Summary: A Reimagining of Cassandra Cain's backstory and how she came to become Blackbat. Alternate Universe. Prequel to "Slender." Better Summary Inside.
Summary (The Better One): A mere month after the events of the Killing Joke, Batman has forbidden Tim Drake and Dick Grayson from continuing their roles as Robin and Nightwing. But when the mute Cassandra Cain, driven by the murder of her parents assumes the mantle of Batgirl to hunt down her parents' murderer, it unveils a dangerous upheaval in the criminal underworld. But will Batman permit her to investigate or will he stop her for fear that she'll suffer the same fate as her predecessor? Alternate Universe. Prequel to my original Batman story: "Slender."
Disclaimer: I own nothing but a few OCs.
A/N: I will admit, I've never read a single Batman comic in my life (except for the Killing Joke but that was research for this story) but I grew up with the 1990s animated series and I've been a lifelong Batman fan ever since. It wasn't until I stumbled upon the Batman wiki and played the Arkham games that I re-immersed myself into the world of the Batman. That's when I discovered Cassandra Cain, the initial successor to Barbara Gordon's title of Batgirl. The character design truly impressed me. The idea of a (initially) mute heroine was one I'd never thought of before and I was truly impressed by the idea. A character whose actions are her voice, as she has none. When I read that she eventually learned to speak, I found myself disagreeing with the direction they were taking her. So I decided to turn to the fanfiction community and create a reimagined version of Cassandra, a version where she will never have a voice as we do, but one where her actions will always be her voice. I felt that a different backstory was also called for with this new version of Cassandra so Cass won't be the reformed Assassin we all know her as (I took a page from the Joker on this one, "if you're gonna have a backstory, better to make it multiple choice"). I initially created this version of Cassandra for my first Batman story "Slender" but I wanted to expand on her origins in my universe, which gave rise to this story.
In terms of costume, I was pleased with the costume designs for Batman, Robin, and Nightwing in Arkham City (specifically Robin's. I thought the hood was a nice touch) so if you want to use those as a visual basis, by all means, as they're what I envision for their costumes. Cassandra's costume will change occasionally throughout the story so I'm not basing it off of any existing ones right now.
One extra note: We're ignoring the Killing Joke movie that was released recently. The Comic is canon but the extras where there's that romance between Batman/Bruce Wayne and Batgirl/Barbara Gordon is not.
That said, sit back, relax, and enjoy the story…
July 15th
9:22 PM – 15 Years Ago
Thomas Wayne Memorial Hospital – Maternity Ward Waiting Room
Hilton Cain paced back and forward and to say he was nervous was an understatement. The twenty-five-year-old, raven haired, accountant was expecting his first child and his wife, Regina, had gone into labor less than thirty minutes ago. As he continued pacing, paying no heed to the television as it aired the latest news on a strange man dressed as a bat carrying out a war on crime, a nurse stepped into the room.
"Mr. Hilton Cain?" the nurse asked as she read off a clipboard, snapping Cain from his trance. The nurse smiled at him as he approached.
"Congratulations sir, your wife just delivered." The nurse said as Hilton breathed a large sigh of relief and collapsed in a chair, a hand over his chest.
"Thank God." He said with a large smile before looking back up at the nurse.
"When can I see her?" Hilton asked, not noticing as a Doctor stepped into the room.
"In a minute, Mr. Cain, but first we need to talk…in private." The doctor said as Hilton looked up at him confused.
"Private? Is something wrong?" Hilton asked, standing up. He was confused and increasingly worried.
"Nothing life threatening but there is something…odd. Please I'd rather we speak in the private room." The Doctor said as he motioned towards an open door marked "Private Consultation."
"Why? There's no one else here but us. What's wrong Doctor? What happened to my wife? My child?" Hilton asked, now noticeably afraid. The Doctor quickly raised his hands in a calming motion.
"Your wife and your daughter are fine. Both are in good health. There's just something you should be aware of so you don't find out the hard way." The doctor said as Hilton sat back down, the doctor pulling around a rolling stool and sitting across from him.
"As I said, your family is in good health. But we had a moment when we were very much afraid for your daughter. When she was born, she didn't make a sound. She wasn't crying. But she was making all the motions that she was. Tears flowing, squirming around, eyes clinched shut, and air coming from her mouth…but no sound." The doctor explained, confusing poor Hilton even more.
"What are you saying doctor?" Hilton asked.
"I'm not entirely sure myself. I've ordered an X-ray and a few tests to be sure but I believe it is possible, that your daughter may be unable to use her voice…it's just as possible that she may not have one at all." The doctor explained, still confusing Hilton although he was beginning to understand the doctor's meaning.
"You mean…she doesn't have a voice?" Hilton asked.
"It's my hypothesis that your daughter may have failed to properly develop the larynx, the vocal chords. It's still too early to figure out the extent of what's happened. It looks like some form of dysphonia. Now from what I can see, it appears that she can breathe just fine. But for some reason it looks like her vocal folds don't vibrate like they should, in that they don't vibrate at all." The doctor said as Hilton leaned back in his chair, processing the information.
