Batgirl - Apokolips Nightmares by BatMoth30K

Batgirl - Apokolips Nightmares
By BatMoth30K

She wasn’t supposed to be a soldier. All Barbara Gordon ever wanted was to serve her community. Her father would never let her be a cop, but she put on the cowl, the bat emblem, and became a hero nonetheless. And it was fun. She had never felt so alive as she had when she took down Killer Moth for the first time, hiding his helmet in her closet, a trophy of her very first supervillain victory. And while things had gotten harder from then on, she grew stronger. She gained friends, family, and secured herself a place among the world’s heroes.
Then the world ended. The skies burned red. Demons rained fire from the sky. She lost her city. She lost her family. But there she was, to stand and be counted, making one last ditch effort to save their world. And she was failing. What she wouldn’t have given to be throwing a knock-out punch against a colorful costumed villain again. These monsters weren’t human, and it wouldn’t have mattered. She had nothing left to lose, and practically as much left to protect. So she fought, and killed, and held her ground, until she was grabbed, and only had time to let out one final scream before teeth and claws descended upon her.

Barbara woke up in a sweat, breathless, her throat hoarse. Arms shifted around her, and she bolted from the bed in a panic, finding herself naked in an unfamiliar room. Her eyes adjusted to the dark, the room illuminated by the glow of an alarm clock, and the LEDs of the various electronics left charging or idle around the bedroom. She covered her face in her hands, taking in a ragged breath. Where was she? Why, how was she alive?
Then it came back to her. They had a fight tonight. Not some petty relationship bullshit, but an actual fight. He was hired to provide coverage for a museum heist. The spears, the claws, could her subconscious mind have drawn upon images from their battle? Think Babs, your arm- She touched it and winced, seeing a bruise. A stuffed bear. A Grizzly. He knocked it over to trap her, and she was caught between its teeth. Aliens hadn’t bitten it off in the middle of a feeding frenzy. But she still felt it, the phantom pain. Recognizing the sensations from her legs.
Oh god, it was all so real! And yet, here she was. With him. The smell of sex still in the air, in the bed. On her body. Dru. Drury Walker. She could feel the name, the memories slipping away, but.. She still remembered? No. It was different. Everything was different. Striding to the window, she threw open the curtains and saw stars in the sky, moonlight playing among the scant clouds. Dew drops glistening on the lawn. No demons in the sky, nor the blood red glow of Apokolips overhead.

“Hey babe, the neighbors might appreciate the show, but you-OUF!”

She regretted it as soon as her elbow connected with his diaphragm.

“Dru! You scared the hell out of me! Are you okay?”

He had to gasp in a breath, wheezing, but he nodded.

“I had a dream I woke up, and we picked up where we left off. I had you screaming for more, but then the screams stopped being arousing and became more scary. What gives, Babs? It’s a school night, and if Kitten doesn’t get her beauty sleep, it’ll take more than chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast to get her in a good mood.”

Before answering, she wrapped her arms around her body and sat on the edge of the bed, closing her eyes to try and remember.

“Do you remember that alien invasion in Metropolis?”

“Parademons, right? Nasty creatures. But they left behind some nice toys,” Dru answered, taking a seat next to her. “Did you have to fight those things? I thought they were more of a Supergirl problem.”

“Usually, yes, but… they killed me.”

“You were quite lively just a few hours ago-”

“Dru, stop it!” Babs whispered harshly, more for the sake of Kitten’s beauty rest than her temper. “I-I remember- Or did I dream? God, I know I sound crazy, but it all felt so real. The Justice League made a first strike against Darkseid, and… they lost. Then the world ended, quite literally, and we tried to fight back, but- But I was killed. Dru, I can still feel the claws inside me, and I’m just scared.”

“Woah, hey, I know it felt real to you, but it was just a dream, Babs. Come here.” He replied, wrapping an arm around her. “You’re alive. I can touch you, hear you, even see you, and you know I’m real, right? So what else can it be?”

“I-I don’t know. A premonition? Quantum Immortality? But there’s this other life inside my head, and I can feel it slipping away. Gotham burning, Parademons- no, something worse. They were tearing everyone apart, and I couldn’t help anybody.”

“Sounds like something worth forgetting. But the window is still open, and all I see is the glow of the sun getting ready to ruin the rest of our sleep.”

“Maybe I am just going crazy.” Barbara sighed.

“Wouldn’t surprise me, I am the least craziest thing you face in your life, and I wear a giant Moth suit to work. Tell me something, in this other life of yours, were we together?”

“What? I-I don’t remember. Let me think. No. I don’t think we were. In this other life, you were just some jackass I knew that popped up every now and then to ruin my day.” She answered, lightly punching his thigh. “I mean, you still are, but you at least have the decency to make it up to me, and in the best way.”

“The feeling is mutual. Bitch.” Dru smiled at her. “But if that much is different from your other life, then the best place for you to be is back in that bed, lying in my arms, safe and content away from alien demon monsters.”

“I appreciate the sentiment, Dru, but seriously. If those parademon aliens ever head your way, just run. You can’t even handle Batgirl, I don’t want you being eaten.”

“I’ve seen the Youtube footage, and playing hero is your job, not mine.” He kissed her on the forehead. “So take your own advice, because Gotham needs Batgirl almost as much I do.”

“That’s sweet.” Barbara yawned.

“With you around, I can tack on a 5% hazard fee- Ouf! Kidding! Just kidding!” Dru joked, taking an elbow to the ribs. “But seriously, we have an hour and a half before my alarm goes off, and I don’t want you on that motorcycle without a few extra Zs.”

“Okay, okay,” Babs relented, slipping back under the sheets. “Hold me until I fall asleep?”

“You bet.”

It didn’t take long for her breathing to relax. Drury Walker felt her heartbeat steady against his chest, and he just breathed her in. Kitten knew what to do in an alien invasion: head straight for the moth cave, into the bunker, with her plasma rifle, and wait for him to give the all clear. Or until her rations ran out. But this one… She would be out there, fighting until her last breath. And despite their years of antipathy, even taking into account recent developments in their… relationship. That was a thought he couldn’t stand.

“Dream of a world where we can be together. I’ll do the same.” He murmured into her hair.

Her hand came up, pinky outstretched. “Promise?”

“Promise.”

Taking her pinky in his, he drew her arm down and kissed into her hair, closing his eyes as she nodded off to sleep.