#Hardlight
Barbara Gordon was many things to people that knew her. She was a superhero, a well-versed sleuth, a burrito enthusiast, A BIG BATMAN FAN, a tech wiz, an acrobat, and a crazy happy-go-lucky girl. But above all those things, Barbara Gordon was a geek. And much to her delight, she was playing her new favorite game, Mind Heroes II. She played on her portable gaming device as her own hero.
In the game, an armored bat-themed heroine battled against tiny monsters.
Barbara activated the game's settings and designed a new weapon. She combined the throwing stars with a blaster, creating an energy disk blaster. She smashed the buttons on her controller, causing the in-game character to fire her weapon at the monsters. Just then the level's boss monster appeared. Barbara commanded her character to jump back and fire once more.
"Come on, come on…" Barbara muttered as she hit the buttons.
Inside the game, Barbara's character, Bat Queen, ducked under the attack of the boss. She jumped up and kicked the monster in the face before firing at it with her bat-shaped energy disks. The monster let out a painful roar as Bat Queen rushed at the boss before giving it a powerful uppercut punch.
The boss disappeared in a big explosion.
"Yes!" Barbara cheered, jumping on top of her desk to celebrate. "Who the big girl?! Who the big girl?! Oh yeah! Oh yeah!"
Barbara danced on top of her desk like someone who had just won the lottery twice in the same day.
"Pst, Barbara, you should get down from there." Izuku whispered, trying to get the red-head's attention.
"No way, Izuku! I feel like the queen of the world!" Barbara replied loudly. "I just beat the advance level 10 in hard mode! Nothing could bring me down."
"Good to share with the class, Ms. Gordon." A stern voice said.
Barbara returned from the winning cloud she was on and saw Mrs. Smith and the rest of the class looking at her.
"I suppose that you've finished today's quiz and thus had enough time to play your little game?" Mrs. Smith asked with a raised eyebrow.
Barbara looked down at the quiz she needed to do. Not only was her quiz blank, it had a couple shoe prints on it.
"Oh, um I'm almost done, Mrs. S." Barbara said, getting back to her seat with a sheepish smile on her face.
Mrs. Smith looked at the blank page with a disapproving scowl.
Just then, the bell rang, causing the rest of the students to let out a sigh of relief.
"Then I hope you got a high score in your little game, Ms. Gordon. Because you will retake the quiz on Friday detention!" Mrs. Smith said, taking away the quizzes.
Barbara slumped down on her desk, groaning at her bad luck.
Another thing that Barbara Gordon was, was a little scattered brained.
After classes, the heroes gathered up at the school entrance with Barbara sticking her face to the screen of her game.
"Barbara, you gotta get your eyes out of that game." Izuku said.
"I can leave it any time I want. Besides, I don't see a problem with it." Barbara replied.
However, just as she said that, someone opened up their locker.
Izuku stopped Barbara from walking into it. He shot her a worried look.
"Calm down, besides it's not a big deal." Barbara said. "Name one time that me playing a video game has been a problem."
"You forgot that there was a quiz today and got detention on Friday. You nearly walked into a locker." Izuku counted off. "You were late to patrol yesterday. And you texted Barbi all the things that you learned from spying on us."
"Oh, yeah. My bad. But I was in the zone!" Barbara replied.
"She hasn't stopped texting me about that," Izuku added with slight annoyance. "Good thing Diana has her covered."
"Hey, let me go!"
Izuku and Barbara looked up at the sight before them.
A short black haired kid with a pair of glasses was being picked on by a pair of Cobblepot's thugs. He had a black t-shirt with a lightbulb on it with a pair of white pants.
"You know how it is, Light. You cross the Penguin, you pay the iceberg." One of the thugs said.
"I don't owe him anything." The kid replied.
"That ain't what he said." The other thug snapped. "You had to pass the merchandise before the big game."
"Hey, why don't you pick on someone your own size?" Izuku asked challengingly.
The two thugs spotted Izuku coming towards them, and the teacher behind him.
"Sorry about that; just a misunderstanding." The first thug said before they walked away. "This ain't over. You'll hear about the boss later tomorrow."
The short kid was dropped back to the floor. He snarled at them as they went by.
"Don't be late." The second grunt added.
"You need a hand?" Izuku asked, holding out his hand.
"Thanks." The short kid replied, taking Izuku's hand.
"You're welcome. I know what it's like to be bullied." Izuku said as the kid got back to his feet. "You're Arthur Light, right?"
