* 𝖘𝖆𝖓𝖌𝖚𝖊 𝖕𝖊𝖗 𝖘𝖆𝖓𝖌𝖚𝖊

HELENA BERTINELLI;the huntress of gotham. every HERO has a story... not that i'm some kind of hero. but there comes a point when to survive, the hunted must become the huntress. * . ｡ * ✰ i know vengeance is a sin, so i promise to say a few HAIL MARY'S along the way.

[cacciatricedigotham]

bcywcndr‌:

Dick knows he needs to pull himself out of this slump some time soon. He needs to get back on his feet, get out there again, get on top of whatever’s going on in this city, and get his family back together so they have a fighting chance. And he knows it’s not exactly fair of him to crowd Helena’s place like this, but.. he’s comfortable here. He’s at home, he feels at ease, he knows.. here he can escape all of that responsibility for a little while. He can step away from the weight bearing down on him to fix it and just.. be himself for a night or two, curled up with the woman who has such a steady place in his life whether she’s ready to talk about it or not.

He can’t help but smile at the feel of her fingers against his skin, a sweet and comforting motion that helps him feel more at ease right away. Helena always has that effect on him, though. It’s just.. so relaxing to be somewhere that he can be himself, there’s no guilt for his lies, there’s no pressure to measure up to being The First Robin. There’s no expectation to be anything else but himself with her, and Dick needs that more than ever. He lets her shift enough to face him, meeting her eyes with a gentle, sleepy smile on his face. “Not today. We’re staying in bed until at least 10 today, sorry.” He presses the smile against her lips without hesitation, humming softly into the kiss before he answers her question with the answer he’s sure she already knew. “If you’ll let me, that’s definitely the plan. What can I say, I’m in a needy kinda mood.”

It was nearly impossible for Helena to protest such a tempting offer - spending an intimate weekend of just being in one another’s presence was seemingly what they both needed at this time. Not to mention it was probably one of the few times they’d be able to be like this, given their busy schedules, the state of the city, and the already hectic holiday season approaching. “I’ve gotta say, I like needy Dick Grayson.” Probably because for once, she was ready to give - ready to allow herself a moment of peace with him by her side. “Plus, how could I say no? I feel like it’s been so long since we’ve gotten a chance to just... be. No rooftops, no patrol. Just you and me.” Her lesser lip is taken between her teeth for a moment, a shy smiling forming to her lips. It was a rarity, for Helena to feel so secure in what she was feeling, to feel so vulnerable. There was something in her that told her that no matter what she and Dick went through, he’d be there to catch her time and time again. If anything, she’s hoping that in time, she’d be able to do the same for him. 

Her fingertips trail gently against his jaw, her frame shifting so that she was laying atop his chest, her head rested against him. She can hear the faint beat of his heart and for a moment, Helena can feel any and all fear that otherwise would’ve interrupted her ability to enjoy this seemingly melt away. “I think we should do this more often, Grayson.”

[cacciatricedigotham]

 oraclexg‌:

All the different decorations in front of her just confused her even more. Of course waiting last minute to decorate her apartment was her own fault. Every tree looked the same just in a different color. Also how does one choose the best lights? There where hundreds upon hundreds of different ones. Babs was a computer tech not so much of a Christmas decorator. Anxiously she looked around until she finally caught the eye of someone. “Hey you wouldn’t know what tree is perfect for an apartment would you? Also, which colored lights? I’m so lost,”

it took helena a moment to get back to the other, the vigilante finding herself just as entranced with the many different options of decorations. she hadn’t been the type to decorate for the holidays outside of her classroom, but with dick coming around her apartment more and more often, she figured it couldn’t hurt to throw up a tree and maybe some stockings - even if were a small, pre-lit one she’d box up after the holiday. “well, i guess that all depends on what kinda decor you’ve already got going on. there are some rustic looking trees, or you can get crazy with it and just load it up with tinsel and multicolored lights. guess it’s really dependent on what you like.” she reaches to flip over the price tag of one of the smaller fake trees, donned with purple lights. “i was thinking of something like this. do you think it suits me?” 

