Chapter 7- Learning From One's Own Errors

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Stephanie and Jason went back to the Batcave to see a beaten up Batman, Nightwing, Batwoman, Batgirl and Tim in civillian attire gathered around a cot, Stephanie didn't want to see it. Jason couldn't blame her.

Seph tore her gaze away from a crying Tim hugging Cass as Jason said "Look I'm sorry I wasn't there, I know how to move objects I should've been able to save you-"

Stephanie cut him off. "Why the fuck are you sorry? I'm surprised you're even here, you had no reason to save me."
***
The funeral was surprisingly nice, Bruce paid for everything of course, Stephanie tried to get her mother's attention but to no avail. "Mom-hey I'm right here" She said reaching out to touch her mother's shoulder, her hand went right through and she shivered.

Then someone tapped her on the shoulder, she whipped around to see it was just Jason. He hadn't said anything since they exited the Batcave, except for the apology.
"Funeral tend to be quite depressing, even for ghosts. I know a place where we can go, purple is your favorite colour right?"

After a nod from Stephanie Jason smiled, and held out his hand. She took it.

***

It was one of the most beautiful meadows Stephanie had ever seen. Filled with purple deadnettles, the sunset just added to their beauty.

"Thanks ginger."

"No problem blondie."

***
Stephanie decided to go back to her house, just to check up on her mother, So after parting ways with Jason after he showed her his old apartment that he stayed at with his father who was also a ghost (Stephanie tried to squash down the feeling of jealousy at the thought of Jason having a good father brought) she was off to her mother's apartment.

It was bad. No, horrible. Stephanie had gone to South West Indiana for just a day, how was it possible to trash a place this badly? The living room had food containers on the table, the couch had its pillows thrown all over the floor. The Bathroom floor was littered with syringes.

Her mother had of course taken the  day off from work.

***
She didn't know what to expect when she went into Cass' room, sobbing a few feet away from her phone with a selfie of her and Stephanie was not one of them.

She went to the living room next.

Even Tim looked sad, that was surprising, even when they were dating it was all "Leave the job to us Steph" Or "You're not trained for this!" Fucking bastard.

He had cooled off after a while, but Steph never forgot, nor did his criticisms stop, not until Steph destroyed him in a sparring match with a move Black Canary taught him.

Dick was a different case, they knew about each other for two years, but Dick would either be in Blüdhaven Or busy on a mission. They didn't really start talking until she was Robin, but when they did they got along like a house on fire, he'd compare her jokes to Jason's, saying that they were similar.

She hadn't heard any of Jason's joked but now she had all the time in the world for that didn't she? Of course those two had the classic "we should've been there" expressions on their faces. Damn Bats and their guilt complexes.

Next stop was the Batcave of course, something told Stephanie it would be worth checking out. Turns out it was!

Batwoman and Batman were locked in a screaming match. Kate and Bruce had their cowls off and were currently fighting about Stephanie, of course. Steph liked Kate, unlike Bruce she offered to train her from the start, she was a good teacher too!

"BRUCE YOU CANNOT BE FUCKING SERIOUS! 'AN ADEQUATE SOLDIER'? DO YOU NOT SEE HOW FUCKED UP THAT IS? 'FIRST A GOOD SOLDIER' FOR JASON AND NOW THIS?" She said gesturing towards a plaque on one of the tables.

"WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT ME TO WRITE THEN? 'A CHILD THAT IS DEAD BECAUSE OF ME?' 'A PAWN I USED IN MY GAME TO GET TIM BACK AS ROBIN'?"

Silence fell over them. Even the bats sensed the atmosphere and quieted down. "What." Kate said her eyes squinting. "I never wanted her to be Robin! Yes she was a good fighter but she was impulsive. reckless! Just like-"  "If you say Jason I'll break your fucking jaw you piece of shit."

"You can have my escrima sticks for that." Dick said, the three turned to see him standing a couple feet away from them, glaring daggers at Bruce. Then out of nowhere, Cass swooped in out of nowhere and snatched Stephanie's newly created plaque. "Cassandra-" She threw it straight at Jason's plaque. Shattering the glass.

"That should shut Bruce up for a while, having his favorite children turning against him should be a good wake up call." Jason said appearing from a cave wall behind Stephanie. "You did that?" Stephanie asked with a raised eyebrow turning to look at him.

He smirked, "Let's say on the night you died, the batcomputer was open, I simply updated some information on my file and left it open, information being my mother working with the Joker. Dick, Tim and,  Kate and Cass think Babs found it and vice versa. So as Bruce does the most Bruce thing and declares you a soldier his children turn on him."

Stephanie thought about it, and smiled "You fucking genius thos is going to be gold."

***
Over the next days, everyone in the family, including Alfred refused to work with Bruce. Cassandra worked with Kate and Dick, Tim was still in retirement, Stephanie was concerned for him, his dad's company had suffered a huge loss, and his friends super boy and flash had died a few months before Stephanie. He wasn't doing so well, even Jason was concerned and he hated Tim!

It took him only two weeks to convince both his father and Bruce to become Robin again, Tim's father had to relent when Tim declared that he was trained for this and his friend wouldn't have died if he hadn't forced him to quit, Bruce left alone by everyone had no choice but to take Tim as Robin once more.

In just a few days of Batman being alone however the bruises around Stephanie's eyes had healed.


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