I am so sorry you guys; there has been so much happening lately. We're all moved into our new house, but work is kicking my ass and I'm back on mandatory overtime. Not to mention I'm trying to finish up everything for school and I've had the WORST writers block these past few months than I've ever had before. Anyway, I wanted to get this out there! A long chapter for the season finale! I am beyond pumped to be going into season two. The first season was kind of bland and tended to drag on a little at times, but this next season we'll get to see Cassie's relationships with the future Rogue's grow deeper and more complex. I'm so beyond excited!
Anyway, enjoy, and remember to read the chapter all the way through for a little surprise at the end ;)
Anyone who knew Gotham, even those who had only lived there a short time, knew it was a chaotic place.
Crime ruled the streets, both literally and figuratively. The police department was always loud, messy, and generally unpredictable. And when your brother is a detective within said police department, you get to know the normal and the not-so-normal.
But with the crime war destroying the streets, it was at another level.
Cassie stood at the top of the steps in the entrance to the GCPD, staring in disbelief at the madness around her. Maroni's men were in one cell, Falcone's in another. The two groups were screaming and cursing at each other, calling for blood and threatening murder and pain. The cops watching them weren't doing much better; they seemed to have lost all control over the criminals and just seemed to be trying to get them to shut the hell up by banging on the bars and knocking the goons' heads together.
It was an intimidating sight. Almost a frightening one. And, like Cas normally did when something startled her or even scared her a little, her eyes went searching for her big brother. And she found him, talking to Harvey. But as she began walking towards him, her heeled boots clacking against the marbled floor, a familiar voice stopped her.
"Cassandra?"
Cas turned, startled, then gasped slightly at the sight of Barbara, standing there with her coat in her hands.
"Barbra!" She cried, surging forward to wrap the woman in a hug. It was returned stiffly, but she didn't notice, pulling back to look over the older blonde. "Oh my gosh, Barbara, I'm so glad you're ok! When J told me you'd been taken, we were both so worried."
"Thank you. But I'm fine now. Dr. Thompkins cleared me and is now seeing me for trauma counseling."
Cas paused, looking at the woman in front of her. Barbara had always been a very put-together woman, never too emotional, but there was just something… off about her right now. Her explanation and reassurance seemed too distant, almost robotic.
You weren't doing well after Jerome or Zsasz, Cassie reminded herself, then smiled gently at the woman. She squeezed her shoulder, then began to back away.
"I'm so glad. Look, I'd love to continue to talk, but I've got to check on Jim-"
"Cassandra, can I ask you a question?"
The younger girl turned back to see Barbara watching her with hopeful eyes, looking a little desperate.
"It's- it's a little personal, but I figured I could ask someone who's dealt with the same situation before."
Cassie cocked her head to the side, confused. "Um, ok, sure."
"When Zsasz, and then that kid Jerome, when they took you; did they make you… feel anything?"
Cassie swallowed. Both Zsasz and Jerome had been terrifying individuals, and her abduction from the two was not something she ever wanted to think about. She simply thanked her lucky stars that Zsasz was leaving her alone for whatever reason (she constantly prayed he'd simply lost interest) and Jerome was in a maximum-security asylum. She cleared her throat.
"Yeah." She answered quietly, feeling herself shudder at the memory of that laugh and the long, strong fingers enclosed around her throat. "Yeah, they made me feel afraid, and small. Like no matter how hard I fought, I'd never escape. I just don't know if I've ever been so afraid of someone like I am of them."
Barbara paused, then spoke again, but her voice didn't sound right. The tone wasn't like before. She sounded almost eager.
"What-what about something else? Something you'd never felt with any person before, any man before?"
Cassie stared at the woman, now extremely confused and a little freaked out. "What are you talking about? B, are you sure you're ok?"
Barbara blinked, as if snapping out of a trance, and smiled. "Yes. Yes, I'm fine. Sorry to bother you, Cassandra. Stay safe."
And then she was gone, walking calmly out of the precinct.
But Cassie didn't have time to dwell on Barbara's odd behavior. Shaking her head, she turned and jogged back over to Jim.