[gotham-at-nightfall]

Batgirl and the Birds of Prey: Rebirth #1

[cacciatricedigotham]

bcywcndr‌:

Dick has spent a lot more time at Helena’s lately than at home. They haven’t really discussed what it is or what it means - truth be told he’d always much rather spend the night with her regardless of where they are, but.. being at home feels a little off right now, with the way things are with the rest of the family. At least here he doesn’t have to answer to anyone for a little while, Helena gives him the time and the comfort he needs to try and get his head straight.

It’s morning, he can see the sunlight starting to peek through the window, but he had a late night on the rooftops chasing down a couple of leads he knew the GCPD wouldn’t be able to take. So when he feels movement on the other side of the bed and immediately assumes Helena’s going to get up his arm snakes out to wrap around her waist, pulling her back in against his chest and burying his face in the back of her shoulder. “Shh, not morning yet.” He mumbles softly, his arm very securely wrapped around her to keep her close. Of course, if she really wanted to get up he wouldn’t stop her - but he hopes she won’t. [ @cacciatricedigotham ]

Helena liked having Dick around. Not only was he one of the very few people Helena felt like she could be herself with, after coming face to face with Cassamento a while back, she struggled to exude the confidence and security that she was known for. Another good thing about having him around was that he didn’t push her into having the what are we conversation - even though she’s positive him seeing anyone else wouldn’t sit well with her. She liked being able to express as much or as little affection she wanted to, something that seemingly always fluctuate at the drop of a hat. He put up with her despite all of that, leaving Helena to believe that in due time, things would fall into place for them and she would no longer be running away from a conversation that’s basically been unspoken ever since they began spending nights like this in each other’s arms. 

There’s a playful grumble from the archer as he wraps an arm around her waist, pulling her in closer against him. She falls back into his embrace, a hand lifting gently to stroke against his face as it’s pressed into her shoulder. “Sorry, boy wonder. It’s a habit. Waking up for school five days a week will do that to you.” She allows her hands to move over his arm for a moment before she’s shifting herself just enough so that they were facing one another now. “You plan on keeping me captive all weekend?” There’s a smirk that makes its way to her features before she’s connecting their lips in a kiss. “Can’t say I’m against it. We deserve a break.”

[cacciatricedigotham]

soldierbat‌: 

Upon further investigation, Batwoman caught sight of the figure before her. The familiar gear and mask caused the vigilante to relax somewhat. “Dammit, Huntress?” She called out after the woman spoke without even glancing her way. Kate definitely recognized her. She walked closer to the other female. “You alright there? There were some armed vandals a building over,” she informed her sternly. “You could’ve been shot.”

Kate took a moment to examine her fellow vigilante, raising a brow as a smirk pulled at the corners of her lips. She was cute, plus she’d heard nothing but good things from others. She wondered if Huntress had heard of her, but could only assume so? Thinking about it, hadn’t they met at some meeting once? Birds of Prey? Justice League? A family thing perhaps? “Burnout,” she sighed to herself before fixing her gaze on Huntress once more. “If there were gunmen on the roof, something is up around here,” Batwoman added, trying to get Huntress’ attention.

What started out as a routine patrol turned into an opportunity for Helena to wallow in the happenings of the last couple of days, unable to erase the image of Cassamento’s face from her memory. When she was studying to get her teaching degree, she took a few psychology classes that mentioned how some people tend to repress horrible and traumatic memories from their past, either hiding most of the disturbing details or blocking out the event completely. This wasn’t her situation, however, the day she lost her family had stuck with her - continuing to play in the back of her mind like a sick reminder. 

It’s hard for her to return Kate’s warm words, the vigilante keeping her gaze low as she lifts her arms to cross over her chest. “I could’ve, but I wasn’t,” she responds flatly. “That’s what I came over here for. Wasn’t sure if anyone else was in the area. I could go, though. If you’ve got it handled.” 