"Yeah, although everyone seems to want to walk all over me since I don't stand out." Arthur replied.
"You should tell the teachers about those guys." Izuku suggested.
"Don't worry, I've got a way to deal with things." Arthur replied. "Thanks anyway." He added before walking away from the lockers.
Izuku couldn't help but feel like there was something else going on.
"Barbara, what do you think that whole thing was about?" Izuku asked.
But he didn't get a response.
"Babs?" Izuku asked, looking back only to let out a sigh.
Barbara was once again playing her video game.
"What was that?" Barbara asked, looking up from the screen.
Izuku sighed. He didn't exactly know what to do with Barbara, but all he could do was get her attention on something else. He grabbed Barbara by the shoulder and guided her out of the school.
Some time passed and the two young heroes were at the school library. Izuku had suggested that Barbara studied for the make-up quiz. He offered to help her study, and it was also a way to get the game away from her for a minute.
"Alright Barbara, the exam focused on what we read from chapters six and seven. You've already read the book in its entirety, so this should be easy." Izuku said.
"Why do I have to study? I've read the Great Gatsby at least twice and I've watched the movie." Barbara whined, keeping her eyes on the game.
"Because you've been glued to the screen of that video game for the last two weeks." Izuku replied. "What's it about if you're so into it?"
"Mind Heroes II is an RPG game where you not only create your own hero character but you also build your own weapons and armor from your defeated opponents. But you need to use different item combinations to win." Barbara replied. "I'm the best because I make the best weapons."
Izuku blinked in confusion. He had played his fair share of video games in his life but never to this degree.
"But you're a superhero in the real world. Why are you playing a video game where you pretend to be one?" Izuku asked.
"It's a way to blow off steam. The usual way we used to blow off steam is still a no no." Barbara replied with a saucy undertone.
Izuku blushed at the mention of what Barbara meant.
Barbara's game suddenly gave out a beep. She looked down and spotted an online challenge being issued. She read the gamer's screen name and scoffed.
"'Dr. Light' what a funny name." Barbara said, getting a raised eyebrow from Izuku. "Relax Izuku. A quick round and then we can study." She added, accepting the challenge.
The battle began when both players' avatars appeared on the screen. Barbara's opponent was a tall muscular warrior wearing a black doctor's coat with a lightbulb for a head. The weapon making wheel appeared over their characters as they each built their own weapons.
Dr. Light created a pair of fighting gloves which appeared on his hands.
"Battle gloves? Amateur," Barbara scoffed. "Let me show you how it's done." She added as she built a plasma rifle for her character.
The battle began as Barbara's character fired her rifle at Dr. Light. Dr. Light didn't dodge out of the way. He crossed his arms, blocking the shots. However, the character wasn't taking any damage. The gloves were absorbing the energy that Barbara's hero was firing.
"What?!" Barbara snapped as her opponent went on the offensive.
Dr. Light channeled the energy through his gloves and fired it at Barbara's weapon, making it disappear. He then proceeded to attack her with a barrage of punches, forcing Barbara to panic.
"No! No, no, no, no!" Barbara repeated, ignoring the shushing from the librarian. "This can't be happening!"
Back at the game, Barbara's character tried to run away and dodged the attacks but it was to no avail.
Dr. Light landed a devastating combo attack, blasting Barbara's character into pixels.
Barbara's eyes were wide in disbelief.
"Sorry, Barbara. It looks like you lost." Izuku said apologetically.
Barbara dropped her game and her face on the table.
"How did this happen?" She cried out, muffled by the table.
Izuku patted her on the back, consoling her for her loss. He was well aware of the sting of losing at a video game you believed you had mastered.
Night had fallen and it was Deku and Batgirl's turn to patrol the streets.
"Alright Batgirl, according to Bumblebee's information there is a truck full of diamonds that will pass through this street, which would make it into.." Deku explained when he heard a video game blaster going off.
Deku looked down to see Batgirl playing her game once more.
"Batgirl." Deku said firmly.
"Just a second Deku." Batgirl said. "I think I know how that guy beat me. Now all I've got to do is build something better to counter it."
Deku took the game away, feeling the need that he needed to be the parent in the room.
"Hey!" Batgirl snapped.
"You can play after we are done with our patrol," Deku said as Batgirl tried to snatch her game back. "AND you study for the test."
"Fine." Batgirl pouted as Deku placed the game into his backpack.
