Her eyes were searching the ground, trying to grasp at thoughts that just weren’t coming. Her mind felt like it was a sieve; anything and everything filtering through tiny holes, slowly filling up with nothing but useless information. Typically she did well under pressure, but Hood had this knack for making her feel like an amateur. Like a child. It was obvious she had little control over this situation and it was grating, infuriating.
Choking down her ego for the second time that evening, Barbara rose from her crouch. She bit back the urge to reply with a snarky quip about how it was obvious he was just using her for her reputation and reputation alone. She’d know better next time. This wasn’t the place.
“Yeah, it’s safe.” The statement was huffed out, tinged with hints of bitterness and fatigue. She was hesitant to leave the young women here, but the sirens in the distance gave her some reassurance. Eyes raked over the group of girls, huddling together and she could feel her heart swell with anger and sorrow.
Tonight was more than a reality check. It had been a blow; the kind of hit that knocks you on your ass, and sends you spiraling in a direction you could never foresee. Like an uppercut to the chin that forced you to re-evaluate everything you thought you knew about the world. She hated those the most. Barbara had always been certain of herself, and her situations. Most of all, she was certain of what she knew. And damn if this Red Hood character didn’t have a way of mucking all of that up.
Nodding her head, Barbara began walking to the other side of the building. “Let’s go.”
Less than an hour later, they had reached the clinic, where a kindly older woman took the Russian girl with no questions, murmuring softly in a dialect that Jason recognized, but didn’t speak.
That left Batgirl and him alone, standing somewhat awkwardly outside the neon glow of a “Safe Haven” sign that pulsed with the unreliable electricity that only Crime Alley could supply.
“Thanks, Batsie."
It was mumbled, humble. He knew that he very well could have died if not for her timely rescue, and he wouldn’t forget it. His side hurt like hell, and he considered taking a brief refuge in the clinic, if for no other reason than he could pass a few hours of the pain away under sedation.
He eyed her, through the lenses of his helmet. She was hunched, though trying not to appear so. Angry. Biting her lip, mulling over hidden thoughts that swirled in between those pointy ears.
"I know I pissed you off tonight, Batsie. Let me make it up to you. I’ll give you three nights, of your choice. Your sidekick. Take it or leave it.”
and all of this will never be the same again 