[Abigail's reaction feeds Ben's, in turn: she relaxes and so he settles to the harness, so to speak, certain that he's on the right path. She is comforted, so now he must simply proceed, which is in turn comforting to him.

Ben likes knowing where true north is, when he can. When he can't, he is no longer completely incapable of making up his own coordinates, but it's far preferable to know that he is going in the correct direction.]

The two best options are not far removed from Barbara: Stephanie Brown is well trained and willing. Cassandra Cain is one of the most capable combatants on board.

[Her father is here, too, but Ben isn't even considering him, for several reasons. If Abigail is going to collect father figures - and she will, just as he once collected authority figures - it won't be Ben that introduces the two of them.

Saying their names aloud settles it for him, however.]

I will ask Cassandra first. Stephanie has not publicly offered to train others.