Chapter Text
Timeline:
A month after Season 5 episode 22 'Swan Song'
Wren learned 2 things pretty quickly. 1, that Gotham was monster central, vamps, wolves and Ghosts especially seemed to love it.
And 2, the Lazarus Pit was a dead end. She didn't have Sam's body. She couldn't bring him back.
So she busied herself with the monsters. Day after day, none stop hunting. Crime alley became her home, it was a breading ground for all things nasty and made hunting a breeze.
Crime alley, however, wasn't a good place to live. But it was cheep so if she got a job, she'd be fine.
She managed to squeeze a job at the library even as a shock to herself. Bobby coming up with cover certainly helped though.
Babs had told her that dress regulations were pretty lax so she could essentially wear what she wanted to work (within reason of course).
Wren slipped the lanyard over her head, indicating that she did actually work at the library, and walked through the door.
"Mornin' Babs." Wren greeted happily, walking over to the red haired woman.
Barbra Gordon was a good boss. She told Wren exactly what she needed to do and when she needed to do it. Wren appreciated her a lot in the short time Wren had been in Gotham, Babs had made her feel welcome.
Babs herself even felt like Wren's sister now. Unfortunately, Wren managed to get pretty roughed up last night by a werwolf and was desperately hoping Barbra did not notice.
"Hey Wren." Babs greeted back. "Mind putting those books away for me?" She asked, picking up a box of books from her lap.
"Yeah no problem." Wren picked up the box and began to walk over to the first row of bookshelves.
"Oh, some of my family are bringing coffee over. Just warning you in advance. They can be a bit... much."
Wren let out a brief laugh. "Don't worry I know all about crazy families."
"You got a drink order?" Babs gestured to her phone. "And don't give me the 'oh you don't have to' crap okay? I'm asking what you want to drink."
Wren blushed slightly in embarrassment. "Eh, can I have an iced caramel mocha latte please?" Babs gave her a 'really?' look, causing Wren to shrug. "What? I got a sweet tooth."
Wren grinned, beginning to actually unpack the books and place them on the correct shelves. Soon enough the library opened, little kids ran past and in corners, students sat hurtled on a beanbag with their study books open around them.
Babs wheeled over at one point with a cup in hand which Wren took with a grateful look in her eyes.
She pulled out the ladder to get the last few books just as her phone rang.
"Racoon, I've got some fabulous news for you?" The king of hells voice honestly surprised her so much that she almost fell off of the ladder.
"Mr Crowley?!" She squeaked into the phone once she regained her footing.
"Congratulations Racoon you can remember a voice. Can I get on with what I was going to say now?" The King of Hell drawled out.
Wren cleared her throat and tried to pretend that she wasn't as scared as she felt. "Sorry Mr Crowley."
"I've sent some demons down to your area for... personal business. I have made the decision that it would be in my best interest to have my men not interact with you." Crowley paused, allowing time for Wren to process the information.
Wren's jaw dropped. She hopped down from her perch, (having deposited the last book on the shelf) and sat down on the ladder.
"Hi, sorry I know you just got down but would you mind grabbing Homers 'Odyssey' for me?" A man asked. He was tall with a streak of white entangled in his curly dark hair. And in Wren's opinion, he was hot!
Wren shook herself out of the shocked stupor she was just in, clicking her jaw shut suddenly. "Oh, of course, sorry about that." She laughed, scrambling up to get the book for the boy.
"Be sure to tell me if they get in your way. Oh and... be safe." Crowley said smugly, hanging up with a click.
"Mr Crowley's the best!" She hissed to herself, quickly grabbing the book and jumping down, handing it gently to the boy. Wait. What was that last part? Why had Me Crowley said that? "Here you go." Wren smiled, standing up proudly.
"Thanks... did I get the right coffee order?" The boy asked. Oh! That was one Babs' family members. Why was he hot?
"Oh, eh yeah! Thanks it's great." She smiled, play it cool... what would Dean do, okay maybe she shouldn't try to follow what Dean would do.
The boy smiled, holding out his hand. "Jason Todd. 'S nice to meet you."
"Wren Singer." Wren took his hand and shook it. "So," Wren paused, trying to get her words straight. "you doing anything later?" She smiled, leaning against the book shelf.
The Winchester watched as the boys looked around in panic. For someone who looked all confident, he was kind of shy.
"I finish at 7." She smiled, folding her hands behind her back. "Come pick me up if you feel like it, I fancy going to my favourite Thai restaurant."
"I'll see you at seven then?" The man almost squeaked.
Wren smirked. "Damn right you will." She began to walk off. "Later Jason!"
Jason grinned once he turned around, cheering to himself.
As Jason walked over to check his book out, Babs gave him a terrifying glare. "Jason Peter Todd. Are you flirting my little sister?" She spat.