[slytherinnpride]

[cacciatricedigotham]

bcywcndr‌:

“Aw, you’re just saying that.” Dick waves off the comment, but he can’t help but smile at her words. Truth be told he’d much rather spend the night with Helena but.. a party where a majority of his family were going to attend, a family with whom he’s not really on great terms, didn’t really sound like a great idea. Working was the more sound option, even if he had to pay a price. He could make it up to Helena later. “I’ll believe that when I see it.” He chuckles softly, though he knows the idea of Helena joining the force is pretty out there. She might make a good officer someday, but.. he knows her drive to get revenge for her family would never allow her to do something like that. Still, it’s a nice thought to imagine, working side by side like that again.

He raises an eyebrow at her insistence but doesn’t stop her, following her towards the courthouse. “You’re a terrible influence, you know that? Okay, one drink.” Dick smiles and squeezes her hand gently as he follows her inside. For a moment, it all seems too good to be true, stealing a few minutes with Helena, and as he meets her gaze he finds he’s incredibly glad to be here with her. Whatever else might be going on.. it’s good to be by her side. “Hel -” He begins, only to be silenced when darkness swallows them up, doors slamming shut behind them. “What the -” He frowns and pulls Helena a little closer, eyes darting around quickly, trying to catch sight of anything he can find. “Stay close, we need to find a way to get everyone out of here.”

Though Helena wouldn’t say it in this moment, she’s glad to be stuck in a sketchy situation with Dick of all people. He made her feel a lot safer even when they weren’t dealing with trouble, and that was certainly no exception to whatever shitshow they’d just walked in on. She can feel her guard going up, knowing fully well that whatever happens, they’ve got each other’s backs. She can’t quite place the source of the disturbance, screams and other worrisome sounds making it nearly impossible for the vigilante to focus. Helena’s immediately rushing toward the door they came in from, arms slamming against the handle that would no longer release. “The doors are locked. How well do you know the perimeter?” 

Just as she’s taking a few steps back toward Dick, even though she can just barely make out the figures features, Helena can feel her heart dropping into the pit of her stomach. Hands reach out desperately for Dick, grabbing ahold of him and shoving his larger frame behind her own. All she can feel is a slight lightheadedness as she meets the gaze of a man she hadn’t planned on facing at Gotham’s Halloween celebration, of all places. “Dick, you have to help those people. I-I have to handle him.” Santo Cassamento stood before her for the first time since she was eight years old, but this time - she wasn’t defenseless. “You’ve finally found me. Big mistake.” Helena swallows thickly, unable to believe that the soulless eyes that gazed into her own were that of her father. “I’m not letting you take any more of my family. It ends here, Cassamento. With your life.” 

She’d pictured this moment for years, though as she wills her frame to lunge forward, to execute all the training she’d spend ingraining into her brain, Helena finds it hard to do so. “Dick, you have to go.” She pleads. “If he’s going to take anyone, it has to be me. I can’t keep losing the people I love.” 

[cacciatricedigotham]

soldierbat‌:

Chained Dragons || Open

Kate always tried to drown out her feelings rather than face them. That Halloween night, however, those bottles filled to the rim were uncorked. Her mother and sister appeared before her, haunting her. Thankfully, Alfred had found her and taken her to the Wayne Manor were her cousin cured her affliction…. What felt like years had barely been a few hours.

For days, Kate hid at home. She went hard at the gym, even giving up her media facade and night clubbing lifestyle. When she finally decided to submerge, she didn’t do so as Kate Kane, but as Batwoman. She put away the diamond grills and picked up her kit where Kate disappeared and Batwoman came to life.

Patrolling the city, she saw some fishy movement near Blackgate Penitentiary. Moving in to scout it out, she took out a few armed thugs before setting her gaze on her next target. “Didn’t expect to find you here, but do we find one another as friends or foes?” She asked, taking her stance.

