Behind The Masks

Chapter 4 : The Marksman VS the Orphan

Jason: "You sure you wanna do this?"

Cassandra: "Yes."

Jason: "...You might not be able to walk for a week--"

Dick: "What the hell are you saying to a child?!"

Jason: "It's all about point of view, right? Beside, look who actually have funny thoughts..."

Dick: "Oh shut up!"

Damian: "You all, stop spouting shit and shut up!"

Tim: "Well said."

Damian: "I know, don't patronize me."

Cassandra looked at them, unsure about what they began to argue about. Most of the Bat Family were here to witness this spare in the cave between Jason and Cassandra. Bruce, Alfred, Dick, Tim, Stephanie, Damian, Kate and even Jean-Paul was there. The fighters stood in the middle of the Bat Cave, the members leaving them plenty of space. Bruce was pretending to be uninterested as he was seemingly working in front of the computer screens, Alfred standing close to him.

Dick, Tim and Stephanie were betting on the winner; all of them voting for Cass. Since all agreed on Cassandra as the winner, they began to bet on the number of moves Cass will use to defeat him. Even Jean-Paul made an estimation. And Bruce whispered his own estimation to himself. Jason glared to them, then sighed, looking to Cassandra.

Jason: "Nobody have faith in me as usual..."

He said, adding a hint of drama in his voice. She chuckled silently before to ready herself. No weapon, only bare fist. Both wore they suit, but they were unmasked. This time, Cassandra will barely hold back. She will only hold back not to hit him in the no-touch-places (lethal parts), including that one male part. Jason smirked, readying himself. She looked so tiny, but eh, he knew how savage her kicks were...He will not underestimate her, although physically, he might be able to overpower her. Ah, so little and tiny...It reminded him of Damian. Nah, Damian actually was an ass when he was speaking. Cass was different from all of them...Excepted for Damian, they all lost their parents; murdered. Cass and Damian were raised by assassin, going through a hell few could understand. They came out of it pretty well. On the outside.

Jason: "Whenever you're ready, honey."

He grinned playfully to her while she bore such a focused expression. She had already read him. His lethal spots were clearly visible to her. The no-touch-parts...Cassandra dashed forward right after he finished his sentence. Her speed was beyond any normal human being although not enhanced. Sliding on the ground at the last minute, she spinned on a hand, swinging her legs down and tripping him to the ground rather easily.

Jason was startled to her speed, realizing that he didn't know much of her skills to their fullest...Jason's back met the ground and he used this small momentum to roll back, getting back into his feet. Tim and Stephanie cheered to this first blow and he rolled his eyes, a little exasperated. This little distraction didn't prepare him for the next blow on his cheek. Cassandra had swung her foot to his face. Not full strength but still. Enough for Jason to stumble back as he had tried to get up. Cassandra didn't stop. She was coming back to him with powerful hits. To the chin. To the cheek. To the chest.

Jason finally took a fair distance. The Red Hood beaten by a little girl. He could hear the rest barely holding their laughter. Especially Damian. He finally strike back. He ran back to her and firstly opted for an uppercut to the jaw. However, he purposely avoided her to the last second, elbowing her instead. This sudden change caught her off guard and she barely dodged it by ducking down. Jason avoiding series of punches to his stomach by grabbing her shoulders to hold onto her while flipping to land behind her in a reckless maneuver. Cassandra resisted at first this sudden weight on her shoulders before to stumble forward, almost falling to her knees. She shouldn't have resisted that much, it had drained her a little.

All were watching now silently to the sparring. Such fast strikes! And such recklessness on Jason's part. Cassandra delivered most of the blows as she was fast, agile and little. These were to her advantage since she could almost easily avoid most of Jason's blows. But what gave her a hard time was Jason constant change of strategy to make her body language reading more difficult.

Then, Jason swung his fist quickly across to her. Cassandra leaned down, her upper back landing on the ground shortly before a little push would bring her up a little, enough for her to deliver a strong kick to his chest. None were giving up. Not even after an hour of sparring. It was an amazing sight. Although most were used to watch sparring sessions between each others, none were tired to see two different styles combating in front of their very eyes.

Jason suddenly rushed to her, using his enormous strength to pin her down while holding her wrists down. He grinned triumphantly. Dick cleared his throat. Cassandra looked to her opponent a little angered. He was on four above her. His triumphant smile didn't last long. Cassandra firstly headbutt him hard followed by two strong knees to the stomach and the chest. He grunted, loosening his grip a little on her wrists, enough to free one of them. Then, she swung her elbow across his face hard followed by a punch with her second freed hand. Knocked off a little, she slipped under him, but he recovered quickly. Not completely though; he was a little dizzy.

He jumped to her, wrapping his arms around her stomachm her legs unable to move. Bending in two, Cassandra kept punching his face, head and arms until he let go. Standing, Jason rubbed his head and face. Damn, for a tiny little girl, she sure knew how to punch...

The spare must've last for three hours. Until Alfred came up with a trail of tea and freshly baked cookies. The spectators were already pickibg picking and eating down the cookies. Both fighters stopped, glanced to each others, then glanced to the cookies. The irresistible scent of the warm cookies filled their noses...The cookies were being eaten up away. Despite their tireness, they dashed to Dick, Tim, Steph, Damian, Kate and Jean-Paul.

Jason pushed Damian, Dick and Tim aside while Cassandra jumped closely over the plate of cookies, grabbing several ones on the way. She then ran back onto the ring, followed by Jason...and startled angered siblings...All jumped on Jason, who vividly protested.

Jason: "Hey, what the hell is wrong with you guys?!"

Damian: "Didn't Father teach any of you about good manner or did you die too soon for that??"

Tim: "You could've just waited for your turn to get some!"

Jason: "Oh sorry, did I cross the line again?"

Dick: "Jason! No need to push to have cookies!"

Jason: "Why are you blaming me only!? It's not like I stole any of them--"

And Cassandra was there, watching them fight once again. She didn't eat any of the cookies though. Only when Alfred urged them to stop this petty fight and that there were other cookies baking at the moment. They reluctantly stopped, brooding to each others. But soon afterwards, they'd chuckle about it.

Cassandra was sitting on the ring, her feet banging against it as they hang in the little distance separating the ring and the floor. She watched carefully Jason approaching her and sitting beside her. She handed half of the cookies she took.

Jason: "Thanks. Well, that sure was excellent teamwork, althought in the end, I was the only one blamed. But eh, I don't mind too much in the end. I wouldn't want anyone to scream at you, blaming you like that."

He chuckled. Cassandra averted her gaze, looking to the cookie she was eating. She was smiling.