I got kind of sidetracked on this one and it takes a while to get to the payoff. I didn't change this during edits, because I think there's value in doing it this way, but just FYI. If you're not as serious with comics, you may want to look up Stephanie Brown's costumes as the Spoiler, Robin, and Batgirl. Also, the chapter kind of assumes that you know that DC really jerked around her character regarding her death.
As always, both comic book logic and crazy sex fantasy rules are in effect.
*****
The first time Stephanie Brown walked up to the new city hall, she did so in her civilian clothes. Not even fun ones, just a shapeless blouse and sweat pants. It got her absolutely nowhere. Though the new building that had seemed to spring up from nowhere was the seat of a new provisional government, backed by Superman's power, it contained most of the same community leaders Stephanie already knew.
When she managed to talk to them, they said that they had more resources to do their work and the promise that Superman would enforce order, but otherwise things hadn't changed. Since people were trying to rebuild their lives, it felt awkward to be getting in the way with her snooping. As Stephanie Brown, there was nothing else she could learn from the place.
The second time, she went as the Spoiler. It had been too long since she'd donned the purple outfit, but it still felt great. Maybe her name no longer applied, or maybe she'd find out there was something nefarious going on under the surface and she could spoil that. Plus, the costume made her feel sexy as hell.
She slipped inside that evening, easily evading the simple security. There were several computers running on a generator and cabinets filled with files when those weren't working. Stephanie avoided them all, since they were just doing their best to make Gotham a better place. Everything she saw suggested that the new city hall was exactly what it appeared to be...
At least on the first floor.
After a complete circuit, she realized that there simply were no stairs to the second level. That made the mystery of what exactly went on in the upper floors all the stranger. Rumors suggested that there were women working in city hall who seemed entirely too well-armed and well-trained to be simple civilians. Somewhere above, there was the mystery of Superman's control of all this.
Eventually Stephanie found a panel that looked like it could open into the second floor. She used her grappling hook to get nearby and began to experiment with the panel, only to find that it opened immediately at her touch. Not like a trap, more like an automatic door. Well, maybe that made sense for Superman.
Regardless, she used the opportunity to flip herself up to the second floor. She didn't retract her grappling hook in time and it got caught, but the panel opened again when she touched it. Then she was inside.
The second level was much nicer than the first, lushly furnished with carpets and furniture that could have been taken from a mob boss's headquarters. Probably had been, she realized. If Superman had really conquered so much of the city, then he'd captured quite a bit of stuff. But was he really living amid it all like a boss? That didn't sound anything like the hero she'd known, but then again, neither did most of the rumors.
Just when Stephanie was starting to think the floor was empty, a shadow detached itself from the others and came to stand in her way. It was a woman wearing all black, rather similar to the League of Assassins garb. "That's far enough. You shouldn't be here."
"Just taking a look around." Stephanie stepped back and put her hands behind her back in a disarming posture that put her fingers close to her utility belt. "Does Superman really live here?"
"He's working at the moment. If you have ordinary business, please raise it downstairs during business hours. If you want to discuss superhero business, there are better channels for that than breaking and entering. If you remain here, I will be forced to restrain you."
While the other woman spoke, Stephanie got a better look at her. She definitely had the ninja vibe going, and she carried herself dangerously, but Stephanie no longer thought she was a League member. Her outfit was cut to reveal cleavage and thigh, and while the League sometimes dressed like that, in this case it seemed like something that had been chosen. Though the cowl made it harder to see, the ninja was definitely wearing some makeup.
Overall, she looked like a woman who had her eye on a boy or girl she liked and was dressing for their sake. That wasn't much like the League at all. It didn't look like she was going to give much in the way of answers, though, so Stephanie crawled her fingers toward the side of her belt where her staff lay retracted.
"So, if I wanted to make an appointment with Superman..."
"It doesn't work like that. Leave, now."
"Fine, let's do it this way!" Stephanie grinned as she whipped her staff from her belt and it snapped out to its full length. Maybe there was a better way to resolve the problem, but she was itching for a fight.
The other woman reacted immediately, knives cutting at her with deadly intent. Stephanie was able to keep her at bay with her staff, but it was a closer thing than she'd expected. Her opponent was League material, at least, forcing Stephanie to brush off all her old skills.
They exchanged several more blows, neither able to get the upper hand. Yet while Stephanie was still grinning, the other woman seemed worried. Abruptly her eyes shifted, the slightest of reactions not quite suppressed by training, to something behind her.
Stephanie whirled, her staff stabbing directly toward her attacker. It was a good move, she thought, one of her best, yet the staff didn't connect. Her opponent was a black blur, disarming her effortlessly and tossing the staff aside. Though Stephanie raised her fists, she paused in shock as she realized she was facing someone familiar to her.
"Cass?" Stephanie knew she should be more suspicious, but her heart swelled at the idea of seeing her old friend again and she couldn't bring herself to doubt. Cassandra was wearing a variant of her Black Bat costume, as stark and ominous as always.
Her head tilted to the side slightly. "If it's really you, show your face."
"Cass, it's me, Stephanie!" She pulled the cloth from the lower half of her face and lowered her hood. "What's going on?"
For a moment she was afraid, but then Cassandra's posture relaxed. She raised one finger to Stephanie and then turned toward the ninja woman. "This is an old friend. Thank you for intercepting her, but I will deal with this from here."
"Of course, Mistress." The ninja bowed and vanished into the shadows, leaving them alone.
After a long pause, Stephanie made a noise of disgust in the back of her throat. "Cass, I know you're probably going for this, but that mask is creepy as fuck. Can you..."
"Hello, Stephanie." Cassandra removed her mask and smiled at her, and Stephanie felt a rush of relief and warm friendship.
She'd been worried that something had happened to her friend after she had to flee from the League of Assassins. But now Cassandra looked healthy, her skin vibrant and her hair glistening. More than that, she looked happy. Something seemed to have filled the spaces that had once been empty pain. And based on how fast she'd disarmed her...
"Am I just really rusty?" Stephanie sighed and walked to her fallen staff. She rolled it up onto one boot and then kicked it up to her hand. "You've always been better than me, but I thought I could put up more of a fight than that."
