Instinct.

Cass ignores both his question and request at first, and instead takes a slow pleasurable bite into the cookie in her hand. She makes sure to lower her eyelids just enough to taunt him, but not all the way so she couldn’t see his fidgety reaction and half-hearted glare.

And then he makes the puppy face.

…Damn it.

Cass takes another cookie from the plate and sinks herself gently onto the bed. Jason grins, and then opens his mouth for the cookie. Cass contemplates toying with him some more, but then the reality of all his blood-soaked bandages releases any playful mood she was in. She sets the cookie in his mouth, and waits for him to take a big bite before lowering the rest out of the way.

“New kid’s name is Terry McGinnis,” she finally responds to his first question while watching him chew. “Says he’s from the future.” She then pauses, before continuing, “And haven’t seen Bruce.. not since Hush…” Her voice trails away.

….Hush. Add one thing on the list of yes I still remember. It was an impulsive choice he made upon returning to Gotham. Jason stayed away for too long after coming back to land of the living. He wanted to face Bruce, Batman, who ever that really exist between those paper bag masks face to face.

Hush, used that. No, unlike the other gothamites, he knew exactly what he was getting into. Jason got a freebie to toy with Batman and practically a double jail free card. Those didn’t come by everyday. He also got the bonus tabs on Hush. . He kept his friends close and his enemies closer.

Jason hadn’t given the man anymore tools than what profited Hush already owned. But Jason helped him anyway. He played a role and even now he doesn’t know if he should feel guilty or blame Bruce for having it coming.

And now bandage face is back. How long has it been? and happened in between?

Cass! She doesn’t know. He. Ugh. Now what could he do? Tell her?

Would she still trust him? Stilllove him?

Does she love him? When did this happen?

Goddammit.How much of the shit he’s done does she actually know? She could leave him anytime. He’s no good. The way Cass spoke of Hush, he can’t let her know how selfish and disgusting he was. How fucking messed up he still is. He’s…. he’s no good

just no, anyone, Batman, Oracle, anyone could tell her Jason Todd was a homicidal lunatic but there’s a chance she won’t believe them. Why wouldn’t she? Babybat’s still here.

That cookie is going to fall out of his mouth but Jason just chews like he hasn’t eaten for days. Has he? Well fuck that because honestly who gives a crap load? Because that god fucking shit excuse for a drug is wearing off and he is not going to break down and cry on his girl.

but she’s not just any girl

She’s…

“Cass baby, I..”

I hope you don’t hate me.

“I know Babs puts you on the stove because of me, but”

I trust you.

“She’s got good reason.”

and I love you.

” I’ve worked with Hush before.”

It sounded more like a whisper than a confession.

“do you…I mean, I could help. I know how he works his side. I don’t know what’s going on now but. ” His solemn face returns to a default smirk “Heh I wouldn’t want to free load these cookies now would I?”

He’s going to need more morphine.

Even though the tightening in her chest is almost becoming unbearable, Cass forces her breathing to remain even. Her eyes remain on him, searching for any signs of a lie, any hints at hidden meanings, any indication she didn't just hear what she thinks she just heard..

But Jason's expression is as anticipatory as hers, and she realizes: he tells the truth. An.. an ugly truth, but the truth.

She doesn't reply right away; not for a full minute. And in that full minute, she doesn't think once about Jason's confession or offering.

Instead, she revisits her memories of him--their first meeting on the streets of Gotham, the tussle with Penguin soon after, his bullet accidentally finding her side, his profuse apology afterwards... her birthday when he turned up with roses and a bleeding arm she later stitched up... his stubbornness in getting just one date from her... Valentine's day playing paintball and then the carnival... all their fights and broken hearts and promises and tears and blood and sacrifices... and their tender moments of gliding skin under the sheets... tickle-fights... waking up in each other's arms... quiet yet genuine murmurs of "I love you" followed by hidden smiles..

She remembers how he had finally put a halt to running away from his past because of her.. she remembers him coming back.

And in all she remembers how much he's.. changed. Maybe not all because of her... but he has changed.

