Behind The Masks

Chapter 7: Why?

Next morning, Cassandra woke up later than usual. She stretched her muscles until Tim knocked on her door to tell her that breakfast was ready. Cassandra dressed up casual, wearing a pair of jeans along a purple tank that showed off a little her stomach. Ready, she walked down the stairs, heading to the dining. It felt like ages that the Bat-Family was reunited together for breakfast. Bruce, Barbara, the former Robins and the actual Robin, Kate Kane, Lucas Fox, Jean-Paul Valley, Stephanie Brown and even Clayface under his human form, as Brasil...

There were pancakes and waffles for breakfast along toast, jam, mapple syrup, fruits and oatmeal. Enough choices for all to be satisfied. Stephanie and Tim were giving each others bites of waffles, feeding each others. Dick and Barbara were sitting next to each others, talking of casual things while Lucas was socializing with Jean-Paul, speaking of new possible improvements of the Azrael suit. Kate and Bruce were speaking together of the old time. Bruce was smiling a little at last.

Cassandra was sitting next to Jason. There was a slight odd atmosphere between these two. Jason was unaware that she was awake, but still, he didn't understand his behaviour toward her. Cassandra was eating pancakes with hunger, they were so good! Alfred's cooking definitely was the best in the world! Still, she was preoccupied. Jason had kissed her cheek last night. What did it mean? That he loved her? Appreciated her? It made her overthinking. Maybe Steph could explain it to her without involving directly Jason.

Stephanie was sitting in front of her and Cassandra intimated her to approach her head a little, she needed to talk to her about it.

Stephanie: "Anything wrong?"

Cassandra: "Yes...when man...kiss your cheek. What does...it mean?"

Stephanie: "A guy kissed you??"

She exclaimed a little loud, causing the former Robins to glare to Stephanie and Cassandra. She sighed, she didn't want anyone to know about it. Bruce didn't seem to have heard, he was still speaking to Kate as if nothing happened...but she knew he had heard. His body language had changed a little. His muscles had tightened a little and his traits hardened for a short second.

Dick: "You're going out with someone?"

Tim: "You've found someone? Cool!"

Jason: "............"

Jason didn't say anything, not even sure of what they were talking about. He only heard that she had been kissed. Were they talking of him? Of yesterday? But she was asleep, wasn't she? He couldn't be sure, so he decided to just listen. Tim then glanced to Jason for a brief while, finding it odd he didn't throw a joke already. Jason didn't know how to feel. If Cassandra got a boyfriend? He felt odd just thinking of it.

Cassandra: "Um...no, no...Just a...friend."

Stephanie: "Yeah, just a friend!"

Stephanie added, she really had screwed up. The former Robins chuckled, they didn't seem to catch it, but they let it go.

The breakfast over, Dick prepared to leave while Tim walked down to the Batcave, probably to work on a project. Jean-Paul and Lucas went to the Batcave as well, speaking about tech and stuffs. Jason left somewhere in the manor while Cassandra wanted to spend some time with Stephanie.

They walked outside together in the garden. There was a soft breeze blowing against their skin, the weather was fresh as Spring was showing few signs of its arrival.

Stephanie: "Sorry about earlier...it's just that...you surprised me with your question."

Cassandra nodded, understanding what she meant through her words and gestures. She, who was often alone, on her own, had been kissed like that.

Stephanie: "And to answer to your question, it can mean really anything. But if that person is close to you, it can mean they care a lot about you. In which way, I don't know, though...Who kissed you?"

Cassandra: "...Secret."

Stephanie: "Aw, not fair, I feel sometimes that our conversations are one sided...Please, I won't tell anyone, Cass!"

Cassandra was actually dying to tell her, but it might be better not to tell her. Not that she didn't trust her, she just didn't know if she should tell...She smiled a little before to nod.

Cassandra: "Jason."

Stephanie: "No way! For real?? When?!"

Cassandra: "Um...put me to sleep. Thought I...was asleep...and kiss on...cheek."

Stephanie looked at her in disbelief. Jason really did it? It was rather out of character. Jason showing tenderness? It was unbelievable, but she knew Cass wasn't lying at all. She was really shocked. Jason wouldn't show a kind side usually, it was as rare as rain in Africa.

Stephanie: "Wow. Didn't know Jason could do those kind of things...So he gave you a goodnight kiss, hmm..."

Cassandra: "Goodnight...kiss?"

She tilted her head, not sure if she understood the meaning of that type of kiss.

Stephanie: "Parents usually kiss their kids before they go to sleep. Siblings do that too."

Cassandra: "So...Jason sees me...as sibling?"

Somehow, Cassandra felt a little sad, she didn't know why. Did she wanted more from Jason? More than kinship?

Stephanie: "I don't know, he's not the type to give goodnight kisses to anyone...beside his guns maybe. I guess he cares about you, Jason is not one I understand easily."

Cassandra nodded slowly. She never had a boyfriend, she didn't know how it was like. She wondered if 17 years old girls like her usually got a boyfriend. Deep inside, Cassandra wanted to be somewhat normal. So far, her speech had improved a little, but she wasn't socializing much. She wasn't going to school either, she mostly spent her days patrolling or training.

Their walked ended after an hour of chatting, it had been a while since they had time together. They returned to the manor, Stephanie joining Tim to the cave and Cassandra in her room. There, she had few books piled up on a desk. She opened one to the fifth page. She once tried to read one night. She had succeeded to read five pages after hours.

As she began to read, she heard someone walking in the corridor toward her room. It was Jason.

To be continued...

N/A
Sorry for taking so long to update chapters, I'm busy with schools ^^
I'm planning to write another DC fanfic involving a character that once was popular and who appears in Batman comics Rebirth. Once the second to take the mantle of Batman in New Earth: Jean-Paul Valley (Azrael).

I also plan to make later on fanfics of Emiko Queen, pairing her with Damian for those who ship Damiko ^