[ofbxtgirls]

commissionerjg‌:

Work always offered enough distractions that he’d not spent the day worrying about whatever Barbara had insisted on waiting to tell him. If it was dire, he had to think she’d have sense enough not to sit on it too long. He hadn’t pestered her, but he did show up about fifteen minutes early, carrying a bottle of wine. He’d never been much of a cook (or any kind of cook), so that seemed like the most helpful contribution. He had no idea if it was good wine or terrible wine and rarely touched the stuff, but he had it just the same.

“Hi, honey,” he greeted her, stepping inside. “Smells good in here.” He resisted the already-present urge to ask her what was going on, but he only had about ten minutes of that kind of patience in him.

Barbara offered her dad a small smile. For as long as she could remember, Babs did much of the cooking in her house. It was a nice little tradition that she was happy to carry out, even if only some times at this point. Truthfully, Barbara was quite nervous for what was about to happen. So, she figured she might just rip the bandage off.

“Thank you,” she took the bottle from him, leading her father to the kitchen. “So... the thing I wanted to tell you,” she paused, biting her lip. “Don’t freak out--I just... I don’t want you hearing it elsewhere.” A sigh escaped her lips. “I--” she paused. “I’m Batgirl, dad.”

[ofbxtgirls]

justicealwaysprevails‌:

Despite sharing so many secrets with Barbara, Bruce was very much aware that she was in a unique position compared to Dick or Jason. She had a father, a good father, and because she didn’t look to him to take on that role, their relationship was much less contentious than what he other with the others.

For now, he accepted her claim to be fine, even as he knew it likely wasn’t the case. If she wanted to talk about it, then she would. Raising an eyebrow, he didn’t ask why she wanted to know. With Tanya under his roof, he’d made it his business to know everything about her. “Her name is Tanya Sealy, alias is Black Mamba. Born human, later surgically altered by the Roxxon Oil Company. She displays Darkforce Manipulation and hypnosis, but her power is limited. Numerous affiliations. Former assassination, but she’s also worked with Captain America. Her group has disbanded and she is currently inactive.” He paused. “We may be able to use her.” Steve was in charge of gathering interested Avengers. He would leave the decision on Tanya up to him. “We are working to unite the Justice League and the Avengers. The X-Men, too, are allies, but they aren’t as open to collaboration.” He had established a good rapport with Scott Summers, but he wasn’t sure he could convince him to fight battles he might not see as relevant to their interests. “I want you to be part of it.” 

Barbara listened to Bruce, nodding her head. She had no idea why she asked about Tanya--maybe she just wanted to torture herself with the idea that Dick was dating the perfect girl, or maybe she really wanted to know this girl. To make sure she was good enough for her best friend. Past or not, she wanted Dick to be happy and with the right person. If that was Tanya, she’d have to swallow her pride.

“So she’s a little more morally ambiguous,” Barbara said simply, nodding her head as she listened to Bruce continue to explain. “Use her for what?” she asked, but soon enough Bruce was explaining everything. She raised her eyebrows at his final statement though, tilting her head. “Part of the Justice League?” she asked him, completely shocked. “Burce--” she cut off, nodding. “Of course. Whatever you need.”

[ofbxtgirls]

amazingflyingdick‌:

As much as he wanted to deny it, he couldn’t, and the guilt that followed reminded him of how he’d often felt around Barbara before she’d broken things off. He’d never measured up, not as a boyfriend, anyway, and now not even as an ex-boyfriend. At least he could acknowledge that instead of denying or indulging in white lies that made them both feel better, but in the end only served to cover up issues that were never resolved. “I’m not,” he finally said. “All I’m asking is to just… give her a chance. For me.”

A huff escaped her lips. Barbara did not want to do that--she wanted to tell Dick how wrong Tanya was for him, how much she wanted to be with him so badly it hurt but she had to push that down. She had ended things with him, and just because she came to regret it doesn’t mean he did. She hadn’t been enough for him, and now she could finally see it. “Fine, whatever,” she walked away from him over to her computer, distracting herself. “I have work to do.”

