Hey guys and gals! Here's the revised version of Chapter 12! My Spring Break starts tomorrow, so not sure when the next update will be. I will be sure to update at least of couple times over Break! Love y'all guys! You are amazing! Please keep sending in the reviews and support!
Thanks again! Happy Reading and Until Next Time - TRS
Cassidy groggily awoke early that morning, much too early considering her late night trip to the station a few hours ago. What little she had managed to sleep was not pleasant. Her dreams were plagued with the image of one infamous clown. A nausea feeling developed in the pit of her stomach as the realization hit her that they were in fact dreams and not nightmares. The Jokers was the personification of evil, so it would be safe to assume that if he entered you subconscious during sleep it was bound to be haunting. This wasn't the case for Cassidy. Her dream was pleasant, too pleasant. It was the type of dream a high school girl would have about the captain of the football team. A dream depicting a fantasy of a perfect life the two would have. The fantasy perfect relationship and the Joker were two images that should never mix in any shape or form, yet Cassidy could not shake those mental pictures her warped mind had created, images of the Joker protecting her, caring for her. Cassidy felt like vomiting, hoping that the images would exit her body along with the contents of her stomach.
Cassidy thoughts about the Joker were pushed aside as her mind became clearer. There was something more important: Rachel and Harvey. She had gone home last night without knowing if Batman or Gordon had been successful in their rescue missions. Her good friend could have died last night for all Cassidy knew, and she had fluffy dreams about the man who cause it.
"Get a hold of yourself, girl!" she scolded herself when the guilt and reality of the situation reared its ugly head.
If anyone would know what happened last night, it would be Bruce. Cassidy rolled out of bed still in the clothes she wore at the station and began searching for her cousin. As she walked down the hallway that leads from her room, a foreboding feeling grew. Something had happened last night. She could feel the effects of it lying heavy in the air.
Cassidy search was momentarily posted when the smell of coffee drifted its way to her nose. With her limited sleep, she knew that she would need caffeine and large quantities of it to survive what was guaranteed to be a long day. She follows the smell into the kitchen. Alfred, who was returning from the living area, greeted her.
"You look like you need a cup this morning," he replied, noticing the dark circles around Cassidy's eyes and the wrinkled state that her clothes were in.
"More than anything," she answered.
Alfred poured her a mug of the black liquid and handed it to Cassidy. She couldn't help but to notice the sad look that graced his features. This only added to Cassidy's fear that the worse had happened.
"Where's Bruce?"
Alfred hesitated. He knew the Master Wayne was sitting in the living area still dress in his vigilante attire. He knew that Bruce was heartbroken over the tragedy that happened earlier this morning. Bruce needed comforting, a type of comforting that Alfred just couldn't supply. He glanced over at the woman, her eyes filled with concern. He knew how close the cousins' relationship was. He knew that Bruce trusted Cassidy with his life. He could trust her with this secret too. She would have discovered on her own eventually. Cassidy could handle this situation better than anyone. Bruce needed her right now.
"He is in the living area, love," he said with a slight smile.
Cassidy nodded and headed toward Bruce's location. If Alfred's emotion were any indicator, Bruce was going to be in worse shape. Cassidy was putting the pieces together. She had a feeling that only one person was saved last night. That person wasn't named Rachel Dawes.
Cassidy reached the door that allowed access to the living space. She took a deep breath and put on a brave face. She knew Bruce would need support, a rock. She was going to be strong for him. Cassidy may have lost a friend last night, but Bruce lost something much more. She silently pushed the door open, as to not disturb her cousin. As she scanned the vast room, she saw him. He was sitting in a lone chair that faced a wall of windows that revealed a breathtaking view of the city. Bruce had not realized Cassidy had entered the room. His gaze was still focused on the city. Her cousin, the cousin she played tag with as a child, the cousin she always imitated, the cousin she had been bumming off of the past weeks, the cousin she lover more than her own brother, that cousin was wearing the Bat Suit.
Cassidy's mind began to race. Bruce was Batman. Her Bruce was the one that stood up for Gotham, when it didn't have the courage to do so. Bruce was the one that fought off dangerous criminals day in and day out. Bruce was the one that put his life at risk every day to protect Gotham.
Cassidy didn't notice that her hands were shaking from shock, and the silence of the rum was disturbed when the coffee mug slipped from her hand. The mug crashed loudly against the marble floor, shards of the mug and hot coffee covered the floor. The sound of shattering glass caught Bruce's attention, and his gazed toward the noise. That was when he saw her. Her eyes round with shock and worry. Her mouth was opening and closing, not being able to form coherent words. It was if she was looking at him for the very first time. He look back at the skyline, a little embarrassed that his cousin had caught him in his suit.
