Work Text:
Streaks of Violet trickled past Batgirl’s eyes as she sat on the edge of a rooftop, watching the moon crest over the starry night sky, swearing at times she could see Stephanie out of the corner of her eye, haunting her along with the rest of her ghosts. It had only been a year since… she couldn’t talk about it. If she ever wanted a reminder of what she had lost, all she had to do was to take a glimpse of the moon, and it would tear at her heart, mercilessly as if Cain had shot her again. The lowest point had been after her last confrontation with her mother, the Lady Shiva.
During the very few times in which she rested, she swore she could hear the splashes of the water against the faint buoy on which she had swam to, Stephanie’s voice in her heart pushing her to continue fighting, but now… she didn’t know how many moonlit nights she could endure before letting the crushing expanse of the water take her once more.
Cass removed her cowl, fingers trailing across its surface between her fingers, the focus of her eyes gliding to the space below, approximating how far it would be before she reached the ground. Cass closed her eyes, a singular tear tearing at her eye and trickling across her face as she stifled soft sobs, sniffles escaping her mouth. She couldn’t understand any of it… how anyone around her didn’t feel the way she did, how people around her, even Tim, could continue to live their life like nothing had happened. How could they live while Stephanie, Stephanie had… Cass couldn’t say the word, then it would be real.
“Batgirl…? Cassandra.” A soft voice flowed behind her, snapping her back to the world as the breeze flittered past her ear, making her aware of the surroundings. The neon lights, sounds of angry traffic, and ambient noises mixing together gave Cass no relief as she sighed, letting her cowl fall gently off the rooftop and down into the city as she said, “I don’t know how to keep fighting… without you. I don’t know how to wake up each day in a world without you, Stephanie.”
The soft voice cooed behind her, “Oh, Cass… I’m so sorry. I wasn’t able to talk to you, It’s such a long story. Leslie helped me get better and I wasn’t able to talk to anyone, I just… Besides my Mom and Tim, I wanted to see you again the most. You’re my best friend, Cass-” Batgirl rose from the edge of the roof, taking a step back and turning towards the soft voice in her head as it materialized in front of her. Cass’ eyes welled up with tears as she wiped her face, choked up as she replied, “Stop… haunting me. It’s cruel, how you tether me to a world where I can’t feel you, or hear you. Let me let you go.”
Stephanie’s cape fluttered in the air, swooshing around her as her hands raised from her sides to remove her mask, waves of blonde curls flying out into the cool night air. Her smile curled at the edges, eyes fluttering and hair falling in just the way Cass remembered. A moment of silence passed as the two watched each other, Stephanie taking a few steps closer apprehensively as she reached out a hand, “Hey, I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere again, alright? Can we play another game of rooftop tag with you… like old times?”
Cass chuckled, eyes lowering to the musty rooftop ground, “This isn’t real. You’re not really here… this is cruel.” Stephanie got closer with every second, Cass preparing herself for the moment the walking memory of Steph would disappear back into the wind. “I’m here, Cassie. I promise, okay? I can explain everything.” Steph murmured, closing the distance between the two and pulling Cass into a tight hug, rubbing soft circles into her back.
Cass’ walls finally broke, sobbing loudly as she gripped Steph for dear life, her hands bunching up in the fabric of her best friend’s suit. Cass broke the embrace, feeling everything hit her at once as Stephanie brought a hand to cup her cheek, wiping away her tears as their eyes met. Steph’s bright, blue pupils reminded Cass of the gentle waves of the ocean, calming her as she said, “This isn’t real, you can’t be real. I don’t get to be… happy.”
Steph fought for a response to form as she stroked Cass’ cheek, mouth agape as Cass continued, “I still mourn you. I never stopped wearing black. Not for a day.” Steph felt tears tug at her eyes as she replied, “I promise I'm real. Let’s go back to the clocktower and talk. I’ll make you some hot cocoa and we can-”
Steph’s eyes widened as Cass leaned forward, capturing her in a passionate, quick kiss. Cass cried through the kiss, tears streaking on her cheek as she let it all out through this embrace, reveling in the sweet taste of Steph’s lips against her own. That’s when she realized… She felt it, she felt Stephanie. She was here, alive, and Cass had kissed her. Steph’s shock turned to comfort as she began to lean into the kiss curiously, but as she went to relax, Cass paused and broke the embrace.
Cass’ mouth was agape, shock strewn across her face as her hands shook, backing away from Steph as rushes of emotion flew through her in waves. Steph’s hands returned to her sides, clenching her fists as uncertainty wracked her brain, the confusion of enjoying the kiss sending her into conflict. Cass stepped back, turning as streaks of tears ran down her face, Steph whispering, “Oh…”
Cass turned, running, unaware of her destination. All that she knew… was that Steph was alive, walking and talking as if she hadn’t died. As if she hadn’t been shot, as if Cass hadn’t failed to save her that night. In a way, that somehow made Cass feel worse.