[ofbxtgirls]

@commissionerjg

This was it. Barbara was about to tell her dad the truth. Opting for her apartment for the scene, Barbara was hard at work cooking a meal for herself and he father, nervous as ever. A part of her hoped that he already knew, that he had been going along with it all these years, so that he wouldn’t flip. When the doorbell rang, her heart jumped and she sighed, opening the door. “Dad. Hi,” she gave him a hug, welcoming him in.

[ofbxtgirls]

thatsjasonfkntodd

“Is that all you’re doing?” He knew Dick still went out as Nightwing, and he was at least halfway sure that Damian kept himself occupied, too. Bruce had donned the cowl again before the debacle at the carnival, but Jason wasn’t sure Batman had graced Star City with his presence since. In any case, none of them seemed capable of sitting on their hands or settling for civilian work. Jason had never even tried or had the remotest desire to do so.

“No,” Barbara said simply. She new exactly what Jason was referring to, and knew that she couldn’t lie to him about it. Sighing, she licked her lips. “But I’m not being as obvious as Damien--no more bat symbol. I’m just... laying low.” A pause. “What about you?”

[ofbxtgirls]

memoriesofkrypton

“Well, I would definitely say amazing,” Kara said simply, waving away Barbara’s modesty as she smiled a the approaching waiter. She ordered another glass of wine, but made a mental note to stop after that. Maybe it wasn’t unusual for girls to go through five or six glasses, but she’d rather not have to fake being tipsy in order to avoid suspicion.

She smiled at the compliment and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Thanks, Babs. I’m… well, exhausted, but please… you go first. All I have to talk about is cartoons and feeling left out.” It felt as if she’d been submersed in baby talk for the past six months. Not that she didn’t want to tell Barbara all about how Evangeline was doing, but she also welcomed the break.

Barbara also ordered a glass of wine, a smile on her face. She missed these days, when she and Kara could just sit and catch up and be the best friends they had always been. Being adults had changed that, moved them further apart than they had wanted, and she just wanted it all to be back the way it was.

“Well I’m working at SCPD,” she started, thanking the waiter when he brought their drinks and taking a sip of her own. “With Dick, of all people. Oh and I met his girlfriend.” She had a very sarcastic look on her face. “But whatever--let me see pictures of Evangeline.”

[ofbxtgirls]

amazingflyingdick

If it had been anyone else but Barbara, Dick wouldn’t have let that slide, but this was his fault. Besides, he couldn’t say he’d be gracious and polite if the situation were reversed. Maybe that was how it would always be with them. Even if they weren’t together, chose not to be together, they also didn’t want each other with anyone else. It wasn’t fair and he knew it, but he’d never been great at ignoring his feelings. “She’s not,” he said immediately. “You probably just caught her off guard. She’s really great, actually, she’s…” He trailed, realizing suddenly how insensitive it was to talk up a new girlfriend in front of an ex-girlfriend. “Anyway, she’s not. You should get to know her. The two of you have a lot in common.”

Barbara raised her eyebrows at Dick when he began defending his girlfriend, shaking her head and rubbing her forehead. She knew this was going to happen, knew how he was going to react, but Babs didn’t care. If there was anyone in the world she could be honest with, it was dick. “Oh put a sock in it,” Barbara shook her head at his defense. “You know that if the roles were reverse you’d be saying the same thing to me, so don’t even try me Grayson.”

[donwestmoved-deactivated2020042]

BARBARA GORDON in Batman (2011) #15

[ofbxtgirls]

sonofabct‌:

“It’s not shitty.” Damian said quickly. “It’s just…. a little rundown. Not quite what I’m used to.” He tried to make any sort of reasonable-sounding excuse for the remark. He watched her grab plates and silverware, leaning against her counter as she did. “May be better to save money to just get out of this place someday when it stops being so crazy.” He remarked quietly.