Deku and Batgirl spotted the armored truck moving out from the warehouse and into the street. They ran up on top of the buildings, keeping an eye on the truck as they did so. The cool air of the night was a welcoming feeling for the two heroes. The lights of the city were the only lights that they had for guidance.
The truck approached an intersection as the heroes jumped down to the roof of a smaller building.
Just then all the lights around the intersection began to flicker. The guards driving the car looked at the lights in confusion, wondering if there was a power outage or someone was messing with the lights. Then the lights went out completely, leaving the whole block in darkness.
"Looks like we've got company." Deku said, keeping his eyes open for any signs of the villains.
"Good thing I've brought my Bat-Night Vision Goggles." Batgirl said, pulling out her goggles.
However, before Batgirl put on the goggles a single light shined brightly in front of the heroes and the armored truck. When the light subsided, a figure stood in front of the truck. A man wearing a black skin tight suit with a pair of white boots, a white belt with yellow spots, an armored vest that looked like a lightbulb on his chest, and a pair of white elbow-length gloves with lightbulbs on the back of the hands. He also wore a black mask with a white headband, a white spike and a white one-eyed visor.
"Who is this guy?" Deku asked.
"He looks familiar." Batgirl replied.
Back on the street, the mysterious man stepped towards the truck.
The two security guards stepped out and pulled out their guns.
"Freeze creep!" the guards demanded.
"Don't worry gentlemen, I'm only here to enlighten you!" The strange man said as his gloves lit up.
The strange lightbulb man aimed his hands at the guards before he fired upon them. Rays of light came out from his gloves, shooting the guns away from the guards and taking out the tires. He then slammed his hands together, creating a web of some kind. He flung the webs at the guards, sticking them into the ground.
"Not bad for a start, but I was hoping for more of a challenge." The strange villain taunted.
"Then you'll love us!" Batgirl called out, flinging a batarang at the villain.
The villain shot the flying shuriken, turning it to dust.
Deku used this chance to charge at the villain with an axe kick to the head.
"MANCHESTER SMASH!" Deku called out as he swung down his leg at the head of the villain.
The villain raised both of his arms to block the attack with a light shield. Deku's attack shattered the shield and sent the villain back.
"I see that my challenge has been met! Come forth Titans and meet your greatest nemesis!" The villain called out.
"Who are you anyway?" Batgirl asked.
"You may call me Dr. Light." Dr. Light introduced himself with a mocking bow.
Batgirl gasped as she recognized that name.
"Master of lights, power and energy! Now bow before my brightness and despair!" Dr. Light said as lights came out from his suit.
"I'm sorry to say that-" Deku began only for Batgirl to jump ahead.
"Your light show is about to be shut down Mr. Light!" Batgirl snapped before throwing a batarang at the strange man.
Dr. Light fired another blast of light, destroying the projectile. He jumped back and dodged the attacks of the Titan.
Batgirl attacked Dr. Light with a punch and then followed it with a roundhouse kick to the chest.
Dr. Light kept creating light shields and weapons to move around the attacks that Batgirl sent his way. He then brought his hands together in a loud clap, creating a blinding light in front of Batgirl.
"Haa!" Batgirl screamed.
"Not too bright, are you?" Dr. Light taunted, creating a light whip and wrapping Batgirl with it. "I was expecting more of a challenge from the protectors of the city."
"Then you'll have more than that from me!" Deku cried out, jumping in with a punch at the villain.
Dr. Light jumped back, narrowly missing the punch of the green Titan.
Deku called upon the power of One For All as the green lightning crackled around his body. He jumped forward and threw another punch at the villain, breaking through one of the light shields. He threw another punch and sent Dr. Light to the top of the armored truck.
Dr. Light quickly got back up just as Deku jumped high in the air, reeling up another attack. The light villain raised both of his hands up in defense of the attack. He created a light bubble that was meant to protect him.
Deku switched up his punch for a kick at the sight of the shield. He raised his leg up high, and brought down the axe kick on the light bubble shattering it.
Dr. Light was sent behind the armored truck as the back door was busted open by the kick.
Deku walked up to the back of the truck and spotted Dr. Light scrambling up to his feet. He spotted that the villain's equipment was busted and was on the verge of being torn apart.
"The fight is over, Dr. Light. Surrender now!" Deku said, putting on his best All Might voice.
Dr. Light looked down at the busted door and saw that it was open enough to get what he wanted.
"You are truly better than what I thought. Guess I'll have to level up before taking you on." Dr. Light said, grabbing one of the yellow orbs from his belt.