Helena swore that if she ever saw Santo Cassamento again, there would be few things even those she held in close regards could do to stop her from finishing what he started. He was the sole reason that Helena pushed herself to train the way she had, to hole herself up and close herself off the way she’s been all these years. He’s the reason she’s alone in this world, whether she likes it or not, and she swore on her life that the Bertinelli name would be avenged for all he’s put her through. And then the night of the Halloween celebration, with fear toxin seeping into her system, she came face to face with the man who took her family away from her. And she did nothing. 

Well - not nothing. She froze. She tried to keep Dick behind her. Years upon years of planning how to end her suffering all came to a head that night, and Helena did nothing. It’s like she’d quite literally seen a ghost from her past, and even after coming to the realization that it was the toxin making her see Cassamento, it has stayed with her ever since. 

The somewhat familiar tone breaks the vigilantes concentration, gaze never leaving the sleeping city that resided just over the building’s ledge that Helena was walking along. “I’ll be out of your hair soon.” She announces, not bothering to meet Kate’s eyes. 

[karolinasdeans]

Favorite Comic Girls → Helena Bertinelli

[cacciatricedigotham]

agntrcmanoff‌:

“Listen, it’s too early for this kind of Christmas cheer. Can we at least get through Thanksgiving first?” she pleaded.  The Russian didn’t put much stock in the holidays herself. In the days of the Soviet Union, Christmas was banned as a religious holiday and Christmas Trees were banned up until 1935 when they turned into ‘New Year’ Trees. If people did want to celebrate Christmas, they had to do it in secret just in their families. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, people were free to celebrate Christmas again. But it’s still a quieter and smaller holiday in Russia. “Better yet, can we just skip the holidays entirely?” she offered.

While Helena shared the other’s sentiments, the holidays always hit her with a wave of nostalgia. From the Festa Dei Sette Pesci on Christmas Eve, midnight Mass and a Christmas Day full of nothing but food, family and laughter - it was the one holiday Helena found herself counting down the days for. Every year family would fly in from Sicily to join in on the festivities, making the holiday season all the more enjoyable. But since the murder of her family, things worth celebrating now seemed bleak, and often consisted of her holed up in her apartment until it was safe to leave, free of any reminders of just how alone she was during the one holiday where she felt anything but. “I though we all silently agreed to cool it with the Christmas stuff until after Thanksgiving,” she remarked with a slight scrunch of her nose. “Guess not everyone got the memo.” She recalls shopping earlier in the week, store after store filled with Christmas music already.

[cacciatricedigotham]

bcywcndr‌:

He knows it’s a disappointment to a lot of people that he didn’t come to the party, but Dick has work to do. He can’t just skip a shift so he can go to a party with his friends, it wouldn’t be right - there’s officers on the force with kids, they deserve to spend the day trick or treating with them rather than Dick selfishly hogging the day. Still, at the sight of Helena he does regret it a little - they might not really be anything, but.. it’d be nice to spend a night out with her, a normal night at a party, pretend maybe they’re a couple however temporarily.

“Aw c’mon, there’s plenty of entertainment in there, right?” He says with a soft laugh. He can’t deny she looks incredible - of course she does. She always does, Dick will never say otherwise. “It’s definitely a good look, I admit. You wear it way better than me.” Smiling warmly, Dick reaches out for her to take his hand. “Oh yeah? You gonna go straight and join me on the force?” Definitely not her style, Dick knows that - but the joke is an amusing thought anyway.

Helena reaches for Dick’s hand when it’s extended to her, using the grip to twirl herself playfully before settling against his chest. “There is, but none of it excites me like you do.” She offers him a smile as she clasps his hand gently between her own. His question has her deep in thought, as if she was genuinely contemplating working alongside him. A life where they were both on the same side is one Helena somewhat wishes were their reality, but there’s a harsh realist in her that knows until her family is avenged, there’s no way that could be. But she attempts to shrug it off regardless, lifting the back of his hand to her lips so that she could press a gentle kiss to it. “Hmmm.. something like that.” 