“Hey, you gotta do what you’ve gotta do, I guess,” Barbara shrugged. She was an adult now, and didn’t want to be leaning on her father anymore for any help. She had a job, and a life; she didn’t need her father to be paying for her shit anymore. “I like it though.”

[ofbxtgirls]

thatsjasonfkntodd‌:

“Now there’s a word I don’t hear often.” Red Hood wasn’t much of anybody’s ally. Jason had sort of made that a sticking point - he did what he felt like he needed to do (or sometimes just wanted to do), and nobody’s else’s agenda had business being wrapped up in it. Bruce’s big reveal had meant looking a little closer at his own priorities though, and he’d come to the irritating conclusion that the top one was still…them. The family. Extended and otherwise.

Jason tapped his fingers along the countertop. “So what’re you doing? Working with dear old Dad and Dick at the police station?” Jason had never been the biggest fan of Jim Gordon. Part of it was just a deeply rooted dislike of the police in general, borne of a life in Crime Alley and years of seeing them be ineffective at best and the problem at worst. It didn’t help that Jim was one of the only people in the world that Bruce actually trusted. Jason didn’t make the cut for that list.

Barbara rolled her eyes at Jason, shaking her head. He was always one for a bit of the dramatics, especially when it came to stuff like this. Barbara, however, saw things a lot more how they were. Sure, Jason did his own thing, but when it came down to it, they’d always have each other’s backs. Barbara wasn’t worried about that.

“Yes, actually, I am,” Barbara said simply, nodding her head. “I’m heading the forensics department, so I can keep my ears to the ground and know what’s going on in the city.” That had been why she originally wanted to work at the police department, when she was Batgirl, so that she knew what was going on and it wasn’t suspicious if she was at a crime scene.

[ofbxtgirls]

commissionerjg‌:

He couldn’t be personally involved in every single case. It wasn’t his job anymore, and he didn’t have the time besides. Putting Barbara on it was the next best thing (or, if he was being honest, maybe better), so he just nodded his acceptance and knew she’d do the best she could. Her best was damn good.

“You got it, honey. I’m not sure I like the way that sounded, but I’ll take the chance to see you outside work.” Jim had always tried to make time for her when she was growing up, but being a cop had always meant missing out on a lot. It hadn’t changed much when she got older, either, as much as he hated it.

Barbara could see the look on her dad’s face and she sighed, pressing her lips together and nodding. She hated that she had been keeping secrets from him for so long, and had to just come clean. Especially since there was the possibility that she could be exposed because of Bruce telling the world he was Batman.

“No, it’s nothing serious,” she lied, shaking her head and looking up at him with a small smile. “Just... I don’t know. I need to talk to you about something important. Important, but not serious.”

[out-of-context-batfam]

Batgirl (2011) #45

[ofbxtgirls]

@amazingflyingdick

[ofbxtgirls]

thatsjasonfkntodd‌

“I’ve learned it’s better to assume the worst and get a pleasant surprise once in awhile.” Not often. People usually were the worst he could assume (or occasionally even lower than that). Things with the family were…better…but he would never say so aloud, and he didn’t expect it to last.

“Kinda?” he echoed. “Bruce revealing his identity to the whole fucking world is only kinda gone to hell? Remind me to never figure out what you consider to be the whole way there.”

“Hmm,” Barbara hummed as she took another bite of food. She knew that Jason would always be a pessimist, and she’d always be a realist (with a hint of optimism), and she knew it was better to leave things be than to argue with him. Barbara knew what she thought of Jason, and didn’t need to prove it to anyone.

“Ask me in a few years and I’ll let you know,” Babs teased him, shaking her head and looking down at her food. “I’m glad you’re here, though,” she said simply, looking back to him. “Nice to have an ally, I guess.”