"J! J!"
The detectives head raised to see his baby sister jogging over to him, wild blonde curls bouncing around her as she jogged up to him. She slowed, however, upon seeing the look on her face. It made her stomach sink.
"What is it?"
"Maroni tried to kill Falcone; shot a rocket launcher at him when he was trying to purchase some chickens at the docks. He's in the hospital."
"Alive?"
"Not for long. I'm sure Maroni's men are on their way."
"J if you know this, why don't you tell Loeb-"
"No, city officials have switched sides." Jim shook his head regretfully, "They've changed their loyalty to Maroni."
"Then what are we doing still standing around here?!" Cassie cried, throwing her arm behind her to gesture to the door. "Let's get to the hospital and stop the assassination before it happens!"
"There's no us or we in this scenario, Cassie." Jim told his sister firmly. "I can't keep dragging you into this."
Cas rolled her eyes, "Jim-"
"No, Cassie!"
She jumped back unintentionally, shocked at his outburst. Jim himself sighed, closing his eyes and trying to calm down a little before he spoke again. "No. I can't keep doing this, I can't keep letting you do this. You've been kidnapped twice, held captive and used as ransom against me. This city is the opposite of safe for you. If you were to die-"
"Then it would be because of me." Cassie all but growled, stepping closer, squaring her shoulders. "This is my city, too. I may hate it, but we grew up here. There are women and children out there, people who deserve a shot at something good. And you're my last family. I can't live happily somewhere else with my head buried in the sand, knowing that one day, there's going to be two cops at my door telling me you're…"
She trailed off, her voice cracking slightly, and Jim looked down. A heavy silence hung between the siblings, and finally, Cas raised her eyes back to her older brother.
"I'm not delicate. I know what I'm doing, and I understand the consequences of my actions. Now, are we going to sit around talking about how dangerous life is, or are we doing to go at least try and stop a gang war?"
The hallways of the hospital loomed around her, and it occurred to Cassie what was happening. Most of it, aside from the emergency department, was empty. Where had all the patients gone? When had they had the time to transfer out so many?
They entered a long hallway on the top floor, and Jim nodded at her as voices began to echo towards them. She pulled out her gun, keeping the muzzle towards the linoleum floor as she and her older brother slowly crept towards the doorway that the voices were coming from.
"…you're going to burn in hell."
Falcone's voice. The responding voice was actually a bit of a surprise.
"I do worry about that." She heard Oswald Cobblepot respond, his voice a tad thoughtful before it dropped to a loathing hiss. "But you first. Old friend."
That was all they needed.
Jim stepped into the room, leveling his weapon with Butch Gilzean's head, and Cassie followed, pointing hers towards Cobblepots. He was leaning over Falcone's supine body, strapped to a stretcher.
"Nobody move." Her brother instructed firmly, and Cobbelpot growled, straightening to face them. A scalpel glinted in the light, poised at Falcone's throat.
"Walk away-!" He started to say irritably, but Jim Gordon wasn't in the mood.
"Shut up." He snarled, and Cassie smirked in pride at his next words.
"You're both under arrest for attempted murder."
The sound of handcuff's clicking into place filled the empty air as Cassie worked to take off Falcone's restraints. She knew them inside and out, having restrained quite a few patients throughout her career. It was true that everyone in Gotham wanted to kill you.
Even the people you were trying to help.
"Didn't you hear?" Cobblepot demanded, and it took everything in Cas not to roll her eyes at the man's irritating voice. "Falcone is out, by official decree. Everyone agreed!"
"I heard." Jim responded irritably, helping with Falcone's restraints. The man sat up as Cobblepot continued.
"So, release me, Jim! Get on the winning side!"
"Winning side, my ass." Falcone rasped as he sat up, "Maroni's a fool; he can't replace me. A thousand rivals will jump up to challenge him." He turned to Jim and Cassie. "There will be civil war. If I die now, Gotham falls apart."
"And we agree." Cas cut him off.
"Can you turn things around? Can you take back control?" Jim continued.
