random_cantina | (no subject)

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She did not expect to find herself in a cafe. She'd been chasing down a criminal, saw him duck into an alley and through a door, and followed him in. Wherever it had lead, it certainly shouldn't have been someplace like this.

And yet, she sensed that she wasn't really in any kind of danger. She was good at scoping places out, looking for threats, and she just didn't see that that. Slowly, she let her crossbow drop and hooked it to her belt.

"...Second time this kind of thing has happened. Just plain strange," she muttered.

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"The daughter that was shot... it was you, wasn't it?" Where another bat might have said it matter of factly, or even as an accusation, Helena said it with compassion, genuine concern.

The eyes across from her hardened as Brenda closed herself off, though the coldness that had been so apparent in her older alter was lacking.

When she spoke her voice was emotionless and matter of fact. "Yes. I wasn't needed in that reality, except to die to ensure that Gotham got her Knight."

The notion of someone moving to a new reality isn't exactly surprising to Helena. Both Black Canary--after the death of her husband--and Red Tornado--after nearly sacrificing himself to destroy the Nebula Hand--had done it, after all, making the transition to Earth-One and the Justice League.

"I'm... I'm sorry..."

She shook her head. "Don't be. I have a place now; another family. And..." Her expression softened. "Someone to keep me walking in the Light."

Her voice held life with those last words, and she nearly looked like a normal young woman of her age instead of the marble angel that she'd appeared at first.

"That's good to hear," she said.

"But you're right, in some ways anyway, about my Gotham. Dad started being Batman in 1939 and then Green Lantern showed up about a year later. Between them, Robin, and the the Justice Society, Gotham's had super-heroes watching out for it for almost forty years now."

"He let the Lantern live there in Gotham?" Brenda was amused as she thought of her predecessor's legendary territoriality and distrust of those with powers.

"Why wouldn't he? Gotham was his home too."

"Most of the Bruces I've heard of were territorial to the point of paranoia, and disliked anyone with any sort of unusual ability. Some of the JLA still joke about what the guy from this reality would have said about his great great grandson marrying J'onn J'onnes' great granddaughter. To this day the Bat clan honors his memory with the decree that the person in the Batman suit has to be pure human."

"J'onn J'onzz? The Manhunter?" Helena boggled slightly at that, but ultimately shrugged. "It must have made for an interesting wedding."

She shook her head though. "Dad was never territorial, never paranoid. And he certainly didn't have any problems with people with powers. Superman--Clark--was his best friend, for crying out loud."

Brenda shrugged as well. "I don't know, it was before my time. And their last descendant died before I ever came onto the scene, too. I'm the only living Wayne left now." Then she nodded. "They were friends in this one, too. Bruce watched out for Clark's daughters after he died."

Helena isn't exactly the last Wayne, though how much Dick, as her father's ward, actually counted in that regard may be up for debate.

"Clark and Lois never had any children in my world," she replied. "With Clark being from Krypton, it just wasn't possible. But they do have Karen. Er, Kara. Power Girl. Clark's cousin." She was aware she might not be making much sense.

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