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Cassandra went from the private airstrip to the manor without delay. Alfred had greeted her warmly and inquired about her flight but otherwise left her to her thoughts on the ride back home. She was grateful. She was exhausted after nearly a month of working on the last case.
Everything had been taken care of abroad. Her infiltration and exfiltration of an ally from the clutches of a crime syndicate in Japan ended positively. Now, she only wanted to sleep for a week and eat Alfred’s food.
But the former would still have to be delayed a couple of hours.
Alfred informed her of the family dinner awaiting her at the manor. To celebrate her return home, Dick was coming over from Bludhaven. That, plus Bruce gave her a heads up that Jason was staying at the manor and it would be a full house.
She was the last of the family to arrive.
Cass turned up to the formal dining room and was met by a chorus of greetings from the assembled family. Bruce sat at the head of the table as always, to his left sat Jason, and next to him was Dick. Damian and Tim sat on the opposite side.
Dick jumped up to hug her the moment she appeared, and she smiled despite her subtle flinch at someone rushing toward her. It didn’t mean she was opposed to the physical contact, but rather, it was a remnant of her League training that still reared its ugly head. Dick slowed down as he wrapped his arms around her, giving her ample time to turn away if she wasn’t up for a hug.
But Cass leaned into his embrace, relishing in the familial company after her stint overseas, and squeezed back before they parted. Dick went back to his seat, and Cass moved for the empty seat to Bruce’s right.
Before she sat down, Cass paused to kiss Bruce’s cheek.
“Welcome back, kiddo.” He spoke softly, nearly under his breath, just for her to hear. She grinned as she pulled back.
She took her seat facing Jason, offering him a tentative smile, which he returned with a small twitch of his lips.
Dinner was served with Alfred’s usual finesse, and Cass let herself sink into the glow of conversation and laughter. She missed her family, and after having spent the last few weeks constantly watching her back, she felt relieved.
Even exhausted, Cass couldn’t turn off her innate ability to read body language. As the dinner wore on, she started to notice the growing thrum of anxiety across from her.
Jason wasn’t his usual explosive self, which was probably why dinner was going smoothly, and while he seemed tired, he was settled. Looking at him now, unease began lining her stomach.
Her eyes were hyper-fixed on the twitch of his fingers as he ate, and his eyes occasionally darted to Bruce like he was seeking reassurance, an anchor.
“...if we draw straws, that’ll make it fair,” Tim suggested. Cass continued to watch Jason discreetly as the conversation continued around her.
“Tt. It is only fair we proceed with an equitable solution. Timothy and Richard versus Jason and I.”
Dick leaned forward with a teasing smile, “Because you’re the shortest and Jay’s the tallest?”
Tim snickered at Dick’s comment as Damian glared at him over his dinner. “Because Jason is the most accomplished in the sport of basketball and our success is guaranteed.”
Tim leaned back in his chair with a huff. “Yeah, right. Dick and I can beat you both any day, anytime.”
“Dad…” Jason’s voice was barely audible, and if Cass weren’t focused entirely on her brother, she would’ve missed the way his mouth formed the word, pushing air between clenched teeth. No one else noticed the nearly silent plea for help.
“After dinner tonight. We shall demonstrate our superiority. Isn’t that right, Todd?”
The bubble of anxiety was cresting into a wave inside of Jason. Her brother didn’t seem able to pull himself back together. He had frozen up. If the attention swung his way he wouldn't be able to stop from breaking down in front of them.
Cass slammed back from the dining table before Damian could finish his question, knocking her chair over. Her chest heaved at the sudden motion and her clambering thoughts.
The conversation cut off at her outburst, and all eyes swung to her in shock.
The reaction was what she wanted. Everyone focused on her. Even Jason stared at her in surprise, broken out of his rising panic attack like a splash of cold water. Cass trembled, she needed to calm down. But she couldn’t breathe properly, and her eyes filled with tears.
Intellectually, she knew this cold fear and adrenaline weren’t her own. Jason, suffering in silence, had sparked an empathic response with his non-verbals. She couldn’t stop herself from adopting his bodily reaction because she was exhausted. Cass only wanted to protect him, not lose herself in his emotions.
“Cassandra?” Bruce reached out a hand tentatively towards her, and her panicked gaze snapped to his face.
Bruce was an anchor. He was the one who taught her to shut off the sensory input that threatened to overwhelm her some days. The same input that devastated her the first time she took a life because her ability to read a person in their final moments made it feel like she was dying, too.
But she was tired, and when she looked at Bruce, all she saw was bone-deep exhaustion on his face from too many recent sleepless nights contrasting sharply with his worry over her.
It was too much.
Cass recoiled from the outstretched hand and bolted from the room before anyone else’s emotions could drown her.
Bruce watched her leave with a frown marring his face.