"Of course." Falcone tried to sound reassuring, but his next words made all hopeful feelings fall flat. "Two days. I need two days to make some moves. And then, I'll skin Maroni and those disloyal scum like rabbits."
"Oh, wake up, Napoleon!" Cobblepot cried exasperatedly, "Maroni's men are minutes away from coming in here and cutting your throat! And the thing is Jim, they aren't that fond of me, either. So, seriously, you need to uncuff me- Jim?!"
But Jim and Cas weren't listening anymore. They both stepped through the open door, Jim now sporting Butch's machine gun. Upon seeing an eerie, empty hallway, he turned to his sister.
"We need a getaway car. Those ambulances in the basement; you can drive them, right?"
"Yeah, but-"
"Cas," Jim turned towards her, his face looking desperate. "I need you on this. Please. I'm trusting you to get me and Falcone out of here."
Cas bit her lip, then nodded. "Meet me in the parking garage, right outside the south elevators. Rig 11."
Getting to the parking garage was actually quite easy; at first, anyway. Most of Maroni's men were targeting her brother and the mob boss that was now tagging along with him. Cassie had never pretended to know how her brother's brain worked, she simply did her best to keep up and get out of the way when necessary. In this moment, all she could do was hop into the driver's seat of her old ambulance and pray to whoever the hell was watching over them that he actually made it to her alive.
It felt like hours of her sitting there, picking her nails to the nub and chewing her lip hard enough to break some skin, when she finally heard the sound of the door to the stairwell flinging open. Shifting into drive and slamming the gas, she roared around the corner to see in relief her brother standing with Harvey and a few other figures, their eyes darting frantically over the parking lot. She screeched to halt, unlocking the doors.
The sound of multiple footsteps clambering into the back of the ambulance caused the truck rock, and Cassie turned to look through the pass-through, only for her mouth to drop open in anger and disbelief.
"What- no!" She growled at Jim as he climbed into the passenger seat, her eyes moving from where Penguin and Gilzean were handcuffed and sulking in the back, "No! I am not taking them, Jim!"
"I arrested them, Cas, they're in my custody!"
"So what? They catch some accidental bullets, you've got multiple witnesses who corroborate it was an accident, nobody has to know!"
"If I may-"
"Shut up!"
Penguin's attempt to speak was cut short by both Gordon siblings turning to silence him with an aggressive order. Scowling, he sat back, leg bouncing in anxiety. The two blondes turned back to each other, each set of blue eyes burning with anger.
But it was a short staring contest. Cas knew they didn't have time to argue, and her lips twisted into a snarl before sitting back and roaring the engine to life again.
"One more sound from that little prick and I'm tossing him out of the truck on the freeway." She threatened lowly, then slammed on the gas.
The men in the ambulance cried out as they were thrown to one side. The blonde in front was not paying attention to their panic as she came careening around the corner, heading up the asphalt to the exit of the garage.
As she pressed the pedal down, her jaw grinding along with the engine's continuous effort, she felt her stomach sink at the sight of men parking cars and jumping out, carrying guns and scurrying to their positions. But she didn't slow down. Even if she had the time, her eyes zeroed in right ahead of them and narrowed in determination.
"Cas!" Harvey cried out in alarm, but Cassie paid him no mind. Her fingers tightened on the wheel, knuckles going white as blood pounded in her ears and determination surged through her veins.
"Hang on!" She cried and slammed the gas with all she had. The ambulance built up speed, getting closer and closer to fifty, when she crashed through the two cars. They were all knocked backwards, Cassie and Jim fortunate to in cushioned seats. The men in the back, however, were not so lucky. She heard them shout in pain and alarm as they were thrown into the stretcher, the medicine cabinet, and the plethora of tools strapped to the far wall.
She whipped around a sharp corner, the wheels squealing as they struggled to the accommodate the heat and pressure of the quick movement. For one terrifying moment, Cassie thought for sure they would tip over. But then, the ambulance came right side up and she breathed a sigh of relief, her foot not relaxing until they were miles away.
