room made for you at Potter Manor too." Tim finished off with a shrug while Steph boggled at him.
"Wha - how - I have a mom! Do you do this with every one who are Gotham vigilantes?" Steph flustered at him. Tim tilts his head thoughtfully.
"Well, kinda? I guess. I think you, aside from Dinah, are the only ones who aren't related to the family in some way like marrying in or being adopted." Tim leaned against the Batmobile as he mulled it over. "I think most of the titans have a room - at least the first gen do? Donna, Wally, Roy do but Garth doesn't but that's more because Atlanteans don't come to Gotham unless they absolutely must and Potter Manor is landlocked so, yeah." Tim shrugs.
"On the one hand eat the rich but on the other, if i wanted to say have everything in my room eggplant color..." Steph trailed off.
"Consider it done post haste, Miss Brown." Alfred supplied.
"Awesome!"
"So this is Stephanie, aka Spoiler and outside of taking down Cluemaster and working with Birds of Prey, she might join Young Justice." Bruce said at the family dinner. Almost everyone was in, well at least the ones who still lived in the manor anyway but they were joined by Bette and Babs and down Tom and Dick who were off planet for a mission.
"Nice to meet you. Has everyone been treating you well?" Harry smiled at the blonde who flushed a little.
"Yeah. I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop and something crazy happens." Steph confessed, frantically remembering what little dining etiquette lessons she ever had.
Ignoring the whole 'richest man in the world' and massive manor, something about Harry, despite him wearing a flannel shirt and nearly rags jeans, made her want to be on her best behavior.
Maybe it was the accent.
"I get that. Have you started doing paired patrols yet? That would ease some of the anxiety." Harry said softly.
"We haven't really figured out who to pair her with just yet. It would be best to deal with an area she knows well but there isn't much to patrol in Burnley." Bette chimed in.
"I live in Burnley now but I grew up in the Narrows." Steph pointed out.
"Want to patrol with me?" Jason offered.
"What?! But you wouldn't let me patrol with you!" Tim protested.
"CA is still wary of Batman and Robin and having you tag along would take a hit to my rep as crime lord." Jason waved him off, catching the roll Tim threw at him and putting it on Bab's plate in one smooth motion. The redhead, used to such shenanigans, just rolled her eyes.
"Maybe I can wear an alt costume and stick with Uncle Jack." Tim grumbled, attempting to steal a roll from Harry who lightly stabbed his hand away with a fork. "I could be Joker Jr or something."
"You would have to get an egg for that." Jason teased while Babs quietly explained the clown egg thing to a mildly confused Steph.
"But why Steph and not me?"
"Well, your vibes are rancid, little bro. Steph still has the CA accent and they can immediately tell she is one of them versus you with your little Bristol accent." Jason teased.
"If that was true, they would have more issues with Tom and Mum." Tim groused.
"Well, Mum was a figure in CA way before you and I got there and took care of it a lot before I even put on the kevlar. He's also there a lot because Gothic Alley isn't far from Crime Alley so, cope." Jason shrugged off Tim's even more prominent pout before turning his attention back to Steph. "So, are ya in Blondie? Will be a bit more bloody than what the BOP and Colony deal with but more hands on with helping people."
"I'm in."
"Oi! Short, blonde and purple."
Spoiler sent a glare at Wraith but approached anyway.
"This is eggplant, you blind heathen."
"It can be ecru for all the fucks I give. Are you squeamish?" Wraith dismisses with a hand wave.
"What?"
"Freak out at blood and injury?" Wraith elaborates, digging into his utility belt. Spoiler wasn't sure she would get over how he could go in a tiny pocket up to his elbow, even though Magus had charmed her own belt to do the same.
Magic was fuckin wild.
"No. I want to go to medical school after high school anyway."