"Worst case scenario?" Hilton asked, the Doctor shrugging slightly.
"Far too early to tell. We'll know more once we've run the tests and gotten the results." The doctor said as Hilton nodded, a nurse approaching with a paper cup of water. Hilton nodded appreciatively and downed the water before standing up.
"Can I see them?" he asked, the Doctor smiling and rising from his chair.
"Of course. I just wanted you to go in and not be surprised by anything, that's all." The doctor said as he started to lead Hilton through the halls.
"You know something doctor. It's ironic, kind of. My wife is an opera singer and here we go having a daughter with no voice." Hilton said with a sad laugh, still smiling. The doctor gave Hilton a gentle pat on the back with a reassuring look.
"We'll do everything we can Mr. Cain." The doctor said as they stopped outside of a room. Hilton stepped inside to see his wife, a woman with beautiful auburn hair, cradling a bundle in her arms.
"Look at her, Hilton. Isn't she beautiful?" Regina asked as Hilton beheld the raven haired newborn in his wife's arms. He could see her mouth open and hear the sound of air escaping with brief pauses as she'd take a breath, but it was just as the doctor had described. She made no noises of her own.
"As gorgeous as her mother." Hilton said, gently stroking the infant's head. Regina then let out a weak but surprised gasp.
"Hilton, look!" She said, looking towards the window. Hilton turned and saw, lighting up the night sky, was an all too familiar sight in Gotham. The light of the Bat signal shining in the sky.
"Looks like a bad omen for the bad guys tonight, huh?" Regina asked with a light laugh and a tired smile. Hilton smiled but shook his head.
"You see it as a bad omen. But I've never seen it that way. I find it very comforting to see it on a night like this. It's a symbol, not of fear…" Hilton said as his daughter's tiny fingers grasped a hold of his index finger, barely large enough to entirely grasp it as Hilton finished…
"…but of hope."
November 10th
6:44 PM – 7 Years Later
Baker's View Apartment Complex – Apartment 221
the Home of Mr. & Mrs. Hilton Cain
Regina Cain calmly sat at the kitchen table of their small apartment, rapping her fingers worriedly as she watched the front door, occasionally checking her watch. Nearby, a seven-year-old girl with long raven hair sat on the couch reading a thick book. The book had no visible title but the girl read it with much interest. She looked up curiously for a second before setting the book down and hurrying to the door. She quickly undid the five locks and then sat down. Regina smiled at Cassandra who, while she couldn't speak, instead possessed excellent hearing. Less than five seconds had passed when the doorknob turned at least a second before the door opened as Hilton Cain, greying before his time, stepped in with a tired sigh, sweat stains near his collar, a battered briefcase in his hand.
"Hard day, honey?" Regina asked as she stood up, Hilton removing his overcoat, hanging it up by the door before quickly redoing the locks on the door.
"Very. I learned today that one of my clients is…well." Hilton said, licking his lips and swallowing nervously. His wife, knowing what he meant, swallowed hard.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"The numbers don't lie and I've checked them at least five times." Hilton said, the young Cassandra listening confused. She didn't understand her father's job and he had been acting nervous for some reason for the past couple of months but today was definitely the most nervous she'd seen him.
"Should we be worried?" Regina asked.
"I've already spoken to a Detective Paulings with GCPD. He's going to put me in touch with Commissioner Gordon tomorrow morning, but for tonight, we relax." Hilton said as he glanced at Cassandra who was occasionally glancing up from her book, looking curious but her body language showed she was also worried, even though she knew nothing of what was going on. He walked over towards her, sitting down next to her on the couch, glancing over her shoulder to see what she was reading.
"Reading Sherlock Holmes again, kiddo?" Hilton asked as Cassandra nodded, picking up a laminated print out of various words and phrases, and pointing at a line that read "Like." The doctors had discovered shortly after her birth that the muscles that allowed the vocal chords to vibrate didn't form properly, making it where they didn't vibrate at all, rendering her mute. There were procedures available but the Cain family had neither the income nor sufficient insurance to pay for the procedures.
"She's always reading it. I think she's read the whole book at least seven times." Regina said with a smile as she coughed. Part of their financial woes stemmed from the fact that Regina had been out of work due to a vocal injury.
"Aspiring to be a detective, huh, Cass?" Hilton asked as Cass blushed and shrugged slightly with a smile.
"Maybe that'll be your voice. Finding the facts, finding out who dun it?" Regina chuckled. Cass then shrugged before throwing two punches into the air.
"Cass, your voice doesn't have to include violence." Hilton said as Cass pointed to a line on her word sheet that read "No." then another line that read "Help."
"Oh, you mean to defend yourself?" Hilton asked as Cass nodded. Hilton smiled and sighed while leaning his back against the couch.
