Comfort

A few minutes passed before Barbara’s voice called out from the living room, soft but clear. “You’re good to come back in. I’m clothed.”

Aaron let out a quiet breath, a mix of relief and, well, a little regret if he was being honest. He stepped back into the living room, taking in the sight of her, now dressed in a simple sweatshirt and jeans she’d found in her bag. Even with her red hair loose around her shoulders and her mask back on, there was a lighter, almost unguarded look in her eyes.

He went to the kitchen, pulling a few things from the fridge. “You probably haven’t had a good meal in a few days,” he said, turning his attention to chopping vegetables. He didn't want to look at her too hard in case he recognized her. “How about something warm? Stir-fry sound good?”

Barbara nodded, giving him a grateful look. “Thanks, Aaron. This is… so, so much. I appreciate it. I’ll head out tomorrow. First light, if I can.”

Aaron glanced up from the cutting board. “You're a hero. You can stay as long or as short as you need. I don’t mind,” he said earnestly, flipping a pan on the stove. “And it’s not every day Batgirl crashes in your apartment.”

She gave him a wry smile, leaning back into the couch. “Thank you."

They lapsed into a comfortable silence, the only sounds the sizzle of vegetables and clatter of dishes as he set up a quick meal. Once the food was ready, he grabbed a couple of plates and carried them over to the couch. He paused, glancing at her as they settled in. “Wanna watch something while we eat?”

She hesitated, then gave him a small nod. “Sure,” she said. She seemed surprised by her own answer, as if allowing herself this bit of relaxation was unfamiliar.

He clicked on an old movie, something classic and light-hearted, nothing that would make her think too hard. They sat together, the quiet punctuated only by the clink of forks on plates. It was strange, this closeness with a person who’d spent her life in the shadows of Gotham, but he knew better than to pry. So he kept the questions light, just letting them drift from one topic to the next.

After a bit, Aaron glanced over at her. “So, is it true there are… you know, other Batgirls?”

Barbara gave a small, amused smile. “Something like that,” she said. “Let’s just say… Gotham’s never short on people willing to put on the mask.”

He nodded, not pressing further, though curiosity nagged at him. “And… Batman? What’s he like?”

She laughed, a quiet, knowing sound. “Complicated. He’s a lot of things, but mostly? He’s exactly what Gotham needs.” She looked at him, her gaze softening. “Just like the people who help him.”

They went back to the movie, a comfortable silence settling over them as the characters on the screen drifted in and out of scenes. Aaron felt her weight leaning slightly against his shoulder, and he didn’t think much of it—until he noticed her breathing had evened out, soft and steady.

Barbara had fallen asleep, resting against him with a quiet trust he wouldn’t have expected from someone so guarded, so used to taking care of herself. Aaron’s mouth curved into a faint smile, careful not to move as he reached for the blanket beside him, gently draping it over her shoulders. He let himself relax, just grateful to be there for her, even if only for one quiet night in Gotham.