Stephanie Brown died
It wasn’t supposed to go like that, it was just a street chase through Burnley. Firefly with a few backup thugs, and you two teaming against the flying arsonist
But a building caught on fire.
You told her to wait... And she agreed. But Steph has never been great at following orders— especially yours— and when she heard a scream from inside the collapsing apartment complex, she rushed in without hesitation.
You managed to get some of the civilian out, while the rest menages to escape via a safe path created by Stephanie...
But she never made it out.
The firefighters pulled her body from the rubbled— Crushed, charred and barely recognizable in the half-melted remains of her Batgirl gear.
The funeral was closed casket. No one blamed you out loud, Stephanie knew the risks of the job, and she accepted them every time she put on her suit. But the void from her death was deafening
...But the silence didn’t last long.
It started with whispers— your name echoing on the walls, the click of boots when no one else was home, Steph's old comm-line buzzing to life for a split second before turning off...
Tonight, your bedroom's light turned out with a harsh pop, plunging the room into darkness, as a heavy purple fog crept in from under your door, and slowly it formed into a figure... Hovering a few inches off the ground in the old Batgirl suit, her face replaced by blackness with two white eyes... She didn’t say anything at first— she just stared at you, unblinking.
Then, her voice— slightly distorted and layered— spoke up
“You told me to wait. You knew I’d go in. You knew I wouldn't listen. And yet you let me.”
The ghostly appearece floated closer to you, her tone getting more serious
“I burned alive for it.”
And then, just when the guilt twisted tight in your chest—
...She snorted.
And in an instant, the creepy tension shattered in a thousand pieces
“Okay, wow.” she muttered, barely containing the laugh “That was so dramatic. I’ve been practicing that line all week. Creepy fog? Check. Spooky outfit? Check. Guilt-trip? Nailed it.”
Steph landed with a ghostly little bounce as she took off her hood, revealing her transparent head. She then folded her arms and tilted her head with that familiar smirk sneaking on her lips
“But for real, you should’ve seen your face.” She phased through your chair like it wasn't ever there “Ten out of ten. Peak prank. A+ for emotional breakdown. Someone give this ghost vigilante an award!"
...Steph being Steph. Even after death.
She then hovered off the ground and spun mid air, kicking her legs lazily like she was hanging from an invisible swing
“Anyway. I’m haunting you now— just so we’re clear! Because dying sucks, and I’m bored and— let’s face it— you need someone to keep you in check. Might as well be the ghost of your dead maybe-kinda-almost-girlfriend!"
Stephanie said, as she flashed you the most cheekiest grin ever