Deku was about to retort, but Dr. Light flung the yellow orb at the truck.
A flash bang went off, blinding Deku. He blocked his eyes using his arm.
Once the light faded away, Deku looked at where Dr. Light had been sitting only to find that he was gone. He looked around for any signs of the villain, but he didn't find anything around of the villain. He then heard a groan and a muffled struggle. Deku looked back to see Batgirl flailing around like a fish out of water.
"Hold on, Batgirl." Deku said, rushing to her side.
Deku quickly unwrapped Batgirl, pulling off the light whip from her body.
"Thanks Deku, but what happened to that walking light bulb?" Batgirl asked.
"He managed to get away." Deku replied.
"Drat! I will get you next time, Dr. Light!" Batgirl said. "He hasn't beaten me yet."
Deku looked at his friend and companion with confusion.
"What are you talking about?" Deku asked.
"My little dumb game has just become real!" Batgirl stated.
The next day, Deku and Batgirl were looking over the footage of the other night as they read the report made by the police. According to what they read, the villain had only gotten his hands on three diamonds. Each of the diamonds weren't very big and not very valuable, but that only raised more questions of why go through all the trouble of grabbing it in the first place.
However, the thing that kept Batgirl's mind the most was the fact that the player that defeated her was real. She was glued to her screen, going through combinations of different weapons to take down the opponent that she couldn't beat. She muttered how the gloves worked in the game and how she could counter them.
"So if I could get my hands on a concussion cannon I'll be able to take him down." Batgirl said.
"Batgirl, are you sure that Dr. Light is the same guy that defeated you in the game?" Deku asked.
"Positive! It was the same design and the same functions as the gloves that he used to defeat me! But with this combination I'll be sure to beat him!" Batgirl said, pulling up the game screen.
Deku observed the screen and the weapon that Batgirl had made up. However, there were a couple of problems with the conception of the weapon.
"Where are you going to get dragon scales to power up the cannon?" Deku asked.
Batgirl's grin dropped.
"Dang it!" Batgirl snapped. "I don't get it! How can I beat this guy?!"
Deku picked up the game screen and looked at the recorded defeat of Batgirl's match.
"Well, you can start by not playing his game." Deku replied, getting Batgirl's attention. "Look at how he fights in the recordings. He has this game down to a science. You try to play his game, he'll defeat you each time. He is better at his game. What we can do is make the most out of our game. Pull him out of what he thinks is his comfort zone and surprise him."
Batgirl thought about what Deku had said. She had to admit that there was a lot of solid logic to what he was saying.
"Now, start thinking outside the box. That's what you're best at Babs." Deku said, handing the game back to Batgirl.
Batgirl smiled at the words of her boyfriend. She often forgot that he was also the brains of the team along with her and Karen. She wasn't blind to how people looked at the team with Wonder Woman being the leader, Supergirl and Powergirl being the strongest members, Zatana being the magic specialist, Green Lantern being the conscience of the team, her being the detective, and Bumblebee being the science expert. And Batgirl also knew that Deku was the heart of the team, lending his knowledge and power to any who would need it. He often humbled her and helped her rethink her more hairbrained ideas.
As Batgirl thought these things, she looked back at her game and noticed the icon that their newest nemesis was using. She pulled up the computer and began searching and cross referencing the information that she found.
"Batgirl, what's wrong?" Deku asked.
"I just thought of something." Batgirl said. "Look at the recording from last night and tell me what you see."
Deku did as she said and had to admit that the fight was very one sided with the new villain being very reactive to them.
"It looks like he is still fairly new to the game." Deku muttered.
"Exactly. The gaming lingo that Dr. Light used his knowledge of weapons, showing that he got everything from the video game and is still testing things out," Batgirl explained. "Also his equipment looks like it was put together with whatever stuff he could find. That leads me to believe that our doctor is actually between the ages of 15 to 25 and is working on a budget."
Deku smiled. This was one of Batgirl's crazy moments in which she solved everything in a matter of seconds.
"By taking this into account, I think I can put together a rough idea of who our newest villain might be." Batgirl added, typing away at the computer as a face started to take shape.
"But that still doesn't tell us what he plans to do with the diamonds that he stole, or why." Deku said.
"Diamonds are very good reflective surfaces, so if his whole thing is light then they could be used to power something he has saved for later." Batgirl surmised.
"A power amplifier? Maybe he plans on upgrading his gloves for a new version to gain the upper hand." Deku guessed.