Cass used to think falling for Jason was akin to jumping off a skyscraper in the middle of the night, not knowing if the grapple gun in her hand was real or imaginary. Half the time she didn't know why she did. Was it for the thrill? Lust? Was it for the challenge? His unpredictability?

But now, she knows her metaphor was far from the truth. She did make a leap, and there was no need for a grapple gun, because now she has wings.

She had made the leap because she had trusted him, and still do. He isn't perfect; but neither is she.

And second chances... wasn't her whole life based on second chances? Wasn't she here because someone had believed in giving her a second chance?

Her eyes refocus on Jason. She takes the cookie in her hand--the one he had taken a bite out of already--and raises it back to his mouth.

"No...we definitely wouldn't want you to be a free-loader..." she finally replies, her voice even, just like her heartbeat.

Cookies and Kin

gentlegingergiant-blog

So Gotham was still quiet like before. Colin liked to check in with other people, mostly because he cared about the city but promised Batman he wouldn’t be Abuse anymore.

Colin bounced off his stool and fluffed Cerberus in response to Cassandra’s question. “Yes!” He cried, excited, before his voice began to dwindle. “Actually…”

Colin rubbed his forehead, giving his Aunt a rueful smile. “I can’t this time. I have to be back home in…” He glanced at his watch. “Two minutes ago.”

He scooted over a bit, opening his arms out for a hug. He learned that hugging Bats suddenly wasn’t a great idea, after he had tried to surprise Damian by hiding in the shadows. Colin ended up with a few bruises and scratches and a hissing Damian on his heels.

“It was nice meeting you, Auntie Cass,” He said warmly. “You should visit sometime!”

#[[dawwww that was so fun #i had fun rping with you!]]

Oh. Oops. Cass really hoped Barbara and Dick weren't worried sick. She would feel awful.

She took in the image of Colin--with his little arms outstretched and a hopeful expression on his face--and suddenly she didn't know who was giving the hug and who was receiving it. As she knelt on the ground and held his warm body close, she began to feel that strange fuzzy emotion she sometimes experienced when hugging Dick or Stephanie or any member of her family... that odd inner warmth she experienced when falling asleep in Jason's arms... that... rare sense of belonging that would wash over when she would watch from afar all the daily shenanigans of her brothers and Alfred in the kitchen...

She always found it strange how four simple letters could mean so much.

When she finally let go of Colin, he gave her a final smile and wave, and dashed off.

And for a long time after that, Cass continued to smile.

….JASON.

He was a good dog. But…

He’s better off now. Once you go, you’re not suppose to come back….

I’m going to do the same to you in your sleep.

…you’re going to kill me in my sleep? With Bread!? Choice of weapons sweet hart. You’re kisses are deadlier.

*rolls eyes*

Jason is in a body cast. At least that’s for he feels like right now. He managed to sit up and that toke longer than a few hundred years.

Fucking kill joy left. The cookies are literally on the table next to Jason, and he just walks away. Moody bastard. Damn cookies are taunting him.

Both his arms are as useful as marshmallows right now. Well no at least he could eat marshmallows. Shitty arms, shitty injuries, fucking cave.

Cass leans her elbow against the table and picks up a fresh cookie. Mmm. White chocolate macadamia? Peanut butter chocolate chip? Smells delicious.

She peers over her cookie and grins at Jason.

“You should try one of these…before they get cold,” she teases.

“Well what toke you so long. Who’s the new kid? Moodier than Big B. Speaking of the Devil, does he know I’m here? Well right he’ll know because he’s batman.”

It seems she was amused by his rambling. Well he’s glad she’s amused because he’s finally doing something right today.

“Hey don’t tell me you’re going to play the devil too. Feed me one. I’ll do anything” He winks at her and manages to steal a small laugh.

milliondollardebut-deactivated2

Cass ignores both his question and request at first, and instead takes a slow pleasurable bite into the cookie in her hand. She makes sure to lower her eyelids just enough to taunt him, but not all the way so she couldn't see his fidgety reaction and half-hearted glare.

