Shock

Aaron…didn't know how to react. He had seen the similar features–the golden locks, the blue eyes, the chirpy personality, and even the way they ate. But…mother and daughter? He put a hand over his mouth. He wasn't acting at this point, he was sincerely shocked.

"I know this is a lot to take in. I can see you didn't know. I'm sorry." Again, his apologetic expression was authentic. The World's Greatest Detective could not find a crack of dishonesty. "We haven't told anyone yet, including Stephanie because…well…we don't know how she'd react. Guilt? Sadness? Joy? Plus, legally speaking, she doesn't have a right to visit her or adopt her but–"

"If Stephanie ever wanted to visit Chloe or to try to be her mother again, I won't stop her. As long as it's what Chloe wants," Aaron said, regaining his bearing. "Like you said, she was a pregnant fifteen year old girl during arguably the worst disaster in American history. I'm not sure there's a man or woman on this Earth who would have been able to handle the responsibility. I was sixteen when it happened. I saw what it did to the people. Homeless people were everywhere and the buildings were just…messed up. I'm pretty sure half of my high school school ended up falling apart."

"Thank you for understanding." Bruce looked relieved. What, did he think he was going to a petty dad that would fight tooth and nail for pointless custody? No, never.

"You took a big risk telling me," Aaron pointed out. "Thank you."

"There's no need to thank me. I'm sure you understand why I told you." Bruce's expression narrowed. Ah, so this was the infamous Bat Glare. "If anything happens to Chloe, then I will not hesitate to treat you like any other criminal. And the same is for Cassandra. I don't know whether you mean to be just friends, but I expect you to be on your best behaviour."

'Ah, since I'm a normal civilian, by saying this you think I won't do anything. I'll continue to be, well, normal. Smart.'

Put simply, it was a hollow threat. At best, he would scare him in costume. Rather than succumb to his fear, Aaron hardened. "I won't, sir."

Bruce studied his expression like he was an animal to be tested. Face, hair, eyebrows, his eyes darted in a single instant and managed to absorb and connect his emotions. His shoulders relaxed. "Good," Bruce said. "I like my coffee black, by the way."

A joke. Aaron laughed.

Bruce Wayne was an interesting man. The line between his secret identity and his real life persona was fascinating to watch in-person. It wasn't an immediate switch but rather a change in shade. Subtle and indiscernible until the goosebumps started.

More importantly, there was what he said. He was honest, compassionate, and firm. Since Chloe was related to Stephanie, one of his old Robins, he would protect her too. Aaron could see it in his hawk-like blue eyes.

'Good. It makes my job easier. Having Batman as Chloe's guardian is the best thing I could ask for.'

Not to mention it adjusted his priorities. The fact that Stephanie Brown was Chloe's biological mother automatically placed her in a position of importance in his social life. She had alleviated from a mere sex buddy to a co-parent. Even if Stephanie potentially declared she wouldn't want to be a part of Chloe's life, he would always be aware of their relationship. And if Chloe ever wanted to know and get closer to her, well…he wouldn't stop her.

'I was an orphan. I know how it feels to want to know who your family is. You want to know why you were abandoned and why you weren't worth caring for. You just…want answers. '

A human's origin was incredibly vital to their identity whether they recognized it or not. He sighed. To think the Batgirls, Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown, would be the two most important women in his life. Not just sexually but interpersonally too.

Stephanie's story had also moved him. The lack of health care, sex education, and a decent foster care system pissed him off. How the hell had Chloe gone from a totally fine orphanage to being on the streets? Gotham NEEDED to change. Not in twenty years, not in five years, now.

Moreover, though Batman was off his back, he wasn't off the radar, especially because of Chloe. Once a suspect, forever a suspect.

'I should speed things up a bit,' Aaron told himself, resolved. 'I hope Selina did that thing I asked her to do because otherwise I can't act.'