Fowl tongue, have my words

Aftermath is Secondary

After we had all been called back to the Belfry I was left at a loss. Once again, my lack of knowledge was apparent. Harley Quinn was an unfamiliar name. But everyone seemed on edge. Not necessarily like Talia al Ghul but similar. Tense shoulders, hardened gazes.

Babs led me away from the computer to a corner of the room. "Listen Briar." She sighed. "I need you to be more careful from here on out. Harley Quinn contacting us is not...good. And it's likely that other rouges Batman fought against will start popping up. Never call one of us by name only by codename. Hide any personal information. Hide your abilities and your knowledge. What we will go up against as vigilantes aren't like the normal criminals. So, please be careful." Her hand was curled over my shoulder, her knuckles paler than the whites of her eyes.

My throat went dry. I knew this on a surface level. "I'll do my best." She relaxed her hand, stepping back to join the others waiting by the computer. I felt small as I joined them. Feeling just as overwhelmed as I was when I first came back to Gotham. I'd had been living as it came but now. I couldn't just expect to ride it out. Not with Gotham's nightlife as it was. I had thought about this before but as soon as I went to bed it was like things reset per se. Fuck.

"So, Harley contacted Batman using, I don't know, a homing pigeon and a USB drive?" Dick muttered, rolling his wrist as he approached Babs who was setting up the video. "And that's how we got this video?" He fiddled with the data pad in his hand, feeling at a loss when it wouldn't play the video.

"Babs, help?" A smile quirking on his lips as he handed it over. I stood back, further than Jason's lingering figure. My context would come later. And I was surely not going to be a part of whatever happened next. As it stood, I was a liability. I had little experience and was more than likely a hinderance and a weapon to use against the people I was working with if things went wrong. Training just at the Belfry wasn't going to cut it...was it?

Tim wandered over pulling his headphones down, "Do we think it's legit? Bruce never talked to me about it." Tim. He had at least been working as Robin for at least two years. He was 16. He shouldn't have to worry about these things. But it also wasn't my place to say anything. This was as much Tim's grief as the rest of them.

"When Bruce worked with criminals, he didn't exactly keep us in the loop." Babs shrugged knowingly.

Dick turned from the computer to face Tim, "Yeah, it's not you, Tim. But...it's also not crazy to think that Harley made— "

"Just play it. Then we'll know." Jason hands dropped from running over the backside of his head. Frustrated with the lack of progress and new problems that came with every step. They all turned towards the computer as the blonde figure on the screen began to move, adjusting the focus before stepping back into frame. The last time I had seen him so worked up was when I had first arrived. Out in the night of Gotham, it was like all the thoughts quieted when he was actually doing something about the situation. It must be difficult to know he could change things but wasn't in control of the situation. It was difficult for me.

"Hiya Batsy! Been a while." Her head shifting in thought, "I-it's weird, cuz I heard a rumor that you were dead." She smiled as she pointed at the screen. Eyes glinting though the screen created an ill feeling throughout all of us.

"Oh, boy." Babs muttered. Everyone glancing at each other with wary concern. While Jason had his hands on his hips, glaring at the scene as he shifted from foot to foot. I honestly think if I had offered to go out early tonight, he would take it. It's too bad things weren't set in stone yet. I had no idea who I would be running around with tonight.

"Anyway, I got what ya wanted. Hope that ain't what got ya dead." She laughed waving a thick book around decorated with stickers, "Ha! So come visit me at Blackgate! Oh!" A singular finger stilled as she dropped out of frame rising to hold a colorfully decorated map with directions that resembled pirate maps made for children. It had me questioning the validity of the information. Then again Batman, who everyone in this room respected (to a degree) was the one working with her so there must be something worthwhile.