By the time Falcone led them to his safehouse, Rig 11 was looking worse for wear. The front bumper was breaking off in pieces, the grill was visibly damaged, and the wheels were squeaking strangely as they moved unevenly over the asphalt. As they pulled up to an old warehouse, Harvey jumped out to push the doors open. The ambulance all but hobbled through the doorway, seeming to sigh in relief once Cassie pulled the keys from the ignition. As her brother grabbed the criminals he appeared to have stashed there, the young woman stroked her thumb over the wheel, apologizing softly to the rig.
"Nobody knows about this place, right?" Harvey inquired with some visible hesitancy as Jim went to get Penguin and Gilzean out of the back.
"Nobody," Falcone confirmed as they walked towards what appeared to be a large rack with chains dangling from it, "Anybody who did is dead. We'll be safe here."
Cas was already mentally questioning that as she hopped down from the driver's side and rounded towards the men, but any questions died on her lips at the sight of the familiar figure walking towards her.
"Selina?"
The younger girl was smirking, but what was distracting Cassie was how different she looked. Her short, curly hair was swept to one side with boots and a long coat pulled on, along with some jewelry that Cas knew for a fact wasn't actually hers.
And then there was the shotgun she was carrying.
"Hello," she greeted them cheerfully, stopping to hold the gun in her hands. Thought it wasn't pointed at them, the group tensed visibly at the sight of the weapon.
At the panicked and confused glances she was receiving, the young teen merely shrugged. "What's up?"
A multitude of footsteps caused the hair on the back of her neck to rise, but nothing could have prepared Cassie for what she turned around to see.
Walking towards them with one shocking blue to contrast her brown one, Fish Mooney raised her hands to her sides, palms out, as she strolled towards them with a smirk. The malicious victory rolling off her in waves made Cassie's jaw clench.
"I know, I know, it's astonishing." The female mob boss said smugly to the disbelieving expressions on the group in front of her, "Sometimes, I astonish myself."
Cas looked around at the group of people following Fish in, all strapped with guns and weapons, and sighed.
Ten minutes later, Butch was out of his restraints and the rest of them were chained to the large rack, their feet still on the ground while their hands were tied at about eye-level. Cassie didn't even bother trying to work through her restraints; they were surrounded with at least fifty criminals armed to the teeth, and their getaway car was too far away. Not to mention the door was closed, they'd never make it out. So, she settled for quietly observing.
Penguin, who was on her right, was not handling it as well. He was frantically tugging at the binds, not seeming to learn that they weren't giving out. Cas did her best to ignore him, instead trying to catch Silena's gaze. But the girl wasn't making it easy. In fact, the younger girl seemed to be purposefully avoiding the blonde's eyes.
Heels on the concrete interrupted her thoughts, and she straightened up as Fish approached the group, her dual-colored eyes now leveled angrily at most of them.
"Carmine," she greeted the old man simply, like she was greeting an old friend in an unfortunate circumstance. Then again, she kind of was. She moved on the black-haired man by Cassie, "Penguin." She paused, watching him for a few seconds. "Nothing to share?"
For once, Cobblepot was quiet, and that's when Cas noticed him staring at Butch. The right-hand man looked visibly uneasy; there was sweat beading his forehead, and he was biting his nails as he shifted from foot to foot. Penguin raised his eyebrows at him, trying to silently signal him for something, but the bigger man resisted.
"I've just made a sweet deal with Maroni," Fish's voice pulled Cas back to the present situation, "He just told me I could have all my territories back. And all he wants in return," she paced in front of them, finally stopping in front of Cassie and turning to look at Falcone, "is give him Carmine's head."
It wasn't a particularly shocking revelation, but Cassie did want to know how it involved them. Judging by how much they'd interfered, probably death. Or torture. She swallowed her fear, doing her best to keep her face neutral.
"Uh, Fish, I need to go lie down." Butch muttered to the woman, avoiding Penguin's gaze as he scampered off. Fish turned back to Penguin, her eyes narrowing as her face tightened in anger and loathing towards her former employee.
"What did you do to that poor soul, you sadist?" She hissed at him, and Penguin shook his head frantically.