And with that, Helena is standing up from her position of leaning on him, tugging his hand along with her. “Let me get you a drink, boy wonder. Just this once.” She can only hope the offer, with the added incentive of her being by his side, is tantalizing enough for him to join her. “You’ll be back at your post in no-time. Scouts honor.” She’ll cross her free hand over her heart in some kind of boy scout salute before she’s pressing for the courthouse door to open, trailing him inside along with her. Bright eyes search for Dick’s, but before their gazes meet, they’re met with a sudden rush of alarming darkness. Her hand grips onto his a little tighter, keeping him close. “Woah...”

[cacciatricedigotham]

HELENA BERTINELLI as lady law. 

[cacciatricedigotham]

bcywcndr‌:

Working security for the event seemed like the best idea. Not only are parties like this not really his style, but with a few of his family so mad at him.. Dick would rather focus on work than trying to get through a party with them. And he can avoid Bruce out here, considering there’s little doubt he’ll be in that VIP area inside.

Besides, things tend to go wrong at events like this. He wanted to be ready for it.

He turns to see someone approaching from the doors of the courthouse and immediately puts a pleasant smile on his face. “Leaving so soon? The night’s barely even begun, get back in there and have some fun.”

When Dick had revealed to Helena that he was scheduled to work during the Halloween festivities going on in Gotham, she felt a bit bummed. While she was no stranger to celebrating All Hallows’ Eve - something widely anticipated among the first graders she taught - she was sort of looking forward to spending the night alongside the boy wonder. After making an appearance, admiring those who put in much more thought into their costumes than she did, and snacking on some ghoulish goodies, she figured it was best to retire for the night. And perhaps, if things didn’t go too awry, she could expect a fire escape visitor once his shift was over... but that was just her being hopeful. 

The familiar voice has Helena turning on her heel, brows raising at his words. “It’s hard to have fun when my date is on duty.” She teases, offering the other a playful eyeroll. Hands lift to graze over the ‘sexy’ cop costume that Helena picked up last minute - which paired nicely with the thigh high boots taking space in the back of her closet. “So, who wore it better? On any given day, you take the cake, boy wonder but I’ll admit-” she gives Dick a playful twirl. “I’m starting like the blue.” 

[cacciatricedigotham]

who's one hero/vigilante you'd like to partner up with?

CURIOUS ANONS / accepting !

“Call me boring but I’m perfectly happy with my Birds. Wouldn’t change the chemistry I have with Dinah and Babs for the world.”

[cacciatricedigotham]

Do you like haunted houses?

CURIOUS ANONS / accepting !

“Not only do I find the concept of paying to be scared to be absolutely absurd, but I’m too jumpy for those. I’ve given Dick a bloody nose or two just for coming into my apartment unannounced, imagine what I’d do to a complete stranger in some gory make-up.” 

[cacciatricedigotham]

If you could ask for one wish, what would it be?

CURIOUS ANONS / accepting !

“I’d wish for Santo Cassamento’s entire lineage to be wiped from existence. Every last one of them.” 

[cacciatricedigotham]

it’s almost muscle memory by now, the way she makes her way up the fire escape to a certain boy wonder’s apartment, slips her frame through the window he leaves unlocked for these moments specifically. helena didn’t want to think too much into her relationship with dick, instead choosing to enjoy the time they shared with one another instead of stressing over little details that only complicated things. he was the one thing in her life that wasn’t complicated, so of course she was going to cease any and all opportunities to bask in his comforting and uplifting presence. as she makes his way through the apartment that was cloaked in darkness, she’s allowing the leather jacket that hugged her frame to fall from her shoulders, tossing it atop the couch in his living room. her bag is soon to follow, as well as her boots. he’s probably heard her from the moment she set foot onto his fire escape, so helena doesn’t take the precaution to knock upon entering his room. she can just barely make out his frame in the moonlight, the spot beside him looking far too inviting on a night like this. palms rest against the sheets that covered his bed, the leverage used to push her frame into his, molding into the contours as if they were two perfect puzzle pieces. “fancy seeing you here, boy wonder.” she hums gently before dropping her head to rest in the crook of his neck, a kiss pressed against the sharp line of his jaw. / @bcywcndr​