Cass was very impressed with the way the warden stood his ground as he yelled, red in the face, at the Red Hood while said vigilante looked like he was about to splinter the handle of the hammer he was holding. Where Jason got the hammer was beyond her but what was more unsettling was what Jason could do with that hammer and how that thought hadn’t crossed the warden’s mind as he yelled at Jason for the mistreatment of his inmates. She knew that she should be more concerned with exactly what had transpired here that had the warden is such a tissy but Jason had a point -the last thing the city needed at the moment was a hoard of escaped criminals and that was something everyone knew from experience. And even as she watched the diver submerge himself once again to continue looking looking for a body, Cass decidedly keptthat thought in mind.
But even in their present predicament, Cass truly was glad to see Jason again and was happy to see the feeling returned in the affectionate tone he used for his nickname for her. “Couldn’t keep away. Not with…” trailing off, Cass simply waved her hand knowing he would understand that with all this mayhem there was no way any of them would have stayed put. And from his next words, she was right. Because as much as Jason tried to stay away, Cass knew he still cared -for the welfare of the people and their survival. And even past old allegiances and shared memories, this was the reason Cass felt comfortable around him even with all her misgivings about killing. He fought a purpose, he fought to help, and for Cass, that was enough.
Scrunching her nose at the thought of having to fight the slow moving, sickle wielding, one-armed villain, Cass shook her head, glad at having missed that. Although at the mention of the once conjoined twin, Cass suddenly became aware of whose hammer Jason was holding. But just as she was about to ask what had happened to Mister Hammer, she was distracted by the overwhelming beauty that was Starfire. Cass had never seen her in person, she had only heard stories of her from the days when the Outlaws still sported three members. Curious as to Jason’s vague description, Cass gasped as she saw the pink flame shimmer in Starfire’s hand.
Eyes flicking back to Jason as the spark disappeared, Cass smiled at his words. Don’t fuck with this one, indeed. But even as she continued to eye Starfire in curiosity, she was snapped back to attention at the mention of Jason’s brother.
Dick. She remembered the boy. Shaking her head, she wondered what could have possessed him to go out during the blackout, although she was glad to hear that he was no longer in the Narrows -there weren’t many worse places to be and hopefully this meant he was bunkered down somewhere safely.
“Wouldn’t say no. Not to Dick. And not to you.” Although Cass wasn’t entirely sure having them work together was a good idea. Just thinking of the last time those two were in the same room together was already giving her a headache and Cass knew that if they would get nothing accomplished if they went down that road again.
“Comms are back up. But you don’t want Bruce’s help. He’s not manning network.” Cass was well aware that this wasn’t a very good idea and that she’d probably be having words with several people later but if there was one person who could help them right now, it would be him.
“You should meet my friend.”
He was glad to see the short assassin, especially in these dire circumstances. She was the only other member of the League of Assassins that operated in Gotham, regardless of her new moral stance. She wasn’t just a friend, she was family. He resisted a fleeting urge to give her a hug, instead making the hand sign the young acolytes had used to describe Ra’s behind his back-a fist, pinky and index finger raised.
Red Hood nodded when she mentioned her friend, slightly relieved that Bruce wasn’t going to be at the Cave. The last time Jay had seen him, they’d nearly killed each other, and probably would have had Cass not intervened. He’d made the young assassin a foolish offer too, one that she hadn’t accepted. To join him, assassin to assassin, and become an Outlaw. She’d declined with all the grace she could, and Jason hadn’t held a grudge.
But now, this was a mystery. Someone other than Bruce running the Cave? How many Bats were there now? Man, Girl, Woman, Black, Beyond, and now a sixth one? Jesus Christ. He supposed it could be the old man, the one who had referred to Bruce as Master Wayne, but that seemed unlikely. He hadn’t picked up that vibe from him, brief as their contact had been.
“So, the Cave?” He slung the hammer onto his shoulder. Next to him, Kory tensed, although he doubted anyone but Cass or himself would have noticed. She didn’t like Batman; his approach had always come across as sanctimonious to her. Jay cocked his head slightly at her, and she shook her head. He swiveled back to face Cass. “She’ll be fine. She’s not a fan of…him.” Turning on his heel, he strode past the still angry warden, pulling himself up into the cockpit of the two bladed machine. Kory took the copilot’s seat, and Jason opened the hatch to allow Cass in.
“Buckle up. This thing is fast."
With a roar, it lifted into the air, banking west as they headed to the Palisades.
and all of this will never be the same again 