Omg Kev, I've been reading StephxNick fanfics, I didn't know they existed!
Ohhhh my gosh who is this I want to love you. NickSteph is one of my FAVES I’m just not good at plotting for them so I don’t write it but come on they are so good. If you’re reading NickSteph stuff you have probably already read this one but it is my favorite http://archiveofourown.org/works/615501
"Detective Gage," Steph called to the hostage, the familiar sweep of hair over the forehead damp with sweat. "No, no..." she muttered. "Nick. Answer me."
Batgirl jumped, clearing the space between rooftops with ease, rolling on impact with the top of the next roof.
Black Bat followed at her heels, rolling alongside Steph and leaping back into action.
"Stop!" they heard from below and a little ahead of them.
"Hurry, Cass!" Steph gasped, breaking protocol by using civilian identities, but it wasn't as though anyone could hear them up here anyway.
Suspect has a hostage--do not engage. Repeat--do not engage.
There was the umistakable sound of a gun firing, and Steph threw herself over the next ledge, landing right next to the situation below.
Cass's grapple gun sunk into the brick across from them, Steph's following suit. Both girls jumped at the same time, Cass slightly ahead. Black Bat braced her legs, kicking the gun-wielding man in the chest. Sending him and the hostage sprawling on their backs.
Glass shattered, Batman and Robin carrying out the next leg of their plan, crashing into the bank where more maniacs with guns waited.
Cass struggled with the one man the girls had subdued, freeing the hostage and wrestling his gun from his grip after it shot at the ground twice.
"Detective Gage," Steph called to the hostage, the familiar sweep of hair over the forehead damp with sweat. "No, no..." she muttered. "Nick. Answer me."
"Ah..." he groaned, clutching at the loose material of Steph's cape.” Bat...Batgirl?"
"The one and only," she answered. "Well, one of three. Are you alright?"
"Wearing Kevlar," he groaned. "Damn. Still hurts, though."
"Don't be a baby," Steph teased, mostly to keep herself calm. "Where'd he get you?"
"Back. Really hope the bullet didn't go through, feels like it might be by my kidneys."
That made Steph freeze. She'd already been touched by someone who'd been shot in the back, and that didn't end well for her. "Okay. I don't see any blood. I'm using my cowl to call an ambulence, okay?"
"Hey, Batgirl," Nick called, wincing as he propped himself up on an elbow. "You know what today is?"
"Thursday?" Steph asked, worried that he might have gone a bit strange after getting shot.
"Not anymore. As of one hour ago, it's Friday, February fourteenth. And that means it's Valentine's Day."
She laughed, nervous, breathy laughter. "You're such a romantic. How about we focus on the gunshot wound?"
"Possible gunshot wound," he reminded her. "You got a Valentine this year, Batgirl?"
"Nick," she sighed.
"Can't blame a guy for trying." He winced again, squeezing his eyes closed, making Steph bite her lip. "By the way, I know it's kind of rude to ask, but you can excuse a guy with a possible gunshot wound, right? You are over eighteen, aren't you?"
She sighed and rolled her eyes, but a smile pulled at her cheeks.
"Gage!" A cop in a Kevlar vest and a gun in both hands that was pointed at the ground approached them. "Jesus, are you okay?"
"An ambulance is on the way," Steph informed him, mustering as much authority to her voice as she could. "Stay with him until it comes."
"Yes, ma'am," he said, nodding, and it took her a second to get over how cool that sounded directed at her.
Seeing that Cass was twisting their trigger-happy friend's wrist into a handcuff, Steph aimed her grapple gun at the roof and disappeared on top of it, making her way to the inside of the bank to check that everything was all right.
...
Steph's boots were silent on the white floors of Mercy West Hospital, and they weren't even tracking in anything unpleasant like dirt or blood since she'd made the respectful decision to clean them before entering.
"Yeah. Nick Gage."
The blonde woman frowned. "You know him?"
"Yes."
It was weird seeing her mother like this, when they were both working and they both needed to pretend that they were strangers.
"He's not family."
"He knows me," Steph reassured her mother, who sighed and knocked on a door before cracking it open.
"We don't usually let people in like this, especially not at this time of night."
Steph didn't make a comment, and her mother disappeared into the room to make sure it was alright for her to go in.
When she finally entered the room, she was filled with a huge sense of relief. Nick was awake, the thin hospital blankets provided pulled up to his elbows and tucked beneath his arms.
"I didn't expect you to visit," he said conversationally. His voice was weary, but he didn't sound as though he was in pain or anything.
"I'm not supposed to. Batman won't approve." She shrugged. "But I couldn't let you be all on your own on Valentine's Day."
He laughed, a small chuckle that didn't leave his throat. "I wasn't kidding about that. I guess bringing it up with a possible gunshot wound isn't very romantic."
"Isn't very romantic? Haven't you seen any action movies? Girls love guys roughed up from battle."
"Yeah?" He grinned at her, the beginnings of stubble shading his chin.
"Of course. How is the possible gunshot wound, anyway?"
"Didn't break the skin. I've got a hell of a bruise, and they did an ultrasound to make sure there wasn't any extra pooled blood. The doctor says I can go home in the morning."
"Good," Steph sighed, more relieved than she realized she would be. Before she could convince herself not to do it, she apprached hsi bed and gripped the railing over the side with both hands. She leaned down and brushed her lips against his cheek, her hair falling over his face.
She was about to pull back when he tilted his head and their lips touched, gently and without any expectation from him.
As much as it made her swoon, and as romantic as making out over the sickbed of a wounded soldier may seem, Steph felt weird about it, and she also felt weird about the fact that her mother was hovering somewhere near.
She broke the kiss, biting back a thrilled smile. "Happy Valentine's Day, Detective," she murmured, more than ready to report back to Proxy.
"You know, there's still eighteen hours left in the day," Nick pointed out.
"Cute," Steph said. "Maybe if you're lucky, we'll bump into each other."
"I guess the ball's in your court, since I don't really know who you are or where to find you." Nick paused before adding, "That's every guy's worst nightmare."
She giggled at that. "Okay, Detective Handsome. Get some rest. Feel better. And maybe you'll get a visit from a well-dressed bat in the evening."
"I'll probably have the next few days off from work, at least," Nick pointed out as she slipped through the door.
She closed it with a soft click and leaned on the wall beside it. It took all of her self-control not to do a flip off the wall or twirl her cape around or shout.
"Prox," she said, tapping the earpiece in her cowl. "You there? You're not gonna believe what just happened..."