"Cassandra, you know I've always said that, should we ever have the money, I'd spring for that procedure that'll give you your voice. People might say your greatest flaw is your inability to speak…but never let yourself believe that. You speak to others in your own way. If they can't understand you, then it's their loss." Hilton said as Cassandra listened, smiling at him as he put his arm around her.
"I know I said violence doesn't have to be your voice. But don't let me be the one who tells you how to speak. Find your own voice. I could give some inspiring fatherly speech but I'm not. I just know, even without a voice as your mother and I know it, you're going to deafen all of Gotham with your voice, perhaps even the world." Hilton said as he stood up.
"And now I think dinner is called for. Let's eat!" Hilton said as Regina turned to the refrigerator.
"I couldn't reach you before you left your office so I couldn't ask what we should have tonight." Regina said, opening the fridge.
"That's fine. We can go out. Today was payday so we should have money in the bank. Let's go have a nice dinner together, take our minds off of today." Hilton said as Cassandra excitedly leapt from the couch, running to go put her shoes on, clutching her Sherlock Holmes book.
8:12 PM
Luigi Farragut's Italian Restaurant.
"So what did the doctor say about your throat? Any change?" Hilton asked as he and his family finished up their meal. Cassandra had already finished and was reading her book.
"He's not sure but he thinks I might have acid reflux. If I do, he can prescribe something to help. It'll still be a few months before I could sing again so that the damage is fixed." Regina said as she finished her water.
"It may be a moot point though." Hilton mumbled as he glanced at his overcoat.
"Hilton." Regina said warningly with a calm and quiet whisper.
"We might have to move though." Hilton replied quietly.
"We can discuss this later." Regina said back, noticeably disturbed by the conversation topic. Cassandra was confused still but didn't make any effort to find out why. She was also getting concerned. She could tell there was something going on that had her father and mother visibly worried but her father seldom said anything about his work so she wouldn't know what to ask if she did. Finally, the waiter returned with their paid bill.
"Your change, sir and have a pleasant evening." The waiter said with a smile as Hilton pocketed the change, save for a few dollars which he handed back to the waiter.
"For you and our compliments to the chef." Hilton said as the waiter nodded with a smile.
"Always a pleasure Mr. Cain." The Waiter said as Hilton paused with a curious look on his face before standing up. He watched as the waiter walked back to the kitchen before turning towards the door, a curious look on his face.
"What's the matter?" Regina asked as she helped Cassandra with her coat before putting on her own.
"Nothing it's just…did we introduce ourselves to the waiter?" Hilton asked they walked out the door and down the street towards their car.
"We may have." Regina shrugged. Cassandra however furrowed her brow and tugged at the sleeves of her parents. When they looked down at her, she shook her head.
"Why are you saying no, dear?" Regina asked, not getting her meaning, but Hilton did.
"We didn't introduce ourselves…so how did he know my last name?" Hilton asked, confused, as they continued walking through the cold winter air.
"You really need to ask, Mr. Cain?" a voice from behind them said. They turned and saw, holding a gun to them, was a man wearing a black balaclava mask with a grey skull imprint across the front and wearing a white overcoat. Hilton, Regina, and Cassandra each looked at the man in horror as he motioned towards the nearby alleyway, the three fearfully started stepping towards the alley as the man chuckled slightly.
"You stuck your nose too deep into somewhere it shouldn't have gone, Mr. Cain. You know what happens when the cat gets too curious." The man said as Hilton stood between the man and his family.
"Please, I'm the one you want. For God's sakes let them go!" Hilton begged, the gunman rolling his eyes.
"I would, but I also know your wife is an excellent singer and you know the old saw, it ain't over until the fat lady sings. Well, your old lady happens to be a looker. But we can't have any singing. Can't take the risk." The gunman said calmly. Regina tried to turn and run with Cassandra but was dismayed to discover that the alley was a dead end.
"Please, don't! I'll do anything! Please!" Hilton pleaded before a deafening shot rang out and Hilton dropped to the ground.
"HILTON!" Regina shouted out in horror and fear before another shot was heard. Regina proceeded to fall across her husband's body as Cassandra looked up fearfully at the gunman who had the gun trained on her. It felt like an eternity had gone by before the gunman finally sighed and lowered the gun.
"I'm not going to kill a kid. Just ain't right. Besides, you don't know enough to be trouble." The man said before turning and walking away, disappearing into the winter night as police sirens could be heard in the distance. Cassandra dropped to her knees, tears flowing down her cheeks as she knelt over what remained of her parents. At that moment she wished she could make a sound, so that she could cry out into the night. She threw back her head as she tried to let out a cry of anguish, but no sound came out. As she opened her eyes, she saw it. Something her father had always called a symbol of hope.
The symbol of a bat, lighting up the night sky.
It was at that moment, she realized the voice that lay nestled within her.
A voice of peace…
…a voice of hope…
…a voice of justice…
It was the voice…
…of the Batman.
Star Tours Traveler Presents…
…A Fanfiction story based on the Batman Franchise…
Batman: Rise of the Blackbat
End Chapter 1.
Please R&R.