"I assure you-"
But she cut him off, raising a finger, the fury never leaving her face. "You will die a slow, painful death on account of Butch." She threatened lowly, the amount of vitriol in her voice causing fear to run through even Cassie. "You too, Carmine!"
The old man didn't look particularly surprised, and Fish paced down towards Jim. "You," she told him, eyes roaming the man before finally spitting out, "We'll keep it simple." Her gaze turned towards Harvey, who tensed as he met her eyes. "And you?" She paused, then shrugged, "We're cool."
Harvey started to sag in relief, but then Fish's eyes pierced Cassie's. "And you," she spoke lowly, gaze flashing, "you little pest. I've got something special planned for you."
Jim tensed, appearing to tug harder at his restraints. Cas didn't flinch, instead keeping her gaze on Fish's. She wasn't going to let this woman see her fear, not now. But she almost looked away in shock when Silena finally spoke up, her voice hesitant.
"Wait, I thought you said you wouldn't kill her."
Fish turned around, smiling comfortingly at the girl. "Oh, I won't. Not directly, anyway." She turned back to Cassie, reaching up to twist a stray, blonde curl around her finger. "No, actually, I've got something much more useful in mind. Victor Zsasz is the most feared and respected hitman in this city. Once Falcone is dead, his loyalty will be up for grabs." She smirked viciously at Cassie's obvious discomfort towards the mention of the man's name. "I'm thinking a little gift might help persuade him to our side."
She did her best not to show it, but the thought of watching her brother die only to be handed over to a cold-blooded sociopath caused the blood to drain from her face. Fish cocked her head at her, enjoying the sight of the younger girl's discomfort, before turning around.
"Any questions?"
The group stood there, strung up like pigs for slaughter, as they waited for Maroni to show up. Jim was attempting to comfort his sister non-verbally, but it wasn't working very well. Cassie didn't consider herself a particularly fearful person, but when faced with a future filled with all sorts of pain and uncertainty, it was hard not to be afraid.
Eventually, a car pulled up. Black, sleek, old-fashioned. Out of it stepped Maroni, clad in a long black coat and a triumphant gleam in his eye.
"Fish," he greeted cheerfully, "you mysterious, crazy, gorgeous killer, you." He stopped in front of her, smiling. "I love ya."
Fish chuckled lowly as the two embraced, and the group noticed how stiff she appeared. Maroni, however, either didn't notice or didn't care. He turned and walked towards Falcone, his eyes shining with vicious glee.
"This…" he said lowly, his voice soaked in triumph, "this is delicious. Finally. You're hard to kill, old man."
But Falcone, despite being beat to hell and most certainly looking death in the face, didn't even flinch. "No. Your people are second-rate."
"Mooney," Cas couldn't stop her eyeroll at the sound of Penguin's voice, "if I may, a brief word. I know my life is forfeit. I speak not for my sake, but yours. Because, after all, I still love and respect you. Kill me if you must but keep Falcone alive. As soon as he's dead, Maroni has no use for you, he will kill you!"
Maroni groaned, his face narrowing in annoyance, but Fish didn't appear to share it. She turned to the fellow crime head, her eyes turning into slits.
"You think?"
"Why would he need another boss in town, another rival?" Penguin continued, and even if Cassie hated the very ground he walked on, she knew his reasoning wasn't completely out of left field. She watched the exchange warily.
"That's where you're wrong, smart guy." Maroni cut off the younger man's rambling, "Because a: She's not a rival, and she's not a boss. She's an underboss."
Strike one.
Cas's eyes widened, her fingers tightening over the chains around her wrists. Fish was looking angrier and angrier as the conversation went on, and that's when Cas saw what was happening.
"An underboss takes orders," Fish spoke, her voice steady with a cold calmness, "I don't take orders."
"I know." Maroni brushed off, "We're cool. Relax."
Cassie flinched. Strike two.
Fish cocked an eyebrow at him. "I'm relaxed."
"I don't think you are, babes."
Strike three.
Fish was by no means a friend, or even an ally. But she was a woman, and Cassie understood the way her face tightened as she tried to play off Maroni's veiled insult. "Please; don't call me babes."