"Ehhh." Shit.
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Wren stood next to Babs, tapping her hand against her leg nervously. "If he hurts you. I'll kill him." Babs stated gravely.
A motorbike rolled up next to the entrance of the library. Jason waved at Babs who simply quirked an eyebrow at him in response.
Wren walked forward taking the helmet and sitting on the back of the bike behind Jason. "Bye Babs! See you tomorrow!" Wren called before sliding the helmet over her head.
"You ready?" Jason asked.
"Yeah." Wren smiled. "Let's go."
Wren forgot how much she used to love the rush of wind whipping past her as she drove. She used to own her own bike. She was guessing they sold it after her death.
The two of them sat down at a table. Wren, although enjoying the date so far, was constantly throwing small hopefully unnoticeable tests at Jason. Making sure he wasn't a werewolf, demon etc...
Jason, although enjoying his date, knew for a fact Wren was not 'Wren Singer' and was 'Wren Winchester' who seemingly died over 10 years ago.
Needless to say, both parties were overly suspicious of each other. Both had their own problems and most importantly, their own secrets.
"So. Want to do this again some time Jason Todd." Wren asked, cocking her head to the side.
"Yes. I think I would Wren Singer." Wren smiled at this, sliding her number across the table before standing up and leaving.
Jason cheered internally. This was not going to be a boring experience.
⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎
Her Machete cut clean through the last vampires neck, her head rolling on the ground like it hadn't just seconds ago been a living creature.
"Now what do you think you're doing?" A modified voice echoed from behind her. Wren froze. Red Hood.
She pulled her mask up, turned around and winked. "Pest control." She grinned, turning around once again and suddenly bolted, feet pounding loudly on the ground.
She was getting sloppy. She needed to be much more careful. She managed to scramble up the fire escape and up to the top of the building before her body finally gave out on her.
She reached to her side, hand coming away covered in blood. "Oh shit." She breathed, attempting to pull herself back up.
She stopped she heard the click of a handgun behind her head.
"Double shit." She croaked.
"I'm gonna ask you again. What were you doing?"
"Or what, you're gonna shoot me? 'Bats don't kill' jackass." She spot back, a weak laugh escaping her mouth, quickly interrupted by a wet cough.
"Good thing I'm not a bat." Wren could even hear Red Hood's cockiness through his mask. Wren gulped in another breath. Fine.
"I was dealing with a nest of vamps." Red hood scoffed. "Don't believe me, check their basement. A bunch of dry meat suits left hanging. Bite marks all over them. And check the heads teeth."
Hood paused. He pulled out handcuffs and slapped them around Wren's wrist and connected the other side to the bar of the fire escape. "Stay." He pointed at her before jumping out of sight.
Needless to say, by the time Red Hood got back, Wren was long gone.
⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎
Wren rubbed at her eyes tiredly. She'd been hunting nonstop for a good few weeks and was completely exhausted. She clutched her coffee for dear life as she made her way to the library.
She was pretty sure she had a Rugaru case but had no experience with them herself so she needed to do some good old fashioned research.
She walked into the library, half dead. "Wren? You aren't working today. Not that you aren't welcome but you do realise you can be at home sleeping right?" Babs asked, slightly concerned having seen the state her colleague was in.
"Unfortunately I've got to do research." She sighed, yawning slightly at the end.
Babs shook her head. "Go sit in the comfy chair then." The red haired woman nodded her head over to a corner of the employee's only area that had a desk and a few chairs, sitting unused.
Wren gave her employer a grateful look before dumping her bag over by the chairs, then leaving in hunt for lore.
She eventually collected a good 6 books, heaving them all over and dumping them on. The table.
After sifting through 4 of the obscenely large books, Wren was still left none the wiser.
Reluctantly, Wren picked up her phone and called her friend for help.
After two rings, the man picked up. "Wren Winchester. What a surprise." His cocky voice echoed through the speaker.
"Heyyy John, so erm. I need a bit of help here." Barbras head whipped around, her eyes narrowing slightly in suspicion, this went completely unnoticed by Wren.
"A Winchester admitting she needs help, how rare." He responded smugly. Wren's grip tightened around the phone in annoyance.
"A Constantine who shows humility- oh wait," she chuckled. "that will never happen." She grinned slyly. "Look," she began again, toning down the sarcasm as much as she could manage. "I've moved to Gotham and... family business speaking, the place is fucked."
Okay. Now Barbra really was suspicious. What was Wren Singer doing chatting to John Constantine of all people. And what family business?
"The fuck? Why are you in Gotham of all places you little twerp?" The man asked in confusion. Wren stayed silent causing the man to sigh. "Okay, we'll talk about that later. What can I help with?" He asked a little more softly.
