#bigsisteroracle

Barbara had never been an extraordinary student. Intelligent and memorable, yes--her time had been entirely divided between sleeping through his classes and arguing with him for the sole purpose of stirring things up, all while getting near-perfect grades. And it was those things that ensured she was never extraordinary, at least in Jonathan’s mind. She had displayed very little engagement in the subject matter, very little interest.

Consequently, he had forgotten about her by the time the first email came. Smalltalk at first, catching up and talking about current events and future plans, the customary choice of topics for people who once knew each other and now have nothing in common. Barbara told him she had returned to college online; Jonathan told her he had hopes to take over his department when the current head retired in the next few years.

It was unexpected when she asked him to meet in person. Catching up, she had said, again. Jonathan would have refused, his schedule busier than ever as the Scarecrow grew in notoriety, but...

But there was something else. It was very unlike of the girl he had known to contact him at all, let alone make time to meet with him, for more smalltalk of all things. She had an angle. She was a smart girl. She must have wanted something.

And curiosity had always been Jonathan’s greatest downfall.

The coffee shop is close to the college, and Professor Crane occupies his customary seat by the window, an amalgamation of papers spread across the table. Lab work and research in favor of lesson plans and essays this time, but his foot is tapping lightly against the briefcase under the table, so that could change any minute. There is always too much work and never enough time, but Jonathan is staring out the window, a flash of silver wheels and red hair reflected in his pale eyes.

Barbara is older now, as she crosses the threshold of the cafe, but so is Jonathan, hair grayer and lines around his eyes more pronounced every time he looks in a mirror.

To: Oracle

Subject: Case Developments

Last night I managed to pick up some security footage leading me to one of Falcone’s men--and, I admit, the information you provided me with proved useful. Th police currently have him in custody, and we’re hoping he’ll spit out some names.

On a more personal note, it should be no surprise to you that I’ve been doing some digging to figure out exactly who you are--after that little comment you made.

Thought you ought to know.

3 Sentence Fic

[email]

I think I’d quit my job after a display like that, too.

[email]

Clever girl. That took much less time than I was expecting.

And here I was hoping you'd be showing up at my office to greet me in person. Shame.

To be fair, he had it coming, no one in my damn department had an ounce of respect. Obviously I was going to quit anyway, why not go out with a bang?

...Did you really search through the GCPD's security footage just to find that?

-E

theblondebat::

"Hey, Babs!" Steph chirped, dressed down to her under suit and carrying two mugs of tea. "Any hit on the blood sample yet? My money's on a Falcone goon."

"Not yet," Babs tapped her finger once, twice, three times against the side of her keyboard, in some ridiculous attempt at speeding the process, "but it’s close. Already gone through more than half of the database — whoever this guy is, he must know how to keep his head down." She sighed quietly, and wheeled her chair enough to the side that she could get more of a view of Steph and less of the screen she’d been intent on prior. "It’s probably a safe bet, though. Falcone likes to keep his men wormed into every crevice he can find."