DISCLAIMER: They aren't mine. Birds of Prey isn't mine, and neither
is Hawkman. Nor Batman. Nor, sadly, is Batgirl. Okay, so really, none
of the DC-related thingy-ma-bobs are mine. And, if you don't like
same gender lovin', don't read this. Oh, and don't sue me. Please.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Hawkgirl is from the new Hawkman comics that just
started getting published a year or so ago, not the Justice League
cartoon. I'd highly recommend picking up some back issues of the
comic if you can, it's frickin' awesome.
ARCHIVING: You want it, you got it. Just lemme know.
PAIRING: Barbara/Helena
Broken Wings
By Faechick
Book Three: Epilogue
There was a really big fight after Kendra left. Everyone was out to
take a piece of me but dad. I really didn't have much to say in my
own defence, though. I did sort of deserve it all.
Barbara's retreated to her room with Dickie. Seems he showed up a few
hours after I left to help clean up the mess that is Gotham City. And
of course, he ranks higher on Barbara's list than I do. He always has.
I kick some snow off the balcony as I stare down the side of the
Clock Tower. I'm so engrossed in my moping that I don't hear Batgirl -
Cassandra's her name, apparently - come up behind me. She taps me on
the shoulder and I give her a rather irritated look. She doesn't have
her cowl on right now, and her face is so young. She can't be more
than seventeen. She's smiling a little and she turns around to draw
something in the snow.
It's a flower.
"What do you mean, kid? You want flowers or something?" She shakes
her head, rolling her eyes at me and pointing inside. "You want me to
bring flowers for the Clock Tower?" I'm really lost here.
"She wants you to bring Barbara flowers." Dad's come up to the
balcony doors. He's pulled his mask down for the evening and is
resting against the frame. His hair's tousled. So that's where I get
that from. "I'm going to have to agree with her on that."
I scoff at them both, turning about around to stare into the darkness
below. "Why should I bother?" I'm tapped on the arm again, and this
time I turn to see Cassandra's drawn a heart in the snow. "Yeah," I
mutter. "I do love her."
"Then you should tell her that." Dad's come to stand beside me now.
He puts his hand on my shoulder. "You have nothing to lose that you
might not have already lost."
"Gee, way to pep talk, dad." I stress the last word, rolling my eyes
and biting back the bitter tears that well up inside me. I rest my
head on my hands. "Why does it have to suck so much?"
"I don't know." He walks away, and takes Cassandra with him.
Well, I'll say one thing. Batman makes a lousey father figure.
It's well past midnight as I sit on the floor outside Barbara's room.
Dickie left a little while ago. He passed me on his way out the
balcony doors, but he didn't say anything. We don't really like each
other much.
I get the feeling he hated mom, or something.
I've got a pretty ratty looking flower in my hands. It took me the
better part of three hours to find, but damned if I didn't seek the
little thing out. I think it's an orchid of some kind. I found it in
the remains of the park. I can only hope that Barbara will like it.
Sighing, I stand up and knock on the door before I have the
opportunity to over think the situation. I knocked pretty loudly, so
she should have heard me. But maybe she didn't. I suppose that means
I can just leave and come back some other time. Or maybe I should
knock again, because that would be the least pussy-like thing to do.
I raise my hand and start to knock, only to be met with Barbara's
none-too-happy face.
"Yes?"
"Um." I lower my hand and stare blankly at her for a few moments
before remembering what I've brought her. I hold it out, terror
oozing out of my pores. She takes the flower gently, looking at it as
though it's some kind of great treasure. Her eyes drift up to mine
after a moment, and her gaze is thoughtful. "What's this for?"
"I didn't know how to make it better and-" Here we go. My mouth's
running away with me again. "And Cassandra suggested bringing you
flowers and dad seemed to agree with her and since I'm obviously not
too good at any of this I took their advice and-"
She grabs my shirt collar and pulls me roughly down to her level,
looking me in the eye before kissing me squarely on the lips. I sigh
into her, moaning a little as she pulls away. "You should listen to
them more often. They seem to know what they're doing."
Barbara kissed me. I grin at her. It's really all I can do at the
moment. Barbara kissed me! I shake my head and try to regain control
of my body. I think I've managed it. Yes. Definately. I look at her
solemnly for a moment before getting down on my knees, my hands
resting on the arms of her wheelchair.
"Barbara. I know I've been stupid, and scared, and stupid. But." I
stop for a minute, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. "I love
you. I really do. I love you desperately. Do you- Do you love me,
too?"
She smiles, and I can see the threat of tears welling up in her eyes.
She cups my face with her free hand and nods a little. I close my
eyes and my shoulders sag in relief. "Helena." I open my eyes to look
into her beautiful green ones. "I've loved you for a long time. I
thought you knew."
"I-" Huh. "Well, I am dumb." I grin at her, and she swats at me
playfully.
"You're not dumb. Denser than a neutron star, maybe, but not dumb."
"Keep talking like that and I won't be able to keep my hands to
myself, Miss Gordon." I crawl up her body to kiss her again. We stay
like that for a while, just kissing, getting to know each other's
lips. She's the one that moans this time, as I pull away. "I'll let
you get back to sleep, now."
She hits me softly in the arm. "Tease." I just wink at her and head
back towards the living room. I meant it. She really should get some
rest. I hear her roll back into her room and shut the door as I step
out onto the balcony. I stop when I see dad leaning against the rail.
"So, how'd it go?" His breath mists in the air. I move over next to
him, mimicking his position. "I'd say, all in all, that Operation:
Winter Flower was a distinct success."
He laughs slightly. "We'll have to work on your naming skills." I
pull away, pretending to be offended. He keeps talking before I can
get out a witty retort. "I just want you to know that I'm happy for
you. However you choose to live your life. I always wanted you to be
happy."
"Always? I thought you didn't know-"
"I knew. She didn't tell me, but I knew." He turns to me, the weight
of this confession written across his face. "I kept tabs on you both,
put money away for you, set it all up so that you could have it
whenever I was legally declared your father. But she didn't want me
to know, so I just pretended like I didn't."
"You really loved her, didn't you?" My voice is soft, and he nods at
me. He's smiling just a little.
"I wanted us to be a family, but she just..." He trails off and I
move to hug him. It's awkward, but I think we both need it. We stay
like that, embracing each other for the first time, for several
moments.
I pull away, and he lets go quickly. I wipe at my eyes. "Well. We can
be a family now, if you want?" I cock my head at him.
He nods. "I'd like that."
Snow begins to fall again as we return to the rail of the balcony,
watching the sky in silence.
The End