"You see?" Maroni taunted, "Not relaxed." He stepped closer, "Babes? Really? It's a term of endearment. It means I like you."
He gave her arm a demeaning pat, and Cassie shifted on her feet. There was a sharp chill in the air, like an electric current. She could feel the fight, even before it happened.
"Fine," Maroni scoffed, stepping back. "You're not an underboss, and you're not a babe. You tell me what you are."
Fish cocked her head to the side, "What we are, Sal, are partners."
"Fine." Maroni shrugged, "Partners. I'm Partner number one, and you're Partner number two. That's the deal, right? I'm number one, and you are…?"
Fish paused, her eyes flickering up and down Maroni before responding cooly, "Number two."
He's going to die.
Cas couldn't be sure where it came from, but it wasn't a thought. It wasn't even a feeling. Standing there, watching the interaction, it felt more like a fact. The longer Maroni spoke, the stronger the image got of him lying on his back in a pool of blood.
But he didn't stop. He just kept talking.
"There you go, simple math. One, two, babes. Oops." His eyes widened in mock surprise and apology, "Sorry. That's the last time, I swear."
Cassie shifted on her feet, fingers reaching up to curl around the thick rope holding the chains around her wrists as Maroni walked towards them, stopping in front of the group to turn around and address the large group of people.
"Can you feel the buzz in the air?" He called out, spreading his arms wide. "That's victory. Redemption. Power. When this old man dies, a new day begins. We will rule Gotham, we are building a dynasty! We will whip this town like a rented mule!"
The criminals around them shifted in excitement, their energy palpable in the air. But Cassie saw through it. She saw the way Maroni turned his gaze to Fish, and she knew what was coming next.
"Right, babes?"
Fish's own triumphant smile died, and she turned to glare at Maroni as sneered at her face.
"Relax, I'm kidding you!" He laughed off derisively, and Cassie turned towards Jim. He caught her gaze, and she mouthed two words:
Get ready.
"Guys, no, seriously!" Maroni addressed his men, mocking the woman in front of him. "Don't call her babes! Or toots, or what have you." He turned back to Fish, his sneer not letting up. "it's a woman's lib thing-"
BANG!
Despite seeing it coming, Cassie still jumped when the gun popped off, the bullet ripping through Maroni's skull. Blood splattered behind him, and he collapsed to the ground.
And right before chaos popped off, right before both sides ran for cover and gunfire began going off every which way and Harvey raced over to them to cut them down, Cassie watched as the blood pooled around Maroni's head, brown eyes blankly staring off into the distance.
Shouting, gunfire, and chaos met her ears as Jim cut her down and grabbed her arm, shielding her as the group of four rushed through the doors of the warehouse. She saw Penguin break his chains, and started for him, but Jim gripped her arm tighter.
"No time! Go! Go!" He shouted, all but yanking her from the building. She ducked and allowed him to lead her, barely noticing how the sky was now dark as they bolted to take cover in front of a semi-truck parked in the alley next to the warehouse. She leaned against it, panting and feeling the cold air nip the sweat-soaked fabric of her shirt as the group fought to catch their breath.
"If we can get to Seventh without being spotted by Fish's people, we're home free." Jim told them, checking over his shoulder, but Harvey didn't seem to share his confidence.
"And then what?"
"We take a breath, regroup." Her brother reassured them, keeping his gaze on his sister long enough to look her over for injuries, before turning back to Falcone. "Maroni's death is a lucky break for you."
Falcone chuckled breathlessly, his weathered eyes on Jim with an expression Cassie couldn't decipher. "Spoken like a true mafioso."
"You're the least-worst option. Like you said, without you, the city falls apart."
"Yes, I said that," Falcone agreed, "and it might be true. But this has been a long day and I've had a long time to look at this world I've created." He shook his head, "I'm out. I've got a place down south I can go to." He paused, then, "I'm sorry."
"You're sorry?" Jim repeated in disbelief as Cas stared at the old man, not fully registering what was happening.
