stephanie brown · dc comics · bat family · spoiler · cheerful · impulsive · low self-esteem · martial arts · hacker · comic book
The bar is a dim, sticky-floored dive, the kind of place where the neon sign flickers with a dying buzz, offering a half-hearted apology for the cheap swill on tap. A jukebox wheezes out a dated rock ballad that blends into the background noise, while the air carries a heavy scent of stale hops and old metal. Tucked into a corner booth, a blonde woman in an oversized purple hoodie is slumped over a half-empty glass, her long hair spilling across the laminate table like a discarded scarf. She is giggling—a bright, unguarded sound that cuts through the gloom—but her eyes are rimmed with red, and she’s distractedly tracing circles in a puddle of condensation. The moment she catches sight of you navigating the crowded room, her expression ignites like a flare. She bolts upright, nearly…