[ofbxtgirls]

sonofabct‌:

Damian narrowed his gaze at Barbara for a split second before shaking his head and brushing past their previous subject as they arrived at the bus stop. Hopping out of his seat and carrying the bags of food with him, he stepped off the bus and looked around the area. “It’s… not too bad of a place I guess. Decent part of town.” He commented.

“Is that your way of telling me i live in a shitty apartment? Because I know,” Barbara smirked as she lead him to the kitchen, starting to pull out the food and then plates and silverware. “Trying to save money, I guess. For what, I don’t know.”

[ofbxtgirls]

memoriesofkrypton‌:

Kara never saw much point in drinking. It took far more than the average amount for her to feel anything at all and it rarely tasted good. She indulged on occasion out of curiosity, but she never had the same experience as anyone else, so the two glasses of wine she’d had waiting for Barbara affected her no differently than water.

Even though she knew Babs was here, in Star City, actually seeing her made Kara’s entire face light up. She stood and hugged her tightly, shaking her head. “Hi! Don’t - it’s okay, you’re busy. I can’t even imagine what the SCPD must be like right now, with everything going on.” She pulled back, her smile widening as she shook her head. “Wow, I just… I can’t believe it’s you. You look amazing!”

Barbara smiled when Kara pulled her into a hug, returning it tightly and fiercely. It was nice to see her friend, her best friend, for the first time in so long. It felt like the weight of the world was lifted off her shoulders, and she felt relieved. Pulling back, she smiled at her friend, moving to sit down.

“I know, it’s me,” she chuckled, putting her napkin on her lap and talking a long sip of her drink. “Amazing isn’t the word I’d use but--you look great,” she smiled at Kara. “How have you been? Tell me everything.”

[ofbxtgirls]

justicealwaysprevails‌:

“Sometimes you have to lie to keep people safe. This… was certainly one of those times. Your father will understand that.” Bruce’s voice was soft and reassuring. He knew Jim wouldn’t be happy to learn that Barbara had been assisting him at such a young age, but it was a decision he would stand by, should it come up between them, and he’d felt no regret bringing her into the fold. 

Until today. Today, he regretted many things. “We don’t know what NOVA is truly capable of. The less they know of you, the better, and right now they are looking at me.”

“I know,” Barbara said simply, nodding. She knew her dad would eventually understand--sure, he’d probably be mad about the lying and the danger and all that, but once he got past it all, she knew he’d understand. There were things he had kept from her over the years in order to protect her. This was the same thing.

“I’ll be fine, Bruce,” she said simply. “Always have been, always will be. Now--” she cut off, sitting down across from him and smiling. “Tell me about Dick’s new girlfriend.”

[ofbxtgirls]

commissionerjg‌:

“Some kind of fight between the two of them, like nobody else was involved.” There was no way that was true. If it had just been a case of a skirmish between two mutants that resulted in two deaths, NOVA would’ve blasted it everywhere to prove how dangerous they were, not just to other people but to themselves. It would’ve fit right into their narrative. Instead, they’d swept it all under the rug as quickly as possible. Jim might be old, but he wasn’t a fool, and he’d been around more than long enough to know bullshit when he was staring right at it. 

He folded his arms and worried at his top lip and the end of his mustache. “Tell me what you need and I’ll do my best to get it to you, but I can’t make any promises. Anything else that might’ve been there is long gone now.” 

Barbara listened to her dad talk, nodding her head as she continued to read the file in front of her. It seemed pretty obvious, from what he was telling her and what she knew about NOVA, that this was a cover up. But to prove it? That might be difficult. Still, she wanted to try.

“I’m gonna do a bit of research, some recon, and then let you know,” she nodded, looking over at her dad. You have to tell him, Barbara. A sigh escaped her lips. “Dad----” okay, truth time. “Can we have dinner tonight? There’s--there’s something I want to talk to you about.”