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

[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.

[hellofist]

... That's disgusting.

[Like for real, she hates that guy. She likes the rest of what he says though, leans in to give him another tight hug.]

I'm glad, Chris. You deserve that. Want you to... always feel it.

[mistconduct]

Yeah, sorry, that's pretty gross. My bad.

[Snickering, Chris gladly accepts the hug]

I don't deserve jack shit, please.

[hellofist]

Is he your friend? The Riddler?

[And yeah she's just going to pinch him for that.]

Shut up. I say you do, so you do.

[mistconduct]

He's like a step-dad.

Ow! Jesus, Cass, are you serious? Christ, come on! Inmate, duh, remember?

[hellofist]

[There are worse Gotham villains for him to befriend, Cass supposes. At least he's not getting buddy buddy with Ra's al Ghul.]

As long as... he's nice to you.

Inmate doesn't matter. I love you, you deserve good things.

[mistconduct]

He is. ...Sort of. In a way. He doesn't give me what I want, he gives me what I need.

I love you too, Cass. Not sure my warden would agree on the nice things part, but it's cool to feel wanted.

[hellofist]

[She lets go of him, but it's only to reach for the cape and unfold it so she can drape it around his shoulders. She wants to see how it looks.]

Hope he does it... in a good way.

[mistconduct]

[Chris wears capes well - he had a red one back in his days pre-Barge, and this one sits pretty nicely on his shoulders. It helps that there isn't much height difference between him and Cass, too]

He does. Surprisingly.

[hellofist]

[She feels better, seeing it on him like it belongs there. Part of her that doesn't feel like it's fading away, has no more purpose. It's like a lifeline she's tied to him, her brother, something that can keep her afloat. When she smiles it's very small, but at least it's there.]

Good. Will go after him, if that changes.

[mistconduct]

Yeah, I know you would.


...Shit. I don't have anything to give you.

[hellofist]

Don't be dumb.

[She puts her hand on his chest, directly over his heart. He's already given her all she's ever wanted by being her family.]

[mistconduct]

[Chris looks down at the hand, giving a bit of a dopey grin]

Cassel tells me that all the time.