“Did something happen?” Dick questioned carefully, and Bruce turned back to the table. As far as he knew, Cass completed her mission without any issues.
“She seemed fine up until a second ago,” Tim noted quietly.
“Let’s give her some space.” Bruce offered his best reassuring smile, though he knew it wasn’t convincing. “Damian, Tim, finish up and get ready to head out.”
Damian and Tim took a few more bites of their food before pushing away from the table. Bruce turned to Dick. “Are you joining us tonight?”
Dick shook his head. “Tonight’s a rest night. I’ll keep this one company.” He reached out and wrapped an arm around Jason’s shoulders.
Jason, who had been studying the empty chair in front of him, turned his head and glowered at Dick. “I’m not here to keep you entertained, Dickface.”
“Not even with Mario Kart?”
“Hell no. You’re too competitive.”
“Boys.” Both of them turned back to Bruce, who smiled fondly. “Whatever you do, don’t destroy the house and keep an eye out for your sister.”
.
.
“Hey.” Cass didn’t need to look up to see Jason at the room's entrance. “Can I come in?”
She nodded slowly, and he crossed the room. Jason sat down next to her with a heavy sigh. “I’m sorry.”
Her head rose from between her arms, and she shook it vehemently. “Not your fault, Little Wing.”
Jason felt something warm and suffocating bloom in his chest at the nickname only his older siblings were allowed to use. Cass adopted it from Dick and god help him, Jason loved to hear it from them both. But he was supposed to be comforting her, not the other way around.
“I’m okay, Cass.” His voice shook with a desperate edge that sounded like he was trying to convince himself.
Cass leaned her weight into his side and released a deep sigh. “Not yet…but you will be.”
He huffed out a chuckle, trying to dispel the warm surety in her words. “Yeah, what about you?”
“Tired. Tomorrow will be better.”
“Tomorrow,” he agreed.
They sat silently for a moment, each lost in their thoughts. Jason wouldn’t push her to talk, and she wouldn’t push him to explain his panic attack or continued presence in the manor. Cass was grateful for his company.
A tap at the door to the ballroom roused both their attention. The light from the hall was enough to outline Dick’s frame as he hovered at the threshold.
“Room for one more?” He asked softly, without any expectation in case he was intruding on a moment between them.
Jason tipped his head down to look at Cass for the verdict. She nodded against her arms.
“Get over here, Dickie Bird.”
Dick padded over to them before sinking down on Cass’ other side. He kept himself a distance away, not to overwhelm or box her in with his physical presence. It was Cass who reached over to grab his hand. He smiled and squeezed her hand gently.
“When’s the last time the three of us hung out?” Dick mused.
“Out of costume? Try never.” Jason murmured.
His offhand comment was followed by silence. It was a sad truth they all recognized. Dick felt a twinge of regret that he hadn’t attempted to bring them together before. He tended to dote over their youngest siblings because he respected that they were adults who didn’t welcome it as easily. Jason knew it was his fault for pushing them all away, and he couldn’t get through a family dinner without panicking and causing his sister vicarious trauma.
Cass didn’t feel remorse in so many words. She connected with Jason and Dick in her own ways, different ways because they were different people, but that didn’t change the love she had for them both.
“Jay, do you remember when Alfred and I taught you the waltz?”
Jason glanced across Cass’ head to stare at Dick, who smiled fondly at the room in front of him. He did remember that day Alfred took him aside to this ballroom, Dick following along since he was visiting from college. He grumbled at learning a formal dance but didn’t outright say no so as not to offend Alfred, who looked particularly excited as he queued up the music. Then Alfred turned on Dick asking him to demonstrate the dance for Jason to see.
And it should’ve been awkward for Dick to be led around a room by Alfred. Jason should’ve laughed at the display, but he felt oddly fond at how eagerly Dick stepped up into Alfred’s firm box hold and the delight on his brother’s face at being spun around by the older man.
And when they finished demonstrating, Alfred instructed Jason to take his place with Dick. He tried to lead Dick, who was twice his size, around the room with the same ease as Alfred, with little success. But Dick kept smiling, his eyes bright with a warmth that had never been directed at him between all the fighting he did with Bruce.
It was probably one of their first bonding moments.
Jason hadn’t thought about that day in years.
“I recall you saying your toes would be bruised for eternity.”
Dick snickered. “I can still barely walk.”
Cass shifted her head up. “What’s a waltz?”
Jason and Dick met each other’s gazes over her head and smiled the same mischievous smile. They moved in tandem, both men standing up and moving to the center of the ballroom. Cass straightened up to watch them, though she kept her arms wrapped firmly around her drawn-up knees.
“I’m leading.”
Dick scoffed. “No way. You’re too heavy now. My toes can’t take that abuse.”
“The tallest leads, Dickface.” He countered.
