Family in Counting (BatBrats AU)

5: Stephanie Wayne, Stephanie Wayne, Stephanie Wayne

One, two, three. Just one foot in front of the other. Put your boot on the edge of that box then that one. DON'T STEP ON THE CRACK THERE!! Good. Good. Oh look, your door. Your first period class. Math. You like math. Consistency. Rules. Order. None of that since April. Since ... no, no, just sit down. None of that today, none of that.

"Steph?" It's ... Jay? "Uh, you forgot your lunch. Dick asked me to run it in."

He's got that look. That you ok kiddo? look. You hate that look.

"Ok," your struggling that one out, can't you just suck it up? "Thanks."

He's smiling at you. Ok. Now he's leaving. Oh no. Now everyone's looking at you. What do you do what do you do what do you do?!? Calm down, Stephanie. Your a Wayne, you can get through a few people staring. You got through the Bruce Wayne is Dead tabloids, you can get through this. Uh oh. That's James. You like James. Shit. F--

"Seat taken?" Mother of HOT! He's talking to you, Stephanie. Say something intelligent. Don't babble. "Thanks." YOU NODDED?!? THE CUTEST BOY SINCE THE SECOND GRADE, AND YOU NOD? Woman!!

~

Lunch. Ok time to call Dick. You can't do this. Can't make it through. Maybe Alfred can homeschool you? That's ok right. Bruce was homeschooled for a little while. It might be nice. Tim might come with you too, then he'll get to take those algebra classes like he's been wanting to do for forever.

"Dick? Can you come get me? Please?"

Uh-oh. He made the noise. ABORT ABORT ABORT.

"Stephanie Wayne. I am at work. I have to work."

"Dick."

C'mon. Cry!! Sell it!!

Yes!! He's breaking!! You're breaking him!

"Alfred. Can I send Alfred? I really can't leave until three. Maybe three thirty. Even then, I have to come back. I'm gonna send Alfred, but this is your one from me, Steph. Your one. Do you understand?"

Stupid, say yes don't nod. Your on the phone!

"Yes."

Alright. Hang up now. Do the button. No not once, three three three. Good job. Rubber band? That hurt. Ok though. Feel better. Alfred's coming up for you. It's gonna be ok. Just a few more minutes. Don't think about it too much. LOOK, ALFRED!! Oh thank God, home. Home. Bed. Shit. That's Jason. Not Alfred. WHY?! Jason does that thing with his face. His curls look shiny and he glows when he smiles and he's always trying to get you to smile back. Walk the other way. Shit. He saw you didn't he? He saw you and now you have to get in the car and drive home with him. Just get it over with.

"Hey kiddo."

"Jason."

Perfect, Stephanie. You keep doing that. He definitely won't be asking questions now.

"You good?"

"I thought Alfred was picking me up 's all."

"Oh. Well see, I came home and Alfred said he had to get things ready for some dinner Goldie's havin' for work tonight. I volunteered to pick ya up. That's ok, right?"

"Right."

"Good. We're gonna get the Demon Spawn too. Figure if Dickie's only gotta do the one run he'll be a happier camper. What'da'ya think?"

"Smart."

"Oh! You know we could go for ice cream after we get Dami! My treat!! Don't tell Tim though because he'll just get all moody that I didn't take 'im too."

"Ok Jay."

"Are you sure you're okay munchkin?"

"I'm fine Jay."

"Sorry. Just makin' sure. Ya know it's ok if you aren't. It's okay to --"

"To be upset that Daddy's gone and he's not comin' back. Don't you think I've heard that enough from my therapist. And Dick. And my teachers. And everyone else who just thinks I'm one wrong breath away from breaking like a porcelain tea cup?"

"Yeah. I mean your gonna get better, Stephanie. Things aren't gonna be this bad forever."

"Thats what everyone keeps saying."

"It's true."

"Do you feel better, Jason?"

"..."

"Uh-huh. See. You preach about how we're gonna get better, things will go back, like Daddy's not really gone. You're the worst of us, Jason. You've spent the past four months convincing yourself that nothing's changed when literally the world can never be the same again. Stop trying to take us down with you."

Maybe that was a bit harsh. Do you think that was a bit harsh? Maybe. Just a tad? A smidge? That last comment about taking us down with you, like Stephanie Wayne, Stephanie Wayne, Stephanie Wayne!! That was too far, too much for right now. See, we're right back to this morning. Stop yelling at people woman!!

"What do you know? You're just a stupid kid."

Forget it. Don't feel bad. Jason's an asshole. Let him have it.

"EEEEEEEEEEEAAAAHHHHH!!!"

Look it's working. He's covering his ears.

"Son of a --- STEPHANIE WAYNE!!!"

"Not a not a not a stupid kid. Understand understand understand? Lost my lost my lost my daddy too, my my my daddy too, Jason Jason Jason. You don't you don't you don't get to yell at me. Not not not today. I am I am I am supposed to supposed to supposed to be better today."

He's stopping that look. Now he's stoping. Stoping stopping stoping.

"You made the you made the you made the tic come back, asshole asshole asshole."

"Sorry. I'm sorry."

Say it again. That was only twice. Correct him CORRECT HIM CORRECT HIM.

I shake my head and hold my ears. There are so many voices and noises meddling together in my head and I can't zone in on Jason talking.

"Stephanie?"

Stephanie Stephanie Stephanie Wayne Wayne Wayne.

Orphan baby doll. OCD poster child of Gotham City, you better reply in threes.

"Come back come back come back."