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Not too long ago, Steph had been laughing and joking over dinner. Now, she was bashing an assassin's face in. She heard a bang, like a gun, and lots of screaming. Steph didn’t see what happened, but the scream sounded a lot like Tim and she didn't like that one bit. Soon after the screams, there were sounds of bones cracking, blood squelching, and hiccuped sobs.
Steph knew it was really bad when Cass screamed, “Tim! Stop!”
She glanced in the direction Cass was looking and gasped. Tim was straddling the assassin and slamming his fists into his face over and over again. “Use 5-4-3-2-1, Tim! Stop!” He didn’t stop.
Bernard was collapsed on the floor behind Tim. He needed help. Steph dodged a punch, proceeding to knock her attacker out. When she looked back over at Bernard, he was gone. Shit. She whipped her head around, and set her gaze on an assassin running to the open door, Bernard slung over her shoulder. Steph started to make her way over to him, but hesitated when she heard Tim scream again. Oh god. The assassin's hand dropped from the knife sticking out of her best friend's leg. She had to help. She looked at the door again. The assassin holding Bernard was gone, but she could probably catch up. And then she realized two things. One, five more assassin’s escaped and she couldn't fight all six of them while keeping Bernard safe, especially not in her exhausted state. Two, Cass couldn't take care of Tim alone and the family wouldn’t arrive soon enough to help.
I’m sorry Bernie.
Steph and Cass reacted as fast as they could. They rushed over to Tim and knelt down at his side. He was pulling at his hair, massaging blood into the strands, yanking hairs out. Cass grabbed his wrists to stop him, firm but careful.
“Baby brother,” she whispered.
Tim tried to turn, causing the knife to cleave his skin further. He cried harder, sobs wracking his body. Cass held him tight. She smoothed his hair and whispered quiet reassurances in his ear. Steph focused on the knife, trying not to puke at the grotesque wound. She placed one hand on his leg and wrapped the other around the knife’s hilt. It wasn’t safe to remove, but it was the only way. The blade had struck all the way through, wedged into the assassin's side.
“This is gonna hurt,” she said.
Tim laughed weakly. Steph was scared. She could tell Cass was too when she turned her head away. Steph took a deep breath, and pulled. Blood gushed from the wound, soaking her armor. Tim passed out in Cass’s arms. Steph removed her cape and used it to try and staunch the blood flow.
“I pressed my panic button,” Cass signed.
“Good,” Steph said shakily, still applying pressure. “That’s good.”
“You’re doing great, love," Cass took her cape off as well, pulling out a knife and cut strips. She tied a strip tightly on each side of the knife wound.
Steph sobbed. “I lost Bernard.”
“We will get him back,” Cass moved to Steph’s side, pressing on the cape with one hand so her girlfriend could let go. “You did what you had to. Tim is safe.” She pressed her other hand down as well.
“I let them get away,” Steph pulled her knees against her chest. “It’s all my fault.”
“Not yours,” Cass whispered, shaking her head. “Ra’s”
“But-”
“Hush, not your fault.”
Steph shuddered. She let her head fall to her knees. Her tears flowed silently, soaking into her purple armor. It mixed with the blood. The blood that was everywhere. The blood that was hers and Tim’s and Cass’ and the assassin's and Bernard’s. Bernard, who she couldn't, didn’t, save.
She barely registered the hands that replaced Cass’. Because Cass wrapped her up and Steph felt safe. Her crying slowed and she let herself melt into her girlfriend. Everything was heavy, but not in these loving arms. Her body shuddered one more time and a final tear dripped down, down, down.
“Rest,” Cass said gently.
Steph sighed. She was exhausted and a nap did sound nice. So she let her mind drift off into silence as sleep took her into its gentle grasp.