"Bruce?" Cassidy finally squeaked.
"Hey Cass," he replied with a smile that never reached his chocolate eyes.
"Y-you are…you are," she tried to finish the sentence, but the word just wouldn't leave her lips.
Bruce just nodded his head in the affirmative, not taking his eyes off the city.
"That was you last night at the station? That was you at the party?" she whispered.
Again he nodded.
Cassidy stood frozen for a moment, letting it all sink in. Her cousin spent every night gallivanting around Gotham, saving it from itself. A part of her always knew, but she would never take that part seriously. This was her Bruce she was talking about here. This was the guy that took her to a boy band concert back in the day. He couldn't be the same guy that kicked ass every night! Half of her was worried. She would now spend every night worrying about Bruce, wondering what danger he was facing that night and wondering if he made it home in one piece. Half of her was proud. She gazed at the back of Bruce's head with a smile on her lips. He was Batman. At that moment, she had never felt more pride to call him her family.
Once the initial shock was over, Cassidy knew that Bruce needed her. Batman had saved life after life, but now he needed a little saving. That was where Cassidy stepped in.
She walked toward Bruce's chair and stood behind it. She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, even though she wasn't sure if he could feel it through the suit, and matched his gaze of the city.
"What happened, Bruce?" she asked.
He took a couple of breaths, gaining his composure, and relayed the short version.
"He switched the addresses. I should have known. He gave the information way too easily. The address that I assumed was Rachel's was actually Harvey's. The chair he was tied to was knocked over. He was lying in a pool of gasoline. I untied him and raced out the building. We got out seconds before the explosion, but the blast ignited the gasoline that he was soaked in. He's lying in Gotham General's Burn Unit with one side of his body burnt severely."
"And...Rachel?" Cassidy asked, knowing the answer.
"Gordon couldn't get to her in time. I dedicated my life to protecting this city, Cassidy. When it mattered the most, I couldn't save the most important person. She was going to leave him, Cassidy. She was going to be with me. I failed her."
Cassidy looked down at her broken cousin. The tears he was fighting were starting to fall. Cassidy's heart shattered in as many pieces as that coffee mug. He was the strongest man she knew, the revelation of his secret only added to that. It killed her seeing him like this.
Cassidy walked to stand in front of Bruce; small tears were forming in her eyes.
"Even superheroes need to cry sometimes, Bruce. Even the strongest need a moment of weakness," she whispered, opening her arms inviting him in for a hug.
Bruce didn't hesitate. He broke down in Cassidy's arms. She rubbed his back and whispered comforting words as he let his anger, pain, and heartbreak out. If any criminal in Gotham could see the Dark Knight crying into the arms of his little cousin, they would probably lose their fear. Cassidy only saw a man, showing how strong he really was. He could allow himself to have this moment, and he would only come back stronger.
Once he gained his composure, he broke the hug and turned away from Cassidy. Bruce was embarrassed that Cassidy saw him like that. He was vulnerable and broken, two things the Caped Crusader should never be. He had let his guard down for Cassidy.
"Batman maybe invincible Bruce, but you aren't. You are only human. You can't save everybody, no matter how hard you try. I know that. Gotham knows that. More importantly, she knew that. She cared about you Bruce. Never forget that. You didn't fail. You didn't let her down. You'll let her down by dwelling on this and not doing your job. Every hero has dark moments, Bruce. It takes a true hero to rise above the darkness and still fight for the good."
Cassidy began to leave the room, knowing that Bruce needed his time and space.
A simple whisper of "Thanks Cass" made her pause before she left the room. She turned to look back at her cousin
"Anytime Bruce. I'm always here if Batman needs a shoulder to lean on, because we all need somebody to lean on. I'm here for you, both sides of you. Always. Don't you EVER forget that!"
Before she exited the room, a conversation the duo had over breakfast one morning crossed her mind.
"Guess this means I'm Wonder Woman," Cassidy joked, exiting the room.
Bruce turned and faced the door his cousin just exited through with a genuine smile on his face. He was about to face some of the most difficult times not only as Bruce Wayne but also as Batman. He was terribly glad he has Cassidy to help him through it all. She was Wonder Woman to him. Bruce might be Gotham's hero, but Cassidy Williams would always be his hero.
