Chapter 19: The Brewing Tension

Bruce and Cassie ultimately decided to go to Walmart to get some more toys for her room. They grabbed a cart and headed towards the back where the toy aisle was. Cassie looked the toys in wonder and awe. She had never seen so many toys in her entire life. Cassie looked over at Bruce who was pushing the cart.

"May I?" Cassie asked quietly. Bruce nodded.

"Just don't go where I can't see you," Bruce responded. Cassie nodded and headed down one of the isles which contained boxes and bins of legos as well as nerf guns. Cassie then doubled back and went into another aisle. This one, however; was full of Barbie dolls and girly toys and this isle seemed to collect Cassie's interest more. She pulled out one of the Elsa dolls from one of the shelves and showed it to Bruce.

"Who's this?" Cassie asked.

"It's a character from the movie Frozen," Bruce told her. "Her name's Elsa. Do you like it?" Cassie nodded. "Then put her in the cart." Cassie gently placed the doll in the cart before looking around at all the other things in the isle. She saw a fairy princess-themed tea party set and gently put it in the cart. Then out of nowhere, Bruce felt a nerf dart hit him on the back of his head. He turned around to see Dick standing in the aisle holding a nerf gun.

"Really?" Bruce questioned.

"Well, I was in the area," Dick started. "Also have you seen Garfield Logan?"

"No why?" Bruce asked.

"Because the Teen Titans are playing a game of assassins and he's one of my targets," Dick informed him.

"Assassins?" Cassie asked.

"Well, not really," Dick told her. "We're just shooting people with nerf guns. I'm on a team with Tim."

"And who all is playing this?" Bruce asked.

"Just some of the Teen Titans," Dick answered. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a target to find." Dick then left the aisle and heading elsewhere.

"Odd," Cassie muttered. "They shoot people?"

"It's a game, Cassie," Bruce assured her. "No one gets hurt. The darts are made of foam, they don't actually hurt." Bruce pocketed the dart Dick had shot him with. "Is there anything else you want?" Cassie looked around and saw a stuffed toy snowman with an odd-shaped head. She pointed at it and Bruce nodded.

"Okay, now let's go get you some clothes," Bruce said.

"Hahaha! Ha! That's hilarious!" Cyborg exclaimed at his phone.

"What's so funny?" Superman asked. They were both in the monitor room looking over clues about the vampires.

"Oh, me and some of the Teen Titans are playing a game of assassins and Gar said Dick got him while he was trying to get some girl to go out on a date with him," Cyborg explained.

"Dick?" Superman questioned.

"Nightwing, Dick's his nickname and less of a mouthful so we call him that instead when we're not on the clock," Cyborg answered.

"You mean…you knew Nightwing's identity and you didn't tell us?" Superman questioned.

"No, because it's not my place to tell," Cyborg responded.

"This could lead us to Batman," Superman reminded him.

"Like I've said before, Batman shouldn't be our main priority, Cain should be," Cyborg replied. "Cain's murdered people so there's more riding on catching him than catching Batman who was a one-time thief. I agree he does need to go to jail and serve his time, but I don't think that should be our main focus right now. I might tell you all after we get Cain."

"Makes sense," Superman responded. "Just don't tell Robert or he'll lose it."

"Got it," Cyborg said. "But between you and me, I think he's been losing it for a while now."

"Agreed," Superman stated. "Also how come you know Nightwing's secret identity?"

"Well we're on the Teen Titans together and we told each other identities a while back," Cyborg told him. "And by we, I mean me, Beastboy, and Nightwing since Star and Raven don't have secret identities."

"Oh, that reminds me, where are most of the Teen Titans anyway?" Superman asked.

"Well Star, Raven, and several others are in space helping the Tamerians. The ones still on Earth are busy with their own stuff," Cyborg informed him.

"Like playing a game of assassins?" Superman guessed.

"Exactly," Cyborg said.

Tim knocked on Cassie's door.

"Bruce you in here?" Tim asked as he opened the door. He then saw one of the strangest sights he has ever seen. Cassie was dressed in a purple fairy dress, wearing light see-through purple wings, and wearing a plastic yellow crown. Bruce was sitting around a white table with red roses painted on top, was wearing a fairy princess hat, and was holding a fairy princess teacup while Cassie was pouring the "tea" into his cup. "Oh."

"Do you want to join us?" Cassie asked.

"I'll pass," Tim responded. "Be thankful it was me and not Dick. He will NEVER let you live you down."

"What did you want?" Bruce asked.

"Well, it's about…you know what," Tim told him.

"Oh," Bruce said. Another knock on the door and then Barbara walked inside with a box filled with stuff.

"Hey Cassie, I brought some more…." Barbara stopped when she saw the sight of Bruce. "Awww! You guys are so cute! I need a picture!"

"Do that and I will hack into it and delete it and ruin your phone," Bruce threatened him.

"Fine, but no promises if Dick comes in and sees this," Barbara told him. "Anyway, I brought some of my old stuff in case you wanted some." She set the box down near Cassie's bed and the girls began looking through it. Bruce took off the fairy hat and put the cup on the table before going out in the hallway with Tim.

"So what is it?" Bruce asked.

"We may have the right combination for the antidote the drug," Tim told him. "But the problem is we won't be able to test it until we get a sample of someone with the drug in their system."

"Probably won't be too hard if Cain keeps giving out free samples to every gang in town," Dick said as he joined the conversation. "Also just letting you know the three teens from the Justice League will joining us on patrol again."

"Make sure they get in on the action otherwise Robert will get antsy and desperate," Bruce told them. "Also if the opportunity presents itself don't hesitate to go after Bloodsucker's gang. Don't them in on our plan."

"And if you get caught?" Dick questioned.

"I escaped Robert once, I can do it again," Bruce responded.