143: Forgotten

[shobogan]

Title: Mnemonist
Challenge/Prompt: Forgotten
Original Fiction or Fanfiction: Fanfiction [DC Comics]
Character: Barbara Gordon
Rating: General
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: DC owns Barbara, not me.
Summary: A photographic memory is a double-edged sword.

Nothing is ever forgotten. Images sink into her mind like ink into skin, portraits of her
past that never fade.

It gives her an edge no weapon will, and it can't be taken away from her. Brutal crimes, vital clues, secret files; they're stored forever behind her eyes.

She remembers the way Jason fought, unbridled passion driving every strike. She remembers the way Sarah walked, each and every stride as brisk and confident as the last. She remembers the way Stephanie flew through smog and stars with Cassandra.

She will never forget her mother's smile.

She'll never forget his, either.

Title: The Quiet Night
Challenge/Prompt: Forgotten
Original Fiction or Fanfiction: Fanfiction [DC Comics]
Character/Pairings: Barbara Gordon/Pre-Crisis Kara
Rating: General
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: DC owns Barbara (and Kara), not me.
Summary: She thinks she remembers everything, but she doesn't.

Sometimes, when Barbara sits high above the city's spires, she almost remembers. It's an ache in her chest that she can’t quite place, a wistful thought that she can’t quite grasp.

As she stares at the sinking sun, the breeze against her lips almost feels like a playful kiss, the warmth on her skin a tender caress.

It's only for a few moments, stolen from a time that never was. The breeze dies, and the warmth fades, and she is alone in the dark.

She searches the sky for a familiar smile, but all she can see are dead stars.

Comments

[sideways]

I'm barely familiar enough with the series to guess at the context, but I must say I like the styling and the turns of phrase you've used. The second one in particular was quite emotive, with the subtle sorrow of its final lines.

[shobogan]

Thank you very much! I'm glad they're enjoyable even without intimate knowledge of the canon.

Which is, er, complicated. Because comics.

[sideways]

Yeeah, with the first I seem to remember something terrible involving the Joker...and for the second I am assuming either deviant universes or time travel. Because there is always deviant universes or time travel. Always.

[shobogan]

Yeah, that thing. :p

And the second - kind of! Kara was basically erased from their universe after dying to save it.

[sideways]

...geez, that's even worse. Writers are terrible people xD

[shobogan]

They really are. Kara has this epic "save Superman and the multiverse" sacrifice, Barbara gives her a touching eulogy, and then - lol guys supergirl never existed.

[ap0cryphal]

I like these.

Quiet Night is right at the intersection of melancholy and heartbreaking. Knowing the context for Mnemonist (which is an aces, awesome title) makes that last line just skin-crawlingly sharp. Poor Babs. :[

Also, up until you explained the context for the second one in comments, I was almost sure this was nu-52 Barbara. Oops.

[shobogan]

Thank you! I really love using more obscure words for titles. And I knew I had to use that last line.

Heh, I - can see that. But that is not a Barbara I will be writing.