And then he makes the puppy face.

...Damn it.

"New kid's name is Terry McGinnis," she finally responds to his first question while watching him chew. "Says he's from the future." She then pauses, before continuing, "And haven't seen Bruce.. not since Hush..." Her voice trails away.

milliondollardebut-deactivated2

He can’t see $#!t.

Its a blur a blur

He’s barely conscious. Didn’t kill him?

This is weird, they don’t need him for anything, unless they do. Do for what? That made no sense. He was chasing something before. Dammit Jason think. ———- bird brain.

They stopped.

they? This’ no good. ——…he’s such a loser

There’s no point fighting back now, he broke something definitely because that arm hurts like hell.

This is probably it, he doesn’t mind dying in Gotham. He knows Bruce won’t even try to come this time. And he won’t be buried this time, he’ll be rotting in the streets until the police comes. Just another dead body in Gotham.

—— how often does he think of about dying? He had to do something in Gotham. What was it? Revenge…no, not for himself….chasing down…?

His eyes weighed heavy. Just as they yearn to close he finally sees something he’s been waiting for. Waiting for? Hoping for?

A black shadow sways down upon his captor. Just like that more blurs and he’s down on the floor. There’s shouts and cries of pain. The voice travels farther and farther until there was no sound where Jason laid. They’re fighting elsewhere and Jason ———— Todd laid there.

He’s quite the overachiever

Barbara wished she knew what the heck a Talon was doing in Cap Carmine. One of Gotham’s public figures no doubt. Per Cass’ request, Barbara hacked into the security systems in order to get a peak. Present time and the history of that night in the area, praying that Jason maybe saved the life of an innocent.

“I see him.” Barbara told Cass, narrowing her eyes as she saw the condition Jason was in. Even if Barbara believed that Jason would be better off behind bars, she still found her heart sinking to her stomach. Jason was one of her Robins. Jason and Barbara held a bond that Barbara wished they could go back to, though she knew that it was impossible. “He’s not looking too pretty. You better hurry.”

Please be alright. Please. Please.

Cass remembered once watching a nature documentary on television. A baby eagle had fallen from its nest, and as it began hopping on a broken leg towards any shelter--any refuge, any hope for survival--a flock of crows dashed in, picking, clawing, hungry, starving, vicious. And then, all of a sudden, the mother eagle swooped in, riding on feathers of rage and power only those in danger of losing something dear to them have tasted. Eyes blazing, talons outstretched, screaming and shrieking, determined to fight and win. The crows hissed back, but the eagle's fury carried her far, and she unfurled her mighty wings and slashed until the crows limped away with defeated auras.

Cass could hear them before she could see them--the screams and hurried footsteps of a frenzied and terrified crowd. They rushed past her, and she let them go. She slammed her bike to the ground as soon as the engine clicked off and ran into the crowd, dodging and pushing, until she arrived at a deserted clearing. And that's when she saw him--lying motionless in a shimmering pool of darkness.

And them. Three Talons. One of them being the brown one she had fought earlier in Old Gotham. They turned their attention away from Jason as soon as she arrived, focusing each glowing owl-face at their new intruder.

Cass wasted no time and swooped in. She threw three batarangs ahead of her, and used the nearest Talon's face as a kicking board for her swing at the next one. With each blow and dodge, she desperately wanted to look at Jason. But she knew even a nanosecond's distraction could cause her to join him. Which wouldn't be doing anyone any good.

She tried not to think about the ending of the nature documentary.

Only after the mother eagle had chased away the crows did she look down at her baby bird. But the damage was already done, and a motionless carcass stared blankly back.

Jason is in a body cast. At least that’s for he feels like right now. He managed to sit up and that toke longer than a few hundred years.

Fucking kill joy left. The cookies are literally on the table next to Jason, and he just walks away. Moody bastard. Damn cookies are taunting him.

Both his arms are as useful as marshmallows right now. Well no at least he could eat marshmallows. Shitty arms, shitty injuries, fucking cave.

