A/n: All of these are short ficlets I was prompted to write for the help_haiti project. The first three were for vengefulacorn and the fourth was for parsimonia.

Stephanie was pinned to the ground and losing air fast. She could feel his scaly hands crushing her windpipe, see his reptilian grin slipping in and out of focus and feel his hot, swamp-smelling breath against her skin…but it was like it was happening to someone else. Some part of her was separate, detached, and it was telling her urgently she just needed a second to get her bearings so she could beat this guy. What she needed to do was something to buy herself that second.

Her numb fingers scrambled at her utility belt, and she finally pulled out an electric batarang. She sank the point into Croc's scaly flesh, flipping the switch. The shock only seemed to annoy him. But he did loosen his grip slightly with an annoyed grunt, and she was able to scramble out from under him. She had to think fast about what to do next, because he looked angry…

But before her vision even cleared, a flash of red and silver seemed to descend upon her opponent. There was a tearing sound of metal on skin as clawed gloves slashed Croc, actually gashing open his tough hide so that dark blood spilled onto the darker street. Croc howled in pain as a silver staff clubbed him around the head. It gave a burst of white light that had far more effect than a batarang. The monster dropped to the ground as the woman hit him again, and he remain there, still and silent.

"Are you okay, kid?" the brunette in red asked, turning around with some concern. She knelt down to Steph and offered her a helping hand. "Batgirl, right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. That was nothing," Steph assured her in what she hoped was a tough and experienced sort of way. She took the hand and stumbled up dizzily. "Um, thanks. You're Manhunter, right?" She questioned, while massaging her bruised throat. "You work with Oracle?"

Manhunter smiled slightly. "Occasionally. Are you going to mind if I kill this loser?" She jerked her thumb at Croc.

"Oh…well, maybe. Possibly. Oracle probably would," Steph stammered.

"Oracle gave me her blessing, if that's what it was," said Kate dismissively. "But I'm not going to kill anyone in front of a kid."

"I'm a legal adult!" Steph protested angrily, her hands on her hips. Kate ignored her as she bent down to cuff Croc with some impressive looking technology.

"I'll just have to save you for later," the woman said grimly to the unconscious mutant. "And it will remind me oh-so-pleasantly of my first mission."

"Want to help me lug him to the police station?" Manhunter asked Steph casually, straightening up.

"Oh…sure," Steph answered, hurrying to help.

Lugging the massive form was not easy, but the police station was only a few blocks away. They trudged for a few moment in silence before Stephanie awkwardly said "I, uh, like your costume..."

Manhunter smiled again. "Thanks. Yours isn't bad either. So, did Oracle take the night off, or is she hissing in your ear about me this very minute?"

"No, she's out doing stuff. I told her I could swing it on my own tonight. So much for that," Steph mumbled.

"Hey, you were doing well. I just figured you wouldn't mind the help," Kate said firmly.

"Thanks. I…" Steph flushed. "Well, I admire what you're doing a little. I mean, when I first started this, I wanted to kill crooks too. It was out of anger, mostly. But the one time I tried to kill a guy who was…who deserved it…I couldn't go through with it. And it cost me…a whole lot. But what you're doing… you kill out of duty and justice, and not for revenge or anger. And I'm glad…I'm glad you can do what the rest of us can't." She looked down at her slowly moving feet, embarrassed that she had actually said all that.

Manhunter actually stopped in the middle of street, and turned to look at Stephanie. She put a gentle hand on the young woman's shoulder. "Not being able to kill doesn't mean you're weaker than me. Just different…I do what I do because it feels right and because I believe the law needs help. You help people every day and you give them hope. That's what this is really all about. We all help in our own way."

Stephanie beamed at her and Kate laughed. "You Bat-people, honestly. You're full of surprises."

They started walking again, dragging the load of criminal behind them at a slow pace. Finally, they reached the police station and dropped their hostage at the front.

"I'd better go," Manhunter said quickly, looking left and right down the dank street. "Don't want to be spotted by a cop. Keep doing your best, Batgirl. Don't let anyone get you down."

"Yeah…" Steph whispered after the woman as she disappeared into the dark. "You too."