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You tip toe toward the little ballet studio that Bruce had built for Cassandra, the lull of soft piano music drawing you in as you look inside the cracked door. As you peek inside you can see Cassandra doing a very complicated looking routine. You decide to sit in the doorway to watch. Cassandra doesn't notice your presence, and if she did she didn't make it known as she continues with the routine. She has a good thing going until she messes up and punches the wall in frustration. "Dammit!!" She yells, making you perk up. She looks up and sees you sitting in the doorway. She looks at you with a glare, asking "How long have you been there?" You respond "A few minutes, shrinking in on yourself under her cold gaze. She keeps glaring "And you didn't say anything?". You look down and apologize, making her sigh and rub her forehead with a towel, saying "It's fine." you watch as she picks up her stuff and leaves, following her out. "Ya got a recital soon?" She nods, "Yeah, about two weeks." You nod and keep following, asking if your adoptive dad, Bruce, was going to which she nods. "Yeah, he said he'd be there...He may be a grumpy old bat but he's usually there for us". You two go to the living room and sit down, when you decide to ask, "Hey Cassie? Why'd you get so mad earlier?" She looks at you and takes a deep breath. "Dancing is everything to me. It's how I escape what's bothering me when training can't let me. Sometimes training reminds me of where I came from, what I was raised to be. I don't want that anymore. I want to be my own person, not a weapon." You look at her sadly, "But you're not a weapon, Cass. You're a person. A teenage girl." she smiles and shrugs "I know that...Sometimes it's just hard to remember."
A week goes by of Cassandra dancing all day. She starts to forget to eat, causing Bruce and the rest of the family to worry. Eventually she gets dizzy while dancing and falls, groaning. Bruce hears the commotion and goes to check it out, seeing Cass drifting in and out of consciousness. He jogs in and sits her up against the wall. "Cassandra? Hey, kid come on stay awake..." Cass looks up at him tiredly and he sighs, picking her up and bringing her to the infirmary where he checks her over. Everything is normal except for her blood sugar, which makes him panic and grab some food for her to eat. She grumbles and eats some of the food, eventually feeling better. Bruce moves some hair out of her face and smiles at her "Hey kid...You ok?" Cassandra grumbles again and sits up, holding her head. “Dammit…Guess I got too into my routine again, huh?” Bruce nods, and suggests she takes a break which she huffs at. Bruce sighs, “Cassandra-” She grumbles at him “No, don’t start with that ‘Cassandra, you need to slow down’ crap, I need to practice, I’m fine!” She stands up, and Bruce reaches out to her as she sways “Cassandra!” He grabs her shoulders and sits her back down, saying “I’m not letting you back in that studio until you eat a proper meal.” She grumbles and looks up at him “Dammit Bruce! You know how important this recital is to me I have to-” He interrupts, “You have to eat is what you have to do.” She huffs but agrees, eating a meal before looking up at Bruce. “Happy?” Bruce nods. “Can I please go back to practicing now?” Bruce sighs. “How about we take the rest of today off?”
She groans “Bruuuuce, I really can’t afford to-” Bruce holds his hand up. “You listen to me right now young lady. Tomorrow you can get started right after breakfast. Tonight, we will eat dinner and watch a movie with your siblings.” Bruce guides her to the dining table and sits down with her. “You need to understand that food is more important than some recital, Cass.” She’s got an irritated look in her eyes. “This recital is just as important, if not more right now. I’m performing a level 5 routine and I need to get it right. Even if that means practicing nonstop.” Bruce looks at her with a stern look. “Food is most certainly more important than ballet, Cassandra.” She stomps her foot on the floor, making Bruce’s eyes widen. “I know damn well you didn’t just stomp your foot at me.” Cass huffs. “What’re you going to do? Ground me?” Bruce rolls his eyes “As your father, yes, I could do that but that’s a bit excessive for a stomp. How about you just go to your room and cool off for a bit?” She looks like she wants to argue but then turns and goes upstairs. You watch her as she slams the door, making you flinch. Bruce yells “And don’t even think about sneaking into that studio!!” before grumbling and sitting on the couch with his other children. Tim snickers, “What’s got her so pissed off?” Bruce sighs “Don’t worry about her. She’s having a rough night, is all.” Jason pipes up. “I think it’d do her some good to finally take a break. She practically lives between the studio and gym” You nod, agreeing. Alfred chimes in after, “If I may pitch in, I also believe it would be beneficial for her to take some time away from the studio. All of this stress can’t be good, especially for a young girl like her.” You nod. “I understand she’s almost an adult, but she’s under your roof…Gotta go by your rules” Jason nods. “If I have to live by your rules she should too.” Later on after a movie, you’re going up to bed when you hear soft piano coming from Cass’s room…
The next morning Cass is already down in the studio by the time everyone else has eaten breakfast. You go down and watch as she moves gracefully around the room. That night at dinner Dick decides to start some trouble. You’re all sitting there eating when he suddenly ruffles Cass’s hair. “So, Bruce’s princess got in trouble, huh?” Cass scowls and looks up at him “I’m not his ‘princess’, asshole” Bruce gives her a stern look “Hey. Watch your language at the table” The boys continue, besides Damian and you. Eventually Bruce has enough and puts his foot down. “Boys. Leave your sister alone.” Jason chuckles and bumps Tim’s shoulder. “Looks like our princess has daddy wrapped around her finger, eh?” Cassandra growls “I’m not his princess! Nor do I have him wrapped around my finger!” You shrink in on yourself, not enjoying the arguing. Bruce notices this and looks up “That’s enough. Stop it, all of you.” Everyone goes quiet. The rest of the night the older boys are in their rooms, the others sitting in the living room when you suggest we watch ‘Center Stage’, a ballet movie, in hopes of cheering up your big sister. It works, and you, Cass and Damian all end up falling asleep on the couches. Bruce brings you up to your rooms one by one.
A few days later Cass is practicing again, Bruce watching outside of the studio with a small smile on his face. You run over and jump on his back, making him grunt as he grabs your legs “What’re you doing, little bat?” you explain, “Wanted to watch Cassie but then saw you so I attacked!” He laughs and sets you down in the doorway as you two watch your sister dance, her moves swift and precise, completely breathtaking to you two as you watch. You hold your breath as she does a grand jete, the thing that messed her up last time. She lands it and keeps going. You watch until she finishes when you run in and high five her, Bruce saying “All that practice paid off!” She jogs over and hugs him, which he returns. “I’m very proud of you. I’m glad you can finally get that move right without getting hurt.” She nods excitedly. “I’m ready, Bruce!”
The night of the recital finally arrives and we all find our seats in the almost full auditorium. Bruce looks over at you, asking if you’re excited to see your sister perform, to which you nod. Bruce continues “She’s going to do amazing. She’s been working her ass off toward this performance.” You nod, turning to the stage as the performances start. Soon enough Cassandra takes the stage and does a routine from Sleeping Beauty, the one she’d been practicing. The family watches as she starts to dance across the stage, paying close attention to every move she makes. Bruce smiles as he watches her look so carefree as she moves across the stage, not making a single mistake. The family claps as she finishes up, a sense of pride welling up in Bruce’s chest as Barbara wipes her eyes of tears. After every performance is done, you all patiently wait in the lobby for her to arrive after changing into her normal clothing. A few minutes pass before she appears and gives Bruce a hug after he gives her her flowers and a fatherly kiss on the head. “You did a fantastic job up there, kid.” She thanks him and the whole ride home you talk to her about all your favorite parts of the show.