You Are Cordially Invited to the BatFamily Book Club

This last year I had the opportunity to take part in the 'Holy Coloring Zine!', a BatFamily fanzine. It was a lot of fun and a great experience to write for the fanzine. I'm excited to finally be able to share my story with all of you.

Enjoy!

No.

No.

This couldn't be happening. Jason resisted the urge to swear out loud as he found Barbara Gordon in the middle of the aisle. Her wheelchair sat at a perpendicular angle to the bookshelf and blocked the narrow pathway between the shelves, so he couldn't sneak past her unnoticed. Worse, she was holding the book he was looking for.

All he'd wanted was a quick stop at the bookstore to pick up the next volume in the series. When he'd started reading two days ago, he hadn't expected the first few volumes to hold him hostage until he finished. Now, he needed to know what happened next and he didn't have the patience to wait for the library hold. So, here he was.

What he didn't need was any Bat-related interference.

All right, he could handle this. Babs hadn't noticed him yet. He could slip away and wait her out. Once she left, he'd grab the book and be on his way. He could do this.

"Hi Jason," Babs said, catching him mid-turn. Her eyes never left the back of her book. "Good to see you."

"Uh, yeah. Same here." Jason stuffed his hands in his pockets and shuffled forward. What am I doing?

"Are you looking for anything in particular?" Babs wheeled her chair around to face him. She had entered full librarian mode even though she didn't work here.

Jason gestured at the book on her lap. "Just wanted to pick up the next book in that series. I'll be out of your hair in a moment."

"You don't have to go." She handed him another copy from the shelf. "Do you want the next one as well?"

"Yeah. I couldn't put down the first two." Lifting the book, Jason inhaled the scent of ink and paper. This was probably his favorite scent in the world. It reminded him of many happy hours spent in the Manor library.

Babs nodded. "Same here. I figured it would be a good series for Cass, so I'm picking up the next volume for her."

Jason started. He didn't know Cass well, but he didn't think she was much of a reader.

"I've been helping her work on her reading comprehension," Babs explained. "You should join us.

"I don't think so..." He held the book against his chest like a shield.

"Please, we'd love to have you."

"We?" Jason frowned.

"Cass, of course. Steph and Tim usually join. Oh, and Dick stops by when he's in town." She shrugged it off like it was nothing.

With an almost feral growl, Jason met her eyes with a stony glare. "You have a BatFam book club and didn't think to invite me?"

Babs caught him in a hard stare which made him squirm. Had she been taking lessons from Alfred?

"It's not like that. I started working with Cass. Eventually she invited Steph and Tim to join her. Then, Dick happened to be at the Clocktower one week while we were meeting. Nobody planned this."

He scuffed his foot against the carpet. His knuckles whitened as he tightened his grasp around the book spine. The cover was smooth under his calloused fingers. Finally, in a small voice, he admitted. "It would have been nice to be invited."

"You doof." Babs wheeled closer and touched his arm. "That's exactly what I'm doing now."

At a loss for words, Jason nodded. Scarcely believing this was actually happening, he swallowed hard. "All right. I'll be there. When's the next meeting?"

"Tonight." Babs grinned. "Everyone will be excited to see you."

As Jason followed Babs to the register, he felt lighter than he had in years. Despite everything, he believed her. His family truly wanted him.

And that, Jason realized, was exactly what he needed.