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Spoiler followed Oracle’s directions given over her comm, taking the left entrance while Batman and Robin took the right. This had been a hell of a chase. Whoever this mystery outsider was, they were good. They’d avoided all public cameras and even Red Robin’s private network that he’d set up around the docks to monitor arrivals at Gotham Harbor. It was only due to a random camera Oracle placed an old Court of Owls haunt a month back that they’d managed to catch any footage of this mystery figure.
Whoever they were, Batman decided they were enough of a threat to bring in a full team to confront them. Which resulted in Spoiler running around in abandoned sewers. Sewers that absolutely reeked. At least when they had an Owl infestation the place didn’t smell so damn bad. Ugh.
Oracle’s voice spoke over the comm channel, “Alright. Everyone’s in position. B, move up with Robin. Spoiler’s in position if our mystery intruder tries to flee.” Spoiler crept forward, near enough to look into the room and watch the confrontation. A cloaked figure had opened a secret compartment from the back of the circular chamber they’d cornered them in and was holding a nondescript black briefcase. Spoiler watched as Batman and Robin slipped out of the shadows and into the antechamber. Damn. At least Batman’s invisibility made sense, he was wearing all black. But Robin had more color in his costume than she did! How the fuck was he completely invisible? Cass has been teaching her how to blend in, but she’s just not getting it. It’s damn irritating that the little brat has it figured out, but she can’t pull it off.
Batman and Robin drift slightly apart, Robin towards her tunnel and Batman to block the one they entered through. Robin readies his blade and Batman pulls out his batarang. Spoiler reaches to her belt to draw her… ah, fuck it. Her batarang. She’s still work-shopping a name for her version of the bat’s signature weapon. Well, it can’t be worse than Nightwing’s ‘wing dings.’ That’s just so embarrassing. The cloaked figure tilts their head to the side and lazily draws their sword, twirling it with a loose one handed grip. Ah. That’s concerning. Even an outsider should have some level of respect for Batman. Especially one as evidently competent as this one is. Stupid people at this skill level don’t exist. They’re dead long before they learn how to evade Batman’s systems.
Spoiler steps forward, on Robin’s other side. The fucker doesn’t bother glancing in her direction, their attention solely on Batman. Rude. Also concerning, but she’s more annoyed than worried.
The mystery figure stops spinning their blade, “There’s no need for bloodshed tonight. I hold no ill intent towards you or your city. Not tonight anyways. Step aside and I won’t be forced to cut you down.” Arrogance drips from the man’s voice. Definitely a man. She’s ready to knock this asshole into next week. Nobody’s getting away with that kind of disrespect.
The man’s head jerks in her direction. Damian's sword twitches and Batman and Spoiler pull back their wrists, but the man freezes, staring at a point just over her right shoulder. Seriously? She’s not falling for that trick. Oracle would know if there’s a threat behind her. The man slowly raises his left hand up, crouching down, then lays his blade down on the ground in front of him and straightens, both hands in the air. Spoiler turns around. Black Bat is standing on her right, having appeared without anyone having noticed her, hands resting casually at her sides. Spoiler turns around and the man is kneeling. “I yield.”
~~~~
Steph is doubled over laughing in the Batcave, cowl pooling around her neck. Cass is gently patting her back. Bruce and Damian are trying, and failing, to hide their scowls. With a massive effort, Steph manages to straighten up and look at Bruce’s back, where he’s sitting in his chair in front of the Batcomputer. “It’s ok Batman, Gotham villains still consider you plenty spooky. I’m sure they surrender without a fight all the time.”
She can practically feel his seething indignation rolling off the tight set of his shoulders. “I fail to see how this is relevant to your mission report Spoiler.”
She snickers into the back of her hand. She can’t help it. Not that she’s really trying to contain her glee. This is the funniest thing that’s happened in forever. She’s not even pissed the mystery guy dismissed her anymore. It’s simply too funny to see how thoroughly disgruntled his dismissal has made Bruce and Damian.
“Team morale is important. It’s vital for every vigilante to keep their spirits up and I’m just doing my part to help out.”
Damian is glaring at a training dummy as if its personally offended him.
Spoiler smirks, “It’s ok baby bat. I think you’re plenty scary.” Damian scoffs and turns, marching out of the Batcave and back up to the manor. Cass pokes her in the shoulder. Maybe she misjudged how affected Damian was by the encounter. Oops.
“Mission report, Spoiler.” Batman’s got his ‘last warning’ voice on. That stopped working on her well before she put on the Robin suit, but, well, she feels a bit bad about Damian.
“The intruder became docile the moment he saw Black Bat. Clearly, they were well informed about Gotham before they took the mission, counter to my initial conclusion. They surrendered immediately and made no efforts to prevent retrieval of the briefcase, or its contents. They asserted their lack of criminal offense and intent and requested immediate release from extra-legal custody, citing insufficient evidence and cause. Due to the lack of anything obviously criminal in the briefcase, and our complete lack of information on the intruder, we were forced to let them go.”
“Any noteworthy observations about the assailant?”
Well, Cass hadn’t said Bruce is off limits.
“The assailant demonstrated clear evidence of being an experienced combatant, with an ability to instantly assess a situation and determine their chances. They dismissed those too weak to be a threat, but as soon as the spookiest and ookiest bat appeared, they knew they were finished.”
She swears she can hear Bruce’s jaw grinding. And! No poke! Girlfriend approved!
“Anything useful?” Oh, he’s so upset right now.
Steph turns and places a sloppy and noisy kiss on Cass’s cheek. Cass’s face remains perfectly expressionless, not a hint of humor in her eyes. Too expressionless. She can hear Bruce tightening his grip on his armrests.
“My girlfriend has a fearsome reputation that extends well beyond Gotham’s borders!”
“Out. Now.”
Cass slips her hand into Steph’s and pulls her towards the elevator. They step in, Cass presses the button for the main floor. The doors close. She turns to Steph, her perfect poker face falls and then they both dissolve into giggles, holding onto each other to stay upright.