Sour Candy | T. Drake ✔

[18] Favorite Bat Sister

Barbara was at the Batcomputer, handling her tasks as Oracle when the slight beep sounded, indicating that someone had gained access to the cave. A soft smile spread on her face seeing the identity that had been recognized but she chose not to tell the others just yet.

Tim was in the Batcave too, working on the cases while the others were out on patrol. He was studying a case file thoroughly, tallying the facts and dates with the info he had gotten from the database pulled up on his laptop.

He was startled when a hand gently rested on his shoulder and a barely audible voice spoke up, "little brother."

He turned to see Cassandra Cain behind him, his favorite Bat sister who had turned up in Gotham at last without telling any of them beforehand.

It was indeed an unexpected surprise.

"Cassie!" He stood up and was quick to fling his arms around her, pulling her close in a hug.

A smile tugged up on her features as she returned the embrace, dark eyes observing him carefully when he let go.

"Not out on patrol?"

"Long story," he mumbled, "how have you been?"

"Fine," she replied vaguely as always.

Cassandra didn't talk much, when she really had to she would just use the fewest words possible to convey her message.

"Barbara?" Her eyes flickered back to the cave, sweeping all over before resting on him again.

"She's at the Batcomputer," he replied, sitting back down and picked up the file he had dropped earlier as he expected her to go to meet Barbara but she didn't move an inch.

"You not well," she breathed out in her barely audible voice.

"I'm fine, Cass. A little caffeine deprived but fine, really," he smiled softly to reassure her and though his smile always worked, to Cassandra, it did not disguise the fatigue and stress he had been through that month.

She had always looked for things not visible apparently, picking up on the faintest of traces as well. She could easily figure out people's weak points and right then Tim seemed a lot worn out to her.

Easy to take out in a fight, she judged. Alarming since she didn't want to fight him but could see he would be at a disadvantage if he went up against someone.

Perhaps that's why he isn't out on patrol either, she thought.

She could very easily see that there was something troubling him deep down but he was attempting to disguise it.

"You lie," she gave her verdict at last, dark eyes narrowing slightly.

But before he could give further justifications, she had stepped in further to go and meet Barbara, leaving Tim to wonder whether the topic was closed at that or she would ask him about it again.

Knowing Cassandra, he knew she did not probe when he didn't want her to but she had her means of finding out the answers to her questions either way.

He had busied himself with the case files again until he felt the hilt of a sword poke him, turning to see Cass again, handing him a sword.

"We train. Now."

His eyes flickered slightly, "Cassie, what...?"

"Now, little brother."

He sighed, wrapping up his work and got up because he knew Cass would make him leave either way and at least he preferred to do it on his own terms.