Cass leans her elbow against the table and picks up a fresh cookie. Mmm. White chocolate macadamia? Peanut butter chocolate chip? Smells delicious.

She peers over her cookie and grins at Jason.

"You should try one of these...before they get cold," she teases.

….JASON.

He was a good dog. But…

He’s better off now. Once you go, you’re not suppose to come back….

#jasontoddwayne #bat tumblr

I'm going to do the same to you in your sleep.

....JASON.

Cookies and Kin

When it came to polar opposites, no two exemplified such a term better than Colin and Damian. Colin was like a.. teddy bear. A really sweet and cute teddy bear, while Damian could be compared to… well, not a teddy bear (on the outside at least. Cass had sworn not to tell a soul about the time Damian fell asleep in her lap that one night in front of the fireplace, and she had to carry him to his bed. They had been drinking hot cocoa and reading The Nutcracker).

“How about.. we can have as many favorite superheroes as we want,” Cass added with a slight tilt of her head.

“So…” she continued, “how do you like being part of.. your new family?”

gentlegingergiant-blog

Colin considered Cassandra’s suggestion. That way Mr. Kyle, Black Canary, Terry, and everyone else could all be his favorite superheros. “Auntie,” He cried, eyes shining. “You’re absolutely brilliant!”

He reached for her hand and shook it enthusiastically. This was a moment to be remembered. Besides, he liked making things seem dramatic, just look at his band-aids. Colin grinned at her amused expression.

“It’s awesome!” He said, flushing a little. “I mean, it’s a little weird since Damian’s my uncle…” He twiddled his thumbs, tapping his heels together. “Mom and Dad are great, and it’s super cool to have a family like you guys, so yup.”

It was strange, talking about it to Cassandra. Of course it was fantastic, but Colin had so many mushy-gushy feelings about it, plus he had that talk with Batman so…

Colin steered away from the topic. “So how’s Gotham been lately?”

Oh that's right. Damian would be Colin's uncle then. Cass had completely forgotten about that little notion, and it was... a charming thought. She continued to smile.

Cass was glad when Colin changed the topic. Matters of the soft and squishy were still not her forte. Maybe mezzo-forte, but not forte.

"Gotham is..." she paused and performed a tiny wave with her hand, "Gotham is Gotham. But the small crimes have slowed..." But with a less favorable replacement, she wanted to add, but decided Colin didn't need to hear that from her. Besides, it wasn't the proper conversation to be having with milk and cookies..

"Do you want to go outside?" she asked. "Cerberus could use some exercise I think."

Why would I frown upon it? I’m not Bruce.Just.. maybe you should wait.. a few more years?

Damian. Stellar date. *starts giggling uncontrollably*

-shrug- He is your little brother, though.

And ugh Cass clearly I’m going to wait! Ew gross jailbait no. Hey, hey stop laughing! Stop it! -whacks with pillow- I’ll have you know he’s capable of being a real decent guy on date. Has no clue what he’s doing, but decent all the same ohmygodstephanieshutup. Can we subject change now? I’d like to subject change now. If only for you to -whacks with pilow- stop -whacks again- laughing!

#confound your wild pillow

*blocks pillow and keeps laughing*

I've... never laughed.. so hard.. in my life... I'm going to cry..

Cookies and Kin

Cass raised an eyebrow as she watched the little boy stuff the entire wholecookie in his mouth in one swoop. Takes after his Dad, apparently.

His questions amused her, probably because they were questions she never gets asked, and therefore has never thought about.

“Hmm,” she pondered out loud as she broke off a piece of fluffy croissant. “Does Alfred count?” Because he was kind of the superhero of baking cookies and croissants.

“And you? Other than Nightwing and Oracle, because that’s cheating,” she added with a small grin in his direction.

Surprisingly, it was getting easier and easier to talk to Colin. Something about his sweet and ingenuous nature. And cute. He was definitely really cute. Adorable.

gentlegingergiant-blog

“I guess he does.” Colin said. He’d never really thought of that. But these cookies really were something, so yup, Mister Alfred was now a superhero.

