Work Text:
“This is painful,” Steph said, munching on a stick of string cheese.
“Oh yeah,” Robin agreed. “You don’t think he’s your dad now, do you?”
Steph grimaced and said, “Well, he might be, considering how my dad is. They’re both really bad at talking to my mom.”
In the background, Batman (who wasn’t her actual dad) was talking to her mother, trying to explain why the hell he had brought her six-year old daughter home.
“Look, ma’am, she was mugging someone, and I—”
“I don’t want to hear it! ” her mother shrieked. “My little girl is not a criminal!”
She looked like she was ten seconds away from dragging Steph into the house, so she took initiative and waved goodbye to the crime fighting duo.
“Steph, honey, are you okay? Did those dressed-up hooligans hurt you?”
“I’m fine Mom,” she said, trying to dodge her mother’s embrace, “I just thought Mr. Batman was dad.”
“Who’s what?” Arthur asked, opening the door and wrinkling his nose. “Oh, just you.”
Steph’s mom winced, and she hurriedly tried to drag Steph inside.
“Go to your room,” she hissed.
“But why?”
Her mother clucked her tongue.
“I’ll tell you later,” she said, looking between Batman and Steph’s dad like a spectator at a tennis match, “But you need to go inside and lock the door.”
Stephanie shivered slightly from fear, then shook her head. “No, Mom. I want to help Batman and Robin.”
Said people were tensed up and looking like they were about to fight with Arthur Brown.
“Stephanie, I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but you need to listen to me —”
“I’m tired of keeping my head down all the time, Mom!”
Her mother had wrestled her into the front doorway of the house, but Steph could see the fight beginning outside. Robin was staring after her, worry rippling across his face.
“Hey, kid, are you—”
“I’M FINE!” Steph shouted, perhaps a bit louder than she needed to.
Her dad took no notice of this exchange, instead focused on raging at Batman. He attempted to throw a punch, which was swiftly blocked. Batman then picked her dad up, preparing to slam him down, but Steph ran in front, shouting, “Stop!”
Batman quite nearly came down on the girl, but thankfully stopped just in time, asking, “What—why are you doing this, small child?”
“Because he sucks, but you can’t kill him,” Steph said, tears welling in her eyes.
Robin came up behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “We’re not going to kill him. But…ugh, there’s no easy way to say this, is there?”
He gently nudged Steph back, away from her dad and Batman.
“Your dad… isn’t a good person. He’s actually the villain Cluemaster. We have to put him in prison to keep people safe.”
Steph was guided back towards her house, but she pulled on Robin’s sleeve.
“But what about Mom? What—what’s she going to do?” Steph sniffled, then blubbered, “We’re going to be out on the street, and then we’re going to have to join a gang, and then you’re going to come and stop us and then I’m going to have to mug you —”
Robin choked on laughter.
“Don’t worry small fry, we won’t leave you hanging. We know someone who can take you in, if you want.”
“No! I want my mom!”
Robin sighed. “Kid, you have to understand—”
“If I’m a kid, then you’re a kid too, buster.”
Her mom came running out of the house and scooped Steph up.
She turned to Robin, “You know somewhere she can be safe? Right here. Not with your weird Bat-contacts, or whoever it is you’re sending us to.”
Batman came over, with Steph’s dad unconscious behind him.
“Ma’am, could we talk without the kids for a second?”
…
“Look, I’m going to be completely straight with you here, ma’am. This is not a safe household for young Stephanie, and I cannot in good conscience allow her to be here.”
“Like she would be safe with whoever you send her off to. I may not be perfect, but I still am Stephanie’s mother. I’m not going to let you indoctrinate her into your little cult.”
Off Batman’s look, she added, “Oh, I know about your weird vigilante stalker thing.”
“How about a compromise? I know what you struggle with, so if you can get yourself clean within a year, I will get someone to set you up with a house and security. In exchange, Stephanie will stay with a trustworthy foster home, and you can have regular visits.”
“ Partial custody . I don’t care how much, but I’ve been through divorce before.”
“Of course. I will set you up with the contact details for a trustworthy foster soon.”
Crystal sighed. “It’s not really to my liking, but I guess I’ll have to accept it.”
Batman tilted his head. “I promise Stephanie will be safe.” He extended his hand to shake, and Crystal, after scowling, reluctantly put her hand forth.
“You take good care of her.”
…
Steph perked up as Batman and her mother walked back over. Her mom squeezed her in a tight hug.
“I love you, baby, and if anything comes up, don’t hesitate to call me and I’ll be there.”
“Ugh, mom, don’t worry! Why are you being like this?”
Batman cleared his throat. “It’s been decided that you will be staying with a foster family during the week, and visiting your mother every weekend while she gets back on her feet.”
Steph gave a hug to her mom, then skipped off with Batman toward the Batmobile.
“Hey, can I turn the steering wheel?” she asked innocently.
Robin laughed.
“I’ve been trying to get him to agree to that for years, Small Fry.”