"I know. I know I'm letting you down, I know I'm letting the city down, I know." Falcone told him, still panting, but was cut off before he could speak again by the sound of a door opening nearby. The group crouched down behind a nearby car. A small gaggle of men came out with flashlights, and Cassie felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. But before she could speak, Jim turned to her.
"We need to hide, but I need you to split up."
"What?" She gasped, but Jim shushed her.
"I need you to get to Lee and Barbara. Fish knows about them, I need you to protect them."
"No, Jim-"
But her brother cut her off. "Cassie, please! Please, I've let you come along with me, I've let you fight with me, but it has to stop!"
She stared at him, not sure of what to say as she watched her brother's eyes. They were shiny, and she realized with a start that those were tears. He grabbed her shoulder, his fingers tight enough on her skin to leave bruises.
"Cassie, please. Protect them, protect yourself. I'm begging you."
The woman in the elevator with her raised an eyebrow at the cut on Cassie's eyebrow and the bird's nest that were her curls at the moment, but when Cassie turned to glare at her, the woman merely kept her mouth shut and faced the doors.
The elevator dinged loudly in the empty hallway, and Cassie felt the hairs on her arms raise as she stepped onto the plush carpet. Of course, she expected it to be quiet, but there was something about the silence. It was pulsating, thrumming like a heartbeat. Her breath became heavier, and she fought to keep it under control.
Her footsteps felt like hammer falls on the plush carpet, her breath coming out in pants. As she got closer to the double oak doors, her heart beat increased. She could feel the blood pounding in her ears, and as her hand reached for the doorknob, she heard it.
Shattering glass, loud grunts of effort, screaming.
Without bothering to think it through, Cassie raised her foot and slammed it into the door, right next to the knob, with all her weight. The wood splintered and gave way, slamming up against the wall as she stormed inside. Her gun had been stripped from her when they were caught by Fish's people, but she was fully prepared to go hand-to-hand until she saw the sight in front of her.
Following the noise, she'd rounded the corner towards the bathroom, fully expecting to see a large man or perhaps even a well-armed woman, maybe both. Hell, she wouldn't have been surprised to see Silena.
But what she did see shocked the hell out of her.
Standing in front of the bathroom door, the wood broken in and the woman's arms covered in cuts and splinters while clutching a carving knife, was Barbara. But she didn't look like herself. Gone was the calmness, the cool and collected woman that Cas normally spoke to. In her place was a wild-eyed, almost feral expression, her eyes bright with something that chilled the younger girl to the bone.
"Barbara?"
The blonde turned, her head cocking the side at the sight of the young girl. "Cassandra?"
"Barbara, what-" the hairs on Cassie's arms raised when she saw the light reflect off the knife Barbara was holding, the one she still hadn't put down. "What are you doing? Where's Lee?"
"Cassie!"
The teen jumped when she heard the woman in question's panicked scream, and she realized with a jolt it was coming from the bathroom door.
"Cassie! Run! She's gone crazy, she's got a knife! Call Jim!"
Lee hadn't even finished speaking before Barbara let out a horrifying shriek and charged at Cassandra. The younger girl didn't even have time to react before she was bowled over, slammed right into the hardwood floors. She let out a shout of pain as Barbara's bony shoulders dug into her ribs and her back met the floor. She began to thrash, knowing that Barbara had the edge as long as she was above her.
The older woman was snarling and laughing maniacally, scratching at Cassie's face and trying to shove her head into the ground. Groping wildly, Cas's fingers curled around something heavy, and she swung without thinking, a plate that was on the floor now shattering over Barbara's head. The woman shouted and fell to the side, giving Cas the chance to scramble to her feet.
They met face-to-face, panting, with Barbara standing between Cassie and the bathroom, as well as the front door.
"Barbara, listen to me, you need to stop. Just let me call Jim, we can get you help-"
"Oh, call Jim, let Jim help me, let Jim help you." Barbara rolled her eyes, cutting off the younger woman. "You always depended too much on your big brother, Cassie. Honestly, no wonder he never pulled the trigger on marrying me. He knew you didn't like me, and it made him hesitate." Her eyes narrowed. "No wonder he moved on to some uptight, hoity-toity doctor."