"Maybe, but why would he need so much power?" Batgirl asked just as the computer gave her a match on the face of their new enemy.
Both heroes saw the assumed face of the new supervillain. Their eyes widened as the look resembled someone that they weren't expecting.
"Batgirl, are you sure of this?" Deku asked.
"I'm afraid this might be true. But at least we know where he'll be." Batgirl said. "Let's go."
Metropolis High School was usually seen as a place where students could go on to do great things. It was seen as one of the best schools in the city. However, the school had a dark side. Things tended to get lost, manipulated elections, and test answers being given up for the right price. Star students were caught doing things that they didn't want to and others were forced to set up other students for this well oiled machine to continue. This dark side was all the work of one man: Senior Year student and most likely to become a crime boss, Oswald Cobblepot.
Cobblepot was a guy that could get things, for the right price. He was a heavyset kid with a pointy nose and a stuck up attitude. He wore a black shirt on top of a white jacket, black pants, fancy white shoes, and a top hat that made him look like the boss of a gang. He walked with a sneaky smile with a row of teeth that said 'I'm cooking up something illegal'. He stood with two of his grunts by his side at the back of the school. He had made a substantial gang of thugs that did what he told them and was about to step up his usual game.
A large truck pulled up in front of them and Cobblepot smiled as the truck opened up.
"About time. Unload it all, boys." Cobblepot ordered with a snap of his fingers.
Several of his students began to get all the things off the truck. They carried boxes full of unknown merchandise. One of the boxes was set in front of Cobblepot. He snapped his fingers once more. One of his thugs opened up the box. Inside the box were calculators, pencils, pens, books and other pieces of counterfeited school equipment, including food vouchers.
"Payday boys." Cobblepot laughed. "So far, everything I've gotten has been pocket change. With this, the whole school will pay up."
"Um boss, what are we doing with this stuff anyway?" One of the thugs asked.
Cobblepot groaned in annoyance.
"We will switch this stuff from what the school has. The students will grow desperate and will seek better things, and I'll make them pay through the nose for what they would've gotten for free." Cobblepot explained.
As soon as Cobblepot finished explaining his newest scheme, a blast of light blew up the box full of stuff. The energy beam scorched the faulty equipment as panic spread through the kids.
Oswald Cobblepot and his goons were sent back as more beams of light fired up at the place. People scurried for cover as the attacker stepped into sight.
It was none other than Doctor Light.
"Hey, you maniac! What's the big idea!?" Cobblepot demanded. "Do you have any idea how much this stuff cost me?!"
"Don't worry Cobblepot, by the time I'm done with you, the receipt will be the least of your worries!" Dr. Light snapped.
Dr. Light fired at Cobblepot with murder in his eyes.
Not far from the school, Deku and Batgirl spotted the bright lights that Dr. Light was using.
"I sometimes hate being right," Batgirl muttered. "Which is rare."
"Let's go, people could get hurt." Deku added, using OFA to increase his power.
Deku picked up Batgirl. He carried her bridal style as they made their way to the school.
Back in the school, almost all of Oswald Cobblepot's goons had fled from the scene, leaving their boss at the mercy of the light themed villain. He was crawling in fear away from Dr. Light as he calmly walked after the heavy set senior. Dr. Light's gloves shined bright as he got closer to the exit.
"Oh, we're not done Penguin. We're just getting started." Dr. Light said, firing another beam of light in front of the wannabe criminal. "I just realized how much you actually look like one of those feathered pin cushions."
"What did you call me?" Cobblepot snapped. "I'm Oswald Cobblepot, and I run this school! And one day, I'll run Gotham!"
Dr. Light didn't reply. He just lifted his hand and a beam of light fired out from it.
Oswald's hat fell down from his head with a burning hole going through it.
"Wait, wait, wait! We may have started on with the wrong foot here. I'm a businessman and I'd like to make a deal with you. See, I need muscle like you to deal with the bigger issues that may come up. I'd like to offer you a job. How about I cut you in at 15% of all my transactions and a bonus at the end of each month? Every time that I sell some of my illegal stuff or extort people with the blackmail material I've got, I'll give you a cut. The whole school is in my pocket and I can get them to do whatever I want."
Cobblepot smiled, feeling like he had the man in the bag.
"So, what do you think?" Cobblepot asked.
"You really think you can buy or manipulate your way out of this one?" Dr. Light growled. "How many kids have you extorted to get where you are? How many lives have you ruined? This is for everyone that you've stepped on." He snapped.
