Now we're onto Barbara. This is also where Cass and Stephanie get a mention. This chapter ended up a little shorter than I initially thought, but I hope you like it.
Boxes of Chinese carryout and study guides scattered over the living room coffee table. Barbara had invited Dick over for a study date and they were trying to make the most of it. Dick was sprawled on the floor as Barbara nibbled on the rest of the vegetable fried rice.
"You know, considering your dad's the commissioner and our late night escapades, I would have thought you wanted to stray away from criminal law." Dick admitted, scanning through a set of notes.
"Says the guy who became a vigilante to get out of a certain bat shaped shadow." Barbara jabbed, setting the carton down. "Besides, weren't you a cop?"
"Yeah for two years, and do you know how paranoid Bruce was during that whole ordeal?"
"Very if I had to guess."
"You'd be right. And while not that far off from Batman, becoming Nightwing was my rite of passage into adulthood. Plus, Supes gave me a small push."
"Fair enough."
She wheeled around the table to get closer to Dick.
"I've just always had an interest in crime even before becoming Batgirl. My dad may contributed to my interest in it. Plus, this is Gotham and I would do whatever I can to help this city out."
Dick nodded, understanding the sentiment.
"That's very admirable."
Barbara grinned at his statement. The sound of a door opening and closing interrupted their moment. Their attention turned towards the kitchen area as Cass entered the room. She was in her civilian clothes with a backpack, no doubt holding her uniform, slung over her shoulder.
"Hey Cass." Dick greeted. "Long time no see."
Cass nodded, silently greeting him.
"Did you have fun on patrol?" Barbara asked.
Cass nodded again. She sent a few signs in Barbara's direction. She wanted a moment to talk with Barbara alone.
"We're just about done, so I'll be there in a moment."
Cass turned her attention elsewhere as she made her way towards her bedroom.
"Good night." Dick wished.
There wasn't a response as she closed the door behind her.
"She doesn't seem too fond of me, does she?" Dick pouted.
"She is." Barbara admitted. "She's told me how she thinks you're admirable and have a good moral compass. Even if she does find your optimism insufferable at times."
"Really?"
"Yeah. She just a little withdrawn some nights."
There was a moment of silence as Barbara took a sip of her water.
"She mentioned her tattoo today."
"Did she?"
"Yeah. She was just curious about some others given hers is a scorpion, a symbol of danger, wrapped around her forearm."
"You don't say?"
Barbara gave him a confirming nod.
"I want to make her more comfortable around others, so I told her mine and Steph's."
"Steph's is a skunk if I'm not mistaken."
"On her left calf. It represents a warning. And well, you already know mine."
"A turtle."
Dick's attention shifted to Barbara's abdomen. His mind started to wander.
Barbara had been in the hospital for a few days and the news of her being unable to walk had finally set in. Since the bucket had been surgically removed, the doctors had demanded that she stay for a few days of observation. Friends and family had periodically came to visit. Even Bruce had visited both as Batman and as Bruce. He provided whatever comfort and reassurance he could.
The only person who had yet to see her was Dick. He had been otherwise engaged with off world Titans business when she had gotten shot. Even though she had her own concerns for her wellbeing, he could only imagine what Dick could be going through when he found out.
"Barbara!" Dick gasped, bolting into the room.
He immediately approached Barbara's bedside, giving her an embrace. She could feel him anxiously shaking as she returned the gesture. He wasn't taking it well and it worried her.
"I'm so sorry."
"It's okay." Barbara comforted, lightly patting Dick on the back. "It's going to be okay."
"No it's not. You got shot Babs. I should have been there."
"There's nothing you could have done. I was at home when it happened. It happened so fast that no one saw it coming."
Silence hit the room. Dick's embrace would release Barbara, which troubled her a little.
"I knew something didn't feel right when we left for that mission. I shouldn't have gone, especially after the last time. I'm so stupid."
"Hey!"
Releasing Dick, she allowed enough space between them to get a good look at him. Guilt and a pinch of fear covered his sapphire blue eyes.
"You're not stupid. You had a job to do, and again, no one saw it coming. You didn't fail me."
His expression didn't change much, but it seemed like what she said might have gotten through.
"Here, I want to show you something."
Diverting his attention towards where the bullet entered, she showed him a rather intriguing image. Entangled with the stitches was a green sea turtle. Shock and confusion took over as his attention bounced between the tattoo and Barbara's face.
"Apparently it was there when they brought me in." Barbara noted.
"What do you think it means." Dick investigated. "And why now?"
"I don't know, but maybe this was meant to happen."
"You were released from the hospital a few days later," Dick recalled, making his way for the door, "and after a few months of therapy, both physical and psychological, you returned to crime fighting as Oracle."
"And here I am years later." Barbara added, following him. "Surviving."
"Indeed, but I do still feel bad for not being there."
"You had a responsibility, and you didn't know. Just like you didn't know that Jason died. What matters now is that we're both here now and we're both alive."
"True. Well I'll see you later, alright?"
"You bet. Have fun on patrol Goldie and don't do anything too stupid."
A playful grin escaped Dick.
"Come on, it's me."
"That's what worries me."
Dick chuckled as he made his way down the hallway.
"Good night Barb."
"Good night."
Closing the door, Barbara rolled down to Cass' room.
I'll address Steph and Cass first. The reason I chose a scorpian for Cass is because I wanted to give her something that reflected her heritage (being Lady Sheva's daughter) as well as being a "silent" assassin. Plus one thing they represent is (potential) danger, which she could be to a degree. Steph's reflected her Spoiler persona as she chose that because she'd be "spoiling" her dad's plans and what better animal than a skunk. Apparently if you dream about a skunks smell it's a warning or something, which works with her giving Batman and Robin a heads up about her father. Steph's was also the second one who's placing doesn't make as much sense.
Now Barbara I battled between three ideas, a butterfly for a transformation, a turtle for survivor (because of their longevity), and an anole lizard (the lizards known for growing their tails back) for adaptability. I ultimately decided the turtle and survival because of the context of how she got it (that being her paralysis at the hands of the Joker) and how she survived, overcame it and ultimately became Oracle.