conflict and compromise / barbara gordon

enchanted

Doing this, Wenlock decided, was very dumb. Oracle, who was in her ear, also thought it was very dumb. But was she going to do it? Yes.

Wenlock walked into the Gotham library. Perhaps it was a spur-of-the-moment action, maybe it was the stress of having the entirety of the Wayne fund and vigilantes looking for her, or maybe she was just lonely, but she wanted to see Barbara.

Walking past the empty reception desk, she took in the atmosphere of the library, the high roof and two stories leaving her feeling exposed. Thankfully, the library was somewhat empty, with a quiet-looking brunette in the corner and a middle-aged librarian sorting books, struggling to reach the upper shelves. Nothing dangerous, thought Wenlock, strolling into the biology section as casually as she could.

Running her finger down the spines of the books she felt someone make an obvious sound behind her, right before a pair of calloused hands covered her eyes. 

"Guess who?"

"This is so cliché," laughed Wenlock as she ducked under Barbara's hands, turning around to smile at her, "Hey."

"Hey," replied Barbara, dressed in a cyan jumper covered by a black top, "What brings you here?"

"Don't lie," Oracle interrupted quickly, "Also don't panic."

"Just wanted to see my girlfriend," Wenlock said, feeling her cheeks warming as she looked up at the redhead. 

"Girlfriend?" Barbara arched an eyebrow.

At this, Wenlock felt her face almost burn, "I-I mean, like, if you don't-"

"Oh, sorry I didn't mean it like that," Barbara took her hands, "Being your girlfriend would make me very happy." 

Wenlock seemed to regain her confidence a little, laughing as she said, "My girlfriend would read with me if she loved me." 

She watched as Barbara's face changed expression for a moment, as if weighing her options before breaking into a smile, "Ray just took over, so I have time, so let me take you to my favourite reading place!" Barbara turned and Wenlock was dragged up a flight of stairs and under a little archway into what looked like the inside of a jungle. She tilted her head, a confused frown forming on her face.

"Children's reading area," responded Barbara, "I requested it from the Wayne Foundation when they were rebuilding the hospital."

"That's cool," said Wenlock absentmindedly, now making a beeline for the alcove of beanbags she had just spotted, forcing Barbara to jog to catch up. Wenlock watched as Barbara sped past her to throw herself onto the beanbags first. Wenlock considered her options for a second, and then followed, flopping onto Barbara and burying her face in the beanbags to hide her blushing.

"This is so stupid," Oracle cut in, "Hope you have the stomach to continue threatening them after this." 

She heard Barbara give out a tiny yelp, before gathering herself and grabbing her, muscular arms positioning her directly on top of Barbara. Wenlock turned to look upwards and forwards, hiding her face from Barbara. She shifted her body to a more comfortable position, with her legs intertwined with Barbara's she snuggled deeper into the softness of the beanbags. 

"I'm falling for you too hard," Barbara huffed, delicate fingers beginning to trail through Wenlock's ink black hair, a slow controlled movement that sent shivers down her spine, "I don't think I mind though."

"I'll try to be worth it," Wenlock responded quietly as she opened the massive science journal, resting it on her stomach and sitting slightly higher to begin reading. 

Wenlock felt Barbara's fingers begin to work at her hair, untangling the feral mess that the hair was during studying season. Flicking at the hair that had previously been shoulder length hair, now extending to just above the shoulder blade, Barbara smiled and asked, "Is this okay?"

Wenlock gave an affirming hum, her red face buried in the giant journal. 

⧖⧖⧖

Wenlock awoke on a moving bed, a quietly rising and falling warm surface with strong arms to hold her in place. Arms? She paused, not letting her instincts take control and have her flee, instead, she slowly turned her head to see a glimpse of fiery hair. 

"Relax," Oracle calmed her, "She'll wake if you make any more noi-"

"Heeyyyy," Wenlock turned again to see a waking Barbara, rubbing her eyes and yawning.

Wenlock frowned at her playfully, shaking her head and feeling the small braids that Barbara had tied slapping at her neck, "You wasted my whole afternoon, imagine how much work I could have done in," She checks her phone, "five hours!"

Wenlock exhaled sharply as Barbara sat up, pulling her up as well, pulling away somewhat reluctantly to dust herself off.

"You came to see me," Barbara reminded her, with an arched brow, "You could say that I wasted time that you gave me."

"I guess," ceded Wenlock, "But it is ten o clock, I should get going."

"Then let me walk you home," Barbara said, the two of them turning, Wenlock's hands still in Barbara's. As Wenlock walked down the stairs, Barbara paused for a moment to collect her belongings, coming back dressed in a brown trench coat reminiscent of her fathers. 

"I swear I've seen that coat on the news," said Wenlock, eliciting a smile in return from Barbara.

"Please don't say I've gotten my fashion sense from my dad."

"I wouldn't mind a detective as a partner," hummed Wenlock, taking Barbara's hands back and strolling towards the door.

"Laying on it a bit thick now," warned Oracle quietly, and so Wenlock fell into what she hoped was an amicable silence as they walked out of the library. 

"Hopefully a detective that doesn't only wear old dress shirts and brown trousers," Barbara commented. 

Wenlock shivered as they walked outside, a turtleneck sweater not enough to protect her from the light spring winds. Immediately Barbara took off her coat, offering it to her.

"High chance of trackers," Oracle informed her, "Though there may already be a tracker on you, I'd say to try and return the coat later if possible."

Wenlock accepted the coat, snuggling deep into it with Barbara's arm around her, inhaling the aroma of old books and computers present in the coat.

Strolling through Southern Gotham on the way to her residential apartment in Gotham Proper, Wenlock noticed Barbara sneaking a quick glance at a certain rooftop. Positioning herself closer to Barbara she turned her head quickly, giving Oracle a chance to snap an image of whatever was on that rooftop.

"Red Robin, Batwoman," said Oracle, "Doesn't change a lot, we were going to search for trackers after this anyways."

Stopping at her apartment complex, Wenlock breathed in the cool spring air. 

"I'll see you soon then?" asked Barbara with a smile. 

"Whenever I'm not studying," Wenlock yawned back, tossing Barbara her coat back, "Text me more though."

Wenlock took this chance whilst yawning to look up at the rooftops again, catching a glimpse of a red wig. 

"Of course," and with that Wenlock walked into the building lobby, tossing Barbara a goodbye wave.

"Oh we're going to spend a long night scanning for trackers." Oracle grumbled.

Really REALLY obscure reference, sooooo much credit if you get it.