"Brilliant. I want you to take out your med kit and gauze and I am going to teleport over to pick up Batman and dump him here. He's gonna be injured and unconscious. I'll take care of Freeze's goons." He hands over two glass vials, both wildly different colors. "Have him drink the red one - modified Pepper Up. Yes, steam is supposed to come out of his ears. Then disinfect his injury - he was stabbed near his spleen. You will be able to find it since it will be the big bloody spot - and apply the antiseptic in your kit and then pour half this green potion over it. Its liquid stitches and will knit the skin together while it heals, basically speed growing new skin to protect it until it heals further."
"Okay, and after that?" Spoiler said, taking the vials.
"Wrap the injury and I will come back and we can portkey to the Cave. This is just a patch job to stabilize him until we can properly heal him at base."
With a small crack, Wraith was gone and Spoiler dug into her kit for the needed items. In seconds Wraith was back with Batman, who he all but dumped on the roof before he was gone again with another crack.
Spoiler got to work, swiftly opening Batman's mouth and pouring the red potion down his throat. She had a moment of worry he wouldn't swallow but he did swiftly.
Almost suspiciously so.
But never mind that, she found the injury and took off his chest plate, remembering the diagrams she had to memorize last week on how to remove everyone's armor if needed for medical help. Batman's was the most complicated but it was eased since she was keyed into the spells warding against unwanted people trying to harm him or uncover his identity.
She spritzed the wound with antiseptic and used a bit of clean gauze to remove the foam.. The wound was pretty neat - not jagged or anything so it was easy to make a line down the injury and watch the skin knit itself together.
She was wrapping the bandage when Wraith returned.
"How went it?"
"He's stable and breathing fine. I didn't smell anything concerning so no intestine or stomach puncture and the wound was pretty clean. How did they manage to get through his... you bastards." Spoiler trailed off as she looked up at Wraith who had removed everything but his domino and Batman who was clearly awake now.
"Good job, you passed." Batman praised her, sitting up.
"This was all to test me? You already let me in!" Spoiler sputtered at them.
"Well, more to assess your strengths and weaknesses. Everyone has an assessment - Batman, Magus and the first Batwoman excepted since they were the pioneers - so we can properly place you where you will excel in. It's why, even though we have so many vigilantes already, as a civilian, you didn't hear about many of us." Wraith explains calmly, checking over the neatness of the bandages.
"And it also shows us what you would need improvement on like your observational skills. Why would Freeze be attacking St Aden's Group Home on a Tuesday night? Why didn't we hear any gunshots or sounds of a lot of men moving around if so?" Batman pointed out but not unkindly. Spoiler still flushed.
"That said, you have what it takes to be a field medic. You follow instructions well even when its a substance you haven't encountered before and stay calm under pressure. Also, as the main field medic, I appreciate you take no kind of shit from me. That tells me you would work well with doctors and nurses." Wraith said with a grin.
"Well, okay thanks I guess. Will this assessment thing be constant? Is everything a test?" Spoiler grumbles as Batman stands once he gets the okay from Wraith.
"Annually there is assessment but again, this isn't to kick you out but to find what you can do to improve whether it's more experience, training, apprenticing to other heroes outside of Gotham or just paying for you to go to a certain school." Batman explains, tucking his removed chest plate into the cape void. Spoiler eyes him up, wondering if she should beg someone in the Coven to do the same thing to her cape. "Gotham needs plenty of help so we aren't going to turn someone away who just needs a bit of training to be useful."
"Mhn, okay." Spoiler sighed, stretching. "Since this wasn't an emergency, can we take the Batmobile back?"
"Sure, but you aren't driving it until you are at least18 and passed the Grad test."
"You Bats and your fucking tests!"
"Language!"
"Boss, got some intel."
"Go ahead."
"There's this dude. Name's Bane. Word out there he got a bone to pick with da Bat. Never met im as far as we knows but still gunnin for him regardless. Ain't from Gotham."
"Mhn. Keep an eye out for him and check in with the bunker people to see how far they are getting. If he is really trying to come after the Bat, we might get caught in the crossfire."
"Right, Boss."