“My favorite besides Mom or Dad? Hmmm,” Colin tapped his chin. “Damian. Wait maybe Granddad. Both?” Damian was his best friend. Batman was his grandfather. And he had totally forgotten about Stephanie. Colin, unsure of who to pick and who would be insulted if he didn’t pick them, fell silent.

“Oh,” He sputtered, remembering who he was with. “I mean, you’re fantastic too, Auntie. Not that I don’t like you or anything. I mean, I just…” Colin waved his arms for effect.

When it came to polar opposites, no two exemplified such a term better than Colin and Damian. Colin was like a.. teddy bear. A really sweet and cute teddy bear, while Damian could be compared to... well, not a teddy bear (on the outside at least. Cass had sworn not to tell a soul about the time Damian fell asleep in her lap that one night in front of the fireplace, and she had to carry him to his bed. They had been drinking hot cocoa and reading The Nutcracker).

"How about.. we can have as many favorite superheroes as we want," Cass added with a slight tilt of her head.

"So..." she continued, "how do you like being part of.. your new family?"

Heeehe.

Because he’s my little brother. And you’re my best friend.

But mainly because I’m just.. trying to picture Damian taking… anyone out on a date.

It’s cute.

So.. how was it?

Doesn’t that mean you’re supposed to frown upon it, or something?

His date ideas are less than stellar, but once he gets into the swing of things, Damian Waynecanactually be a pretty stellar date. Y’know, for the thirty seconds where he’s not insufferable.

How was what? I told you, the date was fine. Just fine. Circus made my night. Yep.

#you wouldn't do that either

Why would I frown upon it? I'm not Bruce. Just.. maybe you should wait.. a few more years?

Damian. Stellar date. *starts giggling uncontrollably*

*slowly nods*

*tries to hide smile*

You and Damian. Went on a date.

Let me just… process that information.. for a few days.

Don’t you look at me like that, woman! He was magicked into taking me. And being my age. And probably pretending to like me, while we’re at it. It didn’tmeananything.

The world isn’t ending, if that’s what you’re afraid of.

Because that’s what I’m afraid of.

So……… were you also “magicked” into liking him?

What?! No! I-I mean, I don’t—sigh.

Admitting that I like the older version of a boy who calls me fat, threatens to stab me on a fairly regular basis and is generally, all around kind of a psychopath is a lot less mortifying when you’re not smiling at me like that, Cass. Why exactly is this so amusing to you?

Heeehe.

Because he's my little brother. And you're my best friend.

But mainly because I'm just.. trying to picture Damian taking... anyone out on a date.

It's cute.

So.. how was it?

#ha #no you wouldn't

Well, see, first he took me to the art gallery because, y’know, he thought that was an appropriate da—uh, outing idea. But I stuck out like a sore thumb, I mean look at me. So off we went, and I suggested the circus, because the boy needs to know how to have fun even if he was magically instructed to take me out for my birthday on a daaaaaa—outing, and everything just sort of spiralled from there and I’m going to be quiet now because I’ve said to much already—

How’s that croissant, Cass?

*continues to silently chew*

*raises an eyebrow*

Not the eyebrow! Anything but the eyebro—-Mrrrrrr. Whymustyoureadmesowell.

Okay, fine. I went on a date with Damian while he was magicked into being my age. And it was fun. Lots of fun, actually. Kid’s not that bad once he loosen up at bit. He’s a gentleman, really. And even if he took me out because some magic spell told him to, even if he said nice thing to me for the first time ever because he didn’t know any better, even if at the end of it all, he went back to being that grumpy little demon brat that wets the bed…for a moment, I was happy. I felt…normal.

And I don’t know how to feel about that.

*slowly nods*

*tries to hide smile*

You and Damian. Went on a date.

Let me just… process that information.. for a few days.

Don’t you look at me like that, woman! He was magicked into taking me. And being my age. And probably pretending to like me, while we’re at it. It didn’tmeananything.

The world isn’t ending, if that’s what you’re afraid of.

Because that’s what I’m afraid of.