[Their fingers touch. Wrap together. The water is... cool. It feels like all heat comes from Steph's skin against hers.
At Stephanie's words, Cass' grip loosens. She almost pulls away. Stops herself. She doesn't want to stop holding hands. She wants to run away.]
I... [She wants to say yes. To take Steph's hand and make a promise. But she can't. She can't.
Because Steph doesn't know. Why Cassandra left. Why she gave her Batgirl. She thinks it was because Bruce was gone. That Cass needed to leave.
She didn't. She just... couldn't stay.
Bruce asked her to give Batgirl to Steph. And Steph deserved it-- she deserves all that and more. Batgirl is trust and freedom and hope. Steph deserves that.
She can't... blame Bruce for not giving her those things. For thinking she's not-deserving. After everything, she had hoped she had proved herself. That she had done enough. But...
She didn't. Bruce didn't think she could be Batgirl and Bruce not-died and then Bruce came back and Cass was gone and he never asked her to come back. So he doesn't want her there. And that's fine. Being a Bat it's... important. And you have to the right person.
Cassandra just... isn't the right person. Not anymore. If she ever was. And that hurts. It hurts but she understands. It was... wrong. To hope. That she would be enough.
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At Stephanie's words, Cass' grip loosens. She almost pulls away. Stops herself. She doesn't want to stop holding hands. She wants to run away.]
I... [She wants to say yes. To take Steph's hand and make a promise. But she can't. She can't.
Because Steph doesn't know. Why Cassandra left. Why she gave her Batgirl. She thinks it was because Bruce was gone. That Cass needed to leave.
She didn't. She just... couldn't stay.
Bruce asked her to give Batgirl to Steph. And Steph deserved it-- she deserves all that and more. Batgirl is trust and freedom and hope. Steph deserves that.
She can't... blame Bruce for not giving her those things. For thinking she's not-deserving. After everything, she had hoped she had proved herself. That she had done enough. But...
She didn't. Bruce didn't think she could be Batgirl and Bruce not-died and then Bruce came back and Cass was gone and he never asked her to come back. So he doesn't want her there. And that's fine. Being a Bat it's... important. And you have to the right person.
Cassandra just... isn't the right person. Not anymore. If she ever was. And that hurts. It hurts but she understands. It was... wrong. To hope. That she would be enough.
Even in her head... words get hard.]