"Eh, 'bout 80 percent sure I've got a Rugaru case." Wren winced as she said this. "And I've never dealt with them myself."
"What are the signs?" He asked. Wren always found it interesting how hunters tended to shift into hunting mode, every hunter had one. John's just made him sound a bit less playboy-ish and a bit more serious.
"A woman was found, most of her tissue chewed off, fridge completely raided, the works. Key thing being, the woman was married, husband hasn't been seen since."
"Everything in the fridge gone?" John asked. Wren hummed in affirmation.
"Even raw meat and some rotten shit." She grumbled, dragging her hand down her face in exasperation.
"Alright then Winchester, how's about we make a deal, I help you, you help me. Got it?"
Wren hummed. She'd known Constantine long enough to know what he wouldn't fuck her over.
"Deal"
"Right. It's gonna be grim so I wouldn't eat right before. Only thing that works on the suckers is fire, you got access to a flame thrower?"
"John I live in crime alley. Money really is an obstacle."
"Fucking hell. Okay Rugaru killing guns are out of the question then... Buy hand sanitiser, dump it over em (you figure out how) and then deodorant plus lighter and boom. You got yourself a flaming Rugaru."
"John. You are a lifesaver, thank you so, so, so much." John hung up. "Bye Babs, love ya!" Wren yelled as she rushed out of the library.
Barbra Gordon frowned slightly, hoping she'd not made the wrong choice in letting Wren into her heart.
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Wren tracked the Rugaru all the way over to a beaten up apartment in one of the poorest areas of Gotham.
Wren heard a scream from inside. She kicked the door in, she'd managed to do one better than hand sanitiser, managing to buy a whole 500ml bottle of rubbing alcohol.
It wasn't difficult to discern the Rugaru from the humans. He stood looming over the mangle form of a man, a woman lay dead next to him and a child stood pressed against the wall, staring at the scene in pure horror. She tackled the monster to the ground, yelling for the surviver of the family to run.
The monster threw her off, Wren tumbled into the wall, hearing a large thunk as her head slammed into the wall.
She grunted, pulling herself up and uncapping the bottle of rubbing alcohol. "Hey ugly!" She screamed , causing the monster to whip around.
She threw the contents at the bottle at the Rugaru's face, buying her more time as it clawed at its burning eyes.
Then, in one swift movement, she aimed the deodorant and clicked the lighter. The fire made contact.
The creature flailed around on the ground, guttural screams ripping from its throat. Then, it stopped.
Wren knew it was gone when the sounds stopped, she chucked anything that had her fingerprints on in the fire before running outside. Her head pounded from the movement but she'd deal with that later.
The child sobbed, curled up in the corner of the alley. "Hi, my names Wren, are you okay?"
The little girl shook her head and shoved her arm towards wren. A deep cut trailed down her forearm.
"Oh I'm sorry honey. How about this, I'll take you to my place, I'll get you patched up and make sure you'rere safe."
Wren picked the girl up gently, she couldn't be older than 5 or 6, she whispered comforting things in her ear as she carried her all the way to her apartment.
She set the child on the bed as she went to collect her med kit. When she returned she began talking to the girl to distract her from what she was doing. Because that cut was going to need stitches.
"What's your name?" Wren asked softly as she dabbed the blood from the wound.
"A-Abbey." She sniffled out.
"Abbey? That's a lovely name. Don't worry I'm gonna take care of you Abbey.
•
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She sorts out collateral damage pretty quickly, sure her head is pounding but, other than that, everything's fine.
The girl was safe, CPS is keeping her comfortable and her date was tonight.
Fuck. She has a date tonight, and she's definitely concussed, if her almost falling over 5 times just walking into her apartment is anything to go by.
So she stumbled to the sink to clean up, trying to ignore the throbbing in her skull. The most annoying part was that she had to fix all her makeup in 30 minutes.
But it was worth it in the end. He was a cute boy. And most importantly, wasn't a monster! What more could she ask for?
Jason knocked at her front door at 6:35, Wren stood up quickly, stumbling slightly slightly from the dizziness.
She leaned slightly against the door as she opened it in a weird attempt to not fall flat of her face.
"Heyy Jason!" She smiled.
"Are you high?" Okay. That was his greeting. He narrowed his eyes, looking over the brown haired girl in front of him.
"What? No!" Wren frowned, crossing her arms.
Jason's look of annoyance quickly shifted into one of amusement, a small laugh making it out of his lips.
"Oh my god. You are so concussed aren't you!" He laughed, looking at Wrens slightly unfocused eyes. "Okay, we're staying in tonight, I'll make food and you rest, sound good?"
Before Wren could answer, Jason Picked Wren up and deposited her on a sofa. "I like you Jason." Wren grinned dopily.
Jason shook his head, a small smile on his face.