"Yeah, that's it." Cassie scoffed, "Not because you're a spoiled, psychotic bitch."
Barbara cocked her head to one side, eyes flashing dangerously. "You always had such an attitude, Cassie. I kept telling Jim you needed more discipline in your life, a female figure to look up to." She smiled viciously. "Let's see if he thanks me after I cut that tongue out of your mouth."
She lunged at her, fingers grabbing at Cas's hair. The younger girl screamed in pain as her back met the edge of the table, but she pushed off and slammed her fist into Barbara's gut. The woman grunted, faltering, but her grip didn't let up and she yanked hard. Cassie felt her balance give out as she hit the ground, scrambling to get back up, but before she could, blinding pain took over her shoulder.
A scream ripped past her lips as Barbara dug the piece of glass into the girl's shoulder, teeth bared in a snarling grin as she twisted the shard and dug deeper into the skin. Blood began to stain Cassie's shirt, and she screamed again, tears welling in her eyes and beginning to streak down the sides of her face.
"Oh, don't worry, Cassie." Barbara cooed and yanked the shard from her shoulder. Cas grunted, her gaze swimming as the pain became all she could focus on. "Jim will make sure they sew you back up, all nice and pretty for your funeral."
She raised the glass over her head, and Cas's eyes widened as it started towards her neck-
SMACK!
Barbara's head swung to the side with a sickening crunching noise and her body followed, falling off Cas. The younger girl was still panting, her shoulder screaming in pain as her gaze lifted to Lee, who was still brandishing the wrought iron poker.
Reaching down, Lee grabbed the girl's hand and gently pulled her to her feet, grabbing a cloth napkin and pressing it the wound. Cassie seemed to catch on and pressed her palm against it, wincing as she applied pressure to the deep laceration. They both stared at the unconscious woman on the ground, and the question hung in the air.
What the hell was that?
Before either of them could voice the question, or answer it for that matter, the front door swung open, and both women were faced with Jim, Harvey, and Falcone.
The men stared at them, open-mouthed, then their gazes drifted to Barbara, then back to them. Cas sighed.
"I can explain this."
Lee was great at her job; no doubt about it. After some sutures and painkillers, Cas was sitting on the balcony of Barbara's apartment, staring out at the city that constantly seemed to whip her in circles, dragging her away and bringing her back, spinning her mind and making it hard to make right decisions.
The police had already taken Barbara into custody. She had to be taken to the hospital first, since Lee had really done a number on her skull, but once she was cleared, she would be evaluated and most likely sent to Arkham. That was just a guess, though.
Jim had been watching her. He always did after anything major in this city happened, after a lot of violence. She knew it gave him anxiety; she knew he couldn't help it. He seemed to have this fear that whenever he turned around, she wouldn't be there. That this city would eventually take her, too.
It wasn't exactly an unjustified fear.
"Cas." Speak of the devil. Her brother poked his head out the door. "Grab your stuff, Lee and I are going to drop you at your place to grab some stuff, then Lee said you could spend the night with us at her place. The couch folds out."
Normally, she would scoff at her brother assuming she didn't want to be left alone, like some little kid afraid of the dark. But tonight, she was grateful. She didn't want to be alone tonight. She didn't want to go to the apartment, in a shitty part of Gotham, and sit there in the dark while fighting back the nightmares. So, she nodded and smiled slightly at him. Sliding off the edge of the balcony, she grabbed her bag and her jacket, starting for the door when she heard her phone go off.
Confused due to the fact that everyone she knew was currently in the room, she grabbed her phone and frowned at the unrecognized number. Flipping it open, she brought it to her ear.
"Hello?"
Silence.
She frowned deeper, not in the mood for prank callers. She tried again. "Hello?"
Still nothing.
Scowling, she prepared to hang up when a voice came through the phone and turned her blood to ice.
"Hey there, beautiful. Did ya miss me?"
Uh-oh, who was on the phoooooone...
Writing Cassie's absolute loathing for Oswald is so damn fun, just wanted y'all to know.
Oswald: *breathes*
Cassie: Do you ever SHUT THE FUCK UP