Dick pretended to be miffed but ultimately conceded because the moment was too precious to pass up. “Fine. But I expect the full Disney princess treatment. Dips, spins, everything.”
Jason smiled a toothy grin and offered his hand to him. “Only the best for my royal pain in the ass.”
Dick had to actively keep his glee tamped down as he slid his hand into Jason’s and placed his other hand on his arm. They started dancing with ease, and Dick almost felt like he was living the memory again. Only Jason’s arm was solid bulk under his hand and he had to look up to meet his eyes instead of staring down at a wiry thirteen-year-old. But it didn’t change his feelings from then. He still saw his little brother with the brutal past and a hesitant smile pulling at his lips.
Jason’s movements were a little clunky, unused to the coordination required to lead someone in a waltz. But his body remembered the steps with surprising clarity, and his confidence bolstered as they continued. Soon, Dick started to challenge him with each step, acting like the world’s worst dance partner as he snickered when Jason spun him out a little clumsily and returned into his hold only to force Jason back a step as he stole the lead from him.
“Do as you’re told, Dick.” Jason pushed back, trying to get Dick to move where he wanted.
“Never, Little Wing. Bow down to me.” Their dancing dissolved into playful grappling as they fought to lead.
Cass chuckled at their antics, and both men sheepishly let go as they remembered their audience. Jason ran a hand through his hair and lamely said, “So that’s the waltz.”
She looked amused and curious. Much better than the anxious ball she’d been when Jason first found her. Dick moved in front of Cass and offered his hand in a semblance of a curtsy. “Would you do me the honour of this dance, Miss Wayne?”
Cass grinned and slipped her hand in his and he helped her to her feet. Jason got out of the way, fishing his phone out of his pocket as Dick showed Cassandra where to place her hands. Jason pulled up a modern musical rendition of the waltz and played it on the phone’s speaker. Both siblings glanced over at him questioningly, and he simply shrugged.
“Okay, Cass, here we go.” Dick pushed her into the first step, and Cass quickly caught on to the movements.
They danced around the room as the music wafted out, and Jason was content to watch them. He felt something pounding reassuringly in his chest at the sight of his two older siblings. He could picture them both, Cass at fifteen and Dick at nineteen, without the weight of the world on their shoulders, dancing and laughing, dragging his younger self into their bubble of warmth and safety.
Jason smiled at the thought and at the sight of them now. Dick twisted Cass out, and she spun gracefully. Dick pulled her back only to spin her again with a waggle of his eyebrows, and Cass’ rarely heard melodic laugh filled the room.
He couldn’t help himself from setting his phone down and crossing the room to clasp Cass’ free hand on the next spin. He pulled her toward him, and Dick relinquished his hold with a knowing grin.
He smirked down at her. “I promise not to step on your toes.”
Cass shook her head with a grin, and they were off. Jason kept a firm yet gentle hold of her hand while his other hand guided her waist with his step. It was unnecessary. Cass could read his movements without pressure, and guiding her around the room was easy. Where Dick had been slightly unyielding, leading Cass was like guiding water, she flowed into every one of his movements effortlessly despite their height difference.
Dick watched off to the side, none-to-secretly snapping photos with his phone. Jason flipped him the bird, and Cass called them both idiots under her breath.
“Are you guys…waltzing?”
The trio stopped and looked over to the entrance of the room.
Tim and Damian stood at the door fresh from the showers, their hair wet and their post-patrol adrenaline still high. Tim stood to the side of the door while Damian stood proudly in the center of the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest. This time all three older siblings shared a look before jumping into action.
Dick held his arms wide open. “Let’s dance, Little D!”
At the honest excitement on his face, Damian frowned yet slunk forward toward him. Tim watched him go with shock and horror written clearly on his face. He didn’t budge from his spot shielded by the door.
“Timmers, c’me here.” Jason waved him over with a foreboding smile. Tim stiffened and looked ready to bolt until Cass swept forward and grabbed both his hands before he could run away. She pulled him into the room.
Before he could protest, Cass was moving his hands into position before gently urging him with her body to move. Tim blushed furiously, his head tipped down to watch his feet as he clumsily tried to follow her lead.
Next to Jason, Dick had Damian balanced on top of his feet as he whipped them around in less of a dance and more reckless spinning. Damian was holding onto Dick’s midsection for dear life as the older man laughed like a madman. The music from Jason’s phone wafted in and out of perception between the grumbling, laughter, and light-hearted teasing.
“Do you kids have any idea what time it is?” Bruce’s intimidating figure filled up the doorway but his tone was fond.
Cass responded without hesitation as the rest of them shared matching grins. “It’s tomorrow.”
Jason caught Cass’ steady gaze on him and huffed out a laugh. He turned back to Bruce and held out a hand. “Come on, old man, let’s see if you have any moves.”