Dr. Light aimed his hands at the heavy set boy and prepared to fire.
However, the attack didn't hit its target.
A batarang struck Dr. Light's chest plate, sending him back. The blast missfired, giving the high school senior the chance he needed to run away.
Oswald only got a few steps away before tripping over his feet. He scurried over behind one of the remaining crate boxes.
"We won't let you kill him, Dr. Light." Deku called out as he landed with Batgirl in tow.
Deku and Batgirl got into their battling positions, staring at the villain.
"Why did you stop me?!" Dr. Light snapped. "I'm putting an end to that leech once and for all. Do you even know how many people were hurt because of him? I'm giving him what he deserves!" He roared as he fired a blast of light at the two heroes.
Deku and Batgirl jumped to opposite sides, avoiding the blast.
Deku used One For All to run around Dr. Light, drawing his fire with his greater speed.
Dr. Light fired blast after blast of light at the blurry green clad hero. But none of his blasts struck Deku.
Batgirl fired her grappling hook and sprung up to the ceiling. She looked down on where Dr. Light stood. She pulled out several batarangs from her belt. She flung the weapons at the villain.
"Now Deku!" Batgirl called out as the batarangs flew through the air towards the villain.
Dr. Light looked up. He held up his arms and crossed them in a defensive position. His gloves generated a light bubble shield around his body, blocking the incoming attacks. However, before he could do anything else Deku came in and struck the shield with a kick.
The shield shattered as Dr. Light was sent back. He dug his heels and stopped himself before firing at Deku with his gloves.
Deku jumped out of the way of the blasts.
"Deku, the diamonds must be in his chest and gloves!" Batgirl instructed.
"Got it!" Deku replied, ducking under one of the light blasts.
Deku stopped dodging the attacks. He focused on the targets that Batgirl had suggested for him. Deku focused the power of One For All with green lightning crackling around his body. He rushed his opponent. He used his greater speed to reach Dr. Light. He reeled back his right arm and punched the villain in the chest.
"Detroit Smash!" Deku called out, shattering the chest piece of Dr. Light.
The chest plate of Dr. Light shattered into pieces as the diamond fell to the ground.
"No!" Dr. Light screamed. "That's not fair! You two can't gang up on me! That's cheating!"
"Sorry pal!" Batgirl called out.
Dr. Light looked up and saw Batgirl jumping at him. He created a light shield to block the incoming super hero.
Batgirl however jumped over the shield. She spun around, swiping the legs of the supervillain.
Dr. Light fell down to the ground, hitting his head.
Batgirl pulled off the facemask of Dr. Light, revealing the face of Arthur Light. She let out a sad sigh. She pulled out the recognition software result and she compared them. They were the same.
"Life isn't a video game." Batgirl said. "Game over."
Oswald tried to crawl away from the mess, but was blocked by Deku's foot. He looked up only to see the superhero giving him a glare.
"Um, we can work this out?" Cobblepot tried.
A short time later the police took both Oswald and Dr. Light into custody. Oswald had just turned eighteen and was found guilty of contraband and forgery of school supplies. His web of blackmail and corruption was discovered and untangled. Arthur was given a lighter sentence. It turned out that Arthur's school life had been destroyed by Cobblepot after he was used as a delivery boy for many of his schemes.
Deku and Batgirl observed from a nearby rooftop with slight sadness. They had won, but an innocent kid had crossed a line.
"Well, I guess we can't always win 100%." Batgirl muttered.
"Yeah, but at least we brought some justice. Cobblepot will be put away for a long time. And Arthur will get the help he needs." Deku said. "You did a great job Batgirl."
"I know. It's just, how many things did I miss because of some dumb video game? If I had been more in the real world, I would've caught on to Oswald's schemes earlier." Batgirl sighed.
"We can't change what's happened, but we can make a better future. You remind me of that every day, Babs." Deku admitted, getting Batgirl's attention. "I once lost faith in becoming a hero. But you didn't let the lack of powers stop you from doing the right thing. And that's something that I admire."
Batgirl blushed at the words of her boyfriend. She smiled and kissed his cheek.
"Thanks Izuku, you always know what to say." Batgirl said. "So, what do you wanna do now?"
"I don't know. I mean, it will be Friday soon and-" Deku began when Batgirl's eyes went wide.
"What?! Friday?!" Batgirl asked. "Oh my gosh! I forgot that I had to study for the make up quiz!"