Ninteenth Unused Utility Belt | Video, backdated to after the breach ends (cw: fire damage)

[hellofist]

[The feed comes on to show Cass... well, she kind of looks like crap. But more than that, behind her her room, her real room on the Barge, seems to be confused about what it wants to be. In some places it's a replication of what Merlin's room looks like - there's his bed in one corner, a large wooden table with a red rose in a pot, for example.

Other parts are what the inside of a burned down building would look like. There's smoke damage, blackened walls, the remains of a dresser. The big computer is halfway melted and warped, the screen cracked and beyond repair. Looks like the Barge couldn't recreate what home is for Cass because she doesn't even know herself anymore.]

I'm back.

[There's not... that much to say after that, really. She's back, yay, no she doesn't want to talk about it.]

It was... about a week? I think. Learned... lots of things. About me, about... what I'm for. Why I... was made. It's funny, how you can... be so sure, who you are, but be... completely wrong.

Anyway. Back.


[Private to Merlin]
Are you... working? Or in room?


[Private to Dean, Chris, and Cassel, sent separately]
Have... to give you something. Can I come over?


[Private to Stephanie]
I understand, now. Why... I'm not Batgirl. Why you are. I didn't really, before. But... I'm glad you are.


[Private to Kon]
[After far too long passes with no answer to Steph, Kon gets a slightly panicked message from Cass.]

Where is Stephanie?


[Private to Dick Grayson and Tim Drake]
I know... that you won't see this. You can't. I just miss you. I shouldn't, but I wish... you were here.

Comments

[Private]

[mistconduct]

[On a similar line with Cassel, Chris has slunk back to his room after the breach to mull over the confusing thoughts in his head. Still, Cass is important, and he's relieved as hell to see her back]

Jesus, Cass, you know you don't have to ask by now. Come on, come over.

[Private]

[hellofist]

Just figured... warning would be good. Be there soon.

[She comes around quickly because waiting is stupid, it's painful when she wants to see him so badly, check on him and try to fix what the barge messed up by taking her away when she only wanted to stay. When she knocks, it's a little more insistently than it really needs to be but he really needs to open the door, okay.]

[Private]

[mistconduct]

[And Chris is up and opening the door as soon as he can get over to it, wrapping his arms around Cass before she has a chance to say anything]

Jesus fuck, Cass. Fucking christ, jesus, I can't fucking....God damn it I'm glad you came back.

[Private]

[hellofist]

[It takes her a second, but then she's hugging him back just as tightly. The bundle she's got in her hand makes it a little awkward, but she manages and once she's adjusted to hugging again the idea of letting go isn't all that appealing.]

Wouldn't leave on purpose. Had to come back, for you.

[Private]

[mistconduct]

[Chris is also perfectly content to just keep hugging in his doorway, snuggling Cass and dropping his chin on top of her head]

Fuck. Fuck, you scared the crap out of me. Fucking Barge..

[Private]

[hellofist]

[She hates herself for forgetting him, forgetting how important Chris is to her. He's family now, but she'd abandoned him. She nods, clinging onto him just a little.]

I agree. Fucking Barge.

[Private]

[mistconduct]

[Happy to let Cass cling all she likes, Chris maneuvers them both back into his room and kicks the door shut with his foot]

You're okay? Everything's okay?

[hellofist]

[She moves with him and when she answers, her voice is very quiet.]

Not... really. In time, maybe, but... everything went wrong.

[mistconduct]

Fuck. Sounds like my life.


You want to talk about it?

[hellofist]

Maybe later. Right now...

[Finally she lets go, holding out the bundle of black fabric now. It's her cape, all folded up for easy carrying.]

Want you... to keep this, for me.

[mistconduct]

[Blinking, Chris looks down at the black fabric, frowning]

You're giving me your cape? Dude, why?

[hellofist]

I don't need it. Moving on. But... it's still important. You should have it. Something to... remember me by.

Besides, would look good in cape.

[mistconduct]

Wait. Wait, something to remember you by? What the fuck, Cass? I have you to remember you by!

[hellofist]

[She frowns, reaching out for his shoulder.]

Don't mean permanently. Mean, if I... have to go again. Will always come back, though. I don't... want to leave you, here. I'll be here if you're here.

[mistconduct]

...For real?

[So soon after the disappearance of Stephanie Brown, this hits hard for Chris, who's terrified of everyone he likes running off once they get their deals, leaving him stuck on the Barge]

You won't just...forget me. Because some of us, we can't leave.

[hellofist]

You're family.

[That answers all of his questions at once, to Cass. How can she leave him, forget him, when he's family?]

[mistconduct]

[With a choked laugh, Chris drops down onto his bed, still hugging Cass]

Fuck. I guess we are.

[hellofist]

[She follows him down and hugs him a little tighter.]

Always will be. Nothing can... change it, now.

[mistconduct]

You say that now, but fuck, last breach I broke Cassel's hand.

[hellofist]

Breaches make things different. It's not... entirely your fault.

[mistconduct]

Not entirely? I was going to say "not at fucking all" considering, y'know, not my memories.

[hellofist]

Cassel was my brother. He was... younger twin. Want to keep that. Not at all for you, but... a little, for me. Does that work?

[mistconduct]

You and Cassel were siblings?

That's really sweet, Cass.

[hellofist]

It was. Still feel that connection, though. Hope it won't... get weird, for him.

[She knows it's probably going to, though.]

Are you okay?

[mistconduct]

How could it get weird? It's not like you and him had a three-way with the Riddler.

I'm good. Better. I'm...just pretty content, I guess. Hand-breaking aside.